By Klew

While shopping at a local sporting goods store, I found a beautiful NILS Jacket!
The jacket was red, belted with a rhinestone buckle and buttons, fitted, with a faux
fur hood! It was a jacket you would see on a model in a high end magazine.
It was on sale for $365.
It was stunning!
It made me look stunning!

This jacket is high quality and would be considered a classic fashion and not a fad;
well worth the price. However, I decided that I would try to get the identical jacket
for a less expensive pricetag to make it more of a bargain.

At another store, I found a North Face Jacket that was similarly styled and ½ the price.
I purchased the North Face Jacket. Once I arrived home, I hung the jacket next to my
14 winter coats that I own. I justified this purchase as this being my first and only outdoor
recreational jacket vs a fashion statement.

As I looked at the North Face jacket in my closet, I realized that I had settled on second
best. I really wanted the NILS jacket. And if truth be known, the only outdoor activity
I participate in during winter is going to and from my car; hardly a justification to keep
"outdoor gear".

However, I have many, many justifications to purchase the NILS jacket
One…..it's on sale!
Two… it's stunning!
Three…it makes me look stunning!
Four to infinity…re-read justifications one through three!

By Klew

When you are 50, how do you introduce the person you are dating exclusively?
When I was between the ages of 13 and 24, he was my boyfriend.
When I was between the ages of 25 and 40, he was my husband.

Now at my age, I am in a quandary as to what to call "Indiana"
"Friend" isn't specific enough; "Date" is too temporary; "Boyfriend" is too "young"; "Partner" sounds like a business relationship; "Significant Other" sounds too "80's"; "fiancé" doesn't work unless I am wearing left handed jewelry; "Main Squeeze" sounds like an ad for orange juice; "My Man" sounds too possessive; "beau" is too old-fashioned; and "Lover" is, well…TMI!

I toyed with "cutesy" titles based on my feelings for him.
Indiana is my entry into the world of fun, excitement, adventure and romance; making him my "catalyst.:
He was written into existence; making him my "journal entry"
He couldn't be more perfect for me; making him my "blue-print".
He holds on to my heart (as well as my keys, my glasses and , sometimes, my cellphone); he is my "keeper".

So, until there is a time when I can come up with something clever that covers all bases,
I will just have to make the following introduction:
"I would like you to meet "Indiana", my…….(then look at him to fill in the blank!).

By Klew

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES!!!

The official birthday of the United States Marine Corps, on November 10, (1775) was when the Second Continental Congress decreed:

“ That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of privates as with other battalions, that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to offices, or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies; unless dismissed by Congress; that they be distinguished by the names of the First and Second Battalions of Marines." (Wikipedia)

I am proud to be a "family member" of an organization with such a rich and proud heritage. My son is currently serving his second tour of duty in Iraq and is scheduled to be home in April! Please keep him and his "band of brothers/sisters" in your thoughts...no matter what your views are on the war(s)!!!

My son's father is a retired Marine (23 years in the Corps) and I knew the day that my son was born (1988) that he would follow in his dad's footsteps! However, I never thought that he would follow his footsteps to Iraq nineteen years later! (His dad left for Operation Desert Storm in 1990 right before our son's second birthday!)

SEMPER FI!!!

BY Klew

Although I love working in my current position, (and I am not saying this because my boss reads my blogs), I am currently going through a career crisis! This has been a chronic condition but I am having an acute attack. The etiology of this current relapse is CPT K's (aka Indiana) lifestyle.

As previously written, I am very envious of his career which affords him international travel, daily excitement and fodder for novels. This weekend I had an opportunity to meet and hear about other people who are in this adrenaline charged career. I want in!

Ok…maybe not "in" as I don't see myself carrying AK-47s, Glocks (although, I did receive one as a birthday present once), blades, med-kits, compasses, strobes, etc.
I do see myself doing SOMETHING altruistic or constructive in Dubai or in Africa.
I want to support something, teach something or plan something that will benefit humankind.

I looked at every aspect of this career crisis! I have made lists of my short term and long terms goals. I made a list of my personal passions and my humanitarian passions. I have realistically looked at my capabilities and compared them to the needs of service organizations around the world. I also looked at the volunteer positions available at the organizations and wish that I was in a position to be a volunteer! Volunteerism would result in instant gratification and, unfortunately, instant bankruptcy!

In my fantasy and romance inspired world, I would take a leave of absence (after saving up enough money to be self supporting) and meet CPT K, while he is on a mission in a remote and exotic place, to offer my humanitarian services to an organization in need.
CPT K and I would get together during his R&R Leave to explore the sites and explore our romantic options! (deep sigh)

OK BACK TO REALITY!!!
This weekend, in the course of our many conversations and topics, I realized that CPT K could be the catalyst to my career change!

He knows the who and the what to my where and why!

by Klew

Me with Mars:

In my relationships with men, I have discovered that I do not fall into the Men are from Mars/Women are from Venus category. I fall into the Men are from Mars and I am "somewhere in a more distant galaxy"!

When dealing with men, I rid myself of having any expectations and replaced expectation with hope.
In the beginning of this new strategy, my hope would spring eternal. Time passed, men passed and I had to seek something different than hope because my hopes were dashed too many times. I replaced hope with the attitude of "if it was meant to be, it will be".

For example...at one time, I had expected him to call me if he thought he would be late for a date. Then I hoped that he would call me if he would be late for a date. Now, if he's late for a date, it was meant to be.

Please don't confuse this mindset with taking whatever I get! I have high expectations that I set for myself and I expect that I will find at least one Martian man that will "promise me the moon" (actually, Mars has TWO moons Phobos and Deimos )

I don't fall in love...thanks to the gravity on Mars! I do, however, trip over lust!


Mars with Me:

Now the Venus woman is usually less capricious than I am so a Martian man better have a longer antennae to accurately receive the meaning of my communication and understand that I have a whimsical personality.

When asked a yes or no question, I will answer with whichever one suits me at the time but as time passes, even a minute, my answer may change. So yes does mean yes...and no does mean no...at that particular moment in time!!!

At a restaurant, I always want to order last because while others are placing their order, I have ordered, re-ordered, and ordered over again in my head and then have entree envy after I ordered.
When it comes time for dessert, I only share if I order TWO desserts! Yes, that does happen from time to time!

I have so many projects started at once that they may blend or morph into each other. Sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes it is not! Take for example when I was hosting a party and trying to comfort a friend in her time of need. I introduced her to every single man in the room hoping that they would keep her mind off her boyfriend trouble. They were more than happy to oblige!
What I didn't realize is that MY date for the evening was the most obliging of the bunch!!!

I understand that most men aren't inter-galactic travelers so it may take light years before someone truly understands me!