http://www.jdnews.com/news/class-79265-bodycopyrag-motorcycle.html
Read it. Then try to figure out the conversation that occurred between the pair before getting on the motorcycle.
"You know what would be a great idea?!...."
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Just a normal day in Eastern North Carolina...
My friend Michelle and I have had numerous conversations about the things we see here in the southeastern parts of North Carolina. It started one day when she saw a man burning trash on the side of 24 (one of the major highways in Jacksonville). She thought for a moment "What is he doing?! On the side of the road?!", but then remembered where she was. It is just not out of place here. You get used to things like that. You begin to remain unphased.
I remember our first few days here in Jacksonville, coming from Oceanside, CA. We entered a parking lot to see a very pregnant teen smoking. I was shocked. Welcome to Jacksonville I guess. But again, you get used to things like that.
So it seems fitting to share our Saturday with you, a typical NC day: (I'm giving you fair warning now and apologizing in advance. If you are intrigued, read on....)
We went to the beach with some friends. Returning to the car in the parking lot, we began to overhear a conversation between the people parked next to us. Apparently the girl desperately needed to relieve her bowels. Instead of walking the 1/4 mile to the nearest public restroom, or having her significant other drive the 30 seconds it would take to get to the restroom, she decided a good idea would be to squat down in front of the car in the middle of the parking lot and go. Number 2. Not kidding.
Slightly unphased, we traveled to Food Lion to pick up some things for dinner. Leaving the second parking lot of the day, a woman backed into our friends car. Minor bumper damage, thankfully. So as we stood outside the car waiting for them to work things out, we witnessed two other events simultaneously. A girl, whips around the corner into a parking space practically running over our friends. She gets out of her car and drops her cigarette on the ground by our friends feet. She bends over, derriere high in the air, and tries not to disturb them as she picks it up. She walks away towards the store and proceeds to put the cigarette back in her mouth. I think "Ewww....", but laugh it off. Of course, this is when we notice the 7-ish year old boy drop his trousers and begin peeing in the middle of the parking lot. Not just peeing, but standing tall and proud, facing everyone, arching his back as to get a good, high arc in the stream. Not another person in the whole parking lot even flinched. Most things don't shock me anymore, but this was just too much for one day. I couldn't help but share.
I think I've also learned to spend less time in parking lots here.
I remember our first few days here in Jacksonville, coming from Oceanside, CA. We entered a parking lot to see a very pregnant teen smoking. I was shocked. Welcome to Jacksonville I guess. But again, you get used to things like that.
So it seems fitting to share our Saturday with you, a typical NC day: (I'm giving you fair warning now and apologizing in advance. If you are intrigued, read on....)
We went to the beach with some friends. Returning to the car in the parking lot, we began to overhear a conversation between the people parked next to us. Apparently the girl desperately needed to relieve her bowels. Instead of walking the 1/4 mile to the nearest public restroom, or having her significant other drive the 30 seconds it would take to get to the restroom, she decided a good idea would be to squat down in front of the car in the middle of the parking lot and go. Number 2. Not kidding.
Slightly unphased, we traveled to Food Lion to pick up some things for dinner. Leaving the second parking lot of the day, a woman backed into our friends car. Minor bumper damage, thankfully. So as we stood outside the car waiting for them to work things out, we witnessed two other events simultaneously. A girl, whips around the corner into a parking space practically running over our friends. She gets out of her car and drops her cigarette on the ground by our friends feet. She bends over, derriere high in the air, and tries not to disturb them as she picks it up. She walks away towards the store and proceeds to put the cigarette back in her mouth. I think "Ewww....", but laugh it off. Of course, this is when we notice the 7-ish year old boy drop his trousers and begin peeing in the middle of the parking lot. Not just peeing, but standing tall and proud, facing everyone, arching his back as to get a good, high arc in the stream. Not another person in the whole parking lot even flinched. Most things don't shock me anymore, but this was just too much for one day. I couldn't help but share.
I think I've also learned to spend less time in parking lots here.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Update List
In the form of a list, things that are happening with us:
1. Adam finished his first grad class!
2. I am still in grad school. Three years, two cross country moves, five jobs, one deployment. I will finish this year.
3. Gardening. Beautiful purple Creeping Phlox blooming, next my Hydrangea (I hope!). Leafy lettuce, fragrant herbs. Not everything is in pots yet. I want to figure out a better way to dry and store herbs for the off season. I am currently obsessed with flowers. Vegetables will still be grown this season (duh!), but I'm trying my hand at flowers.
4. Work.
5. Work.
6. Work.
7. Long walks enjoying this weather.
8. Trips to Pender Pines for plants.
9. Trips to Wilmington for Buffalo Wild Wings (our favorite) and unsuccesfully renting a tux for a wedding.
10. 43 more days of school! 9 weeks. Yay!
11. 5 more weeks till End of Grade tests! Boooo!
12. Lots of flying, studying, and preparing for briefs for Adam. New qualifications coming up.
13. It's bug season again. This time Adam is home. No cups over dead bugs this year. (I can handle nature outside, but I do NOT like nature inside my house.)
14. Maybe I'll download the pictures on both cameras soon since I have many to share.
1. Adam finished his first grad class!
2. I am still in grad school. Three years, two cross country moves, five jobs, one deployment. I will finish this year.
3. Gardening. Beautiful purple Creeping Phlox blooming, next my Hydrangea (I hope!). Leafy lettuce, fragrant herbs. Not everything is in pots yet. I want to figure out a better way to dry and store herbs for the off season. I am currently obsessed with flowers. Vegetables will still be grown this season (duh!), but I'm trying my hand at flowers.
4. Work.
5. Work.
6. Work.
7. Long walks enjoying this weather.
8. Trips to Pender Pines for plants.
9. Trips to Wilmington for Buffalo Wild Wings (our favorite) and unsuccesfully renting a tux for a wedding.
10. 43 more days of school! 9 weeks. Yay!
11. 5 more weeks till End of Grade tests! Boooo!
12. Lots of flying, studying, and preparing for briefs for Adam. New qualifications coming up.
13. It's bug season again. This time Adam is home. No cups over dead bugs this year. (I can handle nature outside, but I do NOT like nature inside my house.)
14. Maybe I'll download the pictures on both cameras soon since I have many to share.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Hands Down, Best Husband EVER.
If I had to rate my husband, out of five stars he'd get six. On a scale of 1 to 10, he's 100. He gets 3 thumbs up. He is just, hands down, the best husband EVER. This has been the most interestin
g, exciting, difficult, surprising, and wonderful four years of my life. I just don't know exactly how to put it all in words, but as I hear the helicopters flying overhead, knowing my husband is flying one of them tonight, pride just fills my heart and makes it all worth 
it. Each day I am reminded of how patient and kind and loving Adam is. When I met him, it was as if my heart had finally found a home. Last year, when he was deployed I felt like a nomad with no home wandering for months just waiting for a place to finally rest my head. And though he is gone at times, I have never doubted for a moment his love for me. I am so blessed that God has given me this man to love me and teach me and show me how much He loves me. Here's to many more!
g, exciting, difficult, surprising, and wonderful four years of my life. I just don't know exactly how to put it all in words, but as I hear the helicopters flying overhead, knowing my husband is flying one of them tonight, pride just fills my heart and makes it all worth 
it. Each day I am reminded of how patient and kind and loving Adam is. When I met him, it was as if my heart had finally found a home. Last year, when he was deployed I felt like a nomad with no home wandering for months just waiting for a place to finally rest my head. And though he is gone at times, I have never doubted for a moment his love for me. I am so blessed that God has given me this man to love me and teach me and show me how much He loves me. Here's to many more!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Has It Really Been Over A Month?
Oh my goodness has the time flown by since my last post. The list has been finished and many, many, many more lists have been made, crossed off, thrown away, or misplaced.
Adam has been plugging away at the squadron, flying, studying, and learning his new job in the S-4 shop. He's also been busy every night working on his first grad class through American Military University. There is nothing planned for the squadron at the present moment, which I know is frustrating for the pilots, but perfectly ok with me for now.
I've been planning and teaching away while also working on one of my last grad school classes. (I just have to finish this year.) Our county just went through district re-accreditation and, of course, Stateside was one of the schools visited. Everyone prepared their rooms, their lessons, and their bulletin boards for the visit. The school was shining and spotless, everyone had put up their student's best work, and we were ready to show off all the awesome things we do at our school on a daily basis anyway. It was wonderful and exhausting, but totally worth it for the shining report the county recieved. You can check it out here: http://www.jdnews.com/news/school-73244-first-achievements.html
Now we are into a cold and rainy March and I am so ready for Spring Break.
Adam has been plugging away at the squadron, flying, studying, and learning his new job in the S-4 shop. He's also been busy every night working on his first grad class through American Military University. There is nothing planned for the squadron at the present moment, which I know is frustrating for the pilots, but perfectly ok with me for now.
I've been planning and teaching away while also working on one of my last grad school classes. (I just have to finish this year.) Our county just went through district re-accreditation and, of course, Stateside was one of the schools visited. Everyone prepared their rooms, their lessons, and their bulletin boards for the visit. The school was shining and spotless, everyone had put up their student's best work, and we were ready to show off all the awesome things we do at our school on a daily basis anyway. It was wonderful and exhausting, but totally worth it for the shining report the county recieved. You can check it out here: http://www.jdnews.com/news/school-73244-first-achievements.html
Now we are into a cold and rainy March and I am so ready for Spring Break.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Lists
I am a list person. I make lists. On any given day you can find lists in my purse, on my desk, on my refrigerator, or in my phone. Lists of things to do, things I want to do, or things to buy at the store. I buy colorful post-its or pretty pads of paper just for my lists. I like being organized and I like to accomplish many things in a day. I like getting up, making a list, and crossing things off of it. 
I like making a list and including things I have already completed just so I can cross it off the list and feel accomplished.
I like making a list and including things I have already completed just so I can cross it off the list and feel accomplished.Today I sat down to make a list. Laundry. Check! (It was already in the washer), lesson plans, blog, bills.....Then, I coded it. I made a star for things that were time sensitive and MUST be done today. I put a mark next to the things Adam could do for me. I circled things that could be done simultaneously. (I LOVE multitasking. I am one of the most efficient people I know.) I felt so accomplished and like a huge nerd. (I pretty sure Adam was thinking what a crazy wife he has.) And I have spent the day completing tasks on my list. I feel pretty good about it. Although, with all the lists I make, I might spend more time making my lists than actually doing the things on them.