There is a new painting posted over at my art blog
BUT - I am going to be putting all my paintings on Etsy to sell. I highly recommend this site not only for buying artwork, but for buying custom clothes as well. Everything on etsy is HAND MADE by someone and in limited quantities so you know you're fuckin' awesome cuz no one has your shit, homes!
Anyway - the Etsy shop isn't set up yet. I plan to do that after the holidays (maybe before if I really really work on it.)
I'm also modding the HELL out of some Eloh skins and have been passing my mods out to noobs. Unfortunately they think I am kidding and not giving them a skin so they never put them on :(
Maybe I should just set up a shop of 100L modded skins of weirdness. Who knows. I know its taken me weeks to find just the perfect brush (and hardness) to do makeup. That shit blows ya'll. Seriously.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Holiday ... sushi?!
That's right. Yesterday the husband and I put up our badass Christmas tree and I made us sushi for dinner. Sushi doesn't mean 'raw fish' (for those that don't know) and doesn't even HAVE to contain any kind of seafood. As a matter of fact: the ever popular California Rolls don't contain any seafood at all. They have nori (seaweed wrapper), avocado, carrot and usually a tiny bit of wasabi or wasabi mayonnaise. I did use seafood however.
You will also need single grain rice. You can NOT use instant rice or 'boil in the bag' rice!!! The rice will not be sticky enough and each grain will CRUSH! In sushi - each grain is very visible inside(or outside depending how you prefer!) and the rice is very sticky. Instant, boil in the bag, and normal white rice are NOT suitable for sushi making. Don't do it, mkay?
I thought for blogger's sake (and for a bit of my own good, really) that I would post how I made the sushi step by step. It isn't as easy as just using boil in the bag rice and saying "TADA!" I wish it were! Instead - you'll have to allow at least a half hour just for the rice and a good half hour or more for prepping your sushi stuffers. So all in all - though sushi is easy and fairly quick - there is a lot of prep time involved. Let's get started! (don't worry I'll blog about other crap later!)
First you'll need some rice vinegar. Will regular vinegar work? Probably! I haven't tried it - but I would think that vinegar is vinegar. I wouldn't use white vinegar though. And I definitely wouldn't use normal vinegar if you can get your hands on real rice vinegar! That would just be silly wouldn't it? 
This is the exact bottle of rice vinegar I use. Pic taken in my messy kitchen while making sushi. Forgive the mess, please! This is a very common brand, by the way.
You will also need single grain rice. You can NOT use instant rice or 'boil in the bag' rice!!! The rice will not be sticky enough and each grain will CRUSH! In sushi - each grain is very visible inside(or outside depending how you prefer!) and the rice is very sticky. Instant, boil in the bag, and normal white rice are NOT suitable for sushi making. Don't do it, mkay?
So here's the exact rice I use. As far as I know - its pretty common.
And the other thing you'll need (besides things to put IN your sushi) is nori. Nori is dried seaweed. This is probably what makes people think of raw fish. Since its seaweed, it does have a fishy smell, but it does NOT have a fishy taste. As a matter of fact, it doesn't really taste at all. Its usually really dry and almost brittle when in the package, but when wrapped around your sushi its softer.
Again - same popular Orchids brand (just to show I didn't ONLY buy that rice vinegar because of the company name!)
So you will certainly need everything that has a picture! Now for the instructions:
Place 2 cups of rice into a plastic or glass bowl
(2 cups of rice makes enough sushi for 3 people - or 2 hungry people. Always better to have too much than too little!)
Cover with water
Swirl the rice/water around with your hand until the water is very cloudy.
Drain water and repeat until water is clear (usually about 3-4 times)
In a medium saucepan (make sure it has a lid!) place:
2 cups of washed rice
2 cups of water
Place lid on saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat
(if you haven't done any prep I recommend doing your prep work at this point)
Once boiling use a wooden or plastic spoon to stir the rice (NO METAL SPOONS)
Reduce heat to medium high and cook for another 5 minutes
Reduce heat once more, stir, and cook for another couple minutes
Be sure not to burn the rice - but be sure all the water is absorbed
Remove rice from heat (leaving lid on) and set aside for a 5 minutes
After rice has set - put into glass or plastic container while Rice Vinegar is prepped
Making up the Rice Vinegar:
4tbsp. Rice Vinegar
4tbsp. Sugar (I use white granulated sugar - as long as you don't use brown you should be ok)
2tbsp salt (I use sea salt - I'm sure it doesn't matter)
Place all the Rice Vinegar ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat
Stir ingredients with wooden or plastic spoon
!!DO NOT BOIL!!
Heat/stir until all granules are dissolved
Finishing Up the Rice
Add the HOT Rice Vinegar mixture to the rice
Stir the Rice Vinegar Mixture into the rice with a choppy motion with your plastic or wooden spoon
Stir the Rice in the choppy motion until it is at room temperature (takes about 5-10 minutes)
My best advice at this point is to have a small bowl of water sitting nearby. This is to moisten your hands and knife to keep the sushi from sticking to you too badly. Its going to stick to you - no matter what - but the water keeps it under some kind of control.
So you place out a single sheet of nori. You cover the nori 85% with the sushi rice. Leave about a 1/4 inch gap at the top (this allows for a roll that doesn't look folded on one side. Perfect circle!) Once you have covered your nori - place your stuffing (I will put a list of things that I like to use inside sushi at the bottom) in the center of your rice. Just eye it - you'll find the perfect positioning once you've done this a few times.
Once you have all the things on the rice you wish to roll up in the sushi - grab the end nearest you and fold the nori (which includes the contents of your roll!) away from you until the piece you grabbed is now touching the edge of where the rice stops (this is why that 1/4 inch at the top is important!) Squeeze the sushi roll until it feels the seaweed will not come unwrapped and wet your knife.
From what I know - its traditional to serve sushi in two rows of 3 (equalling 6 lil sushi rolls) but I really don't see the point in being so traditional at home (unless you have guests - in which case be traditional and show off!) and you will probably mess up one or two if this is your first time - so no worries!!! Cut the roll in half and place the two halves side by side. Wet your knife again - and cut 3 times across the two halves which are side by side. You now have 6 sushi!!
Now you just stick them on a plate (stuffing side up) and serve! Not too hard I don't think. From start to finish it usually takes me about an hour to make sushi (using the 2 cup method I shared here) which is about how long it takes me to make dinner when I'm cooking something like spaghetti. This shows that making sushi (which is pretty darn healthy!) doesn't take any more time than anything else you're already doing. Its just something you aren't familiar with and only SEEMS like more work.
The first time IS a bit hectic - but the steps and instructions that I've put here are pretty much fail proof. There's almost NO WAY you can make bad sushi with the above 'recipe'! Promise! As you can see my rolls are FAR from perfect - but that doesn't effect the taste. The roll you see my husband holding has salmon and mayonnaise in it.
As you can see we aren't going for the whole traditional thing here at my house. We're even drinking a bottle of Andre (pink champagne haha!) with your sushi. I think we're also watching Top Gear or X Factor -- so really just make it your own.
I have to say though - it was really nice to sit back and relax and basque in the glory which is our badass Christmas tree. Our neighbors kept peeking through their window to see our tree - and people were slowing down outside to see our tree as they drove past.
I'm proud of my husband for not only caving and letting me have a WHITE tree - but letting me choose purple, hot pink and blue balls for it! Yay husband!
Now
Things you can put in sushi:
Salmon
lettuce
spinach (wilted in hot water)
avocado
carrot
ginger (pickled)
water chestnuts
sesame seeds
mayonnaise (NOT salad dressing!)
wasabi
wasabi mayonnaise
shrimp
crab
lobster
chicken/duck/goose/turkey (hey why not?!)
Honestly I think anything you can put on a sandwich can be put in sushi - but if you are going for traditional Japanese sushi - its best to use traditional items. I just prefer to have fun with my cooking is all!
EDIT: More pics of our weekend (my messy kitchen and more!) @ my Flikr
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Super Dickmann's - and other things
Yes - I only bought this because its called "Super Dickmann's". As a matter of fact - I forced Keith to hold the box while I snapped this pic in the kitchen AS SOON as we got home from the store with it. But turns out - these things are WAY awesome. Its a huge chocolate covered thing with the creamiest softest marshmellow center and a tiny wafer on the bottom! You get almost an immediate sugar rush upon devouring!
How huge is this Super Dickmann's?
We've now eaten nearly all of them (I think there are 9 to a box) and they are my new love. Forget Galaxy bars or even ice cream. I love Super Dickmann's!!
Germany - thank you for this most yumtastic chocolatey treat. How sugary are Super Dickmann's? Well put it this way: we drink a LOT of energy drinks in my house - and ONE of these things made me hyper for like 3 hours. I'm talking completely rambunctiously annoyingly hyper. Yeah I'd totally feed one of these to someone's kid right before they went back home with their parents. I'm evil like that.In other news - I have decided to only post paintings on my art page to say "Hey look this is for sale" once I get my Etsy shop going. This way it allows MORE people to see my artwork and gives me extra opportunity to sell them. I did look into the option of selling prints - but unless I do the prints myself I would be losing a lot of money. I'd make about $.50 per print. Instead I'll just sell the original on canvas and not offer prints at all.
This means that every painting purchased is a one-of-a-kind. I highly doubt I'll price anything over $30 because I'm mostly just interested in paying for art supplies to paint more - and not looking to make an actual living from it right now. Perhaps in the future. Of course I'll post something here when I have everything all set up - including figuring out where to get proper boxes to ship things. It'll all come together eventually!
I feel like Keith and I are still getting acquainted with each other now that he's back from Iraq. Small things about both of us have changed while he was deployed and we're both working on getting used to those small changes. Nothing major - but still. It was kind of disturbing at first when I noticed there were any kind of change at all ... but then I realized that its pretty much natural.
We still have a lot of fun together. I even gave him a spa facial treatment a few days ago. Cucumber peel and avacado mask - the whole works! He didn't actually say it .. but I think he enjoyed it :) Looks like he's having fun to me!I think we get on each other's nerves a bit more than we used to (we're both terribly annoying) but we're starting to get used to it. I make his lunch almost every morning - and he seems to like going to work. Maybe its because he isn't working 12 hours a day 6 days a week like he was in Iraq.
I think that's all for now. I mostly just wanted to share the awesome that is Super Dickmann's - but I got off on another subject!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
New Paintings
New paintings are now posted over at my art page: ManicStatic
I still don't have a new and inventive way to do purchases - and I'm still selling the originals on canvas ... but I am working on the print situation!
I still don't have a new and inventive way to do purchases - and I'm still selling the originals on canvas ... but I am working on the print situation!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Just Groovin'
Song of the Day is now located on a widget over there ----------------->
I finished another painting - but I have a lot of stuff to do :(
I have to get pictures taken of a lot of other paintings, as well as try to find a decent printing company that I can team up with. I've had a lot of inquiries about my paintings, but a lot of it is people wanting prints - not the actual canvas painting. Sooo yeah I definitely have to look into that. It wasn't even something I'd thought of!
Keith goes back to work next week and our sleep schedule is totally wonky. We stay up till 7/8am go to bed, wake up at 5pm and do it all again. We're going to bed here in about an hour and hope that our first day of being awake during daylight hours will be eventful!
So yeah! Busy busy painting! And I'm sure once I set myself up with a printing company that I can hopefully just sell enough prints to pay for my art supplies! Weee!
I finished another painting - but I have a lot of stuff to do :(
I have to get pictures taken of a lot of other paintings, as well as try to find a decent printing company that I can team up with. I've had a lot of inquiries about my paintings, but a lot of it is people wanting prints - not the actual canvas painting. Sooo yeah I definitely have to look into that. It wasn't even something I'd thought of!
Keith goes back to work next week and our sleep schedule is totally wonky. We stay up till 7/8am go to bed, wake up at 5pm and do it all again. We're going to bed here in about an hour and hope that our first day of being awake during daylight hours will be eventful!
So yeah! Busy busy painting! And I'm sure once I set myself up with a printing company that I can hopefully just sell enough prints to pay for my art supplies! Weee!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Manic Artwork - Soon for Sale
I paint. A lot, actually - and I've decided that instead of letting all these paintings pile up that I would try to sell them ... and possibly take on commissions for art. The commission part is still iffy - but I am definitely going to try to sell my paintings.
How am I going to do this? Well to start out with I will do it on a first come, first serve basis. I'll post a picture of the painting on my site : ManicStatic with a price. The first person to email me and say 'Hey I want that picture' will be the one who will own it. Then I say 'Hey dude, you got the picture" and they say "Wowee! Gee golly really?!" and I say "Yup!" and they'll say "Well here's my address!" then I mail it to them. Sounds easy huh?
Anyway - that will be my thing. I refuse to do videos for people in SL anymore. 90% of SL Society fucking pisses me off. My husband was deployed to Iraq for 5 months - I was working 50 hours a week - and people were STILL on my ass about things. But ya know what? I bet if I had told them I was in the process of leaving my RL husband for my SL boyfriend they would give me all the time in the world. It seems people are more understanding about fake SL shit than they are about vital RL shit. Surely I can't be the only person who thinks this.
As far as my paintings .. I guess you'll just have to wait till I get one posted to see my 'style'. I've always called it vector -- but that might not be 'technically' right.
How am I going to do this? Well to start out with I will do it on a first come, first serve basis. I'll post a picture of the painting on my site : ManicStatic with a price. The first person to email me and say 'Hey I want that picture' will be the one who will own it. Then I say 'Hey dude, you got the picture" and they say "Wowee! Gee golly really?!" and I say "Yup!" and they'll say "Well here's my address!" then I mail it to them. Sounds easy huh?
Anyway - that will be my thing. I refuse to do videos for people in SL anymore. 90% of SL Society fucking pisses me off. My husband was deployed to Iraq for 5 months - I was working 50 hours a week - and people were STILL on my ass about things. But ya know what? I bet if I had told them I was in the process of leaving my RL husband for my SL boyfriend they would give me all the time in the world. It seems people are more understanding about fake SL shit than they are about vital RL shit. Surely I can't be the only person who thinks this.
As far as my paintings .. I guess you'll just have to wait till I get one posted to see my 'style'. I've always called it vector -- but that might not be 'technically' right.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Computer's Broked.
Just a quick post from the lovely 100 degree public library to let everyone know that the computer is broken. I have almost no access to anything - and am only allowed a short time on the computer while I'm here.
If you've emailed me and I didn't reply today - that means I ran out of time. If I don't reply by next week that means I probably didn't get it and I'm sorry. SOOO much stuff going on that I don't know what to do.
I tried to talk Keith into letting me buy a new laptop - but he said its stupid and a waste of money. I've already gone MORE than a month now without a computer - so now it IS stupid to buy one. He will be back sometime in September and hopefully THEN he can get the computer fixed. Meanwhile he has my very missed laptop with him in the desert :( No fair.
Right now I could say a whole bunch about a lot of things - but I will just sum it up. Spouses who are deployed - I just want to let you know that you aren't the only person who's "deployed". Where you get the luxury of having a whole new schedule where absolutely nothing is the same as it was 'back home' - your spouse left behind has to carry on with daily life - without a new schedule. They get to see all your socks in the sock drawer as if you could come home at any minute - only to be faced with the harsh reality that they have many more months to go before you're back.
And in my case right now? You think you're restricted and everything is moderated? Well same here! I have to use a library computer shoulder to shoulder with strangers when I should be at home playing WoW ---- but nooooo. I'm "deployed" too.
Anyway - maybe by the end of september things will be fixed once keith is back. Until then - well ... I'll be in the library for an hour every week :(
If you've emailed me and I didn't reply today - that means I ran out of time. If I don't reply by next week that means I probably didn't get it and I'm sorry. SOOO much stuff going on that I don't know what to do.
I tried to talk Keith into letting me buy a new laptop - but he said its stupid and a waste of money. I've already gone MORE than a month now without a computer - so now it IS stupid to buy one. He will be back sometime in September and hopefully THEN he can get the computer fixed. Meanwhile he has my very missed laptop with him in the desert :( No fair.
Right now I could say a whole bunch about a lot of things - but I will just sum it up. Spouses who are deployed - I just want to let you know that you aren't the only person who's "deployed". Where you get the luxury of having a whole new schedule where absolutely nothing is the same as it was 'back home' - your spouse left behind has to carry on with daily life - without a new schedule. They get to see all your socks in the sock drawer as if you could come home at any minute - only to be faced with the harsh reality that they have many more months to go before you're back.
And in my case right now? You think you're restricted and everything is moderated? Well same here! I have to use a library computer shoulder to shoulder with strangers when I should be at home playing WoW ---- but nooooo. I'm "deployed" too.
Anyway - maybe by the end of september things will be fixed once keith is back. Until then - well ... I'll be in the library for an hour every week :(
Friday, June 13, 2008
Three Day Weekend!
Yup that's right! I have a three day weekend! I was never so glad to have time to do nothing in my life until I started working on the base. Well, that and the time I worked at McDonald's -- but we won't discuss that!
I've actually used my new camera, and have found a picture in the lot that I took that I rather enjoy. I have a lot of portrait ideas, but they will have to wait until Keith gets back. I'll have to be sure to make a note of them so that I don't forget!
The computer was broken for a few days - which sent me into a tailspin. Since Keith has been deployed the computer is our main source of communication -- so I was completely gutted when it went to shit. There was a missing boot file or something .... I don't know now - but I fixed it so that's all that matters. Its all fixed.
I suppose I could show the picture now, eh?
You can click it to see the full pic in all its glory - I think?
Anyway - things are going as well as they CAN go I guess. I'm going to Cambridge this weekend to hang out with my friend Tree. Not sure what we'll do, but I'll be taking the super sexy camera with me.
Stay tuned!
I've actually used my new camera, and have found a picture in the lot that I took that I rather enjoy. I have a lot of portrait ideas, but they will have to wait until Keith gets back. I'll have to be sure to make a note of them so that I don't forget!
The computer was broken for a few days - which sent me into a tailspin. Since Keith has been deployed the computer is our main source of communication -- so I was completely gutted when it went to shit. There was a missing boot file or something .... I don't know now - but I fixed it so that's all that matters. Its all fixed.
I suppose I could show the picture now, eh?
You can click it to see the full pic in all its glory - I think?Anyway - things are going as well as they CAN go I guess. I'm going to Cambridge this weekend to hang out with my friend Tree. Not sure what we'll do, but I'll be taking the super sexy camera with me.
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Much too Much
Some days I feel like I just have too much to do. Well those days only really started after Keith left for Iraq. Sometimes I feel a sense of accomplishment once I've done all the things I need to do - then there are other days I hate the Air Force for sending Keith to Iraq and making me do it by myself in the first place. One of those tasks is mowing.
Gardening is fun for me, but mowing is not. I hate to mow. I hate the sound of a lawn mower, I don't particularly like the wind blowing the grass clippings all over my arms and face, and I definitely hate the fact that the grass never seems dry enough to mow!
Even though I live in what's considered the driest part of England - it still rains more than 140 days a year. This means that one day of sunshine won't dry out the lawn, which then means that my front and back grass looks like a miniature jungle before its dry enough for me to mow ... and I hate that!
I bought myself a sexy Nikon D60 DSLR camera - but I am waiting for the correct SD card in order to start using it. I'm excited to take pictures even though I don't particularly feel inspired to do so. Its kind of hard to explain ... I guess I could try.
In my opinion, I've always been the 'creative' type - even though there are many times I severely lack in the talent department to see my creation through. Being with Keith has really changed my point of view of what's 'good' and what isn't as far as art goes - especially with my painting and photography. I think its because he's so supportive. Even if he doesn't quite 'get it' he still appreciates whatever it is. He's just awesome like that.
So far his deployment hasn't been AS hard on me as I originally thought it would be. Of course I've been depressed a bit - and quite lonely but I've found ways around pretty much everything. For a few weeks I couldn't sleep, but I recently learned that I can sleep just fine on the couch. The bed just felt so big, if that makes sense. I would wake up at random intervals and just lay in this vast darkness with nothing but the sound of Libby (our cat) snoring. BUT! On the couch I can flick on the TV and watch 15 mins of some random crap and pass back out.
I've steadily been losing weight - but it isn't ALL due to my diet. A lot of it is because I'm just not eating - which doesn't bother me - but I'm convinced its a side effect from the mild depression I'm going through. I'm not all dreary and weepy - its more of a manic state at this point. Lots of times I feel overstimulated or just overwhelmed in general and tend to just shut down. I won't talk for a day or two - then I get back to my somewhat normal self. I think such things are to be expected with a deployment though. At least I'm not going all psychotic or anything.
If we were living in America during his deployment, I think I probably would be a bit mental now. But in all honesty - I love England so much that just coming home after work feels good. Some days just sitting in the conservatory with a cup of tea is enough to cheer me up, but of course there are days that it isn't. There are days that nothing seems to pacify me and I just feel restless and stir crazy - which is why I say I'm in a mild manic state. Not chipper or hyper, and not all doom and gloom ... just restless.
I catch myself sitting here at the computer and hitting the refresh button waiting on an email reply from Keith, and I constantly have to tell myself to just walk away. There are days I have to force myself to go watch TV instead of sitting here with the cursor on the refresh button ... its sad, but true.
So yes - as soon as I get an SD card I will be taking pictures of random goodness which I will probably just post on flickr - but I'm sure I will share a few here since family and friends are more apt to check my blog than my flickr page.
I suppose that's enough bitching and whining for now - I should fold some laundry.
Gardening is fun for me, but mowing is not. I hate to mow. I hate the sound of a lawn mower, I don't particularly like the wind blowing the grass clippings all over my arms and face, and I definitely hate the fact that the grass never seems dry enough to mow!
Even though I live in what's considered the driest part of England - it still rains more than 140 days a year. This means that one day of sunshine won't dry out the lawn, which then means that my front and back grass looks like a miniature jungle before its dry enough for me to mow ... and I hate that!
I bought myself a sexy Nikon D60 DSLR camera - but I am waiting for the correct SD card in order to start using it. I'm excited to take pictures even though I don't particularly feel inspired to do so. Its kind of hard to explain ... I guess I could try.
In my opinion, I've always been the 'creative' type - even though there are many times I severely lack in the talent department to see my creation through. Being with Keith has really changed my point of view of what's 'good' and what isn't as far as art goes - especially with my painting and photography. I think its because he's so supportive. Even if he doesn't quite 'get it' he still appreciates whatever it is. He's just awesome like that.
So far his deployment hasn't been AS hard on me as I originally thought it would be. Of course I've been depressed a bit - and quite lonely but I've found ways around pretty much everything. For a few weeks I couldn't sleep, but I recently learned that I can sleep just fine on the couch. The bed just felt so big, if that makes sense. I would wake up at random intervals and just lay in this vast darkness with nothing but the sound of Libby (our cat) snoring. BUT! On the couch I can flick on the TV and watch 15 mins of some random crap and pass back out.
I've steadily been losing weight - but it isn't ALL due to my diet. A lot of it is because I'm just not eating - which doesn't bother me - but I'm convinced its a side effect from the mild depression I'm going through. I'm not all dreary and weepy - its more of a manic state at this point. Lots of times I feel overstimulated or just overwhelmed in general and tend to just shut down. I won't talk for a day or two - then I get back to my somewhat normal self. I think such things are to be expected with a deployment though. At least I'm not going all psychotic or anything.
If we were living in America during his deployment, I think I probably would be a bit mental now. But in all honesty - I love England so much that just coming home after work feels good. Some days just sitting in the conservatory with a cup of tea is enough to cheer me up, but of course there are days that it isn't. There are days that nothing seems to pacify me and I just feel restless and stir crazy - which is why I say I'm in a mild manic state. Not chipper or hyper, and not all doom and gloom ... just restless.
I catch myself sitting here at the computer and hitting the refresh button waiting on an email reply from Keith, and I constantly have to tell myself to just walk away. There are days I have to force myself to go watch TV instead of sitting here with the cursor on the refresh button ... its sad, but true.
So yes - as soon as I get an SD card I will be taking pictures of random goodness which I will probably just post on flickr - but I'm sure I will share a few here since family and friends are more apt to check my blog than my flickr page.
I suppose that's enough bitching and whining for now - I should fold some laundry.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day
Hit Play and listen while reading. Its me and Keith's "song" .. well the main one.
On with the blog entry:
Once upon a time Memorial Day, to me, was nothing but a free day off work and an excuse to drink beer and eat bar-b-q hot dogs and hamburgers. Memorial Day Weekend was a long awaited three day weekend. Up until the time I was probably 17 I didn't even know exactly what holiday Memorial Day was.
I grew up in a part of the US where there are three loves of everyone's life: God, your country, and guns. Even in such a small town (about 10 thousand people - the biggest town in the county) everyone has at least 2 people in their family who is in the military. There's not much to look forward to as far as 'growing up' where I came from. It isn't unusual for girls to start having babies at 15 and be married by 17. Having babies and getting married is all there is to look forward to in all honesty.
Strange that no one ever really told me what Memorial Day was. I wasn't even sure what a VFW Hall was - but I knew I saw it out by the highway. For all I knew it was another Eagle's club or whatever. As an adult I did finally learn what the holiday was about - but that didn't change anything. It was still a holiday to take a mini vacation somewhere, or just grill and have beer. Not this year. Not anymore.
I haven't conformed to the military. I'm not in the military, I'm just married to it - so why should I? I show up to the Air Force functions where the dress code is usually black dress/black heels wearing my bright colored loud clothing. I introduce myself without waiting for my husband to do it. I don't call the Colonels 'sir', instead opting to call them by name. I'm the opposite of every other military spouse I've ever known. I'm even dreading my hair this summer.
Today was different. I was asked by my squadron commander to participate in a Memorial Day celebration. I had assumed burgers and hot dogs because that's all anyone was talking about all week ... but I was wrong. She gave me a dress code sheet, which made me curl up my nose - but I complied. It was being held at the base chapel, which made me curl up my nose - but I complied. I showed up 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, and immediately had kinda wished I hadn't come.
Everyone was dressed the same - which basically means we all got the same sheet of paper. All the women there seemed to already know one another - so I just took a seat at the back and sat quietly, still unsure of what was going on. At first I thought maybe it was a church service of some kind - which made me panic a little because I don't know any church hymns ... but there was no chaplain.
The base commander took the podium and gave a speech about what Memorial Day means. He talked about how, as spouses of deployed soldiers, we should be the last ones to celebrate with beer and burgers. Immediately I thought "I'm home alone - you really think I'm gonna bar-b-q for myself, dude?" So the honor guard did their thing, there were a few speeches from base officials - then a group of women stood up and took the podium. What the hell was going on exactly? They each took turns talking about their husbands who unknown to me - had been killed in battle over the past two years.
Suddenly I was mad. I was mad at all the people at home cooking on the grill and drinking beer with their friends. I was upset that all those people having big backyard bar-b-q's were taking the wrong approach to Memorial Day. I was upset with myself for being so selfish in just being happy I had an extra day off work. These women were the embodiment of Memorial Day ... and I was some kind of spectator. Why did my squadron commander do this to me?
Why did she have me attend a lecture blindly .. and why did I show up?! It isn't as if I'm not having a hard enough time with Keith's deployment, but now I had to listen to these dead soldier's wives and for that hour I was filled with dread. What if that were me? No, it could never be me. Nothing will ever happen to Keith ... but as I was thinking that one of the wives said my every thought out loud ... and I hated her for it.
Three different times I wanted to walk out. I didn't want to hear any of this! For me its better to let bad things just linger as passing moments in the back of my mind - I don't want it to be force fed to me like this. I was angry, I was shocked, and most of all - I was suddenly scared. That could be me - and no matter how much I don't want it to be - suddenly it was a distinct possibility that it could be.
Okay I've rambled a lot and have gotten into far more emotion than I had set out to ... I just want to say this:
Memorial Day: for some it is just an excuse to take a trip. Lots of folks get together with friends to do the cook out thing ... and for some people it isn't any of those things. While you're out at the lake fishing, or having friends over to cook out, or if you've taken a road trip somewhere - just try to remember that this is a national holiday to remember soldiers. Maybe you don't know a single soldier or maybe you're against this whole war -- no matter how you look at it there are still people left behind. There are families left behind who don't take trips or bar-b-q with friends because not every holiday should be about boisterous celebration.
I miss Keith.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Alllll Byyyyy Myyyy Seelllffffff
Ha you know you're totally singing that song now!
Anyway, the adjustments so far haven't been all THAT bad. At first I was really scared thinking "Oh man what am I going to do with myself without Keith" but I think I've coped quite well. I think it was more mental than anything - and I've finally realized that I'm not ALONE I'm just by MYSELF!
Its been really nice that he can call me every other day or so - even though we really don't have much to talk about. We more or less end up repeating everything we sent in an email that one of us hasn't gotten the chance to read yet LOL! Still its comforting hearing his voice, and hearing that he doesn't sound stressed or anything - just a little tired which is probably just from jet lag.
I dropped him off Wednesday (the 7th) but pulled out before the bus did. I was whining the night before "Pleaseeee don't make me watch the bus leave!" and by golly I didn't! No way. I sucked it up for the most part, and had a lot of reasons to.
#1 There were a lot of people on those two buses. I'm sure they JUST got done doing what we were doing and didn't need to be 'set off' by seeing me bawling
#2 The other couple of wives there were totally stone faced - and they were toting babies! If they can handle saying goodbye, I can too damn it!
#3 I had a oral surgery appointment within the hour and thought I should be focused on that
So I shed a few tears driving to my appointment - but the bitterness of saying goodbye to my husband for 5 months was overshadowed with the fact that I was about to have two wisdom teeth cut out of my mouth with nothing but a few shots. Local anesthetic only - because I had no escort.
I sat in the car for about 10 minutes psyching myself up. I reminded myself how much of an awesome badass I am, and walked in the door. They took me into the oral surgery hall right away where I sat in that stupid chair that makes weird squeaky noises that almost sound like farts. Now, at that moment I thought that I was only having one tooth removed because A) Its military - they only take care of what is necessary at that moment and B) no one told me otherwise. I was wrong. Both bottom wisdom teeth were coming out.
No problem. I'd handle it. So the Captain doing my surgery gives me about 3 shots in each hinge of my jaw and walks out to let it numb up. Her assistant then starts talking to me while she's setting up the tray "Wow I can't believe you aren't being put under. I mean .. -everyone- elects to be put under." Immediately I panic a bit thinking that I've made the wrong decision, but still psyched up from my self pep talk I say "Well I don't have an escort because I dropped my husband off about a half hour ago to go down range .. plus I have a pretty high pain tolerance." She just kinda stood there silently for a moment and said "Better you than me, sister!" Oh god what have I done?
About 10 minutes later the Captian comes back, and yes I'm numb. She puts the random 'keep your mouth open' instruments in my mouth and starts cutting on my gums with what feels like a primary school kid's safety scissors. It doesn't hurt - I can just tell that its scissors which grossed me out a bit. Even though I couldn't see anything - I could just imagine what it all looked like. She makes a statement about seeing the tooth and starts trying to pull it. The lady did everything but put a foot on my jaw while pulling on the tooth to no avail. She then tries to crack the tooth to take it out in sections, which doesn't work either. Then she says "Uh ... ma'am? We're going to have to remove some of the bone."
Of course I can't answer her or I would have said "BONE?! What bone? Remove it? HOW!" but before I get a full paniced thought out of my head I hear what sounds like a table saw. Oh fuck. She's going to use that in my mouth! So she starts sawing and telling me while sawing that the roots of the tooth are fused to my jaw bone so she has to saw around it. Now it starts hurting, but of course I'm pretty much just powerless. 15 minutes pass by and she's finally done sawing and moves to the left side.
The same thing happens: scissors, pulling, splitting attempt "We'll have to saw this side too. Your roots are actually bent outwards at the end like fish hooks" More pain, more dizzy feeling from the vibrations in my jaw. Finally its all over and she packs my face with gauze and sends me out the door.
Of course I got meds. Not enough, if you ask me. 10 Oxycodone didn't even scratch the surface. My face was swollen, my cheeks were swollen, I was bleeding, and my jaw was bruised. Yes, this was an awesome decision.
I had taken Wed, Thur, and Fri off work and went back to work on Monday. Monday I was still in a lot of pain but had already taken all my pain medication. Tuesday the pain had gotten a bit worse. What did it feel like? Well it felt as if a dentist was drilling on my teeth without waiting for the numbing agent to fully take effect.
I rang up the oral surgery department and said "I'm miserable and I'm out of medication. I expected to be in quite a bit of pain after a surgery like that, but its been nearly 7 days and I am in more pain NOW than I was hours after surgery." They got me in immediately.
Come to find out I had dry socket in both sides. The person who saw me was amazed that I had somehow not completely lost my fucking mind going through all that pain for almost 7 days. "High pain tolerance" was all I said. He put some clove tasting shit on what looked like a packing peanut, crammed it into the incision point and within 10 minutes all the pain was gone. He thinks that I've had dry socket since the day after surgery since they had to saw so deep into my jaw to remove those teeth.
Luckily I have no more wisdom teeth and I stand a very high liklihood of never having to go through any of that again. I'm really looking forward to my first full night of sleep in a week :)
I'd also like to thank Willow for offering support during Keith's deployment. Right now I have a few good weeks of activities planned out (there's a Bazaar this weekend and next weekend is the annual Beer Festival in Cambridge, and a week or so after that is Strawberry Faire!) but I'm sure at some point the 'novelty' of being by myself will wear off and I won't be able to fill a Saturday with an activity like I can for the next 4 weeks or so.
So I"m off to bed now ... I hope no one EVER has to experience all that dental bullshit. I seriously was wishing for a coma at one point!
Anyway, the adjustments so far haven't been all THAT bad. At first I was really scared thinking "Oh man what am I going to do with myself without Keith" but I think I've coped quite well. I think it was more mental than anything - and I've finally realized that I'm not ALONE I'm just by MYSELF!
Its been really nice that he can call me every other day or so - even though we really don't have much to talk about. We more or less end up repeating everything we sent in an email that one of us hasn't gotten the chance to read yet LOL! Still its comforting hearing his voice, and hearing that he doesn't sound stressed or anything - just a little tired which is probably just from jet lag.
I dropped him off Wednesday (the 7th) but pulled out before the bus did. I was whining the night before "Pleaseeee don't make me watch the bus leave!" and by golly I didn't! No way. I sucked it up for the most part, and had a lot of reasons to.
#1 There were a lot of people on those two buses. I'm sure they JUST got done doing what we were doing and didn't need to be 'set off' by seeing me bawling
#2 The other couple of wives there were totally stone faced - and they were toting babies! If they can handle saying goodbye, I can too damn it!
#3 I had a oral surgery appointment within the hour and thought I should be focused on that
So I shed a few tears driving to my appointment - but the bitterness of saying goodbye to my husband for 5 months was overshadowed with the fact that I was about to have two wisdom teeth cut out of my mouth with nothing but a few shots. Local anesthetic only - because I had no escort.
I sat in the car for about 10 minutes psyching myself up. I reminded myself how much of an awesome badass I am, and walked in the door. They took me into the oral surgery hall right away where I sat in that stupid chair that makes weird squeaky noises that almost sound like farts. Now, at that moment I thought that I was only having one tooth removed because A) Its military - they only take care of what is necessary at that moment and B) no one told me otherwise. I was wrong. Both bottom wisdom teeth were coming out.
No problem. I'd handle it. So the Captain doing my surgery gives me about 3 shots in each hinge of my jaw and walks out to let it numb up. Her assistant then starts talking to me while she's setting up the tray "Wow I can't believe you aren't being put under. I mean .. -everyone- elects to be put under." Immediately I panic a bit thinking that I've made the wrong decision, but still psyched up from my self pep talk I say "Well I don't have an escort because I dropped my husband off about a half hour ago to go down range .. plus I have a pretty high pain tolerance." She just kinda stood there silently for a moment and said "Better you than me, sister!" Oh god what have I done?
About 10 minutes later the Captian comes back, and yes I'm numb. She puts the random 'keep your mouth open' instruments in my mouth and starts cutting on my gums with what feels like a primary school kid's safety scissors. It doesn't hurt - I can just tell that its scissors which grossed me out a bit. Even though I couldn't see anything - I could just imagine what it all looked like. She makes a statement about seeing the tooth and starts trying to pull it. The lady did everything but put a foot on my jaw while pulling on the tooth to no avail. She then tries to crack the tooth to take it out in sections, which doesn't work either. Then she says "Uh ... ma'am? We're going to have to remove some of the bone."
Of course I can't answer her or I would have said "BONE?! What bone? Remove it? HOW!" but before I get a full paniced thought out of my head I hear what sounds like a table saw. Oh fuck. She's going to use that in my mouth! So she starts sawing and telling me while sawing that the roots of the tooth are fused to my jaw bone so she has to saw around it. Now it starts hurting, but of course I'm pretty much just powerless. 15 minutes pass by and she's finally done sawing and moves to the left side.
The same thing happens: scissors, pulling, splitting attempt "We'll have to saw this side too. Your roots are actually bent outwards at the end like fish hooks" More pain, more dizzy feeling from the vibrations in my jaw. Finally its all over and she packs my face with gauze and sends me out the door.
Of course I got meds. Not enough, if you ask me. 10 Oxycodone didn't even scratch the surface. My face was swollen, my cheeks were swollen, I was bleeding, and my jaw was bruised. Yes, this was an awesome decision.
I had taken Wed, Thur, and Fri off work and went back to work on Monday. Monday I was still in a lot of pain but had already taken all my pain medication. Tuesday the pain had gotten a bit worse. What did it feel like? Well it felt as if a dentist was drilling on my teeth without waiting for the numbing agent to fully take effect.
I rang up the oral surgery department and said "I'm miserable and I'm out of medication. I expected to be in quite a bit of pain after a surgery like that, but its been nearly 7 days and I am in more pain NOW than I was hours after surgery." They got me in immediately.
Come to find out I had dry socket in both sides. The person who saw me was amazed that I had somehow not completely lost my fucking mind going through all that pain for almost 7 days. "High pain tolerance" was all I said. He put some clove tasting shit on what looked like a packing peanut, crammed it into the incision point and within 10 minutes all the pain was gone. He thinks that I've had dry socket since the day after surgery since they had to saw so deep into my jaw to remove those teeth.
Luckily I have no more wisdom teeth and I stand a very high liklihood of never having to go through any of that again. I'm really looking forward to my first full night of sleep in a week :)
I'd also like to thank Willow for offering support during Keith's deployment. Right now I have a few good weeks of activities planned out (there's a Bazaar this weekend and next weekend is the annual Beer Festival in Cambridge, and a week or so after that is Strawberry Faire!) but I'm sure at some point the 'novelty' of being by myself will wear off and I won't be able to fill a Saturday with an activity like I can for the next 4 weeks or so.
So I"m off to bed now ... I hope no one EVER has to experience all that dental bullshit. I seriously was wishing for a coma at one point!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Updatus Majoritus
MAJOR UPDATE ALERT!!!!
I have been reallllly busy the past few weeks, and for good reason I assure you!
We found out a couple weeks ago that Keith is deploying. Where? He can't say - all I know is that he was issued dessert gear. He's been really busy getting shots every other week as well as us having to go to appointments at the legal office. I don't really want to go into a lot of detail about it because honestly I've JUST gotten myself somewhat used to the idea of everything.
Yes, of course I'll be worried. I'm really just trying to not be a big baby about everything because I don't want to stress Keith out. I think that he would have taken the news of his deployment a LOT harder if I had reacted all like 'OMG NOOOOOOO' or someting.
I already have lots of activities and whatnot planned for myself this summer - and have found a great friend in Tree. Its also nice working on a military base and having access to at least talk to other spouses of deployed peeps. Just kinda eases the stress knowing that someone is going through the exact same thing - which makes one automatic thing you have in common with someone!
This will be the first time in two years (roughly) that Keith and I have been apart - which makes me go :( but at the same time I'm looking forward to seeing how I handle alone life. I'm sure the cat will keep me company - and if she doesn't I have a few canvases on top of friends and work. The first month I think will be the hardest but once I get into my own 'groove' it should get easier.
I did a painting over the weekend. There's actually a funny story that goes with it. Guess I should show the painting first.
So this is my painting ... and I call it "Boldly Go". Its my little "Ode to Star Trek" you could say. why? I don't know! I just know that I thought of how Captain Kirk always got to shag the hot aliens while on other plants - but what if SPOCK got his hands on one?! What if there's a Spock love child roaming some galaxy far far away?! And there you have the inspirational thought which started this painting. There's a bit more to it, but I sat it on my lap and took the pic with the webcam on the laptop ...
So yes that is the jist of everything. My husband is deploying to a dessert somewhere on the globe and will be gone for at least 5 months and I've just been trying to mentally prepare myself for everything. Seriously though - I almost lost it when we had to prepare his will. That was the HARDEST thing ever. For those that don't know me - I don't do funerals. Ever.
Alrighty! Well Keith got Grand Theft Auto IV a whole day earlier than its even released - so I've been sitting here watching him play... enjoy the screenshot :D
I have been reallllly busy the past few weeks, and for good reason I assure you!
We found out a couple weeks ago that Keith is deploying. Where? He can't say - all I know is that he was issued dessert gear. He's been really busy getting shots every other week as well as us having to go to appointments at the legal office. I don't really want to go into a lot of detail about it because honestly I've JUST gotten myself somewhat used to the idea of everything.
Yes, of course I'll be worried. I'm really just trying to not be a big baby about everything because I don't want to stress Keith out. I think that he would have taken the news of his deployment a LOT harder if I had reacted all like 'OMG NOOOOOOO' or someting.
I already have lots of activities and whatnot planned for myself this summer - and have found a great friend in Tree. Its also nice working on a military base and having access to at least talk to other spouses of deployed peeps. Just kinda eases the stress knowing that someone is going through the exact same thing - which makes one automatic thing you have in common with someone!
This will be the first time in two years (roughly) that Keith and I have been apart - which makes me go :( but at the same time I'm looking forward to seeing how I handle alone life. I'm sure the cat will keep me company - and if she doesn't I have a few canvases on top of friends and work. The first month I think will be the hardest but once I get into my own 'groove' it should get easier.
I did a painting over the weekend. There's actually a funny story that goes with it. Guess I should show the painting first.
So this is my painting ... and I call it "Boldly Go". Its my little "Ode to Star Trek" you could say. why? I don't know! I just know that I thought of how Captain Kirk always got to shag the hot aliens while on other plants - but what if SPOCK got his hands on one?! What if there's a Spock love child roaming some galaxy far far away?! And there you have the inspirational thought which started this painting. There's a bit more to it, but I sat it on my lap and took the pic with the webcam on the laptop ...
So yes that is the jist of everything. My husband is deploying to a dessert somewhere on the globe and will be gone for at least 5 months and I've just been trying to mentally prepare myself for everything. Seriously though - I almost lost it when we had to prepare his will. That was the HARDEST thing ever. For those that don't know me - I don't do funerals. Ever.
Alrighty! Well Keith got Grand Theft Auto IV a whole day earlier than its even released - so I've been sitting here watching him play... enjoy the screenshot :D
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Paint by numba
So yes, there are 3 paintings in my house which are now finished - and I plan to do more soon. One painting usually takes me all day because I just have this problem of knowing when enough is enough and when to stop painting.
There's lots I'd like to update with - bitching mostly - but I won't. I don't have a very loving family - and this isn't a suprise to ANYONE but .. and a HUGE but - but at least we are always honest and open with each other. When your brother is pissed off at you, he calls you and tells you. When your mom thinks that you're being a complete fuck wit - she lets you know. None of that beat around the bush nice-to-your-face bullshit when its another story behind closed doors. Its a long story which I will probably post bits of in the near future.
Yes yes my paintings. I didn't get all graphic and crop these so you'll just have to look at them as they are which at the time was just sitting on the easel :)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Vertigo
The doctor at the military base says that's what I have. Vertigo. Actually he said it was Endolymphatic hydrops so I 'dumbed' it down.
I went to work for like 2 hours but was about to spew when I finally asked if someone could come work the rest of my shift. Saturday night on our way home from the hospital I barfed all in the car causing me to cry and apologize profusely to Keith.
I am still trucking on with my diet, though! Come hell or high water I intend to lose 100lbs in a year. I fully intended to start a REAL work out regime today - but that has taken a back seat to my complete lack of balance as well as hand-eye coordination.
Though most probably consider it boring - I also plan to continue vlogging - but again this will all wait until I have a decent amount of time to do so. With the brand new expensive ass camera Keith bought I plan to vlog outside my home as well as in.
Two paintings have been finished so far, and I'd really like to start another. For a while I was really embarassed of my 'childish' type art style that I've ALWAYS had, but after browsing some artwork I have decided that my style is actually more Pop Art than anything. No, it isn't 4 frames of Campbell's Soup - Oh sod it you'll see soon!
I'm sure it sounds as if not much is going on, but its quite the opposite. I have lots that I'd like to type up - but can't for a bit yet I think. I will just break to the quick questions though to keep folks from worrying:
I'm not pregnant.
Keith and I are doing VERY well
The cat is still alive
Our car works fine
Our front and back garden need mowed
My feet hurt but that's normal
No one we know has died
No one we know is dying
No one we know is getting divorced
I think that covers the big bases. I'll update with all the info I can WHEN I can. Hopefully that will be in vlog form .. this weekend maybe? Not sure yet.
I went to work for like 2 hours but was about to spew when I finally asked if someone could come work the rest of my shift. Saturday night on our way home from the hospital I barfed all in the car causing me to cry and apologize profusely to Keith.
I am still trucking on with my diet, though! Come hell or high water I intend to lose 100lbs in a year. I fully intended to start a REAL work out regime today - but that has taken a back seat to my complete lack of balance as well as hand-eye coordination.
Though most probably consider it boring - I also plan to continue vlogging - but again this will all wait until I have a decent amount of time to do so. With the brand new expensive ass camera Keith bought I plan to vlog outside my home as well as in.
Two paintings have been finished so far, and I'd really like to start another. For a while I was really embarassed of my 'childish' type art style that I've ALWAYS had, but after browsing some artwork I have decided that my style is actually more Pop Art than anything. No, it isn't 4 frames of Campbell's Soup - Oh sod it you'll see soon!
I'm sure it sounds as if not much is going on, but its quite the opposite. I have lots that I'd like to type up - but can't for a bit yet I think. I will just break to the quick questions though to keep folks from worrying:
I'm not pregnant.
Keith and I are doing VERY well
The cat is still alive
Our car works fine
Our front and back garden need mowed
My feet hurt but that's normal
No one we know has died
No one we know is dying
No one we know is getting divorced
I think that covers the big bases. I'll update with all the info I can WHEN I can. Hopefully that will be in vlog form .. this weekend maybe? Not sure yet.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
One Day I Will Get a Break!
So the past week or two I have been really busy - both with work and with Keith. Keith had been working on videos for an Air Force banquet, and I was busy playing executive producer.
The banquet was good, actually. Fancy three course meal and all that - but the problem was .... I didn't fit in. This still REALLY bothers me! I was looking around at all the other wives and how differently I was dressed, and couldn't help but feel like I should just hide behind Keith's coat tails. I don't have a picture at this moment - but when I do I'll post what I looked like to prove that I didn't look THAT odd but I definitely stood out.
Honestly though, I think my appearance was welcomed by the commanders, Colonels and others. My off beat appearance caused lots of people to take notice of me first instead of greeting Keith first - which I think will make him more memorable to them when it comes promotion and award time next year. But its all over with now so I feel much better!
I still feel like I'm working a LOT - and I'm starting to have some serious problems with my feet. I have a strip of bruise down the bottoms of each of my feet and its starting to worry me. At first it was pinkish and made me think "Oh great I have athlete's foot!" but as the week went on it went from pink to black to blue and now a steady purplish color - so its definitely a bruise. I don't know what would cause a bruise on the bottom center of my foot but I hope its nothing serious. I know, I worry about the stupidest shit.
Later this week I hope to do an actual vlog with a little editing and post bits of us going to work ... y'know our daily routine. I know that sounds really boring - but lots of my friends and family and Keith's also ... well they check my blog and much prefer my vlogs to reading my text. Most my family hasn't seen me in over a year now so they like being able to watch me talk.
Okay! Going to find some dinner and hopefully I remember to vlog this week!
The banquet was good, actually. Fancy three course meal and all that - but the problem was .... I didn't fit in. This still REALLY bothers me! I was looking around at all the other wives and how differently I was dressed, and couldn't help but feel like I should just hide behind Keith's coat tails. I don't have a picture at this moment - but when I do I'll post what I looked like to prove that I didn't look THAT odd but I definitely stood out.
Honestly though, I think my appearance was welcomed by the commanders, Colonels and others. My off beat appearance caused lots of people to take notice of me first instead of greeting Keith first - which I think will make him more memorable to them when it comes promotion and award time next year. But its all over with now so I feel much better!
I still feel like I'm working a LOT - and I'm starting to have some serious problems with my feet. I have a strip of bruise down the bottoms of each of my feet and its starting to worry me. At first it was pinkish and made me think "Oh great I have athlete's foot!" but as the week went on it went from pink to black to blue and now a steady purplish color - so its definitely a bruise. I don't know what would cause a bruise on the bottom center of my foot but I hope its nothing serious. I know, I worry about the stupidest shit.
Later this week I hope to do an actual vlog with a little editing and post bits of us going to work ... y'know our daily routine. I know that sounds really boring - but lots of my friends and family and Keith's also ... well they check my blog and much prefer my vlogs to reading my text. Most my family hasn't seen me in over a year now so they like being able to watch me talk.
Okay! Going to find some dinner and hopefully I remember to vlog this week!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Its Not a Wig
Its no surpise to anyone I know that I like to dye my hair at random intervals with whatever color tickles my fancy at that moment.
Now? Its black. And? Its not a wig.
Now? Its black. And? Its not a wig.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Vlog #2
More ramblings, but much shorter.
Some subjects covered:
Military Stuff
Work
Keith
My Embarrassment Issues
Life in England
Some subjects covered:
Military Stuff
Work
Keith
My Embarrassment Issues
Life in England
Monday, February 25, 2008
Vlog #1
So I sat and actually did a vlog. Be warned that it is random ramblings about stuff which I cannot remember now ..
Its also a bit over 12 minutes long if I remember correctly. All information that I would have typed .. I said instead. I think. I hope. God, what did I say?
Its also a bit over 12 minutes long if I remember correctly. All information that I would have typed .. I said instead. I think. I hope. God, what did I say?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Ow My Feet
I've been working all week and my feet hurt. Standing on concrete in one place for 8 hours is definitely something that you can't just DO without like .. practice or something.
My job is so easy its insulting in a lot of ways. My 2nd day I was on my own and I felt like I was a special needs kid when they (in the main office) looked at me with wide eyes and called each other into the office to say that my drawer balanced out perfectly. It was insulting and embarrassing and I was more than mad about it - but of course I just sat there. I almost wiped at my mouth with my sleeve to see if I was drooling. I can't figure out why everyone thinks I should be so damned stupid!
I've let all that slide and I get up with Keith ever morning at 5am, get dressed, grab my ugly hat and we start our 15min drive to the base. I drop him off and slowly try to work out my frustrations before I pull into the parking lot of the hole-in-the-wall Food Cube. I'm a cashier and I hand guys in BDUs sandwiches that they order out on the flight line. Glamorous.
The pay is more than modest so I shouldn't complain, and its such an overall easy job that I should really shut my mouth ... so now I feel guilty for complaining.
Libby (our cat) has gotten bitchy now that I'm not home all day. I'm hoping she gets used to it soon and softens up again. We had JUST gotten her to actually like us where she would jump up on our lap and let us pet her and whatnot.
At least the lady I work with is nice. She's REALLY nice. She's got that rough type edge that I feel like I can relate to her, and at the same time she's so damned nice! I also made a couple buddies in the office and plan to start working out with them. Its a group of about 4 girls that are all the same level of fatass that I am, and they have invited me to hang out and work out with them.
Keith leaves next week. He'll be gone for 3 weeks in Morocco and I've already told him that he'd best bring me back something fucking phenomenal since he will be GONE for our FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! I'm pissy about that too, but what can ya do? I'll get over it. Besides the time alone might be nice. I might get some paintings done, and I'll most likely drive to Cambridge and hang out with Tree - and I'll also have the new chicks to go to the gym with. So this could be nice if I just relax a little.
So yeah I'm tired and pretty damned cranky and hopefully over the next week or so I will chill out and work myself into a routine groove where I can just calm down. I'm off to cook up some dinner since Keith will be home soon.
My job is so easy its insulting in a lot of ways. My 2nd day I was on my own and I felt like I was a special needs kid when they (in the main office) looked at me with wide eyes and called each other into the office to say that my drawer balanced out perfectly. It was insulting and embarrassing and I was more than mad about it - but of course I just sat there. I almost wiped at my mouth with my sleeve to see if I was drooling. I can't figure out why everyone thinks I should be so damned stupid!
I've let all that slide and I get up with Keith ever morning at 5am, get dressed, grab my ugly hat and we start our 15min drive to the base. I drop him off and slowly try to work out my frustrations before I pull into the parking lot of the hole-in-the-wall Food Cube. I'm a cashier and I hand guys in BDUs sandwiches that they order out on the flight line. Glamorous.
The pay is more than modest so I shouldn't complain, and its such an overall easy job that I should really shut my mouth ... so now I feel guilty for complaining.
Libby (our cat) has gotten bitchy now that I'm not home all day. I'm hoping she gets used to it soon and softens up again. We had JUST gotten her to actually like us where she would jump up on our lap and let us pet her and whatnot.
At least the lady I work with is nice. She's REALLY nice. She's got that rough type edge that I feel like I can relate to her, and at the same time she's so damned nice! I also made a couple buddies in the office and plan to start working out with them. Its a group of about 4 girls that are all the same level of fatass that I am, and they have invited me to hang out and work out with them.
Keith leaves next week. He'll be gone for 3 weeks in Morocco and I've already told him that he'd best bring me back something fucking phenomenal since he will be GONE for our FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! I'm pissy about that too, but what can ya do? I'll get over it. Besides the time alone might be nice. I might get some paintings done, and I'll most likely drive to Cambridge and hang out with Tree - and I'll also have the new chicks to go to the gym with. So this could be nice if I just relax a little.
So yeah I'm tired and pretty damned cranky and hopefully over the next week or so I will chill out and work myself into a routine groove where I can just calm down. I'm off to cook up some dinner since Keith will be home soon.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Work Work Work
Finally I've finished all the necessary paperwork and I start work Tuesday. I even had to be SWORN IN. Whatever, at least its all done now.
The past few weeks have been nothing but running around and doing lots of paperwork, so I'm really just glad all that is over. Now I just have to psych myself up. I always feel so ... weird ... when I'm the new person at a job. I have this problem where I'm so eager to please that I feel like I'm overcompensating for my nervousness and just the overall fear that I always think that I know I won't fit in. I somehow think I'm not the only one.
I've lost a lot of confidence in myself in the past year I've noticed. Some of it is because I didn't fit in where I came from - and I just automatically tell myself that I won't fit. The truth is - sometimes I probably could fit in if I'd only give other people a chance. I see it as, well I'm so damned off the wall that no one could possibly get me, but maybe they would if I'd warm up to them.
Tree has been the only friend I've really made here so far, and in May it will make one year. Don't get me wrong, she is positively lovely and I love this strange 'say nothing' connection she and I have ... but I sort of feel a bit of a hermit for not having more friends.
I hear people talk about how they go out every so often with their friends and leave their husband/wife at home, and I just find it hard to even envision myself doing that. Just saying "Hey Keith, me and Insert Name from work are going to go hang out. I'll be back in a couple hours." He and I have done everything together since I can remember. So are he and I the unconventional ones ... or is it just weird to take a night out for yourself? No idea. I don't even understand it. I can understand getting away from kids or something like that, though.
Tuesday I start work, and it feels weird knowing exactly when my anxiety is going to start. I've never been great with strangers or new people and I tend to be a bit TOO outgoing at times in such situations. I've decided that this time I'll be the quiet one and get to know other people I work with. I'll be the one that listens instead of talks. It will be a harsh switch - but I think that such a change is kinda crucial to making new friends.
I think what started all this was when I was filling out my paperwork and the lady said "You have to have at least one contact here in England that knows you that we can contact." I didn't know who to tell her! They also had to have an APO address which further narrowed it down that it had to be a military person. Yeah I've met a couple of the guys Keith works with, but none well enough to say 'Yes you can contact this person and they know me.' I even had to call Keith at work and ask him to get someone's address. I felt bad because I've only met the guy maybe a half dozen times, and haven't ever really had a real conversation with him .. but hey we play Lord of the Rings Online and are in the same guild so that counts for something, doesn't it?!
For the first time in a year I will be on a schedule which wasn't set by me, and that's a bit daunting as well. I already feel a bit hindered and as if someone is trying to 'control' me, even though the logical part of me says "This is how a job works, dumbass!" because .. well .. I know how it goes. Even though I know 'how it is' .. that doesn't seem to make it any better. At least right now. I'm sure once I settle in and get in the swing then I'll have forgotten that I felt this way to begin with.
Keith may be going to Morocco for three weeks to be an extra in a movie - which means I'll be here all alone. That would make the first time I've been alone since I moved away from my hometown to be with him, and that's a bit daunting as well. But I'm sure I'm making a big deal about it mentally - but when time comes those three weeks will just fly by. And hey, he gets paid pretty well for it. This is, of course, IF he gets chosen. So far, no word.
I'm also going to start working out after work since I will have nearly 3 hours between the time I get off work and when Keith gets off. I have to admit that I feel a twinge of anxiety over that as well. I'm fat, I know that. But I just have this fear that there is some kind of gym etiquette that I know nothing about and that I'll somehow be a laughing stock for some muscle bound man or woman. I'm also a bit nervous about getting sweaty and winded in a gym of people in better shape than myself. "Look over there at Fatty McFatAss on the treadmill! Listen to her WHEEZE!" I know, I know! I make too big a deal out of everything but that never seems to stop me from thinking this stuff. Again, I'm sure after the first harrowing few days that I won't even notice there are other people in the gym and I'll go about my business in my quest to wear a bathing suit (even a ONE piece) without feeling like a Shar Pei in a condom. And for those that don't know - a Shar Pei are those really wrinkly dogs. Lovely mental image now, huh?
Anyway, against my better judgement I have decided that I would document this venture into physical fitness by posting vlogs here as well as my normal textual ramblings. I will say though, that I know that I'm fat and unattractive so any negative comments really aren't necessary. I will save everyone the nightmare of me being scantily clad and saying "Look how fat I am!" and instead just wear normal clothes. I think that will be more than enough to show a progression. I'm sure as I loose weight that I will replace my tent like clothes with more form fitting things and so on.
So yeah, I will probably start that on .... Monday? Maybe I'll do it tomorrow - a vlog that is. I'll talk for a bit instead of typing so much. Then after my first workout on Tuesday I'll talk about what exercises I did. I'm sure I'll whine a lot about how its such hard work - but who doesn't?! Anyway - this is still all just an idea in my head and may not even come to light. The vlog thing I mean, not the exercise. I MUST MUST MUST make myself exercise. I've decided that I am going to try to save up for Keith and I to take a cruise next year because .. well .. I think a cruise would be awesome and I've never been on one!
Alrighty, so I'm going to make myself some lunch and probably just start a bliptv account OR just upload my vlogs directly to here .. not sure what I'm going to do yet. I refuse to do it on YouTube because a lot of people that I don't even know are subscribed to me and I'd hate for them to be watching such a personal 'thing' when it isn't REALLY meant for such a wide audience. I'm rambling again ...
The past few weeks have been nothing but running around and doing lots of paperwork, so I'm really just glad all that is over. Now I just have to psych myself up. I always feel so ... weird ... when I'm the new person at a job. I have this problem where I'm so eager to please that I feel like I'm overcompensating for my nervousness and just the overall fear that I always think that I know I won't fit in. I somehow think I'm not the only one.
I've lost a lot of confidence in myself in the past year I've noticed. Some of it is because I didn't fit in where I came from - and I just automatically tell myself that I won't fit. The truth is - sometimes I probably could fit in if I'd only give other people a chance. I see it as, well I'm so damned off the wall that no one could possibly get me, but maybe they would if I'd warm up to them.
Tree has been the only friend I've really made here so far, and in May it will make one year. Don't get me wrong, she is positively lovely and I love this strange 'say nothing' connection she and I have ... but I sort of feel a bit of a hermit for not having more friends.
I hear people talk about how they go out every so often with their friends and leave their husband/wife at home, and I just find it hard to even envision myself doing that. Just saying "Hey Keith, me and Insert Name from work are going to go hang out. I'll be back in a couple hours." He and I have done everything together since I can remember. So are he and I the unconventional ones ... or is it just weird to take a night out for yourself? No idea. I don't even understand it. I can understand getting away from kids or something like that, though.
Tuesday I start work, and it feels weird knowing exactly when my anxiety is going to start. I've never been great with strangers or new people and I tend to be a bit TOO outgoing at times in such situations. I've decided that this time I'll be the quiet one and get to know other people I work with. I'll be the one that listens instead of talks. It will be a harsh switch - but I think that such a change is kinda crucial to making new friends.
I think what started all this was when I was filling out my paperwork and the lady said "You have to have at least one contact here in England that knows you that we can contact." I didn't know who to tell her! They also had to have an APO address which further narrowed it down that it had to be a military person. Yeah I've met a couple of the guys Keith works with, but none well enough to say 'Yes you can contact this person and they know me.' I even had to call Keith at work and ask him to get someone's address. I felt bad because I've only met the guy maybe a half dozen times, and haven't ever really had a real conversation with him .. but hey we play Lord of the Rings Online and are in the same guild so that counts for something, doesn't it?!
For the first time in a year I will be on a schedule which wasn't set by me, and that's a bit daunting as well. I already feel a bit hindered and as if someone is trying to 'control' me, even though the logical part of me says "This is how a job works, dumbass!" because .. well .. I know how it goes. Even though I know 'how it is' .. that doesn't seem to make it any better. At least right now. I'm sure once I settle in and get in the swing then I'll have forgotten that I felt this way to begin with.
Keith may be going to Morocco for three weeks to be an extra in a movie - which means I'll be here all alone. That would make the first time I've been alone since I moved away from my hometown to be with him, and that's a bit daunting as well. But I'm sure I'm making a big deal about it mentally - but when time comes those three weeks will just fly by. And hey, he gets paid pretty well for it. This is, of course, IF he gets chosen. So far, no word.
I'm also going to start working out after work since I will have nearly 3 hours between the time I get off work and when Keith gets off. I have to admit that I feel a twinge of anxiety over that as well. I'm fat, I know that. But I just have this fear that there is some kind of gym etiquette that I know nothing about and that I'll somehow be a laughing stock for some muscle bound man or woman. I'm also a bit nervous about getting sweaty and winded in a gym of people in better shape than myself. "Look over there at Fatty McFatAss on the treadmill! Listen to her WHEEZE!" I know, I know! I make too big a deal out of everything but that never seems to stop me from thinking this stuff. Again, I'm sure after the first harrowing few days that I won't even notice there are other people in the gym and I'll go about my business in my quest to wear a bathing suit (even a ONE piece) without feeling like a Shar Pei in a condom. And for those that don't know - a Shar Pei are those really wrinkly dogs. Lovely mental image now, huh?
Anyway, against my better judgement I have decided that I would document this venture into physical fitness by posting vlogs here as well as my normal textual ramblings. I will say though, that I know that I'm fat and unattractive so any negative comments really aren't necessary. I will save everyone the nightmare of me being scantily clad and saying "Look how fat I am!" and instead just wear normal clothes. I think that will be more than enough to show a progression. I'm sure as I loose weight that I will replace my tent like clothes with more form fitting things and so on.
So yeah, I will probably start that on .... Monday? Maybe I'll do it tomorrow - a vlog that is. I'll talk for a bit instead of typing so much. Then after my first workout on Tuesday I'll talk about what exercises I did. I'm sure I'll whine a lot about how its such hard work - but who doesn't?! Anyway - this is still all just an idea in my head and may not even come to light. The vlog thing I mean, not the exercise. I MUST MUST MUST make myself exercise. I've decided that I am going to try to save up for Keith and I to take a cruise next year because .. well .. I think a cruise would be awesome and I've never been on one!
Alrighty, so I'm going to make myself some lunch and probably just start a bliptv account OR just upload my vlogs directly to here .. not sure what I'm going to do yet. I refuse to do it on YouTube because a lot of people that I don't even know are subscribed to me and I'd hate for them to be watching such a personal 'thing' when it isn't REALLY meant for such a wide audience. I'm rambling again ...
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
My Weekend and Other Stuff
Keith and I went to Cambridge last weekend. I took him to Mill Road which is where Tree and I hang out when she and I get together. I even took him to the awesome cafe (The Black Cat Cafe) that Tree introduced me to. They simply have the BEST cafe latte I've ever had. He wasn't too impressed. He was more impressed with the fact that I knew my way around and got us FREE parking. Huzzah!
So we walked the 10 or so blocks to downtown where we found a store to buy some sheesha (flavored hookah tobacco) and even a new bowl! We came across a Chinese market where we stopped in to buy some Koalas (its candy) and some sugar coated fish jerky that we haven't eaten yet. We will get around to it though, and I'll post how bad or good it is. It just sounded odd so we bought it.
I updated my flickr account with some of the pictures we snapped. By the time we had walked around downtown for about a half hour my back was killing me. I really think its the shoes. Anyway, we went down to the market and looked at random things, and I even got a neato multicolored velvety top that I simply HAVE to find something to wear with.
I got a job, but am waiting for HRO (Human Resource Office) to call me back to set up an appointment for me to go in and fill in all the necessary paperwork for me to start working. So yay. Is it sad that I've already made a mental list of things I plan to buy with my paycheck? I've also decided that once I start work I will also start working out since Keith and I will be getting off work around the same time. This way it just feels like less hassle. He doesn't have to drive the 15 mins to come home and get me for us to drive the 15 mins back to the base to work out for an hour .. then drive back home.
A week ago I did my first real painting in years, and have already started on another. It isn't leet awesum or anything, but I'm still proud of it because its mine. I'll have to buy new supplies soon though. I have a nice sized canvas, but I need to either FIND a wood frame to staple it to, or just buy new canvases. New paint wouldn't hurt either. So here it is, my painting!
My bright pink hair has faded to a dirty pink - so I'm trying to decide if I want to dye it some other awesome color, or if I want to go back to normal. I really like having wild colored hair. It makes me feel more energetic, and just overall happy. I am definately not cutting my hair again, and am growing it back out to its once wonderous glory. I miss having long hair. I'm still trying to talk Keith into allowing dreds, but so far no dice.
So we walked the 10 or so blocks to downtown where we found a store to buy some sheesha (flavored hookah tobacco) and even a new bowl! We came across a Chinese market where we stopped in to buy some Koalas (its candy) and some sugar coated fish jerky that we haven't eaten yet. We will get around to it though, and I'll post how bad or good it is. It just sounded odd so we bought it.
I updated my flickr account with some of the pictures we snapped. By the time we had walked around downtown for about a half hour my back was killing me. I really think its the shoes. Anyway, we went down to the market and looked at random things, and I even got a neato multicolored velvety top that I simply HAVE to find something to wear with.
I got a job, but am waiting for HRO (Human Resource Office) to call me back to set up an appointment for me to go in and fill in all the necessary paperwork for me to start working. So yay. Is it sad that I've already made a mental list of things I plan to buy with my paycheck? I've also decided that once I start work I will also start working out since Keith and I will be getting off work around the same time. This way it just feels like less hassle. He doesn't have to drive the 15 mins to come home and get me for us to drive the 15 mins back to the base to work out for an hour .. then drive back home.
A week ago I did my first real painting in years, and have already started on another. It isn't leet awesum or anything, but I'm still proud of it because its mine. I'll have to buy new supplies soon though. I have a nice sized canvas, but I need to either FIND a wood frame to staple it to, or just buy new canvases. New paint wouldn't hurt either. So here it is, my painting!
My bright pink hair has faded to a dirty pink - so I'm trying to decide if I want to dye it some other awesome color, or if I want to go back to normal. I really like having wild colored hair. It makes me feel more energetic, and just overall happy. I am definately not cutting my hair again, and am growing it back out to its once wonderous glory. I miss having long hair. I'm still trying to talk Keith into allowing dreds, but so far no dice.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The BEST
This is the BEST tomato juice on the face of the planet. Period.
I had my job interview yesterday and it didn't go too great. I was offered 10 hours a week, which means I would bring in a whopping 40ish bucks a week which really just isn't even worth the time.
So I'm holding out for a full time position. It was really just a big let down because .. well duh.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
When I Say Your Name ...
stand up and say "Here." That will be short for "Here I am, rock you like a hurricane."
So as most everyone has probably noticed I haven't been posting. My daily life has gotten hectic, and I've been looking for a job. I have an interview tomorrow so I'll probably post how that whole thing goes ...
We'll probably be buying another car to make the back and forth easier for us both even though I will be working on the same base as Keith - I may not have the exact same hours. He's also taking another round of classes so things are about to get hectic.
I've taken a haitus from filming in SL - and it never fails that when I do take a break that I get about 10 IMs a day asking me to film a wedding. I'm just tired of the RL strain that filming causes. Keith and I fight because each of us thinks that we did more work than the other, and he just lacks any kind of appreciation or respect for anything I do. I'd rather just do something out of his all seeing eye so that he can't tell me that I don't 'do anything'.
And I almost went off on a rant there, but I somehow contained it.
Off to cook dinner!
So as most everyone has probably noticed I haven't been posting. My daily life has gotten hectic, and I've been looking for a job. I have an interview tomorrow so I'll probably post how that whole thing goes ...
We'll probably be buying another car to make the back and forth easier for us both even though I will be working on the same base as Keith - I may not have the exact same hours. He's also taking another round of classes so things are about to get hectic.
I've taken a haitus from filming in SL - and it never fails that when I do take a break that I get about 10 IMs a day asking me to film a wedding. I'm just tired of the RL strain that filming causes. Keith and I fight because each of us thinks that we did more work than the other, and he just lacks any kind of appreciation or respect for anything I do. I'd rather just do something out of his all seeing eye so that he can't tell me that I don't 'do anything'.
And I almost went off on a rant there, but I somehow contained it.
Off to cook dinner!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Holiday Recap
My holiday was really hectic - even though we didn't go anywhere. Keith and I had our Brit friends over for Christmas dinner and in some ways it was completely hysterical.
Right now I can't remember everything we had - but I made a lot of things which they have NEVER had before. Candied yams, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. I also made a huge friggin' ham, and they brought sausages, spuds, duck and beef. I even picked up a few gifts for them. I ground up some Columbian Supremo coffee for Tree, a 6 pack of IBC Root Beer (which is like the BEST root beer on the face of the planet) for her man, and got her daughter a silly little SpongeBob tin which she squealed over.
We were going to go to London for New Years eve to see the fireworks, but Keith had to work New Years Day so that was out of the question. We wouldn't have made it home in time for him to go to work, but have decided that next year we simply MUST find a way to go.
I had some more dental work done this morning, and I'm hoping that my monthly visit to Dr Barker will be over soon. She's a splendid lady, really - but let's face it: its still a dentist. The entire right side of my head is numb which is making it very difficult to drink my tea!
Keith got me all 7 seasons of Buffy on DVD so we have been watching a few episodes every night. He's really suprised that he likes it. I've been using his tablet more than he has - but he said when he gets an itch he'll play with it.
I'm glad the holidays are over and things are calming down. It seems though this week I will spend hours every day cleaning the house to get it back in order. We had this place SPOTLESS and it seems we got really lazy over the holiday.
Not sure if I posted anything about it - but we got our pictures taken with my haircut and everything was fine. I sent a scanned copy to my friend Stef and it got her "awww" of approval. Keith started his workout routine the other day and I'm sure it won't be long before I follow suit. He said he ran a mile on the treadmill and it was 'a good warm up' and I nearly shat myself. WARMUP?! That would be two days worth of exercise for me! Bah.
My SL stuff has slowed to a crawl. I don't really have the energy for most of it. I don't want to make things - and I don't even want to film anymore. Machinima is the new DJ of SL. Remember how EVERYONE was a DJ once upon a time? Well now days everyone is a 'machinima artist' or 'filmmaker' in SL which makes me want to just spit. Its like .. drawing a stick man and calling yourself an artist. Yeah SOMEONE will consider it art - but overall its just shit. I'm just as stupid for even getting any kind of emotional 'work up' over it but whatever.
We got a magazine in the post this weekend - which had a two page spread of a video we did - which is very cool. Its in French so I can't read it but that doesn't make it any less awesome. I'll have to scan it later and post it. The name of the magazine is VoxPop so check it out if you're in France!
Hmm what else. Did I mention the house is a mess?
Oh. And when coming onto the base today my car was thoroughly searched - which almost made me late for my appointment. I don't know why I am always the one to be 'randomly' searched but it always works out that way. I guess I should be all "well at least they are making sure things are secure" but even though I think that LATER at the time I'm just frustrated.
When you pull up to the gates and they check your military ID and your other card that has all your vehicle info they say "Hello ma'am - if you'll pull up inbetween the cones and wait for further instruction your car is selected for random search." So you pull up - still holding your cards to enter the base and hand it to a guy holding an M16 and with a 9mm on his hip and he smiles and asks "Consent to search?" Right - like you REALLY need my verbal concent, buddy! I mean c'mon! I replied with "Yes sir!" of course - it isn't like there's much of an option. So then he moves to let me open my car door and says "Open all compartments. Hood, trunk, console, glove box - anything that opens." So I open everything in the car - pop the hood and the boot (boot means trunk here in England) then get out and open all four doors.
He still has one hand on his M16 while he puts one hand behind my back to usher me into this little cubby hole of plexi glass or something while another soldier walks out and rummages through my car. "I left my handbag in the car. In case, you know, you all wanted to check it too." The "usher" then tells the bloke searching my car that my handbag is in the car. While in the glass fort I'm asked random questions like "Where are you going?" and "How long will you be on base" while secretly wishing I had taken the other entrance into the base.
Of course everything checks out fine and he hands me my IDs back and close the hood, boot (trunk), 3 doors and slip into the drivers' seat. I close all the inside compartments and stick my base pass on my dash and head off to my appointment. Then once I'm in the dentist's chair and she's sticking a needle in my cheek I silently wish they would have searched more so that I didn't have to be where I was right then.
Military life - gotta love it.
Right now I can't remember everything we had - but I made a lot of things which they have NEVER had before. Candied yams, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. I also made a huge friggin' ham, and they brought sausages, spuds, duck and beef. I even picked up a few gifts for them. I ground up some Columbian Supremo coffee for Tree, a 6 pack of IBC Root Beer (which is like the BEST root beer on the face of the planet) for her man, and got her daughter a silly little SpongeBob tin which she squealed over.
We were going to go to London for New Years eve to see the fireworks, but Keith had to work New Years Day so that was out of the question. We wouldn't have made it home in time for him to go to work, but have decided that next year we simply MUST find a way to go.
I had some more dental work done this morning, and I'm hoping that my monthly visit to Dr Barker will be over soon. She's a splendid lady, really - but let's face it: its still a dentist. The entire right side of my head is numb which is making it very difficult to drink my tea!
Keith got me all 7 seasons of Buffy on DVD so we have been watching a few episodes every night. He's really suprised that he likes it. I've been using his tablet more than he has - but he said when he gets an itch he'll play with it.
I'm glad the holidays are over and things are calming down. It seems though this week I will spend hours every day cleaning the house to get it back in order. We had this place SPOTLESS and it seems we got really lazy over the holiday.
Not sure if I posted anything about it - but we got our pictures taken with my haircut and everything was fine. I sent a scanned copy to my friend Stef and it got her "awww" of approval. Keith started his workout routine the other day and I'm sure it won't be long before I follow suit. He said he ran a mile on the treadmill and it was 'a good warm up' and I nearly shat myself. WARMUP?! That would be two days worth of exercise for me! Bah.
My SL stuff has slowed to a crawl. I don't really have the energy for most of it. I don't want to make things - and I don't even want to film anymore. Machinima is the new DJ of SL. Remember how EVERYONE was a DJ once upon a time? Well now days everyone is a 'machinima artist' or 'filmmaker' in SL which makes me want to just spit. Its like .. drawing a stick man and calling yourself an artist. Yeah SOMEONE will consider it art - but overall its just shit. I'm just as stupid for even getting any kind of emotional 'work up' over it but whatever.
We got a magazine in the post this weekend - which had a two page spread of a video we did - which is very cool. Its in French so I can't read it but that doesn't make it any less awesome. I'll have to scan it later and post it. The name of the magazine is VoxPop so check it out if you're in France!
Hmm what else. Did I mention the house is a mess?
Oh. And when coming onto the base today my car was thoroughly searched - which almost made me late for my appointment. I don't know why I am always the one to be 'randomly' searched but it always works out that way. I guess I should be all "well at least they are making sure things are secure" but even though I think that LATER at the time I'm just frustrated.
When you pull up to the gates and they check your military ID and your other card that has all your vehicle info they say "Hello ma'am - if you'll pull up inbetween the cones and wait for further instruction your car is selected for random search." So you pull up - still holding your cards to enter the base and hand it to a guy holding an M16 and with a 9mm on his hip and he smiles and asks "Consent to search?" Right - like you REALLY need my verbal concent, buddy! I mean c'mon! I replied with "Yes sir!" of course - it isn't like there's much of an option. So then he moves to let me open my car door and says "Open all compartments. Hood, trunk, console, glove box - anything that opens." So I open everything in the car - pop the hood and the boot (boot means trunk here in England) then get out and open all four doors.
He still has one hand on his M16 while he puts one hand behind my back to usher me into this little cubby hole of plexi glass or something while another soldier walks out and rummages through my car. "I left my handbag in the car. In case, you know, you all wanted to check it too." The "usher" then tells the bloke searching my car that my handbag is in the car. While in the glass fort I'm asked random questions like "Where are you going?" and "How long will you be on base" while secretly wishing I had taken the other entrance into the base.
Of course everything checks out fine and he hands me my IDs back and close the hood, boot (trunk), 3 doors and slip into the drivers' seat. I close all the inside compartments and stick my base pass on my dash and head off to my appointment. Then once I'm in the dentist's chair and she's sticking a needle in my cheek I silently wish they would have searched more so that I didn't have to be where I was right then.
Military life - gotta love it.
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