Sara & Rigel

Helping Santa

2011-12-18T11:03:00.001-07:00

Thursday night a huge box was dropped at our door. It was a 'Cookin' Kitchen' for a neighbor down the road. I called the number on the label and we got the box to the right apartment.

When I return inside, Joe says his package which was scheduled to be delivered that night shows that it's been delivered. Joe gets pissed. This isn't the first time FedEx has screwed up our delivery. He calls the customer service number. There's very little the poor guy on the phone can do. The next day Joe gets a call from a supervisor about making the delivery guy hunt down the package.

So, ready for the happy ending? Just like we helped get the Christmas present to the right address, Joe's package was dropped off by a fellow Soldier on Friday night. I was so hoping it would be returned to us. It restored my hope in humanity, at least for a little while.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Daydreamer

2011-12-17T20:44:00.001-07:00

Christmas has arrived!!!

2011-12-11T21:11:00.001-07:00

The tradition in my family is to wait to put up decorations until after my brother's birthday, which was yesterday. So today Joe dug out the tree, ornaments and wreath. It's so exciting to have it up. We only use it every two years, when we aren't in the middle of a PCS move or when Joe isn't deployed.

Bum

2011-11-23T06:34:00.003-07:00

So on my way to school last evening, I was at a stop light when some ratty (presumably) drunk homeless bum stood up from his bus bench and stomped to the end of the sidewalk directly next to my car and started screaming while flipping me off... "Fuck you, you bitch! Do you hear me? Fuck YOU!"

So what do I do? Absolutely nothing, of course. I checked my locks and just stared at this man. The pickup truck behind me layed on his horn, even though we were at a red light. I assume he wanted the bum to leave me alone.

What did I want to do? I wanted to pull over and call the cops to report this drunk homeless bum harrassing cars passing by. But I have no idea if the police would care or do anything.

Do you think the cops would have cared? What would you have done?

Traitor Puppy

2011-09-30T06:24:00.004-06:00

So Rigel is still in bed with Joe this morning. Joe rolled into town from MO at about 11pm last night. It was interesting to see what Rigel would do. We call him the Alert Puppy because he's hyper sensitive to any noise, as I suspect most yorkies are. Rigel and I had gone to bed at 9pm to get some sleep before Joe woke me up in the middle of the night. Rigel was up barking before Joe was even in the house. This is pretty good to know. We've never had any intruder situation, but it's good to know he would wake me up in time to shoot them (ha!).

It's awesome to see how much Rigel missed and loves Joe. He slept next to him last night. And wanted to lay right on him. But with the exception of his potty break this morning, Rigel has been on that bed with Joe. Also, Rigel is the laziest boy ever and loves to lay in bed.

Puppy Trot

2011-09-26T21:13:00.001-06:00

Why do dogs wall with their hind ends slightly to the side?

Rigel doesn't do it all the time, bit sometimes his rear is just slightly to the right. We had a husky when we were younger. This dog ran basically sideways.

Any scientific reason I don't know about? I just figure his back paws were too excited to get somewhere.

Yogurt Maker??

2011-09-18T11:35:00.003-06:00

I'll spare you the whole long story about talking to my mom. But basically it all came down to the junk our government is putting into our food. There was a girl in Japan who started her perod at THREE YEARS OLD because of the hormones in their food. My mother has a farm with chickens and will be getting goats soon. And I'm looking at starting a family soon. And researching what's best for baby. I fully intend on making my own baby food. My aunt made her own, it's not hard at all. And now there are machines out there that will be a big help.

But with the arrival of my mother's goats, I will have the ability to make my own yogurt and cheese for my children. My mom bought this for me today so I could get to practicing. I love yogurt and will enjoy making my own. There are different recipes and different ways to make yogurt, but it's basically chemistry when you get right down to is. I am so excited to get this in the mail!! Just wanted to share! http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/automatic-yogurt-maker/?pkey=e%7Cyogurt%7C3%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCHNoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Featured_Recipe_Rule-_-

Cream Cheese Filled Snickerdoodles

2011-08-20T12:51:00.005-06:00

Yeah, they are as good as you think they will be. Delicious!! A friend on Facebook posted the link to these cookies-

http://cookiesandcups.com/cream-cheese-filled-snickerdoodles/

I saw the recipe and knew I had to make them!! There is A LOT of prep, but the final product is worth it.

These are the instructions with my small variations. You can see the whole ingredient list and all the pretty cookie pictures at her website.

1.Make the cream cheese filling by mixing the cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp vanilla. I used my hand mixer for this. (I didn't use a mixer, just a fork)
2.Cover the cream cheese mixture and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3.Preheat oven to 400°
4.Cream butter and 1 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy.
5.Add eggs and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix until combined.
6.On low speed mix in your flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set dough to the side.
7.In a small bowl combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon, set that aside as well.
8.Remove the cream cheese mixture from the refrigerator.
I did steps 9 and 10 a little differently. I made the first ball with these instructions, but then I changed it up slightly. For each cookie, I made a ball of dough, then smushed the middle down to make a disk shape. Then I put a small amount of the cream cheese mixture in the middle, and closed up the ball, sealing the edges.
9.For each cookie you will need 2 flattened balls of dough, 1 Tbsp each. (The flattened disk will be approx 2″ in diameter)
10.Place 1 tsp of the cream cheese mixture on top of one of the flattened dough disks. Then place the other flattened dough on top of the cream cheese. Pinch the edges together to seal.

11.Carefully form into a ball and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on a plate as you finish making each and refrigerate. Before baking the cookies they should chill for 15 minutes.
12.When the dough is chilled bake on a parchment lined baking sheet 2″ apart for 8 minutes.
13.Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Legacy

2011-08-15T06:05:00.002-06:00

My family is selling my grandpa's house. They close on it today. It's not a normal house. My grandpa was an architect. He designed this huge strange house and built it in Van Buren, Arkansas. It's all concrete and glass. Very Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.

My grandpa died in 1999, leaving my grandma in this huge strange house all by herself. I honestly never thought they would sell it.

But here we are. I haven't been to the house in many many years (due to this military life). But it breaks my heart that I cant go back to it, to visit my grandpa's house.

My grandmother is understandably having a hard time letting go. But as my mother told her, the house isn't Carl's legacy, as she pointed to the youngest grandchild, 17 month old Dara. Carl wouldn't care about the house. It's just a house. It's not the home it once was. Carl would care about his 10 grand kids and their futures. As we do with most architects, we personalize the houses they design, that they put all this effort into. But as my mother said, it's just a house. One design from his 40 years of being an architect. It's not him. And holding on to it wont solve anything. It wont bring Carl back, or bring us any closer to him. It's a sad day for the family. But instead of titling this post sad day, I titled it Legacy. Because that's the big picture I want to remember today. It's not the material possessions that matter. It's family. It's all about family. My grandpa started something BIG that has trickled down to all of us gradkids. I need to live my life to make him proud. I need to be his captain, always.

Movie Review: The Help

2011-08-14T14:08:00.003-06:00

If you've read The Help, you must go see this movie! Here's the website's synopsis:

Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, “The Help” stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed —even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times. Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, “The Help” is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.

If I were you, I would read the book first. But I love to compare books to movies, usually to my disappointment. Everyone knows the only truly good book-to-movie couple, To Kill a Mockingbird. All other book-to-movie couples have to attempt to be that good. My usual problem with going from books to movies is the casting. It's a big annoyance for me. The latest series to do this is Twilight. Amongst other problems, their casting annoyed the crap out of me. I wouldn't have casted half of those people in their films. But no one asked me of course.

But I think they casted The Help excellently. I was kind of apprehensive of Emma Stone being Skeeter, but only minutes into the movie, Emma was Skeeter.

They of course left out a few parts of the book, but nothing too obvious. And it's hard to fit a whole book into a 2 hour movie. All in all, I loved it. Definitely a movie I will be buying.

Giveaway over at Modern Meets Traditional

2011-08-07T20:04:00.006-06:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share a giveaway I found out about over at Modern Meets Traditional. Shanon Renee makes these signs. Arent they awesome? You can read the story and enter the giveaway on her blog HERE.

Choices

2011-07-11T07:28:00.000-06:00

I've had a thought rolling around in my head for a week now. I don't know how to write it down without sounding arrogant and snobby though. But Joe and I saw something yesterday that really spurred this thought. Here it is.

So yesterday, Joe and I went grocery shopping. As we were leaving the parking lot, we saw a man standing at the stop sign, with a cardboard sign, begging for money, with a CIGARETTE in his mouth. Lately, there has been a few people there, a small red-headed woman, a thin man with a sign that says his wife just had a baby and needs money for food. But this guy really set Joe off. Begging for money when he can afford to smoke cigarettes! As some of you know, Joe joined the Army for the paycheck. So he starts his same rant about how if this man was truly desperate, he could join the Army and work for his keep. I know jobs are limited, I have a hard time job searching with a college degree, so I can only imagine how hard it is if you only have a high school diploma or a GED. But as Joe says, McDonalds is always hiring.

So what set this whole thought in motion last week, I was headed to class and drove past a group of men that seemed homeless to me. All their worldly possessions in a shopping cart. Sitting on the side of the road. Just sitting there.

So when I ran this thought by Joe, his response was that many people have worked very hard to get me to where I am now; me, my parents, Joe. My parents raised me to have motivation and lofty goals. They also paid for my undergraduate education. But I did the work. I made good grades and stayed out of trouble. And now I'm paying for graduate school, paycheck to paycheck, and working my ass off on classes 24/7. And Joe is making my dream possible by paying for our life with his Army career.

Many of us can jump to conclusions about people. I know I do, sadly. But have you ever wondered what happened to these people to lead them to that bench, with that shopping cart, with that sign begging for money? Joe had many opinions; convicts that cant get a job, drug addicts that cant keep a job, people that just don't care to better themselves and therefore become the nothingness of society.

My parents have always told me and my brother to make smart choices. There's ALWAYS more than one choice, so I should make sure I decide what's best for *me.* I'm not going to lie, I tried pot in college. I drank before I was 21. I dated a few people before I met Joe. I'm not a saint. But I always made sure I was doing something that would be beneficial for me, or at least not crater my whole existence. I dont know where my life could have took that turn for the worse. No matter what, I cant imagine standing by a Safeway begging for money.

My father quotes the movie Robin Hood, with Kevin Cosner. At one point, Robin Hood is down and he asks Morgan Freeman what to do now. And Morgan responds, "Get up, move faster." That has been the family motto for as long as I can remember. Get up and do something. Nothing gets accomplished by just sitting there, waiting.

A friend brought up a good point though. How much do these beggers collect while they are standing by that stop sign? Minimum wage here in Colorado is $7.36/hr. Do these people collect more than that an hour??

The one where I rant about the neighbor's "chaweenie"

2011-07-09T14:51:00.005-06:00

We got new neighbors a few weeks back. They got a puppy this weekend -- A chaweenie... the husband says in his very Southern drawl.

Of course this is the first red flag (the chaweenie part, not the Southern drawl). Let me tell you the sad saga that is this dog's life.

This chihuahua/dachshund mix is from a place called "Pet City." I have never heard of this local pet store, but apparently they sell dogs. Lovely.

This dog weighs UNDER 1 and a half pounds. At first I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thinking the dog was maybe 7 to 8 weeks old. No. This lady told me this dog is 3 months old! No way. Just not even remotely plausible.

Oh, AND it wont eat food. She said she's tried everything, dry food, wet food, people food, chicken and rice. Tell me what healthy 3 month old dog wont eat chicken and rice! She's currently feeding it puppy formula from an eye dropper. I asked her if she had taken it to a vet yet, since it wouldn't eat and whatnot. Of course not. Her mom "raises" yorkies and told her what steps to take. Of course the dog has "low blood sugar," although I'm not sure how she knows exactly since the dog hasn't seen a vet. And she's feeding the dog nutra-cal like it's going out of style.

Now, let's compare my 4 year old, 6.5lb, papered, well-bred, pure-bred yorkie to that, shall we? When we got Rigel at 8 WEEKS old he was 2lbs. And ate like a little pig! He was all puppy belly.

Anyone with a small puppy knows what nutra-cal is and the dangers of low blood sugar with a small puppy. But Rigel never needed it.

So let's say you have a 3 month old puppy bought from a pet store that is seriously underweight and refuses to eat. Wouldn't you take the thing to the vet???

Am I completely off base here with the size and food thing?? Let me know. My mother in law has two miniature Dachshunds. We saw these dogs as puppies and they weren't this small. And they had hearty appetites too. They were fully grown by the time there were about 7 months old. Rigel was at his current full grown weight at about 6 months.

Thankfully, this pup seems to be full of energy. When I brought Rigel outside on his leash, this puppy, Cooper, bounced right over to us and wanted to sniff my little monster. Cooper wasn't fearful of this 6lb dog sniffing him either. I hope this little one is nursed back to health soon and starts to eat something. Joe thinks the dog is under 4 weeks old to still need puppy formula from an eye dropper. I dug Rigel's baby scrapbook out (yep, that's what I said) to do some comparison. We have pics of him at 2-3 weeks, when they still look like little rats, and 5 and 6 weeks when I went to visit Rigel when he was still with his mom. His baby book says he was weaned at about 4-5 weeks old. This whole situation makes me so sad and angry. I'm glad the puppy is out of the puppy mill, but super annoyed that these neighbors didnt know better. And still wont take him to the vet!

Our little flash mob

2011-07-04T14:24:00.003-06:00

Everyone is talking about these flash mob things. Even my cousin was in one at his university.

I have to share my little flash mob story. A fellow classmate left her purse in the room before class when her cell phone went off. It was the Spider Pig Simpsons song, of course we all knew it! We decided to start singing it when she walked back in. And in unison, we all started...

Spider pig, spider pig, does whatever a spider pig does. Can he swing from a web, no he cant, because he's a pig. Look out!

It was so much fun and make us all laugh pretty hard.

We sing a similar song in our house about a spider dog... : )

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-22T08:41:00.000-06:00

Daddy's Girl

2011-06-19T08:29:00.003-06:00

Just before prom, 2001

When my little brother was born

The day they brought me home from the hospital

I LOVE YOU DADDY!

And it's pink!! ;)

2011-06-18T15:38:00.007-06:00

I've been wanting a netbook for a while now. But last Thursday tipped the scales and I realized I needed a laptop during class. I have a laptop but it's huge and a pain in the ass to haul to class, which I did have to do for a whole 9 weeks for a class that required a computer.

I spend two days researching computers, talking to friends online, my father, and the IT guy at work. I get home Friday and Joe tells me that he'd prefer if I just bought a Sony Vaio. And quite frankly, that was my first choice, but they arent the cheapest netbooks. But they also come with 4GB of memory and the best... um... speed (can you tell I know very little about computers?) But thankfully I know many many people with an opinion and knowledge of most electronics.

Okay, and I know what you're going to say, the same thing Joe did...... it's pink. Yes yes yes. It's pink. But it comes in 2 colors, pink and silver. And I could have the pink one for no extra cost. And I think it's so cute!!

There's a girl in my current class with this netbook. It's a big plus that I've been able to see it in person. It's the perfect size too. Not 10 inches, like most netbooks. And not 14 inches, which is just too big (my current laptop is 15 inches wide anyway). This girl said her husband, a computer guy, picked it out for her, said it was what she needed for class. Like I told my IT guy at work, I'm surfing the net and writing notes in class. I might work on a PowerPoint on it. That's it, I'm not doing espionage. My main thing was battery life. But as Joe said, batteries have powercords, it's memory and speed you need to think about. Just plug the darn thing in. I guess he's right.

I cannot WAIT to get this thing!! It probably wont make it here by the time my next Thursday class rolls around, but that's okay. I'm leading the presentation next Thursday so there wont be much time for notes anyway. And on that note, I need to get working on my presentation. :)

Flirty Girls

2011-06-16T09:14:00.003-06:00

Flirty girls -- my newest pet peeve.

I am 27 years old. Married. And very friendly. Joe says I can make friends in a Wal-Mart pharmacy line. And it's pretty true. I like to talk to people.

But I've met a few ladies recently (and not so recently) that seem to flirty with everyone. And when I give them the look (because they are married, their husband is deployed, the person they are flirting with is married, etc,) they tell me it's just because they are friendly. Well, I whole-heartedly disagree.

My mother has told me since the day I was old enough to understand - Be a person first, be Sara first. Then be everything else, woman, wife, mother (someday). But you have to be a strong individual first to get anywhere in this world. My mother is an architect. There are only 11% women in the field. I've met a couple others. But most people don't know any female architects. My mother walks onto job sites and has to be even better, even more professional, than the male architects to play the male-driven game in the South. I also have an aunt who is a PhD astrophysicist. Same thing. These are the female role models I've had growing up. Smart, strong, independent women.

So the flirty women, the ones that bat their eyelashes at every guy they see, really annoy me. You can have a conversation with a male without flirting with him. You really can. You can be friendly without acting like a middle school child with a crush on every person with male genitalia.

On a related note, I also know some females that believe you have to be a bitch to get your way. Also completely wrong and fairly inappropriate. The very first time I heard someone say this I was in high school and on a job site with my mother. Some female interior decorator said it. My mother turned to me the moment that woman left and told me no one respected her and she was horrible to work with because she was always in some defensive bitch mode. Talk about a good example for a impressionable teen. I currently hear this from female Soldiers. (Yes, I understand I am not and will never be a female Soldier, but I've heard my husband talk about them enough to know a good female Soldier, whom everyone likes and respects, from a bad one, whom no one likes and they all want out of their unit.) The job has to be similar to any other male driven field. You don't get far "acting" like a girl.

So I guess the take home message here is that ~~most women annoy me~~ you can act friendly and professional without being a ho or a bitch. I wish more women understood this.

Play a game with Megan Dub-Yuh! #3

2011-06-07T07:38:00.002-06:00

Let's play again!! Come on guys! Run over to Megan Dub-Yuh right now! Takes just a few minutes to link up!

Megan's question is:
Now that it is swimsuit season and everyone is heading to the pool or the beach do you wear a 1-piece or 2-? What type of SPF do you use?

I've had the same black and white one piece for a few years now. I used to have a green tankini that I just loved, but I think my mom stole it when she got her Jacuzzi.

I haven't been swimming in the day light (just in the jacuzzi at night) in years. I'm not sure I even own any real sun screen, just the usual moisturizer I use daily. But when I liked in AR and went to the lake, I'm sure I used sunscreen. But I'm lucky enough to usually tan, not burn. But here in Colorado, where the sun is SOOOO close, I burn if I'm outside too long.

Evolution

2011-06-03T09:32:00.000-06:00

I thought I had gotten away from the uber religious people when I left Arkansas. For a person like me, growing up in the bible belt wasn't a fun thing. Most religious people don't bother me. You believe what you want. I'll believe what I want. Unless you are a teabagger trying to take away my rights, I just don't care what you believe. When you start to push YOUR religious beliefs on ME, whatever it is, then I will care, loudly.

When I started grad school, I was in many classes where we had some very good debates, I could share my views, and others could too, in a very healthy way. We are all adults. No one picked a fight. No one acted offended. It was very refreshing for this Southern girl. Psychology is a science. And one of my favorite things about science is that there are very specific ways things have to be proven, over and over, repeatedly.

But something happened last night that had the whole class, all ten of us, plus the professor, completely dumbfounded. I'm in a Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior class taught by a women with a PhD in neuropsychology. We've met twice so far and I LOVE this class. I could totally be a neuropsychologist. It's just fascinating. In true grad school (read: nerd) fashion, when we come into the class, we start talking about the chapters even before the professor comes in the room. I walked into a conversation from a few people, one being someone we will call John. "When I became a Christian, I said to myself, John, you can't be having sex with everyone you meet." I sat down and the conversation continued. This particular male has been in two of my other classes. His specialty is sex addiction. He talks about it ALL the time. Every presentation he gives, every example he cites, and apparently he once had a problem with it himself. So as the class is filling in, and the professor starts to set up her laptop, she asks the class what we thought of the reading. And John says he found a "fault" in the text. I read the chapters and didn't find any typos or missteps, so I was quite curious about what I could have missed while I was reading. So John quotes from the book: "Evolution has encased the brain in a rock-hard vault of bone, wrapped it in layers of tough membrane, and cushioned it in a viscous bath of cerebral spinal fluid..." (the full quote is located at the bottom of this blog). And we all wait for the punch line. And John doesn't let us down. He asks the class... "So before evolution, did people have soft skulls? That makes no sense at all. The book is just wrong about this one."

And the whole class just stared at him. Even the professor. What do you say to someone that obviously has NO grasp of what "evolution" really is?? John goes on to say that the Cro-Magnon man had a hard skull, so that once again proves the book wrong. And that Adam and Eve didn't need evolution and neither does he, he just doesn't "buy" into it. The professor is an older woman, probably 55 to 60 years old, and very German, her accent rocks. The look on her face was humor, as I'm sure she thought he was joking for a moment, then shock and finally a blank stare, a poker face if you will, something good psychologists have honed as to not offend or give anything way to their patients. She finally says that the fallacy he is stuck in is that we -- the planet, humans, animals, plants, etc --have evolved over billions of years... not only 6000. And that he needs to think of the evolution of the brain from when it started.... billions of years ago. Well, this really pissed John off. He mumbled some inaudible things and the class started.

How does one get to be a grown man without taking a basic science class? I was a biochem major for 3 years as an undergrad and had many religious classmates that still believed in evolution. The woman that works in my apartment complex office asked me a few weeks ago if I believed in evolution. When I told her yes, um.. of course I do, she told me I needed to take another look. These people confuse the shit out of me. What do you MEAN you dont believe in evolution? You REALLY think that poof... Adam and Eve appeared, looking just like we do now? REALLY??

Here's a link to a video one of my friends posted the other day. You HAVE to go watch this video. I cant get it to embed in this post, so I'll post the link instead. http://youtu.be/IguW9xHd2qo

"Evolution has encased the brain in a rock-hard vault of bone, wrapped it in layers of tough membrane, and cushioned it in a viscous bath of cerebral spinal fluid. These protective shields post particularly difficult challenges for scientists who would like to observe human brain activity directly." - Gordon Bower

Play a game with Megan Dub-Yuh! #2

2011-05-30T08:50:00.006-06:00

Another game from Megan Dub-Yuh!!
What is one wedding gift you LOVED and display proudly and one NOT SO MUCH (maybe you regifted or have it hidden in the hall closet)?

LOVED: We have quite a few wedding presents still out in the house, frames, lamps, a cookie jar, etc. But I think my favorite decorative item would be the Willow Tree figurine my mom got us. It was the "cake topper" but wasn't on the cake. We had a nontraditional deconstructed cake. My other favorite thing would be the Keurig my grandma got me. NOT SO MUCH: Someone in Joe's family made us what looks to be a handmade quilt. It's the oddest quilt I've ever seen. And it smelled like a burnt cigarette when we opened it up. I started coughing and sneezing instantly (thankfully, they weren't there to witness that). After we paid to get it dry cleaned, I put it in our "extra bedding box" and forgot about it.

Now head over to Megan Dub-Yuh and link up with your own blog post!!

Play a game with Megan Dub-Yuh!

2011-05-23T17:33:00.005-06:00

Head over to Megan Dub-Yuh to play her game!! This week is..... dumb roll please...

Show me a picture of what you looked like about 10 years ago!

This is a Glamour Shot pic from my Senior year of high school. I was 17 years old. I was so embarrassed to take this pic, but my mom was there to encourage me to go outside my comfort zone.

Free time???

2011-05-12T07:22:00.001-06:00

I asked my professor last night how long a thesis would take. Well, I'll need about a year. So if I want to graduate in April 2012, I need to get on this! I have a plan now. I know what I need to do to get started. And I have a pretty good idea for a thesis topic.

Work.

School.

Thesis.

Marriage.

Family.

Oh boy!! Did you know that there is an 80% chance that you will get a divorce while in grad school? Compound that with Joe's Army stats. Oh boy!! I told Joe that last night. He just laughs. He says I'm stuck with him. And I'm in school so that he can get out of the Army. He says I have all his support so no worries.

My prof asked me if I had kids. When I said no, he laughed and said I was fortunate. My mom was in grad school when I was little. I don't remember her not being there. Plus my dad is awesome. But I guess it's good I don't have a baby to juggle on top of everything else.

And consider yourself forewarned, I'll be needing LOTS of participants for my study!! :)

Getting to know you...

2011-05-11T07:29:00.002-06:00

My bloggy friend Megan over at Megan Dub-Yuh wants to know more about her followers. You should answer her questions too!! I would love to learn more about YOU too!!

Here are the questions:
1. How would you have described yourself in High School?

2. When you don't feel good what do you always want to help make yourself feel better?

3. When you go to bath shops what type of flavors do you gravitate towards? Flowery, foods...

4. When at a bar what is your drink?

5. If you go to your closet right now what do you think is the predominant color in it?

My answers:

1. I was a super nerd until my senior year. I graduated a year early and I was fortunate enough to fall in with a GREAT senior crowd. Here's a great example: Joe and I attended the same school since my 3rd grade. He didnt know I existed until that last year. Oh, and our graduating class had about 80 people in it. In a very small school, I was a nobody. I had friends, but we werent popular or class clowns. I was the nerdy smart kid, straight As, band geek. :)

2. When I dont feel good I want to crawl in bed with a good book.

3. I like lots of different scents. My Scentsy collection is reflective of that. Most of my bath sprays are flowery though, japanese rose blossom, lilac, midnight blossom, stuff like that.

4. I either order a Midori Sour or a Sex on the Beach... depending on who I'm with ;)

5. Black, by far!

Almost ready

2011-05-09T06:43:00.000-06:00

Joe made a comment that really made me laugh today.

Rigel and I were "fighting" with his toys. He ran over to get a drink of water then jumped on the back of the couch. Once in a while he will burp and spit up a little if he doesnt let the water settle in his tiny belly. As the tiny amount of clear dog spit slowly rolled down the back of our leather couch, I stopped it with my hand and told Joe to grab a towel. Joe's first reaction was to jump out of the way or stop it with a fairly nice blanket on the couch. While Joe was watching me wash my hands, he said that maybe I'm ready to be a mom since my first reaction wasn't to jump out of the way of the nastiness. I just had to laugh. Babies are FAR grosser than a little dog spit! :)

The end of an Era

2011-05-06T11:16:00.002-06:00

I've been getting this feeling lately like something is ending. It's hard to describe. I get this "hurry up" anxiousness about everything- classes, work, time off. That everything is about to end or change.

And I would LOVE that!

But Joe still has two years in the Army. I still have a year left of school. Nothing is ending, nothing I can pinpoint anyway. Some of the "hurry up" feeling is left over from the deployment. I felt the same way about that, the days need to FLY by so I can see Joe again. It's the same feeling but on a much larger scale. The days need to FLY by so we can start our new life together, sans the military.

I tell myself to relax and slow down. Enjoy life. Enjoy this unique time in our lives. But that idea just depresses me. I can't stand feeling stagnant. I need to feel like we're going places, going towards the bigger goal... whatever that may be.

Maybe everything is sort of ending. Joe's Army career. My school. My twenties. Our single life. We plan to move home and start a family in a few years. I'm 27. Maybe this is the end of an Era.

On to bigger and better things! But here's to slowing down, taking a breath, enjoying the scenery. Life is short, I cant be rushing through it.

Where everyone knows your name

2011-05-03T15:28:00.005-06:00

Rigel in my parents' house in AR. That is his very own wine box stair so he can look out the window.

I am so excited to say that we're going home to visit soon! Joe, Rigel, and I haven't been to Arkansas since November 2009. I have a cousin that's over a year old who I've never met. I never even saw my aunt's pregnant belly. I have to finish up this term and the moment Joe goes on block leave, we're hoping in the car and heading to Arkansas. I'm taking a week off of work. It's going to be a real vacation. With a little house hunting and a dentist appointment (I LOVE my dentist, I wont go to anyone else). Throw in 12 hours in a car with Rigel and Joe and this should be a blast!! :) But Rigel is very excited to see his Grandma Jo!!

I guess I'm just a planner...

2011-04-28T07:32:00.004-06:00

A local tv station out here in Colorado just did a story that got my attention and irked me quite a bit.

They had a group on that was having the "largest baby shower" to benefit the community that couldn't afford baby necessities. The woman on tv actually said that "babies come on their own time" and some families can't afford all the things babies need.

Wait... WHAT??? REALLY??? WTF???

There is a reason I don't have a kid right now. I can't afford it!! I'm in school. Joe is about to quit his job, literally. If I was an irresponsible twit, I'm sure I would have a kid by now. But babies will come on MY time, not their own. I'm on birth control. When I was sick and on antibiotics, Joe and I took other precautions because antibiotics sometimes mess with the pill. A baby SHOULD NOT be a surprise.

Condoms are cheap. Many health centers, including Planned Parenthood, will give you birth control for very cheap or even free - I know the one in my home town does. But beside all of that, if you can't afford birth control, how are you going to afford a baby??

There is no reason the government or any other organization should be supporting you because you got knocked up and can't afford diapers. Don't get knocked up!!

I was in line at the grocery store the day before Easter. The woman in front of me had a toddler in her arms, two young kids standing next to her, and a newborn in the shopping cart. And she was paying with food stamps. And the thought crossed my mind - if you can't afford the kids you have, why are you squeezing out more?? Why are our tax dollars paying for your food? Stop having babies!! I know the government has these handouts for help and support. But this woman will never get on her feet if the mouths to feed keep multiplying. I'm not saying you can't have as many babies as you want, go for it. But don't expect the handouts.

Joe and I went to school with a girl that had 2 kids before she graduated high school. She used to brag that she got money from the government because she had kids and wasn't married. And she's still barefoot and pregnant on her front porch in the middle of Arkansas getting a monthly handout from the government. Maybe that was her dream. I can't even comprehend the idea of doing nothing and thinking taxpayers should support you and your hungry babies. But like I said, I'm not an irresponsible twit.

Nook Discoveries!!

2011-04-23T18:10:00.005-06:00

Because of my awesome Nook, I have discovered the author Amanda Hocking. She writes paranormal romances. If you liked the Twilight books, you will like these too. I read her first series, the Trylle Trilogy, and fell in love with her writing style. I'm currently reading the 4th book in her My Blood Approves series. This series is about vampires.

If you have a Nook, these books are all under $3 from Barnes & Noble. And some are lendable so let me know if you'd like to borrow them. :)

Water for Elephants -- spoiler free

2011-04-23T17:12:00.005-06:00

I went to see Water for Elephants last night with a friend. I was actually surprised that I enjoyed the movie ... and Robert Pattinson's performance.

The movie made me cry and laugh and then root for an elephant. It was really cute. I highly recommend it. The summary on IMDB says "A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet." But it's SO much more than that!! But I'm not going to spoil it for anyone.

I was genuinely shocked that I enjoyed Robert Pattinson's performance. The first thing I ever saw him in was of course Twilight. After reading all the books, all of the characters were VERY disappointing to me, with the exception of maybe Jacob. Joe and I both though Bella and Edward fell way short of the books. And WTF is up with Kristen Steward?? She cant act.. AT ALL. And completely butchered the part of Bella. And I was never that girl that swooned over Edward. I'm a Team Jacob girl. But I also thought Pattinson didnt do the part justice. So when I walked into the movie theater last night, I wasn't expecting much.

But I must say, I walked out of the theater a big fan of Pattinson. This movie completely changed my mind about his acting skills. Joe says that Edward, the character, must just suck and Pattinson did his best. I completely agree. I was smiling with Pattinson's character and noticed that I believed his acting. I believed he was happy or sad or enraged. His smiles look genuine, not mass produced. I really liked him in Water for Elephants. Anyway, go see the movie!!

Awesome clock!

2011-04-23T14:33:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to share my lately discovery.

Credit Cards

2011-04-21T13:06:00.004-06:00

Well folks, I finally gave in. Joe got a credit card this week. We're 27 years old. And we need to build our credit up. And Joe thinks this was the best idea ever. Since I was able to walk, my mother has told me how awful credit cards can be. People get in over their heads. Interest is outrageous. Why on Earth would a person need a line of credit? If you want something, save up for it and then buy it. And for my 27 years on this Earth, this is what I have done. And it's worked out pretty well for me. Until we wanted to by a new car. I had a job. Joe was a SGT in the U.S. Army. And we couldn't get a loan on a 2006 Honda Accord for less that 18% interest. My parents offered to co-sign with us and all was okay. Except that my *always independent* husband felt bad having to depend on someone else to co-sign.

So now looking at our future, getting ready to ETS and move home and buy a house, he's obsessed with our credit scores. And he applied for a credit card.

I told him it was his job to keep up with it. We would NEVER not pay the monthly amount so there's no interest to pay ever. And we would only use it for gas and groceries.

So we went to the grocery store the other day and when Joe got ready to pay.... he pulled out the debit card. Debt isn't something either of us want. We just paid off the car! And I have no idea why Joe thinks this is the best way to build credit. We decided the credit card would be only for gas. So I used it this morning. I was the first to do so. And Joe said he would go online and pay it off as soon as it hit the account.

I was talking to a co-worker today and she told me that they had a credit card for emergencies. Another told me that she and her husband put everything on it and then just pay on the bill at the end of the month. Another friend told me she only puts school related items on it, like tuition and books. I must say, given the recent government shutdown scare, it's nice to think we have a small back up plan now. Nothing beats our savings, but we really don't want to have to tap into that if all hell breaks loose.

Do you have a method to your credit card? What have you found works best for you and your family?

Dinner with babies

2011-04-16T08:41:00.005-06:00

I had a great time with two of my girlfriends last night. We went out to dinner, much needed girl time for all of us. The other two ladies have kids, one has a 5 year old and a 2 year old. The other one has one 2 year old. I was sitting at dinner observing their parenting styles. When their babies would scream or get upset, they reacted completely differently. But they both looked at me and smiled, "Just wait until you have a 2 year old." I'm sure parenting isn't easy. I've been around kids all my life. I'm the oldest of 10 grand kids, I've babysat since I was 14. I lived with my Aunt and Uncle and her two young kids while I was in school. But no, I've never been a parent. But I have some great parenting role models, my mom and dad and all my aunts and uncles. My father would NEVER allow me to throw my mac & cheese or run around a restaurant. Both my brother and I were very well behaved kids. And get this... we weren't spanked as kids. I was spanked once when I was about 7. I was oldest enough to know better and I probably deserved it (even though I still tell my mom I didn't). But they never spanked us when we were small. And it feels like this is the go to method for many of my friends AND my husband. He was spanked as a kid. And he thinks this is the only way to discipline children. I might not be a mom yet, but I have read a lot about child development and the way the human brain develops in a child.

But Joe says to me, "What do you do when your 4 year old son sticks aluminum foil in the light socked?" What the hell is your 4 year old doing with aluminum foil? Every kid gets into stuff and there will be plenty of accidents, especially having Joe's demon spawn. But my mother has always told me, you just have to be smarter than your 5 year old. We were smart kids, Joe was a smart kid. When we did something stupid, my father would laugh at us. Or mom would say she was disappointed in us. Having my parents' approval means the world to me, it always has. Disappointing them, even a kid, wasn't an option. I just have to figure out how to parent like my parents did.

So if your 2 year old decided to throw their mac & cheese while in public, or your 5 year old ran to the bench and laid down and stated kicking the chair behind him, which someone else is sitting in, what would you do?

Sexual Orientation

2011-04-13T08:52:00.005-06:00

I went home last night with a big smile on my face. My neuropsych class went over a chapter about reproduction and sexual orientation last night.

I'm going to paraphrase something my professor told me. Keep in mind she studies the human brain for a living; neuropsychology, and the physiological bases of our behavior. While you and I are not experts in this field... She IS an expert.

She said that from a purely scientific stand point, no one can argue that sexual orientation isn't related to your brain chemistry. Enough research has been done that no one disputes this fact in the scientific community. Now.. she also said that you can put whatever "religious spin" on it you want, but that doesn't outweigh the scientific results. She said point blank, science has proven that sexual orientation isn't a choice, it's just how your brain has developed.

Isn't that refreshing to hear someone finally say that??

Now we all know "religious people" don't listen to science anyway, so I doubt there will be much impact. But it makes me smile that there is a group out there that fully understands that someone doesn't make this choice, that it is truly who they are, how their brain functions, who their brain tells them they are. They aren't wrong or sinful. They just are. They are homosexual like you are heterosexual. Isn't that wonderful news!?!?

I WANT it Wednesday

2011-04-06T12:40:00.000-06:00

Joe has decided that he REALLY needs this leash. Although, we think it was an April Fool's joke. Bummer.

100 Facts about ME (part IIII)

2011-04-05T07:06:00.001-06:00

This will be the last installment. Hope you all have enjoyed the facts! I know I had fun reading many others and even laughed at some of my own. It proved much harder than I originally thought.

76. I wanted to be an astronomer when I was little. I still have star maps and huge binoculars and posters of the moon.

77. After 3 years of school, I decided I didnt want to be a biochem major after an 8 hour lab in the bottom of the chem building. When I went to lab it was nice and sunny. When I left 8 hours later it was snowing... in Arkansas. I decided at that moment I didnt want to spend the rest of my working career in the basement of a building missing out on life around me. It was the best career move of my life.

78. I love brussel sprouts.

79. I am addicted to lotions.

80. Joe and I have decided to have a baby in 5 years. I'll be 32, but I think we'll be in a very good place to bring another life into the world.

81. I love cards. I love making them. I like buying them. I like recieving them. I have boxes of cards in my house waiting for birthdays and special days.

82. When I was a kid, me, my brother, dad, uncle (dad's bro) and his kids used to go for 2 week long camping trips. I wish I was as carefree as I was then.

83. I hope I can be as good as my mother was. I have fears that I wont be.

84. The last spelling test I ever took I got one word wrong. It was- husband. I'm a horrible speller.

85. I have one niece.

86. I hope to attend a Sarah McLachlan concert one of these days.

87. I HATE crowds. I hate standing where others can touch me. I have a very large personal bubble.

88. I am NOT a hugger. I dont like people I barely know to touch me. I'm not one of those people that hug other people either. There have been 3 times in my adult life where I have gotten up to hug and comfort another person (that wasnt a family member) and I remember then very clearly.

89. I no longer stand at the Pledge of Allegence. When the words ring true again for this nation, I might reconsider. Indivisable? Liberty and justice for all? Like hell. And while we're at it, lets take it back to it's ORIGINAL wording!

90. I met David Hyde Pierce and John Mahoney and the dog that plays Eddie on the set of Frasier. We watched a taping when I was out in California on spring break when I was 19 years old.

91. I went to Las Vegas when I was 19. We stayed in the Stratosphere. The ONLY place that carded me was Hard Rock Cafe.

92. I am a hard core pro-choice advocate. My body, my choice. Your body, your choice. It really is that simple.

93. I grew up in the South, but some people think I have an accent while others dont. I do say some words just like my mother, like pie and why. My accent gets very strong if I'm home or even on the phone with my mother.

94. One day I really hope Rigel is a certified therapy dog. He loves people and is a great cuddler. He would love to sit in someone's lap while they talked to us. Or walk through halls greeting everyone with that cute little wagging stumpy tail. We would visit nursing homes and veteran's clinics. We started to work towards it in Arkansas, but then I married Joe and had to move.

95. I have a serious pet peeve about people that dont use their binkers. 96. I'd much rather be camping than at the beach.

97. I love rainy days. I miss Arkansas storms.

98. I lived in Kansas for 2 years and never saw a tornado, but had two pretty serious close calls.

99. Joe says I can make friends in a check out line at Wal-Mart.

100. I one big wish is that I can get a great job when I gratuate with my Masters and Joe can go back to school when he ETSs and doesnt have to worry about going to school AND working. We can move home, buy my aunt's house and start a family.

Rain Rain, go away!!

2011-04-03T12:02:00.002-06:00

I joke that it never rains in Colorado Spings. It rained today. LMAO!!

This is the pic Joe took of the windows before we covered them up with plastic garbage bags. ALL three windows are completely smashed, the back two, as you can see, are gone. The Safelite repair guy will be out in the morning. I cant drive my car at all. As soon as I open the driver's side door the whole window will come crashing down.

Lovely Colorado. This is the 2nd time I've had to replace a window in 3 months. But at least the insurance will cover some of it this time. I love my GEICO insurance!

Have you entered Canines & Cadences Grand Blog Re-opening Giveaway?

2011-04-03T10:01:00.006-06:00

My friend Bethany over at Canines and Cadences is having a huge giveaway in honor of her new blog and it's grand re-opening. Click HERE to check out her new blog!

Bad Business?

2011-04-01T07:37:00.004-06:00

I go to a local salon here. I have a fabulous hair stylist and an awesome woman that does all my waxing. On Tuesday the waxing woman quit. So instead of calling me to tell me she is gone, the salon called me and pushed back my appointment until they could find someone else to fill her spot. No reason was given, they didn't even tell me the woman had quit, just that they needed to push it back a week, no big deal. So last night I learned that this friend had quit. And I think it's fairly annoying that I wasn't alerted about the change. My appointment was for a brazilian. So I'm supposed to walk into the salon and *surprise* someone I've never met is going to wax me "down there"?? I don't think so!

So what are your thoughts? I know the salon doesn't want to lose my waxing business, but should they have told me about the change of personnel? I think their omission of the change is enough for me to follow my friend to her new salon.

100 Facts about ME (part III)

2011-03-31T19:45:00.001-06:00

51. I am a fool when it comes to Rigel. I will buy him the best food and treats no matter how much they cost. But when feeding a 6lb animal, the good food lasts quite a while.

52. I own a lemon tree and I hope to have a tea tree soon.

53. I'm not a big fan of alcohol. I'll have a glass of wine once in a while, but I'd rather have water or tea. I don't like the way it makes me feel.

54. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life, not even a puff.

55. Joe and I have a spoon collection, inherited from his grandmother.

56. I've never broken a bone (knock on wood).

57. I want 2 kids, twins would be okay, they run in Joe's family, his mom is a twin.

58. Rigel is the first dog that has been all mine. As a kid, we had a husky named Kodiak Copper Chef Bandit Edward Minden, called Cody for short, then lots of outside cats. My parents now have an Airedale named Arlo and a German Shepherd named Max.

59. I've been called for jury duty 7 times, 5 while I was in college, then 2 more since Joe and I have been traveling the world and unable to attend. But I cant wait to actually sit on a jury.

60. Favorite tv show of all time was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, yeah, I was that 14 year old girl. But I can watch Friends reruns over and over again.

61. My birthday is January 20th. My family's birthdays all fall in ajoing months, Dad - October, Mom - November, Brother - December, Me - January. Joe's is in July.

62. My absoulte favorite resturant on the whole planet is Wiederkehr's Resturant in Altus, Arkansas. I miss it when I cant go for my birthday. It would be my hypothetical "last meal".

63. I have a pill phobia.

64. I also dont like elevators and will avoid them at all costs.

65. My brother and I were named after a scanning electron microscope, our initials were SEM, before I got married.

66. The shortest job I've ever had was for about a month at a florist. I loved that job, the people were awesome and the place always smelled like roses, but the manager was a drug addict who was so hard to work for.

67. I don't have any tattoos.

68. The first thing I ever won was a 50 gallon aquarium with a wooden stand. I entered a drawing at a pet store when I was about 6. The next day we got the call to go pick it up. It's still in our family.

69. I'd rather be cold than hot.

70. I've been in 3 weddings beside my own, bride's maid in 2 and candle lighter when I was a little kid.

71. I love sushi. I could eat Japanese food everyday.

72. I don't like celery because of the stings.

73. I dont eat mushy vegitables but I'll eat just about any veggie raw.

74. I LOVE movie theater popcorn and will go watch scary movies with my husband just so I can eat some popcorn.

75. Nothing is more soothing than a cup of hot tea and someone rubbing my head.

100 Facts about ME (part II)

2011-03-29T06:42:00.003-06:00

I hope you all are enjoying the facts. I know I'm enjoying reading about everyone else. It's kinda cool to know the fun little things about people I know online but have never gotten the opportunity to meet in person.
Part 2: Megan @ MeganWrites.com has everyone's blogs linked.
The next 2 posts will be posted as follows:
Part 3 - Thursday, March 31
Part 4 - Tuesday, April 5

26. I have a BA in Psychology and I'm working on my Masters in Psychology, but I NEVER want to do therapy. I'm a research kind of gal!

27. Joe and I are only 6 months apart in age. He is in fact the youngest person I ever dated.

28. I get motion sick in planes and boats. Found this out on a 12 hour flight to France. Not pretty.

29. My very first car was a 1992 Honda Accord. Now we own 2 Hondas, a Pilot and an Accord.

30. I refuse to watch sports on tv, but I will go to actual games.

31. I LOVE baseball, but HATE football.

32. I played the clarinet for 4 years.

33. I own a violin but don't have the first clue how to play it.

34. I was a biochemistry major for 3 years as an undergraduate student.

35. I'm obsessed with loose leaf tea, especially jasmine white tea.

36. I've had two surgeries, one oral surgery when I was about 16 and my gallbladder removed when I was 26.

37. Favorite movies: Sabrina (the one with Harrison Ford), Twister, The Blind Side, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Young Frankenstein.

38. I collect Disney movies.

39. I hate to cook but I love to bake. I'm a horrible cook, but I can bake just about anything.

40. I hate to drive. I would have a driver if I could afford it. Seriously.

41. I've read ALL of the Babysitter's Club books.

42. I LOVE getting mail!

43. If all goes as planned, I will graduate with my Masters April 2012.

44. I inherited my green thumb from my dad. He can grow anything. I'm almost as good as he is.

45. I was captain of the flag line in band for 2 years.

46. I used to be painfully shy. I got over it.

47. I'm allergic to all cats and most dogs. I'm also allergic to down and wool.

48. I have a soft spot in my heart for penguins.

49. I eat kiwi fruit whole, fuzzy brown skin and all. And it freaks my husband out.

50. Stated I have been to:
Get your map here: http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/VisitedStatesMap.html

100 Facts about ME (part I)

2011-03-26T17:20:00.007-06:00

I started this on Twitter, but many are posting them on their blogs so I will continue it here. Megan @ MeganWrites.com has everyone's blogs linked.

The next 3 posts will be posted as follows:
Part 2 - Tuesday, March 29
Part 3 - Thursday, March 31
Part 4 - Tuesday, April 5

1. I have a fake tooth.

2. I'm a horrible speller but hate typos.

3. I have a time problem. I can never be late. In fact, I'm usually early to a fault

4. I love my dog more than I like most people.

5. I have rather large feet for a girl, size 11 shoes.

6. My mom is 5'4". My dad is 6'7". I'm 5'10". I'm taller than some men in my family.

7. I am shamelessly addicted to all things Glee. And I'm sad that I miss it every Tuesday.

8. I don't eat steak.

9. I have a one year old cousin I've never met, but hopefully will in May.

10. I am the oldest cousin of 10 on one side of the family and the oldest & the only girl cousin on the other side.

11. I HATE socks. I hate shoes. I wouldn't wear either ever again if I didn't have to.

12. I was born in Tempe, Arizona.

13. I have lived in Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Colorado.

14. I'm been to Canada, England, France, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany.

15. Joe and I went to the same school in a town with 3,000 people for 9 years but didn't meet until we were seniors in high school.

16. My father is an inch too tall to be in the Air Force, I could have been a military brat!

17. I have lived in an apartment for the last 10 years, through college and while Joe has been in the military. I'm ready for my own house!!

18. I love white tulips.

19. My mother and I planned my wedding in 4 months, since the Army had different plans for Joe and I.

20. I drink an inordinate amount of water. I always have a water bottle by my side. I'd pick plain water to drink over just about any other beverage.

21. I'm an obsessive list maker. Joe makes fun of me for it.

22. I was a Girl Scout for 11 years and earned my Silver Award.

23. I graduated high school a year early.

24. I wanted to be an astronomer when I was little.

25. I love doing laundry. I especially love folding towels.

Tell me your story about... EDUCATION

2011-03-19T07:54:00.003-06:00

My friend Megan over at Megan Dub-Yuh had an awesome idea about everyone sharing their positive education stories. They are all linked from her blog.

I've had a many good teachers. But three GREAT teachers come to mind. They were all high school science teachers. I'm from a VERY small town in Arkansas. Education is not considered all that important. Football is FAR more important than the grade you made on a science test. But these three teachers were true professionals. I have no idea what there were doing teaching in lil ol' Paris, Arkansas, but I am very lucky that they were. Mr. Varnell - physical science, Mr. Patterson - biology, and Mrs. Siebenmorgan - chemistry and physics.

I was one of the only girls in Mr. Varnell's class. Remember that huge static ball? Well, of course they needed a girl with long hair to test it out. :) I stood on the platform and touched the giant metal ball as my hair raised up on all ends. It was by far my favorite class up until that point. We did crazy experiments with very simple chemicals. It was a lot of fun, even for the football players in my class.

Mr. Patterson taught biology. I had 139% in that class because he had to give out so much extra credit for most people to pass the class. We grew plants and dyed carnations. And did a bug collection. I had a lot of fun in his class.

Mrs. Siebenmorgan changed my life. She signed me up for the challenges through the University of Arkansas. She pushed me harder than any other teacher I ever had. She saw my potential and BOREDOM and put me in a class a grade ahead of my own, where I ended up meeting and getting to know Joe, my husband. She was a fantastic teacher, but fun at the same time. She influenced me to be a chemistry major in college. I was a biochem major for 3 years, until I found my true path in education. But oddly enough, that biochem background has been more than helpful even in psychology, since much of psychology has to do with the body and brain and the chemicals that make each of us function. It was just meant to be.

On a less positive note, my mother in law is a 4th grade teacher. She says that it is truly a thankless job. Oddly enough, there was a skit on The Colbert Report just the other night about how great the GOP thinks teachers have it, with their $50,000 a year incomes and lavish benefits. I don't know where *these* people teach, but my MIL makes far less than $50,000 and cant afford health insurance, EVEN THOUGH she is a college graduate. She works 24/7, grading papers and influencing the young minds of this country. And she cant afford health insurance?!?!

I worked as a special ed para in Kansas while we were stationed there. I vowed to myself I would NEVER be a teacher. With such little pay and the absurd politics that went along with that administration, it wasn't worth it. The administration, mainly the principal, treated the teachers like children themselves. I'm told that not all schools are like this, but some obviously are.

But after that experience, I have such great respect for people that have decided to dedicate their lives to teaching.

I've said it before and I will say it again, there is something VERY WRONG with this country while Soldiers and teachers make very little while actors and athletes and Charlie Sheen make millions of dollars a year. WTF people??

B&N Free Friday NOOKbook

2011-03-18T07:21:00.003-06:00

Did you know that Barnes & Noble gives away a FREE NOOKbook every Friday? Even if you dont have a Nook, you can download them for free and read them online. They are WHOLE books, not samples. And usually from different genres. I've gotten the free books for about the last month now just to have a good library on my Nook.

Thanks Barnes & Noble!!

New Blog Design!!

2011-03-03T15:49:00.003-07:00

Isnt my blog looking awesome now?!!?

I have Aly from Bridge Work Blog Design to thank for that. She is amazingly talented and so easy to work with. She was so patient while I changed my mind about colors and fonts and backgrounds.

Thank you SO much Aly!!!

Far Away

2011-02-27T20:38:00.003-07:00

Nickelback

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go

Biscuits Gone BIG Time!

2011-02-13T13:26:00.011-07:00

I woke up this morning thinking about scones. My mom used to make them for me. The recipe we use was initially a cranberry-orange scone. But we use the base for our alterations. SUPER easy!! But you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty. :)

Scones

Combine:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange rind

Cut in one stick of butter (1/2 cup). You can use a pastry cutter if you have one, and can find it in your messy kitchen. If you dont, or cant find it, the easiest thing to do it use your fingers. Break up the butter into the flour until the mixture is crumbly.

Add 2/3 cup milk or buttermilk. I dont care for buttermilk, and never have it in my house. Milk works just fine.

Add 1 cup dried cranberries.

Stir until just moistened. Dont work it too much.

If you want the wedge shaped schones, turn out onto a floured surface, knead a couple times so it all stays together and pat into an 8 inch disk. Cut into the traditional wedges. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet, about an inch apart.

If you dont want to do all that, not really that hard, but slightly messy, just scoop the batter out with a spoon and place on a lightly greased baking sheet, about an inch apart.

Brush with milk and then sprinkle with some sugar.

Bake at 425 degree for 15 minutes, or until the tops are as golden as you like them.

Alterations, today I didnt have an orange, so I just left that out of my cranberry scones. And then I made lemon poppy seed scones. Omit the cranberrys, of course. Add the zest of one lemon and the juice of half of that lemon to the mix. The other half of the lemon can be used to brush the tops of the unbaked scones. I also added a pinch of poppyseeds. Not too many, just enough to know they are there. If you want the scone SUPER lemony, you can always add more lemon juice.

You can add anything to this basic recipe, chocolate chips, nuts, any dried fruit, apricots are very good, let your mind wonder!

Dog food snob

2011-02-10T19:23:00.001-07:00

I am so happy to see Wellness finally advertised on tv! Finally a decent dog food reaching the masses!!

As many of you know, I got Rigel during the massive dog and cat food recall at the end of 2007. I went from a fairly sheltered pet owner to a pretty well informed dog food snob. Rigel came to me eating Pedigree. I promptly switched him to Nutro Ultra. It was the best thing I could find in my area. And it wasnt on the recall. Only months later, the store stopped carrying that particular brand. So I went back to my research. I found that I could now get something called Wellness in my area. And it's a GREAT food!! There are many good foods, just like Wellness, that dont cost an arm and a leg, especially if you have a small dog that doesn't eat much.

My problem with most of the dog and cat food commercials on tv is that they are fairly deceiving. As humans, we need a balanced diet, meat, dairy, grains, etc. But as dogs, they need a completely different food profile. And most people just dont think about it. I used to be one of those people that thought that of course dogs needed grains, wheat is good for us, why not for dogs?? Well, that is completely wrong! Dogs successfully thrive in a grain free diet. In fact, most dog foods are full of grains just as a low cost filler. And do absolutely nothing for the health of your pet.

For the life and health of your pet, I seriously suggest you look into your dog food. Just a little research could do wonders for your dog.

Nook Discoveries II

2011-02-07T08:04:00.006-07:00

New books I've found!

I'm 30 pages into The Perfect Husband and it's already a great read. Some interesting language, def an adult book. But I can tell it's gonna be good! It's labeled as a "FBI Triller."

I finished Switched this morning. It's probably a teen book, but I liked it nonetheless. It's about a trylle, or a troll, but not the trolls you normally think of. There are two more in the series. I've already downloaded them. Switched and the 2nd book are lendable, let me know if you'd like to borrow them. :)

To Kill A Warlock, a Paranormal Urban Fantasy (Book 1 of the Dulcie O'Neil Series) by H.P. Mallory is awesome as well, also a quick read. Not my favorite H.P. Mallory book, but I'd recommend it if you want a fun cute book to read. It's also lendable.

timing is everything

2011-01-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

Joe asked me a question the other day.

Where do you think you would be if we hadn't gotten married?

We talked about it for a while. But it got me thinking about all of the events in a person's life that lead them to a certain moment. I laid in bed that night and thought about all of the things that had to happen perfectly for me and Joe to get together, the many times Joe and I did date, and then the last time, where Joe and I just knew we belonged together. Do I believe in fate and destiny? I don't know. I don't not believe in them. But I think that life can give you opportunities, but it's our job to capture that moment. I'm not a very religious person, many of you know that already. But it feels like there have been some times in my life where I have been pushed, or at least very slightly directed, to a certain result.

Big picture:
My family had to move to Paris, Arkansas, as did Joe.
I had to be born at a very specific time.
My parents had to get together.
Their parents had to get together.
My grandfather had to join the army and be in Germany to meet my grandmother.

It snowballs from there.

But on a more personal level, I had to be the person I was to wait for Joe. To know he needed time and space to become the person he is now. One relationship had to end, for ours to begin. I was in a philosophy class with a guy that reminded me so much of Joe. He made me miss Joe. I had to get a MySpace account (yeah, I found Joe that last time on MySpace) which I wouldn't have done unless my brother had joined a band and they had started blogging about their tour on MySpace. I remember driving home one afternoon determined to find Joe online, or at least call his mother. I just had to find him. There was this very loud determined voice in my head screaming at me. And come to find out, he had found me on MySpace only days after I had made my account. We were searching for each other. Coincidence? Fate? Destiny? Love? I don't know what to call it. I just know that the web that captures just our relationship was so tight. If anything had happened differently, I wouldn't be married to him today. It's an interesting thought. Are we soul mates? Looking back, I've never been the girl to regret anything. I don't jump with both feet first very often; I'm very cautious about the decisions I have made in my life. But I know Joe and I were supposed to be together. I think about how many times the universe pushed us together. How many opportunities we were given to get it right. How many people come and go in a lifetime, but Joe was always a constant in my life.

There is a quote in the movie The Notebook when the main character is proposed to: "She agreed with all her heart but couldn't understand why, at the moment she said yes, Noah's face came to mind." This quote has always given me chills. I have a sneaky suspicion I would have had a similar thought if I had fallen in love with a different man. Even while I was dating someone else, and I had completely lost touch with Joe, I would think about him all the time.

On January 20th, 2007, Joe was walking towards my apartment building. Rigel was just a puppy. I was leaning over my couch staring out the window, watching him walk down the sidewalk and up the stairs. I turned to Rigel and told him that I wanted to marry Joe so badly. Not 10 minutes later we were engaged. He proposed to me on my birthday. With the perfect ring. In the perfect words. And in that moment, I wasn't thinking about anyone other than him and our future.

In a very odd set of conversations as a teen, my mother and I decided that this life (if we just happened to had many lives as humans) was to inspect, perfect, become very well versed- in patience and tolerance. As I was looking back at the moments that brought me to the place and person I am today, this long forgotten thought popped back into my head. And it made me laugh. Army wife. ARMY. wife. Going through a deployment. My current existence is the epitome of patience and tolerance. How did my mother know, all those years ago, I would be a constant student of patience and tolerance as an adult? Is it possible that you are given tasks in life that prepare you for the future? The other guys I have dated. The path I took in college. The way I was raised. It's all led me to where I am today. And I wouldnt have it any other way!

Nook Discoveries!

2010-12-31T10:21:00.004-07:00

Yep, I got a Nook for Christmas. I want to share some of the things currently on my Nook.

Crock Pot Cookbook by R. Wilson : This 1007 page cookbook was only $.99!! I've made the Sweet & Sour Chicken and plan on making the Coq Au Vin II tomorrow for New Years. No pics, but pretty simple recipes with only a few ingredients. It's also lendable.

100 Quotes to make you think! by Wolfgang Riebe : Just a cute quick read when you dont have time for a chapter book. I believe this one was free.

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble, a Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy (Book 1 of the Jolie Wilkins Series) by H.P. Mallory : I JUST finished this book today. It was $.99 and is lendable. It's just a super fun book about a regular girl that finds out she's a witch. And of course she's in love with a super cute English warlock!

Toil and Trouble, a Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy (Book 2 of the Jolie Wilkins Series) by H.P. Mallory : And there's a sequal!! I have read the first few pages of this one as a preview. This one is also lendable. And it was $2.99.

If you want to borrow any of these books, just let me know! Just leave a comment with your email. Or email me at sara.sutliff@gmail.com.

Dog Days Are Over

2010-12-05T19:03:00.002-07:00

My new favorite song. This is how I imagine I will feel the day Joe comes back. The dog days are over. Happiness will hit with one hug. Great beat too.

By Florence + The Machine

Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with her drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your longing behind
You cant carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
Because here they come

And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had and what was left after that too, oh
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the head
Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than that

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
Because here they come

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your loving, your loving behind
You cant carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
Because here they come

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

99 Things

2010-10-25T17:35:00.004-06:00

Here are 99 things that someone somewhere thinks people should do... Let's see how many I have done (they will be in BLUE). I stole this from another blog. ")

1. Started your own blog - Oh yeah, you are on it right now. :)

2. Slept under the stars -

3. Played in a band - I played the Clarinet in the school band.

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disney World - I've been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo - I dont sing. Period.

11. Bungee jumped - NEVER!!

12. Visited Paris - two Paris' actually :)

13. Watched a lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning - it was at a Taco Bell when my family was on vacation in Oklahoma

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - the Louvre was on strike when we tried to go.

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked - NEVER

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort - I grew up in Arkansas, we dont get enough snow

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - I was 12 with my aunt and uncle and brother and cousin

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - for 11 years!!

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar - LOVE it!

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

I got 36/99. I'm boring. :)

What is your score?

Graduate Student

2010-10-02T19:11:00.002-06:00

I am officially a grad student! This has been a dream of mine for years now. And it's finally the time to go back. I am SO excited!!

I am going to the University of the Rockies to get a Masters in Psychology. My first class is Child & Adolescent Development! That is one of my favorite topics in psychology. The goal is to get my degree before Joe ETSs and we move back home. I am pretty darn excited about that too. I want to be normal again.

Breakeven

2010-10-02T18:33:00.002-06:00

By The Script

I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing
Just prayin' to a god that I don't believe in
Cause I got time while she got freedom
Cause when a heart breaks no it don't break even

Her best days will be some of my worst
She finally met a man that's gonna put her first
While I'm wide awake she's no trouble sleeping
Cause when a heart breaks no it don't breakeven... even... no

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you,
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up that you're ok
I'm falling to pieces, yeah,
I'm falling to pieces

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
Cause she's moved on while I'm still grieving
And when a heart breaks no it don't breakeven even... no

What am I gonna to do when the best part of me was always you,
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up that you're ok
I'm falling to pieces, yeah,
I'm falling to pieces, yeah,
I'm falling to pieces
(One still in love while the other ones leaving)
I'm falling to pieces
(Cause when a heart breaks no it don't breakeven)

Oh you got his heart and my heart and none of the pain
You took your suitcase, I took the blame.
Now I'm try'na make sense of what little remains ooh
Cause you left me with no love and no love to my name.

I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing
Just prayin' to a god that I don't believe in
Cause I got time while she got freedom
Cause when a heart breaks no it don't break
No it don't break
No it don't break even no

What am I gonna do when the best part of me was always you and
What am I suppose to say when I'm all choked up that you're ok
(Oh glad your okay now)
I'm falling to pieces yeah
(Oh I'm glad your okay)
I'm falling to pieces yeah
(One still in love while the other ones leaving)
I'm falling to pieces
(Cause when a heart breaks no it don't breakeven)

Oh it don't break even no
Oh it don't break even no
Oh it don't break even no

Hypocrite

2010-08-06T21:52:00.006-06:00

Have you seen this on Facebook?

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. (I grew up saying this every morning in school--it's a shame we no longer do this for fear of offending someone). NOW, LET'S SEE HOW MANY AMERICANS WILL REPOST!

Yeah, I didn't repost it. I worked in an elementary school for a year while living in Kansas. Every morning the pledge came over the intercom. And no, I didn't say it. We all had to stand, just in case we were being watched (as we sometimes were), but I never said it. Because hypocrisy pisses me off.

First of all, it's not even the original pledge. If you want to get on your high horse about the damn pledge, lets at least go back to the ORIGINAL version. But that's a problem isn't it? **insert eye roll here**

And second, once I live in a country were we have LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL I will say the freaking pledge. But we don't. So I don't. I live in a country where people try to make laws to keep others down just because they are different. And that's really pathetic.

Comfort... drink?

2010-07-24T09:27:00.003-06:00

I was going through my extensive stash of k-cups for my Keurig and I just couldnt decide on anything that I wanted this morning. But I came across a special winter treat that a co-worker made for me when we were in Kansas. She gave us all a jar of Spiced Tea. And her mix is my favorite by far! There are a million spiced tea recipes out there. I posted one on my BLOG a while back. But it's not as good as this one.

Here's her recipe with a few of my own tweaks.

1 1/2 cups instand tea powder
2 cups Tang
1/3 cup powdered Country Time Lemonade mix
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground clove
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Her recipe calls for a whole teaspoon of clove and 3/4 of a teaspoon of ginger. So if you're into those spices, add more.

And just an FYI, I had the HARDEST time finding Tang in our local grocery stores. I found it in the commissary on post, a big DUH right? :)

Anyway, this is what I'm having this morning, even though it's July 24th and it's not something I would be having in Arkansas because it would be 100 degrees outside already. But here in Colorado, it's 75 with a breeze. Yeah, you know you're jealous. I dont know how I am supposed to move away from here. I love this place!!

Dog groomers

2010-07-22T09:22:00.009-06:00

No, I have never been a dog groomer. But I have had Rigel for almost 4 years now. And as a yorkie in a puppy cut, he needs a hair cut about every 4 months. I have one BIG problem with most dog groomers.

It does not take 4 hours to clip and bathe a 6lb yorkie.

Rigel has been to many different dog groomers, in my attempt to find a good one. And we had a GREAT one, but I will tell you about her in a sec.

As it has been explained to me by many groomers, they work on many dogs at once. So while one is drying from a bath, another is being clipped. Plus many groomers I have tried do the dog drop off before the groomer even gets to work. So if I drop Rigel off at 8:30, and the groomer doesnt show up until 9am (which, lets face it, she doesnt come in and get right to work. She needs coffee and to chat with her co-workers, then she gets the first dog), Rigel could be in a cage for a good 45 minutes. Rigel is not a cage dog. He doesnt have a kennel with bars at home. He has a soft sided mesh box and he's usually left in a room when I'm gone. Sure, I'm a snob when it comes to Rigel, I'd be the first one to tell you that. But I'm paying for a service and I should get what I pay for. There have been many times I pick up a terrified anxious dog 4 hours later. And that just doesnt cut it folks.

So my parents have a neighbor that is a former dog groomer. She is a single mother and my parents help her out a lot, fixing her sons' bikes, mowing her lawn, etc. So she would clip Rigel for free. I would take him over and while we chatted, she would cut Rigel and bathe him. Even while talking and laughing, tending to her sons, and answering her home phone, she would STILL have Rigel done in about an hour.

So Rigel goes to the groomer next Wednesday. He has been to this place before. They did an okay job with his actual hair cut, but we're going back to them because he came out of the back room acting like my Rigel, not the tail-tucked scared pup I usually get back. I'll let you know how it ends.

Somewhere out there

2010-07-13T12:00:00.000-06:00

Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. I'm going to stay positive today, and not dwell on the fact that Joe isnt here. We've had two great anniversaries together, not bad for a military marriage. And I know he's somewhere thinking of me.

I've been thinking about this song a lot lately. I havent seen An American Tale in years, decades even.

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

Fuck Hawaii

2010-07-06T20:39:00.006-06:00

This is just a small excerpt of the post entitled Sanctity of Marriage, I urge you to go read the whole thing. I'm reposting it in response to the shameful veto that happened in Hawaii today. SHAMEFUL!! We can once again be embarrassed and ashamed of America, once again denying equality to all of it's citizens.

Remember reading in your history books a time where a whole bunch of stuffy white men had to decide whether or not black men were humans and could have EQUAL rights? Whether or not they could vote and own property? Same with females. Do you remember reading about these brave women fighting for YOUR right to vote and have EQUAL rights to men?

Now you have to tell me how homosexuals fighting for EQUAL rights is any different than that. And you can keep your religious nonsense to yourself. I don't care to hear it. None of it is a good excuse to deny rights to any human being. Your religious shit is just an excuse for you to be a bigot and then hide behind some stupid book.

Now I would like to post a quote from the ~~Governor~~ Bigot of Hawaii:

"It would be a mistake to allow a decision of this magnitude be made by one individual or a small group of elected officials," Lingle said.

Seems fairly hypocritical to me since ONE woman vetoed the bill.

And since when do we allow the majority to vote about the minority? Isn't that what our government was set up for, to protect the minority, to allow everyone to have a voice? Again, like the post says, what do you think the majority voted about when it came to segregation and suffrage? There wouldn't have been the struggle if there hadn't been so many people standing in the way. I cant imagine living in a world where I couldn't vote or own property or marry whomever I loved. Voting for equality is an archaic practice. I cant believe this is even an issue in 2010. Grow the fuck up, America!! Heard today: *There's a reason why God created Adam and Eve - not Adam and Steve.* Very mature, don't you think?? Don't you think we should be allowing these amazingly bright rhyming bigots to vote about the happiness of others?? Would you want them voting on something that meant the world to you??

A Forever One

2010-07-04T12:32:00.000-06:00

"You know how you can just tell that some friends will be your friends forever and some will fade away after you move away? I can tell you are a forever one, so thanks." ~Lucy

4th of Julys, revisited

2010-07-03T13:49:00.005-06:00

Missing Joe a lot this weekend. The 4th of July is his favorite holiday. We made some awesome memories in the last two years in Kansas. We could shoot of fireworks in the backyard! It was so much fun. So I'm going to think about those great memories this weekend.

July 4th 2008

July 4th 2009

*no dogs were harmed in the 4th of July celebrations

Too many Vampires?

2010-07-02T19:49:00.003-06:00

I had the strangest dream last night. I cant get it out of my head.

I was a vampire, the old school kind; mean, only out for blood, only at night.

I was licking bright red blood off of someone's warm neck. I can still see the color. It was so vivid.

Someone else walked up and asked me if I was going to turn "that one" or just kill it. I looked down.

It was Joe.

Nuts, right? So I wake up at 3am and turn to Rigel, who is standing in my face, and tell him I would most definitely turn Joe into a vampire. And as a wannabe psychologist, how am I supposed to interpret this particular dream??? :)

Father's Day

2010-06-20T07:00:00.001-06:00

Me and my dad

Two babies

Prom

Small dogs

2010-06-13T11:23:00.003-06:00

As if I need to tell you, small dogs are not the same as big dogs. Anyone with small dogs can back me up here. As much as Rigel acts like a big dog, when your 90lb black lab starts tossing him around trying to sniff his bits, Rigel is going to snap at your dog. It's one thing to play, Rigel is all about chasing a ball or barking and running around. But when they decide to stand over him and mess with him, he will snap at your dog. Small dogs can feel overwhelmed by hyper big dogs fairly easily. Maybe not all small dogs, but Rigel gets anxious when big dogs start tossing him with their big noses.

There is an older man that lives in our apartment complex. He has 3 big dogs that he tries to walk all at once on stretchy leashes. He never has control of them. And one of them is a very young lab puppy. The guy does not listen to me, and when I think he has, he doesn't comprehend much. I have started being very rude to this man hoping he gets the hint that I don't want him to come talk to me and have the puppy rush Rigel. Rigel is almost 4 and is very stuck in his ways. He has already bit this puppy on the nose once. The puppy hit Rigel so hard it rolled him over. So Rigel hopped up and bit the puppy. I felt so bad. But the old guy didn't seem to care. So last week this guy sees us outside on my lunch break. I'm trying to get Rigel to use the bathroom quickly so I can get back inside for lunch. And this guy starts heading towards us. So I promptly turn the other way and start walking away. I go so far out of my way to avoid this guy. But here he comes up behind me. And the dogs are all the way out on their leashes, 15 to 18 feet. The leashes are all tangled and the dogs are pulling to get to Rigel. I'm on my way back towards my apartment and he cuts across the lawn so his dogs can get to Rigel. The puppy is getting pretty close. The puppy is pulling so hard, it's gasping for air because the collar is choking him. And the amazing part of all of this, Rigel is trying his hardest to get away from these dogs. He's doing his best to avoid the situation. He's such a good boy!! So I pick up my dog and turn around to the old man and ask him again to keep his dogs away from my dog. And without even missing a beat he starts telling me how his dog has a tumor and is being put down this week. Well, he's been telling me this since I moved here in December. So now I think he's also a compulsive lyer too. He got the new puppy and tells some people that it's his, but others that he's dog sitting for his sister. He's told me both stories.

I feel really bad about complaining about this guy. He's just some dumb old man. But if Rigel hurts his dogs, it's my fault, even if his dog starts it. So it's my responsibility to keep his dogs safe?

We have another big dog in the neighborhood, her name is Roxy. Her owner's name is Beth. Roxy is calm and very gentle. She sniffs Rigel, lets Rigel sniff her, then they roll around in the grass together. I dont worry about Rigel or Roxy. This is what happens when you train and socialize your animals. Rigel was raised with big dogs, in fact, one of them was a 110lb German Shepherd. He's fine around big dogs, unless the dog wants to toss him around.

I know many of you are great responsible dog owners and dont need to hear this from me. But I needed to just put it out here for the people that have only owned big dogs and dont know about the small dog anxiety.

Faithfully

2010-06-08T21:33:00.002-06:00

Journey

Highway run
Into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind
Restless hearts sleep alone tonight
Sendin' all my love along the wire
They say that the road ain't no place to start a family
Right down the line it's been you and me
And lovin' a music man ain't always what it's s'posed
to be
Oh girl, ya stand by me
I'm forever yours...
-Faithfully

Circus life under the big-top world
We all need the clowns to make us smile
Through space and time
Always another shore
Wonderin' where I am
Lost without you
And bein' apart ain't easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscoverin' you
Oh girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours
-Faithfully

Whoa oh oh oh,
Whoa oh oh oh,
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Faithfully, I'm still yours
I'm still yours...Faithfully

**Interestingly enough, if you replaced "music man" with "Military man" it would describe a deployment perfectly.**

Tortilla Soup

2010-06-06T15:17:00.004-06:00

I made Tortilla soup today. First attempt at any sort of tortilla soup and I must say this recipe is easy and quick. My friend Ashley referred it to me. This is also the first time I have ever tried blue corn chips. I thought they would taste different, but they don't. Joe apparently isn't a fan of many soups and doesn't like the idea of mushy chips in soup. But even without the chips, it would make a very nice chicken soup. I have seen many recipes for tortilla soup, but they have all been a lighter color. This one got my attention because of the spicier components.

For the link to the recipe click HERE.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
1 cup diced red onion
~~1 1/4 pounds ground turkey breast~~ I used a store bought rotisserie chicken (because I'm lazy), I just broke it apart with my hands.
4 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
3/4 cup tomato puree (I only used one 6oz can)
1 tablespoon enchilada sauce mix (recommended: Lawry's)
1 avocado, pit removed, flesh chopped
1 cup shredded Mexican-cheese blend
3/4 cup crushed baked blue corn chips
1/4 cup sour cream
~~1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves~~ I HATE cilantro!!!!

Directions
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat, add oil and saute the onions. Then add the fully cooked chicken.

Add the chicken stock to the pan and stir in garlic, chiles, tomato puree and enchilada sauce mix. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Put some of the chopped avocado in the bottom of each bowl and ladle the soup on top; stir to combine. Top with cheese, crushed chips and sour cream.

Second Class Citizens

2010-05-30T12:20:00.003-06:00

It's All Right Here

2010-05-30T10:57:00.002-06:00

Renee Stahl

You could travel halfway 'round the sun,
Or try to bat a thousand'n'one home runs
Never really feel like you are loved by anyone

You could be a famous astronaut,
Or even a poet laureate
And never really know just what you've got

You are the one that I adore,
I couldn't love you any more
You know that you don't have to look so far, my dear
It's all right here

You could read a hundred million things,
You could travel to and from Beijing
Never really feel like you've accomplished anything

But you are the one that I adore,
I couldn't love you any more
You know that you could have most anything, my dear
It's all right here

And if you need to go away
You know that I will make you stay
And know that everything you need is near
It's all right here

Cause you are the one that I adore,
I couldn't love you any more
You know that you don't have to look so far, my dear

Cause you are the one that I adore,
I couldn't love you any more
You know that you could have most anything, my dear

It's all right here
It's all right here
It's all right here
It's all right here

Stay

2010-05-27T21:07:00.004-06:00

Safetysuit

Walking out the door this morning
Wondering what it is that's going on with you on with you
Thinking of a way to say I'm sorry
For something that I'm not sure I do sure I do

So come on baby let me in
And show me what this really is

'cause something must have made you say that
What did I do to make you say that to me?
Something must have made you so mad
What can I do to make you say come back to me?

Hoping for a moment that I turn around
And you'll be coming after me after me
'cause all that I can say is that it's obvious
It's obvious you're all I see all I see

So come on baby let me in
And show me what this really is about
'cause I can't read you
Come on baby let me in
And show me what this really is

'cause something must have made you say that
What did I do to make you say that to me?
Something must have made you so mad
What can I do to make you say come back to me?
Come back to me

And I'll be here in the morning if you say stay
If you say stay to me oh
And I'll be here in the morning if you say stay
If you say stay to me oh
And I'll be here in the morning if you say stay
If you say stay to me oh

Something must have made you say that
What did I do to make you say that to me?
Something must have made you so mad
What can I do to make you say come back to me?

Something must have made you say that
What did I do to make you say that to me?
Something must have made you so mad
What can I do to make you say come back to me?

When You Got A Good Thing

2010-05-15T22:15:00.003-06:00

Lady Antebellum

Everybody keeps telling me I'm such a lucky man
Lookin at you standin there I know I am
Barefooted beauty with eyes that blue
The sun shine sure looks good on you
I swear

Oh I can't believe I finally found you baby
Happy ever after, after all this time
Oh there's gonna be some ups and downs
but with you to wrap my arms around
I'm fine

So baby, hold on tight
Don't let go
Hold onto the love we're making
Cause baby when the ground starts shakin
You gotta know when you got a good thing

You know you keep on bringin out the best of me
And I need you now even more than the air I breathe
You can make me laugh when I wanna cry
This will last forever I just know, I know

So baby, hold on tight
Don't let go
Hold onto the love we're making
Cause baby when the ground starts shakin
You gotta know when you've gotta good thing

We got a good thing, baby, woah
So hold on tight
Baby, don't let go
Hold onto the love we're making
Cause baby when the ground starts shakin
You gotta know, oh you gotta know
Oh you gotta know, you gotta know
When you got a good thing

We got a good thing baby
Woah, woah, woah, woah

Your dog is not a teacup or a tiny toy.

2010-05-10T15:59:00.008-06:00

I'm not sure if the person this is aimed at even reads my blogs. But it needs to be said. And she is not listening to me. I will not name names, or dog breeds. This will be an open letter to anyone that thinks they own a "teacup" or "tiny toy" dog.

Your dog is not a "teacup" anything. No dog breed comes in a teacup size. There is a toy group. Your dog is in the toy group, as is my yorkie. But they are not toy dogs. They are standard dogs. There is one breed standard for their breed.

Yorkies come in one size.

Chihuahuas come in one size.

Pomeranians come in one size.

Malteses come in one size.

(Yes, poodles are different, they come in three sizes, however none of them are teacup or tiny toy.)

Saying your dog is a toy is still incorrect. Your dog comes in one size. Stop promoting bad breeding practices by pretending your standard dog is anything other than that. I'm so sorry you didn't do your research and bought your dog for far too much money from a god damn puppy mill. Am I surprised that your dog has already had health problems? Of course not! And to top it all off, you want to feed your dog some crap food. Do you care about your dog at all? You tell me you are an animal lover, and yet you perpetuate the stupidity of poor breeding practices and all that that means for the unfortunate females and unhealthy puppies. So you can agree with me all day long, but actions speak louder than words. And know that I am so very disappointed in you. You have listened to me SCREAM about puppy mills and backyard breeders and nasty dog food since the huge recall of 2007. Have you learned nothing? So you call me whining about the vet bills and fees you've had to pay. I don't care!!!! It serves you right. I don't feel bad for you. I feel bad for your dog. I feel horrible for your dog. And yes, I roll my eyes when you talk about your tiny teacup runty mutt. I'm sorry you cant see it over the phone. Your dog is not a purebred, it cant be when you DON'T HAVE PAPERS and you buy it from a very unsavory source. And yes, I pointed this out as much as I could just to piss you off.

I'm done talking to you about this. You know it pisses me off. If you truly love dogs, do your fucking research and stop whining about the mess you created for yourself. You now have a small life in your hands. Pay the damn vet bills and feed your dog a high quality food, or surrender your animal.

http://www.barkrescue.net/teacup.htm

http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dogs/tea-cup-yorkies.aspx

http://www.myyorkiesecrets.com/teacup-yorkie-puppies/the-truth-about-the-teacup-yorkshire-terrier.php

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T05:04:00.001-06:00

Me and my mom

Sad Post

2010-05-08T09:18:00.003-06:00

Joe's grandma, Betty, died last night. She had been in the hospital for 3 weeks with many complications. Please keep Joe's mother and sister in your thoughts.

2010-05-04T15:14:00.001-06:00

If you're going to say something stupid, don't get offended when someone calls you out on it. Stand by your foolishness! OR think before you speak! - from my deliciously snarky friend, Sara M.

Age

2010-05-04T14:42:00.002-06:00

Age is just a number, not a measure of maturity or intellect.

Graupel

2010-05-02T15:54:00.002-06:00

I learned a new term on Twitter the other day. And was able to experience it today.

To learn more about graupel click HERE.

Graupel (also called small hail, soft hail, or snow pellets) refers to precipitation that forms when supercooled droplets of water condense on a snowflake, forming a 2–5 mm ball of rime; the snowflake acts as a nucleus of condensation in this process. Graupel is the German word for this meteorological phenomenon.

My Duty

2010-04-27T21:36:00.001-06:00

"Missing you is my hobby, caring for you is my job, making you happy is my duty, and loving you is my life."

Miss you most

2010-04-27T20:57:00.001-06:00

"I miss you when I'm sad. I miss you when I'm lonely. But I miss you the most when I'm happy."

True Love

2010-04-27T20:55:00.001-06:00

"Distance, it is a test of love, many will fail, but for those who can withstand it have the answer: true love."

Night Sky

2010-04-27T20:53:00.001-06:00

"When you miss me just look up to the night sky and remember, I'm like the stars; sometimes you can't see me, but I'm always there."

Distance

2010-04-27T10:03:00.000-06:00

"Distance between two hearts is not an obstacle, rather a beautiful reminder of just how strong true love can be."

Deeply Loved

2010-04-18T20:04:00.001-06:00

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage ~Lao Tzu

Neighbors

2010-03-31T19:39:00.004-06:00

***WARNING***
I use some very harsh language about a child. I don't want anyone complaining about my language. If you don't like it, stop reading. Yes, I understand I want to be a developmental psychologist, but that doesn't mean I cant think a child is a stupid fucking moron. I'm pissed and I'm blogging to get it out of my system. Now on to the original blog:

It seems like a have a definite love/hate relationship with my neighbors. Even in college, they either loved me or hated me and the feelings were mutual. I lived in apartments all through college and it's a GREAT way to make new friends!

But I managed to make another enemy tonight.

I really consider myself a friendly person. I try to smile at everyone and say hello when I pass them in the courtyard. Rigel is a great icebreaker. And most people here are very friendly in return.

But the lady that lives next to me is a serious bitch, not just to me either. She hates all dogs, all old people, all children, all people that park next to her car. It's absurd. I can hear her yelling at her husband all the time. Maybe she's just an unhappy person in general. But I've stopped trying to be nice to her.

I love most of the kids that run around here with their siblings and their dogs. Great way to meet their parents and get to know new people. But there is this little boy that rides his scooter on the sidewalks around the courtyard. Last week when the weather started to warm up, my doors and windows were open. The moment he found out there was a dog in my apartment, he decided to stand next to my window and bark into my house at Rigel. I kindly asked him to stop and he did... for about an hour. It REALLY pissed me off. Then the weather got kinda nasty again and he wasn't a problem. The last two days have been beautiful outside, and the barking kid is back. This kid has to be about 12 and should know better. He really works Rigel up. I try everything I can to calm Rigel back down. But this retarded kid stands at the edge of the sidewalk and barks into my house!! So I close all of the windows and blinds and that pisses me off. It's pretty outside, I shouldnt have to do that.

So tonight was the same story. I waited until he was gone to take Rigel outside to potty. We were out there for 30 seconds when he comes speeding towards us on the sidewalk SCREAMING at the top of his lungs. Rigel went crazy. So I scold Rigel and walk down a different sidewalk, avoiding this stupid child. And here he comes. So I turn around and ask him to please leave us alone. And walk down a different sidewalk. Maybe he's truly mentally retarded because he just followed us. So again, I asked him to LEAVE US ALONE!! GO AWAY!!! But nothing. So Rigel and I went inside. He walked to the porch doors and waved at me. I made a 'go away' hand gesture. A few minutes later Rigel is barking his head off in the bedroom. This stupid fucking moron has his face pressed against the screen of my bedroom window. Well, that was it. I started screaming at this retard. He ran off. Five minutes later, here he comes again... with his mother. She doesn't knock at my front door. She comes to the porch doors and... yells into my house, so I just assume that she's retarded too. I put Rigel in his room and step out on my porch. Very politely the mother asks me if I yelled at her son. I'm honest. I told her exactly what I said. But then I asked her if her son told her what he did to piss me off. She said it was because I didnt like the noise his scooter made. I just shook my head and told her the whole story. And she didnt believe me!! She scolded me for yelling at her son. I told her that I would stop yelling if she kept better tabs on her kid. And that if I found him next to my window ever again I was filing a complaint with the office.

Am I totally off base here (minus the lovely choice words)? Am I expected to just sit there while some dumbass barks at my dog? I've worked with kids (I've worked with SPED kids!!) and I know they can understand what is asked of them. Maybe I have really high expectations of others' children.

Please dont let your children be retarded.

Potato & Spinach Soup with Gouda

2010-03-27T19:16:00.004-06:00

By popular demand, this is the recipe for the soup I made today. I think it smells and tastes a lot like my dad's Vichychoisse, a French leek and potato soup. But it was much easier to make.

Combine in crock pot:
6 cups of Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 (14oz) cans of chicken broth
1/2 cup water
1 small red onion, finely chopped
5 ounces of baby spinach
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Cook on low for 10 hours, or until potatoes are tender. On high it took about 6 hours.

Slightly mash the potatoes in the crock pot.
Add:
2 cups of shredded Gouda cheese
1 (12oz) can of evaporated milk

Cook on high for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

The recipe now says to thinly slice a clove of garlic and cook the slices in oil on the stove until they are golden brown and then put the slices of garlic in the bowl while you spoon out the soup. But that's not what I did, basically because I'm lazy. I just added a teaspoon of minced garlic (out of a jar) to the crock pot while it was cooking.

And of course for garnish and because I love Gouda cheese, sprinkle some more cheese over the bowl of soup.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

And if you have a bread maker, I would suggest making some garlic rosemary bread for dipping. Basically it's just a normal box of bread mix with some garlic powder and some rosemary that I've crushed up in my hand. Joe calls it Macaroni Grill bread, since they both have rosemary in them and we dont get out much.

From a Rival Crock Pot Simple 1-2-3 Recipe book.

Hour of Separation

2010-03-08T08:20:00.001-07:00

"And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."

-Kahlil Gibran

Lost Moon

2010-03-08T08:13:00.001-07:00

New Moon

I was like a lost moon

my planet destroyed

in some cataclysmic,

disaster-movie scenario of desolation

that continued, nevertheless,

to circle in a

tight

little

orbit

around the empty space left behind,

ignoring the laws of gravity.

Dara

2010-03-04T19:26:00.000-07:00

The newest member of my family, my baby cousin. Born 3/4/10. 8lbs 12oz

Cant you see me on the phone?

2010-02-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

My mother used to say that she had to hide when she was on the phone. She said that the phone would ring and her kids would instantly want to bother her. I, as one of her children, dont remember this at all, but whatever.

So I was on the phone with GEICO getting some very important auto insurance paperwork out of the way. I was alone in the kitchen. And here comes Joe.

"Who are you talking to?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What's for dinner?"
"Is this spaghetti still good?"
"When did we make this?"
"Sweetie, are you listening to me?"

And then he had the nerve to get mad at me for not listening to him!! I hung up the phone and just started laughing. I dont remember doing that to my mother, but if I did, I am SO sorry!!

My furry alarm

2010-01-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

It's absurd to think that a 6lb yorkie can make you feel safer when you're alone, but time and time again, that seems to be the case.

I got Rigel when I was in college. My mother told me that I needed another heartbeat in the house. I got Rigel a month before I was even engaged, but lets not forget that Joe was in Germany until we were married for 6 months. I lived alone. And Rigel was just a little pup.

But now he's a grown dog of 3. And he knows what sounds normal and what doesn't. When Joe is home, Rigel goes to sleep with me. He snuggles under the covers and starts snoring. All is right with the world. But if Joe's not here when I go to bed, Rigel acts completely different. He sits at the edge of the bed and doesn't fall asleep fast. He's my alert pup!

Last night I went to bed fairly early, but Joe was out with a buddy of his. About 1:30am, my furry alarm goes off. I grab him and listen. I cant hear anything, not even the normal sound of a key in the lock. Many suppressed breathes later, I heard Joe's key unlocking the door. And Rigel sounds off again. Relentlessly. This is not normal, and Rigel understands that. Joe announces his normal greeting to Rigel, but there is another voice, a very different male voice. Rigel is off the bed. Barking and hopping. Joe and I both get Rigel to calm down. All of his people are home. All is right with the world. Rigel can go to sleep, under the covers, curled up by my side.

As most of my friends know, Joe is leaving soon. And it worries me on many levels. I've always been fairly paranoid. But now I have a trained alarm, always set to loud. He's not going to attack any intruders, but he's going to make sure I know about it. And I have my own fun surprise for these intruders. But on some level, I feel safer knowing that I can go to sleep at night and know I have a little furry alarm by my side.

New Moon

2010-01-19T19:18:00.001-07:00

Time passes.

Even when it seems impossible.

Even when each tick

of the second hand

aches like the

pulse of blood

behind a bruise.

It passes unevenly,

in strange lurches

and

dragging

lulls,

but it does.

Even for me.

Set Fire to the Third Bar

2010-01-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

I find the map and draw a straight line
Over rivers, farms, and state lines
The distance from 'A' to where you'd be
It's only finger-lengths Jobby that I see
I touch the place where I'd find your face
My finger in creases of distant dark places

I hang my coat up in the first bar
There is no peace that I've found so far
The laughter penetrates my silence
As drunken men find flaws in science
Their words mostly noises
Ghosts with just voices
Your words in my memory
Are like music to me

I'm miles from where you are,
I lay down on the cold ground
I, I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

After I have travelled so far
We'd set the fire to the third bar
We'd share each other like an island
Until exhausted, close our eyelids
And dreaming, pick up from
The last place we left off
Your soft skin is weeping
A joy you can't keep in

I'm miles from where you are,
I lay down on the cold ground
And I, I pray that something picks me up
and sets me down in your warm arms

I'm miles from where you are,
I lay down on the cold ground
and I, I pray that something picks me up
and sets me down in your warm arms

~Snow Patrol

Goals for 2010

2010-01-02T12:04:00.001-07:00

I personally never make resolutions for New Years. I never stick to them. But this year will be new and different so I'm going to set some long term goals to better my life and marriage.

Goal #1: Get healthy. Its not a weight loss plan. Its not a diet. Its a live-it! We plan on trying to get pregnant in about a year so I need to be fit and healthy for the baby and myself through a pregnancy.

Goal #2: Use Rigel to the best of his ability. He's an amazing dog and has done wonders for my lazy reclusive personality. He makes me get out, even if its just out the door. We've already met two neighbors and their dogs. Rigel was in training in Arkansas and his trainer thought he would be an amazing therapy dog (in spite the fact that she wasn't even a fan of yorkies- but she loved Rigel all the same!). I will get him back in training and will follow through with CGC certification and therapy dog certification (if I can afford the $$$ it takes). He will be amazing to work with when I become a psychologist.

Goal #3: Become independent again. It sounds weird, but I've become increasingly more dependent on my husband and his way of life. I guess its a good thing to a point. But if he's deploying soon, I need to get back to my independent roots. When I was in college, even at 17 years old, I wasn't afraid to do anything by myself. I think my Psychology background will help me out in this area. We were forced to be alone in situations: go to dinner alone, go see a movie alone, go walk in the park alone (or with Rigel), etc. I lived alone in an apartment all by myself for 3 years and wasn't afraid of the dark or creaks. I wasn't afraid to be places alone or meet new people. I need to find that brave girl again. Don't get me wrong, I love being part of a marriage and a partnership, but in this very unique situation my husband has put me in, I need to retain my brave independence. Joe has told me he married me because he knew I could handle this Army wife life. I know I can do it. I just need to find that fearless attitude I had in college. Its in me. I know it is.

Goal #4: Read more. I know it sounds simple. But I used to read all the time. I've let my brain atrophy. I've begun reading again and it's actually hard. It the world of TV and internet, I've become impatient. So I'm going to slow my world down and curl up with a good book and read. You'd be surprised how much it will do for you. I need to read for my brain, but also for my GRE. This will help me read for information but also read for vocabulary.

So here's to 2010!

8 Ways to Prepare Your Pets for War

2009-12-29T23:19:00.001-07:00

8 Ways to Prepare Your Pets for War

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/pets_war

Anything worth doing...

2009-12-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Anything worth doing, is worth doing differently. - John Minden

The above is a quote from my father. He and my mother have been married for 28 years. And he always makes light of the craziness in a marriage, the banter back and forth, the sense of humor that the two parties must have to live together for almost 3 decades or more. My parents have been married longer then they haven't been married. It's a very good feeling. I hope to make it in my marriage. But when things get tight, I remember what my father says about his marriage and my mother.

While sitting on the couch next to my husband on our Christmas with my family, my father says to my mother: Anything worth doing, is worth doing differently. He says it in a light-hearted manner. But I take it to heart. Anything worth doing... is worth doing the way that is easier and better for everyone involved.

I love you, Daddy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a great holiday. I cant help but think about the couples and families that are separated for whatever reason; wars, careers, school. I hope you can find some joy in this holiday season in spite of the distance between you and your loved ones.

I am thankful for...

... my loving husband who means the world to me.

... my supportive parents who are always there for me and my family.
... my wonderful pup, Rigel, who is my complete sanity at some moments.

... the good health of my family who have to stick around for a very long time.

... my friend Mandy, who has become like the sister I've never had. I will miss her so much.

... the internet. I got this idea from a different blog, but it's so totally true! It keeps us all connected and informed.

... my Twitter friends and military family.

... my Blackberry. Along the same lines as the internet, keeps me in touch with all the important people in my life.

... the move we're preparing for. It has come at a perfect time.

... the life we've made for ourselves and the great future we have ahead of us. I cant wait to see what the future has in store for us.

Home

2009-11-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

Rigel and I drove back to Paris, Arkansas, this weekend to visit the family. And while I'm in my parents' house, it feels like home. It feels the same as when I lived here. My mom hugs me good night. My dad falls asleep in his chair and snores. Although we've been banished into the back room for bed. The other bedroom is made up within an inch of it's life. Neither my brother nor I sleep there when we come home. But all in all, it feels like home.

Until I leave the house. So much of this little town has changed. The stores have come and gone. The roads have changed. There are stop signs where there weren't stop signs. The tiny Wal-Mart sells beer now! Old houses have come down. Doughnut shops have gone up in their place. The middle school is now the high school.

I drove through my old college town, Fayetteville, on the way here, just for fun. A lot of it has changed. They finally put a stop sign up at Leverett and Razorback. There are huge tall cranes building more and more around campus. More classrooms. More dorms housing the students that will walk the same paths I did for 6 years.

Nothing stays the same. Change is good. But there's a part of me that wants something to stay the same. With the life Joe and I have chosen, everything will change on a regular basis. Houses. Duty stations. Jobs. Bosses. Towns. Doctors. Vets. Scenery. Mountains. Plains. Trees. We'll soon trade in our field and sandals for snow capped mountains and snow boots.

But I guess it is what it is, right? Change IS good. And we can see the nation one PCS at a time. And I can always come home to this odd little town and my nice little house. And my crazy parents. Who will never change.

Until that one awful day that it does change, Rigel's wine box will always be in the window to greet us.

Day 983 of my captivity

2009-11-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

From a Cat's Daily Diary...

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards. There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now................

Sanctity of Marriage?

2009-11-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

I know I might be a little late to the game on this one, but I feel the need to say something. I didn't want to say anything while I was too annoyed; my blogs turn out very ranty. But it's been bugging me so much, I think some things need to be said.

First off, as many of you already know, I'm not the most religious person around. And it pisses me off when people try to use religious doctrine as law of the land. America wasn't based on the christian faith; the founding fathers were deists. That's a fact. Look it up. Two words: Jeffersonian bible. Look that up while you're at it.

Secondly, the crap vote in Maine last week was a complete shock to me. Why are we voting on a person's happiness anyway? Homosexual marriage is no different than interracial marriage. And I know that some bigots still aren't a fan of that, but we aren't voting on it anymore. Everyone needs to chill the fuck out and let people be people. Everyday in my elementary school we stand and say the pledge of allegiance. I don't say it. I think it's a bunch of crap. We are brainwashing our children everyday, but we as a country don't stand up for what it says: with liberty and justice for all.... unless you're a gay man.. I guess.

So lets talk about the sanctity of marriage. We as a country have a 50% divorce rate. And it can only follow that in a country that is primarily christian, most of those divorces are from good "christian" folks. So all of your religious arguments have to be thrown out right there. I am an Army wife. The military has a higher divorce rate than the average civilian population. Research shows that about 20% of marriages fall apart within two years when one spouse has been sent off to war. Plus women in every military branch are more than twice as likely to end their marriages as their men. So you wanna talk about the sanctity of marriage and have a vote about who is able to be married? Lets create a law that says that military personnel cant be married. It's fairly likely to end in divorce anyway and it will save the tax payers a shit load of money! So you know how much money is spent on military dependents? My health care is paid for by taxpayers. My housing is paid for by government money... yep, taxpayers again. And the child support payments from the children of divorce? Can you even imagine how much money that is?

Okay, do I honestly think we should forbid soldiers from getting married? Of course not. Should we prevent ANYONE from getting married? OF COURSE NOT! What happened in Maine is like saying that two blue eyed people cant be married. It's absurd and fairly retarded. This is how our nation is progressing. Remember reading in your history books a time where a whole bunch of stuffy white men had to decide whether or not black men were humans and could have EQUAL rights? Whether or not they could vote and own property? Same with females. Do you remember reading about these brave women fighting for YOUR right to vote and have EQUAL rights to men?

Now you have to tell me how homosexuals fighting for EQUAL rights is any different than that. And you can keep your religious nonsense to yourself. I don't care to hear it. None of it is a good excuse to deny rights to any human being. Your religious shit is just an excuse for you to be a bigot and then hide behind some stupid book.

How much does a polar bear weigh?

2009-11-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

Enough to break the ice. Hi my name is...

Yeah you get the idea. Never heard that pick up line before. Just thought I would share. LOL! It ought to be the name of a book.