Oh Hello, Murphy

This past weekend we had our hottest weekend of the year so far, with temps in the low- to mid-90's outside.  Saturday we actually got all the way up to 95 degrees, and it's still May!  I'm starting to dread what the rest of the summer will bring considering July and August are the hottest months.  Thankfully I'm working on building up my supply of dresses and skirts so I have cooler options to wear :)

So of course since it's been a scorcher out, Murphy decided to visit and my air conditioner died on me Saturday in the middle of the afternoon, at the very beginning of what should have been an enjoyable three-day weekend.  The day started off nicely, with an early wake up phone call from my husband, followed by a nice morning of running errands around town before the stores became too busy, and then an early afternoon visit to the movies.  It was shortly after getting home that I noticed it getting warmer and saw that the temperature and humidity level were both rising inside.

I immediately changed out my air filter, hoping that would fix the problem, even though it wasn't very full.  When that didn't resolve the issue, I was left to sit in my 86 degree apartment and continue to roast with nothing but fans running.  One of the great things about still renting is the fact that I didn't have to worry about the cost to get someone out to fix my system.  I was just afraid I'd have to sit in the hot box of an apartment for the entire rest of the three-day weekend, figuring maintenance wouldn't bother coming out until today at the earliest because of the holiday.

Thankfully, I received a phone call from my management company Sunday afternoon in response to my emergency maintenance request call I placed Saturday night, letting me know they had already contacted their HVAC guys and they would be out sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning.  I was beyond elated when they actually showed late Sunday afternoon, and were able to get my system fixed right up.  By the time I went to bed Sunday night, my house was back down to its usual 72/73 degrees and I was able to comfortably cozy up with my pups in bed.

Bon Voyage!

I am now officially authorized to travel outside of the country!

I have been outside of the U.S. just once before, during a Spring Break trip in college when we visited Niagara Falls and drove over to the Canadian side of the falls and explored the surrounding city a little, back before they required a passport and you could simply enter and leave Canada with just a U.S. driver's license.  But I've never been anywhere else.

Given the fact that my husband and I both love to visit and explore new places and have a desire to see as much of the world as we possibly can, I figured this was as good of a time as any to apply for my very first passport.  And I was beyond shocked when it arrived in the mail today, just two weeks after I submitted my application.  My picture makes me look like I had spent quite a bit of time in a tanning bed before it was taken, but otherwise I love it and cannot wait until I get to use it for the first time!

10 Years

Ten years ago today, I graduated from high school.

It is just so crazy to think that it has been that long!

I don't know that I'm where I thought I'd be at this point, but overall my life over the past ten years has been pretty good.  My high school experience was a fairly good one, where my 700-person graduating class largely got along with each other pretty well and I had a close group of friends I had known for practically forever, however life has become increasingly better with each year that has passed since that time.  I had a great time in college where I met some good, new friends, had fun at tailgates and football games, and received a quality education that led me to receive degrees in marketing and advertising.  I've learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of.  I've learned a lot about others and better know who I can count on and trust and who I cannot.  And lastly, I met the love of my life and married my best friend.

It certainly hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows the entire time by any means, however the journey, through all of its ups and downs, has turned me into the person I am today.  I am grateful for the experiences I have had -- enjoyed the good and learned from the bad, and am excited to see what the next ten years will bring my way.

Special Delivery

My day was made yesterday as soon as I pulled into my driveway after work to find a package sitting outside of my door.  I actually squealed when I saw it (and my husband laughed at me on the phone last night when I mentioned the fact that I squealed).  Now, I have been very lucky that my husband has made sure to call or Skype me or send me a quick Facebook message all but one days he's been gone on this deployment thus far.  While it has been hard with him gone, the communication has made this whole thing a million times easier than it could be.  Even if it is just for a few minutes, just getting to hear his voice and having the ability to talk with him, laugh with him, or even cry to him is amazing!  However, there was just something extra special about receiving a package from him.  I think it kind of brings back memories of receiving letters from him while he was in basic, just knowing that I was receiving something that he had just touched.  It just kind of adds a little personal connection to make the distance seem like it isn't as much.

I had mentioned previously that I already knew I had something heading my way full of items hubby has purchased -- I just didn't think it would take nearly as long to receive it as it did.  All of the care packages I've sent out so far have each taken just 6 days to reach my husband, so I was a little surprised when the 6-10 day delivery window they had told my husband for the priority mailing shipment turned into 13 days (he started getting really nervous when last Friday came & went and it hadn't been delivered).  But it's okay because I still received it :)

The box more or less exploded open when I cut the packing tape, as hubby stuffed so many items inside of it.  And he actually ended up using the box that I used for sending him his first care package.  I was pretty impressed with the condition of the box having made it half-way across the world and back!

He got some traditional outfits for his 5- & 7-year old little sisters, a jewelry box for me, and some cross pendents for his aunts.

Hubby asked me if I wanted him to purchase me any traditional clothing, but I told him that I would rather he just get me things I would actually use or wear on a more regular basis, or nice decorations for the home.  So he's been busy purchasing accessories for me and in this box he included some jewelry & cashmere scarves :)

Blue Fire Opal earrings & necklace

Also included was an outfit that he bought for himself that he said will be useful when doing training exercises in the future, and a copy of GQ magazine that he picked up there because it has Mila Kunis on the cover and we have a thing going between us about how we both think she's hot.

Playing Hooky

Yesterday I got to play hooky from work, and it was completely endorsed by my boss!  Earlier in the week our custodial staff came into our office and decided that within the week they should come in and clean our carpets.  Since they insisted on beginning the work about an hour or two after we begin work in the morning and said it would take several hours to shampoo the carpet & for it to dry, our department head said we could simply take the entire day off.  And because we were being kicked out of our office at someone else's request, the four of us who work in there got to take the day without using leave time!

My attempt to sleep in was once again foiled by my dogs, as it usually already is each weekend with the two corgis jumping on me in bed around 6:30am.  However I did get a nice wake-up surprise in the form of a sweet message from my husband.

I used my free morning productively and got my grocery shopping for the week done, which included hitting up a sale event at Kroger where they are donating money to the USO for purchasing participating sales items.  I then met up with some of my old co-workers for lunch to catch-up with each other and hear how the bad things that bothered me when I left the department last year still haven't changed, followed by a relaxing afternoon & evening of reading and watching some good girly TV.  I finished up the second book in The Hunger Games series, Catching Fire, and I'm all sorts of excited to jump into book three to see how it all ends!  All in all, it was a pretty good day off.

On a side note, I do believe that after taking the time the last several days to process my feelings that I am actually feeling better.  My husband even noticed a difference when he called me last night, saying that I sound happier, which I know made him happier.  I just do not want to dwell on those feelings of mine any longer, as I feel like they're holding me back in life.  I hope that after this week I'm better able to move forward and focus on me & my husband, and our future.

Still Alive

Welcome to all of my new followers!  I really enjoyed Friday's blog hop and getting to "meet" new people and find some new reads.  My budding carpal tunnel wasn't too happy with all of the time I spent typing away and browsing pages on my computer, but thankfully it subsided after a weekend of rest.

I've had a bit of an emotional last several days with some personal issues/demons of mine and am currently working on processing some of my feelings, so hopefully I can begin to feel better and get back to a happier place.

On a (somewhat) happier note, I have decided to end this "I'm still alive after the blog hop" post with a picture of my babies.

This was taken the day my husband left on this deployment.  He was busy checking out of the barracks he was staying in for his TDY at Ft. Bragg, while the dogs and I waited patiently outside.  Saki and Kiba just kept staring at the door as people walked in and out, waiting to see their daddy come back out of the building.  They are both noticeably much happier when they have both of their parents together.