Mistrial

1LT Ehren Watada's trial was thrown out of court yesterday in a mistrial.

I've been following this case because it has a lot of interesting legal ramifications, especially for men like my husband. When is an order "illegal," exactly? When does a military officer have the right to refuse an order? Interesting stuff, especially in this very gray-toned war.

I can't help but wonder if the judge threw the case out to avoid setting legal precedent. I mean, 1LT Watada is an Officer. I'm not exactly sure how it could be that he signed something without reading it. I might believe that shit elsewhere but Watada is not only educated by well-defended.

I guess we'll see if charges are re-filed. I have a strong suspicion that they won't be and instead 1LT Watada will be given some easy way to get out of the military. The best thing for the Army is probably for this to just go away.

Some people are never satisfied.

You really have to wonder if people just have nothing better to do. People are actually -- and seriously -- complaining that a silhouette of Prince and his guitar was meant to symbolize much more than a guitar.

People, come on now. Either get a hobby, lighten up or stop watching the Half-Time show if you can't handle the heat.

Me, too, J.K. Me, too.

Rowling mourning end of Harry Potter tale.

I don't know what I'll do after July 21. You know, besides wait for the next couple movies to come out. But after that, man, is life without Harry even worth living?

Secrets and Lies, Part 3.

Things around here have gotten seriously crazy. To the point where I've turned off my phone. The big secret? You know, the one that's not really a secret though the higher-ups would like us all to pretend? It's escalated out of control. Everyone knows. But we still can't say anything.

I've been told off, cussed out and told I don't know shit. Ladies who help out with our company's FRG have been accosted at work and basically told they were Army versions of Uncle Toms. They have since been shunned by women they thought to be their friends. One wife called Child and Youth Services (the Army version of Department of Family and Child Services) on another wife in retaliation, believing that the first wife was withholding critical information. I've been threatened with complaints to the Inspector General's office. Another FRG leader was literally screamed at in the PX.

I think it's fair to say that everyone is ready for an announcement. And, of course, a better understanding of how the Army actually works (note: a bulletin board is not the official manner to disseminate information) might be even more in order.

And me? I'm ready for a fifth of Scotch and a Wal-mart sized bag of Snickers bars. Flame on!

How not to fight a tenure decision.

How exactly does James Sherley think that a hunger strike will help his cause? I mean, it's not like there's a section in a curriculum vitae for "Most Futile Things I Did to Get Tenure."

When you aren't in my bed, I sleep diagonally.

One of the nice perks of CPT Dick being off in the field is having the bed all to myself. It sounds awful, doesn't it? Like I don't even like my husband in my bed? But it's so true. I can hog the pillows, not worry about someone stealing all the covers in the middle of the night and, of course, sleep in a quiet, snore-free zone.

This peace and quiet keeps me happy for a few weeks. I love waking up all by myself. But then I start to miss the mayhem. And somehow, someway the Army manages to send my husband back just when I start to miss him.

Adam Walsh case back in the spotlight.

Now this really threw me.

Apparently, an investigative journalist is suggesting that Jeffrey Dahmer could have killed 6-year-old Adam Walsh, son of America's Most Wanted's host, John Walsh, back in 1981.

I remember this case so well. I was still very young in 1981 and the Adam Walsh case shook our family -- really, every family with young children -- to the core. We watched the news each night in hopes of a happy ending where Adam was reunited, unharmed, with his parents. But life is not like the movies.

This is a really interesting theory but I have to wonder if it is even worth speculating about at this point. Dahmer is dead. Most of the witnesses are having to look back after reading so much about Dahmer, which will undoubtedly color their statements. Leads and initial reports in the police report have been lost over time. And, I hate to say it, because I can understand why the Walsh family would seek closure, but there are other cases, cases where fugitives could be brought to justice or children could be returned to their families, that could use the manpower.

But still, it does make you wonder.

Overheard on the #6 Train.

Chubby girl: I don't do well with fingers in my ass, but I'm pretty good with balls in my mouth. I'll tell you a story, but if it gets too personal just tell me to stop.

Nerdy boy: Alright.

Chubby girl: I was at Jason's house, and, mind you, we were in an awkward position -- kind of half-sitting, half-laying down -- but it's always awkward when you're half asleep, you know? Well, we started kissing, and then my negligee fell down. It literally fell down below my breasts. And Jason was like, 'I don't know if I'm comfortable with your toplessness...'

Read all this and more -- if you dare -- on Overheard in New York.

Don't buy Valentine's candy two weeks early.

I would say something to back this crucial bit of information up but my mouth is too full of heart-shaped chocolately-caramel goodness.

Guess I'm headed back to the commissary next week for more.

Secrets and Lies, Part 2.

Remember that secret I'm supposed to keep? That secret that I was supposed to say wasn't true at all? That it didn't even exist? Well, true to my word, I've kept it. As have most others.

But then some idiot accidentally put part of the contents of that secret on the official calendar. And so it's been posted on the web, in a newsletter and is, as I type this, flashing on the large, day-glo electronic bulletin board next to the PX. Everyone has seen it.

But even so, I'm still expected to keep said secret. Don't ask me to explain it because I can't.

I can't figure out whether I think this is hilarious or not. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite us all in the ass later.