Well, surprise surprise. This introverted quiet and reserved gal is taking on a new role here shortly. I'm taking over as our company FRG Leader when our 1sg and his wife leave.
I think people will be surprised if not a little confused as to why I volunteered for it. I hardly ever speak at group events, I tend to go with the flow, etc etc. you get the idea right?
Well, I decided it's time to end that and throw myself into a new and challenging position. I don't mean that the position is difficult in skill requirements, but that it will be personally difficult for me to get over my shyness and quiet self. But I'm diving in head first and looking at this as a way to break out of my socially awkward shell and meet people all while supporting our Commander and his goals of family readiness.
*cheers*
here's to new things in the New Year
Monday, January 9, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Better Homes and Gardens: Wax Warmer and Scented Wax Cubes Review
Disclaimer: I am not being compensated in any way for this review. I bought everything with my own money from my local WalMart. I haven't been contacted by BH&G, Walmart, or Scentsationals (one set of wax cubes) for this review. This is an unbiased review as it is the first product of its kind that I have ever tried. This is NOT a comparison between BH&G Warmers/Wax and Scentsy Warmers/Wax. I have recently placed my first Scentsy order and will do a comparison post after receiving it. Whew...that said, read on!
I have NEVER used a product like this and I rarely use candles. However, I've been more and more intrigued by "wickless" candles because we have 4 dogs (a very large and clumsy great dane and 3 rambunctious weenie mixes) and the possiblity that they could burn my house down by knocking over a candle scares me to death.
After perusing the Scentsy website and talking to those that have used it before I decided to order a "Combine and Save" package that includes 1 full size premium warmer, 1 full size regular warmer, and 6 bars. Shipping is going to take a few days and because of my impatience I went scouting for an alternative to try out in the meantime. Several bloggers and friends pointed me in the direction of the "Better Homes and Gardens Wax Warmer and Cubes" available at Walmart. For a fraction of the price and with a decent selection of scented wax available I decided "What the heck, couldn't hurt. If I can save a few bucks in the long run, why not, right?"
HOW IT WORKS:
The warmer comes in the box show in the pic. You simply open the box and remove the top dish portion. Inside the warmer is a bubble wrapped 25w lightbulb and the cord is also inside held in a bundle by a twist tie. You simply take the cord out of the inside and screw in the lightbulb. Place the dish back on top of the warmer. Plug in, turn on, place 1-2 scented wax cubes in the dish and within 5-20 minutes the cube will melt and release the scent. If you want to change scents, you can pour the remaining wax back into the package to reuse. Keep in mind though that the more you do this, the milder the scent becomes. Then wipe out the dish, choose another cube, and repeat the process again.
My husband and I live in a quaint 2bd 1bth single story house and one warmer placed in the entry room lightly scents the entire house with just 1 cube.
FYI: The Warmer was $15.00 and each pack of Scented Cubes was $2.00. As far as I can tell, comparable Scentsy Warmers range between 25-35 with comparable sized Scentsy "Bars" priced at $5.00/pk. Be sure to watch for my comparison post as soon as I have time to try out all the goodies in my Scentsy order:)
*BH&G Red "Fleur De Lis" Wax Warmer and "Fresh Ocean Flowers" Scented Wax Cubes*
*Warmer "dish" with 1 completely melted cube*
*Fleur De Lis detail closer up. It's a glossy red ceramic with a bit of an orange undertone. It has little holes around it that allow the light to give it this great sort of glow when the lights are off.
*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Fresh Ocean Flowers". I used 1 of these cubes for my first ever trial run of the warming system, which you can see in the pics has already melted down and started releasing it's Ocean Flower-y goodness through the house. I have a feeling this scent will be one of my favorites. It's a very light floral, NOT overpowering at all. My husband who is VERY sensitive to any sort of smell walked in the house after work and said, "Man, it smells great in here!"*
*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Pomegranate Passion Fruit". While I haven't used any other cubes besides the Ocean Flowers one, in the package this smells verrrrry nice. I'm sentitive to fruit smells so i was hesitant about this but the second i opened it up in store I decided to buy it. I can't attest to how strong the smell will be when melted but in the box it's a pleasantly perfumed MILD scent. It actually really reminds me of a Febreze air freshener spray I purchased before called "Cranberries and Frost". It's a nice mix of floral and fruity notes without being overpowering on either side.
*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Butterscotch Maple Cream". This scent is a very strong "food" scent so if you're not really into "bake shop" smells this is one you'll want to pass on. I, however, don't mind them much. This is a borderline one for me. It smells exactly like you'd expect. It's a very heavy creamy/toffee/sweet smelling cube with maybe a hint of vanilla tossed in. 
*ScentSationals Fragrance Cubes in "Cup Cake". This one I actually didn't open up in store before purchasing. I'm regretting that. While it has an overall "sweet treat" smell, it's almost overpowered by an off putting waxy smell or a scent similar to that of...playdoh? Maybe this will change once melted but in the box alone, it's not one I'm anxious to try out. I will update this post once I try out the cubes to let you know if the waxy scent goes away when melted.
*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Vanilla Caramel Spice". Contrary to its name, this doesn't have much of a "spice" to it. It's primarily vanilla with caramel undertones and maybe a hint of brown sugar.
*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Chocolate Peppermint Truffle". This is a DELICIOUSLY crafted scent. I allllllways had an affinity for mint chocolate anything as a child and I still do today which made this one of the first boxes I picked up to test. There's no synthetic waxy scent at all, it's just pure mint chocolate goodness. It's easiest to relate this to either a York Peppermint Patty or Andes Mints (you know, those little thin mints wrapped in green foil with pictures of the andes mountains?). Mmmmm....talk about a scent that inspires memories.
*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Baked Apple Strudel". This is a VERY strong (yet surprisingly not overpowering) scent in the box so I suggest trying a 1/2 of a cube first and adding more if need be. It's very much a baked apple scent with a bit of spice. This to me is more of a fall scent vs other baked apple pie types smells that can be used all year long but that's just my preference.
**
There are TONS more scents to choose from. There's florals, foods, seasonals, ranging from mild to "whoa, no thank you Batman". While I have only used the BH&G Ocean Flowers scent cubes so far, I reckon you should be able to use any sort of scented wax pieces from other brands as well but time to melt may be different given the grade and "hardness" of the wax.
Also there are several different designs of warmers but this was the only one available at my local walmart store but I love it just the same. BH&G as I understand it comes out with limited editional seasonal ones as well as more decorative ones so check out your local WalMart and let me know what you find and if you decide to try this before Scentsy as a cheaper alternative.
So far I am glad to have bought this warmer to tide me over while I wait for my Scentsy order. Let's just hope that Scentsy lives up to the hype. If not, I'll be perfectly happy with this BH&G Warmer:)
-B
I have NEVER used a product like this and I rarely use candles. However, I've been more and more intrigued by "wickless" candles because we have 4 dogs (a very large and clumsy great dane and 3 rambunctious weenie mixes) and the possiblity that they could burn my house down by knocking over a candle scares me to death.
After perusing the Scentsy website and talking to those that have used it before I decided to order a "Combine and Save" package that includes 1 full size premium warmer, 1 full size regular warmer, and 6 bars. Shipping is going to take a few days and because of my impatience I went scouting for an alternative to try out in the meantime. Several bloggers and friends pointed me in the direction of the "Better Homes and Gardens Wax Warmer and Cubes" available at Walmart. For a fraction of the price and with a decent selection of scented wax available I decided "What the heck, couldn't hurt. If I can save a few bucks in the long run, why not, right?"
HOW IT WORKS:
The warmer comes in the box show in the pic. You simply open the box and remove the top dish portion. Inside the warmer is a bubble wrapped 25w lightbulb and the cord is also inside held in a bundle by a twist tie. You simply take the cord out of the inside and screw in the lightbulb. Place the dish back on top of the warmer. Plug in, turn on, place 1-2 scented wax cubes in the dish and within 5-20 minutes the cube will melt and release the scent. If you want to change scents, you can pour the remaining wax back into the package to reuse. Keep in mind though that the more you do this, the milder the scent becomes. Then wipe out the dish, choose another cube, and repeat the process again.
My husband and I live in a quaint 2bd 1bth single story house and one warmer placed in the entry room lightly scents the entire house with just 1 cube.
FYI: The Warmer was $15.00 and each pack of Scented Cubes was $2.00. As far as I can tell, comparable Scentsy Warmers range between 25-35 with comparable sized Scentsy "Bars" priced at $5.00/pk. Be sure to watch for my comparison post as soon as I have time to try out all the goodies in my Scentsy order:)
**
There are TONS more scents to choose from. There's florals, foods, seasonals, ranging from mild to "whoa, no thank you Batman". While I have only used the BH&G Ocean Flowers scent cubes so far, I reckon you should be able to use any sort of scented wax pieces from other brands as well but time to melt may be different given the grade and "hardness" of the wax.
Also there are several different designs of warmers but this was the only one available at my local walmart store but I love it just the same. BH&G as I understand it comes out with limited editional seasonal ones as well as more decorative ones so check out your local WalMart and let me know what you find and if you decide to try this before Scentsy as a cheaper alternative.
So far I am glad to have bought this warmer to tide me over while I wait for my Scentsy order. Let's just hope that Scentsy lives up to the hype. If not, I'll be perfectly happy with this BH&G Warmer:)
-B
New Year, New Ideas
First of all: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
This is going to start off with another apology for not writing anything in several months. Here's hoping to change that.
I wanted to let you know that this blog is going to take on many different facets from now on. It's going to be a little mix of everything from food stuffs, recipes, makeup/nail polish/beauty reviews, home decor pics and reviews, crafts, etc etc. I don't want to stick to just one aspect of my life. I want to sort of make this a showcase of many of the things I love as well as things that have been recommended to me by friends.
One of my Christmas gifts was a super nice Nikon d5100 digital SLR camera so expect lottts of pictures of the dogs, friends, products, and more.
*cheers* Here's to a new year and new blog ideas!
This is going to start off with another apology for not writing anything in several months. Here's hoping to change that.
I wanted to let you know that this blog is going to take on many different facets from now on. It's going to be a little mix of everything from food stuffs, recipes, makeup/nail polish/beauty reviews, home decor pics and reviews, crafts, etc etc. I don't want to stick to just one aspect of my life. I want to sort of make this a showcase of many of the things I love as well as things that have been recommended to me by friends.
One of my Christmas gifts was a super nice Nikon d5100 digital SLR camera so expect lottts of pictures of the dogs, friends, products, and more.
*cheers* Here's to a new year and new blog ideas!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
I still have questions.;..
First and foremost, I had a bad dream and that's what has spurred this entry.
As much as I'd like to say I've moved on and whatnot from the troublesome things of a few months ago, fact is...I haven't. I still find myself wanting to check his emails and his phone calls, I worry when I realize that when I go home for the next forensics season he'll be here at the house by himself...with strip clubs nearby...and the internet to use as much as he wants...I'm scared it's going to happen again.
I'm scared he's going to find someone "better" and forget about me and not want anything to do with me. I shouldn't have to be afraid but the neurotic side in me is making me scared as shit to ever leave the house on my own. It's a legit fear and I hate that.
As much as I'd like to say I've moved on and whatnot from the troublesome things of a few months ago, fact is...I haven't. I still find myself wanting to check his emails and his phone calls, I worry when I realize that when I go home for the next forensics season he'll be here at the house by himself...with strip clubs nearby...and the internet to use as much as he wants...I'm scared it's going to happen again.
I'm scared he's going to find someone "better" and forget about me and not want anything to do with me. I shouldn't have to be afraid but the neurotic side in me is making me scared as shit to ever leave the house on my own. It's a legit fear and I hate that.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
New Hobby
I officially am in love with sewing...
Bought a sewing machine with a gift card my mama and papa gave me, tested it out with a few scraps and some random pieces, and have been experimenting with random online patterns/tutorials.
Tonight I finally made my first usable item that didn't turn out all wonky and crooked (much)
It's a small key ring wallet. I'm starting to realize that carrying tons of crap in a huge tote bag might not be the most convenient thing in the world, nor the best for my back and shoulders in the long run. Thus, I found this pattern online and changed the layout a bit and added the key ring tab. I wanted something that had minimal card pockets with maximum space. all of my cards i need to carry with me fit in the two pockets with room to spare. behind the card pockets is where the cash/receipts can go, and the zip compartment is for spare change.
There are a few things I'd change about it. I would change the location of the key tab and move it just a bit from where it's at now, i'd change the card pockets/bill slot and zip compartment around. I'd have the pocket openings and zipper facing the center. I would also maybe make the key tab a bit longer.
ugh.
anyway, just thought i'd share my new little obsession with all of you in cyber space:)
Bought a sewing machine with a gift card my mama and papa gave me, tested it out with a few scraps and some random pieces, and have been experimenting with random online patterns/tutorials.
Tonight I finally made my first usable item that didn't turn out all wonky and crooked (much)
It's a small key ring wallet. I'm starting to realize that carrying tons of crap in a huge tote bag might not be the most convenient thing in the world, nor the best for my back and shoulders in the long run. Thus, I found this pattern online and changed the layout a bit and added the key ring tab. I wanted something that had minimal card pockets with maximum space. all of my cards i need to carry with me fit in the two pockets with room to spare. behind the card pockets is where the cash/receipts can go, and the zip compartment is for spare change.
There are a few things I'd change about it. I would change the location of the key tab and move it just a bit from where it's at now, i'd change the card pockets/bill slot and zip compartment around. I'd have the pocket openings and zipper facing the center. I would also maybe make the key tab a bit longer.
ugh.
anyway, just thought i'd share my new little obsession with all of you in cyber space:)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
And she's back!
Howdy to anyone reading this:)
I am officially back to blogging now that I have constant internet access here at the new house in Georgia.
It's been a trip...literally and figuratively. The heat alone has been a complete 180 degree turn from upstate New York. Not necessarily a bad change, but an interesting one. The dogs sometimes can barely stand to be outside. Audie goes through buckets of water every day. The little dogs go through as much water as Audie would go through on a regular day up in New York. Water bill should be interesting in a few months.
One thing that really has me hating this place though...and i mean, HATING, LOATHING...is all the huge bugs and pests. We've hung up sticky strips in the house that are already just completely covered in moths, flies, gnats, mosquitoes. We've had several cockroaches show up in the house...dead for the most part, but a couple we found crawling around.
I'm seriously barely out of the bedroom because I hate bugs...I have a legitimate insect phobia and I barricaded myself in the room this morning because there was a cockroach as long as my index finger on it's back out in the foyer. I doused it with 409 because it was the closest thing to me in the kitchen and I would have had to cross the cockroach to get to the pest sprays and stuff that we've bought and that our landlord left for us.
I thought it was close to dead but when I sprayed it, the legs started kicking faster and faster and I thought it was gonna flip over and start crawling again so I just stood in the bathroom, reached my arm out, and sprayed it as much as possible until it stopped moving. Then I went back into the bedroom. I had to come out of the bedroom later because I was too hungry to give up lunch so I ran out to the kitchen but out of the corner of my eye (I tried to avoid looking at the cockroach soaking in 409) I saw another cockroach, a smaller one but a more alive one that was on it's back, still kicking pretty quickly. I did the same thing, scream...and then doused it with 409.
I hate this place because of the bugs. I love it because it's an adorable house and a pretty area in downtown but I hate the bugs. I'm afraid to come out of the bedroom because of them. I just plan on surviving by either being out of the house and working when i can find a job here or having rich finish killing them and throwing them away whenever he gets home each night.
I want to go back to New York...more than anything. I miss Sandra, Quasi, their doggies, the area, their WalMart...I hate the WalMart here. I can never find anything because it literally seems to move each week that I'm there. I hate the post...the px isn't all that great, the commissary is ok I guess but small. I just don't like it. The roads here are ridiculous, there's ghetto everywhere...and there's so much poverty down here...run down houses that look like the roof will cave in if you blow on it. I just don't like it. I'm sure I'll learn to like it but I wish I could learn a little faster because as of now....one word.
HATE
I am officially back to blogging now that I have constant internet access here at the new house in Georgia.
It's been a trip...literally and figuratively. The heat alone has been a complete 180 degree turn from upstate New York. Not necessarily a bad change, but an interesting one. The dogs sometimes can barely stand to be outside. Audie goes through buckets of water every day. The little dogs go through as much water as Audie would go through on a regular day up in New York. Water bill should be interesting in a few months.
One thing that really has me hating this place though...and i mean, HATING, LOATHING...is all the huge bugs and pests. We've hung up sticky strips in the house that are already just completely covered in moths, flies, gnats, mosquitoes. We've had several cockroaches show up in the house...dead for the most part, but a couple we found crawling around.
I'm seriously barely out of the bedroom because I hate bugs...I have a legitimate insect phobia and I barricaded myself in the room this morning because there was a cockroach as long as my index finger on it's back out in the foyer. I doused it with 409 because it was the closest thing to me in the kitchen and I would have had to cross the cockroach to get to the pest sprays and stuff that we've bought and that our landlord left for us.
I thought it was close to dead but when I sprayed it, the legs started kicking faster and faster and I thought it was gonna flip over and start crawling again so I just stood in the bathroom, reached my arm out, and sprayed it as much as possible until it stopped moving. Then I went back into the bedroom. I had to come out of the bedroom later because I was too hungry to give up lunch so I ran out to the kitchen but out of the corner of my eye (I tried to avoid looking at the cockroach soaking in 409) I saw another cockroach, a smaller one but a more alive one that was on it's back, still kicking pretty quickly. I did the same thing, scream...and then doused it with 409.
I hate this place because of the bugs. I love it because it's an adorable house and a pretty area in downtown but I hate the bugs. I'm afraid to come out of the bedroom because of them. I just plan on surviving by either being out of the house and working when i can find a job here or having rich finish killing them and throwing them away whenever he gets home each night.
I want to go back to New York...more than anything. I miss Sandra, Quasi, their doggies, the area, their WalMart...I hate the WalMart here. I can never find anything because it literally seems to move each week that I'm there. I hate the post...the px isn't all that great, the commissary is ok I guess but small. I just don't like it. The roads here are ridiculous, there's ghetto everywhere...and there's so much poverty down here...run down houses that look like the roof will cave in if you blow on it. I just don't like it. I'm sure I'll learn to like it but I wish I could learn a little faster because as of now....one word.
HATE
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Door Swings Both Ways...
So...what do you do when someone says that you need to open up and when you do, it ends in a nightmare?
I've been feeling really upset about my life, NOT my marriage (which I'll get into here shortly). I'm upset with myself that I haven't gotten my ass back into school sooner, that I haven't pursued a job as actively as I should.
Hi, my name is B and I have anger management issues.
Plain and simple, that is the root of all my problems.
I snap at those who don't deserve it whether it be Rich, my parents, my friends, strangers even. If something goes wrong in my day and it upsets me, I dwell on it and dwell on it.
Lately I've been trying to change that so Rich and I got into an argument yesterday and I told him that I was unhappy and he took it completely out of context, which in hindsight I can see why. But I'm not unhappy with him. He's everything to me. He's what keeps me going each day and he's what keeps me hoping for a bright future. But he took it as me saying I'm not happy with him.
NOT true. I'm unhappy with me and how I've let myself go and he's the only thing in my life that has been a constant since we met. I need to be better for him, my family, and for myself. I need to start living up to the expectations I have for myself. I know I can be better but it hurts when he won't even give me the time of day.
We've been through this song and dance before so I completely understand why, ya know? But God says to never give up on love for each other, for love never gives up. It is everlasting.
I wish he knew how I felt.
Onnnnnnnnnnnnn the other hand...
He doesn't realize how much it hurts when we just sit in silence. I try to bring up things to talk about and somehow it reverts to video games or facebook games or typical small talk. That hurts more than anything in the world. I feel like he's blaming this all on me and making me apologize, making me grovel and beg and I can't do that anymore.
I talked to my dad for about 3 hours today and he told me that I should never have to feel that way. He also told me that I need to stick it out and this time, we both need to hold to our promises to change and to love unconditionally.
I'll drink to that!
I've been feeling really upset about my life, NOT my marriage (which I'll get into here shortly). I'm upset with myself that I haven't gotten my ass back into school sooner, that I haven't pursued a job as actively as I should.
Hi, my name is B and I have anger management issues.
Plain and simple, that is the root of all my problems.
I snap at those who don't deserve it whether it be Rich, my parents, my friends, strangers even. If something goes wrong in my day and it upsets me, I dwell on it and dwell on it.
Lately I've been trying to change that so Rich and I got into an argument yesterday and I told him that I was unhappy and he took it completely out of context, which in hindsight I can see why. But I'm not unhappy with him. He's everything to me. He's what keeps me going each day and he's what keeps me hoping for a bright future. But he took it as me saying I'm not happy with him.
NOT true. I'm unhappy with me and how I've let myself go and he's the only thing in my life that has been a constant since we met. I need to be better for him, my family, and for myself. I need to start living up to the expectations I have for myself. I know I can be better but it hurts when he won't even give me the time of day.
We've been through this song and dance before so I completely understand why, ya know? But God says to never give up on love for each other, for love never gives up. It is everlasting.
I wish he knew how I felt.
Onnnnnnnnnnnnn the other hand...
He doesn't realize how much it hurts when we just sit in silence. I try to bring up things to talk about and somehow it reverts to video games or facebook games or typical small talk. That hurts more than anything in the world. I feel like he's blaming this all on me and making me apologize, making me grovel and beg and I can't do that anymore.
I talked to my dad for about 3 hours today and he told me that I should never have to feel that way. He also told me that I need to stick it out and this time, we both need to hold to our promises to change and to love unconditionally.
I'll drink to that!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Mission: Move Home, Status: Complete
Well, I realize it's been a while since I've posted anything so here's an update. I'm sorry if it gets choppy too, there's just so much to go through and I don't want to write a dictionary like I sometimes end up doing:)
We made it down to South Carolina without any weather issues...that is until we got there. Obviously the South is not equipped to deal with weather like we have up North (NY, NY, MI, WI, etc...). Anyway, SC ended up getting a recordbreaking 4 inches or something, idk, but they literally shut down the ENTIRE town. McDonald's, Walmart, everything! We searched all over town for an hour to find a little podunk hole in the wall place that was open because we needed a bag of dog food.
When we went through the gate (finding an open gate was FUN...NOT...ALL except one was closed because of the treacherous weather lol!) we asked the guard where to find the Welcome Center. It seemed simple. Go to the third light, take a left, then an immediate right. WRONG. Somehow we missed it about twenty times and then finally found it by accident about an hour later after driving all over post.
Ugh...
Once hubby got everything situated and signed for his room, we took him to the building he'd be staying in and he took in some of his bigger stuff and packed it away in the storage locker in the room. He met his roomie who I guess is a pretty nice guy. They cycle drill sergeant classes in each week, so his roommate is actually a week ahead of him.
One more hassle down.
We then took some time to just hang out, which we haven't done in a very long time. We've had our issues but they seem to be smoothed over, atleast for now lol! We went to see Gulliver's Travels which I absolutely DO NOT RECOMMEND. It was horrible. It was almost as bad as Year One. Jack Black has really lost his credibility with those two "films". And we went to this really huge outdoor mall i guess you could call it. Almost like a strip mall that was super nice with tons of stores but go figure, half of them weren't open.
Hmm...
I had my first iHOP experience:) I ordered a chicken fajita omelette and it was AMAZING! LOVE LOVE LOVE it:) And their buttermilk pancakes are to DIE for! And if you know me well enough, you know I usually hate any and all breakfast food so that says a lot coming from me:D
Fast Forward...
Since Rich had to be up early this morning, I took him to his signed room last night and spent the night in the hotel by myself. I finally got myself to go to sleep around 11 but woke up around 4 because...
one of my dogs shat all over the cage. We forgot to bring their food with us so we had to substitute another kind and even though she went to the bathroom before bed, she still got an upset stomach from it. Thus, I woke up to the smell of poop and couldn't get back to sleep so I cleaned it up, ended up junking a blanket, and started the 15 some odd hour drive to my parents' house.
Drive was relatively uneventful except my windshield wiper fluid keeps freezing or getting clogged up or something. I had to stop and clean my windshield about 18 times because it kept getting gunked up from the muddy water off the road and all the salt buildup. Ick.
Driving through West Virginia was the absolute worst. Going through winding mountains with high speed winds, crazy drivers, and insane lack of visibility due to thick snow blowing everywhere. I white knuckled it the ENTIRE way through because I tend to panic in situations like that.
Other than those things, I'm not sure what else to go on about. It's 2343 right now and I've been up since 0400 and have been sitting for the majority of that entire time span and am about to go lay down. Mom said she bets that right once I lay my head down, I'll be out, and I don't want to put money on that because I'm guessing she's right.
Hope everyone's year has started off well!
Goodnight all
Ooh, wait, can't forget this: I walk in the door around 2200 and on the stove sits my favorite dinner: ma's homemade spaghetti!
(I deserve it for making it through the road trip alone, so...ha!)
We made it down to South Carolina without any weather issues...that is until we got there. Obviously the South is not equipped to deal with weather like we have up North (NY, NY, MI, WI, etc...). Anyway, SC ended up getting a recordbreaking 4 inches or something, idk, but they literally shut down the ENTIRE town. McDonald's, Walmart, everything! We searched all over town for an hour to find a little podunk hole in the wall place that was open because we needed a bag of dog food.
When we went through the gate (finding an open gate was FUN...NOT...ALL except one was closed because of the treacherous weather lol!) we asked the guard where to find the Welcome Center. It seemed simple. Go to the third light, take a left, then an immediate right. WRONG. Somehow we missed it about twenty times and then finally found it by accident about an hour later after driving all over post.
Ugh...
Once hubby got everything situated and signed for his room, we took him to the building he'd be staying in and he took in some of his bigger stuff and packed it away in the storage locker in the room. He met his roomie who I guess is a pretty nice guy. They cycle drill sergeant classes in each week, so his roommate is actually a week ahead of him.
One more hassle down.
We then took some time to just hang out, which we haven't done in a very long time. We've had our issues but they seem to be smoothed over, atleast for now lol! We went to see Gulliver's Travels which I absolutely DO NOT RECOMMEND. It was horrible. It was almost as bad as Year One. Jack Black has really lost his credibility with those two "films". And we went to this really huge outdoor mall i guess you could call it. Almost like a strip mall that was super nice with tons of stores but go figure, half of them weren't open.
Hmm...
I had my first iHOP experience:) I ordered a chicken fajita omelette and it was AMAZING! LOVE LOVE LOVE it:) And their buttermilk pancakes are to DIE for! And if you know me well enough, you know I usually hate any and all breakfast food so that says a lot coming from me:D
Fast Forward...
Since Rich had to be up early this morning, I took him to his signed room last night and spent the night in the hotel by myself. I finally got myself to go to sleep around 11 but woke up around 4 because...
one of my dogs shat all over the cage. We forgot to bring their food with us so we had to substitute another kind and even though she went to the bathroom before bed, she still got an upset stomach from it. Thus, I woke up to the smell of poop and couldn't get back to sleep so I cleaned it up, ended up junking a blanket, and started the 15 some odd hour drive to my parents' house.
Drive was relatively uneventful except my windshield wiper fluid keeps freezing or getting clogged up or something. I had to stop and clean my windshield about 18 times because it kept getting gunked up from the muddy water off the road and all the salt buildup. Ick.
Driving through West Virginia was the absolute worst. Going through winding mountains with high speed winds, crazy drivers, and insane lack of visibility due to thick snow blowing everywhere. I white knuckled it the ENTIRE way through because I tend to panic in situations like that.
Other than those things, I'm not sure what else to go on about. It's 2343 right now and I've been up since 0400 and have been sitting for the majority of that entire time span and am about to go lay down. Mom said she bets that right once I lay my head down, I'll be out, and I don't want to put money on that because I'm guessing she's right.
Hope everyone's year has started off well!
Goodnight all
Ooh, wait, can't forget this: I walk in the door around 2200 and on the stove sits my favorite dinner: ma's homemade spaghetti!
(I deserve it for making it through the road trip alone, so...ha!)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2011 - Another New Start
I'm becoming increasingly anxious...not the good or bad kind of anxious...can't really pinpoint it, just anxious. About what? Getting everything cleared out and moved and secured, driving down to South Carolina and getting there without many glitches, leaving SC and driving home by myself when I've never driven down south at all let alone myself with the three little dogs, being home is totally great, I love it and take advantage of every time I get to see my family because as any military spouse knows, its not easy to make the sometimes day long drives to see families. I'm worried about driving down to SC from my parents' house on my own and navigating a new post, moving temporarily back up to NY so we can clear and then take leave to see each of our families and then making the final move down to Georgia. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. Its my first pcs move and things are bound to drive me bonkers. Buuuuut, have any of you ever realized how just when you get reallllly acclamated to new surroundings/situations/people that *bam!* it's time to move on? I feel that same way. I feel like now that we have amazing friends, a house that works out perfectly, an amazing landlord, and just a cozy life, that fate has dealt me a new hand and said "time to play a new game".
I'm nervous about his job too when he graduates school and we move down to Georgia. His hours are going to be insane, he'll hardly have any time off, no decent travel windows to see family. Oy. My parents are getting up there in age so they said they'd love to come down and visit and see us wherever we are when they retire so that'd be great.
All in all, I guess I'm just being a worrywart but I hate the "unknown". I like to have a plan, a list, an organization over a lot of things. I guess I'm overly controlling and that's where the hating of the unknown comes in.
Oh well, I guess we shall all see where 2011 and the rest of the future takes us.
Goodnight and Happy New Year!
I'm nervous about his job too when he graduates school and we move down to Georgia. His hours are going to be insane, he'll hardly have any time off, no decent travel windows to see family. Oy. My parents are getting up there in age so they said they'd love to come down and visit and see us wherever we are when they retire so that'd be great.
All in all, I guess I'm just being a worrywart but I hate the "unknown". I like to have a plan, a list, an organization over a lot of things. I guess I'm overly controlling and that's where the hating of the unknown comes in.
Oh well, I guess we shall all see where 2011 and the rest of the future takes us.
Goodnight and Happy New Year!
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year's Resolutions and a New Start
Here we go folks, the New Year is upon us. In a little less than 12 hours, all the promises and resolutions we make for and/or to ourselves will take effect.
What are yours this year?
Mine...
No using the "F" bomb until 0001 on January 1, 2012
Limit soda drinking to 1 can per day
Read 20 classic novels
Lose 20 lb.
Save $2,000.00 for emergency purposes and/or downpayment on a house
The hard part for me is sticking to them...I usually can last about a month and then something causes me to revert back to "life before the resolution". I don't think I'll keep all of them for this year but I'm going to try and that's what matters right? That we all atleast try?
So when the clock strikes midnight, and you share a kiss with your special someone, remember to atleast make an attempt to keep the promises you've made to yourself.
Be safe and have a verry Happy New Year!
What are yours this year?
Mine...
No using the "F" bomb until 0001 on January 1, 2012
Limit soda drinking to 1 can per day
Read 20 classic novels
Lose 20 lb.
Save $2,000.00 for emergency purposes and/or downpayment on a house
The hard part for me is sticking to them...I usually can last about a month and then something causes me to revert back to "life before the resolution". I don't think I'll keep all of them for this year but I'm going to try and that's what matters right? That we all atleast try?
So when the clock strikes midnight, and you share a kiss with your special someone, remember to atleast make an attempt to keep the promises you've made to yourself.
Be safe and have a verry Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Almost Time To Go
So tonight for dinner, I'm making baked ziti with garlic bread. We rented The Other Guys on OnDemand and are just relaxing.
It's almost time to go...
meaning: we only have a little over a week before I say goodbye to hubby for 3 months while he's in school down in South Carolina and I move to Michigan to save a little cash.
Each time we take a load of stuff out to the storage place I realize just how close it is to the time we move for good down to our next duty station. Thankfully, it's someplace warm!
When I first got here a few years ago, I HATED it. We lived in a little apartment in Watertown. The landlord said appliances were included and when I showed up, there was nothing there. We bought our own stove and fridge and furniture which wiped out our deployment savings. Then we ended up moving on post thinking it'd be easier. NOT. Due to certain circumstances, we only stayed on post for the initial 6 months requirement and moved out to a little town about 25 minutes away. The house was crap, the landlord was a nice enough guy and his wife and kids were really friendly, but nothing ever got done. There was a wasp problem during the hottest months and a mold problem that got so bad the toilet fell through the bathroom floor!
Then we moved out to another town a little further away and shared an apartment with a friend of ours that had lived with us in the previous place for a while. I then moved home to save money.
Long story short: I left stuff at the apartment in the bedroom and some stuff in the garage and my friend had no problem with that. Then there were some court issues and legal issues with my friend and she got evicted. I couldn't make it back here to move everything out so I had someone else move my stuff to storage.
We showed up here after hubby got back from deployment and went to the storage unit to get everything out. After we started opening everything, we realized that there was a lot of stuff missing. So we have an allotment coming out because we had to pay for the stolen stuff but our insurance reimbursed us so I guess it's not as bad as I thought it woulda been.
And now we are here, in a log cabin type house with tons of property, a fabulous landlord and her family, and we are leaving. I don't really want to but it's necessary because we need to save the money to get us where we are going next.
I'm not really sure what my original intent for this post was, but I guess I'm just feeling slightly sentimental about leaving this place. We'll be coming back for a month and just renting a room after my husband graduates because we have to clear this post, i have to get my medical records, all that irritating stuff lol
So...that's it for tonight...nothing too interesting, like I said, just feeling kind of sentimental.
It's almost time to go...
meaning: we only have a little over a week before I say goodbye to hubby for 3 months while he's in school down in South Carolina and I move to Michigan to save a little cash.
Each time we take a load of stuff out to the storage place I realize just how close it is to the time we move for good down to our next duty station. Thankfully, it's someplace warm!
When I first got here a few years ago, I HATED it. We lived in a little apartment in Watertown. The landlord said appliances were included and when I showed up, there was nothing there. We bought our own stove and fridge and furniture which wiped out our deployment savings. Then we ended up moving on post thinking it'd be easier. NOT. Due to certain circumstances, we only stayed on post for the initial 6 months requirement and moved out to a little town about 25 minutes away. The house was crap, the landlord was a nice enough guy and his wife and kids were really friendly, but nothing ever got done. There was a wasp problem during the hottest months and a mold problem that got so bad the toilet fell through the bathroom floor!
Then we moved out to another town a little further away and shared an apartment with a friend of ours that had lived with us in the previous place for a while. I then moved home to save money.
Long story short: I left stuff at the apartment in the bedroom and some stuff in the garage and my friend had no problem with that. Then there were some court issues and legal issues with my friend and she got evicted. I couldn't make it back here to move everything out so I had someone else move my stuff to storage.
We showed up here after hubby got back from deployment and went to the storage unit to get everything out. After we started opening everything, we realized that there was a lot of stuff missing. So we have an allotment coming out because we had to pay for the stolen stuff but our insurance reimbursed us so I guess it's not as bad as I thought it woulda been.
And now we are here, in a log cabin type house with tons of property, a fabulous landlord and her family, and we are leaving. I don't really want to but it's necessary because we need to save the money to get us where we are going next.
I'm not really sure what my original intent for this post was, but I guess I'm just feeling slightly sentimental about leaving this place. We'll be coming back for a month and just renting a room after my husband graduates because we have to clear this post, i have to get my medical records, all that irritating stuff lol
So...that's it for tonight...nothing too interesting, like I said, just feeling kind of sentimental.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Made It Home Safely
So hubby and I made it back to NY safe and sound. We've gotten the jeep unpacked, organized a few things, and gotten some stuff done. The rest of our days here in NY will be spent packing up anything that we don't absolutely need, moving things into storage, and all that fun stuff. Sandra and her husband were kind enough to watch one of our dogs for us and we picked him up and kind of figured out a moving strategy since they'll be moving some of their stuff in while we're still here since we don't move until the 8th.
Speaking of the two of them, I am sooooooo thankful for them being gracious enough to watch our dog and they will be watching him for us while I am in Michigan and hubby is in school. It really speaks to the kindness of new found friends:) Thanks, Sandra!
Let's see what else...
Ordered a few things from the MAC Cham-Pale and Stylishly Yours collection so that should be here shortly and I've got a few other things to order when I pay down my credit card balance.
I had someone contact me by way of a friend of mine who does photography on Fort Drum about doing her makeup and hair for her wedding in February but it'd be a tight squeeze to get back up here from MI. I'm meeting with her anyway just to see what she's looking for. Fingers crossed:)
Hmm...
Other than that, it's back to life here in upstate NY but only for another couple weeks and then it's down to SC and back home to MI. Excited, nervous, anxious...all in one
Hope everyone had a great Christmas!
Speaking of the two of them, I am sooooooo thankful for them being gracious enough to watch our dog and they will be watching him for us while I am in Michigan and hubby is in school. It really speaks to the kindness of new found friends:) Thanks, Sandra!
Let's see what else...
Ordered a few things from the MAC Cham-Pale and Stylishly Yours collection so that should be here shortly and I've got a few other things to order when I pay down my credit card balance.
I had someone contact me by way of a friend of mine who does photography on Fort Drum about doing her makeup and hair for her wedding in February but it'd be a tight squeeze to get back up here from MI. I'm meeting with her anyway just to see what she's looking for. Fingers crossed:)
Hmm...
Other than that, it's back to life here in upstate NY but only for another couple weeks and then it's down to SC and back home to MI. Excited, nervous, anxious...all in one
Hope everyone had a great Christmas!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The Gift Of Love
So just when we were all having fun and laughing, just relaxing this morning when present opening was coming to an end, my dad said he had one last present for my mom. Now, you'd really have to spend a few hours with my dad to understand his sense of humor and odd way about him, but I'll do my best to explain it.
You know how there are those kinds of people that like to wrap a present inside a box inside a box inside a box inside ANOTHER box? My dad is kinda like that. He wrote out "instructions" that my mom had to follow, things like, "To open this present you must first stand up, grab your tongue, and while holding your tongue say 'biddie biddie bidde'," stuff like that. So he goes through this whole set of instructions right?
Finally she gets to open this present which ends up being a beautiful photo album with pictures that he had professionally taken off their original wedding slides (yes, they're old enough to have used slides) all put into 4x5 slots in the album with their wedding picture on the front. He also had a dvd slideshow made of the photos that played through while their wedding song was played in the background.
My father is 67 and my mom is 58 and they've been married for 30 years. How awesome is that?
Divorce has NEVER once come up, they fight but it's mainly cute old people fighting, and they just seem to be as happy now as they ever have been.
Because they adopted us when they were older than most adoptive families, I never met or remember meeting my grandfathers. My mom's mom is still alive and I see her as much as possible but she's in pretty rough shape. Dad's mom passed away a few years ago. I don't really even remember seeing any pictures of either grandpa except for the small ones my mom has in frames here at our house.
But I looked through the album and saw pictures of my cousins as children (cousins who are now in their 40s) and I finally came to one of a face I knew all too well, a younger face of my Grandma B, dad's mom, my mom in her wedding dress, and there stood Grandpa next to them. It brought a tear to my eye because I always hear stories of grandpa's and their grandkids and how they teach them the ways of the old world and tell them stories on their laps, and I never got that. I never even met him. As a baby, I was able to meet Grandpa S though, but I was only months old and have no recollection of him whatsoever. Kinda sad:(
Alas, the photo album let me look into a side of my family history that I never knew. My parents would every now and then describe their wedding to me when I saw their wedding photo and asked about it, but it was always so hard to imagine. I was able to see my parents on one of the happiest days of their lives together and I was able to see my grandparents, all together.
The Gift Of Love sure is a rare thing these days and when we find it, we need to hold on to it. Maybe in 30 years I'll give my husband a wonderful gift like that or vice versa. It's amazing to think that in 30 years, cell phones will probably be considered a thing of the past and who knows what new technology we will see. But one thing's for sure...the human capacity for LOVE will always be here until the end of the earth and as long as humans inhabit it.
You know how there are those kinds of people that like to wrap a present inside a box inside a box inside a box inside ANOTHER box? My dad is kinda like that. He wrote out "instructions" that my mom had to follow, things like, "To open this present you must first stand up, grab your tongue, and while holding your tongue say 'biddie biddie bidde'," stuff like that. So he goes through this whole set of instructions right?
Finally she gets to open this present which ends up being a beautiful photo album with pictures that he had professionally taken off their original wedding slides (yes, they're old enough to have used slides) all put into 4x5 slots in the album with their wedding picture on the front. He also had a dvd slideshow made of the photos that played through while their wedding song was played in the background.
My father is 67 and my mom is 58 and they've been married for 30 years. How awesome is that?
Divorce has NEVER once come up, they fight but it's mainly cute old people fighting, and they just seem to be as happy now as they ever have been.
Because they adopted us when they were older than most adoptive families, I never met or remember meeting my grandfathers. My mom's mom is still alive and I see her as much as possible but she's in pretty rough shape. Dad's mom passed away a few years ago. I don't really even remember seeing any pictures of either grandpa except for the small ones my mom has in frames here at our house.
But I looked through the album and saw pictures of my cousins as children (cousins who are now in their 40s) and I finally came to one of a face I knew all too well, a younger face of my Grandma B, dad's mom, my mom in her wedding dress, and there stood Grandpa next to them. It brought a tear to my eye because I always hear stories of grandpa's and their grandkids and how they teach them the ways of the old world and tell them stories on their laps, and I never got that. I never even met him. As a baby, I was able to meet Grandpa S though, but I was only months old and have no recollection of him whatsoever. Kinda sad:(
Alas, the photo album let me look into a side of my family history that I never knew. My parents would every now and then describe their wedding to me when I saw their wedding photo and asked about it, but it was always so hard to imagine. I was able to see my parents on one of the happiest days of their lives together and I was able to see my grandparents, all together.
The Gift Of Love sure is a rare thing these days and when we find it, we need to hold on to it. Maybe in 30 years I'll give my husband a wonderful gift like that or vice versa. It's amazing to think that in 30 years, cell phones will probably be considered a thing of the past and who knows what new technology we will see. But one thing's for sure...the human capacity for LOVE will always be here until the end of the earth and as long as humans inhabit it.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
MERRY CHRISTMAS! (I haven't even slept yet)
So it's 0154 and I've been playing Farm Frenzy Pizza Party for the past I don't know how long. I've gotten into a terrible habit over the past few years of staying up as late as possible just doing nothing in general and then only going to sleep when I'm absolutely exhausted and then the vicious cycle continues.
Hubby has been sleeping for a while and no stores are open so I'm just sitting at my dad's computer messin' around.
It's Christmas morning:)
I'm really thinking that I'm going to grab a pillow and blanket when I eventually do wear myself out, turn out every light in the house, turn on the Christmas Tree lights, and go sleep by the tree like I used to do when I was a kid. I just feel a bit nostalgic this year. My parents have a big tree in the living room, and a smaller one sitting on top of the dining room table so they can fit more of their collected ornaments instead of just keeping them in boxes.
I LOVE our Christmas ornaments. I always (when I was a kid and now when i'm home and able to) help mom put up the ornaments and we have a few very special ones. There's tons of original ceramic Disney ornaments that are a blast to hang up each year, we have 2 wooden baby rattle ornaments that were handmade by a lady from one of our old churches when my parents adopted one of my older brothers (the one that's here right now) and one when I was adopted, and then...there's the plastic pickle. It's just what it sounds like, a little 4 inch plastic pickle. We used to play a game that whoever found the pickle in the tree could open up the first present or would get to hand presents out. Needless to say, I'd scope out the pickle during the night and always be the first one:)
I always used to be a little present snooper too. I'd carefully untape boxes or peek through the tissue paper to see if I could get a glimpse of what was inside and waiting for me lol!
See what I mean about nostalgia?
Orrrrr...my brother (again, the same one who's here at the house right now too) and I would wake up at 0200, turn on A Christmas Story (yeah, you know the one. the one that loops 24 hrs a day every Christmas), line up our presents, and fall asleep on the couches.
I was telling my husband on the way here that I miss asking for toys and games and stuffed animals. I thought of this when I realized the first thing that came to my mind when my mom asked what I wanted for Christmas was quite literally, "kitchen stuff". I asked for things like mixing bowls, cook books, pans, etc, anything for the kitchen. When did I get so boring?
No really, when did we all grow up? I'm 22 almost 23, haven't graduated college, and am now asking for kitchen stuff...
What did you ask for/get this year?
Alright, well I think it's time for me to go curl up out by the tree. Goodnight/Good Morning, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HAPPY FESTIVUS, HAPPY KWANZAA, and all those wonderful things:)
Hubby has been sleeping for a while and no stores are open so I'm just sitting at my dad's computer messin' around.
It's Christmas morning:)
I'm really thinking that I'm going to grab a pillow and blanket when I eventually do wear myself out, turn out every light in the house, turn on the Christmas Tree lights, and go sleep by the tree like I used to do when I was a kid. I just feel a bit nostalgic this year. My parents have a big tree in the living room, and a smaller one sitting on top of the dining room table so they can fit more of their collected ornaments instead of just keeping them in boxes.
I LOVE our Christmas ornaments. I always (when I was a kid and now when i'm home and able to) help mom put up the ornaments and we have a few very special ones. There's tons of original ceramic Disney ornaments that are a blast to hang up each year, we have 2 wooden baby rattle ornaments that were handmade by a lady from one of our old churches when my parents adopted one of my older brothers (the one that's here right now) and one when I was adopted, and then...there's the plastic pickle. It's just what it sounds like, a little 4 inch plastic pickle. We used to play a game that whoever found the pickle in the tree could open up the first present or would get to hand presents out. Needless to say, I'd scope out the pickle during the night and always be the first one:)
I always used to be a little present snooper too. I'd carefully untape boxes or peek through the tissue paper to see if I could get a glimpse of what was inside and waiting for me lol!
See what I mean about nostalgia?
Orrrrr...my brother (again, the same one who's here at the house right now too) and I would wake up at 0200, turn on A Christmas Story (yeah, you know the one. the one that loops 24 hrs a day every Christmas), line up our presents, and fall asleep on the couches.
I was telling my husband on the way here that I miss asking for toys and games and stuffed animals. I thought of this when I realized the first thing that came to my mind when my mom asked what I wanted for Christmas was quite literally, "kitchen stuff". I asked for things like mixing bowls, cook books, pans, etc, anything for the kitchen. When did I get so boring?
No really, when did we all grow up? I'm 22 almost 23, haven't graduated college, and am now asking for kitchen stuff...
What did you ask for/get this year?
Alright, well I think it's time for me to go curl up out by the tree. Goodnight/Good Morning, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HAPPY FESTIVUS, HAPPY KWANZAA, and all those wonderful things:)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas to everyone!
Will have another blog post later today with pics and whatnot:)
Will have another blog post later today with pics and whatnot:)
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry CHRISTMAS Eve
Merry Christmas Eve to everyone!
I had such a great time, regardless of short amount of time, spending a day with my sister in law and nephew, her fiancee and his adorable girls. Kind of reminded me what Christmas is supposed to be about and with the amount of seemingly terrible news I've been getting lately, I needed this bit of spiritual pick me up:)
We are now on the road again. We were able to get some rest yesterday after we got to my sister's house and slept really well. I heard little voices and footsteps so I woke up and the kiddos were all wide eyed and bushy tailed oogling their presents from Santa under the tree. I woke my husband up while crawling over him to get out of bed and he got out of bed and went out and sat on the couch and waited with me for the mayhem to commence:)
Let's just make this short and say that Christmas at my sister in law's house really reminded me of what Christmas is about. It's a time to forget anything bad and negative in the world and just reflect on what you have and WHO you have in your life.
We arrived in Michigan a little bit after 1900 and showed up at the Christmas Eve service at my dad's church. We were a little late so we tried to sneak in but he saw us come through the door and smiled and almost started crying, which of course made me tear up a little bit.
Mom was reading the scripture and there was a good 50 minutes or so left in the program. Allllll my favorite church folk were there and this amazing man Cal, invited 20 people and 18 of them came. He does such amazing community outreach and what appeals to me is his dedication to the military and our nation's veterans. He's spoken in front of congress, traveled overseas, led rallies, you name it, and this man has done it.
The church service finally ended and my mama came down off the stage and gave us hugs and then I worked my way up through the people talking to dad and gave him the biggest hug I could. It was a great feeling being able to surprise him on Christmas Eve. I'm almost on the verge of tears just replaying the moment in my head.
My favorite older brother is here also. It's amazing that in High School, we never got along and now, we take advantage of when we see each other because it's very rare that it happens. His girlfriend (hopefully sometime in the near future, fiancee) is spending Christmas with her family so we won't get to see her while we are here or their awesome american bulldog, Capone.
Hmm...well, seeing as how it's almost midnight, I should get some sleep but I'm just too excited to be home. I love the Christmas tree, the backyard, the weirdly shaped driveway, the kitchen, I just love being here. Makes you really believe that home is where the heart is.
ahhh...*dreamy sigh*
Goodnight world, and Merry Christmas Eve to ALL :)
I had such a great time, regardless of short amount of time, spending a day with my sister in law and nephew, her fiancee and his adorable girls. Kind of reminded me what Christmas is supposed to be about and with the amount of seemingly terrible news I've been getting lately, I needed this bit of spiritual pick me up:)
We are now on the road again. We were able to get some rest yesterday after we got to my sister's house and slept really well. I heard little voices and footsteps so I woke up and the kiddos were all wide eyed and bushy tailed oogling their presents from Santa under the tree. I woke my husband up while crawling over him to get out of bed and he got out of bed and went out and sat on the couch and waited with me for the mayhem to commence:)
Let's just make this short and say that Christmas at my sister in law's house really reminded me of what Christmas is about. It's a time to forget anything bad and negative in the world and just reflect on what you have and WHO you have in your life.
We arrived in Michigan a little bit after 1900 and showed up at the Christmas Eve service at my dad's church. We were a little late so we tried to sneak in but he saw us come through the door and smiled and almost started crying, which of course made me tear up a little bit.
Mom was reading the scripture and there was a good 50 minutes or so left in the program. Allllll my favorite church folk were there and this amazing man Cal, invited 20 people and 18 of them came. He does such amazing community outreach and what appeals to me is his dedication to the military and our nation's veterans. He's spoken in front of congress, traveled overseas, led rallies, you name it, and this man has done it.
The church service finally ended and my mama came down off the stage and gave us hugs and then I worked my way up through the people talking to dad and gave him the biggest hug I could. It was a great feeling being able to surprise him on Christmas Eve. I'm almost on the verge of tears just replaying the moment in my head.
My favorite older brother is here also. It's amazing that in High School, we never got along and now, we take advantage of when we see each other because it's very rare that it happens. His girlfriend (hopefully sometime in the near future, fiancee) is spending Christmas with her family so we won't get to see her while we are here or their awesome american bulldog, Capone.
Hmm...well, seeing as how it's almost midnight, I should get some sleep but I'm just too excited to be home. I love the Christmas tree, the backyard, the weirdly shaped driveway, the kitchen, I just love being here. Makes you really believe that home is where the heart is.
ahhh...*dreamy sigh*
Goodnight world, and Merry Christmas Eve to ALL :)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Surprise!
So a few days ago I was complaining about not getting a christmas tree and that sort of planted the idea in my head to try and convince my husband into surprising our families with a spontaneous visit to see them over the next few days. Surprisingly it only took a few minutes of convincing and we came up with a route.
We cleaned the house, got some laundry done, packed up and left a couple days later. We left upstate NY around 1530 and drove straight through. Finally we arrived in WI on my sister in law's front porch around 0900.
We kind of planned everything with her fiancee and he had told her that she was going to have to take work off on Thursday. She asked why and alls he said was that there were two things, ones big and ones little and ones white and the others a golden brown
Sister: can I sit on it?
Fiancee: well...I guess you could...
Sister: is it something I can keep inside?
Fiancee: yeah...but I mean, you could keep it outside too. well how about this, what's the one thing you'd least expect?
Sister: my little brother and rebekah on my front porch
Fiancee: ha! I'm not that good, I can't pull that one off.
Sister: damnit, what is it?
So I txtd her fiancee around 0645 and let him know that we were about 2 hours away and I guess he told her to wake up and get dressed.
Finally we got here and my husband's sister must have been looking out the window because she came outside with tears in her eyes:)
I guess my opinion on the holidays is definitely changing.
Even though we are only here for the rest of the night and we drove 16 hours, it was well worth it. Obviously the military lifestyle doesn't allow us to travel much and we don't make it to Wisconsin even remotely close to as much as we'd like to, which makes the short day we've had TOTALLY worth it.
Got to go out for breakfast with my sister in law and nephew, relax at the house, give my sister in law her baby gifts (she's expecting a little girl in March!), go out for pizza with her and her fiancee, her son, his 3 kids. It's just been nice to be able to forget about the past few days of terrible news and stress.
Alright, well I'm writing this on my Moto Droid and my fingers are starting to hurt so I'll stop for now and update from the road tomorrow.
Goodnight and Merry CHRISTMAS
Oh and ps: anyone else amazed by the fact that Christmas is almost here and 2011 is already juuuuust around the corner? :/
We cleaned the house, got some laundry done, packed up and left a couple days later. We left upstate NY around 1530 and drove straight through. Finally we arrived in WI on my sister in law's front porch around 0900.
We kind of planned everything with her fiancee and he had told her that she was going to have to take work off on Thursday. She asked why and alls he said was that there were two things, ones big and ones little and ones white and the others a golden brown
Sister: can I sit on it?
Fiancee: well...I guess you could...
Sister: is it something I can keep inside?
Fiancee: yeah...but I mean, you could keep it outside too. well how about this, what's the one thing you'd least expect?
Sister: my little brother and rebekah on my front porch
Fiancee: ha! I'm not that good, I can't pull that one off.
Sister: damnit, what is it?
So I txtd her fiancee around 0645 and let him know that we were about 2 hours away and I guess he told her to wake up and get dressed.
Finally we got here and my husband's sister must have been looking out the window because she came outside with tears in her eyes:)
I guess my opinion on the holidays is definitely changing.
Even though we are only here for the rest of the night and we drove 16 hours, it was well worth it. Obviously the military lifestyle doesn't allow us to travel much and we don't make it to Wisconsin even remotely close to as much as we'd like to, which makes the short day we've had TOTALLY worth it.
Got to go out for breakfast with my sister in law and nephew, relax at the house, give my sister in law her baby gifts (she's expecting a little girl in March!), go out for pizza with her and her fiancee, her son, his 3 kids. It's just been nice to be able to forget about the past few days of terrible news and stress.
Alright, well I'm writing this on my Moto Droid and my fingers are starting to hurt so I'll stop for now and update from the road tomorrow.
Goodnight and Merry CHRISTMAS
Oh and ps: anyone else amazed by the fact that Christmas is almost here and 2011 is already juuuuust around the corner? :/
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Bad, Very Very Bad.
Judging from the title alone, if you read my last post, you should now know that the reason my doctor called me personally was because my test results were bad.
Basically, they've found precancerous cells and don't know their significance but I have to go in for a colposcopy and possibly biopsy.
Dear Doc, you ruined my holidays. Thank you, you suck. Hope your Christmas dinner burns. Sincerely, Me.
Look I understand that my doc's intent was not to ruin my holidays but I can't help but blame the bearer of bad news. I just can't get a break in life. Just when things seem to be going ok, something potentially life changing for the worse happens.
I hate the holidays this year...
Prayers please for courage, patience, and peace of mind, both for myself and all those in the world this CHRISTMAS season and all year round who are facing difficult times.
Basically, they've found precancerous cells and don't know their significance but I have to go in for a colposcopy and possibly biopsy.
Dear Doc, you ruined my holidays. Thank you, you suck. Hope your Christmas dinner burns. Sincerely, Me.
Look I understand that my doc's intent was not to ruin my holidays but I can't help but blame the bearer of bad news. I just can't get a break in life. Just when things seem to be going ok, something potentially life changing for the worse happens.
I hate the holidays this year...
Prayers please for courage, patience, and peace of mind, both for myself and all those in the world this CHRISTMAS season and all year round who are facing difficult times.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Good News Or Bad News?
So without going into too much detail, lately I've had to see a doctor for a few concerns and some issues I've been having. Nothing life threatening, but some things that could become serious down the road if not taken care of now.
Anyway, today my husband and I went down to Syracuse to see Tron in 3D and right as the movie is starting, I notice that the screen on my phone is lit up which means 1 of 3 things; a. new email b. new text or c. missed call/voicemail.
The caller ID said Unknown and immediately my hearts leaps into my throat. The only phone calls that I've ever gotten from a number listed as Unknown have been my primary care manager at the on post clinic.
As soon as the ending credits start rolling, I dial into my voicemail and to my surprise...
It's the doctor, personally...which I would like to point out that ever since I've been an Army Wife, I have never once had a PCM call me personally, it's always been a nurse. Heck, never in my entire life have I had a doctor personally call me, for ANY reason.
The message says, and I quote, "Hi, this is Dr. O, I'm trying to reach (name). Please call me at (phone number, then repeats phone number), it's nothing to fret about but it is very important."
What the heck does that mean? Nothing to fret about but important?
About a month ago I had a full set of bloodwork done checking everything from cholesterol to thyroid and liver function, hormones, etc. etc. I also had a couple of ultrasounds done.
I had a followup after the results came in and everything for the most part was normal. He was a little concerned with 2 things but said it most likely was just something we'd have to keep an eye on. Ok, not much of a big deal right?
Well, before leaving that day he sent me over to the labaratory and had me have blood drawn to check my liver function and i also had to set up an appointment for an ultrasound of my liver in the radiology department and an OB/GYN appt at an off post clinic in January.
Alright first, let me be VERY clear. I am NOT pregnant, although with the talk of ultrasounds and OB/GYN appts I could see where you would get that idea.
Anyway, I'm wondering if he's calling me about my liver function results or to discuss one of the ultrasound results (only one was available when I went in for my followup) or my pap results (which for whatever reason are STILL not available, unless that's what he was calling for). But then again, like i said, he has NEVER called me for anything personally, it's always been a nurse.
And yeah yeah yeah I get that he said, "it's nothing to fret about but it is very important." so what the heck could that possibly mean. My doctor is amazing and is so reassuring about everything so OF COURSE he's going to say it's nothing to fret about.
I tried calling back but the office was closed so I am getting up right when they open and calling back as soon as possible to figure out what the message was for.
Prayers please, and thank you.
Anyway, today my husband and I went down to Syracuse to see Tron in 3D and right as the movie is starting, I notice that the screen on my phone is lit up which means 1 of 3 things; a. new email b. new text or c. missed call/voicemail.
The caller ID said Unknown and immediately my hearts leaps into my throat. The only phone calls that I've ever gotten from a number listed as Unknown have been my primary care manager at the on post clinic.
As soon as the ending credits start rolling, I dial into my voicemail and to my surprise...
It's the doctor, personally...which I would like to point out that ever since I've been an Army Wife, I have never once had a PCM call me personally, it's always been a nurse. Heck, never in my entire life have I had a doctor personally call me, for ANY reason.
The message says, and I quote, "Hi, this is Dr. O, I'm trying to reach (name). Please call me at (phone number, then repeats phone number), it's nothing to fret about but it is very important."
What the heck does that mean? Nothing to fret about but important?
About a month ago I had a full set of bloodwork done checking everything from cholesterol to thyroid and liver function, hormones, etc. etc. I also had a couple of ultrasounds done.
I had a followup after the results came in and everything for the most part was normal. He was a little concerned with 2 things but said it most likely was just something we'd have to keep an eye on. Ok, not much of a big deal right?
Well, before leaving that day he sent me over to the labaratory and had me have blood drawn to check my liver function and i also had to set up an appointment for an ultrasound of my liver in the radiology department and an OB/GYN appt at an off post clinic in January.
Alright first, let me be VERY clear. I am NOT pregnant, although with the talk of ultrasounds and OB/GYN appts I could see where you would get that idea.
Anyway, I'm wondering if he's calling me about my liver function results or to discuss one of the ultrasound results (only one was available when I went in for my followup) or my pap results (which for whatever reason are STILL not available, unless that's what he was calling for). But then again, like i said, he has NEVER called me for anything personally, it's always been a nurse.
And yeah yeah yeah I get that he said, "it's nothing to fret about but it is very important." so what the heck could that possibly mean. My doctor is amazing and is so reassuring about everything so OF COURSE he's going to say it's nothing to fret about.
I tried calling back but the office was closed so I am getting up right when they open and calling back as soon as possible to figure out what the message was for.
Prayers please, and thank you.
Merry Christmas VS. Happy Holidays
Let's talk turkey for a minute folks...
And I would say that I apologize ahead of time if the following post offends anyone, but it's my honest opinion so why should I apologize for thinking on my own?
I don't get the whole Merry Christmas VS. Happy Holidays battle.
"Oh, well Christmas has the word 'CHRIST' in it and if you say it, it offends me because it makes me feel like I have to believe in Christ. You're infringing on my right to believe in whatever religion I want."
Hold up...STOP...WHAT?????
My response to people that like to bring that up:
"Sooo...your translation of me saying a simple 'Merry Christmas' is me shoving your head into a wall and telling you that you have to believe in Christ? I'm sorry but can you draw me out a map showing me how you got from point A to point B?"
Really, people????? It's kind of along the lines of the battle to remove "In God We Trust" from money. I missed the part where a dollar bill could force you to believe in God...
I just don't buy the argument that you feel that a dollar bill that I may drop on the ground in front of you in a snowy, wet, slushy walmart parking lot could offend you.
...I totally get that you may not believe in Christ, but puh-leeeeeeeeeeease, don't try to tell me that my dollar bills and coins are trying to make you believe.
please and thank you
And I would say that I apologize ahead of time if the following post offends anyone, but it's my honest opinion so why should I apologize for thinking on my own?
I don't get the whole Merry Christmas VS. Happy Holidays battle.
"Oh, well Christmas has the word 'CHRIST' in it and if you say it, it offends me because it makes me feel like I have to believe in Christ. You're infringing on my right to believe in whatever religion I want."
Hold up...STOP...WHAT?????
My response to people that like to bring that up:
"Sooo...your translation of me saying a simple 'Merry Christmas' is me shoving your head into a wall and telling you that you have to believe in Christ? I'm sorry but can you draw me out a map showing me how you got from point A to point B?"
Really, people????? It's kind of along the lines of the battle to remove "In God We Trust" from money. I missed the part where a dollar bill could force you to believe in God...
I just don't buy the argument that you feel that a dollar bill that I may drop on the ground in front of you in a snowy, wet, slushy walmart parking lot could offend you.
...I totally get that you may not believe in Christ, but puh-leeeeeeeeeeease, don't try to tell me that my dollar bills and coins are trying to make you believe.
please and thank you
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