tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50104034427710975972011-07-07T20:19:04.412-05:00For Wives, Fiances and Girlfriends of Marinessemper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.comBlogger801100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-70419698639403411352009-06-08T10:08:00.002-05:002009-06-08T10:12:25.310-05:00

Article from Marine Corps Times: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/06/marine_corpspedia_060809w/ By Trista Talton - Staff writer So long Wikipedia. Say hello to Corpspedia. A new informational Web site about the Corps, specifically for Marines, will soon be tested by troops at the School of Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton, Calif. “Right now, it’s focusing on infantry skills,

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-78172756679524735862009-06-03T12:04:00.001-05:002009-06-03T12:06:29.475-05:00

Check out the recently updated and vastly improved web site for recruiting Marine Officers!MarineOfficer.com

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-8277585805974391952009-06-02T10:48:00.002-05:002009-06-02T10:49:51.895-05:00

If you are reading this in English, thank a veteran. Our veterans need our support. Most of us express support in words... but then we take our ball and go home. We leave it to others to actually DO things in support of those who secure our freedom. I submit to you that if EVERYONE did this, NOTHING would get done. Be part of the solution. Who better to do something than you? You can't save the

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-20064079148168163152009-05-19T09:41:00.002-05:002009-05-19T09:42:29.907-05:00

Gunners, range officers merge into single MOS - Marine Corps Times The Corps will merge the military occupational specialties for Marine gunners and range officers, addressing a gunners shortage and putting nearly all weapons training under the control of a single MOS. The merger of the two warrant officer communities was approved April 28 by Commandant Gen. James Conway and will be outlined

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-56854521723606239012009-05-16T08:52:00.002-05:002009-05-16T09:04:59.438-05:00

Dear Friends, My father (a USAF veteran) will be leading a group of 30 or so members of his Harley Owners Group (HOG) chapter from our home town in NC up to Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend to participate in Rolling Thunder XXII. As they state on their web site, this is not a parade but a demonstration. I'm very proud of my father for his participation and very happy to announce that I

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-48683319531181578152009-05-09T08:51:00.002-05:002009-05-09T08:53:01.180-05:00

Wounded Warriors break ground on new barracks - Jacksonville Daily News Marines and sailors broke ground Friday on a place where wounded warriors will be able to heal, mentally and physically. The new Wounded Warriors barracks, which is scheduled to take about 18 months to build, will include 100 two-man rooms, living area and kitchenette, fitness, physical therapy and counseling space. The

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-7104978466043268312009-05-07T17:52:00.002-05:002009-05-07T17:54:34.298-05:00

Thank you, military spouses, for all you do!!

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-48764518441540135682009-05-06T11:57:00.002-05:002009-05-06T11:58:27.671-05:00

Thoughts and prayers going out to these Marines’ families. AP: Marines helicopter crashes in Calif.; 2 killed ALPINE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in California say a Marine Corps helicopter has crashed in a remote area of San Diego County, killing both people on board. California Forestry Department Captain Daryll Pina says the Cobra attack helicopter crashed late Tuesday in the Cleveland

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-37149359361589712092009-05-04T07:30:00.002-05:002009-05-04T07:31:17.969-05:00

Pendleton, Miramar lose print newspapers - Marine Corps News, news from Iraq - Marine Corps Times Pendleton, Miramar lose print newspapers By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer Posted : Monday May 4, 2009 5:40:56 EDT SAN DIEGO — The recession has trickled down to the San Diego area’s three major base newspapers, forcing their publisher out of business and leaving the Marine Corps and Navy to

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-78405876672184704512009-05-03T15:05:00.002-05:002009-05-03T15:08:20.576-05:00

Thank you to FlutieCutie for sharing this on YouTube. Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen........ we love you.

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-1609370999630825212009-05-02T08:01:00.002-05:002009-05-02T08:05:16.794-05:00

Please read and pass this on. Good information for our service members and their families! Freedom Calls Foundation Working closely with corporate contributors, individuals, and the military the Foundation has deployed its first wireless VOIP telephone and video conferencing services in an Army Camp located in the Sunni Triangle. The Foundation's network offers 50 soft-phones and 20

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-12103085315862629462009-05-01T10:27:00.001-05:002009-05-01T10:27:59.028-05:00

http://ping.fm/P1oxg

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-60579578542247593592009-04-30T07:57:00.001-05:002009-04-30T07:57:02.546-05:00

Marine at Twentynine Palms confirmed with swine flu [UPDATED] | L.A. Now | Los Angeles Times

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-80436835157601145162009-04-29T16:14:00.001-05:002009-04-29T16:14:42.652-05:00

I heart Ping.fm!

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-28766804717923102882009-04-29T09:29:00.002-05:002009-04-29T09:32:02.285-05:00

What a great assembly of Marine Corps history from TellTheMarines. Thank you and OOHRAH!History of The US Marines.

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-77645413954834846622009-04-29T09:27:00.001-05:002009-04-29T09:29:28.723-05:00

It's been awhile. No time for blogging these past few months. But since we've moved to a new host and made lots of upgrades I think it best to just start fresh. That's so liberating!There's a lot going on with the site right now and I can't wait to continue with the improvements. We have some fun new members and new content going in rapidly.Come on in!

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-27146108162060082222008-10-27T09:11:00.002-05:002008-10-27T09:41:43.522-05:00

Remember that while your Marine is happy to have you on his arm, this function is about the Marines.  It's their birthday.  Happy birthday to THEM.  Try to keep your pre-flight to a minimum, if any, so that at best you will arrive smelling like perfume and at worst you won't smell like Jager bombs. Try to follow the intended dress code.  Google it if necessary. Remember that the

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-59790342521256160872008-10-23T15:33:00.002-05:002008-10-23T15:41:27.037-05:00

I had the most refreshing phone conversation with an associate yesterday.  By "associate" I am referring to one I have never met who works for the same company but in a different state.  So although he was an associate I have never made his acquaintance. To make a long story short, I was making a serious of phone calls to such associates for a specific fact finding purpose related to a project.

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-10156515683263503042008-10-21T17:48:00.002-05:002008-10-23T15:34:34.258-05:00

Testing the site's new widget.  =)I want you to take a look at : Welcome to usmcwives.com.

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-81157749725525734702008-10-17T07:18:00.002-05:002008-10-17T07:29:07.258-05:00

  Of course there are endless options for costumes.  Best to rule some out and narrow it down a bit.  I suggest that these be immediately removed from the list of contenders so that you can focus on more viable options:   Big Mac?      Cheesy.     Amy Winehouse.  It's played out.  Let it go.   This one would rock... but one of the other kids would know who you were supposed to be.     

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-56126995457548761152008-10-15T07:10:00.002-05:002008-10-15T07:12:04.003-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about this lately.  The fact that my husband is a Marine is one of the least remarkable details about me as a person.  It's certainly important and something I'm proud of, but it's not my most defining characteristic by any means.  So, why is it that when communicating online this seems to be of the utmost importance? I think I've figured it out. I seek out other

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-62147834566977145222008-10-14T06:21:00.003-05:002008-10-14T06:30:15.433-05:00

Just a few guidelines.  Some of which have been around awhile and some that are my own brainchildren.   Make a daily announcement of the "Word of the Day."  UrbanDictionary.com is a good resource for material.  The word of the day is "snarkoleptic." Insist that they call you by your wrestling or pimp name. "That's Reverend Dr. C Ice, to you." Answer questions with questions.  If

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-86715357982432313702008-10-13T06:26:00.003-05:002008-10-13T06:32:44.335-05:00

I have recently come to the realization that I would be irretrievably lost without my computers and the internet. The plural used because, of course, I have more than one. I've got the PC that I use for most things but then I also have the laptop for mobility purposes. I'm no world traveler, but what if I had to leave home for a matter of hours? The idea of being web-less is unthinkable. And, as

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-31823587977518654412008-10-11T09:04:00.002-05:002008-10-11T09:15:02.670-05:00

I haven't been able to post a blog in ages due to having too many things on my schedule. Too busy doing things to reflect on them. But the present situation with the upcoming election is motivation enough for me to take a few minutes out of my busy schedule to rant against idiocy in the modern era. So, suffice it to say this is an editorial blog. My opinions and no one else's. I am

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-16185617257053684582008-09-09T15:40:00.002-05:002008-09-09T15:41:14.282-05:00

Yes. It's actually that time of year already. Hard to believe. School is back in session for the kids. School is also back in session for the grown ups (those of us who are in college). Daylight savings time looms nearer. Work resumes for those who work seasonally (as in for schools). The USMC Birthday Ball is on the horizon. Dresses and shoes to buy... Shorts and tanks are

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-26561812104528029072008-09-04T11:30:00.002-05:002008-09-04T11:31:07.723-05:00

Big things are happening in the world today. My life is no exception. I've started my college classes and so far I'm making a good run at it. I'm a bit tentative and nervous but I know it's going to be fine. Underneath this polished funny exterior I'm actually a brainiac. I just need to get my mojo going. My children are growing and changing daily. My son just started the 4th grade and

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-47201438156726465962008-08-24T08:01:00.002-05:002008-08-24T08:02:41.770-05:00

... and it's a good thing. Because I've been pulling my hair out trying to get the web site just so. It still has a long way to go, but it's come a long way in a short time. We now have: -An intro page. -An interactive main site with profiles, private messaging, etc. -An upgraded forum (from phpbb2 to phpbb3) which is a "slave" to the main site, meaning that only one login is necessary to

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-221307371003180832008-08-11T09:15:00.002-05:002008-08-11T09:16:51.250-05:00

"Success usuallly comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." - Henry David Thoreau I have come to the conclusion during the re-design that even if progress only comes in very small increments, it's still progress! And I will embrace every step that leads in the right direction. With that in mind, the page is slowly but surely getting better. A lot of the time I have spent hasn't

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-27647135496104008712008-08-07T11:16:00.002-05:002008-08-07T11:19:17.738-05:00

There's one thing that never fails to hold true: When trial and error are involved in a process... you have to deal with the "error" portion. All I managed to accomplish yesterday on the web site was to somehow undo something I had already done. I can't, for the life of me, figure out what I did or how to fix it yet. But I WILL! I've somehow fouled up the linkage between the login section and

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-10938197442321758942008-08-06T10:19:00.002-05:002008-08-07T11:18:12.885-05:00

I am attempting to re-design our site. I will get this done and I'm hoping the finished product will be clean, user friendly and pretty. I will accept nothing less for an end result!! My experience level at this point is in the novice range. I know just enough to tweak something that already exists. This is why I think I might maximize my abilities by using Joomla. I was already aware of

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-65739505140998916862008-08-02T16:48:00.001-05:002008-08-02T16:49:32.541-05:00

As I sit here on Saturday afternoon not having been very productive today, I'm thinking about wasted time. Now, I have a bit of an excuse today. Yesterday I helped my husband with some manual labor on a fence we are building (when I say "we" I mostly mean HIM with some moral support from yours truly) for our backyard. It turns out, when an out of shape 33 year old woman bends, stoops and

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-59795933097074637082008-07-29T19:06:00.001-05:002008-07-29T19:07:24.267-05:00

A new and very informative web site just went live. Its administrator the very talented spouse of a National Guardsman. Her name is Emily and I am fortunate to have made her acquaintance online a few months back. She is one of the driving forces behind a favorite spot of mine, The Silent Ranks forum, and she is a self taught web mistress. Her work is impressive, particularly the new site.

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-42986827172708670682008-07-23T12:07:00.001-05:002008-07-23T12:08:22.367-05:00

So, I've been trying to do a little bit of research about online forums and resources for Marine spouses and girlfriends.  The idea is for me to be somewhat well informed so that I can pass on any good leads to the ladies on our forum.My philosophy is:  To each her own.  What works for one person might not for another.  What one person lives by might bore the life out of the next person.  So on

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-8147607926942085142008-07-15T10:14:00.001-05:002008-07-15T10:17:19.754-05:00

For crying out loud! I am so discombobulated. Seriously.I feel like I am behind on everything, forgetting stuff and missing the obvious at every turn lately. I guess 4 weeks of road trip with the family should explain it, but I want my brain back!I had to go in and accept/decline/delete/approve about 50 Facebook messages/apps/gifts, etc. yesterday.I have 4,987 emails in my "personal" email

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-60571694844735492312008-07-03T11:09:00.001-05:002008-07-03T11:11:09.312-05:00

Honestly, I can't believe how long it's been since I've written. I can't believe the world is still turning and people are just carrying on with their lives when something is so clearly missing?! Lol.I do, however, have an excellent excuse for my bloglessness. My family has been on a kamikaze road trip since the 12th of June. We're talking a Suburban loaded to the maximum and carrying two

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-76050061276802540632008-06-11T13:37:00.001-05:002008-06-11T13:38:31.078-05:00

I'm a bit sad today. Partly because it's gloomy and rainy outside and partly because of my neighbors getting ready to move. We met Jill, Barry and their 4 boys right after we moved into our house a year ago. They live right next to us and they are great fun. We've spent a lot of time together, much of it unplanned and on the spur of the moment. This is easily done when you're next door

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-21985040693288892632008-06-09T10:50:00.001-05:002008-06-09T10:52:04.027-05:00

So I just bought a mouse to use with my laptop. I'm getting better with the built in mouse but sometimes it's still a challenge. Anyway, it's working just fine, but as I was blowtorching my way into the plastic container it came in, I noticed something appauling.A little red sticker in the top right corner that says "Easy Opening. Just bend corner."Seriously.... what?! Umm, no. There is NO

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-21287295032800118222008-06-07T10:27:00.000-05:002008-06-07T10:28:59.587-05:00

I wrote this yesterday on the road and am just now getting it posted..... Lol.So we went on a road trip today to visit with my husband’s grandmother (who, incidentally, is named Joy).  This was the first time that the kids and I had met her.  She was absolutely delightful.  It was well worth the 8 hours round trip for the only 4 we got to spend visiting.  I look forward to doing it again

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-72858320439486830642008-06-05T10:45:00.005-05:002008-06-05T10:47:32.434-05:00

So, it's looking like Hillary is out and Obama is in. I'm not excited about anything pertaining to this year's election. And I don't wish to get too political right now (I guess it's the mood I'm in). My plan is to pencil in Vince Vaughn as my choice. Do you think that will fly?? I mean, consider this: We need good diplomatic relations. Wouldn't it go a long way if our head of state were to

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-36790932420390503472008-06-03T11:20:00.000-05:002008-06-03T11:21:38.809-05:00

Have you seen the movie "Hardball?" Circa 2001, starring Keanu Reeves and Diane Lane among others. Not likely to be voted best movie ever, although it wasn't half bad and was based on a true story.I laughed out loud at one scene, in particular. Try as I might, I couldn't find a specific clip of it to link here, but that's beside the point. This movie is about a gambler and his stint as the

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-48545321466832246252008-06-02T10:08:00.001-05:002008-06-02T10:09:57.986-05:00

I've been so content lately I'm almost waiting for something bad to happen!Random Monday thoughts:Our friend and neighbor, Barry, is putting in our back splash. The one part of the kitchen that has remained undone for the past many months. It looks beautimus and he's almost done. Too bad we discovered that our cabinets were hung slightly off kilter and there is a half inch discrepancy between

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-75666621324340078122008-06-01T21:20:00.001-05:002008-06-01T21:20:58.615-05:00

So, the past few days have seen the birth of two things which are really still in infancy but about which I am excited. Like a dork. Seriously.First is the usmcwives.com forum. I'm fumbling around like a lunatic trying to spruce it up, but I think it looks pretty good so far, given my experience level. I've reached out to some of my online contacts to review it and I can see that many have.

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-51452376449200074172008-05-27T09:53:00.002-05:002008-05-27T09:56:09.095-05:00

I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend and that the meaning of the holiday wasn't lost. For the third consecutive year we went to our local horse racetrack with my husband's ROTC color guard to participate in their Memorial Day ceremony. This is always a pleasure as they give us the VIP treatment (valet parking, free food and drinks in the clubhouse, etc). But as has been the case

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-8750652961595164652008-05-24T07:22:00.002-05:002008-05-24T07:25:28.300-05:00

My adult A.D.D. has been on overdrive for the past week or so. I can't seem to prioritize all the stuff I am trying to do. I hate it when that happens. I'm getting a lot done, I'm just not doing it as efficiently as possible which means that I'm probably wasting time somewhere in the mix. Anyway, a girl with a small but thriving accessory business really needs her own brand and web site, huh?

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-67341676529307635612008-05-20T18:14:00.002-05:002008-05-20T18:17:06.863-05:00

I'm a huge fan of Maya Angelou. You might recognize this poem from the movie "Poetic Justice." For reasons I won't elaborate on, it crossed my mind last night. There's something captivating about it. Speaking for myself, I feel inspired when reading it, even if I'm sitting hunched over my keyboard, unshowered, wearing a t-shirt and sweats. In all of our forms.... we are WOMAN. PHENOMENAL

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-58192474976277696952008-05-19T09:29:00.002-05:002008-05-19T09:31:28.014-05:00

More random thoughts: I use the term lightweight for two reasons, the first of which is that we just had a monster yard sale this weekend and got rid of a ton of needless stuff. We made a decent profit and got to schmooze with our neighbors. I feel our feng shui improving already! The second and perhaps even cooler reason is that I can now officially wear my girly summer clothes.

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-78735829615731613152008-05-15T15:11:00.002-05:002008-05-15T15:14:05.140-05:00

Don't you just hate it when your child or anyone asks you what a certain word means.... and you KNOW what it means... but you just can't figure out how to explain it? Can't recall the definition in an articulate manner?  Eeew.  I hate that. Yesterday my son (who has an extensive vocabulary for a 3rd grader) asked me what "metaphor" meant.  I utterly failed to explain.  It was absurd.  Like I

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-41178696853598122192008-05-14T11:37:00.003-05:002008-05-14T11:56:51.109-05:00

Marry a Marine. You'll get tons of mileage out of the Full Metal Jacket questions. You and your entire family are mythical creatures. Insist that everyone call you by your wrestling name. Correct them when they fail to do so. Employ the "bend and snap" as often as possible. Say "sir" and "m'am." All the time. Even when you're a grown up. This throws most people off their game

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-32818982205195452122008-05-13T09:28:00.002-05:002008-05-13T09:29:56.240-05:00

It occurred to me yesterday that some of the coolest songs are either unintelligible or end up having meanings that I completely failed to grasp. My favorite Pearl Jam tune, "Yellow Ledbetter," is completely over my head from an interpretive standpoint. I don't have a friggin' clue what they're talking about. I could, I suppose, research this and try to gain some insight. But that would just

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-81414289291735691542008-05-12T14:27:00.002-05:002008-05-12T14:30:38.037-05:00

Since it's Monday and all, I think I will list some random coolness: My better half got our American and Marine Corps flags mounted on the front of our house yesterday. Complete with solar powered lights (which work nicely and look sweet. The icing on the cake was.... I love to watch him work! We're sure to get lots of attention as I think we're the only Marine family within at least a

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-7251093625200361552008-05-10T17:33:00.002-05:002008-05-10T17:35:24.285-05:00

As I sit here typing this on my PC, I realize that the exact opposite is true. My old man (clearly on a bid for sainthood) gave me my Mother's Day gift early. A very shiny, very smart, very over-my-head MacBook. He actually gave it to me on Friday and I've been poking around with it ever since. I still haven't figured out how to integrate my hotmail, yahoo and private emails into it yet,

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-72419464900762781002008-05-08T10:51:00.002-05:002008-05-08T10:53:32.257-05:00

When I did my shout outs to military wives recently, of course it was a short and very incomplete list. There are droves more. Take, for instance, Deb Kloeppel who is responsible for the existence of a great resource, the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network. This wasn't an original concept, certainly. I myself have been wanting to establish something like this for years,as I know, have

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-43206375194136591072008-05-07T08:55:00.002-05:002008-05-07T08:57:09.242-05:00

My better half told me that yesterday's blog entry was angsty and not at all like me. I took that as a compliment. And I'm glad to say I think he's right. I'm usually a very upbeat, easy going kind of girl. I just detest injustice, even at the smallest level. My blood pressure was up and it was therapeutic for me to vent. And I wouldn't be much of a human being if I weren't capable of

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-38725632803587666852008-05-06T10:24:00.003-05:002008-05-06T13:38:19.922-05:00

Have you ever felt like the people who don't play be the rules... rule the world? That you and your good intentions will always be in line behind the people who have the audacity to think they deserve to be in front of you, even if you got there first? Just because they are bolder in their self-centeredness? That's how I feel today. I have played by the rules at something and lost. I'm not

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-47566568543585621102008-05-05T10:53:00.003-05:002008-05-05T10:57:07.283-05:00

OK, if you try to say that you didn't just love Hootie and the Blowfish back in the day, you're just wrong.  Granted, "Let Her Cry" got way too much air time, but aside from that, this was good stuff.  I think they're still kicking somewhere and I need to research that.....  Those of us who really liked the band know that Darius Rucker is not, nor has he ever been "Hootie."  And the band isn't

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-45150058502263041192008-05-03T11:35:00.003-05:002008-05-03T11:48:18.147-05:00

The theme of the week has been the "rocking of one's socks" by a slick witted or enthusiastic friend. You could simply say "You go, girl!" but that would just be tired and boring. I prefer my girl, Lori's verbiage and, frankly, am trying to give it more mileage because she was embarrassed to have said it in the first place. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't accentuate that? Boring,

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-50826756713934405782008-05-02T09:27:00.002-05:002008-05-02T09:29:32.653-05:00

So, did you watch Grey's Anatomy last night? So many good quips-- so little time. If you can't find the entertainment value in this show, then I submit that your credibility is seriously in question. Set aside the moral implications of some of its content and the rumors and scandals running rampant among the cast members-- this show is funny. I loved the part last night when Addison (Kate

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-48025355080028477922008-05-01T09:28:00.003-05:002008-05-01T09:33:41.088-05:00

What's that, you say? Well, according to the lively chat crowd at Etsy this morning, that might be a way to refer to the speaking accent of a Chinese American individual. This was not, I assure you, meant to be derogatory. At least no more so than any other accent we discuss (southern American, Canadian and so on).Another gem I stumbled upon this morning was spidercamp's shop. OMG. This stuff is

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-16977675908830834932008-04-30T08:31:00.002-05:002008-04-30T08:36:06.743-05:00

Have you seen "Juno?" OMG. This is good stuff. I knew it was going to be good when we were watching it last night and within the first 2 minutes someone had said "home skillet." Classic. And the aforementioned someone was that guy who plays Dwight on the show "The Office." Granted, he was only in the movie for about a second... but that was OK because the cast included Jennifer Garner,

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-4531051120459266802008-04-29T09:34:00.002-05:002008-04-29T09:40:06.449-05:00

In my customary random fashion.....I'm excited about a lot of things right now:Starting school soon (finally!)My daughter's 1st birthday next week (already!)Spring arriving in the midwest (I'm told this will happen SOON!)The cool jewelry I'm making (some of which I don't want to sell! ... and I even made my own jewelry for the ball the other night). The feedback I'm getting about the web

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-61025647126564249422008-04-28T10:08:00.005-05:002008-11-12T23:26:06.131-06:00

A few random thoughts today.First, I'm very proud of my husband for his hard work on the "stuff" for work over this past weekend. He's the man. Next, I really enjoyed the formal event we went to on Saturday, even if I was the ONLY Marine's wife there. This was an all-branches event (my first of its kind) so the Marines were the minority, anyway. But I had the added pressure of knowing that I was

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-26663095151802532302008-04-26T08:57:00.002-05:002008-04-26T09:10:56.199-05:00

So, I was none too happy yesterday when, for the first time ever, Mapquest let me down. One of the previously mentioned work functions of my husband's that I had to attend was a retirement ceremony for a Senior Chief that my old man works with. I had to drive out seperately as I didn't want to wait an extra hour while the husband was doing the pre-ceremonial work. It was a relatively good

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-11798063020236358872008-04-25T09:44:00.001-05:002008-04-25T09:48:35.990-05:00

So, over the next two days I'll be attending several of my husband's work functions. One of which requires formalwear which means:(1) I have to "formally" primp myself, which isn't my usual custom.(2) I'll get to see my husband in his dress blues (with the white pants!) which is relatively great.(3) I'm going to be exhausted afterward.But speaking of Marines in their dress uniforms.... isn't

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-76069367234301713732008-04-24T13:36:00.004-05:002008-04-24T14:12:36.836-05:00

I've been good to her for 4 years now. I certainly could have been better: her personal hygeine leaves something to be desired and I've uprooted her about 5 times. I've taken away some of her prized possessions and replaced them with newer ones that she's still getting used to. But right now I'm wondering just who the little snot thinks she is??!Not my dog. Not my daughter. My computer. Today

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-50092017186052503592008-04-23T13:51:00.002-05:002008-04-23T13:55:08.177-05:00

So I'm only partially making good on my plan to throw out some buzz about hard charging military spouses. This is only due to the fact that as a hard charger, myself, I am pressed for time today! Thanks to my naughty children, the arrival of my new postage scale (yippee!), a list of phone calls to return and two foolish hours spent tweaking the store layout, I have about 10 minutes for blogging

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-1679438984911018452008-04-22T09:43:00.005-05:002008-04-22T09:50:28.837-05:00

So there's this weird dealio going on with my computer right now. Something to do with the Adobe Flash Player. I keep getting other, seemingly non-related error messages every now and then. It's not too bad-- it's not like my computer is shutting down or anything. There are just some shenanigans here and there. And Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, keeps displaying a custom (yet the same each

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-31836022364485302502008-04-21T11:00:00.003-05:002008-04-21T11:03:33.656-05:00

I was all set to post some scoop about an awesome military spouse who started a kick-a$$ business and represents us quite well. She will be the first of many to get shout outs from yours truly. However, I came across this bulletin on MySpace and in light of my recent desire to shed positive light on military spouses, felt obliged to share it. I can't credit the source, I can only thank Tori for

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-58046197849862529112008-04-19T12:59:00.002-05:002008-04-19T13:03:00.471-05:00

It's hard to know exactly what others' perception is sometimes. We all have our own biases that come from our opinions, our social and economic status, our personal value systems, etc. We can attempt to look at ourselves objectively but never truly do so-- so we can't ever fully know how we as individuals or as a group of associated people appears to the outside world. We can guess, but we

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-62249904515807363752008-04-18T12:20:00.006-05:002008-04-18T12:54:59.693-05:00

Well, not really.Actually, no, of course not. But my blog is nifty today because I can finally say I added some designs to one of the stores. Took me long enough! This is most of them but there are a couple more on there as well. And this weekend I am FINALLY getting to do some of my bead stuff for Etsy. My snazzy charms finally arrived! =) Free MySpace Comments - Wix.com

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-19515193748196791082008-04-16T10:36:00.003-05:002008-11-12T23:26:06.331-06:00

Something terrible happened yesterday. I suppose that since I've been a mother for quite a long time and since this pertains to my second-born, I'm actually lucky compared to a lot of parents. Lucky that something like this hasn't happened sooner. But, it goes without saying that I wish I had skipped this rite of passage altogether. My 11 month old daughter fell down the stairs. I don't think

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-44743837022161188432008-04-15T23:54:00.002-05:002008-04-15T23:57:02.128-05:00

Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D. Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it develops:I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-4026183348709949302008-04-14T10:12:00.002-05:002008-04-14T10:21:17.636-05:00

...of the sinking of the Titanic. Wow. I know we've all seen the movie and the subject has gotten its share of conversation, but I still can't help but think what a nightmare it must have been for those poor souls. I went on a cruise not too long ago and I can say with a good degree of certainty that if the boat had started sinking I would have been in complete denial. It just doesn't seem

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-82481112974545358362008-04-12T10:56:00.003-05:002008-04-12T11:00:06.102-05:00

Even though I work at/from home, I still savor the weekends. There's much less hint of a routine or schedule to go by. It's liberating. Today I will pay homage to the leisure gods by sharing some good, clean fun.It will be necessary for continuity's sake to provide a bit of background information here about my blogging circumstances. I am new to the whole thing and wasn't sure where to begin. So

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-81943948348773505302008-04-11T11:42:00.002-05:002008-04-11T11:48:48.367-05:00

It's time for me to show some love for a couple of my girls who don't even know I'm blogging and don't know I'm talking about them. Why don't they know, you ask? Well because I am very tentative about the things (stores) I am working on and don't plan to come fully out of the closet until I get myself a little more squared away. Once I do, there will be no shutting me up. At any rate, it would

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-5681315741315908312008-04-10T16:25:00.005-05:002008-04-10T16:29:49.634-05:00

It's not possible for a week to seem any longer than this one has. I have been chasing my tail EVERY DAY it seems like. Ever have one of those weeks? Nothing particularly bad has happened-- it's just that every little task has taken too long. I'm going to try to make sure that my blog today doesn't get added to the list.On a brighter note, I was pleased with today's Urban Dictionary Word of the

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-7857837849087664872008-04-09T12:36:00.002-05:002008-04-09T12:50:36.643-05:00

Since it's hump day I'm moving back into the Ooh Rah and patriotic material. Here are 2 goodies:Carlos Mencia's message to terrorists. (And they think THEY'RE crazy?!).Then there's this other deal I saw on the Marines' MySpace page. I used my own user name for the below, but that is not intended to make light of things. This is customizable within certain limits (name and key phrases) and would

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-29051492555803710382008-04-08T11:03:00.002-05:002008-04-14T10:20:44.353-05:00

is my Pimp Handle today. And since I know the USMC moto stuff will get old if applied too frequently (not that I could ever run short of material!) I am going with some other mood-booster goodies today. The first of which is a suggestion for pimping your aura when the going gets tough. We can't all actually be pimps, but we can try to mack like them. What to do when you need a pimp starter

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-21785805581839528752008-04-07T06:57:00.002-05:002008-04-07T07:21:12.767-05:00

"No finer military organization than the Marine Corps exists in the world." --George Dewey, Admiral of the Navy.So yesterday I did the unthinkable and went on a scavenger hunt for Marine Corps media and materials. The reason this is a bad plan for a girl like me is that I truly do get so excited and curious when I'm looking around that days or perhaps weeks can go by before I re-surface into the

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-3351693248007382842008-04-06T01:19:00.001-05:002008-04-06T01:19:37.977-05:00

So my girlfriend and  I went to this really nifty little bead shop today.  I am looking for some specific charms and dangles for some crafts I am working on and although I've found a few online, the options weren't cost effective (particularly once shipping is added into the equation).  And they had a lot of really fun things there.  As I am trying to keep my identity general and not too

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010403442771097597.post-31666407466817253172008-04-04T22:59:00.002-05:002008-04-14T10:19:58.084-05:00

I honestly don't know how to begin. I'm about 3 or 4 years behind the times, apparently. Anyway, why am I here?What I would ultimately like to do is keep myself busy with new projects (that are already underway) and connect with some other military family members. My husband is on active duty but currently is assigned to a billet that has taken us away from any installation and plopped us into

semper_troopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296901920048111306noreply@blogger.com0