Catching Up

So... how's everyone been doing the last 2 years?  Good, I hope!

I have a lot to catch up on, but I realized my blog before was a whole lot of drama, which is pretty much why I stopped posting in it. Same with facebook. I hated reading statuses like "OMG, I had the worst day ever!" followed by "Yay, I'm having the best day ever!"  You know? I just didn't want to be like that. I noticed if I don't write those things down, then they pass on, as they should.

However, I miss the internet connection. I miss my friends with which I never get to communicate.  Hi all of you over there!  *waves at Candy in particular*  She's probably forgotten about my blog, but that's okay! I'm still here for you guys and I'll make sure the word gets around.

I mentioned I was engaged and joining the military last time I posted.  Well, I'm married and yes I'm in the military.  Being in the military takes up a lot of my time, but it's helped to clarify things.  Remember I said I didn't like the drama of everyday life?  Well, I like giving advice. I like talking about things. We don't talk enough.  SO... this time around, my blog is focused on my opinions and advice.  The idea came to me after someone asked me about my Kindle. It was a complete stranger and a sudden question, AND I didn't just gush "OMG it's the best thing EVAR!"  I realized, it would probably be helpful to some of my friends if they could get my take on things instead of those reviews that are overly enthusiastic.  (The nice thing about the Kindle is there are enough people commenting that you will get straight-forward reviews, but I digress.)

Being in the military also puts things in a different persepective than if I was back home.  I hope to convey some of that while I'm writing as well.  And speaking of being busy... I've got to go!  I promise I'll be back much sooner.  I think my first post will be about the Kindle.  Or maybe order things online and the things we have to go through being at an APO address.

Good Things Come in Threes

I'm only posting this because Coby requested it. I prefer Open Diary.

A lot has happened. So where to start?

Coby was here for a month. That's obviously why I wasn't around much. Too much to do and I don't see him again until May... maybe in May, actually.

1. I'm engaged!

Coby and I were visiting Minnesota for a week with his friends and family. I figured he should propose, but wasn't sure he was going to. I kind of knew it was coming because we have a lot changing in our lives in the next six months or so (and No! I'm not pregnant! I'm tired of saying so.) It was sweet because we were hiking along a trail that goes through the Minnesota countryside and into the twin cities. Coby really didn't want to leave. He misses the setting a lot I think. If you want to hear his side of it, go to cobysev.blogspot.com . He went into far more detail I think. (And there's a picture of my promise-ring-turned-engagement ring.)

As for what happened, we were hiking and sat on a bench just to sit in the trees and talk a bit. Coby starts babbling about wanting to stay there "forever and ever" and would I stay with him. I was mocking him a little actually, repeating "forever and ever" back in his face in that annoying speak you use for dogs and babies. I only did it after he said it three times in a row. I think he was nervous. Then I also realized that I hadn't picked up my ring that morning, and I got suspicious. I was right. I love the man to death though, even though I'm not the type to go all giddy.

Okay, in my defense, I'm a very open, emotional person. I let people know how I'm feeling unless it's in a business context. (Don't ask me "How are you doing?" unless you actually want to hear because I'll tell you!) But I've noticed in the last few months that when something really matters to me, I get quiet and just smile a lot. (I made it to finals for a city-wide karaoke competition at the end of August, and when I got the tickets to go to finals and were leaving the bar, my friend said "You're not skipping!") You might get me to clap or "squee" once or twice, but I'll bottle it all up. Coby noticed that when he proposed and I think he took it for expectancy, that I knew it was coming and wasn't excited. Not at all true!

Even funnier, he didn't tell his parents for fear of more anti-marriage propaganda and therefore didn't tell ANYONE for about two weeks. I told him his parents would understand. And his mother definitely did. She's an awesome lady. People don't give mothers enough credit.

2. I've joined the Air Force!

Okay, so this was probably one of the smartest moves I've done. I could've gone back to grad school, but that would mean acquiring more student loans and being stuck at that place away from Coby for another 2-3 years minimum. Plus everyone keeps asking me what I want to do with my music degree. I don't want to do anything! Music is my love, not my career! I got it because I wanted the knowledge, end of story. I want a graduate degree too, for the knowledge! Okay, now that's off my chest. I love music, but I don't want to be a singer or teacher. I'm a very smart person. I should've gone into science or mathematics or business instead, but I didn't.

The Air Force doesn't care what my degree is in, just that I have it. In fact, I don't need it, but because I have it, I can go in as an officer. (I'm actually going to go enlisted and consider being an officer later.) I took the ASVAB the same day I met with my recruiter. Most Nebraska high school students actually end up taking it their Sophomore or Junior year of high school. I was sick that day. I got a 99, which is actually the highest score. In the sub categories (including Shop and Automotive) I got 99 in all, but Electronics, which was 97. As far as intelligence, I can have any Air Force job I want.

So then it relied on my physical. They rushed my paperwork in so I could be processed through the MEPS center before October 1st (New fiscal year, that's important to business and government.) I was worried because not many people get 1 in Hearing or Eyes and one of the jobs I was looking at for Space Operations had no specific requirements except a 1 in Hearing. I passed with 1s across the board. I am a perfect candidate! This makes me proud because I try to excel in all I do. Also, I tend to be one of the smallest, slowest kids on the playground so the fact that I'm physically fit for me, is great.

I'm an EWQ, Exceptionally Well-Qualified candidate, so they didn't harass me into picking a job category and signing the contract yet. I signed the contract and took the oath that same day, but I have no job assignment. That was supposed to come in sometime this week. I'll talk to my recruiter about it. I want to do something in Intelligence or Space Operations. Of course, nothing I would get to talk about. Even my fiancé who is only in the "support" category has to have a Top Secret Clearance and can't tell me about what he does some of the time.

Back to why this is one of the smartest things I could've done. 1. They can take $10,000 out of my GI Bill (which currently would pay for about $40,000 of school once I'm out of the military.) and apply that directly to my loans now. 2. All my student loans stay in deferrment while in the military, but I can still make payments on them. 3. I can continue my education at the same expense everyone else in the military does. (It used to be 100% free tuition but I think it's now 75% reduced tuition) 4. I'll be getting paid at least twice as much as I'm making now at my crappy part-time jobs. 5. Free health care. I don't get sick often, but I'd really like that for once in my life. 6. I get to travel. I haven't even been out of the midwest yet! 7. The military tries to keep spouses assigned together, so once Coby and I get married, I can stay with him instead of trying to find a new job everywhere we travel or getting left behind. If they can't put us together, there's some "Family Separation Pay" which probably isn't as great as people think, but whatever. They try to put you together as often as possible. And last but not least, 8. they will actually let me do something intelligent because I'm intelligent, not requiring a degree in that field. I love on the job training! One of the things I'm looking at is Space Systems Operations which would be really cool, but I have no experience at all in.

3. I'm an aunt!

My sister had a baby on September the 17th. I have nephew named Samuel Andrew! I hear he was a big baby at 8lbs and 12oz. I haven't seen him yet because they're all a 4-hour drive away, but I've already bought some cute baby clothes. Apparently the father (whom I don't approve of anyway) insisted no pink because he's a boy, so whatever. I refused to get him blue. He has a receiving blanket that's green with a frog on it. Cute, matching pants in the darker border green that have a frog about the size of a dime on it, and a dark green t-shirt that says "I was worth the wait" because he put my sister through hell for about a week. Maybe he's coming, maybe he's not.

Beyond that I have only small bits of news. Picked up a second job. Intending to make extra money before I run off to boot camp for two months. Also I'm sick, but I've been to the doctor, and I have my antibiotics and I'll be fine. I keep getting distracted too. So... go have your fun. I'll talk to you when I have more important news.

More songs

So I've been kept busy at work, but that's totally not the important stuff right now.

I started something with Coby when I did the "This song reminded me of you" thing. It's kind of like a game now because we're both always looking out for them. Here's what we've found so far.

Two days ago, Coby came up with "She Likes Me For Me" by Third Eye Blind.
"She don't care about my big screen,
Or my collection of DVDs.
Things like that just never mattered much to her,
Plus she don't watch too much tv."
Those caught his ear and when I'd looked up the lyrics later, it was what I latched on to, also.

I had also come up with a Bon Jovi song I'd heard on the radio the morning before.
"You wanna make a memory,
You wanna steal a piece of time.
You can sing the melody to me.
I can write a couple lines.
You wanna make a memory."

Then "You're My Better Half" by Keith Urban and "Here In Your Arms" by Hellogoodbye.

The next day Cascada "Everytime We Touch" which I love, and Coby loves because we both like techno music. However, later I remembered Sarah telling me that it was the song Noah listened to everyday when he was gone to Iraq. I listened to it on repeat all last night.

Today I mentioned "You and I Both" by Jason Mraz, which keeps playing at work all the time. I LOVE that song, and love singing it, but I also feel that another couple has "claim" to it. Liz was obsessed with Jason Mraz for a year or so, at least six months. When she was really missing James, she'd play that song constantly. I don't mind. I really do like it.

Since I was playing Yahoo! music videos, I got several more. "Your Man" and "Would You Go With Me" by Josh Turner. Coby really likes "Your Man" but if I had to pick one song out of all of these that is best suited for Coby and me, so far it's "Would You Go With Me".

Also "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White Ts. I sent my mp3 copy to them because they kept hearing it on the radio and wanted it in their database. Anything for our lonely military men! Finally I briefly mentioned "Lost in This Moment" by Big & Rich.

And now, Coby's leaving for lunch, and I'm going to bed.


Songs we talked about but aren't part of the list:
"I Told You So" - Keith Urban (I like the fiddle solo)
"Don't Take the Girl" - Tim McGraw (A favorite of mine since I was little.)
Cascada "Break Up"
"Long Black Train" - Josh Turner
"Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" Big & Rich

Hello blogspot!

I kinda miss blogspot. I miss writing. I liked making You Tube videos, but my computer is far too old to make them well. I guess I'll have to wait. In the meantime, I'll go back to writing. As I said, I miss writing.

The last time I wrote was quite a while ago. i had a great couple months there at the end of my college career. I quit my job at Village Inn in mid April because they honestly thought they were more important than my schooling. Ha! I had plans before that to stay in Omaha an extra month and earn some more money, but that blew that plan. I went home after graduation instead.

Oh, for lunch after graduation Liz and my family got together. Only my brother, my aunt and my grandma came, but we all had plenty of fun. Coby couldn't be there because that day happened to be the time he was shipping out of Iraq. It was also his birthday. What a birthday, eh? Doesn't seem like that much fun to me.

Anyway, I spent about a month at home. My grandparents drive me crazy after just a few days, so that was miraculous. Then I came down here. I've been here less than two months, and they're not going so bad. The first month was a royal pain in the butt because I couldn't find a job I wanted. That was the time limit I gave myself and went out and applied other places like restaurants and retail stores. I immediately got hired at two places. One was a crappy, run-down dollar store across the street. They wanted me to take a drug test. Now, it's not that I have anything to hide, but asking for a drug test is like saying "I don't trust you" and I don't like when the authorities don't trust me. Now if you want to do random tests once I'm hired, fine. I didn't get the drug test.

The other place was Steve & Barry's, a clothing store. I'll talk more about that later, but it's going well.

And the other thing I'd mention is tonight I decided that I'll make a list of lyrics that remind me of Coby. 1. "You may need me there to carry all your weight; but you're no burden, I assure" from Ever the Same by Rob Thomas. I like making lists. I'm sure others will come later.

Princess Preggers

If I ever become a self-centered ass as a pregnant woman, someone needs to knock my ego back into line. There's a girl at work who's my age and pregnant... and that's all she talks about. The whole world revolves around her, and she's lazy to boot. She acts like she can't carry anything over ten pounds and she's only 12 weeks along! Plus she's always talking about what she can/can't do or how she eats a ton. I want to just tell any pregnant women like this something:

You are not the first person to become pregnant. You are not that special.

In fact, some women who are pregnant don't always welcome it. They're poor, hard-working, and very likely single. A baby is going to make their life living hell. Why don't you all bond together and help their lives a little instead of thinking you should be treated like a queen. Besides, if you don't become a self-centered megalomaniac, you're less likely to have Postpartum Depression when the newness of the baby wears off and you're left with the stress of a screaming infant at all hours of the day. Good luck, princess.

Fishnet stockings and pretty flowers.

Today was the third and fourth show of Chicago. I dressed up today as close to 20's style as I could get with my wardrobe. Mark, Laureen's boyfriend complimented me, saying he really liked how the fishnet stockings looked on me. He also said he bets the boyfriend appreciates them... Apparently he didn't know the boyfriend is in another state. I think they looked especially good because I was wearing garter too. No I don't have pictures, but I have a brilliant surprise for Coby in mind. I don't know whenever I could execute it though. I just too many ideas because I'm already working on one!

Anyway, my birthday was a while ago, a week to be precise. Coby left this silly, rambling message on my voicemail about how it sucks to be a year older. He's just silly. I don't mind my age if I still feel like myself. And I am by no means too old to enjoy the things I want in life! I invited some people over for movies that night, but it flopped. None of the theater folk came because we have an eight hour tech. However, I felt a bit betrayed because they simply did at home what they were going to do at my house. The people that mattered most came though, James, Steve and Katie. I made them watch Brick, which they all found humorous. Strange...

You know what was waaaay better than my birthday? White Day! Okay, Valentine's Day in Japan is when women give men gifts and men reciprocate a month later, called White Day. Coby and I agreed we would celebrate this way because then the pressure is shared. Anyway, I forgot about White Day, so I didn't know why I was getting a floral delivery. One: It was too early for my birthday, and Two: I've only had flowers twice in my life (that I recall). Getting flowers is a special thing and I love it! Coby had sent me some pretty pink roses and some chocolate. So cliche, but if I could be given flowers regularly to keep in my house, I would love that. Then Coby mentioned a mistake through another company and I may get flowers the next day, which I did. Those were red roses (which never smell as good as pink ones) and some gorgeous lilies that were mostly white until they bloomed, and they were vivid orange/red/purple colors inside. Plus they made the whole house smell wonderful.

Short update (considering the time that has passed)

Well my recital was last Saturday, and it went marvelously. My grandmother, brother, mom and Kevin, Aunt Robbie and Uncle Tim and Kallie, and Uncle Phil and Aunt Corliss (g-ma's generation really) showed up from my family. Liz, James and Coby came of course. I was surprised at some others that came and was sorely disappointed at several that didn't. Sarah and Joanie, both Senior Music majors, came and Kate Simmons, who graduated two years ago came back with her little boy too! Jenn was seeing family and had done her recital as a duet with Kate that year. Plus Jackie Price, the flute major from last year, came to see my recital. At least in music we stick together. A few of the theater department and Anna K. showed up. Anna's a theater major, but she did a recital about a month ago. She also popped into the office while I was warming up to give me a big hug and a smile beforehand.

The recital was just perfect. I only fudged a couple syllables in French and I'm not even sure my French professor, born and raised on Canadian French, even noticed. The broadway songs went fantastically, everyone loved the gorilla and elephant from Harry Wayne, and I got a few tears from everyone on Mary. I sang so well that I almost cried! I can't help it. It's a sad song!

My family and close friends went to supper later, deciding on Spaghetti Works because it was closer with a shorter wait. It was a ton of fun, even the wait, and almost everyone let me pay for it like I wanted to. It was my thank you for coming to something that's so important to me. (I let Phil and Corliss pay some because they didn't know I was paying and would never allow such a thing. Most everyone else knew, and I was quite stubborn with them.)

While waiting, Cody played with this silly machine that made fun of his sex appeal. I did just fun and we started a wave of people wanting to play this game. Grandma started talking to some ex-cop at the bar because she needed at seat and when she explained what they were in town for, he said "You mean that little girl is ready to graduate college!" Please, dressed like a goddess (or so I told myself) with my hair and makeup done, I was still called a little girl!

I was quite glad Coby was here and the computer (and my homework) always seems to disappear then. I wasn't too disappointed in his leaving, though, because Spring Break is in two weeks and I already asked for it off so I can go visit him. However, that means midterms are next week! The only thing I need to study for is Classical Mythology.

I've been taken off the work schedule because of all the things I have to do coming up, but I'll be picking up shifts where people can't or won't work. However, it's all on my terms. I love it.

Today in the shop I got to make protest signs for the show we're doing called The Laramie Project. It takes interviews of people within Laramie, WY concerning the murder of Matthew Shepherd and takes those quotes to recreate the story of what happened for the audience. For those that have been living under a rock, Matthew was beaten and left to die by a couple homophobes in Wyoming. So badly, in fact, that he had a huge fracture across his skull and brain stem damage so he never regained consciousness and had to remain on life support. It's amazing he lived the 18 hours tied to the fence before he was found... and almost mistaken for a scarecrow instead of a human being.

From Wikipedia: "The anti-gay Fred Phelps of Kansas and his supporters picketed Shepard's funeral as well as the trial of his assailants.^[20][21] They displayed signs of their protests, with slogans such as "Matt Shepard rots in Hell", "AIDS Kills Fags Dead" and "God Hates Fags".^[22] When the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled that it was legal to display any sort of religious message on city property if it was legal for Casper's Ten Commandments display to remain, Phelps made attempts to gain city permits in Cheyenne and Casper to build a monument "of marble or granite 5 or 6 feet in height" on which will be a bronze plaque bearing Shepard's picture and the words: "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22.""


I think his website actually is godhatesfags.com Funny, we're being picketed by Fred Phelps on the opening of our show coming up. Then again, not so funny considering we're not the first college to perform The Laramie Project and be picketed by him. The show is used to promote awareness of prejudice and tolerance. How perfect for him to bring the prejudice straight to our doorstep. Still, I hope Fred Phelps rots in Hell.


Now after all this, I can't remember some other things that I was going to mention. Maybe later.