Oh, Friday. I've been waiting for you all week! And I am super stoked that you have finally arrived.
So, this week ends a grueling summer term at grad school. And I know classes just ended yesterday, but I am excessively checking for my grades that have not yet appeared? Does/did anyone else do this? I am a bit obsessive! With only five more classes to go, I am still holding onto my 4.0, and anything that could change that makes me go bonkers! In one class, I am pretty sure I am getting an A, but in the other...who knows.
Friday is also the start of the last full weekend until the hubster gets home! I swear, work should let me take sick leave to mentally prepare. And if I wasn't such an awesome, stellar employee, I might have used it anyways. But I am a horrid liar (call it Catholic guilt), so alas, all next week I will be (im)patiently awaiting for my hubby's arrival, whenever that will be.
Tomorrow also marks the day of the Tap N Run! What is it, you say? It's about the silliest race ever, but a new friend invited me along with her group of girlies, so I am excited to go. You can read all about it here. I am excited. I'm not a beer drinker, so I will be opting for the non-alcoholic refreshment offered (why can''t they just have wine?!), but it looks like it is shaping up to be a blast. Plus we are running in costume. Yes, we will be superheroes. I am going as sidekick Robin. I even have a cape! You don't have to wait for the photos in order to imagine the shenanigans that are going to ensue.
Other than that, things are going to be pretty low key. And for once, I really like it that way.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Welcome to Sweetie Pie's
So, does anyone watch Oprah's new network? I never have (not for lack of caring but for lack of spare time), but a friend of mine mentioned that there was a reality show airing on OWN that featured a restaurant in our fare city of St. Louis. Say, what? How did I not know this? What rock have I been under? So, of course I had to see if the hype was worth it. We set out to experience the place for ourselves. (You can read all about it here)
We arrived on a Saturday morning at about 11:15. We walked in, and almost walked right back out after we saw the line. It wrapped around inside of the restaurant a few times. The price of fame, I suppose. They were filming that day, and we couldn't back out after we made the trek there. So, we stuck it out. Sweetie Pie's is a southern homestyle cooking restaurant, but rather than a traditional sitdown dinner like I expected, it was served cafeteria style. So, the line didn't take too long. It was so hard to decide what to eat, so my friend and I just decided to go with a bunch of sides in order to get the most out of our trip.
The place only has certain items available on select days, but I went ahead with the mac and cheese, corn, and mashed potatoes. Oh, and a side of corn bread. Sodas and tea and such were all canned, so unfortunately I didn't get the homemade sweet tea that I was craving. But, I got a strawberry soda, which was pretty yummy.
So, the review: The mashed potatoes wee pretty good. Buttery and creamy as expected. The cornbread and corn were a disappointment, but maybe others would like them. I am a sweet corn kind of girl, and expected a spoon bread concoction and sweet as sin corn. The corn was some sort of southwest corn with onions and peppers (not my kind of flavor) and the cornbread was, well...kind of dry and lacking flavor, to be honest. But the mac and cheese? Best that I have ever had in my life! I don't know exactly how to describe it. It was cheesy and creamy, with the right amount of breading on it (like a mac and cheese casserole). Oh my gosh, if the place wasn't so darned busy, I would have gone back for seconds! So amazing and totally worth the caloric intake. Can't say enough about the deliciousness there.
The staff were all super friendly, and I loved everyone calling me "sweety" or "baby" like my mamaw used to do. All in all, a pretty neat experience, but to me, not worth the hype food wise. But would I recommend it to other? Absolutely. You can't leave this world without trying their mac and cheese.
We arrived on a Saturday morning at about 11:15. We walked in, and almost walked right back out after we saw the line. It wrapped around inside of the restaurant a few times. The price of fame, I suppose. They were filming that day, and we couldn't back out after we made the trek there. So, we stuck it out. Sweetie Pie's is a southern homestyle cooking restaurant, but rather than a traditional sitdown dinner like I expected, it was served cafeteria style. So, the line didn't take too long. It was so hard to decide what to eat, so my friend and I just decided to go with a bunch of sides in order to get the most out of our trip.
The place only has certain items available on select days, but I went ahead with the mac and cheese, corn, and mashed potatoes. Oh, and a side of corn bread. Sodas and tea and such were all canned, so unfortunately I didn't get the homemade sweet tea that I was craving. But, I got a strawberry soda, which was pretty yummy.
So, the review: The mashed potatoes wee pretty good. Buttery and creamy as expected. The cornbread and corn were a disappointment, but maybe others would like them. I am a sweet corn kind of girl, and expected a spoon bread concoction and sweet as sin corn. The corn was some sort of southwest corn with onions and peppers (not my kind of flavor) and the cornbread was, well...kind of dry and lacking flavor, to be honest. But the mac and cheese? Best that I have ever had in my life! I don't know exactly how to describe it. It was cheesy and creamy, with the right amount of breading on it (like a mac and cheese casserole). Oh my gosh, if the place wasn't so darned busy, I would have gone back for seconds! So amazing and totally worth the caloric intake. Can't say enough about the deliciousness there.
The staff were all super friendly, and I loved everyone calling me "sweety" or "baby" like my mamaw used to do. All in all, a pretty neat experience, but to me, not worth the hype food wise. But would I recommend it to other? Absolutely. You can't leave this world without trying their mac and cheese.
A pic of our meals, from my friend's point of view.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Military gods
The military gods aren't like regular "gods." While they are mythical, and you do pray for them to do their magic, you don't really pray to them. You pray to your God for them to work their magic, and sometimes do a little rain-esque dance in hopes that things will go your way. Those spouses that have been around the proverbial military block know what I mean when I say they rarely, if ever, bring good news into your life.
Well, the military gods are smiling down on me right now. I thought my beloved husband would be back at the earliest in the middle of August, but more likely the end o fit. However, unless the gods change their minds (which they can be known to do), my dear, amazing husband will be back home with me in less than three weeks! I am ecstatic! I dare not tick off the military gods that be, and if you could all do a little wiggle dance to the gods for me, I would be eternally grateful.
Less than three weeks! Can you believe it?! I can't believe this deployment is thisclose to being over.
Well, the military gods are smiling down on me right now. I thought my beloved husband would be back at the earliest in the middle of August, but more likely the end o fit. However, unless the gods change their minds (which they can be known to do), my dear, amazing husband will be back home with me in less than three weeks! I am ecstatic! I dare not tick off the military gods that be, and if you could all do a little wiggle dance to the gods for me, I would be eternally grateful.
Less than three weeks! Can you believe it?! I can't believe this deployment is thisclose to being over.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Changes
So, I’ve gone through a lot of changes lately. They’re not all tangible, and some are wanted more than others. Some have caused indecision, some unhappiness, and some peace. I’ll explain as much as I can.
This deployment has challenged me. It’s not even over yet, but I feel like I have grown as a person so much more because of it. In the time Joel has been gone, I have had two minor surgeries, refinished my kitchen countertops, needed a new roof put on because of a crazy hail storm, dealt with two different infestations of ants (gross!), gone from working fulltime to substitute teaching and interning back to working fulltime, completed 6 more classes towards my Master’s degree, had indecision about what to do with my life (in the middle of all the work/school change stuff), gained new friends with whose relationship I hope will continue to grow, have had to back away from other friendships that were poisonous, and dealt with a lot of loneliness and disappointment, but also have had my faith redeemed in humanity. I know, a lot of contradiction, huh?
I have always tried to figure out where I “fit,” and am starting to be comfortable with the idea that maybe I don’t fit in a tiny little box that defines me. It makes me sad sometimes, because if I don’t fit anywhere, then who am I? But I am working through that. I don’t feel like I “fit” as a military wife. I hate moving, I have way too many control issues, and I have too many plans of my own that I know may possible never be. But, I love Joel with all of my being, so I make it work. I just feel like I work too hard to fit in a community that I feel uncomfortable around as a spouse.
I have always been career oriented, but have been struggling with what that looks like and if I can really accomplish the professional satisfaction that I crave. I am meant to work. I am meant to make a way for myself. But, I struggle with making those gains and then losing them with a move or not having similar or challenging opportunities at the next base.
This deployment has challenged me. It’s not even over yet, but I feel like I have grown as a person so much more because of it. In the time Joel has been gone, I have had two minor surgeries, refinished my kitchen countertops, needed a new roof put on because of a crazy hail storm, dealt with two different infestations of ants (gross!), gone from working fulltime to substitute teaching and interning back to working fulltime, completed 6 more classes towards my Master’s degree, had indecision about what to do with my life (in the middle of all the work/school change stuff), gained new friends with whose relationship I hope will continue to grow, have had to back away from other friendships that were poisonous, and dealt with a lot of loneliness and disappointment, but also have had my faith redeemed in humanity. I know, a lot of contradiction, huh?
I have always tried to figure out where I “fit,” and am starting to be comfortable with the idea that maybe I don’t fit in a tiny little box that defines me. It makes me sad sometimes, because if I don’t fit anywhere, then who am I? But I am working through that. I don’t feel like I “fit” as a military wife. I hate moving, I have way too many control issues, and I have too many plans of my own that I know may possible never be. But, I love Joel with all of my being, so I make it work. I just feel like I work too hard to fit in a community that I feel uncomfortable around as a spouse.
I have always been career oriented, but have been struggling with what that looks like and if I can really accomplish the professional satisfaction that I crave. I am meant to work. I am meant to make a way for myself. But, I struggle with making those gains and then losing them with a move or not having similar or challenging opportunities at the next base.
I struggle with the fact that I am 28 and have no desire to have biological children of my own. Will this ever change? Maybe. But, in my current position I am constantly made to feel like there is something wrong with me or that I have misplaced values. Would I love to adopt? Absolutely, but Joel isn’t there yet. Do I love kids? Mostly, lol. I have had a heart for every student in every classroom that I have been in, and hold my goddaughter in a precious place in my heart. I just don’t have the urge to bear children of my own. That is my decision, and I wish that others (some that I barely even know) would cease to have an opinion of that.
If you got this far, thanks for listening to my rambling. It’s been so long since I have really REALLY blogged, and while I have the desire, I sometimes refrain for fear of what others might say. But, this is my blog and my personal space, so I hope that you all don’t disown me for my crazy rambles that I throw out there every now and then.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The Fourth of July
So, I am going to be Debbie Downer for a second. Wanna know what my least favorite holiday is? The Fourth of July. I believe that it has lost all significant meaning to most of America. I posted something on my FB to this extent and then quickly deleted it because I have many other fellow military spouses and service members on my page, and usually the military at least recognizes the day for what it is. This day marks the day of our country’s independence. We fought for freedom, and won. We were on mark to become one of the greatest nations that the world had ever seen, and many men, women, and families gave up everything they had in pursuit of that freedom. So to all past, present, and future persons that truly believe and fought for that concept, thank you.
Has anyone watched “Newsroom” yet on HBO? If not, and you can, do. It is one of the most intelligent shows I have seen in quite some time. And they said it perfectly. When the main character was asked why America was the greatest country in the world he said: “it’s not, but it could be.” Truer words were never spoken.
It’s not about fireworks. And even though fireworks were banned in my town this year because of the extreme heat/dryness that could lead to potential disaster (and home did catch on fire because people refused to listen), drunken neighbors thought that the day would be incomplete if they didn’t shoot them off until midnight. Those that had to work today (like myself) and parents of little ones, I am sure, didn’t appreciate that. And people, don’t complain because it falls on a Wednesday and you’re not going to get a long weekend. That’s not the point. And don’t settle for complacency in your everyday life. Strive to make America great again, and if you do, God Bless you and your families. We are America, and honestly, I believe our forefathers would be disappointed in the state we allowed our country to be in. But, I believe in the concept, and still have hope that we will one day become the greatest nation on earth.
End rant and rambling.
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