Full Moon Shenanigans

We were once again found enjoying this gorgeous day at the park. Where else!

We were only prepared to stay for a few hours (didn't bring dinner with us), but as the sun was setting, and the moon was becoming brighter and brighter; none of us wanted to go home.  Sooo we stopped by a local heath food store, grabbed some things to make lettuce wraps, and back out to a park we went. A new one this time. We've driven by it many times, always saying something like "we should stop there one day", but we never do. Ack, it's a bad little habit of ours that I'm working to break. Live in the now ... shut up with the "one day".  

Anyway; it's a very quaint little park in the middle of downtown. It was empty and quite relaxing ... even with the traffic noise. 

We ate our dinner in the middle of a circle labyrinth etched into the concrete, told stories, laughed, and then decided to play a game of hide and seek under the stars ... because it's a childhood rite of passage to play hide and seek under the stars exactly 147 times before growing up. It's true. Look it up.

i was hiding under a park bench in a pile of leaves and pinecones
not sure i left any on the ground

working the labyrinth after being "sought"

hey you! yea you! up in the tree!
found ya!

he forgot to hide this go 'round
too distracted by the kale stems and dressing bottle

yes, it really was THAT funny

alright; step aside fellas,
the best seeker in the west (err, i mean east?!) is here to get things done ...

found you!

and you!

and you!

AND YOU!

and just for the heck of it ... a photo of my boys at the first park ... pre shenanigans
wait a second - are those bunny ears?!

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Identity Crisis

Almost 13 years after saying "I Do" ... I finally *legally changed my name.
And actually, I don't know how I feel about it.

My military ID card came furnished with the last name Paul (lady typed up the form without even asking for verification, and I went along with it; whatever) ... Changed the name on my Drivers License almost immediately after getting married to coincide with that military ID (the only thing the dmv required back then was to show them a copy of our marriage certificate). Having the same last name as my sponsor (husband) seemed the easiest most hassle free way to deal with military crap. And since Nick wasn't around AT ALL for that 1st year, leaving me to thrust myself head first into the military world by myself, easy and hassle free were my favorites! So, really, in every day life I've been a "Paul" for years. But legally speaking (tax purposes, mainly) I'm still known by my birth name.

It's important to me that mine and the kids' last names match. Had I been thinking more clearly back then, I would have hyphenated the kids' last name. I didn't. I haven't wanted to legally change mine, nor have I wanted to go through the legalities of changing their name in order to attach a piece of my history to them. I haven't wanted to do anything. I've been stubborn, and resentful, and decided to just put it off until (... someday ... )

Well, "someday" is now fast approaching! With retirement just around the corner; my active duty military id card is soon going to expire. As soon as that expires, my drivers license will only be valid for 90 days before I''ll have to renew. After calling to see about the renewal policy for my expired ID (expired in 06!); we found out that in order for me to renew I will need to either have my license display my legal (maiden) name OR have proof of legally changing it for it to continue saying "Paul" (thereby matching every other every day card/document I have).

Kind of had to get over my stubbornness and resent real quick like, and decide which was most important ... holding onto my name or matching my kids' (they both seem so trite when typed out ... but I assure you they're valid! :-P)

You can see which I chose, but like I said, I'm not necessarily happy about it. Not necessarily unhappy either. I don't know how I feel yet ...

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Happy Heart Day

Ya know I really don't like this day.  Like really really don't like it! But, my kids love a holiday. ANY holiday will do. So I had to pull my stubborn head out of the sand, and make it great for them. Nick went back to work after having 9 days off, so unfortunately he wasn't around. 

The kids and I packed up and headed out to spend the day at the park ... soaking up the gorgeous warm sun and fresh air! Yes indeed, the sun can turn an otherwise miserable excuse for a Holiday into something wonderful. 

We had a great day together. 

checked the mail before heading out and found this shoved in there ... <3

we love his handmade cards

love capturing their special moments together

sweet, sweet sunshine
pants and tapestry can be found on soul-flower.com
LOVE them!

they were sorting out their club house news

the pooches love the sun just as much as we do

splashing through the creek with bare feet
the universal sign that spring is fast approaching!

soaking it up

a delicious ACV drink in the sun's beautiful rays
cheers

blowing in the wind

and the jumping starts with Morgan
a trend was had ...

 

Hope your Valentine's Day was filled with a warm overflowing heart, too ...

but more then that; I hope you know you are loved year round <3 !!!

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Sunday's Songbird ... Eve of Destruction

Switching things up around here a little bit.
Funky Music Friday has morphed into Sunday's Songbird.

I got the idea from another beautiful weekly music blogger over at the free spirit chronicles. She turned her "Tuesday Tunes" into "Sunday's Songbird", and I instantly fell in love with the name. I knew I had to adapt it. Thanks, Cam, for the inspiration ;-)

This weeks song is great - I love it. Then again, it's from "my era". Can't go wrong with 60's political rock, can you? lol

I chose this song today, Feb 13, because we're on the eve of Valentine's Day. A day that I've had a hard time with for the past 13 years. Each year as this day approaches I feel the anxiety in my stomach growing; like a silent storm waiting for it's time to destroy. This year the day happens to fall on the "back to work after 9 days of leave" Monday; which adds to my anxiety for it's own reasons, making this year harder then most. And each year when I attempt to broach my fears and issues with my husband about this particular day, he doesn't really take me seriously. Gives me a quick "Nah, everything will be ok, you'll see" and he moves on. Not really the compassion and empathy I need. And when I bring THAT up, he gets defensive, panics, and becomes desperate to backtrack and "fix" ... which is also not helpful.

Over and over and over again, each year
he doesn't believe, we're on the "Eve of Destruction"



Eve of Destruction ~Barry McGuire
the eastern world, it is explodin'
violence flarin', bullets loadin'
you're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
you don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'
and even the Jordan river has, bodies floatin'
but ya tell me over and over and over again my friend
ah, you don't believe, we're on the eve of destruction.
yea

ah, don't you understand, what I'm trying to say?
can't you see the fears, I'm feeling today?
if the button is pushed, there's no running away
there'll be no one to save, with the world in a grave
take a look around you boy, it's bound to scare you boy
and ya tell me over and over and over again my friend
ah, you don't believe, we're on the eve of destruction.
yea

ah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin'
i'm sittin' here just, contemplatin'
i can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation
and a handful of Senators, don't pass legislation
and marches alone, can't bring integration
when human respect is, disintegratin'
this whole crazy world, is just too frustratin'
and ya tell me over and over and over again my friend
ah, you don't believe, we're on the eve of destruction.
yea

ah, think of all the hate, there is in Red China
take a look around, to Selma Alabama!
you may leave here, for four days in space
but when you return, it's the same old place
ah, the poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace
you can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
hate your next door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace
and ya tell me over and over and over and over again my friend
ah, you don't believe, we're on the eve of destruction.

ah no no you don't believe, we're on the eve of destruction.

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VLOG #2 - #7 ... Liver / Gallbladder Flush

Alright Lovelies,
We VLOGGED our step by step journey through this flush ... aren't you so excited?! lol



lol ... the nose pick; I was readjusting my nose piercing.



I remained "unhungry" the rest of the night; while Nick became a little moody because of lack of food. Score 1 for Epsom!



love that I got the hoops in the background! Woot for hooping. 



I just squeezed the grapefruit by hand. If you have one of those fancy citrus juicers ... you could have easily gotten over a cup out of just one good sized organic grapefruit. 



Still Super Sleepy, lol


I said that I used 1 cup apple juice and 2 cups water, but what I meant was 1 cup Orange Juice w/2cups water :-)  And incase we were being too subtle ... it's DISGUSTING! The OJ didn't help at all! lol

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Liver / Gallbladder Flush

The hubster and I have been doing a 6 day liver cleanse in preparation for the big flush tonight. During the cleanse, we've basically just cut fats out of our diet. Things like nuts and oils, since our raw vegan diet is pretty clean as it is.

We've also upped our malic acid intake with supplements, as well as extra apples, apple juice, and an apple cider vinegar (raw, braggs brand, with "the mother") drink twice daily. The last time I was drinking ACV, in hopes it would help with my seborrheic dermatitis, my body didn't tolerate it very well. Dry heaving all over the place. Needless to say, it didn't help with my face splotches because I couldn't make it past day 2, lol. This time, however... OMG, so good! It's like a really light kombucha. I use 2 TBSP of acv, about 1/2 cup of orange juice, a cup or two of water, and 5 drops of stevia. Hello, YUM! So happy to have whipped up this mixture. The healing properties of raw ACV with "The Mother" are so incredible. I want my body to experience all the goodness it has to offer ... sans dry heaving! Anyway, the malic acid is helping to soften any liver/gallbladder stones, making them easy to pass during the flush.

We've also been doing a nightly coffee enema. The coffee enema, as opposed to a saline or water enema, helps to speed up detoxification of the body ... specifically the liver. You can google coffee enema to learn about the benefits (that'll save you from my long winded passionate rhetoric); my only advice (threat? lol) is to buy FAIR TRADE coffee! Yes, it's quite a bit more expensive, and for an enema you're not even drinking it - it's going up your ass, but ethically, there is no other option (and for your coffee drinkers out there, this is SO important. Fair Trade. It's the only option, and your taste buds will thank you, too). The blood of dead ethiopian children will be on your hands if you reach for that cheap tin of folgers, or maxwell house, or that "fancy" Starbucks bag. Rent "Black Gold" (the one based on coffee; not oil), open your eyes, expand your knowledge, and make informed consumer decisions. Ignorance is not bliss ... ignorance is ignorance. Kay, done now.

So, that's been us this past week; Cleaning out the colon, detoxing the liver, softening stones ... all in preparation for the flush tonight. We'll stop eating here in about 30 minutes at 2pm (or I've been told it will be a REALLY hard night). We'll get our epsom salts drink ready ...

4 TBSP Epsom Salts
3 CUPS Water / Fresh Juice


This will make FOUR 3/4 cup servings. We'll drink one at 6pm, one at 8pm
then tomorrow will drink one at 6am, and the last at 8am. The epsom salts help to open the bile ducts, so the stones and crap can easily be expelled.

And then at 10pm tonight we'll drink the oil mixture ...

1/2 CUP Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (cold pressed)
1/2 CUP Fresh Squeezed Organic Grapefruit Juice
10-20 drops of Black Walnut Tincture (to kill any bad bacteria/parasites coming from the liver)

Shake that vigorously until mixture is thin, and then drink the entire thing down within 5 minutes (I've heard it can help if you use a straw). Drink this standing next to your bed, and immediately after finishing the drink; lie down. Be still, no moving/talking for 20 minutes. You should try to fall asleep, but the most important thing is to make sure you remain still for the full 20 minutes. Relax and meditate on stones passing. After that, you can shift a bit, get more comfortable, but really just stay in bed and go to sleep. If you have to get up to use the bathroom ... go for it.

If you're lucky, you'll have a good nights sleep, wake to finish off your epsom salts, and hopefully see some green floating stones, and/or tan-ish colored foam, when going to the bathroom. Nice, right? lol. Worst case scenario, you may feel like a train wreck. Releasing toxins can be a horrendous experience. Flu like symptoms; cramping, sweating, nausea ... and if you're like me, those toxins will come out emotionally, too, with crying spells and anger fits. Yikes! Buuuut ... better out then in, right?

2 hours after the last epsom salts drink in the morning you can have some fruit juice. Half an hour to an hour later you can eat a piece of two of fruit. After a couple of hours you can resume to normal ... try to keep it light, and just be aware of your body's reaction.

And there you have it! I'll blog our results ... look forward to THAT, lol.
I may even vlog!!

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Owen under the Knife: Part 3

He finally got the metal rod removed from his bone... hopefully making this the last surgery for the little fella. I pushed the surgery date out 2 extra weeks because of the little chest cold he had going on. They were willing do go ahead with the surgery, because he wasn't running a fever, and he wasn't too stuffed up. But ... anesthesia freaks me out enough; no need to up the risk factor going under while sick; even if just slightly so. 

So by the time the day finally came around, he was so anxious to get on with it. He was all, and I quote, "ready for all this arm business to be over with". He's been dealing with this broken arm since LAST APRIL! I'd be pretty much done with it by now, too! 

Strong healing vibes would be greatly appreciated for this very active boy ... 

He was already ready to blanket slide down the stairs later in the evening. Oye!

The play life nurse there brought him a video game
to play while waiting for the Dr. 

he only played the game for a minute before deciding
he'd rather soak up plenty of snuggle time
before they brought him back
<3

waking up after surgery

being wheeled out to the car, with his special pretzel "treat".
he needed something in his tummy so the pain meds didn't make him nauseous.
isn't it amazing how unhealthy the food is in hospitals?
this was the best option by far...

the bones are STRAIGHT!

(both of those were broken!)

he asked his Dr if he could keep the rod.

look how tiny it is!

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Back to Titletown!!!

aaaaand That's the Game!!!

Packers bring it home!

Super Bowl XLV Champs!

HELLZ YEA!!!

I know the Steelers are your team, Tony 

but I also know you were rooting for us from out there. 

I can feel you smiling! 

I love you, and miss you every day. 

Sing It:

We are the CHAMPIONS...

of the world!

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I've got Super Bowl FEVER ... literally!

We went out today to look for some additional Packers gear, but alas, we came up dry. Being so far away from the "main event" ... the stores here didn't even really stock up. They were just happy to sell their left over merchandise from the season. :-/  And to think, I even went to the mall to look. The MALL! Curse the mall... the wretched bastard that she is!

It's times like these when I really start to feel homesick for Wisconsin. The energy there right now has to be amazing, and I find myself longing to be a part of it. The history, the excitement, the family ... I miss it.  

So much, infact, that I jumped online to check out the state's homeschooling laws and real estate prices. I mean ... we ARE getting ready to move, and we haven't yet zeroed in on exactly where this move will take us. 

Ahem ... *cough*

I don't think I'd enjoy living in that much snow for such a long period of time again. I enjoy the snow, but only when it's sporadic (once or twice a year), and melts in a coupla days. The sun... I *heart* the sun! But, the beauty of this move is that it's OURS. While I did enjoy the military solely for the fact that it enabled us to travel and live in places we wouldn't have otherwise chosen; I am SO looking forward to spreading my wings, and fully embracing the freebird, tumbleweed, gypsy that I am. If we do decide to give Wisconsin a whirl, it doesn't have to be (and probably wont be) permanent. We can leave when the mood strikes. 

Ahhh ... freedom. It's a wonderful thing. 

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Funky Music Friday ... Green and Yellow

uh huh, you know what it is
Green and Yellow, Green and Yellow
Green and Yellow, Green and Yellow

yup, uh huh, you know what I read
Green and Yellow, Green and Yellow
Green and Yellow, Green and Yellow

It's SUPERBOWL TIME, BABY!!!!!

Lets Go Packers,
Lets Go Sing it
Facing the #1 Team
Bring IT!!!!



Green and Yellow ~J-Byrd
Alright, no lyrics this week!
I'm not fond of this songs "win at all cost" mentality (hit face masks, chop-block, anyway you chose), it's not at all what the Packers organization is all about (the cowboys on the other hand, lol). Soooo, no lyrics! This kid still has a lot of talent (he's only 13!!), the beat is danceable (I dare you not to), and please ... it's about my PACK! Just ignore the few "kill 'em" words, listen to the rest of them, and get HYPED for the BOWL!!!

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The Appeal is Back ...

... 90% and it's PERMANENT!!!

OMFG, could you all hear my screams of excitement?!

This was the BEST news we've heard in a while. And on a day my hubster really needed it, too. He had a bad day at work; letting his frustration get the best of him. He was simmering and ready to blow. Thank the universe for knowing just when to drop this news on us. 

It was just Monday (2 days ago) that all of the appeal paper work got sent up, so we were waiting for a call from the lawyer that was going to represent us down there; so we could go over our case, etc. We were told we'd hear from him yesterday, but nothing came. Then today, after being bitched out by his command, and him nearly getting himself into another heap of trouble with his brain damaged temper, they told him that his appeal was already back, and to head over to the office to be read the results. 

I thought my heart was going to fail me. We've heard plenty of stories of people appealing a decision, and the military countering with a "lower offer". You know the whole "don't appreciate what we've given you, fine, we'll give you less" thing? Yes, they actually DO do that! Since the paperwork was JUST fully submitted, and we hadn't heard from our lawyer yet, the thoughts running through our minds were not good. 

BUT ... because my husband finally listened to me and took my advice (urged him to include copies of his lab reports showing that his thyroid hormone remained at a stable healthy level until the full thyroidectomy; which occurred AFTER the recent assault, demotion, and inpatient stay in the mental ward. Also urged him to get a letter from his therapist of a few years stating that he's been diagnosed with and dealing with ptsd w/depression for the past 7 years ... with no marked difference upon being diagnosed with hypothyroidism following the surgery. His condition was/is as stable as it's going to get). Those two things gave the Colonel down there all he needed; he saw no reason to send the appeal back to the board for review, so there was no need to have a lawyer represent us. He ruled that Nick's conditions are stable; which changed the temporary status of our retirement to a permanent status! OH HAPPY DAY!!! He also changed the TBI (traumatic brain injury) rating from 40% up to 70% ... which is where it should have been rated in the first place (I explained it in a previous post). Since that was just a clerical error, there was also no need for the board to reconvene on that... our total rating % changed from 80% to 90%.

Halle-Freakin-Lujah !!!

There really should be no trouble getting 100% from the VA now. Military retirement percentage is only calculated for conditions rendering a soldier unfit for duty. They'll only compensate for injuries and conditions that prevent you from remaining in the military. The VA compensates you for all injuries. Nick has a list of conditions that would still allow him to serve in the military that the VA will rate him for ... sleep apnea is one of them (standard rating of 50% alone). With everything together, like I said, it should definitely be 100%! Which is huge. I mean, the pay jump between 90 and 100% from the VA is HUGE (we're talking an 1100$ difference)! But also, the benefits are amazing. The VA process will be a whole 'nother thing (hoping to get started on that process tomorrow, actually) I'm sure I'll blog about it along the way. I know you're eager to hear all about it ;-) lol

It'll take a few days for this retirement paperwork to process through post here before the official orders are drawn up. Once that happens, they give him about 10 working days to clear post (turn in gear, sign out of all offices... ie library - to make sure you're current and have no over due books, outstanding balances, etc) and then we'll take the rest of our leave (60 days worth); we're planning to stay here during that time. Hoping to knock out all of the VA appointments. The entire VA process will take approx 4-5 months... but the check-ups, appts, etc should only take between 2-6 weeks. We're hoping that by staying here, and devoting those 2 months of leave to doing just that, we'll be able to knock it out really quickly. Once on leave, though, we really wont have any more dealings with the military. No calling in, no formations, no signing out. Once leave is over, the computer automatically changes his status to retired. So really, in about TWO WEEKS we will be DONE with the military!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll say it again

Halle-Freakin-Lujah !!!

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