Before the Christmas Tree....

I figured I should posted the pictures from our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife before I posted the pictures of the house decorated for Christmas. So here we go....


I made the normal Thanksgiving dinner...turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, peas. I think you get the picture.



Oh, and by the way. I made pumpkin pie...

from scratch and out of real pumpkins!

The Traveling Vineyard

Today I had two random people book events for the month of December. I am so excited. One of the people I met at a trade show and the other was someone searching the website. Hopefully from these shows I will get some more experience and also I will book shows for 2007. I was starting to think I was going to have to get out because I wasn't getting any leads.

I am also trying to weasel some business when I go to North Carolina for New Years and some in Florida while we are on vacation. I know I can always get some business when I go home but that is a really long drive.

Anyone who wants to book a show let me know!!!

Let's Plan To....

Believe it or not I am a planner. I like to know exactly what I am doing and when I am doing it. My parents used to threaten to take away my day planner when I lived there to see how crazy it would drive me (lovely parents I have, don't I?).

Anyways, I am trying to get out of this habit for 3 reasons. One - it is boring. Two - it drives Brett nuts. Three - there is no such thing as planning when you are a military spouse. No planning weekends, no planning vacations, no planning where you are going to spend the rest of your life (at least not until you get out).

Brett learned yesterday they are still working on where he will go next. They haven't given him a definite answer yet. We could stay here (I hope not), we could go to North Carolina (that would be great), or he could go overseas and leave me here for a year. I just want to know but I know that won't happen until the last possible minute.

Hopefully our vacation plans in January won't get changed. That would make me really sad!!

Memories

With him it was always who could one up the other. Who would be the first to be potty trained (he was), who was the first to go to school (we went at the same time), who would have a kid first (he was though he never saw him), and the list goes on.

One of my best memories of him was the night I gave him a bloody nose. Now to all of you reading this I know that is not a good memory for most but you don't understand the relationship we had. He was constantly picking on me which included poking me and making fun of me. That was just how he was. This one particular night I could't take it any longer. I went and asked my mom for permission to hit him ('cause that is the type of person I am) and his mom said go ahead. A few minutes later he was running up the stairs screaming "Kelly hit me". Aaahhh, what relief!!

As much as he annoyed me, I knew he loved me. We grew up together. It was him and me and his cousin. We were pretty much inseparable when we were put in a room together.

Things are different now. He is no longer here to annoy me. And as much as I hated it, I miss that. Then there are the other things: never seeing his son (who sometimes reminds me of him so much), being there for his mom (who is part of the "clan" that raised me), and just being him.

Happy Birthday! I miss you more than you will ever know!!

Ugghh

I hate being an adult and dealing with life problems. Can I go back to being a kid?

Oh and I got a new car.

Another Year Has Gone By

Yesterday I was 30. Today I am offically in my 30's. I am not sure how I feel about it. I dreaded turning 30 but it turned out to be okay. Lots of good things happened when I turned 30. Hopefully this year will be just as good as last (with the exception of Brett leaving for a year - that will totally suck).

Brett did a great job with my gifts. I got a Coach purse and a T-shirt and some make-up. We are going to dinner tonight for half price burgers. Maybe I can get him to buy me the expensive wine on the menu!!!!

I am going home this weekend to see my family, go shopping with my mom for more presents, and do a wine tasting event. Should be a good weekend with the exception of Brett being back in Virginia.

Ohio is going back to Texas!!! See ya'll later!!

Sore Throat from Hell

I have the sore throat from hell. I can't even talk because it hurts so bad. The worse thing about this is that I was supposed to go to a meeting for my wine business and I can't. I need to rest up so it goes away by Friday when I go to Texas to do my first offical in home wine tasting.

Marianne - I promise to be all better by Saturday afternoon!!!

Question Answered and Lesson Learned

A few blogs ago I posted concern for a friend who was in an abusive relationship. I wondered how all the neighbors could sit around a pretend they didn't see what was happening. Well I got my answer this weekend.

Brett's brother and sister-in-law came to visit last weekend. Being that Eric is a chef and loves to cook we had invited our friends, C & K, over for dinner. K and I had planned on going to an open house at the local craft store that afternoon. Lindsey came with us. We ran over to the mall afterwards. On the way to drop K back at her car before Lindsey and I stopped at Hooters to pick up wings for the boys, Brett called. Told me he had just spoken to C and that he blew a fuse when Brett told him we were stopping at Hooters. Just as I was explaining to Brett that K was not coming to Hooters with us, C called her. And all hell broke loose.

From that point forward, the name calling started and accusations started. C has a slight drinking problem. He had already been drinking and continued to drink the rest of the night. He kept calling her and leaving nasty messages. At one point he stopped by to get her garage door opener. When I brought him the keys to her car, he made a point to tell me not to have her come home. So, of course, she didn't and stayed at our place.

On Sunday, Brett ran the Army Ten-Miler (in 1 hour and 17 minutes). K drove Eric and Lindsey to the race to meet up with us and then we all went to breakfast. During breakfast, Brett received a call from one of our other neighbors to see if he could go check on C. Apparently he had a mishap on Saturday night and his face was all messed up. Brett called C but got his voicemail so he left a message. Still haven't heard back from him. K was so upset when she heard about this that she had to leave the table.

The drama continued until last night. They finally talked and are resolving the problem. Hopefully she won't move back in but I know that she won't stay with us anymore. Last night when she went over to talk to C, I made mention that if she ended up going back to him that she wouldn't be able to stay her again. Brett (and I) don't want our place to be a hotel. She seemed to be okay with that...Until this afternoon.

She didn't come back last night. I figured they had made up and she stayed there. I got an email from her this afternoon stating they had talked (most of it playing the blame game). She wanted to know when Brett would be home because after what I told her yesterday she feels uncomfortable staying here. She wanted to come get her stuff when he wasn't home. Of course I told her that she was more than welcome to stay and we just wanted her to make a healthy decision that would make her happy. I haven't heard from her since.

Now I am the outcast. C is trying to put some of the blame on me. All I did was be a friend and do what I thought was best. Brett is tired of the drama and is already counting the days until he leaves for Korea (or wherever he ends up). I am to the point that I am just going to hole myself up in the condo when Brett is gone.

Now I know why no one ever steps in and tries to help. Lesson learned!!

He Would Have Been 70 Today

Today would have been my dad's 70th birthday. That is sort of amazing especially when you look at the fact that my mom just turned 52. The even crazier part is he has been gone for 16 years. Maybe he wouldn't have made it to 70 had he listened to the doctors but he would have seen a lot more of my accomplishments.

He would have seen me graduate from the 8th grade and enter high school. He would have taught me to drive. He would have seen my first boyfriend and kicked my butt for dating the 2nd boyfriend. He would have seen me graduate from high school, college, and post graduate (since my mom and stepdad made me walk in the ceremony). And maybe he would have met Brett and walked me down the aisle along with my stepdad.

I used to have a hard time on this day. Maybe because we were so close. But now I am okay with it. I think it has to do with the fact that I am happy now and don't need my daddy to turn to and tell me that it is okay. Or the fact that he has never been there for me to turn to because he wasn't there any more.

Happy Birthday, Dad!! I love you!!

Where to Next?

Germany? Italy? Virginia? North Carolina?

Those are our options currently in front of us. It would be awesome to go to Germany. Only problem - definitely no one would visit me. But I would get to travel around Europe. I might even get to go to Ireland which is my dream. I want to see where my mom was born and spent 9 years of her life.

Stay tuned for the final decision!!!

Being a Friend

Since we have moved to our new place (yes, I know I still owe everyone pictures) I have met a lot of nice people. Some are married; some are single. Some are old; others are young. All have their own personalities and stories that keep you entertained for hours.

It amazes me how a group of people can all see something regarding another's relationship and just let it be. I am not about meddling in relationships but when someone is getting hurt (in any aspect) I would think someone would help the person out.

Hit and Run

Today I became a murderer. It was not intentional and it was completely by accident. Please listen to my side of the story before placing final judgment though I already admit to my guilt.

I was returning home from dropping my beloved husband off at work after doing some errands before his trip to West Virginia. I left Fort Belvoir and headed home. As I approached the I95/Route 1 split something hit my windshield (Don't worry Babe, nothing happened to the FAT). As I took a closer look, there were feathers stuck to the glass. A freakin' bird flew into the windshield.

I felt bad. I should have stopped to see if it was okay but deep down inside I knew this creature was now in a better place. The way it bounced off the windshield is the main indication that it is no longer with us.

Maybe I will only be sentenced to involuntary vehicular birdicide.

Caught in the Whirlwird of Life

I am here and I have lots to write about but just no time at the moment. I know that is not an excuse. I promise to make up for it shortly!!!

Freaking Out

I am trying to get ready to go to a retirement party for a 2 star General and I am freaking out. I have never been to an Officers retirement party let alone the actual ceremony (which is tomorrow). I want to look presentable but still be myself. This is becoming a very difficult task.

For all who know me really well - I am a total jeans and t-shirt girl. I hate getting dressed up. It involves too much work - clothes, make-up, hair, etc.

Please, Lord! Let me look presentable and be on my best behavior.

And the Leads Start Rolling In....

I have started telling people about my "new job" and I already have 5 or 6 people willing to do parties. The fun thing is that they aren't even family (well one sort of is in that weird Serbian Kumovi sort of way). I was all nervous when my friend Nikol told me that her cousin's wife does this too. I thought she just threw the parties! There goes my natural market.

And the fact that when I asked my mom to host one to help her daughter out she wasn't all excited to do it. I had to tell her to just invite some of her friends over and I would do the rest (prepare the food, clean her house, etc.) She said she would think about it. Why to be supportive!!!

I have one party lined up in Texas (Thanks, Mare!), 3 in Virginia, 1 in Ohio, and possibly one in Illinois (my friend lives in Indiana but is from Chicago.) I think I might be able to do really well with this. Hopefully I will do well enough that it will spread like wildfire.

And the funny thing is I haven't even sent out the official - "Hey! Guess what I am doing?" email. Can't wait to see the response once I do that and put it up on my MySpace.com page.

Second Job

I have decided to get a second job. With Brett going back to graduate school and the mortgage on our new condo, I felt this was the best time to do it.

So what am I doing, you ask. I am going into business for myself - one of those home-based businesses. No, it is not Mary Kay or the Pampered Chef (though I love their kitchen stuff). It is something more up my alley - The traveling Vineyard.

What better thing than drinking wine! I know - I was never a big wine drinker. I have changed a lot over the last 2 years. I figure this would be a good way to develop my wine taste buds and earn some money.

The best part is I can do a party in Ohio and expense my whole trip. What better way to go home - free! As long as you can ship wine to the state, I can do a party (California, Florida, Texas, etc.)

Hopefully I will get to use my marketing degree a bit. If I can get back all my starting costs and pay off the last remaining credit card that I have, it will be worth it. So, if you are interested in having a party, just let me know!!!!

She is Gone

Zayra has been voted off! It is about gosh darn time!!!!

So You Want to Be a Rockstar....

Brett and I have become Rockstar: Supernova fans. We seem to watch it religiously. We just don't understand why Zayra hasn't been voted off yet. We feel that Magni or Toby will be the one they pick.

I need to go now. Time to watch who gets kicked off this week!!