10 days of joy and excitement in Kansas, and I am back to MY home with my boys.  Funny how I can't even recall what I was doing 10 days ago here in Maryland, it seems like SO much time has passed.  I walked through the door and barely recognized Piston.  He is HUGE.  I feel like he grew immensely while I was gone, when in reality I was just gone for 10 days surrounded by dogs a whole lot smaller than he is.  I came home to a picked up house, but still in need of some deep cleaning.  That I've decided can wait... can wait until Rob leaves for the dreaded airborne school here very very soon.  Laundry will of course have to be done, or I will have nothing to wear.  It seems like I took EVERYTHING with me to Kansas, and of course the flight home definitely felt that way with 2 checked suitcases (mine and one borrowed from Mom and Dad) and a pretty good sized duffel bag for my carry on.  It all made it safely from what I can tell.

I have big plans for what I am going to do while Rob is learning.  Including tackling the closet beneath the stairs (I'm going to make it usable once and for all.), rearranging the spare bedroom since Rob moved the desk downstairs it is kind of funkily organized right now, setting up the desk downstairs more, scrubbing every inch of the bathroom (ceiling, floor, wall, etc.), hopefully helping the carpet out maybe just a little bit with a good scrub on spots much needing it, buying curtains (FINALLY.) and of course hanging out with my nearest and dearest here in Maryland.

It's also about time for those New Year's resolutions to REALLY kick into play.  I've also decided I'm going to do 365 days worth of pictures.. one a day for the next year starting January 1st.  Be looking for that on Facebook, I may link up to here every once in awhile.

That's about it... my DVR'd TV shows are calling.  Rob is at work for hopefully only another 30 minutes, but who really knows with the Army, right?  Anyway hope everyone had a safe holiday and if you still have traveling in your plans, travel safe.

10 days of joy and excitement in Kansas, and I am back to MY home with my boys.  Funny how I can't even recall what I was doing 10 da...

Here I am sitting on the couch at my parents house in my new pj's as of last night and it feels like every Christmas for the past 19 years.  Peaceful and full of presents, laughter and more memories.

I don't know where I will be this time next year... but I am savoring every minute of this.  As far as I am concerned, Christmas is what you make it.  It isn't always a joyful holiday for everyone but it is what you make it.

It's snowing in Maryland, in Kansas... not so much.  I miss my boys more than ever and I know it is extra hard for us to be apart on this day especially.  We are reminded how this is just the start of several weeks apart.  We can do this though.


Regardless of where you may be on this day... Merry Christmas!  I hope you make the best of it and enjoy every moment of your holiday traditions with family, friends or whomever you may be spending your day with.

Oh, and safe travels to anyone that is traveling today.
Much love---just as every other day of the year.

Here I am sitting on the couch at my parents house in my new pj's as of last night and it feels like every Christmas for the past 19 ye...

Here I am.

Just a short, quick post.  It's been a few days.  I flew in to town yesterday.  Seen all my nearest and dearest already.  Feel like it may or may not go really fast.  Miss my babe and baby in Maryland.  Won't be long though and I will be back with them.

This place is so strange to come back to after 6 months.  I don't mean it in a bad way... just different.  Like it's evolved since I left.  Leaving me behind.

You know what... I'm okay with that.  My home is in Maryland with my boys and that is all there is to it.  I love Kansas, and I always will, but it will never be home to me again unless Rob and Piston are with me.

Going to enjoy my next 7 days though! C:  Will try and update again closer to Christmas.

Here I am. Just a short, quick post.  It's been a few days.  I flew in to town yesterday.  Seen all my nearest and dearest already.  F...

We are still just one dog owners.

This afternoon was our meet and greet with Max (the other boxer we got approved for) and Piston.  Piston of course bounded up to him and just wanted to play.  But Max made it clear he was not okay with that.  The first dog ever to get mean with Piston.  Broke my heart because all P wanted to do was play.  I've never seen a dog mope like Piston did all the way home.  Usually he gets lots of dog interaction but lately everyone takes their dogs out and lets them go potty then immediately takes them back inside since it is so cold.  So he hasn't gotten to play with any lately.  Poor boy.  I think Rob and I are leaning more towards a puppy now.  But not until February when we are both home.

On the bright side, all my Christmas shopping is done.  Left to do before I leave... wrap presents, do a load of darks and a load of whites (laundry), probably going to have to pick the house up again, I have to also buy a Secret Santa present for my friend that I got this year (our group of friends out here decided to do a Secret Santa with all the ladies.. unfortunately I'm not going to the big event, but my person will still have their present!) and of course pack.  Which I will probably put off until Saturday knowing me.

Well it's freezing here, but both my boys are home (Rob got off early to go to the appointment and didn't have to go back after.).  I didn't put any meat down for dinner, so I have to scramble and figure out what the heck we are going to do!  Oh well... such is life.

We are still just one dog owners . This afternoon was our meet and greet with Max (the other boxer we got approved for) and Piston.  Pisto...

It's official. We are crazy.  We got approved!!! Next step is seeing if the dog and Piston get a long.  If so, we might possibly have a dog by Thursday.  I can't believe this.  Ha ha, the best and worst time EVER to get a dog. But you know it's never a bad time to rescue a shelter dog. Now is it?

Oh and.

Christmas pictures taken. Check.
Christmas picture printed. Check. (plus another 45.. for a grand total of 90.  45 of which I did not pay for but got free because the walmart computer messed up... what in the world am I going to do with an extra 45 pictures?)
Cards stuffed. Check.
Cards mailed. Check.
Present shopping started. Check.

Getting things done... 5 days left.  Going to be a busy one between this new dog potentially and what is left to do before I leave town.

It's official. We are crazy .   We got approved!!! Next step is seeing if the dog and Piston get a long.  If so, we might possibly have...

One week from today I SHOULD be in Kansas.  Weather here is looking like snow being predicted right now for that day.  Keep in mind though this is a week out still.  So I'm praying the weather straightens it's buttocks out. :D

Rob and I put an application in.  For what you ask?  A boxer at the SPCA.  For whatever reason Rob found himself looking yesterday at boxer's in the area.  Surprisingly there were 3.  So the first two we rushed home to see only to find out they had been sent to a boxer rescue in Massachusetts.  The third, Max, was awesome.  He is a white boxer with a black spot over his face.  He is from a breeder and only about 1 and a half years old.  He is a bit underweight and has some skin issues.  But those come from him being a white dog, let alone a boxer dog.  So we put in an application.  Will know more in 2 to 7 days.

I also got my first Christmas cards in the mail!  One from Lindsay and one from Rachel!  Boy am I excited.  Hopefully going to get ours mailed out of here before I leave.  After I beg Rob for a picture with me and him in front of the Christmas tree with Piston!  We will see how that plays out. :D

Well ladies and gents (whoever reads this.) I hope you have a marvelous Sunday!  And that the Chiefs win.  Also the Cowboys too, so that we can keep this whole house happy.  I also hope that I have a decent day getting things accomplished! And that a Christmas picture can be squeezed out of Rob!  Ha ha.  Will let everyone know more developments as they come.

One week from today I SHOULD be in Kansas.  Weather here is looking like snow being predicted right now for that day.  Keep in mind though...

Kind of had a come to Jesus morning this morning when I discovered my true weight.  Time to make some changes.  So I've decided I will call it my early New Years resolutions and hopefully even though I am going on vacation in two weeks, I will be able to keep it up and keep it going.

1. As everyone always says, I'd like to lose weight in the New Year.  I'm not going to put a number on it but lets just say to get to where I'd like to be I need to adjust my eating habits and start exercising more often.  I mean right now I am not doing anything work or school wise.  I literally have no reason why I shouldn't be healthier.

2. Instead of going to bed at 2 am and getting up at 12 pm.  I need to start going to bed between 11 and 12 or when Rob does and getting up between like 9 and 10.  If it means I have to go by an alarm for no reason other than getting up decent until my body adjusts again, so be it.

3. I need to start disconnecting from the internet more.  By that I mean, instead of staying up an extra hour to check Facebook, my blog and e-mail, I need to just shut it off, forget about it and get to it the next morning.  If it means I miss some things, such is life.  It only seems to cause drama and who needs that in their life?

4. Also in 2011 I'd like to find a job and go back to school.  Instead of pushing them off I just need to do them.  Get the paperwork in and do my time to get those tasks accomplished.

5. Piston needs more of my time.  In 2011 we are going to MASTER potty training.  Hopefully.  I'm also going to try and take him for walks more often.  When it's not so cold during the day so he gets his energy out and I don't freeze to death.  Also, Piston will lose his manhood and we will get him up to date on all of his vet stuff.

6. Finally.  I'm going to work on making my relationship with Rob stronger.  We love and care for each other but sometimes we rub each other the wrong way and it doesn't make either one of us happy.  Instead of automatically getting frustrated, I'm going to be a bit more cautious of my attitude and how I treat him.  We are both in this for the long haul, so it needs to be enjoyable at least! :D


I'm already off to a good start today.  Now I'm headed to the gym to activate a free 2 week trial at a women's gym.  It's a good start and will put me right up to when I leave.  When I get home I will have to figure out where to go from there.

Kind of had a come to Jesus morning this morning when I discovered my true weight.  Time to make some changes.  So I've decided I will ...

No joke. Windchill here of like 23 degrees.  That's crazy stupid.

Just thought I'd let anyone concerned know that I had no problems getting my rental yesterday.  I am the proud temporary driver of a Chevy HHR.  Ha ha.  It's a PT Cruiser essentially.  Actually fairly nice on the inside and really makes me wish that I had an automatic.  Not that I don't like my stick and stuff.  Should be getting my car back tomorrow but haven't heard from the auto body shop yet, so I have no idea what time.

So funny story... we are attempting a different way of potty training Piston while we live in this house.  Potty pads.  We bought them.  Waited till we were home to lay one down.  Used the spray to attract him... but unfortunately he did exactly as I thought he would.  Chewed it up.  No, not just chewed it up, SHREDDED it.  Crazy dang dog!!!  So I am going to have to try it again and see if I can keep a better eye on him and maybe we can get this process started and make it successful.  Especially since he has decided he doesn't mind going outside in the cold but he doesn't want to pee when it's cold outside.  I swear this boy is like having a child.

Other than that... 11 days since it is after midnight here in Maryland.
Hope everyone is finding themselves at a good point in the week since it is now hump day!

No joke. Windchill here of like 23 degrees .  That's crazy stupid . Just thought I'd let anyone concerned know that I had no probl...

We had a fairly eventful weekend.  And by that I of course mean busy.

It was spent volunteering at the post thrift store followed by volunteering for a children's holiday party.  Spending quality time with some good new friends chitchatting and playing card games into the wee hours of Sunday morning.  Driving to the Christmas tree farm.  Finding the perfect tree!  Decorating it and watching football.  So much accomplished it seems.  Especially after I just finished cleaning!  Our house had also managed to become pretty cluttered after a non-stop weekend... so it took me about an hour and a half just to pick everything up!  Glad the picking up is done.

Now I'm about to hop in the shower and then take my car to the auto body shop.  It's going to be there for three days.  It's getting it's booboo fixed from that lady rear ending us when Lindsay and Brian were here.  If all goes as planned I should have a rental by the end of it all as well.  I hope at least.  Being 20 it makes it hard to get cars but the lady said I will just need to fill out extra paperwork.

Oh and Rob had a good weekend... he played in a couple of poker tournaments.  The ones were you pay 20 (for Fridays case.) or 40 (for Saturdays case.) to get in and then you play against 6 or 30 some players for cash.  First night he had like $45 at the end of the night so he made a little and Saturday he came home with $200 plus!  So he was extremely excited about that.

Of course the Chiefs won AND the Cowboys.  :D  Good good weekend.

13 days till I am in KC again.  SO much to do still, but some things are getting marked off so it is making it a little bit less intimidating.

Alright, better run.  Happy Monday all!

We had a fairly eventful weekend .  And by that I of course mean busy . It was spent volunteering at the post thrift store followed by vo...

1. I got Christmas cards started.  Out of my list of 36 family and friends, 10 are done.  WOOOO, go me!

2. I hate the cold.  They are talking of snow.  RAWR.  But I guess it's better than being too hot and not being able to take off another layer, right?  I will keep reminding myself that.

1. I got Christmas cards started .  Out of my list of 36 family and friends, 10 are done .  WOOOO, go me! 2. I hate the cold.  They are t...

Yikes.

I leave for Kansas in 17 days.  I have no gifts for anyone back home.  I have a Christmas dinner for Rob's company that is formal attire between now and then.  I'm praying it doesn't snow.  I feel like there are a MILLION things to get done before I can head home.  Then when I am home there will be approximately NO relaxation.  Looks like trips will be made to see both grandparents I believe, and I am also planning on driving down to see Rob's dad and step-mom and all the kiddos there.  So it will probably be a busy week and fly by in no time.  Only to come home and have 3 days with Rob where he turns right around and leaves for another 3 weeks.  Joyous.  Let me tell you.

Anyway enough of that woe-is-me tale.  Today has actually been fairly successful.  Got up early.. ran my errands.  Then took a mini road trip about 40 minutes away (I'm calling it a road trip only because I had to go in the Baltimore tunnel... which to me, a Kansas girl, that doesn't happen very often.)  to try and sell some purses to Platos.  (They tried to rip me off... rude dudes.  Does this make any sense... they look over my bags, pull out all but two and then tell me they can give me $25.  I was like really?  INCLUDING that Coach and Vera Bradley purse with matching wallet.  I was like I will keep those.  Somehow someway I will get decent money for those... I ended up walking out with $16.  How does that happen?  The two designer purses were worth $9?  I'm not buying it.)  After that I decided, hey what a GREAT day to re-organize my closet.  That task is still not complete because I took a catnap in bed with the boys and then watched Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  I'm awesome, right?  Rob is still passed out... probably for the rest of the night so the house is awfully quiet.  Minus Piston who just snuck off with a sneaker sitting in a to-get-rid-of pile.  Buttface.  Hold on one moment while I go wrestle it from him, because I am sure he is going to want to play keep away.---Back, but now I have a new issue.. the hall light is out!  Crap, now I can't see anything when I try and go down to the dark downstairs to get that shoe away from Piston.  Lovely.  He just took off with something else.  Dogs I'm telling you...

So. When I went through my closet I discovered all my graduation cards people sent me in May.  I re-read each and every one of them.  I'm nervous that this holiday season I will still be included in all of my parents Christmas cards versus our own.  Hopefully that is not the case but only time will tell.  Most of you know how much I love mail that is personal and heartfelt.  Well, tomorrow starts my Christmas card process!  I've already got my list made and tomorrow I start addressing.  I was hoping to get personalized ones but Rob is not much of one for pictures.  Maybe after we put our tree up this weekend he will let me get one picture of me, him and Piston and then I can just include a 4x6 in everyone's card.  The cheap way!  I'm excited though... love cards, love mail, love making other people smile.

Okay.. time to chase P boy down again and then finish cleaning up this room so his attempts at stealing stuff end nowhere.  Happy Friday, well almost.

Yikes. I leave for Kansas in 17 days .  I have no gifts for anyone back home.  I have a Christmas dinner for Rob's company that is fo...

There was something I was going to blog about and now I can't for the life of me remember what.  Love it. Or hate it.

Things going on---I started a new book last night and read for about two straight hours.  I think this book will be done by the end of the week.  Piston is still managing to find anything and everything to chew up.  Balls removal is looking greater and greater.  I really can't stand whining.  Just so you know.  If in the past I have ever whined to you, I am sorry.  Please slap me next time. Ugh.  Rob and I signed up to get a free Christmas tree from the USO.  So we will have a beauty in our house as of Sunday.  Have I mentioned I have not even started Christmas shopping?  Ha ha.  I haven't.  Oh, another thing I can't stand.  Catty bitchy ladies.  RAWR back to you!  Apparently this morning we had some "monster" storm come through.  I was sleeping.  Heard nothing but wind.  Must not have been too "monster".  But it did blow a bunch of tree branches down.

Really whatever I had thought about blogging about was much much better and more entertaining than this.  Sorry all!

Hope your hump day was maybe a bit more eventful?
Off to read my book.
Just took a nice long shower.
Now I'm done blogging.
Relaxation time here I come.

As always, love and hugs from the big MD.


Two seconds later, I of course remembered...

Today I did something GREAT.  I cleaned out my FB friends.  Got rid of some drama, people I'm friends with but rarely talk/ed to and people whose posts annoyed the beejesus out of me.  It made me feel marvelous!  Sometimes cleaning out people that are probably only friends with you to creep on you is a great idea.  I may have only deleted like 20 contacts, but I feel better.  Now only the important people, family friends and family are on there.  Kind of a relief to know that.

If you haven't done it lately, I'd highly suggest it!

There was something I was going to blog about and now I can't for the life of me remember what.   Love it . Or hate it. Things going ...