War Of The Ants!

Since hurricane Ivan I have been fighting a war with ants and losing I might add. No matter how many times the exterminator comes out, or how many times I clean cupboards, bait, and spray myself those little bastards still show up!!!

Never, and I mean never have I had ants in my house that I couldn’t get rid of. Once in Florida during the summer (aka rainy season) we had an entire mound come through the front door into the house. Literally thousands invading my house and I am happy to say I won that war. Within 2 days not one was left!!!!

I first spotted them in my bathroom. So I sprayed and called for the pro. Then I took down the wallpaper on the wall they were most seen to find they were coming in a small hole. I thought at that point I had won.

2 weeks later I found one lone ant wandering on my counter by the coffee pot. The one place that I use the least. We had a small battle with only a 10 or 20 ants coming to fightand I won there. Then a few more weeks go by and they are found in my pantry. I thought ”Ok here we go the big battle to decide it all” . I killed them and they were gone.

Again, I thought the victory was mine!

Again, I was WRONG!

Friday I found them across in the cupboard I store glasses, plates and other dishes. NO food items stored here!!! I have been fighting all weekend and I am not sure I will win.

I will tell you this…I sure hope this was the last of the rain for a very, long time…I woke up in a cold sweat due to a dream ants were all over thousands of them and I couldn’t stop them. They were playing in my clothes, cooking on my stove and they had poor Günter tied up making him watch as they took his food away!!!

As of today the only ants I have found have been dead. I’m trying to be optimistic; I tell myself I may have won this battle finally.

Somehow I can’t help but feel they are at this moment, mapping out a new strategy for our next battle.

Little bastards!!

Update on My Uncle

I spoke with my Uncle today. He sounded wonderful and I told him we were all still praying for him.

For my new readers please go here to read his story and more.

He said to thank you all. His recover is nothing short of a true miracle he has already exceeded his doctor’s expectations.

I truly believe this has happened through the power of prayer.

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you all a wonderful day of family, friends and of course food!!

Please keep our solider and their families who cannot be together today in your prayers and thoughts.

“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they
protect us.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they
perform for us in our time of need.

I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Amen."

Guess What??

It’s Thanksgiving break!!!! WAHOOO I am off till Monday!

Thank you very much!

Daddy’s Is My Hero

I had meant to post this sooner but things here have been a bit busy.

At our elementary school every year there is a very big assembly in honor of our Veterans. Students are asked to write about a veteran in their family and then a few are chosen for the honor of reading their letter at the assembly.

The veteran they are writing about is asked to attend. It is always a very touching program. This year 2 of the letters chosen were written by children whose parent is currently in the Middle East. One was from a very proud and handsome 2nd grade boy whose dad is in Afghanistan. The other was Lindsey’s.

This is Lindsey’s letter:

“To anybody my dad might just be a normal dad but to me he’s more than that he’s my hero. My dad is a veteran and an active duty soldier. My dad served in Desert Storm and has been in the Army for 21 years. That’s pretty long to me! Right now he is serving our country in Saudi Arabia.

My dad is my hero because he is serving in the Army. He is also my hero because since he’s been gone I’ve learned how much I appreciate him and what he does.

I really miss my dad and can’t wait for him to come home. I still talk on the phone and write to him but it’s not the same. I really miss Saturday nights when my dad would take me to the movies, or to baseball, hockey, or football games.

I think that the Army runs in my family because my dad is a veteran, my pepere is a veteran, and my great grandfathers were veterans. Just incase your wondering pepere is French for grandfather.

My dad lives alone in Saudi Arabia. Sometimes I think I would be way to lonely alone, of course my dad is lonely but he gets to sleep at night I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep all alone .I don’t know how he cooks because he really didn’t know how to cook when he lived here. I think he makes that heat up dinners!

My dad will be home in November of 2005. I don’t count how long we have to go I count how long it’s been because that way it seems like he’s coming home sooner.

I miss him very much and I hope he stays safe so he can come home to us.”

By the time Lindsey and the little boy were done reading their letters there was not a dry eye in the house. I have never cried so much at school as I did that day. I was also so very proud of Lin.

The next day there were a few notes in my box at school. Many told me how wonderful they thought Lindsey's letter was. They all touched my heart.

Thank God for Weekends!

In my life I have had bad days at work just like everyone else. But yesterday has to have been the worst day in about 3 years. I love my job, I love the children I work with, (hell better I’m not doing to for the $7.93 and hour this district pays)and I love most of the people I work with.

Saying all that, I honestly thought yesterday about resigning and going back to subbing. Yes the pay is less but only by about 9 dollars and for 9 bucks I can sell something in a garage sale you know.

In the course of 3 hours I was hit, kicked, punched, spit on, head butted and called Ms. Dumb Dumb head about 3 times every 30 min all by one student.

Oh and lets not forgot the parent who called us all incompetent! Nice yeah!

I came home yesterday, played Dominoes with my girls then we went to dinner at Roses. We ran into some of the folks I work with and we all decided to sit together and had a blast!

Today I am taking the girls to see the Polar Express! I am so excited! Then of course, back to cleaning and doing laundry.

Happy Birthday!

Happy 40th Birthday to my husband!

Please stay safe and come home soon!

I Knew Better

Thank god I never told the girls about the possibility of Rob coming home in March.

Rob called just few minutes ago…not happening. His branch manager misread the sheet and the slot was to be filled by someone already here. Here’s the kicker…it took him pointing it out to her that she was misreading it. Nice uh!!

Her response was” Oh well I would have just sent you to Ft. Drum”. Rob let her know fast that Ft. Drum folks are on their way to Afghanistan!

I idiot, I’d like to ship her ass off the Afghanistan and say “oops my bad!”.

I knew better, I knew it was too good to be true.

Unfortunately even with all the “Gail don’t get your hopes up” speeches in my head I am so disappointed.

O well 357 days again till Rob comes home.

Thank god I never told the girls!!!

Update

My friend’s son is now in recovery. He is doing well but the recovery process will be long and painful.

Please keep “The Blonde One” as his mom calls him online in your prayers.

Keep A Good Thought!

Robert called me Friday with some interesting news. He had a call from branch and was asked if he would be interested in a position back at Redstone. Today his Col. signed paper work for him to be released from Saudi (Actually it was a release from the extension that was voluntary, by voluntary I mean “agree to extend here another year or agree to go to Iraq for a year.” Hello no brainier there).

So if things keep on this course Rob will be home the first week in March!! I am not telling he girls or Rob’s family till he is here. I don’t think they could take the let down if it doesn’t happen.

If you all could keep a good thought we would appreciate it.

Prayers

Please say a prayer for a friend’s son. The power of prayer is o strong!

here is a quote from his mom:

He is having surgery tomorrow to correct a chest defect (something he was born with). The surgery itself is about 4 hours, and he'll be in the hospital for 5-7 days after.

We wish him a speedy recover!

Stuart Little

Stuart fought a good fight but in the end, the sticky boards got him. He could have surrendered to the peaceful traps and been set free but he insisted on war! We never wanted it to go this way but there just wasn’t room for a mouse in our house!

May he rest in peace!

A Little Of This and That

It is now Monday morning and Stuart Little has not surrendered. I’m afraid its time to let the exterminator do his thing!

Lindsey went Trick or Treating Saturday night. Remember I live in the bible belt so they changed it so children were not out Sunday night. She was not happy I was going to be taking her so she went with a few friends and their mom. She said I knew too many of the kids and adults and would talk too much. .

Alyssa stayed home and passed out candy dressed as the Grim Reaper she didn’t wear the mask because she didn’t want to scare the little kids…what a sweet Grim Reaper she was.

We did tackle on HUGE task this weekend. We cleaned out the girl’s closets and under their beds. Holy smokes it was terrifying. Thank God it is over and we all survived!!!

We actually had a nice relaxing weekend just doing this and that. It was great.