It's been a long time...

OK, so 6 months is a long time in between blogs, but since no one seems to read this anyway I went ahead and blew it off while I tried to catch up on life. Was I successful? Well, not really but I'm having a great ride. I am back in school and only have 9 classes until I am done with my Bachelor's Degree. Ashley finished second grade with perfect attendance this year. Daniel finished his first year of pre-school and looks forward to a new year at United Methodist Church pre-school. Ben is still keeping busy with the kids and doing his honey do list around the house. It seems that once he thinks he has it done I just keep adding to it. He has turned into a Jack of All Trades (and a Master of None) :-)

We were able to take our first real family vacation this year. We spent a week in Disney World and then visited my Aunt Helen in Amelia Island Florida for a few days. It was nice to get away and the kids had a great time. No matter how good it is to get away, it is always good to come home...I wish I could say the same for having to go back to work. We did have a great time though, from hanging out with Mickey and his friends to hanging out on the beach, we were thankful for the opportunity to spend time together as a family. Ashley wanted to ride every ride Disney could throw at her. She loved Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios. Daniel rode Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad. Notice I didn't say he liked them...he'll tell you he did but screamed "Mommy make it stop" throughout the ride :-)

I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pics from our vacation. I'll try to keep in touch more often but with school starting for me next week and the kids in September, I won't make any promises I can't keep ;o)

He loves me, He loves me not?

I can remember as a young girl pulling off the petal to a daisy asking the question he loves me...he loves me not. I would wait with anticipation as I got closer to the last petal hoping and praying that the answer would be HE LOVES ME! Ah, the good old days when Magic 8 Balls and flower petals would tell your future and make, or not make, all your hopes and dreams come true. And, if you didn't like the outcome you could just pick another flower or shake the ball again. (Oh, come on. Don't say that's cheating because you know you did it too.) Then one day...BAM!...reality hits and you're over 30 with the proverbial husband, 2 kids, dog, cat, minivan and a full time job.

Don't get me wrong. I am not complaining one bit. I love my life. I can't imagine any more rewarding career then one serving my country. I can't imagine two better children, but my husband...well truth be told, sometimes I wonder. After 12 years of marriage would he ever get it right? I think he finally has. Bear with me while I go back a little bit. I'm not really a jewelry person. I don't really like cut flowers because they die. I would love a flashy car, but not the payment or insurance. So poor Ben never knew what to get me for any holiday and Lord knows he better not buy me cloths :-) So, a few months ago after football season started I told Ben, "Honey, this TV just won't do for the Steeler games. You have my permission to go buy a flat screen HD TV and surround sound system." He almost dropped dead. I mean, how many wives want a bigger TV for a football game? That was our gift to ourselves for Christmas. Then, it was coming on Valentine's Day. Ben and his Dad built me a little make shift art area in our laundry room. I was so excited to begin making cards and projects again but the lighting was just so bad. I got a desk lamp, but it still wasn't great working conditions. I came home on Friday before Valentine's Day and installed above my art table and washer and dryer were 3 new fluorescent lights perfect for stamping! I was so happy! On Saturday morning I gave Ben his hand-made Valentine cards with a little something written inside and his box of chocolates. He teared up after reading them and said "All I got you were some stupid lights". I cried as well and replied "I love my stupid lights. I couldn't have asked for anything better". Yes, I know I am weird.

So, last night I gave Ben a heads up for what I wanted for my birthday. No, not jewelry or flowers or a car but instead I want a light over my kitchen sink. Yes, you read correctly, a light over my kitchen sink. You ladies know exactly what I'm talking about. You just have to have a light over the sink, especially when your kitchen light isn't all that bright to begin with. So, that is what I really want for my birthday. Now I know that I may have to help install it, but it will make me so happy to finally be able to see what I am doing around my sink.

So he loves me, he loves me not? I know Ben loves me. I also know that maybe he is finally figuring out that I really am simplistic and practical. I'm not a girly, girl...except when absolutely necessary :-)...and I am happy with just the smallest gestures and gifts.

I think we live in a world where we get caught up in "things". We seem to identify ourselves with what materialistic things we have instead of what is important. I know that I would love nothing more than to buy Ben the truck he has always wanted and deserves, but alas the want just can't seem to justify to need. I keep telling him that he will get his truck one day. I just hope that by the time I can afford it that he can still see to drive :-)

I'll leave you with this final thought. Pull off those daisy petals and shake that magic 8 ball to your hearts content. Just know that the Lord gives and takes away what He thinks we should have. I just hope he thinks I should have that light over my kitchen sink :-)

Happy Valentine's Day...because we should love each other every day!

I'm such a SLUG...

OK, for those of you who have never been to DC or lived in DC, you probably don't know what a DC "SLUG" is. Basically, you park your car in the park and ride and stand in a long line either freezing your butt off or sweating it off, depending on the season, and wait anxiously as the cars pull up and the folks in front of you jump in and take off for the HOV-3 (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane. Yes. I am saying that you jump in a car with total strangers to get a ride to work. Then, at the end of the day, you go stand in line again to repeat this process to get a ride back to your car.

Now I know what you all must be thinking. She is insane. Truth be told I must be because I am putting my life in the hands of the person who just can't seem to leave their Blackberry alone for 30 minutes and proceeds to e-mail or text while driving. Arguing with someone on your cell phone with strangers in the car is another favorite and a SLUG rule breaker. I think a few times I may have gotten the person who hit "Happy Hour" on their way home. I am also such a fan of the person who must listen to a racially charged radio station slamming white people. Hello! I'm white. You picked me up. Think you can change your ghetto station? Now that is one of my favorites, but my complete and total favorite is the one who play their music so loud that I am completely deaf by the time I arrive at my destination. I'll never forget the Marine whose car shook us awake at 6AM with what I think was his daughter's techo dance club CD played at 30 on the volume dial. But, let me share my most recent story with you...

It was Friday night and I was so thankful to be leaving the Pentagon that I raced on my gimpy foot as fast as I could to get in the SLUG line to begin the rat race home. I was in luck. The line was short and it was now my turn. A couple in a red Honda SUV pulled up and said "Horner Road". I jumped, well hopped, in to the back seat and before I knew it we took off like a flash. This crazy lady was insane. I don't think I ever got out of the Pentagon parking lot so fast in my 6 months here. Her hubby, who was riding shotgun and smoking a cigar (another big SLUG no-no) was just along for the ride. He was so busy singing along with the blaring music and moving his hand in just the right motion that he himself could have been Run DMC mixing his tunes. Suddenly, and without asking, the wife changed his station. This didn't seem to bother him as he just let out a "Hey" in the middle of the song...and in beat might I add...and seemed to groove along. So here we go, 90 miles an hour down the HOV (speed limit is 65 by the way) with screeching noise coming from very cheap stock speakers and a crazed woman behind the wheel and her singing sidekick. Just then the husband changed the station back to his music and was singing once again. A few more miles passed and the wife put her CD on. Daddy Mac continued to groove along. Oh, and did I forget to mention that not a word was spoken between them?

Thankfully, my exit was in sight. I'm here I thought. I am back safe and sound. As I climbed out of the SUV and thanked the couple for my ride...not to mention thanked the good Lord for getting me there safe... I felt the irony of the song playing on their stereo as they sped away..."Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna.

So, that is my life as a DC "SLUG". You climb into a total stranger's car and pray for the best. The interesting fact is that after all these years there hasn't been any serious issues. It is just a fact of life here. A fact that I know is shocking and amazing to some of my family members who cannot fathom why anyone would ever do this. I also forgot to mention that there is a web site for DC SLUGS and has everything from pick up points to SLUG and driver etiquette like NO SMOKING Stogie man!

So, the next time you are in DC just hop a slug. All you have to do is climb in, buckle up, and pray for the best.

Happy Slugging!