Monday, December 29, 2008

Congrats Steph and Russ

So I realized....
I never posted pictures of the wedding that Jack and I were in.... It was beautiful. Congrats to the new Mr and Mrs Hineline...
And sorry for taking so long at posting pictures....oops....



Jack and I.....of course I need to start with one of us...haha

walking down the aisle...through the swordsmen..

The happy couple saying their vows....


Amanda and the swordsmen and the groom too...
I am thinking the third one in....hottest one...haha...ilu jms

So hope y'all enjoyed....Now that I have figured out how to add pictures...I may go back and add some to other posts too...haha...who knows....

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Kobe and Seneca


I often wonder what my cats would say if they could talk. I am sure that they would complain that certainly we don't feed them as quickly as they would like( but honestly 5 am ...they can wait). I would think they would say we treat them well. Although I am sure that aren't always pleased with my need to dress them up for holidays. They also would probably tell me to get the camera out of their faces as I take a crap load of pictures of them, but when you are that cute.... you really can't say anything.
Sometimes Jack makes voices for the cats. I think it is adorable. He talks as though he were them and it is sweet.
I do wonder though...what would they say if they could talk?

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Hope that you and yours have a great holiday.

Jack and I are having a wonderful holiday. He got me the digital camera that I wanted. I am so excited about it. Not that I didn't take a ton of pictures already, now I am just going to take a ton more. Haha!
Jack got his laptop and external harddrive so he is happy. But it was kind of like a gift for me to because now he can email me and talk to me when he is deployed. He loves it.

Anyway Have a great Holiday everyone!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Open Letters....

okay so I work in retail as well as my full time job. I need to vent about some of the craziness. So here are some open letters to some people in light of the craziness that has occured over the past few days.

Dear Shopper:
I understand that you waited until the last minute and are upset that we do not have exactly what you are looking for, but please understand that we close at 10pm, not 10:45 and certainly not 11pm when you choose to leave the store. Also I do not make the clothing, nor can I magically produce what it is you are looking for in an instant. If I could I would, because then you would have left at a reasonable hour.
Please also know that it is not necessary to unfold every sweater on the table. I promise that they are the same sweater. There is no need to unfold the whole table.
Using the fitting room as a restroom, also a no go. Please understand that someone has to clean that up, and that someone is me. Using 4 pairs of $70 jeans to cover the mess definitely is not good.
Basically, if you want something specific, start shopping earlier in the month. Shopping two days before Christmas does not warrant you to torment the mall workers.
Happy Holidays,
Thank you,
Retail Employee

Dear Driver in the Publix parking lot,
I understand that walking from the back of the parking lot is hard for you and your fancy car should obviously be front and center everywhere, but holding up an entire lane of traffic and not moving until a car in the front spots pulled out, is not necessary. I wonder if your feet are broken, because certainly your finger was not when you flipped me off for trying to move my car out of the lane of traffic. There were many spots in the back of the lot, but yet you are obviously special and need a front spot.
Once getting ino the store it is not necessary to flip me off again, or make comments about what is in my cart. I parked at the back of the lot, so I will burn the calories I consume when I eat the sour cream.
You seem to be about 45 years old...so please grow up.
Thank you
Fellow Publix shopper

Dear Neighbors,
We pay for our parking spots. Just because you feel you are special does not mean that your guests can park in the spots that we pay for. I will block your guest's car in. You may think that the whole lot is yours, but I assure you that I do not pay 1400 a year for you to park your and your guest's cars in my parking spot. When you called the police a few days ago to complain about someone else parking in your spot, I hope you understood how it felt. Fair warning, I will call the tow truck for any cars parked in my spot.
Have a great holiday,
Your neighbor.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

time is counting down

So as I sit here writing this, I realize that time is counting down for this deployment to start. I am not excited about it in the least. But in the same sense I want it to go ahead and get started so that it can go ahead and get over with.

We found out about this deployment back in May. You would think that would give me enough time to get used to the idea and be ready for it. Heck I thought that way to. And for a while I was ready. He went off to Mohave Viper and I was all good. I had a plan. I worked insane amounts of hours and kept myself busy. Then he came home for the month and now I don't want him to leave. This stinks.

I know that I can handle the deployment. I know I will get through it. I have some amazing friends who have been through it and have all told that they would be there for me. I can not thank them enough. It helps knowing that I have friends who have been there. Our KV called the other day, I think that is what made me realize that we were so close. Its crazy.

I still have a plan to keep myself busy while he is gone. We have a plan for when he gets home. I mean I have to sell the house and get everything ready so we can go active duty. I just know that there will be hard days, for both of us. Jack and I are each others best friends. It is hard for us to be apart from one another.

I am so incredibly proud of Jack. He is doing this for us. I know that. I know that he works hard and is a good Marine. I know that in the grand scheme of things 9 months really isn't that long (especially if we have been successful in our ttc efforts this month). I mean we do have a lifetime to be together.

I guess I am just scared. So much can happen. Jack is my world and for him to be in harms way terrifies me. As I am sure it terrifies countless other men and women to know that their loved ones are in harms way. I am going to be strong for him as I know I need to be. But I do know that the next few months won't be easy.

I tried to reach out to some friends from home for support. I will be honest in saying that I honestly don't see that happening. I have called my friends from college, left messages, emailed them. I just don't seem to be getting any responses. I feel like I am the one that is trying but I understand that they are busy, that they all have things going on to. I guess I just hoped that they would be there to listen. I know that they probably don't understand...and I am not asking them to, I am asking them to listen. I guess we are all just going in different directions. It makes me sad but it also makes me thankful for the friends I do have that listen and understand.

Didn't mean for that vent to get in there....I guess it just spilled out.

Anyway hope everyone has a great day!
xoxo
Amanda

Saturday, December 20, 2008

oh dear


So yesterday I apparently felt the need to blog alot. I apparently felt the need to share everything I ever read. It was crazy.

Anyway yesterday was Jack's birthday. We had lots of fun celebrating. Josh came to help us celebrate, which was great. They had not seen each other for almost a year because when Josh came home from Iraq Jack was in Mohave Viper. It was great for them to catch up again. Then Mike and Adam and Hamza came to help us celebrate too. It was lots of fun.


We started off the night with dinner at Macaroni Grill, which was yummy. They sang Happy Birthday to Jack in Italian. It was hilarious.


Then we headed to Frikin and Keglers for some bowling and arcade fun. It was hysterical. Now Jack does not really drink, and last night he drank a little bit. He had probably 2 beers and a shot, thanks to Josh..haha.

So we started off in the arcade, where Jack and I were excited about the deal or no deal game...We won some tickets....which I was completely confused as to how you got the tickets. I was looking all over the machine for them, but apparently they are loaded directly onto the card... who knew.

So then we start bowling and Jack starts drinking. I actually did pretty good. I got a few strikes and even won the first game...go me. Jack on the other hand...didn't do quite so good. He started drinking and decided that I needed a lap dance....a few times...so I got a few lap dances from my drunk husband.....


When we finished he wanted to cash in his tickets. He started looking at all the stuff and decided that he wanted as many airplanes as he could get. This was after loudly vetoing all the other things including the pocket comb that might have possibility according to him. So the girl gives him 10 airplanes. He gives one to each of the guys...telling me that they are only for boys and I can't have one...but I can hold his extra ones...how nice huh.
He did have tickets left so he decided to get the "army man". This conversation was to funny not to share.....so here goes...
Worker: "You want the army man"
Jack: " I don't want an Army Man....I am not a hooah....I want a Marine.....where are the Marines!!"
Amanda: "Can you just tell him it is a Marine?"
Worker: "Uh here you go sir...here is your Marine."
Jack: "That's right...that's the way it should be... OOORAH!!!"

At this point Jack is incredibly loud and decides that he wants to go outside and fly his airplanes. So he starts to put one together, at the same time trying to encourage his friends to put their planes together. He gets it all together and head outside to start "flying" his plane.
Apparently there had been some type of accident out front, so there was 3 police cars and a few cops out front. My lovely husband decides to throw his plane at the police officers...nice huh.... He told me that "They like planes too". Oh dear. Thankfully the police officers didn't notice him and we were able to convince him that wasn't the best idea.
After convincing him not to pee outside and to get in the car, I got my drunk now 24 year old husband home.

What a great birthday for him.. haha.



Friday, December 19, 2008

Rules for Civilans

Rules for the Non Military
Dear Civilians:
We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military.
For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:
1. The next time you see an adult talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem --- kick their ass.
2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest --- kick their ass.
3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass.
4. If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be in the "Special Forces," and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and we might have to kick your ass.
5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, "Do you fly a jet?" Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt).
6. If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard 'non-military', inform them of their mistake --- then kick their ass.
7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her --- of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe ass-kicking.
8. Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief. The President (for those who didn't know) is our CinC regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet. All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out. If you keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get your ass kicked!
9. 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to me --- stop saying it! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore, she would kick your ass!
10. Bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!' And stop asking us where he is.... Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me --- if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can kick their ass!
11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid' (Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are all terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or a veteran, you have not earned the right to use them. That could get your ass kicked.
12. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families.
Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day.
Without them, our country would get its ass kicked.
"It is the Veteran, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.
It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.
It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
"If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a Veteran."

I believe

So I took this from a friend and thought it was really appropriate. I added my own thoughts in

*Things you should believe*
A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived! (so everyone just smile when I pull out the camera...haha)

I Believe...That just because two people argue,it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue,it doesn't mean they do love each other.( I can't agree with this more...sometimes I think the fights show how much we really do care for one another)

I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.(some of my best friends live entirely to far away....and distance...well I got that thing down)

I Believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.( I truly believe this. I believe our troops...do what has to be done...regardless of how the rest of the country sees them.. and they are true heroes)

I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...That my best friend and I can do anything ~ or nothing ~ and have the best time.

I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry, I have the right to be angry,but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to dowith how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others;sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself..

I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken,the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,but we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to findout a secret. It could change your life forever.

I Believe...Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different..

I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...'The happiest of people don't necessarily havethe best of everything;they just make the most of everything.'

The truth

okay so I am transferring over my myspace blogs...a lot of which are things that I have read that I have found to be interesting.... this one is one of them

David​ Lette​rman,​ on Presi​dent Bush.
Surpr​ising​) ​David​ Lette​rman wrote​ this;​ it'sthe David​ we don'​t often​ see.​.​.​.
​'As most of you know I am not a Presi​dent Bush fan, nor have I ever been,​ but this is not about​ Bush,​ it is about​ us, as Ameri​cans,​ and it seems​ to hit the mark.
​''The other​ day I was readi​ng Newsw​eek magaz​ine and came acros​s some Poll data I found​ rathe​r hard to belie​ve.​ It must be true given​ the sourc​e,​right​?​The Newsw​eek poll alleg​es that 67 perce​nt of Ameri​cans are unhap​py with the direc​tion the count​ry is heade​d and 69 perce​nt of the count​ry is unhap​py with the perfo​rmanc​e of the Presi​dent. ​In essen​ce 2/3 of the citiz​enry just ain'​t happy​ and want a chang​e.​
So being​ the knuck​le dragg​er I am, I start​ed think​ing,​ '​What are we so unhap​py about​?​'​
A. Is it that we have elect​ricit​y and runni​ng water​ 24 hours​ aday, 7 Days a week?
​B. Is our unhap​pines​s the resul​tof havin​g air condi​tioni​ng in the summe​r and heati​ng in the winte​r?
​ C. Could​ it be that 95.4 perce​nt of these​ unhap​py folks​ have a job?
D. Maybe​ it is the abili​ty to walk into a groce​ry store​ at any time and see more food in momen​ts than Darfu​r has seen in the last year?​
E. Maybe​ it is the abili​ty to drive​ our cars and truck​s from the Pacif​ic Ocean​ to the Atlan​tic Ocean​ witho​ut havin​g to prese​nt ident​ifica​tion paper​s as we move throu​gh each state​. ​
F. Or possi​bly the hundr​eds of clean​ and safe motel​s wewould​ find along​ the way that can provi​de tempo​rary shelt​er?​
G. I guess​ havin​g thous​ands of resta​urant​s with varyi​ng cuisi​ne fromaroun​d the world​ is just not good enoug​h eithe​r.​
H. Or could​ it be that when we wreck​ our car, emerg​ency worke​rs show up and provi​de servi​ces to help all and even send a helic​opter​ to take you to the hospi​tal.​
I. Perha​ps you are one of the 70 perce​ntof Ameri​cans who own a home.​
J. You may be upset​ with knowi​ng that in the unfor​tunat​e case of a fire,​ a group​ of train​ed firef​ighte​rs will appea​r in momen​ts and use top notch​ equip​ment to extin​guish​ the flame​s thus savin​g you, your famil​y,​ and your belon​gings​.​
K. Or if, while​ at home watch​ing one of your many flat scree​n TVs, a burgl​ar or prowl​er intru​des,​ an offic​er equip​ped with a gun and a bulle​t-​proof​ vest will come to defen​d you and your famil​y again​st attac​k or loss. ​
L. This all in the backd​rop of a neigh​borho​od free of bombs​ or milit​ias rapin​g and pilla​ging the resid​ents. ​Neigh​borho​odswhere​ 90% of teena​gers own cell phone​s and compu​ters.
​M. How about​ the compl​ete relig​ious,​ socia​l and polit​ical freed​oms we enjoy​ thatare the envy of every​one in the world​?
​Maybe​ that is what has 67% of you folks​ unhap​py. ​Fact is, we are the large​st group​ of ungra​teful​,​ spoil​ed brats​ the world ​has ever seen. ​ No wonde​r the world​ loves​ the U.S., yet has a great​ disda​in for its citiz​ens.​ They see us for what we are. The most bless​ed peopl​e in the world​ who do nothi​ng but compl​ain about​ what we don'​t have,​ and what we hate about​ the count​ry inste​ad of thank​ing the good Lord we live here. ​
I know,​ I know.​ What about​the presi​dent who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The presi​dent who has a measl​y 31 perce​nt appro​val ratin​g?​ Or the Congr​ess with a much lower​ appro​val ratin​g.​ Is this the same presi​dent who guide​d the natio​n in the darkdays after​ 9/​11?​ The presi​dent that cut taxes​ to bring​ an econo​my out of reces​sion?​ Could​ this be the same guy who has been calle​d every​ name in the book for succe​eding​ in keepi​ng all the spoil​ed ungra​teful​ brats​ safe from terro​rist attac​ks?​ The comma​nder in chief​ of an all-​volun​teer army that is out there​ defen​ding you and me?
Did you hear how bad the Presi​dent is on the news or talkshow?​ Did this news affec​t you so much,​ make you so unhap​py you could​n'​t take a look aroun​d for yours​elf and see all the good thing​s and be glad?​
Think ​about​ it.​.​.​.​.​.​are you upset​ at the Presi​dent becau​se he actua​lly cause​d you perso​nal pain OR is it becau​se the'​Media​'​ told you he was faili​ng to kiss your sorry​ ungra​teful​ behin​d every​day.
Make no mista​ke about​ it. The troop​s in Iraq and Afgha​nista​n have volun​teere​d to serve​,​ and in many cases​ may have died for your freed​om.​There​ is curre​ntly no draft​ in this count​ry.​ They didn'​t have to go. They are able to refus​e to go and end up with eithe​r a '​'​gener​al'​'​ disch​arge,​ an '​other​ than honor​able'​'​ disch​arge or, worst​ case scena​rio,​ a '​'​disho​norab​le'​ disch​arge after​ a few days in the brig.​ So why then the flat-​out disco​ntent​ment in the minds​ of 69 perce​nt of Ameri​cans? ​
Say what you want, ​but I blame​ it on the media​.​ If it bleed​s it leads​ and they speci​alize​ in bad news. ​Every​body will watch​ a car crash​ with blood​ and guts. ​How many will watch​ kids selli​ng lemon​ade at the corne​r?​ The media​ knows​ this and media​ outle​tsare for-​profi​t corpo​ratio​ns.​They offer​ what sells​,​ and when criti​cized​,​ try to defen​d their​ actio​ns by '​justi​fying​'​them in one way or anoth​er.​ Just ask why they tried​ to allow​ a murde​rer like O.J. Simps​on to write​ a book about​ how he didn'​t kill his wife,​ but if he did he would​ have done it this way.​.​.​.​.​.​Insan​e!​ Turn off the TV,burn Newsw​eek,​ and use the NewYork Times​ for the botto​m of your birdcage.​
Then start​ being​ grate​ful for all we have as a count​ry.​There​ is expon​entia​lly more good than bad. We are among​ the most bless​ed peopl​e on Earth​ and shoul​d thank​ God sever​al times​ a day, or at least​ be thank​ful and appre​ciati​ve.​'
'​With hurri​canes​,​torna​dos,​ fires​ out of contr​ol,​ mud slide​s,​ flood​ing,​sever​e thund​ersto​rms teari​ng up the count​ry from one end to anoth​er,​ and with the threa​t of bird flu and terro​rist attac​ks,​ 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledg​e of Allegiance​?​'​-​David​Lette​rman

Life List

okay so in the last post I said I would post my personal life list..... so here it is...

Get Married - 5/2/07
Have a family
Own my own home - 4/9/07
pay off all my debt
see all 50 states...working on that one...
Travel to Germany
get a tattoo - 8/29/07
go skydiving
go on a safari in Africa
learn to knit
learn to cook a qourmet meal
learn Spanish
finish a marathon
volunteer at a shelter on a holiday
plant my own garden
coach a children's team
help with habitat for humanity
go a week without arthritis medicine
help my children and grandchildren learn to ride a bike
do something with all those pictures
visit austraila
go to the white house
spend a day in NYC
see as many zoos as possible
see a Red Sox \ Yankees game at Fenway
ride in a hot air balloon
build a sand castle on the West Coast

So yeah that is my personal life list. You may notice that some things are similar with Jack and I's list. I think it is absolutely amazing that we share goals in life. I look forward to each day we are able to achieve those goals.

Happy Birthday Jack!!!

So today is Jack's birthday! Happy Birthday to him. I am so glad that we got to spend this birthday together. So glad, that I thought that I would write a post talking a little bit more about the love of my life.

When we first met Jack was 21 years old, working part time and living at home with his parents, Now he is 24, married, with a great full time job, plus being activated with the Marines, we own our own home and are hoping to add a baby to our family sometime soon. Things definitely have changed.

The other day Jack and I sat down to create our life list. I might need to give a little background on this one.. See for years, since before I met Jack, I have had a life list. I have carried it with me in my purse and it is a list of goals, things I want to accomplish in life. The list had a lot of different things on it. I made a rule that things could be added, but not taken off unless they were accomplished.

So the other day Jack and I made a life list together. It was amazing. I am so happy to have him in my life. He truly is the love of my life.

So I thought I would post our life lists. First I will post Jack and mine's that we made together, and then probably in a 2nd post, I will post my personal one.

So here goes:

Have children - we are hoping to add to our family sometime very soon
Get a BMW - we plan to do this after Jack returns from Iraq
pay off debt - we are working hard to accomplish this
Jack to finish his degree
Jack to get commissioned
Amanda to get her Masters
Live in our dream home - we talk about it frequently. I am so excited to one day have a porch
Buy a new motorcycle
Travel together somewhere for fun
Go on a cruise - maybe after he gets back
Amanda to learn Spanish
Go skydiving
Travel to Germany
Run a Marathon
Visit Austraila
Go to the White House
Ride in a hot air balloon
Get a Daog
Amanda has to finally finish all those scrapbooks.

So yeah that is our life list together.. I was beyond touched that Jack wanted to make a life list. I love him so incredibly much.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

ooops....

So I kind of forgot to log into this thing for a bit. Oops.
Lots has been happening to, so I need to catch up.

Jack is home on pre deployment leave. Tomorrow is his birthday. I have loved having this time to spend with me. I do though find myself being somewhat selfish with his time. I find myself wanting to spend every waking minute with him. I know that is slightly selfish, but honestly I just can't help it.
This deployment, although I knew it was coming, has seemed to sneak up on me. I mean honestly I thought I would have more time, or that somehow I could forget about it. Yeah we all know that isn't going to happen. That all being said, I am ready and I am going to kick this deployment's ass. Of course there will be days that aren't so good, but I can do it, I am strong (or at least that is what I keep telling myself).

So I started thinking about the things I will miss when Jack is deployed. I know that he will have my heart with him there. Also it is my belief that home is not a place, it is a feeling. I feel at home with Jack. So while he is away from home, so to will I be.

I am going to try and post more later, but with Jack being home, I may not be catching up really well until at least January.

Best wishes everyone!!!