See y'all on the east side!

Our internet is gone after day, then we will be on Friday!  Hence, this will be my last post for about two weeks.  I know, you're so sad to see me stop bitching.  :)

Dare I say hawaiian movers were better than californian movers??

I know when we lived in Hawaii, I was always complaining about hawaiians not helping people, how they're generally lazy and slow.  But I think our movers here in CA trump that.

For instance, per the moving company's specifications, our motorcycles have to have the oil drained, the gas siphoned, and the battery removed.  The guy who is picking up our stuff called me to ask what kind of bikes they were (even after our "pre-move inspection"... and I use quotes because what was the point if he didn't take any notes about our stuff??), and wanted Hubby to drive them to the moving truck.  They are not driveable, obviously, and I'm pretty sure they'll ask him to coast them down the neighborhood, which is illegal.

The packers also somehow packed up the power cord for my laptop.  And something in one of our boxes is beeping randomly.  Every once in awhile, it sounds like a bomb is about to go off, and this is in the box labeled "Living Room" (specific, huh?).

My flutes were listed on the high value list just as flutes.  Good thing I took a very specific inventory with model numbers and serial numbers, because one is a student flute, one is a pretty nice open-holed flute, and one is a beautiful alto flute.  Not "flutes".

I just get reminded of that commercial where the job seeker is a meathead who just keeps repeating, "I pick things up and put them down."  I suppose I can't expect much more than that for movers, but I expected the hawaiians to be the worst.  They were, however, the best movers we had!

So the moving truck comes tomorrow.... we'll see how that one goes.  After that's all done, we'll just be waiting for Friday to come around so we can start our cross country trip!

Milspouse Friday Fill-in #46

1. Are you a different person than you were five years ago? submitted by Sisterly Thoughts
   Absolutely.  Five years ago, we didn't have kids!  :)  It's amazing how parenting can change you.
   
2. If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why? submitted by Thoughts from a Poekitten
   Hubby, definitely.  We think alike.  I've never seen the show, but I think he would make a great partner.
   
3. Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good in to your life? submitted by Just an Arizona Girl
   Most of the time, good.  That's because I delete people who bring stress to it.  I really don't need to hear about marital troubles on FB and read the fights that ensue.  I don't tweet- FB and my blog are enough outlets for me.
   
4. June is National Soul Food Month- what’s your soul food? submitted by NH Girl Displaced
   Mmmmm, food... it seems all my submitted questions revolve around food!  I think lasagna would be a soul food of mine.  Growing up italian, my family always seems to eat it when we're all together.
   
5. If you could live in any other era than the current, which one would it be & why? submitted by Sugar in My Grits
   The 50s.  The fashion, the music, the patriotism... I love it all.  I think I would have had a blast back then.

Happily slacking off

There is so much that needs to be done before the movers get here Thursday!  Fortunately, I am married to a submariner, so he's extra-efficient.  He already dismantled the bunk beds and crib, so I'm left to vacuum and corral the toys.  I'm totally taking my time, but only because I'm celebrating that we found a house!  :)

It's a flipping adorable house in CT.  We found it on militarybyowner, and the landlords seem like such awesome people.  Can't wait to get settled in!

Okay, I'm keeping this quick, I really should be doing something productive.  But hooray for not being homeless, ha!  :)

Short letters, peppered with lots of swears. You've been warned.

Dear asshole in the Acura,

Thank you so much for running me off the road in my husband's truck!  I was only a mile from home and hadn't been in an accident all day, so I'm super happy that you were willing to do that for me.  Thank you for speeding on a narrow bridge that makes a sharp, blind curve, and thank you for taking up the entire road to do so.  I can't tell you how much fucking fun it was to call Hubby and tell him his new truck had a flat and needed a new rim.  And only less than two weeks from driving it across the country!  Your timing is impeccable.

Sincerely,
Me

PS- I hope karma fucks you in the ass.

**********************************************

Dear CV neighbors,

I am happy that I could put on a spectacle on the side of the road for you.  I haven't performed in quite some time, so given the chance to wrestle (and fail) with a spare tire was a fantastic opportunity for me.  I'm sure you all got a nice shot of my coot, seeing how I was lying under the truck, only legs and ass visible- you're welcome.  I appreciate the stares of all the people that passed me by.  Oh, and thank you so very fucking much for not stopping or asking if I needed help.  That would have only hindered my performance.

Sincerely,
Me

PS- You can all go fuck yourselves.

*******************************************

Dear New England,

You get a bad rap about your citizens' driving.  It's too bad, because even if they drive fast and cut one another off, most people there are at least attentive.  Here in CA, people do not pay attention when they are driving.  In fact, some of them don't even look forward!  It makes for a super fun driving experience.  But I think I'll take the Massholes over that.  Can't wait to see you again!

Love,
Me

Milspouse Friday Fill-in #45

1. Underwear Parties, how old is too old? submitted by Wookie & Co.
   Uh, what's an underwear party??  Is that like the romance parties where you buy dildos and stuff?  Personally, I'm always too old for that.  I don't want people to know the details of my private life!  But there are plenty of people that host those parties that are older than me.  I say, when you feel too old, then you are too old.
   
2. What was your favorite class in high school? submitted by Adventures of M-Squared
   Band!  Yes, I was the ultimate band geek.  I was librarian, then president, and squad leader for the marching band, and section leader for the symphonic band, and I was in the orchestra and wind symphony.  I also took a music theory class, which prepared the crap outta me for college (thank you, Mrs P!), and we also did some orchestrating. 
   
   But that was the obvious answer, since I majored in music ed.  My other favorite class was statistics.  LOVED geeking out on numbers!  :)  In fact, I'm considering going back to college to get my degree in accounting or something math-related like actuarial studies.  Should have listened to my dad and gone that route in the first place.... Dad, you were right!
   
3. Have you ever convinced packers/movers to pack something they aren’t supposed to for a PCS? submitted by Ground Control to Major Mom
   Not technically.  :)  We usually have a box that we've packed, and label it something like "kid clothes", when it actually contains.... well, see question #1.
   
4. Blogging plays a growing roll in the media. If you were asked to embed as a blogger with a deployed military unit, would you go? What do you think your blog would be like? submitted by To the Nth
   Like, be deployed to blog about the unit?  Yikes.  I think I'm pretty OPSEC-abiding, so I don't think I would have any trouble there, but I'm not a good writer.  At all.  I just don't know how to word things sometimes.  I think my blog would be very little writing and lots of pictures.
   
5. Do you think kids should attend year-round school? submitted by Marrying the Navy
   No way!  Summers off may be a pain for the parents, but I think they're necessary for kids.  Students need some down time to bond with friends, go outside and play, or hold a job.  My best childhood memories are not in school, but out of school.  There are definitely lessons to be learned on those summers off that otherwise wouldn't be presented during the school year, so my answer is a firm no.

I love my dentist

No, that's not meant to be sarcastic.  I seriously have the best dentist ever, and I wish I could take the entire practice with me wherever we go.

I had two fillings done today.  Ever since having kids, my teeth have gone to sh!t.  Mostly because of the hormones thing, but also because I sometimes don't have time to brush my teeth (flossing was non-existent the first year of JC's life).  Having two cavities, however, is unacceptable, so I will put more of an effort in, promise.  One of the dental hygienists also turned me on to Act, which is the best stuff ever.

Anyway, my dentist did the fillings today, and I told them I would miss them very much because he's so awesome and the staff is so awesome.  He's friendly, but doesn't ask questions when my mouth is full of cotton and drooling (sidenote: isn't that the most ridiculous time to ask someone a question?  What kind of answer could you possibly give?).  He's quick, but listens and answers all my questions.  He's really good at cosmetic stuff, like crowns and bonding, but never pressured me into it.  And, he also cares a lot about his patients.  The staff is so knowledgeable, remembers every detail about every patient (I'm sure they write that stuff down to review it pre-appointment, but it's nice to know that they're prepared), and are incredibly sweet ladies. 

I'm going to miss them so much!!

To my milspouser buddies, if you ever are stationed in Monterey, look up Dr. Bradford Carl in Carmel.  You won't be disappointed!

I live in California, and the Mississippi is affecting me.

The flooding in the midwest is throwing a huge monkey wrench in our moving plans.  We had originally wanted to swing by Vegas (I've never been) and the Grand Canyon (Hubby's never been), then shoot slightly north but mainly east to get to the other side.  The Mississippi River, however, has decided to flood all our routes, so we ended up changing it.

In all honesty, I like this route better.  I would have loved to see Vegas, but it's not on my bucket list.  And the Grand Canyon is beautiful, but I don't want to drive all the way down there just to drive up north to bypass the flooding.  So we planned a new route.  We'll be starting out way more north than we originally intended, but we'll be swinging by some friends we hadn't seen since 2005, and passing through some interesting stuff like Wyoming and Sioux Falls, SD.

I'm still very excited about our trip!  No matter how we get there, I'm sure it's going to be a very memorable adventure.

Dear Husband,

When a recipe calls for a pinch of red pepper, and you decide it needs "a little more kick" and change that to a tablespoon, it will be hot.  Really hot.  And I won't eat it.

I do, however, love you to pieces for making dinner last night.  :)

Love,
Wifey

Milspouse Friday Fill-in #44

1. When you vacation what type of vacation do you like to take (beach, historic, adventurous, food oriented, etc.)? submitted by Megan Dub-Yuh
   It depends on why I'm on vacation.  In the summer, I like lazy beach or lake days.  In the winter, I love adventurous skiing trips.
   
2. What is your best memory associated with a song (you know we all have tons!) submitted by Ramblings of a Marine Wife
   "Call Me Al" by Paul Simon (in fact, the whole album) reminds me of week-long vacations with my family at Squam Lake.  Just hearing the opening keyboards instantly transports me back.
   
3. If you had six months with no obligations or financial constraints, what would you do with your time? submitted by Married to the Army
   Six months with no obligations???  I sincerely cannot imagine that.  It is beyond my comprehension.  I don't know what I would do... maybe travel the world.
   
4. What is one thing about you that people do NOT typically notice at first that you wish they would? submitted by Our Motto is Patience
   My brain.  People write me off as just another stupid bimbo sometimes, and it really irritates me.
   
5. …. submitted by The Three Turners: It’s a summer of sequels, and if you had to live in one of each of the following “worlds” (there are three total) which would you choose and why? 
   –X-Men: Be a Mutant, what would your power be?
   –Harry Potter: Be a Witch or Muggle?
   –Twilight: Be a Vampire or Werewolf?
   
   If I were in X-Men, my power would be... I don't know... maybe reading people's minds.
   If I were in Harry Potter, I'd definitely choose to be a witch. 
   And, if I were in Twilight, I think I'd shoot myself.  Just kidding... I'd be a werewolf.  I hate being cold, and I'm not a blood-sucking asshole, so yes, werewolf.

Getting closer!

As of today, Hubby is done!  He has no more classes to attend, no more papers to write, no thesis to work on.  It's all just a matter of waiting for graduation.

Woo hoo!!  :)

You're invited!

Date: Today
Time: Now
Location: Right here on my blog
For: My pity party

Presents are not required, although a box of tissues might help.

The rental market in CT is getting me down.  Waaaaay down.  Every realtor I've emailed has either 1) not gotten back to me at all (how rude), 2) suggested places that I specifically said we didn't want, or 3) never followed up on any properties I showed interest in.  I just logged into one particular site, hoping to see communication of any kind, and instead, I saw that every single house I marked as interested in has already been rented and taken off their site.

And I don't mean "everything except that one safety house that I kinda don't want".  I mean, everything.  I almost cried.

This has not been fun at all.  Going through landlords has also been a pain in the a$$ because nobody wants a tenant for less than a year (I'm thinking I should just withhold the fact that we'll be leaving CT...).  I'm not quite sure why these realtors are not helping us find a place.  Usually, people can't WAIT to corner me and talk my ear off, like today in CVS (I helped an elderly lady picked out a heating pad... what can I say?  She cornered me and I felt bad that she couldn't see the price tags). 

Anyway, I'm still looking forward to going to CT.  I just wish the housing situation sucked a little less.

Milspouse Friday Fill-in #43

1. It’s now June (woot!)… what plans do you have for the summer?
   PCSing to Groton, hanging with our families (finally!), and doing all the summery New England stuff I've been missing out on since 2003.
   
2. What is your favorite summer memory as a kid?
   Vacations at Squam Lake with my family.  We went every single summer, right up until I moved to Ohio to be with Hubby.  The whole vacation was waterskiing, kneeboarding, tubing, Catchphrase (my sister and I are Catchphrase masters), and no TV.  Perfection.
   
3. If wild animals could be made pets without fear of them ever being dangerous, what kind of exotic animal would you want as a pet?
   Maybe an elephant.  That would be cool, but I have no idea where I'd put it.
   
4. Is there anything about deployments that you do like? submitted by The Thrifty Military Wife
   Full control over the remote.  Less clothes, linens, and dishes to clean.  Dinners that I can make without thinking if someone else will like it.  Of course, all these selfish reasons are nothing compared to the reasons I hate deployment!
   
5. I’m starting to run out of questions again… so please give me a question you’d like to see (off-the-wall will most likely make it because we seem to have used a lot of the “traditional” ones).
   June is National Soul Food Month- what's your soul food?

Small change of plans

Hubby was going on a motorcycle trip to Tahoe this Friday & Saturday.  After I checked the weather, I mentioned that Saturday was going to be craptastic and that he might just want to leave today and come back Friday.

I know, I'm crazy, but it was a good idea and he took it.

So, thankfully I didn't have my slow cooker going yet.  When it's just me and the boys, I don't cook much, because they don't usually eat it and I wind up with four days of leftovers, which I don't care for.  I'm looking forward to complete control over the TV tonight (last night was Ultimate Fighter... I do enjoy the show but only when I'm in the right mood for it, which I wasn't).  I also will get a chance to do some guiltless things around the house.  Sometimes, when the boys are in bed, I feel guilty doing chores because it eats up the time I get to spend with Hubby, one on one.  I know, it's stupid.  But that's what roadtrips are for, right?  :)

I suppose the negatives will be that I am the sole parent for two days.  This morning, LB put up a one hour fight over applesauce, acting like I was feeding him glass or something.  JC is fully into his headbutting phase.  He headbutted my elbow and now all my fingers on my right hand are numb, except my thumb.  Right now, they are soaking up some cartoons on TV, which isn't the best for them, I know, but it gives me a little breathing room.  There's no one to pass them off to.

So, it'll be an interesting next few days.

(Oh, my sister's surgery went very well and she is doing much better.  My parents are still with her, but she's getting around pretty well and says she feels really good.  So thank you for your happy thoughts!)

I'm a mess

I gained a few pounds over the past two weeks.  Gave up being strictly vegan- just can't do it.  Skipped a few workouts, now that Hubby's schedule is all backwards.  Unfortunately imbibed in more soda than I usually consume in a year.  My hair is in a frizzy, knotty state, but I won't buy the Fekkai shampoo and conditioner I've been drooling over, because I want to use up what we already have- I don't want to feel guilty throwing perfectly good products out.  My legs haven't been shaved in a week and, well... my other usually-shaved areas are following suit.  My skin is breaking out (again???  WTF, Mother Nature??) and my allergies are turning my eyes red.

I'm totally sexy right now.

I know I should take care of myself a little better, but I'm kind of preoccupied with the move and the kids and saving money.  I'll make more of an effort for graduation, I promise.  Definitely don't want to be a pale whale this summer!  Maybe I'll paint my nails or something.

Any mommas out there know how I can get rid of the post-baby belly?  That's another mess I've been trying to work on.  I'd say I even still look preggers.  It's very bizarre- even my ribcage is a nice medium size, but below the ribs, I have a puffy, flabby tummy (I know, I'm even sexier now, right?).  I never had trouble with my tummy before kids, so any advice out there?

The Magic Eraser may be the most brilliant tool for cleaning up messes ever.  No one paid me to say that- I just really love the damn thing.

Fabric softener really messes up your washer.  We found this out the hard way when all our white clothes got ruined, and Hubby took the washer apart to find a disgusting greasy mess.  I can't wait to go back to Bounce.  Again, no one paid me to say that, I just love the damn stuff.

I hope you are having more of a mess-free week than I!  I'm off to work on all my messes. :)