Wine Walk

This past weekend Ryan, Rylie and I drove down to South Carolina for some needed family time and Mother's Day. I had to work Friday so we had a late start (and somehow I drove all four hours) but we had a really nice weekend. Saturday we went to the Lexington Wine Walk and had a blast! We took a cab both ways so my mother in law, Ryan and I could all enjoy ourselves and we definitely did!! 

Once we got to the walk we received our wine glass and wine coozie! I didn't even know wine coozies existed! All along the street local businesses had table with wine, food and freebies. Our coozie collection has grown, a ladybug necklace somehow stayed on me all night and light up bracelets made the night flash. There was live music and I had a hook up at the table with the sparkling wine so I was a happy camper!

I even got to slow dance with my husband :D Perfect night!

 
 And my sister in law is adorable! We were all up late Saturday and needless to say Sunday was pretty lazy and quiet!! We left to head home pretty late in the afternoon and somehow I ended up driving three quarters of the way again :P We got home late and Ryan went right to sleep as he has been on the range ever since. Poor guy is getting up at 3am everyday! Today I didn't work so I saw him for a whole two hours before he went to bed. Only two more days and we will have a similar schedule once more. 
 
 

 The Dup had fun too despite hating the car (and the cat... But that's another story!). This is the closest I've ever seen her to sticking her head out the window of a moving vehicle. My dog is weird. 
 
 

Happy Mother's Day

 Happy Mother's Day!

My mom is one of my best friends and I'd be lost without her. Thank you for being there for me always. Your advice, wisdom and guidance made me the woman I am today. I love you!

And a Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mother in law, Babci, Skeetsie and my godmother Aunt Eileen. I am blessed to have such amazing women in my life. I love you all!

 

 Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!
 
 
 
 

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

To all the wonderful Military Spouses out there, I just wanted to say thank you. To my blogging friends, thank you for getting me through some of my lowest lows and celebrating my highest highs. To my real life military spouse friends, thanks for the drinks, the movie nights and the general gripe sessions you've endured at my side. I never realized when I met my husband that being a "military spouse" would become a part of my identity, but it has. Now, don't get me wrong, I take no credit for anything my husband does... he does his job and he does it damn well. I am proud of him and his accomplishments... and that is what they are. His. But I am proud to be on this journey with him.

Sometimes that means spending a holiday or a birthday or anniversary alone. Sometimes that means going to Walmart at midnight to get baby wipes so he can "shower" in the field. Sometimes it means living 3,000 miles apart for nine months while he goes to school and you hold down your "good" job and save money to buy your first house. Sometimes it means a tearful goodbye knowing he is deploying for the next 6-8 months. But it also means cherishing every moment we have. It means enjoying each holiday, from Thanksgiving to Saint Patrick's Day, in case you are apart next year. It means long, bone crunching hugs and sweet kisses that have to either last awhile or make up for lost time. It means phone calls long into the night ignoring the fact that you have work in four hours. It means your heart skips a beat when you unexpectedly get a text message or an email. It means having so many first kisses that you lose count.

There is something to be said for being a military spouse. They are some of the strongest, kindest and most adaptable people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Near and far I am proud to consider them my friends. Thank you. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you, for advice when I was lost, and for just listening when it was necessary. I appreciate every one I have met and I know these relationships will last a long time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Lonely?

I came to a semi startling realization lately (with some articles like this one and this one ... they definitely helped me on this path... well, you'll see). With Ryan in the field and a deployment on the near horizon it was not a revelation I enjoyed having.

I am pretty lonely these days.

When my husband is home, it is terrific. He is my best friend and I love spending any available minute I can with him. Working at the library means working evenings and weekends... so that time we do have together with opposite schedules really is precious. But when he is at work (whether for the day, the week or in the future 6-9 months) I am pretty lonely.

I have friends in the area, don't get me wrong. It isn't like I don't know anyone like I did at this time last year... but I am disappointed I did not bond with someone in a super close way. There is no one I am comfortable calling randomly to say, "Hey, I'm bored... want to do something?" No improvised movie dates, drinks or anything seem to ever happen. When I hang out with people it tends to be in groups where I know one person really well and everyone else knows, well, everyone else. I didn't expect to feel like an oddball out after living here a year. I know friendships take time, but it is pretty disheartening to feel this way. At 25 the WAAH I don't have any close friends sort of phase should be over, don't you think?

There are some wonderful people I know here, but I haven't moved beyond just good friends with anyone. No future BFFs seem to be in my horizon and knowing I am about to face a deployment without someone like that makes me dread it more. There are amazing military spouses (and civilians) in this town, I just wish I clicked with someone on that level.

Does this make any sense?

I may just be rambling, and because this is my blog I think that is allowed... but it still sucks. My best friend lives in New Jersey and is moving futher away in the near future to Rhode Island. Most of my family lives in other states and my own family, even being in the same state, is a good seven hours away. There are some days I just want to jump out of my skin. The Dup is a great bud (you know, for a dog) but there are even days I wish I could just depend on someone else to entertain her. There cannot even be improvised roadtrips because with work my time is wonky and with The Dup she hates the car. I have to pay to board her if I didn't want to bring her somewhere as I don't even have anyone nearby I feel comfortable to pet sit for a few days. We are in the unique position of being married for awhile (not newly weds at any rate) and having no children or any forseeable ones for some time (like after this deployment maybe). Lots of people around here have kids or have been here long enough to have set social circles. Having a job usually helps that and while my coworkers are wonderful there are not many of us (um, like three others besides me at my branch) and they are older than me with kids and lives.

Hopefully something will change. I know I can volunteer or do more things to meet people, but the rare times I seem not to be working I want to spend time with Ryan... great for our marriage but it will bite me in the you know what in a few months when he is no longer around.

Thanks for reading this nonsensical assortment of words. My poor blog has been so all over the place lately I do appreciate any of you who are still around. Maybe things will change.. hopefully I can push myself in that direction and out of my comfort zone and make it happen. You never know.



PS - The chair is totally covered under warranty and a free arm will be here to be repaired in the next 4-6 weeks. Ultimate win right there! The furniture person was very apologetic about the wait but it is free so it does not bother me in the slightest. That chair will just be moved to the back of the dining room until I can get it fixed!

Being an Extra

The episode of Revolution I was an extra in back in January finally aired (The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia)! I was very lucky to catch myself three times even though they were pretty quick!!

 When the main character ran through the market place I caught myself and my friend Kat standing there. It was a moment I didn't have to pause and stil managed to catch it! I jumped off the couch because I was so excited.

This momet I knew  was coming so I knew to watch for it. It was super quick and it took me forever to pause and capture it.

This momet happened before the other two and I didn't even see it... Ryan did! He yelled "I saw you!" And rewound and froze it.

I was in other scenes but they moved so quick I couldn't see myself anymore. But I am happy with what I got! It may not much but it was a ton of fun and I hope I can do it again (:

Third Anniversary

Today is our third wedding anniversary!! It is also the first one we've spent apart (which is fine, 1 out of 3 is not bad!) since Ryan is in the field. Because we're impatient we decided to exchange gifts before he left. We went out for sushi and dressed semi nice and exchanged gifts and had some wine. Perfect. 

We do traditional anniversary gifts and for the third year the theme is leather. I got Ryan a nice leather samsonite briefcase that I saved up for and he got me my first coach purse. I giggled (if you are a fan of the OSMW Facebook page you know why) but I think the purse is adorable and I've already used it! It was very sweet of him to know me well enough to get the size and color I love in a daily use bag and considering its my first new purse in about seven years I think it's pretty awesome! 

He was also super stoked for the briefcase (which I know he wanted since he is so subtle!). I paid for amazon to gift wrap the present which meant they threw it in a large blue drawstring bag so I don't think I'll pay extra for wrapping if I'm getting something bigger than a breadbox!

Happy Anniversary my love. I hope for many happy returns of the day and that we can celebrate many more together. I love you. 

And now some photos (including some with a genuine Ryan smile that I tease him for never using in any posed pictures). 

 

 

 

 
 

Without Fail

Ryan goes into the field and something has to happen. I had to work today so I left the Dup out of her crate because it would be a long day. She'd be in the crate eight hours and I had plans tonight so I figured she'd be good and I'd give her free range of the house (with the couch blocked off and the bedroom doors shut). Naturally I was wrong. 

Sigh. 

Our beautiful dining room chair. Mother trucker. 
 

Ryan's Graduation

Ryan finally graduated Sergeants Course! Our life is semi back to normal but of course the field comes calling this week. I only had my iPhone at the ceremony so the pictures aren't the best. I am still so very proud of him! And Ryan's MSgt and about six of his friends (including one who got out already) came in their Charlie's on their day off to support him which was so sweet! Congratulations my love!

 

 
 
 
 

The Doctor in Spite of Himself

Once again another show has come to a close. This cast and crew were fabulous (as always) to work with and I'm really going to miss them! 

Naturally all shows have their snafus. Ours was a cast member showing up to opening night so drunk he could barely stand, let alone act. Cue rehearsing a cast member with a smaller part who goes on as an understudy in addition to his own part! Luckily he did amazingly and with the help of an incredible memory, a Sicilian rehearsal Friday morning and a lot of dedication the show went smoothly with the understudy in place!

The cast party was awesome, bonfire and hot dogs included. 

My family came for the weekend and saw the show as well as helping us around the house. Our shower doesn't leak, the toilet works, our front garden is planted and the backyard is French drained. Whew. Thanks dad! My mom and I went to the beach and my dad and Ryan did the most grunt work. Stefan and Ramon helped later on but it looks great!

And Lacey helped me fix up my costume and make up to make it slightly less Bo Peep and more milk nurse (aka my part!). 

Had to KCCO opening night!

The final effect. 

The glorious cast!

Flowers from my family and Ryan. 

And Ryan hard at work as I left for the matinee. My parents dog Dippy kept him company! My poor Dip. She's almost 12 years old!

So another show is done. Maybe this fall I can do another one!

 
 
 
 
 

My First Circus

Yes. I am 25 years old and I have never been to a circus. Until now!

The Cole Brothers Circus was literally up the street from our house and I raced to meet Ryan after work yesterday. 

It was amazing!

When the show started with the performing white tigers I literally was crying. Ryan asked what was wrong and I said, "I'm just so excited!!!!" I was a little nuts. 

It was a great show with tigers, dogs, clowns, tightrope walkers, motorcycles in a death ball, ribbon dancers and a human cannonball. We even splurged and went on an elephant ride together. All my pictures were on my iPhone so excuse the bad quality. I can't wait until we can go again!