Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Where was I?

My mind has been pre-occupied with J.  I got letters that he's had a few rough days at basic, pray for him please.  He's an incredibly strong man, and he'll be just fine, I just hate not being able to be there for my best friend.  I want to fix it for him, and it sucks to not be able to.  I know the man he'll become after basic will be astonishing

Four books?  Oh geez.  I'm not really a reader, used to be, but not a whole lot now.  Hrm


1.  Definitely LOVE Lisa Gardner...I've read everything she's written so far and anxiously await her next book!!  J loves reading them too, so that makes reading them even better. 
2. Wendy Holden  is growing on me.  I've read 2 books and wouldn't mind reading more.
3. Mary Janice Davidson, while I'm not a fan of vampires and the undead in general...I have to say I loved the Undead series and need to catch back up with the new releases.
4. My all time favorite book, I think I read it at least 10 times through junior high/high school, The Outsiders.  Seriously.  Loved that book.  I tried to read more by S E Hinton, but never really got into them like The Outsiders.

I'm no book worm, but I do enjoy a few books...just really picky about what I do read.  I do NOT like sci-fi or fantasy.  Never have.  

Monday, August 8, 2011

Yum!




Turkey Burger, yumtastic
  
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 Grilled Green Beans...100 times better than french fries!
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 Chicken nugget spaghetti...a concoction my mother came up with, J's favorite!  I don't have a pic of the food, just J sauteing the chicken.  We now prefer to just oven bake the nuggets...but always hand make the nuggets!!  
I adore this man! 
 "Fuzzy little beans" as J calls them
Edamame, YUM!
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And the least healthy:
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Sunday, August 7, 2011

Six Places

In no particular order:


New York City
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But only once, too many people...remember, I don't like people much.  lol

Australia!
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Hawaii!
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Ireland!
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 And, a little closer to home, I'd love to go back to Walls of Jericho it's a beautiful hike...but not for the beginning hiker, 6 miles total, the 3 mile hike back out is straight uphill. I'll have to remember to tell the tale of Ashley and I hiking Jericho.  
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The 3 mile hike in, and 3 back out was SO worth it to see this.  Only, we went in mid-July so it was hot as blue blazes (whatever that means), and the water was ICE cold...awesome!

And, since
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and my heart is with this amazing man:

Forgot to post yesterday, so I'm going to try to trick you

yeah, I forgot to post yesterday, I was busy at work doing things for me.  Yeah, I have that job.  I have enough free time to do things for myself if we aren't crazy busy.  And for once on a Saturday, we weren't so busy that I couldn't get some things done.  I had decided to get a 3-ring binder and keep our bills organized in there with dividers and a calendar just for bills.  Yeah, I enjoy that kind of thing, I'm a little nuts. 
I also got on Walgreens.com and was able to get a few collages made to send to J.  I figured it would be easier on him to have a few 4x6s with several pictures on them than several individual pics.  Here's one:
Of course I made 2 of me, but who other than him wants to see 2 collage pics of me?  lol

So, on to my trickery.  I'm going to post yesterday's 10 Days You challenge, and then in another post, today's.  You'll never notice the Tom Foolery, right?  lol

Today might be difficult, I don't know 7 things I want?  I know one right now!  lol


1.  This one definitely is the first on my want list: a call from my husband!  I'm not even going to say I want to see him, because I know when I'll see him (so long as nothing happens to mess up his 36 hour pass in September).  I don't, however, know when I'll get a phone call.  Those are earned privileges and we aren't told when we'll get called. 

2.  Who doesn't want enough money to pay off all of their debt?  That's certainly on the list of wants

3.  A new purse.  But, I don't know what kind, don't see any in the new selections that I want.  I usually buy myself a new purse every year for my birthday...but with J leaving around that time, I just haven't.  Nor do I find myself caring.  Be right back, going to go purse shopping online, let's see what I come up with...
Um...so far ugly.  I don't want to carry half a cow on my arm, I'm not a mom, don't need something the size of a diaper bag.  And I don't want some animal print, namely zebra or leopard, on my shoulder.  I'm not trying to blend in to a safari...brb, more shopping...
Ok, this one, in Black, not Cornbread
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Ok, more looking, I've found that one option out of 3 pages so far.  And what's up with black and white giraffe print?  I've never seen a black and white giraffe?  Is there some sort of zebra/giraffe hybrid I didn't know about?  lol  No offense to anyone who likes zebraffes
Ok, I give up.  7 pages on overstock and I found one.  And who in their right mind pays $1,849 for one purse?  Holy crap!
Either I'm too picky, or the current purse fashion is just ugly...I refuse to accept the first and will go with the latter.  
What was I doing?  Oh yeah, wants.  What number was I on?  

4. To know how to extreme coupon!  That would be fabulous!  So far I can only save about $30 on a grocery trip.   But, I don't want it to take up half of my day or anything like the ladies on that TV show

5.  To find a church I like and wouldn't mind getting up earlier than usual on Sundays to go to. 

6.  A new bedroom suite!!





but it doesn't have a price, dang it...or this one:
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This one looks super cool!
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Ok, enough of that...
time to think of the last want...

7. I won't go on my political rant, but I want this nation fixed.  "Hope" and "Yes we can" just aint cutting it pal. 

Friday, August 5, 2011

Easier than anticipated

Last night was a great night.  I found a picture of J on his BCT company's facebook page.  He's lost some weight, not that he had any to lose to begin with!  But, it was J, no doubt about it.  It made my week!! 
Knowing that he's doing well, succeeding, and has God's hand on him makes me happy. 

On to Day 8 in 10 Days of You

In general I don't go around thinking that I have fears...but here goes, I'll think hard:  In no particular order


  1. Being involved in a car wreck.  I had accidents when I was a teenager, but to me there is a difference in an accident and a wreck.  Accident, no one's hurt, minimal damage to the cars.  Wreck, injuries, severe damage to the cars.  I'm afraid of being in a wreck.
2. Outside dark.  Not the dark, itself.  But, the things you can't see in the dark.   My pupils get HUGE to let in light, so of course I see things that aren't there.  Any time I go from the car to the front door in the dark, even with the porch light on, I have my house keys ready and my phone in hand.  Ready to scream.  I don't dawdle, right in the house for me.  J thinks it's hilarious.  I am just fine in the dark of my own home, it's just the outside dark.

3.  Gaining weight.  Yeah, it's pretty vain/petty/whathaveyou, but it's a fear.  I talked about my weight some in my 10 secrets post

4.  Not making friends when we get PCSd finally, I hear horror stories about military wives and how catty and bitchy they are.  With a husband who deploys, I'll want/need friends who truly understand, who I can go hang out with, have them over, etc.  I don't trust easily, so..

5.  Losing a loved one.  Pretty self explanatory, eh?

6.  Not being able to have a child.  It's something we want.  We aren't material folks, and don't really want much, so to not be able to have something we want...

7.  Opossums...yeah.  Really.  When I was an Animal Services Officer, I got sent to a call because one got caught in a cat trap.  Let me tell you, those things are ugly, frightening, have big teeth, and just flat out scary.  Between a catchpole, baton, and my boot, I got that nasty thing out of there and he scampered off to find a place to hide until dark.  No, I didn't harm him, didn't touch him, I just wasn't getting near him!  I used my boot to kick the back of the trap to encourage him to go!

8.  Tornadoes.  Remember April?  April 27th to be exact?  Enough said. 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

9 loves...not lives

I'm going to keep trucking on the 10 Days of You challenge. 

But, before I do, I have to share that I got another letter from my husband (who's in Basic Training for those of you not in the know)!!  They finally got mail call after 3 weeks of not hearing from their loved ones.  I can only imagine how precious those letters were!  I've been getting letters from him, and mailing letters every day for 2 weeks, since I got the address.  So I know he was overwhelmed with letters, but I'm sure it was a good feeling.  I was so happy to hear read how excited and happy he is.  He said his morale is sky high!  I'm so excited. 

In no particular order....after my first 3!  lol

1. God and Christ.  My faith has gotten me through so much.  That's all I feel I need to say about that.

2. My wonderful husband, J (as y'all in blog world know him).  He's shown me a side of myself I had forgotten, a side I didn't know was there, and just strengthened other sides of me.  One word sums him up well, amazing.  He is my biggest supporter, and I am his.  He's making sacrifices for us and for our future, and he's excelling...just like I knew he would!  I'm excited for our life and the path God is taking us down.  I thank God every day for blessing me with him.

3. Sullivan...a.k.a. Sully, Sullyman, Sullydog, dogdog, big man, you get the point.  He turned 8 last month and has been with me through the roughest points of my life, and the best parts of my life.  He love love loves his Daddy, and misses him.  Best part is, his Daddy love love loves him!

4.  My family, on both sides.  Meaning mine and J's.  They are our supporters and cheerleaders and it's great.  

5. My friends.  I can't name all of you, but you know who you are.  If you have to question if you belong on this list, then you must not.  lol.  Sorry, that's the truth.  I may not spend much time talking or texting, but you know I love you.  

6.  My job...yeah, odd, I know. And while I have my complaints, I wouldn't work in another field.  And, most days I wouldn't trade my department, believe it or not.  I love law enforcement.

7.  Coffee...house coffee.  I'm not fancy, bring me any ol' coffee, black with sugar!  Yum.  Loves!  Really, I should just say caffeine, I love Pepsi Max and Coke Zero as much as coffee...

8. The internet: damn you autocorrect, LOL cats, cake wrecks, postsecret, FML, of course blogger!  And I'm sure there's more that I look at, but that's all that my tired brain can think of right this second!

9. Our car, it's my favorite vehicle I've ever had, other than the payment.  Because I know J doesn't like for me to put much identifying info on here, I'll leave it at that.  I will tell you, we named her...Zoomie.  However, we do have arguments over whether or not she is a she or a he...I say she.  Ships are she's, aren't all cars?  lol

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Finding my own routine

Hi folks, sorry I'm not writing as much.  I'm working on finding my own routine with my husband gone to BCT.  Friday starts week 3, so this coming Monday makes 4 weeks since he's been gone.  I spend time with J's sister-in-law and niece, grandmother, and aunt every day.  I spend time with his parents when they're not working, which is usually when I am!  Sullivan misses his daddy, thankfully the heartbreaking search for Daddy every few minutes has stopped.  It broke my heart to watch him sniff around the house looking for J!! 
Found out the date that I get to see him on his 36 hour pass, less than 60 days, so I'm beyond excited.  I got a great letter from him today, he's in great spirits...missing me and the family of course, and building his relationship with God.  It's amazing. 

I have started following a new blog, I'm such a blog junkie, and she posted this 10 Days of You...so I'm going to jump on that bandwagon and hopefully get back to writing.  I need the release! 







So, here goes nothing:

10. I'm kind of an oxymoron.  I am outgoing and love people, but at the same time I thrive on my time alone with myself, quiet, with time to think.  I must have my time to myself.  I hate, repeat, hate crowds.  Especially inside a building, add alcohol to that equation and I'm out.  Don't get offended when I politely decline your invite out to party.  Won't happen

9. I used to weigh 215 pounds: I quit smoking (almost 6 year addiction), and hit the gym hard core.  I taught myself what I needed to know, because who can afford personal trainers?  I dropped 30ish pounds the first year and over the next 2 years I dropped almost an additional 20.  Too bad I've gained back 15 or so pounds!  lol  I'm working on getting them off before J is done with BCT!

8. I always wanted to be a gymnast, I took gymnastics as a child, but nothing serious.  Just learned to roll and jump on a trampoline, I think I was 3?  Then, when I realized how awesome and amazing gymnastics is, I was too old to be as serious and dedicated as I wanted to be...I wanted Olympic status.  Yeah, I dream big.  Then, I realized I was far too tall!  I haven't really grown since about 12 or 13 years old.  So, I was a tall kid at almost 5'8!  So I was far too tall!

7. I love my job, it's stressful, but it's a good stress that I handle well.  The first job I can remember wanting to do as a child, was about 5 years old, and I wanted to be a garbage truck driver (my brother was going to be the guy that rides on the back, lol).  Then I wanted to be a marine biologist, for the longest time.  Then I found out that likely I would be cleaning Shamu's pool for minimal pay...that squashed that dream.  Next, I decided I wanted to be an interior designer.  Then life happened and I got into law enforcement and there I've pretty much sat since the ripe age of 20!  

6.  I had over 40 reptiles in my home at one time...and God only knows how many fish.  I love love love cichlids, and let's face it, I obviously love snakes and lizards if I had over 40 of them at once.  My two favorites in the entire world were Sally and Harry, Brazilian Rainbow Boas.  I will have another one day!!  
How do you not love the prism that comes off of their scales when UV light hits them?

Gorgeous, love them!

5.  I only want to be pregnant once.  I've told God that if he intends on me having 5 kids, they better all be in there at once!  lol.  Yeah, I know you don't tell God things.  I also know that God will bless us when he wants and when that time comes, we'll know how many we want.  

4.  I'm blunt.  Just plain and simple.  I'm blunt.  If you don't want my opinion, don't ask me.  I will tell you.  I was raised that way.  If you ask a question, be ready for the answer.  I don't sugar coat.  I have, and will, attempt to avoid the answer, but if you keep asking or keep going, I'll just tell you how it is.  I'll hedge around the answer once, then BAM, you get it.  The God's honest truth!

3.  My first car was a 1983 Cutlass Supreme, I named her Hoopty.  Hoopty was faithful and committed to our relationship even though I wasn't.   I was embarrassed of Hoopty, even though she was in fabulous condition.  It wasn't her fault that everyone else in my class drove new vehicles.  Hoopty had a V8, thank goodness gas was 90 cents a gallon when I started driving.  Yup, I just dated myself!  lol  Hoopty took me from 15 years old-18/19 years old.  Hoopty went into ditches, jumped curbs, hydroplaned, took out a light pole while dragging down another...but what did poor Hoopty in, a lady hit her.  And it wasn't your ordinary accident.  The cops were directing traffic, and she still hit me.  Yup.  No better witness to an accident than the Po-lice.  She did enough damage to the chrome of the car and the chrome (factory, not ghetto) rims, that the insurance company totaled Hoopty out.  What's Daddy replace her with?  A 1986 Cutlass Salon of course!  Not nearly as fabulous as Hoopty.  The 86 became Janky and wasn't nearly as faithful or committed as Hoopty.  RIP  Hoopty.  You and your lack of car payment are greatly missed...your gas addiction, however, not missed in the time of $3.50/gallon gas.

2.  I am really conservative in my political views.  I don't push them on people, nor will I argue with folks about it.  You live your life, I'll live mine.  I may not agree with you on things, but I'll never tell you you can't do them because I don't want you to tell me I can't do whatever it is I do.  Free will folks.


1.  I am a proud Army wife, proudly supporting my husband.  He is my very best friend, my soulmate, my true love.  He wrote me, telling me that he's hearing alot of people talk negatively about marriage in the military.  I have alot to say about that, but I'll just say this:  they aren't in our marriage, we know what we have and what we will make it through.  Most people don't find love like we have, nor are they as strong as we are.  

There, took me forever, but I got 10!  

Hope all is well!!