questionable rationale

Over five years ago a Virginia Army National Guard recruiter was passing time in my high school Journalism class.  He was planning on doing a presentation upstairs in another class room, but had a few minutes to kill and wanted to stop by and say hi to my teacher.  A week later, he dropped off some paperwork for my teacher, told her there was a position in the Guard for a broadcast journalist, and that he thought I would be perfect for it.  So my teacher and I sat down and talked about it, decided it would be a great opportunity for me and I called that recruiter.  And then, after a month of making sure I really, really, really wanted to join the military, I went to Baltimore and signed myself away to the Army for six years.  That signing took place five years ago yesterday.

When I think back on who I was then, I get confused.  I can no longer remember not understanding military jargon, or the rank structure of the Army, or what the word Hooah means.  I can’t remember not knowing what acronyms like MOS, AIT, CO, APFT, BAH and POV mean.  I suppose Army is a language I’ve become fluent in.

I’m shocked and amazed at what the Army has given me in these five years.  I’ve gained a husband, a different outlook on life, a major amount of patience, a sense of purpose, and I even got to spend a free year in Europe because of the Army.

It’s funny, because at some point in my military career, I thought of being a Soldier as something I just did on weekends.  I hate to admit it, but in the beginning, it was just something slightly out of the ordinary that I dedicated one weekend a month to.  But now, after being deployed, after seeing a place like Kosovo, after living and breathing Army for 18 months straight, the Army is much more than just something I do on weekends.  Being a Soldier is part of me now, part of my identity.  I can’t define myself anymore without throwing in the word Soldier.

I know in the beginning, when I left for Basic Training, I was determined that I wouldn’t change.  But that was crap.  Because I have.  A lot.  And you know what?  I’m totally okay with that.  In fact, I’m glad for the change.

Okay.  That’s enough cheesiness for one day, yes?

This past weekend, and today, it has been cold. I mean not like freezing cold, but like 50s cold, which, for me, is cold. Or at least cold when it’s the middle of May and there’s supposed to be flowers and loveliness. But no. Instead it is cold and raining and really like April. I am not enthused, although you can bet your buttons I’ll be whining and hissing and moaning when it’s 102 and me and the dog are on the floor in the bathroom panting.

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Why must Sadie’s hair be airborne? Is that really necessary? Is it not enough that her fur be all over my clothes, my furniture, and me? Why must it also go up my nose?

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Perfect my spaghetti sauce is number 95 on my list of 101 in 1001. And I think I’ve done it folks. I don’t think it gets any better than it is now.

I’d share the recipe, but I hate people who don’t use exact measurements in recipes, and, as it turns out, if I were to write the recipe for my spaghetti sauce it would likely contain such things as “some spaghetti,” “a healthy dump of basil, oregano, garlic and other things that taste delicious,” and “a dash of salt” (is dash an exact measurement? I hope not, cause if it is then I probably use much more, or much less than a dash of salt. I can’t be sure which though.).

Trust me though, it’s delicious. And easily made vegan. And always vegetarian which my husband thought was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard of when I made it for him for the first time. But then he loved it and got over the fact that it lacked meat and realized that mushrooms, yellow squash, and asparagus all make perfectly acceptable replacements.

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I wish it was still Sunday. Mondays are stupid.

I survived work by myself today and I count that as a major accomplishment.  It was lonely, especially during the few hours no one else was there.  And I desperately wished the girl I replaced was still there because she makes me laugh so hard I almost fall out of my char, but I got by.  There wasn’t really anything that didn’t totally confuse me or freak me out.  That’s got to be a good sign right?

The bossman asked no fewer than five times if I was doing alright and if I was started to feel a little overwhelmed.  Luckily I didn’t have to answer yes any of those five times but we’ll see what happens tomorrow.  In my experience, Fridays have a tendency to be absolutely INSANE.

Because I have absolutely nothing else exciting to report, I’m doing another meme.  I know, I fail.  But I saw it a forever ago on the blogs of a whole bunch of people and really wanted to do it.  I wasn’t ever tagged for it and then I forgot about it but today, in a spell of desire to kill clutter, I was looking through some blog drafts and found it and decided today would a great day for a meme.

The rules say you must put your iTunes, or Music Player thing on Shuffle.  For each question, press the next button to get your answer.  Write the name of the song that comes up down as the answer for the question, no cheating or skipping songs!

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Just Be Simple - by Songs:Ohia

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Salesman at the Day of the Parade - by Rouge Wave

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
I Am A Rock - by Simon & Garfunkel

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Have You Forgotten - by Red House Painters

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Waiting for You - by Ben Harper

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Hold On - by Sarah McLachlan

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Lightly Noise - by Halifax Pier

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Battlescars - by Ozma

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Made-Up Lovesong #3 - by Guillemots

WHAT IS 2+2?
Next Year - by Foo Fighters

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Trouble - by Coldplay

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Into My Arms - by The Cooper Temple Clause

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Karma Police - by Radiohead

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
One Thing - by Finger Eleven

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Friend of the Devil - by Counting Crows (Cover)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Redwings - by Guillemots

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - by The Postal Service

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Cry - by James Blunt

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
The Dangling Conversation - by Simon & Garfunkel

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
So Far Away - by Carole King

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Counting Blue Cars - by Dishwalla

WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?
Good Riddance (Time of Your LIfe) - by Green Day

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Welp, I’m officially creeped out by how absolutely dead on some of those songs are for the question, what about you?

…I’m making a list!

1. Despite the fact that I’ve been blogging for a long while now, I have always been scared to comment on the blogs of others. Until recently and now I’m kicking myself for not commenting on blogs sooner because really, I like making bloggy friends. Also, why have I cared for so many years whether or not faceless people on the internet think I’m weird, or strange, or batshit crazy?

2. So weeks and weeks ago I started a new job that I still really like but tomorrow is the first day that I’ll be flying solo without the girl who I’m replacing. And I’m scared. Totally and completely terrified. Yes, I know what I’m doing now, but, that said, I haven’t had to do it alone yet.

3. Our vet charges $320 for spaying. Our local SPCA charges $60. Umm…yeah, that was an easy decision.

4. Number of unread posts in my google reader: 580.

5. Being super busy for the past several weekends means very little grocery shopping has happened. In fact, I haven’t gone grocery shopping in over two weeks. Because of this, I am SUPER anxious about going this weekend. Is this what 24 has done to me? Made me excited about grocery shopping?

6. Big Brother ended a week or so ago and I miss it. And I hate that I became addicted to such a silly show.

7. Hubs and I have started watching Big Love and I’m falling in love with it all over again. I love when I show my husband shows and he loves them.

8. I’m so nervous about tomorrow! Ah!

9. I ceased making sense to anyone hours ago so I’m going now to enjoy my delicious dinner of left over mac and cheese and a heavily-salted baked potato.

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. This weekend was an Army weekend that rendered me completely exhausted and, quite frequently, ridiculously frustrated. It’s a whole long, drawn out story about why I wanted to fist fight the Army this weekend, one that will likely fail to make sense to all you civilians out there (I love you all by the way), and therefore I’m going to refrain from rehashing it here. The Army and I did, as we always do, make up and it looks like I might be promising the Army even more years of my life in the near future, just to show it how much I really love it.

Since the last time I posted the number of unread posts in my google reader has climbed well above 600 and I have been tagged not once, but twice.

First, the super fab Lizzie at An OC Girl Living in an Extraordinary World tagged me for the seven random (or weird) facts meme. I’m pretty sure I’ve done this before, but there are lots of random things to know about me so I am more than willing to do this again.

First, the rules:

• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share seven random and/or weird things about yourself.
• Tag seven people at the end of your post and include links to their blog.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The Facts:

1. Although my style has changed drastically since high school, the outfit that I feel sexiest and most confident in has stayed the same. I’m the most me in a pair of jeans and a white tank. The only thing that’s changed over the years are the accessories.
2. I can’t fall asleep if my feet are under the covers.
3. I’m 24 years old and only just learned how to properly apply blush.
4. I don’t eat anything that lives in water. At all. Ever.
5. Because I love my husband dearly, I went with him to Red Lobster (where they have absolutely NOTHING that does not contain some sort of meat. I hate them.). He ate crab legs and seriously, I am now determined that there is nothing more heartbreaking and gross than watching someone eat crab legs.
6. I am very vocal in my everyday life, and not just with words. I am prone to using noises, like squeaks, the occasional hiss, and whines, to communicate. Does that make me sound like I am crazy? Yeah, I thought so.
7. I can’t live without mascara.

Secondly, the fabulous, amazingly talented Jenny over at sticky feathers tagged me for the six truths meme, a meme that I have actually not done before, or even heard of.

The rules for this one:

• Like to the person who tagged you.
• Post the rules on your blog.
• Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
• Tag six people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
• Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The things/habits/quirks:

1. I would rather drink room temperature water than cold water.
2. I am constantly conflicted about something. For example, I want desperately to fit in and do what’s expected of me, but at the same time I was desperately to make waves and totally break the mold and do whatever makes me happy.
3. I daydream constantly about rearranging all my furniture and totally redoing the layout of my apartment.
4. My fingers are very long and very thin. My wedding band is a size 4.5. That’s little itty bitty. My hands might look delicate due to how thin they are, but they are actually quite large.
5. I love being a burnette.
6. I seriously contemplate becoming a vegetarian almost every day. It’s not that I don’t like meat, it’s just that I know I could live without it and be just as happy.

Alright, I’m going to tag a few people and they get to pick with meme they want to do. Is that fair?

1. Rachel at Confessions of a Jersey Girl (Who just went to see Hanson and created in me, much jealously)

2. Kirby at Do Your Trick; Turn On The Stars (Who just reappeared in a flash of blinding light)

3. Alverna at Aspiring Alverna (Who I met when I was 10)

4. Laurie at Newly-Wedded Wife (Who just became a mother to a puppy like me)

5. Sandi at Always a Work in Progress (Who I used to live next to)