Friday, June 02, 2006

“These go to 11.”

Classic hilarity.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Slow and Steady

Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It’d really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment. They expect you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then usually decide against it.

You Are 48% Cynical

Yes, you are cynical, but more than anything, you’re a realist. You see what’s screwed up in the world, but you also take time to remember what’s right.

[via deb solo]

I’ve had several frustrating conversations with people who have demanded by their repeated questioning that I repeat myself more than my threshold of three times.

First was the lady who called my several times yesterday - she was trying to track down a foreign national that was arrested by ICE at the airport about a week ago. As per my usual, I told her that she needed to talk to that person’s attorney and gave her the number for the clerk’s office where she could get that information. She then called me back three more times and I told her the same thing all three times. By the 4th phone call, I was expasperated and asked more questions because she was told that the clerk didn’t have this guy listed with them at all. Turns out he was in DC. Or maybe not, because I just got a long rambling voice mail from her when I was out running an errand. *sigh*

Second was the deputy who gave me this voucher to be paid last week, but there were some approvals from higher ups missing. I explained what I needed and sent him on his way. He just called to say that the money was being transferred from HQ and that I was approved to cut his check. Not so fast, my friend. I explained that I can’t cut a check just by seeing that money was being transferred from HQ; we get money transferred to us all the time. I need the voucher with all appropriate signatures and then I need to get another signature before I can cut the check.

“But, but, but…” he sputtered, clearly frustrated.

“Look, I hate to be difficult, but I just can’t do it without the signed voucher. I’m sorry,” I said. In my head I was chanting, “I’m not going to prison to make things convenient for you!”

We went ‘round the problem a few more times in the conversation, which was lovely, and then I reiterated, “I will not cut any check without the appropriately signed documentation. Ever. I know it’s a pain and I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.” He hung up in a huff.

What’s most frustrating about this is that he’s assigned to HQ, but HQ doesn’t type checks and so they ask us to do this for them because we’re conveniently close. They are the ones who ding us for not having all signatures in audits and yet they ask us to violate that all the time like this. Drives me insane.

We started watching Band of Brothers last night. We finished the first two parts of the series, Currahee and Day of Days.

Beau has not seen the miniseries before, so it’s all new to him. I’ve seen the series a few times, but there are new things I’m catching this go ‘round. I think some of that is because I’m reading Dick Winters’ memoirs - I just finished his section on his lead of the assault on the German guns at Brecort Manor. What’s cool is that the miniseries is pretty faithful to the true events (so far) based on how Winters described things. Obviously some dialogue is made up, but the events are true.

We won’t watch any tonight because I have worship band practice and I’ll get home too late to start an episode. So we shall resume tomorrow, probably.

If you haven’t seen this miniseries, plan to rent it. It is excellent.

So the heat and humidity has finally arrived and I am not happy. It’s like a sauna out there and it’s not even noon yet.

The AC in our building is not cooling sufficiently in the mornings, which tells me that they’re turning it off overnight. That makes no sense since it takes more energy to cool a hot building than to maintain a cool temperature, but there is no common sense allowed in the presence of your federal government.

I estimate it is in the high 70s in my office - not enough to make me sweat; just enough to make my hair limp and to get that uncomfortable clammy feeling.

Gah!

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

From Jaynee.

1) How old were you?
THEN: 1996 29
NOW: 2006 39

2) Where did you work?
THEN: 1996 - I was finishing up culinary school and preparing to move to New Hampshire to work with Young Life.
NOW: 2006 - the federal government

3) Where did you live?
THEN: 1996 - Virginia, but preparing for the move to New Hampshire in a couple of months
NOW: 2006 - Virginia

4) How was your hair style?
THEN: 1996 - I don’t remember exactly, but it was probably middle length - maybe a bob and blonde.
NOW: 2006 - surprisingly enough, the same - but it has been many incarnations in between

5) Did you wear contacts?
THEN: 1996 - Nope
NOW: 2006 - Nope

6) Did you wear glasses?
THEN: 1996 - Yes, daily
NOW: 2006 - Yes, daily

7) Who was your best friend?
THEN: 1996 - my sister
NOW: 2006 - my husband

8) Which of your pets were still alive?
THEN: 1996 - Annie
NOW: 2006 - Annie and Mr. Kitty

9) Who was your boyfriend/girlfriend?
THEN: 1996 - Just the one in my dreams
NOW: 2006 - Married to my Beau

11) Who was your celebrity crush?
THEN: 1996 - Are you kidding? How am I supposed to remember that?
NOW: 2006 - See the fake boyfriend list - Hugh Jackman still tops that one, though

12) Who was your regular-person crush?
THEN: 1996 - No one
NOW: 2006 - Beau

13) How many piercings did you have?
THEN: 1996 - Two in each ear
NOW: 2006 - Three in each ear

14) How many tattoos did you have?
THEN: 1996 - None
NOW: 2006 - None

15) What was your favorite band/singer?
THEN: 1996 - Most CCM
NOW: 2006 - The same, although I gravitate to the praise/worship stuff mostly these days because of being on the worship team at church.

16) Had you smoked a cigarette?
THEN: 1996 - Nope
NOW: 2006 - Nope

17) Had you gotten drunk?
THEN: 1996: Nope
NOW: 2006: Nope

18) Looking back, are you where you thought you would be in 2006?:
No way. For one thing I moved to NH thinking I would be there far longer than the 5.5 years I was in actuality. Plus, while I wanted to be married I did not think I ever would be married. And I NEVER thought I’d EVER work for the federal government voluntarily.

Just a reminder that I have the cutest niece and nephew on the planet.

I believe this is a first for me - I’m actually making progress on three books at once. We’ll see if I succeed.

In the fiction category I have two books going: On Basilisk Station by David Weber. I admit this is slow going, but I’m sort of interested enough to stick with it. It will need to get into the action quickly or I’ll lose interest all together, I fear. Because I’m also “reading” - listening - to Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I know. I can’t help myself, though. Having listened to two other Brown novels, I was curious because they were entertaining on the commute and finished quickly.

In non-fiction, I’m reading Beyond the Band of Brothers the war memoirs of Dick Winters. This is an easy read - Winters is succinct in his retelling of his early army days. I’m up to the point where the Allies are on the verge of D-Day and I have a clear picture of what their training was like, who the people are, and Winters’ personal thoughts on all. I’m looking forward to learning more about his perspective on the key battles of which he was a part in that final year of WWII.

If you’re looking for a good movie to add to your Netflix queue for the summer, be sure to include A Bridge Too Far. This WWII movie from 1977 features a very good cast of actors (Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, James Caan, Robert Redford, Ryan O’Neal, Anthony Hopkins to name a few) and is a pretty good retelling of the disastrous battle led by British Field Marshal Montgomery that was Operation Market-Garden.

Wikipedia: Operation Market-Garden

The movie is a bit long, but it’s very good overall. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

We have officially hit the summer TV season. There is a gaping void in my DVR play list - we have one show from the just ended season still to watch (Numb3rs season finale) and then it will be empty (save the last half of A Bridge Too Far, that I recorded last night when I started to fall asleep - I’ve only ever seen the end of this movie so I really would like to see the rest of it).

This means there will be movie reviews in the coming months, as I start to get better value from my Netflix subscription.

That said, there will be some new TV watching this summer with The 4400 season three starting June 11. Oh, and Hell’s Kitchen, too, which starts June 12th. At least there’s something.

I forgot to mention that Beau finally heard from PHC about that teaching position. He got a very nice rejection letter.

In light of the drama that has unfolded at that college this semester, he’s thinking he may have dodged a bullet. We had started to think that a rejection wouldn’t be a bad thing, so the rejection wasn’t too disappointing.

In the meantime, he hand delivered his resume to NoVa for a fall teaching gig at their Arlington campus. And he mailed his resume to American U for an adjunct slot for the fall. Neither is ideal, but will do for now - he needs a job.

We appreciate any prayer you might consider offering on our behalf on this - we’re doing OK financially because God has provided; we’re trusting Him for continued provision and know that these things will work in His timing.

For too long the US Army had no Army Hymn. For We Were Soldiers, director Randall Wallace wrote The Mansions of the Lord. The Army liked the hymn so much they have adopted it as their official Army Hymn. One day late, it still seems appropriate to honor our fallen soldiers by making it today’s Song of the Day.

The Mansions of the Lord
by Randall Wallace

To fallen soldiers let us sing,
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing,
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more weeping,
No more fight,
No friends bleeding through the night,
Just [Divine] embrace,
Eternal light,
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry
And no children weep,
We shall stand and guard
Though the angels sleep,
Oh, through the ages let us keep
The Mansions of the Lord

You can listen to it here.

While we had planned to watch X2 yesterday afternoon before going to see X3, that plan changed when Beau realized that he had seen X2 already. So we watched We Were Soldiers on the new HD TV at my parents’ before we went to see X3. That seemed fitting for Memorial Day. It’s such a great movie.

X3 does not disappoint. The effects are spectacular; the story is fascinating; the characters are true and I love the addition of the new blue dude; and the ending is left open for X4.

Eric’s review is good and mirrors my thoughts.

I give X3 3.5 stars out of 5.

Monday, May 29, 2006

The Memorial Day website.

The Veteran’s Affairs website on Memorial Day.

Information about the National Memorial Day Concert.

The Presidential Proclamation:

Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2006
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Throughout our history, the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States have placed the security of our Nation before their own safety. America will be forever grateful for their service and sacrifice. On Memorial Day, we honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Defending the ideals of our Nation has required the service and sacrifice of those from every generation. From Valley Forge, across Europe and Asia, and in Afghanistan and Iraq, courageous Americans have given their lives so that others could live in freedom. These Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen took an oath to defend America, and they upheld that oath with bravery and decency. They have liberated the oppressed, spread freedom and peace, and set a standard of courage and compassion for our Nation. All who enjoy the blessings of liberty live in their debt.

This debt of gratitude extends also to the families who stood by our servicemen and women in times of war and times of peace. Each of the fallen has left behind loved ones who carry a burden of grief, and all Americans are inspired by the strength of these families.

At this important time in the history of freedom, a new generation of Americans is defending our flag and our liberty. These men and women carry on the legacy of our Nation’s fallen heroes and demonstrate that the United States Armed Forces remain the greatest force for freedom in human history.

Those who lost their lives in the defense of freedom helped protect our citizens and lay the foundation of peace for people everywhere. On Memorial Day, a grateful Nation pays tribute to their personal courage, love of country, and dedication to duty.

In respect for their devotion to America, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved on May 11, 1950, as amended (64 Stat. 158), has requested the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 29, 2006, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day. [ed., emphasis mine] I encourage the media to participate in these observances. I also request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States, and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Today, I remember most especially, my grandfather - a career Army officer who served valliantly and with distinction in World War II, through the Korean conflict, and beyond.

Thank you for your sacrificial service.