Nothin but blue sky...

I have tried entering a lot more photo contests lately... no luck so far but I keep trying! This is the Crazy Days of Summer Entry sponsored by Project Alicia. Her photos are gorgeous and make me green with envy! This week's theme is Blue Skies, and I had just the picture to enter.





I took this when I studied abroad in Italy, the trees and sky were just too perfect. I loved all of it! This was right in the middle of Rome. Bliss indeed.



After work tonight I am heading to a Parade with Kendra, another Marine wife whose husabnd Tim was close with Ryan. Her newborn Bentley is coming as well as her little brother. I haven't been to a Friday parade in ages, I hope I keep it together! Seeing all the guys (especially ones Ryan worked with) and not him may be difficult. Wish me luck!


Also, I have been following this blog for awhile now... this little boy Ty has just passed his one year mark having a series of brain tumors. His mom updates their blog regularly and I always keep the Campbell Family in my prayers. Since Ty just hit his one year mark with cancer his mom made this video...



September is pediatric cancer awareness month so check out the video, and maybe read along with Ty's story. Of course, say a prayer or two while you're at it.

Thank you.

What Is A Parade?

So a few people have asked me lately, what is a parade? Here is your answer! (Just to let you know my husband is not a marcher, he sets up the parades and dismantles them at the end of the evenings.)

In the summer Marine Barracks Washington (8th and I) puts on parades on Tuesday and Friday nights. Tuesday nights are slightly more informal, similar show but it is not at the Annex. Tuesdays are done up at the Iwo Jima Memorial near Arlington Cemetery. If you take the metro to Arlington they have free busses up to the memorial for the parade and back at the end but I've walked it as well. If you want to pay a ridiculous amount of money to park in the cemetery lot you can, but metro is the best way to go!

Most people have never even been to the Iwo Memorial, but it is gorgeous. You can see all of DC behind it too. Now as I said these are a little more informal. You sit on the grass and people bring blankets and lawn chairs. Guests of honor have their own folding chairs. It can get pretty warm so please make sure you have water and other appropriate hot weather necessities. They have water stations available for free public use, but if it is crowded they can get used up pretty quickly. The parade is always at sunset, as of right now I know it is 6:30pm. You can get there as early 5pm if you want to claim a good spot. Earlier in the summer the parade starts at 7pm.

Now I know I haven't answered your question yet, but I am getting there. Friday nights you usually need tickets, you can get them online at this site. They are available there, and free, but they can fill up sometimes! These start at 8:45pm.

Now on Fridays when you arrive each section has a Marine or two who knows a LOT about the Barracks and the Annex and the history of the Commadant... all sorts of good things. Try and stump them, it is fun.

Then the President's Own Band plays. They march and play a mix of modern music, marching songs, and patriotic tunes. On Tuesdays the band has the night off but the Commodant's Own Drum and Bugle Corps will play and be just as wonderful.

Then the Silent Drill Platoon comes out. SDP are awesome. They march in perfect time and throw their rifles high into the air. Every time I hold my breath hoping they don't drop them. I've seen it enough times that I have seen the poor guy they pick to do the solo routine drop it. Yikes. Ryan and I don't bet on it happening I swear. Extra PT for someone! These are the men you see on the commercials for the USMC, throwing their rifles from coast to coast. Their Color Guard is famous as well with hundreds of appearances across the country every year.

But it all is still very impressive in my opinion! I've seen at least four parades a summer since I met Ryan, and I still enjoy them. The official website puts it pretty well, "The evening parade has become a universal symbol of the professionalism, discipline, and Esprit de Corps of the United States Marines."



Ending formation... some of the time! This pose is a huge hit with the crowd, how they get to that point is pretty awesome to watch.

And since I went back in my laptop for these pictures you can get a peek at the ONE time I dyed my hair... red!

Ryan and I had broken up for a brief period and I wanted a change so I did some temporary dye. I liked it... but not many others did! My mom made me use dye away less than a month later for our family picture that was taken for our church.


Hope that answers some of your questions, if you are in the DC area in the summer time be sure to check it out!!!!

ABCs

So Friday I picked up Ryan after work since he stayed at the E Club after for some drinks with the guys. I woke up around 2am, went to get him, and come home. In that little mix we had one of those big stupid fights that really have no purpose in happening. We spent a looooong time talking it out after that, but we ended up watching the sunrise! We were up til 6:30am or so. Then we slept til 4:30pm! Oops.

Then we had an AMAZING dinner with our neighbors, both are chefs, and I am SITLL full. Plus they had champagne for me (it is a huge weakness), as well as white wine and red wine aplenty! We had a huge cheese plate, strawberries, a proscuitto ham stuffed peppers olives crackers plate, caeser salad with home made croutons and dressing, then braised short ribs that literally fell apart when you touched them, buttermilk truffle mashed potatoes, acorn squash with sugar and butter, and asparagus. YUM. Dessert we provided, Ryan's super secret recipe key lime pie. Needless to say we went home and thanks to the food coma we were in fell asleep around 11pm. No idea how that really worked out.

But since the hubby's car was still at the barracks guess who got to get up at 6:30am to drive him to the barracks for duty? Meeeee! So I schlupped him over there, went to Bolling and got gas in my pajamas, and now am blogging and debating going back to sleep for a bit. Laundry has to be done, grocery shopping, and a nail appointment at 1:30.

Plus, today we've been married for three months (: <3


Well, I will do this too I suppose... I borrowed this from Mrs S @ The Adventures of Mr Superman and Mrs S



A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: MED COOL in the dining room, so I have no idea what that is translated to. In the bedroom usually 66. We have window units so they need to be set cool to get the apartment that way!

B- My BEDROOM theme is: Just moved in chic. A white/red/blue/pink/green quilty sort of bedspread with ivory sheets. Wood floor, stark white walls. A few boxes still laying around. Persian red and blue rug. Light colored wood dressers. Nice huh?

C- The CAR in the driveway is: Well in the parking lot. Only mine at the moment, a champagne colored 97 Ford Taurus that just crossed 223,000 miles. Ryan's, when it isn't at the barracks, is a black Honda Accord (99 I believe)... and a manual. *groan*

D- My DESK looks: missing :( We have it on our list to get!

E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: 6:20am

F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: My face

G- My GARAGE is filled with: Nothing. We don't have one!

H- My HOUSE is: actually an apartment.

I- If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: A bed that needs to be made after I crawl back into it for a bit and boxes!

J- My favorite JUICE is: Cranberry Pomegranate.

K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: a gas stove! And our wine pictures on the wall.

L- The LAST person who visited my home was: Rigoberto and Tanya, our neighbors.

M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: Bank Statement.

N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: Young but obviously cool as they made us an amazing dinner!

O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: Not a lot. I am going shopping today... but condiments, a pitcher of tea, bacon, cheese, lunch meat, and one egg.

P- My last house PARTY was: not here! We haven't quite had a party yet. Just friends over hanging out.

Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: either pasta of some sort or chicken fried steak.

R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: our living room.

S- The SHAMPOO brand I use: Herbal Essences (drama clean!)

T- My largest TELEVISION is: in the living room.

U- UNDER my bed you will find: suitcases, a C Bag, and some other stuff that had nowhere else to go.

V- The last time I VACUUMED was: Monday.

W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: Crepe Myrtle trees, cars, a motorcycle, and our street.

X- I wish I had X-TRA: money. We're not doing badly but it would be nice to be able to buy a desk and some other big things we still need without hurting our careful budget.

Y- My YARD is: not technically in existence. Apartment! We have some grass in front and plants...

Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: Usually 10pm-11pm on a work night. Sometimes later.

Thank God...

It is the weekend! And I went to Happy Hour with some people from work because we got PAID! Much better.

I am at the barracks printing a resume. I found a job position as a Theatre Specialist in QUANTICO of all places! Let's just say I am qualified and it would be a great position. Sadly I saw the posting two hours after MCCS stopped accepting applications but I am sending it anyway. It can't hurt. Now I will go home and wait for my husband to come back from post-parade work just to have him go in at 8am for duty squad work. Sigh. Duty squad is a truly suck week a month.


I saw this on Katie's (@ Diary of a Disgruntled Marine Fiance's) facebook and I wanted to repost it here as it is SO true.

"I can't believe the news coverage being given to a spoiled 20-something yr old. Here are a few 20 year-olds worth knowing about: Justin Allen 23, Brett Linley 29, Justus Bartett 27, Dave Santos 21, Chase Stanley 21, Jesse Reed 26, Matthew Johnson 21, Zachary Fisher 24, Brandon King 23, Christopher Goeke 23, Paul Miller 22, & Sheldon Tate 27. These service men gave their lives for you this week. Lindsey who?"

Grow up American Media. Report on the important stuff. Not some spoiled drug addict brat who hasn't made a worthwhile movie in years.

Tis the season....

PARADE SEASON

The time of year my poor hubby gets worked into the ground and not much else to show for it! He will be at work from crack of dawn til midnight with barely a break between. He missed the first two parades since we were doing that whole wedding and honeymoon thing (:P) and last year since he was in Iraq. So this year a lot of things are different AND he is an NCO so things are quite hectic.

I was in the midst of unpacking today and I got a text saying he had comp time and to come meet him. YAY! Comp time was cut from two or three hours to about thirty minutes. So I still have time on the parking meter before I have to run to Navy Fed so you all get an update!!!

I was home in NJ the last two days and nights for a funeral. Originally only intended to be gone one night but the weather was bad and funerals just drain you, emotionally and physically. Ryan wasn't too happy I was gone so long the first week we're in our new apartment but he understood. Please keep Joan in your prayers and remember Howard as well. He had a long long fight with MS and is at peace now, and I hope Joan can find comfort in this difficult time. She is my church family, almost like another grandmother to me (and I know she reads my blog and my mom's!) so please put in a good thought for her tonight.

I am so excited to see so many new followers! Welcome readers! I have to apologize for my lack of internet (exception being stolen from the barracks as presently) but I swear once I am hooked up in the apartment you will have another faithful follower and commenter on yours as well!

Also thanks to Skinnie Piggie for allowing my entry into her wedding week contest... I was a tad over excited about pictures being the wedding was only on the first! Much appreciated dear (:

Hopefully professional pictures will be in soon and you all can have some more to see!

Off to the bank and back to unpacking (that would be unpacking my husband's boxes, mine are done, he hasn't gotten around to it yet... :P )!