Memorial Day

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I don't mean to be pompous, sincerely I don't. However, people all over today seem to have forgotten that Memorial Day isn't about some sale on bedding or furniture or even their service member. No today is about the fallen.

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Today isn't about the fella holding/presenting this flag. It's about the fella (or female) who earned it. Today isn't about my husband and his service. We have another day in a completely different month for the veteran. Today isn't a day for "Happy Memorial Day". Today is about honoring the sacrifice of those who have given their lives for our country.

Random

Picture it: 2011. Colorado Springs. I was sitting by myself for about an hour and half at the Starbucks getting my homework assignments knocked out for the week. No one spoke to me while I was there and I was concentrating on what I had in front of me. When, all of a sudden the woman sitting behind me says "Excuse me". To which, I responded by jumping out of my skin.

After I answered her Mac related question (because obviously I'm an expert, haha) and turned to continue what I was working on I started to think about what had just transpired. Why on earth would I have been so startled by a kind lady saying "Excuse me?" And I've decided to blame Google. Well, not only google but any search engine of your choosing and the interwebs in general. I feel like people generally (of course not true for all people) don't ask strangers, the harmless person next to them in the store for advice or guidance.* I don't see a lot of people chatting with random strangers. From what I've seen we all kind of run around with our heads down, not making eye-contact, no courteous smiles of hello, rarely asking the check-out person at Walmart how their day is going. Just trying to get through whatever it is you're doing and press on to whatever is next.

I know for me I talk to everyone. I ask the people how they are at the Walmart, the MP's/Gate Guards as I go on post, peeps in toll booths... I don't discriminate. I talk to everyone. What's it hurt? What's the worst that could come of it?

I think I was caught of guard and thusly startled when this woman started speaking to me because people don't speak to other when they're out and about.

Anyway that's today's story.

Do you turn into chatty-Kathy when you leave the house?

A whole lada nada...

Once upon a time I used to blog quiet a bit. These days I'm lucky if I post once a week... you're missing me aren't you?

Sadly, I haven't had anything nice to say. I'm stressed with this crap-tastic job I find myself in and the future. I'm stressed from being in Colorado, sans husband. I generally feel detached from my life. I feel detached from my role as a spouse, the Army, and our plans for the future. Please do not misunderstand, I'm not announcing a divorce... I'm not admitting to doing bad things in the absence of my husband... What my point is, is that I don't find being away from my home and my things and obligations to be a positive thing at this specific moment. Long story, short: Running home during deployment (although, never my goal but where I wound up) is not a good thing. I find it to be counter-productive. Being here and this feeling of detachment is creating emotional distance between Kevin and I. I couldn't quite put my finger on the problem the last few weeks but there it is.

I feel like it's my fault. So then I beat myself up over it... you know, because that's so productive. Well, I'm working on it. Trying to turn a corner.

I was hoping that some alone time on R&R would help... doesn't look like there'll be a whole lot of that. :( boo. We'll work something out though. I'm sure of it.

What do you do when you start to feel the distance of a deployment??

Baby Time

No no... this is NOT a "Baby on Board" Announcement. Haa! I know my mother-in-law (who reads everyday) was just slightly offended she didn't get a phone call versus being told of her next impending grandchild via Blogger. All the same, I am now the only person that I know and actively hang out with that doesn't have a child. As a matter of fact most everyone in my age group is on child numero-dos. I'm 26. I don't feel old. I've been married 3.5 years but have only spent about 1.75 of those years with my husband (if i'm lucky). You know, Deployments, NTC, other trainings and travels. However, I have had "the fever" come and go, and come and go.... you follow.

I remember when I first got married everyone was like "YAY! When are you gonna get pregnant?" I just don't get that school of thought. Why does my being married mean that I have to immediately procreate? Oddly, enough I wanted to get to know my husband, strengthen our marriage and relationship as a whole with Kevin, get to know my new life and role as a wife, make peace with the Army, finish school, travel about, start a career and generally just live more of my life prior to it being taken over by my babies. That's my take. I do not feel there is anything wrong with having children right away.. just didn't feel it was for me.

When did you have your baby(s)? Did you wait? Did you get on the ball immediately?

Share why!

I wanna go!!

Today I made the mistake of checking out the USO website listing their tours for the next coming months. It makes me really sad that Kevin and I are both losing this time (almost a full year) of Germany and travel opportunities. I'm thinking of all the places on my "list." All the places I want to see before we get a new assignment (Dec 2013).

Paris
London
Ireland
Italy

These are the places I realllllly have to see. I mean, I'm sure Amsterdam (for example) has lots of awesome things to offer I just wouldn't be devastated if I don't get there.

What trips have you taken throughout Europe that'd you'd recommend? What places would be on your "list"?

Somethin' somethin'

I have a few somethin's to share with you all. First: Since arriving in the States I've lost 16 pounds!! Woot woot. Which is definitely a good thing. I was getting uncomfortable. I don't get how people can say they didn't know they were gaining weight. Well, good lord clothes don't fit and I felt like a big tub-o-goo, sluggish you know?? I was eating larger portions than I girl should have and really the stress of the move caused a lot of it (along with my larger-than-neccesary-portions). But I'm back on the ridiculously low-carb bandwagon and it's working well for me.

Second: Please for the love of God and all that is good in the world don't ever give your money to Zales!  Here's why: it all began June of 2007 when Kevin and I purchased my Bridal set.

I loved it. It was everything I could have ever wanted. Allow me to clarify, I still LOVE my set. However, since June 2007 I've had many, many problems. When I initially got my engagement ring I was just so over the moon, I was engaged and just didn't pay that much attention. The next thing I know I'm admiring my new ring and see a black speck inside the center stone. COAL! Yes, coal! I took it back and swapped it out for the same exact one. Yes I know all stones have "natural imperfections" well I was not prepared to spend what I spent at the time (which is not the price on the website currently) on a ring with "beeping" coal! So they swap it and I press on with life. About a year later one of the side stones that hug the center stone pops out. Had that replaced. Then last December as soon as we got to Germany (go figure) I lost another one of those side stones. When I returned to Colorado, first thing I did was drop that off and have that fixed. 

Oh I should also mention I purchased this Tungsten ring for my husband. 

Tungsten, you know one of the strongest metals on the earth, yeah well the gold incased in the tungsten busted twice. Yes, NOT once but TWICE! So we traded that in for a standard white gold band with some diamonds. 

Now you're caught up. Well today I stopped into Kay Jewelers to have my rings cleaned while my mom picked up something. So, my sister, mom and I figured why not get our rings all shined up! So we did. Remember I just got my ring back about 3 or 4 weeks ago from having a stone replaced. Kay inspected the ring and found that a stone on the band was crushed. Oh yes, crushed. I only wear my ring when I leave the house which isn't much these days since I'm on this jacked up sleeping schedule. So I didn't do it. Zales sent it back to me busted!! 

The icing on the cake: Kay appraised my ring and said they could only offer me $750 for it! 

I was completely devastated. My wedding set, my ring that I LOVE is a lemon!

PS: I miss my husband.

Straight Up!

I wish we could just go back to marveling over the pomp and beauty that was Prince Harry the Royal Wedding. Recent news has given folks memory loss. Well, not all people (my Cultural Diversity class is teaching me its BAD to stereotype) but some. For goodness sakes. They other I pointed out on a non-milspouse bloggy that I love that I wasn't celebrating (but that I get why other people are) because I was scared and concerned about my husband in Afghanistan. I went on to say that I get why it is a much simpler issue for some people though: he's bad, he orchestrated 9-11, now he's dead and you celebrate. But it isn't that simple for me. His death has the ability to affect the situation on the ground in Afghanistan. Maybe I'm just banging my head against a wall. But I felt attacked afterwards. Egh... such is life in blog-world.

Forgive me while I abruptly change the subject:

The dress:

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First and foremost, I think Catherine was just stunning. Gorgeous.

Everyone said the dress was reminiscent of Grace Kelly's:

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Lace. Got it. Similar.

My first thought was:

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You know, Maria from The Sound of Music. No lace. Fine. Cut is very similar though. Either way.
Just occurred to me he only real similarity here is the neck line, all the same it was my first thought.

Compare it to whatever you like. Catherine's choice was timeless, beautiful and just stunning (yes I know I already said that).

While these two:

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were the stars of the show (can I just say this is a very stuffy picture but it does show off their attire quite nicely), I gotta tell you my eyes were glued to Prince Harry! 

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Obviously I'm into soldiers/man in uniform.

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But really, c'mon people. This is one Ginger I'm totally on board with. PLUS!! You can just see his wheels spinning and you know he's thinking dirty thoughts. I know I wasn't the only on who took notice.


If you're one of the people who didn't care for Catherine's dress... please tell me why. Honest, no retaliation here. I genuinely want to know why people weren't into it!
Please and thank you!

Can't I just skip it...?

or AT LEAST postpone/reschedule until for another day. You see yesterday (May 1st) was the 26th anniversary of my birth. It was sucky and rather great all the same time. My husband knows I love birthdays. So, even though he's half a world away in Afghanistan he's been plotting and planning for about 2 weeks to make this day special for me. He sent me gorgeous flowers:

And was planning a surprise party for me with the assistance of my sister and mother. However, the problem with a surprise party is that the person you're surprising doesn't know about it. So, trying to now completely skip my birthday this year I sent out a request to get some friends together at The Melting Pot. Kinda ruined the surprise shin-dig. Boo. After I "ruined" (more like rescheduled, unknowingly) my surprise I had to work on Saturday night. Usually Saturdays are kind of heavy at work. I figured "why bother taking it off though, I'll be home around 230 and press on with my day. Nope! It was "label night" we had to change over 5000 labels in the commissary. I left at 4... I was like people "it's 4.. and it's my Birthday and I really don't want to sleep the entire thing away." they were like "ok homie... beat it". So basically my day consisted off homework and sleep. Thank God for my Momma though! She got some goodies and her and my sis gave me some gifts so I had a lil birthday celebration! I tried to make the best out of the day I was dealt and my husband helped me out a lot with that. :) 

(I'm a lucky girl)

Another bit of news I wish I could skip is the fact that Osama bin Laden is dead. I mean, great job troops ! But forgive me for being concerned for those still in Afghanistan. It amazes me that people "forgot" or simply "don't care" that there are still 1000's of troops there. I guess it just doesn't occur to people that there could be retaliation. hmmm. 

I'll be sitting here thinking happy thought- trying to convince myself that everything will be ok.