Coyote Fun

Priorities

I sat down to complain about my DSL service being down for most of the day. I was inconvenienced and irritated and felt unproductive for the better part of my day off. But today is not just a day off. It is Memorial Day. It is a day to remember those who have fallen in service to this country.

I don't remember veterans from past wars who died in service. I was too young to know of most or too naive to learn more about them when I was old enough to understand. I have known too many who have died this past year. The pleasure of knowing them hardly seems to outweight the pain of losing them. These were folks just like you and I. The want of a title brings "Hero" all too often. It is easier to accept that Heros fight and die because that is who they are. These were folks just like you and I, save for the fact that they stepped up.

They volunteered because of patriotism, to pay for college, to follow a legacy, for lack of a better direction or to repay a debt of service to this country that each of us owe in some way. They were brothers and sisters, friends and lovers, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers. They were saving for new cars and down payments on homes that they hoped to buy someday. Someday when their debt was paid and they could own a little piece of the dream they helped to preserve. They were planning vacations to distant lands more favorable than those they ultimately gave their lives in.

They gave their lives because it was what they were called to do. They went because we asked them to. They went because it is harder for them to stay than to go. They went not because of politics or terror, not Republicans or agendas. They went because we asked.

They repaid their debts and then some. They have given us the great comfort of security and the chance to reflect on admirable service and sacrifice. They make us aware of the awesome price at which our freedom comes and the staggering losses which accompany it.

Current Operation Iraqi Freedom casualty
total as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 801

May 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marine Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Codner, 19, of Wood River, Neb.; assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 26 by hostile action in Anbar province, Iraq.

Marine Cpl. Matthew C. Henderson, 25, of Lincoln, Neb.; assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 26 by hostile action in Anbar province, Iraq.

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A new day

There is something remarkable about a new day. I am not a morning person, but through the additions of children and a career over the years I have had to overcome this. I haven't really, but I have learned to make a fair go of it - getting up early and starting my day. Mornings are such a serene time and I have to come to enjoy them even when I'd rather crawl back into bed and spend them happily slumbering away.

I'm sitting outside on my porch enjoying the sounds of birds and smell of fresh-cut grass. Every morning is a new beginning and for now, this day seems untouched by those around me. Free from the this-has-been-a-terrible-day feelings that are sure to come for some, maybe even for me. Free from screaming children at the park next my house, free from the blaring music the next door neighbor plays on his car stereo while he sits in the front seat trying to look busy (please sir, get a radio for inside your house...or some better taste in music so we can live in harmony). No one has called, no one has stopped to the ring the bell. It is a day as yet unspoiled.

For my part, I am not rushing into the daily to-do list. I am content to sit and notice the day around me without jumping in to it just yet. Interestingly enough, I am sitting on my porch in my pajamas while I do a little blog reading this morning and happen upon Will Baud's advice against pajama-clad outings. To be fair, my 'pajamas' consist of a sweatshirt and comfy knit pants rather than a more traditional nightie and housecoat that one thinks of when pajamas are mentioned, but they are pajama-ish and out of place in a public setting none-the-less.

I'm not one to forgo comfort for manners on my porch on a new and perfect morning, but I do agree that the general dressed-downedness of society seems more far reaching now than in the past. One thing, however, that is against my better sense of locally accepted attire - is the notion that although pajamas are a no-no that jogging suits are OK. Around here, jogging suits, shorts, shirts, etc. are not kosher to be out and about in. I live on a military base which restricts its occupant's attire in a more traditional way than most are used to. One rule - a big one - is that PT (physical training) clothing is for PT and nothing else. In fact, you would not be admitted into most buildings in such attire here. Not to grab a gallon of milk, not to pick up the kids from daycare after hitting the gym, not to go bowling or catch a movie. You may wear such things to PT outdoors, in plain sight, or to the gym and that is all.

I've grown accustomed to these rules and even embrace them. I find myself more displeased with jogging suits on an airplane than with my neighbors wearing pajamas in their front yard. So I remain on the porch, in clear view to all who happen to look my way, wearing my pajamas. But this day is still untouched. I see no one from my perch and for this I am happy...and quite cozy.

Welcome to the world

It's a ..... blog! Congratulations Mom.

So my Mother has come over to the dark side (or away from it?) and started a blog. I, for one, am looking forward to diving in to her deepest thoughts, thus gaining the upper hand over my sibling for Mom's charitable donations to the starving students fund. Ha - take that bro. :)

Happy blogging Mom.

Purse shopping is fun

Made the purse shopping trip today. I took a friend for help.

::Purse Department::

Coyote: OK, what should I get?

S: Look for something nice, but not too nice.

C: But...what does that mean?

S: Oh, you know.

::C holds up a purse::

C: Like this one?

S: No, definitely not that one. I mean just look at it.

::C picks up another one::

C: Right. This one is much better.

::S rolls eyes and laughs::

S: That is the ugliest fucking purse I have ever seen. Get serious.

::C picks up another one::

C: (laughs) Yea, look at this one - it's hideous.

S: Ohh, I like that one. It's nice.

C: But it looks just like the other one.

S: No way, its completely different. Look, the black is a different color black, the strap is at least two inches longer and the zipper zips from the other side.

::C is confused and wandering now::

S: This one is really nice - what do you think?

C: It seems OK. I'll take it. How much is it?

S: Ohhh, it's on sale. $400.00.

C: What the....why does it cost so much?

S: Because it's nice. It will last forever.

C: What does that mean? $400? I think that's a bit steep. Look, this one looks the same and it's only 40 bucks.

::S slaps the purse out of C's hands::

S: I told you to get serious.

C: But...

S: How about this pink one?

C: Pink? Well... Pink?

S: Yes, C, pink. You do like pink don't you? I have this purse. You don't like my purse?

C: It's lovely.

S: Great. Then get this one.

C: Maybe I could get a black one - just to be safe. And it has to be bigger, I need to get my day planner in it.

S: Fine. Here's a huge 'ol ugly one that will hold your damn day planner. You'll just have to forgo style altogether.

C: But...

S: Nope that's it. Now, you need a wallet right?

C: I guess so.

S: Here's a cute one, nice and small.

C: Where do I put my change? I don't think I can fit any money in that one. What about my checkbook?

S: Fine, here's a big 'ol ugly one to match your purse.

C: Great. Hey look at this one with steers and Texas crap on it.

S: Yea, that one is terrible. R would love it.

C: (giggles)

::At the counter, paying for purse & wallet. R walks by::

R: Hi! Oh my god, are you buying a purse C? Why?

C: I don't...

S: Because that's what girls do.

C: Right. Hey - they have a horrid looking Texas thing over there, you should go check it out.

R: I bought that.

C: Oh...yea...it's nice.

R: Screw you.

Back in the here and now

I’m back to posting in real time.

Purses

I don’t carry a purse. I have always hated the idea, hated lugging around a bag of things that I rarely need, hated having to think about which purse to pair with which shoes and all the rest of the baggage that comes along with carrying a purse.

I have many things that seem to follow me from place to place now. I am feeling pressure to get a purse. I have tried before, but always manage to lose it or leave it somewhere when I’m fed up with it. But now I really think I need one. I stroll around with my day planner, cell phone and keys - always. Usually I tote smokes, lighter and gum. Cramming these things into my pockets is not very flattering and most of my business attire lacks pockets altogether anyway.

What sort of purse shall I get? Do I go for the dressy ones which suit me well during the day, but lack any personality and look odd with jeans and a T at the grocery store? Do I go for the hippie chic shoulder sling style to be sassy and hip? What the hell does that mean anyway? Black? Brown? Beige? Hooker red? Mostly I wear black, but what about the times when I don’t? I am definitely not up for multiple purses which have to be reloaded each day - that is never going to happen.

What shall I do? I think purse shopping is in my future tomorrow

Stuff

(Posted below are my thoughts, written at the time. Background - I went on a 3 day trip to the mountains with a group of folks from where I live. The locals had invited us and were gracious and kind the whole time we were there. They organized events for the kids and arranged for all our meals and lodging. Big THANKS to them - they worked hard and it was greatly appreciated by all.)

The drive up to the mountains was....nerve wracking. Half way up, the fog was so thick you could barely see the car in front of you. On a winding, two lane mountain road this is not a good thing.

(Day 2)
So we took a bus to the festivities today. It was OK - but there were posted rules on the bus.

Rule #1 - No alcohol allowed on the bus.
Rule #2 - No profanity or vulgarity.
Rule #3 - was something else but I didn’t really pay attention.

So - Rule #2 was a stretch for me, especially in light of Rule #1. I had to really work at it. All day I had to say “#2 you”. Or "those #2's over there are obnoxious” - and believe me there were a few. That’s one of the beauties of going on group trips anywhere. I had thus far avoided any group travel - having brought my own vehicle. The group activities ate enough to swallow if you know what I mean. (I wrote this while I was there and thinking about it, but I can’t really remember what that is supposed to mean. I’m retarded) But today - the trip could only be made by the group transportation mode - which is a large white school bus. Fantastics! (A friend who’s family is foreign told me this a while ago....her relatives couldn’t quite get the translation down and would always say ‘Fantastics!’ I love that - I say it all the time now.)

On the way down we saw this curious sign. I had always wanted to buy my carpet and guns at the same time, but until now was unable.

Tonight we will be picked up for dinner by a nice family. Last night we really lucked out and had a wonderful evening with a retired couple, Mr. & Mrs. J., that live up here at the lake. I think they just really enjoyed having people to entertain again. Mr. J spent quite a long while entertaining my children at the bar.... Having them try this and that - they were enthralled and he was quite the host. I gather from the layout of the house that they used to do quite a bit of entertaining. It was really a lot of fun. They served good old fashioned food with lots of hospitality. I’ll be certain to keep in touch with them - they are that kind of forever people - people that you know forever and think fondly of for many years.

Update - tonight’s dinner family was equally impressive. Mrs. H is a school principal and Mr. H. is an attorney. We spent quite a while jawing about law schools and lawyers and it was interesting and quite engaging. All in all, this too was an enjoyable evening.

Commencement

People watching today did not disappoint. I always find it remarkable that women put themselves through such torture to look beautiful - some missed entirely but tried very hard all the same. The little heals that many were precariously balanced atop scared me. Many were seen teetering down to the stage in what looked like no small amount of pain. Fascinating.

The ceremony was ceremonious. Nothing terribly interesting - no one flashed the audience as they picked up their fake degree in their real degree cover. I slipped during the recessional, but managed to stop short of falling on my ass altogether. Phewww. Of course - it was in front of the screaming masses, but I think most people didn’t notice or pretended not see out of pity - and I thank them for that.

What a great feeling it is to hear your name - pronounced correctly no less, as then hear the whoops and hollers from my friends and family. Thank you G for the big OOH RAH, I hear you frightened these nearby, good work.

The reception after left a lot to be desired. Everyone was cramped onto the courtyard outside of the building where I thought the reception would be held. Instead of making their way across, most stopped right in the middle to greet their guests and caused quite a traffic jam of bodies. Still, everyone was happy and congratulatory and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face all day. It was wonderful and I’ll remember that longer than anything else. That and the chocolate chip cookies, which were excellent.

After brought dinner with family and friends. My closest friend was there along with her mother, who has become somewhat of a surrogate mother to me over the years. I was touched when she said - “Finally! You’re the first person in the family to graduate from college.” Thanks M. And my mother, without whom this would not have been possible, was there. She gave me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings and said, “I wanted you to have something you could wear even after you become a lawyer." It was so nice.

It felt good to be there. It felt great that everyone seemed as happy as I did. When I told people that I wanted to go to law school - most frowned disapprovingly. Now that it is real and I’m actually going - they couldn’t be happier and that is awesome.

Single serve me

I’m sitting outside in the café at the hotel waiting for my laundry to wash upstairs. I like living out of a suitcase. I like single servings of everything I need & the magic of leaving my room messy only to return to fresh, crisp linens and tight hospital corners. I like going downstairs to the café and not having to cook or wash. I like sitting outside on the patio, typing, smoking a cigarette and enjoying a beverage without having to get it or put it away. I like washing my 3 days worth of clothes every 3 days and never more. I really like it - always have. Most people cringe at the thought of living away from home but I have always enjoyed it. I enjoy being home too but this is great. I need to travel more. It is peaceful - which is ironic since I’m on the corner of a busy intersection and traffic is heavy tonight - peaceful all the same....no one is asking anything of me right now. There are no children to feed, baths to give or messes to clean - I am hap hap happy. I have 23 minutes until the clothes go from washer to dryer and 23 minutes of bliss it shall be.

Disneyland

I was right - Disneyland sucks. I suppose if I was ten again it might be more fun, but seriously - who wants to wait in line for an hour to have five minutes of fun then wait in line for another hour to do it again? Not me I tell ya.

The day started off on the wrong note altogether - I woke up late. Ordinarily it wouldn’t have been that big of a deal, but then I hadn’t yet finished packing so it really put me behind schedule. I managed to get everything together, get everyone in the car and get the dog and its whatnots over to the friend who blessfully offered to dogsit while I was away (something I neglected to plan for until the day before I left - because that’s who I am).

I was back on schedule by the time I was 40 miles down the road. I’m not saying I was speeding but the fact that everyone else seemed to be going so much slower than me did make it easy to get right on around them and down the road. I was moving along at a nice clip when suddenly the 91 turned into a parking lot. I was easily delayed there by a good 30 minutes only to finally learn the cause - pictured here. Fantastic, lady - that takes some real skill. And I say lady not just because it is such a cliche - but because I saw the driver standing beside the car scratching her head. Brilliant.

After that the powers that be let me have an hour where everything fell right into place. Then Disneyland. The woman who works the ticket booth where we purchased our tickets was very friendly and quite helpful. Ahhh this isn’t going to be so bad after all. We trek over to the entrance gate and are told that the receipt we trying to present for entry just isn’t going to cut it - you need tickets! “But this is all she gave us”, we pleaded. Nevermind - this is going to suck. We trek back to the ticket booth, retrieve our tickets - to the ticket lady's glee - she giggles as she hands them over saying “I forgot to give you the tickets” tee hee. Now, you only have one job in that booth lady - take the money, give the tickets. Take the money, give the tickets.

Some things I noticed:

All the staff members call themselves The Cast. I am eating lunch and ask a cashier for some condiments. She points me in the right direction and adds, “If you can’t find it just ask any cast member”.

“Ummm ok, but all I saw were servers and cashiers over there.”

“Right - any one of the cast members will do.”

“Well I saw Captain Hook go by a while ago but I can’t think he’d want to be bothered for salsa.”

“Well - any of them, really its fine.”

Next - there are shit loads of people there and I think at some point during the day they all touched me. I felt like I had strange people’s hands all about me. People are much too touchy-feely here. I don’t like to be touched by strangers. I need a perimeter. The perimeter was not observed here - not good.

No balloon, no matter how cute, should ever cost 7 dollars.

Enough already with everything being shaped like Mickey Mouse - seriously.

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What's Next

I'm going to put up a serious of posts written while I was away, which, until now, were unpublished. I kept a good account, mostly because I seem to be in the habit of writing something every day. So there you have it.