Things on my mind right now

1. It's been a warm, sunny, lazy day around here, and we all needed it.  The boys are playing contently together (imagine that, not beating each other up) in their room, and I might take them out for pizza later.  Just one of those perfect life kind of days.

2. I used to be angry that my professors all lied to my face, saying "Suuuuuure, there are definitely plenty of opportunities for music educators!"  But of course they'd say that, I was paying tuition.  Now, I'm angry at myself for not following my other, more lucrative, interest: accounting.  D'oh.

3. I like to watch nature do its thing.  Sometimes, there is nothing better than watching a bee go about his business, or watching the leaves blow in the wind.  And no, I'm not high while typing this.

4. The battery for this laptop is doing poorly.  It doesn't hold a charge for two full hours any more.  Sometimes I get 90 minutes, sometimes less, but I doubt anyone has a compatible one in stock for this dinosaur.  I might end up with a non-wireless laptop... totally defeats the purpose.

5. My license expires on my bday this month.  I can't get a new one from NH, so I will end up with a CA one.  This morning, I put make up on, straightened my hair, picked a slimming outfit, then checked the DMV's website to see when they opened.  Apparently, today is Cesar Chavez Day, which means all the DMVs are closed.  FAIL.

6. Late night for Hubby tonight.  I knew this last quarter would be more time-consuming!  But at least he comes home at the end of the day.  :)

7. I'm getting ready for a ski trip with my brother and sister next weekend (sans kids- Hubby is staying home with the boys).  We're headed to Squaw, my first west coast skiing experience!  I got a great ski package from the Army MWR (helmet included), so I'm really psyched.  They're going to be coming to visit for several days, too.  The boys always have such a good time with them, I can't wait!

8. Today is the first day this year that the windows have been open all day long.  I love having fresh air circulate in the house.

9. Baseball season has started here.  The little league fields down the hillside are packed, and we can hear the crack of the bats and the parents cheering from our deck.  It just adds to my perfect day.

10. I've been thinking a lot about our life post-Navy.  Not sure why now... probably because the boys are both here now and growing up.  I daydream a lot about our future house, where we'll live, what the boys will be like once they are in school, etc.  It's not as far off as one would think.  Hubby and I have been married nearly 7 years- he has less than that to go until retirement, and it seems like we were married just last week.

I'm done, Biggest Loser

Well, I like the concept of the show, but I think my time as a regular viewer of the Biggest Loser is over, for several reasons.

1. Jillian is leaving.  Boooo.  I like her and her style.
2. Enduring a commercial cleverly disguised as actual show content is just painful.  And it makes me feel like I need a shower to wash corporate America off me.
3. The crying has got to stop.  I hear enough whining with my two boys during the day!

So, sorry producers, but you're going to lose a viewer (two, actually, since Hubby feels the same).

Countdown

Hubby starts his final quarter here tomorrow.  It's a little bittersweet- I'm excited to be going back to the east coast, but I've really loved the whole shore duty thing.  These past two weeks were nice, having him home either at a very reasonable hour or for the whole day.  I'm definitely feeling spoiled, heehee... but isn't that ironic that I should feel spoiled to have my husband home every night.

Anyway, the big move is in the works.  We are getting our cars ready (new tires, minor repairs, etc) and our stuff ready.  Just sold a bunch of stuff on craigslist, but for some reason, we still have a lot of things.  Not bad if we were staying in one place for a long time, but as the past dictates (and the future predicts), we never stay anywhere longer than two years.  It's much easier when you don't own a lot!

I'll miss CA in some ways.  Just today, I was sitting outside in capris and a sleeveless shirt, and got a little sunburn on my arms.  In March.  That's totally unheard of in NH... in fact, I think they recently got some more snow.  I'll definitely miss that.  Won't miss the power outages, though.  We had one today for whatever reason.  For a place with mild weather, I'm surprised at how many times we lose power.  Eh, there are other pros and cons, but that's what's on my mind right now.

We I am looking at houses to rent in CT.  The search is going pretty well- I've found some great places- but it would help to have orders (*ahem ahem*).  I'm optimistic that whenever we get there, we'll have some nice houses to choose from. 

The massage school around here has students giving 1 hour massages for $35.  I'm soooo taking advantage of that soon.

Eh, that was random.  Anyway, must go back to playing referee.  Phineas and Ferb just ended and I can hear the boys hitting each other.  Fun times!

Milspouse Friday Fill-in #35

1. What is your must have gadget? submitted by Flying High With My Flyboy
   My computer.  Without it, I wouldn't be able to keep in touch with people as often as I'd like.  Although, my 8 inch skillet also gets a lot of use with the boys (pancakes, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese...).
 

1. How does your adulthood compare to what you imagined it would be like when you were a little kid? submitted by L to the Third
   It's pretty much the same, except we're a military family.
   
   
2. What is your favorite chocolate recipe?  submitted by Our First Deployment
   I've made Reece's Pieces pudding parfaits (my own creation).  Make a batch of chocolate pudding and one of vanilla pudding.  While whisking the vanilla pudding, add a 1/2 cup of peanut butter.  Layer the two puddings in a bowl and top with whipped cream, Reece's Pieces, and a cherry.  The vanilla-peanut butter part tastes just like Reece's Pieces.
   
   
3. How do you deal with military life when it gets to be to much or to hard? submitted by Combat Boots And Pointe Shoes
   I laugh.  What else can you do?  Of course the car's battery dies just as you try to drive your husband to the pier.  Of course your computer's hard drive dies just as you try to Skype with your husband on his very infrequent port calls.  I suppose I just prefer to see the irony in things, and most of the time, it makes me laugh.
   
4. What piece of advice would you give a new Military spouse facing their first deployment?  submitted by The Albrecht Squad
   Stay busy, but stay out of drama.  Make friends outside your husband's command, especially ones with husbands who aren't deployed (you never know when you're going to be preggers with a flat tire, and stereotypically speaking, it helps to know a dude to change it for you).  Find a really good sitter and use him/her at least once a month.  And expect the unexpected.
   

The Biggest Loser and Chocolate Cake

Last night, Hubby and I watched the Biggest Loser, like we usually do on Tuesdays.  Has anyone else noticed how much the contestants this season cry?  It's a little ridiculous.  So we decided that every time someone cried, we would take a shot.  Our choice?  Chocolate Cake, of course!  (Btw, 1 part vodka, 1 part hazelnut liquer)

Ten minutes into the show, we had already taken our first shot.  By the time the weigh-in rolled around, I think we had taken 6 shots each (I lost track).  I was feeling pretty ready for bed, so we quit, but if we hadn't, the weigh-in would have been another four shots.

It was a fun game.  This season, we've been making fun of the contestants more than actually watching the show, just because of all the whining and crying going on.  We'd toast "To fatties!" and knock the shots back.

I think this may be the last season I watch, partly because I really like Jillian and think the show will lose something after she leaves, and partly because I'm sick of watching people whine and cry.  I guess we'll have to switch our game to Jersey Shore.  Every time they say "GTL", we'll knock one back.  To guidos!!

Back to the grind

As I type this, LB is screaming from upstairs, "Mommy!  Juice!  I want some juice!  Mommy!  MOMMAAAAAAYY!!"

So awesome. I love being screamed at.

This past weekend was great.  We drove the kiddos down to AZ to visit Grandpa & Mimi... do you know how long it is from Monterey Bay to Phoenix, AZ?  Let me put it this way- it's way longer than a kid should be sitting in a carseat.

Overall, the boys did well.  There weren't major meltdowns, fights, or anything of that matter, but they really did run Grandpa & Mimi into the ground.  We were offered to stay at their condo, but decided on a hotel room instead.  I'm pretty sure they didn't mind after seeing how active the boys are!

During our stay, we went to an abandoned gold mine, hiked near the Superstition Mountains and saw some cool indian hieroglyphics, played in the pool, rented a boat for several hours and zoomed around Lake Canyon, and had some good times with the inlaws.  Did I bring a camera?  Yes.  Did I take any pictures?  No.  I have no idea why... just wanted to enjoy the vacay, I guess.

The boys were troopers on the way home, not complaining much and keeping each other busy and entertained.  Overall, it made me optimistic about our cross country move- however, I think our limit will be 8 hours a day, max.

So that's where I've been and what I've been up to.  How was your weekend?

Happy International Ask A Question Day

It's true, Brownie Locks said so.  Today is International Ask A Question Day.  So my challenge to you, readers, is ask me a question.  It can be silly, it can be utterly stupid, it can be honest, whatever.  Ask away, and I'll do my best to answer! 

And here's my question to you, if you're in the answering mood.  Which post on your blog is your favorite?  Leave a link if you'd like so I can read it.  :)