OMG time is flying by fr me like you wouldn't believe. I had forgotten how hectic life can get when you have two children that need to be at different practices at different places at the same time, a husband who has a crazy work schedule, and my schedule we wont even speak about. I average about 2 hours in my house to get everything done. Oh my this is going to last until November.....
Yesterday was my birthday and I had a blast. The boys and Donte woke me up in bed at around 6AM. I got singing cards and WRAPPED presents, yes siree wrapped. Usually I get these things but they are still in the bag from the store they were purchased at. I had beautiful wrapping paper with bows and ribbons. MY loving husband stayed up well after bedtime and wrapped them just perfectly. Then it was the mad dash to get everyone dressed, fed and out the door. Donnie had his first football game and we had to be there by 7:45 AM. Can I just say how grown up my firstborn looked in his football gear. I could tell that he had a little bit of the football jitters but was he every ready to get out on the field and get that game started. He is a tight end for his team and did his job to the utmost. The parents sat on the sidelines and screamed our heads off...I think my husband was the loudest! Donnie won his game 12 to 0. He was grinning from ear to ear and was to the point that he was about to burst....I would call his mood gleeful. Then it was off to brunch at Westfield. The conversation was total football and Donnie ate like he had never seen food before. Of course they had to get the staff to come around and sing happy birthday to me.
One of my gifts was a tripod for my camera. After we got home I wanted to really check it out because when we took it to Donnies game I couldn't figure it out. Now I am pretty good with this stuff so I was eager to get it all figured out. Well after close inspection we figured out that someone had switched tripods and had replaced the one that I was supposed to get with a cheaper version.....a completely different brand. Needless to say Donte was upset but I have to give it to him he kept his cool. We headed out to the Best Buy here and explained out plight. The lady was really nice and told us to just go to get another one...only problem was that they were sold out!! The guy said he couldn't give us the display so I headed back up to the service counter to stand in line to order the one that my husband had already paid for. When it was finally my turn the Best Buy comes up with the tripod that I should have had and said that he wasn't supposed to give the last one out but since it was my birthday he would make the exception. Donte and the boys were behind him and lord knows what they said to the man but anyway whatever it was it worked and we left with my new tripod. We then had to go to Target because my youngest son has been looking for a certain book all weekend and we haven't been able to find it. The Diary of a Wimpy kid. We went back to the book section and the one he already has was there but the one he needs was gone. You could see his face fall and his frustration level rise. Well Mom to the rescue. I looked in the best selling self and lo and behold what did I find? You got it his book. We then hopped in the car and rushed home to get Dannie ready for his game. Can I just say that my baby is still so tiny. Oh my goodness he looked as if he would blow away if the wind blew. We headed to the field where we waited forever to get started. The kids have to be there an hour and a half early so they can get weighed in. By this time the sun was shining bright and we felt as if we were going to melt. Dannie was roaring to go. I could see the adrenaline coursing through his veins and he had that certain glint in his eyes that let me know he was more than ready to go. He played his hiney off!! OMG all the kids did. He playes Defensive End and Tight end. He was on that field for both offense and defense and let me tell you my husbands chest just about burst from all the hooting and hollering that he was doing. Dannies team won 28 to 0. Between the two games I took over 1500 pictures. I now have the huge task of going through them to find just the right ones to post and print.
After the game we came home, the boys showered and packed their bags. They were off to Blakes house for a sleepover. They were so excited because they got to sleep in a tent in the backyard. Yes Sir camping out has now shifted to a backyard thing. How genius is that? You get the thrill of sleeping outside but the joy of having a bathroom a couple of feet away. They were so excited and Donte and stayed and chatted a bit. They are a really nice family and to be honest we stayed and chatted for a few hours. After that we headed to Chilis for a quick dinner. We shared the triple dipper and I got a mango margarita. I even got carded!! LOL Then it was back home and to bed for us. I was so tired that i think I was snoring before my head hit the pillow.
Like I said what a great day. Thank you to everyone that called to wish me a happy birthday. It really meant slot to come home and see the answering machine light blinking with plenty of messages waiting. I will be busy this coming week trying to call everyone back. Yes Jeanine...I know I am slacking on the calling front :0) I'm gonna get around to it I promise.
Today is day 2 of my birthday weekend and I think I will be cooking all day. I sure don't have time during the week and want to get everything done today so that tomorrow we can be free to do what we please.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Busy!
Today was just as hectic as the rest of last week. We woke up, had time enough to get ready and head out the door so Donnie could get his pictures taken. What a difference a day makes. Today was in the 80's and there was a light breeze. Since there was no threat of rain we headed out to the football field and enjoyed the beautiful weather as we waited. Then we ran to SAMS and Caputos for some grocery shopping. I buy monthly for my meats so I was pretty proud to see that my bill on that went even lower. I only spent $42.93 at Caputos and was done. So I saved even more money this week and on top of that was even able to pick up some new stuff for a new recipes. Mexican Lasagna....yummy. We also picked up some Krispy Kremes...I am still heart broken about the Lemon doughnuts. After that we headed home and unpacked really quik, the boys changed and we headed off across the street to Wendels birthday party. T had some super delicious food and some terrific fun set up for the kids. We headed home at about 6:30 and have been hanging out ever since. The boys are about to go to bed and I swear I hope I can keep my eyes open long enough to make it upstairs to the bedroom!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Football Pictures and Cocunut Slushies
Sometimes Donte and I have such conflicting schedules it's hard to know which way we are going. When you add the boys schedules into the mix they get even more confusing. We try and spend the weekends together because quite frankly those are the two days that the four of us can be together. Unfortunately today we had to split. Donte took Donnie and went to his units organizational day while Dannie and had to hang behind so we could go and get his football pictures made. Dannie and I started the day watching reruns of Runs House and eating pancakes in bed. We spent forever laughing and just having a great time. Then we ran to Target to pick up some cheese...I know your thinking why Target? Well Target makes pepper jack cheese sticks that the boys love. Since the school district is on a healthy eating kick they make the perfect snack. Then it was off too McDonald's for lunch..Dannies choice. I wasn't complaining I love the sweet tea and the fries. I didn't realize how much I liked sweet tea until I moved to the Midwest and they didn't have it. Then we rushed home got Daniel all dressed up in his football gear and headed to the high school for his football pictures. It was due to rain today and the air was heavy and sticky. I hate days like this here because they just don't use air conditioning here like we do in the south. At the schools if school is not in session the air is turned off...I know... CRAZY. We got to the high school at 2:30, the rain was in a good down pour by then, and ran into the gym. OMG it was like a Sauna. I immediately felt the sweat beads pop up on my fore head. I searched for the group that I usually hang with and found Elsa. She has twin boys on the team and she is so sweet. Then Dawn, and Terri followed. Now the guidance we received was to meet at 2:30. I figured that the pictures would be at 3:00. By this time we were all looking like we had run a marathon. Luckily I had put my hair in a pony tail but I could feel the sweat dripping down my back. Then one of the Moms come by and tells us that we are scheduled for pictures at 4....UH WHAT? OMG can I say that, that was the longest hour and a half that I have ever had to go through.....I'd rather go through child birth without an epidural. By the time it was all said and done it felt like I had been sitting in a super hot sauna for days. Now if this is how I felt can you imagine how Daniel felt in all his football gear....my poor baby!! Can I just say that we really appreciate the cool 72 degrees that the house is set too.
Remember my old post about cheap coconut soda? Well my husband found me a place that sells coconut slushies. I swear the soda that they make the slushies with is the same coconut soda that I used to love all those years ago.
Donte's off getting Chinese food for tonight and he should be home any minute...he just walked in the door. Do I know my husband or what?
Remember my old post about cheap coconut soda? Well my husband found me a place that sells coconut slushies. I swear the soda that they make the slushies with is the same coconut soda that I used to love all those years ago.
Donte's off getting Chinese food for tonight and he should be home any minute...he just walked in the door. Do I know my husband or what?
Friday, August 22, 2008
TGIF
Is it too early in the year to say that? We started school yesterday and I am more than happy that it's Friday. Is that bad? What the heck am I going to do next week when we are back for 5 whole days?
No seriously I love my job and wouldn't trade it for anything. Out of the kids, staff, and parents. I love all the kids and staff and most of the parents. It was so nice to see everyone again. I have a few kids that I was itching to see....the ones that would always stop by or the entire first grade class that would do their dance for me. Now those first graders are split up into many different 2nd grade classes....those kids still do the dance, and I of course get up from my desk and do the dance back.....they wont keep walking if I don't. My kids have wonderful teachers...I couldn't ask for any better. Donte is as happy as can be. He has a lot of friends from last year in his class this year. They are all so grown up now. Fifth grade is the highest grade our school goes too. They think they rule the roost..hahaha wait until they hit 6th grade. I can hardly believe that this is his last year of elementary school. Daniel has Dontes old teacher and he loves her. He doesn't have too many people from his class last year in his class this year...but Daniels not a shy guy and has already made himself at home. She has already told me some interesting stories. I am so glad that my kids are happy. I am so glad that they got phenomenal teachers that I get along with so well.
We are off to Football practice tonight. Both boys have practice. Daniels is going to turn into a BBQ after if the rain holds off. I really hope that it does. They have both worked so hard. You should see them out there. Donte has two plays of his own and he made two touchdowns at last weeks scrimmage. Daniel hasn't scrimmaged yet but watch out world that child flys through the air when he tackles!
No seriously I love my job and wouldn't trade it for anything. Out of the kids, staff, and parents. I love all the kids and staff and most of the parents. It was so nice to see everyone again. I have a few kids that I was itching to see....the ones that would always stop by or the entire first grade class that would do their dance for me. Now those first graders are split up into many different 2nd grade classes....those kids still do the dance, and I of course get up from my desk and do the dance back.....they wont keep walking if I don't. My kids have wonderful teachers...I couldn't ask for any better. Donte is as happy as can be. He has a lot of friends from last year in his class this year. They are all so grown up now. Fifth grade is the highest grade our school goes too. They think they rule the roost..hahaha wait until they hit 6th grade. I can hardly believe that this is his last year of elementary school. Daniel has Dontes old teacher and he loves her. He doesn't have too many people from his class last year in his class this year...but Daniels not a shy guy and has already made himself at home. She has already told me some interesting stories. I am so glad that my kids are happy. I am so glad that they got phenomenal teachers that I get along with so well.
We are off to Football practice tonight. Both boys have practice. Daniels is going to turn into a BBQ after if the rain holds off. I really hope that it does. They have both worked so hard. You should see them out there. Donte has two plays of his own and he made two touchdowns at last weeks scrimmage. Daniel hasn't scrimmaged yet but watch out world that child flys through the air when he tackles!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
School Starts Tomorrow
Well I have spent the last couple of days back at work gearing up for tomorrow. That's right folks tomorrow is the first day of school. I cant believe that the summer is officially over. Just about everything is ready to go and the kids are getting excited to see some of their old friends. I am excited too, to get it all started. I wonder what stories I'll be coming home with this year. :0)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
13 Years, One Day
What a great time we had yesterday. We woke up and went out to breakfast at the mom and pop restaurant here. The boys and Donte ordered food, I ordered a plate. They give you huge portions and I know that Daniel wont eat his hash browns or pancakes, and since that's what I wanted I just needed a plate. They sat us at this huge table so we were thrilled when we saw America and Reed walk in. We scooted over and they joined us. We had great conversation and way too much to eat. I was stuffed to the hilt and was wishing that I hadn't taken that extra bite of hash browns. It takes all of 2 minutes to get back home and by the time we did, I just wanted to go to sleep. So I did, as did Donte. I remembered laying down in bed and before I knew it the phone was ringing and it was 1PM. I crawled out of bed and into the shower and tried to make myself wake up. We hung out with the kids for a bit before they went over to the neighbors for the night.
We have the greatest neighbors to the left of us. I hope they don't move before we do because they are the only ones that we have anything in common with. They graciously offered to watch the kids for the night so that Donte and I could spend some alone time on our anniversary.
We decided to hit the casinos for a little. We headed to the Empress with $100 dollars in our pockets....i know we play such high stakes!! We tried the buffet which wasn't that good but hey it's all part of the let's pretend we are in Vegas night. Then we hit the slots because neither one of us knows how to play any of the tables. We played the slots for a little carefully stalking out the ones that we thought would be the best. I won $76.25 and Donte won $76.75. You would have thought that we won the lottery.....but hey we left with more than what we came in with. Our evening at the casino ended at 9:13PM. We were laughing about the fact that our night was ending before our night would have been beginning 12 years ago. We were contemplating the movies, but we always go with the boys and it just didn't seem right so we went to starbucks instead. I was like a kid in the candy store. I hurriedly walked to the counter and blurted out :Raspberry mocha, warm, with an extra shot of raspberry and whipped cream....PLEASE." I am sure they were wondering what was wrong with me. I save this treat for special occasions and it had been quite awhile since I had one. Donte ordered his drink and we settled into the seats outside to sit and sip our drinks. We talked and talked about everything and about nothing. About the fact that we were so glad and grateful for the fact that we had found true love so young and that our family was perfect for us. I think we headed home around 10:30. It was a great evening and super anniversary. It really is the little things in life.
Today our boys came home at around 9AM and we got ready and headed out to Legoland in Schaumberg. It was nice and the boys loved it. I just wished that it was a little bigger. It only took about 1 1/2 hours to do the whole thing and that's with letting the boys play for a while. We then went to Maggianos. The food there was phenomenal. Oh my goodness words cannot describe it. The Gnocchi in Tomato Vodka Sauce is to die for. Today's dinner out more than made up for the not so great dinner yesterday at the casino. I told Donte, I know where I want my birthday dinner. MMmmmmm YUMMY!!!
After we got home we straightened up a bit and settled into our normal routine. Daniel and I went outside to play some basketball for awhile. At first it was just the two of us and before we knew it both the Dontes joined us. Donnies friend Trent showed up a bit later to spend the night and we all ended up going in. So the day concludes with Donte, Daniel, Donnie and Trent playing the Xbox and me blogging. I think I am going to head up to bed and let the boys be boys. Tomorrow is my last official day of summer........**Sigh** and so it will begin.
We have the greatest neighbors to the left of us. I hope they don't move before we do because they are the only ones that we have anything in common with. They graciously offered to watch the kids for the night so that Donte and I could spend some alone time on our anniversary.
We decided to hit the casinos for a little. We headed to the Empress with $100 dollars in our pockets....i know we play such high stakes!! We tried the buffet which wasn't that good but hey it's all part of the let's pretend we are in Vegas night. Then we hit the slots because neither one of us knows how to play any of the tables. We played the slots for a little carefully stalking out the ones that we thought would be the best. I won $76.25 and Donte won $76.75. You would have thought that we won the lottery.....but hey we left with more than what we came in with. Our evening at the casino ended at 9:13PM. We were laughing about the fact that our night was ending before our night would have been beginning 12 years ago. We were contemplating the movies, but we always go with the boys and it just didn't seem right so we went to starbucks instead. I was like a kid in the candy store. I hurriedly walked to the counter and blurted out :Raspberry mocha, warm, with an extra shot of raspberry and whipped cream....PLEASE." I am sure they were wondering what was wrong with me. I save this treat for special occasions and it had been quite awhile since I had one. Donte ordered his drink and we settled into the seats outside to sit and sip our drinks. We talked and talked about everything and about nothing. About the fact that we were so glad and grateful for the fact that we had found true love so young and that our family was perfect for us. I think we headed home around 10:30. It was a great evening and super anniversary. It really is the little things in life.
Today our boys came home at around 9AM and we got ready and headed out to Legoland in Schaumberg. It was nice and the boys loved it. I just wished that it was a little bigger. It only took about 1 1/2 hours to do the whole thing and that's with letting the boys play for a while. We then went to Maggianos. The food there was phenomenal. Oh my goodness words cannot describe it. The Gnocchi in Tomato Vodka Sauce is to die for. Today's dinner out more than made up for the not so great dinner yesterday at the casino. I told Donte, I know where I want my birthday dinner. MMmmmmm YUMMY!!!
After we got home we straightened up a bit and settled into our normal routine. Daniel and I went outside to play some basketball for awhile. At first it was just the two of us and before we knew it both the Dontes joined us. Donnies friend Trent showed up a bit later to spend the night and we all ended up going in. So the day concludes with Donte, Daniel, Donnie and Trent playing the Xbox and me blogging. I think I am going to head up to bed and let the boys be boys. Tomorrow is my last official day of summer........**Sigh** and so it will begin.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Continued III
The next day was a Monday and back to work I went. I have to admit that I got up a little earlier and felt a new type of energy flowing through my body. Now this was a time before cell phones and being able to contact people in a second by picking up the electronic device on your hip that would magically make the electronic device on their hip ring or vibrate.
We had made plans for him to come over to hang out. I think it was around 6:30 when he came over. We just kinda hung out at the house and talked. Again it was such a great conversation. I was totally falling head over heels for him. I stopped calling him by his last name and started calling him Te. From that day on we were inseparable. Everyday after work like clock work he would be at my apartment. I would be waiting patiently. My life was slowing down with him as well. I was slowly changing from partying every night to looking forward to just being with him. We would go to the movies, out to dinner, or just simply hang out on the couch. I was learning more and more about him and he was learning about me as well. Before I knew it I was not just falling in love with him....I was in love with him.
I introduced him to my friends and he introduced me to his. We spent many nights hosting get togethers at the condo. I was loving this new found togetherness. How lucky was I to find such a great guy among the vast sea of losers out there. I soon felt that we had been together for years. Like I had not known a time without him. I loved his friends and he loved mine.
Hyde, Flores, and Mendez were Te's buddy's. The all lived in the same barracks and they were a riot. Four guys that couldn't have been more different but that got along so well you would have thought that they came from the same mother. Hyde was Asian and was so into cars. Not new ones but vintage ones. He was very particular in the way that he dressed and the company he kept. He was also a big guy, not fat but built like a sumo that wasn't over weight. Flores was Mexican and gaaaaaangsta, what a sweetie. He loved his cars, would tack his pants to the back of his shoes and could drink like a fish. Mendez was the grandpa of the group. I say grandpa but I think he was something like 27. He was married but his wife had a really good job in FL and he was finishing out his tour so he could move home and they could settle down. Mendez would do crazy stuff, like painting blue circles all over his barracks walls.....just because. He was such a sweet heart. He could crack you up with the best of them but he was always very respectful. I would love it when we all got together and hung out. I would be crying from laughing so hard. Even though I would go with Te to the barracks, I would never stay. My Dad was in the Army and no way would I be caught spending the night in the barracks. So often I would invite everyone to the condo and we would party there.
Before we knew it the days were starting to warm up and winter was starting to fade away. this happens early in the south. By March you can pack your jackets away and start enjoying the outdoors. Te's unit had orders for Kuwait and even though I knew the time was coming I was in sweet denial about it. We just kept spending our days together, enjoying ourselves and immersed in each other as if we were the only two people in the world. In fact some of our friends even said that we would get sick of each other of we kept spending so much time together. Whatever, what did they know I was in love and enjoying every minute of it.
I took Te to meet my parents and they loved him. No if, ands, or buts about it, Jeanine and Lisa loved him too and were thrilled that I was happy and that I had found someone so great to spend my time with. In fact everyone loved Te, it was impossible not to. He is just the type of person that people like to be around. His smile and laughter contagious.
His heart was as great as his jokes and he respected me. Respected the fact that I wanted to take it slow. There was never any pressure from him for me to do anything. Our lives just started to intertwine like ivy growing on the same branch. With every passing day our hearts were melting into one instead of two. I found total bliss with him and was loving the fact that I had become one half of a whole that really was working on every level. Now don't get me wrong we would have our disagreements but they never lasted more than a day and were usually over silly little things. We vowed never to leave each other angry.
I cant remember exactly when but soon marriage started to creep up in our conversations. Not a proposal but what we both thought marriage was and what we wanted our lives to be like. We talked about children and the fact that I wanted to wait until I was 25 was a big point of mine. His mother never married so a part of me wondered if this was a path that he may also want to take. My parents had been married for over 20 years and marriage to me was a must. We talked about our careers and what paths we would take. He was unsure of his. He spoke about moving back home after his tour and being close to his family and childhood friends. I spoke about traveling and getting the heck out of Hinesville. I thought that all roads dead ended there and I wanted to spread my wings and fly. This soon became a major conversation that we would have while laying on he couch. I am talking hours and hours, of what each others future dreams were. With every passing conversation I began to realize that our dreams were forging a path in the same direction. I came to the realization that "Oh my God, he is the one".
Te' spent so much time at my apartment that the chair in my bedroom started to look like a tree made out of his clothes. So, one day when he came over I opened up a drawer and showed him that I had emptied it......for his "stuff". Boy if people thought that we were annoying before, they probably started gagging after that. We spent every waking moment together, other than work it was me and him, him and I, us, whatever you want to call it it was just simply "US".
As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months we both knew that his deployment was coming up. In my head I thought that maybe it would get delayed or that he wouldn't have to go. It was only for 2 1/2 months. Not that long but when you are 20 and head over heels it sounds like an eternity. We crammed all our time together. Every second that we could be together we were. No one else existed....it was just us, until April 1st, 2006. We woke up extra early that day and I drove him to his unit. I saw Hyde, Flores, Mendez, and Kenny. I wished them all well and went back to the car to talk with Te. My heart was breaking in a million pieces and I didn't want it too. I wanted to hold on to him as tightly as I could. If I close my eyes I can I still remember the way the early morning air was as heavy as an elephant and how the smell of his BDU's were intoxicating. If I don't let go he wont go right, No I couldn't do that, I couldn't even say that. I had to leave, I had to get out of there it was just too painful. We said our good byes and I went back home. A few minutes after I had cried myself to sleep the phone rang. It was him. He forgot his lock in the back of the car. I had to drag myself out of bed and back to his unit. The second time felt like a dagger ripping through me. I had to be strong and if our relationship was meant to last then it would. If you love something set it free, if it's meant to be it will find its way back to you.
After about three days I heard from Te. He was in Kuwait and he was settling in. The phone call was brief but I was so glad to have heard from him.
In the mean time I decided to move back in with my parents. So I took all my stuff, My car and Te' Car and headed back home. Yes the whole 10 minutes up the road was a long journey but a much needed one.
Then the letters started. He would call when he could which was about once a week so we had to write. We received mail from each other everyday. Some days I would get two or three letters. All of the envelopes would have pictures drawn on them. Sometimes of pyramids and camels, sometimes with a little houses and trees. The next two months were long to say the least. I had started running with a wife of one of the soldiers that Donte worked with. I would run everyday, like the wind. I would take all of my new found loneliness out on the track. I would go until I was drenched in sweat and dying of thirst. I loved it. Pretty soon it was June and I had gone from working at the school to working as a registrar at the hospital. The money was better and I needed a change. The district was making cut backs and I wanted to have stability in my job.
I had also found a new obsession other than running. I was called care packages. I would find the biggest box that I could(that was mailable) and I would stuff it full of anything and everything that I could. From Kool-Aid to beef jerky those boxes had it all. I made sure that there was enough for Te, and for Hyde, Mendez, Kenny, and Flores. I needed for all of them to know that I was still thinking of them.
Through the letters and the phone calls we decided to move in together when he came back. My Mom and her friend Charlotte helped me and before I knew it we found the cutest little apartment. 101 E. Hendry Street was going to be our home. It was on the end of main street and must have been a grand home in the past. It had been renovated into 4 apartments, 2 one bedroom and 2 two bedrooms. I filled out the lease and went to speak with the property managers secretary. The property manager happened to be the father of one of the girls I went to high school with and everything went really quickly. I had signed the lease and paid my deposit. I had a great 2 bedroom apartment with two balconies for $300 a month. Now this was not a dump. It was a great deal. Today it probably rents for at least $800 a month. I was so excited to get this place unpacked and decorated I could barely think straight.
My anticipation level was so high. I had less than two weeks and Te would be home. The letters that we had been sending only drew me closer to him. Maybe I couldn't be with him physically but my love kept growing. I had never felt like this with anyone else. Anyone else would have been promptly dumped and I would have moved on, but not with Te.
One night at about three in the morning I got a phone call....they had been extended. I could hear the anger in his voice, anger I had never heard before. "How long" I asked? "Two months" was the reply. I was dumbfounded, shocked, what could I say? I wanted to talk but the words wouldn't come, but the tears did. My mind was swirling, am I dreaming? This cannot be right. He had to go. All I heard was "I love you". Two more months, two more months.....really? I felt my heart break, I felt sick.
I threw myself into my running, work and getting our apartment put together. My girlfriends were a constant and so was my family. The love letters got deeper and the content of what the ink was pouring onto the paper was nothing short of amazing. I would run to the mailbox when the post man would come and could hardly make it back inside to open the letters that I would receive. I then received a letter that brought all of my true feeling to the forefront. Every time we would talk the conversation would go to marriage, and our thoughts, and the one days. I had already thought that he was the one. I supposed I knew it from very early on but was not the one to tell him. It was a mans place to bring all of that up. Call me old fashioned....it's who I am. This letter was long just like all the rest. except for the part that was written to my father, the part that asked for my fathers permission to ask me to marry him. To let him have the chance to make all my dreams come true, to love me unconditionally and to treasure me. I think I read it about a million times. Of course my father gave his blessing and the next time we talked I gave him my answer. A little unconventional maybe but it meant just as much as if were face to face.
I was getting married....married.
The time started to fly and we settled on little civil ceremony with the promise that a church wedding would follow at a later date.
On the morning of August 15th I returned from working an all nighter at the hospital. I quickly changed and straightened up the apartment as quickly as I could. At 11AM I headed out to soldier field on Fort Stewart. I was so very nervous. I had cut my hair and lost a ton of weight from all of the running. Would he know me, how had he changed? As I stood there feeling a little out of place. I was the only "girlfriend" amongst the sea of parents, wives, and children. I knew no one really and didn't know what to expect. The sun was blaring above and wasn't helping at all. Finally I saw the buses coming. Oh my would I be able to spot him? As the buses parked and someone said some mumbo jumbo, I scanned the faces coming off of the buses.....where was he? Then I saw him. Dusty and dirty and carrying about a ton of Army stuff on his back there he was. I stood there not quite knowing what to do. There were hundreds of people all around but all I could see was him. I was wearing sunglasses and I could feel the sweat.....did I look OK. He was obviously searching the crowds.....he waked right pass me. Ross(one of the guys he worked with) was like "hey Slade" He turned around, and as he did I took the shades off , our eyes met and in a flash he was holding me. In his arms.....the rest is all a blur. We went right to the hospital to get the blood tests done(GA law) and then to the apartment. He was home and finally this apartment felt like "Our Home". The next morning My Mom, Dad, Brother, Jeanine, and Kenny met Te and I at the Liberty County Court House. On August 16th, 2006 we both tearfully took out vows. I was 20 and he was 22. My heart was full.
We had made plans for him to come over to hang out. I think it was around 6:30 when he came over. We just kinda hung out at the house and talked. Again it was such a great conversation. I was totally falling head over heels for him. I stopped calling him by his last name and started calling him Te. From that day on we were inseparable. Everyday after work like clock work he would be at my apartment. I would be waiting patiently. My life was slowing down with him as well. I was slowly changing from partying every night to looking forward to just being with him. We would go to the movies, out to dinner, or just simply hang out on the couch. I was learning more and more about him and he was learning about me as well. Before I knew it I was not just falling in love with him....I was in love with him.
I introduced him to my friends and he introduced me to his. We spent many nights hosting get togethers at the condo. I was loving this new found togetherness. How lucky was I to find such a great guy among the vast sea of losers out there. I soon felt that we had been together for years. Like I had not known a time without him. I loved his friends and he loved mine.
Hyde, Flores, and Mendez were Te's buddy's. The all lived in the same barracks and they were a riot. Four guys that couldn't have been more different but that got along so well you would have thought that they came from the same mother. Hyde was Asian and was so into cars. Not new ones but vintage ones. He was very particular in the way that he dressed and the company he kept. He was also a big guy, not fat but built like a sumo that wasn't over weight. Flores was Mexican and gaaaaaangsta, what a sweetie. He loved his cars, would tack his pants to the back of his shoes and could drink like a fish. Mendez was the grandpa of the group. I say grandpa but I think he was something like 27. He was married but his wife had a really good job in FL and he was finishing out his tour so he could move home and they could settle down. Mendez would do crazy stuff, like painting blue circles all over his barracks walls.....just because. He was such a sweet heart. He could crack you up with the best of them but he was always very respectful. I would love it when we all got together and hung out. I would be crying from laughing so hard. Even though I would go with Te to the barracks, I would never stay. My Dad was in the Army and no way would I be caught spending the night in the barracks. So often I would invite everyone to the condo and we would party there.
Before we knew it the days were starting to warm up and winter was starting to fade away. this happens early in the south. By March you can pack your jackets away and start enjoying the outdoors. Te's unit had orders for Kuwait and even though I knew the time was coming I was in sweet denial about it. We just kept spending our days together, enjoying ourselves and immersed in each other as if we were the only two people in the world. In fact some of our friends even said that we would get sick of each other of we kept spending so much time together. Whatever, what did they know I was in love and enjoying every minute of it.
I took Te to meet my parents and they loved him. No if, ands, or buts about it, Jeanine and Lisa loved him too and were thrilled that I was happy and that I had found someone so great to spend my time with. In fact everyone loved Te, it was impossible not to. He is just the type of person that people like to be around. His smile and laughter contagious.
His heart was as great as his jokes and he respected me. Respected the fact that I wanted to take it slow. There was never any pressure from him for me to do anything. Our lives just started to intertwine like ivy growing on the same branch. With every passing day our hearts were melting into one instead of two. I found total bliss with him and was loving the fact that I had become one half of a whole that really was working on every level. Now don't get me wrong we would have our disagreements but they never lasted more than a day and were usually over silly little things. We vowed never to leave each other angry.
I cant remember exactly when but soon marriage started to creep up in our conversations. Not a proposal but what we both thought marriage was and what we wanted our lives to be like. We talked about children and the fact that I wanted to wait until I was 25 was a big point of mine. His mother never married so a part of me wondered if this was a path that he may also want to take. My parents had been married for over 20 years and marriage to me was a must. We talked about our careers and what paths we would take. He was unsure of his. He spoke about moving back home after his tour and being close to his family and childhood friends. I spoke about traveling and getting the heck out of Hinesville. I thought that all roads dead ended there and I wanted to spread my wings and fly. This soon became a major conversation that we would have while laying on he couch. I am talking hours and hours, of what each others future dreams were. With every passing conversation I began to realize that our dreams were forging a path in the same direction. I came to the realization that "Oh my God, he is the one".
Te' spent so much time at my apartment that the chair in my bedroom started to look like a tree made out of his clothes. So, one day when he came over I opened up a drawer and showed him that I had emptied it......for his "stuff". Boy if people thought that we were annoying before, they probably started gagging after that. We spent every waking moment together, other than work it was me and him, him and I, us, whatever you want to call it it was just simply "US".
As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months we both knew that his deployment was coming up. In my head I thought that maybe it would get delayed or that he wouldn't have to go. It was only for 2 1/2 months. Not that long but when you are 20 and head over heels it sounds like an eternity. We crammed all our time together. Every second that we could be together we were. No one else existed....it was just us, until April 1st, 2006. We woke up extra early that day and I drove him to his unit. I saw Hyde, Flores, Mendez, and Kenny. I wished them all well and went back to the car to talk with Te. My heart was breaking in a million pieces and I didn't want it too. I wanted to hold on to him as tightly as I could. If I close my eyes I can I still remember the way the early morning air was as heavy as an elephant and how the smell of his BDU's were intoxicating. If I don't let go he wont go right, No I couldn't do that, I couldn't even say that. I had to leave, I had to get out of there it was just too painful. We said our good byes and I went back home. A few minutes after I had cried myself to sleep the phone rang. It was him. He forgot his lock in the back of the car. I had to drag myself out of bed and back to his unit. The second time felt like a dagger ripping through me. I had to be strong and if our relationship was meant to last then it would. If you love something set it free, if it's meant to be it will find its way back to you.
After about three days I heard from Te. He was in Kuwait and he was settling in. The phone call was brief but I was so glad to have heard from him.
In the mean time I decided to move back in with my parents. So I took all my stuff, My car and Te' Car and headed back home. Yes the whole 10 minutes up the road was a long journey but a much needed one.
Then the letters started. He would call when he could which was about once a week so we had to write. We received mail from each other everyday. Some days I would get two or three letters. All of the envelopes would have pictures drawn on them. Sometimes of pyramids and camels, sometimes with a little houses and trees. The next two months were long to say the least. I had started running with a wife of one of the soldiers that Donte worked with. I would run everyday, like the wind. I would take all of my new found loneliness out on the track. I would go until I was drenched in sweat and dying of thirst. I loved it. Pretty soon it was June and I had gone from working at the school to working as a registrar at the hospital. The money was better and I needed a change. The district was making cut backs and I wanted to have stability in my job.
I had also found a new obsession other than running. I was called care packages. I would find the biggest box that I could(that was mailable) and I would stuff it full of anything and everything that I could. From Kool-Aid to beef jerky those boxes had it all. I made sure that there was enough for Te, and for Hyde, Mendez, Kenny, and Flores. I needed for all of them to know that I was still thinking of them.
Through the letters and the phone calls we decided to move in together when he came back. My Mom and her friend Charlotte helped me and before I knew it we found the cutest little apartment. 101 E. Hendry Street was going to be our home. It was on the end of main street and must have been a grand home in the past. It had been renovated into 4 apartments, 2 one bedroom and 2 two bedrooms. I filled out the lease and went to speak with the property managers secretary. The property manager happened to be the father of one of the girls I went to high school with and everything went really quickly. I had signed the lease and paid my deposit. I had a great 2 bedroom apartment with two balconies for $300 a month. Now this was not a dump. It was a great deal. Today it probably rents for at least $800 a month. I was so excited to get this place unpacked and decorated I could barely think straight.
My anticipation level was so high. I had less than two weeks and Te would be home. The letters that we had been sending only drew me closer to him. Maybe I couldn't be with him physically but my love kept growing. I had never felt like this with anyone else. Anyone else would have been promptly dumped and I would have moved on, but not with Te.
One night at about three in the morning I got a phone call....they had been extended. I could hear the anger in his voice, anger I had never heard before. "How long" I asked? "Two months" was the reply. I was dumbfounded, shocked, what could I say? I wanted to talk but the words wouldn't come, but the tears did. My mind was swirling, am I dreaming? This cannot be right. He had to go. All I heard was "I love you". Two more months, two more months.....really? I felt my heart break, I felt sick.
I threw myself into my running, work and getting our apartment put together. My girlfriends were a constant and so was my family. The love letters got deeper and the content of what the ink was pouring onto the paper was nothing short of amazing. I would run to the mailbox when the post man would come and could hardly make it back inside to open the letters that I would receive. I then received a letter that brought all of my true feeling to the forefront. Every time we would talk the conversation would go to marriage, and our thoughts, and the one days. I had already thought that he was the one. I supposed I knew it from very early on but was not the one to tell him. It was a mans place to bring all of that up. Call me old fashioned....it's who I am. This letter was long just like all the rest. except for the part that was written to my father, the part that asked for my fathers permission to ask me to marry him. To let him have the chance to make all my dreams come true, to love me unconditionally and to treasure me. I think I read it about a million times. Of course my father gave his blessing and the next time we talked I gave him my answer. A little unconventional maybe but it meant just as much as if were face to face.
I was getting married....married.
The time started to fly and we settled on little civil ceremony with the promise that a church wedding would follow at a later date.
On the morning of August 15th I returned from working an all nighter at the hospital. I quickly changed and straightened up the apartment as quickly as I could. At 11AM I headed out to soldier field on Fort Stewart. I was so very nervous. I had cut my hair and lost a ton of weight from all of the running. Would he know me, how had he changed? As I stood there feeling a little out of place. I was the only "girlfriend" amongst the sea of parents, wives, and children. I knew no one really and didn't know what to expect. The sun was blaring above and wasn't helping at all. Finally I saw the buses coming. Oh my would I be able to spot him? As the buses parked and someone said some mumbo jumbo, I scanned the faces coming off of the buses.....where was he? Then I saw him. Dusty and dirty and carrying about a ton of Army stuff on his back there he was. I stood there not quite knowing what to do. There were hundreds of people all around but all I could see was him. I was wearing sunglasses and I could feel the sweat.....did I look OK. He was obviously searching the crowds.....he waked right pass me. Ross(one of the guys he worked with) was like "hey Slade" He turned around, and as he did I took the shades off , our eyes met and in a flash he was holding me. In his arms.....the rest is all a blur. We went right to the hospital to get the blood tests done(GA law) and then to the apartment. He was home and finally this apartment felt like "Our Home". The next morning My Mom, Dad, Brother, Jeanine, and Kenny met Te and I at the Liberty County Court House. On August 16th, 2006 we both tearfully took out vows. I was 20 and he was 22. My heart was full.
August 15
This date has so many meanings for me. today would have been my Grandpas birthday. The last few years it has been hard to say the least. I would call him and he would sometimes mumble and sometimes nothing at all. I would however keep talking...somewhere deep inside I knew he could hear me and I always imagined that even if his lips couldn't say the words he was thinking them. What words you may ask? Well to tell you the truth any words would do. This year though I am sure that he is celebrating. Dancing and partying with all the ones that went before him. And this year I can talk to him and know that he is looking down on me smiling. What a cruel thing the circle of life is.
Today is also my husband brothers birthday. A brother whom we never see because of circumstances that he brought upon himself. It bothers my husband every year. I don't feel as if it's right for me to elaborate on that. If Donte wants to them he will. It's just not my place.
This is also the date 12 years ago that my fiancee came home from Kuwait....wait I will have to tell you all about that in the "continuation" posts.
Today is also my husband brothers birthday. A brother whom we never see because of circumstances that he brought upon himself. It bothers my husband every year. I don't feel as if it's right for me to elaborate on that. If Donte wants to them he will. It's just not my place.
This is also the date 12 years ago that my fiancee came home from Kuwait....wait I will have to tell you all about that in the "continuation" posts.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Continued
I remember feeling totally dehydrated as I tried to move my stiff body off of the couch. I guess I wasn't too quiet because everyone else woke up right after. We discussed what was up for the day and decided to join Kenny at his house the next day to watch a football game. Kenny and Slade left and I think I must have drank a gallon of water and got ready for the day. I ran a few errands, started the laundry and tried to move my mind to the tasks at hand, the only problem was that I couldn't get the funny, fun to be with, adorable Slade out of my head. I had recently made a conscious decision to not date for awhile. A string of uneventful losers had made me realize that I needed some time to myself. Later that day I noticed that Slades car was back at Kennys. No sooner did I realize that Slade was next door when the phone rang. It was Kenny calling to see if we wanted to come over and hang out. Sure...any excuse to not do laundry was a feasible excuse for me. We ended up going to a Chinese place and picking up some food. I remember the sesame chicken that I got. MMMMMmmm Yummy. My Favorite! As Saturday night turned into Sunday morning I was dreading the time that was approaching...the time for me to go back home. I said bye to everyone and as I went to sleep that night I was trying to shake the feeling that I was falling for this guy. He had given me some signals that he was into me but he hadn't said anything so maybe he would just be a great friend to hang out with. I wondered if he would show up at Kennys for the football game the next day. I was hoping that he would and at the same time wondering why I was letting myself feel like that because I WAS NOT DATING ANYONE FOR AWHILE.....at least that's what I was trying to tell myself.
As I sat on my couch Sunday watching TV and folding laundry, I saw that My Girl II would be on later that night. I loved the first My Girl and wanted to see the the 2nd one badly so I made a note of what time it would start so I could leave Kennys and be home in time to pop some pop corn and grab a drink. Damn the Slade, why did he have to be so great and why cant I get him out of my mind.
Eventually I headed over to Kenny's. It was Kenny, Jay, Shalini, Slade, and I. I love to go to an actual football game, but it bores the piss out of me to have to watch it on TV. I need the excitement of the crowd and the cool night air to make my football experiences enjoyable. I was enjoying the ribbing going on because from what I can remember the fellas were divided on which team should win. I saw that the time was going faster than I would have liked. I really was starting to like this Slade character. Not only was he funny but he was polite and a lot of fun to boot. Anyway, as you can imagine I was getting picked at about My Girl II, to include a lovely rendition of the song. Thanks guys.....just what I needed a group of non-singing men to sing my girl to me. Anyway as I was headed for the door Slade asks if I wanted some company. Now I may not be the brightest bulb in the bunch but what red blooded man wants to watch My Girl II instead of a football game? I can feel the butterflies in my stomach as I say sure. Hmmmmm Maybe he feels something too....but never mind....I am going to be single for awhile.
We head over to my house and get ready for the movie. I don't remember exactly what we talked about but soon the movie was put to the back of my mind and the conversation to the front. We talked about everything and anything. We had a lot of things that were similar but so many that were different. We came from two very different sides of the track. We both loved many of the same things. He had a nephew whom he talked about like he was his own. He was polite and caring. His love for his family was strong. I told him about my family as well. How I had a 14 year old brother and how my parents meant so much to me. How we came to America from Sri Lanka and how my parents worked so very hard to build a great life for my brother and I and succeeded. I can't tell you how long we talked but before we knew it, it was late and he had to head back to the barracks. We decided to finish off the leftover Chinese food so off to the kitchen we went. I had a bad habit of sitting on my counter back then. I popped the food in the microwave and hopped on the counter. I sat there making small talk with Slade. I was wishing that I could turn back the hands of time to earlier...can't this day just last a little longer. Finally the time came for him to leave. As I sat there with my legs dangling over the counter, he walked straight up to me and kissed me. WOW...the whole I am not dating anyone went out of the window right then and there. "Good Night" Slade said. "Good Night" I replied. I went to bed that night with my heart all aflutter. Little did I know that he was the last man that I would ever kiss.
As I sat on my couch Sunday watching TV and folding laundry, I saw that My Girl II would be on later that night. I loved the first My Girl and wanted to see the the 2nd one badly so I made a note of what time it would start so I could leave Kennys and be home in time to pop some pop corn and grab a drink. Damn the Slade, why did he have to be so great and why cant I get him out of my mind.
Eventually I headed over to Kenny's. It was Kenny, Jay, Shalini, Slade, and I. I love to go to an actual football game, but it bores the piss out of me to have to watch it on TV. I need the excitement of the crowd and the cool night air to make my football experiences enjoyable. I was enjoying the ribbing going on because from what I can remember the fellas were divided on which team should win. I saw that the time was going faster than I would have liked. I really was starting to like this Slade character. Not only was he funny but he was polite and a lot of fun to boot. Anyway, as you can imagine I was getting picked at about My Girl II, to include a lovely rendition of the song. Thanks guys.....just what I needed a group of non-singing men to sing my girl to me. Anyway as I was headed for the door Slade asks if I wanted some company. Now I may not be the brightest bulb in the bunch but what red blooded man wants to watch My Girl II instead of a football game? I can feel the butterflies in my stomach as I say sure. Hmmmmm Maybe he feels something too....but never mind....I am going to be single for awhile.
We head over to my house and get ready for the movie. I don't remember exactly what we talked about but soon the movie was put to the back of my mind and the conversation to the front. We talked about everything and anything. We had a lot of things that were similar but so many that were different. We came from two very different sides of the track. We both loved many of the same things. He had a nephew whom he talked about like he was his own. He was polite and caring. His love for his family was strong. I told him about my family as well. How I had a 14 year old brother and how my parents meant so much to me. How we came to America from Sri Lanka and how my parents worked so very hard to build a great life for my brother and I and succeeded. I can't tell you how long we talked but before we knew it, it was late and he had to head back to the barracks. We decided to finish off the leftover Chinese food so off to the kitchen we went. I had a bad habit of sitting on my counter back then. I popped the food in the microwave and hopped on the counter. I sat there making small talk with Slade. I was wishing that I could turn back the hands of time to earlier...can't this day just last a little longer. Finally the time came for him to leave. As I sat there with my legs dangling over the counter, he walked straight up to me and kissed me. WOW...the whole I am not dating anyone went out of the window right then and there. "Good Night" Slade said. "Good Night" I replied. I went to bed that night with my heart all aflutter. Little did I know that he was the last man that I would ever kiss.
Winston Henry, Oh is He Not The Cutest!!
Look how big and cute he is. I just want to pull on his ears!
Friday, August 08, 2008
12 Years........Almost
As I was laying in bed this morning willing my body to get out of bed, I started to think about our upcoming anniversary. Donte and I have been married for almost 12 years. 12 YEARS....Part of me feels like it's been a whole lot longer and another part of me feels like it was yesterday. We were so young when we met I was 20 and he was 21. Have I told you about the way we met?
I was living in the colonial park condos with my roommate Shalini. We had moved in in August of 2005 and we were both out on our own for the first time. I had lived in the dorms for awhile but this was my first time having to juggle school, work, and an apartment.
During the day I was working at Liberty Elementary school as a teachers aide, but at night I was partying my hiney off. We were great friends with the two single guys that lived next door to us. Kenny and Jay were the only "single" owners along with us that lived in the complex, and we soon became their little sisters as they became our big brothers. We weren't the favorite on the block for the obvious reasons that we partied pretty hard. What else do you expect when you are that young and you are invincible. The world was at my feet and I was living life to the fullest.
We would frequent the NCO club on Fort Stewart a lot. Sometimes we would head out to Savannah but for the most part we stayed local. I had this ritual every Friday night. It went like this......Get home at 4PM, say hey to the roomie, chill out for awhile, you know watch TV, stare into space, then 8 pm would roll around and I would start to get ready. I would spend about an hour picking out just the perfect outfit. It usually consisted of Jeans, a blouse, or a jersey depending on what look I wanted to go with. My K-Swiss sneakers were a must if I was wearing a jersey. They were all the rage back then and you had to keep them as white as you could. My hair used to be down to my hiney and it was thick, healthy, and the shiniest shade of black that you could see. By 9PM I would hop in the shower and start on my hair. Blow drying it took quite awhile to do. I would spend about 45 minutes on my hair and about 15 on my make up. Then came ironing the clothes, you had to have just the perfect crease in your jeans. By 11PM I was ready. We would hop into either my car or Kennys car and head out for the club. We would then spend the next 4 hours dancing our hearts out and getting hammered. Now we did ALWAYS have a designated Driver so there were nights where I would just dance, dance until I couldn't anymore, until I had muscle failure. For a while we would head out to the Hardees for a 4 AM breakfast but there were always so many fights and the drama there was no fun at all so we started coming back to the house and cooking breakfast. We would stay up eat, drink and play cards until the sun came up. Finally at about 6AM would would all go our separate ways and I would crash until about noon the next day.
Well one Friday I came home in a foul mood to say the least. I remember just feeling like I needed a break from it all. Time for myself....but wait.....Shanez not going to the club?.....that just wasn't right. When Kenny found out he was at the door in an instant to find out if everything was OK. I explained that I was just in a bad mood and thought that maybe a little extra sleep would do me some good. This answer wasn't sitting well with him and he kept pushing to make sure that nothing was wrong. By this time I felt like I was being interrogated, no I am not mad, No no one hurt my feelings, but YES YOU ARE GETTING ON MY NERVES!!! This is how the conversation went.
ME: No, Not only do I not feel like the club tonight, I don't have the money for it.
KENNY: That's OK I gotcha, I'll pay for you to get in.
ME: Well that's really sweet but it's no fun going to the club in this mood and not have a few
drinks.
KENNY: I said I gotcha. The whole nights on me.....but only if you bake your corn bread muffins in the morning.
ME: I have nothing to wear.
KENNY: I will let you borrow my jersey, you know the one that you always want to borrow and I always say no.
ME: It's already almost 10 and I will never be ready on time.
KENNY: We can wait.
Now my roommate is sitting back snickering because she knows that I am about to cave. I finally do and run up to get ready. I jumped in the shower. Dried my hair a little, pulled it all back in a tight ponytail, applied some lipstick and nothing else in the form of makeup, threw on the jersey and K-Swiss and was like OK lets go. We get to the club and its in full effect. Kenny brings us all a round of drinks...my favorite Rum and Coke, and the PARTY begins. I can feel my bad mood slipping away and I am grateful for being dragged out of the house for a fun filled Friday night. Since I had lived in Hinesville since I was 12 I knew most of the people at the club. I went to middle school and high school with them. Every weekend was like a mini reunion. We would all spread out and mingle, dance a little bit, mingle a little bit, and so on and so on. We would always find our way back to each other though and never let too much time slip by. Kenny kept the drinks coming and it was time for a refill so we all danced our way back to the bar. This was also the place that you would introduce anyone that the others didn't know. That night Kenny says "Hey, this is my boy Slade". I remember those words so clearly still today because Kenny knew how I felt about dating soldiers......I didn't. He was also very protective of me and knew how most young soldiers were. I said hello and we all started talking. This Slade guy was hilarious. He had me in stitches. Some guy came over and asked me to dance so off I went into the abyss that they called a dance floor. I am getting my groove on and I see Slade dancing. We make eye contact and he gives me the look of help me. The girl he is dancing with has her back turned to me and I for the life of me can't imagine why he would give me that look. A few seconds later she turns around with a big grin on her face and lo and behold now I see why. Homegirl was missing some teeth. I couldn't help myself I busted out laughing, right there on the dance floor. The poor guy that I was dancing with didn't get it and I sure wasn't about to explain so I just said I was done dancing for awhile. I was almost in tears as I filled Kenny and Shalini in on the situation. We sat at the bar and had a good laugh watching Slade having to get his groove on with the toothless lady. After the song he just about ran over to us and we of course we had to tease him. He said "she came up to me and asked me to dance, I didn't want to be rude, and by the time I got out there it was too late to run". As he is trying to get out of the jabbing, and we are laying it on him full force, my song came on. I jumped up and before I knew it Slade was asking me to dance. I think I said something like "sure" then I smiled and said "See, I have all my teeth". We both cracked up and headed to the dance floor. He was a great dancer and we had some great conversation on the dance floor as well. Then a slow song came on and the conversation got even better. Kenny's "Boy Slade" and I danced together for the rest of the night. After the club closed we went to Kenny's for breakfast and a game of spades. He invited Slade to come over too. We got there and I had to bake the corn bread muffins so I ran home and got everything. Kenny was a great cook and I couldn't wait. I was starving. We started a game of spades that soon turned into a drinking game. Slade was trying to take me on in the drinking game. Kenny even warned him that I could hold my own, he said so could he. Really we will see. Before I knew it I had taken quite a few shots and knew that I needed to slow down. By this time Jay had returned with his hoochie mama. Even though we loved Jay he had a knack for liking some scanky girls. We ended the party at Kenny's and headed back over to our condo. We sat around in the living room for awhile, until we all started getting tired. Kenny and Shalini fell asleep on the floor and I crashed on one side of my couch and Slade on the other.
to be continued.....
I was living in the colonial park condos with my roommate Shalini. We had moved in in August of 2005 and we were both out on our own for the first time. I had lived in the dorms for awhile but this was my first time having to juggle school, work, and an apartment.
During the day I was working at Liberty Elementary school as a teachers aide, but at night I was partying my hiney off. We were great friends with the two single guys that lived next door to us. Kenny and Jay were the only "single" owners along with us that lived in the complex, and we soon became their little sisters as they became our big brothers. We weren't the favorite on the block for the obvious reasons that we partied pretty hard. What else do you expect when you are that young and you are invincible. The world was at my feet and I was living life to the fullest.
We would frequent the NCO club on Fort Stewart a lot. Sometimes we would head out to Savannah but for the most part we stayed local. I had this ritual every Friday night. It went like this......Get home at 4PM, say hey to the roomie, chill out for awhile, you know watch TV, stare into space, then 8 pm would roll around and I would start to get ready. I would spend about an hour picking out just the perfect outfit. It usually consisted of Jeans, a blouse, or a jersey depending on what look I wanted to go with. My K-Swiss sneakers were a must if I was wearing a jersey. They were all the rage back then and you had to keep them as white as you could. My hair used to be down to my hiney and it was thick, healthy, and the shiniest shade of black that you could see. By 9PM I would hop in the shower and start on my hair. Blow drying it took quite awhile to do. I would spend about 45 minutes on my hair and about 15 on my make up. Then came ironing the clothes, you had to have just the perfect crease in your jeans. By 11PM I was ready. We would hop into either my car or Kennys car and head out for the club. We would then spend the next 4 hours dancing our hearts out and getting hammered. Now we did ALWAYS have a designated Driver so there were nights where I would just dance, dance until I couldn't anymore, until I had muscle failure. For a while we would head out to the Hardees for a 4 AM breakfast but there were always so many fights and the drama there was no fun at all so we started coming back to the house and cooking breakfast. We would stay up eat, drink and play cards until the sun came up. Finally at about 6AM would would all go our separate ways and I would crash until about noon the next day.
Well one Friday I came home in a foul mood to say the least. I remember just feeling like I needed a break from it all. Time for myself....but wait.....Shanez not going to the club?.....that just wasn't right. When Kenny found out he was at the door in an instant to find out if everything was OK. I explained that I was just in a bad mood and thought that maybe a little extra sleep would do me some good. This answer wasn't sitting well with him and he kept pushing to make sure that nothing was wrong. By this time I felt like I was being interrogated, no I am not mad, No no one hurt my feelings, but YES YOU ARE GETTING ON MY NERVES!!! This is how the conversation went.
ME: No, Not only do I not feel like the club tonight, I don't have the money for it.
KENNY: That's OK I gotcha, I'll pay for you to get in.
ME: Well that's really sweet but it's no fun going to the club in this mood and not have a few
drinks.
KENNY: I said I gotcha. The whole nights on me.....but only if you bake your corn bread muffins in the morning.
ME: I have nothing to wear.
KENNY: I will let you borrow my jersey, you know the one that you always want to borrow and I always say no.
ME: It's already almost 10 and I will never be ready on time.
KENNY: We can wait.
Now my roommate is sitting back snickering because she knows that I am about to cave. I finally do and run up to get ready. I jumped in the shower. Dried my hair a little, pulled it all back in a tight ponytail, applied some lipstick and nothing else in the form of makeup, threw on the jersey and K-Swiss and was like OK lets go. We get to the club and its in full effect. Kenny brings us all a round of drinks...my favorite Rum and Coke, and the PARTY begins. I can feel my bad mood slipping away and I am grateful for being dragged out of the house for a fun filled Friday night. Since I had lived in Hinesville since I was 12 I knew most of the people at the club. I went to middle school and high school with them. Every weekend was like a mini reunion. We would all spread out and mingle, dance a little bit, mingle a little bit, and so on and so on. We would always find our way back to each other though and never let too much time slip by. Kenny kept the drinks coming and it was time for a refill so we all danced our way back to the bar. This was also the place that you would introduce anyone that the others didn't know. That night Kenny says "Hey, this is my boy Slade". I remember those words so clearly still today because Kenny knew how I felt about dating soldiers......I didn't. He was also very protective of me and knew how most young soldiers were. I said hello and we all started talking. This Slade guy was hilarious. He had me in stitches. Some guy came over and asked me to dance so off I went into the abyss that they called a dance floor. I am getting my groove on and I see Slade dancing. We make eye contact and he gives me the look of help me. The girl he is dancing with has her back turned to me and I for the life of me can't imagine why he would give me that look. A few seconds later she turns around with a big grin on her face and lo and behold now I see why. Homegirl was missing some teeth. I couldn't help myself I busted out laughing, right there on the dance floor. The poor guy that I was dancing with didn't get it and I sure wasn't about to explain so I just said I was done dancing for awhile. I was almost in tears as I filled Kenny and Shalini in on the situation. We sat at the bar and had a good laugh watching Slade having to get his groove on with the toothless lady. After the song he just about ran over to us and we of course we had to tease him. He said "she came up to me and asked me to dance, I didn't want to be rude, and by the time I got out there it was too late to run". As he is trying to get out of the jabbing, and we are laying it on him full force, my song came on. I jumped up and before I knew it Slade was asking me to dance. I think I said something like "sure" then I smiled and said "See, I have all my teeth". We both cracked up and headed to the dance floor. He was a great dancer and we had some great conversation on the dance floor as well. Then a slow song came on and the conversation got even better. Kenny's "Boy Slade" and I danced together for the rest of the night. After the club closed we went to Kenny's for breakfast and a game of spades. He invited Slade to come over too. We got there and I had to bake the corn bread muffins so I ran home and got everything. Kenny was a great cook and I couldn't wait. I was starving. We started a game of spades that soon turned into a drinking game. Slade was trying to take me on in the drinking game. Kenny even warned him that I could hold my own, he said so could he. Really we will see. Before I knew it I had taken quite a few shots and knew that I needed to slow down. By this time Jay had returned with his hoochie mama. Even though we loved Jay he had a knack for liking some scanky girls. We ended the party at Kenny's and headed back over to our condo. We sat around in the living room for awhile, until we all started getting tired. Kenny and Shalini fell asleep on the floor and I crashed on one side of my couch and Slade on the other.
to be continued.....
Colonial Park Condos in Hinesville GA.
My condo would have been on the right and Kenny and Jay's was on the left.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Time
I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done. The summer is coming to a close and I have a laundry list of "to do" left. I know that I will get it done but geesh I am feeling the pressure. I am trying to relax as much as I possibly can with the boys because I know that when school starts there will be no relaxing for me. Daniel has practices Tues, Wed, and Thursdays from 6 to 8. Donnies coach just called and his first practice is tomorrow and we will find out then what his schedule will look like. This is on top of all the homework and clubs that they will be sure to join. It's worth it though to see them enjoy their childhood. They will be grown up soon enough.
Onto my to do list I have started to organize my pictures. I have a huge plastic tub full of pictures. There is no method to my madness so I have brought it all down to go through and organize. I have a feeling that I will spend more time pouring over them than organizing though. I have been wanting to do this for awhile but it is a big task to take on. I suppose there's no time like the present.
We have had some really bad storms here the last two days. Monday they called Dannies practice at around 7:20 by 7:30 the skies had opened and the rain was pounding. It was pitch black and the wind was horrible. We have a 15 min ride to ge home and we decided to cut though the corn field. There is an actual road there so if could save us time why not right. Well the lightning was literally a second apart and was hitting to the left and right of us. It was blinding! Combined with the rain I was starting to get a little worried. We got home and couldn't close the garage door soon enough. We came in and started settling in. I turned the TV on and there was the alert for everyone to seek shelter. Are you kidding me? So down we went to the basement where we tuned into the radio and played rock, paper, scissors. We just made a pallet and hung our until they said we could go back up. The next morning my phone rings at 6:30 AM and it;s Donte saying to tune into the news. He had just left for work. He said the skies all of a sudden got really dark and the storm started. I hollered for the boys to get into my bed and we turned to the news. Luckily we were spared from the basement. We actually went back to sleep and woke up a few hours later.
Well I am going to get started on the pictures. :0) Wish me luck!
Onto my to do list I have started to organize my pictures. I have a huge plastic tub full of pictures. There is no method to my madness so I have brought it all down to go through and organize. I have a feeling that I will spend more time pouring over them than organizing though. I have been wanting to do this for awhile but it is a big task to take on. I suppose there's no time like the present.
We have had some really bad storms here the last two days. Monday they called Dannies practice at around 7:20 by 7:30 the skies had opened and the rain was pounding. It was pitch black and the wind was horrible. We have a 15 min ride to ge home and we decided to cut though the corn field. There is an actual road there so if could save us time why not right. Well the lightning was literally a second apart and was hitting to the left and right of us. It was blinding! Combined with the rain I was starting to get a little worried. We got home and couldn't close the garage door soon enough. We came in and started settling in. I turned the TV on and there was the alert for everyone to seek shelter. Are you kidding me? So down we went to the basement where we tuned into the radio and played rock, paper, scissors. We just made a pallet and hung our until they said we could go back up. The next morning my phone rings at 6:30 AM and it;s Donte saying to tune into the news. He had just left for work. He said the skies all of a sudden got really dark and the storm started. I hollered for the boys to get into my bed and we turned to the news. Luckily we were spared from the basement. We actually went back to sleep and woke up a few hours later.
Well I am going to get started on the pictures. :0) Wish me luck!
Monday, August 04, 2008
I Can't Believe It's August
August signals for me the end of Summer. Those long, lazy days are coming to an end andit's time to dust off the work clothes. The boys and I did the bulk of our school shopping today. We got tons of stuff at great bargain prices. I even got some GAP Jeans for $2.99. We were out and about just about all day but it was well worth it. All we have to get now is some new shoes and heavy winter jackets. I would like to get them black jackets this year to match their Carolina glove and hat set. I just have to make sure that they are really heavy. After last winter I am foregoing the light jackets and going straight for the heavy ones.
Football tryouts are over and both the boys did great. Donnie will be playing in house this year and did great out there. Compared to some of those kids my baby looked so tiny but he held his own. Daniel made the travel team and is rearing to go. He had he fitting yesterday and starts his practices today. He will practice everyday until school starts and then on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I haven't gotten Donnie schedule yet but God help me I am gonna have to find some extra energy from somewhere. It is so worth it though to see my boys following their dreams.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Thrifty
I like to shop sales...in fact I would say that I am probably addicted to shopping sales. I can usually find some really good deals and when I do I always have that feeling of accomplishment. I try as a rule not to buy full price for anything retail. I however have a little bit of trouble at the grocery store. Having two boys and a husband that could eat a whole cow in one sitting my grocery bill gets up there. So I have actually started a new practice in the Slade household...the weekly menu. Oh yes people I am through coming home and trying to figure out what I am going to cook, I will have it all ready to go. You see I already make certain dishes in advance and freeze them. My homemade spaghetti sauce with spicy sausage and meatballs is always cooked in bulk, divided, and frozen for a quick yummy dinner. I also do this with my homemade chicken and dumplings, taco meat, Curry, and soups. I also shop at a wholesale retailer so I only have to buy meats, detergents, toilet paper, paper towels, and rice once every three months. I divide the frozen stuff up and tuck that in the freezer as well. My drawback is buying too many fruits, veggies and spur of the moment stuff. I average about $125 a week on milk, fruits, veggies, bread, and that sort of stuff so I wanted to see where I could cut back. I made my first menu this week and took off to the store. I stopped in at Caputos and picked up just what I needed.
The items were,
1 1/2 lbs Italian Turkey(Fresh Deli)
1lbs Cajun Turkey(Fresh Deli)
1lb of thick sliced pepperoni(Fresh Deli)
2 bunches of Bananas
2 honeydew melons
one cantaloupe
4lbs green seedless grapes (it was cheaper for the 4lbs container than the 2lb)
10 notebooks at .10cents each
1/4 lb of blue cheese(Fresh Deli)
corn chips
Doritos
2 Lettuce heads
1 bag of organic spinach.
This came to $49.61.
Then we headed off to Kellers Farm
12 ears of fresh sweet corn
Two tomatoes
6 peaches
That came to $7. 07.
Then I had to get bread and Milk so I stopped by wal-mart
2 loaves of bread, 1 white wheat and one cracked wheat.
milk
That came up to $5.76.
My Grand total for the week $66.44.
That's a savings of 58.56.
Now that's a week so if I can keep it up that is over $200 extra a month in our pockets.
I didn't pick up the muffins or the premade cinnamon rolls or any of the other impulses that I usually just grab. I actually have snacks for the kids that will last about 5 months. The local store had a 10 for $10 on fruit roll ups, gushers, chex mix, popcorn, pringles, mini oreos, mini chips ahoy, and mini golden grahams. Needless to say that was in May, I filled two cabinets full and still have 3/4ths of it full. That includes my husband stocking his desk at work. I did spend about $150 but the items don't expire until December of 2009 and some stay good even after that. I actually make some killer cinnamon rolls myself and have everything I need to do so at home. I was just picking up the Pillsbury because it was easier and faster.
Not bad huh. I am proud of myself if I do say so myself.
Here's a quick, yummy recipe. I always seem to be in a time crunch when school gets back in session and they boys sports are in full swing. The taco meat freezes well and reheats really quickly. Enjoy.
Throw it Together Taco salad
lettuce, chopped
carrots, diced
half of a red onion, chopped
pepper jack cheese, diced
fresh mozzarella, diced
cucumber, chunky
tomatoes, chunky
1 bag of corn chips lightly crushed
Ranch Dressing
French Dressing
ground beef
taco seasoning
chipolte seasoning
Combine lettuce, carrots, onion, cucumbers, tomatoes in a big bowl.
brown beef, drain and season with taco and chipolte seasoning as directed, place in separate bowl.
dice pepper jack and mozzarella, place in separate bowls.
Place some of salad mixture in bottom of salad bowl
add cheese of choice
add dressing of choice
add a sprinkling of corn chips
add taco meat
DIG IN
The items were,
1 1/2 lbs Italian Turkey(Fresh Deli)
1lbs Cajun Turkey(Fresh Deli)
1lb of thick sliced pepperoni(Fresh Deli)
2 bunches of Bananas
2 honeydew melons
one cantaloupe
4lbs green seedless grapes (it was cheaper for the 4lbs container than the 2lb)
10 notebooks at .10cents each
1/4 lb of blue cheese(Fresh Deli)
corn chips
Doritos
2 Lettuce heads
1 bag of organic spinach.
This came to $49.61.
Then we headed off to Kellers Farm
12 ears of fresh sweet corn
Two tomatoes
6 peaches
That came to $7. 07.
Then I had to get bread and Milk so I stopped by wal-mart
2 loaves of bread, 1 white wheat and one cracked wheat.
milk
That came up to $5.76.
My Grand total for the week $66.44.
That's a savings of 58.56.
Now that's a week so if I can keep it up that is over $200 extra a month in our pockets.
I didn't pick up the muffins or the premade cinnamon rolls or any of the other impulses that I usually just grab. I actually have snacks for the kids that will last about 5 months. The local store had a 10 for $10 on fruit roll ups, gushers, chex mix, popcorn, pringles, mini oreos, mini chips ahoy, and mini golden grahams. Needless to say that was in May, I filled two cabinets full and still have 3/4ths of it full. That includes my husband stocking his desk at work. I did spend about $150 but the items don't expire until December of 2009 and some stay good even after that. I actually make some killer cinnamon rolls myself and have everything I need to do so at home. I was just picking up the Pillsbury because it was easier and faster.
Not bad huh. I am proud of myself if I do say so myself.
Here's a quick, yummy recipe. I always seem to be in a time crunch when school gets back in session and they boys sports are in full swing. The taco meat freezes well and reheats really quickly. Enjoy.
Throw it Together Taco salad
lettuce, chopped
carrots, diced
half of a red onion, chopped
pepper jack cheese, diced
fresh mozzarella, diced
cucumber, chunky
tomatoes, chunky
1 bag of corn chips lightly crushed
Ranch Dressing
French Dressing
ground beef
taco seasoning
chipolte seasoning
Combine lettuce, carrots, onion, cucumbers, tomatoes in a big bowl.
brown beef, drain and season with taco and chipolte seasoning as directed, place in separate bowl.
dice pepper jack and mozzarella, place in separate bowls.
Place some of salad mixture in bottom of salad bowl
add cheese of choice
add dressing of choice
add a sprinkling of corn chips
add taco meat
DIG IN
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