We are going to have a Baby!!!

It is true we are going to be parents of a tiny 10 week old little boy with beautiful green eyes and the cutest pink nose. He is having surgery tomorrow and we will get to bring him home on Wednesday. We are all excited. Me, David and Abbey... well maybe Abbey.

If you haven't guessed our little boy is a kitten. We met him at the Humane Society yesturday. We had been looking for a kitten and had visited the shelter pretty regular looking. And we found out that we can't wait to adopt because it is the end of the kitten season. So we had very specific needs being that it is a kitty for our kitty. But he is the smallest one out of the litter and maybe the sleepest one too. He is the one all the other kitties give baths. I think this little mello kitten will be perfect for Abbey, at least we are hoping.

We had held lots of kitties looking for the right one and when I saw him he melted my heart. I remeber when I saw Juni for the first time I knew that we were going to be close. She clung to my shirt purring and I just fell in love. Her non-stop purring is part of the reason we named her Junipurr. And when I saw Abbey for the first time I had a feeling it wouldn't be the last even though I didn't want a kitty. So I am hoping the little guy loves us all.

Abbey was named after the Beatles album Abbey Road. And so we are looking to continue the Beatles theme and try to name him either Jude or Rigbey. David likes Rigbey cause it sounds like a cutie boy's name and I like Jude because when I come home I can say Hey Jude. he he (maybe you have to be a Beatles fan to get it) What do you think he looks like?



















I know. He is precious. Merry Christmas to us!!!!

Here Comes Santa Claus!

Santa has made his first appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which means

a. I can change out my fall door sign a little early for a holiday snowman.
b. We must watch for reindeer crossing the road.
c. I gotta get on that Holiday shopping.

We had already gottten a jump start on the Christmas decorating on the inside of our place with holiday smelly candles, Santa/snowman/reindeer nesting dolls, garland and a wreath above the fire place and a Santa hat on Kermit (he lives in the living room with us). So it already looked like Christmas here. It feels like Christmas outside cause it has definately made the shift to colder weather.

Another northern phenomenon is that it really gets dark early up here. I mean we all experience shorter days, but being so north it is rediculous. I think we are in the worst of it with something like only 6 hours of day light. It is dark till almost 7am and then no joke about 430 it is pitch black outside. Your tummy doesn't know when it is dinner time and your sleeper doesn't know when it is sleepy time. It is so dark out side that you will think it is bed time and look at your watch and say uh well it is only 6 even though it has been pitch black outside for hours. It is just wierd. So when they say Seattle is depressing because of the rain, they lie, it is because the sun never has a chance to come out.

But it isn't that bad. We did get to go to Monika's for Thanksgiving and it was good to be with famliy or at least my family on a holiday. And yesturday it was rainy and cold and extra dark because the sun never came out all day. So we didn't do a darn thing, which was ok with me. David has duty today so he is all alone on the boat and I am all alone here. But we finally have a little family. Abbey has done so well lately. She has been real cuddly with me and even lets David pet her like for five minutes straight. And she even touched him last night, of course it was to play and claw at his feet under a blanket but still she initiated contact. She hasn't quite gotten used to David while standing up, we think she believes there are two of them: the not so scary sitting down David and the terrifying talldavid.

We had a great holiday, I am going to be sad when David goes back to work and he can't hang out with me all day anymore. Why can't everyday be a holiday?

My Husband is a Thief

Yup the Navy has once again foiled our plans. They called David last night to tell him he needed to come into work. grrr. But that if he got there at 8 then he would only have to stay for a couple hours. So a couple hours has come and gone and they haven't even started working. So maybe another couple hours or maybe another 4. Who knows at this point.

So I am sitting around watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Which isn't a horrible way to spend the holiday. So to explain the title of this blog. I forgot to by a couple onions at the store. David is working unloading all the food for the boat. Yes lifting fifty pound bags of onions. So he is going to take payment for working on a holiday, payment by onions. Well, ok he is going to steal an onion but I think he deserves it. He isn't getting overtime or anything and they have ruined our plans. I will admit that it was my idea because by the time he gets back the grocery stores will be closed.

I just hope we can make our ferry and make it to our Thanksgiving dinner. And I hope everyone's holiday goes off without a hitch unlike ours. No worries though if we can't make it out to Sammamish then we will go over some friends' house whenever they let my husband lose.

Uh.. Lets try this again

I must admit that I was a tad hasty with shuffling of this week along. I was convinced that yesturday was Wednesday, even after David told me I still had trouble with it. I was dissapointed when my Wednesay show didn't come on. So my bad. Today is the day before Thanksgiving. Kinda disregard the last Thanksgiving themed post and pretend it came today and that this one came yesturday.

I can't believe that I forgot Tuesday because I have been anxious like a kid waiting for the last Real World episode. And it was good but sad cause it is going away. Who will I talk about now? Who will be my friends? Laguna is already done and now Real World Austin, which was the most eventful Real World of all time??? Network television you say? Pish Posh. Ooooo CSI, I can't become friends with them. And the only real TV shows these days are cop shows. Oh it is so sad.

But I have discovered this really funny show on Discovery about this guy Mike who goes around and does people's dirty jobs, it is called obviously Dirty Jobs. It is really funny, the host is a hoot. It comes on Tuesdays at 9/8c. Good times.

Kitty is doing well and slowly being sweeter and sweeter to David. I have started making David feed her, to bribe her. But it is working. She gets very excited when David comes home. We are not sure when she will get her kitty friend to play with because kitty season is almost over. (By that I mean there is a natural season when kittens are born for cough natural reasons cough) We are hoping there is one waiting for us at the right time. I just know Abbey will be happier with someone to rough and tumble with that isn't my hand, or should I say shredded hand from the crazy sharp nails. So be thinking about of future kitten, someone who can come join our Beatles naming scheme.

I too was trying to put out Christmas things but I realized how lacking I was in Christmas decor. Any ideas for a cheap transformation that will pack a big punch of christmas spirit???

So, eat lots of turkey TOMORROW. There that is right. But seriously Happy Thanksgiving!

Speaking of Birds...

Well, all that talk about scary birds and I forgot that birds will definatly the popular kids at school this week. Yummy. I love Thanksgiving. I used to think it was my favorite holiday but not being at Grammy's has brought it down to number two, behind Christmas. There is something to be said about a holiday where you eat foods that you don't eat any other time of the year. Even when you get trukey and dressing at restraunts it is never as good (except maybe Cleburne's). Oh and Grammy's stuffing, it just isn't Thanksgiving without it.

Many bloggers might be going through what they are thankful for and maybe I will give into that too, maybe. But to me Thanksgiving is about the food. We try and make Thanksgiving a time we reflect on the good things in our lives, but why do that just once a year? We have to suffer and wait for Grammy's strawberry jello salad, dressing and pie oh yummy pie, but why should we reserve our thankfulness for one day? I can give Grammy the year off but I guess it doesn't make sense to not be thankful everyday. Ok that is pushing it, I know that I am not cheeseball thankful EVERYDAY, but more than once a year.

Well, yes we can be thankful. Oh I am not saying lets forget that we should be thankful this day but maybe we should be thankful a little more often than we eat los turkey! Yummy!!! (Did you know that onomatopoeia is different across language lines? Oh yes. For instance, a turkey does not says "gobble gobble" in Spanish it says "gluglu". Yes it is true. Oh the factoids of a linguist.)

On a lighter note, I think we might actually get a real family thanksgiving. Yes David has to work, seriously the Navy doesn't believe in Holidays. But we may be able to make it to our aunt and uncle's by a late lunch/ supper meal... slunch if you will. So at least it won't be me and David eating little personal meals bought at the grocery store.

Also, me and David will be making it home for Christmas. Now that is the miracle. I am totally surprized that his leave went through and now we much hunt for plane tickets at the last minute. But yea! We get to come home to Houston, where my mother has promised me tamales, the tamales that the REST of the family gets a Thanksgiving.

As well as our happy holiday news, David made his rank yesturday, (got a promotion). We had been waiting 2 months since he took his test to see if he made it. He is no longer a Seaman but a Petty Officer. Sounds so important doesn't it? Well it isn't really. But we got to go and buy all new patches and pins for his uniforms. This is like really fun for them. Girls if you ever thought that guys don't get excited about shopping, these do. So we are all proud of David for passing his test, don't ask me what is on it I think it is secret, but it is hard is all.

Happy Eating Tomorrow! Yum Yum.

Big Bird's Long Lost Family?

Doesn't big bird live in New York? Yeah, on Sesame Street? Well I think his relatives live here in the woods behind our apartment. Think I am kinding? Um, no I am not.

This is not a cultural thing cause Texas has big birds like hawks and buzzards and seagulls are usually a big bird. But here the birds are on seriods or something, they are big freakin' birds. You've seen the vultures on the side of the road, 36 on the way to Abilene, nibbling at the skunk road kill (which is their fault cause many a time have I seen them prancing in the middle of the road, you think the poor things would learn). Anyway those vultures a freakin' scary, you are glad you are in the car and they are out there, am I right?

I kid you not the birds are big here. First off the seagulls are nutty big. When you ride the ferry to Seattle you might see many animals, I saw a group of seals once, and then I was frightened by the giant sea birds. Out of control big. Like seriously the size of a vulture, I am not kidding nor exaggerating. And there is this other bird, a big black bird like a crow or raven or something. Man they are scary. The all sit in the trees and make these scary noises. It is seriously the juggle gym scene from The Birds. They just sit there, it makes me glad I have a hard top car. My dad keeps telling me to let Abbey outside to play. HA! Are you kidding me? There is a reason why there aren't any squirrels here, the big ugly birds eat them, I like my kitty I don't want her to be a kitty sandwhich for Black Bird. And I mentioned the scary noises. It is seriously like the Haunted Forest in the Wizard of Oz. It is always cloudy and they make this caw caw I have to make sure flying monkeys are hovering on the horizon.

But since it has gotten cold I haven't seen them as much. I would hate to wish that some one else have to deal with them, but I think they have travelled on for a warmer winter. All I can say is see ya!

2 Thumbs Up

Ok, Mark and Brianne took me to see Ice Age when it came out, because they wanted me to quit talking about how cute the pre-historic squirrel was. And I loved that movie. But I hadn't seen it till I bought it one lonely weekend without David.

Now I am obsessed with it. It is so funny. Seriously if you haven't seen it, then you need to, for reals people. The story isn't like that great (it is no Emperor's New Groove and just for the record I will never abondon that as the funniest animated picture ever), but Ice Age really is too funny. It only got a B from critics, why I just don't know.

If you watch, which you should, you will be given the choice of three favorite characters. I have trouble picking.

First off Manny the Mammoth, yeah the cynical, apathetic mammoth is a classic. If you like witty comments Manny will tickle your funny bone.
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Manny- "That's your shelter?"
Sid- "You're a big guy, you got a lot of wood. I'm a little guy..."
Manny- "You got half a stick."
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Head Do Do Bird- "This is our private stock pile for the Ice Age. Sub Artic tempatures will force us under ground for a billion billion years."
Manny- "So you got three melons?"
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Manny- "The sooner we find the humans, the sooner I get rid of Stinky Mr. Drool Face... and the baby too."
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Now Scrat. hehehe Scrat is the sabertooth squirrel, he he he if that doesn't make you laugh, he is on an epic hunt for his beloved acorn. he he he it is great. Well he doesn't have any lines except a wonderful array of cute noises and a funny scream.


And then there is Sid the sloth. Wow I love Sid. He has been left behind for the migration because he is annoying. But his warm heart is endearing, and well Sid has a speech impediment he he he, what could be funnier than a sloth with a speech impediment.
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Sid- "Yummo! A Dandilion!"
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Sid- (said nonchalantly as if not to understand that meaning of his family's actions) "You should have seen what they did to me last year. They woke up early, quietly tied my hands and feets and gagged me with a field mouse and barricaded the cave door and covered their tracks with water so I would lose their sent and well who needs em."
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Diego- "Are you calling me a liar?"
Sid- (to Diego) "Noooooo." (to Manny) "I don't like this cat, it reads minds."
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Oh people Ice Age rocks. If you are looking for a light hearted movie you can watch over and over and over. Yes Ice Age is it. It has a sweet message of accepting people and how important friends and family are. I must warn you that there is a sad scene where we find out why Manny is so moody. There are also some minor historical discrepancies, for instance the Neanderthals have domesticated dogs and only 5 o'clock shadows. But the Ice cave scene more than makes up for any short commings, it is too funny. I truely love this movie it is a great pick.

P.S.- I just touched on the subject of Emperor's New Groove. It is the greatest animated comedy of all time. If you ever get a chance you will not be dissapointed with the perfect comedic timing and wonderful voices David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton (Puddy, Elaine's boyfriend of Sienfeld). It is a classic, too funny. And I find that funny lighthearted movies are so good durning stressful times.

There is a Season Turn Turn Turn

A time to Gain
David has come home. Yea! It was a wonderful weekend of actually having a husband. I surprised David not only at the airport but at his gate! It is a secret how I got there but he was surprised to see me and even more surprised when he figured out that to be at the gate these days you have to have a boarding pass. My secret.
Abbey did really well too. Me and David got home around midnight so Abbey was already asleep, but the next day she came out and has been sleeping in the bed with us. She still won't let David touch her but big whoop, she barely lets me touch her sometimes. So I think she will start to love David in a few weeks.

A time to Lose
David came home but ahhh the Navy, he has gone cranking which is a sore subject so I will try to be short. So these next couple of days we will see where he is going to be working, in the galley or the mess decks, what his hours will be 14 hour days with weekends or normal hours. Also we go back to being a one car family which kinda takes away at my mobility. I can take David to work when we know what his schedule will be like.
These schedule problems will also affect our Holiday plans or should I say lack there of. It won't feel like holidays without any kind of family. But at least we will have a tree, they are really cheap up here.

A time to be Angry or at least Squirt the Cat
Ok Abbey is being the biggest nerd. Good grief. So Abbey was scratching the chair so I bought a squirt bottle and it worked, she doesn't do it anymore. But her anxious energy has taken a new form- chewing. And chewing isn't that bad but that she chews on electrical cords. And because I love my kitty and I don't want her to be a charred piece of kitty toast, I am scared to squirt her while she is chewing on electrical cords. My goodness. Her favorite cord is by my bed. So all night I stay very aware of any chewing noises so I can shoo her away. Abbey knows what the squirty bottle looks like so I just shake it at her and she runs away. This bottle is a life saver, especially when David acts up, I squirt him too.

And a time for every purpose, under Heaven
Well so much is changing or has changed in my life these last few months. It almost seems like nothing is going to be the same anymore. Familiarity is so comfortable. Life seems more enjoyable and moves slower. But with all these changes, I wonder will I ever be able to dig my heels in and have normalcy again? HA! No, one because of the Navy which I have a little voodoo doll to take out my aggression. But seriously there are just things I am kinda sad about changing. I just though foolishly that things would stay the same. ugh. But like the song says there is a purpose for me and Leah both moving away, and holidays being different, the Navy taking control of our lives. Couldn't God just let us know his plan? Why the big secret? Something I will be asking when that day comes.

And so life turns turns turns...

1st Date Jitters

They always come. Those pesky jitters, the uncontrollable nerves, the obsessive worrying, they always come before a first date. Mine is with my husband.

I always seem to get nervous before seeing David after a deployment. It seriously feels like our first date. I have been shopping for a week to find something to wear, practicing on how I am going to wear my hair. And I have been non-stop planning surprises. But last night boy was I nervous. I couldn't fall asleep. This morning I had knots in my stomach, I am tense and well nervous.

It is stupid because I have know him for 3 1/2 years and yeah we are now married but a month is a long time to be apart. We got to talk on the phone a couple times but not very long. Of course a 6 month cruise is a lot longer I feel about the same amount of nerves. Cruise becomes habit after a while. You forget what he smells like, and sounds like, you try really hard to remember the prickle of his whiskers or how hard he squeezes you in a hug. Your life consists of email and you don't take it for granted. Calls are short because it is some crazy long distance and you start to just ehhh not need them. So while cruise is tough the middle is the easiest.

Anyway, David gets home tonight. I can't say when just because, whatever stupid Navy. And I will be so happy to have him home. But little Abbey does not like David. So we will see how that meeting goes. I have a feeling she will pull a Kitty Houdini and disappear for a couple days.

So welcome home David!

Walmartians 2

Yes, Leah has brought up a good point about Super Walmarts being open 24 hours. This is a unique quality of Walmart. I must say that I have taken advantage of this for the midnight cake cravings and me and Christi's 2 in the morning grocery shopping and checking out the hot stocker guy. Point for Walmart!

They also do money orders which saved our butt when needing the deposit for the apartment and since silly banks close early on Saturdays. And there is a Walmart in every state, every town and zip code for that matter, making it a familiar place to shop when you are in an otherwise foreign place. Target unfortunately is not as accessible. Another point for Walmart.

While I was at Target today at the checkout I sensed something different and calming about the process. It wasn't the nice checker, she really was pleasant, but I realized it was the barely audible scanner beeps. How quite and pleasant it was not to be bombarded by the beeps. Those loyal Walmartians out there, seriously, fess up you hate the beeps too, right? From the moment you walk in the door it is ridiculous with the beeping. Sometimes when I am tired and just want to run in for something the 10 minutes standing in line is torture, not the waiting but the beeping, I want to claw my face off. Is it really necessary? What is the loud beeping for? To alert shoppers that people are buying stuff? I mean come on. Come on. Walmart if you change the level of your beeping you will greatly improve the shopping experience for all. Has there been a study of hearing loss of Walamrt checkers? Ok, I do realize that the beep is important so the checker knows that the item has been scanned properly and there are special beeps letting the checker know of any security devises on the product. So clearly beeps are necessary. But the decibel level is OUT OF CONTROL!

Ok, so wrapping up. Walmart what can you say about it? Only that it has become a unique addition to American culture. Why people go nuts for it I haven't quite figured out, but the fact is people love it. Maybe I should write my masters thesis on the effects of Walmart in suburban society and the economic repercussions of the Walmart on small business, a point well illustrated by King of the Hill and the Mega-Lo-Mart. But seriously no hard feelings Walmart, maybe one day I will be sucked into your marketing scheme and I too will become a Walmartian. But... not today.

Walmartians

Ok, first of all nothing against Walmart or it's loyal patrons. I am just going to explore the culture surrounding the Walmart phenomenon, and it is just my humble opinion. Those that love Walmart are free and encouraged to explain that love to me, I am curious.
I never really have gotten into Walmart. I don't think their prices are that low, their merchandise isn't what I am looking for, and you have to deal with the Walmartians. What do you really get at Walmart that is such a good deal? Other places like Walgreens or Target or even grocery stores would have as cheap prices on toilet paper or whatever soccer moms are buying there. And really would I ever buy Walmart clothes??? NO! I am not being a snob, seriously maybe guys could find stuff to wear there. The fabrics are cheap and do not wear well and the designs are just ugly. I love Target's designers that really follow trends, not trends in the middle of no where but real fashion trends. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not by any means "hip" ok, in middle school I only wore Converse, and high school black flip flops. But unless I am in Indiana or Iowa I just would never wear Walmart brands.
And those lovely Walmartians, they deserve their own paragraph. Walmart commercials portray their patrons as just like you and me, middle class moms and teenagers who want to find the things they want at good prices. But seriously, when was the last time you saw normal people in Walmart? Maybe that was a little harsh normal people do go to Walmart but the Walmartians are as country and bizarre as you get. You could be in the heart of the city and some country bumpkin is walking around with out his shirt on or some 300 lb guy with his belly hanging out of his wife beater tank. Here in a small town it is just as bad. It isn't middle class families with four children just trying to make their trip to the lake special. Every weirdo in the area is at Walmart. There are no supers on the peninsula that I live on, but this regular Walmart has the biggest hunting department you have ever seen. You would think you are in Texas.
Just what is it about Walmart that draws the country out of a neighborhood? It is a cultural phenomenon that I just can not fathom. It is the most constantly bizarre effect all over the country. Hey there is nothing wrong with Middle Class of America, but I mean can we wear our shirts? Can we not wear our house shoes out of the house, or let our children run screaming and pulling down toys? It seems as if Walmart is an excuse to forget what cultural standards America might have left. I don't know maybe the Walmartians ARE normal everyday people but something chemically changes when they walk through those doors that turns them into well hicks.
Maybe I am more of a big city girl than I thought. I just think Walmart is ridiculous, but hey they can have Walmart and thrive there. I will shop comfortably and happily at Target.

Small Town Blues

The town of Port Orchard is a sleeply little town. Sleepy is the word. Not much goes on around here, there isn't any traffic, no shops or restraunts. Port Orchard consists of trees and homes. Which is a nice change from the big city but it can get a wee bit boring if you don't watch out.

What I loved about Houston was there was always something new to try. There was always new restraunts in the Hights or fun resale shops in Montrose and tons of malls to explore. So if you weren't up to the monotony of everyday life then something is always close. I love Houston. I never realised how nice it is to have family close. Even if I didn't have friends I still my family to be my friends. Another reason why I love Houston.

Port Orchard is just different. The stuff to go and do is just different. And I guess it is just hard to go and explore by my self without a buddy. I have the "small town blues."

David will be coming home soon and I am excited to be able to explore together!

My Halloweenie

Well I have had the candy ready for a month, my scarecrow gaurding the front door for weeks, and the Halloween excitement brewing. But I was unfortunately dissapointed in my trick-or-treaters. First off I have to confess my trick-or-treating history.

I was not really a cute trick-or-treater. I always wanted to make my own costumes and I don't know how well it came off. One time I was an Olympic Runner, I was just wearing sweat pants and a sweat shirt. I think I tried to make a torch but ended up with a flashlight. I also must confess that I trick-or-treated well past the trick-or-treat age cut off. I was in 9th grade my last year. But in my defense I was going around with my friend Jennifer's young sisters.

So with that said, my trick-or-treaters were NUTS! First off they were old. Like maybe 5 kids were actually kids. The others were old, at least in high school. They were taller than me, which isn't hard but they were old. Also they were all dead people. Almost every single one of them was in all black with white face paint and black lip stick. So they were creepy, creepy. I was definately scared of these crazy kids. So when I was in high school even for like halloween parties girls want to look cute not gross. Maybe things have changed.

But the worst was when a girl asked for MORE candy!!! I was shocked. First off, um I love candy so I like to pass on that joy to others. I give big handfulls. Each kid got a Reeces or Kit Kat and Hershey's Mini Bar (the big kind not the miniatures) and several pieces of gum. Come on that is alot. But this kid thought she deserved more for putting on some white face paint. Pish Posh! I mean what is she Oliver for Halloween? It wasn't like breakfast gruel I gave her alot already. So I told the girl "NO!" and shut the door. Tisk tisk. I could not believe it. Well out of the goodness of my heart and the fun of the holiday I give out candy, I don't HAVE to and she asked for more. Well needless to say I was ticked.

How unfair that those kids ruined my fun! I wish I could have spent my night handing out candy to little kids who are excited and SAY THANK YOU! Nuts, those kids are nuts.