Just my luck

Last night's ugly sweater party was AMAZING! Everyone was SO festive in their hideous sweaters! There was a Watson-sized fire in their backyard, a candy cane forest in the foyer, Peppermint Patty shots made with chocolate sauce and Rumplemintz (thanks, Mike for that deliciously terrible idea), lots of dancing, fantastic company, and, as usual, the most delicious food you could imagine. What a great time.

I made my very own outfit complete with an actual tree skirt turned human skirt (with presents, naturally) and a tinsel garland-tree topper headband

Leah and I made/decorated cookies. These were two of my favorites!

Oh yes, did I mention that I lit up, too? Haha.

The other day I was texting my friend, Leah, and in that text, I was complaining about our realtor. I believe my exact words were "...he's an idiot and I hate him". After a while, I was wondering why she hadn't replied so I went to check the phone. Instead of sending this message to Leah, I accidentally sent it to my realtor! Talk about the most embarrassing moment OF MY LIFE. I was mortified. After crying (yes, literally) from a mixture of fear and mental discomfort, I sent him another text to explain that I was worked up over a lot of issues. I said that my hormone-induced meltdown was due to Adam being gone and the fact that I get overwhelmed easily. I apologized as politely as I could but the damage was done. I've never wanted to crawl up in a ball and die more than I did at that very moment. Everyone on the planet thinks this is hilarious...except for me (and I imagine our realtor).

The good news is that we're one step closer to buying the house! The sellers and we finally agreed on a price. Next stop: home inspection. I'm ready for this to be over so PRAY that there are no serious issues with this place.

I had a long talk with Adam's mother tonight. She was updating me on things that are happening on that side of the family and I was sharing our home-buying adventures.

I am fighting every urge in my body to NOT post the holiday picture of Adam and I since it's on the Christmas cards I've yet to mail; however, I CAN leave you with teasers of my adorable papillons...

I had to hold her in front of the tree cause she refused to sit still.

This guy was a little easier. All I had to do was put his squeaky ball on the coffee table.

I thought with Adam being gone I'd have TONS of spare time to do things I rarely get to do like take long relaxing bubble baths or read one of the many books I've been putting off or make myself a wonderful dinner or finally sand those chairs/table to refinish for our dining room. Truth is, I feel like I'm busier without a partner to share the responsibilities. I know it's only been a few DAYS and this is a lifestyle I'm going to have to get used to, I suppose, but it's more difficult than I imagined. Let's hope eventually I can make it look glamorous one day.

Poor Luca and Piper! I've been out late the past THREE nights. (Monday was the interview/dinner with friends, Tuesday I worked a double, and Wednesday was spent working/preparing decorations for Saturday's Ugly Sweater Party.) Whew. I don't want them to feel neglected so even though I work today but I plan on some quality fetch and snuggle time with my "kids" later on. Perhaps I could fold those clothes I've been putting off for a WHILE? Of course, catching up on How I Met Your Mother sounds good too.

I just found out the little brother has some broken bones in his foot from falling off a ladder six weeks ago. How his doctor didn't see this after a round of xrays baffles me but Alex is finally working with a doctor that knows what he's doing. Wishing him a speedy recovery!

Off to work soon. How I do love spending ALL my free time there.

It's been just over 24 hours since I last saw Adam and let me just say, I REALLY take him for granted. He does a lot more around the house than he gets credit for. Don't worry guys, I'm not going soft and I will continue to nag him to fold clothes until we're 80...but he truly does a bunch. Taking out the trash, feeding the dogs, washing the dogs, giving them their meds, cooking dinner, paying the bills, returning the Netflix movies, washing dishes... I know these tasks sound like things I would not or SHOULD not forget but I'm just so used to Adam taking care of them that it doesn't even cross my mind! I actually made a list of things to do while he's gone...partly for my sake since I don't want to be bored but also as a reminder. Adam is an amazing man and I hope his first work up is going smoothly. I can't wait to hear all about it!

Well, folks, that's about all the time I have for today. I'm leaving to go work a double...(might as well, there's nothing else to do). Thank you, Watsons, for feeding me last night. Cooking dinner for one was the last thing I felt like doing. You guys made my night!

PS. Still no word from Wells Fargo

I never know what to title these things...

The House-Saga continues. The one in Norfolk which we previously placed an offer on fell through. Long story short, I felt we were dealing with some shady people and Adam and I decided to not go any further. Feeling like we were never going to find the right house...EVER...we set out on the search again. Surprisingly, we found a few properties but one particular foreclosure caught our eye. We took our friend, Leah, to go see it with us then placed an offer on it the following morning. It's a cute house and it's a fixer-upper but we're more than willing to put in the work. We want a house desperately! Everyone wish us luck...then come over to help us demo/reno and/or landscape when the time comes :)

I'm currently creating Christmas cards (unintentional alliteration overload!) on Walmart's website and I can't tell if the have a serious lack of options or if it's just me being ridiculously picky. Probably the latter. Anyway, since Adam is shipping out an entire WEEK early, we had to do some last minute self-photography. What a whirlwind of crazy! First we had to find the camera...then the tripod...then the memory card. Then we had to find something remotely festive for Adam to wear since he has nothing either red OR green. Once all this was covered, we had to teach ourselves how to operate the timer function of the camera, keep the dogs from knocking over the tripod, and get a picture where both of us were semi satisfied with how we looked. It must have looked like a circus. Needless to say, a lot of love and effort went into these cards...so enjoy!

We FINALLY learned what Adam will be doing for his ship but, of course, you couldn't pay me enough to remember his job title. Ugh...Lord help me when I'm 80-something! I DO know it's a cool job working with the weapons systems, a huge responsibility and an honor for a noobie like Adam. In addition to that, they've asked Adam to be a sort of communications liaison between the helicopters coming on the ship and the ship itself. He seems to be pretty happy about all this, which makes me happy in return. This morning I drove our new SWO to base and dropped him off for his first work up. They're leaving for just over two weeks and (knock on wood) should be home just in time for Christmas. I'll finally have time to clean up around here...so lets see how that goes.

My Wells Fargo interview is at 5pm so hopefully I'll have an update on a new job soon. Fingers crossed!

Give Thanks...even if it's late.

I know, I know...I'm a little late but our Thanksgiving really WAS wonderful. Adam and I spent time with friends and had some pretty amazing food. I probably gained 7-10 extra pounds but it was totally worth it. All month long I've been twittering?...tweeting?...on twitter?... giving thanks for the blessings in my life, ONE thing per day. (Thanks, Kyle Seig, for the idea!) GJ, since I know you don't have Twitter and you're probably curious I've decided to share those things with you now.

I'm thankful for...
1: Change (sometimes it needs to happen)
2: Quiet evenings with my husband. With both of us working such different schedules, it's great to spend time together.
3:My wonderful friends (near and far) that I can count on for anything; a laigh, a smile, a listening ear, etc.
4: A warm place to lay my head every night.
5: My two adorable (obnoxious) papillons and their giant personalities.
6: That I have a job to complain about.
7: Awesome friends (I guess they're so good I had to list them twice.
8: Technology. Silly, but it makes my life easier and allows me to keep in touch with long distance family.
9: Forgiveness.
10: The little things- leaves changing colors, sunshine, warm sheets, the perfect song coming on the radio, etc.
11: Perspective. Without it I'd feel lost, void of motivation and stripped of purpose.
12: Mark Baker for introducing me to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. I don't know how I lived my sad, muggle life without them.
13: Humor.
14: The unending support I get from my husband. He deals with so much and he's amazing in the way he understands me.
15: Falling asleep during rainy evenings
16: Shark Week! Here's to another month of being baby free!
17: Heat. This time last year we didn't know our heater was gas-powered so we were shivering next to our space heater.
18: The world's sweetest, most supportive sets of grandparents on this Earth.
19: The first Gator win in a while. "...in all kinds of weather we all stick together for F L O R I D A"
20: My health and government provided healthcare.
21: The men and women that serve our country & daily put their lives on te line for our freedom.
22: The RARE guest that dines with me and treats ME special.
23: LIFE! I complain but I have it pretty darn good.
24: Time away from family. It makes me realize how important they really are and just how much I love them!
25: My in-laws for birthing and raising the love of my life and the man of my dreams.
26: Memories.
27: My parents (mom in particular) for getting me into the TRUE holiday spirit at a young age.
28: That this dang month is almost over. (Giving thanks is HARD.)
29: Hot beverages on cold nights
30: The ability to be able to attend school and further my education, no matter how difficult the system makes it

Speaking of school, I spent HOURS at TCC today testing my patience. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally got some answers, albeit, NOT ones I was searching for! Come to find out, it will be more cost effective and less stressful for me to forgo an AA and skip straight on to a Bachelors program at ODU. Apparently earning an AA isn't as big of a deal as I thought it was (it hold little to no special powers, unfortunately) so skipping over it wont affect me in the slightest. It's truly a wondering anyone is college educated because it seems to me "the system" makes the process as mind numbing as possible. Oh well, with my new found answers, my next step will be going back to ODU (where I've previously been accepted) and registering for classes. I'll save my crying for AFTER meeting with financial aid advisors.

We just got word that Adam's ship will be going out on a prolonged "work-up" this month, returning just in time for the holidays. He's a little less than excited but at least he'll be home for Christmas (hopefully). Other ships have been pulled off "work-ups" to deploy early if they're needed...so let's PRAY that doesn't happen! There's also been talk that his ship will be stationed in Spain in 2014. I understand that's a while away and it's only hearsay as of now but CAN YOU IMAGINE?! Spain!! Nothing sounds more glamorous than being completely immersed in a new culture, learning different customs and traditions and, obviously, a new language! Ugh...what a wonderful thing to dream about!

If you aren't already aware, my beautiful soulmate is a terrible snore-r and lately it's gotten out of control. On top of snoring, he likes to converse in his sleep. A few nights ago, I rolled over and told him he was talking and asked what he was dreaming about. Sound asleep he answers, "Shh. It's not like I'm dreaming of doomsday monsters!" He's asked the score of "the game" before and got frustrated when I told him I didn't know. He's asked me to take his Chicago deep-dish pizza out of the oven. He constantly informs me that "he's NOT snoring. He's not even BREATHING". Haha. Of course, Adam never remembers the things he says the next day and it's always hilarious to see his reactions.

I had an interview today with WellsFargo for a teller position. They want to schedule another interview but they have to wait for a position to become available. I'm really hoping that this (or SOMETHING) works out in my favor. As much as I LOVE serving food and making almost a 1/4 of minimum wage, I feel it's time for a change. Something good is coming, I can feel it!!

Now it's time to watch Water For Elephants. It's our most recent Netflix pick and I've been dying to see it. The book was PHENOMENAL so we'll see if the movie lives up to the hype.

PS. Mom and Dad, thanks for the thoughtful, timely (cough*cough*) birthday cards for Adam and me.   :)

Whew.

Good thing I decided to procrastinate on things that actually matter...otherwise I would have NEVER posted a this month. I forget to get online all the time, especially since I'm spoiled enough to have internet on my phone. If I ever figure out how to blog on my phone, there may never be a need for me to get on the computer again.

I wish I could say that I've been too busy but that's hardly been the case. Adam and I were lucky enough to go to the Florida-Georgia game on Halloween weekend. It was a wonderful experience...but it would have been even better had we won. Adam's not used to the crazy, tailgating experience so it was sort of interesting. It was also nice seeing family, albeit rushed.

The first weekend in November Adam treated me to a live show! Beauty and the Beast was amazing!! We were a little late (we missed the first 15min) due to dinner running a bit over schedule but it was okay. I swear if anything in my life ever went perfectly, I'd be pretty concerned. It felt great to get dressed up and see a show and, unlike last year, it wasn't snowing (which made walking around in heels MUCH easier).

Work has been terrible. For some reason I assumed a higher end restaurant would be more profitable than the hell-hole I was at before but it isn't. I'm currently seeking new employment. It's rare for me to leave with more than $40 after a shift. Unacceptable! Ugh.

The good news is that I will be starting TCC in the fall with hopes of getting my AA, ASAP. After that, its the fast track to getting my Masters. Anything to get me out of the service industry.

I was going to finish this blog with more stories; however, I'm becoming increasingly enraged with the tedious process of filling out online job applications and profiles. GAH! I promise you, it will make being dragged behind a speeding dump truck seem enjoyable.

iWannaPunchMy iPhone

I'm currently updating the software for my iPhone which is taking MUCH longer than anticipated so, I figure, why not bore you all with the tedium of my daily life?

The party on Saturday was amazing and it couldn't have happened on a better day. It was crisp and gorgeous out with just the perfect amount of Fall in the air. Adam and I wore festive brown and orange in hopes of taking pictures together in a pumpkin patch...which didn't end up working out. Nevertheless, the day was great. We grazed all day on delicious homemade dips, spreads, snacks and spiked cider. Mmm! Steve's ribs were probably some of the best I've ever had. Everyone carved pumpkins and enjoyed the bonfire once it started to get chilly. Thankfully, there was plenty of beer and dancing to help me forget about the Gator's tragic loss against AU.

SPEAKING OF THE GATORS...
MY TICKETS FOR THE FLORIDA-GEORGIA GAME CAME IN TODAY!! Even better, Adam gets to go this year! He's never even been to a game and FL-GA is a WONDERFUL way to start. Thank you a BILLION-AND-ONE times to the Middlemas family for graciously including us in this tradition. There are literally not enough words/noises to express my excitement and gratitude for your generosity. Of course, it should go without saying that if there is ever ANYTHING we could do for ya'll, we'd do it in a heartbeat. I can't wait to see you guys in just NINE days.

Adam knows that he'll be joining The USS Porter in November but he's not sure when exactly. If he gets orders before the 8th, he and the rest of the ship will leave port for almost the entire month. I guess this is a good way to get ready for our first deployment. Ugh. I am NOT looking forward to this but that's the life of the Navy, I'm told. Good thing I have work and friends to surround myself with! Now if only I were in school.

I'd also like the world to know Adam has now joined this century and purchased an iPhone! Granted it's a 4 and not a 4S but it's leaps and bounds better than his Droid. He should be thanking the heavens that he doesn't have to sit through this damned update (which is STILL going on, btw). It's not like I can just leave the phone plugged into the computer and go to sleep because the process is riddled with prompts that require me to answer a question by clicking "Yes" or "Transfer" or "Don't Purchase" or some other needless command. To top things off, my current phone has randomly decided that the ringer will no longer work. This means I can't hear incoming calls, text notifications, music or anything our of the phone's speaker. The replacement came in the mail today but I'll wait until tomorrow to transfer everything over. I would curse Steve Jobs but that might be considered rude and taboo now that he's dead.

I have another day at the Town Centre tomorrow. I like this new gig as much as anyone could like a waitressing job. It's not nearly as laid back as RR but the money is better so it's certainly worth my while. The 27th of this month marks my last and final day at the Bird...unless, of course, I get my shifts covered (which is a strong possibility).

....Alright. I'm fairly certain this process has finished and since it's nearly 1am, I think it's time for me to retire.

More News...

After waiting forever (I'm not exaggerating; it's nearly been a year) we had discovered that Adam will remain in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) on the USS Porter here in Norfolk. FINALLY! This means we can continue house shopping and I can start back to school this Spring. There's no news yet of when the ship deploys (the Navy doesn't like to make that knowledge public so far in advance) but the good news is that it's in port right now! Adam will switch commands after the end of the month and hopefully he'll get to stay through Florida-Georgia, Thanksgiving, his birthday, and Christmas...all coming up before the end of 2011.

Even better news, today I am submitting my TWO WEEKS NOTICE at RR. At first, I felt guilty but Adam quickly helped me get over that explaining the need for me to have a secure, well-managed future is more important than a job that treats me like garbage. This is square one and I am ready. Of course this means, I'm going to make Bravo my full-time, albeit- not forever, gig.

The weekend is near. Fall is here. I have a fantastic weekend planned with the man I love and friends I adore, listening to the soulful country music of the beloved Zac Brown Band. Life is good.

Busy, Busy Bee

This past month has been a whirlwind of crazy events, hence the lack of blogging. Even as I type this, I am doing laundry, (supposed to be) folding clothes, avoiding responding to a boatload of emails, and putting off making two very important appointments.

For starters, I got a new job at an Italian restaurant called Bravo in Virginia Beach. Granted it's still a job waiting tables but this is a much higher-end place than I'm used to and in the one week that I've worked there, the money has already proven to be better than RR. The most exciting part for me is that we don't sing birthday songs and there is no mascot walking around making children scream (out of fear and/or excitement). I still have BOTH jobs which is adding to my stress and eating up damn near ALL the free time I might have had. Although I'm still being scheduled for shifts, RR is being slowly pushed to the back burner. I'm having my shifts picked up by coworkers and only actually working one to two shifts a week now. Part of me feels guilty about all of this yet I'm strongly debating putting in my two weeks notice. Can I have a magical crystal ball that will reveal life's answers to me?? On the up-side, I really enjoy the people I work with and I have a good feeling about this place.

Also since my last update, Adam got punched with a reckless driving ticket (going 80 in a 55) and has a mandatory court date set up for this week. Originally he wanted to hire a lawyer and spend tons of money trying to get this charge reduced (reckless driving = misdemeanor + community service) but I think I've talked him out of that. In addition to not having money to afford a lawyer, Adam has a near-flawless driving record (no tickets since 2005) which, in my opinion, speaks volumes. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Now on to our ever-changing future. Adam found out last week that the Navy has picked him up as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) which is bittersweet. Although it's not aviation, his lifelong dream, this means he gets to stay in the Navy (something that's very important to him and our future) as an officer on a ship. Unfortunately, we're still uncertain where we'll be stationed or what ship he'll be on but any information is good. We just have to continue being patient. Hopefully (fingers crossed) we'll hear something before the end of this week.

This past weekend, Adam and two of his friends went camping in the Washington Nat'l Forrest. I'm glad they went and had a man-weekend of hiking and climbing and fire-building. While he was gone, Leah, another wife that was left at home, and I went out drinking and dancing on Friday night. It was a blast!

Adam and I were FINALLY able to take our bikes to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens for Bike Night...and it couldn't have been more perfect. The weather was fantastic! We made it just in time, too. There is only one more Bike Night left this season! I took a few pictures but have been way too busy to upload them. I'll just add it to my ever-growing pile of "To-Do's".

This weekend a few of us couples are getting together to celebrate fall by carving pumpkins and going to see Zach Brown.

Adam surprised me with tickets for Beauty and the Beast next month. Ever since we saw the Lion King last Christmas, we've been trying to go see more live shows so I'm VERY excited!!

I'm sure there are things that I've left out but I need to go get ready for work. Happy Tuesday!

Caridgan Weather

What a gorgeous day! A high of 69 must mean that Fall is here! Since I don't have to work until 6pm, I am going to bust out my box of scarves and cardigans and make an effort to show the people of Norfolk how thrilled I am that Fall is here. Our A/C is off and ALL the windows are open. Ooh! I'm very excited.

I got up early this morning and made Adam some breakfast brain food. He and his friend are going to skip work today and go to Chesapeake Regional to take their Military Competency Test (a test that gives military members a handful of civilian-grade private piloting certifications). Of course, I gave him a pocket-sized good luck card (Adam's serious about his luck) and a bag of cookies so the boys would have something to munch on. Everyone send him positive thoughts!

Backtracking a few days, I took the pups to the groomer inside Petsmart. This was a first for us and the dogs but they were getting really scraggly looking so I made the executive decision to take them and surprise Adam. Little did I know, I was in for a surprise as well. A few hours after Adam came home, we got the call that our babies were ready. Upon picking them up, we saw what (we thought) was the worst thing possible: the groomers had shaved off ALL of the kid's ear hair! For those of you that don't know, we have two papillons which are known for their long ear hair; it's actually how they got the name papillon (meaning "butterfly" in French). I was shocked (then a little angry) that these self-professed "Professionally Trained Groomers" would make a mistake like that. But it gets worse. As Adam and I head to the front to pay for these hideous haircuts, we noticed Piper (our 2 year old female) was limping. She wasn't putting any weight at all on her back left leg. We asked to see a manager who came over very promptly. After talking with us for a minute, he went back to the groomer who claimed they "didn't even notice" that Piper had a limp. The manager then escorted us over to Banfield, the vet inside Petsmart (where Piper and Luca usually go for appts). After some xrays and a not-so-quick check up, the vet said there was nothing that he could see that was making her limp. The manager ended up comp'ing the pain meds Piper was given, the vet visit AND the hideous cuts and although I was very appreciative of his seemingly genuine concern, my blood can't help but boil every time I think of that dang groomer. Here it is, three days later and Piper is STILL refusing to put pressure on her back leg. Adam and I have isolated her injury to the paw area (she's fine with touching the hip and leg). We were thinking maybe a nail was cut too short or cracked down the middle but we can't seem to find a "hurt nail". I sent an email in to corporate so hopefully I'll hear back soon. I just want my baby girl to get better cause her limp just breaks my heart.

This weather is too perfect. It makes me want to clean! (Uck, what's wrong with me!?)

Tomorrow FL plays Tennessee. Chomp those Vols! Go Gators!

Day off

Since business is slow, they've been cutting people's hours at work...thus, I only work THREE days this week. Time to force myself to get motivated and CLEAN the house, since I have half the week off. I'm still searching for a job that will pay me better and give me more consistency. I heard Volkswagon in Greenbrier is hiring. It would make Adam (and myself, of course) VERY happy if I worked there.

Last night, I was having a bad night and my lousy house-wife skills didn't make it any better. I made an attempt to cook homemade stir-fry and it turned out terrible, almost inedible. Adam was such a trooper by forcing his way through the meal and not even eating cereal afterward! I, on the other hand, had a bowl of oatmeal since the dinner wasn't satisfying in flavor OR portion. Oh, and did I mention I burned a plate? Yes, a plate. Not a plastic one either. Ceramic. (Who does that?!) Hopefully my first attempt at Asian cuisine will be something to look back and laugh at. I've come a LONG way when it comes to cooking but I obviously have an equally long way to go.

Adam's shifting mechanism seized up in his GTI. Although he could put the car in gear, it was difficult to get it there. The battery died and the dashboard was lit up like a check-engine Christmas tree. After taking it to the dealership (it's still under warranty, THANK GOD), VW couldn't figure out what the problem was. The solution? Replacing the entire transmission (I think that's right). Because this problem is so rare, there are no parts in the US available. There aren't even parts in Germany. We have to wait for a part to be assembled and shipped from Germany to the US...which could take up to a month (or longer). Until then, we have a Jetta and since the rental doesn't have base decals, I get to drive it. Not sure if I'm excited about that or not.

Everything is going as great as it can go. Positivity is key in not letting life get the best of you. (Now if only I could follow my own advice.)

Another day, another dollar

Soon, I'll be off to work but until then, I'm happy to share what's gone on this past week.

The mold guy and our realtor came back out and, believe it or not, bleached then painted over the mold. Fun, right?! Oi!

Adam was having a bit of a bad day after learning he was denied two of the recommendations he thought he'd get for his package so I did something nice for him. Windshield wipers! I know it sounds like a terrible way to cheer someone up but he needs/wants new ones plus I gave him a mushy card saying not to let life's rainy days get him down. Sometimes, I'm too clever for myself. Clever or cliche.

Adam and I went to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens last weekend and loved it! Originally, I wasn't too keen on paying to look at plants but it ended up being really nice! They have a giant rose garden that Mom would LOVE and it's second bloom is coming up in October (hint, hint: Mom). The butterfly garden, although not as beautiful as Gainesville's, was fun to walk through. We rode the tram twice and listened to all the historical information about the park and the plants. Afterward, Adam and I climbed to the top of the berms and watched/listened to the airplanes at NIA taxi and take off. Once we get a bike rack for the GTI, we're planning on going back to the gardens for bike night!!

There is so much more I want to share but if I don't start getting ready for work now, I'll never make it there on time. Happy Thursday, everyone!

PS. If you haven't seen The Help...GO see it. It's wonderful. (Now I need to read the book. I feel like a literary traitor for seeing the movie first. Shame on me.)

PPS. Did I mention we've been rat free since last post. HALLELUJAH!! 

We caught two mice!! Of course, two of the remaining four traps we checked (after we disposed of the full ones) had been cleared of bait. We're dealing with some sneaky little buggers. I took pictures but I felt posting it would be kind of gross (even though there was no blood) so count your lucky stars you don't have to start your morning off with THAT. Yum.

Our land-lady is coming with her mold inspector man again today. Not quite sure what will be going on since neither Adam nor I will be here to watch or listen. Our house is a mess too, so I'm hoping she won't unleash her inner dragon on us. We're really not bad people. We pay our rent on time (every time) and although we've caused a few issues to the house (spilling things on the carpet, for example) but we haven't moved out yet...and when we do, these things WILL be fixed. I'm just not certain as to WHY she hates us so much. It's not like we left the "rats" out for her to stumble upon!

I work another double today. Oh joyous day! Now is the point where I would have mentioned why I loathe my job but I was recently forced to sign a paper relinquishing my first amendment rights because the company is afraid to be viewed in a negative light. The loop hole: as long as I don't say the name of the company or show any affiliation with them, I'm safe. There are few things in life that make me more miserable than that place.

On the lighter side of things, I discovered a new candy I'm in love with. It's called Toffifay (I know, what a ridiculous name!) and it's made up of hazelnut, chocolate & caramel. It's amazing! I was having some serious lady-cravings so I went to WaWa late last night and loaded up on chocolate, Ben & Jerry's & Diet Dr. Depper (don't judge). For what it's worth, I didn't even make it two scoops into the ice cream before guilt washed over me. Ugh. Chocolate, why are you so delicious and evil?!

Off to clean a bit...

Oh, Monday!

Days like today give Monday's their horrible stereo-type. For starters, Adam was off all day while I went into my favorite place in the whole wide world to work a double. While opening, I slammed my thumb in between two very study, immovable pieces of steel. Whew, talk about pain. I teared up, started sweating and got nauseous...but enough of my melodrama. I would add a picture of said wound but I don't feel that it adequately portrays my pain and I don't want you all thinking (or realizing) I'm a giant weeny. I do have a small; albeit nice, little bruise under the nail that ruined the color of my pale pink polish. After working for a bit, I realized I was sweating quite a bit. (Attractive, I know.) I asked around and learned that half of our building was without air condition. Of course, it happened to be MY half of the building that was without AC, hence the serious sweating....or "glistening". Aren't ladies supposed to "glisten"?? I ended up making decent money for a Monday but my day was only halfway over. The night shift was not nearly as profitable which made the jungle-like atmosphere suck even more. I know I should be looking at the silver lining to all of these things; At least I have a thumb to slam....terrible tips are okay as long as I don't have to clean up infant feces....etc, but it's a little bit difficult. Ah yes, and to cap the night off, the "rats" are back! After Adam and I cleaned, sanitized and barricaded what we assumed to be their entry-way into our house, we saw Piper sniffing around under the fridge. Thank you Jesus - Hallelujah we didn't find an actual "rat" but the evidence of their visits are just as unsettling. Adam is currently at Walmart trying to find the meanest, deadliest traps and poisons. We're gonna kill these suckers! (Take that, PETA!) We're not placing any poison where the dogs can get it, I just hope these rodents don't bring the poison into our house. I really don't want the pups getting into rat poison. Hmmm, maybe I should call Adam and tell him 86 the poison.....brb....

I'm guessing today was karmic redistribution (or something of the like) for our good fortune surviving the "hurricane"...which, in all honesty, wasn't too bad. Yes, the winds were VERY strong and the rain came down VERY hard but I don't think Irene deserved all the hype the media was giving her. I did learn that if we're ever in Norfolk when a CAT 2 or 3 comes along, we're hitting the road. Although the uprooted trees and downed power lines were few, I can only imagine how much worse it could get. Despite all the hullabullo, Adam and I ventured out on Saturday (during one of the calmer hours) to check out the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean front. I have never seen waves so large in my life! I got a few good pictures, none of which do the storm any justice.

Did I mention that our guest bathroom has MOLD growing on the ceiling and that, according to our realtor's mold specialist that came out today, we "might have a roof leak" because the ceiling in the bathroom is "almost completely saturated"? Our realtor, bless her heart, is always looking to cut corners and save herself money. To think that beautiful woman just wanted to PAINT OVER our mold! *headdesk* According to Adam she was less than thrilled to find out the inspector wanted to remove the ceiling entirely, fix the leak, then replace it. Apparently the legality of dealing with mold in homes, especially when construction or demo is involved, can be pretty serious. She offered to let Adam and I move out without penalty if we wanted but we're not in a position, financially, to be doing that. Also, if we moved, I imagine our sweet land-lady would fall back to her original plan involving a bucket of Behr's.

Oh, Monday! When it rains, it certainly does pour.

Adam is back with his (these are his words, not mine) "implements of death" so I'm going to help RE-clean and RE-sanitize the kitchen. Thank goodness today is almost over! I haven't been this excited for a Tuesday in a long time. Happy Monday night, everyone!

PS. I swear I saw American-early years-Harry Potter at work tonight. I don't have evidence 'cause I figured it would be rude to take pictures. Sometimes I wish my eyes could do that for me.

AGAIN?! Gross!

We just discovered that our rat problem is back! Well, let me take two steps back...because Adam's not too crazy when I call them "rats". Apparently, our infestation is made up of mice, but to me, it's one in the same. We went to our "pantry" (aka: shelves hidden behind rice paper blinds) and saw rat scat and smelled pee. Oh yeh, AND our bag of flour had been chewed through! After looking behind the fridge, stove and dishwasher, we found more piles of rat excrement (and dog food) and finally discovered HOW these creepy rodents have been entering our home. They chewed through part of a 2x4 AND a sheet of plywood that was installed behind the dishwasher after we complained to the realty company the FIRST time. RAWR!

I have a friend who has a BEE infestation in her kitchen wall so at least our problem isn't THAT bad...but GEEZ! I prefer NO rodents (or creepy crawlies) in the house. Period.

Natural Disaters Galore

I can't believe I forgot to mention the earthquake! I was at work and so was Adam when we experienced the aftershocks from the Northern Virginia earthquake. I didn't feel a thing, I'm guessing since I was walking around, but everyone who was stationary claimed to have felt tremors. I got a text message from Adam swearing they just had a hurricane on base. In a few moments, it was all over the news.  5.9!  I'm a little disappointed that I didn't feel anything. It would have been my first "earthquake" ever. All of our friends and pups are fine and the only damage that happened at home was our ironing board toppling over.

The fires in the Dismal Swamp have made all of Hampton Roads heavy with smoke. Of course it's smoky on my day off, not gorgeous and perfect like it was on Tuesday...when I worked a double. The sun is still shining outside but the smell of campfire gets old pretty fast.

On top of all this, we have hurricane Irene coming...supposedly. I'm not too worried (as I reign from the land of hurricanes) but all the locals up here seem to be running around, going crazy, buying generators and sandbags and demolishing canned goods sections. Grocery stores are packed, which puts Adam and I at a disadvantage because we genuinely need groceries...not hurricane survival gear. Then again, maybe the locals know something I don't. I really SHOULD watch the news.

In the words of a friend of mine, "Let's see... burning swamp, earthquake, a hurricane this weekend... all I need is a plague and I win Apocalypse Bingo!!!"

My favorite person in all of Virginia, our realty lady, is coming over today to check out a few issues with the house. This means a cleaning session is in order, since she has to view both the master and the guest bathrooms. She always finds something to complain about and some way to charge us extra for things that shouldn't matter. Bitter, money hungry, cow!


The loud banging from yesterday morning has seeped into today, too. Our next door neighbor is having a new roof placed on his house. Although it's loud and starts early, they seemed to be almost finished, which is great! No more dogs barking at every single hammer strike!


I have an appointment later today but other than that, I'm off! I'm going to enjoy today the best I can. Keep those happy thoughts coming for Adam! We wont have any news until mid-September so I need an army of crossed-fingers and prayers.

Vacation

It's always so difficult to motivate myself to start these things...but since someone in the immediate area is, from the sound of things, doing some serious home-construction, sleeping in is not an option.

About two weeks ago, Luca was experiencing tummy problems. He was vomiting, refusing to eat and, as far as we saw, not going to the bathroom. Thinking he had a bowel (sp?) obstruction, Adam and I took him to the vet where they wanted to run $800 worth of tests on him. We're a little tight on money at the moment and couldn't afford that so we declined the offer and pissed off a few staff members in the process. We ended up spending around $100 on meds and fluids but immediately after the visit, Luca took two massive "mandatory's" behind Petsmart. We monitored him closely and gave him bland food. He's better now but, OH! It broke my heart when he was sick.

Adam and I had planned to go on a cruise for our 1st anniversary but due to a serious lack of funds, we decided to take the cheapest option and go to Jacksonville. It was a very last minute decision but luckily, we know awesome people here in VA that enjoy watching our pups! We left for Fl after dinner on Thursday (to avoid tunnel traffic) and arrived around 6am. What a LOOONG drive! As soon as we got to Brentt and Rachel's house, we CRASHED and slept until after noon. Since both Cumbaa's were at work by the time we woke up, Adam and I decided to go exploring around the city to see what all had changed. We drove everywhere...even into the depths of Green Cove Springs. Jacksonville has changed a TON; everything seemed weird and different...and HOT. Don't get me wrong, VA gets hot too but not so miserable that all the greenery is scorched to death. That night Adam and I had dinner with (almost) my entire side of the family at Texas Roadhouse. It was wonderful to see my family and catch up on things but the long table set-up made it difficult to see and hear everyone. After dinner, Adam and I met up with my old roommates, Rick and Joel and Joel's girfriend to play 3-D Blacklight Indoor Mini-Golf. I know it sounds kind of lame, but if you ever get the chance, you need to play. The neon, 3-D paint is mind blowing!

Saturday, Brentt and Rachel invited us to brunch. I can't remember the name of the place but it had the most delicious Huevos Rancheros I've ever had. We visited a few more friends after that then headed over to the Kalota residence for Allison's birthday party. Alli's dad made delicious food (I kept sneaking pieces of fresh, fried gator tail) and we went swimming and played Wii. Note: I am NOT a great Wii-dancer. Adam made the call to make Saturday and early night, and I couldn't have agreed more. We were both exhausted.

Plans were tentatively made to go to Ginnie Springs on Sunday but since we'd yet to see Adam's family, plans were altered. Instead, Adam decided to take his sisters, Tara and Beth, and their respective children, Lori (2), Ashley (3) and Chris (10) to Chuck E Cheese. Adam bought pizza and tokens for everyone and the kids went wild. As fun as it was to see the little ones, I'm happy with waiting a few more years to have one of my own. We some great pictures and had a great time, but by the time we reached the bottom of the cup of tokens, everyone was tired and ready to go. Adam and I dropped Tara off and her girls then headed back to Casa de Cumbaa to get ready for dinner with Mrs. Kathy, Adam's mother. Dinner was short and delicious and most of the conversation was Adam catching his mom up on everything that's been happening, Navy-wise. Afterward, in the parking lot, the three of us talked about the past and all of our hurt feelings and made a promise that things would start fresh from that moment on. I'm glad to say much of the tension has been relieved!

The girls. I didn't get many pictures of the adults or Christian but it was wonderful to be with everyone!

There were a few errands left for Monday. Allison, Bobby, Brentt, Adam and I all ate lunch at Sonny's, something us Peeples have been craving for almost a year! Somewhere along this trip, Adam and I were also able to eat Moon River Pizza and go to Dreamette (a first time for Adam and he was unimpressed!). We thanked Rachel (the only Cumbaa home at the time) for her incredible hospitality and friendship then stopped by Nanny & Papa's on our way out of Jacksonville. Instead of taking 95 straight up, the Peeples-wagon headed towards Atlanta. We made it to Macon (an hour South of ATL) and decided to stay the night with Bobby and Allison in their newly purchased home! It was GORGEOUS. They have a huge house tucked in between rolling hills and a fairly large creek. I loved the size of the rooms, specifically the kitchen and Adam was crazy about the screened-in sunroom, giant garage, and tree-covered property. Oh, it makes me want a house SO BAD! That night we played old school Nintendo games, of which I am terrible, and shared stories.

The next morning, Adam and I left for Atlanta. I was shocked at how much I really liked the city! I'm sure there are gross parts but it just seemed like there was so much to see and do! First, we went to the Georgia Aquarium. This place is GIANT and probably my favorite aquarium we've ever been to. Almost every exhibit has massive acrylic slabs for walls which makes viewing the animals incredible!

Adam looking at the jellyfish

Giant ray!

This female Beluga kept playing with a crinkle, plastic tube with straps. She was so playful and intelligent!

Then we headed across the street to the World of Coke to explore Coca-Cola's history and taste Cokes from all over the world! We saw lots of products that we used to remember like Surge and Five Alive. We even saw the actual torches that were used in various Olympic Games!

Entrance

Adam and I took the long way home, traveling through Georgia then Tennessee then Kentucky and finally Virginia. We couldn't figure out anything to do for our anniversary so we decided to go straight home. Well, that was the plan, anyway. When it came time to switch drivers, Adam was still too sleepy to drive so we found a rest area and slept overnight. Since we were in the mountains, we just cracked some windows and turned the car off. Believe it or not, it actually got pretty chilly! We woke up at a rest stop along some desolate stretch of highway with terrible breath, dirty clothes, and stinky, unshowered bodies and even though it's not how I pictured spending our first anniversary, it's nice to know that no matter what happens, we're still going to be head over heels in love with each other.

After getting the pups from the sitter (THANKS, Michelle and John!) we pulled up the the house, happy to be home. Of course we slept some more, this time in our own, familiar bed and woke up just before dinner. Adam took me to the beach and we tried a new restaurant called 5th Street Taphouse (or something). Although the food wasn't great and the beer was warm-ish, we had a good time. We walked along the board walk and found a 50s/60s/70s cover band that played phenomenal music. Their drummer looked like Lil Wayne and had the fastest arms of anyone I've ever seen. The band even had a full brass section! After walking and drinking and listening to the state-paid street performers, we headed home.

Adam had to go back to work on Thurs but I was off until Monday. We helped Adam's friend, Steve, install hardwood floors in a home he recently purchased for him and his soon-to-be-wife. I haven't seen the finished product but from what I could tell, it looked amazing! Adam promised since our anniversary was less than ideal, he would take me out some place nice that weekend...which he did. We went to Byrd & Baldwin Bros. Steakhouse in downtown Norfolk. It was the most expensive meal I've ever eaten but it was easily the most delicious food I've ever had. We got dressed up and just enjoyed each others company and the night was perfect. When we got home, Adam surprised me with a Kitchen Aide mixer, something I've been wanting for a very long time. What a guy!

Now, everyone is back to the normal grind. I've worked two back to back doubles so I'm looking forward to a normal shift today. I'm still job-hunting whenever possible and I'm delighted to announce Adam and I got a six month extension on our lease! Tonight I've made plans to have a stay-at-home girls night with my friend Claire and her adorable baby, Rowan. After work on Thursday, I've made plans to help a friend move some furniture. I guess there's no rest for the weary.  :)

Thanks to all who sent us anniversary cards, emails, texts, and love! GJ- Luca  L O V E S  his tennis balls. Crazy thing; he can actually tell the difference between the three (even though they're the same size and color) and makes us play with specific ones. Even Piper got in on the games of fetch...and she NEVER does ANYTHING physical!

Lastly, in case you guys didn't realize this: we are TEN days away from college football season!!! (Words cannot describe my excitement!)

Patience

So it doesn't matter that Adam's been stressing about this meeting all week...

or that all day Sunday was devoted, almost entirely, to running errands on base...

or that HOURS were spent Sunday night preparing his uniform...

or that he woke up early, dressed in Summer Whites, to mentally (and physically) prepare himself for the news he was about to receive.

They canceled the meeting (AGAIN!!) and rescheduled it for tomorrow. I wish I could say I'm surprised.

There just comes a point where you can only take so many blows and the fact that your career hangs in uncertainty for an indefinite amount of time is unsettling. Well, irritating AND unsettling.

This must be why patience is a virtue.

The weekend is here!! I've grown VERY accustomed to having Saturday and Sunday off and I'm loving it. Spending time with Adam is wonderful and being away from that terrible job brings me unending happiness.

Our Hispanic neighbor came over today and tried to sell us really awful looking, bedazzled clothing from a Sears-esque type catalog. She only speaks Spanish and was trying to (timidly) explain her motives. Adam's 2 semesters of UF Spanish have obviously failed him. I think he managed to squeak out something along the lines of "I have no money for your catalog"...while he was under his car installing a new exhaust. I just looked at her in utter confusion. Where's Matt when you need him?! A few moments later she returned with an uprooted pepper plant in the same earthy chunk as the beginnings of a tomato plant. I suppose this was her way to show that there were no hard feelings over the language barrier and/or the lack of desire in the very taste-specific clothing she was offering.

Tonight we're going downtown with Adam's buddies to celebrate one of the guys passing a very important, final flight. I can't imagine what Adam is feeling but I know it can't be fun. It's hard to be excited for you friend moving on to bigger and better things while you've been stagnant for quite some time. Adam's meeting with the Admiral is on Monday. Please pray for his peace of mind and comfort no matter the decision. It's a pretty tough thing to go through.

The kids' vet visit went well. Luca's hernia is nothing to be concerned over and Piper got a cortizone (sp?) shot and some type of pills for her hot-spots. Each of them got heart worm meds and booster shots so my pups are healthy and happy.

Adam is left around 10 to go help a friend move. I offered to go along but Adam said (as nicely as possible) that I wouldn't be much help with the heavy lifting. This guy doesn't have a ton of stuff plus it feels like it's 1000 degrees outside so I'm okay with staying home. Now is a great time to try out my fudge recipe!

I talked to Mom today while she was over at her parents (my Nanny & Papa). It was nice to hear from everyone but it made me miss my family so very much. Sure, they can drive me crazy sometimes but I hate not being close to them.

Friday

Adam's meeting with the Admiral, which was supposed to happen today at 2pm, has been postponed (surprise, surprise) until August 1st. This is dangerously close to the vacation we're tentatively planning. Adam and I both scheduled time off together so we could, hopefully, go on a cruise for our first anniversary (August 17th). It's hard to believe we're coming up on our first year of marriage and our FIFTH year of being together. It makes me grateful every time I think about it. When I ignore all my petty problems I realize I am beyond blessed to have the life I live.

Adam made the mistake of taking me into Barnes and Nobel the other day. My favorite place is their buy 2 get one free table so that's exactly where I went. Adam, as usual, parked himself by the magazines and patiently waited while reading about exotic cars. I limited myself to three books so I have a short stack that I'm starting to tackle. Currently, I'm reading Look Me In The Eye, a memoir about a man who grew up with undiagnosed-Aspurgers syndrome (a mild form of autism). It's funny and shocking and very raw, which I love.

Since it's waaaay too hot outside to be riding bikes or going to the beach Adam and I have been enjoying indoor activities. We finally saw the last Harry Potter and it made me want to read the books again. (I guess my "short stack" isn't so short afterall.) Adam teases me about being a Harry Potter nerd and I joke about going through Post Potter Depression. I told him the only way I can feel whole now is with a blu-ray boxed set so we'll see if he takes the hint.  ;)

Serving people teaches me so much. Today's lesson: hold off on having kids for as LONG as possible. I witnessed a 4 month old baby projectile poo all over herself, her onesie, the car seat, her mother and the restaurant floor. I guess the lesson could also be: buy high quality diapers. Maybe it's because I don't yet have children but I don't get how the mother and her friend could eat after that. Lord knows my appetite would have vanished faster than that mother's dignity. Side note: WHAT IS IT with me and poopy-booths?!

I have a recipe for fudge and I keep intending to try it but I always end up being too lazy or falling asleep. One of these days, I'll give it a whirl! (After proof-reading my blog before posting, I suppose I could have come up with a better transition from poo to fudge. I promise that wasn't intentional!)

Adam has spent all day with the "kids" at the vet's office. We're signing them up for PetCare (an insurance for animals) and they're getting a full work up done. Luca's hernia has flared up again, larger than it's ever been, so we're getting that checked out too. Our "kids" are not the most well behaved creatures; Luca barks at everything unusual and Piper does what she wants, when she wants so Adam has been having a rough day. Adam had his own little poo-scapade (courtesy of Pipes) and has been waiting for hours to be seen by the doc. Next time, an appointment will be necessary. As soon as he gets home, we're getting ready for an early dinner, sans pups.

We're off all weekend and we're going to enjoy every minute of it. I'm missing my family and wishing them happy, wonderful times in Florida. (COME VISIT us, guys! You're always welcome!)

UPDAAAATE!

I feel like so much has happened over my brief blog-hiatus. Let's hope I can remember everything! Also, make sure you check out the pictures at the end of the post.

First things first, still no news from the Navy. I'm really hoping this waiting game fixes itself soon because I want to go on a anniversary vacation next month AND start school AND buy a house AND find a better job...none of which I feel comfortable doing if our future in VA is uncertain. This is truly a test of our patience.

This morning the dogs woke me up at 9. (For those of you that have kids and/or a real job, 9am is early to the rest of us.) Piper decided to serenade us with minutes upon minutes of unjustifiable barking until she passed out and went back to sleep. I wasn't lucky enough to find my way back to the pillow, so here I sit.

Celebrating holidays and birthdays long distance is difficult but it's slowly getting easier. Of course, it would always be better to spend time with my family and long-distance friends. I miss them so much! The "kids" (Luca & Piper Bell) gave Adam a "#1 DAD" ice cream cake for fathers day, half of which is now covered with ice crystals taking up valuable freezer space but still just as delicious as the first bite. I mailed my dad birthday cookies and gave him giant Boy Scout coffee table book for fathers day. It's no AppleTV   ;)  but if that technology is lost on ME, I doubt my dad would be able to work it.

One weekend last month while Adam was off mountain biking with friends, I took myself to Harborfest in downtown Norfolk. It was mostly a kid-centric festival but I had fun. There was live music and about a half dozen tall ships that were open to the public for tours. Local vendors sold all kinds of products and the food smelled amazing. I even watched part of a dog competition where large breed dogs were doing distance jumps into pools. Pretty cool to see. I didn't stay long because it was insanely hot outside but at least I can say I've done it.

Toward the end of June, I toured Nauticus (a Naval Ship Museum) with my friend Claire and her super cute ginger-baby, Rowan. That kid is probably the most adorable baby I have ever laid my eyes on. The museum wasn't anything to write home about but Rowan loved running around the deck of the battleship and I enjoyed much needed girl time. We ate an early dinner, had fro-yo and I came to the conclusion that as much as I say I want children, I am nowhere NEAR ready to take on that task.

I got an unexpected reward in the mail from Olive Garden. Adam and I went there for dinner a while back and had a miserable dining experience. Nothing was positive so afterward, I filled out one of those online surveys explaining my frustration with the staff AND the company. Most of these restaurant tell-us-how-we-did surveys grant customers the CHANCE to win X-amount of dollars after the feedback but I never pay attention to that garbage. Well I should start paying more attention to said garbage 'cause I won $50! Thanks, Olive Garden, for the check but I will not be using that money to come back to your establishment.

Adam and I both lucked out into getting time off for July 4th. He wanted to go mountain biking in WV and I wanted to go back to Jacksonville (or visit Bobby & Allison on our way to Savannah, GA.) We compromised and took a last minute trip to WV but instead of mountain biking, we went white water rafting down the New River Gorge. Rafting was great but the tops of my hands and the tops of my knees got sunburned something terrible. We stayed at a Resort in the middle of some swanky country club which was full of old(er) people and tons of wildlife. I have never seen so many deer. They were just walking around on the edges of the golf course and even in people's front yards. The firework display, although two days early, was entirely worth it. Adam and I were eating dinner on the patio of Bunkers (a sports bar on the golf course) which was a few yards away from where they shot off the fireworks. Talk about front row seats! The next day we decided to go on a coal mine tour. We went in 2008 and loved it so why not try it again? We explored some twisty mountain roads, got tons of great pictures, ate delicious pizza from a place that seemed too "hipster" for the mountains, buried Adam's old tennis shoes, then began our 5 hour trip home. We didn't miss much in town as far as celebrations go. It had been overcast and rainy for days.

I got sick (AGAIN) right before we left for WV but it wasn't going to stop me like it did on Memorial Day. I went to Urgent Care, got some more meds and, although I was stuffed up and cough-y for much of the trip, it was worth it to get away. I went back to the Doc when we returned. I had been waiting over a month for my "New Patient" appt with my new primary care provider...lucky me, I just happened to be sick when I went and killed two birds with one stone. The doctor was phenomenal- she was friendly, caring and she took time to explain things to me. She did a bunch of tests, treated me with a nebulizer (?) and gave me bronchial steroids. I'm still coughing but it's gotten much better and I still have meds left. My body is awful at healing itself which is why this sickness is hanging around...it's also why I'm still bruised from my blood work. I LOATHE having blood drawn!

I love having weekends off. Granted, I lose out on earning a ton of money but I really love spending time with Adam. We rarely get to see each other during the week due to conflicting schedules so date nights and day trips are important. Friday we went to see the movie Horrible Bosses, which was semi-vulgar but pretty hilarious. Yesterday we went to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk and I was pleasantly surprised at it's size, the flow of the park, and the variety of animals. In addition to gorgeous animals in authentic-looking, spacious habitats, the zoo was filled with beautiful gardens. One of the things I really love about Virginia is that they still have greenery growing during the summer. Florida is so hot that it kills everything. The one thing I hated about the zoo was all the obnoxious children. The were beating on the glass windows, scaring away animals and annoying the general public. It reminded me of Free Willy and made me angry at the parents for not controlling their spawns. It's difficult to stay mad when you're surrounded with such cute lil critters, though. The baby prairie dogs and the red pandas are enough to make your heart melt but my all time favorites are the giraffes and the apes. That night we went mini golfing and even though I hate to brag...haha...I whooped Adam. I'm basically a professional (mini) golfer so please feel free to call me Tiger Jr. :)

Today we're going on a picnic and the VBeach Art Museum then tomorrow it's back to reality. UGH. Good thing I'm blogging now!

Picture time! They're not in order (sorry) but I'll post as many as I can:
 

Virginia Zoo

The Glade Springs Resort in WV. The day we arrived there was a party going on for the country club so we went too.

Bachelor's quarters from mid18th century coal mine towns. The mine relocated all these old buildings to their property to create a museum

New River Gorge Bridge. You don't get an appreciation for HOW tall it is until you're at the observation deck looking down. They sell "catwalk" tours that harness you to the catwalk under the bridge...1000 feet in the air

Since I last updated, Adam got a new VW GTI! He's loving this car.

Battleship Wisconsin outside Nauticus. Not worth the hype but it makes for some pretty awesome pictures.

Sittin, waitin, wishin...

STILL no news. I wish I could say I'm surprised at this, but I'm not.

I went to the "beach" today. Technically it was the shores of the Chesapeake Bay but it was still relaxing but HOT HOT HOT. I only lasted an hour and a half before the heat drove me indoors.

I work in an hour and a half. Dinner time, now.

Happenings and such

I'm still not 100% better but I would venture to say 70-75% better than Memorial Day Weekend. Man, this virus has some stayin' power. I had even planned on venturing out to the beach today but the rainy weather thwarted that plan.

My Plantar Faciitis kept getting more and more painful so I finally buckled and went shoe shopping. Adam and I went all over Hampton Roads comparing prices and comfort level and although I didn't find any slip-resistant work shoes, I found a great pair of Asics to wear the rest of the time. They're ridiculously comfortable, they've got Gator colored stripes AND they were 20% off (at the NEX, which also means no sales tax!!). Believe it or not, this is the first pair of supportive, "tennis shoes" I've owned in almost a decade! (THANK YOU, GJ!!!)
:)

As part of my self-improvement plan, Adam and I have been trying to get outside and be more active. This has led to lots of twilight bike rides. Side note, I didn't realize how terribly out of shape I am! The shoes are a nice touch, though. No more bike riding in flip flops for me! Plus, coming around the corner at the end of a ride to see our street illuminated with fireflies is really cool. (People still say "cool", right?)

Adam is supposed to find out the final results of his board on Monday. Of course, if you've been following this little saga, you know that he's been told this a few dozen times. As a matter of fact, Adam was supposed to find out his results on Friday but they postponed the deadline yet again. I think we're both ready to just know SOMETHING. The anxiety has been slowly building and it's just about reached the tipping point. Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, charismatic mother. She's turning 29 (with experience) today and I'm wishing I could be in Jacksonville to help her celebrate! I love and miss you momma!

Recovery

Because I am technically a "new patient" at my primary health care provider, she isn't able to see me until July 7th. I decided to make an appointment with a naval facility but they all require a referral from my primary doctor. Not wanting to wait two months Adam and I loaded up and headed to Portsmouth's Naval Hospital ER (on Monday) to have the doctor tell me that I have a virus and, unfortunately, there was nothing stronger he could prescribe. Recovery is finally in sight!!! I'm still pretty gross looking and I cough a lot but the 800mg Motrin and tiny, yellow cough suppressants have been helping me for a week now. Poor Adam has been such a trooper but I can tell the wasted Memorial Day weekend got to him as much as it did me. Luckily, I'm (slowly) getting better and I will be returning to work tomorrow!! WOoo! I'm ready to make some money.

Because we missed our Memorial Day Vacation, I'd really love to go somewhere awesome for our 1st anniversary. I already took the whole week off I just PRAY Adam's schedule is as flexible. I think a cruise would be wonderful but I'm not picky.

Still no word with Adam. No clue where we're going or how much longer we have to wait. According to a friend, the board has 14 business days to make a decision. Adam's on day #9. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.

Staying in the house is driving me nuts. I think I'm going to run to the grocery store/post office to see something other than these walls.

Doctor: Round Two

After my visit to the walk-in clinic yesterday, they discovered that my throat culture was positive for mono. The doctor said that since I've had mono before, any culture would have been positive for mono, whether it's active in my body or not. So technically, the doctor didn't tell me what I have, she just gave me a Z Pack (an antibiotic) and a few other prescriptions. And to think that Dr. Kirkland of FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF TIDEWATER told me to go home and take OTC allergy medicine. Adam has been so wonderful during all of this, though. He went to the store and got me applesauce, crackers, green tea, ginger ale, fresh fruit, and all different kinds of soups. What a great husband.

I wasn't scheduled to work until Tuesday morning (since Adam and I were planning a vacation...which obviously isn't going to happen) so I was a little shocked when work called me this morning and asked why I didn't show up. I apologized and told them I was sick and wasn't able to come in. Something was fishy. I waited until after the lunch rush to call back and talk to my GM (who was too busy to talk to me). Another manager picked up the phone and tried to help me figure out what was going on. Each shift, the managers have a slip called a "Phase Card" which shows, among other things, what time people are scheduled to work. Apparently another servers name had been crossed off and my name had been written in. There was no record of a shift exchange between me and this other server so there is no way I would have known RR wanted me to come in and work. The whole situation is beyond frustrating. Which is why...

I've fixed my resume and have started applying for new jobs. I didn't reach my goal yesterday of applying for 10 jobs because I slept for about 15 hours. This sickness is REALLY getting in the way of a lot of things I want and NEED to do.

The only thing worth blogging about for today is that Adam locked himself in the shed in our backyard earlier. For a minute or so while I was unlocking the shed, I was outside in the warm sunshine. Oh, it felt wonderful!

Back to being sick and tired...literally.

Big wheels keep on turnin

As soon as I finish this blog, I'm going to a walk-in clinic to get this sickness taken care of once and for all. My experience with doctor's over the past couple days has been awful! First, I made an appointment with my primary health care manager. The receptionist was rude and even hung up on me before I was able to ask directions to the new office location. I went in for a sore throat, earache, coughing, etc but when the doctor came into my room, he didn't even check out me ear/nose/throat. He simply told me to go home and take some Zyrtec and come back if it didn't work. I was flabbergasted. No tongue depressors, no ear-inspection-light-things...just assumption. The Zyrtec hasn't worked at all and I feel worse than I did yesterday so I decided to find a new primary provider. Of course, it's not as easy as calling and setting up an appointment. First, I had to call a half dozen different physicians before I found one accepting new patients. Then they told me I couldn't just come in for an appointment, I had to call TriCare and switch them to my primary health manager instead of the old place that I've learned to loathe. Once I completed that task (which included minutes upon minutes of automated, telephone prompt menus), I called the new doctor back. The earliest they were able to see me as a new patient would be June 13th. The way things are going, I might die of a sore throat before then. (That happens, right? People can die of sore throats, can't they?) Ive decided to go to a walk-in clinic and get it checked out. Hopefully, they'll look down my throat to figure out why it feels like I've swallowed sandpaper and lava.

The only upside of the miserable experience with FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF TIDEWATER was that Dr. Kirkland was able to tell me what was wrong with my heel! (This was the only time I was impressed with the knowledge of the doctor.) I have Plantar Faciitis which is some inflamed something or another that is caused by a combination of things: being on my feet all day with improper shoes and arch support was the main one. He said if I stop wearing flats, flip-flops, etc and do the exercises he showed me, my foot will be healed and pain-free in six months to a year. He advised not going to a podiatrist because "all they'll do is shoot cortizone into the sides of my foot" and maybe, if it's severe enough, recommend surgery. The surgery, he told me, takes up to a year and a half to recover from. He knew a lot about the subject because he had the same problem when he was my age. Thinking positively, it's always nice to have a reason to buy new shoes.

On top of all this, I've decided my life needs a makeover. My body, my mind, my job,  school...everything! I'm starting small, with baby steps, because I feel if I tackle all my demons/problems at once change would seem overwhelming. However, I need people to continue encouraging me so I don't get complacent and fall back into old habits. Adam is helping me work on my self-esteem (or lack thereof) and my goal for today is to tweak my resume and apply for 10 jobs. Red Robin is slowly draining my soul, one miserable day after another, not to mention, Adam brought up the idea of getting a roommate to split the costs of living. (He's obviously struggling with the bills so it's time I step up). I need change all around and I'm ready for it!

Update: more good news! I was on call at work for this morning and they didn't need me!! Oh, working and running around and talking all day did NOT sound like fun. To the clinic, I go!!

So I made my Twitter account private cause I found out the property manager that is leasing us the house was following me. I don't have anything to hide from her but I don't know her at all and the fact she could creep around on the internet and see things made me uncomfortable.Now if you want to follow me, you must be approved.

Adam heard from the skipper and his next move is to meet with the admiral (tomorrow) then the commander (who knows when?). This week has caused Adam to be filled with anxiety and I really hate it. Obviously Adam wants to continue flying but I hate all the stress he puts on himself. Is it too much to ask to see him happy and worry-free? Needless to say, house hunting has been placed on indefinite hold. We're still looking around to get familiar with what's available but we're forbidding ourselves from falling in love with anything...just in case.

We've noticed trails of a mouse being left under our sink and, once, I saw him scurrying around the corner of our kitchen back out the hole in our laundry room. I hated the thought of a mouse in our house, so close to our kitchen and food, but we had tried everything to catch him...until: Two guys from work told me the easiest way to catch a mouse is to put peanut butter in a trap. So last night, while making myself some peanut butter toast, I placed a dab on the sticky-trap in our laundry room. This morning I was about to go take a shower so I went to the dryer to get the clothes I needed for the day and heard a terrible uprising of squeaks. I caught the little guy! Of course, my heart was pounding 'cause I was terrified and I didn't dare touch the thing. I mean, who knows what diseases it has or if it wanted to sink it's teeth into something other than peanut butter?! I did what any sensible woman would do...called her husband and told him to take an early lunch break to take care of the situation. (Please don't judge me!) Adam came home and took the mouse outside. After noticing that his legs weren't broken, he managed to remove Mouse from the sticky trap and send him away...into our neighbors yard. One second chance is all he gets, though. If he comes back again and I'm leaving him for the birds!

Apparently, I've been quite the animal trapper lately. Just yesterday I was sitting in Adam's recliner (shhh, don't tell him), wondering what my darling little Papillon, Piper, was doing. Usually she naps on our bed so I didn't think about it too much. I didn't even noticed she was trapped under the recliner until I sat back down and kicked to footrest up. She didn't whine or yipe so I had no clue she was under there but she refused to look at me for the rest of the day. I know, I'm an awful owner! Also, in completely useless puppy-news, Luca is so addicted to his tennis ball, he's starting to sleep with it...in his mouth. People laugh when I tell them it's his pacifier but it truly IS. Hey fellow iUsers: follow me (jennypeeps) on Instagram to see more photo updates like this one.

Kelly, I promised you meatloaf fun so here you go! We're constantly changing and modifying our recipe but here's what we've got so far:

After preheating the oven to 350*, I mix 1 lb of spicy sausage and 1-2 lbs of ground beef (depending on how many you're trying to feed. Usually 1 lb of ground beef gives us enough for leftovers the following night). Anyway, mix the meats together in a large bowl. Then mix in half a can of tomato paste (3-4 oz), one egg per pound of ground beef, and bread crumbs. We use actual bread and not the canned crumbs because I think it makes the meatloaf taste better. This is the part I kind of eyeball; too much and your meatloaf will be super bready, not enough and it will just taste like burger. That's the base mixture. From there you can add anything you like: bell peppers, onions, spices, etc. Usually I make a mixture of Red Robin seasoning, garlic, pepper instead of actual meatloaf seasoning. If you decide to use Worcestershire, go easy on the salt-based spices cause it will end up VERY salty. Learned that the hard way. Also, I want to try adding a package of ranch mix into the meatloaf next time. Instead of the typical "loaf" most people make, I make, what Adam lovingly refers to as "Meat-wads". I ball up the meatloaf mixture and drop it into an ungreased muffin pan. The portion sizes are perfect and it's a little more interesting than sliced loaf. If you have any ideas or ingredients to add, let me know. Like I said, we're always trying to improve.

I finished my trash chair a while back but every time I've gone to update my blog, the internet craps out. (Here's to hoping I didn't jinx anything this time.) So, here are the step by step pictures:

Fresh off the curb


















Electric sanding at night. It was only 9pm but I'm sure the neighbors LOVED me.


















Completely sanded. I didn't take a picture of the "distress" step but I took a pillowcase full of nuts/bolts/screws and beat the chair with it to make it look older than it probably is.


















Now time for the stain. I used MINWAX's English Chestnut.


















Finally, the Polyurethane. I used MINWAX's Clear Satin because I didn't want it looking TOO new and shiny.


















Final product...at my breakfast table.