Strip my mind

Arthur J. did, indicate
The boulevard will never be
So full of life and love again

Hot as Hades
Early eighties
Sing another song
Make me feel Like I'm in love again

Oh yeah
Please don't strip my mind Leave something behind Please don't strip my mind

All in favor
Sign the waiver
Bloody Carolina
Won't you take another look inside

Operator, co-creator
Come on radiator
Won't you blow another top and sing

Oh yeah
Please don't strip my mind Leave something behind Please don't strip my mind

El Dorado won the lotto
All the cash and not a clue But now you know what I've been through

Oh yeah
Please don't strip my mind Leave something behind Please don't strip my mind Leave something behind

- Red Hot Chili Peppers

I wish I could save the smell of sunscreen, bonfires, the sand and the salty sea, just to save for a rainy day. The things that make summer, well summer, are uniquely southern. Like: A hot fudge cake from Betty's Burger Hut and the smelll of chlorine from the swimming pool. The scent of fresh strawberries, tomatoes, green beans, and peaches warm from the summer sun. The way the sand feels between your toes at the lake and how the jet skis & boats cause small wakes as you float along. Eating so many popscicles your tongue changes color and drinking homemade lemonade. Along with the scent of Little Ceasar's pizza and Crazy Bread and popcorn with plenty of butter, eaten in the back of your daddy's pickup truck at the drive in movie, while other people are grilling burgers in the background. And the way astropops smell at the lake, just your and your mama. Add in the spicy pungent scent of gun powder from the 4th of July fireworks show at Freedom Hall, mixed with the scent of hot dogs and barbecue with your family and friends. Then going home and shooting your own fireworks and laughing with friends. Listening to classic rock with the windows down, driving to nowhere in paticular. The way the cold water at Roan Mountain pool feels against your skin, then the sun warms you and you get lunch at Bob's. These are the scents and memories that get me through the darkest, coldest winter days. This is what summer means to me.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Thunderstorms

We were hit with a random but powerful thunderstorm yesterday. The kind that comes out of nowhere, where it rains so hard that mist rises off the pavement and you can smell the dirt after it's all over. It's the best kind of storm, powerful, but short and sweet. I left work early and as I was walking to the car in the downpour, I began to cry and as the rain mixed with the salty tears, I realized how insanely lucky I am. They were tears of happiness and utter gratitude, because I've done nothing to deserve the wonderful things I have. And for that I thank God or whomever or whatever is up there watching over us. I'm married to an amazing man who is good to me, I'm pregnant with his child and I have friends and family who love me for me. It all hit me at once, and I had what I can only describe as an "American Beauty" moment. Like the movie says, "it's hard to be angry with so much beauty in the world." I don't know what I've done to deserve it but I won't take it for granted or let anyone down. I am so so blessed.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

What not to say or do to a pregnant woman

Now that I'm incubating my own spawn I've realized that many people have no clue how to interact with pregnant women in a way that doesn't warrent them getting stabbed. I'm going to tell you a few of the things that'll surely piss off the pregnant women & will ensure that they never speak to you again.

* Rubbing her belly without asking her first. I'm only 10 weeks and I've already had well meaning people come up and rub my non-existant belly. It's annoying and extremely rude, don't do it.

* Taking food off her plate or napkin without asking. Pregnant women are hungry, they need the food more than you, leave it be and keep your damn hands to yourself.

* Asking stupid questions, like "how's the morning sickness?" Or, "how much weight have you gained?" My responses are normally along the lines of, "I throw up 85% of all mornings, it's just fucking fabulous." Or " the last time I checked it was really none of your goddamn business." Hey, I never said I wasn't a brazen asshole.

* Don't comment on what she's eating. Seriously. Just don't.

* Don't ask her every single hour how she's doing. A woman I work with does this bless her heart & I know she means well but damn. That being said, if you know I don't feel well, it's acceptable to ask me every little while and/or offer to buy me some crackers & water as a peace offering.

That's all I can really think of right now, I'm sure I'll think of more & I'll edit my post when I do.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

It's nights like tonight, where the air is slightly muggy but there's a gentle breeze blowing and you can almost imagine smelling the sweet scent of fireworks in the air, that make me miss home bad that I almost can't stand it.

And I'm so torn, torn between wanting to go home and starting over, hopefully for the last time. And torn between continuing our life with the Navy, moving around every 3 to 5 years, living like gypsies, and never quite putting down roots. It a strange way, the gyspy lifestyle is strangly comforting to me, to know that no matter where we we end up, no one will ever know us the way people back home know us. We can remain elusive & become who we choose to be. Whereas back home, everyone knows who we really are, we cannot pull the wool over their eyes.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I'm just seeing if this works :)
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Breathe, pray, leap

Thomas Wolfe wrote, "you can't go home again." I know there are many who hear this quote and can see it from both sides. As much as I would love to never set foot back into Eastern Tennessee again, it looks like that is where we are headed September 2011.

Michael is unable to re-enlist in the Navy, so he's planning on finishing school in Tennessee and hopefully moving elsewhere. As of right now, I'm still on the fence about Tennessee. There's good and bad points, and in order to appease my Virgo nature, I usually make a list. I'll spare you the boring details of said list but long and short of it is: being near our families is both wonderful, stressful, and maddening all at the same time, raising our children in the country is much more appealing than raising them in the ghetto that is Norfolk, and the cost of living (and surviving) is much, much lower than where we are currently.

From issues with both my family and his, to old ghosts that seem to pop up at the most inopportune times, to just general discontent for our hometown, this is what is ahead of us. We have a laundry list of things to go back for and to, and an equally long list to run far far away, as fast as we can.

I am one of those people who believes that things will work out exactly how they are supposed to and generally, there isn't a damn thing that you can do to change it. And most times, that's fine by me. Times like this though, when the fear and uncertainty keep me up at night, I wish I knew what to at least except, so I could prepare and steel myself. But I've decided that life is nothing but a series of leaps of faith. All you can do is hold hands, hold your breath, close your eyes, pray for the best and hopefully be prepared for everything in between.


Breathe, pray, leap.

September 11th

I'm writing this blog because today is my 25th birthday and also the 8 year anniversary of the tragedy that was September 11th, 2001. It's a time of reflection and also mourning for the lives that were lost on that day. Yet for me, it's also a day of thanks, I thank God for allowing me to live yet another year, mainly because I've done some incredibly stupid things that should take ended my life much much sooner. This year has been hard and trying and incredibly stressful, but I know He will watch over me and things will work out the way they are supposed to. Thank you for keeping me safe and alive for another year.