Whoops

Wow. I really haven't posted anything in a like a week! Can you say slacker?

I haven't been particularly busy. Just hung out with the hubs all weekend. Grocery shopped yesterday since it was Monday. Today has been slightly more eventful.

Tuesday means Crud. I went to crud practice and tried to work on my crud ineptitude skills. There were only four of us today, rather than the usual 6 or 7. We were far outnumbered by screaming little kids- 6 under the age of, oh, 6. All running around, screaming, demanding snacks, biting and playing Kitty Rescue Center. They are a hoot! However, that was not the high point of the practice. Oh no, I was the high point of morning when I about BUSTED MY FACE OPEN on the side of the table (which is basically a big billiards table) ! Yes, folks, that's right. I, once more, ended up face down on the floor due to my own natural "grace". Here's what happened: I grabbed the white ball from side of the table and was trying to run to the end of the table. I attempted to run around my friend Jaime when I lost my footing. My chin/lowerjaw collided with the corner of wood right next to the corned pocket. I ended up crumpled up on the floor, face in my hands. My eyes watered by I actually didn't cry, big surprise there. There was a slight metallic taste in my mouth. I was about to freak out, not because I smashed my face into an oversized pool table, but because I thought I had knocked my bottom loose if not a few completely out of place! If you didn't know, I have nightmare about my teeth falling out. Thankfully, my teeth are still completely in place and completely stuck in my jaw. We actually played another game after. I even went to lunch with with them afterward and made friends with a few of the little boys. They are so cute!

Rest of Tuesday? Cleaned the entire bathroom including scrubbing the litter box- big fun! Now, I'm working on laundry, listening to Michael Buble- lovin' it! Making Spicy Mango Chicken and roasted veggies for dinner. And you can bet when he gets home, Gerrit will be kissin' my boo boo to make it all better!   : )

One of *Those* Days

I'm having one of those days where I just feel altogether discouraged.

If there is something I want to happened or have been working to achieve, it just feels like its going in the complete opposite direction. You know what I mean? One example: finding employment. I just don't know what I am supposed to do. I have applied for jobs that I believe I am more than capable of doing and that I think I could stand for any period of time. I will not work at a job where I am going to hate every minute and not want to do the best I could possibly do. So far, the total number of jobs possibilities I have heard anything back from- ZERO. Well, that not including the confirmation I got from DODEA saying that they got my application. Doesn't anyone even finding me deserving of a stinkin' interview?!?!?

At this point, all I can do is pray about each of these situations in my life. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what God has planned for me here in England. I have never had a whole heap of patience but I am trying wholeheartedly to improve this. I'm trying to trust God with these situations and not question His plans and His time line for these things in my life. Sometimes, I wish He'd just be a little bit more direct- I don't do subtle very well but I don't thing He is very big into stating the obvious. If only there I can figure out a way to meet somewhere in the middle...

It's just been a rough morning...

Tuesday

Today, I played Crud* for the very first time at my very first crud practice. What is crud????  This is crud. There is a tournament coming up at the end of September and I decided to jump in on the fun. Evedentally, this is a big AF thing. Some people are easy going and some people... are hardcore... even at practice. Lots frantic scrabbling around a large billiards table. Hip checks. Flying elbows. Tons of laughter.

Usually not a mean spirited person, it took two hours before I braved hip checking anyone, not wanting to offend any of my new friends. Rather, they were encouraging the violence and told me I stop being so nice or I was to get pummeled at the tournament. On my second hip check, my opponent moved unexpectedly, graceful me toppled to the ground, trying to cling to the table and still make a shot before the ball was dead- sadly, I failed at the shot but succeeded in making everyone laugh and share more hip checking stories!

Next practice: Thursday morning. I must remember my game face and leave my nicer, friendlier self at home and bring uber-competitive, playground-bullies-couldn't-make-me-flinch Lindsay out of the closet.

The rest of Tuesday? 4 loads of laundry (how does my husband generate that much laundry in a single week?? There are only two of us!!!) including a load of blue, skyping, enjoying my Be Thankful candle from *Yankee Candle (ridiculously scrumptious smelling), and enjoying yet another great book.

Monday

It was a good weekend at the Steenbergens. Cambridge Saturday afternoon and two birthday shindigs that evening. Got my fill of sushi and walking that day! And Sunday, we relaxed around the house, went the gym, cleaned house and watched Monsters vs Aliens, which by the way, was HILARIOUS! Loved it!

Now it is Monday and it's back to skewed sleep schedules, running errands, cooking dinner, and cooler weather, once more. I am finding that I like cooler weather much more than warm when your house does not have AC. I think I might have actually cheered when I saw rainy 60s weather in the forecast for this week.

(As I type, I'm watching George try to shove himself through the mail slot...)

Today, I must squeeze in grocery shopping, working out, and showering around going to a doctors appointment, that hopefully, they didn't change without notifying me.They have Gerrit's number on record and called his phone on Thursday evening . It was an automated call with number prompts, and he didn't answer it before it went to voice mail. Hopefully, they were calling to confirm the appt and not to change or cancel it, considering I have been trying to make an appt for weeks!

However, I am ridiculously excited to be making a big ole pot of chili tonight! It's is wet and rainy and cold enough for Gerrit to wear a jacket so it is perfect first chili of the Fall weather  : )

Did you know that I....

Did you know that I...

..meow? Seriously, I absentmindedly meow when I'm happy.

..absolutely loathe opossums? I saw a commercial with one in it the other day and I seriously winced and almost fell on the treadmill. Not joking one bit here.

.. hate the act of traveling because it causes my stress level to skyrocket, to the point of making me physically ill and sometimes have panic attacks? Don't get me wrong, I love to see other places and explore. It's the getting there that bothers me- like the airports, flying, driving around on unfamiliar roads. *Shudders thinking about it*

..love breakfast? Big breakfasts with toast, bacon, waffles, pancakes, sausage, hashbrowns, biscuits, cereal, oatmeal, fresh fruit, and eggs. LOVE IT ALL. I could possibly eat a HUGE breakfast every single morning and never get tired of it. I could probably eat it twice a day. I'm pretty sure I did that on Tuesday.  :D

..have never ever in my life moved until I moved from Kentucky to England? I moved across the hall, once, when I was 3 or 4, to a bigger bedroom... does that count??? I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

.. was born and raised in the state famous for horses and the Kentucky Derby but have NEVER ridden one? I've always wanted to. I always thought my parents would say know to horseback riding lessons.

..can only ever remember eating at Waffle House twice in my life? Both were in college, and both were with the hubs while we were dating.

..have OCD and have some sort of routine/ritual for everything I do? I have one for getting ready for the gym, leaving the house in general, showering/getting dressed, just to name a few. Each one involves to certain things in an exact- or almost exact- order every single time.

.. am afraid aforementioned OCD will take over my life in my later years?

..made myself cry the other night when I had the random thought that if any of my babies are allergic to cats, I will have to find a new home for George? Yep, definitely did. Gerrit was in bed, and I was on the couch reading a book when it hit me. AND I did it again last night telling Gerrit that I did it the night before.

Homesickness

So I've been really homesick the last two or three weeks- to the point of dreaming (multiple nights in a row) about being back in Kentucky at the my parent's house. I haven't talked to any of my friends in Ky in weeks. I think I've skyped with my mom shortly, maybe once or twice. It's just hard to be here without my support system. I never realized how wealthy I was- was in the sense of when I lived in Kentucky. Two wonderful parents who are not only that, but are also friends as well. Three of the bestest friends a girl possibly ask for- have I ever mentioned I met them in elementary school??? A whole gaggle of good friends from high school, church, college. On almost any given day of the week, I had some sort of date or event with one or more of the wonderful people. If I didn't, they were only a phone call away, sometimes even closer than that, if I needed anything. A hug, a listening ear, advice, a laugh, a little extra strength. Someone to go shopping or run errands with.. To go to lunch, dinner, or the movies with. To make peanut butter pie or puppy chow with. To play volleyball or walk around the park with. Here in England, I feel rather poor. I have no extremely good girl friends with whom I have bonded- just a bunch of acquaintances, people with whom I can go grab lunch and sit there talking, getting to know each other. No best friends who know me and love me exactly as I am, whom I could depend on to be there ASAP if I called and need them. Yes, I have my wonderful husband but who is also my best friend. But alas, he is only one man.

I am not only homesick for Kentucky- I am heartsick for those dear, wonderful people I had to leave behind.

Stream of Consciousness

I have lacked both motivation and topics to blog about since the last. I'm still struggling with sleepiness and being exhausted. Last time I had something like this happen was due to lack of iron because I wasn't eating meat at the time. But I don't think that is the issue this time. I eat meat on a regular basis- it's kind of hard not to when your husband won't live on chick food. Definition of chick food: fruit, yogurt, veggies, cereal, more veggies, salad, etc. It is definitely not a lack of exercise 'cause I get plenty of that. I should be overloaded with endorphins with as much time as I put in at the gym. I sleep pretty much through the night with the exception of when Gerrit's alarm goes off. But I almost never have a hard time getting back to sleep. There is still plenty of sunshine most days so I don't think its lack of Vit D.... It's rather frustrating.... Rather like the job situation. It drives me crazy that employers give the excuse that you do not have enough experience. Well how the heck am I supposed to get hired if no one will give me experience? Does my college degree and background not at least give you some idea of my work ethic, motivation, and IQ- that I just may be able to excel in a job for which I have no experience? That I am smart enough and determined enough to learn the job and do it to the best of my ability? Would it not motivate me to work harder to show that I am capable of doing said job equally as well as anyone who has experience just to prove that experience isn't always a necessary requirement for some jobs? Everyone has to start somewhere. If employers won't give me the chance to start, how am I supposed to find a job??

Sleep? Yes Please

Seriously- what has happened to my energy?

Most mornings I am fighting to get myself out of bed.
When I run, I'm struggling more than I had been just to make my mile and a half let alone any further than that.
Lifting weights, I find myself either dizzy or lightheaded or yawning and leaning against the machine with my eyes closed for a mini nap.
Once home from the gym, I've next to no energy to shower and really just feel like curling up with a big blanket and going to sleep on the couch.
After dinner, I pretty much die on the couch again, no energy left whatsoever until its an appropriate time to crawl in bed.

Why am I so sleepy and exhausted ALL THE TIME???

One Year Anniversary!

So I didn't actually post on Saturday because it was chock full o' wonderfulness with my dear husband because it was our One Year Anniversary! Surprise to all you who thought our we didn't get married until December!

A year ago, I flew down to Texas to marry the love of my life. Part of the reason for the rush was getting the proper paperwork processed so I would make it on his orders to England. And then of course there is the whole I was just plain darn ready for him to be mine-all-mine and for me to be his-all-his. I still got to wear a white dress- this cute little white sundress I just happened to buy at the beginning of the summer. He got out of class early, and we went down to the courthouse in San Angelo and tied the knot! And Lucky Gerrit, he got to marry me twice so he's lucky enough to get to remember two anniversaries!

The silly guy couldn't wait until Saturday to give me my gifts which include XXX amount of money I'm allowed to use towards spa girlie indulgences AND a huge bouquet of white lilies and some callas. However, when he saw they didn't quite fill up my pretty crystal vase. he decided he just had to buy more and did so the next day! Now my whole downstairs smells like lilies :)

On Saturday, we enjoyed breakfast and watched Freedom Writers. We showered and had lunch at Emily's Tea Room. Across the little street was a flower shop which is where he bought 4 more stems of day lilies that were loaded with flowers waiting to open. We dropped off movies that were due and picked up two more. I introduced Gerrit to the movie Singin' In The Rain and he loved it! For dinner, Gerrit took me to this little Italian place a town away called Jean Paul's- 'twas absolutely scrumptious! And to finish the evening, we watched the video of our wedding in December that my big sister made for us. Of course I got  teary eyed and enjoyed every minute of it!

We demolished the tirmisu roulade and the chocolate lime torte before I remember to take a picture....

And what a wonderful anniversary it was!

Friday Funk

Today is just turning into a weirdo day.

I woke up to George (?) playing with the metal mail flap only to find him no where in the house. After a bit of frantic searching inside and outside the house, one email and many unanswered phone calls to Gerrit, George came charging across our neighbor's yard straight to me. Gerrit claims George was in the house when he left this morning...

So after my freaking out, I've just slowly slid into a very weird funk. I didn't have to take Gerrit to work (finally!) today since he now has a car of his own again. I slept almost 11 hours last night so that may be attributing to the funk. I, however, just could not get into my work out today. Someone snatched the longer jump rope so I kept tripping over the short one which just frustrated and pissed me off to no end. I had all this angry energy and just couldn't find the right way to get it out. I ended up cutting it short and taking an extra run to the post office and back to try and make it go away.

All day I have had this weird urge to just sit and cry. I actually did cry a little when I got worried over George. Today would NOT have been a good day for Gerrit to have lost the cat -not that any day is a good day to lose George but today in particular... more details about that tomorrow. And then at the gym, lifting weights, I was overwhelmed with the urge to just curl into a little ball and cry again. The feeling hasn't really gone away so I guess I will just have to wait this funk out.

Long days and Sleep Deprivation

I haven't posted at all since Monday night.

Why???

Because I a a very sweet and loving wife and couldn't bear to tell my husband he had to jog 3-4 miles to work every morning with a big pack of stuff on his back.

Why would he have to run???

He sold his car money with a complete profit seeing as we got that car for free.... and has been waiting for the car we are buying to be ready, which should hopefully be today.

Why the posting hiatus though???

Gerrit has had to be at work at 515am, 500am, and 530am this week. This means he gets up at 4am and so do I  : ( And unfortunately, I'm the kind of person who doesn't go back to sleep if I get up that early and get out of bed, let alone drive across base and back. The first night I had about 5 hours of sleep- my usual is probably around 8 or 9 hours. Tuesday night, though, I had somewhere between 3 and 4 hours. I was so out of it yesterday. I drank so much coffee it gave me a huge headache, and I mutinied  against doing any sort of work. Translation: I said I wasn't cooking so we went and got Indian food.

Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I just don't function on small amounts of sleep, let alone before the sun is actually up. Today should be the last day I have to be up before the sun and leave my snuggly warm bed like I had to this morning after sleeping a full 6 hours, which felt much more like 10   : )  And did I mentioned, its been about 50 degrees every morning?

You know I love my husband when I go without sleep, get up before the sun, AND go outside where it is cold.

Some days...

Some days I could really use something stronger than my little ole glass of wine....

I heard back from the HR people who hire for DODEA. Evidentally, they have no openings and haven't be informed of any opening that might be coming available at the beginning of the school year this fall. I had been informed that there should be two openings but it seems people have not felt obligated to tell HR that they will either A) not be returning or B) leaving after giving birth in October (school starts in September...).

Also, I just read the attached report and discovered that I barely even made the cut. Out of 100, I scored a 70 meaning that I'm "Qualified." Not even close to the next level which was an 85 and no where close to the Highly Qualified... They, of course, asked if there were other places I wanted to work or other positions that I would be interested it.  I don't really want to be a bus driver and I don't want to be a secretary. I could substitute teach but I'm probably only "Qualified" for that too. Is "Qualified" code for "Just barely made the cut because you have some sort of education and had at least one job for more than a few weeks" ???? Of course there are the two other schools on base- Elementary and Middle. Not really feeling the opening of ketchup packets or being a kindergarten aid at the E. School. And if you can remember back to YOUR middle school years, I'm pretty sure you understand why I don't exactly feel compelled to work at the middle school....

On top of that, why do people keep doing certain things even when you ask them not to? And when you ask them not to do something else, for a very specific reason, they completely disregard you and do whatever the hell they feel like anyhow???

Seriously, I need something stronger than my half a glass of wine, or at least a full glass... but noooo, that was all that was left in the bottle....