Low-tech Blogging

If you're reading this, I'm confident you think as I do about OIT (Operation Isosceles Triangle): it's a good place to get your weekly dose of the Fantastic Four's (Matt, Zach, Ash and Kate's) adventures with moms, aunts, and grandparents. Once in a while you also get an update from Afghanistan and Iraq, much like the Voyager spacecraft send telemetry when they encounter something interesting (but just send "I'm here" otherwise).

Before I left, I tried to assemble some pictures to tape to the wall to remind me, laptop or not, what home looks like. I asked for pictures in some cases, drew from the thousands we have on hard drives at home, and Autumn was nice enough to get some posters printed of collages. The result was a wall of pictures in my room, and assorted pictures that I cycle through at work.

When Kate and Ash discovered they could mail things to me, I started getting short notes expressing their various musings (like "this is a cat", written on an abstract reimagining of a cat) and their art masterpieces. Tonya advised me to enjoy the art briefly, then not worry about preserving it because there would be another wave in the mail in a couple days - good lord was she right about the production capability of the girls! I have actually managed to keep most of it, and I post the best ones on my ceiling and one of the wall panels next to the pictures Autumn sent:


My iPhone camera is kind of crappy, so there's not too much of a wide angle on it, but you get the idea. Anyway, I thought I would chronicle what happens each time I get Kinderart, since to the girls it must seem like Uncle James always says "wow, you guys did a great job on the last batch" but I never show them where their stuff ends up. Here you go, Kate and Ash!

Step 1: Select the best of the batch and prepare the duct tape.

Sorry, girls, there's not enough duct tape in theater to put up everything you've sent me. However, the best of it makes it to this stage, where I figure out what wall/ceiling panel it goes on:


Step 2: Roll duct tape and affix to perimeter of Kinderart.

Yes, everything you need to know about wallpapering a steel storage container that was converted into housing, you will learn in Kindergarten ...




Step 3: Press Kinderart onto wall.

Duct tape is amazing; it sticks even with dust covering the wall!


... and that's it! One "Ashley is Cool" sign on my ceiling just above where I look up when I sleep (thanks, Ash!).

When It Rains, It Pours

I posted a couple months ago about how mail works over here in Iraq, which is really a "best effort" extension of how it works back home; the military post offices here collect mail from us and inject it into the mail system at home, and from there we wait the requisite time for delivery. Priority Mail, for instance, takes 2-3 days normally, so if we use it over here, it is however long it takes to get to the US, plus that 2 or 3 days. Getting mail from the US to here works the same way, only in reverse, with mail addressed to my ZIP first getting delivered to the Army, then flown here by them or a contractor on a best effort basis.

I mention all of this because I got four packages today, some of which have postmarks from two weeks ago!!

So, without further ado, the first package I got was:


Shoelaces. I opened this one on the spot at our supply office, since I got an email that an order came in. Yes, I really got a plastic envelope with two sets of shoelaces in them (bootlaces to be more precise). The Army set up this system to replace uniform-related stuff in country that wears out and ... (ok, I think no one cares about the shoe/boot laces).

I took the laces and went back to my housing unit, where I discovered my roommate, Bob, had picked up my mail for me - the other three packages, which I did not know were waiting for me at this point. He reminded me as I gleefully started cutting them open that he recently carried a large metal pole for some distance, which was currently providing us Internet (I knew I would not live that one down for a while ...). I assured him that if these were what I thought they were, I could repay him in spades!

So, the second package was:




SALSA!!! Yes, like the "precious" One Ring from Tolkien's classic, I knew it immediately when I saw the lids of the iconic jars Tonya picked in which to "can" them. I spent a few minutes telling Bob the importance of what I held in my hand, the history behind Tolteca, and how I could not get this salsa even when I was in Maryland. I guess if you are outside of driving distance from Tolteca, you might as well be on the moon if you are trying to get salsa there. Yet, here was a jar, in my hand.




The verdict: it was still good! Obviously, I did not have a reference dish of salsa to do a more scientific comparison, but really, it tasted great. I guess I don't necessarily want to know if there's supposed to be a difference when you perform the canning process if I can't tell as I'm devouring it. Still not convinced himself, Bob took a taste:


... and score another one with the broad side of the chalk for Tonya and Tolteca (but I'm still not forgiven for the metal pole incident). In all, she sent 12 of the jars, which hold a reasonable sitting's worth of salsa (probably about 2 dishes in the restaurant), and rationing it out I go through about a half-jar at a time.

The third package was another bag of chips from Tonya, pictured to the left in the next photo. That brings my stock to three bags, which each supposedly have around 220 chips.

The fourth package was yet another huge surprise ... a birthday party kit from Kathy!


Yes, that is a cake in the middle of the box, and the jar to the lower left is frosting. There are a couple of containers of "drizzle" in there too, which I guess is supposed to go on top of the frosting from what I read of the instructions. There are plates, candles, and little confetti, all emphasizing that it will be the "Big 3-0" for me in a couple of days. I'm leaving it as sealed as I can until Friday, when I will decorate a little, borrow a lighter from the smokers next door, and do a field-expedient birthday celebration!

One of the best parts of the kit was the DVD with pictures of Kathy and Matt making the cake - there are a few pictures of John feeding Matt lunch and getting him ready for the hard afternoon of quality testing (what other expertise does a guy with cheeks like that have?), then the lunacy of baking a cake with a 17-month old is chronicled in a series of pictures of Kathy and Matt working at the island in her kitchen. There were about a dozen prints, which I taped to the wall by some of the other pictures.

There were also Kathy's classic baked goodies in with the kit, which did not make it quite as unscathed as the cake and the salsa:


The Oatmeal Carmelitas on the top shelf and the Poppy Seed Bread on the bottom right didn't get mushed, they got baked more! It has been around 105-110 here for the past week or so, and the postmarks on the boxes indicate they've spent at least two in transit. I didn't see anything wrong with the OCs or the bread, so I put them in the fridge to firm up a bit. Bob thinks that aside from sticking to the bag a bit, they're going to make good midnight snacks (we are flush with things like microwave popcorn and small candies, but these are a meal!). The Pumpkin Bread on the lower left made it just fine, albeit a bit warm, so it's going in the fridge for a bit too.

Whew! What a great birthday I'm going to have in a few days!! Thanks Tonya and Kathy!

P.S. By the way, thanks for making the runs to the Post Office, John ... I noticed the customs forms mostly seem to have your name on them!

One Jar of Salsa Short of a Fiesta

I got a box in the mail today from Tonya ... no description of the contents ... they were obviously well-padded ...


... but not salsa :(

Maybe a month ago, Tonya posted a shocking but fake account of my favorite restaurant in the world burning down. I usually read the OIT blog entries with great interest, but that day I read with disbelief until the punch line at the bottom. She was then gracious enough to reveal she planned to can some salsa (one of the reasons La Tolteca is at the top of my list) and send it.

I had such high hopes this would be "the package"! I knew the cilantro and onion-flavored nectar of the gods (Tolteca salsa) was on its way, and I overlooked the rather even weight of the box in my zeal to open it. With Tonya's return address on it, it could only have been one of two things: chips or salsa.

Knowing Tonya, that means the next one is probably going to be a cylindrically-shaped rock, well wrapped, and in a box just big enough for a couple jars of salsa. It's the box after that which will make all the waiting worth it!

(Thanks for the chips, Tonya; they're sealed until the main event!)

Tolteca's Revenge

By now, you know about James' obsession with this little family-owned Mexican restaurant in Azusa. You also probably read Tonya's account of the fake Tolteca Fire and her idea about canning their ultimate delicacy: salsa. (Or read about it here.) The canning apparently has been accomplished, but at quite a price! All I have to say is this: Tonya, when you reported that a fire had destroyed James' beloved restaurant, the Gods were out to get you!

Enjoy Tonya's recent email to James and me:

Primary Issue: We have a flat of canned salsa packaged and ready to be mailed. Will send ASAP. This is my first attempt at canning so if any jar arrives broken, cracked or leaking or if the seal does not pop when opened - the jar must be discarded. Enjoy!

Secondary Issue: I went to get the salsa after dropping Matt at home. Pulled up to the building and what do I see? The building is closed, abandoned and tagged beyond belief. It has been closed for so long that the only word that remains on the window is "closed". There rain, wind and taggers have eradicated the rest of the message. The interior is gutted. Weeds grow through the cement cracks. My only thought: OMG! I am sitting in a traffic lane not moving until a car horn behind me brings me back to my senses. Pull the car around the one-way block and park in front of the building. Now, I have my second thought: I was just kidding....Really, it was just a joke. It's my turn to breath, just breath and start problem solving. First step is calling information and see if there is a new number. I get the telephone number that actually connects and I breath in relief. Now on to the next set of problems: Kate is muddy and crabby. Ash is sleeping and covered in sticky strawberry juice. We are in Glendora. It's already late afternoon with rush-hour traffic. Mom is coming in two hours for dinner and to help me with canning. I will be driving to the new location that is who knows where.

Man answers the phone and I confirm that this is the same Tolteca that was located on Azusa Ave. Ask him to give me directions from the old location and tell him that I have a pen and paper ready. He laughs and laughs. I know that I'm doomed - he's going to tell that the new location is in Palm Springs, San Diego, Barstow or some other unreachable location at this hour. Then he gives me the instructions: Look up the road 100 yards on the left. You will see the 10ft tall letters spelling "Tolteca" in bold print. Parking is under the sign.

Touche'.

Here is the sign with the 10-foot tall letters. Hard to miss, eh?

The two pictures that follow depict two recent exploits at Tolteca. The first (with James in uniform) was taken immediately upon his arrival for R&R - it was the first place he wanted to go! The following picture was taken the last time James and I went to Tolteca, and it was the first visit that Zach and Matt made there together.

Learn more about Tolteca's rich history and glorious food. Or, check out pictures of the beautiful new location that Tonya had difficulty finding! Next time she goes there, perhaps she'd like some driving directions?

Tolteca Fire

Dear Autumn & James:

Bad News: It is my sad and solemn duty to inform you that an industrial fire started within your beloved restaurant and the building has been rendered unusable. This sad news is compounded by the fact that the owners lacked the appropriate insurance. In these economic times, they don't intend on rebuilding. The city is in mourning and declaring that a landmark has been lost. I will attempt to save you a piece of the rubble in remembrance.

Good News: Autumn, you will never have to tolerate another meal at James' most favored restaurant and you can do so without guilt.

Better News: James, breathe. I am just kidding. Breathe. Breathe deep. The restaurant is still standing. I am just kidding!

Best News: I have devised a way to get you some real Tolteca salsa in Iraq - canning the stuff. Now, I just need to learn how to actually do it! Will start to work on this project ASAP.

Love - Tonya

James' Zen Life

The following is a reproduction of Tonya's letter to James in November of 2008. I first read it via email while awaiting a flight in the Reno airport, and it was hilarious then. Now that I am deployed, it is even funnier!

Zen is the art of living in the present for there is no past and the future is undetermined. It is a representative ideology that encourages living in the moment. It is a great concept in theory but hard to stomach in reality. Thought that I would resend an updated version of this information just as a reminder of the current situation. This is a short list of zen examples that prove my perspective.

Past: Consuming the beer of the month was necessity.

Present: Babywipes are a good trade for beer-ration coupons.

Future: You will ultimately have to return to the world of babywipes and diapers. You have no hope of missing the potty training phase.

Past: The ultimate travesty in life is that I have been to Disneyland no less than 50 times and have only had my picture taken with Mickey Mouse once.

Present: Mickey Mouse is the universal symbol used by for target practice in your area of the world.

Future: Disneyland is where you go to live in fantasyland and forget your last tour of duty. Live like prince charming and eat junk food all day.

Past: "Duck and Cover" are valid safety instructions for an earthquake. (Note: For native Californians, the correct action during an earthquake is to stop what you are doing, look annoyed until the shaking stops and then resume the task at hand. Should an earthquake happen at night, decline the option of jumping out of bed, and be annoyed until the shaking stops. Then roll over and go back to sleep.)

Present: The correct Army interpretation of "Duck and Cover" is to really duck, cover, crawl into the fetal position and hold your breath until the dust settles.

Future: Return on a permanent basis to California and be annoyed by earthquakes like the rest of us.

Past: Getting updates on Middle East conflict used to be sitting on the couch with MSN while cursing the "barista" for having added whole milk to a venti sugar-free, soy, vanilla bean, extra-blended, no whip frapp.

Present: The latest information comes from looking out your office window for troop movement.

Future: Watching some journalist selling his book on military life in Iraq after spending two weeks in the "field" while staying at the Hilton and you know that he is making millions from it.

Past: "Man Room" was a term of endearment for the black pit for all things that your wife wants to throw away. It's only every several years that a complete cleaning must be done – even if you are not there to do it.

Present: "Man Room" is now defined as the men's barracks. While the traditional man room may be messy and disorganized for months or years at a time with only mild wifely nagging, barracks come fully equipped with kind daily reminders about the virtues of organization and cleanliness delivered by a loving drill sergeant.

Future: Coming home to find that the "Man Room" has been converted into a nursery. (Sorry, this should have gone under the past section. Let me revise my statement: Coming home to find that the room has been converted into a pink princess nursery complete with lace curtains and tea party table.)

Past: What shoe symbol is really religious in nature? Nike, the goddess of war, the protector of suffering soldiers and represented by the "swoop" symbol. It was the answer to the million-dollar question last year. (Sorry, that question was fairly simple and not worth a million bucks.)

Present: Nike is now the protector of human feet from burning desert sand during a casual morning jog of 10 miles singing Chariots of Fire. Don't get me wrong – Nike is a step up. You could be doing it in combat boots.

Future: When you don't run well on the treadmill at the local, gym you can loudly blame your Nike shoes when you are too winded to continue.

Past: Your old cell phone was pocket-size and GPS was a cool tool that only costs $30 a month and gives untold bragging rights.

Present: Now, cell phones are worn as a 50-pound backpack. Military GPS is more accurate than directions like: cross four sand dunes to the south. Come to the mirage and make a left. Go another seven dunes to the burned-out bunker, veer left until you reach the oasis. Better yet – there is no cost to this type of GPS unless you count the cost of building and launching a telecommunications satellite.

Future: The cell phone rings just as you are leaving work with the request to run just one little errand on your way home. (My husband loves this one. But now instead of calling him with my annoyance, I just text him. This new strategy saves me the step of hearing "yes, dear.")

Past: Mail was previously a source of dread. Bills and bad news are hand delivered daily to a private mailbox where you can't deny that they are yours.

Present: Sole source of contact with the outside world is mail. Any piece of mail is better than none. Good news or bad news – it's irrelevant. Each letter must be read over and over. To be shared with any passerby. Kinder-art now passes for legitimate communication. It's better than most other types of mail: you can sit for hours staring at the abstract objects trying to figure out what a five-year old was thinking calling this green line an alien monster.

Future: Returning to the daily grid of paying bills in a private mailbox.

Past: Elegant dinner conversation included discussions of tex-mex vs. Baja Mexican food, whether Creole is better than southern and should sake be served hot or cold. This was all done using leather-backed chairs in an air conditioned restaurant with a waiter to fill the glass after every sip.

Present: Standing in the chow line and being thankful that powdered eggs are not on the menu. But better, standing in the chow line and knowing that the alternative is an MRE. MRE translates into Meals Refused by Everyone. Yes, the military knows all about the jokes related to MREs. How do they retaliate? Add Tabasco to every package: have a stomachache from hunger or have a stomachache from Tabasco. Army cooks will leave the final decision to you.

Future: Stock-up on MREs. Home cooked meals are over-rated from a wifely perspective, especially when you have kids. (All humor aside, take my advice on this one. My husband has become a great cook because his only alternatives were starvation, takeout or eating chicken nuggets with yogurt and applesauce every night. I eat lots better since his new skill acquisition. Now, if I could just convince him that doing dishes was part of the meal preparation process.)

Past: The question to paint walls beige, cream, vanilla, camel or mocha was relevant.

Present: Everything now comes in Army green and for a little variety, brown.

Future: Beige, cream, vanilla, camel or mocha? Make a decision. It will only take three trial cans of paint.

P.S The above text is strictly a personal perspective on life changes and provided solely for my amusement. If the Army wanted for you, personally, to have a perspective, they would have already issued it.

Matt Attack, itemized

Tonya and the girls (and Shannon when she can) have been visiting with Matt and Loretta on Tuesdays, when their schedule is less full. Shannon’s post with the pictures of the “third meeting” was great! I recently received this email from Tonya, with some of my comments and thoughts inserted in plain type:

Thought that I would give you an update on our weekly Tuesday play-date in the long, itemized form.


On the first attempt, there was very little interaction between the kids. Kate was really thrilled to be able to pull the wagon with all the stuff but Matt was less than thrilled at being pulled by an erratic five-year old. Ultimately, both did fine and Kate learned an essential skill. Both girls knew what was expected and Matt was less resistant to their attempts to help. Kate was much more encouraging with helping Matt complete some of the simpler pieces of equipment. Ashley and Matt were encouraged to parallel play on several activities. The real problem is the developmental stages. Kate wanted the advanced equipment. Ashley wanted the climbing toys and Matt wanted to walk through the park. Some observations from our visit:

1. Matt is gaining gross motor skills. Ability to manage uneven surfaces is improving. As is the ability to walk on uneven surfaces while managing a hand-eye task.

2. He still unsafe on stairs and slides, even the lowest ones. We actively worked on the turn-around and go backwards technique. I must admit that he was irritated with me over not holding him by the hand and letting him walk up and down. (Loretta was likely more irritated.) The solution was simple: had Ash model that behavior and Kate provide encouragement from the top of the equipment. When he did not remember to crawl, I removed him from stairs and we started at the bottom again. Noticed later that Loretta was modeling the techniques that Matt and I were working on. Feel much safer now. Although there are no stairs in Glendora, there are several flights here and in Upland. No longer have safety gates in place.



The second visit was shorter but more productive (Tonya is the only person in the world who could call a play date 'productive' and get away with it!):

1. I brought Matt some sand toys to use in the tree bark. This proved to be a huge success. He said "this" when presented with the bag of toys. I translated the word to mean "what is this?" Saw this as a huge breakthrough because it opens the communication to verbal item identification. (I have been somewhat concerned about his language development, but probably am just being an overbearing pediatrician mom. I am very glad to hear that he is beginning to say some words.)

2. He was working on fill and dump .... Ashley's hair was the object of his affectionate dumping. It allowed the three kids (and every other kid at the park) to gather in one place. We worked on trade and share. Not that I really expected him to get this concept but it was a good place to start and good reinforcement for Ashley. She is having some evidence of sibling rivalry, which I consider a good thing.

3. We also worked on the safe climbing skills again with some marked improvement.

4. Loretta seemed more comfortable with the whole process even allowing the girls to pull the wagon. Encouraged Loretta to interact with girls more so that I could interact with Matt more. Better sharing of workload. Made it clear to Loretta that boundary setting with girls is acceptable and encouraged. Wanted for her to feel more comfortable interacting with all three kids as a unit because I already had a plan for the third meeting. (Of course she had a plan! This is my sister we're talking about!)



The third meeting each of the kids had a great time:

1. Thank god for Shannon's attendance. So helpful at providing a third set of eyes and a sense of balance to the process. Girls love both Shannon and Zach.

2. Zach is standing now and getting up the courage to take his first step. Kate unsuccessfully attempted to help him...he took her inexperienced assistance in stride. Wish that I had my camera so you could see Kate pushing Zach in the swing (Take the camera next time for goodness sakes!). Again he took her in stride. I was playing with Matt in the next swing and Kate was attempting to imitate the same games with Zach.

3. Brought the sand toys again and all the kids had a great time playing together. Stressed trade and share. Worked on fill and dump. This was actually fun to watch. Loved the fact that each of the four kids were at the same place at the same time. Yes, each was doing their own thing but somehow together. Kate was baking bark cakes. Ashley was digging and watering a pretend garden in the "bark beds". Matt was working on shovel, fill and pour. Zach was providing the music with banging the tools.

4. Got smart this time and encouraged group snack time. Brought rice puff snacks for the little ones. Hand-fed Matt one piece at a time. He could only get the next piece by saying "more". He loved the snacks so much that we got "mo" for the word "more". (That's my boy!)

5. Matt spent a good portion of time wandering through the park so we turned it into a game. Ashley and I played peek-a-boo from behind the tree. He soon got the idea and then ran away, with immediate stop and giggles. This of course leads to a game of tag. Girls had a wonderful time chasing and I would grab him and let him fly through the air which he really loved. Kate tried it and they both landed in a heap on the ground. It was too funny.

6. Both Matt and Zach loved the swing games. I played the basics with Matt (up/down, got your feet, etc). It was too cute watching Kate trying to do the same thing with Zach in the next swing. Wish that I had a video camera. (I left a video camera at mom's house for use while I'm deployed; it is very easy to use and requires only the USB-to-USB cable for download [the same one the Nikon camera uses]. Take it with you next time!)



Loretta, Shannon and I were talking about next week. I think that we are going to McDonald's Playplace. It will immediately provide for longer play-dates because no one is rushing off to get lunch. Scheduling and long travel time is a huge issue considering that it concludes 3 families and four sets of schedules. Anything that we can do to increase the actual amount of playtime needs to be done. It's an awful long way for Shannon and I to go to spend just an hour or two. (Absolutely ... but I can't tell you how much I appreciate your willingness to make the trek!) Additionally, I found that Matt's outside days are somewhat limited to strolls with Frank in the stroller and going to the park 2-3 times per day. I would like us to take on events that encourage other types of activities. I left it up to Loretta whether she wants to come or stay. She will be letting me know but does not seem exactly comfortable with the plan but I believe that we need to move forward beyond each of our comfort zones. I know that I have Shannon's support and I am certain that we can still have a great time with all four kids should Loretta choose not to attend. Shannon is looking into other types of community-based events in Glendora, Upland and Corona. I hope that we will be able to schedule some of these quickly.


Shannon also responded with some thoughts of her own about the play dates:

My two cents (not in the long, itemized form):

It has really been beneficial for me to see all the stages of a child's growth from these 4 kids. Its interesting how different and/or how much they've learned between each stage. Ashley is only a year (?) older than Matt but the age difference is amazing. And I must say, I've appreciated Tonya's attention to manners and learning. In such a short time, she got Matt to make a distinct "mo" sound for more food. The wonders that food deprivation provides, besides the fact that food is a big motivator for Matt! (Like father, like son.) Tonya, hope you're ready for Zach next - he thinks you're his aunt too now!



I do have pictures of the park trip and will post on the blog later (actually already posted!). Matt has instantly bonded with his aunt. He ran to her when she was playing tag. Unfortunately, my hands were full of Zach most of the day but Tonya took the baby and let me get my cheekfeast. It's great that the girls are so independent that even they were able to supervise Zach while I was able to bond with Matt. Again, since my hands are so full I think its best for us to be in an enclosed play area - unless Tonya is around, the park can be difficult for me in terms of safety & supervision. (McDonald's should work fine - when I was home, my best friend, Krysten, and I met there to let her two kids and my one kid play, and it worked out wonderfully.)



It is such a comfort to know that Matt is surrounded by so much love and care. There's Aunt Tonya, who is always looking for an educational bent for every activity, and Aunt Shannon, who has her hands full and her heart in the right place. Uncle Chuck's role, of course, is to introduce the sins of the world, from electronics to beer to Tolteca (as a stand-in of sorts for James). There's Grandpa, who attempts to think what Matt is thinking and anticipate his next move, and the girls, who make sure to take care of him like a little brother. There's also Grandma and Papa, who aren't the typical grandparents since they actually have rules and boundaries for the active little boy. And, of course, there's Loretta, the saint of all saints, who not only loves Matt as much as anyone possibly could, but who has sacrificed so much for our family. I'm not sure where James, Matt, and I got so lucky, but God was obviously smiling down on us.