Joe's on the Roof

Oh man. The days are flying. I can't believe Joe's already been back for three or is it four days? Between exhaustion and illness, we managed to get our tree up and decorated after only three days and the last of the Christmas gifts got mailed out yesterday. I guess we were both running on adrenaline for the last little bit, and after he got back, he immediately had a sore throat and then the onset of other cold/sinus symptoms. I was all, let me take care of you until WHAM, I'm hocking up (sorry) orange stuff out of my chest. My head has stayed clear...I guess because it all drained into my chest. Oh well. I got some antibiotics today - yeah, that whole bite/boil thing I got a Bactrim RX for and never filled - cashed it in today. And, somehow it was free. Joe was the one that went and got it filled since he's on the mend. I asked him if he used the "just got back from overseas" card or what. He said no. Merry Christmas, I guess. I'll take it. And if the pharmacist has a crush or something on my husband, well, I will send him to fill my scripts every time from now on! Woot.

So Joe is on the roof putting up Christmas lights. He loooooves Christmas. He wouldn't let me get a tree until he got back, and I think he unwrapped most of the ornaments last night. I love his love for Christmas. Also, he's in some Carhardt work pants (not jeans) and a plaid work shirt right now and looks HOTTTTT. His chest and shoulders are all broad and swollen, and his defined booty always looks good. I remember being completely turned off to Carhardt in high school because the TINY little "cowboy" dudes would wear them skin tight. It was horrible. But Joe wears them just right. Yeah!

I'm inside on the couch taking it easy. I showered but am back in sweats and a bathrobe. I've taken a bunch of OTC meds and just started my free antibiotics. Dex is outside happily rolling in the grass. Life is good. The big decision in life right now is whether or not we should get a second dog (playmate for Dex). Joe is home for the next several weeks until he leaves for a couple months of training, so if we're going to do it, now would be ideal. Plus, one of the local humane societies were showcasing their dogs at Pet Smart yesterday, and I had the pleasure of meeting (4) 4 1/2 month old coonhound/lab pups. Of course, we're only looking for one, but they were all so sweet. We'll see what happens. For now, I'm going to continue to force fluids and venture outside to check Joe out again. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!! I am feeling very lucky that Joe is home safe, mostly healthy, and happily catering to me!! I love my husband!!

Theory of Relativity

So I've noticed over the last week that an acquaintance of mine on facebook has had to endure her civilian husband being out of town. I first realized this when her status discussed the fact that he would be gone for 12 days (in country), and then there was another status with a sad face on the day he left. And then today there was a status that noted there are only six more days until he comes back. With each status, I have utilized my self control and not written a response, ugly or just factual. I'm trying to remember that everyone's experiences are relative. Yes. Relative. Still, my husband goes on TDY's longer than 12 days. Often. And even then, he is usually not allowed to tell me what he is doing. Shiiiiiiit, girl!

It's been a soggy weekend in GA. The rain has finally stopped and turned to a disgusting mist. It's horrible. The ground is saturated, and poor Dexter has to take a flying leap off the back porch to avoid the swampiness and make it to higher ground for a pee. I'll take a blizzard over this crap. Fo' sho'.

Okay, this is boring as hell. Whatever. So I'm addicted to FB tetris. I can't stop thinking about it, though I think it may be a coping mechanism at this point because my thoughts are usually just on Joe. Or how behind I am with Christmas gift stuff. Now, though, it's tetris. Sorry, Joe. But y'all know my road trip analogy as I'm pretty sure I've written about it before. Road trips always start off okay but by the end of any trip, be it just a couple hours or a long haul, the last few minutes are usually full of the most impatience. Because you just want to hurry.up.and be.there.already.

That said, I was laying across my bed earlier mostly comatose save my little hands running across the keyboard on my lap as I went all rain man on tetris when my phone rang. It was my neighbor informing me that hey had grilled out earlier and had leftovers and would I like a hot dog or hamburger or both with coleslaw and pasta salad and potato salad and cake. Um. Yes, please. So she came over with her two kids, the food, and a Christmas card. We all played on the floor with Dex for a bit and talked. It was fun, and the food (that I later ate) was delicious. A lot of my friends live on post, which sometimes makes me feel left out, but I'm damn glad for where I live. This is the Southern hospitality I knew as a kid in South Carolina. And it is good. :-)

Sinner

Some folks just can't handle themselves at Christmas.

Man, I just love this picture. It totally wasn't Dexter's gift; it was Joe's. But damn if Dexter didn't want it. I wish I'd have gotten Joe's face in the picture. Priceless. Shortly after this, Joe managed to wrestle the gift away and wrangle Dex to his cage. We're hoping the spirit of Christmas resonates with Dexter a bit more this year along with a teensy bit of self control.

Speaking of self control, I made it through another week of work. Well, sort of. I still work Saturday, but weekends are in a different place in my brain. With that, I have 93 things to do tomorrow on my day off, and I have none of them written down so far. Oh well. Folks, if you don't get Christmas gifts from me, you don't get Christmas gifts from me.

Tonight has been good. Dex, dinner, fire that actually lasted (in the fire place). I even managed to have two long phone calls with old friends, one of whom recently lost his sister. He's such a good guy, and they were so close. My heart hurts for him, though he's doing as well as he can. It's just damn hard to make sense of death, especially of people our age. Sigh. Think good thoughts for him.

With that, I'mma wrap this bad boy up. Joe had fallen off the grid for a bit, but baby boy is back now. So I'm happy. Minus my face rash.

Un Baguette

So I was looking for a nice pic of Joe and me to post here, and while I searched the computer for a recent good pic of us together, I found this picture. Last time I came across it - ON MY OWN CAMERA - I didn't like it. I'm pretty much over it now, but I want to know something. Ladies, if you missed (due to f'ing standby status) the flight to a family wedding you were supposed to attend with your husband, which upset you VERY VERY much and you found this pic on the camera after he got back of some girl you don't know rubbing his beard and puckering her lips at him, would it piss you off? I guess it's Scott's girlfriend, but uh, bitch, don't even. And Joe, delete the damn picture before you get home. All those ladies got to see my husband in a tux, and I never have - not even at MY wedding. Grrr. But Susan, I have done as you said and just not looked at the FB pics anymore. Unfortunately, I forgot I had some on my own comp. Must hire photographer...and go to a prettier city. Yessss. Joe and I have SHIT for pictures. Unacceptable.

While all of that above may indicate some level of insanity, I'm actually doing well. Just hitting a wall with the house. I think I've gotten done as much as I'm going to before Joe gets back. I'm so excited for whenever it is that he'll be back. :-) It's pretty much all I can think about right now.

Time is passing quickly. The weekend flew by. I had some Army wives over in my new dining room Friday night. I cooked and did the wine thing. Dogs came too, and I swear Dex was exhausted the next day - had to scrape him off the couch at 0930. Later Saturday afternoon I took my neighbor to the PX and then hung out at her house after we got back. Had dinner and a few drinks with her and her family. Before I knew it, I was wii hoola hooping. Yeah, I like wiis, and all we have is this damn 360 that only gets touched when I'm dusting. And yet, I find myself buying more games for it...Merry Christmas, husband. I hate myself. After hoola hooping, I ran out and met up with some coworkers. Sunday truly was my day of rest until I finally headed out in late afternoon to Christmas shop. First stop was almost $200, and I got carded for buying video games. Nearly in tears, I pushed on and managed to spend several hundred dollars in a very short amount of time. CUZ THAT'S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT?? Gah.

Now it's back to work. Just two more days until my day off, and then I work the weekend through Thursday of next week. S'okay. Yes yes yes. In the meantime, I have all the Christmas decorations out, minus the tree/ornaments, as I've been asked to wait until I have a helper. So I am. I'll continue to keep the house clean and throw a few more things from the garage into the attic. Of course, since we're about two feet above average for rainfall, the yard is just going to remain a mud pit. Yeah. Okay. Bring on the mania and the too-excited-to-sleep nights. All I want for Christmas is Joe!

Good Boy

We were getting ready for bed a bit ago, and after coming back in from his last potty break, Dex of course went to the front window and started barking. This is a nightly ritual. Usually it's nothing; lately, it's been the Christmas lights and reindeer on the neighbor's house across the street. Frustrating. So tonight I went up to him and started to tell him to stop, as I surveyed the street for no one when suddenly my eye caught a figure move out of a shadow way down the street. We both just sat there in the window and watched. I crouched behind him as he sat in doggy alert position and barked his warning bark intermittently. The shadowy figure was a male wearing slightly saggy jeans and a hoodie with the hood up. He was walking slowly - seemingly intentionally slow or drunk - as he talked on the phone. He didn't mess with anyone's curbed trash out for p/u tomorrow, nor did he approach or look in any vehicles. (If he had, my heart would have broken having no laser for the gun yet. A crazy one eyed man once explained to me the benefits of having guns with lasers, in his case a rifle, to scare away trespassers.) But anyway. After he got out of view from the house, I went to the garage and watched a bit more. I even brought Dex out and motioned for him to stand on his back legs. He obeyed and popped his front paws up on the garage window and stood next to me watching out, his head level with the window. It was a real bonding moment. The dude eventually made it down to a driveway and paced around a bit in it. I almost wonder if he was talking to a girl. I thought about calling the cops just in case he was looking to smash in a vehicle, but I didn't get that vibe. Guessing he probably lived there. I'm just really impressed by my dog. I wonder how many real things he has barked at when I thought nothing was there. I didn't feel unsafe before, but I do feel safer now. I love Dexy. So much that he was even allowed on the bed today and today only. Since he got to be near me, I had peace. It was worth it. (Don't worry Ma Lowrey, the afghan is not Dex's. It's washed and on the bed with me! Sleep with it every night now.)







Other things going on:
- Took today off sorta
- Having a dinner here Friday night with some friends
- Don't work this weekend!! woohoo
- Freaking out about lack of Christmas gifts bought
- Discovered gmail messenger with Joe.

Yeah. That's about it. Things are becoming more and more exciting. I really wish I could say more. But uh. I can't. So instead, g'night!