Peace

Ah...10:27 pm on a Sunday night. The kiddoes are fast asleep and I am brewing a pot of freshly ground coffee, watching the Insomniac Tour on Comedy Central, and waiting for the dryer to buzz. (Yes people, I said brewing coffee...I got it like that!)

This is my time. I can clean to my hearts content, watch a little television, even take a stroll around my yard to pick up after a long weekend of dodge ball and trampoline parties. All without any interruptions (save for Sumo's occasional plea to be let out). My house is quiet, the phone isn't ringing, and I can R-E-L-A-X. Woo Hoo!!!

Our weekends are always so busy, even though we rarely leave the neighborhood. This house is reminiscent of Grand Central Station, with not only my six kids in and out, but all of their little friends as well.

"Mommy, can I have a snack? And can Lamar have one too?" "Momma, Isaac scraped his knee and needs a band-aid." "Mommy, Lauren's house is too far away. Can she use our restroom?" "Mom, can Jonathan come in to play the playstation?" "Hey mom, Shelby and I are gonna be on the phone in my room." "Momma, Jenny and I are going to play barbies." For heaven's sake, how many friends do these kids really need?!

If the kids get too awfully bored then I turn into "Mommy chauffeur". Driving the kids to the movie theater, the store, friends houses across town, and the never-ending stream of birthday parties. Ah yes and lest we forget that football season in almost upon us. Thus our Friday nights and Saturday mornings will soon be jam packed with games as well. Oh sweet Jesus! How ever will we survive!?!?!?!

No matter. It's only the weekend. Two days a week of chaos, then we can return to our weekly schedule. (Which is only chaotic after 3:00 pm) Writing a Thank You note to the Superintendent of Schools as we speak.

Ah the aroma of coffee beckons me...as does the buzz of the dryer. Off to my "end of the weekend" duties. Sweet Silence.

My New Man

It's October. Time to summon a little creativity and gear up for all the upcoming costume parties.

Here's a photo of me, "Somethinmirelda", and my new man "Ja" (aka: K.L.). She won best costume tonight at Bunko (picture...poker night, only with women, dice, & prizes!).

Funniest part of the evening? Driving to Camp Shields and having to stop at the Guard Gate. I hand the man my ID. He glances at it, uninterested...eyes K.L. in the passenger seat...and says, "Excuse me sir, do you have an ID?"

I break into laughter. "Ma'am. You mean ma'am." I'm tearing up now and can barely breathe. K.L. is laughing and attempting to lift her wig to prove that she is a woman. The poor MP didn't know what to say. "Uh, okay. Just go ahead". Yep, she's my new guy now.

Oh and Al...look closely...my hair is LONG in this photo. That's as close as you're gonna get babe.

Kamikaze

Last Thursday afternoon, on a whim, I bought a white parakeet. Originally the bird was to go to either Marsha or Greg, but he was so strikingly beautiful I decided to house him in the antique bird cage that hangs in my entry. K.L. and I both agreed that his white against the dark metal would be stunning.

Unfortunately, during my ER run on Friday this bird somehow managed to break free and drown himself in a bathtub full of water. (Obviously this was a bath that had been run, but never utilized by one of my children...eh hem, Bobby).

The kids returned home from school only a few minutes before I hobbled through the door. This is when they realized the mystery that had befallen our humble home. Did someone come in our house just to drown this innocent little bird? Surely not. A ghost, perhaps. A ghost must had set the winged thing free only to seal it's doom. I seriously doubt it.

What did happen to such a poor little creature? G.M., K.L. and I assessed the scene and came to this conclusion: The bars on the birdcage are, at least, an inch apart. The bird must have shimmied his little body free of the prison that held him, at which point he likely flew directly into the bathroom (the cage hang very near that door). From there all remains a mystery.

I am privy to think that I am the ONLY woman on the face of the earth who could find and buy a depressive, suicidal bird. It's pathetic really, utterly pathetic.

"Footpick"

About an hour after my last post I somehow magaged to inpale my foot with a toothpick. GOOD TIMES!!

After attempting to pull it out myself I decided to drive to K.L.'s to give her a whack at it. No luck. We seemed to have accomplished nothing more than making my foot even MORE tender and MORE swollen. So off to the ER I went.

Thankfully no one seems to need ER services on a Thursday morning. They took me straight up to x-ray (this I found brilliant considering the toothpick was WOOD and very likely not going to show on film), and decided we had to cut it open.

After nine...yes NINE shots to numb the ball of my foot, the doctor pulled out his scalpel. "Is this going to make you nervous or ill?" he asked. I giggled. "No. If I can manage to give birth to 6 kids and do my own piercings I think I can handle a scalpel." And we were off. He cut my foot and pulled out a lovely inch long piece of toothpick.

It took a good 20 minutes for my foot to fianlly stop bleeding. Then they wrapped me up, told me to stay off it, and sent me on my merry way.

What a morning. And all I wanted to do was clean my house.

See my smile?!

I'm glad...really glad...so very very glad...that R.L. is still here on island...really. Even though the man was supposed to leave this week. I'm thrilled...really. See my smile?!

You see, I'm perfectly comfortable saying this sarcastically because everyone, including R.L., knows that deep down I am truly thrilled for their family. Time home with the guys is always precious as it happens so sparingly. We need this time to live life as A FAMILY. I LOVE having Al home (K.L...does not. *wink*). So knowing that K.L. has a little much needed time with her husband brings me joy.

On the other hand, we wives (like our husbands) are used to living our lives...alone. Which means I am used to having K.L. to "myself" for lack of a better term. And visa versa. When the guys are gone we are free to do coffee, lunch, shopping, playdates, dinner and a movie at her house, dinner and a movie at my house, or dinner and a movie OUT. Whatever and whenever it may be...we are free to hang out...together

So as much as I dig K.L. having her man back, I still miss my friend. Before you ask...YES, we really are cut off from one another. It is our unspoken credo "Men walk in, Friends walk out." This is as much at the request of our husbands as ourselves. The only way to avoid this dilemma is when Al and R.L. have overlapping time at home (which rarely happens). So pretty much...yeah, cut off.

After a bit of time passes, we tend to find ourselves stealing away moments. For instance, after work yesterday R.L. took a short nap, at which point K.L. and I ran to the pet store together. This may not seem like much, but it gave us time to talk and time to laugh. I have to admit, both K.L. and I were somewhat bummed as it was a perfect evening for moving our laughter to Starbuck's. However, the phone call from R.L. reminded us that we didn't have the time. Oh well, you take what you can get.

Before you decide to send me a "hate comment" for being so terribly selfish, please note this: I am fully aware of my bellyaching. I am also fully aware that I am not the only one who suffers through "temporary friendship loss". G.M., H.M., J.J., I could name a multitude. Anyone associated with a "wife" will at one time or another feel the fullness of this loss. Heck, even the readers of this blog knew that loss for a time. It happens...I get that.

You also need to be aware that as much as I want to hang out with K.L. again, I will be the very one praying to God after R.L. leaves, that he return home quickly. I would rather live every day without K.L. than watch her live a moment without R.L. Well, maybe not EVERY day, but still...I'd rather him be home.

I am doing my bellyaching now, and K.L. will be doing hers early next year when Al is home and R.L. is not. This is the cycle of our lives. The reality of our friendship. For eight years we have helped one another through the ups, through the downs, and through everything in between. Trust me she knows what I am going though...because she's been here.

All I can say is that right now I am just glad R.L. is home...glad...really glad...so very very glad.

H-N-T

In honor of my very first HALF-NEKKID THURSDAY....a photo for your veiwing pleasure (or disgust). Thanks K.L. for lending your foot to this venture! Happy Thursday All!! Hehehehehe!!!

Kyle

I wanted to post this photo of Kyle & Maliea. I just hung up the phone from a lengthy conversation with my brother and I don't think he knows what it's done for me. I am smiling.

Because you are the best brother in the world. Because all my childhood memories are sweeter with you in them. Because you make me smile when I can't find any other reason to. Because we can talk for hours about everything...and nothing at all. Because after all these years you still know me, and love me in spite of it all. I love you Kyle. And I love Maliea for loving you. There's no one I'd rather had been "just me & you" with. I still think you are wonderful, little brother. I always will.

Where's your smile?

In light of the recent phone call I received in which I was informed that the "black" photo of me was frightening, I have decided to add a different photo for your viewing pleasure. Things are better. Cindy and I have been spending an absurd amount of time watching Dora and Diego.

I never did make it out to run those errands yesterday, but I did manage to clean all the kids rooms. They look pretty fantastic I must say. Cindy and I weeded through closets and dressers, toy boxes and under beds. Now I need to work on the rest of the house. Sometimes you just need to cleanse. I'm not completely convinced that is what I am doing however. I tend to think it's just something to keep me busy. But whatever, one does what they must....

Hope that something spectacular comes along to blog about soon, or at the very least something upbeat!

*****

I'm not in a real happy place right now. Al is gone, which always seems to throw me over the edge. Also having trouble with the kids. Why can't things ever go smoothly when he walks out the door? I've been cleaning all morning and now need to run errands which I would really rather not have to run. I can feel myself toppling into that "I don't want to see anyone or talk to anyone" mode. Not a good thing, not a good thing at all.

My Good-Bye

Here's to extra large bottles of Heineken and funny porn. To hiding bottles and bras before elevator arrivals. To finding our "Sugar Daddy". To number 38 and 69 pole dancing till 1am. To uncontrollable hospital laughter, dancing out the gate, and black river tours. To paging "Mary Jane", swan ballet at Starbucks, and Oktoberfest at Foster. To late night Twizzler runs and Elephant sightings. To catching fish, meetings at Good Times, I-POD's, JackDaniel's, and tequila shots.

Go find yourself my friend! Take hold of all the world has to offer. The future is yours!

With all my love...Here's to choosing "Heather".

~Sob~Sniff~Sigh~

I miss my honey. How will I ever fall asleep without him beside me? ~sigh~

Sick

I'm going downhill...fast.

For the last three days I have barely seen the light of day. I am sick. Horribly, terribly, utterly sick. My throat is all but closed completely. I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm achey, I'm feverish, and I'm wiped out. The one and only time I did manage to venture out, five of my friends told me I looked as if I was standing on death's doorstep. Thanks guys.

Al has been amazing. He calls the kids in the mornings to make sure they are up and readying for school. He calls them in the afternoon to check that they are doing homework. When he finally gets home, he cleans the house, does the laundry, makes dinner, and cares for me. I am so thankful for him. What a wonderful man! Whatever will I do without him?

Sorry to end this so abruptly, but I've just hit my wall. I need to rest. Later!

Awake

It's 2am and I can't sleep again. What is it exactly that keeps one up night after night. My mind isn't busy running over all the events of the day. Nor is it making lists of all I've to accomplish tomorrow. In fact, most nights I simply lay awake with a mind numbing sense of boredom.

Usually, when sleep eludes me, I find myself writing...letters, poetry, songs, just about anything to keep me busy. When it is late at night I am never overly insightful or thought provoking. In fact it would be safe to say that most of my insomniatic writings are simply over-thought chicken scratch. Anyone who has had the misfortune of receiving one of my late night (or early morning after no sleep) e-mails can attest to that. My apologies if you are one of the unlucky few to be on my "insomniac hit list".

If nothing else, my writings are amusing. Usually they are the things I laugh at the following day when the peace of night has passed away and the busyness of life grounds me. They are always good for a few giggles or a roll of the eyes before being wadded up and rightly tossed in the garbage.

Nothing interests me at this exact second. Continuing on with this entry seems senseless as I've nothing in particular to write about. But when I consider the alternatives...laying in bed staring at the ceiling, flipping through a continuous stream of television channels, or re-reading an old novel...I just can't seem to close this blog.

The quiet in this house is deafening. I should be thankful for it as there are a good many who can't find a single moment of silence in which to rest their minds. Odd how the quiet for some can often be as loud as the noise for others.

Okay, ending this. Hoping sleep will come quickly so not to risk boring everyone to tears with yet another blog entry or heaven forbid a yawn-inspiring e-mail (wink). Rest well.

Forgotten Evening

Here are a couple photos from Al's party Friday night. We had a good time (I think). Neither Al or I had anything to eat before we went out, so it made for an interesting evening. Despite the fact that we had intended on being home early since Alex was scheduled to work the next day. Sometimes things just don't go according to plan.

After 6 hours of double Jack 'n Coke's and countless shots of B52's Al pretty much hit his wall. The taxi did manage to get us home with minimal directing from me (thanks to Boone and his foresight)!! Unfortunately, no one could foresee Al waking to find his wallet missing. I ended up driving him into work and immediately beginning my search for his wallet, rather than crawling back into bed as originally planned.

I checked at The Cove, in the parking lot, our front yard, and every nook and cranny of our house. When the wallet didn't turn up, Alex called the cab company (not an easy feat when you don't speak Japanese). Still, nothing.

At this point the search had become a group effort, enlisting help from the kids, Kim, and friends from the party. Finally, around five, a message was received from The Banyan Tree: "We have Mr. Holt's wallet." WHOOPPEE!!!!!

Turns out the taxi was called to that club after dropping us off at home. Whomever hopped in that cab next must have found the wallet and turned it in (after extracting their "finders fee", that is). Thankfully, I was the lucky woman in charge of money at the party, which means our wallet rescuer only made off with about $40.00. With everything else in place, we considered it a small price to pay.

Needless to say, it was a memorable night (or not, I can't remember). I only hope Al will look back on it with such fondness.

Birthday Boy

HE'S 30!!!!!!! Yesterday was the big day! Al is no longer twenty-something.

Since the big day fell on a Tuesday, Alex really didn't have much chance to sleep in...not that he didn't try. He is usually out of bed by 4:00, but managed to hit that snooze button until 5:15. When he finally did join the land of the living (not that there are many to join at that hour) he was greeted by fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls. That's right folks, I woke up and made breakfast (I can mange once every 30 years!!).

Knowing full well that Al was wanting to keep his birthday "on the down-low", Micaiah and I decided to drop in on him just before lunch. Thanks to a few well placed guys in the team room, we were able to thoroughly embarrass the man. There's nothing like opening your office door to find a miniature grim reaper delivering balloons and inviting you out to soba.

After work Al was greeted at home by cards, gifts, and lasagna (his favorite). And for dessert a strawberry cheesecake topped with an emergency candle (I'm not sure we could've fit 30 candles on there).

I think it was a good birthday. I HOPE it was a good birthday. Of course, there is still the weekend.

And for those of you curious...yes, I bought a new digital camera. I couldn't very well capture this milestone on a camera phone could I?

Anchorage, Okinawa

So it's a little cold in my house...big deal.

I find that 76 is a nice reasonable indoor temerature during the summer months. Plenty cool enough to get that smack of air when you walk in from the heat of the day. However two days ago the thermastat in our house was replaced and now I can barely get that thing to inch over 61. Here it is, the middle of September, and I am walking around in flannel pajamas, a huge fleece robe and fuzzy slippers. My toes have offically turned into ice cubes and I am fairly positive there is an icesicle forming on the tip of my nose.

Poor Alex...He must be having flashbacks of our winters spent in Colorado or Washington. I spent the entire afternoon huddled on the couch trying to snuggle my feet up under his sweatshirt for a little warmth. I'm pretty sure I sent him flying through the roof a few times. I feel terrible...really I do. But it isn't my fault he is so darn warm blooded, my cold toes-ies ache to be against his skin. hehehehe!!

I have to admit, at first it was kind of fun. Big sweaters, cuddling close to the one you love, drinking hot cocoa, watching movies while wrapped in a big fluffy blanket. It was like mid-autumn back home. In fact, I think the leaves of my house plants will begin to change soon. Unfortunatly my family doesn't view this in quite the same way I do. The kids are whiny, my husband is cranky, and everyone is too damn cold to move. It sort of makes me want to hybernate!

The night before last, Ashton readied for bed by donning sweatpants, an oversized sweater, and two pairs of socks. And tonight I went to kiss Tristyn good-night and saw that she and Micaiah both were huddled under her mink blanket wearing jackets. By tomorrow Kayl should be finished with the firepit he is constructing at the foot of his bed. Either that or everyone will take to sleeping on the trampoline so to enjoy the warmth the night air has to offer.

Okay, so my house is freezing...it's just that I can't seem to figure this new thermostat out. My last one was digital. When you wanted 76, you pressed the button untill it read 76. Duh, a monkey could've worked the thing. Now there are little lines and dots (lines and dots suck). And the numbers aren't even directly under the line or dot they should be, so I am left to guess. Don't the thermostat makers know that I am terrible at guessing? For heavens sake, my children are going to die of hypothermia all because of a bunch of lines and dots!!!

Ah well. Eventually I should figure this doohicky out..but until then my family shall remain at the north pole.

Ice anyone??

Study Group

School is in full force which means every day my kids tote home loads of homework.

I was never much for homework. I'm sure I must have had homework in my classes as a child, but I really don't remember spending too much time on it. Did my grades suffer? Sure they did, but not to the extent one might imagine. My report cards were simply average. Later on in highschool I prided myself on not having to study for tests. Fortunately memorization came very quickly and naturally to me. Read a book...pass a test. If I was lucky enough to have a teacher that loved writing information on the board...all the better! That info just stuck (many thanks to Mr. Reynolds-sociology & psychology-grades 11 & 12). Heck, I even remember making the honor roll a couple of times and never cracking a book. All this and I graduated with two babies. Can you imagine how well I would've done had I applied myself in class? (Yes mom, I get it now!!)

Unfortunately, my lack of study skills are now coming back to haunt me. I have such a VERY difficult time teaching my children HOW to study. One would think this task to be simple, but let me assure you, it is not. It's much like tossing a city girl in front of a dairy cow and telling her to milk it. You know it can be done, and perhaps have even witnessed it first hand, but the actual ACT of milking seems all together foreign.

So here I am, 28 years old, baffled at how, besides reading them over and over, I can get these vocabulary words to stick in the mind of my 2nd grader. Begging my 5th grader to look over the map again for his impending geography test, because I truly don't know how on earth one would study a map. Or pleading with my 6th grader to go over her flash cards just once more, without giving her the impression that math is my nemesis. It is the one thing that completely eludes me.

I am thankful however. This "memorization" ability is seemly passed down from generation to generation. My mother is a brilliant woman and so is Alex's mom. And whether or not he would ever admit it to anyone, studying comes very naturally to Alex. He simply doesn't struggle. Now my theory is proving true in my own children. Most of our kids have no trouble with spelling tests (Ash obviously inherited some throw-back gene from an ancestor with terrible spelling). On the other hand most things really do stick in her mind if she focuses enough to absorb them.

Math comes very naturally to both Isreal and Tristyn (they obviously did not get this from me). As a matter of fact, damn near everything comes naturally to Israel and Tristyn who must have gotten hit with the study stick at birth. Kayl on the other hand struggles a bit more than the other kids. Thankfully though,he applies himself like no child I have ever seen. I have to admit there is something to be said for someone who has to work a bit harder for what they want. It will carry him far in life.

What am I most thankful for this year? Ashton and two of her friends from class began a study group. We all live in the same neighborhood, which makes alternating houses easy. And all the girls get along (most of the time) which is a feat in itself when you are discussing 12 year old girls. So basically a couple times a week 3 pre-teens invade my dining room, eat and drink everything within reach and ask me questions about fractions and Egyptian pyramids. Whatever, Ash is getting her homework finished and I don't even have to listen to her complain that life is passing her by while I force her nose into a book. It's like killing two birds with one stone, she socializes and passes her classes. Thank heaven for small miracles!

Life is good, school is good, and my laundry is done. Who could ask for more!!

First Day

Here is a photo of the kids first day of school last week. WHAT AN EARLY MORNING!!!! Braeden was so bummed that day. His first day is tomorrow (Sept 7). Micaiah and I are going to have the house all to ourselves. Whatever shall we do?? Surely wewill find something to occupy out time!!

Brady Bunch Visits Ireland

You have a baby...in a bar!!

Well, Alex finally talked me into draggin the kids down to our local pub "Paddy Mac's" to introduce them to the infamous Martin. They had a blast. Daddy taught them how to play darts. Martin filled their tummies with soda, fish 'n chips, shepherds pie, and apple pie. And Yoko gave Ashton the grand tour as well as introducing the girls to the "bar cat".

After two cokes Israel announced that he thought he may be drunk. He also found an outlet to show off his God given talent...the tummy roll. We always new it would be a great bar trick.

Tristyn and Micaiah were doing cola races (much like carbombs for minors). Braeden, we found, has one hell of an arm for darts. And Ashton may very well have found her calling as she decided she was going to become Martin's apprentice and then move back to the states to open her own Irish Pub.

All in all it was a fabulous evening. The only downside...the kids have decided they will no longer be eating at Burger King. The future is full of Fish 'n Chips!!!

In Memory Of...

Obediah James Kolath

1972-2005

I'm broken.....