Trying to make a decision on what to have for dinner at my house stinks.
Me- "The kids say they don't know what they want for dinner. In fact KiKi said "Just bring me anything" and La said "I dunno". So I am going to the commissary, what do YOU want for dinner?"
The Man- "I dunno. I don't like to make decisions like that."
Me- "So basically, you just want food to magically appear in front of you?"
I am trying for a flight tomorrow. Hopefully, I will get on it. Ya never know with Space A travel. I could show up there and be told that the flight is full or canceled or I could get right on it. If I do get on it I will be heading to Germany and then figuring out my next move from there. It could be a RyanAir flight or another Space A military flight. It's all really up in the air.
I spoke to my husband this morning and he still doesn't know when he is leaving Korea for the UK. He says that he is feeling alright unless he is on his feet too long; then the hernia starts to burn. He should be having his surgery about a week after he gets to the UK. His doctors in Korea have already been in touch with the doctors in the UK. I am just hoping all the information is relayed efficiently.
I am off to bed now, with a queasy feeling in my stomach. I really hope I get this flight tomorrow. I would hate to have done all that packing for no reason.
Update- I got an email from my husband. He is leaving Korea and will probably be home before me. I have all my friends in the UK on alert and ready to help him out. My flight has been pushed back by an hour. This could change. Again. I just have to keep calling and checking flight times today and crossing my fingers that if they plane does leave today that I will be on it.
As of yesterday I have been married nine years. I have to admit, it hasn't been the easiest nine years of my life. Marriage is hard work, ya'll. I'll tell you what though, it is totally worth it. So here are my tips to have a for the generally happy marriage (people who have always happy marriages are lying, I am convinced of it).
1. Remember common courtesy. A please here and a thank you there will save you a lot of grief in the long run.
2. If you have a gripe, get it out. Do not keep your complaints bottled up.
3. On that note, if you are about to lose your mind, maybe it is a good idea to get some clarity before letting your spouse have it with both barrels blazing.
4. Don't be an asshole on purpose.
5. Don't keep secrets. You can have surprises, not secrets.
6. Remember to make time for your spouse, and not as an afterthought. I know when there are rugrats running around the house it is sometimes easy to remember that you have a partner in the madness that needs a bit of attention. Don't forget.
7. Try to take interest in your partners hobbies. Yeah, I don't like WWE wrestling, but I used to watch it religiously, so I will take an hour here or there and watch it with him because it gives us something to do together. Also, it gives us something to talk about other than the kids. He also asks about the books I read or will pick up the last book I have read and read a bit of it, just because he knows it interests me.
8. Keep the laughter alive.
9. Give each other a break. Don't harass each other about every little thing. Pick your battles.
10. And always remember
(One of my anniversary presents from The Man)
Thank you for 9 wonderful years, The Man. I love you more today than I ever thought was possible. Your a wonderful, fantastic, brave, smart, and awesome husband. Any girl would be lucky to have you, thankfully, I got to you first.
and guess what? I don't feel a bit guilty about it. I finally decided that I am worth the extra time. My health is worth the extra time. My well being is worth the extra money. My self image is worth the effort. I am a mother, a wife, a friend, a multi-tasking expert. I put everybody's priorities ahead of mine. I took care of other people but I didn't take care of myself.
I didn't take care of myself and I started to suffer for it. My weight became out of control. I hurt my ankle and I couldn't heal it because I didn't go to the doctor. I don't have time for the doctor. My weight on that ankle was making the healing process take longer. I felt tired all the time- not tired I shouldn't have stayed up late tired, but tired I just don't want to get out of bed because that is entirely too much effort tired. I felt blah. I don't like blah. If you have ever met me or read my blog, you know that blah is not my thing at all.
I finally had enough of it 2 months ago. I finally decided that I am worth my time and my effort and I decided to be selfish. My first step in being selfish was a joined WeightWatchers- 12lbs off so far. My next step was spending time on things that made me happy. I have carved out more time for me to spend time with my friends. I have more coffee mornings and lunches with friends in the last month that I can recall ever doing. I am taking time to read more books (which I didn't think was even possible considering that I read more than most people I know). I spend time with my husband just being goofy. I am taking walks with the girls in the afternoons and spending time outdoors, even when it is a bit cold, because I love the outdoors. I am being selfish and I don't care.
Brain: Kat, you really need to stop the girls from digging holes in the back garden. The Man is going to step in one of them one day while he is mowing the grass and really hurt himself.
Me: Well, what do you want me to do about it, Brain? I can't just duct tape the kid's arms to their sides. Duct tape hands to sides.....hmmmmm.
Saturday night I was drained. Mentally I was drained. The kids had been a nightmare all day; KiKi continuously wetting her pants and LaLa testing her boundaries with attitude, hand on hips and stomping of the foot. I just really wanted a minute to talk to my husband and was really looking forward to 8pm, when he said he would try to be online.
At 8pm I checked Skype and saw him online. With a big exhale I messaged him. Then he lost his connection (or so I assumed). I lost it. We have been having spotty connection issues since he got DownRange. He has been relying on the free Internet connections at the moral centers at the base. Moral centers might be an oxymoron because the Internet connections there are the most unreliable. So, I lost it. Tears. Messages to Jay telling her how sick I was of the dropped connections and my crappy day. Finally, after about 30 minutes I pulled it together and got the kids in bed.
When I returned to the computer an hour later, he was back online. I had waiting messages. I was a bit excited to say the least. We had a nice conversation without a single interruption. Come to find out, he was at a kiosk purchasing a reliable connection the first time he popped up; testing the connection. My moment of disappointment was him actually trying to make sure that our communication method was better.
It's Christmas Eve! My stockings are hung, my presents are wrapped and plans have been made on how to spend our first Christmas in England. Tonight we are going to attend church on base with the girls. It is a candle light service, which is what we usually attend when we are back home in South Carolina. The base church seems to be really nice and when "the Man" and LaLa went to check out what time the services would be starting one of the lady's from the church invited him and LaLa in for lunch and dessert. I think we will probably start attending church on base because I am not sure what other churches are in the area.
Anyways, after church, we are going to come home and let the girls open one present. This is something that my family has always done. After church we always just open a single present, then it is off to bed so that Santa can come.
On Christmas morning we will open all of Santa's presents and the rest of the presents from the family. This might take a while judging by the stack of gifts under my tree. Seriously, it looks like Christmas came into my house and threw up underneath my tree. I am totally not complaining. It is just kinda funny cause I have this little 5 foot tree and it is being overwhelmed by the presents.
After presents, we will pack up the girls and go to Domino's house for Christmas dinner. OK, I am from the south. Dinner to me is anywhere from noon-2pm (supper is at 6 pm when all the northerners are having "dinner")(sorry about the tangent there). Anyhoo, we are going to be keeping it fairly simple this year for Christmas dinner. Ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, corn, rolls, pie.....yeah ok, so it is still gonna be a lot of food. I guess after we finish dinner we will waddle into Domnio's living room and exchange the gifts that we got for each other. By this time it should also be late enough that I can call my family and not wake them up. Of course the idea of calling them at 9am my time also makes me giggle to myself. Can you imagine being on the receiving end of that.
Mom-*phone ringing looking at the clock which says 4am, picks up the phone* *groggy* Hello? Me- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAH! Kids sing Jinggle Bells for MiMi! Kids- *singing* Jingle Bells Jingle Bells! Me-Aren't they great mom? Mom- I am so going to take you out.
I would be living in fear until I saw her in July. It would sooooo be worth it.
So that is what I am going to be doing this Christmas. What are your plans?
So "The Man" and I were sharing a rather uneventful boring Friday night when he did the unimaginable. Now, I know about his love of 80's soft rock, but he really out did himself this time. He broke out into "All Out of Love" by Air Supply. He wasn't prompted. There was no gun to his head. I was flabbergasted. Now, I have been known to sing along to Hall and Oats, get down with Huey Louis and the News, even cut a rug to some Billy Joel, but Air Supply? Air Supply, maybe the cheesiest most sappy 80's band of all time. I draw the line at Air Supply.
I mean ya think ya know someone and then they do something that makes you wonder "Who the hell are you and what have you done to my relatively sane husband?"
Him- *Belting out Air Supply at the top of his lungs* Me- "Are you kidding me?" Him- "Oh come on! Everyone loves Air Supply!" Me- "Are you kidding me?" Him- "This is some classic music right here!" Me- "If you say so...." *turn my head and roll my eyes*
Now if you actually like Air Supply. I'm sorry. No really, I'm sorry. You are entitled to your crappy music taste as much as "The Man" is, just leave me out of it.
Ok here are a few sayings you might here around my house and generally they would probably get you a lot of strange looks in public. At my house however, they are commonplace.
1. "Your in some serious Kimchi". This one was brought home courtesy of "The Man". Yes we both know that Kimchi is a Korean food. However around our place it means you are about to be in some serious shit. Example of how this would be used is. "LaLa, you better get in bed or you are gonna be in some serious Kimchi."
2. "Shit the bed" This means something broke. When my washing machine broke. Yeah it shit the bed.
3. "Sneriously" Not a proper word ("The Man" stole it from a work buddy)...it is a substitute for seriously, but it sounds cooler. Generally means "what the hell!!!".
4. "I hate your face!" Not to be taken literally, this usually is a joke or a substitute for "Sneriously" or "dammit", or a thousand different things. Ex....the remote broke, and "The Man" was holding the remote and pulled it close to his face and said "I hate your face!". If anyone has seen "Grandma's Boy" you will understand.
5. "Leaning forward" In Air Force terms, this means thinking ahead. Just don't lean to far forward or you might fall on your face.
6. "I'm out of beer" This will happen on occasion when my hubby wasn't "leaning forward" (refer to number 5). Just kidding mom...I never run out.....hahahahahahahaha. ( "The Man" added that last part mom... dont' kick my butt).
7. "FAIL" If you do something wrong, you FAIL. "The Man" brought this home from work because he had to evaluate other guys doing their job, and if they screwed up they FAIL. Generally done with a karate chop movement toward the failee.
8. "Off base Commander". This is me. Don't confuse your rank for my authority.
9. "Wifed" When the off base commander (see number 8) says that "The Man" can't do something. Ex. "So you want to go to the bar?"...says a buddy. "Naw...I got wifed...can't go"
10. "Do you want a waffle?" Code for "want to get naked?" Ok now this started when we were living with my mom. We were talking about going out to Waffle House, my mom walked in the room right when "The Man" asked me if I wanted a waffle and my mom said "Ewww don't talk about sex with me around!!" Well we weren't talking about it then..but we are now....
11. "Hey Baby" Usually said with the voice of "Butt-head", see number 10.
12. "For F*&@'s Sake"...new term that has sprang up from being in England. Ex. It is Tuesday and the cable won't be installed until NEXT Wed. "For F*&@'s Sake!!"
13. "So There I Was"...usually comes at a point where the conversation is about to turn boring or when there is a lull in the conversation. "The Man" also named our family blog that.
14. "Party pooper" Enough said.
15. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I usually get boo'd when I am #14. "The Man's" best friend Mike...yeah he boooo's me all the time.
16. "Turrets" Not the disease or the word per se but sometimes you will hear a cluster of nonrealted explicative thrown together. Usually when "The Man" is assembling a piece of furniture or putting up blinds. Not something for kids ears. "The Man" says to the kids..."put on your earmuffs". Damn Walmart furniture...it is always crappy instructions or it is missing a part! (sure it is "The Man", sure it is...)
17. "Be Quiet, here comes The Undertaker"...always happens during "Friday Night Smackdown." "The Man" turns up the volume to a very high level on the TV to listen to "Taker's" entrance theme. I groan and leave the room. (I just told him he CAN NOT embed a flippin undertaker youtube video clip). (He is slighly pouting).(OK he wins!)
18. "If it was a snake it would have bit you"...what "The Man" says to me daily when I can't find something that was right in front of me.
19. "Suck it up and be a bulldog" This was stolen from "The Man's" dad from The Citadel Bulldog Football team. Ex. You cut your finger off..."Suck it up and be a Bulldog" He once chose to say this to me during a fight and I didn't talk to him for 3 days.
20. "I've already got one foot in the grave"...."The Man" says this during times when he feels old. Stolen from his dad, it is pessimistic in nature but funny as hell sometimes. Well "The Man" thinks it is funny.......
21. "Is Scrubs on yet?" We love that show...JD and Turk are "The Man's" heroes...right below "Al Bundy" from "Married With Children" (Actually I think "The Man" is actually the real life JD...just wait til Tuesdays post about what happened Friday night...yeah you will so get it then..two words "Air Supply").
(Written together with "The Man" for "poops and giggles")
I knew I was in for a long night when my husband started referring to Kevin Youkillis of the Boston Red Sox as Leonidas. You know Leonidas from the movie 300. Then he started saying everything in song to the epic battle music, O, Fortuna. He was officially hyper. I don't know if he drank a gallon of coffee at 10p.m. or what but he was off his rocker hyper.
We got in bed and the epic battle conversation from his end continued. I was finally getting sick of it and well actually it was kind of funny but the joke was starting to wear off. So we were laying there and he kept it up. I was telling him to quit, he would mock me in song. So I would start pinching him, he would deflect the onslaught of pinches and mock me in song again. I would retaliate with pinches, he would mock me in song, and we would fall into a fit of giggles. This went on for a good 15 min. At this point, he couldn't stop. Everything he said was in that song. Finally he got up and went to get his iPod, cause he needed some soothing metal music to put him to sleep. Thank goodness cause I was about to smother him with my pillow and make it look like an accident.
Last night while we were watching the Sox game on T.V, I was showing "The Man" some of the flair that I had received from friends on facecrack..I mean book. We get to the piece of flair above that says "Automatic Doors Make Me Feel Like A Jedi" and my husband starts laughing like it is the funniest thing he has ever seen. Now, it is funny, but it it isn't that funny. That is when I got the rest of the story.
See apparently when my husband went to go refill his perscription at the Med Group Clinic for his antiacid medication last week, he used his index finger and middle finger together, like a jedi, and made the motion to move the automatic door open. Once inside he was praying that nobody saw his geek-dom. Well maybe nobody saw, but now the whole internets knows. Way to go there, "The Man". You are now offically a geek.
My best friend is in town visiting her parents. She lives in England now at the same base that we are going to be stationed at. So she and I are going to get together today and go get my girls some hair cuts. Then we are going to this cute little Amish furniture store down the road and pick out new mattresses and maybe a new bed for LaLa (depending on price, ya know). It should be a fun day to be had by all :)
Tomorrow "The Man" is having a colonoscopy. He is only 29, but his mother died of colon cancer when he was 12, so they want to start screening him early to prevent this horrible disease from ever rearing its ugly head again. I am sure he is going to be a big baby about the whole procedure, but he is a man and something is going to be shoved up his butt, so it is completely understandable. I of course have taken a couple of pot shots at him the past couple of days. Today however I was being completely serious when I said "I hope you can walk afterwards, cause I can't carry you", then he said "Well I don't think they are shoving anything EXTREMELY enormous up there, I am sure I will be able to walk". I started laughing my ass off cause I wasn't even thinking about that. "No honey, they are going to sedate you. There is no way I can lift your 230 lb, 6'6" body to the car if you are still doped up". Gotta love that man.
