My duty title list just keeps getting longer....

I have to accept that I am not superwoman, but it is so hard. There are so many things that need to be done and so many things I want to do. I honestly think I have more duty titles now, than I did when I was active duty. I am a housekeeper, childcare worker, full time student, tutor, yard maintenance person, house maintenance person, personal chef, nutritionist, gardener, woodworker, painter, seamstress, soap-maker, alarm clock, beautician, shelf stock manager and therapist.
(I have edited this list a few times while typing this, ha!)

Welfare vs. Veteran's Assistance, Tax Credits, and Student Programs

Disclaimer! This is my opinion and no way reflects the opinion of anyone else or any other organization. If you do not like my opinion, that is okay. If you chose to comment about my opinion, I just ask that you be respectful.

I am finding out very quickly that politics really boils my blood sometimes. Especially when people skew information to get what they want. I am now finding that people trying to help their political party are lumping welfare into the same group as veterans programs. This is not the same thing. I believe they are doing this to possibly say, "if we have to get rid of welfare, then we have to get rid of all these other public assistance programs to be fair."

Anyone else frustrated with trying to be healthy?

So as I write this blog I am extremely hungry. Why you may ask. The answer is simple, I have no idea what to eat anymore.

I remember having a discussion with one of my previous supervisors who was a complete gym rat. He told me I need to eat healthier and I would lose weight. I laughed at him and said I tried that and I gain weight. I never understood why until the internet boom. You see, I have a thyroid condition called Hashimoto Thyroiditis which causes my metabolism, among other things, to go out of wack. I discovered via the world wide web that there are healthy foods that can prevent your thyroid from functioning at its peak, especially if you already have a crappy thyroid. What!!!! This is why I could eat McDonalds and not gain a pound (as long as the calorie take was minimal), but if a ate raw veggies and grilled chicken I get fat.

Isaac, You Little Trickster...You!

This storm has been an unpredictable mess. First it was headed right for us, but then went to Louisiana. Then it tricked us into thinking it would not do much damage by being just a Cat 1. Well, he sure showed us "I may be small, but I am slow, so let the rampage begin....buahahaha." Now, he waits until my children go back to school to start with his demon spawn again, tornadoes. This shows how we human beings really do not have control over anything but ourselves and our own personal decision. Everything else is circumstance and controlled by someone or something else.  

I wish all the best to those affected by this monster!

On a lighter note, I finally finished Charlie's apron thanks to the hubby being off and Isaac playing nice yesterday. I am also way ahead on homework, of which I plan to stay on that path.

Recently I have been asked to make lots of things for people. I would absolutely love to do this. Does anyone know of any way for me to keep it all straight and how I can try to stay on task to get them all done? I thought about doing a written list on my craft closet door and give myself suspense dates.  (the Air Force in me...lol)


I am also getting ready to make my first batch of french milled/triple milled/re-batch soap. This process helps to keep a stronger scent for essential oils (I am partial to these over fragrance). My planned scent will be a blend of tangerine, nutmeg, and patchouli. If it comes out awesome I will be making some lotion bars or whipped body butter in the same scent. I am also planning on experimenting with lip-balm too using tangerine, nutmeg and ginger. I have ensured they are all "lip-safe" essential oils, but I still only plan on using a hint of these in my balm recipe. So EXCITED!

Isaac Sent His Spawn to Visit Instead

Staying busy while waiting out the tornado warning.

A few hours ago we just finished two back to back tornado warnings (the spawn of Isaac). Apparently this is what happens when you are on the east side of a hurricane. I was not prepared for this. Either way, we took cover in the two safest places in the house: Charlie's bathroom and the laundry room. When the second warning happened during the first "take cover." I decided to run out and grab water and some snacks just in case we were under cover for a long period of time. Maybe not the smartest idea, but Charlie was so restless due to being hungry. On the way back to the bathroom I also grabbed a few things to keep her occupied. These items are now a permanent fixture in her bathroom until this thing is over.

pretty gross to have food in the bathroom, oh well

When we were able to come out we finished stocking up these areas with water, snacks, food for the dog, books, magazines, blankets, pillows, and medicine to calm the dog. It might seem like overkill, but taking cover with 6 people, 4 of them being children, for long periods of time in very tight spaces is just asking for drama. So, we are prepared for the next set of warnings.

I am also moving my two children that sleep on the opposite side of the house to my side of the house which is closest to our "safe" rooms. I have been through tornado warnings before, but this seems so much different than the other times, so I do not want to leave anything to chance.  This is some scary stuff!



I am so grateful that we do not have to experience a hurricane and at the same time I am sad for those who do. I hope everyone is as safe as possible.

Pictures from earlier:

Santa Rosa Island, Florida 28 Aug 2012

Gotta love the wind-blown hair-do

The birds taking cover from the wind

Some businesses remained open and some were boarded up and closed

My house is still boarded up. Better safe than sorry.

Where are you going Isaac? Don't you want me anymore!?

Apparently Isaac decided that Northwest Florida was not his ideal vacation spot. We are still keeping our boards up and preparing for the worst in case he changes his mind.

 
It was pretty nice out so I decided to take Charlie to the beach. She was so excited to see me in my swim wear when I woke her up that she sleepily jumped out of bed and immediately put on her swimsuit. The rest of the morning she added things to wear and bring. She even had me change "Baby" out of her nightgown into a swim suit. Look at those cute little pink wolf ears. I think those are quite appropriate for the beach.



I figured it would be red flag when we got there and I was right. I just really wanted to get her out of the house. I only grabbed a bucket and two shovels out of my large stock of beach gear.

We lasted all of about 5 minutes before the flies started biting us. The couple that left when we got there warned us and suggested staying close to the water, but that did not help.

Charlie was very sad about leaving. I had some coupon shopping to do, so I tried to make it up to her by letting her play a bit in the stores. They were quite empty so we were not bothering anyone. She even pushed the cart in one of them. Despite the disappointment, I think her morning turned out alright. I saved a total of 77% after all of my purchases. I am no extreme couponer, but I think I do alright. I also got her a donut and blue slushy so she was quite content when we got home.

We took a long nap and then the older girls and I began pulling our furniture from the yard in preparation for Isaac's tail that is supposed to hit us in a day or two. Charlie happily played on the back patio with her tricycle and chalk. It seems that she is quite ready for the storm. Look at that pretty pink scarf for the "snow."

Isaac is coming....maybe?!

Yesterday was an extremely long day for my family. My husband and I got up early and headed to the local home improvement store with the intention of buying wood and asking them to cut it. We measured all our windows, drew out diagrams; we were ready to get these windows covered.

At the home improvement store, we ran into a little snag. Their wood cutter was broken. Plan B, buy a decently priced saw (so we can use it in the future) and cut the wood ourselves. A wonderful worker helped me pick out a saw. We payed for our purchases and we were ready to get started.

I was very nervous that we would not be able to get everything done because Lew has been at work all day and night the day prior and I was worried he would be called in yesterday also; and I was right. Luckily the other person "in charge" with him was headed to the beach and volunteered to stay either until we were done or until they let everyone go home. Lew kept his phone close just in case they needed him and he was called quite a few times. It makes me extremely happy that this person volunteered to help us out. I am not sure that I could have completed the task while refereeing 4 children.

Anyhow, we measured and cut and measured and cut. We (I) had one measuring mistake, but we bought some wood for our sliding glass doors and decided that the window we messed up would be more exposed and needed to be covered instead. We worked until almost noon just cutting. We put those boards up and took a lunch break. After that we decided to cut and put up each time.

We had to figure out some issues along the way. For instance, our bay windows are not the easiest windows to cover. We had to "rig" them and we are hoping it holds. The clips we used are not meant for siding, but we had not choice. Also we have some odd shaped windows and lots of pieces of wood so we "puzzled" a few together to try to not waste wood. We had to find a way to make the clips tighter on the wood. I tried using the pliers, but I was not strong enough. Then I used my foot and it was "wonky." Lew ended up having to tighten all the clips with the pliers.

I guess I miss home ;)

We also had to try to keep 4 children from either beating each other up or tearing up the house. They survived! Bonus! My husband and I only had one tiff while doing this project. That is amazing for us. We had some good laughs too. We made fun of how our house looked like a condemned "crack house." I mentioned how my dad was amaze at how nice our cities are here. He said "where is the trash?" I think that was his way of saying I lived in a nice place. I grew up in Long Beach, California. We have trash all over the street, graffiti everywhere. It is definitely different here.

BTW, we are the only people on our street with boards up so far. I would rather be safe than sorry.