Mood:  on fire

Hello all!

This is going to be a short one, am SOOOOOO tired it’s not funny and my eyes are burning from the onion I had to destroy for Flyboy’s stroganoff. (He is coming home today and he requested it)

Sherwood is having lunch in the backyard and he seems really frustrated that I haven’t topped off his food yet.

I went shopping today, and I learned a new shopping rule. From now on I am going to shop the day before everyone gets paid (I do that normally) because today was a mess by 730!!! Yeah, I did not have a good shopping experience this morning, which is a shame because I really needed it. I am so tired.

So I started to make Flyboy’s dinner and realized I never picked up a yellow onion (I forgot to write it on the list), so back to the store. There was a looooooong line at Wal-Mart, oh my goodness.

Needless to say bed sounds soo good. I don’t even care that the sheets are still in the wash. (Though, I am sure that Flyboy will). While I was shopping I picked myself up a top Ramen cup, I know the salt content is threw the roof but I drain the liquid after the noodles are cooked. Plus, I haven’t had one in years.

I am hearing planes fly over, I really hope that is him. He said sometime before 1500 and he never did say if it was Cali time or my time. I am hoping he meant my time; otherwise bed will be even farther away. =(

I better go before my ramen gets cold. Cold ramen is like ice cream falling off your cone into the dirt. You know?

Take care!

~NikiRose

Mood:  down

Buenos Tardes!

Well hmm… Didn’t do much yesterday. Apparently the night before I slept wrong and on top of something, which I am going to assume was one of Flyboy’s flashlights that fell off the headboard. So now my arm hurts like crazy and it isn’t feeling better. It also didn’t help that my arm had fallen asleep either. =( ow.

Flyboy said that he will be writing an entry in here when he gets home. Hopefully he will be coming home tomorrow. Cross your fingers!

Today I headed down to base to deal with Soldier’s taxes. I had a hunch to call the IRS to make sure there wasn’t anything else I needed to fill out before filing his taxes, apparently I did. I needed to fill out a Form 2848 then fax it to the IRS with a copy or the power of attorney. Most confusing document ever! It took me an hour to fill it out (had to make sure I was doing it right) then I headed down to Kinko’s to fax it. That was EXPENSIVE oh my goodness. The IRS decided to give me a long distance number so it cost a bunch more. I ended up spending $40 bucks just to fax it all. Bah =P Soldier will be getting a bill haha. It just blew my mind though.

I was supposed to go grocery shopping this morning but I decided to hit the snooze button instead. (Hehe) Needless to say I will be doing that tomorrow, as well as the dishes.

Well Flyboy is calling me again so I better go for now, take care!

~NikiRose

Mood:  cheeky

The Josh!!!!

Mood:  not sure

Is it over…?

Well most of my day has been huddled under the covers in the bedroom waiting for the green light to hide in the bathroom with important docs, Kevlar helmet and a BUNCH of blankets. Luckily, so far, I haven’t been thrown that green light.

This morning it was a bit humid and then 1330 rolled along and the storms were relentless. It decided to get worse as schools were supposed to release students. (Don’t worry, the schools went on lock down for like 2 hours and some kids didn’t get home until after 1700! They were all safe too!) There was a tornado that landed at the intersection of where our first apartments were… yeah, I am SO glad WE moved! It took out several businesses in the shopping center and the main Expressway (the most dangerous road in the WORLD! I would rather take my chances crossing 8 lanes for LA freeway traffic than 4 lanes of this Expressway, I mean I would rather pitch a tent on the Autobahn then try to cross that Expressway…) Anyway, they actually closed it down because of all the debris and power lines everywhere not to mention everyone who just slammed on their brakes at once when they saw the funnel mess.  Lots of people lost houses and then up north they got hit worse. I really don’t like these storms. I know I say that every tornado season, but it is starting to get under my skin. It also doesn’t help that Flyboy is a million states away either. We got hail the size of tennis balls, again. I probably should go check on my car. Though I may wait until morning… I was planning on a trip to the gym tonight, like I did yesterday, but I am not going out there, I tell ya.

Speaking of working out, yesterday felt great, though I am feeling it a bit today. Didn’t think I was going to feel it this bad. Oh well. It was upper body yesterday and I really enjoyed it. I started off with push-ups and I was able to push out 15 diamonds before it got too awkward. There were a bunch of guys that would take turns walking by and just stop and watch me, they were like “dang!” It was cool, but weird. I continued with the rest of the pushup set and then went to the weights to tone. I ran and then headed home. I was pretty excited too because I drank two bottles of water, which normally I don’t drink that much, and it bothers me. Today is lower body, so I am going to go back to my room and work on that.

Flyboy had the day off today, no mission for him, and so he and a small group of guys decided to check out San Francisco. So far Flyboy has said they walked instead of drove (parked in a parking garage) and they went to Fisherman’s Pier and China town. Flyboy tried the stuffed duck? Something like that. He took some pictures so is they turn out well (not horribly blurry, I love you Flyboy) then I will post them after we get them developed. I don’t know what else they got to do or see, so I will add more about it tomorrow. (Hopefully he isn’t too tired to call tonight)

I didn’t end up making that chicken dish, I had salmon steak instead. I opened up the freezer and it was screaming “Eat Me! I’d rather be digested than be frozen next to these self centered pork chops! Pleeeease have mercy!” So I had salmon with some green beans and a couple Triscuits. Oooh fancy ;) tonight, I have no clue what is going to scream at me when I walk into the kitchen. It might be the sink though, telling me to get the dirty dishes out of its mouth, haha. I don’t know. I am really jittery, not a big fan of thunderstorms that produce tornadoes, you know?

Umm… Other than that I think that is it over here. I have been doing flash cards all night (I have really slacked off on those) so I am almost caught up, only about 128 left for this group. I must REALLY love this guy, I tell ya, these questions and answers are getting more and more technical and less and less visual. Which isn’t helpful when it comes to creating a picture to help retain the information, you know? I strongly believe there is a limit to one’s imagination, and I found mine. Haha.

Well, that is Flyboy calling, I better go. He says “hello” by the way. Take care. Good night =)

~NikiRose

Mood:  blue

Good after… noon?

Sorry guys, I didn’t mean to wake up so late. I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Crew rest really screws me up. Flyboy made it safely to his destination yesterday… 400 wake up... blah.  They were originally supposed to go to Washington for this one but like I said plans got changed, so now that little bugger is in Cali!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess where too????? Travis AFB, so if you hear this loud alien like scream over head, that would be my hubby in his E-3. I mean, we are planning to head up there when we come out to Cali anyway, so much for him seeing it with me for the first time! (It’s okay though, at least he hasn’t gone TDY to VAFB; I think I would loose it then. ((not really but I think you know what I mean)))

****SOLDIER UPDATE****I got an email from him I think early Sunday morning, like right around the time I had to drive Flyboy to work. It says…

Hello Everyone I am back, and now I am allowed to say mission complete and all is accounted for. All personell are good and alive. Not much to say but glad to be back. There is still much I must do but we are all back with Delta

back in cali in may.

gtg

with love

SOLDIER

PS

Please send to thoes that are not listed. sadly they are not in my address book. will be fixed asap.

(He didn’t really sign it Soldier, but yeah, I am sure you understood that. Other than that, this is the exact letter he sent)

I figured this would be the easiest way to share it with everyone. I tried to message him while he was on but he didn’t reply. I will see if I can get in contact with him again.

P.T. is going well; I am going to research some exercises/activities that can help strengthen my knees. I think if they were stronger I would feel more confident being involved in vigorous activities, plus I am shooting for less pain when it is stormy, yes? I didn’t get a chance to measure Flyboy on his progress; he had forgotten that I wanted to do that before he left for his TDY. It is alright, I guess. I have lost like 3 pounds since the last measurement and an inch around my waist.  We are still working on it though. I have been reading Flyboy’s BTG (basic training guide) regarding the fitness section and I think I am going to incorporate some of the advice in it during our P.T. I think they know what they are doing when it comes to P.T. in basic. Haha. Anywho I will probably head down to the gym in a few hours now. Since I screwed up the day and woke up really late, around this time 1630 the gym is packed. (Everyone is pretty much released at 1630 and so they all hit the gym before going home) between 1400 and 1600 is the ideal time to go. It is like right after lunch and right before release time, so there is like no one there, which means more machines available! Flyboy is able to put P.T. in his schedule, as is everyone over there, and he can either schedule it for the mooring, which would make work begin at 930 and relapse time at 1630 or he can schedule it for afternoon and have 1400-1500 release time and show up at work at normal time. Hmm... I think earlier afternoon is the better way to go, plus the extra morning hours to do P.T. is most likely to be blown off and used as extra “sleepy-in” hours.  So we go the afternoon route, and it seems to suit us best.

I think for dinner I may make some of that cheesy broccoli rice thing I had mentioned a week ago. It sounds really good at them moment, though anything does really.

I don’t know if there is much of anything else at the moment. I mean our storm has blown over and there wasn’t any tornadic activity, just lost of wind gusts (like now) between 40-60 mph and some drizzle that hurt like crazy because of the wind. Haha.  I should probably do some dishes before I head out for P.T. I went a little wild on Saturday afternoon and decided to do some creative cooking and well I made a bunch of messy dishes and because Flyboy was taking off in 12 hours (and 8 of them have to be uninterrupted sleep) I decided to do them yesterday, and that well, didn’t happen. So I am figuring that if I want to have dinner tonight, I best wash me out some pans. Haha.

So I will let you all go for now. Take care!

~NikiRose

Mood:  cheeky

I feel a storm a brewin’!

Good morning… *yawn* Last night we didn’t get to bed until late. We were doing really great there for a while, until I started the next Zelda game that Sleeveman let us borrow. It’s not addicting, I just really, really love the side quests (I am a side quest and maxing out every item and finding ALL the treasure boxes kind of gal) and well, time just slips… too fast!

I took an hour or so nap yesterday, I feel really bad for it, but my muscles felt so much better afterwards! I was able to do our normal workout no problem =) I am feeling it a bit today, but not as much as yesterday I tell ya. This afternoon’s work out is the normal routine but the main focus is upper body. I think I am going to re-arrange the schedule some so that it is a tad more intense. Not as much as Wednesday, but enough that I feel like it is bedtime once I walk through my front door. I really like that feeling. (I am weird, yes)

Flyboy is doing alright. He was supposed to leave for his TDY today but it has been pushed up to sometime next week. (I won’t know anything until the last minute of course. Haha) He talked with one of his sergeants (the one who is in charge of his EPR) and he said that when he gets back from leave he will start pushing it up the chain of command. (I have a feeling it will be sometime in April when it is all said and done. LOL) But it has to be approved by one group, and then Flyboy and a certain number of his leadership need to sign it, like each of a different rank, and THEN it gets put on the desk of the finance office and sits there until they decided to process the information. (It makes me a little nervous to have it sent over there. Personally, I would rather hand deliver it to them. The last time we had stuff sent there it was a mess. When Flyboy was moving out of the dorms ((that is what they call the living quarters that he was in, in the Air Force)) he had to fill out this paperwork stating he got married and was moving out of the dorms. We had to give them ((the dorm office)) that paper and a notarized copy of our marriage certificate, no biggie, and they assured us that they would send a copy to Finance. It was all part of the “out processing” from the dorms. Well we started getting BAH ((in a nut shell, housing allowance to live off base)) like the very next paycheck. Then about 8 months later Finance is claiming that we owe them 8 months worth of BAH ((Like $6152!!!)) because they still have Flyboy living in the dorms and they gave him more then he should have gotten. They really didn’t believe that he moved out and they were very upset. I was livid. First off it makes no sense, if they thought he was still in the dorms, then why did he start getting the BAH? Everything should have stayed the same… Anyway I left work at like noon and went down there, to the dorm off ice and they still had our file, and whoever was supposed to take that to Finance was on leave at the time and never got the memo, or whatever. So I took my file and delivered it to Finance and there have been no issues since. Knock on wood.) So, yeah, see what I mean? Nothing like getting a notice in the mail from the Department of Defense saying you owe them like 6 grand, when you are barely getting by as it is. LOL. I am so glad that was cleared up!

When we left this morning, it was nasty out. Yesterday around that time it was like in the teens. Today it is 50 and MUGGY! The kind of muggy that screams, thunderstorms are coming and you better make sure the cellar has no spiders. (Especially if it felt like this around May through October Haha) I don’t know if it will end up nasty, nasty, but I don’t think it will be too pleasant. It is going to be very windy today (not like that is new) and something should pop up on radar around Sunday evening maybe early Monday morning. And as logic states, whenever it finally rolls in will be the day Flyboy is supposed to take off for his TDY. =D Which means early show time, a few hydraulic leaks later ready to hit the runway and then lightening in 5 (which means no one takes off or lands because there is lightening within 5 miles of the runway) Then, a few hours later, they will be so fed up, it shall cancel.) It sounds so mean, but I am telling you, there is a bright marquee with that on it. Lol. (I’m sorry Flyboy, but unfortunately you know I am right… =S)

Still nothing out of Soldier, like they say, no news is good news. I put up the new feeder and Sherwood came by yesterday and he enjoyed the tasty treat. You would have thought he was starvin’ or something. Dishes are evil and laundry is its side kick and I think there is some kind of conspiracy with them and my stomach to “off” me, but that could be the espresso talking. Haha.

Well I better let you all go for now. Have a good day, drive safe and take care!

~NikiRose

Mood:  chatty

Goooooood Morning!

I have declared that today is “Crawl Back Into Bed Day, After The Alarm Goes Off”! I am so exhausted it isn’t funny. I think I may have over done Extra Cardio Day yesterday, and man... am I feeling it now! On one hand feels great, on the other, not so much. I woke up this morning feeling like I had already P.T’d for the day. Yeeeah… I think today I am going to take it a little lightly if at all possible. I feel really foolish for going that over board, but it made Flyboy smile. (From the stand point that I was able to work out at his level for a bit)

Lunch was good. I couldn’t remember what I ordered last time, and Radar assured me it was this one dish and my gut told me it wasn’t, but silly me I trusted him. I mean it still tasted great, the beef was a little rare, not bloody, but it sure wasn’t brisket and nicely blended in with the rice noodles were tendons. At first I was like this is an odd tasting noodle, and then I was informed that it was not, and I became very nauseous. I still ate it though. I think my favorite part of the dish, are the rice noodles. I could careless about the meat except that it adds a nice flavor. Though I do wish their chopsticks were skinnier. The ones they have are like sharpie thick.

Anywho, I think I am going to fix a morning snack or something. I guess the banana I had on the way to base wasn’t satisfying for my stomach and it is demanding more nutrients. Such a demanding organ, how rude.

Well I am going to go for now. I hope your stomachs aren’t too demanding today. Haha Take care!

~NikiRose

Mood:  accident prone

Good morning…

Sorry about the lack in posting yesterday, an adventure took place instead. Haha. Kevin Costner and Modern West (Kevin’s band) came to town to promote their new album, Untold Truths. So Flyboy and I headed down there, (a few towns over) and was able to have the whole band sign the CD. I took some pictures too, and I think they came out pretty decent. I felt bad because I had no idea what to say besides thank you, and not trying to look corny. It was bad enough my shirt smelled disgusting… (It was fresh out of the wash, dried too of course, but it was a shirt that had been in storage so it had this smell that made your stomach churn. I believe it was a cross between wet dirty dog and old moldy fruit. Nice huh? Yeah I had no idea until we got back into the hot car and I almost lost what I just ate all over my car. Luckily I didn’t though.) Anywho, I am not a big fan of Kevin but my aunt is and so I thought she would like to add an autographed first album of his to her collection. =) I have pictures of the whole band signing it and Kevin signing it as well (he is the lead singer, plays guitar too). (I do watch Antique Road Show every now and then and a key to having a good piece when it comes to autographs is having a picture of that person as they are signing it. =) Logical… There are a lot of neat treasures n that show, it is really fun to watch!) Anywho I won’t post all of the pictures, just these two, they are my favorites...

From right to left... guitarist Teddy Morgan, violinist Bobby Yang, guitarist John Coinman, drummer Larry Cobb, bassist Blair Forward, guitarist Park Chisholm and guitarist and lead singer Kevin Costner

From left to right... guitarist and lead singer Kevin Costner and guitarist Park Chisholm.

Flyboy is all set for his TDY except they are changing the dates, poor thing… I have noticed that when they start doing that there tends to be a greater chance of it canceling at the last minute, as in at the end of the month. (since flights have become limited recently ((it’s a normal thing, don’t worry, the squadrons “fight” over the flights, well its more like a race to claim them, and I guess our squadron hasn’t been claiming as many as usual.)) Anyway so if you are scheduled for a TDY, then you don’t get scheduled for anymore flights, since every person has to have two each month minimum… regs… And why I say what I did about this TDY is that Flyboy didn’t get to have his second flight in January because of the ice storm we had, so he is counting on this TDY, like a bunch of the guys, to bring back their currency? Something like that, if that makes any sense to you guys…) But yeah, when flights start getting rescheduled, the tend to cancel leaving a bunch of people very frustrated and in turn making the flight tight on instructors (that is a lesson for another day. Haha).

Let’s see… Today, Radar is taking us out to lunch. He wanted to thank us for being his DD at Macho Nacho’s shindig. Speaking of that, there is another shindig coming up around, well whenever Macho gets back from leave. (He says he has these shindigs whenever there is a fighting match on. I wasn’t sure if I could get into it, but really its fun to watch. I like the watching the thinking process as they “duke” it out. I can’t stand the brutality of it, but I guess that is because I am a female…) Also speaking of shindig… our Christmas party was postponed until our squadron back from overseas and well… if I recall correctly it is the 20^th of February, semi formal again, which means Blues for Flyboy and something pretty that compliments his Blues. (I am getting hungry, I haven’t eaten yet… maybe I should) Oh, back to Radar, he wants to take us out for Pho again. It is an Asian noodle dish that is really good. You can add pretty much anything to it, very customizable. (Wow I didn’t think spell check would accept that word… customizable hmm, interesting) So I am looking forward to that, my concern is where. The one he likes to go to is downtown, which is fine except that place is packed the whole time it’s open. I know there is a new Pho place just across the street from base, but I am sure that place will be packed as well. “Time limits are very binding” states the obvious one. I am currently awaiting a text message that will hopefully clear up my concern.

Oh! Flyboy’s competition, his group did great, placed 1^st, the rest of his squadron… well... didn’t do so well. I blame it on a couple girls who lost the squadron over 400 points for an automatic disqualification from the round because they forgot to pull their hair up when putting their gas mask on. I mean, wow, even I knew that and I am not even in. I know they don’t get to practice a lot of these things, I think it is a yearly test, because it isn’t in their normal day to day job, but still, you would think… (Just my opinion.) Though I am more then sure this is a most lovely awakening for some of the leadership as well as the low rankers and there will be numerous discussions. (Must… get… food… too… cold... too... move… stomach… so … angry… at me… ow… Mmm banana, are you happy now???? *yells at stomach, eat this. Haha sorry, I am crazy, I know) You know what drives me nuts though, speaking of bananas, is when you go to peel them and instead of peeling they “pop” at the stem and you have to eat the fruit out of what seems like a veggie sleeping bag. That is annoying. Oh, and the little stringy things that sometimes stick to the fruit part, and then the banana taste super chalky. But what is really good, peanut better and banana sandwich, mmm, tasty. I generally don’t make it a sandwich; just make it like toast, with out the toasting part. In other words, a sandwich with no top piece of bread, completely unlike toast, I don’t know I am starting to confuse myself now. (Need… more... brain... food... brain... shrinking... like a starfish... out of water…) (*there were no animals harmed during the making of this comment*) I guess my banana has decided to go camping because it is in a sleeping bag... gr… So I better let you all go for now, take care!

~NikiRose

Mood:  not sure

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

To Us!

Two years down, an eternity left! Haha. Just teasing =) I have no idea what is in store for today, more than likely a continued quest for this mysterious Japanese nut mix, then lunch, some studying and P.T and then supper and bed. Real exciting, I know.

This weekend as been alright so far… I think today I will go to the office and make a report about our lights, they are STILL flickering. I think this is an issue beyond my microwave, and it is becoming more and more frustrating. So are the dishes…, they never stay clean!!

Anywho, no word out of Soldier yet… Flyboy is still scheduled for that TDY, and he is still stoked about it… of course. I found Sherwood and Sandra a feeder on sale at Wal-Mart, I am sure they will appreciate that.

Not much else over here. We have thunderstorms coming this weekend… can’t wait! (I think I prefer the ice) I still have to write reply emails, I have been feeling really lazy lately, not a good thing really. Also I have been having a bunch of things on my mind, and within time I will share them, but for now the crazy people in my head are discussing them. (They need to clean up after themselves; they are such a dirty people)

I think that is all for now, sorry I seem so distracted. Hope all is alright with you guys. Take care!

~NikiRose

Mood:  energetic

Ello everybody!

It is really cold out this morning, but I have a feeling it will warm up to about 40 sometime today.

The split pea soup turned out really good, and Flyboy loved it. (Well not as much as he loved the beef stroganoff) Yesterday we went to the Asian market downtown to see if we could find more of the nut mix he was given in WA. No luck there, but we did come across a different kind of nut mix, and he is happy with it. I think this weekend I will make some pumpkin bread (out of season, I know, but it sounds good!)

The gym was packed, so we couldn’t do everything that we had wanted, but we will have to double up or something this afternoon, whenever he gets off. (He is doing the competition thing today, and his BDU’s look AWESOME! Thanks to me and my super ironing skills he has creases that could slice your finger open if you touched them. =D hehe) I wish I was able to watch it, but this is just a military thing and the spouses have to sty home, or whatever. It makes sense, but I think it would be really fun to watch.

Flyboy is REALLY excited about his upcoming TDY. Besides the fact that it will return him to currency, he will be flying with his mentor from the squadron, MSgt Awesome. (He got promoted and sent to a different building where he is doing waaaay more important things than before in Flyboy’s flight. Everyone misses him, he was really cool and would stand up for the low ranking guys, hence the name Awesome…) Anywho, no one has heard from him in a year or so, he's been THAT busy, and Flyboy is stoked that he gets to fly with him.  MSgt Awesome gave him a lot of advice and helped him with some of his frustrations. (This is the same MSgt that wanted to meet me to thank me for supporting Flyboy and being a team, a while back. It was in regards to the flash cards I made, he REALLY liked them and thought they were a great idea, especially since a bunch of the guys were using them too and their scores on the tests were going from average to above average…) But yeah, Flyboy can’t wait to show off his accomplishments, not in an arrogant way, believe me, but in a “see you were right to believe in me” kind of sort of way. I think you know what I mean. Now the kicker is… he is flying with Capt. Trouble too. He is one of those guys that seem to have it out for everyone in the flight, in particular, Flyboy. (MSgt Awesome helped shield some of the unessential, morale busting, nonsense that Capt. Trouble would throw at the guys in the flight, also why they miss him.) It is a long list of nonsense and really it is a bit petty to list it out, and also you aren’t suppose to talk bad about leadership,  but I think it is really funny that Flyboy gets to fly with Awesome on the condition that Trouble comes with.

I am really excited, however that we are almost to our Cali trip goal! We are 2 months shy of making the goal, which would give us an extra month and a half to cover unexpected expenses, like gas prices go over my estimated $3 a gallon… I can’t believe how fast time has flown by, it is February already! I mean Soldier has been overseas for 58 days now! (I have a counter… here (you can click on the “here” and it will take you to the counter)

I wonder what Flyboy is up to, if he is in the flight or if he has to watch everyone’s events. I know opening ceremonies started at 830 and the first squadron up is at 910. Flyboy’s squadron doesn’t do their thing until 1010… hmm well, I think I am going to wrap this up for the day; I have more dishes to do. Yaaay…

Take care!

~NIkiRose