Happy Halloween! Miss you Daddy!

Pissing Match

Have you ever had a conversation with someone that went something like this...

Me: "Gee, I am really tired today"
John Doe: "oh, you think you're tired...well I (Insert laundry list of complaints)

Typically when a conversation starts off like that I usually just hear, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

Or how about this one:

Me: It was so cute today Addison rolled all the way over!
Jane Doe: "Well, MY baby (insert miraculous feat)when he she was only 4 months old. (Again, I hear BLAH, BLAH, BLAH)

It really irks me when I make a statement or try to start a conversation with someone and they have to one-up me throughout the entire conversation. I just want to say to them--WHO CARES---I was just trying to be friendly or make small talk.

We take so much for granted in life and unfortunately, so many of use spend the majority of it complaining, wishing it away, or being jealous of the things other people have.

I LOVE the Darryl Worley song, because he has absolutely nailed it on the head. Life isn't supposed to be easy, it isn't supposed to be a walk in the park, and we aren't supposed to spend our days moping around feeling sorry for ourselves, complaining, or trying to start a pissing match with someone else to see who really is worse off.

I didn't have an ideal pregnancy and I certainly do not have an ideal situation with a deployed husband and brand new baby. If Jim's deployment has taught me ANYTHING...it is to be thankful for what you do have and more importantly for WHO you have in your life. In both instances of pregnancy and deployment, I constantly have to remind myself, "it could be worse, it could be worse, it could be worse." Believe me, there are days when these have almost become my daily affirmations.

When I had to go back to work and be away from Addison for 40+ hours a week, I had to remind myself daily that "it could be worse" and that the best thing I could do for my child was to go back to work to provide her with a stable home, food on the table, and a bank account in her name to provide her with a blanket of financial security. That being said...I HAD to go back to work, the mortgage had to be paid and staying at home was not an option for me, especially with a husband in Iraq. Again...I had to remind myself, it could be worse--Addison will have 0 recollection of Jim being gone. (THANK GOD--that in itself is a huge blessing).

When I am having a bad day or if I hit a rough patch I remind myself of how good my life is and I think of the military wives who have 4 small children and a husband in Afghanistan who is out in the field, whom she hasn't spoken to in weeks, or the 65 year-old man who has done manual labor EVERY single day of his life and is being forced to retire by his company--his wife just lost her business--their house is being foreclosed upon and they will have to move to a different state to live with their children. I think of the mother in Florida whose 7 year old daughter was murdered and thrown in the garbage. I think of all of these people and then realize that I have absolutely nothing to complain about, and then I feel thankful for all of my blessings.

My challenge to myself and to all of my friends is for us to think about those less fortunate, those people who are in REALLY REALLY REALLY bad situations before we complain about not getting enough sleep the night before, or complain about our jobs, or complain about your spouse or significant other. We need to realize that missing a few hours of sleep isn't going to kill us, at least we have jobs to go to, and be thankful for our spouses and significant others---they may not always be with you and most importantly..."That's life."

2 girls, An Anniversary, and a Country named Iraq

Leah and I share more in common than just being former college roommates. As a matter of fact, I partially owe my existence in Virginia Beach to Leah in a round about way. Nonetheless, Leah and I not only share the same wedding anniversary date, we share the fact that her husband Matt (United States Army), and my husband Jim (United States Marine Corps) are both reservists, who are now serving active duty in Iraq. She and Matt have a 4 year old daughter and Jim and I have a 5 month old daughter.

Leah and I celebrated our marriages, our husbands, and our beautiful daughters on October 11, 2009. We wined and dined at the Cheesecake Factory and most importantly, we laughed, we smiled, and we shared conversations that only a wife/mother experiencing the deployment of a husband/father could share and understand.

Here's to our 1 year wedding anniversary and Leah and Matt's 6 year!

Flowers from Iraq =)

BEAUTIFUL! My anniversary present from my sweet hubby!

Shoe Time!

Chesapeake: At the corner of Eden and Merchants Way

And...another wayward shoe...

I mentioned in a previous blog that I see so many randomly abandoned shoes that I was going to begin cataloging them. I think I will also announce where I find them so in case the owner stumbles across my blog. =)

Shoe location: Danville, VA Western Sizzlin' parking lot Riverside Drive

October!!

Quick Update

Addison is now 4 months old and weighs 11lbs and 7 ozs. She is 24.74" long! Here is a picture of her and some of our new picture wall in the house--and then a couple of our patriotic elements!

It Ain't Easy Being Green or Cheap, for that Matter!

I am currently staying in an upscale hotel for a conference in Alexandria, Virginia. While the hotel is quite lovely, there have been a few noticeable items that I could not help to mention.
Once in my hotel room I began looking for several staple items 1.)Internet information, 2.) area restaurant and hotel guide, and 3.) my ice bucket. I searched this room high and low and found no information about the internet. I booted up my computer and was guided to the hotel's website to enter my name and room number, but was unable to find a price listing for how much this service was going to cost. I knew I would have to pay for the service, but I wanted to know how much I would be paying! I finally had to call the front desk to inquire--the cost was about $9.95 a day which was in line with what I was expecting, unlike the $24.95 per day parking fee, in which I was NOT expecting! Due to the location of my hotel I knew that there were restaurants within walking distance, so I looked for a hotel/area/guest services guide in the room and there was absolutely NOTHING. The only literature in the room was a sales guide on how to purchase the $2600+ bedding package. This particular hotel brand has taken a minimalist approach to marketing. This brand prides itself on clean lines and no clutter--which is nice and pretty and green--however, for the business traveler--we NEED resources--put a damn guide in the room! I want to know where things are and what room service has to offer and what amenities are in the hotel!
Not only was there not an ice bucket in my room--but the mini-bar was empty except for two rumpled napkins. My fear was that it had not been re-stocked, so I went to the front desk to inquire about my ice bucket, which was supposed to be in the room, and I mentioned that the mini-bar was empty (not that I wanted anything--more that I didn't want to be charged for anything!) and I was told by the front desk clerk that they were no longer stocking the mini-bars because they were losing more money than they were making. So--here is an idea for you sell your mini-bars and put area/hotel guides in the rooms!!!


So, now I know they are cutting corners, which has been reflected in my room very clearly. No ice bucket, a messy mini-bar, and dirty glasses. There is also a bottle of Nestle PureLife water next to the coffee maker. Now, again, I am completely used to hotels placing a bottle of water in the room--but it is usually a larger, more expensive bottle of water and if you take it or drink, you can expect a $5.00 or more charge to result on your bill for the convenience of taking the bottle in your room. However, in this instance, I JUST purchased an entire case of Nestle bottled water, in which I paid a grand total of $3.99 for an entire case of 24 bottles! I am not touching that bottle of water with a 10 foot pole!

There have been several other odd things, such as no napkins on the break table for the meeting I was attending or not enough staff to clear dishes (or at least a tray stand to sit my empty glass) during my trade show today--I searched the hotel over for a table, a stand or a staff member and found none of the above. I just had to sit my glass on end of a food table.

I also think there is a fine line between being green and being cheap! I appreciate the recycle bin in the room and the option to be green and skip housekeeping service. But don't but a super awesome dual spout shower head in the room and then place a note above it saying that you have turned off the second shower head to be green. Now, I am going to feel so guilty for using it or wanting to use it that I would rather it just not be there! Come'on that is totally dangling the carrot--here is this awesome thing and it is totally cool--but you are SO NOT GREEN if you choose to use it--it is almost cruel.
I know it seems as if I am complaining a lot---I am probably more sensitive to these items since I am in the hospitality business--the truth of the matter is that overall the hotel is quite nice and it is in an awesome location. I did opt for no housekeeping and received a $5.00 off voucher to use in the restaurant--I thought that was a nice touch.

Since I am traveling on business I will be reimbursed for my trip, but the fact remains I would rather stay at a 3 star, moderate or upscale hotel which has complimentary internet services, free parking, and a hotel/area guide in the room! Give me a Candlewood Suites, a Crowne Plaza, a Comfort Inn, a Howard Johnson, or a Hilton Garden Inn any day of the week--I don't need prestige, I need functionality!

Adda-Boo

So, my little Addison--(I call her Adda-Boo endearingly) is a little over 3 months old. It hit me hard this week how much she has grown and how much she has learned in such a short period of time. Here are the "new" and "firsts" from last week:

1. FINALLY outgrew her newborn diapers--we are finishing up the last box. She is so tiny around her middle they still fit around her nicely--but she is so LONG they were beginning to look like low-rise diapers! She is also starting to finally outgrow some of her newborn clothes (mainly in length). She is wearing 0-3 and 3 months clothes now! YAY!

2. Sitting up. While laying on her boppy, a blanket, or slightly elevated she will completely sit up. She hasn't quite mastered sitting up from a completely laying down position--but I don't think we are too far from it. I first realized what she had learned when I came home from work to visit her at lunch and she reached over, grabbed my skirt, and pulled herself up!

3. Talking. She has lots and lots to say--if ONLY I knew what it was! She has become more vocal with her coos and babbles. I took Kaitlyn to the movies on Wednesday--which Addison frequently accompanies me--and I had to step out--not bc she was crying and fussy--but because she wanted to coo through the entire movie!

4. I un-officially weighed and measured her--she is about 11 lbs and 24" long.

5. She discovered her feet! She likes to lay on her back and play with her stinky little feet.

6. She had oatmeal for the first time today! She didn't hate it, I think she just didn't know what to do with it--so she rolled it around in her mouth and then drooled it out as she grinned at me.

She is such a cool little baby. I know, I know--all mother's think this about their kids. I just love hanging out with her and she is such a happy little girl--she laughs and smiles all the time and really only cries when she needs something--I just hope and pray that she continues to be this happy throughout her life! :o)



Look at those little cheeks puffed out!

It's a Shoe-In...Or Is It a Shoe-Out?

This is just weird. For several years I have began to notice random shoes sometimes, a single shoe, some times a pair of shoes--abandoned in what seems to me to be the most random of places. Most of the time it is an interstate, a highway, a road, a street, a sidewalk--and tonight...it was a crosswalk.

This is at the intersection of Independence and Columbus in Virginia Beach. I know it is a little blurry---but you can still see a pair of sneakers in the crosswalk. My mind wanders into a thousand places on this one...did this person spontaneously combust? Did they just decide being barefoot was more fun? Did they fall out of their sneakers and just decide to keep going? Did I miss the Rapture? Was someone just driving down the road and decide...hmm, I just don't need these any more? I mean seriously people, I have never randomly lost a shoe in public.
This is the beginning of a catalog I should have started years ago...from now on when able I will photograph these random shoes!

Can't Carry a Tune =)

OK--I am officially old. This is the quintessential "what are kids these days listening to?" blog.

Here are a few lyrics that I found awkward, disturbing, or just plain funny.

1. "Don't trust a ho, never trust a ho, won't trust a ho cause the ho won't trust me." or from the same song.."Shush girl, shut your lips, do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips."
2. "Doin' da stanky legg, do da stanky legg, do da stanky legg"
3. "The call me her..they call me Stacy..That's Not My Name..That's Not My Name."
4. "Birthday Sex..Birthday Sex..."
5. Oh..and what the heck is a "disco stick" :oP
6. "You da, you da best, you da you da best...best I eva had, best I eva had" (which I believe is an edit of "you da f***in best"
7. "We like her and we like her too...and she like us too." "I can never just pick one so you can't say I'm choosy hoes." and from the same song."my butter pecan Puerto Rican."
8. "Them chickens jackin' my style"
9. "Somebody call 911, Shawty fire burning on the dance floor."
10. "You're a jerk, I know, you're a jerk, I know."
11. "Kiss me thru the phone, see you when i get home"


PLEASE..feel free to add your own really stupid lyrics. I should seriously consider becoming a song writer...I can totally write lyrics like these.

Economy, Smeconomy.

Recession, Recession, Recession. NO JOBS, EVERYONE IS OUT OF WORK. TIMES IS HARD. THINGS ARE JUST TERRIBLE. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH de BLAH de BLAH BLAH.

No jobs, no jobs, no jobs. I meet people everyday who SUCK at their jobs. There is absolutely NO excuse for poor customer service if things are as BAD as we believe and are being told they really are. I can go back to when I bought my Honda Element and experienced horrible customer service at Hall Honda in Virginia Beach--all the way up to yesterday when I waited an hour at the Sprint store to inquire about the balance on Jim's suspended account--only to find out that they had lost my name on the wait list and had been taking people in front of me for about 30 minutes. There wasn't even a stupid balance to pay--they actually owed us money--but it took an hour for anyone to even care for me to find this out. I have been overcharged at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and Toys R Us in the past 2 weeks. AND nothing irks me any more than for a cashier to over-ring an item on my receipt and not catch it until after I have paid and then have to stand in a LONG lone at customer service to have it corrected. IT WASN'T MY MISTAKE--WHY DO I HAVE TO STAND IN LINE????

People who suck at their jobs, should be fired and places that are so concerned about customer service scores or guestview scores should pay a little more attention to the types of people they hire because guess what---CRAPPY EMPLOYEES EQUAL CRAPPY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CRAPPY CUSTOMER SERVICE EQUALS CRAPPY SCORES. This is a no-brainer. There are people out there practically begging for jobs and this is the best we can do? Long waits, over-charged receipts, and ridiculously long lines. Get a clue Corporate America.

Kaitlyn Fire Burnin' on the Dance Floor!

So, Kaitlyn has been staying with me for several weeks helping out with Addison while I am at work. She only asked for dance lessons in return for babysitting! I checked out a couple of studios, but felt the most welcome at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Virginia Beach. The studio is owned by Taras and Wendy Denysenko, who just took over the franchise about 8 months ago. Watching her take lessons has been so awesome! Her temporary instructors have been so complimentary of her dancing abilities and her techniques so many kudos to her permanent instructor, Jose Zuniga!
Her are some pictures from the Friday night dance party and some video of Kaitlyn dancing with one of the instructors, Erick.












Oh--and Addison got her first dance lesson too!