It's Christmas break alright...

It's been a little while since I've posted. I've been home on Christmas break and the internet here is worthless. We are currently trying to feed off our neighbors signal in order to get wireless here - but it doesn't work so well. I have to sit in a certain place in the dining room. These chairs get hard after a while, and I miss being able to sit on the couch and watch TV while cruising the net - sad, I know. And yes, our neighbors know we do this.

Anyhow, so far, the break has been wonderful. I've been very busy, and I love it! Although, it does make the month long break fly by. I finished off my third semester of Nursing School with some pretty kick-ass grades if I do say so myself!


Let's see - I've worked a couple days, they only let me work one day a week (boo) but that's okay because I'd rather not be working my entire last Christmas break. But the money is nice.

My old digital camera broke right before Christmas break. And by old, I mean 2 years. I was very upset, but I know it was becoming outdated quickly anyway. And so, I got a new one in the mail when I got home ;) That Santa, he does get around! And let me tell you, it's the best camera I've ever experienced. All the pictures following are taken with it. The only problem I've experienced so far, is with uploading and viewing videos - some codec problem. I'll let Jason figure that one out.

I worked with Jess at 4-H camp for a couple summers, and I finally made my way down to Richmond to see her new and beautifully decorated house. And of course to pretend like I had my own baby Ellie for a day!

We celebrated my Daddy's something birthday. I can never remember how old he is. But I still love him!


My old roommate, Melissa had a Christmas Party last Saturday which I went to. She lives in Arlington, so I had a nice little road trip and some great quality time was spent! Oh, and Box came too :)

Then mom had her annual Christmas Party last night, and it was fun watching all the old people enjoy themselves doing such simple things. She loves to make everyone sing Christmas carols. I think it's hideous, and I kept thinking to myself "man, if I ever do shit like this and think it's actually fun..." But they had a good time on their Kazoos (yeah, she got kazoos) - I drank lots of wine.

Today we made Christmas cookies - a ton of them. All my neighbors came over, and a few others. We went at it for a good 3 hours. I was very proud of all the colorful icing I made :)





Tomorrow is Christmas - yay! Then I'll head up to Springfield to see Chris and Melissa Parkers' new house, and celebrate the "void between Christmas and New Years" with a lot of great friends I haven't seen in quite a while!

Then we'll head to Vermont on Monday to see my Uncle and cousins for the week. We'll spend New Year's up there - because, let's face it - I couldn't handle another Brock's New Years!

Jason is still in Iraq and doing fine. He's tired, and misses home a lot. He's gotten a ton of Christmas packages though, and he's saved all our wrapped presents to open on Christmas. He's excited for that I think. We sent him a Christmas tree and some lights to help boost morale, which I think was successful. And from what I hear, after 2009 hits, it's the downward slide for them - so they're excited about that. We're expecting him home around April or May we think. But we really have no idea.


And I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Am I talking about you?

RULES
1. List some things you want to say to 20 different people.
2. Don't say who they are.
3. Feel free to comment, but don't confirm or answer anything.
4. Never discuss it again.
5. This is in no particular order at all

Have Fun Reading!

1. I think you have a VERY bright future - your mind is in the right place, and you will achieve your goals - in time. So don't worry about a thing, it will all work out for the best, and I love you.

2. I'm glad we're friends, I enjoy having you in my life, but sometimes you make me feel very small. You're very condescending, and I don't know if you mean to be - but maybe you should be more aware of the effects it has on others.

3. I'm so glad we're friends - I enjoy our chats, too ;) We used to do this ALL the time. I hope we can keep it up. I always feel so comfortable telling you ANYTHING, and I am very very grateful for that. You have such great advice - I certainly hope you get as much out of our friendship as I do! Thank You!

4. I miss you! I can't wait to see you again - every time we're together, it's like we were never apart ;) All I want for Christmas is you!!!!!

5. Life is a two-way street, you know. But thank you for making the effort to see me. You appear happy, I hope you truly are. And I hope you're not going back to any old habits.

6. Um, you get out of life what you put in to it. I may be taking longer than most to start my life and my career - but at least I know how to enjoy it. I do not appreciate you making me feel like I have accomplished nothing and that I do not appreciate anything that has been given to me. You too, make me feel small - and I have decided that I do not need any more unnecessary negativity in my life. So the only thing I can think to do is move on to the bigger and better things that are out there waiting for me.

7. Oh, where can I begin? You are the light of my life - haha, no just kidding, but really, you amaze me sometimes with the comments you make about me - you are so intuitive and you really do know me too well. I appreciate that. And I appreciate the fact that you are willing to tell me my strengths and weaknesses in a way that won't make me feel so down on myself.

8. Thank you for always being so positive! At first, I couldn't believe someone could be so happy all the time - and now I just know, they can! And if they can't, well that's okay too. But, you have been very supportive of me, and such a wonderful listener.

9. You know I don't hate you! Why would I ever think such a thing?! I just have my 'moods' :) You truly are 'my person' :)

10. The military lifestyle is one you know so well, and you have been so encouraging to me recently. I appreciate your advice. You are a blessing to me, in this chaotic time in my life. Thank You!

11. I hate the fact that you think you are God's gift to life. I wish someone would just take you down so fast you didn't know what hit you, and I don't mean physically. You cause problems in other peoples lives that are not necessary. You think of no one but yourself. Ever. You are nothing but a gigantic thorn in my side and I will not do any favors for you ever again.

12. I'm not sure what I would do without you, and I try not to think of that day. And when I do, it makes me want to curl up in a ball and never face the world again. Please, never, ever leave me. I love you.

13. Even though you are cheap, I appreciate it for the long run. You are so smart - and as much as I want to be so annoyed with you, I have to remember where I got it!

14. You should take a step back and evaluate your priorities. Don't you have children? And a family? Shouldn't they be your priority? I think so.

15. So we don't speak much anymore, but know that I still love you, and wish you all the best. And that's all I can really think to say to you. Which I guess considering the rest, is a good thing.

16. I'm sad that we hardly see each other anymore. Either way, as long as we stay updated, I think I'll be able to survive. Can't wait to see you get married!

17. Sometimes I wish you'd find friends your own age and stay out of our lives. Then you seem so genuine - but then I have a sick feeling, you're not, at all. Less drama, more support. Thank you.

18. I am so very proud of you! You are living your dream! Thank you for all your support and encouragement, even from so far away. You are such an inspiration to so many people. I am glad you have found your place in life! But I can't wait to see you again! :)

19. I miss you! I can't believe our friendship was at its closest when we were so far apart and at such a disastrous time. I will wear your memory for as long as life allows. I love you!

20. You have been an integral part of my life. I can't imagine where I would be without the love and support of your entire family. I truly feel as though I am part of your family as well - and am very grateful for all the things I've learned from you and yours. I love you all!

I need a Life Coach.

No, seriously.

Just someone to tell me exactly what to do, how to get there, and when.

Thanks.

Friday.

1. Snow is too cold (honestly the first thing that came to mind was that "Snow Sucks" but I figured that might be a little Scrooge-like).

2. I'm looking forward to the JMU vs Villanova football game/tailgate tomorrow!

3. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the best Christmas Movie ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is I Love Lucy (I just got the entire series for Christmas - and I know because I ordered it).

5. I'm done with Community Health Class & Practicum.

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is the memories and the traditions.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to continuing my pity-party, bed picnic, and maybe going to Wal-Mart, tomorrow my plans include tailgating all day, football game, and eating good food, and possibly indulging in too much alcohol and Sunday, I want to STUDY MY BUTT OFF!

Disclaimer: This is gross.

WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD
(besides your boyfriend telling you an IED exploded 2 miles away from him)

When you have to go to the bathroom so uncontrollably, by the time you race to the bathroom and finally decide you have gotten there just in time, you have time to *sigh* in relief, only to look at the toilet paper roll...and it's empty.

You were positive the last time when you left it empty - that you would surely remember to bring more when you came back - only you weren't expecting to come back so soon, and with such urgency....

I suppose one should always get in the habit of replacing the TP immediately.

If not, you should blog about it. It's what normal people do ;)

let this be a lesson to you all.

Updating I suppose...

Everyone seems to be doing it...

But, I don't think anyone really reads this. But I suppose I can still update and pretend like I have friends that do read it. ha.

Well, Thanksgiving break...because I still have a break since I'm a perpetual student.

We got the entire week off this year, which is new for JMU! Yay. It went fairly slow though.
Let's see...where to begin...
I'll go day by day - because it's really that important...

Thursday (20th)

• I drove home after class all day - just in time for a Mary Kay party at my house...I showed everyone my video (see below) they didn't get it.
  
• Catch up time with Mom and Dad - I hadn't been home since September! That's a long time for me.
• Mom had knee surgery the Friday before, so I was taking care of her

Friday (21st)

• Drove mom to her Dr appt
• Dr said sure, you can take the brace off
• Mom was very excited, but still moving slowly
  
• So we decide to do some MAJOR Christmas shopping :)
  
• Mom adopts a family from Social Services every year, so we had 3 little girls to buy for...that was fun, spending all that money!
  
• We went to Wal-Mart, Target, Old Navy, and Linens - N - Things
• We also stocked up for Jason
• I went out to Bailey's with Andrea and Tammy...good times...but very freaking cold
  

Saturday (22nd)

• I can't even remember.
  

Sunday (23rd)

• Breakfast at the Tates - yummy fried potatoes
  
• I worked on a blanket for Jason - the kind where you cut around the edge and tie the two pieces together in a knot - I tried to find the softest fleece they had, but I don't know. I hope he likes it...
• We went to a dinner thing.
  
• Then I came home and did nothing.

Monday (24th)

• Hmm. I can't remember.
  

Tuesday (25th)

• I worked. 7A-7P
• I got my baby fix.
  

Wednesday (26th)

• I started preparing for Thanksgiving dinner - I made a Pecan Pie and tore the bread for the stuffing
• Then Sarah did my hair and make up
• I had a photoshoot with Liz
• Then it was off to Tammys to prepare for the best part of Thanksgiving break - Brocks
• It was a blast as always - I wore my brand new shoes (which I just discovered I ruined) and we sat at the bar all night and saw people we hadn't seen in ages
• I just wish I hadn't drank so much :(
  

Thursday (27th)

• Thanksgiving!
  
• I made it home. Put the turkey in the oven...
• Ate some leftover chinese food for lunch.
• Showered and took a nap.
• Woke up
• "Helped" cook the rest of the dinner
• It was only Mom, Dad & me - on the couch with our TV trays - seriously!
  
• Very low key.
  

Friday (28th)

• Black Friday - Mom woke me up at 7am
• We went to Massapponax - and it was so NOT crowded
• Khols, Justice (JUST FOR GIRLS), Wal-Mart
• Home for leftover turkey and gravy
• Tamara visited...
• We packed up Jasons 42lb Christmas package

Saturday (29th)

• I don't know again.
• Oh, big breakfast at the Tates as is every Saturday
  
• Becca and I made red and green rice krispie treats
• we ate a lot of them
• We ate at Pancho Villa in Dahlgren
• Daddy and I watched Sex & The City the movie

Sunday (30th)

• I laid in bed all day.
• Jason told me and IED had gone off not too far away
• That put me in a yucky mood and I was mean for the rest of the day until I stormed out of the house in annoyance
• Drove back to school, and here I sit...

A couple side notes:
The internet at home BLOWS - which is why I had to wait so long to post anything.
We watched home videos almost every night I think. They're fun.
I'll be home again in 2 weeks for about a month. Joy.
I read The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks - maybe not the best book to read with my lover in the Army - but it wasn't terrible either...typical Nicholas Sparks though...

I'm sure I'm leaving things out. But I don't think you care all that much!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
24 days till Christmas!

I'm stealing these Manic Monday things...

It's "Cyber Monday" today, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States. Do you do much online shopping, holiday or otherwise?

Yes. I am not obsessed with it or anything, it's not like I just go browsing, but if I have something to get that I know will be cheaper online, hell yeah!

Are you a Mac or a PC user? Why?

I use a PC. I've just never gotten in to the whole Mac thing. People have tried to convince me, but growing up using a PC and then the thought of having a completely different operating system which may or may not still work with all my old stuff (but everyone tells me it will) - well, it just kind of freaks me out.

What website do you spend more time on than you care to admit?

Facebook. No question. Also Gmail, which is odd because all my emails go to my phone...who knows. I think that's about it.