Overload

So two weeks down and my man is gone again. I facebooked, that the goodbyes have not gotten any easier but I have just come to realize how lucky I am to have someone that is still hard to say goodbye to.
We had a great two weeks.
I am glad that it wasn't all love-making and unicorns; that just isn't our style. We bickered some and had too much to drink on some days (hey, we're still allowed to do that right!!?) but mostly we did enjoy each other. Prior to Kevin's arrival I was worried that we had over-booked our short time together adding San Diego from Sept 15-18 when we already had Vegas from the 20-23. But it worked out perfect. I lamented this AM (on the drive to the airport) that if we had spent more time in Colorado Springs we would have gotten bored.
We did manage to go slightly over budget but it's ok (so Kevin says). Here's hoping I get a job in Germany (haaa ha-).
Over the next few days I'll be catching up on copious amounts of TV (no spoilers people, I haven't even seen Grey's Anatomy annnnd I've missed 3 weeks worth of Jersey Shore), getting laundry cleaned and putting boxes together for shipment back to Germany (I've acquired more shiz than I really should have) and finally go through our pictures from the past 2 weeks. I'm hoping we at least got a few good shots-- which I'm starting to doubt. Ahh, such is life!!

Whirlwind

Obviously we've had a whirlwind two weeks. We are rapidly approaching Kevin's departure. I'm looking forward to getting back to Germany as redeployment will be a short time after I get back to Germany. So, it's one of those the sooner he leaves the sooner he'll be back, type situations.

We have had a great R&R together. We visited family and our Pup in San Diego. We worked on our tans and managed to not lose more money than we could really afford to in Vegas. We did some laundry and spent some time with family in Colorado. We're just now getting in some rest though. Traveling makes things more hectic than restful. We have enjoyed our time thus far but it has been very busy.

I'll be back in a few days with a full update including 8 air planes one canceled flight and an over-night in Denver, Barrett Jackson Auction, THEhotel and THEbeach wave pool and lazy river and loads of other good memories!

Miss me??

I've been a bad blogger but for VERY good reason: My mans is home!! Kevin arrived a week and one day ago. I can't believe it! We have been having an outstanding time. We are currently sitting in the Colorado Springs airport waiting to board our 5th plane in this short week we've already spent together. Today we are headed to glorious Las Vegas. We have already been to San Diego And thoroughly enjoyed our time there with great family and great friends!
It's nap time friends I'll be back in a few days for the play-by-play!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Air Cargo Rd,Colorado Springs,United States

I'm kind of....

I am a lot of things.... I'm funny, annoying, sarcastic, loving, respectful, a sister, wife and friend. But one thing I try not to be is a giant asshole. I humbled myself a few minutes ago. I kind of flipped my shit and got reaaaaallly excited to watch the official Breaking Dawn trailer on Yahoo! Then I "shared" it on my Facebook.

Then I saw the following video shared via the US Army:




And...... I suddenly felt like and asshole. Serious, Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 vice 4 minutes of attack. Wow.... Hello reality check. 


Given this video and my husband's post's proximity to the US Embassy in Kabul I am very grateful he's currently in Kuwait on his way home to me. However, it's frightening to think he'll be headed back there in two weeks. 


((here's to enjoying two weeks without fear)) 

The Comprehensive 9/11 Post

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Have you seen the Copy/Paste Facebook status about how Mayor Bloomberg of NYC failed to invite first responders to the 9/11 ceremony/memorial unveiling? I know that's definitely sad. On the other hand after seeing Mayor Bloomberg on The View earlier this week I learned why this was the case: Fire and occupancy regulations. There are only so many people allowed on the plaza at one time and the families of those who died were invited. So yes, I agree it's craptastic that the first responders were not invited but it would have been equally as craptastic if the families weren't invited. So, honestly I sympathize with Mayor Bloomberg having to make that choice. It had to be difficult. 

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So, ten years ago was 2001 (obv.) but I was 16 and in high school. I don't remember what class I was in, because I don't remember much of anything from high school... Anyway there I was and my sister came into my class with this look on her face like something very very bad was happening. The last time this happened she came to pull me out of band class in middle school because my grandfather had passed away... so I immediately jumped to something along those same lines. Nope. She said that there was an attack happening in New York and Washington DC. It was awful. I learned later what had actually happened. I watched the video of the planes crashing into the buildings for days. It was horrifying.

I didn't know 10 years ago those events would come to shape my life. I didn't know 10 years ago that I'd be married to a soldier. Nor did I know 10 years ago that I would be missing my husband while he's off fighting the subsequent wars of that day. 

Today I watched the stories of four soldiers; four warriors on TIME.com, Portraits of Resilience, along with many other stories. I was most struck by Richard Fern. He worked on the 84th floor of the South Tower. Richard Fern fought to make his way out of the towers. Richard Fern walked from lower Manhattan to his wife's Cousin in Brooklyn.

Then there was Jimmy Riches. Jimmy Riches was a firefighter in Lower Manhattan. He was the oldest son of Jim Riches, Retired Firefighter of Brooklyn and he was 29 on Sept 11th. Jimmy Riches would turn 30 on Sept 12th, 2001. Jim Riches made his way from his home in Brooklyn to Ground Zero and did what he could to help, and as the day went on he came to accept that his oldest son was dead. Jim Riches tells his story here. Jim Riches spent every day at Ground Zero, which eventually lead to a coma in 2005 and almost death. Jimmy was the oldest of his brothers, Timmy Riches, Danny Riches, Tommy Riches. This families story is heartbreaking and motivational all at the same time. I found myself crying as I listened to each of them tell how they carried Jimmy's body up the ramp on March 25, 2002.

Have you visited Ground Zero since 9/11? I've been twice. The first time in December of 2002. I remember walking through the city and watching other people stop dead in their tracks as a plane flew overhead. It was stunning to see that response and the fear in these peoples faces.

Game Plan

Are you a planner?

I'm a planner to my core. This usually causes problems. I like to know where I am going and when and what I will be doing once I get there. I want to know how much it will cost, to ensure that I'll have enough money to participate in all activities.

I plan. I "future trip", as my husband says. I write lists- constantly.

The last few weeks Kevin and I have been coming up short on the conversation front. This happens to all deployed marriages. It's just the nature of the beast people. With a lack of conversational topics at hand we turned to our impending R&R. Our initial plan was a nice low-key R&R here in Colorado. (yeah right) Our plan evolved to include a visit to Vegas. Let me just say we are within a week from R&R getting under way. This morning our plan expanded to include a jaunt to San Diego. My longtime followers know that my MIL lives there and I also happen to have a great friend there from High School there. Our pup, Brody is also there.

Kevin and I have been allllllll through (and through again) our time in Vegas. Which shows we'll see. What restaurants we'll eat at. How much we'll spend lose at the tables. All in all we've talked out the R&R topic; we beat it to death and then revived it up to beat it again.

Today with the change to our plan to include San Diego... I was thrown a huge whammy. It suddenly smacked me in the face: "This changes everything." We'll spend more money. I'll have even less time for homework. Also, less time in Colorado with my fam here. Cue pressure. Not only am I a planner but I also like to put a lot of pressure on myself. I've now decided that in order to actually enjoy our time on R&R that I'll have to complete 3 weeks worth of homework within a weeks time. Fun, right?

Hey, anyone realllly thoroughly enjoy Econ homework assignments? Get at me. I have something super fun for you. (;

Delusions

You guys will never believe what happened. My boyfriend called again! I guess he's been missing me or something.... I mean naturally... c'mon who wouldn't miss me- I'm amazing.

Ok I suppose I should come clean and explain to you all what I'm referring to. I guess I should start with when I say "my boyfriend" I am of course referring to this fella:

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Second, when I say "called again" I mean that People.com told me he would be in the states next month.

Third, my husband knows alllll about my many "boyfriends" and how they get in contact with me from time-to-time. They can never stay away too long. Naturally, I don't begrudge my "boyfriends" their other women. Seriously, that'd just be ridic right? I am married after all.

Day # 181: I'm Done

I've been in Colorado for 5 and a half months. Today I went to my 4th movie by myself. I don't mind the idea of going to movies alone. Sincerely, I don't. I usually rather enjoy it. But today I've had enough. I don't want to go to anymore movies by myself. This doesn't mean that I won't see other movies without Kevin. It just means today I'm really kind of 'over' this deployment nonsense. It's been 181 days since I was last with my husband and I miss him.

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Outside of being lonely I was pleasantly impressed by the movie I saw today. I saw Crazy, Stupid, Love. I'm not a huge Steve Carell fan and based on the previews I didn't think it'd be anything more than a young kid with all the swagger in the world (Ryan Gosling) trying to "fix" the old dude going through your standard mid-life crisis. But nope, it's more than that. It's hilarious, well acted and had a much better story line than I thought! Here's to being pleasantly surprised at the movies!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their Labor Day Weekend!!

Sad

Somethings have been making me very sad for about a week. I had this very good friend during middle and high school. Her name was Erin. She was my best friend. In high school we drifted slightly we both extended our group of friends-- separately. Anyway the summer after graduation I made one nasty, and admittedly unnecessary comment to her about her new set of friends. I don't remember specifically what I said but it was ugly of me. I called her multiple times to apologize and smooth things over. However, she literally never spoke to me again. I even called her while my parents were splitting up. I left her a message and told her about my parents and said I really would like to catch up with her. Nothing. No response. (me=sad). I requested her on Facebook about a year ago, on a whim. She accepted but clearly had no interest in rekindling our friendship. She didn't comment on my status when I moved to Germany, she didn't care enough to say anything when Kevin deployed.

Well, here's why I'm sad. She got married last Friday. I just keep thinking that I don't get why if we were such good friends she would write me off FOR-EV-VER because I said one nasty thing. I have good friends and sometimes I say not nice things to them and vice versa but you call them on it and move on- turn the page you know? I just felt like I should have been there, at her wedding.
 *~~~*
Another situation making me sad: my other friend Kaitlyn got some very bad news at her ultrasound last week. She'll have twin girls Dec/January. However, tragically one of the babies has a genetic syndrome which is fatal. Prayers are very much appreciated.

Don't forget to count your blessings!!