Military Homecoming, the embarrassing truth.

I NEVER go overboard with the homecoming attire (oh how I wish this statement could end here.) However, since this is homecoming number 632 (sarcasm, but not that far off base,) I thought I’d spice things up a bit. Ha. First mistake! I wore a black and while polka dot number with some sexy black wedges -second mistake and covered up the bursting cleavage with a cute crop cardigan buttoned up- gotta keep it PG ladies. I had my hair and nails done in advance and arranged for a friend sleep over at the house with the kids, as it was suppose to be a 0400 ceremony.

He calls me at 1230 saying they were leaving location X and its only about a hour long flight so I needed to start making my way over to the ceremony location, STAT. wtf, over.

The time ended up being bumped to a 0130 ceremony, which totally messed up my time management planning. This should have been a sign that things were not going to go as I had hoped.

So I jump up out of bed (was trying to get a little pregame rest) and quickly got dressed, put on a little make up, flipped my hair over in hopes of bringing some life and bounce back to the curls, then darted out the door.  I stopped in the lobby to talk to the hotel receptionist for a minute, verifying that I’m not actually a prostitute leaving all dolled up at 1am even though I will be returning with a man. She laughed. I needed a little lighthearted humor.

By the time I made it to the ceremony location the parking lot was FULL. Was I the last to be informed of the time change? Man, I miss the good old days of FRG leaders actually making it their duty to make sure everyone knows where to go and called with time changes. Here in 2013 we have to click refresh on Internet browser to see if the webpage has been updated with changes, which it rarely is. So I parked my car, give my lips a little color, tried to tame the now unruly bedhead curls, and I took off in almost a sprint- clearly forgetting I went sans flats this time. Immediately I caught a rock awkwardly with my heel and twisted my ankle. Twisted my fucking ankle and fall in the parking lot at 0130, skinning up my knee a bit on the loose gravel. I was mortified, crushed, humiliated to the max! How could I forget I was 4 inches taller than normal?

With all the courage I could muster, I stood up, brushed myself off, and gingerly headed to the gate with a conspicuous limp. My ankle, now very weak, wobbling, and throbbing, my knee scraped and bleeding, my pride depleted.

I trudged forward.

I had a man to watch exit the plane, signifying the end of a deployment. I am determined to walk it off and not let the throbbing pain interfere. Just as I’m approaching the building, my ankle gave out. It completely gave out on me with no advance notice. There I go, falling again, only this time in front of some 4 soldiers on redeployment bag detail.  At this point, it was all I could do not to bust out in tears. My ankle is the size of a engorged orange, all pride and self-confidence – shattered. I just wanted to get my man and leave. And that’s exactly what I did. I took off those beautiful godforsaken damn shoes, waited patently for him to find me, we both got a good laugh out of my misfortune, and he helped me back to the car.

All the pain and embarrassment I had endured was nothing compared to finally feeling whole again. My partner in crime is back from another deployment. My heart is happy.

Apparently this should be my theme song...
 

Chapter 2013 Page 1 of 365...

 Peace Out 2012. 

Unfortunately I will spend the majority of the year away from my hubs. I still have a hard time believing that he is actually gone again. I don't know why I'm having such a hard time this go around, but I am. 

Up until now, I have spent the past 37 days mostly doing nothing but willing the next day to hurry up and get here so that it too may pass.  

I was lucky enough to have my sis and niece come spend a little over a week with us. It was a nice distraction to be around family. We took a mini road trip to New Mexico and explored a little over there. [More on their visit to come.]

As for now, it is high time to knock off the Poor-Pitiful-Me BS and get back to reality. He has his own time consuming daily agenda  and I need to get back to mine as well and get out of this damn rut once and for all.

 

So here's to a 

New Year, New Adventures, 

New Friends and Cheap Wine!  

{CHEERS}

December Photo a Day {day 1}

I'm sure Fat Mum Slim had no idea that her first prompt for her photo challenge just happened to be a very important one for me.  At 8 o'clock  we were saying our goodbyes and starting our 5th deployment. 

Goodbye, My Love.

And I will wait, I will wait for you

The hugs are a little bit longer, the kisses are a little softer and the I love you's come just a little more often… 

We are in our last few weeks together as a whole family.  My heart is already starting to ache. 
 
The garage is full with a combination of new gear and old memories.
 
Our Thanksgiving feast will be intimate and private as we share what we are thankful for then proceed to putting up the tree. Our Christmas will take place just days later and then we will say our goodbyes.

I apologize, again, and in advance, for being MIA for the past month and some of the month still to come.

Whew, what a week...

bits & pieces of the past 2 weeks.

1. The Human Highlighter
2. Pink and Glitter and Girly Stuff - heart cakes of Loooove
3. Sleeping off her sleepover hangover
4. No, you may not call your brother an ass, even if it is a donkey
5. Getting so excited for The Great Gatsby to come out
6. Mushy lovey dovey junk - with coordinating tattoos
7. I burnt dinner and my hand 
8. Monster Monday - bfc style
9. ah, our weekend. Beer + guys deploying soon + CNN = LOTS of Heated Debates
10. annnnnd.... Drunk Face Says Hiiiiii

other random thoughts:

1. Why are there so many creepers on Craigslist?
2. Am I really almost THIRTY-ONE?! wtf
3. After these past few months hanging with pretty much only my hubs and his friends, I really miss girls. 
4.  We have a maybe deployment date. No orders yet, so things can, and experience shows that it probably will, change twenty more times before the Day.
5. It is impossible to keep a house clean where there are three men, two children, and one dog in it. IMPOSSIBLE! again... Jessica, where are you? I miss hanging out with girls.
6. "Your mom goes to college" - Oh, this makes me laugh way to hard.
7. This. I can't wait.
8. Das B-Log needs a Make-Over! . . . .  Oh, what shall we do. . . .
9. So many wedding DIY ideas for my little sis, just wish I was back home to help her.
10. Damn, I'm getting old.

About a Six Year Old

Tomorrow, my darling Dollface is turning six. 

SIX! I can hardly believe it. 

 

[Question Time]

What is your favorite color? 

Black

What is your favorite toy? 

Monster High

 

What is your favorite fruit?   

Kiwi

What is your favorite show?

Wild Krats

What is your favorite movie?

Monster High

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  

Nutella Samwiches

What is your favorite outfit? 

 Shorts & Black Tank Top With My Pink Boots

What is your favorite game?  

 Mario

What is your favorite animal?   

Kittens

What is your favorite song?  

 Adele

What is your favorite book?

Llama llama Mad at Mama

Who is your best friend?    

Sara

Do you enjoy school? 

Yes

Who do you play with most while at recess?

Sara

What is your favorite cereal?

Lucky Charms

What is your favorite thing to do outside? 

Climb On The Trees

What is your favorite drink? 

Pink Lemonade

 

What is your favorite holiday? 

Halloween

Where is your favorite place to go? 

Chucky Cheeses

 

What are you afraid of? 

Lions

What is the best thing about being six years old?

Being Bigger

Who do you miss the most right now? 

Persayia

What are your thoughts on your brother? 

That He Has Red Hair

Do you like your name?  

Yes

What do you want for dinner on your birthday?   

Cake

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

Rock Star! 

A story to funny not to tell

A little while back, I traded in my gas guzzling monster SUV and I needed something that my 6'3 husband & great dane could both fit comfortably in. I know to look at the Nissan Cube, you may start to laugh and swear to never drive one. Shoot, I did. I only entertained the idea of looking inside one because I had a few minutes to kill while waiting for someone inside the Nissan Dealership in Savannah, Ga. I opened the door on the display car and thought "huh, not bad, not bad at all." Once you get in it, you see all the space in this little car and I bet you start to fall in love, just as I did. 

The kids fit, I fit, the tall Mr. and huge dog all fit.

Everything was right with the world, at least for a minute.

Then we moved to El Paso and chose to live off post. I no longer got to drive my cute car on a daily basis due to gas prices and a 30+ minute drive to Biggs. The hubs has an old dodge pick up and I'm stuck driving 'Big Red' while he had my sweet 'Tallulah'.

*sad face*

Apparently a man can only drive this car for so long while being in the Cav and surrounded by testosterone before reaching his breaking point. 

I loved my car. Loved it. It was quirky, it was cute, it was different and ironic. 

It was so much fun to  drive and I enjoyed giggling at people who would stare as I putt putted past.

~~~~

Let the replacement shopping begin.

*sad face*

After intensive car shopping, we finally found a car we both could agree on. While we were in the middle of the paperwork, and talking to the finance guy I tell him that I loved my toaster and I'm going to miss her.

He stops and stares. "Toaster?" he says. "Yes, my Nissan Cube" I say.

"Wait a minute, that car, the one with the 'Toaster Edition' sticker on the back? The one thats always over here on this side of town?"

"The one and only"

He laughs. Says he can't wait to tell his son that he met the [previous] owners of the Toaster. I guess my car is famous. I had no idea.

This made for a good laugh during a sad time for me.

~~~~~

Now its time to name the new car, cause that's not weird, right?  Do you name your cars? 

Dollface helped with the naming of Tallulah Pancake. I guess I'll let her help with the naming of the new car too. :) Fun Times. 

[ Stewart / Stuart ]

Blogging is one huge 'LOOK WHAT I CAN DO' from the Madam Martha types all the way to the MadTV types. If the phrase 'Look what I can do' is lost to you, check out this video to bring you up to speed. Its ok. I'll wait. I know its a 7 minute long clip, you can fast forward to 4:15 to jump right to the reference.

now that thats done.

Look What I Can Do ~ with a Chi!

***************

One of my little sisters came for a visit after my trip to Missouri. You see, she was suppose to be here while the hubs had surgery on the nerves in his ankle. However, his surgery was pushed back a week and he ended up having it just three short days ago. He's recovering well (more on that later.)
Where is my entertainment now, sis! The hubs is laid up in bed sleeping most of the day away and she is now back in Mo. So what do I do to pass the time? I'll blog about what we did :)

While she was here, we did a little quality bonding, sister time playing with hair.  I got this idea off Pinterest, but I chose not to do it quite as she has done. Look at me putting my own twist on things.. so punny. My sister recently had her hair trimmed and braiding just didn't sound like something I wanted to do with her shorter layers. I ended up pulling together small bunches of hair, spritzing them with some Redken fabricate 03, twist, then use the Chi to warm things up a bit. I used my fingers to move the hair around a little and pull apart the heated up twisties. I think the finished product was perfect.

She had some waves, some volume, some sass and some texture. Not to shabby for a first try.

As far as my sisters visit- we chatted, we bonded, we watched the Game Show Network, we fried potatoes at midnight,  we laughed, we goofed off, we thrifted, we shopped, we swam, we ordered delivery. We had a much needed visit with each other. Its hard to believe that she (and her twin) were just 8 years old when I left home. Wow. My son is 8 years old now. Its crazy to think of how much of their lives that I missed out on while starting my life. {insert sad face here} and my little brother too. Can't forget about him... err I say little, but really he is going to be a senior in high school. He's no longer little. He's a big kid.

I love my life. I do not regret 'running off and getting married' and moving away when I did, but I do regret not being there for those three. I am 12 years their senior. It is still hard to say good bye to them. 

Home ownership - one DIY at a time

I feel like a snail on the treadmill of life. 

There is SO much to do to this house. I'm trying to document everything on here so I can look back later and be proud of our accomplishments. But blogging about painting a light fixture or replacing a door knob seems so tedious. 

   Oh well. 

   So Far We Have:

•  Lime green paint in the sun room
•  New light switch plate in the sun room
•  Planted Morning Glories out front
•  Added a lattice for said morning glories
•  Dug up all cactus in the front yard
•  Fresh paint for the entryway
•  New light switch plates in entryway and hallway
•  Fresh paint in the living room and dining room 
•  New refrigerator
•  Convert & painted wet bar to a built in bookshelf
•  New Carpet in living room
•  New tile in dining room
•  Replaced light fixture in hallway
•  Repaint light fixture in sun room
•  Replaced master bedroom door knob
•  Removed dead palm tree from the front yard
•  Replaced toilet handle & faucet in hall bathroom (here)
•  Fresh paint in the hall bathroom
•  Laundry room makeover

Ahhh its so ongoing. Our to do list is fooooorever long. blah. All this work just to list the house for sale as soon as we get orders to PCS somewhere else. 

DIY Upcycle Kitchen Curtains 

Dead Peoples Things For Sale

One thing I will never turn down is a chance to go thrifting, or as I like to call it, rummaging through dead peoples things. If someone says "Hey, lets thrift." I am in my car faster than you can say Jack Robinson. Its an addiction, really.

Here are some views from the day:

 $99.99 at a Goodwill. 

Ya know, its a sad day when I cant afford a toy from GOODWILL for my daughter 

(not that I'd let her play with this one.)

This reminds me of something Sweet Green Tangerines mom said once, "Goodwills, its not just for poor people anymore." :)

I kinda really love this painting(s) *LIGHT-BULB*

Things that make you go "WTF, Barbie"

Oh, Big Mac, you made St. Louis so proud... for minute.

...I know the feeling, dude.

 This vintage gem was almost purchased by my lil sis today. She is doing my nieces room in vintage toys. Wouldn't this Kewpie Doll be perfect?! We may have to go back before she leaves.

 Beat a child.

WANTED: Life Coach or Mental Hospital

I don't think I'm cut out to be a grownup. Ever feel like this? It simply doesn't feel right. I shouldn't be a 30 year old mom of two! Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change any of it for the world, but some days it feels like I'm wearing someone else shoes.

I'm mostly just joking when I say I want a mentor or life coach, but not really. Right now I feel like I'm at an impasse with furthering my education and career choices. I do not know which path to follow. This is especially concerning now that Dollface will be going to Kindergarten all day, this is my time to finish my education. MY TIME. We've said this ever since we started having kids. I know this mess is my fault- I chose to run off and marry the love of my life and leave school way to young.(Kids- Don't be a love struck 19 yr old & get married at 20!)  

Pat and Becky

sitting in a tree:

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

First comes love,

then comes marriage,

then comes baby

in a baby carriage!

We've said all along, that after both kiddos are in school full time, all day, then-FINALLY I get to do the same! MY TIME.

The school I was enrolled in had a BS in Human Services degree & I was working on that. My plan was to finish getting my BS and then transfer to UTEP. At UTEP I wanted work on getting a masters in Occupational Therapy. PERFECT! We are stationed at Biggs Army Air Field (Ft. Bliss) and there is a university right here in town! WHAT! It sounds like it was meant to be, right?! ha Unfortunately I took an almost 2 yr hiatus due to deployment homecomings and PCSing to Texas. In that short time my original school no longer have that program available. Of Course. So now I am trying feverishly to figure out what my next step is. I'm at a loss. A different degree program? A different school? Which school/university? Will my credits transfer in a beneficial way? Oh and there is always that sweet little gem about us only being here for another year or so that plays a huge part too. All the joys of being a military family. Instability at its best. 

***Sidenote: Happy 10yr Anniversary to my Mr.

Who's that knocking at my door...

Sweet Green Tangerine - say what-what! It had been a YEAR! A year, people! since our families last saw each other. A YEAR! and the last time we did see each other, it was on I-10 at a truck stop McD's while she was traveling East & us moving West.

Luckily, her folks live about 7 hrs from our current place of residency. ROAD TRIP! It was like these kids had never been apart. They picked back up with their friendships right where they left off back in Georgia.

 

and they were even nice/cooperative enough to let the 'grown ups' do a little antiquing/thrifting big Texas style.

Needless to say, the kids had a fantastic visit! and so did the adults :)

I'd say our friendship is build on pretty solid ground.

Ice Cream & Beer. Now that's living.

 

To Be Continued.

Oh, El Paso

Its hard to believe that we have been in El Paso, Texas just under a year already. I still miss Savannah and the friends and the memories made during our time there, but El Paso isn't all that bad. We are really starting to enjoy our time here.

Here is mini peak into our experiences here.

EDIT: Jessica at Sweet Green Tangerine just posted this TODAY & guess what. I miss her and Georgia even more all over again! Thanks a lot Jess! No really, Thank you for the memories :)



   Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
   I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
   Night-time would find me in Rosa's cantina;
   Music would play and Felina would whirl.

I-10, I loath you lots.
Mountains Mountains Everywhere!

Always pay attention to road signs

 or you'll end up headed to Mexico

Thank you, PINTEREST!

Finally, my compulsive pinning paid off!

Umbrellas are a must.

Not for the rain, of course, 

but for the sun. 

Oh, El Paso. Just when I think I'm getting used to things here. You leave me thinking WTF yet again.
RedBull: These Wings Aren't Free