They have Vernors down there.

While it's still Friday on the west coast, I need to wish a happy two-fer birthday to my dad and stepmom.

They've probably been tucked away in bed for hours, unless they were awakened by a late night elephant cat stampede through their living room.

Happy birthday, you two! I cannot wait to come to your house next month and drink booze pop out of the refrigerator in the basement.

Truth.

birthday girls and a chatty husband

While I was looking for a picture for yesterday's post, I came across the one above, which was taken at my wedding. In it are my grandma, whose birthday is May 13, my sister, whose birthday is May 14, and my aunt, whose birthday is today, May 15. Fancy that!

I cannot wait to see these ladies in June. Seriously, my heart swells and I break out in a goofy grin just thinking about it.

I had that same giddy, palpitating feeling earlier this evening when I was relaxing post-workout, checking my e-mail, and a Gchat message popped up. FROM MY HUSBAND! He's ported in Manila Bay, Philippines after spending 95 days in Middle Eastern waters. I got to talk to him for more than an hour and a half, and it made my whole day. It was exactly the thing I needed to end the day on a good note and send me off to bed with a smile on my face.

this kid

This kid is 26 today. She's getting married next month, and I suspect that she'll be doubling up on the champagne there, too.

Happy birthday, sissy!

your mother was a hamster

I spent the past week doing all of the things that I normally do, except that I was doing them with my mommy!

She was totally on board with my diet and exercise plan, and ate salads and did 30 Day Shreds right alongside me. It was a great motivator, and we both had the lowest weigh-ins we've had for some time.

The best part was getting to spend Mother's Day with she who birthed me. We started the day with a lovely quiche for breakfast, spent the afternoon bowling (badly) at the base alley with some friends, and had dinner with my Navy wife bestie and her kiddos.

The thing that I love about my mom (one of many things, of course) is that we can just be together without having to make a plan or do anything. Whether we're at her house or mine, our lives can combine just as seamlessly as they did before I left the nest. There's no tension, no need to put on airs or façades, and nothing to prove. Spending time together is a pleasure.

We parted ways this morning. It'll be a little bit harder to stick to my workout schedule without a buddy cheering me on, but I'm going to keep at it. We'll be reunited soon enough, next month when I head to Michigan for my sister's wedding.

P.S. Your father smelt of elderberries.

he's gone where the goblins go below, below, below

You've probably heard by now that Osama bin Laden is dead, killed today by U.S. forces (specifically, a team of Navy SEALs, according to CNN) nearly 10 years after the terror attacks that he masterminded.

I was watching a DVRed episode of CSI when I started seeing Facebook statuses about a very important presidential press conference. I switched over to CNN immediately. My first reaction when I heard what Wolf Blitzer was saying was tears.

I'll leave the posts about the heavy stuff to other bloggers who'll say it way better than I could. They'll talk about how bin Laden was just one man, ask at what cost has he been taken out, wonder how Al Qaeda will retaliate, and remind us that this won't necessarily bring home any troops and doesn't mean an end to "war."

This post, however, is purely personal. I'm a proud Navy wife, so allow me my moment.

One of Jason's reasons for joining the Navy (among many) was the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. I'm sure many men and women of my generation joined the military for that reason.

Now, in a way, we've come full circle. Now, that small part of the mission is actually accomplished. As President Obama said in his address, "Justice has been done."

Jason has been thinking about ending his military service after this enlistment. If things go as currently scheduled, he'll have given eight years of his life to active duty service (and more to the individual ready reserve). Whatever happens, I hope that his aircraft carrier gets to have a big mother-effing banner on it, too.

I'll have one waiting for him on the front of our house.

source

Quotes from the Boat, Volume 6

My husband says funny things. Funny things that often become even funnier in the voiceless environment of e-mails sent amidst the chaos of deployment on an aircraft carrier. In my Quotes from the Boat series, I'll be sharing select gems plucked straight from my e-mail correspondence with the king of the cruise himself. From funny, to touching, to just plain weird, these are Jason's musings from aboard the "big metal city."
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Boy, will I have some stories to tell you when I get back! The first night we pulled in [to the United Arab Emirates] was crazy! I had watch that night and people were going nuts from being out to sea so long.

I'll tell you, an aircraft carrier is not the place to be sick. Nobody gives a shit if you don't feel well. Apparently, I'm only allowed to be sick in between the hours of 0815 - 0915 and 1900 - 2000. They gave me a bunch of shit for going to medical after their sick call hours. Imagine going to the doctor's office because you're sick, and the doctor yells at you for being sick.

Today I took it upon myself to just stay in my rack. It's my own version of SIQ. I told the first classes in my shop that I'll be in my rack if they need me. Considering medical on this ship is too chicken-shit to give a sick man a day off.

Maybe I'll get real lucky and come down with pneumonia and be sent home.

I just want to spend as much time together as we can. :)

I definitely do not miss cleaning up [cat] poop every day. I shovel shit all
day dealing with the Navy.

Things have been pretty tense around here. Everyone is getting on each others' nerves. People have been blowing up on their supervisors. It became such an issue that we had to have a meeting tonight.

I'm just spending my time trying to stay sane. Six months out to sea will drive anyone nuts. It's hard to never be able to escape from your job. It's Navy, Navy, Navy all day every day.

I hope you sleep well and that you do not wake up to fecal matter on the floor.