Way too early in the morning for my own good.

Sometimes my mind wonders. One thought leads to another then to another and then the next thing I know, I'm wide awake at 4 o'clock in the morning wondering why I can't sleep.

I realize it has been several days since I updated my blog with new and improved adventures, but here's the thing: online journals get read by others. It's one thing to ramble on and on in a private journal and a completely different thing to put those same thoughts on the internet. If I were to have a beef with a friend and wanted to write about how much she got under my skin and then have her read about it just isn't productive. I know my friends and family read my blog. Sometimes private thoughts are private. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. --There, that's my explanation for my absence.

Of course, there's always the very personal and intimate items that, quite frankly, are nobody's business. Suppose I was afflicted with a particular ailment that I wanted to write about, complain about and basically emotionally purge from my mind, but didn't want my friends and family to necessarily know about. If I were to have an incredibly painful zit on my butt which generated irritability because I can't sit without a sharp jab in the gluts, my friends just don't need to know about that. Afterall, I have an image to uphold. I can't have folks knowing about the colony of fleas residing in my carpets or the seeping lesions festering on my backside. Okay, for those of you raising eyebrows right about now, these are merely examples to illustrate my dilemma.

On the other hand, some days are simply uneventful. One day blends into the next and before you know it, two weeks have gone by. There just haven't been that many adventures in my life as of late. But, as the end of our three year tour in Germany comes to a close and I add task after task to the list of things to do, tiny pop quiz adventures are becoming more frequent.

Like trying to purchase a house online. That's been an experience and not one I can recommend. I would suggest actually going to the properties and seeing them first hand. The process of elimination, I suspect, would be less complicated. The added factor of being 7 hours ahead of the realtor doesn't benefit the situation. After browsing through the assortment of online photographs and emailed questions and answers, another buyer has beaten us to the contract negotiations. The stress is starting to get to me. We are now down to choosing between a house that isn't finished being built (and won't be for several weeks after we need to take up residence) or a beautiful house, which shares a property line with a cemetery. Frankly, being the Halloween enthusiast that I am, I have no issue with the neighbors. I suspect they're quite and tend not to partake in hosting the social gathering of the year, although.... folks would by dying to visit.

So, in the next 3 weeks, I have extended family coming to visit, a son graduating from high school, an ex-wife is coming for the graduation, the necessary sorting of household baggage and hold baggage, the tossing out of the unneeded and unwanted stuff that has been collected over the last three years, the purchasing of a home, the packing and shipping, the journey to the United States with three dogs, and all the other millions of things that will pop up. Phew....

My son even got into the festive mood.

What more can I say?

More women folk. I just wonder why I was dressed as the trampy entertainment and all the other ladies came as respectable wives.

Many, many beers were had by all.

And, there's always one in the crowd who thinks they don't have to participate with the "dress" code.

My friend Christie and her husband.

Men were invited to bring their women folk.

While the most amazing man in the world was in Iraq, he decided that when he returned, he would have his fellow soldiers over to our house for a "Man-Dress" party.

My neighbors (Evelin and Richard) smooching. They are such nice people. I'll miss them when we all have to move this summer.

Kirby took this one. I just love him so much.

Can you believe how beautiful my dress is? I LOVE IT.

The Belles of the Ball. From left to right: Christie, Ruthie, Me, and Janet. I'm sure I'll mention these ladies in the future. Now, you can put a face to a name.

My dessert plate. You can never have enough dessert. I had one of each.

This is me sitting with the most wonderful man in the whole wide world.

The Schedule of Events

I discovered this dress in a small boutique and decided I needed to try it on, just for fun. I instantly fell in love with it. I have never felt so beautiful in all my life, including my wedding. I simply had to have it. I figured I could wear it around the house when I needed an extra boost to feel better about myself.So, when the 2nd Brigade 1st Infantry Division Spring Formal showed up on my calendar of events, I knew exactly what I would wear.