Life was Divine in 2009

What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
1. Witnessed my husband coming home from Iraq.
2. Bought a 47" television.
3. Wasted money in slot machines at a casino.
4. Planned a wedding.
5. Walked down the aisle in a big white dress.
6. Witnessed a "blizzard" in Texas.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make an resolutions last year. I'm toying with the idea of resolving to work out 120 different days this year. The jury is still out on that one though. I'm not sure if I want to commit to that.

What countries did you visit?
I kept my butt in the US of A as usual.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Money going into savings every month.

What date(s) from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
1. January 2nd: The day Brian came home.
2. August 1st: Our wedding day.
3. December 24th: The day of the "blizzard"!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It's a tie between making this house a home and getting a job.

What was your biggest failure?
Not always being the best wife.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes. I got misdiagnosed with something I won't discuss here. It required blood to be drawn which resulted in a giant bruise on my arm for 2 weeks. I've gotten at least 3 colds since I started working. And just in the last week I've busted hard on the ice and gotten punch in the eye by my dog. Geez.

What was the best thing you bought?
Our giant TV and couches. I'm also partial to the plaid coat I bought a couple days ago.

Where did most of your money go?
Student loans and truck payments.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Brian coming home.

What song(s) will always remind you of 2009?
Anything by Lady Gaga.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Sadder. There are no homecomings or weddings to look forward to next year. And since I just got back yesterday from TX, I'm missing my family like crazy.
ii. thinner or fatter?
My clothes still fit, but I've fallen off the work-out bandwagon.
iii. richer or poorer?
Money wise: Poorer. Hey, the house needed to be furnished!
Life wise: Richer. I've spent the last year getting to know my husband better and proving to myself that I can live 8 hours from my mom -  not that I liked it, however!

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Watch TV, surf the 'net, and argue.

Did you fall in love in 2009?
No, kind of past the fall-in-love part of life.

How many one-night stands?
Never ever.

What was your favorite TV program?
I have alot: Cold Case, Gossip Girl, House, CSI, Friday Night Lights, Intervention, Hoarders, NCIS, Glee, Vampire Diaries...

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.

What was the best book you read?
I just finished the last Harry Potter book. OMG -so freaking good. It's taken me 6 months to get through all 7 books and they were all phenomenal. I'm still not over how it all ended.

What were your greatest musical discoveries?
I've be re-loving Bon Jovi lately.

What did you want and get?
A new computer.

What was your favorite film of this year?
I can't pick just one: Star Trek & The Twilight Saga: New Moon top my list this year.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I made myself a chocolate chocolate cake. I turned 24.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being less than 8 hours from my mom.

What kept you sane?
Brian, Mom and Tiny.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Derek Jeter - World Series Champs 2009!!

Who did you miss?
Mom.

Who was the best new person you met?
I don't know anyone (new) well enough to put here.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Working part-time is a miracle cure for a poor self-image.
Communication is still super important.
I love who I am because my family loves me.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
"We Weren't Born to Follow" - Bon Jovi


Life was Heaven in 2007
Life was Great in 2008

Looking Back: 2009

January

Brian came home after 400 days in Iraq:

February

Brian and I checked out Toledo Bend with Tiny:

March

My family came for Spring Break and we took a day trip down to Lake Charles, LA to do a bit of slots gambling and check out this little beach on the lake:


I attended a bridal shower in my honor:


April

We went home for Easter:


And went fishing...this was the only thing we caught:

May

My brother graduated from college:

June

Mom came to visit and we did a bit of shopping for mother-of-the-bride dresses (most were terrible!):


Brian and I took a picture with a plane in Alexandria:


July

Brian got promoted!


I got my bridal portraits taken at my alma mater:


August

We got married!


My baby brother turned 22:

And I turned 24:

September

Obviously nothing much happened in September other than unearthing this hatchet thing in our front yard:


October

I attended a high school football game back home with my family - so fun:


November

On the way back from trying to buy a new computer, this little guy hitched a ride on our windshield:


I also cornered Tiny for a picture for our Christmas cards:


December

We went to Brian's company Christmas party:


Hometown, TX got it's very own "blizzard" while we were home for Christmas - my only white Christmas in Texas ever!

Here's to a fabulous 2010!

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2009

We woke up to snow this morning!

It continues to softly fall as I type.

We weren't projected to get anything like this - it should have stayed North of here.

We'll take it.

We're hoping it'll stick around until tomorrow so we can have a white Christmas.

Our festivities begin today.

We begin with the traditional fish dinner at Red Lobster with my family. After that we are exchanging gifts at my in-laws' house. Then we're back to my parents' so Brian and I can exchange gifts with each other.

I can't believe it's already Christmas Eve!

I hope you're all having a happy and fabulous day! :)

Christmas Eve Eve 2009

The food was as disappointing as ever. I have the stomachache right now to prove it.

The company, though? Perfection.

We laughed and laughed and simply enjoyed eating horrendous food together. It was even sweeter being able to share it with Brian.

This was our 18th year of going to the same Dairy Queen on Christmas Eve Eve.

I live for memories like these.

Christmas Eve Eve 2008

Just Call Me Elvis

We use a Skype phone number as our home number in LA. It costs roughly $5 per month and I can receive and make calls on my computer. Much cheaper than a traditional land line.


Last night someone left a voicemail on my Skype number. Very few people call that number and none of them should have been calling at 11:30 last night.


I played the 30 second voicemail. It was a woman explaining how she doesn't know us and we don't know her but our number used to be Elvis Presley's business phone number. She told us how lucky we are to have this number.


I don't know what to think about this. She didn't sound crazy, but she must be a little off her rocker to call some random number. Plus, where did she get this information? And the area code on our Skype number is the local area code for where we live. Did Elvis ever live in LA? And I'm not even sure if the combination of area codes and prefixes that Skype uses have ever been used before. It's all just bizarre.


Maybe I should start calling us the Presleys on our voicemail message. That'll really freak her out!

Quote of the Day

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be?" - Marianne Williamson

Rain, Party, Work & Pretzels

It. Won't. Stop. Raining.


We went to Brian's company Christmas party last night. I hate things like that. I know very few people so it's always awkward for me. Brian gave me the option of staying home, but it was good for me to show my face. The highlight of the night: listening to Army guys talk about Twilight. No joke. I don't even bring up Twilight in public! And here are these (supposedly) macho guys talking about it. One of the guys has seen New Moon twice. It was truly priceless.


I'm officially on Christmas vacation. I turned my hours for December in this morning and I don't have to be back until Jan. 12th. I don't mind working at all, but it'll be nice to have a break before I dive into the spring semester. It'll be extra nice when I get my paycheck (finally). It's supposed to show up in my mailbox tomorrow, but I won't believe it until it's in my hot little hands.


After one failed attempt, I finally made chocolate covered pretzels today. They're super yummy and coming home to TX with us. I toyed with the idea of giving them to Brian's guys, but I don't have the proper packaging materials. Oh well. I'm sure my family will love them!


One last thing: I have almost 20 followers now! Don't be shy about leaving comments, guys. I'm not the greatest at commenting all the time, but I do like getting to know my readers. So, if you haven't said hi before, please do! I just can't believe that there are that many people who don't mind my rambling!

Some Days

Some days I embrace my insecure, shy demeanor. Some days I don't mind being afraid of unknown building layouts. Some days it doesn't bother me that I dislike social situations and therefore have very few girl friends.


But some days, I wish I was confident, secure and uninhibited. Some days I look at other women and long to be more like them. Some days I want a large circle of girl friends that are there for a chat or a cry. Some days I wish anxiety didn't descend upon me every time I walk into a new place or meet a new person.


Maybe it's the whole the-grass-is-always-greener thing. I'd say 95% of the time I am totally and completely happy with the quirks and idiosyncrasies of my personality. What do I do with that other 5%?


I totally think I was born with my anxiety and shyness issues. I've always been quiet and unnerved by new experiences/places/people. I don't think that I will change. That doesn't stop me from being slightly envious from time to time.


Would I even be me if I was any different? Probably not.


Does anyone else struggle with these thoughts/feelings, or am I just weird?

I Realized...

...that most of my best friends are fictional characters.


Outside of my immediate family, of course.


Should I be concerned about this?

Thoughts

Another day with nothing interesting to write about.


I finished wrapping Christmas gifts. The tree is still naked.


Brian came back from the field sick as a dog. He came home around 3 and crashed on the couch only waking up for dinner. He's finally up in bed and can sleep in until almost 7 tomorrow. I hope he's just sleep deprived.


A week from today we'll be in Texas.


I'm having mixed emotions about this holiday season. Two Decembers ago, we were in the first month of Brian's deployment. One December ago we were weeks from being reunited. This December we are having to coordinate our families and spending the holiday as a couple for the first time.


It's hitting me really hard that this year is coming to a close. How has a whole year passed already?


My goal is to get to the gym at the neighborhood center tomorrow. I've never set foot in the new neighborhood center since it opened in May. I know it has a workout room which could be the answer to my work out problems.


Have I mentioned I have this irrational fear of walking into unfamiliar buildings? I hate not knowing where I'm going.


I really can't wait to have my paycheck in my hot little hands on Friday. I won't believe it until I see it.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

It rained ALL night last night.


Brian is in the field. Outside.


I fully expect a grumpy husband to walk through the door on Sunday.


I feel sorry for him. :(

Bullets.

• I've been feeling fat lately. I bet it's cause I've all but stopped working out. I can't find the motivation when I feel cold all the time lately.
• I'm finally getting paid for my first 4 weeks of work next week. It's more than I was expecting. I'm not complaining.
• Brian's in the field until Sunday so things are really quiet around here. I only really notice it around dinner time when he's usually home.
• My mom went back to work today after her surgery a few weeks ago. I liked it better when she was home all day.
• I still need to wrap presents and make chocolate covered pretzels, but my motivation is lacking.
• I'm watching Horton Hears A Who and I'm thinking about turning it off. It's not holding my attention.
• It took me 45 minutes to get to the post office and back this morning. Does that seem like a long time to anyone else? It did to me.
• Some guy was looking at the house next door yesterday. He was alone. I'm speculating that his wife is elsewhere until after Christmas. He hasn't returned. He drove a nice truck. I wonder when they'll move in and if they'll annoy me like that last tenants.
• They turned that house around super fast. It's been maybe 2 weeks since the last people moved out.
• Has anyone else been sorta freaking out about this surge business? I've secretly been waiting for bad news ever since it was announced. So far, so good.
• I hate being cold. And it's only 48 degrees outside. It's not even close to freezing. Yet, I'm huddled under blankets and shiver a little every time I have to get up.
• I love The Office. And how it's available the next day on hulu so I don't ever miss an episode.
• I also love Glee. How great was the fall finale this week? I watched it twice. I'm only slightly peeved that they're making me wait until April for new episodes.
• A lot of people are having babies. What's up with that? (No, I am still not one of them.)
• I kinda can't wait to go home for Christmas. I love Christmas cookies and traditions and spending time with my family.

Stagnant.

I need to clean my house. Anyone want to come do it for me? I really need someone to come visit so I am forced to clean. That's the only way it gets done.


I suppose I could be cleaning right now but that would severely cut into my Ellen watching time.


Kidding. Kind of.


In all reality I need to clean the kitchen and wrap Christmas gifts...like today. It really can't be put off. I have gifts that need to get in the mail and such. Blah.


Things around here have been kind of...stagnant. Brian's been working his butt off in some stupid class that teaches him how to be a leader. This training might have been good to have before he was put in a leadership position. Whatever I guess. So he's been having 12-14 hour days for the last week and has another week to go. Did I mention he doesn't get weekends off and has to go to the field for two nights? He's tired. I miss him. And our Christmas tree is naked because I'm waiting for him to have a free moment so we can decorate it together.


While he's been working and working and working I've been working, shopping, reading, watching TV and killing brain cells in front of the computer. I spent 3 hours in Alexandria raiding the mall, Hobby Lobby and Target. I've already apologized to my bank account. I have about 95% of my Christmas shopping finished. How much have I wrapped, you ask? Yeah...none. I have one gift that needs to be mailed so I better get on that pretty quick.


I still haven't given my MIL any ideas for Christmas gifts for me. I'm thinking about telling her to either get me a GPS for the truck or a gift card to Old Navy so I can buy some clothes. I'm afraid I wouldn't use a GPS enough to warrant owning one. I thought about where I drive and I have it all memorized. If I drove to alot of new places, then it would probably come in handy, but after a year of driving back and forth between LA and TX I've got the drive memorized! I'm still debating.


Alright, that's enough rambling for today. I'm going to do something productive. I swear.

Help!

My MIL wants ideas of what to get me for Christmas in the $150-200 range.


I am having the hardest time coming up with ideas.


What is on your Christmas list this year?


Give me some ideas ladies!

Money

Sometimes I find myself wondering how other people get into the financial situations that they do. I only know how Brian and I spend money and my natural curiosity makes me interested in how other people live and make their money decisions.


Maybe I'm just nosy.


It makes me grateful for the smart decisions Brian and I made before knowing each other as well as throughout our relationship. We're very lucky to be able to live the way we do on Brian's meager Army salary.


(I would lump my small contribution from tutoring and subbing in there, but I haven't seen a paycheck yet. Yeah. A phone call might be in order this week.)

It Snowed!

This is my backyard this morning. Not much, but I am living in Louisiana. Any snow is a lot around here! So far it hasn't started melting yet. I'm sure it'll be long gone by the end of the day.

Brian is working today so I'm home alone. The house could desperately use a good cleaning and I have sugar cookie dough calling my name from the fridge.

Does anyone else feel utterly useless when it's cold? The thought of getting out of the comfort and warmth of my blanket on the couch and cleaning the house is really unappealing.

Only 2 more weeks until Christmas vacation officially starts! :)

My One and Only Post About New Moon

I saw it.


I loved it.


I can't wait for the blu-ray.


If you don't give a crap about any of this, feel free to skip this post entirely.


I waited until I was home for T-giving so I could go see the movie with my brother - and miss the initial opening weekend craziness.


My brother and I saw the first movie last year together so it only seemed fitting to see the second one together as well.


Sidenote: I still have the ticket stub from the movie last year. Sad? I didn't try to keep it, it just got stuck in a pocket in my wallet that I haven't cleaned out. Because I'm a creature of habit - and sentimental - I stuck this year's stub in there as well. I'm going for a full collection eventually.


I must be honest. When I saw Twilight last year, I kind of cringed through alot of it. I thought the shimmering skin looked terrible. Bella and Edward's relationship made me feel embarrassed for them. I think their relationship lost something when they had to speed it up to fit into the length of a feature film. It seemed almost unrealistic how quickly she fell in love with him. I also had problems with Edward. I don't think Robert Pattinson was exactly what I had imagined Edward to be. I also hated Alice's hair. She wasn't cute enough for me.


So, basically, I had a number of problems with movie #1. That didn't stop me from buying the blu-ray as soon as it came out. Or from watching all the special features.


I walked into the movie not really knowing what to expect. I just hoped that it didn't make me cringe.


It didn't.


I really, truly liked it. Loved it even.


I thought everyone's acting was much improved. The special effects were believable. Kristen Stewart looked prettier. The sparkling skin didn't look silly. Taylor Lautner was gorgeous. The music was perfect. Bella and Jacob made me with I had a friendship like that.


It was worth every penny of the $6 I spent to see it. No, I'm not going to see it again in theaters. I'm not that crazy.


(Yet, I write an embarassingly long post about a PG-13 movie...)


Conclusion: New Moon gets two thumbs-up from me!











P.S. It's supposed to snow here tomorrow. Like 2 whole inches. My sub job got cancelled for tomorrow because schools are getting out at lunch in anticipation of the big snow storm of '09. I think it's all a bit much. I don't mind the day off, tho.

Pet Peeve

Incorrect:
"My arm is broke."
"My car is broke."
"The toy is broke!"


Correct:
"My arm is broken."

"My car is broken."

"The toy is broken!"

Your arm/car/leg/toy/whatever is broken(not functioning properly; out of working order; torn; fractured), not broke (without money, penniless).

Get it right, people.

Today

...I shivered. (I'm not used to 40-degree weather yet.)


...I sucked on at least a half-dozen Jolly Ranchers at work to keep my cough at bay.


...I battled the crowd at the Commissary on payday just to pick up a few things. Never again.


...I took my multi-vitamin for the 2nd day in a row. That's a record.


...I threw away everything expired in my refrigerator.


...I also took everything out of the fridge and cleaned the shelves. It was gross.


...I made Baked Potato Soup. It was 100% successful. Brian promises to eat the leftovers.


...I watched Obama's address concerning Afghanistan. I'm nervous about what impact his plan will have on my (and Brian's) life.


What did you do today?

Goodbye November

We are back in Louisiana. I'm still fighting whatever bug I got 10 days ago. It's cloudy and rainy here today. I have a bunch of errands to run today, but I'd rather be in bed.


Thanksgiving was good. I enjoyed my time with my family and, as always, love my mom's cooking. I must have gained 5 pounds.


3 weeks from now we'll be back in TX for Christmas. I have alot of shopping to do in the next 21 days!


I'm in another one of my writing funks, so I might be sporadic for awhile.


How was your Thanksgiving?

Dear Cold and/or Flu,

You suck!


I woke up this morning thinking you were finished with me.


I was oh-so wrong.


You have decided to take up residence in my throat. I guess there are worse places you could have chosen, but it's really starting to get old. I have to be able to swallow my turkey and dressing on Thursday!


I'd appreciate it if you'd evacuate my body ASAP. You've done your job.


I'm a busy lady over the next 48 hours so the sooner you move on, the better.


Yours truly,

I Smell Turkey in the Air!

First, I'm so glad that I am not alone in the whole sick = pregnant thing. It gets really old. Luckily it doesn't happen very often, but it figures that when it does, it gets broadcast across FB.  Lovely.


It's sick week around here. I got sick on Friday and still have lingering sinus issues. Brian came home from work yesterday practically without a voice and it hasn't gotten better yet. We're a fun two-some, lemme tell ya!


We are leaving sometime tomorrow to head home for Thanksgiving. While home we plan to eat alot of food and see every member of our families. Brian plans to catch up with a friend or two while I take in my high school's football playoff game and New Moon! As much as I'll miss hitting up some of my favorite stores while I'm home, I'm going to avoid shopping. I hate the post-Thanksgiving crowds!


Guys, Christmas is a month from tomorrow. Where did the year go?


This weekend also marks the one year anniversary of living in this house for me. Time flew, man!


So, I guess I'll write if the mood strikes over the coming days, but if I don't, I want you all to have a FANTABULOUS Thanksgiving full of family, food and fun!

Grrrr!

Just cause I'm sick and a McD's burger sounds really good does NOT mean I'm pregnant. Geez!