alaskatora's Xanga

Random Thoughts

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:06:11 GMT

Well lets see. I am sitting here preparing for the flood watch that was just issued.

Last month we caught the edge of a tropical storm. Wow...lightening, thunder, and we lost our power on the base. So, the first thing I did was go to the PX and grab candles and flashlights. I was in Anchorage mode. How were we going to stay warm? Did we have enough water? Ammo? Gas in the truck? You know the routine. Then it occurred to me that no power here really wasn't that big of a deal. Its warm. We are on an Army base. We had plenty of food and water. We were safe. And of course, the moment I calmed down....the power came back on.

So, today I am going to just enjoy the rain and storm as it is. Although, I am aware that I am on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. And of course, a big enough wave could wipe us out. No big deal. Breathe Tora. Breathe.

I wonder if we will experience a hurricane. I think that would a trip. We have had a couple little earthquakes, but nothing noteworthy.

In other news: we had to take Madison to the Acute Care Clinic b/c I failed to get all of the splinter out of her foot and it got infected and swollen. Whoops. The thing is, it was really strange being back in a clinic. The exam room we were in had so many little reminders of my clinic. Little things like; they had the same brand gloves, wavacide, and sterile lube packets. I could have totally done what the Dr. did in my clinic. We waited three and half hours with sick people to have this taken care of. And I so could have done it.....oh well. Just nostalgic I guess.

We had a great Thanksgiving. Some of the soldiers cooked the turkey and me and another wife cooked the side dishes. And the turkey was delicious and the sides were delicious.

Very strange having Thanksgiving and Christmas in 70 degree weather. Santa does not wear flip flops and carry a surf board. Whatever.

Madison calls this her new family. She now has a lot of Uncles and a few Aunties.

She is doing pretty good. She sure is an ornery little thing. She is brown and white. Her legs and arms are brown and her little tushy is white. Very cute. She loves having a mommy and a daddy. She is the queen of her little world. She has enjoyed having her own room too. She does really well in the ocean. Shes certainly not afraid of it! We have seen crabs and sea anenomes and urchins and tons of fish.

Also, I am going to my first military ball on Friday. Can you see me at a ball? Right. Another wife loaned me a dress and I have to go get shoes today. Jeff looks so handsome in his dress uniform. Whooooowe. Love a man in uniform......Of course, we have to have his uniforms altered to fit his big self. Gee Whiz. Of course, the Army doesn't make stuff his size. But who does? Anyhow, I think it might be fun. I am glad I have had a chance to get to know lots of folks b/f the ball. So we can all hang out together.......It has a slightly high school feel to it. hmmmmmmmmmm

Well, I am going to go make breakfast. Tora and Madison

What am I going to wear?

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:44:33 GMT

What am I going to wear?
Ok. So I just heard.......we are going to pick Jeff up tomorrow at 4:00pm. Man am I a mess of emotions. Seriously. You'd think after all of this I would only be happy. But, nope. I am full of all kinds of thoughts and feelings. The biggest one is happiness. But, the second one is fear. The "what ifs" have invaded my head. Like the Shel Silvestien poem. Oh...and of course.....I have the BIGGEST zit on my cheek! I am trying to look like Angelia Jolie over here....hello! Could someone please talk to the zit gods about this. And how is the baby going to react to her daddy around all of the time suddenly, and what if I am too chubby, and what if the moon is really made of jam. And my mind is a crazed spinning ratcage. I actually broke down and cried into my pillow this afternoon. Very sexy Im sure. Very sane. Thats me. I wonder if other wives feel this way the day before he comes home. I cant imagine I am the only one to have felt this way.

Oh...and what exactly are you supposed to wear when you pick your husband up from a war? We all know that I am a fashion goddess as it is. If it ain't scrubs...I don't know how to wear it. I have put on all 20 of my outfits. And they all SUCK. They make my butt look big, my tummy stick out, and they dont hide my new zit. All I can think of is the quinttesencial (however you spell that) scene where the woman is wearing a 1940's white polyester dress skirt and suit jacket with a small hat and a handkerchief waving coyly with her bright red fingernails. And they run into each others arms and the scene fades out. Fine. No pressure. How am I suppose to live up to that?

On the other hand, no one will be shooting at him and he knows we love him. And he isnt going to give a rats you know what what I am wearing. He is going to be so glad to be on American soil and his baby in his arms.....whew.....I think I will get a free pass on this one.

Well we can be sure I am not going to sleep very well tonight. And hopefully, I will only have one zit. And maybe I can loose 20#'s this evening.

Oh.....he loves me. Thats right. No matter what. Roger.......

We are going to go to the outdoor swimming pool. Madison has convinced me that she can indeed climb up to the top of the huge water slide alone while I wait in the pool to catch her. Jeesch. Where did I get this kid? She fears NOTHING. Thats what AP Parenting will get you.

Tora

Monday, September 24, 2007

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 05:21:31 GMT

Aloha
Well, we have made it to Hawaii. We are staying in a military hotel. Its very nice. Jeff was supposed to be here tomorrow..but he will be here on Wednesday instead. It is pretty nice here. Its about 80 degrees. Little strange things are different tho. Like the moon is in the wrong side of the sky. The time change is harder than I thought it would be. Also, its dark at about 6:30. And not Alaskan dark. But REALLY dark.

We went to the pool this afternoon. It is Outside! Wierd. And I was really hot just sitting there. So I actually went into the water with my chubby self. We didnt stay too long...because I didnt want us to sunburn. We are going to ease our way into it. The nice thing is that there seems to be a nice breeze blowing most of the time. And that makes a world of difference. We walked across a parking lot going to the PX and the asphalt was soft under our shoes. Wierd........

I can also see mountains in the distance. That is nice! Its not Denali or anything...but it is a mountain range nontheless.

Anyhow, we are happy to be here.

Tora

My last night in Anchorage

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:31:55 GMT

Well, here it is. My last night in Anchorage. This has gone by so fast. I am shocked.

Anyhow, it occured to me today that I get to go to Hawaii. Yes. Hawaii. I get to live in Hawaii. That means when I am bored or restless, I can go sit on the beach and read a book or sit in a tropical forest or go to a tropical waterfall or just go into my backyard.

And the fruit. Wow. Real fruit. Pineapples and papayas and everything else. I wonder if I could grow a tropical fruit garden? Hmmmmmmmm?

Ya know, we got married in Hawaii. Yup. On Diamond Head Beach. Life is funny. In a very Lion King sort of way...(dumb circle of life reference there)....

Anyhow, it just occured to me that I will be stepping off of a plane Saturday morning in Hawaii.

I'm scared. I'm happy. I'm scared. I'm happy.

And thats not even the best part.

He's really coming home from Iraq. This is dreamlike. Everything is moving really quickly slowly if you know what I mean. Anyhow, he is coming home. Really. Next week, I will be eating dinner with him. And picking up after him (actually, its the other way around...but you know what I mean). And I will wake up with him there and go to sleep with him there. And the baby gets her mommy and her daddy. That amazes me.

I feel like making What About Bob references...."I'm sailing! Dr. Marvin, I'm sailing!"

And I get to go to school. Most people go off to college after high school. I was packing something up a couple days ago...and I realized...I am packing up to go off to college. Finally. Three kids, two careers and seventeen years sober later. But still, I am packing to go off to college. SWEET! In Hawaii!!!!! I couldn't have planned it any better. Seriously.

That's how awesome God is. Not only does he take care of us; he sends us to Hawaii. Happy, joyous, and free. In the God stream.

Where I come from, you don't end up meeting your husband in Hawaii so you can go to school. Trust me. You end up somewhere completely different doing something else entirely.

Anyhow, I gotta sleep now.

I am going to miss everyone so much! And I am going to miss Anchorage so much! And I am taking my dividends with me.

Lots 'o love. Tora

My home

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:16:59 GMT

Sitting here at midnight thinking about Anchorage. This has been my home for so long. It is really the place I feel most at peace in. Its almost like I am comfortable with thought of dying in Anchorage. And I would hate to pass anywhere else. Strange eh? Everytime I venture outside I miss our State so much. When we lived in Oakland the boys and I would play a game: we would close our eyes when we left a store and hope we had been teleported to the Costco on Dimond. Of course, we never were. ;(

I hope I will be at peace in Hawaii. What if I am not? What if I hate it? What if its too hot? And bugs? ewwwwww! Everyone says its paradise. But, I have my doubts. I think Alaska is paradise. Its a pretty hard act to follow.

I comfort myself by thinking that Hawaii is only temporary. Of course, it doesn't help that no one has any sympathy for this grief. Everyone is like, "I wish I could go to Hawaii. Look, snow is on the mountain already." And I am filled with a strange grief that I am going to miss this winter. Whatever.

I am gonna do it though. Its what in front of me. Theres no getting out of it now. I cant undo whats been done. I gotta go. I'm all packed. My movies are packed. Madison's toys are sorted and mostly packed. She keeps unpacking them. And then she repacks them in places they aren't supposed to go. Its a funny dance we are doing.

The bottome line is: God has a plan here. This is all being orchestrated by something bigger than me. My job is to just show up. And that has always been the case. Maxium service to your fellows Tora. God isnt going to screw you this time either. He hasn't so far...........keep the faith girl.

Either way, I am going to miss this place, my home, so much.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 08:08:20 GMT

Well, we are leaving on Friday. We are almost packed and we are soooooo excited to see Daddy! He will be home on Monday!

I am still totally in shock. This has all happened so fast. Everything has fallen into place and really there have been no hiccups during the whole process. Gods will baby. Doors are open and we are going through them. I got my acceptance letter from the University, got our military medical clearance, etc......smooth.

Madison said the funniest thing yesterday. She said she was glad we were packing soupcases because she really wanted to have soup when we got to Hawaii. Cracks me up! She is so happy. She has her mommy back and as a bonus....she gets her daddy too.

Anyhow, this Xanga thing seems pretty cool. I think I might like it more then myspace. Dont know yet.

Tora