Day 13: Friday, May 27th, 2011; Pizza night/girls night!

Today was the first pizza night with Alicia and Joleen without the men folk being involved so of course it also became girls night as well. It was soooo awesome lol

We had so much fun with each other and with Kora! We had pizza at Joleens like usual and were sitting around chatting and watching cars with Kora when we got the idea that ice cream was needed! Lol well guess what... we went down the road to Culvers then! Lol that was a blast! Kora was sooo frickin entertaining! Her new thing that she picked up there: "holy hannah, Mel!" Lol so cute and funny and she just kep repeating it and repeating it! Lol we also had a blast discussing photo sessions that were gonna do and all our crazy ideas for them and all the different location options for them! We're gonna keep busy and entertained with them!! Lol

After culvers we went back to Joleens and hung out and talked more about random fun stuff and was entertained more by Kora! It was such a good time and much deserved and needed even though tomorrow will be a very good day cuz my baby comes home for a few days!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!! =D

But these pizza/girls nights will have to happen often ladies!!!!! It will be something soooo much fun to look forward to and will definitely help the next year or so to fly by much faster! :)

My picture.. lol is me sitting at the railroad tracks not far from my house on the way to Joleens waiting for the train to go by... lol

Day 11 & 12: Wednesday & Thursday, May 25th & 26th, 2011; wives complaining.

So, again I missed my Posting yesterday lol go figure so I'm doubling it today to make up lol

Yesterday was good getting to go out with the military ladies in New Ulm. It was again very good to get to go out with them. Good to learn new details about the deployment and also meet new people who are involved with soldiers and who are going through the same things. It was a late night but very good.

Today was good... wrok though was something different though... while at work (McDonalds) we ended being really busy at one point and I was sent back to help roll buritos... and while back there I was able to hear the conversation that two ladies were having with each other and the conversation was about both of them complaining about ones husband and ones fiance either not helping out with chores at home or that they're men do chores but then complain about needing praise or wanting to be thanked for what they have done at home...

Now here's the thoughts that I ended up having after hearing all this coming from them... I was like seriously... maybe you guys should quit your complaining about your men and what they do or don't do or what they think they need to hear after the chores they do.. cuz guess what.. there's one of us here who would be grateful to just have her hubby home to let out with things at home or to complain about things we do or don't do. Now I know garret and I don't always see eye to eye or we fight or disagree on who should do what and when. And we've definitely complained about each not doing what the other wanted. But at this time that these two were complaining all I could think of was you two should be thankful that you get to be with your men and you get have each other around to do stuff together cuz I would love to have my baby home just to be with and do household chores and such together. I really wanted to blurt it out to them but kept it to myself... sorry if those two read this and don't like what I say. But its my blog and my opinion... some people won't ever know what its like to lose your love for a year and then learn to cherish all the little things and learn that some of the stupid complaining doesn't ever matter anymore compared to not even having them around... oh well..

Day 10: Tuesday, May 24th, 2011;

So today was the second day of my goal to workout. Like I said this was day 2... it was great! I don't lnow if I'm working out long enough or doing the right sort of thing... see I really don't like my weight and I know that my guys are gonna get the chance, even if not on purpose, to lose weight/workout and shape up. So I want to do the same while they're gone. I don't want them to come back looking great and here I've been lazy and not done anything and they all look good and I still don't look that great.

But I got to do cardio boxing today which was so much fun! I really enjoyed it! I hope that I can figure good food out and drink lots more water daily and definately keep working out daily and shed some pounds and inches for myself and for my hubby even though he doesn't care and loves me the way I am.

So.. we'll see... hope I can do it... motivation to continue every day from somewhere would be great. My picture from today is just from after doing my workout lol

Day 9: Monday, May 23rd, 2011;

I really enjoyed my day off today. Didn't have to work at either job all day! Yay!

So, I got to do some errands. Went to St. Peter and got my wedding ring back!!! Yay!! Took it in over a week ago to get sauttered(sp) together. Was very glad to get it back! Feels better to have it back on! :)

I also went to Mankato and did a few errands. On my way to Kato, my mp3 player came upon one of the most wonderful songs I have found in the last few days: "End of May" by Michael Buble.
Here are the lyrics: (you have to read them)

Golden haze,
Another morning feels like yesterday.
End of may..
Now you’re gone and there’s still bills to pay.
And you know it doesn’t help to make believe, you’re sitting next to me.
It doesn’t help, to make believe that you are right behind me
Saying it’s okay.
Longer days,
More time to sit and watch the pendulum sway.
In quiet rage I’m staring at this empty notebook page.
In times like these you feel like you are done with feeling,
You feel you want to stop the pain from healing
Because you feel like you’re the only one who’s ever felt this way.
Some days in a daze, there’s brighter days.
Funny how the feeling never stays,
But I know I’ll have to come to terms when I’m awake,
Thinking about you is the icing on the cake.
Makes me realize the fact you’re gone for good for goodness sake.
http://www.hotnewsonglyrics.com/michael-buble-end-of-may-lyrics.html
Golden haze, another morning feels like yesterday.
End of may, a year is gone and I still feel this way,
When we meet again I’ll ask you how you’re doing
And you’ll say fine and ask me how I’m doing
And then I’ll lie and I’ll say ordinary, It’s just an ordinary day.

Here also is the link to the Youtube page where you can watch and listen to the song! Please do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY78PQOrQW0


I found this song a few days ago.. I don't remember how I came upon it, but as soon as I started listening to it, it was amazing! This song is almost perfectly describing what is going on with us military families lately! Now one thing, this song is actually a break up song. So in some spots and some of the words sound a little more obvious to it being a break up song, but if you listen to it with the thought in mind of us losing our loved ones for a year it's soooo touching as a farewell military song! The title is absolutely perfect! Since it's the end of May and this is when they're leaving us.

Idk... I love it.. and it's gonna be my song for the next year! Maybe it'll be touching to someone else too. The song didn't make me cry as I listened to it about 10 times on the way to Kato.. but just made me contemplative about the whole thing... Wasn't even sad about it... which is weird for me... May be that today was good and it was beautiful out... or that a week has past since the guys left... or that it's less than a week before they come back and I get to see them for a few days again... Idk.. either way it was still weird that I was ok with listening to the song and being ok with everything for a little while.

Either way.. glad to be ok for one day... instead of depressed.. though I will admit, was a little depressed when I got home and wanted to do something outside since it was so gorgeous out and couldn't think of anything to do.. and no one to do anything outside with...

But anyway.. my picture to day is me in the car after I got my ring back! haha

Day 8: Sunday, May 22nd, 2011;

Omg! Guess what... I've finally caught up with myself!!! AH! I'm actually writing on a day that is actually happening!! :)

Today I had to work a few hours at Sears. Was kind of uneventful. Helped a new girl learn the ropes a little, and only shot one photo session today... By the way, random thought, one of the worst things about Sears... Not being able to get to take the photos that I take at that place and be able to bring them home and use them myself in my own portfolio! Ugh!! I take soooo many pictures that every now and then and there are many of them that I love! And I would absolutely enjoy getting to share them online and let people see what I have done since I graduated and that I can actually do some photography... UGH! Another topic for another day maybe... photography... and not having a job where I want to be... UGH!

Anyway... today was uneventful after work... came home and tried to fix my car window by myself... that failed... didn't succeed at all... bummer... now I need someone to help me fix it... grrrr.... darn Tires Plus....

Then I cleaned out Tanner's kennel... since he has issues with making a mess in it quite often when he is left alone.. which is another hard part of Garret and Tom being gone.. There's no one home ever now to leave Tanner with.. now he always has to go in his kennel and be alone for hours while I'm gone to work and whatever. Now I know he's a dog.. but he's got feelings too... trust me! I can see it in him! I know he's a brat and needs to learn to be alone often while I'm gone... but I feel bad leaving my buddy home alone without either of his buddy's Tom or Garret. But I guess both he and I will have to get used to it... hopefully he learns...

After I cleaned the kennel, I headed back inside and did all the dishes.. which was long over due lol because last week Garret and I didn't do many things cleaning related because we had many other things to do for him and when we had down time we did fun things and things together instead. But the dishes are clean now and just have to be put away!

So, I accomplished 2 tasks that I told myself I had to do today and then did another one on top of that! Great feeling! Guess onto tomorrow and the hope to do a few more tasks that I need to do before Garret comes back from AT... And get my ring back! :)

Today's picture.. I just took it outside when I took Tanner to the bathroom. lol Tanner looks funny I know but that's because he HATES cameras! LOL

Day 7: Saturday, May 21st, 2011;

Yesterday; I had to work for quite a few hours at Sears. Was ok... Except that I ended up on a 2 hour lunch break and then had to go back to work for like an hour roughly and I ended up not even doing anything there for that last hour... ugh..

Then I was told that I had to work on Sunday too... UGH! Which made me very upset... for many reasons... One: I really wanted to be able to go home for the weekend and hang out with friends and go to Donny's b-day party and D's farewell party... but it was too much gas to spend to just go down for one night and come back in less than 24 hours... So, that made me upset that all I wanted to do was go home and not be alone, get to be with some of my closest friends and hang out... instead I had to work for only a few hours and not get be with friends and just had to be home alone (though yes, Tanner was home with me, but it's not always the same to have a single, non-speaking dog, at home. You need someone to talk to or just be around some times.)

Also what made me upset about it was the fact that I got my hopes up for not having to work and the possibility to get to go home... but that's what happens when you have to be on call. Being on call sucks!!! It means never knowing if you have to work or not. You might have to work but maybe you don't have to. It also means not getting to set actual plans with anyone because you have to say. Well I'm on call, so I might be able to do that with you or maybe I can't. It would just be nice to say I have to work that time. Can we do it after I get off work or let's try it another day when I don't work. Sigh...

Anyway... that's all... So my picture for Saturday is me sitting outside at the pic nic table after getting home from work, disappointed that I can't go home...

Day 6: Friday, May 20th, 2011;

I unfortunately had to work the Friday morning at McDonalds but only for a few hours and then I got off work and brought breakfast home to Laura (who was still at my house cuz she had spent the night) lol and we watched two movies before she had to head out.

It was great to have her there for a while! It was really sad and depressing to have to see her go. Of course I know that she couldn't stay forever cuz she doesn't live with me; but it was just nice to have someone else around hanging out downstairs with me for a while. I know we'll have to do again and will do it often as we can!

It was just more sad because I ended up having to go into work at Sears, which was really upsetting because after Laura left all I wanted to was go home with her and go ride and hanging out with her and whoever else! Oh well... Finally got myself to do some things and then met Abby in Kato and helped her pick out some decor for her birthday party! lol

Well my picture today is just of me on the couch and of what I am wearing... Since it's Friday there's something specific that I wear on Friday's for a certain reason... My "Support our troops; Red Friday's" gear! I got a new Red Friday's sweatshirt while I was in St. James at the deployment ceremony so that's what I was wearing this Friday! :)

Please if you have anything red, wear it on Friday's! I got 3 specific soldiers leaving (and many more that I know and care about) that will be gone for a year or more!! Please make it ""Red Friday's till they all come home! " This is important to all of us who are missing our soldiers and hoping with all our hearts they make it home safe to us!!!! Thank you!!!

 

Day 5: Thursday, May 19th, 2011;

Thursday, after I got off work, guess who I got to hang out with; Laura!!!! Haha Laura decided to come up to Kato on Thursday to hang out with me! We went to the mall and had lunch and did a small bit of shopping there and at Walmart! By mistake we found Laura a new awesome shirt that she just had to have at Maurices! haha

Then we went back to my place to hang out for the evening and night! It was a good time. We played Guitar Hero for hours! LOL till our eyes got tired and sore and our tummies were hungry! LOL It was fun because I hadn't gotten to play Guitar Hero for that long in a very long time or even since I had gotten my own game! And I hadn't gotten to play with Laura in ages! :)

Then we made supper together and watched TV and movies for the rest of the night! We may not have talked a whole lot. But we chatted and it wasn't about HAVING to talk constantly but just having someone else there to be around you while you were at home.

My picture is of me in the mirror at Maurice's while Laura was trying on her shirt that she ended up just having to have. lol

Day 4: Wednesday, May 18th, 2011;

So... Since I'm behind on my postings for each day (and I'm really trying to catch myself up so that I can post more actual thoughts behind each day as it goes) I really don't fully remember what happened or any real thoughts for this day.

I know the one thing that I did, which is what my picture is all about, was watch the season finale of NCIS (which reminds me that I haven't watched the season finale of NCIS: LA) because since I was out with the military ladies on Tuesday night I didn't get to watch NCIS on TV. So, I was catching myself up on what I had missed the night before :)

Sorry this post is short! lol I'll catch up with myself soon here and be up to date and the posts will be more interesting. Sorry they're not much to read!

Day 3: Tuesday, May 17th, 2011;

Today I had to work in the morning and for some strange reason it was nice to be there (which by the way is way weird for me because I don't like working at McDonald's) but I think it was nice just because it was somewhere else besides having to be at home with no one else there.

I was also looking forward to this evening because Kate (my other housemate who lives upstairs at my place) had arranged for a bunch of military wives and girlfriends to get together out at Westwood Bar and Grill for supper and a small get together since all our men were gone.

This was great! I really enjoyed getting to be out by the lake (even though it was really cold and windy lol) and getting to chat with ladies who were going through the same thing I was. Made me feel less alone. :) It was wonderful to know I wasn't the only one feeling lonely and sad. There were many other ladies going through and feeling the same as I did, even if it seems like I was the only one or that everyone else seems to appear to be stronger than I am.

I can't wait till Wednesday when we get to do this again! :) Great for all of us!

My picture for today is just silly. LOL all it is is me in my bed before going to sleep. Wearing my hubby's Gulf Company sweatshirt! HAHA basically had to take a picture before forgetting for the day!

Day 2: Monday, May 16th, 2011;

Monday was the first day by myself at home. Though I guess I wasn't solely alone cuz I have Tanner at home with me. Monday was pretty lonely especially after the really sad, lonely and depressing evening on Sunday after coming back after the boys left. (And for those of you who don't know, when I say "the boys" I'm talking about my hubby Garret, our roommate Tom Grev, and our housemate Chris Wilson)

On Monday I was able to solve one of the problems that I had found out about on Sunday evening; got a new tire for my very worn tire on my car. Tanner and I went into town just to do two errands and we ended up in kato for like three hours, two if which were spent at the tire shop lol crazy long day but at least we solved that problem on our own and Tanner got to be with me.

Monday's picture is just me showing off my silly sunburn that I received while being outside all day on Sunday hanging with the soldiers! :)

Day 1: Sunday, May 15th, 2011; Leaving for AT

Sunday was the day that all the guardsmen headed to St James to pack their stuff on the convoy for two weeks of annual training up at Camp Riply. It was also the day that St James was hosting the deployment ceremony for all the deploying soldiers.

This is ceremony was very nice to go to because it was something I had never been to or seen before. Even though it was the beginning event to a very emotional day it was an event and memory that I would have regretted if I hadn't gone to. I was glad I went.

It was so cool to see all the support that our awesome soldiers have and that all us families have such a great backing behind us during these trying times.

It was also cool to see all the families and then watch the convoy take off and leave town. Very cool and emotional.

The picture I have of me for that day is the picture I got of me and Garret together while a group of us sat around in front of the armory waiting for the bus and everyone to get on and go.

Starting out

So this blog was a suggestion from my friend Chelsey Koopman who is also an Army Wife with a deployed husband. She said she was gonna start one to have some place to put her thoughts out there during the deployment her husband is on and I totally liked the idea!

I decided I wanted to do the same sort of thing with a little added twist! But as a small disclaimer, same as Chelsey, I'm using this to put out whats in my head and it may not come out sounding grammatically correct or whatever but it's me venting to a computer screen or phone screen and giving myself someone to "talk to" when I don't have anyone else to talk to.


Here's my twist to this blog. I hope to post every day... or try to post maybe a few times in one day if I miss a few days or whatever... but I have so far taken a silly or interesting photo of my self either on my phone or on my camera and I hope to post about each day as it comes and add a picture to that post.

The, picture every day, thing was kind of an idea to show off to my hubby, Garret, what I was kind of doing everyday and if he ever or often sees this blog he can keep up with my venting as if he's still here with me! :) hehe This way he can also avoid any of my venting too like he never heard it lol

So, combined with my picture a day idea and Chelsey's suggestion to do a blog to keep busy and use it to just talk somewhere, this is what I've come up with!

Remember, I might not post every day. But I hope to take a picture of myself doing something or something of some sort and then post about every day as it goes through out this deployment... So, here's the start. Hopefully tomorrow I will catch you all up with the past few days and it's pictures for each day!

Hope you enjoy reading and comment and follow along as I start this new journey!
Thanks
Melissa