Whaddup Saturday night? Since when did I get so old that fun became staying in, not spending money, taking a late afternoon nap, and eating leftovers? Speaking of late afternoon naps, Derick and I were laying in bed simultaneously reading Catching Fire on our Kindles, when the next thing I know, he was snoring. I'd already taken my nap at around four. It was six o'clock when he fell asleep, if not earlier, and he has yet to wake up. I asked him if he wanted supper but he mumbled something about "not hungry," so I just let him rest. That was two and a half hours ago. I'm pretty sure he's down for the count.
So I'm just hangin out on Pinterest while Paris sleeps on the couch. She was whining a second ago, and I at first thought that she wanted my empty yogurt cup. However, her blanket was partially hanging off the couch, so I fixed it for her, and now she is in deep slumber just like her Daddy-O.
I hate to complain, but ya know what really irks me? What really gets under my skin? The stupid heater! It is set on 60 degrees in this house and the heater pretty much runs constantly. It kicks off during the day, but at night it will just pull a Tim Tebow and go ninety-to-nothing. How'd you like that reference? Anyway, it's not freezing outside, and I don't think 60 is too much to ask for inside. I just don't understand why it feels the need to be running constantly. I shudder to think about our utility bill this month. I shudder all the more to think what it could have been if we weren't content to wrap up in blankets and insisted on having our heat turned up to 70 or so.
Complaining gets on my nerves and I'm indefinitely trying to kick the habit. So maybe I will share a few things that make me happy or excite me at this moment in time. In no partic. order:
1. This weekend is a 96, which means D gets to stay home with me tomorrow and Tuesday.
2. Wednesday, I have a dentist appointment. Ok, so maybe I'm not "excited" about this per say, but chances are high that they will give me that awesome fruit-flavored fluoride foam. Lovin' fluoride since '95!
3. Tomorrow night I'm seeing Jeff Dunham in concert (is that the correct term? does he perform "concerts?"). I only know that he is a ventriloquist, and a lot of people think he's funny. I'm just excited because it's free on base! And I like free.
4. Next Tuesday is a very big day for me. Kelsey will accompany me to Wilmington, where I will hopefully get my hands on my very first pair of (affordable) designer jeans. No such thing you say? Apparently Plato's Closet is a grotto for cheap fancy pants. After that, we are going to see INGRAM HILL in concert in Raleigh! One of my favorite bands since junior high, Ingram Hill always gives a really good show. And live music in general makes me pretty peaceful. Unless it's crap music, but we won't touch that subject again....
5. Only three more tutoring sessions! Bittersweet because I really do love the kids, and I will miss working with them, but exciting because I will undoubtedly have a new job somewhere, someday.
6. Pickles in da fridge.
7. American Idol.
8. My parents will probably come visit while Derick is at training, whenever that takes place. I love when they visit! Hoping to take them to Harker's Island, and maybe Mom and I can drag Dad to the Nights at Rodanthe house in OBX.
9. New vamp show on Netflix.
10. Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby.
11. Teaching Kelsey dance routines.
12. Becoming members of First Baptist Jax next week.
13. New Ben Kweller album on its way to our possession.
14. My extremely loud sneeze may have just roused Derick from his sleep....Which means maybe he will go in the kitchen and grab me a snack.
15. I gots it pretty good, yo.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Bring on the Avalanche!!
What a dreary day in Coastal Carolina. I'm listening to Ben Folds and watching the rain hit the window screen, filling in each tiny square with a teeny drop of water. It seems so sad outside and my house has an aura of cold melancholy with the rain and this slow music blaring. It's such a sad setting, but the day is hopeful.
I've realized I talk a big talk of hope and promise and sticking it out in the tough times. I probably make a lot of people sick, and that's why my Facebook page for this blog has yet to reach 100 fans. I still plan to give a prize to someone once I reach that number. And who doesn't want a free prize?!!
Anyway, I do talk a lot about doing better and being better and not giving up. Most of that talk is preachin to the choir because I need to hear it. Being an optimist comes naturally to a lot of people, but it is not natural to me. I can look at a situation, sift through all of its goodness, and only find the dirt. It's easy for me to be rubbed wrong by someone once, and I don't stick around to give them the benefit of a doubt. They are forever branded as horrible to me. I'm constantly learning to give others a chance; give situations a chance. Not everyone is awful. Not every action is going to result in a terrible outcome. That's been a hard lesson to learn, and I'm daily relearning it.
Ok, so here is my hope speech for today. It's so easy, especially on dreary days and in winter months or during the rough times in our lives, to be sad and down and become negative. But our lives are filled with promise. We aren't here to be wet blankets or swim in self pity or bring others down with a negative attitude. We are here, I believe, to build each other up and to overcome trials. We weren't made to constantly suffer. And has anyone else realized that a huge aspect of suffering and pain actually stems from us--how we choose to react or accept things? Weird.
Enough about that. In other news, tutoring is almost over, so I'm semi-looking for another job. I want to do something I like, and I sure don't want to settle. I've had fun tutoring for the most part. My kids are funny, and I will miss them.
Derick is doing well and still enjoying his job. I'm so proud of him and the leader he is. Those young Marines are blessed to have him leading them. I'm a little biased, though;)
I bought new pajamas today, and I am just so excited to put them on tonight. I want to be in them right now. Little pleasures!
Derick and I have started a reading club. We got Kindles for Christmas from his parents, and we're both reading The Hunger Games. I wanted to read the books when I worked at the library, but they were ALWAYS checked out with several holds. I shouldn't have waited this long to finally read them. Since Kelsey will be going to Oregon during the movie release, I am going to force Derick to join me at the midnight release. He will love me for that.
Kelsey and I have been doing Insanity in the mornings, and it's bittersweet. I don't like getting out of bed, period. I don't like exercising in general. But it feels so good to be productive and sweat. It feels good to start my day with a good workout.
That's about it around here. We're just pushing forward, going day by day, and I'm anticipating spring/summer so that I can go to the beach in a bikini. Hopefully Insanity will ensure that I will be appropriate in a bikini. If not, they make some really killer one-pieces these days....I'm still pulling for the bikini. ;)
Well, I have clothes to put away, and when I say clothes, I mean about the same amount of clothes that fills a department store on any given day. Here's a good song that I heard earlier while I was yammering on about hope and positivity. Don't skip it. I promise you will like it...even you, Mom.
I've realized I talk a big talk of hope and promise and sticking it out in the tough times. I probably make a lot of people sick, and that's why my Facebook page for this blog has yet to reach 100 fans. I still plan to give a prize to someone once I reach that number. And who doesn't want a free prize?!!
Anyway, I do talk a lot about doing better and being better and not giving up. Most of that talk is preachin to the choir because I need to hear it. Being an optimist comes naturally to a lot of people, but it is not natural to me. I can look at a situation, sift through all of its goodness, and only find the dirt. It's easy for me to be rubbed wrong by someone once, and I don't stick around to give them the benefit of a doubt. They are forever branded as horrible to me. I'm constantly learning to give others a chance; give situations a chance. Not everyone is awful. Not every action is going to result in a terrible outcome. That's been a hard lesson to learn, and I'm daily relearning it.
Ok, so here is my hope speech for today. It's so easy, especially on dreary days and in winter months or during the rough times in our lives, to be sad and down and become negative. But our lives are filled with promise. We aren't here to be wet blankets or swim in self pity or bring others down with a negative attitude. We are here, I believe, to build each other up and to overcome trials. We weren't made to constantly suffer. And has anyone else realized that a huge aspect of suffering and pain actually stems from us--how we choose to react or accept things? Weird.
Enough about that. In other news, tutoring is almost over, so I'm semi-looking for another job. I want to do something I like, and I sure don't want to settle. I've had fun tutoring for the most part. My kids are funny, and I will miss them.
Derick is doing well and still enjoying his job. I'm so proud of him and the leader he is. Those young Marines are blessed to have him leading them. I'm a little biased, though;)
I bought new pajamas today, and I am just so excited to put them on tonight. I want to be in them right now. Little pleasures!
Derick and I have started a reading club. We got Kindles for Christmas from his parents, and we're both reading The Hunger Games. I wanted to read the books when I worked at the library, but they were ALWAYS checked out with several holds. I shouldn't have waited this long to finally read them. Since Kelsey will be going to Oregon during the movie release, I am going to force Derick to join me at the midnight release. He will love me for that.
Kelsey and I have been doing Insanity in the mornings, and it's bittersweet. I don't like getting out of bed, period. I don't like exercising in general. But it feels so good to be productive and sweat. It feels good to start my day with a good workout.
That's about it around here. We're just pushing forward, going day by day, and I'm anticipating spring/summer so that I can go to the beach in a bikini. Hopefully Insanity will ensure that I will be appropriate in a bikini. If not, they make some really killer one-pieces these days....I'm still pulling for the bikini. ;)
Well, I have clothes to put away, and when I say clothes, I mean about the same amount of clothes that fills a department store on any given day. Here's a good song that I heard earlier while I was yammering on about hope and positivity. Don't skip it. I promise you will like it...even you, Mom.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Yesterday was a fiasco
Hola everyone. Derick is on the way home and I need to cleeaaann quickly before he arrives, but I wanted to post an update of things that are going on so that you, my avid reader, can be filled in on all the exciting stuff in my life.
We had a very nice trip to Arkansas for the holidays. It was such a blessing to see our family and friends. My parents' "new" house is just fabulous, although we had a hard time finding our way around it at first! My nieces and nephew have grown and changed so much just over the past few months--especially Nathan, who has grown about 5 feet and whose voice is deeper than the bass singer of The Inspirations. Paris had a really great time, too, and I'm having somewhat of an issue trying to get her back into her meal schedule since Mom spoiled her with gravy, milk, hamburger meat, chicken, bacon, and anything else she cooked for human supper. When I make her meal, which isn't too shabby for a dog, (crunchy dog food mixed with the soft Ceasar's) she just stares at me as if to ask, "Are you going to add the gravy now or what?"
I spent a lot of time bragging in Arkansas about how warm and nice it is in NC, only to come back to FREEZING temps. It was 20 degrees when I got up this morning. I didn't ask Derick if there was any ice on the windows, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were.
I had sort of an incident with our rental company yesterday, and I'm not going to really point them out and bash them on my blog, nor will I go into details because it has been resolved (and we all know how enthusiastic my blog becomes when I have someone to complain about. See: the post about Marriot). We have just decided to try to move on base once our lease here is up. We aren't hard to please, and we aren't mean people, but we are also educated and grown adults, thus it irks me when someone speaks to me like I'm a foolish child. Also, maybe it's just that I'm old fashioned, but if I were running a business and could potentially lose or gain clients solely based on my customer service, I'm pretty sure I would be friendly and helpful rather than nonchalant and rude. That's just me. I've told Derick so many times that I feel like I should just run all businesses myself. I may not know firsthand about finance or business relations, but I do know that being kind is a basic essential in running all professional companies. Being kind is an important trait to have in all aspects of life. So, that being said, I love our house and our rental company does, in fact, have very helpful employees, so I'm not trying to be a pot stirrer. I was just pretty bombarded with weird and unfortunate events yesterday, and this is me moving forward.
Speaking of moving forward, happy 2012! Where did 2011 go? So many wonderful things happened in 2011 and I am extremely grateful for and humbled by our experiences and opportunities. I'm excited about what is to come, and I'm really just trying to take things one day at a time. So often I overlook God's blessings by yearning for the future, and I think it's good to just try to take things as they come.
Since I indirectly complained about someone, I feel the need to praise someone. Today this company revived my faith in local business, and I'm really proud to be a customer. I get my oil changed at Doug's Car Care in Jacksonville, and they are always super nice. They also give so many coupons and discounts that those alone would make my frequent visits worth it. Today, I took the Ford in for an oil change, and on my way home (later in the day), my car started beeping at me saying that the oil life was at 4%. After dealing with yesterday's fiasco, my imagination immediately started wandering. I almost convinced myself that perhaps the mechanics actually didn't change my oil. I assumed I just sat in their office for an hour and a half while they did practically nothing to my car. I started getting a little ticked and was convinced that they just wanted to break my car so that I would have to return to give them more money to fix a bigger problem. I suddenly found myself questioning every business in Jacksonville, certain that they are all out to get Marine families. I pulled into my driveway and immediately called Doug's Car Care. The mechanic, Matt, told me that they just forgot to reset that specific feature on my car. He apologized and asked me to come back in at my convenience so that he could reset it. When I hung up, I felt the urge to call him back and apologize to him for creating a cruel story in my head. (I of course didn't tell him my crazy assumptions and accusations!) I felt so stupid for thinking so irrationally and turning myself into the victim when I'd received nothing but excellent service. I should have remembered that I no NOTHING about vehicles. I'm going to try to stop jumping to conclusions and being pessimistic about companies. Some actually are as good as they claim to be. So, if you live in JVille, take your car to Doug's Care Car. They do a really good job and they are always super friendly and professional.
I have five more tutoring sessions left, so I'm loosely looking for a job. I may tutor again, but if I could find something a little more degree-related or certificate-related or discount-related (jk on that last one), then I may end up working elsewhere. It's a little difficult to find a job around here apparently, but I haven't been actively searching, so maybe something good will come along!
Well, I hope everyone's week is going well! I hope you are all enjoying the new year and staying true to your resolutions. Mine are:
* be more conscious about what I put in my body. Not only are our bodies a temple, I believe life is very precious and how I care for myself actually says a lot about my character. I'm not a horrible eater. I love fruit and veggies and I don't drink sodas (except for the occasional Sprite, which, after seeing the amount of calories in one of those suckers, I've decided to cut, too). I just snack a lot and I love dessert, which wasn't an issue when I was younger because, like my nephew, I would have rather had a salad than chocolate any day. Now that I'm older, I find myself drawn to cake and ice cream and brownies. I exercise regularly so I convince myself that those treats are ok, and they are, but I definitely need to cut back.
* be more conscious about my grammar. I think I talk properly, but I've noticed I say some things that need to be corrected, and since I studied English, I just feel like I should try my best to speak it well. My friend Kelsey laughed when I told her that because she says she uses bad grammar all the time. I haven't noticed because she is so proper in all other areas. I know she is reading this now and rolling on the floor. There's your compliment for the month, Kelsey. Enjoy.
* gripe less.
* make fewer excuses.
* be more encouraging, especially to Derick.
* be more comfortable in my own skin.
Well Derick just pulled up, so I need to look busy!! Y'all have a blessed evening! Oh yeah, and boo for Rick Santorum for not winning the Iowa Caucus. Politics is in the air!!!
We had a very nice trip to Arkansas for the holidays. It was such a blessing to see our family and friends. My parents' "new" house is just fabulous, although we had a hard time finding our way around it at first! My nieces and nephew have grown and changed so much just over the past few months--especially Nathan, who has grown about 5 feet and whose voice is deeper than the bass singer of The Inspirations. Paris had a really great time, too, and I'm having somewhat of an issue trying to get her back into her meal schedule since Mom spoiled her with gravy, milk, hamburger meat, chicken, bacon, and anything else she cooked for human supper. When I make her meal, which isn't too shabby for a dog, (crunchy dog food mixed with the soft Ceasar's) she just stares at me as if to ask, "Are you going to add the gravy now or what?"
I spent a lot of time bragging in Arkansas about how warm and nice it is in NC, only to come back to FREEZING temps. It was 20 degrees when I got up this morning. I didn't ask Derick if there was any ice on the windows, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were.
I had sort of an incident with our rental company yesterday, and I'm not going to really point them out and bash them on my blog, nor will I go into details because it has been resolved (and we all know how enthusiastic my blog becomes when I have someone to complain about. See: the post about Marriot). We have just decided to try to move on base once our lease here is up. We aren't hard to please, and we aren't mean people, but we are also educated and grown adults, thus it irks me when someone speaks to me like I'm a foolish child. Also, maybe it's just that I'm old fashioned, but if I were running a business and could potentially lose or gain clients solely based on my customer service, I'm pretty sure I would be friendly and helpful rather than nonchalant and rude. That's just me. I've told Derick so many times that I feel like I should just run all businesses myself. I may not know firsthand about finance or business relations, but I do know that being kind is a basic essential in running all professional companies. Being kind is an important trait to have in all aspects of life. So, that being said, I love our house and our rental company does, in fact, have very helpful employees, so I'm not trying to be a pot stirrer. I was just pretty bombarded with weird and unfortunate events yesterday, and this is me moving forward.
Speaking of moving forward, happy 2012! Where did 2011 go? So many wonderful things happened in 2011 and I am extremely grateful for and humbled by our experiences and opportunities. I'm excited about what is to come, and I'm really just trying to take things one day at a time. So often I overlook God's blessings by yearning for the future, and I think it's good to just try to take things as they come.
Since I indirectly complained about someone, I feel the need to praise someone. Today this company revived my faith in local business, and I'm really proud to be a customer. I get my oil changed at Doug's Car Care in Jacksonville, and they are always super nice. They also give so many coupons and discounts that those alone would make my frequent visits worth it. Today, I took the Ford in for an oil change, and on my way home (later in the day), my car started beeping at me saying that the oil life was at 4%. After dealing with yesterday's fiasco, my imagination immediately started wandering. I almost convinced myself that perhaps the mechanics actually didn't change my oil. I assumed I just sat in their office for an hour and a half while they did practically nothing to my car. I started getting a little ticked and was convinced that they just wanted to break my car so that I would have to return to give them more money to fix a bigger problem. I suddenly found myself questioning every business in Jacksonville, certain that they are all out to get Marine families. I pulled into my driveway and immediately called Doug's Car Care. The mechanic, Matt, told me that they just forgot to reset that specific feature on my car. He apologized and asked me to come back in at my convenience so that he could reset it. When I hung up, I felt the urge to call him back and apologize to him for creating a cruel story in my head. (I of course didn't tell him my crazy assumptions and accusations!) I felt so stupid for thinking so irrationally and turning myself into the victim when I'd received nothing but excellent service. I should have remembered that I no NOTHING about vehicles. I'm going to try to stop jumping to conclusions and being pessimistic about companies. Some actually are as good as they claim to be. So, if you live in JVille, take your car to Doug's Care Car. They do a really good job and they are always super friendly and professional.
I have five more tutoring sessions left, so I'm loosely looking for a job. I may tutor again, but if I could find something a little more degree-related or certificate-related or discount-related (jk on that last one), then I may end up working elsewhere. It's a little difficult to find a job around here apparently, but I haven't been actively searching, so maybe something good will come along!
Well, I hope everyone's week is going well! I hope you are all enjoying the new year and staying true to your resolutions. Mine are:
* be more conscious about what I put in my body. Not only are our bodies a temple, I believe life is very precious and how I care for myself actually says a lot about my character. I'm not a horrible eater. I love fruit and veggies and I don't drink sodas (except for the occasional Sprite, which, after seeing the amount of calories in one of those suckers, I've decided to cut, too). I just snack a lot and I love dessert, which wasn't an issue when I was younger because, like my nephew, I would have rather had a salad than chocolate any day. Now that I'm older, I find myself drawn to cake and ice cream and brownies. I exercise regularly so I convince myself that those treats are ok, and they are, but I definitely need to cut back.
* be more conscious about my grammar. I think I talk properly, but I've noticed I say some things that need to be corrected, and since I studied English, I just feel like I should try my best to speak it well. My friend Kelsey laughed when I told her that because she says she uses bad grammar all the time. I haven't noticed because she is so proper in all other areas. I know she is reading this now and rolling on the floor. There's your compliment for the month, Kelsey. Enjoy.
* gripe less.
* make fewer excuses.
* be more encouraging, especially to Derick.
* be more comfortable in my own skin.
Well Derick just pulled up, so I need to look busy!! Y'all have a blessed evening! Oh yeah, and boo for Rick Santorum for not winning the Iowa Caucus. Politics is in the air!!!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Christmas Ramblin'
Christmas is fast approaching, and I'm actually anticipating making our way to the Arkansas Delta. I'm excited about seeing our family and friends. I'm excited about seeing my parents' newly-renovated house. I'm excited to spend the holiday with people I love.
The older I get, the more I like Christmas. I love the music, the lights, shopping!, and spending time with the ones I love. I loved Christmastime as a child, but each year gives me new reasons to appreciate what I have and be thankful for the Reason we celebrate.
It's crazy to think about all the things we've done and places we've seen this past year. I've made some really wonderful friends and had some great experiences. I've also dealt with challenges that, at the time seemed to break me, but in retrospect, actually made me stronger and better. God has a very intricate plan for all of us, and it's incredible to look back and really see how His hand touched each moment. Even during the most difficult times when it seemed that God was nowhere to be found, I can see now that He was the the calm breaths in between the panic; He was the brief glimpses of the big picture when my focus was on the little disappointments.
I'm learning to take things as they are handed to me. During my short time dealing with the military, I've realized that having that attitude is the only way to maintain sanity. So, I've decided that carrying the "it is what it is" outlook over from military life to everyday living can't be a bad idea. Things are what they are. People are lousy, undependable, pathetic, and disappointing, but people are also helpful, forgiving, caring, and encouraging. Life sucks sometimes. But life is also an enormous gift that I'm pretty certain our Creator wants us to appreciate and cherish. I try to look at each new day as simply that: a new day with new situations and adventures and challenges. I hope I can face every day optimistically because God knows I've had years and years worth of bad attitude.
This year, I'm grateful for Christmas and what it really means. I'm grateful for my family and my friends, new and old. Being so far away from my parents and siblings and nieces and nephew really makes me appreciate them.
I'm sure y'all have all dealt with this at some point in the past few weeks, but it is so discouraging to come upon a Scrooge. It really bothers me when people get so furious when they can't find a parking spot or when they can't get their buggy through the isle or when someone makes a mistake in the turning lane (sorry 'bout that!). Here's the thing: does it really matter that you may have to walk a few extra feet because you couldn't snag the front row parking space? No. It's Christmas time and Christ came to this earth to show love and joy. I think we should all remember that, instead of showing anger and aggression over unimportant things. I'm preachin' to the choir here because I'm surely not perfectly patient when it comes to driving in traffic or shopping. I hope I can have an attitude of patience and joy, though, even when some fool tries to cut me off. I hope I can just smile and wave at the fool and pray that he doesn't smash some innocent pedestrian. ;)
Anyway, hopefully I will find the time to update the blog before Christmas, but if not, Merry Christmas to everyone! Here's one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs to put you in the mood:)
The older I get, the more I like Christmas. I love the music, the lights, shopping!, and spending time with the ones I love. I loved Christmastime as a child, but each year gives me new reasons to appreciate what I have and be thankful for the Reason we celebrate.
It's crazy to think about all the things we've done and places we've seen this past year. I've made some really wonderful friends and had some great experiences. I've also dealt with challenges that, at the time seemed to break me, but in retrospect, actually made me stronger and better. God has a very intricate plan for all of us, and it's incredible to look back and really see how His hand touched each moment. Even during the most difficult times when it seemed that God was nowhere to be found, I can see now that He was the the calm breaths in between the panic; He was the brief glimpses of the big picture when my focus was on the little disappointments.
I'm learning to take things as they are handed to me. During my short time dealing with the military, I've realized that having that attitude is the only way to maintain sanity. So, I've decided that carrying the "it is what it is" outlook over from military life to everyday living can't be a bad idea. Things are what they are. People are lousy, undependable, pathetic, and disappointing, but people are also helpful, forgiving, caring, and encouraging. Life sucks sometimes. But life is also an enormous gift that I'm pretty certain our Creator wants us to appreciate and cherish. I try to look at each new day as simply that: a new day with new situations and adventures and challenges. I hope I can face every day optimistically because God knows I've had years and years worth of bad attitude.
This year, I'm grateful for Christmas and what it really means. I'm grateful for my family and my friends, new and old. Being so far away from my parents and siblings and nieces and nephew really makes me appreciate them.
I'm sure y'all have all dealt with this at some point in the past few weeks, but it is so discouraging to come upon a Scrooge. It really bothers me when people get so furious when they can't find a parking spot or when they can't get their buggy through the isle or when someone makes a mistake in the turning lane (sorry 'bout that!). Here's the thing: does it really matter that you may have to walk a few extra feet because you couldn't snag the front row parking space? No. It's Christmas time and Christ came to this earth to show love and joy. I think we should all remember that, instead of showing anger and aggression over unimportant things. I'm preachin' to the choir here because I'm surely not perfectly patient when it comes to driving in traffic or shopping. I hope I can have an attitude of patience and joy, though, even when some fool tries to cut me off. I hope I can just smile and wave at the fool and pray that he doesn't smash some innocent pedestrian. ;)
Anyway, hopefully I will find the time to update the blog before Christmas, but if not, Merry Christmas to everyone! Here's one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs to put you in the mood:)
Monday, December 5, 2011
"tonight we are young"
I've been feeling super nostalgic today. Well, for a couple weeks, I suppose. I think it's this time of year that makes me reflect and remember the conglomeration of days that all blend together now to make up my past and build up to my present. I'm listening to fun., one of the best bands in the world, and praying that they never become mainstream. Don't tell me you don't do that. I feel like it's the story of my life to love an "underground" band so much, only to discover all these hipster kids jammin' out to them the wrong way. Haha. Ok, I'm sounding like a hipster kid myself now....But for real. So many of "my bands" lose their touch when they become popularized. Sure, I want what's best for my bands. I want them to make the money honey and be successful. And now I sound like a mother of four.
Anyway, I facebooked about this dear, sweet band already today, so maybe I'm being redundant, but there is one particular band--actually two, to be correct--that seem to write all their songs directly to my soul. Do you have a band like that? It's honestly become a little creepy how so many of their lyrics are about things and places and people and time that are mine.
I'm talking about the band fun., fronted by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. I started really liking Nate's music in 2008 when I worked at the Gap. Since then, it's been a musical love affair. Laugh all you want, but I know you have "your band," and it better the heck not be Hinder or Nickelback. You are better than that. Sure, I have other bands and musicians that sing to me, and I can't even call fun. or The Format my favorite bands because I have too many that I love for different reasons. fun. is just "my band." That's all there is to it.
God blessed me with a husband who knows good music. Thank you for that, God. I always knew I would marry someone with good musical taste because if I ended up with someone who loved Nickelback, I know I would be locked away with domestic abuse charges. I'm even more blessed because Derick has musical ability of his own. (If you haven't heard him sing, you're missing out). So the Lord was both gracious to me by giving me Derick, and gracious to some other Nickelback-loving poor soul by sparing his life. God is good.
Anyway, yes, Derick has an ear for good music, and we normally agree on bands. He doesn't quite dig the slow, lovey, folky music that sountracks teen dramas. I like those bands: Joshua Radin (who also tends to sing directly to me), Eric Hutchinson, Ron Pope, etc. He likes it, but he'd rather hear something less, well, romantic. I'm not into screaming music or bands like mewithoutyou. I just don't feel it, but Derick likes it. He also likes country music a lot more than I do, although I can take it in small doses.
When it comes to my band, fun., Derick is apathetic. He listens to them to please me. He likes some of their songs, and knows the majority of the words because of me. But if the C.D. is in the car, you can guarantee he will change it to NPR. This is how I know this band is mine. Sounds weird, I know. You'd think for me to label a band "mine," Derick would have to think more highly of them. But that would make it "our band," and "our band" (well, "our musician") is Ben Kweller. Ben Kweller sings to us collectively. Nate Ruess just sings to me. Derick doesn't have a decorative past as mine. He doesn't really relate to losing your way time after time after time after time. He's always been good at learning the first time. I admire that about him, and I hope am more like that. I'm just estimating from the outside in, but I think fun.'s lyrics aren't as potent to him as they are to me. And that's fine. So, some advice for the marrieds or soon-to-be marrieds: Don't lose your individuality. Rather, just invent a new part of you that intertwines with someone else. You'll find out that that part of you was there all along, just waiting to find it's mate.
Enough about lovey dovey stuff. You know how people post music videos on Facebook all the time, and you don't bother listening to it? I do that a lot. Maybe I'm the only one that skips music video posts. That's probably because it's usually Dirt Road Anthem or some rap song I don't like. I always, always post songs that say something to me, and hey, maybe Dirt Road Anthem says something to someone, but really, let's be honest, it's about drinking and driving, which is illegal. And Kem don't break no law!
Anyway, I will make an effort to listen to more music posts on facebook from now on. Legitimate music posts. Which, if you're still following means, no Hinder, no Nickelback, and what?? That's right, no Dirt Road Anthems.
So, this is supposed to be a military wife blog. Let's see if I can put my costly education to use and tie it all together and keep with the running theme. How 'bouts?!
Sometimes, when our husbands work all day and we don't have full-time jobs or kids to tend to, we are left with a lot of extra time on our hands to listen to songs that puncture our hearts with their honesty and relevance. I've done that today. I went to the gym, watched an episode of Vampire Diaries, ate some leftover tacos, and started listening to my band, which in turn, made me think about myself and those I love and all the things that being Kem encompasses, good and bad. My house is relatively clean and I have to go to work and make actual money at 3, so I'm permitted some me time, right? Right.
Although Nate Ruess sings our songs (or whoever sings that awful Dirt Road song), we are the true artists. We are the musicians of our own song. We are writing new lyrics every day and turning them into the bridge, adding it to the verses of our past. My song is a crazy wild compilation of sad and happy and lonely and fulfilled and excited and anxious and selfish and thankful. I hope one day, when it's finished, that it's worth replaying over and over.
This is the cast of Glee performing a fun. song, "Tonight We are Young."
You should look up some fun. songs. Just for fun. Ha!
Anyway, I facebooked about this dear, sweet band already today, so maybe I'm being redundant, but there is one particular band--actually two, to be correct--that seem to write all their songs directly to my soul. Do you have a band like that? It's honestly become a little creepy how so many of their lyrics are about things and places and people and time that are mine.
I'm talking about the band fun., fronted by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. I started really liking Nate's music in 2008 when I worked at the Gap. Since then, it's been a musical love affair. Laugh all you want, but I know you have "your band," and it better the heck not be Hinder or Nickelback. You are better than that. Sure, I have other bands and musicians that sing to me, and I can't even call fun. or The Format my favorite bands because I have too many that I love for different reasons. fun. is just "my band." That's all there is to it.
God blessed me with a husband who knows good music. Thank you for that, God. I always knew I would marry someone with good musical taste because if I ended up with someone who loved Nickelback, I know I would be locked away with domestic abuse charges. I'm even more blessed because Derick has musical ability of his own. (If you haven't heard him sing, you're missing out). So the Lord was both gracious to me by giving me Derick, and gracious to some other Nickelback-loving poor soul by sparing his life. God is good.
Anyway, yes, Derick has an ear for good music, and we normally agree on bands. He doesn't quite dig the slow, lovey, folky music that sountracks teen dramas. I like those bands: Joshua Radin (who also tends to sing directly to me), Eric Hutchinson, Ron Pope, etc. He likes it, but he'd rather hear something less, well, romantic. I'm not into screaming music or bands like mewithoutyou. I just don't feel it, but Derick likes it. He also likes country music a lot more than I do, although I can take it in small doses.
When it comes to my band, fun., Derick is apathetic. He listens to them to please me. He likes some of their songs, and knows the majority of the words because of me. But if the C.D. is in the car, you can guarantee he will change it to NPR. This is how I know this band is mine. Sounds weird, I know. You'd think for me to label a band "mine," Derick would have to think more highly of them. But that would make it "our band," and "our band" (well, "our musician") is Ben Kweller. Ben Kweller sings to us collectively. Nate Ruess just sings to me. Derick doesn't have a decorative past as mine. He doesn't really relate to losing your way time after time after time after time. He's always been good at learning the first time. I admire that about him, and I hope am more like that. I'm just estimating from the outside in, but I think fun.'s lyrics aren't as potent to him as they are to me. And that's fine. So, some advice for the marrieds or soon-to-be marrieds: Don't lose your individuality. Rather, just invent a new part of you that intertwines with someone else. You'll find out that that part of you was there all along, just waiting to find it's mate.
Enough about lovey dovey stuff. You know how people post music videos on Facebook all the time, and you don't bother listening to it? I do that a lot. Maybe I'm the only one that skips music video posts. That's probably because it's usually Dirt Road Anthem or some rap song I don't like. I always, always post songs that say something to me, and hey, maybe Dirt Road Anthem says something to someone, but really, let's be honest, it's about drinking and driving, which is illegal. And Kem don't break no law!
Anyway, I will make an effort to listen to more music posts on facebook from now on. Legitimate music posts. Which, if you're still following means, no Hinder, no Nickelback, and what?? That's right, no Dirt Road Anthems.
So, this is supposed to be a military wife blog. Let's see if I can put my costly education to use and tie it all together and keep with the running theme. How 'bouts?!
Sometimes, when our husbands work all day and we don't have full-time jobs or kids to tend to, we are left with a lot of extra time on our hands to listen to songs that puncture our hearts with their honesty and relevance. I've done that today. I went to the gym, watched an episode of Vampire Diaries, ate some leftover tacos, and started listening to my band, which in turn, made me think about myself and those I love and all the things that being Kem encompasses, good and bad. My house is relatively clean and I have to go to work and make actual money at 3, so I'm permitted some me time, right? Right.
Although Nate Ruess sings our songs (or whoever sings that awful Dirt Road song), we are the true artists. We are the musicians of our own song. We are writing new lyrics every day and turning them into the bridge, adding it to the verses of our past. My song is a crazy wild compilation of sad and happy and lonely and fulfilled and excited and anxious and selfish and thankful. I hope one day, when it's finished, that it's worth replaying over and over.
This is the cast of Glee performing a fun. song, "Tonight We are Young."
You should look up some fun. songs. Just for fun. Ha!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Meet Virginia/Edward Cullen/Pinterest Attack
It sure has been a long time since I've updated this blog. I'm really awful at it, and I'm sorry. Anyway, happy fall! I missed updating during Thanksgiving, but we had a wonderful time! We had a big group of friends over and ate like kings! I was so proud of us because our first attempt at cooking a turkey was a success! We all had a great time, and I was super thankful to spend the holiday with new friends!
How crazy is it that Christmas is almost here? Gosh, this time last year, I was impatiently waiting to be reunited with my husband in Quantico, Virginia. I was doing everything all by myself: paying bills, making arrangements for the move, managing the finances. Sure that seems easy, but at the time, it was quite a chore! I was so nervous that something would happen to keep Derick from graduating OCS (not that I didn't have faith in his abilities, because he can do anything! You just never know what could happen) that I was reluctant to make any big decision. So many what-ifs were attacking me that I was in constant prayer-mode. Isn't it funny how we are able to call on God so easily when things get a little hectic? The challenge is to maintain that same faith in Him at all moments of our lives. He wants to help us through the struggles and rejoice with us through the successes. I'm constantly learning more and more things about God and who He wants me to be. I think He laughs at me a lot.
So, I made fun of my Arkansas friends yesterday because they were in a blizzard while it was close to seventy degrees here. Boy, did I eat my words because now it's rainy and chilly here! It's not freezing-chilly, just cold enough to need a jacket, which is too cold for me! This cold weather reminds me fondly of Virginia. Actually, I have thought of that state often here lately. Everyone who knows me knows that I turn into the devil himself during cold weather, and the majority of our time in VA, it was super cold (to me anyway). But I loved it there so much, cold weather and all. Sure, I griped about it and begged for the warmth of summer, but there was just something truly special about our lives in Stafford. Maybe it's because it was the first time that we were actually on our own, doing what we worked so hard to do (being a military wife is a job itself, so don't try to argue that one). Maybe I loved Virginia so much because I didn't have a true-to-life job besides hanging out with my very cool, drama-free friends all day. Maybe I miss the fact that I could turn on my Scentsy and my entire place would smell like Heaven because our apartment was so tiny. Maybe I just loved it because it is what it is: filled with things to do and places to go. Whatever the reasons, and although I love coastal living and I love Camp Lejeune, a little part of my heart will forever be in that tiny apartment in Virginia. With the exception that my family is in Arkansas, I miss living in Virginia more than living in Arkansas. Sorry NEA, you just never were for me.
Anyway, we are going to go to Arkansas for Christmas. We don't know how long we will stay. It really depends on how much leave Derick can take. It will be so nice to visit with family and eat at Blue Coast Burrito. I have missed both of those very much!
Oh! I finished the Twilight books just in time to go see Breaking Dawn in theaters. Kelsey and I went to the midnight premiere. It was so good! The filming itself was so perfect and much better than the prior movies. I love the music and the lighting effects and Edward. I love Edward so much. It's very awful and strange. He is just something else! I miss the books and I'm ticked at Stephenie Meyer for not writing more. You people can mock and carry on all you want, but I have never loved a character in a book with the exception of Jesus Christ and Junie B. Jones. And don't you dare turn my words around and say that I love Edward as much as I love Jesus. Come on. Get with the program. Stephenie Meyer is rich, and it's not because she wrote horrible books. Some people just don't like them, and that is perfectly fine.
Nothing super exciting is happening around here. Derick still loves his job as far as I can tell. I go to the gym every morning and come home with all intentions of cleaning the house, but I find something better to do like PINTEREST. Have you been on that site?? I really need to stop. Everyone in my family is getting pinterest-inspired Christmas gifts. Even my brother! Not really...unless I find a make-your-own weapon tutorial or some sort of candle that smells like the deer woods.
Well, the washer stopped a long time ago, and I've just been rambling on and on. I should do some work! Y'all have a fabulous day! :)
How crazy is it that Christmas is almost here? Gosh, this time last year, I was impatiently waiting to be reunited with my husband in Quantico, Virginia. I was doing everything all by myself: paying bills, making arrangements for the move, managing the finances. Sure that seems easy, but at the time, it was quite a chore! I was so nervous that something would happen to keep Derick from graduating OCS (not that I didn't have faith in his abilities, because he can do anything! You just never know what could happen) that I was reluctant to make any big decision. So many what-ifs were attacking me that I was in constant prayer-mode. Isn't it funny how we are able to call on God so easily when things get a little hectic? The challenge is to maintain that same faith in Him at all moments of our lives. He wants to help us through the struggles and rejoice with us through the successes. I'm constantly learning more and more things about God and who He wants me to be. I think He laughs at me a lot.
So, I made fun of my Arkansas friends yesterday because they were in a blizzard while it was close to seventy degrees here. Boy, did I eat my words because now it's rainy and chilly here! It's not freezing-chilly, just cold enough to need a jacket, which is too cold for me! This cold weather reminds me fondly of Virginia. Actually, I have thought of that state often here lately. Everyone who knows me knows that I turn into the devil himself during cold weather, and the majority of our time in VA, it was super cold (to me anyway). But I loved it there so much, cold weather and all. Sure, I griped about it and begged for the warmth of summer, but there was just something truly special about our lives in Stafford. Maybe it's because it was the first time that we were actually on our own, doing what we worked so hard to do (being a military wife is a job itself, so don't try to argue that one). Maybe I loved Virginia so much because I didn't have a true-to-life job besides hanging out with my very cool, drama-free friends all day. Maybe I miss the fact that I could turn on my Scentsy and my entire place would smell like Heaven because our apartment was so tiny. Maybe I just loved it because it is what it is: filled with things to do and places to go. Whatever the reasons, and although I love coastal living and I love Camp Lejeune, a little part of my heart will forever be in that tiny apartment in Virginia. With the exception that my family is in Arkansas, I miss living in Virginia more than living in Arkansas. Sorry NEA, you just never were for me.
Anyway, we are going to go to Arkansas for Christmas. We don't know how long we will stay. It really depends on how much leave Derick can take. It will be so nice to visit with family and eat at Blue Coast Burrito. I have missed both of those very much!
Oh! I finished the Twilight books just in time to go see Breaking Dawn in theaters. Kelsey and I went to the midnight premiere. It was so good! The filming itself was so perfect and much better than the prior movies. I love the music and the lighting effects and Edward. I love Edward so much. It's very awful and strange. He is just something else! I miss the books and I'm ticked at Stephenie Meyer for not writing more. You people can mock and carry on all you want, but I have never loved a character in a book with the exception of Jesus Christ and Junie B. Jones. And don't you dare turn my words around and say that I love Edward as much as I love Jesus. Come on. Get with the program. Stephenie Meyer is rich, and it's not because she wrote horrible books. Some people just don't like them, and that is perfectly fine.
Nothing super exciting is happening around here. Derick still loves his job as far as I can tell. I go to the gym every morning and come home with all intentions of cleaning the house, but I find something better to do like PINTEREST. Have you been on that site?? I really need to stop. Everyone in my family is getting pinterest-inspired Christmas gifts. Even my brother! Not really...unless I find a make-your-own weapon tutorial or some sort of candle that smells like the deer woods.
Well, the washer stopped a long time ago, and I've just been rambling on and on. I should do some work! Y'all have a fabulous day! :)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Trick or Treat
Happy Halloween!!
(not my jack o lantern, just so you know.)
Well, the weather is finally turning non-tropical in coastal Carolina. I'm in my sweats because my house is like an igloo. It actually warmed up a little after I baked a cake and left the oven door open for a little while after it finished. Still in my sweats, though.
I don't have anything exciting to blog about, but I've been doing laundry all day, so I needed a break from mating socks.
Derick has been going to his unit since last week, and I think he really likes it! I think he's just thankful to put some distance between himself and PowerPoint for a while. He had to get a flu shot last week, and afterwards, he started running a fever and feeling puny. That always happens to him. During his first time at OCS, they gave him a flu shot and he came back home to me, not only with a torn ACL, but sicker than I'd ever seen him. Flu shots aren't really his cup of tea. He feels a lot better today though.
This Saturday is our very first Marine Corps Birthday Ball. I'm excited! Ours is in Myrtle Beach, and we've never been there, so that will be fun. I am wearing a very pretty dress that I wore in my friend's wedding. I think it will go just nicely with DR's dress blues.
I started my tutoring job last week, and it was fun. The kids were very sweet. One girl has a dog named Paris as well. How 'bout dat?!
Yesterday, I went to church alone because Derick was sick. (I met the Snows there). Afterwards, I went to the Commissary. It was a crazy mad house. There was seriously a man laying down on the cereal isle as he compared two boxes of cereal. His stupid buggy was at his feet, so I couldn't get by. I was getting a little nutty in there, though I tried to maintain my calm. I finally made it to the checkout, where my sweet little bagger reminded me so much of Jacob Black (the werewolf), so he received an extra dolla from me. He was very nice, and I was grateful that someone else in that store had their brains a' workin.
Ok, so guess what? I JUST had my first Trick-or-Treaters!! Two witches and a Rainbow Bright. It was so exciting!! I love giving out candy! It's starting to sprinkle a little bit. I hope that doesn't keep the treaters away. It's so much fun! So, on that note, I'm going to go put Paris in her costume. Hope I didn't bore you to the point that you want to lay down in the cereal isle.
(not my jack o lantern, just so you know.)Well, the weather is finally turning non-tropical in coastal Carolina. I'm in my sweats because my house is like an igloo. It actually warmed up a little after I baked a cake and left the oven door open for a little while after it finished. Still in my sweats, though.
I don't have anything exciting to blog about, but I've been doing laundry all day, so I needed a break from mating socks.
Derick has been going to his unit since last week, and I think he really likes it! I think he's just thankful to put some distance between himself and PowerPoint for a while. He had to get a flu shot last week, and afterwards, he started running a fever and feeling puny. That always happens to him. During his first time at OCS, they gave him a flu shot and he came back home to me, not only with a torn ACL, but sicker than I'd ever seen him. Flu shots aren't really his cup of tea. He feels a lot better today though.
This Saturday is our very first Marine Corps Birthday Ball. I'm excited! Ours is in Myrtle Beach, and we've never been there, so that will be fun. I am wearing a very pretty dress that I wore in my friend's wedding. I think it will go just nicely with DR's dress blues.
I started my tutoring job last week, and it was fun. The kids were very sweet. One girl has a dog named Paris as well. How 'bout dat?!
Yesterday, I went to church alone because Derick was sick. (I met the Snows there). Afterwards, I went to the Commissary. It was a crazy mad house. There was seriously a man laying down on the cereal isle as he compared two boxes of cereal. His stupid buggy was at his feet, so I couldn't get by. I was getting a little nutty in there, though I tried to maintain my calm. I finally made it to the checkout, where my sweet little bagger reminded me so much of Jacob Black (the werewolf), so he received an extra dolla from me. He was very nice, and I was grateful that someone else in that store had their brains a' workin.
Ok, so guess what? I JUST had my first Trick-or-Treaters!! Two witches and a Rainbow Bright. It was so exciting!! I love giving out candy! It's starting to sprinkle a little bit. I hope that doesn't keep the treaters away. It's so much fun! So, on that note, I'm going to go put Paris in her costume. Hope I didn't bore you to the point that you want to lay down in the cereal isle.
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