Saturday, December 16, 2006



Can I Whine?

Well, we all know that I can whine, but I mean right now. Is it wrong to whine at Christmas time? Isn't Christmas kinda like Disneyland, always happy? Now, don't get me wrong I'm happy for the most part and grateful for all that I have, it's just that this Christmas my daughter and 2 grandsons can't come to Arizona and I don't get to go to Colorado. So there it is, whine, whine, whine! She sent this cute picture which of course makes me teary. And she'll be at home in Colorado without her husband who is spending his second Christmas in Iraq. Not right is it? She sent me some pictures of him in Iraq and an e-mail that his CO sent to the families. I thought I would share a little because it makes me see a whole different side of this @#*%*&(^&$$* war. It's the side that the families go through. The unknown like "When casualties occur, it is my policy and that of our Brigade Commander to shut down all morale phones and email." This is a direct quote from the e-mail. What this means is that when she hears on the news that there has been a casualty in the Anbar Province and she hasn't heard from him in a while anxiety runs high. Just reading things like this next quote really brings the word "war" into perspective, "a couple of our companies have been in serious, hours long firefights with a determined enemy." That's just part of the e-mail. It also goes into detail about how many casualties, and wounded there have been. Just to think about these young men and women going through that makes me sad. Sad and proud of my son in law and everyone else that is serving their Country and are away from home this Christmas. Now on a somewhat lighter note here's a picture that you would never expect to come from Iraq. That's Gale (my son-in-law) leading the burro. It was a little mini burro, donkey, whatever. It followed him all the way back to the wire (safe zone) where the CO made him take it back. I seem to remember him always finding puppies when they were younger! Take a look at the rubble behind them. I think those are the building they are living in. See the sand bag bunkers.
So, that's the end of my whining. I feel better. Thanks for listening!

Saturday, December 02, 2006

LIFE HAS BEEN BUSY.....(see I told you I would start that way Chia)! We have been extremely busy in the store especially today thanks to Chia Wald and Chris Herrmann. They were in the store today doing make-n-takes that were soooooo cute. It's always so much fun to have those two partners in crime spend time here. Not only do they attract a large draw of women to the store but they also keep Jennifer and I in line. Hence, the blog update. This blog is also for the anonymous person that asked for the update.

Our Sonoran Living episode aired last week. Jennifer Wagner did a great job! She's a natural. If anyone got a chance to tape it we would love a copy to play in the store. It's amazing how the camera made the store look. Not that it doesn't look good in person, but somehow that cameraman made it look even better.

We had our last class for 2006 in the store today. All of our teachers are busy working on ideas for next year. We have decided that February will be all about romance. Think Valentine's Day, Paris (oh so romantic)....

Don't forget ATC's are due on the 15th. This month's theme is Winter. We can sure get in the mood for that with the cold weather we've been having. Aren't we spoiled. My daughter calls every day to update me on how much snow has fallen at her house. I feel warmer already just thinking about how cold it must be there. Her husband is in Iraq right now and she is doing all of the shoveling. Yuk!

So, that's my update for now. I will be better I promise. And just so you know, I tried to get Jennifer over here to blog and she said she would do it tomorrow! Hold her to it Chia!!!