tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60339859362697314292024-02-07T12:24:37.083-05:00{ an expeditionary family }beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-24278217029411572162011-05-17T21:27:00.007-05:002011-05-17T21:27:47.290-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-6723372962421821662011-05-17T21:27:00.005-05:002011-05-17T21:27:47.105-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-67095040511799528512011-05-17T21:27:00.003-05:002011-05-17T21:27:38.519-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-48218501283453988932011-05-17T21:27:00.001-05:002011-05-17T21:27:38.173-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-15682664878286951042011-05-11T09:00:00.001-05:002011-05-11T10:03:04.750-05:00reunion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTagDI21WPi4CPNWrID0LoR2ByX08uvwMN5JQhwrqBHh7ytS68r-V4-h3QKmaDzu__ZG5s1zktRtk9BOTzcR72iqSCCBpLuyRRCRaTMV8qT24ow7NvXyfGX9nRBhBLUsxkdT4i6Pfr_IZ1/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTagDI21WPi4CPNWrID0LoR2ByX08uvwMN5JQhwrqBHh7ytS68r-V4-h3QKmaDzu__ZG5s1zktRtk9BOTzcR72iqSCCBpLuyRRCRaTMV8qT24ow7NvXyfGX9nRBhBLUsxkdT4i6Pfr_IZ1/s400/Picture1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">my darling wife,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">on the eve of this long deployment ending, and this being only my second post ever, there are a few things i wanted to share with you. i've been deployed now for nearly 9 months, though we've been apart for nearly a year and a half if you include the work-up. i have to admit, it was the longest <u>most arduous</u> year and a half of my life.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">now that we're moving in together, again, i feel a sense of renewal...a new beginning. this time apart has tought me that my love for you is enduring, and it has only grown stronger with time. you make me so proud in everything you do. you are a strong, talented woman, and i am privileged to call you my wife. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
so from here forward i promise to do all i can to keep you happy. i will not get upset when clothes are left scattered about the bedroom; i will bite my tongue when the dog piddles on the carpet; i will even keep my mouth shut when you lose your car keys for 3 hours just to find them in your purse. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">all i ask for is <em><span style="color: red;"><strong>one simple request</strong></span></em> in return...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: inherit;">will you join me for a trip to <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><em>Italy</em></span> this fall? </span> all you can eat gelato is on me!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AGKRW4nSm70/TcqNbSFlw5I/AAAAAAAABqU/VUk1cUvQqQo/s1600/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AGKRW4nSm70/TcqNbSFlw5I/AAAAAAAABqU/VUk1cUvQqQo/s320/Picture3.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
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love always,<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">your husband</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-77130411299101735402011-04-30T13:27:00.001-05:002011-04-30T13:31:23.798-05:00full speed into {the wall}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--O9AVfY0UIA/TbxUa-srSXI/AAAAAAAABqE/7JZnIXgSJq8/s1600/Hitting-a-wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--O9AVfY0UIA/TbxUa-srSXI/AAAAAAAABqE/7JZnIXgSJq8/s400/Hitting-a-wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>expecting is the greatest impediment to living. in anticipation of tomorrow, it loses today. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>lucius.annaeus.seneca </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i've been off the net on our blog lately.</div><div style="text-align: center;">because without jeopardizing opsec,</div><div style="text-align: center;">i can say this:</div><div style="text-align: center;">we are <span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">in the home stretch.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">but strangely enough,</div><div style="text-align: center;">knowing how close we are to the end</div><div style="text-align: center;">has made me even <strong><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">less</span></strong> patient with this deployment.</div><div style="text-align: center;">is that strange?</div><div style="text-align: center;">you'd think that the brighter the light gets</div><div style="text-align: center;">as you near the end of the tunnel,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the easier it is to endure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">but somehow, it's more difficult <span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><em>because</em></span> it's almost over. </div><div style="text-align: center;">it's so close, you can almost feel it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">....and yet, not quite.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i've heard it referred to as <em>"the wall".</em></div><div style="text-align: center;">that point in the deployment where you just feel like:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">i'm over this.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">does this sound familiar?</div><div style="text-align: center;">what do you do when you hit the wall?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-83234054633977272222011-04-22T21:50:00.001-05:002011-04-22T21:56:52.488-05:00of horses and horizons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">if you're reading this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">thanks</span> for hanging with me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm discovering that it's tough to be a good manager,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a good student,</div><div style="text-align: center;">blogger,</div><div style="text-align: center;">friend,</div><div style="text-align: center;">wife,</div><div style="text-align: center;">all in the same breath.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">something<em> usually</em> has to give.</div><div style="text-align: center;">{guess which one that was lately?}<br />
<br />
<br />
but i'm here for now...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so time to share some photos!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">are there any <span style="font-size: large;">texas natives </span>reading this?</div><div style="text-align: center;">and if so, can i come live with you?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">holy horses.</div><div style="text-align: center;">your state is <span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">[ gorgeous.]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">i haven't been outside the city in so long,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and it didn't really hit me until i looked up from the range,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the horizon stark <strong><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">black</span></strong> from the lack of city lights,</div><div style="text-align: center;">amidst a star-dotted sky.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAuw2315gKIMTXjll1-PWSaTtqKhteH25FlvmlKAn4vmLMcf-n9CSMBF6X7F6_NyR2Hyo4Lm8I8jbMyuKGgw3p5oNbQfR_aVno6pTYgmvovjDsz-nv9Pv0IWuT2rs_NH68oT9HQS8MmCv/s1600/sunset2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAuw2315gKIMTXjll1-PWSaTtqKhteH25FlvmlKAn4vmLMcf-n9CSMBF6X7F6_NyR2Hyo4Lm8I8jbMyuKGgw3p5oNbQfR_aVno6pTYgmvovjDsz-nv9Pv0IWuT2rs_NH68oT9HQS8MmCv/s640/sunset2-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">this was actually taken at night,</div><div style="text-align: center;">in a cloudy atmosphere</div><div style="text-align: center;">under the harvest moon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and i made a little friend:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7rcGaOG7H0/TbI38qlQ_HI/AAAAAAAABp0/lMZMOwvyKo0/s1600/horses2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7rcGaOG7H0/TbI38qlQ_HI/AAAAAAAABp0/lMZMOwvyKo0/s640/horses2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">this guy lived outside my hotel.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDLeVUsek5rXNFpFUVSp8bd-m9GHMbPRoeTAXMSa3cQymPVnE74WCH0hY5wd02q8nXiFFGq7RYXJVkbAKnyjj4NqhfE1dH_49uk2N8sl9ljEq3BozTE77OLanFwRfcRlRIzil5vsY7Ph/s1600/horses1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDLeVUsek5rXNFpFUVSp8bd-m9GHMbPRoeTAXMSa3cQymPVnE74WCH0hY5wd02q8nXiFFGq7RYXJVkbAKnyjj4NqhfE1dH_49uk2N8sl9ljEq3BozTE77OLanFwRfcRlRIzil5vsY7Ph/s640/horses1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{seriously....in the <span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">front yard</span> of my hotel.}</div><div style="text-align: center;">and i might've bribed him with some carrots.</div><div style="text-align: center;">just a few.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">all in all,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CnfZN1vQtV8Us9DvJZQYAZ59x7DttLuZqhVQdZsFciMYsUpTAJ60yOdI-g7-B0eiPi5l3i5TnC0XdD3rIZ385DafU3nlIbK-so_j3Rav7WqU-eKhbWdYJIiVOZLTm2ZTE9Bg7DFs6ur5/s1600/snipersunset6-158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CnfZN1vQtV8Us9DvJZQYAZ59x7DttLuZqhVQdZsFciMYsUpTAJ60yOdI-g7-B0eiPi5l3i5TnC0XdD3rIZ385DafU3nlIbK-so_j3Rav7WqU-eKhbWdYJIiVOZLTm2ZTE9Bg7DFs6ur5/s640/snipersunset6-158.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was just another week at the office.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-42444892521517690902011-04-14T20:39:00.000-05:002011-04-14T20:39:48.399-05:00a {nod} to temptation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CV0DP1qKjW0/TaedOhRJBxI/AAAAAAAABpo/xtnBul9ejp0/s1600/nod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CV0DP1qKjW0/TaedOhRJBxI/AAAAAAAABpo/xtnBul9ejp0/s640/nod.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i got this lovely catalog in the mail today</div><div style="text-align: center;">from <span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">the land of nod.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">have you heard of it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i've been getting them for the last few months - </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">an endless array</span> of adorable decor,</div><div style="text-align: center;">clothes, and gifts</div><div style="text-align: center;">for children.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and although we have none yet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">by virtue of our friends and siblings, we now know <span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><strong>plenty</strong></span> of kids.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and these catalogs are great for generating gift ideas.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">but for me, they're also pretty good </div><div style="text-align: center;">at generating <span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">a little</span> anxiety.</div><div style="text-align: center;">because i'm already challenged to limit my purchases of stuff <em>for myself.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">throwing away a restoration hardware catalog</div><div style="text-align: center;">or a j. crew spread</div><div style="text-align: center;">is like an addict washing their stash down the drain.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">so hard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">but soooo necessary to the survival of our bank account.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and frankly, of our spirits.</div><div style="text-align: center;">because do we really<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"> need</span> all that stuff, anyway?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">still, with all this temptation,</div><div style="text-align: center;">what's it going to be like</div><div style="text-align: center;">when i have a super adorable little person to adorn?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsnW-0x4MyM/TaehNjhOWgI/AAAAAAAABps/GmZ9-WvHSNM/s1600/Land_of_Nod_-_Kate_Quinn_Organics_-_Baby_Infant_Apparel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsnW-0x4MyM/TaehNjhOWgI/AAAAAAAABps/GmZ9-WvHSNM/s400/Land_of_Nod_-_Kate_Quinn_Organics_-_Baby_Infant_Apparel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i mean, really.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">could you resist?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so wish us {luck}!</div><div style="text-align: center;">or better yet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">wish me<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> will power</span>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-56492078597652984902011-04-10T19:59:00.000-05:002011-04-10T19:59:42.190-05:00almost like being {home}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i ended up working part of last week</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the same north cackalackey town</div><div style="text-align: center;">where the husband is stationed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">of course,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the town is still devoid of husband,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but i got as close to him as i could:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">i borrowed his bed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rb499pQ1SRg/TaEPB7qElwI/AAAAAAAABpI/U7N48IcLZWg/s1600/bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rb499pQ1SRg/TaEPB7qElwI/AAAAAAAABpI/U7N48IcLZWg/s640/bed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">see, before he deployed,</div><div style="text-align: center;">husband moved most of his belongings into storage</div><div style="text-align: center;">and kept just the essentials </div><div style="text-align: center;">at his sister's home in the area.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and she graciously let me stay over last night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and is it weird that i was excited</div><div style="text-align: center;"> to see his <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">{stuff}?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBL6MAKFDjmDAA20jvxet2AOe3kBC-zRfwIiuB4GHo4hQRJ5EGDR3tzXg3y2Iy_fxo_EAESkN1K_HLjVl1xDWHcsJwezKHMzqf7givqokzLG1LUjjGdNdc-1EiTkmTfQ6tEHkfcsMtNyK/s1600/Picnik+collage+mikestuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBL6MAKFDjmDAA20jvxet2AOe3kBC-zRfwIiuB4GHo4hQRJ5EGDR3tzXg3y2Iy_fxo_EAESkN1K_HLjVl1xDWHcsJwezKHMzqf7givqokzLG1LUjjGdNdc-1EiTkmTfQ6tEHkfcsMtNyK/s640/Picnik+collage+mikestuff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">pretty sure that under any other circumstances,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this would be called</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">"stalking."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">luckily, since we're married,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it's just called:</div><div style="text-align: center;">i miss you, babe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-8272930319870754302011-04-09T20:45:00.001-05:002011-04-09T20:46:53.983-05:00local {flavor}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">ever notice how each military town has its <span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">quirks?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">the things that make it uniquely what it is...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and when your friends announce their next duty station,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can name all of its distinguishing traits.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>por ejemplo...</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">if you ever visit jacksonville, nc....</div><div style="text-align: center;">proud home of a Marine base,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a quiet small town,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you’ll probably notice an abundance</div><div style="text-align: center;">of three kinds of places:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i. auto shops</div><div style="text-align: center;">ii. furniture stores</div><div style="text-align: center;">iii. strip joints</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">soooooo.</div><div style="text-align: center;">given how prevalent these places are</div><div style="text-align: center;">surely, a person could be forgiven</div><div style="text-align: center;">for thinking that an establishment called <span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">“Driftwood”</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">falls into category two.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-135Vyx1R030/TaELUjizsiI/AAAAAAAABpA/3tS76tCl7TA/s1600/driftwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-135Vyx1R030/TaELUjizsiI/AAAAAAAABpA/3tS76tCl7TA/s640/driftwood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and that person would be wrong.</div><div style="text-align: center;">because it belongs</div><div style="text-align: center;">to category three.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">or</span>, as my teammate explained it,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>sure, that place sells furniture! </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>like tall metal poles. and "pillows".)</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JdPFkn6hscOyGl1xn2JBPrUSjgv5gHXPxwMCGZyVLC8QyLS-krpGJMQtpc8W8oHWu7sxlxMzgWlZiJdnJXLa3udcVMOLj__ery-xunbfEUUxtsP7Z3ALyT0k9qAiEitB7nvnCd9U-j5B/s1600/Dancer_Silhouette_jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JdPFkn6hscOyGl1xn2JBPrUSjgv5gHXPxwMCGZyVLC8QyLS-krpGJMQtpc8W8oHWu7sxlxMzgWlZiJdnJXLa3udcVMOLj__ery-xunbfEUUxtsP7Z3ALyT0k9qAiEitB7nvnCd9U-j5B/s1600/Dancer_Silhouette_jpg.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>[oohhhhhhh.]</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">luckily, i got educated <span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><u>before</u></span> i went in to look for a new ottoman.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">close call.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-81180108092287746772011-04-06T22:39:00.000-05:002011-04-06T22:39:16.022-05:00shabby {chic}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nomodellady.com/"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbH_pgmUdr33pmOF8AKK5c4Zscb6p1PeWshHNuFNebRsVHUdyIqAuk1nb1vLj7UZs7Bq1RXRIcR9JfBFoboljZ4UP1XW3lkHBTSA8Wq9BhHUK496jHsNTZ7pK8DKr2YeLrGq0kas-UFjd/s1600/dressed+up.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">now really, Lady.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you know i already like you, right?</div><div style="text-align: center;">you didn't <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><strong>need</strong> </span>to include<a href="http://www.nomodellady.com/2011/04/all-dressed-up-shabby-giveaway.html"> a discount to shabby apple</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">in your dressed up post this week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">*sigh*. <span style="color: black;"><em>alright</em>.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">i'll use it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">twist my arm.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">in honor of lady's generosity,</div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm pulling out my shabbiness...</div><div style="text-align: center;">even if the weather is still a little chilly for bare legs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9zfHIBSK0c/TZ0wrQX3EbI/AAAAAAAABo0/4NVAZvP9fWY/s1600/Picnik+collage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="590" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9zfHIBSK0c/TZ0wrQX3EbI/AAAAAAAABo0/4NVAZvP9fWY/s640/Picnik+collage3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- dress:</span><a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">shabby</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, what else? - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- shoes:target -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- bracelet: thrifted - pearls: gifted - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">not sure that they still offer this style,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but the<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-503-lindy-hop.aspx"><span style="font-size: large;">lindy hop</span></a> is pretty similar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{and ps to my dear husband...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-975-trevi-fountain.aspx">this lovely</a> is going on our honeymoon with us.</div><div style="text-align: center;">if you get my drift.}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbbGEL2m2N0/TZ0xSwPugBI/AAAAAAAABo4/BHDSMw383KA/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbbGEL2m2N0/TZ0xSwPugBI/AAAAAAAABo4/BHDSMw383KA/s400/images.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{and i will<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"> even</span> strike that pose for you.}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-66463814286599992242011-04-05T05:00:00.000-05:002011-04-05T05:00:31.366-05:00morning {glory}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sJF2NwGV3gXp8Ec1ucTj8MbXQDU8hyTSTJN7ONtS8lC7111rE0pkJYaJfpEZboX8Hmkygnt-fiRuV4NkLuqayf1tWYRAUKmAqUCw2_N9pzT3xK821YGpH4Ii1Lvkmq-l7kxd1vgw03T9/s1600/156_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sJF2NwGV3gXp8Ec1ucTj8MbXQDU8hyTSTJN7ONtS8lC7111rE0pkJYaJfpEZboX8Hmkygnt-fiRuV4NkLuqayf1tWYRAUKmAqUCw2_N9pzT3xK821YGpH4Ii1Lvkmq-l7kxd1vgw03T9/s640/156_edited-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>i thank You God</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>for most this amazing day:</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>for the leaping greenly spirits of tree</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>and a blue true dream of sky;</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>and for everything which is natural</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>which is infinite</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>which is yes</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">e.e. cummings</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">this is from my sunday morning at the basin<br />
along with my kindred spirit in lowercase letters, my man e.e.</div><div style="text-align: center;">i <u>couldn't resist</u> sharing them with you.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">hope that yours is <span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">an amazing day</span>, too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-65737843778606920352011-04-02T19:02:00.000-05:002011-04-02T19:02:48.779-05:00these {slippers} were made for walkin'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">after my first vegas trade show two years ago,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my feet were <span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">dying.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">two days of suits, high heels, and lots of walking</div><div style="text-align: center;">and i was ready to cut myself off at the ankles.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">refusing to fly home uncomfortable,</div><div style="text-align: center;">{and having failed to pack tennis shoes}</div><div style="text-align: center;">i went in search of a comfy alternative at the nearest gift shop.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">enter:</span> my ed hardy lowtops.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkcd4uiQs2UGvSnxI-_ajl5wOCbBF7v58o2Zw8ZzR2BzMfk3QyB4v5MG9eUxhpjOwgJHieothHgQPEZTiPok6fNodLSAypwF6YYXhFIjb00gUpYpN9aR2cfvoLKFGvtywaHfjzGugZB00/s1600/043_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkcd4uiQs2UGvSnxI-_ajl5wOCbBF7v58o2Zw8ZzR2BzMfk3QyB4v5MG9eUxhpjOwgJHieothHgQPEZTiPok6fNodLSAypwF6YYXhFIjb00gUpYpN9aR2cfvoLKFGvtywaHfjzGugZB00/s640/043_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm not going to lie:</div><div style="text-align: center;">i bought them because they were <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">on sale.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">ed's not normally my kind of guy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and now they're my favorite pair.</div><div style="text-align: center;">comfy. fun.<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"> with a twist of badass.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">{or as badass as you can be while wearing sequins.}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so this year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">i went back to that gift shop in search of second pair.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">alas, no ed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">but i did find these beauties instead:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-srsochskPuc/TZe4e_o-1uI/AAAAAAAABoc/uTFrMPWZkoc/s1600/052_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-srsochskPuc/TZe4e_o-1uI/AAAAAAAABoc/uTFrMPWZkoc/s640/052_edited-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">equally comfortable...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and they make me feel the opposite of badass.</div><div style="text-align: center;">a little ballerina-ish, actually.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFcHdCgkah5fm91gElk-36_B-FMgOpaKkLLXuLKElLSZ9dpiTkVLkoO7NHjwhyphenhyphenpVLLz0axWh3SXu0maCpC-OYVDFssLPMfrHVlHnPUNNTo7QQaKFimKT5AjJ3UQLqV39CbRFQmCi6kGi0/s1600/021_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFcHdCgkah5fm91gElk-36_B-FMgOpaKkLLXuLKElLSZ9dpiTkVLkoO7NHjwhyphenhyphenpVLLz0axWh3SXu0maCpC-OYVDFssLPMfrHVlHnPUNNTo7QQaKFimKT5AjJ3UQLqV39CbRFQmCi6kGi0/s640/021_edited-2.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">every girl has a favorite pair.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and you might find me packing uncomfortably from now on,</div><div style="text-align: center;">just to find my next!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-43463938669330057782011-03-31T23:23:00.014-05:002011-04-01T08:18:59.843-05:00{milspouse weekly round up}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i'm stoked be hosting this week's</div><div style="text-align: center;">milspouse weekly round up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rW--gJs4c1c/TZVIWOlRRGI/AAAAAAAABoE/kO0HTDxGEzE/s1600/milspouse+WRO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rW--gJs4c1c/TZVIWOlRRGI/AAAAAAAABoE/kO0HTDxGEzE/s1600/milspouse+WRO.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
if this is your first time,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">here's the battle rhythm:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">submit a link below to your favorite </div><div style="text-align: center;">post of the week on your blog,</div><div style="text-align: center;">then have fun reading others' entries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">if this is your first time {here},</div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm so glad you stopped by....!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">our <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">{family} sitrep</span> looks something like this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">boy....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCc9vzTCvwgXwe4xt8O01vC2QFKZ3UnXKkQGfmR2LqaQcxA-hl31aN84qlKWElVLuML3CY-9PlnGOnTk5ONojZARmsUdwEMLLNJFVDv0opwVh4Bk2zYY77SpVu9F499gSU975uJEef40t/s1600/0130-e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCc9vzTCvwgXwe4xt8O01vC2QFKZ3UnXKkQGfmR2LqaQcxA-hl31aN84qlKWElVLuML3CY-9PlnGOnTk5ONojZARmsUdwEMLLNJFVDv0opwVh4Bk2zYY77SpVu9F499gSU975uJEef40t/s400/0130-e.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">meets girl.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmbw09G61G3MvlIgolTSDSU1s8rMbQOc90LOQC0Q5MPCGhVtAn-UCcU1LUXTlkHtVdMkhM460WcaxrNpdaDAHRLG6ni8eyuWm_Ddbs6gzOGglo9XDgE57Fdc_bPhPAgs-fSzB46jLd6py/s1600/0035-e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmbw09G61G3MvlIgolTSDSU1s8rMbQOc90LOQC0Q5MPCGhVtAn-UCcU1LUXTlkHtVdMkhM460WcaxrNpdaDAHRLG6ni8eyuWm_Ddbs6gzOGglo9XDgE57Fdc_bPhPAgs-fSzB46jLd6py/s400/0035-e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">boy marries girl.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HqJXP6rhL0I/TZVHiZvqE8I/AAAAAAAABoA/-gz9-RVUylw/s1600/0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HqJXP6rhL0I/TZVHiZvqE8I/AAAAAAAABoA/-gz9-RVUylw/s400/0621.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">boy submits paperwork to get out of the marine corps.</div><div style="text-align: center;">girl submits application to grad school.</div><div style="text-align: center;">boy gets unexpected great opportunity if he stays in the corps.</div><div style="text-align: center;">girl gets into grad school.<br />
double win!....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">....can you see where this is going?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so boy moves down to a sleepy town in north carolina,</div><div style="text-align: center;">while girl holds down the fort</div><div style="text-align: center;">{and a job, and a few classes, and a ravenous dog}</div><div style="text-align: center;">in their home up north.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then boy deploys.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wjUVcVTTABc/TZVRD3GhN3I/AAAAAAAABoQ/6Yf0UldaJK0/s1600/Saying_Goodbye%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wjUVcVTTABc/TZVRD3GhN3I/AAAAAAAABoQ/6Yf0UldaJK0/s320/Saying_Goodbye%255B1%255D.JPG" width="220" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
but soon enough, boy will come home,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then the two get to live together again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">{.the.end.}</span><br />
<br />
<br />
or really, more like <span style="color: black;">the beginning....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIK5yjfEnTY/TZVA_wmznhI/AAAAAAAABnw/1_lUs5i0SsM/s1600/0042-e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIK5yjfEnTY/TZVA_wmznhI/AAAAAAAABnw/1_lUs5i0SsM/s400/0042-e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so now you're up to date - </div><div style="text-align: center;">and i can't wait to meet you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">who's hosting next week?<br />
athena!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">{aka mama2six}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">you can meet her here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mama2six.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s4LI8wmqe1o/TZXQZvf1FdI/AAAAAAAABoU/Y8UjzlGCJVw/s1600/mama2six.png" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>have a good weekend!</strong><br />
<br />
and link up : )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div><br />
<br />
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=82918" type="text/javascript">
</script></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-14884849563159741042011-03-31T20:36:00.005-05:002011-03-31T21:25:39.085-05:00your blog {and mine}, reviewed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogguidebook.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac123/beautifymyblog/1851fd74.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">the lovely blog guidebook</div><div style="text-align: center;">has been offering a blog critique service lately,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and out of overwhelming curiosity,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">i went for it.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i wasn't sure what to expect...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and if you're interested, <span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">here's the essentials</span> of what you get:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i. a numeric review of various factors in your site....design, content, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;">ii. an overall assessment: 'leave it!' or 'room for improvement'</div><div style="text-align: center;">iii. positive and constructive feedback</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">surprisingly (to me, at least),</div><div style="text-align: center;">we got high marks on everything.</div><div style="text-align: center;">with one <span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">glaring</span> exception:</div><div style="text-align: center;">social media.</div><div style="text-align: center;">as in, we're not doing it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and that's no good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">dangit.</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i have to be honest:</div><div style="text-align: center;">social media for blogging is starting to freak me out.</div><div style="text-align: center;">only because there are <span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">so many options.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">blogfrog</div><div style="text-align: center;">facebook</div><div style="text-align: center;">twitter</div><div style="text-align: center;">networked blogs</div><div style="text-align: center;">problogger</div><div style="text-align: center;">SITS girls</div><div style="text-align: center;">business 2 blogger</div><div style="text-align: center;">.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">oh.my.lord.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> really?</div><div style="text-align: center;">if you have a job,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or a toddler,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or are going to school</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">or any combination of these,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">you, like me, are probably just grateful to get 5 hours of sleep a night.</div><div style="text-align: center;">{and somehow find time to write a post</div><div style="text-align: center;">for your deployed husband, who is asking for another one.}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so how does a good blogger make time for all this web networking?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">or it is easier than i think it is?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-24619515309082786642011-03-29T08:45:00.000-05:002011-03-29T08:45:22.559-05:00bright lights, big city<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">hey kids...</div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm in vegas,</div><div style="text-align: center;">{again}.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6ap5Dso9EQ/TZHiDK3m7yI/AAAAAAAABns/Vzg1KIxSWb0/s1600/ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6ap5Dso9EQ/TZHiDK3m7yI/AAAAAAAABns/Vzg1KIxSWb0/s640/ice+cream.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">somehow, homework is just so much easier to swallow</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a spoonful of salted caramel gelato,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a sip of cafe americano.</div><div style="text-align: center;">ya know?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-32905074963245913992011-03-26T07:22:00.000-05:002011-03-26T07:22:09.193-05:00your skin is {gorgeous}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">if you happen to be in fredericksburg, va</div><div style="text-align: center;">par-taying on the battlefields in your tri-cornered hat....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">you should stop by <a href="http://www.fredericksburgskin.com/default.html"><span style="font-size: large;">the looking glass</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and visit my girl, val.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fredericksburgskin.com/default.html"><img border="0" height="256" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFyatnpxqXjeBW-BQurgsfJeua5TGD78-mdk0jnLFoUHh8JTcK3qLgZt7BUpHXlOSOqJG1GII8saLf9ZA_evb0lZFphPvVmHVEMz0vQZpdA3gInWYXtbEi583j3fOph9nTJ7MSd-cIJkC/s320/fredericksburgskin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
she's a phenomenally talented aesthetician</div><div style="text-align: center;">who's been doing <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">wonders</span> for me for years.</div><div style="text-align: center;">{more so lately than normal.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">if i didn't get her help soon, i'd be wearing a burqa to the husband's homecoming.}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">she'll take the time to walk you through your options, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and she's extremely detailed and thorough.</div><div style="text-align: center;">if that weren't enough,</div><div style="text-align: center;">her services are <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">totally affordable.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">i almost didn't believe this when i saw it:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Initial Facial Offer Includes: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>{One Hundred Dollars, Two and a Half Hours}</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Intake Interview: Objectives & Solutions</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cleanse and Assess </div><div style="text-align: center;">Appropriate Exfoliation</div><div style="text-align: center;">Corrective Masque Steamed Towel </div><div style="text-align: center;">Extractions as Necessary</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brow Groom </div><div style="text-align: center;">Under Eye Lymph Drain</div><div style="text-align: center;">One Zone Facial Sculpting </div><div style="text-align: center;">Custom Facial: Correct Feed Protect</div><div style="text-align: center;">Concluding Dialogue</div><div style="text-align: center;">Trial Size Products for Your Scenario</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">say <span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;">wha??</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">that kind of pampering </div><div style="text-align: center;">can run at the same price as a coach bag in some places. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">nothing beats beauty that won't break the bank.</span><br />
{go 'head....say that five times fast.}<br />
<br />
<br />
this is a totally unsponsored plug, folks -<br />
val's amazing<br />
and she'll do great things for <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">your pretty face.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
you're welcome. : ) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-utMO2E4SNoI/TY3YvK-Um_I/AAAAAAAABno/bY_d9EldOEw/s1600/signature-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-utMO2E4SNoI/TY3YvK-Um_I/AAAAAAAABno/bY_d9EldOEw/s1600/signature-2.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></a></div><br />
</div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-64037586594989086452011-03-24T21:22:00.000-05:002011-03-24T21:22:19.512-05:00the ease of email<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">does anyone subscribe to blogs via email?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i've signed up for a few - </div><div style="text-align: center;">mostly you crazy wordpress folks...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">and i dig it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i didn't think i would - </div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>because it's not like i don't check enough emails on a daily basis</em> - </div><div style="text-align: center;">but these messages are actually enjoyable,</div><div style="text-align: center;">because they're about you guys!</div><div style="text-align: center;">and because they come straight to me....no google reader required.</div><div style="text-align: center;">i take my blog news delivered on a silver platter, thankyou.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">now, are you ready for it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">the cheap plug:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">now you can get us in your email, too!</div><div style="text-align: center;">and via rss. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">just enter your email address in the block</div><div style="text-align: center;">underneath this guy:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWejsYKXcQs3dtU8Lie8FyxypPvvwZq-ZOaoOe7Z3iQdModCbC6CkmqxEsB77MjAZBt7tjXjnwETPAZkgf4OQnY2leid0pRIWITdeAwvaVkzk65SS2tGrZsKp8CMJwLSaiM5Vqa-C3xLC/s1600/emailbutton2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWejsYKXcQs3dtU8Lie8FyxypPvvwZq-ZOaoOe7Z3iQdModCbC6CkmqxEsB77MjAZBt7tjXjnwETPAZkgf4OQnY2leid0pRIWITdeAwvaVkzk65SS2tGrZsKp8CMJwLSaiM5Vqa-C3xLC/s200/emailbutton2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we'll bring updates <span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">straight to your inbox.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">that's just the kind of service we deliver around here. ; ) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-86970530165061442112011-03-23T08:53:00.000-05:002011-03-23T08:53:59.792-05:00riveted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilclV-i_LhlOLR3OKu2vS3NETeJfsKNHffUtpiWjjjP24tOKgYMJVVb4TJiasQo-PWB_QYjeay3vCdYt3O2lRSQDLztrjboQcQSwgSaJyWHW1t9M6AVzxdnZzxEJVPVaEjXveN-OPBZ_b_/s1600/libya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilclV-i_LhlOLR3OKu2vS3NETeJfsKNHffUtpiWjjjP24tOKgYMJVVb4TJiasQo-PWB_QYjeay3vCdYt3O2lRSQDLztrjboQcQSwgSaJyWHW1t9M6AVzxdnZzxEJVPVaEjXveN-OPBZ_b_/s640/libya.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via afp</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">have you been watching the news on libya?</div><div style="text-align: center;">i have. like it's my second job.</div><div style="text-align: center;">without jeopardizing opsec, i can tell you,</div><div style="text-align: center;">part of my fascination is personal. </div><div style="text-align: center;">you know. <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><em>personal.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">but the other part my interest is just the pure, fascinating<span style="color: #990000;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>drama</strong></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">of the libyan rebellion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">it started out as legitimate protests against a socialist leader</div><div style="text-align: center;">and accelerated into near civil war,</div><div style="text-align: center;">with untrained civilians taking up arms against professional warfighters.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and swirling all around them:</div><div style="text-align: center;">a political debate of global proportions.</div><div style="text-align: center;">most of the world's free nations deliberating what their role ought to be in this fight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">seriously....</div><div style="text-align: center;">can you <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">imagine?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">no. we can't.</div><div style="text-align: center;">it might as well be happening in another dimension - </div><div style="text-align: center;">a certifiably insane head of state versus a band of citizen underdogs,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and every Western nation on the planet watchng.</div><div style="text-align: center;">we can't imagine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">thank god.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">most of us can't imagine waking up to gunfire at 0200,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or being publicly and physically threatened by our nation's leader,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or seeing our playgrounds turned into battlegrounds. </div><div style="text-align: center;">we're just that fortunate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">for now, we can (and we will)</div><div style="text-align: center;">continue to watch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and debate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">{</span>and pray.<span style="font-size: large;">}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-39132133095879968952011-03-20T22:31:00.000-05:002011-03-20T22:31:56.129-05:00look, mom! look what i did!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i made this blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;">me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">not that it's particularly special....</div><div style="text-align: center;">(in fact, you may even like the old format better....</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can tell me about that in the comments section.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">but that's not really what i'm getting at.</div><div style="text-align: center;">the point is: i made it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">-designed-photographed-edited-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">.by.moi.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">take<span style="color: magenta;"> <span style="font-size: large;">that</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">,</span> html!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-70057623476854650622011-03-18T21:38:00.000-05:002011-03-18T21:38:55.358-05:00my other home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">dudes.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm here.</div><div style="text-align: center;">as in, i'm <em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">here</span></em>....in the business building:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T5_gHCp6XFc/TYQWy9tT3uI/AAAAAAAABko/nna7R9CGYBg/s1600/harriri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T5_gHCp6XFc/TYQWy9tT3uI/AAAAAAAABko/nna7R9CGYBg/s640/harriri.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">allllll the time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i think i've figured out </div><div style="text-align: center;">why my tuition is so crazy expensive:</div><div style="text-align: center;">it's not really tuition. it's <span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">rent.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">miss you, blog friends. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">happy {almost} spring....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-65653216419606217272011-03-15T18:30:00.000-05:002011-03-15T18:30:07.287-05:00an awkward introduction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tettMatdRdo/TX_1Q7DQXNI/AAAAAAAABkk/ucBt9Bqccaw/s1600/MannekenPis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tettMatdRdo/TX_1Q7DQXNI/AAAAAAAABkk/ucBt9Bqccaw/s400/MannekenPis.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">dear gentleman at caribou coffee.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">there are these handy little things</div><div style="text-align: center;">called <span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">"locks"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">that mankind has installed on nearly all doors.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">even bathroom ones.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">could you please learn how to activate them?</div><div style="text-align: center;">so maybe next time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we won't have to get to know each other </div><div style="text-align: center;">quite so fast.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">knicemeetingyoubye!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-8480815073476682122011-03-13T00:39:00.000-05:002011-03-13T00:39:28.253-05:00::twenty....what day am i on again?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i'm probably not the world's <span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">worst </span>blogger....</div><div style="text-align: center;">but i'm definitely competing for the title.</div><div style="text-align: center;">whatever happened to my photo-a-day goal?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the spirit of getting back on the saddle,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's an idea of how i spent my saturday morning:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e9CaVV1Z-28/TXxTvUBYB4I/AAAAAAAABkc/HuCCnI6PDL4/s1600/rubybracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e9CaVV1Z-28/TXxTvUBYB4I/AAAAAAAABkc/HuCCnI6PDL4/s640/rubybracelet.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">this cutie is my college roommate's daughter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">i've known her since she was just 8 weeks old,</div><div style="text-align: center;">an adorable, but mostly sleeping, little lump.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and now she's a running, climbing, tossing, throwing,</div><div style="text-align: center;">singing, talking, beaming <span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">little person</span>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i know that kids are born every day,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but somehow, that doesn't take away from how<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"> amazing</span> it is</div><div style="text-align: center;">to see them grow up.</div><div style="text-align: center;">or watch them master the next task.</div><div style="text-align: center;">what is it that's so exciting</div><div style="text-align: center;">about hearing them guess the color correctly - "<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">blue</span>" - for the first time?</div><div style="text-align: center;">or so compelling</div><div style="text-align: center;">about seeing them look around for their mom or dad?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eMwqUkxLWIk/TXxVZ2wtCRI/AAAAAAAABkg/OB7qDMDmELQ/s1600/rubywindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eMwqUkxLWIk/TXxVZ2wtCRI/AAAAAAAABkg/OB7qDMDmELQ/s640/rubywindow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">maybe it's because you're seeing the world through new eyes - </div><div style="text-align: center;">a window into a world that we adults just don't remember.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">the only thing i can say for sure</div><div style="text-align: center;">is that i'll remain full of awe for these tiny accomplishments!</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a grateful spectator.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-33670791263079296622011-03-09T20:44:00.001-05:002011-03-09T20:45:23.209-05:00dressed for speed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVaiWpD6UeyJBIdH3gr8Ff1rXjMk-FrNBD2gOdnuBbgYMDXXz1qQRh1jbxbA9DpiuZHs94cOcVQZottqZdQas8_yXkA2BqUVzmiGY38WzdLX7L4gr3anfY9_DtqbZ3Mr6oJ-Bh65ZE5IU/s1600/dressed+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVaiWpD6UeyJBIdH3gr8Ff1rXjMk-FrNBD2gOdnuBbgYMDXXz1qQRh1jbxbA9DpiuZHs94cOcVQZottqZdQas8_yXkA2BqUVzmiGY38WzdLX7L4gr3anfY9_DtqbZ3Mr6oJ-Bh65ZE5IU/s1600/dressed+up.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">you're about to get a look</div><div style="text-align: center;">at my no-kidding, absolute all-time favorite outfit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">readyyyyyyy, go:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7EFWS4W0VcI/TXgmiDKiQWI/AAAAAAAABkQ/Zhv5JtlMAiY/s1600/workoutclothes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7EFWS4W0VcI/TXgmiDKiQWI/AAAAAAAABkQ/Zhv5JtlMAiY/s640/workoutclothes1.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">no joke. this is the best for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">after starting grad school,</div><div style="text-align: center;">i made <span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">every excuse</span> in the book to ignore my health, </div><div style="text-align: center;">most commonly: i have to do homework.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">but when the deployment started, i had to deal with the stress somehow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and <span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">studying </span>just wasn't cutting it in the catharsis department.</div><div style="text-align: center;">so instead: running.</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjWTRGSbmStoE4iVw_zaqkyJLkuZAXI2iXfFi9AnQdEc0mXtn-VjAg4z_qEz6e0adS7opLYjmyYODW89ED_h-JWCv7aPjEYeWs5xjGw6_m3ipslQnLbGBxq5VE3HcBo8kmJDiy2RrG6sC/s1600/workoutclothes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjWTRGSbmStoE4iVw_zaqkyJLkuZAXI2iXfFi9AnQdEc0mXtn-VjAg4z_qEz6e0adS7opLYjmyYODW89ED_h-JWCv7aPjEYeWs5xjGw6_m3ipslQnLbGBxq5VE3HcBo8kmJDiy2RrG6sC/s640/workoutclothes2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-top: tj maxx-pants: ross-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-heart rate monitor: timex-sneakers: amazon (reebok runtone) -</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it's been a saving grace for me:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">even on my worst days,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when i just want to quit,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i feel a little bit <span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">stronger</span> knowing that, in a few hours,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i get to put on these clothes,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and leave it all behind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">go ahead: show off <span style="font-size: large;">your </span>favorite outfit -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">link up with <a href="http://soldierslady.blogspot.com/2011/03/all-dressed-up_08.html">lady!</a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033985936269731429.post-3135819708736919752011-03-06T16:46:00.003-05:002011-03-06T16:57:48.756-05:00it has arrived...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">so i know i <span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">said</span><br />
i was going to be all fit and healthy for the husband's homecoming.<br />
but if i suddenly balloon to 900 lbs,<br />
you'll know why:<br />
sprinkles cupcakes has <span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">finally</span> hit our town.<br />
<br />
<br />
and just three tiiiiiiny blocks from my school.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ozFRGSxJzxw/TXQABjnRrfI/AAAAAAAABjs/43aMz33JpSM/s1600/sprinkles+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ozFRGSxJzxw/TXQABjnRrfI/AAAAAAAABjs/43aMz33JpSM/s400/sprinkles+map.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">yes, the cupcake fad is a little overplayed....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>i guess.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">if it's possible to get tired of cake and frosting.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">but these things are un-be-lievable.</div><div style="text-align: center;">i had one three years ago in l.a.,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and i am<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"> still</span> dreaming about it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">{excuse me one sec....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">need to wipe this drool off the keyboard.}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i've been seriously debating having them delivered,<br />
but for $25,<br />
it only makes sense to order a dozen, right?<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">right??</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-woOn_kpyX70/TXQCH46Vs3I/AAAAAAAABjw/cpLXlevFl6M/s1600/individual+cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-woOn_kpyX70/TXQCH46Vs3I/AAAAAAAABjw/cpLXlevFl6M/s400/individual+cupcake.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" width="326" /></a></div>so......if anyone wants to go in on some cupcakes,<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">i'm here for you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI5ibSFMk8T8x7WgMP1NEbSp8ZWx_Ws3WOFJaSGNkAZaByrOovpiOGj123_ogFFQOGvamnk2chvd9La12-sERknNNQPDpsdvHqh79VAFf5GwkibqvnsX_I3_ujLuemxdlJxda03duom8N/s200/signature-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></div></div>beth @ {expeditionaryfamily}http://www.blogger.com/profile/08908200165567509963noreply@blogger.com7