Monday, January 29, 2007

MEPS

ok, I have been to MEPS numerous times...but I am DREADING having to go again this week. I am in a slump. Yeah I am ahead of mission and I have more in my pipeline but.... I just don't have the motivation to face the village idiots at MEPS.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Four Year Olds

I was going to title this post "Little Girls" but the post is about my daughter's four year birthday party and she had two of her four year old boy cousins in attendance.

First let me say there is NOTHING cuter on this planet than a four year old. Period. They are absolutely adorable. Some people have said there is no such thing as an ugly baby but I have seen some pretty ugly babies. But four year olds are precious. They have an easy smile and winning ways. They can be easily bribed out of a sour mood. They find everything interesting.




Since I have a four year old daughter I *had* to have a Disney Princesses Party theme. Purple and Pink ruled the house. I bought little purple and pink crowns for the feminine partiers. However one of the boys donned a crown and smiled proudly as we snapped a picture of the quartet of princesses. The older boys rolled with laughter.


My daughter waited patiently for us to finish singing Happy Birthday. She tried to blow out the candles but when she blows she extends her bottom lip out and winds up blowing her bangs out of the way. After the third attempt mommy helped her out! LOL.










She began opening her presents and everyone wanted to help her. Especially her cousin Graham. He started ripping packages apart until his mom grabbed him. Hilarious. The big moment was when she opened the Wedding Barbie to oooh's and aaaahhh's from the pre-school crowd. Then she opened the Wedding Ken to a stunned silence. She whispered "The Handsome Prince!" with a little voice filled with awe and wonder and the crowd responded with a long drawnout ahhhhh. It was absolutely precious.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Big Fish

I had an appointment with a kid and his mom tonight. I got a call from him about a week ago requesting an appointment. He is on one of my best school's wrestling team. He also plays football and baseball. He scored well on the ACT and has a 3.8 GPA. He is a Big Fish. He has a limited amount of free time and so do I so this was the soonest we could meet!

I had misunderstood where we were to meet, coupled with running late on account of traffic, so we met in the parking lot of the local IGA (Independant Grocer's Association) grocery store - don't ask why it is named IGA, I don't know.

So we are standing in the parking lot and I am having him fill out and sign all the paperwork on the back of my G-ride (GOV or Government Owned Vehicle) and answering Mom's questions. Two of his friends walk up while we are talking, looking curiously at me and him. He ignores them and concentrates on the matter at hand. He is a good looking kid that is clean cut. He looks me in the eye when we speak and he has an easy smile.

And he has plans for his future.

I am helping him win an $80,000.00 scholarship to the North Georgia College and State University. He will be non-deployable while attending and graduate an officer. He will have a choice of serving with the Guard or going Regular Army. He wants Army. Mom is so excited for him and so am I.

It was very refreshing talking to him. He is such a great kid and a neat person. He will be on the floor at MEPS February 1st.

So there I am last night working late in my office talking to my boss on the phone when I get a beep of an incoming call. Since NO ONE (I am told) outranks my boss I let it go to voicemail. I check my messages and it is a SFC Sharky that called me. I delete the message after jotting down the number and return his call. "Army Recruiting, this is SFC Sharky speaking; how may I help you sir or ma'am?" hmmmmm. VERY Interesting!

"Hi! This is SGT Fields returning your call??" SFC Sharky remarks on my voicemail message. I have a recording of the Mission Impossible theme song playing in the backgorund while I whisper in a heavy voice 'you are about to experience the most challenging job of your life! This is SGT Fields, the recruiter for Floyd county Army National Guard, leave a message at the tone...' "Heh, heh, I'd like to steal that message if I could get away with it!" he remarks. He'd like to steal more than my message.

He continues: I'd ask how you are doing except I know you are doing very well...
I respond: Yeah (laughing) I am doing very well.
Shark: Yeah, we get a *lot* of people coming in our office looking for SGT Fields!
me: And I am SURE you direct them inside and tell them that I will be there shortly but in the meantime, sit down and let's talk...
Shark: OH NO! I would never do that (heavy sarcasm and emphasis; mine).
me: hmmmm. I'll bet!
Shark: Well, I do use your name to help motivate my Army Reserve Recruiter. You're kicking our butts out there. Whenever he starts to relax I just mention that SGT Fields is out there recruiting. And you're just an E-5 right?
Me: Not for long. chuckle chuckle.
Shark: Chuckle chuckle, yeah not for long. Well the reason I called was that there is a Boy Scout Unit in Rome and they meet at your Armory....
me: Yep, they sure do.
Shark: Well we heard that one of them is about to make Eagle Scout. You know that is quite an accomplishment.
Me: Oh yes, I know! (note: find out who this kid is, and kick self for not knowing)
Shark: Well, we have a plaque and a certificate that we like to give them...
Me thinking :::I am sure you do:::
Shark continues: and if you don't mind we'd like to come and present it to him at the ceremony.
Me: Oh, gee,.... hmmm..... Well since it *is* here at the Armory, we are doing something very special for him (writing a note to call marketing and get a plaque made pronto) and will be doing a presentation so I don't think it would be necessary for y'all to go to all that trouble.
Shark: so you have it covered?
me (ooozing sweetness) oh yes, Sergeant, I have it covered.
Shark: (sounding thwarted) well that's about all. I just wanted to make sure he would get the recognition for such an accomplishment...
me: Oh I know what an accomplishment Eagle Scout is, not many achieve that level.
Shark: ok, well, you need to stop by sometime and say hello. I'd like to meet the person who is keeping me awake at night... (heh heh)
Me: (laughing in response) oh surely I am not keeping you awake at night!
Shark: well there is just you in Floyd County right?
Me: yep. Just me.
He continues to make small talk and nice nice but I can't wait to get him off the phone. He will die when he learns I landed the Big Fish.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Send Hook to Washington

Boy do I wish we could send Hook to Washington! Maybe one day he will run for office. My favorite Blogger Sgt Hook is in a contest and the prize is cash money. He will use the money for a trip to attend the Milbloggers conference. Go read about it and vote for Hook!

Ramblings

Well, I just finished up working a RSP weekend. It was fun but exhausting. I have been helping my partner in his schools and with his appointments alot. Pretty much I have been ignoring mine. I won't be doing that anymore.

My NCOIC just got back from a two week school and he looks happy to see us. My CSGM gave me a challenge coin. For the significance of a challenge coin go here. I was surprised.

I leave to attend WLC or Warrior Leadership Course in South Carolina Feb 17th. Sigh. I am NOT looking forward to this. Quote This course is hard hitting and intensive ... Unquote. I am just so tired lately, I just don't feel up to hard hitting and intensive.

I haven't had time to train on my weapon lately. I haven't had time to spend with my husband or kids. He yelled at me the other day and I know he has a valid point. However it is hard to convince my chain of command that my loyalty should be with my family first. ESPECIALLY since most of my time has recently (the last month) been devoted exclusively to helping my recruiting partner. However that is going to change.

The gloves are off, I am officially going to be an ass. My first answer to everything is going to be "No" or "I can't".

Sunday, January 07, 2007

SPLAT!!!!


We recieved three paintball guns, three goggles, three filled CO2 tanks and a thousand paintballs from Santa for Christmas. We each dressed warmly (very well padded) and headed out for our acreage to "play". We took turns playing one on one since our youngest was with us.

We had a lot of fun. I learned two things. Gloves are not just for looks. I got hit in the hand and shouted a cuss word. My son was heard chuckling off in the distant woods. The second thing is I need to wear a few pairs of sweat pants not just one. My husband shot me in the leg and WOW did it hurt. I decided to go "sniper" and lowered myself to the ground and waited till he took off to hide behind a different tree for a better angle. I shot rapid fire straight for his legs! Tee Hee. I hit him twice but he didn't utter a peep.

Later when we were gleefully surveying our "battle wounds" I spotted the two splats of paint on my husband's pants. I said "You ain't fooling anyone big boy, THOSE HURT." He shrugged.

Still later at home I showed the big bruise on my leg and made hubbie show his! GEEZ I got him good! LOL, he had a whelp about as big as a small plum. My son was in awe. Hilarious.
P.S. on my sniper training. Joe Ranger wants me to continue my training. He says I have a lot more to learn (um, yeah!) and he wants me to get proficient. Not to mention he wants to train me on the Glock handgun.