Green with Envy

I hate to even be admitting to this, but yes, folks, I have been envious. Namely of my sis and Martha. Why? you ask? Well, they had a toy I wanted. Most of you know that I love to take pictures. Not just any pictures but pictures of very random things (i.e. the mold that grew on our forgotten leftovers, if you'll remember!). Now, when my good friend Martha got a nice new camera and lenses I didn't really think much except, "Good for you." However, when Ash started ranting and raving about how cool it was and how she wanted one...I started thinking...do I want one too? Well, I didn't dwell on it...until Ash got one for CHRISTMAS!!!! Then I started seeing all these sights on the way to and from work that would be such great pictures...if I had a camera like theirs. Now, I knew better than to mention to Blair that I wanted this camera because he likes to spoil me and he'd either buy it for me or force (haha) me into getting it. Well, one day it came out that I wanted it and low and behold, he did exactly what I thought he would (do I know my man or what?)...he told me to 'Just buy it, Laura.' No matter that it is over a grand, just get it. Ha! Anyone that knows me at all, knows that I'm a tightwad with money. Well, he finally convinced me to get it and I did get a really good deal on ebay (thank you God, for the internet!) but it still took me ten minutes (literally) to click the buy button. I kept thinking of all the stuff we could get with a thousand dollars! But in the end, my greed won out and I bought it. And haven't looked back since!! I love, love, love this camera. I ended up not getting the exact same one as Ash and Martha, but its the same concept. (They got a Cannon 50D and I got a Nikon D90, just FYI.) I have been taking random pictures with it around the house but have been itching to go out into the wild blue yonder and take some photos. Finally the opportunity presented itself. A girl at work has the same "addiction" with picture taking as I do and we were going to meet up and take pictures around her little town (bout an hour away called, oddly enough, Towner). However, we didn't get the chance because her little girl got sick and she's more important than me and pictures. But, since I was in photo mode, I decided to go it on my own. (I know, how brave of me right?) Well, I just started driving and here is what I found. Let me know what you think...but only if its good thoughts!! ;)

This is a cute little church that I can just see the steeple on the way to work. I finally got to find it and take its picture!!

I don't know why, but I love run-down buildings. Here is exhibit A.

Here is the town of Minot from a lookout point by the airport.

Exhibit B of rundown buildings! Cool, huh?

I love trains, so imagine my glee when this beauty whizzed past!

Just trying to make a grain elevator glamorous.

** Correction--this is a grain bin, not an elevator. My bad.

This little house was actually really far away...but I have a big zoom!!

I didn't really mean to get the sign, but it looks cool anyway, I thought!

This is one of my favorite "picture opportunities." It looks so pretty with the sun behind it.

This was the huge drift that was in our backyard until about two weeks ago. Crazy weather!

More braggin'...

Ok, so y'all probably get tired of hearing about how great my husband is, but, well, your about to hear more. This past weekend I worked 12 hour shifts. (I have just gotten off of a seven day stretch of working, not all 12 hours shifts, though, thank goodness!) Anyway, I always have a n on-going grocery list (because if I don't write it down when I think of it, I'll forget!). Blair occasionally will write down some 'special' request and I'll get it when I go to the commissary. This is what I saw when I came downstairs on Friday...

(**It's like Where's Waldo. Can you find the hidden message?)

Ok, so the point I made earlier about my busy weekend was to say that Blair was great this weekend. When I got up on Friday, he 'cooked' dinner (aka, got pizza). That way neither one of us had to stress what to make and just got to be together. On Saturday, he took the list above and went to the commissary and bx for me! And he for real cooked and made an awesome dinner for us to enjoy! Not only did he do that, he did laundry!! Yes, he did! And I didn't even have to ask!!! Then on Sunday, it was all folded! *GASP!!* Oh, my gosh! (Now, don't think anything of it being a day later, cause sometimes I leave laundry for days!!) I came downstairs and it was all folded neatly in the basket. I was so proud of him! He is the best hubby ever!! Thank you, God, for the man You've blessed me with.

Trip Pictures

~~Here is the picture update that I promised forever long ago...Enjoy!

A picture from the plane on my way to Ft. Wayne, IN!

The bride and groom at the start of the wedding.

The beautiful ceiling of the church! Even the speakers were painted to match!

Katie and Paul saying their vows. You could feel their happiness!

The new Mr. & Mrs. Kuch!

Apparently the wedding took place in Michigan's state capital, Lansing. So between the wedding and reception, we went to see the capital building!

The bride and groom in front of their 'party' table.

My wonderful in-laws!

My sweet bro-in-law and his wonderful girlfriend!

The cool Italian dance. They're moving so fast, everyone is blurry!

The gang (Dennis, Kate, Ben, me, and Teri).

I took a picture with the beautiful people...

On the flight home (we couldn't take off until daylight b/c a strobe light was broken, it did not inspire confidence!).

~~Hope you enjoyed a quick look into my weekend!

Leavin' on a jet plane...

Oh, my, word! Flying is awesome! What have I been doing the past 25 years of my life!?! Torturing myself with agonizingly long, monotonous trips that take upward of 8 hours! No more my friends! I have decided flying is the way to go! Of course, that is only when the funds are available! Why do I mention this you ask? Because last weekend I had my first experience flying. Yes, first. At 25. This puppy ain't too old to learn new tricks! The occasion was Blair's cousin was getting married. So Friday afternoon I set out on my adventure, by myself. Yes, I do feel super brave and like I can take anything now. Well, maybe not anything...but definitely flying alone! I was nervous of course, but if I wasn't I would've probably been sick. One of my 'worries' was navigating the Minneapolis airport, but, y'all, that was a cinch! Oh my goodness, they had the concourses clearly marked and signs everywhere. They also had these awesome little conveyor belts that you walk on...so cool. I would step on them and walk and felt like I was walking outside. My hair was blowing like I was in a wind tunnel! Neat-o!

I arrived into Ft. Wayne, IN around 10:30 p.m. I was so excited to see my in-laws when I got off the plane! Everyone probably thought my MIL (mother-in-law) and I were crazy...when we saw each other, we squealed, ran to each other and jumped up and down hugging! Oh, good times. After our squeal fest (which would have totally embarassed my husband) we set out for the in-laws house (45 minutes away). We talked non-stop the entire way home. Then, when we got there, I changed into comfortable clothes and went back for more! We finally went to bed around 1:30 a.m., I think, and only then because we had to get up early to get ready for the wedding!

On Saturday, I got up at around 8 a.m. I decided to get partially ready before going out to start the day. By the time I'd done this, my MIL had coffee made for us! Yippee! We share a passion for coffee (I tell you sometimes it's scary how much we're alike!). We visited in the living room for a while, until we got hungry. Then my FIL (father-in-law) made us breakfast. It was a Mexican breakfast with eggs, toasted tortillas, cheese, and sausage. I am about to butcher the name of it here, but it's something along the line of Meegas (that's how it sounds, at least!). Anyway, after I scarfed down two helpings ( I know, I know, my diet is ruined!) I went to get ready. Shortly thereafter, we headed out on our two hour drive to Lansing, MI. Again, we talked the entire way there. It was so great to catch up with my in-laws. I say all the time, I am one of the few people that was blessed enough to love my in-laws!

The wedding itself was absolutely beautiful. The church, the attendants, the bride. Katie, you were remarkable! I got to see almost all of Blair's side of the family, and it was awesome! I especially enjoyed seeing Blair's youngest brother, Ben and his girlfriend, Kate. Ben is so much like Blair and Kate and I get along really well! It's a treat anytime we get to be together. We even talked about them coming to visit us this summer! Hopefully it will work out!

The reception was super fun! We had food, cake and talking! What more could a Southern girl want!? It was such fun! The grooms' family is as big as Blair's and the combination made for a fun-filled time! They are Italian and did the traditional Italian dance...where the bride, groom, and their parents get encircled by family and friends and dance around. Think My Big Fat Greek (but really Italian, in this case) Wedding. It was so neat. I think I stood there with my mouth agape for a bit! This is stuff that I've only seen on TV!! Then, the grooms family has a tradition...The bride stood behind the groom and used her hands for a blindfold. A few guys from his side came in carrying an ark-like container. I was not in position to see what they were doing till it was done, but they had a massive ball and chain and they attatched it to the grooms leg! Oh, my! It was great! Then, the DJ played a song and the bride danced around the groom with the key and the groom kept trying to get the key. To get the key the crowd (aka, us) started chanting sing! sing! So he sang! It was so funny! Thats a good tradition!

We had to leave before all the good dances started (aka, the line dances) since we had a two hour drive home and my flight was at 7:15 the next morning! After getting home, we talked for a bit and decided to hit the sack. Boy, I was whipped. After what felt like 30 minutes of sleep, I got up and got ready for my return trip. Again, my FIL made me breakfast. This time it was an egg & bacon bagel! Yum yum! He's a great cook! (Oh, that reminds me! I told them that I'd been craving the strawberry shortcake they made for us when we were there in July, and he made it for me after we got home from the wedding! How sweet!)

The return home was mostly uneventful, except that right before we were about to land the pilot had to abort the landing. Supposedly, the day before, Minot had a lot of fog and no planes could land and had to be taken back to Minneapolis. I was scared that we would be rerouted back to Minneapolis, but we got to land on the second try! Thank God! I did not want to sent back to Minneapolis! I was so excited to see Blair again! We went to eat lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings as soon as we left the airport. On the way home, we noticed the fog had rolled in once again and we both remarked on how great it was that I got home when I did! Any later and I would've been back to Minneapolis in a flash! Thank God for small blessings!

**I don't have pictures right now, as I'm at work posting this. I will return to post pictures of my fun-filled weekend!! Love to you all!!

Catching up

Ok, so, I've been horrible lately about keeping up with my blog. Life here in the North has been super busy. Work is going well, but the scheduling here is a bit schizophrenic. I don't know from one week to the next what days/nights I'll be working. It's a bit tiring, to be completely honest. In LA, I could tell you a year out what weekend I'd be working and be able to plan accordingly. Not here! Oh, well, you do what you gotta do, right?!

So, like I said, I've not kept all you good people up-to-date on my life. We'll go back to January for uno momento, por favor. What's the big deal about January you ask? Well, it was my birthday! I only mention it because I want to brag on my wonderful hubby. For those of you that don't know, he is much more fashionable and trendy than me. He has wonderful taste and naturally chooses beautiful things, almost as an after thought. That being said his gifts are equally great. I don't know how he does it, but every holiday/birthday/anniversary he gets me something I didn't know I wanted and had to have until its in my hot little hands! This birthday was no different...Let's just say, "Girls, he went to Jareds!"

These are cultured black pearls. I never knew I liked pearls until Blair bought them for me!

They are considered black pearls, but they have a green tint to them. They're beautiful!

As most of you know, in LA we didn't have a dining/kitchen table. Which was completely fine for a couple of reasons. 1.) We didn't have room for it. 2.) We probably wouldn't have eaten at it anyway, preferring instead the couch in front of the TV! However, when you move and acquire more space than what you had, the natural inclination is to fill that space, right ladies? As you know from previous posts, the entire bottom floor of our house is pretty much one big open room. We have it "sectioned" off into the living room, computer room and "blank spot." That was, however, before we got our new dining room table!! Yes, people, we finally did it! We got a table. Why am I so excited you ask? I have no idea. Except for the fact that it's new and it's mine, and it looks awesome in our "blank spot!" Perhaps one reason I am excited is now I finally have a place to showcase the beautiful place mats and napkins Lisa O. got us as a wedding gift. I had to move 2K miles away to use them, but what the hey, they're out now!! And lookin' good! Back to how great of a designer my husband is, he went to the BX and got a table runner for it and as you'll see in just a bit, it looks marvelous! I love it. He is so funny, no, ladies, I did not have to ask him to go get a table runner, he went of his own accord. Amazing, huh? Raise your hand if your jealous...Just kidding!!!

The 'naked' table. It's first night in our house.

Trying to show a little of the details.

All dressed up and ready for dinner.

The centerpiece. Oh, look, pewter. Wonder where I got that?!

Oh, my another fleur de lis. Hmm, no one would know I love them!

Not only did he buy a table runner for the dining table, but also one for the 'behind the couch' table. Did it look good you ask? Um, yes. Better, in fact, than had I picked them out. It's just a bit daunting to have a husband that's as good/ better at decorating than you are. But, a lot of times, it makes my life easier, because as you know, I don't make decisions well. If you give me too many choices, I'll sit and debate with myself (and you if your unlucky enough to be at hand) for hours. With Blair, I can ask which one he likes better and the decision is done!

The 'behind the couch' table Blair decorated.

Ok, let see, what else has happened to the 'transplant' northerners (I will for ever be a southerner at heart!! Never fear my friends, I'll always say "y'all!")? Ah, yes, painting. If you'll remember, I mentioned that I work both days and nights now. Blair, bless his heart, is on the 11p to 7a shift. Thus sleeps during the day. We have two windows in our room. One of which is huge. We put the curtains I had made for the house in LA up here but the dimensions were off and light showed through. Unacceptable. So I made myself a project of making new curtains. I wanted them to be "black out" curtains. So off to JoAnn's I went. Lucky me, I caught a sale and most of the fabric I bought was 1/2 off! Oh, yeah! Score! Surprisingly, I finished the curtains sooner rather than later. They helped a lot to block the light, but not all of it was "blacked out" as I had wanted it to be. I got to thinking it might have been because our walls are glaringly white and the light comes in and seems to be magnified as it bounces off the ceiling and walls. So, what do I do? I get the bright idea to paint. Forgetting since moving in, only seven months ago, how very, very, very much I hate to paint. But all of a sudden, I'm gung-ho to paint this blasted room in the color Emerald Pool (it's a turquoise-y blue/green, can you see it?). Strike that, I'd decided to paint only two walls (I suppose I hadn't forgotten that much!). So, after hog-tieing Blair into helping me, and letting him choose what he wanted to do, we got started. Since Blair had chosen to do the roller-ing, I did the trim and taped. Well, I got all the taping done and he still wasn't ready to come roller paint so, I got the bright idea to start on the trim. Note to self, stupid idea!!! For future reference, the trim should be blended into the wall, not vise versa. Ugh! If I'd only thought. However, I didn't, and the result was a fiasco. I had gotten most of the trim done by the time Blair came to help and by that time, my stomach was in knots (I internalize when I worry). I had painted the trim to cover, meaning, I had painted about two coats already, when Blair came to roller. Due to my un-smartness, we ended up having to put three (yes, count it, three) coats of paint on these walls. I quickly remembered that I hate to paint and why, because of this!! I was so worried that the walls and the trim would never blend, but I guess if you match the number of coats, eventually it will. After all this, I told Blair, if I ever want to paint another room...smack me! Ugh. I've already got a painter lined up to paint it back for me when we move!! (No, we aren't moving anytime soon, I'm just preparing for the future!!) All that being said, the room is still not the 'cave' I want for us to sleep in. So our next project is to get the do-it-yourself window tint (like I used on my front door in LA) to put on our windows. I'm trying not to think about the possibility that the window tint would have been a better option from the beginning than painting, because, well, that would make me sick. Oh, well, you live and learn right?

The infamous room. Not too shabby, eh?

Happy Birthday, My Love

February 22, 1982
This is the day the man I love was born. And thank God for it! He was moved here and yon with the Marines as a kid, and ended up at Barksdale with the Air Force. And I am ever so grateful. He is the man of my dreams. He makes me laugh, makes me plain happy. I can tell him anything. I can be dorky, lazy, a bum, a go-getter, I can be anything and I know he loves me. The day we got married I told him I couldn't wait to start the adventure of our life together. A year and a half later, we've already been through a TDY and a PCS! That's a lot for so short a time. But I wouldn't change anything. I don't want to be anywhere but where he is. Where he goes, I will follow. The old adage is true, "Home is where the heart is." Well, my heart is with my husband, so my home is where he takes me. I love him more than words can express and thank God each and everyday for bringing him into my life. (And Dennis and Teri, if you read this, thank you for your influence in making him the wonderful man he is today!)

I am so proud of him and the job that he does with unflagging committment. He puts on his uniform everyday and serves his country without complaint. He does his job to the best of his ability and is recognized by his peers for it. It gives me pride to say that his a United States Airman. He is my own personal hero. (And he looks spectacular in uniform!) Thank you Baby, for what you do for your country, for all of us. I love you and always will. Happy Birthday!

Oh, my...

Well, folks. It's still winter. And if the locals here are to be believed (which they are), winter won't be over till July, maybe June, if we're lucky. I can't believe this weather!! I never, in my whole life, thought I would live in a place so dang cold. And let me tell you, it's not the "Ooo, it's a bit chilly, but I can make it from the house to the car and car to the building if I run" cold. It's "Holy cow, the wind's taking my breath away, and do I see four foot drifts over there?!" Today, Blair and I went to town (which let me tell you is an excursion for us! It's fifteen miles away and feels useless to go unless we've got tons of stuff to do!) and it was actually a really pretty day. It was around 7 degrees above (which is rather warm by ND standards!), but the wind!! Oh, my, that's what get's ya! Holy man! It was just "breezy" as the locals would say, blowing at about 10-15 mph!! You step out of a building and that first gust just steals your breath, your hair goes flying (not just back but up, down, around, everywhere!!), and you have to take a huge gulp of air and telll yourself, breathe in, breathe out. Whew. Thankfully we've not gotten a ton of snow this month. The Farmers Almanac says we're supposed to get 40" (yes, inches!) this month, but I'm in denial and don't see that happening, especially since we've only got about a week left in the month!! However, people 'round these parts have been gleefully telling me that it's not uncommon to get snow in March and April, sometimes May. I think they just like to see the crestfallen look on my face, somehow it's funny to them...ok, it'd probably be funny to me too. Anyway, everyone up here has said that this has been the worst winter in ten years. What luck I've got being here for it. In all actuality, it's not been that bad. Yes, it's freezing, yes, it snows and yes, it's annoying not being able to even go into the garage (with the door closed) without putting on snow boots and your parka. But, if you don't like the cold, don't go outside, I say! Right?! So, I don't! Hmmm, now theres a thought! Blair and I have become professional "stay-at-homers." We were homebodys before, but let me tell ya, even more so now!

Ok, ok, I'm off my soap box of the cold. Thank you for letting me vent to y'all. Sometimes it just needs to come out, ya know? I'm good now.