Green Eggs and Abraham

It's about time!!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:42:31 GMT

Yay Obama! I'm thrilled to hear that he's finally going to announce insurance benefits for gay and lesbian federal couples. This is the first of MANY changes I hope are made in this administration.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/US_President_And_White_House_Advisers/US_Obama_Gay_Benefits.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

Fri, 29 May 2009 19:51:21 GMT

Not even two months later our other cat died :(

We had to have her put down. She was Crystal's mom--Holly.

When we got our two kittens we got a grey one and a yellow one in honor of the two kittens of Holly's that we kept. At least through my idiot kittens I can remember. I know I'm getting weepy over a cat AGAIN, but hey, it's what I do.

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:47:46 GMT

One of my cats from my mom's house died last night. I feel really upset about it, and though I understand that she was just a cat (and not one who I interacted with that much since I went to college), I still am (probably too) sad. I hope that there's a kitty heaven so that Crystal and Little Yeller (don't ask) are running and playing now like they used to when they were newborn kittens. They were born in my mom's sock drawer on Earth Day in 1994, and Little Yeller only lived a few months before getting run over :( We still have their mom, Holly.

I now have a yellow cat and a grey cat. I called the grey one Crystal this morning. He's a boy. Oops.

RIP fatcat Crystal

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:44:13 GMT

see Obama pictures

new news!

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:27:20 GMT

Well, I was sorta hoping that the military just lost his number, but they didn't, and they called Tim last night. Let's do a quick review of what we've done so far:

1) spent nearly a grand on medical bills to prove that tim has a condition that prevents him from serving capably.
2) got a letter from his school saying he's enrolled and would have to basically start his program over if he took 1.5 years off.
3) got a letter from his old army people saying he was incapable of doing anything while in active duty and therefore would not be a good candidate for deployment.
4) sent a copy of all of his active duty medical records proving that the condition has existed for years.

So last night the guy calls Tim and says "well we're going to need you to prove that you're still in school" (ok, that makes sense, if they're going to delay him they need updated proof) "and also we're going to need proof that the injury still exists."

UM....WHAT? No, it randomly went away on its own, despite its continued existance for years and a doctor's swearing that surgery is needed to make it better. Yeah, it went away. No, I'm not lying.

Moral of the story is, no way are we spending money to have more tests and doctors appointments (insurance doesn't cover it as it is a pre-existing condition). Tim told the guy so, and said he would NOT be paying for the surgery out of pocket, but he also would not accept the military doctors doing it. Needless to say the guy was annoyed.

So Tim's going to re-prove that he's still in school by going tomorrow to get another form that says yes he's still in school and on track and then we'll wait to hear what the dipshits have to say next. This is going to go well into Obama's term, I have a feeling.

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:34:12 GMT

It's been 35 days now and the only thing we've heard is that there is a case manager for Tim's case. He called Tim and asked for his email so that he could send his contact info, but we never got the information, and frankly, we don't want it. Having no way to get in touch is more comforting than the idea that we could call if we wanted to. I'm not expecting to hear anything for at least 5-6 months, and then I'm thoroughly expecting his case to be denied. They're not believing people with medical problems, from what we've heard from those there. However, there are like 4 chances to appeal before drastic action has to be taken, so by that time, Obama will be president, and hopefully he'll agree with John Kerry that we need to end this backdoor draft.

In other ways that the military is taking over my life, my friend from high school is recovering at Walter Reed after being hit with an IED on Mother's Day and losing his left foot and most of his right. Additionally, one of my best friends from Georgetown found out two weeks ago that her husband has to report for his own IRR reactivation on July 7. She's having their first child in two weeks. The cruelty of this war is astonishing. I don't think that the public is really aware of what the military is doing to all of these families and soldiers. Even a couple of my friends who are there because they signed up have told me in the last few weeks how much they hate what they're doing and how horribly they feel that they're being treated. We need a complete overhaul of this war, but at least getting Bush out of office will be a nice start.

nothing...

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:03:44 GMT

In this case, no news isn't good news...it's just simply no news. We submitted Tim's packet a week ago and all we've heard is that as of Tuesday he has been granted an extension until they decide what's going to happen. Which means that some captain somewhere decided that he has enough of a case for an entire group of captains to look at our evidence and make a decision based on that.

Blah. They said 35-65 days just for a DECISION. Like it takes that long to read a packet and say yes or no. What the hell.

We also discovered that we have 4 appeals. And that doesn't include letters to representatives and senators. Which I'll do as soon as needed. Sigh. Too bad everyone that represents us are war friendly republicans.

battle, but not the war

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:34:35 GMT

Well, we won the first battle. He has proven that he has a case. That means that now he doesn't have to report on May 18. Instead, there's a council that is looking at our evidence to decide what, if anything, to grant him. They say it'll take 35-65 days and then they'll let us know what the decision is. Either he'll be ordered to report, he'll be given a delay, or he'll be given an exemption.

We have pretty solid reasons why he shouldn't have to report. First of all, he's a student and only has a year left. If he has to take a year off of school, when he returns, he'll likely have to start all over again because of the requirements in the computer industry to have up to date classes. At the very least his advisor has stated that he'll have to take some classes over again. Which means that he'll use up over his allotment of the GI Bill, and frankly it's not fair that we'd have to pay for the school they promised just because they order him back.

The other thing is the one that scares me. His feet are messed up and it's because of the military that they are. He was on a running restriction for most of the time that I knew him in the army. That means he wasn't allowed to run. What skill you do think is SLIGHTLY necessary in Iraq? RUNNING. So we have a letter from the VA that says "we acknowledge that this injury is caused by military service" and we have a letter from a podiatrist saying "he needs surgery before he can do anything." So what it's going to come down to is: A) them ignoring that. B) Them telling him to get surgery (at which point a fight ensues...they have to pay for it, it was caused by the military) or C) they tell him to forget it. Pray for C.

not really sure where I want to go with this...

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:02:17 GMT

I guess two Wednesdays ago is as good of a place as any to start with the total falling apart of my life. But before I go there, I got a job for the fall! I haven't accepted it yet so I won't list the school, but I will be teaching 12th grade English at a high school in Gwinnett County.

So yeah, two Wednesdays ago. Worst day of my life. It was spring break from student teaching and I had just walked downstairs to get my computer so that I could work on my case study that was due that Friday. On the way up I heard the doorbell ring, which is really weird since no one ever comes to our door.

So I opened the door and was asked to sign for a package. No problem, I did so. Then I noticed the return address, and my stomach fell, and I knew my life had changed for the worse. The return address was HRC--human resources command, from the Army. Before I even opened up the envelope, I knew what was inside.

I started crying before I opened it-that's how sure I was of what was inside. All other correspondence came through the normal mail, not sign for it military special mail. Essentially, Tim's been ordered back to active duty for 400 (may 18, 2008-june 21, 2009)days. Destination unknown, but you get one guess. Ok, two, because even we haven't managed to narrow it down from there.

Everything we've worked for for the last year, all the struggles to get to where we finally would be (both employed, in school, buying a house, starting our lives) is gone. Basically, he has to put everything on hold for a year to go fight in a war that neither of us believe in or support. I'll be left alone for a year while Tim risks his life for a cause that's dead.

Basically, I spent a solid week crying. We're finally to the point where we can get through an entire day without breaking down, but it's still not easy. I still wake up every morning and remember that it's not a dream and lose a little more of myself. Tim's at the same point, but more hopeful than I am.

We're fighting it. We're fighting it with everything we have. The VA is involved, and every senator that represents us. Hell, I've even started talking to God. Appearantly there are 111,000 soldiers in the IRR (inactive ready reserve, told at enlistment it's a precaution in case of world war 3, but really just pawns the army can play with as they wish) they're calling up 1,000 for this deployment, but no hints as to what the job is. Somehow Tim was lucky enough to win the lottery and be in the less than 1% who got called back...

More tomorrow, I'm upsetting myself.

February 18, 2007

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:52:33 GMT

In December 2006 and January 2007 we moved to Atlanta. We did it very slowly, over two trips, but all the while we were estactic. We made it--he was DONE. His BDUs got packed up into a box and we swore we'd never look at them again. He got a plaque from his platoon stating that he had performed his 3 years of service. I quit my nannying job and stopped substitute teaching, and we were off.

I don't even remember February 18 of that year. I vaguely remember stating that I knew my insurance was no longer in effect, and that we wouldn't get another paycheck, but really that was the extent of it. After 23 months of looking forward to that date, it sorta just passed us by. We'd already moved on.

Atlanta didn't turn out exactly how we'd imagined it so many times for so many months. We moved in with my parents because we were both going to be full time students--I'd applied to the TEEMS Program at GSU and he'd been admitted to Gwinnett Tech. Since my school didn't start until the summer I got a job in marketing, and that's really why things started going badly. I was at work all day and hated my job. After work I went out to bars a lot with friends from work for happy hour. If Tim wasn't at school he was working in a restaurant. We really never saw each other. Our lives really started to go in separate directions and we didn't even hang out on the weekends since he was working, so I went out with my old friends. Meanwhile, Tim didn't know anyone in the entire city. It was really sad.

We just sort of survived for just under a year. I really can't say we were unhappy, but we weren't necessarily happy either. In that year a lot of my friends from old days moved away, and so things really changed for both of us. By January of 2008, Tim found a job in his field and loved going to work every day. By then I was fully immersed in student teaching and busy most nights working until I passed out in bed. Things really started to look up for us. We started discussing buying a house when I finish school and get a teaching job for the fall, at the very least we know what area we want to live in even if we rent. We're looking forward to getting out of my parents house and finally being us again. We started putting down our school work for 30 minutes a night and just spending time together. We really started to overcome the year of adjustment, and things really looked good for us.

I think that what was really exciting for us about making all these plans is that it's finally our chance to settle down and be married. We won't be looking forward to getting out of the military, or moving to atlanta, or anything else. We want a house, we want careers, we want life to be stable and normal. I'd love to have a baby in the next two years and really just...live my life.

I even had a week off of teaching. Spring break was supposed to be a godsend, a week to catch up and sleep late and not worry for a while. Well, at least, I thought it was supposed to be. It turns out that everything we thought was supposed to be may very well not be at all..........

early days

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:19:57 GMT

I'm trying to decide what the most important memories are without boring anyone who reads this or overcrowding friends pages. Obviously, after we met, we dated for a while and then got married. Actually, we didn't date for that long. We got married 5 months after we met. We claimed we "knew," which is total bullshit, we didn't know anything and were just assuming.

A lot of my friends gave me a really hard time about it all. I can't really blame them; I'd do the same thing more than likely. But I "knew!" Um, yeah. So we went to the Outer Banks and I put on a dress and he put on his blues and all of the sudden I was a military wife. I hadn't even finished college yet, but there I was. The worst part was meeting all of the 18 and 19 year old wives who'd been married for a year already. While my friends didn't accept me anymore beacuse I was too young, they didn't like me because I was old. It was a really weird year. Between the time that we got married and I graduated, we both grew up a lot. We learned to deal with real money and pay real bills. We figured out who was going to do what around the house. Overall it was a really peaceful year lifewise. I finished school, he hated the military, but it was steady and stable. Nothing was going to have to change.

We did argue a lot, as I imagine that any two people who really didn't know each other that well but swore to love each other forever would. It wasn't by any means perfect, but we were both committed. We knew we had a good thing overall, and we were comfortable. Neither of us wanted anything to change.

It's when I graduated that things got tricky with our lives. All of the sudden I needed a career and had no idea where to find one, especially knowing that we were moving in a few months. The friends that I did have at Georgetown left, and Tim and I stopped hanging out with some other people we'd spent a lot of time with in the past because we finally realized how weird they were. As a result, we really began spending a lot more time just with each other. We got really used to it just being the two of us most of the time, and we were generally happy with it like that.

I ended up substitute teaching and loving it, which led to my decision to become a teacher. We'd had grand plans of our life in Atlanta, but as that 23 month mark getting out of the army day approached, our Atlanta life begame to look nothing like we'd imagined...

How I met my husband

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:25:08 GMT

I think it's time I started using this again, if for no other reason than as therapy. I need to write what I'm going through, just as I've written in here for other events in my life. I need to be able to come back and read this later and remember and never, ever forget.

Tim and I met on St. Patty's Day 2005 at Rhino Pumphouse on M Street in Washington DC. I was at the bar with Kristen, Shannon, and some other girl whose name I've forgotten. I was reeling from a breakup two weeks before, and sadly my goal was to kiss another guy so the old one would be over and done with. I was drinking something pink. I remember this because I very specifically asked the bartender to make me something pink.

A group of army guys walked in and ordered drinks at the bar next to us. I knew they were in the army because one of them was wearing an Army sweatshirt and they all had the same haircut. Kristen and I immediately began gossiping about them. "ew, not that one." "well the cute one has a girlfriend, he's text messaging too much." "what about the other one?" "oh, he's cute too." Mission: the cute guy who didn't appear to have a girlfriend.

We moved 5 feet back to play pool and the guys took the table next to us. I kept making really loud remarks about needing help to learn to play when FINALLY the cute guy without a girlfriend asked me who was winning. Basically, I spent the next twenty minutes being a bitch to him. I refused to tell him my name and made him and his (appearantly retarded) friends guess my name. I said "president during the civil war minus the pork." yay, a riddle. The moron (already wasted, would blow a .29 the next morning) said "washing!" Um, no.

I told him my name and at this point my friends decided we were leaving to go to Tequila Beach. Right. That. Instant. I didnt' even have time to give the guy my number before I was pulled out of the bar. I just screamed "come to Tequila Beach!" over my shoulder.

We got there and they weren't open yet. What the hell. Well, girl whose name I can't remember worked there so we were allowed to go in and wait for it to open. I was pretty upset because, you guessed it, if Army guys came they would see it was closed and leave. I'd lost my shot at the mission. An hour later the doors open and the first person in the door was Tim--yeah, he'd waited an hour in the cold for the place to open so he could chance seeing me there.

He told me that night most of his secrets. Said he wanted to get it all in the open so I could go on and leave if I wantned. I didn't. He told me he was in a non-deployable unit and woudlnt' be sent overseas, and that he was getting out of the Army on February 18, 2007 and would never go back. From the day I met him, I knew that date. I planned for that date for the next 23 months.

He texted me that night and the next day and asked me to hang out the next night. I remember driving onto base that night and him walking out of the barracks and me wondering if he'd still be cute like he had been the night before. He smiled at me, gave me a hug, jumped in a car, and really never left.

To be continued...

Goodbye, 2007!

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 02:24:23 GMT

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Grad school, teach AP lit, etc. etc.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made any, so I don't know if I could have followed them, but I think for next year I'll make my resolution to stay out of debt *not including student loans, i need those* and to stop being a bitch.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Carol did! Yay Natalee Isabel March 22, 2007.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
...no...thank god.

5. What countries did you visit?
Countries? The only states I visited were GA, FL, and IL.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
more time, less stress, a full time teaching job.

7. What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Probably June 11 because I started this whole grad school thing and August 6 because I started to teach.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
does a 4.0 at georgia state count? Probably not.

9. What was your biggest failure?
not getting a 4.0 this summer?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nope.

11. What was the best money you spent?
every penny spent on clothes. and the beach trip.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
no idea.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
w. the president.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Probably bills, but food would be a close second. We also got a new car, RIP Toyota.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
winter break.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? much happier. I'm home, doing what I love.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? soooo poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
cooking

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
bitching at tim

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it here at home with my family and Tim. No fights, yay.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
nope.

23. How many one-night stands?
zero

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I still try not to hate. Though I thoroughly dislike the man who killed the deer the other night.

26. What was the best book you read?
Wuthering Heights

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don't know that I made any...I just listen to the radio in the car.

28. What did you want and get?
To move back to Atlanta, start a life here.

29. What did you want and not get?
To win the lottery

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
300

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 23 and I went to a suprise dinner hosted by Heather and then bowling with my best friends. The next day I got a stomach virus.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
a paycheck?

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
work clothes. i love macys. that credit card is almost worn out.

34. What kept you sane?
alcohol?

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
none of them...

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
iraq.

37. Who did you miss?
Heather.

38. Who was/were the best new person/people you met?
Hilary, Lesleigh, Angela, Crystal.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
marriage is NOT all fun and games...it's mostly work.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Well all these times
They come and go
Alone don't seem so long
Over 10 years have gone by
We cant rewind
We're locked in time
But you're still mine

Do you remember?

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 02:54:10 GMT

"In recent testimony to Congress, Pace said that if the Pentagon doesn't get $100 billion in war funding by April 15, the Army will have to curtail reserve and National Guard training, postpone quality-of-life initiatives such as repairing barracks, and stop repairing equipment." -From Dana Bash, CNN Congressional Correspondent

awesome.

please, please, do stop repairing soldiers equipment. and stop training our already undertrained reserves and national guard.

After watching 300, I've decided that we need a Spartan president. Not only do they speak much more eloquently than our current...um...leader, but they fight with their people rather than against their people. Don't forget who is "the decider."

a couple of gems...

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:14:56 GMT

My current favorites...no introduction necessary.

"The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the--the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice." -Washington, DC; October 28, 2003

"I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, why I do things." -Aboard Air Force One; June 4, 2003

"[I'm] occasionally reading, I want you to know, in the second term." -Washington, DC; March 16, 2005

"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness." -CNN online chat; August 30, 2000

Bye Bye 2006

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:09:36 GMT

So here I am again. This is quite literally the only thing I do on livejournal anymore except read my friends posts, but yeah, enjoy this extra special glimpse into my life. Until next year...

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
graduated college, taught an actual class, took the gre, looked up va divorce laws (but did not act on them), made it to the "married one year" mark, decided to go to grad school, went to indiana and ohio (that will be a once in a lifetime experience, as I will never subject myself to such torture again), enrolled in direct deposit...and that, my friends, is the year in a nutshell.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, at 2AM on New Years Day my resolution was to not kill Tim. And I didn't, so therefore, I kept my resolution. Go me. New years was fun though, I did manage to tell off his ex. After puking. I won't make resolutions, persay, but I will keep working towards the same goals I am now.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. Next year though.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Ms. Lewis is the only death of the year. Let's do the math cheer once more in her honor...

5. What countries did you visit?
just the grand ole usa (or at least it will be grand again when Bush finally resigns, gets kicked out, or thank god 2008 comes)

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
TO NOT BE AN ARMY WIFE!!!!!!!!

7. What date(s) from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
This year I learned that events do not matter so much as the results.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
That Latin-only diploma that so nicely graces one wall of my apartment.

9. What was your biggest failure?
The stupid verbal section of the GRE.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not significantly.

11. What was the best money you spent?
Money on food. Because without food, we woulda died. And we didn't, so that's a good thing.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
mine.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
mine.

14. Where did most of your money go?
bills. I hate being grown up.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving home, Tim getting out of the Army, graduation, my Spa Sydell gift certificate, my new diamond wedding band, oh, and my Gucci perfume.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Get Drunk and be Somebody... not because I wanted to get drunk to be somebody, but because that will remind me of the Toby Keith concert, and that will remind me of Tim being in the military, so close to freedom.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier?? i dunno, ask me on jan 19, 2007.
ii. thinner or fatter? hahahahaha stupid 5 pounds.
iii. richer or poorer? right about the same, except I started my student loan repayments, so probably poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
not worry

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
worry

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it AT HOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
thank god.

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
nah, i was already there.

23. How many one-night stands?
ok this is now officially a stupid question because if you're married you should have none and if you do have any you sure as fuck won't admit to them on livejournal!!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
gilmore girls. still.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
i don't hate.

26. What was the best book you read?
I don't play favorites.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
the bridesmate is a whore song. haha.

28. What did you want and get?
to graduate.

29. What did you want and not get?
to leave this place (va).

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
i fell out of my seat in clerks 2, and then again the second time i saw it.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i was 22 and tim had just had his wisdom teeth out so I went to emily's the night before and did not drink tequila and then the power went out on the 4th so i sat in the silence while tim slept until kelly called and then the power came back on and i went to outback and got takeout and then tim ate most of my steak and we went to bed. overall, 10000000000 times better then last year.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
tim being free

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
jeans and tshirts.

34. What kept you sane?
reality?

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
britney. ha.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
iraq. get the fuck out.

37. Who did you miss?
my friends.

38. Who was/were the best new person/people you met?
jess.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
life goes on. it'll work out.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"these boots were made for walkin'"I have no idea how this sums up my year, I just really liked Dukes of Hazzard and that video. It may mean that I'm a little lesbian, but I'll accept that.

This is probably the one thing on LJ that I look forward to every year

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 14:56:43 GMT

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Biggest thing that jumps to mind is that whole getting married thing…

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I wrote on Jan 1 that I wanted to be completely and honestly happy and that I would give up whatever I had to and change whatever I had to in order to get that. This year I can honestly say I did that. I gave up a lot, got over a lot, and sure, my life isn’t perfect, but I’ve never been so happy.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Frances had Ethan on Dec 2 and Kelly had Sadie on Nov 5.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed in US- specifically here, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
a diploma

7. What date(s) from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Mar. 17 - I met Tim, and Aug. 18- I married Tim.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing two more semesters at Georgetown

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting out before I did.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major

11. What was the best money you spent?
That’s hard to say because we spent so much… but it was all worth it. Overall, the best spent money was probably the outrageous tickets to Illinois for Thanksgiving.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Cindy Sheehan.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, bills, food, etc. etc. The real world isn’t cheap…

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Again, that whole getting married thing…

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Jack Johnson “Do You Remember”

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much much much happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Couple pounds fatter but what can do you?
iii. richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
being outside in the nice weather

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
worrying about school and money

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home with Tim- getting my diamond ring!

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Oh yes.

23. How many one-night stands?
zero!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I spent way too much time watching Gilmore Girls.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don’t hate anyone, but in fact I now get along with several people that I didn’t at this time last year.

26. What was the best book you read?
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown and the new Harry Potter which I’ve now read twice.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
DC101

28. What did you want and get?
Tim

29. What did you want and not get?
For Heather to come visit.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The new Harry Potter, 40 Year Old Virgin, and I saw Shrek for the first time.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
The night before it was fun: I went to dinner at Tombs with my Georgetown friends, had the waiter not give me a drink but give me a personally signed card from the “Tombs Staff”. Then I was 21 and it was by far my worst birthday ever, even worse then that year that I broke my arm. I was taken to an ATM machine to get money out because appearantly I was expected to pay for myself. Went to dinner with people I’m not friends with, had my then-boyfriend ask me if he was paying for dinner or if I was. Was driven to stupid bar where said boyfriend bought me one drink and his friends bought me the rest. FINALLY Kristen and Shannon show up and save me by buying me very strong drinks and making me laugh. On car ride home got into fight with boyfriend due to a whole other ordeal that I won’t get into here. Ended up having unwrapped my gift tossed to me. Went to bed, woke up, and was broken up with. Flew home to go to bar with Heather and start new life. New life much better.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It was pretty damn satisfying as it was.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
I managed to get dressed every morning in something that matched.

34. What kept you sane?
My mom, Tim, and Heather. The same people also caused me to go insane.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None of them.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Iraq.

37. Who did you miss?
My family. 15 more months.

38. Who was/were the best new person/people you met?
Besides Tim who’s the obvious, it’s definitely Emily. Only took me a year, but I found my twin up here.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Life goes on. It was the year of the breakup, but life will continue and everything really will be ok.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all I’ve got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
You’ll never find
A love as true as mine

couldn't help it

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 21:52:11 GMT

I really liked this, so I did it with

1. Are you male or female: Belle

2. Describe yourself: Fortunate Fool

3. How do some people feel about you: It’s All Understood

4. How do you feel about yourself: Fortunate Fool

5. Describe your ex-boyfriend / girlfriend: Gone

6. Describe current boyfriend / girlfriend (husband): No Other Way

7. Describe where you want to be: Cocoon

8. Describe how you live: Times Like These

9. Describe how you love: Banana Pancakes

10. What would you ask for if you had just one wish: Constellations

11. Share a few words of wisdom: Tomorrow Morning Comes

12. Favorite thing: Cookie Jar

13. Describe your day: Wasting Time

14. Now say goodbye: Staple It Together
</lj-cut)

long ass entry... i promise i'll stop talking about getting married after this week

Sun, 14 Aug 2005 03:46:04 GMT

Last night was honestly one of the best of my life...definitely among the top two here in DC. Tim and I went out to Rhino's--the bar that we met on on St. Patty's Day, as sort of a cheesy last date before we make it official. We played pool, had a few drinks, and essentially remembered why we only stayed there for about an hour on St. Patty's Day--it's boring. Not to mention that none of the students have come back yet. Georgetown==dead. We'd run into a new guy in his platoon so we convinced him to come with us to Mr. Smith's, a piano bar that in all the times I've been there has never ceased to be completely freaking crowded. Last night was no exception.

Before I get to the fun part, I have to say this: We walked up to the bar to try to get a drink and a guy was sitting at the bar with a girl. He looked at Tim (who was pretty much leaning over him trying to get the bartender's attention) and asked if he was in the military. Tim said yes and the guy promptly bought us and Tim's platoon buddy guy each a drink. I leaned over to tell him thanks and noticed he had a cane propped up beside him. We kept talking and this guy is in the Marines and just got back from Iraq. He lost his right leg from an IED...if you watch Over There, it's essentially the same injury we saw in the first episode. Later on in the night he was struggling to get through the bar with his cane and prostetic leg--he still looks very much like a Marine--and people were essentially ignoring him. I pushed people out of the way to clear him a path. Granted, I'm slightly biased, being that I'm about to marry a soldier, but this guy struck a total heartstring. I may not agree with some of the reasons we went over to Iraq, but we're there now, and the soliders themselves have nothing to do with the politics of the war--they're there to serve their country and to fight for what we define as freedom. And I honestly think that every one of them who risks their life in Iraq or Afghanistan to fight for me is truely a hero.

I feel sort of cheap continuing my story after that, but we managed to somehow get seats right up at the piano. Tim and I have been there enough times as to where we know John, the pianoman, but we hadn't been since we got engaged. We went in las tnight, he yelled hi, we listened to a few songs, and then Tim leaned over and told him that we're getting married next week. We were promptly introduced to the entire bar and the whole bar sang "going to the chapel" and "my girl" and other cheesy songs directed at us. I sat there, grinning, with my face bright red for probbaly 20 minutes. Eventually he switched back over to normal songs but he kept mentioning us in between songs. People kept congratulating us and when i went to th ebathroom i was pretty much surrounded by a group of giggly girls telling me how lucky I am.

I'm not trying to come across as loving attention in a bar, I think it's just taht I've missed out on so muhc of the traditional bride attention--I didn't have a shower or a million people fussing with me over what floral arrangement to use, that this one night means a lot to me in terms of feeling like I'm actually a bride and actually getting married, because until we actually get to the beach, it still sort of feels like this fantasy we've invented and been counting down the days to. The countdown is almost over though, we're leaving here in 4 days, and in 5 I'll have a new name and a ring on my finger.

And no, that doesn't freak me out at all.

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 02:14:18 GMT

someone tell me not to freak out yet about this possible hurricane that's scheduled to hit the outer banks...

it would be my luck that my beach wedding turns into a hurrican evacuation.

not freaking out yet...

at least i'm trying not to.

I'm back, but probably not for long

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 20:09:07 GMT

Something about being in Norcross always gives me the urge to update this thing. I've been trying, repeatedly, for several days now, and I'm still not sure exactly what I'm trying to say...but now that I'm home, here it is.

Being home is weird. Particularly this time...I'm here on my own to defend a decision made by two. I'm sleeping in the room that was mine all through high school, typing on the computer in the room that I spent all those hours talking to all those people online, cooking in the kitchen I grew up in, but I don't know where even the utensils are anymore. Today my mom took me shopping for a dress. We've done it plenty of times, for homecomings, proms, softball banquets, and today was just like all the rest of the days, "No, not that one, it gathers funny on the back." "EW, Mom, that dress is UGLY!" "Try it on anyways." This time though I'm not going to prom with David or to a softball banquet where I will surely win yet another award. This time I'm going to my own wedding.

Before the rumors start (or, given that Katie knows already, before the rumors get too large) let me clarify something. Yes, we're getting married very quickly. No, it's not because I'm pregnant. Four months ago I, by lucky chance, met the person I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with. And despite the fact that we were both just barely out of past relationships, we fell in love. And then it became first appearant and then completely obvious that we belong together. Once we knew that, neither of us could think of any reason to wait any longer.

I always said I could never be a person who had a year-long engagement. I'm sticking to my word. We were officially engaged in the end of June, and on or around August 19, we'll be married (depending what week the army will be oh so kind to give him leave). At the advice of his commanding officer, we're having a simple and private ceremony in the chapel on base.

In some sense I felt today, like I have the majority of the days since I started dating Tim, that nothing this good could be real. Trying on pretty white dresses and imagining "here comes the bride" playing as I walk down the aisle. Weddings are fairy tales. My mom and cousin kept reminding me that it's for real, and I guess this time it really is.

I can't stop laughing when I think of the fact that I'm posting under the LJ name of seminolesmooth... the me that made this journal three years ago could never have seen this coming.

this was a fun way to kill 8 minutes of my life

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 03:59:20 GMT

I am bisexual or homosexual.

I've consumed alcohol.

I've run away from home.

I have lied to my parents about where I am.

I don't like Bush because from what I hear, he is dumb.

I don't like Bush with my own reasons to back it up.

I am for Bush.

I listen to political music.

I collect comic books.

I shut others out when I'm depressed.

I open up to others easily.

I am keeping a secret from the world.

I watch the news.

I own over 5 rap CDs.

I own an iPod or MP3 player.

I own something from Hot Topic.

I love Disney Movies.

I am a sucker for hair/eyes.

I don't kill bugs.

I curse regularly.

I paid for that cell phone ring.

I am a sports fanatic.

I have "x"s in my screen name.

I've slipped out an "lol" in a real conversation.

I love Spam.

I bake well.

I would wear pajamas to school.

I own something from Abercrombie

I have a job.

I love Martha Stewart.

I am in love with love.

I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.

I am self conscious.

I like to laugh.

I smoke a pack a day.

I loved Perks of Being a Wallflower.

I loved Go Ask Alice.

I have cough drops when I'm not sick.

I can't swallow pills.

I can swallow about 7 pills at a time no problem.

I eat fast food weekly.

I have many scars.

I've been out of this country.

I believe in ghosts.

I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.

I am really ticklish.

I see a therapist.

I love white chocolate.

I bite my nails.

I am comfortable with being me.

I play computer games/video games.

I'm single.

I'm in a relationship.

Gotten lost in your city.

Saw a shooting star.

I had a serious surgery.

Gone out in public in your pajamas.

I have kissed a stranger.

Hugged a stranger.

Been in a fist fight.

Been arrested.

Laughed and had rice come out of your nose.

Pushed all the buttons on an elevator.

Made out in an elevator.

Swore at your parents.

Kicked a guy where it hurts.

Been close to love.

Been to a casino.

Been skydiving.

Broken a bone.

Skipped school.

Flashed someone.

Saw a therapist.

Done the splits.

Played spin the bottle.

Gotten stitches

Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.

Bitten someone.

Been to Niagara Falls.

Gotten the chicken pox.

Kissed a member of the same sex.

Crashed into a friend's car.

Been to Japan.

Ridden in a taxi.

Shoplifted.

Been fired.

Ever had a crush on someone of the same sex.

Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.

Stolen something from your job.

Gone on a blind date.

Lied to a friend.

Had a crush on a teacher.

Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Been to Europe.

Slept with a co-worker.

Been married.

Gotten divorced.

Had children.

Saw someone dying.

Been to Africa

Driven over 400 miles in one day.

Been to Canada.

Been to Mexico

Been on a plane.

Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Thrown up at a bar.

Eaten Sushi.

Been snowboarding.

Been skiing.

Met someone in person from the Internet.

Been moshing at a rock show.

Been to a moto cross show.

Lost a child.

Gone to college.

Graduated college.

Done hard drugs.

Taken painkillers.

Had someone cheat on you.

Miss someone right now.

I need to stop being so hungry all the time. It's much cheaper to not be hungry.

Searching for apartments sucks. I just want to close my eyes and have a cheap one in the perfect location already decorated and furnished with food in the kitchen. So I can cook dinner. Because since March 5, that's all I've really missed.

I didn't mean to say that.

He's really a horrible influence on me in the best possible way. I'm loving every second of this...
no snide remarks about that one please. no one even knows what i'm talking about.

only 6 more times do i have to go to these nasty tuesday/thursday classes.

Fri, 08 Apr 2005 04:03:44 GMT

It's funny to me how a month can be both one of the best and the most horrible of my life. Only a month--31 simple days. The last month, I haven't touched this thing. I couldn't imagine that anyone would want to read about it.

If I could go back, I don't think I'd be able to do anything differently. I'm not talking about getting invovled with Scott--who'd turn down two years of mostly happy times, first loves, San Francisco, DC, inside jokes, Europe, and big dreams only because the love turned out to be conditional after all? Now I know that as a condition of love, I must be happy.

What I'd consider doing differntly is trying more to understand what others were going through. I'm a hypocrite because of it. I considered something to be wrong but then two years later I did it myself. Can you really understand something you've never experienced though? I don't think so. I'm trying to stop pretending I can.

I don't regret for a second anything that's happened or that I've done in the last month. I regret that my entire 21st birthday was ruined, but that wasn't my fault or my choice to make. From there, though, I've gotten myself here. And here isn't such a bad place. In fact, it's pretty damn awesome.

i think it's time

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 21:09:44 GMT

We stood together
And we made each other strong
We tried to comfort ourselves when the nights were long
And we held back the tears
When they needed to flow
But where we once stood lie only footprints in the snow

snow snow go away don't come again another day

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 22:31:37 GMT

It's snowy and cold and white outside, and we're sick and home inside. Scott must really be sick if he a) didn't go to work today and b) didn't DO any work today. it's sort of funny because I had this same thing really bad last week, but it didn't prevent me from going to school or coming home and cooking dinner, but he's sick now and he's all "abra, please will you make me some soup?" or "I'm really thirsty...." He's the most capable person I know (except while trying to follow directions in a car) but he gets sick and there's me around, and all the sudden he's a three year old with chickenpox... "MOMMEEEEEEEE!!! I NEED YOU!"

He better be well by thursday. cause it's not my birthday but I'm pretending it is.

and now time for a First best friend: Beth Berman
First car: 1996 Tercel
First real kiss: Matt something or other
First break-up: two weeks after the aforementioned kiss
First screen name: akadabra
First self purchased album: alanis moisette, jagged little pill
First funeral: my great aunt carolyn
First pets: sam and ginger and miss kitty
First piercing/tattoo: my ears when i was three
First credit card: sophomore year of college
First true love: Scott Eisele
First enemy: my older brother
First big trip: disney world?
Last cigarette: when i was like 17
Last car ride: coming home from school
Last kiss: 5 minutes ago
Last good cry: don't really remember, it's been a while
Last library book checked out: one for my environmental history class
Last movie seen: in the theaters, hitch, scott and i just watched some christmas movie on comedy central though, and it's fitting cause it's snowing outside so it feels like christmas
Last beverage drank: water
Last food consumed: apple and a couple of crunch valentines candies
Last crush: don't remember
Last phone call: to my mom
Last time showered: this morning
Last shoes worn: my tennis shoes
Last item bought: birth control and a carton of eggs at cvs
Last annoyance: the price of my birth control went up
Last time wanting to die: the flu wasn't fun, but seriously never
Last time scolded: i'm sure not too long ago

r e l a t i o n s h i p s
01. Who are your good friends? Heather, heather, scott, kristen, nicole

f a s h i o n | s t u f f
01. where is your favorite place to shop? varies every time i go shopping
02. any tattoos or piercings? my ears

s p e c i f i c s
01. do you do drugs? nope
02. what kind of shampoo do you use? pantene maybe?
03. what are you most scared of? death
04. what are you listening to right now? scott coughing as he tries to sleep
05. where do you want to get married? either old town or somewhere outside
06. how many buddies are online right now? 95
07. what would you change about yourself? i dunno, i sorta like myself

c u r r e n t
clothes: gray sweatpants and a white tanktop
music: none
make-up: hahaha, good joke
annoyance: the fact that we're sick
smell: if i try hard enough i can smell my deoderant?
favorite artist: alan jackson
desktop picture: the view from our apartment of a realyl nice sunset over the capitol
book you're reading: only like 5 different ones for school
cd in player: gretchen wilson
dvd in player: no idea
color of toenails: toenail colored

Name Four Bad Habits You Have:
1. stubborn
2. denial
3. picking at my fingernails
4. getting angry over stuff i shouldn't

Name Four Things That You Wish You Had:
1. the ability to go home for dinner
2. my ipod shuffle NOW i don't wanna wait til my birthday :)
3. straight As
4. a million dollars?

Name Four People That Know You the Best:
1. Scott
2. Heather
3. Heather
4. Nicole

Name Four Things You Are Thinking About Now:
1. spring break
2. dinner
3. homework
4. medication

Name Four Things That You Have Done Today:
1. gone to one class
2. walked a long ass ways through the snow
3. sat around with scott a lot
4. called my mom

Name the Last Four Things You Have Bought:
1. birth control
2. carton of eggs
3. groceries (except for the damn eggs)
4. an expensive ass shirt to wear out on my birthday

Favorite Place To Be? in my apartment
Least Favorite Place? in my apartment (these don't overlap)
Time You Wake Up In The Morning? around 730 monday-thursday, 9ish on fridays and whenever on the weekends
Do You Believe In An Afterlife? some sort of one, yes
Current Favorite Word/Saying? is coughing a word?
One Person From Your Past You Wish You Could Go Back And Talk To: my grandparents
What Is Your Career Going To Be Like? I'm going to be more well known then JK Rowling with more total books sold.