2008 in review

What a year it has been! OMG!

January started out with a house full of guests and then Tom's departure. I proceeded to start school and quit smoking and then got busy on the diet. I took an epic road trip over the summer, started a new semester and spent a weekend in DC and then two weeks in heaven with my darling Tom. Came home to moving and boxes.

I'm almost settled in the new house (yes, it took me 2 months) and am about to start my 3rd semester. I've volunteered to foster my brother's dog while he goes off to boot camp (he's 37) in January and am anxiously awaiting Tom's return.

2009 looks to be another exciting year. Tom coming home, another move and all sorts of fun and excitement.

I live a blessed life. While this last year has been hard, it has made me appreciate Tom and my family more than I ever knew I could. I am a lucky, lucky girl.

I hope your New Year is blessed and joyous....

See you in 09.

Christmas Eve

Auntie Margie, her husband Ernie, me
and Austen and Kianti, Ernie's daughter.



and a body shot, even though it's from the back side... lol

For Liz

This was before I got to my biggest. Kinzie (on the right) is like a size 4 and my mom wears a 0. I was then about a 20.



I put on a 12 slack today though!

In response...

Thanks for reminding me that not everyone thinks my neurosis is just wrong.


Judy, I am really glad you said something. I appreciate the third party aspect a lot. I am also flattered that you read...

Michelle, you're right. I don't want friends that can't handle the truth.

Liz, I guess it doesn't bother me that someone says, "I'm sorry." It is HOW it is said that bugs me. Some people just have a way that is so diminutive. That bugs me immeasurably. This particular incident was bad. It was like I was instantly subhuman because I subjected the person to my reality.

And, about my husband being awesome... I cannot ever explain to you how awesome he really is. He is the first person (other than my son) that I *know* loves me just for me. He chooses to spend his life with me despite my quirks. Some in my family do love me, but I always wonder if they love me just cus I am family, ya know? I don't wonder that with Tom. Before I knew him I was a weak and meek person. He didn't change me, but he made me safe enough to dig out of the trenches and look at my life. The gift he has given me is life-changing.

Lipstick (an ammendment to eyeliner)

OK, I need to explain my last post. Actually I should probably delete it, but I am not going to. It started out as a self-deprecating post. Why can't I put on eyeliner? Why can't I keep my silly little mouth shut? Why can't I understand that people don't want to really know others? Why do I just not get social nuance? Why am I as dense as cement some (most) of the time? Then it all spiraled out of control with the mouth part.

I was speaking with someone and said something about not liking Christmas because it was always another opportunity for my parents to fight about me and then my dad hurt Austen in a big way. You could see this person literally bristle and tense up. They looked at me and said I just can't think about those things. I need to make new traditions. I need to forget that bad stuff and make happy memories. I just get really pissy when I am told that I just need to forget about things and move forward.

All of this seems to go back to things Morgan just can't comprehend. Why do I need to deny my past? Why should I NOT talk about my childhood? Why should I pretend that I get any type of warm and fuzzy from thinking about childhood holidays?

I hate this holiday. Truly really effing hate it. If you know me, I never use the word hate for anything. With Tom it is much more tolerable because I can focus on the here and now, but I just don't have that this year. I hate having to send Christmas cards to people I don't even like. I hate buying gifts because you're supposed to. I hate the tree. I hate the lights. I hate all of it.

Anyway, the 'you' was empirical, not direct. It's just silly little Binky shaking her fists at the things she doesn't understand. I just don't like being superficial. If you ask me a question, why shouldn't I answer it truthfully??? Why should I sugar coat the truth to make you (the other person) comfortable when being superficial and lying makes ME uncomfortable.

Eyeliner

It's one of the finer points of being a woman that I have never figured out. I asked Eve to show me once, she never got me to understand. Professional make up ladies have tried. I just do.not.get.it. It looks pretty, though. I try and try but just never master it.

I don't get secrecy either. Some things are *meant* to be secret, or at least private, but I can't seem to muster enough strength to keep my thoughts, etc to myself. It makes people really uncomfortable when I talk about abuse like any of my other childhood memories. It makes them say, "I'm sorry." and stuff like that. I don't feel the need to congratulate people for good things in their childhood, why do they have to apologize for the bad stuff in mine. It bugs me that I have to censor myself to oblige the comfort of others. Why can't I talk about the Christmas that my father almost killed my son? You get to talk about the Christmas that made you love the holiday.

So, to everyone... I am *really* sorry my history makes you uncomfortable. It is a part of who I am though. It walks with me every day and probably will forever. I have an amazing life now and am blessed with awesome friends and family around me. However, the past doesn't vanish.

Done, done. done.

Thank the powers that be!!! I just finished my last paper. I have two to turn in tomorrow (both biggies) and that's IT! I do have one paper to do basic revisions and edits on for next week, and one little assignment, but other than that the big work is done.


I have never felt so relieved. The finals next week should go well. Only one to worry about is the Psyc final. I really, really need to get a 96 or better on it. So, I think I am going to pour myself a glass of wine and then drift off to sleep. I might actually be present around here next week. If things go well, the tree in my living room might get lights on it this weekend (it's only been standing in here a week).

Oh, and Tom comes home NEXT MONTH. That makes my heart sing.

Margaret and Helen

An online friend of mine posted a link to the breastfeeding blog. I read that and laughed pretty heartily. I started digging through the archives and absolutely fell in love with them.

My grandmother, Nana, is 85 years old today. Her baby sister, Auntie June, is about 83ish and Nana's best friend. These two remind me so much of them.

Anyway, I am glad I was able to spread their joy. Oh, and Liz, I agree with you about wanting to be like them when I grow up.


Total side note, sitting here at my dining room table, looking out the back windows and the sky is ablaze with reds and purples above the harbor/ocean. I figured you all would appreciate how pretty it is. I can't wait to see the sunsets in Hawaii.

I'm in love with Margaret and Helen...

This was posted on that same forum I mentioned before today and I've effectually wasted most of my day reading the different posts. I love them.

Go, enjoy. Know that it will eat up your day...

Margaret and Helen, bloggers in their 80s.

Footnote

I forgot to mention that next time I make these cookies (oh yes size 12 jeans, there will be a next time - you can wait for me just a while longer) I will put either some lemon zest or lemon juice in. I think it would just make them perfect. They already are melt in your mouth good. I wouldn't put enough in them to make them lemon cookies, just a hint to make them... well I dunno.. they just seemed to need it.

Yum, yum, yum (aka do NOT make these)

In St Louis, they have a regional favorite called the gooey butter cake. It's quite good. A St Louisian posted this recipe on a forum I frequent. I made them tonight. They're very, very good. Make you get a tummy ache good.

Gooey Butter Cookies

1 stick butter, softened (not margarine - do you have to say that anymore? Are people still eating that plastic stuff?)

8 oz. cream cheese - room temperature

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (I used more cus I always do)

1 egg

1 18 oz. box Duncan Hinds golden butter cake mix

powdered sugar

Mix together butter, cream cheese, vanilla and egg, then add cake mix and blend well. Chill dough for several hours or overnight; dough is easier to work with when it's chilled.

Heat oven to 400. Roll chilled dough into 1 inch (or smaller - do NOT make them bigger) balls; roll in powdered sugar before dropping onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes; Until starting to turn golden on top. Remove cookies from sheet and transfer to racks to cool. Sprinkle additional powdered sugar on top of cookies. Enjoy!

English 201 - Critical thinking and literature analysis

You're kidding me, right? My English teacher marked off on my paper the word 'wont'. The actual sentence was, "as cattle are wont to do" (it was a reference to Frost's poem Mending Wall) and she told me it was wrong. That it should be want, and not won't. I tried to explain to her that wont was very different than won't and want. I ended up pulling out a dictionary (yes I travel with one) to show her. She told me, "You're blowing my mind." She also told me that I misused 'onerous' and 'epitaph' in another paper. Those are a little more obscure so I wasn't upset about those. However, I am not wont to use words inappropriately. I don't think anyway. I told her I could spell and define litigious, too. She didn't think that was as funny as I did.

I guess because of my upbringing or something, I don't get upset when a person criticizes me. If you tell me I can improve, I think you care more about me than if you lie and say all is fine and good. My English instructor obviously does not feel the same way about such things. While she is very smart and can talk about literature for days, I think she should have a much firmer grasp upon her native tongue. She has taught me a little about reading into literary works, but has taught me next to nothing about the structure of the English language, which is the backbone of the course even if it is critical thinking.

See, just read that rambling mess. I need help with written English structure. Anyone care to help me?

The Bed War

This is some funny stuff:


I bought Hershey this wonderful, snuggly, comfy bed at BigLots last week. It's like a giant pillow with fuzzy stuff and it's big enough for him to stretch out on. I was so excited. We've passively looked for a good bed at a reasonable price for him for a while.

Too bad Callie says he can't use it:




So, I went back to BigLots to buy another bed. Well I went there HOPING they had another one, because that's the kind of store it is. Well, I struck it rich. They had another one! Albeit it was smaller and red, but I figured Callie wouldn't mind too much. Things went well...




For a little while anyway... then it degenerated. I about died laughing. Poor Hershey is pussy whipped... no pun intended... I swear.




Doesn't he look utterly pathetic on that little tiny bed next to her on the great big one???

White Flag Waving

I give up. I don't want to unpack. I don't want to go to school. I want to sleep' for a very, very long time.

Someday I will post more of the utterly fabulous photos from our amazing trip to FL...

Perfection

I love this man...

We heard this song on the way to breakfast our first morning here:

I think I might cry...

I'm getting a cold sore on my mouth. I don't get them too often and usually they're in my nose (weird right?) which sucks royally and is more painful, but at least they can't be seen.

Tom's about to leave Kuwait. I see him in three days. If there was a god, this would not happen. So very effed up. I want to cry.


(I am taking the pills, but I am almost out. Of course it's Sunday and I can't get any more.... so hopefully I can get more in the morning...)

Just Because

I am helplessly addicted to LOLCATS and LOLDOGS. It's kind of funny considering I don't typically like cheesy humor. This one made me cackle.

What a great trip!

Thursday evening was very bumpy here in our house. I thought I might have to kill the child, so I didn't have great expectations for the trip, unfortunately. Regardless, we were going.

We had a pretty good flight on Friday, got settled quite easily and found our hotel. All pretty simple, except for my throat hurting and my sinuses starting to throb.
Picture of Austen on the plane:


Saturday pretty much sucked. I was sick and it rained. and rained. and rained. Hannah was not nice to us, but much nicer than to all of my southern friends. So, we did get out a bit and do some driving around. We stumbled upon the Iwo Jima Memorial. It's so big. I guess I never realized. We also happened upon Ft. Myer. We drove around there a bit. It's so neat to see the old bases (posts) because they are so vastly different than good ole Camp Pendleton.
The Memorial in the Rain:


Sunday we got out and saw a lot, well after we drove around looking for a parking spot. Austen actually found one, he's got a good eye. We went to several Smithsonian Museums, the Capitol, Washington Monument and the WWII memorial. All of it quite gorgeous, as most of you know:
The Smithsonian Castle:


Austen at the Air & Space Museum:


The Capitol:


Austen at the Natural History Museum:


A photo to make you go, "Awwwwwweeeeeeee!":


Me at the Washington Monument:



So Monday I got all dressed up and stood next to the Treasury in the hot sun for several hours, then went to the front (South) lawn of the White House and listened to the Shrub babble. I was thoroughly underwhelmed, but I can claim to have been on the White House grounds, I suppose. His remarks can be found here, if you're interested.
Here's my self portrait at the White House:


I had someone else take a picture of me, too. I like the one above better, though:



After the White House, Austen and I went and found some grub, then hit some more sites. We went to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. I did not think that would have any affect on me, however, I bawled. A. Lot.



On to the Lincoln Memorial (Wow):


When we were leaving the Lincoln Memorial, we ran across this little squirrel. Notice how he's flat on his belly. He scooted around like that. He ran, too. So, he wasn't injured, just fat and funny:


And Arlington, I cried a lot more. It is so amazing. I'd never been there before. I've always said that I wanted to be cremated, but if the hubster wanted us to be buried there, I would be good with that. It would be an amazing place to be ad infinitum.:


The Tomb of the Unknowns:


Next we visited was the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which was gorgeous. We were there around sunset and able to see the sunset over the Tidal Basin...


On Tuesday, we got up early and drove down to Quantico to see the Marine Corps Museum. Wow, simply wow. How very cool. Then we met my dear friend Khris for lunch and talk. It was *so* good to reconnect with her. I've missed her so much. I forget how easy conversation is with Khris. We won't let the communication slide like that again, ok?

So, sorry for the massive update, but it is what it is....

lots of love,
binks

We're off!

Headed to DC in the morning! Can't wait. Will be a fun trip. Site-seeing will be great but getting to see Khris takes the cake!

Will update with photos upon our return....

The New Skipjack Lane

I thought I had posted pics and a link before, but it was just a picture and no link! Silly me.

Anyway here we go:

This is the new Skipjack standing near where the pool is (my house is at the very endon the left) These are all one story homes, but most of the community is comprised of two story homes. The one stories are field grade quarters or disabled accessible homes.


Here's another of the street. My house is centered in the photo. You can see the two story homes off to the back right of the photo and you can see Koelper Street back there, too.


And for more photos of *my* house (the interior and such) you can check them out here. I will try to get down there and take more pictures of the community at large for y'all.

The White House

So, I've been invited to the White House to attend an event for volunteers. The President will be there and be giving a speech. The event will be held on the South Lawn. I don't know how to dress.

I was raised by pinko, commie, liberal, tree-huggin, leftists. I am married to a fairly centrist republican. I am somewhere in between those two identities. I have a bleeding heart, but I still believe in your right to bear arms (or bare arms if they don't look like mine). I guess you could call me a Libertarian. I believe in small government and protecting our own first.

I am not Bush's biggest fan, you could say.

Is it hypocritical to attend an event thrown by a man you loathe just to garner the once-in-a-lifetime experience of attending an event at his (ultra historic amazing) home?

I'm confounded.

Falling into place

Well, some things are getting settled, which is nice. I have a move date. School starts tomorrow and Austen's school just needs a bit more to fall into place. Stress has lowered immensely.

I am a bit nervous about school, but not like I was last semester. I am actually more excited to get it going and done with than any other emotion.

We still don't have orders, but I think there is a decent chance that we're headed Hawaii's way. If we do, Tom will have to do a 5 month school in VA, which kind of upsets me, but I will deal. At least he will be able to fly home and we can visit him. DC is a whole lot more accessible than Fallujah these days. This also means we might get a bit longer in our house here in Cali.

I don't have much desire to stay in California, it's really not my kind of place. However, schooling here is ridiculously inexpensive and that is important to me these days. So, if we stayed even one extra semester, it could save us thousands.

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

Scattered, Stressed and Excited...

Well, two weeks since a post. Not sure why, I haven't done a damn thing in the last two weeks. So, here is two weeks worth of blabbing:

We're supposed to move. They've delayed it until the beginning of September. I start school the 25th of August. I may have a trip to the east coast the first part of September. I have a trip to Florida the first two weeks of October (Tom's R&R and Eve's wedding *squeeeeeeeee*). I'm not sure when they CAN move me. It's so very frustrating. I just wish that these last three-four weeks that I've been sitting on my ass could have been spent setting up the new house. Not to mention that the longer they put off moving us, the less time we will be in that house. If we moved NOW, we wouldn't be there a year. So, if things get pushed until October, we might be there 7-8 months. That's an awfully short time (Liz, you're feeling this, I am sure).

I feel like my hands are tied. I keep going through things in my house to feel like I am accomplishing something, anything. It's not working. I feel like a lump. Other than having somewhat of a social life lately, my life is totally stagnant right now. I know it's not going to stay that way. It's some kind of effed up juxtaposition.

I've gotten everything handled that I can. I guess that is good. The only thing I am behind on is reading, but I am always behind on my reading. I buy books faster than I can feasibly read them. Sorta silly. Some people collect black and white cows or coins or what-have-yous; I collect books. It's a good thing.

That's where I am right now. Poised and ready to pounce but worried I am going to need to pounce in 8 directions at one time. I am blessed to have such great things going on in my life.

Tagged:

10 years ago:
I had just moved from Ketchum to Boise, ID. I was 22, Austen was 4 and we were just trying to eek out a life for ourselves.

5 years ago:
Falling in love with the most amazing man ever. Right after this, we decided to start shackin' up like two crazy kids.

5 months ago:
umm, enmeshed in school and the mundane. I really am more exciting than my life. I swear.

5 things on my list of things to do tomorrow:
1. Douche the kitchen. I need to get rid of a bunch of stuff before the move and I am going room-by-room to achieve this. I bought some really great new JA Henckle's flatware that I am very excited about. It's quite opulent looking... LOL
2. Two boxes of misc papers and stuff in the laundry room. They need my attention.
3. Laudry
4. Dining Room swabbing.
5. Lounge aggressively. Napping might be involved.

5 bad habits:
1. I'll get to this later (procrastination)
2. Not taking my make-up off before I go to bed.
3. Negative self-talk. When Tom's home, he reminds me to not do it. When he's away, I dogcuss myself at times.
4. Interrupting. I really, really try. I do.
5. Picking at my face.

5 places I’ve lived:
1. Ketchum, Idaho
2. Hyde Park, Vermont
3. Bend, Oregon
4. Destin, Florida
5. Mountain Top, Pennsylvania

5 things people don’t know about me
1. I'm scared in social situations. I am super-extroverted, but I am totally unsure of myself.
2. I go to the tanning bed just to be super hot. The tan is just gravy.
3. I basically raised myself.
4. I love all vegetables except green bell peppers.
5. I am compelled to own books. Libraries tease me. I hate how books from the library smell. I want to own every book I ever read so that when I can grab it at any time.

Tagged:
1. You! (I have a very small blog circle, sorry)

Crappy day with a good ending...

It's 1:30, again. Yeah, I am a confirmed night owl. I doubt this will ever change.

So, after capping things off last night about 2am and then reading for a while (an hour or so) I drifted off to sleep somewhere around 3:30ish. I was awoken this morning to some kid beating on my bedroom window. I am not sure what the little tyrant was using, but it sounded like a stick or something. Of course, this didn't please Hershey which prompted him to bark at the sleep terrorist. After tossing and turning for about 35 minutes with no success in falling back to sleep. I arose. I had been in bed for all of 6 hours, meaning I got about 5 hours sleep. Did I mention that I don't do well without sleep? Like really, do.not.function. So I pissed and moaned around the house all day. Being pissed off at the world is a stressful undertaking.

I took all of that mad energy and focused it on my bedroom. I tore apart every drawer, etc. I went through everything, again. I got my closet buffed out, and even pulled all of the clothing out of the guest room to go through.

Austen got all miffed, so I sent him to his room where he cried and cried and begged forgiveness. Evidently when I said, "You need to go to your room for the night." I was not clear in what I meant. I meant, "You need to go to your room for the night." After listening to him for quite a while, I played on the computer and dorked around the house again. Then decided to head to bed.

"Oh crap!" I had forgotten that there was a pile of clothing on my bed. So I figured I might as well dive into it. I tried on everything. Most all of it fit. That rocks. Things that I haven't worn since 2001 and earlier fit me again! I even got into a pair of old Calvin Klein size 14 jeans. I haven't worn those since I was 22-23ish. Yes, that's ten years. Yes, I realize it is weird to cart around jeans that don't fit you for ten years, but I did it. Now, don't misunderstand me. They were tight as heck. I will not be wearing them out in public anytime soon, but I got them on and buttoned them. I also got on some of my dress slacks that are 14s. There is a huge disparity in sizing between designers. My Ann Taylor 14s fit pretty darn good. the Larry Levine were snug, but not too tight. My AF jeans were doable, but probably too tight to be comfortable.

Anyway, which brand pants fit me is not relevant to this post. What IS relevant is that in January my size 20 pants were TOO TIGHT. 20 - 14 since Tom's been gone. That made up for the kid beating on my dang window this morning at the unholiest of hours.

It's 2am

and I am doing math. Not for a class or anything, but for school. I am realizing just how much this education I am pursuing is going to cost me. I am sorta freakin' out. I know that I looked up all of these interesting little tidbits before I went and registered for my very first class last spring. However, the information must not have sunk in. It's certainly sinking in right now. It's sinking in $150,000 deep. That's just tuition. Yeah, just tuition. There is SO much more on top of that.

It's worth it. It's worth it. It's worth it. If you say it three times, it has to be true, right?

This is the program I am working towards. I think it is really the only option that will mesh with my husband's career and our geographic limitations. We will be moving next summer and then again 3-4 years later. Oh, and guess what else? The average GPA of students entering the program is higher than 3.8. ummm, whoa....

And this, my friends, was a message brought to you by too much ice tea late at night.

Busy Week

So, I am getting ready for the big move back to Del Mar. I am pretty excited to have a nice house in a nice location. We had the ratty house in the nice location and now we have the nice house in the ratty location. Put the two together for a slice of heaven, eh? If it were only going to last more than a year or so... lol. Oh well. Being married to the Corps means you don't get too comfortable, eh?

Yesterday I bought a decent china hutch. It's older and a little beat up, but it will work until we settle someplace where I can have investment quality furniture. No point in letting nice things get beat to crap. Today, I took the wrought iron bed that my great grandfather, grandfather, father, uncles, brother and now son have slept on to the powder coating place. My husband assures me that powder coating is better than painting. Can anyone confirm this? Anyway, she sent me back home to polish all the brass accents on it first so that she can give me a complimentary clear coat so that they never have to be polished again. I think she might be a saint. I hate polishing metal (hence the aforementioned china hutch). The bed has been green, red, blue, and black. I think I am going to have them do it a dark cherry red. It is just pretty like that. Plus, every dang wrought iron bed you see is either black or white and that is just boring. The other colors seem a bit to collegiate for me, though. At least red is easy enough to coordinate.

Tomorrow I am going to go get all registered for school. I was supposed to do it today, but they were short on counselors and heavy on students. I didn't see any point in waiting.

The next few months of life are going to be hectic and this makes me smile. That means the time will fly until I see Tom. October 1 we should see each other. That's just TEN weeks from today!!! OMG!! I am so deliriously excited that I can hardly see straight. I am a bit worried that the two weeks is going to fly by way too fast and make the subsequent three months drag by. I hope with every little fiber of my being that this is his last deployment. Although, he told me last night that if he gets this gig in Oahu, he will be going to school for 18 weeks. 18 weeks is a long damn time... grrrrrrrrrrrrr.... oh well. At least he won't be in another country that has no commercial air service. I will be able to visit him at will.

Other than that, here's a picture of our new house:

Freezer Foods for Fisch

Meatballs:

1 pound ground beef (use soy crumbles in place of part of this if you’re going to use them)
1 pound Italian pork sausage (as spicy as you like)
1.5 cups bread crumbs (I use the progresso seasoned ones)
1-1.5 cups parmesan
1-2 eggs (just so that it clumps nicely)
Basil, oregano, thyme, etc to your taste
Crushed garlic (3-5 cloves depending on strength)
Course salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste

Roll into balls, pan sear and then bake in oven for an hour at about 375. Or pan sear then freeze. Or place in stock pot and slow cook in sauce.

If you make really big meatballs, you can slice them for meatball sandwiches, which is awesome. Or you can use the slices in lasagna, which is fabulous, too.


Ham and bean soup

Soak beans overnight and drain (I usually use one small bag)
Add stock to cover (tell me if you don’t make your own stock, it’s so easy and SOOOOOOOO much better). I use chicken or veggie, but beef or tomato would work, too.
Add a couple of smoked ham hocks
Add onions, celery and garlic that have been sautéed until soft in olive oil
Cut pork steak into small (bite sized) chunks and add to soup
Salt and pepper to taste

Red beans and rice is pretty much the same as ham and beans. You cook the red beans like the beans above, but use some more spice (Tony's Chachere's) and take it up a notch. Also, the guys like andouille sausage in it, but I prefer without. So, I just add that on each serving as I dish it out.

Chicken soup is a cake walk, I know you can make that. Add any old thing to some good chicken stock and all is well. Dumplings and noodles can be added after you thaw it to use.

Things like chicken cordon bleu can be assembled ahead of time and frozen, too. Chicken cordon bleu is pounded chicken breast with a piece of ham and swiss cheese inside. Then you roll it, dip it in flour then egg then a bread crumb/parmessan crusting. After that you pan sear and then bake. It can be frozen cooked or raw. It's good either way.

Other than that, my dear, there are all types of soups, etc that you can freeze. I had the most amazing soup up in San Fran last month. Chicken stock, dungenous crab, cilantro, green onion, water chestnuts... wowsers! I bet you could freeze that, too!

I have a few ready-made things that I buy as entrees and pair with fresh veggies or a salad for a quick meal, too. Schwan's has a few fish entrees that are really nice. Also, I really like stuffed shells and things like that from the freezer section. Oh, one other thing that I put together and freeze for a quick meal is stir fry. When I am making it for our dinner one night, I chop twice as much and freeze half. This way I can just toss it in the wok and go to town on a night where I have no time.

If I think of more, I will put them on here, too.

Destin and St Louis

Both of these trips were tremendously fun. Seeing one of my best friends did my heart a world of good. Seeing her blissfully happy and in love made me ecstatic. Here's a silly self-portrait after way too much champagne (and maybe a couple of shots?):





St Louis is an amazing city. I really did not expect to be struck by the city. The ballpark there is amazing and the arch is righteous. This shot is my fave:


This one is pretty darn cool, too:



All-in-all this has been an amazing trip. I am ready to be headed home, though. I'm going to spend a bit of time in Idaho, a day in SLC and head back to *my* house. I will enjoy it for a couple of weeks then we have to freaking move. Yay. I am actually pretty excited about the move, but it is always such a pain in the ass to move... grrrrrrr


Oh and here's a picture just for Tom:

Having Too.Much.Fun!

If that were possible. Since my last post, I've traveled a LOT. I am currently in St Louis, MO expecting one of the biggest fireworks displays in the country. Should be fun. I am trying to get all of my photos uploaded, but there are just so darn many. Sleep seems to be the thing that takes precedent when I have extra time.

So, I am off to nap for a bit before I head out for the evening!

Hope this 4th of July finds you all safe and happy. FYI - Yesterday, July 3, was my amazing, fabulous, handsome husband's 23 anniversary as a member of the USMC. I am so proud to be a part of this journey of his.

Traveling On...

Well, we're comfortably lounging in our hotel in Bend, OR. The family reunion was great. My aunt and I got wrapped into hosting the next one... (wtf??). Bend is really different from when I lived here, but still pretty and quaint.

We're headed to Boise today to see my almost 85 year old grandmother. I probably won't be online much for a week or so because my next travels are going to be less hotels and more houses.

Hope you're all having a wonderful summer thus far!

Another Amazing Day...

...then again any day where I see new stuff is amazing. We drove from Eureka to the Redwood Nat'l forest and then up to Gold Beach, OR and over this nice little road (so the map says) to Grant's Pass, OR.

Well that damn road was not nearly as nice as the map portrayed, and it didn't get bad until it was too far in to turn around. One lane. Not one fat lane where you drive in the middle and move to the side when you pass a car. No. Not. That. One skinny, tiny little lane. Parts of the road were roped off because the dirt under the road way had slid down the 4000 foot drop off and the blacktop was crumbling away. Then there was snow. Yeah. Snow.

It was stunningly beautiful. I mean make you weep gorgeous.

When I pulled off that road, I felt my entire upper body start throbbing. I had been so tense that I had worn out my muscles. I am sure that I will be sore tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow; we're going to Crater Lake which is a very unique place and quite amazing itself. From there we head up to Crooked River Ranch for the Family Reunion. Have I told you all that half of my family are wild, crazy, hippie, party-animals and the other half are very strict, law abiding Mormons? I think they (the Mormon portion) twitch when we put Bailey's in our double roasted espresso. I twitch when the cousin who is my age introduces me to the 2-3 more children she's had since the last reunion. I think she's up to 10 or so now.

It's always fun, and I am not even joking. Some how we all get along and accept the crazy differences. It's kind of weird though, since the relationship with this family is fairly convoluted anyway. My maternal grandmother was the daughter of the matriarch of this family. However, her mother was killed when she was 3 (as was her dad) and never really had any contact with these folks. Yet, we all still get together every 2 years in random places throughout the western United States.

I doubt that CRR has WiFi. So there will be no blogging. Also, I am having a humdinger of a time getting pictures uploaded from the PC to the public folder with these crappy WiFi connections in the hotels. You just might have to wait.

Hope you're all doing well.

Nor Cal

Wow... Wow... Wow....

There is nothing like Coastal Redwoods. We haven't even made it to the actual park yet (we're currently in Eureka) and what we've seen so far is incredible. I know I saw these trees as a kid, but they didn't have the impact on me, evidently. I drove THROUGH a tree today. The thick groves of old-growth Coastal Redwoods are magical. I feel like an intruder when I am amongst them. It must be how an ant feels in my home. It's just so bizarre. They are amazing, amazing organisms.

I cannot wait for tomorrow!!! I will upload and post pictures soon.

Some Pictures

Austen at Alex & Janet's home:


The trees at A&J's:


Lombard Street:


Headed into China Town:


In China Town:


me too:


The Bridge:


My Fave of the Bridge:


Me and Juliann:

Frisco

Wowsers....

I haven't been to this area of California for a million years. We got in to the Bay Area Saturday evening. We were greeted by Alex and Janet with open arms into their new home. Their beautiful son is a delight and I was so honored to get to hang out with him! Their home is situated on the side of a mountain in the middle of a coastal redwood forest (new growth <100 years old - still the tallest trees I've seen in 20 years). The entire side of their house is windows. It's STUNNING!!! We had the most yummy soup ever (chicken broth with a touch of soy and fish sauce with chopped asparagus, green onions, cilantro, pea shoots and king crab) for dinner and spent the evening chatting.

Then it was time to go to bed. Changed our clothes and brushed our teeth. I was camping on the fold-out sofa in the living room. I curled into the down mattress topper and down duvet that were provided to me and looked up. I had not realized that there were two MASSIVE skylights in the living room, directly above the aforementioned sofa. The moon is nearing full. I cannot describe to you the amazing beauty that filled my vision as I drifted off to slumberland. Seriously, you could not be pissed off living in that house. You just could NOT.

We're up in SF proper today. We're staying on Lombard, which is infamous. I think we will hit china town and the trolleys today. We're going to go to the exploratorium tomorrow... I'm stoked!!!

Head 'em up, Move 'em out!

Rawhide....

oh, not really....


Austen and I are taking off on our 'big uhbenture' (stolt from the Liz - add it to the list) on Saturday. I am so excited I can hardly see straight. The next two days will be full of laundry and packing and organizing and making sure the kiddo brought a toothbrush and then Saturday morning, we're OUTTIE!

I will keep you all abreast of our travels as I can. It's going to be an awesome trip. 6 weeks of family and friends, which are the family that you choose. Love, smiles, laughter, hugs, giggles, and nostalgia will ensue. I get to see some of the most beautiful places in this country and some of the most awesomest people to ever walk around in it.

So, you all hold down the fort. I will check in as able. Until then... have a wonderful summer!

Momentum

It's going well. At least thus far. Austen and I are taking our communication breakdown seriously (ok, so it is more of a rebuild than a breakdown, but I couldn't resist the LZ ref). It's hard. We both have to stop and think about what we're saying. We got into some bad habits. I really think that was a huge part of our conundrum. I am sure this is going to be a one-step forward, two-steps back process at times, and I am ok with that. As long as most days are positive; we've got a shot.

We went to play some goofy golf today, and we had a great time. It felt *so* good...

Pretty Dern Good Weekend

Surprisingly enough...

We started out rough. I really thought I was going to spend the weekend fighting with Austen; however, we did not engage. It was good. It was a step in the right direction.

I wiped out his room. The poor kid has nothing left. Well, that is not applicable today, but he spent Saturday with n.o.t.h.i.n.g. It was hard for him. He stepped up and helped me with some things I needed to do for the party last night and managed to execute almost exactly what he was instructed to do during the party (stay in his room and take care of the dog). So, he was told he got to have one thing back. He hemmed and hawed all day about it. In the end, he chose to get a more attractive pair of shoes back, which was far more logical than I expected. So, I let him have another thing back, too. I got a long, deep, tight hug tonight before bed. I haven't gotten one like that in a long time. It was awesome.

On to the party! What a freaking RIOT!!! Oh.my.gawd. that was one of the most amusing nights of my adult life. I laughed so hard that my cheeks hurt when I went to bed. I really, really, really enjoyed the heck out of myself. If everyone whom attended the party last night had half as much fun as I did; it was a success.

I finished off the weekend with a little cleaning today (note to all: when you have a party with all women, it is *very* easy to clean up afterward!) and a lot of very militant lounging and ardent snacking. I am presently adorned in the haute(st) of lounge-ware couture.

The only dismal part of the weekend was my lack of communication with Tom. I am raptly staring at my IM, though. I am sure I will get to talk to him in a moment! Well, bag that. While I was writing, I looked down at my little 'systray' and realized that there was no smiling, yellow face looking at me. So, I booted up Yahoo! Instant Messenger, and found that I had just missed my beloved by about 2 minutes. Sometimes I wonder how I made it to maturation.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, too!

Meme

Add this to the 'lifting things from Liz' list"


Top 5 things I couldn't do without under $5:
- Burritos from Senor Panchos
- Songs off I-tunes
- Smell-good dryer sheets
- Fresh Fruit and veggies. I spend more than $5 but not individually
- Peanut Butter

Top 5 favorite movies:
- Legends of the Fall
- Braveheart
- Tombstone
- The House of Sand and Fog
- Terms of Endearment

Top 5 baby names you love but probably won't use:
- Caley
- Ruth
- Jo
- Kaiva
- Kai

Top 5 songs I could listen to over and over again:
- The Corrs: Runaway
- Spoon: Don't You Evah
- Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
- Sublime: The whole Sublime Album
- Natalie Merchant: The whole Tiger Lily Album

Top 5 people who have influenced your life in a positive way:
- Austen
- Tom
- Eve
- Lisa
- The women I've met at/on Camp Pendleton. This will be the bar that all neighbors are held to for the rest of my life.

Top 5 things that stay in your purse at all times:
- Wallet
- Pen
- Lipstick
- Chapstick
- a bunch of damn receipts that I am bad at throwing away.

Top 5 moments that changed your life forever:
- My parents divorce - more specifically seeing my mom when she came to pick me up from the friend's house that morning with half of her face black.
- Moving to Florida
- Christmas 2001
- Becoming a mother
- Becoming a wife - there is nothing as special as being deeply seated in your love for someone and their love for you. I didn't know that until Tom.

Top 5 obsessions you have right now:
- Computer/Internet - Only connection to Tom
- LOLCATS


- The Scale (I check 2-3 times per day)
- Pictures - with the new camera, it's so fun!!
- Not yelling. This is brand new and I am working very diligently on it.

Top 5 places you would like to go:
- St Louis
- Fallujah, Iraq (No I am not kidding)
- Destin
- South Pacific
- Every-freaking-where

5 people you would like to see their top 5:
- I am not saying, because there isn't anyone that I don't want to hear/read their top 5s from.

What to do about that thing in the night...

I love my child. I love my child. I.love.my.child. I just don't like him a whole lot lately. For some reason, he's dug his heels in deeper than ever and has just refused to behave with a semblance of humanity. I am not sure how much longer I can take this little postal worker in my home.

My husband lovingly assures me that he was just like this as a child, which frightens the holy bejesus out of me. How can such a kind, loving, sweet, empathetic, generous, beautiful man have been an alien as a teen? Were other boys like this, too? My brother was, to some extent. Please tell me that your kind, loving husbands were utterly hysterical maniacs as children, too. Please tell me that this is somehow normal.

He's such a fabulous kid when he's good. He's kind, generous, loving, sensitive and warm. I see less and less of that kiddo and more and more of the postal worker lately. Everyone tells me it's 'cus Dad is gone and he's just testing the waters. I'm about to send him over to Dad. Outward Bound or the equivalent isn't sounding all that bad at this moment.

I really don't have a point to this blog, other than to just blab. I guess it is a manner of venting. I've heard that this hormonal upheaval can last up to five years. This scares me.

Exasperation abounds.

For Michelle

We're totally in the dark about the future, at this point. We were supposed to be going to VA Beach to the NMITC, but that is a no go, it would appear. We may be here in Cali for another few years. We may move some place totally different. Or, Tom may get out.

In regards to Del Mar: we're all moving back down there. They need to put the Enlisted folks that belong in these house in them. It does appear that the living in Del Mar will be nice, though. Same views, etc. but houses that aren't going to fall down around our ears.

The Easy Life

This is truly unadulterated joy:

Lifting Things from Liz

First, Liz, you can just start writing my blog, too. I've stolen your Shelfari, your traffic report and now your event tracker. Not to mention the whole blogging idea seems to have stemmed from you!

Secondly, I took off the adult content thing. I thought I might swear a little bit, but I don't see that happening.

Thirdly, happy Memorial Day. I hope that you all were able to talk to your husbands or snuggle them and love them. I know that Memorial Day isn't for them, but we all understand how easily it could be.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

I got to talk to Tom for a while last night. It was so nice. We normally have these very brief, serious discussions about whatever we need to talk about. I don't get much goof off time with him. He spends 18-20 hours a day in the SCIF and there is no Wi-Fi in his room (yet). We get to email a little, but since he has to use the unclassified PC to email me, he really can't do that much either. It gets furstrating. Last deployment, we talked on IM all the time. We're at 19 weeks. That's a long time. I can't fathom that we still have a lot more than that to go. 4 months until R&R, though. That's going to have to get us through. Anyway, our conversation last night was a lot of laughs and giggling and just insane silliness. This is what makes Tom & Morgan Tom & Morgan.

I don't need to get all mushy this afternoon.

I am looking forward to summer. I will hopefully stay busy enough to make it fly by.

PSYC Final

I aced it! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet! I am pretty sure this means I will have straight As for the semester.

I'm done with school!

I had my last final yesterday. This makes for a happy Binky. I was so nervous about this whole going back to school thing that I had myself all twitterpated. I don't know why I stressed so much, but I did. I worried about every grade, every ort of information handed out. I think I can be more relaxed next semester. I haven't gotten stupid since the last time I went to school.

After my last final, some of my fellow classmates and I went out for cocktails. I am so not 23 anymore.

I know these are brief

But I will post more in the coming weeks. Life isn't hectic, but I do have enough on my plate to keep me busy through tomorrow, at least.. lol

I have one more final today (PHIL) and one more tomorrow (ENG) and I am done, done, done! yay! The SOC final yesterday went well. I am sure I did well enough on it, regardless.

Last night I had dinner at General Kelly's house. How interesting. It really made me remember how much I miss living down in Del Mar. I am kinda glad now that we will be moving back down there. Austen will ride his bike to school, we will have a yard and Tom will be a mile from work. If we end up getting stuck here for another couple of years, it won't be too bad!

Oh, and I am posting this from my shiny new laptop. How fun!!

PSYC 101 Final

I was allotted 2 hours and 15 minutes to take the test. I finished in 12 minutes. Is this good or bad?

I might try this...

I guess I might try to keep up with a blog. I usually suck at things like this, though. So, it's here anyway. That means if I am inspired at some moment, I can write.

It could be really cool with all of the traveling this summer, Tom's R&R and Eve's wedding.