green sour cream

Just when you think your kids are all grown up, you come home to blue milk, pink mayonnaise, green sour cream, really blue blue cheesed dressing and pink hash browns!

Army Strong!

Matthew is doing really well. Not only did he graduate but he was one of only two people who promoted. His First Sgt. had his Dad pin his rank on him. A very proud moment for everyone. He has also been given a Battalion Commanders coin. It's literally a coin that the B.C. gives when he sees a soldier who is excelling and exhibiting leadership skills. It is highly respected and very few soldiers ever get one. He was the only one in his entire company. He is now at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and awaiting a tonsillectomy. Ugh!

Here it is......

Here it is.............
Matt news:
Matt is going to graduate on the 13th of this month. I guess they are really winding things down. We don't know how he'll get to the next stage of training but I'm sure we'll find out soon. Dani and Ed are flying out to Mo. the weekend before and they'll have a little time to cruise down from St. Louis. Katie and I are going on Tuesday the 11th and we'll all come home on Saturday. We are all staying at the same hotel so I'm expecting to just hang out a lot. The hotel has an indoor pool! Matt surprised me when he casually mentioned how cold it was (actually he said he was freezing his ass off). Just because It's warm here I expect it to be warm everywhere. So, three new turtle necks, two new sweaters and a few pairs of warm socks later, I'm ready and VERY excited to go. I can't imagine how he has changed but I know he has. He tells me he is the same old Matt and I'm sure in many ways he is and always will be but I know "Mom" will notice a difference.
Work news:
I 'm not sure who knows but I have a new job! I wasn't looking and the job fell into my lap and happens to be perfect for me so I took it as a sign (creepy!) and accepted. I'm supervising the staff in a habilitative home for six severely handicapped young adults. They are really great and I have worked with them before (the clients, that is) when I worked at the high school. We provide all their daily care and programing ( not brainwashing). They have many goals like taking their own dish to the sink or wearing eye glasses for a period of twenty minutes with out throwing them on the floor. Things like that. The amount of goals is overwhelming but we manage to get them all done. The job not only suits my personality but also my school schedule. I have very flexible hours and (here's the best part) they provide full benefits. I feel really lucky and am thinking about buying a mobile home here in Carpinteria. It will feel nice to be settled for awhile. Mobile home living is maybe not the optimum situation but I can find more reasons to do it than not to so, what the hell.
School news:
School is going well. I think I have a tentative education goal but you know how things change. I have been studying Global Studies and really love it. I've always wanted to work internationally in developing countries and thought the only way was to be a nurse. I soooo don't want to be a nurse, but I do want to provide care for the needy. Global studies would allow me to work in any area, really. Environmental, Humanitarian, Communications, PolySci (yea, right!), Civil Rights. I have a couple transfer options but will probably stay at CC for as long as I can for monetary reasons. Who knows what the future holds, so for now, that's what I'm doing.
Girly news:
The girls are doing really good. Katie is really busy with work and school. She is living here quarter time. That means she still has all her stuff here and shows up every once in awhile to take a shower, eat and do laundry then she stays somewhere else at night. She doesn't say and I don't ask. We talk almost everyday so I still feel very connected. She has also taken up boxing! Everyone who knows Kate will not be surprised at this new venture. She hangs out in a boxing studio called Primo. It just kills me (in a good way). I'm really proud of how she lives life her own way. Tattoos and all (don't tell her that cause she will probably go out and get another one). Dani is still on track to graduate in January. She will still walk with her classmates in June. She just had her senior pictures taken and, of course, they came out beautiful. She has grown into such a neat young women. She is madly in love with Emmy and the two of them only seem to grow closer. They have turned me on to the T.V. show, Heros. So far we have rented seasons one and two and I'm am so hooked. Hum, I wonder what my power would be if I had one......maybe I could blink and speed up my universe so I could clean my house in a second...like Samantha on Bewitched. Dream on.
Other news:
I'm back to running, slow jog, actually. Three miles on most days. It's so easy to lose the stamina and so hard to get it back, but thanks to my Boot Camp class, I keep it going. Still fishing. Almost every week. Went on a overnight charter and came home with bags on great rock fish. Next charter is in December which will be our christmas party charter. There will be lots on food, wine, and laughter, and hopefully great fish!

I'm getting kind of done with this blog so I hope all is well with all my loved ones. I think of you everyday. I can't wait for thanksgiving so I can give you all big hugs. You have my very fond affection, Gita