Its the Christmas Season...

I just wrote this beautiful blog about my alternate universe where I live in a skyscraper apartment in the city.  It had a pink aluminum tree and everything.  Then I went on to say my reality is actually better.  It was inspiring and heartfelt.  And then Winne the Pooh ruined it.

See, I went to add a picture of a cardboard cut out my sister gave me 15 years ago.  She doesn't even remember giving me the one thing that ended up meaning Christmas to 2 small children who had almost nothing in their young lives.  I thought if I posted the picture, she'd remember it.  And my older kids, Steve & LeeAnne could see I still have it and display it, even if they aren't here.  But my computer locked up.  Damn you, Pooh Bear, you are the devil!!!

But, since I'm not one to give up easily, I WILL get this picture onto THIS blog TODAY!!  The words may not be beautiful or eloquent, but now is not the time for sentiment.  Its time for REVENGE!!  Revenge against the Pooh of Doom, revenge against the ChristmasCrap that attacks me every year!!  REVENGE AGAINST FATE!!!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  Take THAT life!!  I will win!!!  I WILL SUCCEED in putting a picture of a ratty cardboard cut out on my first blog counting down until Christmas this year!!!!!

So, I've written this and will now save it.  This way, when the Pooh of Doom locks up my computer time and time again, I will not have to waste my time typing again. If I have to type again, dirty words may tumble out of my fingers.

A HA!!!!  Persistence and threats have paid off!!!  Pooh is NOW on my blog, and I WIN!!!!  It is so nice to start this Christmas Countdown on a winning note!  I feel confident, I feel invincible!!   So Christmas Season, my friend, my enemy, the bane of my human existence.....  bring it.

Happy Veterans Day!

So, today is Veterans Day in the US.  What should be a day of honoring those who have served our country, most of the good American Citizens see it as another day off and will shop all sorts of retail sales at HUGE department stores.  I've decided to boycott the sales, but will be heading to the grocery store later.  I'm going to Price Chopper, who is giving Veterans free donuts and coffee.  Hey, its a start, right?

I would like to thank a few people.  There is no way I can mention every veteran I know.. because I know too many.  But I thank you all for your service, and what you've done to keep me free to blog, among other things.  The first is Artie Mennig, the hottest damn Marine I've ever met.  He was also the first guy to ever give my big brother, Les, a black eye, so he will always be my hero.  Even before he was a Marine, he was a gentleman, and will always me by high school crush.  There is also Peter Quirk, who served in the Navy, and tells me stories of Antarctica, where my Dad was also stationed. There is also Paul Browne, who also served in the Navy, and sent me a picture of him on his ship, with Egypt in the background.  Probably the closest I'll get to any foreign country besides Canada.  

There are many others who have touched me, but none as much as my Dad, CWO4 Robert B Dunlap, PA & SOB.  I believe he is the reason I've always been enamored with the military.  I'd like to tell you a few things you may not know about him.  When he'd introduce himself to the new arrivals to Camp Upshire in Quantico, VA, he was nice enough to tell them that they could call him "Mr."  He had a unique sense of humor... except at 0-dark-30 when Les screamed through the house "MR FANN IS DEAD" after our neighbor fell on the icy porch.  

Mr. Dunlap never received a college degree, but was one of the best Physician Assistants in the world.  Ok, I may be exaggerating.  But when George Washington University graduated their very first Physician Assistants class, my Dad was there.  I have the newspaper article somewhere, if you need proof.  He also made huge advancements in the treatment of heat induced illnesses, which led to life saving measures for new recruits who train in the southern heat. 

My dad was not perfect.  None of us are.  Its really hard to forgive him for some things.  The hardest to forgive is for having to watch him eat a peanut butter and mayo sandwich.  Or the smell of cigarettes and CloseUp toothpaste that never left the bathroom.  Or knowing he could have taken us to live in Hawaii, but didn't want to do 4 more years in the Navy. 

But Veterans Day is mainly to celebrate our living Vets.  So, do something today to say thank you.  Buy a Vet a cup of coffee.  Give a lonely Vet a call to say "HEY!!".  Aww, shucks, run up to one and give 'em a great big hug and kiss!!!!!  Except Artie, he's mine.  <grin>

Time flies...

Yes, it has been a while.  But its been a very revealing time here at the OK Corral.  So, lets go through this quickly and as painlessly as possible.  Its confession time!!!

1.  I had to give up on my quest to become a marathon runner for the time being.  My body just wasn't able to do it, and when you have anxiety attacks when doing something, it may be time to back up and re-think.  There is something wrong when a person is trying to push them selves past what feels a LOT like a heart attack.  So please do not think badly of me, and if you do, I guess thats an "oh well" on both our parts. 

2.  My dear husband, who will do anything for me, abided by my request to go through Autism Testing.  (The conversation went a lot like "You are a self-centered bastard.  You need to get tested, because if there is a REASON you are a self-centered bastard, we might be able to work on it.  But if there isn't, you are out of here 'cause I cant take any more."  Yes, people, I'm THAT mean to Pitman on a regular basis and that is one reason why you always need to know both sides of the story).  Well, after a few appointments it has been confirmed that Robert is, indeed, on the Autism Spectrum. 

3.  Even though I've suspected it, just like when I got the official diagnoses on Cassie, it was still a kick in the stomach.  Robert is also just coming to terms with it, and things around here have been amazing.  We are remaining in counseling and finding out how to bring about our marriage in this new light.  Its possible, but it wont be easy.  Cynthia believes we are an amazing couple and that we will definitely make it.

4.  Robert will be spending Thanksgiving with his parents and staying the rest of the weekend with hunting buddies.  No, I am NOT upset with this.  I'm a little sad, yes, but its all for the best.  I will be going to my mothers and seeing my older children.  I might even have Steve & Dani with me for part of the weekend!!!!  This is NOT an instance of Rob being an asshole.  Trust me, the world would know if it was that. 

In closing, I will ask that you not judge our marriage or the decisions we make as a couple.  He is ASD, I am NT (NeuroTypical) and we are raising an ASD child.  There is absolutely NOTHING in our lives that can be considered "Normal".  Besides, as my Mom says a lot, "Can you define normal?"  Some of our decisions will make me happy, and some will not.  If I bitch, which I will, please know that I'm just letting off steam.  Just know we are very happy to know what it is we are facing and battling, and we know we are blessed to have that much going for us.  And I promise I'll go back to writing more regularly and that it will be more humorous than this one.  But sometimes life is serious and Steve once told me that I don't have to laugh at everything, because seeing barbed-wire fencing around a car dealership while lost in Newark, is NOT FUNNY!!!