TREY-TREY… 

Tonight, after I put Noah down to bed (for the first of 67 times…) Trey and I spent a little quality time just cuddling on my bed, watching some cartoons.  He rarely cuddles with me anymore so I was really relishing in it.  He had his sweet little 4 year-old arms wrapped around my neck and his head on my shoulder and he looks over at me lovingly and says, “Mommy … I’ll never forgive you.”  Huh?

Yes, after much discussion and explanation, I figured out he meant to say that he’d never FORGET me.  Well thank-god.  Because I was thinking maybe he’d already figured out at the tender age of 4 that I’m on my way to costing him thousands in therapy.

MY ATTEMPT AT RENEWING MY ID CARD…

First, before I rant… I have to say that I really don’t know why I let military administration get under my skin anymore. It’s not like this is all NEW to me. It’s not like I EXPECT them to function with efficiency and logic.  And yet… here I go getting all revved up because of something silly.  Anyway… so weeks ago I’d made an appointment to get my ID card renewed. It expires while we’re on leave and, to avoid any hassle, I just figured I’d get it over with BEFORE we leave the island.  SO, now for the AF (I don’t know how it works for other branches) all appointments have to be made online.  Done.  Easy. I’ve GOT this online stuff down.  Sweet. It says bring 2 forms of ID.  Check.

Fast forward to yesterday.  After running around doing errands in our car with no A/C, we dash home after lunch so I can jump in the shower.  I am bound and determined to have an ID card picture that doesn’t make me look like Mr. Yunioshi from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  After I’ve cleaned myself off and am resembling a human being again… I race off (in the car with no A/C) to MPF.   I walk in, smile at the 15 other people waiting in the ID Card area, and tell the lady that I’m there for my 2:30 appointment.  She says to have a seat and goes off to do something ID-card-ish, I’m sure.  About 2 seconds later she comes back and asks in a syrupy sweet voice, “Do you have your 1172 with you?”  I’m carrying my wallet and keys.  So I say, “Uhh. no. All it said to bring was 2 forms of ID….”  Syrupy continues…”Oh well, you need to have your sponsor sign an 1172 form.  Where is your sponsor?”  Me, “…. at home…”  Syrupy fake giggle. “Oh..hehe okay. Well, I’ll just get the 1172 ready…” At which time she takes my ID and goes off to the back room to do more ID-card-ish important type things…  She comes back a few minutes later and says. “Okay, well, when he comes back with you it’s all set.”  I stand there as the creaking wheels in my brain begin to turn and process the information… then I manage to get out… “Wait. Can’t I just take the form with me, have him sign it and bring it back?  He’s at home with my kids.”  Syrupy returns…”Oh…hmm. no.  He has to sign it in our presence.” 

WTF.  Okay.  This must be a new dependents-are-too-stupid-and-incompetent-to-be-trusted-to-do-anything-without-their-sponsor policy because I’ve gotten SEVERAL ID cards made without DJ there to sign the form IN FRONT of them.  And… really.  I don’t understand the logic.  What if my sponsor is a raging you-know-what and refuses to sign the form?  Then all of a sudden I’m not entitled to the things that having an ID card offers…oh…little things…you know…like HEALTH CARE or BASE ACCESS.  

So, looking fabulous albeit a little sweaty, I turned around and left the MPF.  I went home and made another appointment online when my all-important sponsor is home… and we will drag our children with us to the MPF in our no A/C car…just so they can SEE him sign the form IN FRONT of them….  ARGHHHH.

Okay… rant done.  Onto other stuff…

IF THIS DOESN’T MAKE YOU LAUGH, YOU’RE MADE OF STONE…

Here we go…rockin’ the photobooth…

And we got Noah in on the action… he is obviously thrilled beyond comprehension…

THIS, however, is my favorite.  Trey is sabatoging what was meant to be a cute little pic of mommy and Noah.  He came roaring into the picture right as the little red countdown bar was finishing. LOOK at Noah’s face.  Classic.  

Welcome to my world.

Stay tuned: I want to show you some of the awesome people that I have subjected have so graciously let me take their portraits… those to come SOON.