just a little update...

Welp, let's see... It's been a while since my last post, so let's play catch-up... Brandon and I have moved, we live in Henderson now, almost 300 sqft more and less rent, that decision wasn't hard, plus it's about 2 miles from Brandon's job rather then 30, so that's good too :)

My birthday is Sunday, the big 29. I'm excited, I have no idea what we're doing or where we're going all I know is that my hubby and my bff's have been conspiring for weeks! I'm looking forward to it though :) It's the one day a year I can choose not to have to choose, so I get a surprise every year! I'll try to post pics next week.

I started a weight loss regimen this week. Slim Quick. and so far I LOVE IT! I don't have the jittery, energy pill feeling I usually get from diet pills. It's built specifically for women and helps you lose weight on all these different levels including hormonal balance, stress reduction and appetite curving. I'm sure some of it's in my head, but if it is, than whatever, I FEEL GREAT!!!

The decision to finally do something stemmed from a couple of things, first and foremost, I weighed myself the other day and almost passed out, but when the scale reads what I want it to rather then HOLY SHIT! I'll be very happy because I'll know I did it for me and not for the week long vacation in Jamaica... That's right, we're finally gonna take a honeymoon. Considering we've been married for 7 years this March we figured it's about time. The army had other ideas for us when we got married and since then we've either been too busy or too broke (mostly too broke) to take a vacation. But I did my homework and found an awesome deal on a 7 night stay at a resort in Tropical Bay, Negril Jamaica, right on 7 mile beach and we decided it's about time we take a honeymoon. The other reason is Brandon is pretty depressed that he's turning 30 this year so we're going to take the vaca over his birthday... I figure if you have to turn 30 anyway, why not do it on the beach in JAMAICA, YA MON!!!!!!

So anyway- that's about it, I'm still in the same job I've been in for a year and a half, and I'm still not back in school, but that's the beside the point... I'm doing good and that's all that matters! Take care of each other, and please keep my baby brother in your prayers, He's back in the sandbox...

Why women visit the bathroom in pairs....

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR! ), yank down your pants, and assume ' The Stance.'In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold 'The Stance.'

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, 'Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!' Your thighs shake more. You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. 'Occupied!' you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT . It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, 'You just don't KNOWwhat kind of diseases you could get.'

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.

You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, 'Here, you just might need this.'

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, 'What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?'This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with apublic restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

Good weekend!

Well, we had a pretty good weekend. Brandon went and played poker with his aunt and uncle and thier friends... and he won monies so that's good! I spent most of Saturday packing... I realized early Saturday afternoon that I only have 3 weekends left for packing and one of those will most likely be taken up by a weekend visit from my baby brother over the Labor Day holiday. Hopefully he makes it out. I will most definately take and post photos, the party always follows him around.

On Sunday we drove to Guam and through 3 checkpoints in Iraq to get to my friend Courtney's house. Not really, but it sure seems like she lives on the other side of the world. We had yummy bbq and beer and friends and good times... it was very fun. And there was pudding pops!!! I haven't had one of those in years and i really don't know why because they are a little piece of heaven.

Then we came home, went to bed and woke up this morning to another week of going going going... it'll be nice when we get moved and I don't have to put 75 miles on my car a day... that sucks :(

Anyway- I'd say it was an all around fun weekend :)

ABC's About Me:

ABC's About Me.

A - Age: 28
B - Bed size: Cal-King and sometimes BJ is convinced it's not big enough...
C - Chore you hate: dishes
D - Dog: LOVE THEM!!! Niesie is a 4 yr old Jack Russell Terrier
E - Essential start your day item: flat iron
F - Favorite color(s): jade green
G - Gold or Silver: silver (and black)
H - Height: 5'10"
I - Instruments you play: I played trumpet in marching/jazz band, and french horn in concert band
J- Job: Mailroom Supervisor
K - Kids: Not for me, just dogs
L - Living arrangements: an apartment
M - Mom's name: Nancy
N - Nicknames: Ladybug, Babe
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: i don't think so, other then to be with someone else.
P - Pet Peeve: bad grammar
Q - Quote from a movie: "Let's rock, paper, scissors for it... Why don't you just tell me who wins... I do- Excellent"
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: three - 2 brothers, 1 sister all younger
T - Time you wake up: 6am to take BJ across town to work, 37 miles takes just under an hour
U - Underwear: depends on if I'm feeling adventerous
V - Vegetable you dislike: peas... ewww
W - Workout style: cardio
X - X-rays you've had: my neck
Y - Yesterday's best moment: BJ's first day at his new job!!!
Z - Zoo favorite: monkeys!

I'm exhausted....

I must admit, it's been a rough couple of weeks. With Brandon being sick last week and trying to recover this week... I guess I didn't realize just how much it was really wearing on me but right now I can tell that my body has about had it. We were supposed to be at the family reunion this weekend starting tomorrow, but last week kinda put a hole in my available PTO plus Brandon is taking his license test for his new job on Saturday and you gotta have the monies! So anways to recap- I'm tired, it's been a long two weeks, and I need a vacation. Someplace tropical would be nice, where I can put my feet in the ocean and drink the little foo-foo drinks with the umbrellas in them...

In other news, My bff Hilary is doing well in SLC... Although I miss her immensely, I know this is good for her. Baby Kass is growing like a weed and it's crazy to me to see how much bigger he seems in just the last two weeks since I've seen him. Here's some photos...

My Auntie Ro is also doing well..... She's due in October and they had a 4D ultrasound last week. I just have to say that the advances in modern medicine where ultrasounds are concerned are just amazing. It's crazy to see this much detail in the baby's face from OUTSIDE the momma's body... Here's a super sweet photo of that too. They are still kicking around names. I know whatever they decide will be perfect. I'm voting for Alyvia!

Other then that I'm doing ok. My brother is safely back in the states and delivered to his new duty station at Ft. Lewis. He still hasn't met his new unit yet, but anyone who speaks the language of goverment service knows that there's a TON of paperwork. He'll make it there eventually. He likes it ok, granted it's not rainy season yet, so we'll see....

Recently.......

Well, it's freakin August already, where the hell has this year gone? Seems crazy that I'm shoppin for Brandon's bday, but such is life, it goes by pretty fast if you don't slow down and live every now and again.

We went to see Reel Big Fish last Thursday at the House of Blues. It was FREAKIN sweet... they are a way fun ska band and you really can't go wrong with happy music, specially with a few f-words thrown in for good measure.

We have the Oram Family Reunion coming up next weekend. Hopefully we will be able to make it. The snafu at the bank will not take me over! But it should be good times. We don't get together with Brandon's family near enough since we live so far away so it's always cool to get the whole family together.

This Thursday we will be making the drive back to the House of Blues for Blue October and Switchfoot. Our good friend Heidi won tickets complete with VIP meet and greet with the band and backstage passes. Should be good times :)

Then at the end of September we are moving out to Henderson... life just keeps comin at us and we're doing our best to keep up. On the awesome side of things, Brandon got a new job and will start when we get back from the reunion. It's going to be really good for us and for him especially to have a change and a new opportunity. I'm really excited for that. But I HATE moving!

Anyway- that's what's goin on with us. How are you?

From a Soldier in IRAQ - "So that others may live..."

The following was written by a soldier named Isaac currently serving our great country in Iraq. I comletely agree with him and felt compelled to post this so that it might reach and touch others as it did me. I completely agree with him. While I think it is sad that Michael Jackson died, and I understand that many mourn his death, I think our priorities are a little warped. . This hits very close to home for me being that I have served myself as have both my brothers. Please read the following letter:

"THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER IN IRAQ .

Okay, I need to rant. I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant. Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies, whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing? Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades?

What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America . Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good ridance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the acrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that th e American people can live their calloused little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have... Sorry if I have offended anyone, but I needed to say it. Feel free to pass this along if you want. Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military: "So that others may live..."

Isaac"