Tuesday, October 26, 2010

*Big sigh*

Well, I know I keep things pretty light on here, but I just need to quickly get something off of my chest, and I figured that this was a good outlet.  I have always been a believer in "vengeance is the Lord's" or letting Karma take care of things, but I feel both have failed me right now.

Without going into details, we'll just say someone that used to be a big part of my life that wronged me in ways I don't really want to think of had something incredible happen to them.  Since the pain that they have caused me, I have seen nothing but good come into their lives.  I am happy with my life, and have recovered from the pain, but sometimes I wonder what being nice gets you anymore.  Seems that those that are deceitful and cheat their way through life get to have it all, while those of us that work hard and are good, honest people get left behind because of it of the wrongdoings of others.

I don't know.  I will get over this and move on.  I always do.  But, I am lacking the faith that I usually possess to get past this, and I don't know how I am going to recover from that.

Friday, October 22, 2010

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #18

Here is another installment of Friday Fill-in!  I really love these things, and they keep me in the bloggy mood.  So, thanks to Wife of a Sailor, and without further ado...


1.  Are you a night owl or an early bird?
Most definitely NOT an early bird.  I hate mornings and I am awful to get out of bed when I have to be somewhere early.  My husband, who IS an early bird, hates this about me, but he has at least learned it is better to wait until I am fully functional before having conversations with me.

2.  What makes you jealous?
This is an interesting question.  What really makes me jealous, although not in a hateful way, is people that had all of the advantages in the world.  People, like my husband, that had their parents pay for college while they lived in the dorms and were able to solely concentrate on their studies.  My freshman year I was 18 and working two jobs just to try and make ends meet.  I also get jealous of those that didn't really work that hard to advance themselves, yet knew someone, and that was enough.  I have worked my butt off to get to the point I am, and hate the "Old Boys Club" I see around here.  Drives me batty!

3.  Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping yet? When will you finish? (There’s only 63 days left!)
I bought my husband one gift already, but that is as far along as I am right now.

4.  What would you have a personal chef make you tonight?
Some delicious smoked BBQ Chicken with cheddar mashed potatoes and sweet corn on the cob with some sort of delicious biscuit or cornbread.  Gosh, I miss food from back home!

5.  Where was your first kiss?
My first real kiss was in my neighbor's barn with one of his friends, who ended up being my first boyfriend for some God unknown reason.  Looking back, that kiss was awful!  I think he tried to swallow my head!  But, my parents still own the house I grow up in, and it is kind of funny to look back at that old barn.  Thank goodness I have upgraded kissers (and men) since then!

Monday, October 18, 2010

The AF Birthday Ball

So, the weekend was super busy and filled with some fun, and not so fun, things.  The not so fun things dealt with term papers and homework, but I did happen to get it all done in plenty of time AND still watch my Dolphins win on Sunday.  Go Phins!

The fun thing that I had planned could have went either way.  We went to the Air Force's Birthday Ball.  Now, I have been to many Army Balls, but not AF ones, so I wasn't sure how they would be different, or if they would even be different.  This one turned out to be...well, ok!  The food was ok, we were in a hanger, which wasn't that great, but worked, and I found out that Tops in Blue is MUCH cheesier than the Army Soldier Show, but I was with my husband, who looked great in his mess dress!  He wore his blues for our wedding because we had a casual ceremony, so this was my first opportunity, and he did not disappoint!  His commander sat at our table and was quite a hoot to be around, and his wife was really nice too.  His First Sergeant came stag and was quite entertaining to see bounce all around making sure things were on point.  We danced, we drank (just a little), and we laughed with friends.  So all in all it was an awesome night!

The only thing that I will complain about is that it is a trend at the army balls to give away the centerpieces.  Well, no one took ours, so at the end of the night we decided to take it.  As we were leaving, they totally stopped us and made us return it.  Busted!  Thanks for being so cheap, Air Force!

A picture of my hair at the end of the night.  Still looked great!
The obligatory "prom pose."

Inside the hanger.
Tops in Blue.
Our awesome friends showing us how to party!
Us, very relieved to call it a night.

Friday, October 15, 2010

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #17

It's Friday!  I took the day off of work today to get caught up on school stuff, and much to my dismay the website where I need to do my work is down for maintenance.  It is such a pain to be overseas sometimes, because convenient times for stateside maintenance are inconvenient for me.

So, without further ado, it is...


1. What are some things on your bucket list? (from New Girl on Post)

I don't really have a bucket list, and am fortunate to have done the huge things that I have always wanted to do early in life (such as live overseas, see Europe, etc.), but I guess there are a few more things out there.  I would really like to visit Asia, get my Master's Degree, swim with dolphins, master a new talent, see a Miami Dolphins game in Miami (I know, I know...go Phins!), and own a home.  This makes me want to create a bucket list now!

2. How long have you been a MilSpouse and where have you been stationed so far? (from Raising Roscoe)

I have just been married for five and a half months now, so not very long.  I have only lived in my home state of Indiana and here in Germany.  I should be expanding that list in the summer, though!

3. What is a list of songs that sums up your life so far? (from Confessions of a Sailor’s Wife)

I can't say that there is really a list that I have.  I will say that the song "God Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts about sums up my love life, though.  Actually, it is Joel and I's song.  I have struggled a lot to figure out who I am and what makes me happy, and it took a long time for me to realize that I do deserve that "dream guy" that everyone always told me didn't exist.  I went through a lot of heartbreak to realize that settling doesn't make someone happy, and traveled down a broken road that let me straight to Joel.  I heart him.

4. What is your favorite kind of pizza?

Nothing will ever compare to the pizza here in Europe.  It is fabu, and I haven't been able to repeat it when I have visited the states.  I love just a good ole' pizza margherita, which is just cheese pizza.  Here in Europe it is so thin and so tasty, I want to take in the cheese, sauce, and crust, and not overwhelm with anything else.  My favorite pizza place back home is a tiny mom and pop place called Ballpark Pizza.  Simply delicious.  But I still stick to just cheese, please.

5. What are three good things in your life right now?
The first is my marriage.  Joel and I have had few growing pains, as I am sure that most couples do, but we are still madly in love in that honeymoon kind of stage.  He still calls me just to say he loves me, we still hold hands whenever we can and are always cuddling, and he sings to me at night when I can't sleep, and tells me how beautiful he thinks I am every morning.  I don't think I could love anyone more.

My family back home.  Even though we aren't very close, and I can't say that I miss them all of the time, we are a tight group that will always be there for each other.  My mom is stubborn as sin, my dad is stall a frat boy, and my sister is sweet and innocent as punch.  But, they are all good people and I have been blessed in my life to be affected by them.  For better or worse, they have made me who I am, and I couldn't imagine having any other family.

My friends.  I may not have a bazillion friends, but the ones that I do have, that I can actually consider true friends, are wonderful.  They are all different, but very caring and good people, and they add a lot to my life.  I feel truly blessed in general :)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Budapest...check!

Ok, so I lied last time.  I swear I will eventually post my pictures from London, but I am still on a "Hungary high."  Budapest was so much more than we expected!  It was a relaxing trip, for once, and I am really glad we chose to go.  It was a really random, last minute trip, but a definite recommendation.

So, here are five things about Budapest!

1.  It is pronounced not the way it is spelled, but like "booda pesht."  We were reminded of this several times throughout our trip.


2.  Budapest has the cutest restaurants/cafes that I have ever seen!  I fell in love with this cafe that we just happened to stop off at right before we left the city.  Best part of our trip.  Also, they make some excellent Italian pizza.  Who knew?

 3.  Budapest definitely makes its money off of sex.  Someone I work with, before I left, said it was called "booty fest."  I laughed it off until I got there.  There were fliers for "free pick up" from the escort service and free champagne with "purchase."  Hmm...  However, I never felt nervous or threatened while I was there.  It is just a part of their life, I guess.

 4.  Budapest is called 'the city of spas" and it did not disappoint!  Spas are different in Europe then the states.  They are not so much about the treatments, but about the water of the pools.  Budapest has hot spring thermal baths that are really healthy for you to just lay in.  We want to Rudas spa, which is a Turkish bath that was built during the 16th century during the Turkish occupation.  We weren't there very long, but I would recommend going to one and just relax.


5.  We thought that the city was very old, and were excited to see, as Joel puts it, "Old Stuff."  We found out that while the city itself is old and while it looks old, it was mostly destroyed in WWII.  So, they decided to rebuild the city exactly how it was before the war.  Small and crazy roads and all.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Is it really October?

Wow, September really flew by, didn't it?  Well, at least we didn't waste the time.  The day after Joel's parents arrived we were busy, busy!  First stop was my favorite fall wine fest at Bern-Kastel Kues.  It is right near the Mosel river, and a beautiful, picturesque little town.  Everyone seemed to have a good time, and we left with our bellies full of good food and even better wine.

Joel's parents and us in Bern Kastel Kues.
The Mosel
The fest.
The entertainment
The crowd

It really was a wonderful time.  After spending so much time with Joel's parents, I really do realized I am blessed to have them as a part of my family.  They are truly wonderful people, and I hope that in forty years, Joel and I are still as happy and in love as they are with each other.

Well, more to come later.  Up next...London!

Friday, October 1, 2010

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #15

Hello all!  I am on a bloggy role!  Two in a row now.  And, I hope to post more posts of substance soon.  I have just been so overwhelmed lately.  Midterms are this week, I haven't felt well at all, I have a friend that has been more drama than friend lately, and Joel has been working a ton of hours in preparation for something at work, so I have just been going to work, doing school stuff, and sleeping.  So, here's for a better weekend!  And, without further ado...


1.  What is the silliest get-up you have ever worn outside of a Halloween party? (from To The Nth)

Have you ever heard of the Rocky Horror Picture Show?  If not google it; I'll wait.  Our base does a production of this show every year and I participate because one, I like acting and the theater, and two, it is a huge fundrasier, and three...well, I get to be silly and have fun.  Well, my favorite part to play is Frank N Furter.  Here is what he looks like.  And yes, I play a man who plays a transvestite.

For those that know me in real life, they KNOW that I am very conservative and that I don't dress in anything this close to scandalous.  So, while it makes me very self-conscious, once the show starts I throw caution to the wind!  This is my rebelliousness that I do once a year.  And also my silliest get-up :)

2.  What is something that you gave up in order to live the military lifestyle? (from Pennies from Heaven)

Control.  This is a big thing for me, too, because I am a bit of a control freak!  I can't control where I live, when I move, or any normal things like that without jeopardizing my time with my husband, which I get less of than I would like anyways.  Is it worth it?  Well, I would give up a lot of things to be with the love of my life.  Is it easy?  Heck no!

3.  If money wasn’t a factor and you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? And why? (from Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl)
This is really hard, because I have been fortunate enough to visit so many of the places that I dreamed about.  So, the big one still lingering out there is Australia.  I would love to visit there.  It looks so beautiful, plus I would like to see all of the natural wildlife and go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.  Maybe one day!

4.  If you were going to join the military, what branch would you join? Or which MOS/rating would you choose? (from And You Never Did Think)

The Navy!  They get to be out on the ocean (and I love the water!) and visit some very exotic places.  Plus, they have dolphin trainers!  How cool would that be for an animal lover such as myself?  Of course, this would only be preferable if I was single.  Being married, I wouldn't want to be in any branch.  One service member per household for me, please!

5.  What is your favorite thing to make for dinner? (from Armendinger Party of 4)

This one is easy!  It is a cheese and spinach tortelloni with a garlic and Parmesan cream sauce with smoked salmon bits in it.  Heaven!!!  And, of course, topped off with one of my favorite wines.