The Height of Too Muchery

As you all of course know, the Croat came to visit over the weekend. It was awesome. We managed to get back into the swing of being roommates again and reverted back to our college ways - hanging out, laughing, making fun of other people, eating, and drinking. However, now that we're a little older, we did throw in some financial planning and marital discussions. But amidst that we still managed to consume alcohol and use much profanity. Seriously, though, I spent the weekend with someone who literally finished my sentences and would bring things up out of the blue just as I was randomly thinking the same thing. It was almost eerie being so much on the same page, yet very VERY awesome, and even further, our dudes have a whoooooole lot in common too. It's as if we're all meant to be together. That said, dropping her off at the airport yesterday was awful. On the drive home from Atlanta, I felt like I was driving through a time warp back to reality. Which of course, bites.

Before that, though, I had a double whammy of goodness in that not only did I get to spend the weekend with the Croat, but I also got to have a video-teleconference with Joe. Amazing. I went on post to Joe's company on Saturday (while the Croat was a wonderful friend to wait patiently in the car) and was led into a small conference room by the 1Sgt who already had Joe cued up on a big screen TV. It was SO AWESOME. I got to have 30 minutes by myself with Joe. :-) He looked like a lumberjack, and it didn't help that he was in some tiny cubicle with natural exposed wood, as if his own little log cabin. (Inky, maybe have Maximus color a pic of a blue ox.) Ha. He told me how good I looked and how much he misses me. Also, he was so cute - nervous and he couldn't stop smiling. Neither could I. I love him. I, now again, love Joe's company too. I know not everyone gets this opportunity, and I am extremely grateful.

But yeah, now everything is back to normal. No more Croat, and of course still no Joe. I dragged ass into work today and remained in a bad mood for most of the day. Everything really went fine, and when I got home, I did laundry and talked to several good friends. It's been a good evening with some productivity even. Hell, I've even secured plans for Thanksgiving, which was really starting to look soul-crushing. It's going to be a very Alabama turkey day!! With work, I can't go far, and no one has offered to come to me, so I'm going to AL to spend it with my sis, new brother-in-law and his family. I rather like the idea of starting to spend holidays with my sister now that we're married women. Sometimes it feels like we're all the family we've got. The "bad" kids gotta stick together. Love you Ari!

Stuffy Stuff Stuff Stuff

Dexter just got done barking randomly in the dining/living room, and I'm already laying in bed. When Joe first left and it was bedtime, Dex began going out into the rest of the house and barking at stuff. At first it really freaked me out, and I once headed out there packin'. Now, though, I don't even get up. Not even when it's 4 AM. Shit, this morning I realized I never even set the alarm last night. My ass is beggin' to get robbed. But like Kevin says to the basement on Home Alone, "I'm not afraid anymore!!"

Work has been going alright. From Saturday through Tuesday, I was the only social worker in Admissions. I almost cried on Monday. Almost. However, at the end of my solo run yesterday, I had a patient out on parole with an electronic monitoring device on his ankle inquire about my status as a parent. He repeatedly asked me how many kids I have, and when I finally told him I have none, he asked how many I want because he said he could be the man to give me one. Awww. Vomit. I told him he was inappropriate and informed that was a decision for me and my husband, to which he informed me "some women cheat." And then I sent him out of my office, put on a tutu, plunged my face, and showered as I sobbed "EINHORN IS A MAAAAN."

Ahhhh, working with gentlemen like that is what pays my bills. As you can imagine, I leave work every day fulfilled, knowing that I made a difference. I never have to go home and drink to ease the pain, nor do I have panic attacks if I have to go back in the building after leaving for the day due to forgetting something. No, I love my job.

But speaking of bills, I finally read my annual report (from 2008) on my student loans. omg. Two-thirds of my payments for that year went to interest. So only a third of what I paid actually brought my principle down. Yeah. That's a kick in the crotch. Right now my pay off aMout is something like (oh yes, I will share with you all my private financial bullshit) $27,125. Pretty awesome, right? And why the hell am I advertising my debt like some sort of financial exhibitionist? To put the heat on. My loan repayment started like two years ago and my damn balance has hardly changed. Well, it's going to now: I'm going to propose I pay this shit out between 12-15 months. That's my plan, and with that said, I cannot let my little bloggees down. It will be done.

Holy shit. THE CROAT IS COMING TOMORROW. She's hot off the flu (nope, not swine), so I must nurse her the rest of the way back to health...with wine and pumpkin carving amongst other things. I'm excited. It's gonna be a chill weekend for hanging out and catching up. We both need it. It's been since August of last year that I've seen her. She came to visit me in Rolla when I lived with the parents. This will be new - her with me in my OWN crib. I think it's neat that we're keeping up with each other, and I will have to start planning to visit her next year. KIT.

Did We Have Sex? Nice.

Dexter intently watching the movie on TV.


Movie on TV: Knocked Up.

(PS. The lamp is all ghetto and shadeless because Dex broke it, and they don't make replacement shades for this particular $40 style for anything less than $746.23.)

Anyway.

When I was about nine we'll say, I spent most of that school year coming home in the afternoon to my sister watching the same movies over and over again. I would stroll in after my pleasant bus ride home to find The Beatles' Yellow Submarine playing for about the billionth time. Seriously, for weeks I would walk in after school and that movie would be on every single day. THIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION. Not to mention, Ari would cruise through the film multiple times during the course of any given day. (Mom had to deal with that part.) Looking back now, Ari was incredibly sweet with her little four or five year old antics. Well, mostly. But at the time, it was traumatic for me to come home after a long day of fourth grade or whatever and not be able to kick back and relax without John, Paul, Ringo, and George. However, when she switched from the Yellow Submarine to the Magical Mystery Tour, is when the real trauma began. That movie made no sense, and quite frankly scared the bejesus out of me. There is a part involving gallons of spaghetti and a strange man laughing maniacally for no reason that I can't seem to un-remember. Terrifying. And yet, Ari loved it.

Because of my sister, I think I really have a hard time watching movies repeatedly. I'm just scared of where that sort of behavior can lead me. But there are a few movies I'll watch anytime without hesitation, and Knocked Up is one of them. It always makes me laugh, and I think there are a couple pretty solid life lessons there. Or at the very least humor based on [real] reality. I mean the wife telling her husband "ugghh" and that she's really constipated after he asks if they should have sex that night, c'mon!! Never gets old. But seriously, I dig how the movie explores all the little weird shit in relationships. It makes me happy. Perhaps because so many of the themes (not so much literal content) are applicable to my life.

Speaking of my life, real quick, things are swell. Auntie came, and I survived IKEA. That store is really off the chain - like you need special training/counseling before entering one. However, while in ATL I did manage to dine at Chipotle. Score. But now life is back to normal. Auntie is gone, and I'm working this weekend. It has cooled off much to the dismay of the Southerners here, but I am loving it. Also, I have heard from Joe! He has cracked me up the last few days. What a damn nut. So glad I married him! Je'taime!

Will Ya Still Need Me?

Will Ya Still Feed Me? When I'm sixty-four!

That song has been in my head all evening. (Ari, you can look up the video clip from the Yellow Submarine on youtube.) It is a nice thought to consider actually being married to the same person for forty years. (KNOCK ON WOOD.) For one reason or another, that just doesn't happen in my family.

I don't know why I'm still up. I shouldn't be. I'm kinda hoping a blog will prepare me for sleep. The last two nights I have not been able to get to sleep for a while and then the sleep itself sucks. I just think about everything from paint colors for the interior walls to our wedding. All over the place I guess. It doesn't help that I haven't heard from Joe since last week. Who knew he'd be busy? ;-)

Let's see. I isolated all weekend in an attempt to really bust out the rest of the home project. The weekend started strong but ended weak. There are samples of paint color on my kitchen and dining room walls that I brushed on haphazardly. Since I completely locked up in the decision making process, the samples are still there, and I progressed no further. I could have at least primed. WTF? But I did clean and do laundry. Oh bother.

This week is already done in my head. Tomorrow I'm going out to dinner with a friend after work. Then, my aunt is coming into town Thursday night, and we're going to Atlanta on Friday for some IKEA madness. I was a little leery about the trip out of fear we'd be there for the duration of their business hours, but it's looking more controlled. (I love you Aunt Barbie.) Also, I am excited for the company. This all just came together, but it's a nice surprise. And of course, the next weekend is the CROAT!!! And while I'm at it, the weekend after Croat is November - a new month. Whoa. Katie like. Let's crank this shit out.

As usual there's not much else. It appears to be killin' season again in Columbus. Three recent murders. Two of them were a double homicide last night at an apt complex where one of my coworkers lives. She is horrified, as she said it occurred right behind her flat. I would be freaked too if I were her. I don't really see that happening where I live, but still, I'm glad our bedroom is on the backside of our house. No potential for stray bullets. To me that's the scariest thought. For all other scenarios, we have our three modes of transportation: ADT, DEX, and the .45. Also, on my security system, I have a police button and a fire button, so it really makes me feel immensely better. It's also wireless. Go ahead, cut my lines.

On that happy note, I'mma go put in my night guard and pass out. Fingers crossed I can sleep. And think good thoughts for Joe, please. Love love love him.

Chief Uterus

Today wasn't all that remarkable. Work went fine. I've been approved to work up to 40 hours at a pretty decent hourly rate (even though I'm part time). I'm still not planning on working 40 hours a week because, well, I really like my schedule now, but I'll do it if I need to. Also, this way I can go over 29 hours and not get yelled at by the HR financial folks. Can't be meeting with a patient and then call "TIME" and exit when the 29th hour is completed...though sometimes I may want to.

I really didn't do much after work, though I did talk to Joe. I filled him in on the family drama, which caused him to be mighty displeased. More importantly, though, we discussed our rescheduled VTC, and Joe informed me that he will be unavailable after all. I'm of course disappointed because I won't get to see him (again), but more than that I want him to be safe in his endeavors that are keeping him busy. I'm actually a teensy bit worried about that. On a lighter note, some punk bastard has been stealing some of the guys' special blast protection sunglasses. WHO DOES THAT??!!! I hope to God they put their skills to use and track down the responsible party. They are where they are and one of their own is going to STEAL from them, and protective equipment no less?? I was shocked and disgusted when there was theft at Basic Training, but this, this has triggered homicidal ideation. At least Joe had enough chewing tobacco to "enhance" the supply guy's ability to hastily retrieve another pair. :-)

It's now my weekend. The biggest thing I have planned is going to Michael's. Uhh. Yeah, and I can't think of anything cool to follow that and help you all feel better about me being a loser. Nope. The only thing that might be even remotely interesting is the possibility I'll get motivated enough to go to the court house and apply for my Carry and Conceal license. No way am I going to carry a .45 in my purse, and there's so much stuff in my car, I'm sure the gun would go off under my seat if I ever had it with me. Soooo. It'll pretty much be a $40 permit with which to impress my husband. Or, I could really be cool and buy myself a small handgun while Joe is gone. Nah, I'll just go to Michael's.

And instead of immediately going to bed, I have to stay up because Conan is going to race his desk car. I can remember being at home one summer and staying up every night to watch Conan with Ari. Those were good times. :-)

Ahhh, Life

If there's one thing that I can always count on in my life, it's that about 2-3 times a year, shit will hit the fan between my father and me. I got a super awesome voice mail from him while I was at work today regarding his disapproval with something I wrote on Facebook. And if you're thinking, "Golly, I didn't know D. Shizzle had Facebook! I totally want to add him," think again. My old man does not have a FB account, and instead something I wrote to my sister regarding getting a drunk dial from him passed through two other people (family members) in less than 24 hours and got back to my father. So there I sat today at work AT A PSYCH HOSPITAL AMIDST TWO OF THE MOST STRESSFUL DAYS I HAVE EVER KNOWN AT THAT FACILITY, listening to my dad tell me how disappointed he was in me....and that Facebook is "scandalous at best." Now, in retrospect, I can understand him being unhappy with the comment. BUT, did I write it with malicious intent? No. Is it something I would be upset with if written about me or to me? No, and I'm certain similar content has been distributed regarding past actions of mine. Still, I am sorry to have upset him, and I have deleted the comments. What I can't understand is why I cannot be approached differently? Do I have to get my ass chewed with every conflict? Does he really think that I am always out to get him? BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE WITH THAT DUDE MAKING ME FEEL LIKE SHIT ABOUT EVERYTHING, even though he's sooo proud of me. Blah blah blah. So, I have not returned his delightful phone call, nor will I. There is no point. If I do, things will continue to escalate, despite whatever I try to say to him, including an apology, and I will break down. Hmm. Last I checked, I have a husband gone away, and I don't need this kind of bullshit from my family. There are more important things for me to worry about. Yeah, so commence not speaking to that set of parents again.

Tomorrow is my last day of work for the week. Woot. This is my last weekend off before the Croat comes to visit. How bitchin' is that?! However, that means I really need to whip the rest of this place into shape. Holy hell. So excited, though. Also, it's nice to have something to look forward to in October. Now I must find something for November. Whoooooooooo's next?! :-)

Wine and Doritos

Not that great of a combo.

But I'm doing it anyway because I love them each so much independently, yet desire them both currently.

In other news, Dex and I are chillaxing. He's on his end of the sectional licking his tail like his life depends on it. And I, well, you know what I am doing. If only the CD ROM drive doubled as a cup holder when ejected - my wine is all the way on the coffee table, next to my propped up feet. That's right.

This is the first full week of October. Which means time is moving on. Which is a good thing. Which reminds me, over the weekend, I learned how to say 'penis' in French - "la bite." :-) I haven't done shit with my French lessons on Rosetta Stone lately. My plan was (is?) to pursue my lessons aggressively in his absence and impress the hell out of him when he gets back. Oh, also, I'm going to work out regularly. HA. La femme mange du bite. Well, it looks like I know a little French. :-) Don't translate that...

And while I have you all here, I need to make a few points: 1. Heroin is even worse than you think it is. Never do it. 2. It's okay to let your neighbor give you hair gel and food. 3. When you always survey the side of the main road you take to work wondering if there are ever bodies on the side of the road, it's weird when you come home on a Monday and learn that a body was found on the side of the main road that you take to work. 4. If I could somehow wrap my hands around the entire ADT corporation and just choke it until it dies, I would. 5. I swear I paid the ATT bill last month, damn it.

And so, it's looking like a decent week, even though at work we're receiving a diversion from another hospital. Still, if I can just make it three more days, I'll have a sweet three.day.weekend. I sooo need a break from people on drugs that want to kill themselves. We're not a substance abuse facility, but damn it all, we have to make sure the substance induced mood disorder patients don't kill themselves. I've heard it said that herding [high school] freshman is like herding cats. Well, herding state psych hospital patients is like shooting yourself repeatedly with a high caliber handgun, but in a way you just can't seem to die. And then people that are supposed to be helping you come by and stomp the entry holes. Yeah. BUT, this emotional self-mutilation gives us the money to help PAY OFF ALL OUR DEBT EXCEPT FOR MY STUDENT LOANS (for now). Yeah!! I guess I'll keep 'shooting' myself for a while longer. Like I said, it's gonna be a decent week.

Hey - WINE!!

And I Already Want to Drink

I'm trying to focus on what a hot man I married. Yessss.

Hmm. The video conference that I was supposed to have with Joe today went straight to hell, which has me a little bit frustrated right now. Long story short, the phone lines where Joe is were shut down yesterday (which in itself is a sign that something bad happened - something worse than a VTC being canceled), so he didn't get to call and give me the details for today, which it turns out he didn't even have. I then called around to his NCOs last night who did not really know what all was going on. Then I hear from Joe this morning, and he can't track down the dude over there who initially approached him with this idea. I mean, at one point this morning, I was going back and forth between Joe over there and one of his NCOs over here. WTF. So it's not happening today. Yeah, and Joe and I didn't just dream up this idea of getting to see each other - neither of us had even considered it. But, WE WERE ASKED IF WE WANTED TO, etc. So for many days, I was thinking how cool Joe's unit is and what a great opportunity...blah blah blah. By now, I should know that his unit's reputation is the antithesis of what I actually know them to be. DAMN THEM. Also, realizing yesterday how unorganized this thing was/is, I began to get pretty anxious about it. And let me tell you something, since Joe has been gone, I've carried myself well outwardly, but my stress/anxiety has culminated in a more covert way - a way in which my back hurts ALL.THE.TIME. It finally stopped for a couple days, but by god, it's back now.

Also, if no one could tell, I have been a little bit I dunno lonely. I've wanted desperately to see an old familiar face. Hell, I've even thought about asking my dad to come visit me...but I think he's a little bit busy, so is my mom. So, when the Croat told me she was coming to visit, I almost cried. Yes, she is coming on the 22nd, and I am so excited!! It's great news, and it makes my back feel better too. :-) As I told Joe, there's something very empowering about just being understood, and there's only a few people in this world that truly 'get me.' She's one of them, and we always have a great time together. Also, she may be bringing a hot dog costume for Dex to wear, so I'm pretty pumped about that too.

In other anxiety provoking news, I have to go to the lady doc today. TMI? Eh. Maybe. Oh well. Nothing good comes from those visits, and on top of that, I'll be having to tell yet another person of my medical history - i.e. things I don't like talking about. Notice it's the emotional intrusiveness that I really don't like. Getting into stirrups ain't no thing....

In good news, I went to the gym twice this week, and I am sore in that good good way. Yesterday I did some squats and jumping lunges, which is being in a lunge position, popping up into the air, switching legs, and landing back in a lunge position (and then repeating in rapid succession). Try it. It's f'ing hard. But you will feel worked the following day. I sure do. And then I came home and mowed the lawn, which was a workout in itself.

Today is my only day off, as I work this weekend (with hot black doctor). With that, I guess I'll get started with some breakfast, and then it's time to get ready for the doc.