Parking Issues

Why is parking such a hassle? I mean seriously, I get more "road rage" in a parking lot than on the actual road. I understand, especially in Florida, that the prime parking spots include anywhere with shade and close to whatever destination you are trying to get to. But WHY oh WHY do people think they can't park if they can't get to one of these prime spots? What is the point, especially in these days of high gas prices, would you drive around for 20 minutes looking and waiting for one of these prime spots? It just makes no since. PARK ALREADY!

Today, at Wal-Mart of all places, I was nearly killed. OK so maybe it wasn't that bad. More like my Jeep was nearly dinged because the woman in the car in front of me pulled 1/2 way into a space, then suddenly must have seen a better parking spot 20 feet closer to the entrance. So rather than sucking it up and pulling the rest of the way into her spot and walking (gasp!) a bit further, she quickly throws it into reverse and zooms out in order to get to the closer spot before anyone else can, forgetting(?) that I was right behind her. Was it really that important that she save a few steps by parking in a spot 4 spaces down? She wasn't elderly or handicapped in any way that made it appear as though walking was difficult for her or caused her some hardship, so what was the big deal?

And no, it wasn't that I wanted the closer spot, I hadn't even seen it yet. I was actually planning on parking in the spot on the other side of where she originally pulled into, I just didn't want to be bumped into.

In conclusion, save some gas and get a little exercise...just park!

I am

I am
A wife
Who loves her husband
And is more proud of him than he will ever know.



I am
A daughter
Who loves her parents
Even when she doesn’t agree with everything they do.



I am
A sister
Who loves all of her brothers and sisters the same
Be they biological, adopted, step, or in-law, we are all family.



I am
A friend
Who will never forget the friends she has left behind
Even though she doesn’t keep in contact as much as she really should.



I am
A teacher
Who loves and cares about her students
Even the ones other people have written off as impossible.


I am
A Christian
Who believes with all her heart
But doesn't always like the alarm clock on Sunday Mornings.


I am
A student
Who is making straight A’s
And wonders how I’m getting better grades now than I did in my undergrad.



I am
An athlete
Who loves being active and in shape
But gets lazy and doesn’t work out when she should.



I am
A dog lover
Who instead has a cat
That thinks it's a dog and is the coolest cat in the world.



I am
A girl
Who knows exactly what she wants
But can’t make a decision on where to eat or what to wear.




I am
bored
And wonder if anyone will read this
But I'm going to post it anyway :)

Face Your Pocket

I saw a link to this website the other day and thought it was interesting. Granted I can’t read Russian (Maybe my cousin Jennifer could help me out with that), but on the English version it says that it is a project to gather pictures of people putting random things that they carry around with them, either in their pockets or purses, on their scanner then putting their faces on the scanner as well, so I thought I would give it a try. I decided to dig around in my purse and see what I found that may (or may not) be interesting. Does it give some deeper insight into my life or personality? Who knows, but I was bored and this is what I did instead of my Linguistics homework (Maybe Cousin Jennifer could help me with that too!).
Let's see, I have my squished face, the wallet my sailor hubby gave me, 3 tubes of lipstick, a 500 yen coin, 4 huge safety pins, a dollar bill (all the American money I had), my thumb drive, BC Headache medicine, moist towelette, a kaeru (means both "frog" and "return" in Japanese. It is supposed to bring a traveler safely home), butterfly clip, hair tie, sharpie pen, and 3 patriotic charms. What can it all mean? Anyone have any great insight into me now, other than I must have a cluttered purse and I'm broke? Perhaps there is a reason that my thumb drive with all my my graduate stuff from all my classes so far is above my head next to the headache powder? Things that make ya go Hmmmmm.....

Now that I'm done with this I guess it is on with the homework. It isn't really that hard, I like the class actually, just needed a brain break and thought this would be fun!

Happy Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend has become the kickoff for family BBQs, beach parties, and the opening of summer. Even though these things are very characteristic of American society, I wonder how many Americans really stop to remember why we get this 3 day weekend in May every year. So here is a little history lesson (hey, it's what I do! :) )

Memorial day was first called "Decoration Day" because it was a day for Americans to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers.

Although many cities both in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of the holiday, in 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, celebrations also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May.

Check out this video from YouTube about Memorial Day, and have a WONDERFUL Memorial Day!

Now go hug a Sailor (or Marine, Soldier, or Airman)- I know one you can hug haha! :)

Things I wish I knew when I was 18 - for my brother, Mike

My little brother is graduating High School in a couple of days and it has me thinking about my own High School graduation and the years that followed. Like all 18 year olds, I made mistakes and didn't listen to those who were "old" and "didn't understand." In fact, I probably would have rolled my eyes, put my hand up ("talk to the hand") and walked away. After all, I was an adult, and I knew everything, right?

Mike, I know I'm just your crazy older sister, but I love you very much and I am proud of who you have become. I've seen you make mistakes and I've seen you accomplish some amazing things as well. I have no doubt that you will grow to be an amazing man, and a proud US Sailor. Not all of these tid bits of advice are directly aimed at you, they are just musings of my past, but I hope you can find some wisdom in them somewhere and know that I am always here for you no matter what this crazy world brings you. I love you!
~Love, Sis

Things I wish I had known when I was 18

1. A credit card is not free money! I got my first American Express right before I turned 19 and I think I am still working on paying off that $2 hairbrush I bought! Interest adds up and the bills don't go away if you ignore the bill you get in the mail (and the phone calls). It only gets worse and more expensive. If you can't pay for it with cash, don't get it. If it is worth having, it is worth saving for! Also, paying the minimum amount due isn't good either. It's better than not paying it at all, but if you don't want to pay 3 X's as much in interest, pay more than the minimum and pay it off as soon as you can.

2. Travel now! Don't think that because you are young you can't travel. Now is the time to travel while you aren't tied down to a house payment, kids, loans, etc. Not that having a house and a family is bad, just that you can't up and leave on an awesome trip without a lot of preplanning and getting things ready. Instead of packing a bag and heading out the door, you will have to arrange for bills to be paid, mail to be forwarded, kids/pets to be cared for, leases and contracts canceled, and convincing people that you haven't lost your mind.

3. Follow your dreams! Follow what your heart tells you, not what other people expect you to do with your life. Take that photography class, take up the drums, or train to run a marathon (trust me; doing it later in life is rough!). Sure, only one in a million starving artist ever become more than starving, but it's better to be a happy starving artist than a miserable corporate working stiff if an artist is what you want to try. The worst thing that can happen is that you realize your dreams aren't all they are cracked up to be and you start having new dreams. Knowing that you tried for your dream is better than living the rest of your life wondering "what if..."

4. Lose the safety net. As much as you love your parents, they won't always be there to hold your hand and clean up after you. You need to start taking your responsibilities seriously and learn how to do things and take care of things for yourself. Yes, the thought of being out there on your own, in the wild blue yonder without something to catch you if it all goes wrong may make you feel like your stomach is doing somersaults, but trust me, it will be OK.

5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are how people learn the best lessons about life. You live, you learn, you get on with your life and are better for the lesson you learned. Just be careful not to repeat your mistakes.

6. Don't worry about finding Mr./Ms. Perfect. Instead of trying to find someone who is amazing, BE amazing. Do things to better yourself that makes you feel good. Don't try to be someone you aren't to make someone fall for you because it won't work. You always end up being yourself and if the person you are with didn't fall in love with the "real" you, the relationship isn't worth it anyway.

7. Sometimes life isn't fair – get over it! Yeah at 18 I thought "I'm an adult, no one can make me do anything I don't want to do." Yes, at 18 in the eyes of the government, you are an adult. But with the freedoms of being an adult come responsibilities too. You aren't a child anymore so don't act like one if you don't want to be treated like one.

8. Make your own path. Don't take the road someone else wants to take if it doesn't seem right for you, even if it is going to the same place. You may wish to take a longer, more scenic route instead of rushing straight to your destination on the highway. Make a few pit stops along the way if you want!

9. Don't stop swimming (or running or doing whatever activity you love to do). In High School, swimming was my life. I never felt freer than when I was in the pool. College came and I slowly found other things to do that filled up my time and I slowly stopped swimming. It wasn't until a few years ago that I really got back in the pool again and I have again found the thing that makes me happy, peaceful, and centered. Not to mention the health benefits of staying in shape!

10. My parents are not controlling, stupid old people. In fact they are all loving, caring, wonderful (although a little wacky) people. I am lucky enough to have not only one set of parents, but two. One set who gave birth to me and made the most difficult choice in their life for me, and my adopted parents who chose me and took me into their home when they didn't have to do so. They seemed controlling to me only because they were scared for me and wanted to see me on the right path. They may have been ignorant of a lot of things that was going on in my life, but that was only because I didn't tell them what was going on, and they are by no means stupid. And...uh...they weren't that old when I was 18! haha :)

PS...Tequila is bad bad bad haha :) I'll leave it at that! ;)

10 places I want to go before I die

Ten Places I want to go before I die (which better not be anytime soon! haha) ...

1) Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mt Vesuvius have always had a special hold on me. I'm not quite sure why but from the first time I ever heard about these Italian cities that were destroyed and frozen in time, I have wanted to go there and see them. I can imagine the wonder, thinking that the Gods were talking, and then the fear as a dark cloud covered the sky then hot gas and ash covered the town and anyone who was left.


2) Athens, Greece
Ancient Greek city-state of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. Birthplace of democracy and higher learning. Why wouldn't I, a teacher, want to go?


3) Rome, Italy
Again, Ancient Romans, gladiators, history...sign me up!


4) Alaska (to see the Aurora Borealis)
The beauty of these lights just amaze me. Being a native Floridian, the idea of Alaska seems like going to a foreign country anyway, but then you tell me that lights dance in the sky? That I have to see!


5)The Great Wall of China
From my (all too short) time in Japan, I have decided I definitely want to go back to Asia. I can imagine that the Great Wall, like the Grand Canyon, is one of those things that you can't really appreciate how large it is until you are standing on it.

6) Victoria Falls (Africa)
One of the reading fluency tests I have to give my students includes a passage about Victoria Falls. It got me interested and being the nerd I am, I had to look it up. It is HUGE! Plus, in certain times of the year there is a place called the Devil's Pool where you can actually swim on the edge of the falls. The flow of the falls is slower and the "pool" has a ledge where you can actually swim in the deeper water of the pool and look over the falls! How cool is that!?!


7) The Tower of London
OK, this one just stems from my love of all things King Henry VIII! He was constantly throwing people in the Tower (mainly his wives haha) and the stories of the ghosts that roam the area.... it's just too much for me to resist!



8) The Pyramids of Giza
Like the Great Wall, this is one of those things I can imagine makes you feel very small. Just to imagine how much work was involved in the planning and building of these ancient burials is mind-boggling. Without the technology of today it is hard to imagine how they did it...oh, I know...slave labor.

9) Paris
Yes, Paris, the city of LOVE :) Just looking at the Eiffel Tower makes my heart flutter a little haha! A friend of mine went to Paris last summer, again over Spring Break, and is planning to go again this summer...I am so jealous! Her pictures and stories have convinced me that this is one of the places I just have to see. It wasn't really on my list until talking with her about her travels.


10) Mad King Ludwig's Castle (Neuschwanstein Castle), Germany
It's Cinderella's Castle! OK, so the jury is still out about if Ludwig really was mad or if he was just the product of a royal framing...but either way he was an interesting guy, and had great taste in architechure!

Why I'm a Daddy's Girl

While spending a couple of days with Daddy, I needed to take him to the hospital for his blood work. While we were there, a "hospital friend" of his showed up. These two, who met here at the Cancer Center, have similar diagnosis and are both disabled vets. Apparently, my dad has helped this man by doing a little research and then giving him some financial advice that has helped him to pay his high medical bills. I've always said that my dad would talk to anyone and make friends with a brick wall, but he likes helping people out too. I'm proud to say that my dad is the kind of guy who will go out of his way to help a stranger, even when he has his own troubles. That's some pretty big shoes to fill, hope I'm up to it!

I can't find my Wagon

I fell off my wagon and I can’t seem to find it now :( If you see it please let me know so I can climb back on.

It’s a cute little wagon, purple of course, and it is filled with "good-for-me" foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains, my running shoes were in there along with my pink heart Speedo, swim cap, goggles, bike helmet and gloves, and a few other workout-related items. I believe it even had a set of free weights in it and probably a thing of Biofreeze too. I’m not real sure but I think I once saw a tae-bo DVD in there somewhere.

I thought I saw it rolling down the street not too long ago so I put down my 3rd slice of extra cheese and pepperoni pizza to chase after it, but found there was a quarter pounder with cheese tied to each leg slowing me down. I then got a cramp because I tried to use muscles I hadn’t used in a while - the running ones. I was quite upset that I couldn’t get to my wagon, but luckily Ben and Jerry were there to comfort me.

I planned to look for it yesterday, but then I didn’t want to run late for my friend’s son’s 12th birthday. I mean...the kid’s only going to turn 12 once right? And it would be rude not to eat the ice cream and cake that this adorable new 12 year old handed me. By then it was too dark to look for that wagon (It doesn’t come equip with lights after all).

Please, if you see my wagon, hold it down so that I can climb back on. I bought some seat belts to install on it this time to prevent this slippage next time!

Smiles

Things that make me smile:

• 
  My daddy's laugh.
• 
  My nephews' laugh.
• 
  Finishing a good long run (or swim or bike…)
• 
  Getting flowers for no reason.
• 
  Hearing "Faithfully" by Journey
• 
  The Princess Bride
• 
  The last day of school
• 
  Looking through my travel photos
• 
  "Buttercup"
• 
  Getting a great new outfit that fits perfect and makes my ass look good!
• 
  A good movie on TV with no commercials.
• 
  Chocolate milk
• 
  Roller coasters
• 
  A good book and a bubble bath
• 
  The first shallow dive into the water
• 
  Feeling loved
• 
  Banana peppers, cheese, and crackers

Memories that make me smile:

• 
  Eating icicles off of the orange trees after a freeze.
• 
  Hanging with the Boogiemen at Harpoon's.
• 
  Hitting Toxic Hell after a swim meet.
• 
  My wedding.
• 
  Bruchetta.
• 
  The day before my 26th birthday.
• 
  Road Trip!
• 
  Japan
• 
  Crossing the finish line for the first time, and the second, third, fourth…
• 
  Fairies on the bathroom wall.
• 
  "I tied Nicole up last night" (NOT how it sounds lmao)
• 
  Making cookies with Grandma
• 
  The kid's table at Christmas/Thanksgiving (I finally had to graduate to the adults table this year)
• 
  Busch Gardens/Ybor weekends
• 
  The eclipse
• 
  Big, sweeping me off my feet and spinning me around hugs
• 
  My bachelorette party
• 
  Walking out of sucky movies
• 
  "Molly killed the cat!"
• 
  Victory parties…all of them
• 
  Horseback riding
• 
  Sitting in the back corner of Mr. McCormack's class in HIgh School w/Megan and Sara passing notes under the door
• 
  All my friends that I miss…

Deployments

It's hard when you're gone,
but I know we will always make it
as long as where ever you are
and whatever you're doing
I know that you'll always love me.