Remembering 9/11

Like I'm sure everyone else in America, I can remember exactly where I was when I heard about the planes crashing into the twin towers.

It was my senior year in high school and we had just gotten to our seminar class, with Mr. Porter. He was really strict and never let anyone talk. I remember him telling us there was a rumor that planes had flown into the twin towers but he couldn't confirm it. He let us talk to our friends in class, seeing if we knew anyone in NYC, or who worked in the towers. I remember talking to my friend Jessie, and neither of us knew anyone there. I think seminar was only about 30 or 40 minutes, and then I was going to my computer class with Mr. Thomas. I was anxious to go to this class because I could get on the internet and see what had happened. The internet was sooooo slow and none of the websites were loading, and I knew something bad had happened, but I didn't know the extent of it. I think there was a PA announcement, and they confirmed it was a terrorist attack on US soil and said that the TV's in the library would be on with news coverage for the rest of the day. The classes were supposed to rotate in and out of the library so we'd all be informed. I spent my lunch hour in the library watching too; I did not want to go back to class. I have no idea what happened that afternoon, I just remember being glued to the TV, watching in horror. I remember getting home from school that day and seeing my mom and sister. We all just stood in the living room with the news on and hugged each other. There was nothing we could say. I wondered if the draft would come back. I remember shortly after it happened, how everyone came together in America, we were supportive. We were together and united.

I remember in March 2002, my parents took my sister to a concert at the state theater for her birthday. I remember sitting in my room, doing homework, watching the news (I was a responsible teen!!) and I remember the news saying we were officially going to war. I remember being in my room, all by myself, home alone, thinking "we're going to war." It was a scary thought.

Little did I know (or expect, honestly) that 6 years later, how much of an impact the events of those days would have an impact on me. Seth and I "met" in March 2008 online (when he was in Iraq for deployment #2). When we were exchanging emails, he told me he joined the Army shortly after 9/11, fully expecting to be deployed.

I never ever expected those events to have such an impact on my life. I am soo thankful and PROUD of MY soldier, and the rest of the soldiers, marines, airmen, seebees, police, firemen and women and everyone else who volunteered in any way shape or form after the events of 9/11.

Back to School!!

Tomorrow is the first day of school and I really don't think I could be any more excited!!!

The main reason I'm excited for it is because the next 10 weeks are going to fly by soooo fast. That'll put us about the second week in November. Then it'll be just a few more weeks until Seth is home for LEAVE!!!! I can't wait for these next weeks to go by ohhhh sooo fast.

I was also reading in my MilSpouse magazine that fall is an ideal time for those with a deployed spouse. The days are getting shorter, therefore it seems like the days are going faster. Of course I'm looking forward to this too.

Next year at this time, we'll be married. I want to be wherever Seth is, no matter what. Right now, we're thinking he'll be a lifer in the Army, and so he'll have to re-enlist, and hopefully he'll have orders within the next 6 months (that's hopeful thinking, I know) if he'll PCS after this deployment or if he'll stay in Germany. I sorta hope that he'll be in Germany for another year, so I can go live with him and we can travel Europe. I think he's ready to be stationed somewhere else though.

I've also been thinking lately if this is my last year at my current job. Will this be the last year where I'm preparing for back to school for myself? Will this be the last year that I'm at this job? (I will miss it actually). Will this be the last fall in Michigan? Will I be living abroad a year from now? Will I be pregnant?! Will we finally have a pet together? Will we finally be able to spend a fall season together? So many questions, so little answers.

One thing is for sure: I am SOOOO looking forward to this time next year!!!! I'm not typically a fan of surprises and from what I've learned so far, the Army does like to surprise their families. I am actually looking forward to it all, that's for sure.

I have to go pick out my outfit for tomorrow!!!! Happy back to school!!!

Google Video Chat WORKED!!!!!

Last night I wasn't feeling so great so I took a bath, and then watched Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta. As per my usual watching TV late at night, I fell asleep around 10:30 and woke up at midnight. I got online to email Seth and decided to get on google chat to see if he was on. He was and we started talking. Then he told me he was downloading the video plugin for google chat, and i should too. A few minutes later, we were webcamming!!!!! He could hear me, but I couldn't hear him, but we could see each other and that's really all that mattered to me. Since it was midnight, I was wearing a t-shirt of his, no make up, nap time hair and had a band-aid on my face (don't ask). I quickly ripped that off, put my hair in a ponytail and then moved my camera down so he could see me, not stare at my ceiling. His nose is quite red and sun-burned looking. He still looked hot though :) See?!

It's also been exactly 5 months since he deployed. We're almost to the half way point!!!! It seems like eternity already. It has been 6 months since we've seen each other in person though. Leave can't come soon enough.

When we were webcamming, my throat was hurting kind of bad. I went to bed and woke up at 6:49 am and my whole body ached and my throat hurt even more. I took some medicine and went back to bed. I did not feel like getting out of bed this morning. I think I could have stayed in bed alllllll day long. I have a lot of stuff on my to-do list today, so I better get my ass in gear.

Friday night date night!

Fall is in the air for sureeeee!! My new thing is fantasizing about date night with Seth. Here's what we'd do on this windy and chilly fall-like night:

This weather is perfect for going to the hot tubs!!! We'd cook a warm and yummy dinner together: baked ziti with french bread and wine. We'd relax after dinner and then go to the hot tubs after dark. We'd spend an hour in the tub relaxing and talking.

After our time is up, we'd take a quick shower together and put on comfy clothes and hop in the car to come home. He'd want to watch a movie, and I'd be really sleepy and just want to go to bed. He'd convince me to watch a movie, and he'd pick one and put it on, and we'd be on the couch with my head in his lap. I'd fall asleep while he's running his hands through my hair and he'd keep waking me up after he realizes I'd fallen asleep yet again. He'd get really annoyed that I keep falling asleep and I'd have to tell him, "told you so!" that I really did just want to go to bed. After the movie, we'd go to bed, and I'd have taken a nice little nap and then I'd be awake and he'd be annoyed because now he was sleepy. haha We'd compromise on the me being awake and him wanting to sleep thing by trying to make a baby and then we'd both fall asleep shortly afterwards. (It's true, we really would try to make a baby).

Oh man, I can't wait to go on a date with my babes. Only a few more months....

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In!

1. What is a weird/funny superstition that you have? (from A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench)
   Ummm, I don't really have any. Oh! I used to always pick up pennies if I see them on the ground, no matter if it was heads or tails up. However, a few years ago, a friend told me that they are only good luck if it's heads up. I've been ignoring and keeping away from tails ones for a while. And if I'm having a decent day and find a heads up one, I'll leave it for someone else to have a good day on.
   
   
2. What are your hopes and dreams for the years AFTER the military? After all, we aren’t in it forever! (from Stetsons, Spurs and Stilettos)
   Just to be a "normal" family. Whatever normal is. I've always thought that he'd LOVE being a soccer coach for our kids' teams (and he'd be really good at it), whenever we have kids. Not that it's my dream for him to become a soccer coach, but I think it'd be cool.
   
   
3. Since [this] month is National Apple Month (no really!), I’d probably ask: What is your yummiest apple recipe? (from NH Girl Displaced)
   Hmm, I like canning apples! Last year when my sister was home, we canned a bunch of them. By "a bunch," I am talking 48 jars of apple butter and 11 jars of sliced apples for pies. Here's a picture of my sister filling some jars:
   
   
   
4. How long have you gone as a military spouse without talking to your husband/wife during service? (from A Navy Princess and Her Little Sailors)
   I think a week. At the beginning of this deployment, we talked on Sunday's only. It was rough. I don't think we've gone more than a week without talking, thank God. A week was long enough.
   
   
5. I occasionally watch When I was 17… on MTV. So, what was something that was significant about your 17th year of life? (from Ashley Amazing)
   I was starting my senior year in high school. Umm....I got my braces off in October of my senior year after having them for 4 years. That was 9 years ago!! It's pathetic that getting my braces off was the highlight of my senior year. I'm sure there was more, but I can't think of any right now.
   
   

Homemade Vanilla Extract Wedding Favors

I've been brewin' my homemade vanilla extract for exactly 1 month now. It's been very easy and very low maintenance.

Here's the recipe, which I found on allrecipes.com

10 vanilla beans, split in half
1 liter of vodka

Cut the vanilla beans, put them in the vodka, seal and store in a dark area (such as a kitchen cabinet) for a minimum of 3 weeks and maximum of 6 months for best flavor. Shake it once a week. After the vanilla is gone, you can add more vodka and keep using the same beans for up to a year!

So I just need to perfect this super hard recipe (psych!) by January-ish, and then get them going for real then, and they'll be ready just in time for our smack dab in the middle of July wedding next year.

Here are pictures:

Exactly 4 weeks later:
I wish I could do a scratch and sniff Blog! It smells soooo good!

SGT B!!!

Seth just called to tell me that he was just promoted to a SGT!! This has been long overdue and I couldn't be more proud of him!! I wish I could be there to watch him get promoted, but obviously that is not possible. He assures me one of his buddies got pictures of it for me. :)

sooo, CONGRATULATIONS BABE!!!! I'm SO proud of you!!! xxoo :)