Memorial Day Numbers

Today is Memorial Day...a day, that for many of us, means BBQ's, family and a 3 day weekend. Many of us have not been touched by war or death. I myself only have my father and grandfathers who were part of the military during the Vietnam War and World War II. They went into battle and returned alive. They have stories to tell that fascinate and thrill me.

Now, I have friends whose husbands are overseas. Some once, some twice, some even three times. I can't imagine what it is like to be home, with the kids, for months and months, worrying about my spouse fighting in a war that I often forget we are part of still. Am I ignorant? Am I lazy? Do I not care? Of course I care.. I read the newspaper and watch the news, but not everyday. I have noticed that news of our current war (in Iraq and Afghanistan) is rarely mentioned.  I'm thinking this is because our military is more precise in it's bombing (have you been watching "America: The Story of Us" on History Channel? Fascinating. We've gone from 50% accuracy in WWII to 95% accuracy). Our military isn't actively fighting a large military as we occupy these countries.

Please, no hate here. I love our men and women who serve our country. I am proud that they are the brave and have chosen this profession. That they have made the sacrifice to be sent overseas, away from their families. I cry every time I see a news report showing our military persons leaving or coming home. It's not a life I would choose, but I would be proud if I was a part of it.

The point of my Memorial Day post (which went so much better in my head before I started typing) was to share the military statistics I recently read in the the USA Today. Numbers I had absolutely no clue of.

U.S. war involvement in months:
Afghanistan - 105
Vietnam War - 104
Iraq - 86
Revolutionary War - 81
Civil War - 48
World War II - 44

Can you believe that we have been in Afghanistan for 105 months as of June 7th?? We are such a different generation than those that grew up during Vietnam. We don't protest. We are too busy trying to rebuild our lives, here, with the housing market downturn and unemployment. I, personally, believe that there is less protesting because the death toll is so much lower.

U.S. deaths by war:
Civil War - 625,000
World War II - 405,399
Vietnam War - 58,209
Revolutionary War - 25,000
Iraq - 4391
Afghanistan - 1000

This information surprised me. I feel like I've been hiding in a hole in my little corner of the world. It's safe and I wanted to take this moment to THANK every man and woman who has served or is serving in our military. For every person who has made the sacrifice to make and keep the U.S. a free place that I know I take for granted.

Happy Memorial Day!! I hope you had a wonderful time BBQing with your families (that is what I did today) and maybe take a moment to reflect on how safe and wonderful your corner of the world is today.

Grumpy Meme

Is this how you feel?? This is how I feel most days. I love my life and staying at home, but like all underpaid workers, I need to vent a little. So this "Grumpy Meme" has arrived at the perfect time. First I need to Thank my wonderful friend, In Real LIfe, she makes me so happy to read about her walks and her pretty photos (you should go visit her and look around).

Now, I get to follow the Grumpy Meme trend by listing out seven things that get under my skin. I'll start by saying, there has to be more than seven, but as I write this, I may have a hard time remembering them.

Seven Things that make me Grumpy:
1. Super Mario Bros - odd right. Miss R LOVES Mario. I mean, LOVES Mario. The kids have been playing the 4 player Super Mario and are always yelling about who gets what power or how they make each other die. The tears and crashes of them pushing each other or throwing the controller make me very grumpy.

2. Single Leg Stomping - Mr N is 4-1/2 years old. He likes to stay home and play video games. Any time I say it's time for bed or time to go. He cries and stomps one leg while looking angrily at me. I've explained, numerous times, that this is unacceptable behavior and that I understand he is frustrated, but we have to go. He stomps again and then wonders why he is sent to his room for 2 minutes and the video games put up out of reach.

3. A Messy Kitchen - it's weird, but my house can be covered in toys and I'm OK. But, if the kitchen is a disaster I feel really grumpy. It only takes a little elbow grease to clean it up and I'm back to normal.

4. My Bathroom Scale - I work hard (not hard enough), but hard at staying within my calorie count and working out. The scale does not move. I don't care if I have to stick with it to see results, I need to see something. Even 1/2 a pound to tell me we are moving in the right direction.

5. Rude Behavior - I actually do not encounter this very often and I try hard to say Thank You and Please to the workers I see every day. I don't like it when someone takes their hard day out on someone else.

6. Banks - Yes, I need them so that I can pay my bills online and write checks out to my kids school for the never ending fundraisers, but I am not fond of the ever increasing fees they are imposing on me. I deposited a check from a friend that came back unpaid and my bank charged ME $6. Seriously, I didn't bounce it. Come on!!

7. This has been harder than I thought and I'm sure I'll think of 10 as soon as I'm done, but I'm going to go with....Sensational Journalism. I believe we have a right to know, but we have the right to know the facts and not the opinions. I also believe that there is as much good as bad happening and that it would be nice to watch some fluffy news stories, so that I feel like my kids can have a normal childhood and not one where I am so paranoid and feel like running background checks on all my neighbors.

So, there is my grumpy list at 12:57PM on a No School Friday. And links to my friends that I am asking to play along (of course I would like to see all your responses);

Half Crazy Mommie 
Tmena Photography 
the Little Things we do 
When you are happy, you say it 
Mommy of 4 Knee Deep in Laundry 

And, while I'm at it, it's time to link up with the lovely Brenda at Mummy Time. How I've missed doing the link up and finding more wonderful blogs to stalk. I say stalk because I spend all my time reading what you are up to and forgetting to write down my crazy day, life, year!!

So, hop on over to Brenda @ Mummy-Time and link up to Flog Your Blog #13.
You will have a great time and find some wonderful new friends to follow. Have a great Memorial Day weekend playing with friends or family or having a little BBQ. Hopefully, I will take a few moments away from finishing reading my book so post a few blogs.

365 pics

I had a wonderful evening with a great friend. We shared some (a whole
bottle) of chianti and ate some pizza while (ignoring) watching the
kids run in circles around the couch. A fun way to start the weekend.

Happiness is...

Blowing bubbles with my kids on a sunny afternoon. It's about 65F with
a slight breeze. The wind is blowing the bubbles for us.

Home improvement

Seriously!?! Is this a cool orange-brown color or baby sh!t brown. I
like the color and have painted a tiny section of the hall bath with
it, but it's bordering on baby poo and I'm nervous to continue. Only
because I don't want a guest coming over and being all, "OMG...What
was she thinking?" I'm thinking I have 4 kids and the bathroom needed
a facelift from cute, little kids to the guests use this room more
than they do. (They bath and toilet in my room. Which means I only
have 1 bathroom I HAVE to clean, for now). Anyway, I know I can
repaint if I don't like the finished product. I thought I would
finally get a blog done again and ask for some opinions. I just wish I
could get a better pic while in the bathroom without all the light
washout.

OK, opinions please!

Frog legs for dinner

New buffet place in lynnwood. Great Chinese, seafood, sushi and frog
legs.

1st family bike ride