WE are moving!!

Well at least the blog is... If you want an invite to the new place, shoot me an email!

Nothing says “Welcome Home” like a weekend spent with young beautiful men

And that is exactly what I did. These young men are so amazing I not only paid for the whole weekend, but I drove 740 miles to spend this weekend with them (for those of you metric thats about 1200 KM). Pretty impressive isn't it? You would have to think these young men are movie stars, princes or at the least the heirs to the Rockafeller fortune. But no. However they are the most important ones to me.

Yes, those are my boys, D and O, and the best friend DB. I could not have been happier than I was spending the weekend with them. The weekend began on Friday with an epic 500 mile round trip from DC to Blacksburg. For those of you following our story from overseas, who may never have seen anything of Virginia, most of the trip looked like this...

It is a beautiful green country as you drive through the mountains and valleys, however 500 miles is still 500 miles. And it all looks pretty much like that. But I put the time to good use and.. who am I kidding? I stared at the road and tried not to drive like I was in Kabul!

Upon my arrival in the town of Blacksburg, I promptly got lost, which I seem to do all over Virginia ( you wouldnt know me for a Native at this point). After some redirectino, I made it to the houes of the boys father, scooped up Owen and went to get Devon from school. My ribs are still a little sore from the crushing hug Owen gave me. He grew SO MUCH. He is now about 5'3 and about 140 pounds (you convert to metric). That seems big for a ten year old to me, but what do I know?

Devon seemed more changed to me. In my absence he had gone from a Hippy/Grunge kid to a a James Dean/Breakfast Club/Lostboys. He was of course a little taller, but he just seemed "OLDER" to me. More tranquillo, and it was as if we had never been away from each other. His sarcasm and wit still have the power to make me laugh until I cry. We cranked up the IPOD to oldies rock the whole way home. Which turned out to be a good thing, because we didnt get home until LATE.

Saturday we had lunch together (with DB) at one of our old haunts, Panera, where I ordered the "Lobster Sandwich." I am not sure there was any REAL lobster in it, but it was a nice thought, and better than any DFAC food. Then we went off to the movies to catch up with one of our favorite legends "Robin Hood." Devon says it was good, but not as good as Men in Tights. I have to agree, but it was a good time, and it apparently incited both my sons to spend the evening stomping around the woods getting ticks. Ah well, like Mother like sons. The movie made me want to go purchase a longbow and get back in practice. I am sure Jessica wouldnt mind me hunting in her yard.

We had lunch on Sunday with my mother, where I snapped THIS intimate portrait.

I know it looks like she is about to whip that spoon around and stab him (he looks like he thinks so too) but it was just a lively storytelling sessino. Again I laughed so hard I cried. Then came the drive home, most of which looks like this....

The road still looks the same so I wont bore you with more pictures of the Shennendoah valley. We arrived at the halfway point to meet thier father, and we offloaded thier loot which consisted of two HUGE trunks (and a stuffed camel for Owen which plays music, and a small stringed instrument for Devon, both of which I am sure thier other parents will curse me for).

These pictures speak volumes about the boys themselves. I got my ribs crushed by Owen again, and they commenced to doing what all boys do when forced to stand and wait.

For a moment I was sure I was back in Kabul watching the CPT teams amuse themselves.

Their dad arrived and i was back on the road for the final 120 mile drive. This time I used the time to work on my Italiano. After all, there is no one in the car to hear how horrible my accent is. ;) I made it back to the house in the woods, to take a LONG hot soaking bath, with lavendar bath salts (and no pictures, you perverts) and then climbed into bed with some favolouso cioccolato gelato.

NOW I am home.

Penelope.. A whole new life.. a whole new world

Hello world. I haven't blogged in a lifetime. I look back at what I wrote, and find it sad that a year ago I set out to find a new life, and a year later I am still thinking the same thing. Of course in the meantime I got rid of most of my worldly possessions, locked the remainder in storage and left my beloved dog with my mother. Then I packed my gear and spent 6 months doing security work in Kabul Afghanistan.

The crazy thing about going to the edge of civilization away from everyone you know is that you come face to face with some of your own fears, dreams and realities. I still have to figure out what the pieces are, and where they go.

But I have a plan. I also have a few pages of journaling from this tour that I may or may not add on here.

But this is the start. I AM going to have a new life. I will grow joy, breed dreams and sow contentment. I will surround myself with friends who enjoy life, and beautiful simple things. I will have a window I can see the sunrise or sunset. I will enjoy beautiful food, and fabulous places.

So stay tuned.

Where I have been... Where I am going...

Well, no posts since Dec. Hm... I suppose you could say I've been hiding. Not that I fell off the map, wore a wig, dark glasses and a hat, but I've been curled up on my couch, nursing my wounds and trying to find healing.

I've been talking with the Chaplain (yes the irony of the witch and the chaplain talking does not escape me) and he's been guiding me through the sad times. I have a pretty empty life without my kids here, and I dont like it. However I do get them every other weekend, and I enjoy those days.

Going.. where am I going... not sure, but I think it should involve something loud and fast.

Through the Fire

It is done. I have come through the fire. I faced my demon, and stood up for what I believed. And it hurt. But I feel liberated in a way I have not felt until now.

Now I need to build a life.

The voice I hear

"I will fight for her (my country) for as long as I draw breath. So help me god." ~John McCain

No words cemented my vote more.

I too am my country's man, and those words echo into my own soul. I serve my country in every facet of my life, in every way that I can, and it is not pride that drives me to do so. It is a repayment for every blessing she has given me. It is a debt I owe to the place that has sheltered me, given me hope and oportunities.

Country First. Service.

That is the voice I hear.

High Speed weekend

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Thats me... LIVING ON THE EDGE... you would be awestruck to know how highspeed my weekend was.

Yesterday I helped my best gal J pack for a camping trip with her boyfriend. (Gasp.. the decadence) and then she and I went to see a TOTAL Clamfest movie "Mama Mia" (I think I have estrogen poisoning) and then we went to the grocery store for ICE... and THEN I came home and took a shower and went to bed to watch a movie.

And now... for the TOTALLY racey part.

Today... hold on to your hats... I cleaned and reorganized my closet and ALL my drawyers. **thud** Yes... my shoes are now stacked according to color, old clothes are tossed in the goodwill bag and blouses and skirts are sorted by color once again.

The next brave adventure... tidying up the jewelry box. And cleaning the bathrooms.

I live large, let me tell you. I live large.