This past week, my friend
Melissa had a post entitled Ten on Tuesday where she listed ten things that had gone on during her week or just random thoughts. Since I'm a day late and a dollar short...and since it's February 14th...I'm going with 14 random thoughts and things. Plus, it's a nice and easy way for me to get caught up since it's been nearly a month since my last post.
1. This is my second Valentine's Day without my hubby because he was also deployed last year around this time. Not too many of you know, but Malu returned from a year-long deployment to Iraq this past August. But because I was scheduled to deploy in the fall, I'd asked him to jump on another deployment just so we could get on the same deployment cycle--to which he happily obliged. Well, we all know what ended up happening. I got knocked up, had to redeploy, and Malu still ended up deploying. But you know, when I think about it, I can be thankful for the fact that for the five years we've been together, we've actually spent more V-Days together than apart. When Malu called today to wish me a Happy Valentine's Day we reminisced about our first V-Day together at Fort Bragg, NC. He'd given me an orchid because he hates how roses die so quickly; then challenged me to keep this orchid alive, knowing that I don't have much of a green thumb. Well, the thing was alive long enough for the orchids to bloom. It lived a total of two weeks. So much for that. To this day, Malu says I am incapable of keeping plants alive. It's a good thing that I took of picture of the pretty orchid before it bit the big one.
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2. I'd sent Malu a care package full of Valentine's Day goodies both for him and his company. I also sent him Jack Johnson's newest CD as well as some of his favorite snacks. Me? I convinced Malu to let me get us a new 42" plasma screen TV. It's the first TV I've bought since college and is the biggest screen I've ever graced my house with. Luckily, I had great friends to help me set it up. I've never watched TV this much in my life. I love it. Thank you honey!
3. I moved into this house on January 22nd. It's a brand new house on the east side of El Paso where much of the area is brand new. As you can tell, the house is very small. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms--which is good enough for just me, Lucy, our little baby, and for Malu (whenever he gets to come to visit). Plus, we don't plan on living in El Paso long enough to buy some property around here, so it is ideal. Right now, I'm using the two-car garage as extra storage. Pre-deployment, I was in an apartment and had to store a whole bunch of stuff in a storage facility, but not anymore. The garage still has enough room for one of our cars, which is good.
4. I am SLOWLY putting this house together. When I first moved in, I had called Malu crying because I was so overwhelmed with all the stuff that we have and by the thought of having to put all of it away. Usually, my OCD-self would have had all of this knocked out in about a day. But to be honest, I work such long hours and I have been too tired to even think about finishing putting stuff away or unpacking the boxes I have left. I didn't realize how many kitchen items I have. Most of it is still in boxes in the garage, but the essentials are currently on my dining table waiting to be put into the cupboards. Oh, and if you're wondering what's up with the door...the builder has yet to return to put blinds on that bad boy. So for the time being, I've got paper bags taped to it for security reasons. Ghetto!
You think that's bad...this is the soon-to-be nursery; jam-packed with boxes full of books. Not to mention every box of clothes I have are still stacked in my bedroom and the other guest room has boxes stacked in it as well. I'd set a goal to have it all done this weekend. Yeah, that didn't really pan out. I need help. My parents are coming in March. Maybe they can help me when they get here.
5. This is how I know that I've been in El Paso for a year. My first entry of 2009 was of the Texas vs. The Nation game. I had gone to that game with all of my soldiers. It was actually my first post here in El Paso. Well, last weekend, I'd gone to the game with my friend, Jennifer. I'd actually arrived to the game late, but in time to indulge in one of my favorite things.....stadium food. El Pasoans really know how to throw down at sporting events and festivals. That day, I'd gotten an order of Super Nachos. Oh my goodness...delicious! One of my biggest cravings these days is jalapenos. I don't really like anything spicy, but oh well. Gotta love the cravings. The weather was spectacular that day. We got TONS of sun. Hey, it was held at the Sun Bowl for a reason.
6. Speaking of cravings, another one satisfied at the game was that of the FUNNEL CAKE! Oh, so yummy! No football game is complete without one. Funnel cakes...I love you.
I've been going out of my way for cravings these days. Unfortunately, I have to make long drives just to get them. Like yesterday, I'd driven 20 miles to west El Paso just to indulge in Kinley's House Coffee & Tea's infamous crepes. And not just any crepes--their strawberry, banana, nutella, whipped cream crepes! Let's just say it was well worth the drive. I ate the entire thing. Not all of my cravings, however, are for junk food. I mostly crave fruits and veggies with carrots, strawberries, papayas, oranges, and mangoes at the forefront. I'm getting bigger by the day, it seems. I wonder what I'll be craving tomorrow or within the next week or so.
7. I'm guess-timating that I am in my 5th month of pregnancy. I'd know more accurately if I didn't have to cancel my appointment on February 2nd. I was asked by my superiors to do it because of a very important meeting with the post 2-star general. The only appointment I could get was for February 19th...this Friday! I should actually have a pap as well as an ultrasound. They should be able to tell me the sex of the baby which will make it easier for me to SHOP!!! All I know is that I don't care if the President of the United States is visiting my unit this Friday. I am NOT missing this appointment!
8. I've pretty much been rooting for having a girl. I know Malu's rooting for a boy, but hey. I wouldn't be too disappointed with that either because you know what? If that does happen, I'm going with a jungle theme. I went to Kirkland's this afternoon (LOVE Kirkland's) and saw these:
I am totally in love with them. Right now, they're on sale for $19.99 a piece. So if I really don't find out what we're having on Friday, I'm going to have a hissy fit. I'd love to add some monkeys to the motif (I've seen some really good jungle stuff at Burlington's). Malu plays songs from Jack Johnson's Curious George soundtrack and it all reminds me of him--hence the fascination. I can't wait to start on the nursery. Hmmm....maybe I should focus on getting all those boxes out of there first.
9. I read the book, "A Time Travelers Wife," about two months ago when I was waiting on my flight out of Iraq. I've been dying to see the movie. I bought it today and am going to watch it tonight. I'm sure I'll be crying. I hate being alone on Valentine's Day.
10. I LOVE 4-day weekends, like this one. I've slept for pretty much all of it--basically just catching up on all the sleep I miss during the work weeks. I've been working my tail off at my new unit and despite how hectic things are and my past-8 o'clock evenings (I swear we don't get paid nearly enough for the extra hours we all work), I am liking my co-workers as well as my own section of soldiers. I was actually told by my immediate boss that they are ready to lock me into my position for good. Apparently, they're pleased with the work I've been doing so far, which is a relief. The only thing is that I am exhausted during the week. I work 12-13 hour days non-stop and by the time I get home, take Lucy out, eat dinner and shower, it's 10:30-11:00 pm. A few hours later, it's time to get up and do it all over again. Worse...there aren't any four-day weekends in March (we typically have one every month)! Yikes! I can't wait to hit my 7th month. The Army has a policy where pregnant females can't work longer than 8 hours a day. So I'll be cashing in on that soon!
11. Since I found out I was pregnant, I kinda took running out of my workout regimen and have been sticking to long walks with Lucy throughout each day (we go three times a day on weekends). Lucy's been such a good sport. But we had a brigade run this past Thursday--a four mile run with the entire unit--about 3,000 people altogether. I love unit runs. They're so much fun and I hated that I was missing out. Long story short, I ended up running in it. Usually, my position as the HR Officer (also known as the S-1; S is for Staff; don't ask--it's Army lingo; and I'm the adjutant to the commander), has me running at the front of the formation behind the commander. Because I didn't think I was going to run, I had my warrant officer run in my stead. Well, I was supposed to leave the formation once everyone head out. Well, I started running and thought about running just down to the end of the street. It was a good pace and I felt great, so I kept on going. Next thing you know, I didn't want to stop and ran all four miles. I eventually slowed down because I was scared about what could happen, having not run in a while. I ran the last half of it at my own pace and stayed with the group. I was pretty proud of myself.
12. My second or third entry of last year was of the Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Run that I did with a bunch of friends. Another way I know I've been in El Paso for a while--I'm doing it again next Sunday. My Auntie Daisy and I are doing the 3-mile non-competitive walk. I hope we get good weather and I'm happy to support such a great cause.
13. Our Lucy turned seven last month and I can definitely tell she's older. She still loves to go on her daily walks, but I fear that she's got signs of early arthritis because she limps everytime she stands up after laying down for long periods of time. I can tell that she loves being with mommy again, but I know she misses Misty and Lucy back in Colorado with my mom and dad. They will all be visiting at the end of March. We can't wait to see them. I'm also wondering how Lucy will handle having a baby in the house. She's so mild mannered and easy going, but gets particularly annoyed with little kids from time to time. It makes me nervous. Any tips for my mommy friends with pets out there?
14. Finally, once I get this house completely settled, I'm going to start baking again. I hope the Tuesdays with Dorie group will let me back in!
Well, that's all for now! I'm gonna go back to watching the Food Network on my ginormous TV. I can watch this channel all day long!
is well under way. She called me in the middle of my work day to let me know that she was locking in the reservation at the Armed Forces YMCA in Colorado Springs. Why the YMCA, you ask? Because we can't fit over 100 people into her house, that's why. No kidding, people. She's going all out and it's going to be a gigundo bash! You see, my mom is the President of the Filipino-American Community of Southern Colorado and she knows EVERYBODY! I'm not just talking about Filipinos either. I mean, she knows everyone in Colorado Springs, it seems. But everyone in the community is practically family and it is so nice to have that kind of support.
