Shane made me do it!

SHANE MADE ME DO IT!

1. Book or movie and why?
 

A movie for me.  If I am reading a book and it does not automatically catch my attention I will put it away and probably never pick it back up.  I go to the movies about once a week lately and I have enjoyed a lot of the movies that I didn't think that I would.  Most of them I was asked to go to and at first I was hesitant, but I am glad I went in the end.  Now if that was a book it would still be collecting dust.  For some reason I only like reading books that I can relate to.  And well most aren't as crazy as my life :)

    

2. Real book or e-book?

NEITHER~! I just told you I prefer movies!  GHEEZ pay attention!

3. Funniest thing you've done in the last 5 years?

I am a comedian, I do something funny every day.  This isn't really that funny to some but to me it is hilarious.  So, I have to be to work by 0615 every morning and I don't usually leave work until about 1930 or later.  Usually I get home, take a shower, eat something and fall asleep(after brushing my teeth of course).  Well this particular night I was exhausted and I didn't feel like cooking anything.  I looked in the freezer and I had a drumstick ice cream cone(yep, dinner of a BEAST).  I laid down with my ice crrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmm and woke up with my face and hair stuck to my pillow.  Yep, I fell asleep eating my drumstick and it melted all over me and my bed!  I still can't believe I thought laying down eating an ice cream cone was a good idea.    

4. Do you put yourself into the books you read/write or the movies you watch? 
    Books, no way!  Movies, yes sometimes.  Especially love stories :)

5. How would your best friend describe you?

As a crazy beast!

6. Favorite kind of car and why?

I don't really have a favorite one, but I sure do love my 2011 Ford Ranger Sport Edition.  Her name is Black Beauty Baby Beast and I love her to death. 

7. Would your choice of party be a catered meal or barbecue out back?

That's right, SERVE ME!  Although if I had a barbecue, the fire department would come and maybe they would be sexy.  Oh but that is right, with my luck they would be old and fat and hairy as hell, have a wedding ring on but yet still flirt.

8. What's your favorite season and why?

      I like summer.  Because I love the beach and hot weather.  I hate being cold.  Take that cold crap elsewhere.

9. What specific lesson have you learned - Spiritual, educational, occupational?
     Spiritual- sometimes prayers are answered we just don't realize it at the time

     Educational- online courses are hard to do when you are extremely busy

     Occupational -that sometimes when you write a counseling Soldier, even if they are a male Soldier they might start crying!  Oh yes and that no matter how awesome you are at your job there will be people who don't appreciate you!

10. Besides writing, what's your favorite thing to do when you get some extra time?
      

I try to always stay in touch with my family.  If I'm not traveling to see them I am on the phone with them.  What can I say, I have a crazy family but I love them all.

11. What's one place you can be found at least one time every week?
        STARBUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pop a squat

Before I get started, I just have to say my blog is more just thoughts and not nearly as creative as other blogs like my brother in laws!
I am hoping that by writing this someone can help me to better understand this whole "no public restrooms."

The other day, my mother was at a quilting store where she had spent a fair amount of money.  My father was with her and was brother who is disabled was with them but decided he wanted to stay in the car as he was tired from bowling.  When my dad went to go check on my brother he had to go to the bathroom.  A few years ago, my brother was diagnosed with colon cancer and has a history of bathroom accidents.  So rather than try hold it until they got home my dad took my brother into the quilting store and to the back where the sign said restrooms.  As they headed in, the owner started hollering at my father that there was not any public restrooms and they could not use the restroom.  My dad explained to her that my brother was disabled. She still refused to allow my brother to use the restroom and apparently her and my father got into a huge argument (which is kind of common).  I told my mother its a good thing I was not there because I would have had my brother shit on the floor in the middle of her store.
My mom was scheduled to take a quilting class at a later date and my dad told her she needed to cancel   it after this incident.  When my mom called to cancel the class she talked to the owner (the same woman who refused to allow my brother to use the restroom).  The owner apologized to my mother stating that she did not realize that my father and brother were with her and that they were actual customers.  And that she has a disabled son so she would have never denied a disabled customer to use the restroom.
So, hopefully someone can help me understand.  What is the point of not allowing customers to use your restroom in your place of business?  Because people leave a mess?  Okay, so who's to say that just because I buy something in your store I am not going to make a big mess?  Also, don't you have employees who get paid?  Or better yet if you are so worried about it, get an outside janitorial service.  I just don't get it.  To me, it just seems so ANTI-customer.  Believe me, if I was in a store and looking around ready to buy something and asked for a restroom and they told me they didn't have a public restroom, I would put my stuff down and walk out.  What happened to customer friendly places of business these days?  Everyone seems to be so concerned about themselves.  
At what point does someone not qualify as part of the public, which makes them eligible to use the restroom?
I can't tell my mom what to do, but I am really hoping that she finds another store to buy her quilting material and take classes at.  Because whether he was paying or not, she refused to allow my brother to use her restroom, simply because she didn't think he was a paying customer.  She admitted she knew her was handicap, but she said unless he was a paying customer she wouldn't have allowed him.  In the end she denied him from using the restroom.  If I was home, I think I would personally go and take a nice squat in front of her store everyday!!!

Fatty McGee

All my life I have been tiny and athletic.  I have always had an awesome metabolism and could eat anything I wanted.  And I sure did.  I drink Mt. Dew like I need it to  survive and Starbucks is something I have convinced myself that my body needs.  Well, I hit 30 and got pregnant.  I am not so tiny anymore.  While my son is not even 8 weeks yet, I am not happy with where my body is at.  But whos fault is that? Mine.  I have been off work for almost 8 weeks and I have been to the gym about 4 times, ran 2 or three times and did a workout in my house 3 or so times.  But now it is time to get serious!  I refuse to wear a one piece swimming suit, I dont like dealing with the ultimate wedgey that they give you!

Everyone talks about insanity and how it works wonders!! I have decided to give it a try!! And I am gonna bring you along with me on my journey. Although you don't have to break a sweat!

Today was my first day, and it was the day of the fitness test!!! I was sweating in the warmup!!! But overall I did pretty good.  I drank 3 whole bottles of water while doing the 25 minute workout and I still feel like I am going to die.  Good thing I am on leave because I need a nap!  But I am excited and I am eating healthy and trying to cut out Starbucks!!!  After my nap I plan on taking the stroller and going for a little run.  I have included my photos from today and I will continue to post pictures to show my progress!

So, I have shared what I am doing to get.back down in weight.  What is the craziest thing you have ever done to lose weight?

Army girl beats down Boy Scout

So last night I was driving down Raeford road to a friends house, listening to music and probably texting while driving as I usually do.  Although I was texting and driving I was still observing everything that was going on around me. I have this amazing ability to observe everything that is going on around me. I come to the red light and stop(I was probably about 3 cars back).  That's when I see the first car on my side stop at the red light and then proceed to head down the wrong side of the road, nearly hitting several cars head on.  I immediately dial 911 and get connected as I start heading down the road.  Explaining to the dispatcher that there is an older style ford pickup traveling down the wrong side of the road.  The dispatcher asks me what I mean the car is heading down the wrong side of the road.  I really wanted to reply, " what the hell do you think I mean dumb ass, I said he is driving down the wrong side of the road." For those of you who don't know, Raeford road is a very busy road that has two lanes traveling in each direction, with businesses and schools on both sides.  Cars are going off the road to avoid the truck and I am yelling at the dispatcher that they need to get someone out there before he hits someone head on and kills them.  That is when the truck went off the road and crashed into the ditch.  I immediately stop my truck and run across the road to see if anyone is hurt.  The entire front end of the truck is smashed in and the truck is beginning to smoke.  The dispatcher asks me how many people are in the truck and I tell her there is one older black gentleman in the front seat.  At this time, another female arrived to assist.  The dispatcher instructs me not to touch the gentleman unless absolutely necessary, but to open the door and to see if he is hurt.  I can see the gentleman breathing very hard and he is just moaning. There was no airbag or anything.  He is just laying over in his seat moaning, but he was wearing his seatbelt.  It seemed like it took forever for the police and ambulance to arrive.  Thank god, the truck stopped smoking because I was not sure that all 112 lbs of me could have pulled this man out of the truck.  The police and EMS approach the truck and begin to work on removing the man.  I watch as EMS is checking to see if the man is breathing.  In the meantime, two men show up.  One being around I would say, 45 and the other maybe 23, both wearing the Boy Scout uniform.  The younger one starts running his mouth asking if the guy is okay and saying someone told him about the accident and how the guy was going down the wrong side of the road and almost hitting people head on.  The boy scout goes on to saying how this guy has to be totally drunk and he almost killed people and how there is no way that he is sober and they should arrest him.  I turned to him and said, you know you really shouldn't jump to conclusions, he could have had a medical condition.  And the guy tells me there is no way that someone that is sober could be driving down the road going to the wrong way for that long if they were sober.  This pissed me off, because I was almost positive the gentleman driving the truck had a medical condition.  He looked close to 70.  Anyhow, the boy scout continued on about drunk this and drinking and driving this.  It pissed me off, so I turned to him and said, "what are you even doing here?"  I said, "you didn't even see the accident, and what are you doing here to help, nothing, you are just jumping to conclusions and getting in the way, so why don't you just get the hell out of here," (there were a few select words I have removed to keep it G rating).  I was so pissed.  He of course apologized and left.  I wanted to punch this boy scout in the face so bad.  I was so pissed that he had already passed judgement on this elderly man who he knew nothing about.  Honestly, many say that I don't have a heart, but my heart was breaking as they were loading the elderly man from the truck on to the board.  When they got up out of the ditch, I could see that his hands were curled and stiff, like he had just had a stroke. My heart sunk.  Although this man had suffered some type of medical condition, this situation could have been much worse.  One being he could have hit someone head on and injured them or killed them, he could have been severally hurt in the truck, the truck could have caught on fire and I could have lost my temper with the boy scout and punched him in the face like I wanted to and have ended up in jail.  The police officer later asked me if I was military and I said yes, he asked if I was a drill sergeant and when I told him no, he told me I should be.  He thanked me for all of my help and for cussing out the boy scout.  

I will end with this:  don't be so quick as to pass judgement on someone you don't know.  

I do...divorce you

Wow, it is has been so long since I have added anything to this.  My writing has gotten terrible so bare with me.  

The other day at work I had a guy say to me, "you really need to hurry up and get married and have some kids, you are getting really old."  I just kind of laughed at him, since I am only 30 and just turned 30 two months ago.  But the sad thing is, it is not only him that thinks this way.  

Being in the military, has turned me against marriage more and more, especially in the field that I work in.  I read about all these domestic violence cases and all of these women calling in saying that their spouses are not paying them enough to live (even though they just got back from a cruise with their present boyfriend). I see so many people rush into marriages and get engaged two weeks after meeting someone.  How can you possibly think you know someone after that short of period of time?  What, because you know the first name and last name?  

Prime example:  I had someone who used to be in the same unit as me on my facebook page.  Really didn't care much about him or what his profile updates were.  He friend requested me while I was in Iraq and instead of being mean and denying it, I went ahead and accepted it.  (Yes, sometimes I have a nice side).  Anyhow, immediately after I changed my status from "in a relationship" to "single" he started messaging me telling me I was beautiful and so on.  I blew him off.  Long story short...about two weeks ago, he posted a picture of him and this girl and called her his fiance.  I made a joke and said, "guess I missed out."  The fiance, posing as him responded, we have been together a month and are happy.  Me being who I am responded with, " a month and now you are engaged?"  WOW.  In North Carolina the law requires a couple to be separated for a year before they can file for divorce.  I told this young couple that their separation was probably going to last longer than their marriage.  Two days later, I received a phone call from an investigator trying to locate the female because she was not paying on her car and there were several other things the investigator needed to speak to her about.  Oh yes, I let the guy know so hopefully he would know what he was about to marry.  If it wasn't already too late.

I dont know if maybe it is because I am so independant that I don't ever want to rush into a marriage or just because I don't want to ever have to deal with a divorce.  I look at these young people who are going on their third marriage and I just don't get it.  Is it me?  Or is it normal not to want to rush into a marriage with someone I don't know?

Todays random thoughts

I am going to do my best to type this blog.  But for some reason, my MAC has decided to have a mind of its own.  I don't do very well keeping up with this blog, but I try.  Today, I have some free time and don't really have anything particular to write about.  So I have decided to share all the random things that are on my mind.

Okay, let me start with while I I appreciate every branch of the military and what they do for our country, I am a little annoyed with the Air Force right now.  No, I am not jealous of the leisures they have, I just do not understand it.  I see all these females come in the USO at that I am stuck at, they have their shorts rolled super high, their hair in pony tails and they have enough makeup on to be in a broadway show.  Oh yes and lets not forget, they are wearing earrings.  I must say that I am glad that these Army has not adopted these rules or this relaxed style.  To me, it looks completely unprofessional.  We are Soldiers, or as they call theirselves, Airmen.  I did not come to Iraq to find me a boyfriend or to find me someone to play around with.  I did not even bring makeup with me.  I why just really wonder why the Air Force decided it needed its females to look like females.  I mean come on.  In war, there is no such thing as gender.  We are all Soldiers!  
Here is the other reason I am on the Air Force kick right now.  Being stuck at the USO/passenger terminal for the last couple days, I have been pretty bored.  Although I have tried to take advantage of the time and catch up on my school work, continue eating right and last night I finally found the gym so I decided to work out.  Well it is a TINY gym with 4 treadmills, two bikes and about 3 other machines.  Well there was an air force female in there running.  I have not worked out in a while but I started out on the treadmill. I ran one mile at a pretty good pace to start out, I was then headed to the bike.  When I went to step off the treadmill, the Air Force female said to me, "really, that is all you got, I thought you Army people are supposed to be all Hooah Hooah."  I just kind of looked at her shook my head and walked over to the bike, which I rode for 7 miles.  In the middle of me biking, the Air Force female finished her slow pace run and was about to exit the building when she then said to me, "I thought the Army was all about running?"  I once again, gave her this look like "really?"  And I replied to her, "I don't know what you are out to prove, but I am not here to compete with you, I simply came to work out, so if you don't mind, I am going to continue my workout."  Really deep inside I wanted to say to her, "look her you dumb bitch, if you really want to see who is stronger we can.  But the mature side of me kicked in and said just blow her off.  Little did she know that after that 7miles on the bike I went back and ran another mile on the treadmill.  But I hate that the branches of the Armed Forces are out to compete with each other.  We are all on the same team.  We all have the same mission!  Okay enough about that.

With all this talk of Obama pulling all these troops out of Afghanistan, does that mean that he is still going to make sure that all troops are pulled out of Iraq by Dec 31, 2011?  It would be nice to know when I was coming home.  I love my job, I love my country and I love serving my country.  But the not knowing of when I am coming home, is annoying!!  I don't mind staying if that is what is decided but damn, stop making us wait to find out.  Just tell us what is going on and when we are going home.

I am currently stuck at Joint Base Balad in some part of Iraq.  What doesn't make sense to me, is how they fly me here, knowing this is not my final destination, when there are no flights scheduled to my destination for several days?  Why wouldn't they have flown me to one of the other bases in Iraq that fly to my destination more often?  Doesn't that make sense?  Come on Air Force, that would make sense!!!

I have so much I want to do when I get back...obviously I want to see my friends and family.  But I would really like to get out to Mass to see the boys I used to nanny for and my friend Montana.  It has been way too long.  The boys I nannied for are all growing up so fast.  The first set of boys that I nannied for in Mass, the Falzarano boys are all growing into young men.  The middle second oldest just graduated High School the other day and he was like 10 when I nannied for him.  It is crazy to me.

Sorry my thoughts have been really random today!  I don't really have one thought on my mind today!  But I might come back in a few and write another one.
But for now, that is all.  Thanks for reading!

Mixed emotions of coming home for a few weeks....but mainly WAHOOO I can not WAIT!!!!

Well I am currently in Baghdad, Iraq, or better yet, I am at Camp Victory Base, Iraq.  It is hot here, but it is also beautiful.  There are palm trees, palaces and so far it has been absolutely quiet.  I am enjoying it.  I wonder if it is because it is something different from what I have seen in the last 3 months or if I would truly enjoy it better than where I am currently deployed to?  I am here for a court-martial proceeding that should only last about 30 minutes maximum, and even that is if there were something crazy to happen.  In a few days I should be heading home.  There are mixed emotions about this.  Obviously most of my feelings are, I can not wait, I am so excited.  But at the same time, I worry about these things, as simple as they are, yes I worry:

(by the way they are not in any type of order)

1.)  I worry that my dog is not going to recognize me or remember me and that will break my heart.  Since before I left, he was my love able baby boy who would run to his mommy for love when his daddy would yell at him.

2.)  That with the time change and all the traveling the first couple days I am going to be so tired that I am not going to want to do anything (although I don't this will happen)

3.)  That I will go to the casino and blow a lot of money and even though I am having fun doing it, that I will end up regretting it later.  (but the again, I am making more money while I am deployed and I still have many months to make back all the money I lose).

4.)  That my boyfriend won't be used to me being around and things will be a little weird.  Not saying that he does not love me or that our relationship is not great, but I have been gone for 3 months.  He has been living his life without me there and our relationship has been through emails and phone calls.  So it can be a hard adjustment for some.  I really think we will be so fine.  It will be like the honeymoon phase all over again.  I know I can't wait to be in his arms again....I love him so much.

5.)  That when it is time for me to come back, I will be extremely sad and a little depressed.  I know I signed up for this and I love my job and I love doing what I can to help protect this country.  But at the same time, it is hard to leave the ones you love behind.  Especially not knowing how long you are really going to be gone.  I have been able to keep a positive attitude and stay focused while I am here.  I just don't want to lose that.  

Mostly, I am just excited about coming home, even though it is for such a short period of time.   I look forward to the beach, going camping, cuddling with my wonderful boyfriend and my big puppy, sleeping in my boyfriends arms, seeing my family and having a good time at the casino with them, and just spending quality time with my family...seeing my friends, and hopefully seeing Heather and Brads new baby girl Graycie (if she decided to enter the world by then)..get my hair, nails and feet done (this is one of my top priorities)..I know that I will not get to do everything that I want while I am home,but hopefully I can do most of it.....And that I can enjoy all of it....

The traveling, yeah it sucks, but I think because I am so excited, that it will fly by!!! Or at least I hope that it will....I hope that I do not run into a whole lot of delays, cancellations or lay overs from hell....but if I do, it is okay, as long as I make it back into my baby's arms!!!!!  These next couple days can not go by quick enough...I mean I was asked to stay here longer to cover down on another court-martial which means that maybe I could just stay here and leave from here!!! Although I am missing my two Cardinals shirts that I really want....But who knows...we will see what the Army has in store for me!!!

Well that is all for now...I will try and post more often!!!