8 Ways to Prepare Your Pets for War

8 Ways to Prepare Your Pets for War

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/pets_war

Anything worth doing...

Anything worth doing, is worth doing differently. - John Minden


The above is a quote from my father. He and my mother have been married for 28 years. And he always makes light of the craziness in a marriage, the banter back and forth, the sense of humor that the two parties must have to live together for almost 3 decades or more. My parents have been married longer then they haven't been married. It's a very good feeling. I hope to make it in my marriage. But when things get tight, I remember what my father says about his marriage and my mother.

While sitting on the couch next to my husband on our Christmas with my family, my father says to my mother: Anything worth doing, is worth doing differently. He says it in a light-hearted manner. But I take it to heart. Anything worth doing... is worth doing the way that is easier and better for everyone involved.

I love you, Daddy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday. I cant help but think about the couples and families that are separated for whatever reason; wars, careers, school. I hope you can find some joy in this holiday season in spite of the distance between you and your loved ones.

I am thankful for...

... my loving husband who means the world to me.

... my supportive parents who are always there for me and my family.
... my wonderful pup, Rigel, who is my complete sanity at some moments.

... the good health of my family who have to stick around for a very long time.

... my friend Mandy, who has become like the sister I've never had. I will miss her so much.

... the internet. I got this idea from a different blog, but it's so totally true! It keeps us all connected and informed.

... my Twitter friends and military family.

... my Blackberry. Along the same lines as the internet, keeps me in touch with all the important people in my life.

... the move we're preparing for. It has come at a perfect time.

... the life we've made for ourselves and the great future we have ahead of us. I cant wait to see what the future has in store for us.

Home

Rigel and I drove back to Paris, Arkansas, this weekend to visit the family. And while I'm in my parents' house, it feels like home. It feels the same as when I lived here. My mom hugs me good night. My dad falls asleep in his chair and snores. Although we've been banished into the back room for bed. The other bedroom is made up within an inch of it's life. Neither my brother nor I sleep there when we come home. But all in all, it feels like home.

Until I leave the house. So much of this little town has changed. The stores have come and gone. The roads have changed. There are stop signs where there weren't stop signs. The tiny Wal-Mart sells beer now! Old houses have come down. Doughnut shops have gone up in their place. The middle school is now the high school.

I drove through my old college town, Fayetteville, on the way here, just for fun. A lot of it has changed. They finally put a stop sign up at Leverett and Razorback. There are huge tall cranes building more and more around campus. More classrooms. More dorms housing the students that will walk the same paths I did for 6 years.

Nothing stays the same. Change is good. But there's a part of me that wants something to stay the same. With the life Joe and I have chosen, everything will change on a regular basis. Houses. Duty stations. Jobs. Bosses. Towns. Doctors. Vets. Scenery. Mountains. Plains. Trees. We'll soon trade in our field and sandals for snow capped mountains and snow boots.

But I guess it is what it is, right? Change IS good. And we can see the nation one PCS at a time. And I can always come home to this odd little town and my nice little house. And my crazy parents. Who will never change.

Until that one awful day that it does change, Rigel's wine box will always be in the window to greet us.

Day 983 of my captivity

From a Cat's Daily Diary...


My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards. There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now................

Sanctity of Marriage?

I know I might be a little late to the game on this one, but I feel the need to say something. I didn't want to say anything while I was too annoyed; my blogs turn out very ranty. But it's been bugging me so much, I think some things need to be said.

First off, as many of you already know, I'm not the most religious person around. And it pisses me off when people try to use religious doctrine as law of the land. America wasn't based on the christian faith; the founding fathers were deists. That's a fact. Look it up. Two words: Jeffersonian bible. Look that up while you're at it.

Secondly, the crap vote in Maine last week was a complete shock to me. Why are we voting on a person's happiness anyway? Homosexual marriage is no different than interracial marriage. And I know that some bigots still aren't a fan of that, but we aren't voting on it anymore. Everyone needs to chill the fuck out and let people be people. Everyday in my elementary school we stand and say the pledge of allegiance. I don't say it. I think it's a bunch of crap. We are brainwashing our children everyday, but we as a country don't stand up for what it says: with liberty and justice for all.... unless you're a gay man.. I guess.

So lets talk about the sanctity of marriage. We as a country have a 50% divorce rate. And it can only follow that in a country that is primarily christian, most of those divorces are from good "christian" folks. So all of your religious arguments have to be thrown out right there. I am an Army wife. The military has a higher divorce rate than the average civilian population. Research shows that about 20% of marriages fall apart within two years when one spouse has been sent off to war. Plus women in every military branch are more than twice as likely to end their marriages as their men. So you wanna talk about the sanctity of marriage and have a vote about who is able to be married? Lets create a law that says that military personnel cant be married. It's fairly likely to end in divorce anyway and it will save the tax payers a shit load of money! So you know how much money is spent on military dependents? My health care is paid for by taxpayers. My housing is paid for by government money... yep, taxpayers again. And the child support payments from the children of divorce? Can you even imagine how much money that is?

Okay, do I honestly think we should forbid soldiers from getting married? Of course not. Should we prevent ANYONE from getting married? OF COURSE NOT! What happened in Maine is like saying that two blue eyed people cant be married. It's absurd and fairly retarded. This is how our nation is progressing. Remember reading in your history books a time where a whole bunch of stuffy white men had to decide whether or not black men were humans and could have EQUAL rights? Whether or not they could vote and own property? Same with females. Do you remember reading about these brave women fighting for YOUR right to vote and have EQUAL rights to men?

Now you have to tell me how homosexuals fighting for EQUAL rights is any different than that. And you can keep your religious nonsense to yourself. I don't care to hear it. None of it is a good excuse to deny rights to any human being. Your religious shit is just an excuse for you to be a bigot and then hide behind some stupid book.

How much does a polar bear weigh?

Enough to break the ice. Hi my name is...

Yeah you get the idea. Never heard that pick up line before. Just thought I would share. LOL! It ought to be the name of a book.

Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!!

I drove to my friend's house Friday morning and got out of my car to go knock on her door. There was a faint meow in the distance. I asked her if she had a cat around her house. She said that there were a few strays here and there. So we walked back to the car. And the meows got louder... uh oh! Yep, cat was in the engine of my car. So I opened the hood and Operation Kitty Kitty began!

Do you know how hard it is to get a cat out of a car? NOT EASY! So two huge slices of turkey and 45 minutes later, the cat emerged from the front on my Honda Pilot.

The moment I heard the meowing, I knew exactly what cat it was. There was this gorgeous tiny black cat hanging out in the back yard for the last week. It meowed so loud and always annoyed Rigel. But it pulled at my heart strings. I love cats, but I am so allergic to them, I couldnt even pet this little guy. He tried to get into our house so many times and it just broke my heart. He was obviously an inside cat once.

So he's had a PCS that might prove helpful. My friend lives in a real neighborhood, not in a sea of miltiary townhomes. Maybe someone will fall in love with this kitty as much as I did and adopt him.

Tang Spiced Tea

My aunts make this instant drink mix at Christmas time and hand it out to all of the families. I remember drinking as much as I could. It's a great winter-time hot tea. I was having some hot cider today and realized that THIS is what I was missing. So I'm gonna go buy some Tang tomorrow and whip some of this up for next week. It'll be a great hot tea to take to school/work since I only have to add hot water!

1 1/3 c. Tang flavor beverage crystals
1/3 c. instant tea
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Mix together well and put in canister. Put 1 teaspoon per cup of hot water.

My Island

I'm not a poet. Never have been. But this keeps rattling inside my head. It's a work in progress, so take it easy.

My Island

I talk but no one hears me.

I plan but no one cares.

I wait but there's only silence.

I walk but there's only mine.

I need but there's only a dream.

I cry but there's only a dog.

I want him to need me and I dont mean the dog.

I'm alone on this island with my furry friend. Making my way through this wet sand.

Waves of ...... emptiness, guilt, want, worry, apathy, and finality wash over me.

Unwanting to imagine an alternative. Scared to want more? Even though, even now the boat is built for two.

"Drunk much" is coming to visit...

So I was told yesterday that the random jackass that called us in my previous post is coming to Kansas for a visit. Fun times, I'm sure.

At least its a long weekend. A much needed long weekend. And Joe says there's a haunted house in Kansas City everyone wants to go to. I've never been to a real haunted house. Kinda excited about it!!

Drunk much?

As a good rule of thumb, dont call up married men in the middle of the night to discuss women they "banged" in Germany before they were married. It's sad that this small note would have to be made, but there are some rather retarded people in this world. And it just happens that my husband is friends with so many of them. You know who you are. And you are stupid.

Baby Hog!

My neighbors two doors down just had a baby. I don't really know them very well. But a few days after they had the baby boy, I saw the father walking around outside. I went out to say hi. He was telling me about the labor and how he has 10 days off of work since he's a soldier. The mom came out and started telling me more. At one point she tried to reach over and take the baby. Dad made a face and didn't give the baby up. In the best straight face ever, mom whined, "You are such a baby hog!" I couldn't stop from laughing. She said that he needed to be fed and probably changed. And the dad said okay and walked back inside with the baby boy. Being married to a man that says he doesn't want kids, this is a very foreign sight to me! It's very refreshing to see a man that not only wants kids, but then whole heartedly wants to be a baby hog!

I always ask new parents if the pain of pregnancy and labor was worth the reward. They ALWAYS say yes! This mom started telling me how the epidural only worked on the right side of her body and she could feel everything on the left. OUCH!! But she said that after it was all said and done, it was totally worth it. I guess it cant be that bad or there would be many more only children.

Did you hear the bird??

Rigel, did you hear that? Is there a bird?

Maybe it's a terrier thing, but Rigel hates birds. Well, I guess he hates anything "up there;" planes, helicopters, butterflies, falling leaves, etc. But birds are our favorite thing. We go for walks and these huge crows start to circle us. Rigel starts barking like mad. The birds just circle lower. I'm sure one of them will eventually swoop down and try to pick him up. He's only 6lbs, I'm sure he looks like a tasty snack to these huge birds! So I pull him in close on his flexy leash and watch the birds close. I have only had to throw a rock at two birds. I hit one. So anyone that knows me at all knows that this bird had to be REALLY CLOSE because I throw like a girl! I was yelling and throwing rocks, but this bird just didnt care. I had to protect my little man! He is always getting himself in situations that I have to save him from. Must also be a terrier trait. He just doesnt realize that he's only 6lbs! Honestly, I think he thinks he's a GSD!

Looking on Amazon for this book right now!

A friend of mine who knows how much my little man means to me sent me a link to this book. There's an excerpt from chapter 1. Sounds really good.

'Inside of a Dog' Explores What a Canine's Life is Really Like - Paw Nation

Scrapbook

Here are just a few of my favorite pics of Rigel. He's staring at a rabbit in the backyard in that first pic. He wasn't sure he liked the bunny in "his yard." He gets so serious about some things.



I love the sleeping baby pics! This one was taken at my parents' house in Paris, AR. That's my dad in the background.




I love the bed head he has early in the morning. He's my sanity. I wake up in the morning and give him a big puppy kiss.

Fame

Two good friends and I went to see Fame tonight. It's really cool to be able to go watch a movie in a theater where things arent blowing up. I go to the movies with Joe occasionally, but they are all guy movies. He just refuses to go see anything that doesnt have guns in it.

We had great conversation afterwards too. I've always had girl friends. But I've never really had such great friends as these people. I can be *me* around these people. I can be completely honest about myself and my thoughts. And they understand. I am SO lucky I have such great friends. And even better - I work with them!! Things happen, people come and go, especially since we're all with Army soldiers. But I will seriously miss some people here in Junction City!

What's in a name?

Rigel Orion Wallace


Rigel is pronounced like Nigel with a R. He's named after a star in the Orion constellation. Rigel is the brightest star as seen from Earth. It's actually only the second brightest star in the constellation though. His name means "foot of the great hunter."

He gets the Wallace surname from my brother. As young boys, my brother Stephen and his buddies made up fake British names to prank call people. Stephen was Nigel Wallace. Since Rigel is a Yorkshire Terrier, I thought this was a fairly fitting name. Stephen agreed.

Puppy Love

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.