I've Moved...

I've moved to a Typepad account....check me out there!

http://wendylicious.typepad.com/im_not_antisocial_im_anti/

Well after keeping this blog for a year and really getting into this blogging thing, I've decided to make the leap to Typepad. It offers me more options and I can do so much more than I can here on free Blogger.

Check out my new blog here and bookmark it to keep up with the comings and goings in the life of Wendylicious!! Be sure and check out my Photo Journal there as well!

A Picture a Day....Day Two

Today a scene from my kitchen counter. Dave and I put all of our coins from our pockets and wallet in these tequila bottles and save until all the bottles are full. We always have a specific thing designated for the money and right now it's new bedding.

The straw holder is from his Pepsi collecting days and we both open it every morning to get a straw to drink our morning Slimfast since neither of us like drinking it from the can.

Happy December everyone!

31 Days of Pictures....

I have challenged myself to taking a picture every day for the month of December.

This is a shot from my little miniture collection box hanging in my bedroom. I sure do need to dust them, huh? I've been collecting all of these since I was a little girl. The little ladybug was just added to the collection during our last trip. I picked it up somewhere in Colorado.

Looking forward to showing you 30 more pictures throughout the month!

Scraproom Pictures

As promised, here are some shots of my new kick ass storage containers in my scrapbook room.
Both the horizonal and the vertical set ups are 6 sets of cubes

(psst....Mom, I have more sets than you do!!)
Isn't it cool how you can put a label in there so you know what is in all those drawers?

My creative space is now complete and I am very happy!

Merry Christmas to Me

UPS delivered boxes yesterday!! I got all my new storage drawers for my scrapbook room. My room is a total wreck now while I organize, but they are all put together.

I'll post pictures when everything is organized!!

A New Collection

Back on line after getting our new computers and running a network system all over the house. Way to go Dave!

While we were on vacation, I started collecting something new. You know those machines where you put in fifty cents and a penny and it squishes the penny with a design on it? I got these three on our last trip, and I have a few others from other places.

So, if anyone ever passes one of these machines, stick in fifty one cents and send it to me, okay?

Vacation Highlights

Thought I would hit a few of the cool points on our vacation!


Here I am doing the Hoki Poki at Babe's...and anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE to do the Hoki Poki!

"Pepperoni, more please" - Chico the cat

Playing Chickenfoot with Mom and Dad.

Watching cartoons with Adrianne patiently waiting for Disney to play Little Mermaid cartoons.



Uncle Dave and Adrianne napping.

Our annual family photos, just the brothers, then just the sisters, then just all the kiddos. The weather wasn't the greatest this year so we moved to the staircase.

Mom's famous lasagna and her homemade rolls, Dad cooking ribs outside for the family day, and just generally eating too much homecooking!

Dave working on cars at the Napa shop with his brothers

Eating lots and lots of Sonic and Schlotsky's, because we can't get them in California!
The B&B in Canon City deserves a whole post in itself; 90% of it devoted to the breakfasts! Strawberries with devonshire cream, fresh poppyseed muffins, German apple pancakes, a crossiont with vanilla cream and fresh raspberry topping, hot apple crisp.....I gained 3lbs just eating breakfast there!

The owners Wendy & Lyn were so warm and hospitable and the room was so comfy and nice. We've never stayed at a B&B before, but we will be doing this again!
The fall weather in Colorado and looking at the colorful foliage!

The crisp, clean air in Colorado!


Visiting Bishop's Castle with Dave and his father. This was all built by one man over the past few decades. Of course he's crazy as a shit house rat, but you have to admire what he's built with his own two hands.

I stayed on the ground, thank you very much (he is crazy after all) but Dave and Father went all the way to the top...that's them in the round ball at the top!

Leaving Colorado and starting the "alone time" part of our vacation.

Driving up to 11,000 feet elevation and seeing all the beautiful snow!

Buying patches everywhere we went and sewing them on our bags each night.

Driving through all the pretty little towns and saying what we liked about each one of them. Silverton, Colorado...it could definitely be on our list of places to retire.

Looking at the map and pointing and saying "let's go HERE!" just because we can.

No timetables or schedules of when we have to be where!

Doing the Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde Colorado. So cool to be climbing around in the place where the Publo people lived between 1100 AD and 1400 AD.

Doing the tour where we had to climb up 10 foot ladders and down ledges and crevices...although not so fun to do it behind the guy in sweat pants with the HUGE butt. Not an attractive sight, let me tell you!

Having a bad hair day and just throwing a bandana on my head.

Going to the Four Corners area and sitting in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado all at the same time.

Eating Navajo Fry Bread topped with beans and cheese!

Not so good, dealing with Dave's nasty farting in the small car afterwards!!

Big thanks to the two Good Samartians in Kayenta, Arizona that helped us out when the Vette had a problem under the hood!

Tuba City, Arizona, definitely OFF the list of places we would retire. That is one small, dirty, icky city!


Watching the Cowboys beat the Panthers soundly and then going out for Arby's.

Man, a lot of my highlights have to do with food, don't they??

Vacation - Day Ten

Sunday was the big gathering here in Kansas. All six of the brothers made it, and we were only missing one sister-in-law and one grandchild. There were also lots of other extended relatives as well.

Man, did Dave's Mom put on a spread! TONS of great food and deserts...I haven't eaten that good since the last time we visited Kansas.


Here's my favorite picture of all of the sister-in-laws, I'll post more pictures later when I have a better connection!

Vacation - Day Nine

No pictures today, the dial up is just too dang slow.

Having a great time here in Kansas and eating TONS of good food!

I got to meet my new sister-in-law, Jenny, and her sweet daughter Adrian, who is about to turn 4!

I'll post more when I get to a better internet connection!

Vacation - Day Seven

Hey All, it's almost a week into our vacation and we're having a ball.

Monday morning, Dave and I and my parent's loaded up and went down to San Antonio. We stayed in a condo that my parents have time share in in New Braunsville, about half an hour north of San Antonio.

We went down to the Riverwalk and did the boat tour of that area and ate some fantastic Mexican food Monday night, then back to the condo for a couple of rousing games of Chickenfoot. That's a fun domino game that my family is rabid about.

Tuesday we visited with my Great Aunt Lila and then visited the Texas Cradle of Liberty...the Alamo. We called it a day early and ordered some pizza and played Chickenfoot late into the evening.


Wednesday we had to hit the road early so we could get back to Dallas in time for Dave and I to catch a Grayhound bus to Kansas.

For those considering the bus as a mode of transportation, I highly discourage it. We left Dallas and I was like "it's an adventure!!". By Ardmore, Oklahoma, my attitude had slipped to "I don't like this anymore" and by the time we hit Oklahoma City, I was deep into "I AM NOT HAPPY" mode!! On a good note, I did manage to restrain myself from killing a seven year old named Shelby Rose Hutchenson and the two little old ladies sitting around her who encouraged her to chatter most of the way through North Texas and Southern Oklahoma!!

Dave's Uncle Mac (one of my favorite of his extended family) picked us up at the bus station in downtown Witchita at 3:30am, bless his heart, and took us back to his place to crash for a couple of hours. Dave's Mom showed up Thursday morning to pick us up there and take us back to their house in very, very small town Kansas.

Right now it's just Dave's folks, his youngest brother Adam and his wife Sabrina, and Dave and I. But all the other 4 brothers and their wives, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents should start rolling into town tomorrow morning.

I just love his big family!

Day Two of the Great Vacation!

Having a great time here in Texas. We slept in a little on Sunday, then went down to Grand Saline to visit with my grandparents, my favorite aunt and uncle, and my favorite cousins. (okay, so Amy is really my favorite cousin, Jason just comes along with her, LOL)

It was nice and cloudy and even misted and rained a little bit. I love how green and lush everything is in this part of the country, such a contrast to the desert where we live now.

Don't you love the picture of Fiona feeding the horsey? She is such a sweet, sweet little girl. Although she doesn't like Dave so much. He was playing with her and scared her and she started calling him "Bad Dave"! She would stand on the other side of the room and shake her little finger at him and say "Bad Dave! Bad, Bad Dave!!"

In Texas

After a long wait at the airport and an even longer wait on the tarmac waiting to take off, we finally started the first leg of our trip.

Mom, Dad, and my brother David picked us up at the airport and we went over to their newest favorite restaurant. We met up with Kara, an old friend from high school and the Maid of Honor at our wedding and with Sara, a cyber and IRL friend who lives in the Dallas area.

I did the Hokey Pokey with our waitress, ate lots of good Texas chicken fried steak, and enjoyed my family and friends.

More updates as I can!

Vacation

Well, the vacation has officially started. Our bags are packed, we've had our first "We're On Vacation" nookie, and we're ready to drive to the Las Vegas airport tomorrow. A big shout out to our rock steady, always there when you need them, friends Dave and Linda Mc for driving us.

We fly to D/FW tomorrow where my Mom and Dad will pick us up. We're having dinner at their newest favorite restaurant tomorrow night and hooking up with an old high school friend and my Maid of Honor, Kara and her new husband Eric; who I am looking forward to meeting. If he's good enough for Kara, he must be a great guy.
Sunday is Cowboy football and a trip down to Mineola, Texas to visit with my grandparents.
Monday (after Dave speaks to Mrs. Petty's first grade class), Dave and I, my folks, and hopefully my sister Lisa load up and head down to San Antonio for some sightseeing.
Then Wednesday night we load up on a Greyhound bus to ride to Kansas for the second leg of our trip.

Hmmm...riding a Greyhound bus. It could be interesting. It could be an adventure.

I'll log on and update as I can throughout the trip!!

My 100th Post

For my 100th post I thought I would post this layout. The picture just spoke to me, the boots look so worn, like they had stories to tell. And just seeing them, sitting there in his office was such a heartwarming sight. He's here with me, finally back where he belongs.

A Few More Pictures from the Homecoming

I'm finally getting used to having him here and my smile has finally gone down to a 100 watt bulb instead of the skylighting spotlight it's been for the last 48 hours. I still can't stand to have him too far away from me for very long and I reach out and touch him at every opportunity.


Here we are putting his wedding ring back where it belongs. I've never really realized how much I touched it or reached for it until it wasn't there. My hand keeps going to my neck, but it's back where it belongs. Dave says that's all right, he's still getting used to his hip feeling so light. He keeps reaching down to pat his pistol and remembering he doesn't have to wear that any more either.


This is my favorite picture of Cathy and Jason!

And finally, a picture I just had to take yesterday. I was walking down our hallway past his office and glanced in. This sight just stopped me in my tracks and it was then that it finally hit me, he's home.

FINALLY!!

After many months, counting down the last days and then the last hours, Dave is finally home and I am a happy, happy lady!

The buses didn't pull into Victory Field until almost 2am. One of the seven buses broke down about an hour from 29 Palms. The remaining six buses came in and unloaded at the armory, but the Marines didn't want to go down to meet their loved ones until they knew that their brothers were at the armory and close behind them.

Our best friends Dave and Linda Mc went with Cathy and I and did their best to keep us occupied and sane during the five hour wait, giving up their 22nd anniversary to be there with us and act as our photographers.

We got word, finally, that the buses were loaded and our Marines were coming down from the armory. They were escorted by a local motorcycle club called the Patriot Guard Riders. They had escorted our men from March AFB, rode in with them, and stayed with them at the armory. Then they escorted them down the streets of the base.

What a sight that was all those Harleys with their engine's roaring, most of them decked out with American flags, and right behind them the buses with Marines hanging out of the window searching for that first glimpse of their loved ones.

There were so many people crowding up to the buses, I hung back a first, looking for him. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder and someone pointed him out to me. I just ran to him and at that moment, all was right in the universe. It that brief and beautiful second, I felt like nothing could ever be wrong or ever hurt me.

My life is complete again!

Soooooooo Close

OMG, I can't believe how close we are getting to Dave being home and in my arms again.

He totally made me cry today. The FedEx guy walked in with a package marked from Flowers.com and I asked "who's the lucky lady?" Much to my surprise, it was me. Dave must have found his way to a computer while he was in Kuwait.

First I opened the card on the outside and what he wrote was so sweet and beautiful that I started crying. Then I opened the box and found a dozen lavender roses and a purple teddy bear and I started crying again.

Purple is my favorite color. He knows me so well.

I'll be posting updates on his homecoming as I can.

Updates from Dave

I got another call from Dave last night. They are still in the first stop over place, but should be leaving there today.

He said that base is like Club Med, you would not even know you were in the middle of a combat zone. He had Pizza Hut last night and says he thinks he's gaining weight from all the good food in the chow hall.

He also reported that they have gone through all their decompression classes, which he boils down to: "don't fall in the bottle, don't spend all your money, don't beat your wife, and don't get in fights".

That doesn't sound like it should take three days, huh?

I also heard from my KV today and the dates and times that she gave me were right on with all the rumors we have been hearing. Time is slowly winding down and it won't be too much longer before I can post some wonderful reunion photos!

Hugs to all, and anyone that wants to call me to get more information is more than welcome!

Playing With Photshop

Trying to keep myself busy as the hours pass ever so slowly!!

The Long Journey Home....update

I just got a call from Dave and his entire group is finally in their next location in Iraq. He says the base there is really big with a Burger King, a Pizza Hut, and a Baskin Robbins. HECK, we don't even have a Baskin Robbins in 29 Palms!!

He says they are there for a day at least before their next leg, which should take them down to Kuwait to wait for the big freedom bird!

The Long Journey Home!

Very soon, maybe even tonight, I will get an email from Dave telling me he is walking out the door to board his first of many, many modes of transportation to come home to me!

It'll be a long journey, starting with a helicopter and ending with a bus, but that moment that the bus pulls up to Victory Field aboard 29 Palms MCAGCC will be so amazingly wonderful!

Stay tuned for updates as I am allowed to post them, but we are under 200 hours until I can finally wrap my arms around him!

201 days behind us. 4,834 hours of worry and lonliness; but the end is in sight!

***ETA - Just got an email from Dave, he is heading to the flightline for his first flight!***

Planners

Remember how I said that I was a Planner married to the King of Planning?

Well I have from now until November 1st all mapped out:

Tomorrow morning I go to the local Social Security office to get a new card. Can you believe that I've worked at the Clown College for over a year now and they just figured out they don't have a copy of my driver's license and Social Security card?
Then tomorrow afternoon, I'm going back into the base hospital to have a mole removed. I'm 37 years old and this will be the first time I've ever had stitches!
I also need to drop off our duffel bags that just arrived at the alterations place to have the name tapes sewn on (more on this later) and tan again at the Fake & Bake.

I work Wednesday - Sunday, cleaning the house and doing laundry in the evenings, and baking at the tan place two or three times.

Next Monday, I have Terminex scheduled to come out and treat the place inside and out. No, I haven't been that sloppy for the past 7 months; we're just having a bad ant season.

Tuesday morning into the beauty salon to get my roots touched up. I'm way too young to have this much grey! Then Tuesday afternoon, carpet cleaners are coming in.

Tuesday night, the group of Officer's Wives I hang with are having our last social gathering (called a "coffee") at a local nail salon. They are closing it down so it's just us. We're going to drink some bubbly, have a good time, and get all pretty for our guys.

I work Wednesday and Thursday. Then at some point between Friday and Sunday, (again OpSec) I become the happiest woman on the West Coast!!

The only thing I don't have planned between now and then is when the cleaning lady is going to come in. I lost her telephone number so my friend is getting it for me today.

Then when Dave comes home, I'm off work through Sunday, then I work Monday the 2nd through Wednesday the 4th, then he has a 4 day weekend and I'm take that off as well. Then I work Monday the 9th through Friday the 13th.

Then the vacation starts!!

Our friend Linda is driving us to Vegas on Saturday the 14th and we fly from there to Dallas to visit with my family. Dave is going to go with our niece Sam to her first grade class to be her Show and Tell! LOL! We are also going to go with my folks down to San Antonio for some sight seeing.

Wednesday, the 18th, we hop on a Greyhound bus and scoot up to Kansas to visit with Dave's family. Dave's Mom is all excited because on Sunday, the 22nd, she is going to have all six of her sons, all six of her daughter-in-laws, and all six of her grandkids together for the first time ever. The last time she had all of the boys and their wives together at once was 8 years ago, and we have 2 new wives and 3 new grandkids since then.

We're picking up Dave's 1973 Corvette which he has been keeping in storage at his folks house and doing the rest of the trip in that. Hence the duffel bags.

Finishing up the trip in the Vette, we are going to be very, very short on luggage space, so I ordered us two olive green duffel bags. We should be able to cram both of those in the small storage space behind the driver's seats. It's going to be a jeans and t-shirts kind of vacation and we'll have to do laundry every place we stop. Luckily, I'm a low maintenance girl!

Dave came up with the great idea of ordering some military name tapes and having them sewn on our bags. You should have seen the look on the guys face when I ordered two name tapes, one with the name Wendylicious and one with the name Big Daddy Dave!!
We're also going to buy souvenir patches as we travel and sew them on our bags as we go so our luggage will actually become a souvenir itself!

On Monday, the 23rd, we hop in the car and head to Colorado to visit Dave's father and stepmother for a few days. We're staying in the cutest little Bed and Breakfast called The Jewel of the Canyons. We even have a massage scheduled for while we are there.

Friday, the 27th, we leave Canon City and start to meander our way back home. Depending on the weather, we may head directly west and see Utah, or if it's snowy, we may go south and go through Arizona. We would like to get back here by the 30th, so we can have the 31st for recuperation time.

Then we both go back to work on November 1.

I've very excited about all of our plans for the next month and a half!! Especially the him getting off the bus part and all the sex afterwards! LOL!! I still need to go down the hill to Palm Springs between now and then and buy myself a new pair of jeans. I've lost so much weight, all my clothes are falling off of me.

Between that and the 3 or 4 inches of hair I've grown, I joke that I will need to be holding a sign when Dave gets off the bus that says "CWO3 J... here is your wife!"

OpSec

In the name of Operational Security, I took down my countdown timer.

I got an email from my KV (Key Volunteer) saying that the dates had changed slightly, but that the KNV (Key Volunteer Network) would not be posting any arrivals via email for OpSec reasons and asked that we did the same. She said she would be contacting everyone in the next week to let us know what the new dates are.

WTH? You just tell me that my husband's date has changed, and that you will call me in the next 7 DAYS to tell me the new date???

Luckily Dave is a pretty smart feller and, in the course of an email, mentioned that he was looking forward to the day that our favorite team plays (he named another team) and how nice it was going to be to be together and watch the game in his own house.

All I had to do was look up what day our team played the team who's name I won't mention here and WHAM, I knew all I needed to know!

Hit a Goal!

Remember my New Year's Resolutions that I posted back in January?

Well I'm very excited that I hit one of my goals. Yesterday when I stepped on the scales, I officially weighed 160 for the first time in many years! I can't believe how flat my stomach looks!

Now the hard part, to keep it off once Dave comes home and we go on vacation!