Ayn's Multiple World

Mom Letter #8 - March 2, 2008 - Reporting weather from Chicago to be 54 SUMMER!

Dear Thom,

How are you today? What new things are you learning now? All things lead to a brighter future, because you are more knowledgeable and more useful to those you serve, right? Well, something like that. Pretty close at least.

Today is the day after the day you were just over here. I think you are being overwhelmed at this point of conversation surrounding the Marines, because you told us not to talk about it yesterday and next week. I’m thinking then what or where are you now in real time – because you are there. Maybe too you will need a mental break from it so I will try not to mention it directly. I will say that just in case someone should accept having a few pictures taken … we bought a new camera.

Our old one stopped working about two months ago. I’ve been fretting over it since. The new camera should get here within 2-3 working days – so it should be here by the time you are going somewhere that we will not mention by name.

I still think also that we need to figure out next week. Hmm, I just got off the
phone with Maury. We only talked for a few moments. He’s over at your father’s party now. He says people are talking about the Marines today. So maybe it’s ok if I think it today too. My best plan is to get together at about 3-4 pm next Sunday before you leave. Maybe for a last dinner with Maury and Joe, Alex if he’s available, and Lauren and the girls.

Basically, I want to give you a good send off that day. Maybe we could plan a simple Chinese dinner over at Maury’s or anything else you would like to eat. I just want family to be together and my family isn’t the Garvey’s. If we were going until 5-6 pm, then it would give Alex, and Joe, and maybe Maury an hour or two to goof around too with you before the recruiter came to pick you up … you know release some tension. I don’t need to stay up to the last moment just so I can cry. Just want you to start your new life having been surrounded by a lotta people who love the dickens out of you. You need a proper send off. Hope you can do this one too!

Anyway I called Maury and then Joe … hopefully they will square away the details with you today yet. Maury said he’d call back tonight or tomorrow to let me know how it’s coming along. We sure are proud of you Thom. This isn’t the sort of thing one does every day. It’s going to be something you remember for the rest of your life. They say that the first day you get to the depot is the most memorable. I think you will like the airplane ride and will most likely find yourself talking to the people around you. I think it’s about a 4 ½ hour trip, but I’m not sure and I’m not sure if there are going to be layovers. I do know they like to receive recruits after 8 pm to like 3 pm during the dark hours so they can disorient you. I’ve heard them say that that way they get everyone to get up and sleep at the same time.

I’ve heard from the moment the bus stops in SD that someone gets on the bus and starts yelling at you and they keep you hungry and tired and they put you on the yellow footprints. I don’t know what all of that feels like. I don’t know how you think of all that or if you are trained not to think at all – in that you just learn to obey. It seems very hard to give up so much of your free will, but then maybe its more like you are directing your free will more toward them than you’ve ever directed at anything solid before. Every bit of concentration has to go toward where it is supposed to be going because inevitably lives will be depending on you and your ability to focus. I know you can do this because you are so intent.

I think they are going to be putting the pinch on you nonetheless during times like when they say hurry up and then they make you wait. All that is going to be psychological – to tempt you to move out of your comfort zone. I will hope and pray for the best in you Thom. Do as you are told and do it well. There is going to be plenty of time to sparkle and shine! I know grunt, grunt, grunt. I don’t think there will be much room for you to say … don’t make me think of the Marines – cuz it makes me cranky. They are going to be on your back like syrup on a pancake. Your directive is to withstand!

Ok, enough, enough of the Mom stuff … I know you can do it. Just go with the flow – don’t buck up against it, k?

As to anything else going on around here. We had a nice lazy day … I was sneakily buying the camera. It’s my money, but Rich will complain – think that’s like a guy thing to do. BUT, until the day he signs up for joint checking … MY money is MY money! Just have to make sure we have nuf to go around and WE WILL! We do that pretty good! Rich was supposed to do three games today, but the person he booked with double booked, so Rich got the day off. He took care of some personal things earlier and now he’s doing some personal items that need some running around “out there.” He has to go to a couple of stores. It still slows him down to take me with and it’s hard for me to leave the computer so we say umm, ok, pass. The one exception is the grocery store. We’re learning to do the electric cart thing there. We have great fun.

Rich is supposed to be home in about 45 minutes and then he’ll make steak and omelets. He does it GREAT!!! Afterward we’ll talk and play around for a bit, but I asked him that we not see a movie tonight because I want to stay up until 8:30 pm and go to the recruit chat room while he reads. We’ll see … I have a habit of falling asleep real early.

I enjoyed the time that you were over yesterday. I’m sorry if I gave you a hard time with the TV. I just don’t by choice like to watch it. BUT, then I realized it was giving me a chance to sit next to you doing the same thing you were doing and I thought there were worse things. I work real hard though with Rich to listen to old time radio, or a bass fishing show, or some relax trax as I give him a massage or we talk so it’s not all about just coming in and watching some show. Or, that we are either reading or writing with the computers or otherwise. I just want to see the minds more engaged. It’s my understanding we’ll live longer if we use our minds.

I’d like to give that a shot at least!

One of my favorite things is to see order or patterns in the ideals that cross my mind. So it would be easy for me to spend time writing a formal paragraph until things fell into place. Or like when I watch the Marine commercial I have over at my blog … my eyes go over the fine detail of every space between every Marine and every rifle and every facial movement looking for the perfect synchronicity my mind seems to require. I think that’s why you get so frustrated so often is that there is some kind of discord an it is literally jarring you to put up with it. One of our most profound lessons at the center has been to teach the individuals tolerance for one another. And, I’m no great expert of it. While I can appreciate it – I’d much rather see things in alignment – things that I can order rather than to put up with confusions – especially the kind made from others. Co-workers are the worst – it is easier with that of the clients, because they have a bye with their intellectual limitations. I guess in many aspects so would the co-workers, but they seem to make up for it with petty meanness and spite and I don’t seem to tolerate that well. I can also get frustrated or intolerant of things that are out of place by auditory – so the sound of someone eating carelessly, or like smacking gum can drive me bonkers. The only way I can figure around it is to make a study of it. I will look for the pattern within their chewing or other percussion like sounds like the additional slurping of their tongue, or speech.

As to you being here. I think you like making rules. It’s one of the things you like to do. I don’t know how that is going to work out in the Marines because I don’t think they are going to want you to out right respond. Now if you could turn your rules into better self-engagement with their obstacles they want you to conquer … that might be ok. Maybe use it like energy or fuel. Hmm? Sometimes also I think we try to make it so hard for people to be around us, that we think we can force them to go away, thus proving a low self-esteem idea that we are not worth while, or that the other really didn’t love us. Ok, mind you I see the world as a psychologist might … just saying there are reasons why we push and pull other relationships towards us or away and this usually has to do with attachments made earlier. For however I didn’t do well … I apologize, but I’m hear to say Thom I’d be willing to spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.

I sort of have half a bended ear with you here on the other side of a written letter. You could stop reading, but that’s not what I’m trying to “push” on you.

Just wanted to take a moment of your time to say something important. I’m realizing sometimes I’m too much though … so I’m backing my speech up. BUT, I’m still going to be here, k? Actually, I think I was going to look just over there  For a bit of a joke. Let’s see what I can find.

Breakfast at any time.

I went to a restaurant with a sign that said they served breakfast at any time. So I ordered French toast during Rifle training. No?

Why did the tomato turn red? It saw the salad dressing!

Two army guys rent a rowboat, row out a way, throw their lines in and try fishing.
Nothing happens. One fellow says to the other, we have to row out away from shore into deep water. They row and row offshore about one mile out, try fishing again.

Same thing nothing.

The same fellow says we have to go really far out that's where the fish are. They row for an hour. They are so far out they can not see land. They try again. Low and behold they hit a bonanza.

There is no rest. Fish after fish is caught one fellow says to the other. You know we can come back tomorrow catch another load of fish and make some money selling it. His friend says that's a great idea but how are we going to find this same spot. His friend thinks about it a moment then says we could mark an X on the side of the boat. His friend looks at him a moment says OK.

As they are rowing back toward shore his friend gives him a dirty look and says that wasn't such a good idea marking an X on the side of the boat. How do you know if we'll get the same boat tomorrow?

10 signs your an Internet geek

10. When filling out your driver's license application you give your IP address.

9. You no longer ask prospective dates what their sign is, instead your line is "Hi, what's your URL?"

8. Instead of calling you to dinner, your friends and family send e-mail.

7. You're amazed to find out spam is a food.

6. You "ping" people to see if they're awake

5. You search the Net endlessly hoping to win every silly free T-shirt contest.

4. You introduce your girl as "my lady@home.wife" and refer to your child as "client applications".

3. At social functions you introduce your brother as "my domain server".

2. After winning the office super bowl pool you blurt out, "I feel so colon-right parentheses!"

And the number one sign you are an Internet Geek:

1. Two Words: "Pizza's Here!"

Enough Jokes??? How about news?!!

Hmm, they are saying that Obama slammed Clinton on the Homestretch using her commercial against him against her by asking “So what makes her qualified to answer the question at 3 am in the morning what precise foreign-policy experience does SHE have?” AND, he has in his advantage Africa is complaining, because she planted seeds against Obama for wearing his ancestrual African dress. That one is not going to go well with the people. Meanwhile Obama repeats simply I’m an ordinary Christian.

With some calling it an illegitimate transfer of power, Russian leader Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor wins the country's presidential election by a landslide. Dmitry Medvedev faced no real opposition, and has tapped Putin to become prime minister -- the second highest post in Russia.

Hmm … seems like there is a law coming up in the Senate on eavesdropping. This would seem to be in your new area. Actually it’s the House intelligence Committee that is hoping for a renewal of a new law pushed by Bush on eavesdropping on calls and emails on US computers and phone lines after 911. They say without it we as a people are at greater risk, and those against the eavesdropping state that our civil liberties are being eroded and accuse the President of fear-mongering. I’d say this is an issue at large being debated across the country – and I’m guessing that we have opposing viewpoints. We’ll let it go.

Hmm, it says here that they now have unveiled to the public letters by Abraham Lincoln stating he’d tossed around a couple other versions of ending the civil war. One of them was to spend 20 years buying back slaves from southerners at $400 apiece. Instead he issued the emancipation proclamation that put an end to slavery two months later than the letter was written putting an end to slavery. It was signed the day he was shot.

Michigan State Pummels Indiana 103-74
By LARRY LAGE,
Associated Press
Posted: 2008-03-02 17:02:00

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Raymar Morgan scored 12 of his 20 points early to help No. 19 Michigan State build a big lead and beat No. 12 Indiana 103-74 Sunday, allowing the Spartans to finish undefeated at home and hand Dan Dakich his first loss as interim coach.

Michigan State (23-6, 11-5 Big Ten) led 59-31 at halftime after making 78 percent of its shots, including nine 3-pointers.

Eric Gordon scored 22 and D.J. White had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Hoosiers (24-5, 13-3) who had a chance to pull into a three-way tie with Big Ten leaders Wisconsin and Purdue.

Indiana won its first two games with Dakich in charge following Kelvin Sampson's resignation amid NCAA allegations of major rule infractions.

Drew Neitzel scored 17 points in his final home game, Goran Suton had 17 points, Kalin Lucas scored 14 and Chris Allen added 11 for the Spartans, who won all 17 of their games this season at the Breslin Center, where Indiana has lost 14 straight.

The Hoosiers - who had won four straight and seven of eight - were handed their most lopsided defeat losing to Wisconsin 79-45 in 2004.

Weak Dollar Hurts Smaller European Firms
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK,
AP
Posted: 2008-03-02 16:23:22

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) - Hugh Quinn has seen the ever-weakening dollar shatter his ability to sell hand-cut Irish lead crystal to American customers.

Ingolf Haas says profit at his family-run cuckoo clock business in Germany has dropped at least 10 percent since the U.S. currency's latest decline began. Roberto Anselmi now sells more of his Italian white wine to Canada than to the United States.

Times are tough for small and artisanal businesses across Europe that traditionally target Americans as their No. 1 buyers, since the swooning dollar shrinks their revenues from U.S. sales but their costs remain in expensive euros.

The problem is compounded by economic worries that may make Americans think twice about buying the products they coveted and consumed in more prosperous days.

With the euro topping $1.52 this week - up from $1.18 when it was introduced in 1999, and from 82 cents at its lowest in 2000 - economists say all euro-denominated exporters have reason to be worried. But tourism-oriented producers of luxury goods are hurting the most.

These niche manufacturers are often too small to engage in the complex, risky hedging that protects larger companies from shifts in the value of different currencies.

"They can get into trouble if they have their eggs in one basket, particularly these days if it's an American basket," said Alan McQuaid, chief economist of Bloxham Stockbrokers in Dublin. "They have to broaden their horizons."

They say that in Microsoft’s last ditch effort to save the floundering Vista they have reduced prices on the premium versions, but the price cuts only apply to the boxed version of the product for people who are making upgrades – and usually those computers aren’t even fast enough to run Vista properly. So the response from the public? Will it help get those Vistas out the door any faster? Probably not, but it’s nice to see Microsoft scale back some of their absurd prices. I’ll tell you about the one day Microsoft umm nailed me for $120 in “help” charges not to help me. YEEKS their customer service … smells!

Hmm, did you hear about this one? The guy who won $5.15 Million Jackpot, and some other guy unplugs the slot machine? It was an IL attorney that won… go figure (playing with $20 bills while on vacation in the Virgin Islands). Hehehe, but it was a casino worker (probably well coached) who pulled the cord saying it was a malfunction. Bet you he got a raise! End result … the hotel offered the guy $100 and a free meal and in return the attorney is suing the hotel. Go figure!

AHA! They are saying that after 19 years that the new ‘Indiana Jones’ Trailer is a smash hit – even though people have to wait until May to see it. Its release date is May 22nd! Maybe that’ one of the things you can put on your agenda for after you become a marine. I can’t believe it’s been so long. This one appears to be “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Caught MY attention! They are estimating in the first week alone that 200 million people watched the trailer … wow! Last movie brought in a total of 1.2 billion.

Wow! I didn’t know that Nicole Ritchie just had a baby girl named Harlow with Joel Madden, well everyone knew that, but apparently the guy that Paris Hilton is seeing is Benji Madden is Joel’s twin brother … that’s pretty cool Paris and Nicole Sister-in-laws … stranger things have happened! No one knows for sure if Paris is engaged, but she is reported to have one nice size ring on appropriate finger…

So much news to report so little time. But, if you’ve followed along your mind isn’t so much on the Marines for the time being while we’re digressing, right?
Well that’s it for the moment Thom except to be wishing you the very bestest day.

We hope for many breaths of fresh air, good food, good company, and good memories as each day passes. You’ve got it in you to do whatever you want – make the most of your experiences!

I love you,
Mom!

posted by Ann Marie @ 3/08/2008 07:14:00 PM Comments: 0