Days 8 & 9

Day 8 (Monday)

Henderson, NV to Winchester, CA

268 miles

So, on Monday we left Nevada for California. Had a great time with family and friends while I was there, but it was time to get going. Luckily, that drive is only about 4-4.5 hours...so it went by quick. Our house is still in Escrow, so we aren't able to move in yet, so in the meantime, we are staying with Ryan's sister, Nicole and her husband.

They just bought their house and moved in a month or two ago and are nice enough to let us stay with them, not to mention our traveling zoo. So, we get settled in and hang for the night and get ready for the next day when we are to go check out our house again.

Day 9 (Tuesday)

That day we drove the hour down to San Diego, met up with our realtor and went over to the house. I still love it, so that's good. There is a lot of cleaning and painting to do, which I wish I could just start now. But, we found out they want to close by May 15, so that would be awesome, because that's only about 2 weeks away.

I really can't wait to be in my own house. I love it so much and everytime we visit and have to leave it makes me sad, I just wanna stay there. Hopefully this time goes by fast...

Day 7

So, on Sunday our morning started with heading off to church with the family. Once service was over, we all headed over to McDonald's for lunch. That was yummy as usual, and we went to one that I haven't been to in FOREVER. While at lunch dad asks me what we are gonna do today. We thought about City Center, but as we were leaving, Ryan suggested we all (me, him and Cindi) go get tattoos. I really didn't think Cindi would get one, but after some research for what shop we wanted to go to, we left to go get them.

Cindi was nervous the whole car ride there. But, once we got there, she seemed totally fine. So me and her are first, as Ryan goes back and forth with the camera. I got Picasso's "Dove of Peace" on my left rib cage. Yeah, it hurt. But definitely not as bad as I was expecting it to. Cindi said hers tickled in spots, what a weirdo. Then, when we were finished, it was Ryan's turn. He got a swallow, a traditional Navy tattoo, on his inner right bicep. That hurt him a bit. The guy that tattooed me and Ryan was awesome. His name is TJ and he works at Bad Apple, I definitely recommend him.

So, after all that excitement, we went back to dad's house and hung for a few hours before meeting up with Amber and Kenny. We checked out City Center a little bit. Man, that place is awesome. Then, we went to dinner at a really cool Irish place by the Orleans. It was great to catch up with my oldest friend. Today was definitely a good day.

Day 6

So, we are just hanging out with the family in good ol' Henderson. Today started with a trip to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch...man I love that place. Then me and Ryan decided we didn't pack enough clothes (well, we kinda did...but we get bored easily), so we hit up the Galleria and went shopping. That always makes me happy.

After that it was time to visit an old friend...Mr. Drew Bennett. It has been years since we've actually hung out, so it was great to see him. He had to work all day, so we visited him at Casey's Cameras, which is just an extra bonus.

After that we went back to my dad's house and hung out for a little bit with the family before getting ready for dinner. After we were all ready; me, Cindi (sister) and Ryan went to pick up my brother Chris for dinner at Chapalas, which is a really yummy Mexican restaurant.

After dinner we all headed back to dad's house to watch some crime shows. All in all, it was a great day. Tomorrow (Sunday) more family time and dinner with the bestie, Amber.

Day 5

Rio Rancho, NM to Henderson, NV

564 miles

So today we left my grandparent's house and headed on the road for my dad's house. I was so excited to get today started because I absolutely love Nevada and I have missed it a lot!

We went through so many different types of weather and temperatures today. We were in the high desert, so it looked warm, but it was about 50 degrees most of the way through New Mexico and into Arizona. We haven't done too much sight seeing on this trip, other than in New Mexico, so I thought it would be a good idea to stop at the Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert in Arizona. Turns out it is National Park Week, so it was completely free to get into, which was an added bonus. I believe where we were was about 6,000 feet up, so it was a bit chilly, but definitely worth it to get out of the car and take in the view of the mountains of the Painted Desert.

After that, we had a lot more desert to look forward to. Most of Arizona is pretty boring. Except for Flagstaff...we were in the mountains and it started to snow. Not much though, it was the equivalent of a drizzle. But that was my first time ever driving in snow and it was in Arizona of all places.

Next stop on this leg of the journey was crossing the Hoover Dam. I had no idea there would be so much slow moving traffic. But it took us about 45 minutes to go about 10 or so miles. Kind of annoying, but good for taking pictures. Then finally we were moving again and it was only about 20 minutes to my dad's house. I was so excited when we finally got there that I ran to the door. It is so awesome to be home.

We'll be here for the weekend, then Monday we leave for California.

Day 4

Rio Rancho, NM

Hanging out with my grandparents.

Today started off by going to a really yummy Mexican restaurant. Then we headed of to
Sandia Crest, which is an overlook on a mountain. Rio Rancho sits at about 5,300 feet, and this mountain was a little over 10,600 feet, so we knew it would be cold, we just didn't know how cold. It was 57 when we started out at the bottom, by the time we got to the top it was 26 degrees and snowing. And it was snowing pretty good. The unfortunate thing about the snow was we didn't get to see the awesome view. Ryan did, however, throw a few snowballs at me. It was still pretty cool.

After that, we went to a strange little place call the TinkerTown Museum. It is apparently world famous. It has a bunch of scenes with small dolls and toys and some of them you could animate by pushing a button. My favorite was the circus scene. All of the walls there were made of cement and glass bottles, that was kind of awesome.

So, for dinner we went to Cracker Barrel, which I didn't know existed on the west coast. Then grandpa drove us around to the different properties to look at the farm animals. We saw goats, water buffalo and camels. Two things I never thought I would see in New Mexico: snow and camels.

Tomorrow we are headed to my hometown: Henderson, NV. Sooo excited!

Day 3

Wichita Falls, TX to Rio Rancho, NM

521 miles

Today was the best day, as far as driving goes. The drive through Texas was nice, just a lot of farm land. But I enjoy cows, so that works out for me. Only thing I didn't like was we drove passed a factory farm. All those poor cows were crammed into a tiny bit of space with metal gates surrounding them. It was sad and it smelled bad.

Today was Bitty's worst day though. I would say for the first hour or so all she did was cry and look up at me with sad eyes. She is really hating life in the car. Hopefully this small break will make her feel better.

Another bit of interesting information, as I am listening to the radio in Wichita Falls, I find out there was a shooting rampage that night by a white supremacist. The cops were chasing him down after he shot 5 people, and he ended up killing himself at his house. Yay for Texas.

Things got even better when we got to New Mexico. The temperature immediately went up 10 degrees and we were finally back in the desert. It might be weird to miss such a thing, but I miss the dirt and mountains terribly. New Mexico is a really pretty desert though. Nice red dirt and mesas...not flat and boring like Arizona (that's Friday).

For now, we are hanging out with my grandparents...probably gonna go to a toy museum or something. So nice to have a home cooked meal and a comfy bed. I love grandma's house.

Day 2

Baton Rouge, LA to Wichita Falls, TX

581 miles


So, we got on the road at about 11:30 this morning. Thank goodness today's drive was shorter than yesterday's. I am really beginning to hate being in my car. And Bitty is starting to hate it even more. It's kinda sad and kinda funny. Today she contorted herself on my center console around my shifter. She looked dead.

Today was really nice outside, so at least there was pretty weather to look at. And I my photography-while-driving skills are getting much better. It's probably not the safest thing in the world today and Oprah would probably have a campaign against it...but I enjoy it.

On the drive today we started on our journey through the great country of Texas (not the mocking sarcasm). Things were pretty boring until we got to Dallas. It was your standard big city with a good amount of traffic and for a while there, I wasn't sure if Ryan was gonna be able to keep up with all the swift movements Rosy (my GPS) was having me make. The last hour of our drive to Wichita Falls, however, was a really pretty one. We drove over some small hills, through farm land, during a pretty sunset. It was a nice way to end the drive.

Theeeen, we get to our destination and there are no hotels with queen/king beds available except a really crappy/scary Motel 6. And the only room available is a smoking room. Really can't wait to leave...

Day 1

Yulee, FL to Baton Rouge, LA

624 Miles


Today was a looong day. But, we finally made it. We started around 1pm in Florida and it felt like the day would never end. I had to load my car full with my traveling zoo (cat, bird, turtle, rabbit) and the most unhappy about it was my dear cat Bitty. Poor thing didn't know what to do, she couldn't get comfortable and refused to leave my lap. This is turn caused some swirvy driving at some points, which prompted Ryan to text me to tell me to get off my phone and pay attention. Just the cat...not texting and driving this time.

Turns out there's not much to see on this drive...just a bunch of trees. That's pretty much the entire south: trees. I would say the most exciting thing was in Mississippi when a random rain storm showered upon us for about 15 minutes. That definitely woke me up...and I needed that, I was freaking exhausted today. Luckily we stopped during the storm to grab some 5 hour energy shots. I am skeptical if they work or if it's all in my head, but either way I was definitely awake the rest of the drive.

I did, however, learn that Louisiana has a lot of weird sounding and weirdly spelled names for things like cities, rivers, etc. Like Tchefuncte...I think that's a river. I also learned that my pets aren't very good for conversation.

Well, tomorrow is another day and we are hitting the road for Wichita Falls, TX...

What it means to be a military wife...

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house;
Moving curtains that won't fit;
Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move...
.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS;
Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed;
the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband,
She will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way.

--Author Unknown

My friends...

So today is St. Patrick's Day and me and some lovely lady friends of mine (Shelly and Michelle) decided to grab some lunch at Olive Garden (yum!). Filled with laughs, joy and conversation, today filled me with happiness. Which brings me to my point: Of the few that I do have, I have great friends. Being a military wife, you run into a lot of different people, with all kinds of backgrounds, personality disorders and varying opinions about the world. So, it's inevitable that you will run into some bad eggs.

I've definitely met my fair share of people that I wish never crossed my path. I realized a long time ago not to put up with people that aren't worth my time, since my life never allows for me to stay in one place for very long, it's important to me to spend that time with people who are worth it. It makes me appreciate the friendships I do have and makes me that much more sad that soon I will have to leave some very special people in my life. Just wanted to give a shout out to the people who make this lifestyle more bearable and bring joy to my life every day. Love you ladies.

I'm so awesome.

From the archives of my boredom, I bring to you this genius video...

Shopping and Chipotle, what could be better?

So, I have been married to my husband almost 5 years, and he has been on a submarine for the same amount of time and yet, somehow, he has managed to never take me to the Sub Ball!! He said he thought I wouldn't want to go. I wouldn't want to go to a ball?! Every girl wants to go to a ball.

So after 4.5 years he is finally taking me to the ball!! And lucky me, because it's the last one we will have a chance to go to!

That means I get to go dress shopping, and that's exactly what me and my lovely friends Trisha and Stephanie are doing today. And after our dress workout, we will be heading to Chipotle to recoup some of those calories. Yum!

Can't wait to be dancing the night away with my sailor!

False Advertising.

Okay, so I watch a lot of TV...it's pretty much all I do. That's what unemployment will do to you.

Anywho, while I sit here, getting dumber by the minute, I find myself very annoyed with mascara commercials. Why? Well, you know those eye lashes aren't real. No mascara does that! That's false advertising...pretty sure that's not allowed...well I don't think it should be allowed anyway.

So I decided to write a blog...

Yup. I'm that bored.

Currently my bird Corky is screaming in my ear and my cat is napping. I know, what a thrill. This is pretty much the excitement of my life, day in and day out. My husband in currently deployed and I am unemployed, so that leaves me with a lot of spare time. Apparently I am not suited for employment...or this economy is so crappy that there are literally no jobs available for me. I personally think I am too cool for work.

However, I do have a fun project I am working on. My friend Shelly is out of town and I am cat sitting for her. Funny thing about that is, my cat hates other cats, so I am forcing them to coexist in hopes my cat will begin to accept her own species.

It's not going well.

My cat, Bitty, just growls and hisses any time Shelly's cat, Minnie, is within viewing distance. It's sort of funny. I'm on day 2 and zero progress has been made. They just sleep in separate rooms and occasionally come out to hiss at each other. I find it amusing.




So that was Minnie, she is adorable. Maybe I will get a video of them interacting (if you can call it that), that is way more funny.

Well...that wasn't so bad. Until next time America...