T minus one week

John's return from Australia was delayed by several days, so he'll be leaving next Wednesday. However, in the joys of international travel, he'll actually return on Tuesday our time.   Emily is definitely missing her daddy, as noticed by her carrying around his command portrait--frame and all--while saying and signing "Daddy" with the most delighted squeals. Then she signs "stars" because of the flag in the background.   She's over there now, lying on her tummy and babbling at the picture, periodically running over to me to sign "Daddy" and laugh.

Well, I flea-bombed the house today. Good times getting the cat into the carrier, the dog crate into the car, the dog into the crate (which required picking up a terrified German Shepherd and tossing her in), and wrangling the baby out of the street and into her car seat as well. Thankfully, I'd arranged to leave Emily at my dear friend Diana's house with her five boys and two babysitters while the two of us bolted from the house and off to get pedicures.   Woohoo! Desperately needed girl time, during which we started making plans to visit Japan, where she and her crew were stationed last. Then I hung out at our dog trainer/great friend's house for another few hours while the house aired out.   I have to say that, for this phase of our life, living on base is such a blessing.

(Quick note on local culture: who knew that pedicures could be such a big thing? At the recent squadron picnic, we discovered that I was the only woman there with bare toes.   Huh. I hadn't noticed it before, but pedicures with fancy little flowers and crystals and such are a big, big thing here. Well, when in Rome, right?   And it's amazing how a little chick time, a massaging chair, and fabulous toes can lift one's flea-bitten mood.)

Well, it's time to get the furless of my charges bathed and ready for bed. In the next few hours, we'll see how much progress I've made in Operation Flea Massacre: wish me luck in letting my legs heal from looking like raw meat!

I know, poor John... missing all this.   Hmmmm... he'd better bring me back a koala bear.