Two, and three.

"It's so fluffy I'm gonna die!" (Despicable Me). That was possibly the cutest line ever. And it always makes me think of cotton candy. So .... we're a military family. I know we've mentioned that before, but it does no harm to mention it again, especially since it pertains to my story. It's an Orclette story, though I won't get to her until the very end. Damm's family was also military. My grandfather and grandmother on my mother's side were military, and on my dad's side my grandfather was involved in the Flemish black market during WWII. Not exactly military service, but he was a warrior in his own way. My parents, however, were not military, so I grew up not really thinking about our armed forces. When I did it was vague, "wow they are like mythical heroes!" type thoughts, because I grew up watching John Wayne totally change the course of history, and the persona he created is, in my opinion, somewhat mythical. When I got older

Man, my brain hurts. I spent most of yesterday thinking about my last post, and most of this morning thinking about the comments on it and my responses to them. Worrying, too: "Did I think out my answers? Was I unemotional enough? etc." I tend to avoid discussing controversial issues. Really. I like to sit in the back of the room and listen to other people furiously converse about subjects, and leave when it gets too heated. But do I not engage because I prefer to listen and learn, or because I'm too afraid? And if I'm afraid, what exactly am I afraid of? This is another issue that has consumed my brain this morning. I'm not kidding, last night I was freaked out by what I had written about, even though I felt it was important to say it. And if I felt it was important, it should be said. But it's not as simple as that. In studying history, I have been made aware of the danger of elucidating ideas as facts. The facts as we know them are frequently subject to cha

Warning: I'm about to embark on a post that reveals personal beliefs and thoughts on religious and political issues. I don't frequently do this, and in fact I'm not sure it was wise, but for some reason I'm doing it tonight. You have been warned, read on at your own risk. The Obama Administration has instructed the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act. I read that, and it distressed me. And I'm still trying to figure out why, which is why I'm writing it all down. And before I go on, just know that I don't expect you to agree with me, but I do request that my right to have a differing opinion be upheld. I actually don't know if it's a right, per se, but I feel like it is one. And most people usually get upset if they aren't allowed to voice their own opinion in things, and there is the First Amendment and freedom of speech, so perhaps it is a "right". Anyway. My thought process is thus: I've read the Bibl

I was 18 before I washed my first load of laundry. I was working a summer camp, and since all my clothes were dirty I was standing in front of a washing machine, no detergent (is that what you call it?), and an extreme reluctance to confess I didn't know how to work it. But sometimes hard things just have to be conquered, and I asked for help. I think I was the highlight of that person's day. When I relate that story to other people, they always respond "Lucky! My mom made me start doing my own laundry when I was three!" (Of course, I am being facetious). What can I say? My mom didn't mind doing laundry, and as long as I folded and put away my laundry she was quite content to wash it. There were several areas in which she never allowed us to help, the prime example being the yard. No one touched her yard. And she kept it beautiful. So now we have established that I am ignorant in laundry matters. I do try and keep light and dark colors separate, but there are many

Update time! Ok, here goes: it's still February, I think. We're in the midst of midterms. Goodbye the end. Not really. The real update: We're trudging along, keeping up with schoolwork, occasionally having a social life. I got a cold last Thursday in five minutes flat. I'm not kidding. I was driving to get Damm and went from feeling perfectly fine to having a drain for a head and pain. Massive amounts of pain (if you get that reference we can be friends). I'm over the worst of it, but had to take DayQuil this morning. I'm also freaking out about the work I absolutely had to do over the weekend: it was all done in a DayQuil-induced fog. The Orclette and Miniorc are learning to play together. The Orclette is learning how to share, and the Miniorc is learning how to take advantage of her new skill to hoard up on toys. They are full-steam ahead from morn' til night, but of course that be the way of kids. Damm? I don't really know. If you see him can you ask