That's right, today March 31, 2009 Ritzywife turns((((50)))). WOW!!!
I can hardly believe it.
The daughter texted the "Happy Birthday" song to me early this morning, an aunt called and sang to me and the son left my gift on the table. Tonight Ritzy is taking me out to eat at one of our favorite places......Olive Garden.
I cannot believe it is #50. I still feel (and act) like a kid sometimes. Some days the ole body sure feels it tho.....
Yesterday was interesting, in the afternoon a cousin called and asked if there was a fire close-by, so I went outside and could not see or smell anything. A couple of hours later Ritzy returned home and said there was a fire in the pasture East of the house and he was concerned because of the high wind and only one other neighbor watching it. We went outside and I was surprised to see that the fire was that close and I did not know it. The reason I could not smell it was becuse the wind was blowing the smoke away from our house.
We watched it burn for a little while, noticing it was about to cross the fence line between some property we have and another neighbor's property. I decided to call the fire department and asked if anyone had reported a fire in our area and was told "NO". That really surprised Ritzy and I... The dispatcher was busy and said she would call me back. After some more time we noticed the big hay and equipment barn in this pasture starting to burn and I told Ritzy that there was no way anyone was watching this fire so I called 911 again and told them the barn was on fire. The dispatcher told me the firemen were on their way. This was around 5:30pm. They were still there at 9:30 when a line of severe thunderstorms moved thru and dumped a lot of rain. At 11:00pm they were still up there, I don't know when those poor guys finally got to leave.
During all this my son reminded me that last year the night before my birthday there were tornadoes and now this year a big fire right next to our property and severe weather on top of that. I told him that March 31st is turning out to be a "not so good day for some" ;-)
I am just going to sit back and see what the rest of the day holds..... Late this morning my daughter told me that I needed to go to my sister's (Nana's) house to meet my other sister cause she was running behind. I thought she was at Nana's getting her nails done so I thought nothing of it. I stopped at the little store across the street from the house to get "Sissy" (the 4 year old great-neice) something, told the daughter that i might pick up a sandwich too. I ended up getting a bag of pork rinds and Sissy some candy. We get to the sisters house and I notice some of the family's cars parked and didn't think anything of it til I saw a friend from church's car, then ((((DING,DING,DING,DING))))I realized what was going on. They had surprised me with a birthday lunch. It was so nice, we really enjoyed ourselves. Ritzy came home and took me out to dinner, so Ritzywife has had a wonderful birthday this year thanks to her family and friends.... Ritzywife out.....

Ritzy and I traveled to Oklahoma City this last weekend so he could turn in all his military "stuff". His last day in the military was March 21st, 2009. We then went to Tulsa to attend a Marriage Enrichment Seminar for returning soldiers.
This would be our last ever "Military" event....
We had a wonderful time. The weather on Friday was really odd. It started out raining, hailing, snowing.....that's Oklahoma for ya!!!
We got to the hotel around 2:00pm Friday afternoon. We registered for the event and got settled in for the night.
We were talking and I was telling Ritzy that I have been looking for this day (Military retirement) to come for many years, but it did not have the effect on me that I expected. I was expecting a big SIGH OF RELIEF moment. I guess it is just going to take some time to get out of "military mode". Just like his deployment and re-deployment, both those took time to get used to. Even tho he has been home for 5 months now, I still don't feel the way I expected to.
One thing I learned this last weekend is that after a deployment our life will never be the same. Our old ideas of what was "normal" are gone. We are going to have to develop or find a new "normal" for us. That takes time.
All I know is that Ritzy and Ritzywife's life and marriage is worth whatever it takes to get us thru.
Yes, I can say that there are some things I will miss because Ritzy is no longer a military man, but I am ready for us to find other things in our lives that bring us closer and make us stronger.
All I have to say is that Ritzywife loves Ritzy and is so very proud of him, and with that Ritzywife is out!

This was a pretty good day......a busy one too. Ritzy and I had a wedding to attend. A nephew was getting married at 4 this afternoon. I was playing the piano and the son was the Best Man. Was a really nice wedding. This nephew, before he got the girlfriend, was always over here on the weekend. He and the son would watch movies, play with the Playstation and Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Made for a pretty interesting time here in the house. I just sat back and listened to them having fun.
We got a new neice out of it. She is a really sweet young lady.
I told Ritzy when we were leaving that since we were already dressed up, no sense wasting our good looks, haha. We might as well go out to eat dinner. Ritzywife had the keys and was driving, so I bet you can just guess what we did. We went to Owasso to the Olive Garden. Had to wait for about 30 minutes but it sure was worth it. mmmmmmmm........
Back to the wedding - the son "caught" the garter, I said ALL RIGHT!!!!!! My cousin came over and told me she would help with the "wedding" plans. I said WOO HOO!!!! Now It sure is quiet in the house right now, I guess everyone is in bed. I just finished studying for my Sunday School class and am catching up on here. Sometimes it just sounds good to hear "nothing". Doesn't happen very often around here!!
I guess "Bubba" is going to come home with us after church tomorrow. He asked at the wedding and I told him he could. So......there goes the Sunday nap ;-(
I guess I had better get off here and go get some rest.
Ritzywife is tired and out for now.......

Ritzy has only 10 days left in his career with the Oklahoma National Guard. Ritzywife is very happy.
Ritzy called earlier and told me he had just taken a "joy" ride to Stillwater. It seems there was a typo on his e-mail and he is not supposed to be there til tomorrow. I asked him about that last nite, but I just the wife, I don't know anything ;-) He will be making the same trip tomorrow. Other people had shown up for this class also.
We have church tonite, not much else going on.
Ritzywife is out for now.

That's right!!!! Ritzy and I are in an Edmond hotel tonight. Tomorrow and Sunday is Ritzy's last National Guard Drill with the Oklahoma National Guard and his career as a soldier. We came to Oklahoma City this morning so he could turn in all his "stuff", but found out he needs to turn in his gear used for the deployment that was handed out by the unit he was deployed with first. That happens this weekend, and since he is retiring if he is lucky he might be able to turn in everything here at Guthrie , if not it means another trip to Oklahoma City toward the end of the month.
Now to explain why we are in Edmond instead of Guthrie. It seems there is a National Rodeo at Guthrie this weekend, so..........no hotel rooms. We checked about a half-dozen hotels before we found a place to stay. Took the first opening we found.
We will be staying in another hotel tomorrow night. If a soldier travels over 50 miles from home the army has to "put him up" for the night.
Turning out to be an interesting weekend. A lot of running around. We ordered pizza in tonight. Ritzy and I decided earlier this evening that we were not going to leave the hotel room. We were both tired.
Have to be ready to go early in the morning, Sunday morning too. Ritzywife is NOT used to getting up early!!!!!!!!!!!
The Guthrie American Legion and VFW are having something special for the soldiers Saturday. I think that is very nice of them to show their appreciation. Soldiers, young and old, deserve it.
There have been a couple of times that I have been with Ritzy while he had is uniform on and men just came over and wanted to shake Ritzy's hand and tell him they appreciate his service to this country. Made me very proud of Ritzy and thankful that there are still people who are not afraid to tell a total stranger ----good job!
We should all take a hint. If someone does a good job------tell them!!!! You never know what a kind word can do for someone.
With that Ritzywife is out!