Hakuna Matata, I'm Still Here!

Hey all!

It’s been a few days, so I just thought I’d write a few words. Right now I’m watching “Waitress” while Jeff is playing “Aces High 2”. Nerd.

Thanksgiving was pretty fun. We went over to Beau and Nicole’s house in the morning and ate snacks while watching football. Actually, I mostly just played with the kids because football is about as thrilling to me as watching paint dry. We stayed there until about 1:30.

I like Nicole and Beau a lot. I am going to get Nicole’s number from Jeff so that I can call her once-in-a-while and we can hang out. I think that we will get along just great.

Nicole and I decided that we would watch the “Sex and the City” movie together later that night. So, after Thanksgiving dinner, Jeff and I were to go back to their house.

We ran home to bake our green bean casserole. Then, we were off to Antar and Diane’s house.
As soon as we got there, Diane whisked me away to their bedroom. The guys were watching football in the living room, so Diane, her friend, and I all watched one of Dane Cook’s comedy shows together. So funny! The guys randomly came in and out. They don’t know what they were missing, though!

Dinner was delicious! Diane’s stuffing was almost as good as my mom’s. The highlight of my evening was definitely the pumpkin pie, though. I have waited all year for it! It is my most favorite dessert in the whole wide world.

We had a really good time, and I’m glad that he has such nice friends.

Jeff was pretty sad, though. When his mom was sick, they put together a feast the day before Thanksgiving, so that she knew what day it was and so she could spend one last holiday with her family. I believe that she died on Thanksgiving Day, so it is an especially difficult time for him.

When we went over to Beau’s house after dinner, I finally met Amanda – one of Jeff’s friends. She seems really nice. The movie was okay, but too long. We finally left at like midnight. I was exhausted.

On Friday, we didn’t do much. Just watched “Alias” and ate Sonic for lunch. We were going to buy a Dyson from the Bx (Base Exchange) because they were on sale for like $280 and the Bx is tax-free. However, they lady wouldn’t let me pay when I got to the checkout, which has NEVER happened before. You need a military ID to shop there, but typically if you are with someone, they allow it.

We ended up going to Wal Mart and buying a freaking Hoover Mach 5. It has mixed reviews. So far it works great, but that is how my stupid Eureka Altima was, too. It worked great at first, and then decided that it had enough. We desperately needed a new vacuum cleaner, though, because Jeff has the same vacuum that I had and we tried everything, but it wasn’t picking up anymore. With two dogs in the house, that is a problem. Wal Mart had no Dyson’s, though. I would’ve paid full price, at this point.

We made a pact, though. If this vacuum dies on us, we are investing in a Dyson – no matter what. I am going to keep my fingers crossed, though, that this one lasts awhile because I like it and it seems nice.

We set up our Christmas tree. It’s cute!

All day Saturday, we deep-cleaned the house. It is beautiful. Brian and Denise came over for dinner. Denise made Cornish hens and rice. It was pretty good. We drank wine and had a little fire.

Denise and I get along really well. So, I will probably hang out with her. It is nice that her boyfriend only lives a couple blocks away from us. He is really nice and I’d like to see them more often.

Jeff and I started season two of “Alias.” Do any of you watch it?

Today Alexis, the Daschund, is supposed to leave. I am so sad. She is a sweetheart! I swear that one day I WILL have one and I will name HER Eloise. :]

We are going to decorate a little bit more for Christmas today. Then, maybe go walk around some stores for a bit – just to get out of the house.

Tonight I am making tuna noodle casserole for dinner. Yum! Jeff and I have been craving it. I need to get Mom's tuna melt recipe. They are to die for.

Really, that is about all I know. If anything exciting happens before Thursday, I’ll blog. If not, I’ll let you all know how my interview goes this week. I REALLY want this job. So, I will just keep praying for it.

Love,

Ash

Gobble, Gobble...

Tomorrow is going to be my very first Thanksgiving away from home. Now, I haven’t spent Thanksgiving with my family in a good three or four years because I always ended up being scheduled to work, but I normally have leftovers when I get home. I’m going to miss my mom’s stuffing and “purple stuff.” That is nothing shy of devastating.

Since it is only me and Jeff, his friends have invited us to celebrate with them because they are, in essence, our extended family. And just like family, they are all we’ve got out here. So, love them or hate them, you deal with it.

We have to be at Beau and Nicole’s house at 10 AM on Thursday to watch the football game. Neither Nicole nor I have any interest in football, so it should be a fun-filled morning for me. Guess I will play with the babies, while I’m thinking of my sweet little nephews. I really, really miss them.

After the game is done, we are going to run home to pop our dish in the oven while we get ready. Then, we are off to Diane and Antar’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. This is going to be especially difficult for me because I am going to be around 8 to 10 strangers. I won’t have a Jeremy to sit in the corner with, bored out of my mind. No one to be anti-social with and make cracks about stuff. Nope. Just little old me.

This will be my first Thanksgiving in 22 years in which I won’t be sitting at the kids’ table. I don’t like that thought. Sure, I envied my siblings for getting to sit with the grown-ups and every year Allie and I would try to call dibs on a spot with the adults, but that was a losing battle. We always got sent right back to that crappy old card table covered with graffiti from us kids.

I feel like I’ve been voted off the table and that I am now expected to grow up. I am not ready for that. Sure, I just took a huge leap and moved away from home, but that doesn’t mean that I wanted to let go of my childhood. No way! I want to hold onto it until I have no choice but to let go of it and put it in the past.

You can take away my card table and put 2,000 miles between me and my family, but in my mind, I’ll be celebrating the holiday at 508 W. Bridge Street – just like the good ol’ days.

Just For Shits and Giggles, I Guess...

Well, here I am on this God Forsaken site. I never thought I'd find myself posting here. Dreams really do come true, though, don't they, April? :) That bastard site myspace hid my blogs on me, so I'm not sure that you gals can see them. Hence, why I'm here.

Besides, it makes it so much easier for me to stalk my sisters, April and Julie, when we are all using the same site. You see, they are partial to Facebook. However, I find it to be complicated and annoying, so I only log in once in a blue moon. I support Myspace 110%.

All that is new with me is as follows:

I watched two James Bond movies - Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, or whatever. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I enjoyed them. In return for going to see the latest James Bond film, Jeff is taking me to see Twilight. Can't wait!

I am hooked on Alias. I am only on the first season, but he has 1-4 on DVD. It is the highlight of my day to curl up on the couch with a hot cup of green tea and watch a couple of episodes.

We have a doggy door now. Since its installation, Toby has had no accidents, and he is no longer afraid to go outside alone. It is truly a blessing.

I have a job interview next Thursday. Wish me luck!

Those asses at Sallie Mae won't give me a loan. I think that was God's way of telling me that I am meant to be a nurse. I will just wait until I am 24 and can get financial aid. *Sigh.*

All I want for Christmas is a Daschund. :)

I am also addicted to Food Network and cooking. No one knew that I was actually kind of a master in the kitchen. I've had bad experiences over the years. "Unseasoning" April's seasoned baking sheet. A couple of stovetop fires in Green. Not microwaving TV dinners all the way. Pancakes that weren't done on the inside. Burned grilled cheese. I surprised myself. I am actually taking RECIPES and making stuff out of them. Sure, I need advice once in a while, but I've done well. Compliments to the chef!