Memorial Day

This is a repost of something I wrote two years ago. I got emotional re-reading it. My feelings have not changed. I love my country, I love our servicemen, and I appreciate those who gave up their lives so I can live mine.

I am so in love with the podcasts I subscribe to. It makes my work day go by >____< that much faster. I subscribe to about 15 and keep finding more and more that peak my interest. Of course I listen to the Radio from Hell podcast religiously, since I've been a FOP since 1995 (I pity those of you who know not what that means) and can't listen live, no thanks to work. I also have to have my dosage of Garrison Keillor, This American Life, and NPR, naturally. What NPR podcast, you ask? Try 8 different podcasts. I simply love NPR. Here's where I get so emotional.

You remember a few months ago my mentioning of certain music that causes warm, salty water to leak from my eyes? Well... A few weeks ago I remember listening to one of the NPR podcasts in which Jim Sheeler was being interviewed about his book that was released not too long ago, called Final Salute. He served three years as a Marine casualty assistance officer, and wrote about his experiences doing that service. He talked about his time helping one woman deal with her husband's death. I won't go into detail, but I will tell you this. I am amazed that this man was able to do his job for three years. I don't know if that's his required time or not, but man.

That brings me to the intent of my post. A lot of the stuff I listen to on NPR is related to military service or politics. I am very interested in things dealing with WWII. I get teary (as in, grab me a few tissues, I'm going to need help) when I think or see things related to the military in WWII. I think it's mostly because of my grandfathers. Rachel had a school program in 3rd grade where the kids sang a medley of all the songs related to each branch of the military. As soon as they started singing "From the halls of Montezuma..." I lost it. Even typing about it makes me weepy. I watched Atonement, and got weepy at the war scenes. When I saw Saving Private Ryan, I spent the whole movie crying. I know my deep-rooted respect for the servicemen that served and still serve in the Marines is because of these two men you see here. I never knew my Grandpa Roy (nor Grandma Vera) but I know my love and adoration is just as equal for him as it is for my Grandpa Gnarini. Both were career Marines, both served honorably for their country.

Secret wish

One of the desires of my heart is to go live in the mountains in a yurt. I would love to get away from everything - cars, television, work, electricity, and just live off the land. I would love to walk outside every day and see nothing but fields forever.

Maybe when I'm rich I'll buy a cabin far, far away from civilization. But not too far, because I would need to charge my iPod and have access to Barnes & Noble.

Lists

Remember how I talked about finding that really cool list book? Well, I lost it amongst the piles and piles of books I have strewn about the house and I found it the other day while standing in, of all places, the shower! I forgot that I had put my bathroom pile up on the wall cabinet (yeah, I don't know why my list book is in the bathroom) and had started a new bedside and desk pile, causing the bathroom pile to remain ignored. I also admit I've been very lazy this month. I wish I could tell you what it is I've been doing, but I don't want to completely embarrass myself... Oh, all right! I've done...

I can't say it.

Nothing but watch TV (catching up) and stitching (one for me, one for a friend, one for me, one for a family member) and reading. Absolutely gluttonous self-serving time. Oh, the shame.

Anyway, here's my list for the moment (You'll find this very fitting for the occasion):

List the reading material in your bathroom

• The very list book I'm getting this list from
• The English Patient
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (I need to put it away, actually)

Just be glad I'm not listing any other piles. There are at least 5 in each, and there are piles in just about every room.

Cellulitis

I know you're all aware that I am blessed to be experiencing Cellulitis right now. I've had it once before, but not this badly. My skin doesn't look like what you see when you look it up on Google Image. However, I will mention that my right calf is now entirely red (before it was just my knee), and not as hot but still hot to the touch. And it's like I'm pregnant all over again, except I have pregnant leg. Singular. I was sitting in the recliner with my feet crossed and I got up to get the phone. When I looked down at my ankle, there was (and still is) a HUGE dent in it. I don't like that. Not only does it hurt to bend or straighten my leg, but now I get to deal with swelling, too. Hooray! So this round of Cellulitis has not only granted me the permission to get a shot in my butt that HURT like a mother, but I'm also taking pills the size of my pinkie (which is why I think they charged me so much for it at the pharmacy, and that was getting the generic brand) and I am walking funny. I just pray that this will go down. I am hoping it's cleared up enough by Wednesday. I want to go hiking, and right now I can't over exert my leg. Sad, sad, sad.

Well, that didn't work.

I just typed and deleted a big chunk of stuff I wrote. It made me feel guilty. It made me feel lazy. After having just read a bunch of blog entries about Mother's Day and kids and busy lives and having to be a thousand places at once... No.

Let me just say that I have had no pause in being able to start enjoying my summer vacation. It's nice to not have that feeling like I should be doing something school related.