Flop?

Wow... I have to say I thought the give away would be a little more exciting? I have two entries at the moment. :( Maybe this wasn't as good of an idea as I thought. I mean, technically I know I still only have 99 followers, but shouldn't that be 99 entries? Or at least like, 10?

*INSERT BLOG FAIL HERE*

Maybe this thing isn't as active as I thought it was.



Top it off I completely wiped out in the rain this morning. I am wearing my favorite black flats (so much my favorite that the heel traction wore away) and they caused me to tumble. I stepped off the front step onto the sidewalk and suddenly my right foot slid out from under me and down I went. I scraped my right palm, jammed my shoulder back into its socket, twisted and wrenched things and bruised my posterior. My umbrella went flying, my lunch and purse... and I got rained on. I dented my redbull, ripped my lunch bag, and bent one of my umbrella spokes on top of getting soaked.

I didn't have time to go change so I dragged my damp butt to the car and went to work with the heat blasting. Luckily I had on black pants under a black and white snazzy long sleeve mini dress I got at White House Black Market, so the water wasn't too visible. I get to work and remember then I have to go to training at our other office near by and proceeded to shiver the entire meeting as I dried off.

Sigh.

Happy Thursday.

Don't forget to enter the 100 Follower Give Away here. Competition is definitely in your odds at this point!

First Giveaway!

Alright, even though I only have 99 followers I figured I was close enough and I would get this out there

Introducing Allie's Fabulous 100 Follower Give Away!

I have to say thank you first of all. When I started this blog last year, before Ryan deployed, I never expected this. This being the amazing group of women I have had the chance to meet and get to know. I am astounded everyday by your stories and generosity and that is the reason I wanted to try and give a little something back. Thank you following, for blogging, and for stopping by. I never thought this thing would get as big (and I no compared to some it isn't that big!) as it has or that it would become to important to me and my life as a Marine Wife.

I teamed up with Joan, aka Mamagotowork, over at Etsy for this give away. The winner will be chosen randomly and will win this...

In Joan's own words, "Perfect gift for that special military person/family member in your life. My husband is a Marine and I am always on the lookout for military fabric. This brand new with tag, reusable handmade in USA grocery bag is 18" wide, 20" deep from the top of the strap to the bottom of the bag. It is 15" from the bag opening to the bottom of the bag. It is a high quality fabric, well constructed with triple stitching on seams. It is easy to take care of, machine wash and dry. The fabric is prewashed so there will be no shrinkage.

Pay tribute to our armed forces, a friend or just because. Invest in your reusable grocery bags. You can make a difference in our environment. These reusable 100% prewashed cotton bags are also available in Navy,and Army fabric.

If you are looking for another branch of the military, something for a hunter or outdoors person let me know. We will be launching many new items as we develop our store."

So the winner can chose another fabric to show their support to any branch of the military, or whichever, if they win! And be environmentally friendly (:

To win:
1. Be a follower of my blog and leave a comment saying so. Also what fabric you would chose if you won. 1 entry
2. Re-post about the give away on your blog and link it back here, separate comment. 1 entry
2a. If someone comments saying they heard about the entry from your blog. 2 entries!
3. Stop by Joan's shop on Etsy and buy something else (the aprons are ADORABLE, I really want the cherries one!). Post here and let me know you did! 5 entries
4. Promote Joan's shop on your blog and link it up! 2 entries.
5. Post about the giveaway or Joan's shop on facebook/twitter and link it back here. 3 entries.

Ok, I think that sounds about right. I will be accepting entries until Monday October 4th. I will post a winner (randomly chosen) after that!

Doctors Follow Up

Follow up from this post and sort of this post... the first one is the important one.

On Saturday I go and check the mail again and one of my two referrals came! It was for the plastic surgeon, still waiting on the physical therapist. One step at a time, maybe it's a sign? (:P)

Anyway I get recommended to this doctor and I was a bit shocked it is at Georgetown University Hospital! Way to go TriCare.

Yesterday I call and had to leave a voicemail, which depressed me a bit, as no one was there. I call back today and had to leave another one during my lunch. I am on the phone with my mom and I see a call coming in and I did a "Gottagoloveyabye" to my confused mother who proceeded to call me back during my attempts to schedule. But in the end, I have an appointment for a consultation! I cannot believe it. It is not until October 15th and I got the first appointment of the day so I wouldn't miss too much work... but I have it.

This is something I have considered for ten years now. It just feels surreal that it might actually be under way. And you bet your bottom dollar this is a sure fire way I will quit smoking, a big no no with general anesthesia.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

AH YAY!

Guess what one of our awesome clients got a dozen of and shared with Sarah and I?



That would be a Georgetown Cupcake, red velvet, in my hand. Thank you!!!!

Weekends aren't long enough...

Weekends are so precious.

48 hours to do whatever you like. Sleep in til noon (or nine if your body is magically reprogrammed now as an adult). Eat big meals. Go places. Party. Lay on the couch with your husband for hours on end.

The 5/2 weekday weekend ration so does not cut it for me. Switch it please? Or maybe even 4/3 would be nice.

We didn't even do that much this weekend, but it was still great. Friday I wasn't feeling well so we went to bed early. Slept til 9. Then we went over to the barracks as there was a big festival over on 8th St. There was a cook off between the chefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and the White House among others. Sadly the Marines kinda let us down and didn't even make the top five! Ah well. There were lots of politicians advertising (of course), cupcakes (new shop opening called Hello Cupcake!), lots of food, music, theatre (someone's awesome husband got someone at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre to give them their card so their wife can send in their tech resume... (: ), and a trapeeze school. I totally took a brochure and plan on trying it out. Who's with me???

Sunday we got so much done. We were up late watching Good Will Hunting (LOVE Robin Williams) but somehow got up early, had breakfast and went about our merry chores. I went grocery shopping iwth $86 and managed to only spend $73 getting what we needed, and cleaned the apartment while my husband did laundry and went to the gym. We walked to church and then came home, had dinner (yummy broiled steak and vinegar stringbeans) showered and were in bed by 9 as someone had to be up at 5am. Luckily it was not me.

But regardless of how much sleep I got I was so Mondayish this morning. Forgot my engagement ring, class ring, lunch, and a brush today. Also no umberella or jacket and it is raining. I have a first rehearsal tonight at Catholic to go meet the cast... I am the production Stage Manager for The Magic Flute at the end of next month so I have to meet everyone. It is a sweet deal, I have to be there tech week and the week of the show and that is it! It is a great credit for my resume and I am getting paid.

How was your weekend? Are you with me on the 4/3 ratio? Let's petition....

(Offer still stands for give away help! I only need five more people before I can do one... if anyone wants to go in with me or has an idea plase email me! imyewneek@yahoo.com)

Survey Says...

Slow Monday at work means a survey... blatantly stolen from Carmen at We See the Same Stars!

1. When is your "engagement" anniversary?
December 10, 2009
2. When is your wedding anniversary?
May 1, 2010
3. How long have you known your spouse?
Since March 2008 so 2 years and 7 months?
4. How long did you date before you were engaged?
We dated a year and nine months.
5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time?
At a Saint Patrick's Day Party the drama kids were holding in College. Friend of a friend had him tag along and we met on the back porch of the house and just clicked.
6. What is your spouses full name?
Daniel Ryan (insert last name here). He goes by his middle name as do all men in his family.
7. Do you have any children?
Nope! Not even a fish :P haha
8. How many? Boys/Girls
We want to have around four, boys/girls doesn't matter, just at least one of each would be nice. But it is a we'll see, we could have one and decide we're done, but for now four!
9. Do you have any house pets?
No. Blah. He did finally say last night we could talk to my uncle (who breeds labs) about getting one but my aunt doesn't really want to give us one in an apartment. Fail.
10. Do you own a house or rent?
Rent. It drives Ryan crazy that we have to.
11. Do you live in the country/town/city?
Town on fringe of city. City. Eh. It isn't a huge city but it is definitely not country!
12. What is one of your favorite activities to do together?
Walking, we do awesome walks. And watch movies. And eat. :P
13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot?
We haven't really gotten to vacation together, it just visiting our families in NJ or SC. Closest we have had is when he vistited me when I was working for Disney. Otherwise it has only been weekend trips to the beach.
14. When did you first kiss?
May 8, 2008
15. What church do you attend?
We have been going to Saint Mary's but Ryan wants to find a new one because he "doesn't like how this congregation sings all half-assed and offkey." Really.
16. Is this the church you were married in?
Nope :( I miss my church
17. What town is current address at?
Eh you can probably figure it out
18. Do you work or stay home?
Work work work
19. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Waynesville NC
20. What was the funniest gift you gave while dating?
The gift itself wasn't funny but the story behind it was. The George Foreman Grill. Josh, Ryan's best man, made this story part of his speech at our wedding. Ryan got it for me for Christmas and we get to the apartment and we cannot find it. We are tearing apart cabinets and looking everywhere and it is sitting on the counter under a tiny tiny card. Fail. Basically we tend to miss the big things but are awesome at the little stuff!
21. How long have you been together?
2 and a half years.
22. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Two months
23. Who asked who out?
Ryan definitely asked me, I was too shy for such a thing!
24. How old are each of you?
I'm 23 and he is 22.
25. Where do each of you go to school?
I graduated from Catholic University. He hasn't attended a college yet and keeps toying with the idea....
26. Which situation is hardest on you as a couple?
Deployments, by far.
27. Did you go to the same school?
Nope
28. Are you both from the same town?
Not even close
29.Who is smarter?
Depends in the subject. I tend to have more book smarts and he has street smarts. He is also brilliant with the stock market and other such things. We have our different strengths so it hard to say one or the other.
30. Who is more sensitive?
Oh so me.
31. Where do you eat out most as a couple?
It is depressing but McDonalds... otehrwise somewhere on King St
32. Where is the farthest you two have traveled as a couple?
Disney
33. Who has the craziest exes?
I only had one ex and we never really spoke again so I guess Ryan by default.
34. Who has the worse temper?
Depends. I'd say I am quicker to get there but when he does he is way angrier.
35. Who does the cooking?
Depends on the day. It is pretty equal.
36. Who is more social?
Usually I'd say me but with work I haven't been seeing a lot of friends lately :(
37. Who is the neat-freak?
Me.
38. Who is more stubborn?
Tie. We are both so stubborn
39. Who hogs the bed?
Apparently is has been me lately according to him
40. Who wakes up earlier?
Ryan finally once again, it was me all summer!
41. Where was your first date?
Ruby Tuesdays in Chinatown and seeing Baby Mama.
42. Who had more boyfriends/girlfriends?
Ryan
43. Do you get flowers often?
I have gotten them a few times. (: Not really since we've been married though.
44. How do you spend the holidays?
If it is together it is perfect!
45. Who is more jealous?
Him, but he is working on it.
46. How long did it take to get serious?
A month or two to be completely "steady" I guess you'd say even though it was just us from the beginning. Maybe official is a better word. By five months I knew it was the rest of my life.
47. Who eats more?
He does normally but is trying to lose weight so me.
48. Who does the laundry?
Ironically him, but I have to fold it and put it away so....
49. Who is better with the computer?
Me
50. Leave a piece of advice for other couples:
Always kiss eachother goodnight (if you're together!) and never let the sun set on your anger.
ue

Is this thing on??

No I am not commenting on anything in particular... I just cannot seem to hear too well out of my left ear!! I found that out today at work when I answered the phone (as per usual) and I could barely hear the person on the other end! I was looking at the phone, the chord, trying to see if it was my connection (which has popped out before!) and transfered the phone to my right ear to hear, "Hello? Hello???"

Oops.

I couldn't really tell if it was my ear or my jaw or a tooth, just the left side of my face on my upper side cheek/ear canal feels swollen and funny. Not sure if I am starting to get an ear infection or what. Not cool at all! I haven't had one of those since about 8th grade. I really do not want to go to Urgent Care this weekend because everyone knows TriCare is so helpful with the little things! Ugh.

In other strangeness, I had my first nightmare in a long time last night. And it was a strange but still frightening one! I actually woke up yelling and in turn woke Ryan up (when he had PT in less than two hours from that point...oops). I was on one of the back country roads near my parents' house in NJ. It was dark out but the moon was full and bright so I could kind of see. I have no idea where I was walking to or from but somehow I heard there was a crocodile on the loose and people should stay indoors. I scoffed at that, anyone can outrun a crocodile on dry land! (Yea don't ask, I am sarcastic and weird even in my own dreams)

So I am walking along and of course there is the crocodile. About three times the size it should be in real life. I try and sneak around it and it snaps at me. I run and it chases me. I start zigging and zagging and doing crazy things and it is right on my heels. I see headlights in the distance of a car and try to flag it down for help, but as it is in dreams you have a way of knowing something just won't work in your favor. I knew that car would never reach me in time and if it did I wouldn't be fast enough to get in the car without getting caught.

Suddenly the thing lunges for me and (if you're easily squeamished skip the next two sentences) I remember reaching and trying to gouge its eye out to make back off, like a shark thing. I can remember even what that felt like, which is pretty weird. But it was curtains for me as the thing lunged and I woke up yelling my head off.

As you can tell it is Friday and I am so all over the place. Oy.

Anyway... head over to Mrs. Muffin's blog for the Friday MilSpouse weekly round up!

I usually don't have time to blog weekends, so just in case, hope you all enjoy yours!



PS - I am almost at 100 followers (holy cow!) and I would like to do a give away, but I am lacking ideas! If anyone has any ideas or wants to go in a joint give away with me please email me or let me know! imyewneek@yahoo.com (:

Award!

Thank you to Nicole at *Sailor's Sweetheart* for this award!!!

So here are the rules:
1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pay it forward to 5 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.
3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.

Now this is going to be hard as most of the people I want to give this to already have it. So if you do not have this award, please take it! I am giving it to you! Leave me a comment and I will fill your name in the blank (: I love all the blogs I read and I want to spread the love!

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Incidentally Enough...

First... can I just mention I am SO flippin excited for this!?!?




Second. I finally heard back from the doctor last night. Now it turns out the spot was there, but it is still an incidental finding. On the phone he was throwing out a lot of big words I didn't quite catch (like enterior portion, limbus fetibra etc) but here is the gist. As a kid your bones fuse together, well apparently one part of my spine didn't want to cooperate and an extra piece of bone fused to the outside of my spine on my L3. I think it is called having a secondary osefication center. Whatever it is, it makes the part of my spine have a different density. He said a lot of people have them, most commonly in their feet or even chest, but it is rarely ever a problem. Where mine is it is not located near any nerves or my actual center spinal column so we are just going to leave it.

If I start getting really bad pain or pins and needles again we may investigate further. Until then I am still waiting on my referrals to a physical therapist and a plastic surgeon (yay thanks for being prompt TriCare!). If I don't get it Friday I am calling and harassing them again on Monday.

But thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. At least it all wasn't for sh...crap. We now know one more thing that is not causing my pain. That tends to be the trend with me whenever I am sick... we eliminate everything it is NOT but rarely get around to what it is. Oh well. Next step ahoy!

200!!!

I cannot believe I have 200 posts on my blog! That is crazy!

Well I did something special... aka the last hour at work has been slow. I made another page at the top of my blog (<- click!) entitled Wedding. I finally uploaded a whole LOT of professional pictures and put them there. They are mostly in order and aren't labeled or captioned or anything, but take a look and let me know what you think!

Here is a sneak peek:




And here is to the next 200! Thanks for sticking with me so long (:

Crazy!

I had a missed call and voicemail from the doctor today when I went to lunch... and he didn't tell me anything! I tried calling back, nothing, he was unavailable. Gave him my work number and have my cell phone out and nothing still. This is driving me insane!

Say A Lil Prayer...

You all remember my last doctor's visit from this post.


Well after work today I noticed I had a voicemail from a number I didn't recognize. It also called me twice the day before. It was from my doctor concerning the results of my spinal xray. I tried to call back and went through a maze (yay tricare!) but I eventually left a message for him to call me back.

I get a call tonight while Ryan and I are watching Hook and making dinner. It was my doctor. So apparently on my spine in two of the five angles they looked at there is some sort of mark. They want me to get another xray to double check their findings. It isn't a tumor or anything. But there are two possibilities. One is nothing. It was the angle I was laying at and my colon was there and it is an "incidental finding" (aka...well, crap). The other possibility is a spinal injury of sorts. My density is off for whatever reason. So if it isn't the incidental finding it is something else. He kept asking me if I ever had a serious injury (theory being it is post-traumatic injury or something that didn't heal) but I never have. Just pulling it out musclewise for 8 years. If the spot is in the same place on these new xrays then I need a CT scan or other tests to determine exactly what the damage is and what is causing it and go from there.

After dinner we get in the car and drive to Ft Belvoir. I was glad Ryan was with me because I couldn't help but feel a little panicky and worried. I wasn't expecting this at all. I was convinced my chest was causing back pain but what if this is causing it too?

48-72 hours for the results. So think positive for me.

Best case scenario... we drove all the way for Belvoir for shit :P

No?

Ok I laughed. Sorry.

Guess Where I Went Last Night...

I will give you three hints... (excuse the crappy cellphone quality pictures...)


Any guess?



We were at the bar across the street for 10 cent wing night watching the Saints vs 49ers game (wooo what a game!) When I saw it and had to go in! Pre game of course!



I got one of these and I am convinced there is a small dose of crack in it because it is SO good! I want more! The vanilla one with cholocate icing in the corner was my breakfast this morning.

Give up?




If you guessed Georgetown Cupcake from the TLC show DC Cupcakes you are correct!

Red Velvet=Crack. I want more. Preferably in IV form attached to my arm for the rest of my life.

Kim's Visit

Friday night one of my greatest friends and former bridesmaid, Kim, came down to visit me and Ryan. I was so excited to see her! It is always good to have someone from home nearby and especially nice to have a FEMALE friend to hang with for a change! Yes I love you Ryan, but you are hopelessly male! Which is usually a good thing... but I need a dose of estrogen every now and then. Kim and I have known one another since my sophomore year of highschool, her freshman year, when we met at our theatre school, and we have been great friends ever since. Hence the whole bridesmaid factor! Now she lives and works in NYC and is still wonderful. She is still acting, doing theatre and small films (which I am totally jealous of) yet still made time to bus all the way down here for the weekend.

Ryan and I picked her up Friday in DuPont Circle and drove around a bit while we chatted to catch up. She got to see the monuments from the nice warm car and not have to walk! We went back to the apartment and changed as it got chilly and walked up to our favorite bar on King St, Murphy's. We had a few drinks and listened to the Irish guitar guy play and had a good time. Now... Kim has this irrational fear of deer. Once in highschool, when it was her birthday, I got her a stuffed Bambi from the Disney store and hid it in her locker. When she opened it she screamed and proceeded to smack the hell out of me... rightly so! I felt awful and I had a real present for her too, which helped, but I never messed with it again. Now this whole time Ryan is playing on his phone and I don't even know if he is paying attention. He then goes, "Hey Kim.... ROAR!" and holds up a picture of a deer he uploaded to his phone. Kim jumped and actually teared up! I was ready to kill him! I smacked him upside the head and he was truly apologetic but he was trying so hard not to laugh. My charming husband... oy.

Saturday we went to the HFStival in Columbia MD. It was cool, we had a nice time walking around and eating bad for you food and beer. The USMC naturally had a booth for recruiting and I went and did a 25sec flexed arm hang (I so remember that being easier!) and won a keychain! We wanted to stay and see Billy Joel and Third Eye Blind but we did not want to wait another four hours so we just left! We heard Lit, Fuel, Macy's Playground, and the Presidents of the United States of America. I recognized maybe two songs total... but yay free concert!

We drove to the barracks and watched Weeds with Josh for a bit and ordered Dominoes. PS, that show is hilarious and I love it thanks to Netflix! After Kim and I went back to the apartment and got ready to go to Nick's, the country bar I wrote about here.


Ready to party country style!

We mostly had a good time until Ryan gave Kim some unasked for love advice concerning a previous relationship (*ignoring me frantically shhing him and squeezing the hell out of his knee*) and made her cry again. Once again, SO ready to kill him. He gets a few drinks in him and he turns into Dr. Phil. It just was not his place. He apologized and they went out to talk for a long time so Josh and I danced. The line dancing was HARD but fun. Two old guys danced with me during the night so I got the basic two step down as they twirled me around and I tried to teach Josh how to do it. We ended up just randomly hopping and spinning in circles on the floor! It was fun! Ryan tried two line dances early in the night and gave up, which kind of made me upset. I wanted to dance with him, not Josh! (even though Josh was great too! He is just not my hubby) Then they all tried to drag me to the back bar for karaoke and I nearly cried. Luckily it was near closing and I didn't have to sing! Ryan promised me next time we go to Nick's he will go early and do the lessons with me before hand so he doesn't feel so stupid not knowing the steps. I told him Josh Kim and I were winging it and still had a blast, no one cared! But at least next time he is willing to try.

Sunday we had a nice brunch on King St and just hung out until I took Kim to the bus to go home. I miss her already!

We learned on Wednesdays Nick's does Swing Dance Lessons from 7-9pm, so guess what we are doing this week? I am pretty excited.

Ryan and I did laundry and watched the Manning Bowl at the barracks. I don't want to talk about it. Giants, Eli.... really????? Ugh.

Lunch time! I love being able to write at work a bit!

Questions

Nicole from Flip Flops and Combat Boots tagged me in this a few days ago so I am passing it on! I answer the questions Nicole thought of then make up eight of my own and pass them on to eight other people. So here we go!



1) What is your favorite no-frills meal?

I have a few, but my favorite is stuffed mushroom baked chicken. You take a few chicken breasts and cut them so they have a sort of hinge. Stuff it with garlic, provolone cheese, and ham. Close the hinge. Then cover all the chicken breasts with a cream of mushroom soup, I usually use two cans. Then bake! It is so so so yummy.

2) What is your favorite picture? Post it!

Just.... one??? How can I decide??? Ok I am at work now but when I get home I promise I will post one here....

EDIT: Toss up between my favorite wedding picture and my favorite travel picture. The travel one is from Athens, Greece, taken from the Parthenon overlooking the city.





3) Do you prefer flip flops, boots, sneakers or heels?

Usually I have to say flip flops, but I own soooo many heels that I wish I had the endurance to wear them more than I do!

4) Where is your favorite place to vacation?

I am not really someone who goes back to places over and over again, but one of the most fun places I think I went on vacation repeatedly (and worked there!) is Disney World. I have never had a bad time in Disney and I miss it a lot sometimes.

5) Do you sleep on your back, side or stomach?

I fall asleep cudling on my side with the hubby, but somehow or another lately I keep ending up on my back!

6) Do you own any television series box sets?

Like full series? Not in their entirety. I have four seasons of Will & Grace which is probably the closest. My mom has every episode of I Love Lucy on video (from a night of insomnia and QVC back in the 80s) which I also love!

7) Do you have any hidden talents?

I can touch my tongue to my nose? For real... not the cop out stick your tongue out and touch your nose with your finger! I am also an amateur cake decorator, scenic painter, scrapbooker, and theatrical electrician. Random much?

8) Who is your best friend?

My husband. Easy! And my female best friend is Samantha Grace, without a doubt. I have a few other lovely ladies in close running for besty status but Sam will always be the top! (Ya'll know I am kidding around right? I love you!)


Now my questions...
1) You're trapped on a dessert island and a genie grants you one wish for an endless supply of something, what is it?
2) If you could relive any day of your life over again, which would it be?
3) What is the furthest you have traveled from home?
4) What is the best baked good/dessert you have ever made? Share the recipe!
5) What does your ideal house look like... on the exterior?
6) If you could have any exotic pet, no limits and it has a caregivier if needed, what would you want?
7) If you could live in a different decade/time, which would you pick?
8) Would you ever enlist? Under what circumstances may you be tempted to?


So the people I tag answer my questions and make up eight of their own and pass them on to eight more people! And I'm tagging...
1) Diary of a Disgruntled Marine Wife to Be
2) Skinnie Piggie
3) Goodnight Moon
4) The Sand is Different Here
5) The Adventures of Mr. Superman & Mrs S
6) Forever Yours. Semper Fi
7) C&C Aubel
8) We See the Same Stars

MilSpouse Friday Fill In

I have always wanted to do this, so I finally am!! (:

1. How do you spend your deployment money, do you save, pay off bills or enjoy the extra money while it is there to buy the things you do not normally have?
Ryan and I were just dating when he was deployed, so I didn't have any really say in that. I do know a bit of it went to my engagement ring though....


2. If you could relive one occasion or moment, what would it be?
I would love to do our wedding day again. It was so much fun and I was so incredibly happy (still am, but ya know what I mean!).


3. What’s the worst job you ever had and if it was so bad why did you take it?
It is a toss up between the summer camp where I was a Day Camp Counselor this summer and Kohls (specifically just the shoe dept, the rest was ok). The camp was a hellish commute since I found the job before Ryan and I found an apartment. I figured a day camp job would be perfect since I would have day time hours, I like kids, and I would have the time to look for a "real" job for fall. I did not expect a 45 minute commute there, an hour plus home, tough management, overly privelidged (and therefore entitled and bratty) kids (mostly) because of the area the camp was, and just the general stress. If the commute were shorter it would have been better. Plus my two co-counselors were wonderful! Kohls, that was a high school and part of college job to have extra spending money. Mostly it was fine. Slow and boring in the summer, and the shoe dept was literally cleaning up after other people NONSTOP. Obnoxious.

4. If you could play any character on TV, who would you be?
Ooh tough. I would have to say Pam from the Office. Amazing.

5. If you could become the world’s expert in something, what would it be?
I would like to become the world's leading expert in something unexpected, like Astrohphysics or Nuclear Fusion. Because people would steretypically look at little blonde me and be shocked. But I would love to be an expert in acting, or pastry art! Much more interesting, for me at any rate.

Doctors and Opinions

So I have had back issues since highschool. They come and go, it is usually horribly tight and I pull it out very easily. I did so last month quite horribly. Ryan almost took me to the ER since I was in so much pain, but the idea of getting in the car made me feel physically ill. Instead we dug out the percocet and I knocked out for the night. For days after I couldn't even bend, which was hell working all day with six year olds!!! But from then on I tried to get a doctor appointment. I had enough. Eight years of this on and off is ridiculous!

I relocated to Bolling Air Force base for my Dr and I could not get an appointment. I was off for two weeks before starting my new job and there was zero availability. If I heard, "If you are in severe pain you can go to the ER or Urgent Care." one more time I was going to lose it. I was not in pain at the time, I was trying to prevent future issues and figure stuff out!! I finalyl got frustrated this week and called TriCare and changed my provider to Ft Belvoir. I changed my information, called the appointment line, and had an appointment scheduled THAT NIGHT at 6:40pm!! Amazing. This was Monday by the way.

After work I drive over to Belvoir, about twenty or thirty minutes away, and my GPS takes me to the wrong gate. You military gals know that is a pretty big no-no. Oops. Even playing the "Sorry I've never been here before" card I still felt like an ass. So I get to the right gate and no surprise I get pulled over for random inspection. Apparently I was the first gold car they saw that day and he thought, Why the heck not? His words exactly. Did I mention I have five minutes to find the hospital at this point, and park and get to my appointment? I pop the trunk (and prop it open with my stick as the spring doesn't hold it open anymore) the hood (with difficulty, I couldn't get it for some reason) and all the doors as the dog sniffs around. They give me directions to the hospital and I have one minute to get there.

Oy.

I arrive at the hospital almost ten minutes late. I RUN up the stairs and somehow find the clinic and miraculously enough they agree to see me! My blood pressure and heart rate were through the roof from my run so the nurse had to take it three times! Oops again.

I see the doctor, he is not my new primary but he was available and I was fine with that. I told him about my back pains, my problems, and my theories. It was the most productive appointment I ever had. Within five minutes after my appointment walked down the hall to the pharmacy and got my two perscriptions filled (free! I love that!) for Percocet and Flexoril, a muscle relaxer, for when I need them. Then I walked a little further down the hall and right in for an xray on my back. No wait whatsoever!! I am pretty impressed Belvoir! I also got two recommended consultations, one with a physical therapist and one with a plastic surgeon.

A plastic surgeon you ask?

Well, myself and quite a few people I am close with have a theory behind my bad back. It started in highschool when I went from an A cup to a C cup my freshman year. I have never in my life been a B cup! I skipped right over it. Ever since I routinely pull my back out. It is excrutiating! I slouch all the time, I am extremely self conscious of my chest size (which has since of course grown). Clothes shopping is awful. If it fits my chest it doesn't fit my waist and vice versa. Don't even get me started on bathing suits! The one bikini I have owned in the past eight years I got at a specialty store and came with underwire and thick straps. If I wore, say a bikini from Target, I would look like a street walker. If I put two together I would maybe cover one! Once I heard Barbie, if she were a real person, would not physically be able to stand up straight because of her proportions. I can relate.

I have considered a breast reduction since about my senior year of highschool, when my chest started getting really big. No I know my size compared to some is not that bad. I borderline a 36D and DD. It is hard. I feel very out of proportion. In jeans I maybe wear a size 4. My waist, like when I am finding dresses, can fit into a 6/8... but my chest I have to get a 10 or 12 to fit! I was terrified when shopping for my wedding gown I was going to look huge and top heavy no matter what. I didn't want a strapless dress at all. But luckily I found a beautiful dress that somehow worked with my shape.

The doctor did warn since I am not, "that big", I may have a hard time getting such a thing approved. Also because I am young, and never had children it is another factor that makes them wary. That is one that makes me push, I know when you get pregnant your chest grows. I am terrified of that. I'd get bigger than this??? Also already having back problems I would not be a happy camper. My mother-in-law mentioned when she was pregnant with my sister-in-law Hannah that Hannah sat basically on her spine the whole time. She felt like she had "back labor" towards the end. I wouldn't be able to move if I had that!

I know elective surgery is risky. I have never had anything like that done, I mean I still have my wisdom teeth! But I think the risk may be worth it. To not be in pain. To wear clothes that fit. To not be self conscious all the time. To meet someone and have them look me in the eye instead of the boobs. To not have indents in my shoulder large enough to fit my finger in from my bra bearing so much weight.

So I am reaching out to you readers. What are your thoughts on such a thing? Is an elective surgery a good idea? Should it only be a last LAST resort? Should I go for it and see if they would approve it? Ryan supports it if it means being out of pain and comfortable (Of course I want a B and he wants a C but that is a whoooole nother story!)

What do you think?

Ketchup!! :P

Ok, an entry!

I am currently at work and in between phone calls so I decided it was time to do a blog entry. I will write it in my email, post the pictures and then post the entry when I get home. Complicated much?

So rewind a few days.

Lobstahs

On Friday, one of our clients sent a box of 50 live lobsters to the office. Why? He was vacationing in Maine and wanted to share! So I bring home two lobsters in a bag of ice for me and the hubby to share. Meet Jean and Claude!



And yes, they were alive! I felt a little like Julie from Julie/Julia because I really didn't want to put a live lobster into a boiling pot of water. So Ryan held up the lobstahs, I cut the rubberbands off the claws, and he dropped them into the boiling water.





We boiled the water with some thyme, had corn and lots of melted butter. We, living in the semi-South, do not have claw crackers or even a nut cracker so we had to use our kitchen shears to break the lobstahs open! The claw meat was so sweet and the tails was delicious, neither of us are brave enough to eat the middle gooey guts parts! Mine was definitely female as I had a LOT of little red eggs in mine! I didn't eat those though. Week one of work spoiled me, birthday cake, margaritas, and lobstahs!



Baseball

After dinner (and cleaning up since we were quite messy) we went over to the ballpark since we had tickets to the Nationals vs Marlins game. Our neighbor Rigoberto (who I have blogged about before, he is the awesome chef) has season tickets and passed them onto us for this game. We were in the third row on the third baseline!!!



Amazingly awesome seats. I had my new camera so I got to play around with a lot of settings, including my sports one which takes 25 pictures in about 2 or 3 seconds. It rocked my socks off. I feel like I need to make a flip book!




Funnily enough one of the Sgt Majors from the barracks was sitting in front of us and we were chatting back and forth most of the game. We ended up getting a free tshirt for Rigoberto that they tossed to us and having some delicious Boardwalk Fries! The Nats lost *surprise* but we had a blast.

I am not sure, but I think some guys on the Marlins lost a bet???



And my favorite: FIREWORKS



Art Fair



Saturday was a lazy day. Ryan has had a cold for a few days and even resorted to taking MEDICINE! I was shocked. Only Nyquil to get by without coughing all night, but he never takes anything when he is sick so it shocks me still. We watched tv and lounged around a bit before I ran into Rigoberto outside again. I gave him the tshirt from the game and he mentioned there was an art festival of sorts going on down on King St. Ryan and I drag ourselves from the house, me with new camera in tow, and go explore. I loved looking at all the artwork and wished I was uber rich enough to buy some of it! But I also got quality camera playing time!

Playing with Shutter Speed: 1/2000



1/2000



1/350 or so I think.... so you can see the difference in shutter speed!




Playing with Aperature:





and some of the photographer...

and the gorgeous hubby....



Nick's

We then walked all the way to the top of King St and I showed Ryan where my new office is located. When we were sitting on the benches near the fountain Ryan's friend called and invited us to Nick's, a country bar not too far away, to hang out.



We took a cab there (ended up being pricier than anticipated, $15!) and had a good time. We got some food and drinks and I really wish we did the line dancing lessons that were going on before the band started. Once the band started it seemed like everyone knew all the complicated dances and we couldn't do any of them!!! We slow danced to one song and even then people were spinning all around us!

My friend Kim (and one of my bridesmaids) is coming to visit next weekend. She is a huge country buff so we decided we have to go back next Saturday. She is wicked excited and I quote, "Imma gonna bring mah boots!!!" I am wearnig mine too! Mine are my mom's from back in the 80s. Kinda excited.

After the bar we decided to walk to the metro, almost got lost in a paving plant (don't ask) but made it! We even survived the speedwalk home!

Chores

Sunday was chores... Ryan had a C-Bag (I am sure you Marine S.O.s know what those are!) FULL of our laundry. I mean we couldn't close the thing. 2 people 2 weeks 2 much laundry! I went grocery shopping, still made it in budget with lots of frantic running around, and cleaned the apartment. Our bathroom sink was badly clogged for a day or two so I got some Draino for that and poured the entire bottle in the instant I got home. Three hours later, nothing happened. Crap. I was convinced I would have to call our maintenance guy. But I kept cleaning. I was just finishing the kitchen when I heard a horrific grinding noise. I look in the dining room and black things and shards of ice are FLYING out of the airconditioning unit. I had to grab my apron to shield myself to turn the darn thing off! Then I had to reclean the entire dining room. So that thing has not been on since Sunday, luckily it is cooler out. Ryan needs to call maintenance to come fix it! This stuff only happens when I am home alone. I honestly thought the window broke and glass was flying in but it was ice....how does that happen??? And with black leafy looking dirt things?? But the good news is our sink cleared overnight so that works again somehow! It just needed 12 hours or so to sit instead of half an hour like the bottle says?

Work work work. Still liking the job. Getting better, getting into a routine. I even made meatloaf last night!

ADD: We lost power at work! After I wrote this the computer flickered three times and died. People were stuck in the elevator, traffic lights were out, no power for like a mile around. So I walked home!!! I am tired now. We'll go back for my car tonight, I did not want to deal with traffic with no traffic lights working and the garage not working either!

I will write about my Doctor Appointment Adventure later....

Thanks for sticking with me guys <3

Sporadic!

Sorry my entries have been fizzling. At work I cannot update my blog (but I can read and comment, rest assured I do read everyone's blogs still, even if I cannot sneak a comment!) and at night I have just been exhausted. I will try and type up an awesome entry on MS Word or email and post it tonight... just wanted to let ya'll know I am still here. I promise!

Remember

I was 14 years and three days old. It was my second week of my freshman year of highschool.

I remember being on the bus between my two schools (my acting school and academic school) and hearing it on the radio. The first plane hitting. I remember a picture in my mind of a small plane (not an airline plane) nicking the tall atenna on the top of the one Tower. I remember being in Spanish class when the announcement was made on the loudspeaker. The full story.

I remember my history class being glued to the TV. The footage showed over and over again. I remember wondering if my family in the City, a mere 45 minutes away, were ok. I remember feeling panicked, scared and horribly sad.

I remember the the pink slips of paper coming into class. Kids were being picked up left and right to go home. White slips were phone calls. Everytime either one came in the whole room held its breath. I remember my English teacher desperately trying to reach his wife who worked a few blocks away from the Towers. I remember being allowed to use our cellphones to call home. I remember my mom saying no one heard from Uncle Bob yet (my mom's uncle) who typically took the PATH train to the World Trade Center and walked to work. I remember the relief when he stumbled home that night and the phone chain went out. He heard on the train police activity was blocking the tunnel so he went back to Penn Station in time to hit the flood of people fleeing the city.

I remember his son-in-law, a police officer, going to Ground Zero and not coming home for three days and never speaking again of what he saw there.

I remember the questions in my four year old brother's eyes. How do you explain something like that to someone so small?

I remember the church services and memorials.

I remember being asked to speak (as a student speaker and representing my acting school) at the county memorial. I remember speaking in front of 3,000 people holding candles trying to keep it together.

I remember the dead air space over NJ. I remember being in my acting class and writing a letter to myself ten years in the future...next year. During that scary silence three fighter jets flew over our school shaking the entire building, peolpe jumped and screamed. Then being at tennis practice a few days later when the first regular plane flew over again. Everyone stopped and watched it go from one end of the sky to the other in silence.

I can remember September 11, 2001 with such startling clarity. I doubt it is something that I will ever be able to lose the details of. I remember someone saying for older generations everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when Kennedy was shot. This is the one for our generation. Instead of one great man losing his life over 3,000 innocent people perished.

Who would have thought this event would trigger my then thirteen year old husband living a thousand miles away to want to join the Marines from preventing something like this from ever happening again? This one event altered all of our lives. It created a different future. It changed everything.

Prayers, love, and thoughts. To all those who died, to those who lost loved ones, and to all those still effected to this day.

I Remember.

Birthday Part 2!

Last night Ryan came home with a bottle of Rose Champagne to celebrate my first day of work, and he only keeps surprising me!!! It is my first birthday I have ever gotten to celebrate with him (and the third we've been together) and he has just been wonderful.

First, thank you for the birthday wishes! My facebook of course got flooded. It is interesting people I never talk to anymore still feel the need to write on my wall for my birthday...but whatever! I still love it. I still have lots of texts and I got a fun box from my mom. She sent me some money for work clothes, moonshine jelly from North Carolina, a coca cola bag and bottle opener (<3 Diet Coke! and vintage coke stuff), some candy and candles. Mom even tried to send me flowers and chocolate at the office but I didn't get them :( And thanks for the touching entry on your blog Mommy (:

The girl I work with at the front desk said Happy Birthday but that was it for work for most of the day. So imagine my surprise when at 4:30 we got told to put the phones on Do Not Disturb and to go to the cafe for a "meeting". We go inside and they got me a cake!!!! And a card!! On my second day of work! I was very touched. (:

Now we have a tradition in my family where we hang this special sign every birthday for every person. It was up in my living room when I came home!!! Along with...



My Present from my AMAZING Husband...



Going way back in the blog to this I Want it Wednesday entry you can see how long I have wanted an amazing camera like this. My glorious hubby did me one better, he asked the guy at the camera store his opinion and got a better camera than the one I wanted! I am the proud owner of a Nikon Coolpix P100!! It is AWESOME. I am currently reading the manual cover to cover and we plan to go to the park this weekend to play so I can take pictures and learn while doing. SO psyched.


Ryan had a long day so he is napping before we go to dinner. We're going up to the Italian place right up the street that I have been dying to try, it has sidewalk tables and white lights and looks wonderful.


I love birthdays. And my Ryan <3

Birthday!

I am officially 23 years old!

South Carolina and the First Day of Work!

My title is very descriptive of my post, no? :P

Thursday Ryan got off at noon so we drove down to South Carolina (no South of the Border stops this trip, the "I have to go to the bathroom!" thing works only once). We got there just in time to watch the Gamecocks slaughter Southern Miss! It was a lovely, relaxing weekend. My Mother-in-law and I got pedicures, Hannah (my sister-in-law) and I played board games, and we had so much good food!!!

McAllisters, and awesome sandwich shop was one. Ryan of course got his Chik-fil-A fix. We also went to a Spansish restaurant near his house, had some yellow bbq and boiled peanuts and his grandmother's cooking which was amazing. His grandparents got me a big birthday cake (yellow cake with chocolate icing, the best!) a card, and a balloon. Very sweet.

We saw all of his family, went bowling (I broke 100!! Ok I got 100 but it counts), and spent a day on the lake on my MIL's friend's boat. Ryan tried waterskiing and actually got it! A video will be posted soon, I promise. Some of his attempts before getting it are kinda hilarious.

Last night we had dinner with Josh and Richie when we braved the awful traffic of 95N back home. It was a delicious dinner too!!!! I had a bread with tomato basil and mozerella fried lightly for appetizer, mahi mahi with asparagus risotto, and mango sorbet with an amazing cabernet sauvingion. YUM.


Now, work. My first day! Everyone is very nice, the phone system is crazy complicated but I got on it after lunch, and I like it so far! The drawer of chocolate under our desk helps. My co-worker is very sweet and I think once I get comfortable with everything I should be pretty happy. No blogging at work though! And I won't talk about the name or clients or anyone to jeopardize my newfound career... vague yes, but safe!

I turn 23 tomorrow. Holy cannoli I feel old!

96s

Sorry for the lack of entries! Ryan is on his post parade season 96s, so we've been busy! This weekend was filled with walks, trips to the gym (I did 4.25 miles on the elliptical!), and a trip to King's Dominion. King's Dominion Monday was amazing. It was empty! We went to the water park first and waited on literally no lines. We went on all the slides multiple times, played in the wave pool, and got a little sunburned. After we went to the actual amusement park and we went on all the big rides we wanted to.

There is a huge rollercoaster made for Dale Earnhardt that is the biggest, fastest coaster on the east coast. It was huge! Sometimes when I go upside down on rollercoasters the blood rushes to my head (or away from it?) and I see black temporarily. Yea probably not a good thing, but I am used to it. But on this rollercoaster, I blacked out. Majorly. Like a good twenty or thirty seconds of where I saw nothing but blackness! It freaked me out!!! I was so woozy after that. Yikes.

But we were bad dietwise that day! We split McDonalds on the way down, I had a cheeseburger and he had an angus snack wrap, then we had two small fries and then split a three piece chicken select. In the park there was corn dogs, funnel cake fries (think funnel cake but it long skinny pieces, amazing), french fries, and more chicken fingers! So yummy!

Ryan had work yesterday and we thought he was going to have duty, but he didn't! Josh had it, but he was called for Dover Duty ( :( ) and Ryan was going to take his regular duty. Dover time got pushed back and suddenly my husband was home! Yay! We were bad again and went to Chipotle last night (baaad craving) and then went on a loooong walk to make up for it.

Ryan just got off work and when he gets home we're getting in the car and driving to South Carolina for the labor day 96. Woohoo. So we'll be there til Monday spending time with his family for the first time since the wedding. Wish me luck!

Hopefully I will update Monday when we get back. Tuesday is my first day of work (EEEEK!) and Wednesday I turn the ripe old age of 23. Oh Mylanta!

Enjoy the weekend girls! I hope you all have 96s to enjoy with your men!