Nick came home!

Well, I apologize for not blogging this past week, but I was busy having a life.  Which is a welcome relief from the normal tedium I endure!

My husband surprised me and came home!  I thought he was in Bahrain, but really he came home two weeks ago, flew here, and surprised me at 3 am in the morning (Props to my Dad who went and picked him up at the airport in the wee hours of the morning)

Nick and I tried to fit in 2 1/2 months apart into ten days.  We went to fancy dinners, went to Bethany Beach, a baseball game, and we even threw a party.  It was perfect.  We just enjoyed each other's company.  

Nick came home for our one year anniversary.  I didn't think he would (note bitter blog about two posts ago), but I sure am glad he did!!  We went to the Chart House in Eastport and they even gave us menu's with our name on them!  It was perfect.  My husband is a fit and confidant Naval officer-what more could a woman ask for?  I felt like I was floating because of the extreme levels of happiness coming from my body.  

If you would like to know our life's itinerary here it goes, hopefully without comprimising National Security.  I live with my roommates Wayne and Donna.  I'm working at camp and have no job for the fall.  Nick is in Pascagoula, Mississippi waiting for his ship to be built and commissioned.  I move to San Diego sometime in December give or take a month or two, depending on the Navy.  

That's my life.  

Love, Kaley

New Job

I have had some pretty sad jobs in the past. Here is a list of jobs I have had throughout my entire life.

• Bowen's Farm Supply (Cashier, Stockgirl, Confidante)
• SCS Extended Care (Fifth Grade, Fourth Grade, Pre-k...eek!)
• Nanny (Part time)
  
• Ann Taylor Loft (Pilferer of Paychecks)
• Third Grade Teacher

And now to add to my resume: Secretary. I answer phones, I surf the net. It's pretty much the best job I have ever had. My chair is comfortable and sometimes Tara stops by along with assorted other people who brighten my day. I've put a picture of Nick up at my desk and now everything feels complete.
Plus this job is a stepping stone on the path to maturity. It is teaching me to answer the phone with confidence and even...gasp... return phone calls to strangers!

In dork news on my way past Hot Topic at the mall I noticed a "hype" shirt if you will for the movie "New Moon" which is (for you non dorks) the sequel to Twilight(and not due out in theaters for quite some time). When will the hysteria end? It's just creepy.

Love, Kaley

First Day of Camp

Tara has been trying to get me to work at camp... since we met but, mostly from college on.  Finally her life's dream has become a reality.  Everyone she knows works at camp.  I am the camp secretary.  I answer phones, I screw up the inter office intercom, I put things in folders, I put mail in mailboxes.  You know what?  It's really awesome.  For once in my life my job didn't make me feel physically, emotionally, and mentally drained.  AND instead of seeing graffiti and burned dumpsters I saw two fawns under a tree, a goose with her goslings, and a veritable wealth of osprey.  It was like smoothing a great big balm on my heart.  

That is how I feel about camp.  

On another note I am currently obsessed with this song off of Mandy Moore's new album. 

 

Marraige?

If this were last year I would be preparing for my wedding right now.  Tying bows, making favors, moving into our new apartment, sitting in my room at my parent's house... I'm still here.  At my parent's house.  No husband.  The countdown to my one year anniversary approaches and I haven't lived with my husband since February.  This is a very weird feeling that causes me to miss my husband a whole lot.  

Kaley

Warm Fuzzies.

Today I did something GUTSY.  I did something that showed a high concentration of intestinal fortitude.  I gave my third graders an anonymous survey of their time spent in my classroom.  Like I said-Risky!  The following are some questions and answers from my little survey.  

Favorite lunch food- 

"Chilly dog"

Favorite place in the room- 

"Prize Box"

Favorite Memory of Mrs. P- 

"That time she got a moth stuck in her hair"

"When Mr. P came to visit in his uniform"

"All the laughs and smiles we shared"

One thing you would like Mrs. P to know-

"That she is cute and pretty" 

(No, I didn't make that up.  Several children think this of me.  I wonder if the little guys will look back at their 3rd grade picture and go 'OH!' and to think I thought she was attractive)

"That she is mean and respectful"  

(I think she meant disrespectful.  Well, at least I think it's she.  I'm pretty sure it's the one girl I didn't let choose out of the treasure box today.  Hater!)

"That she is the greatest teacher I could ever have"

"That I am going to take good care of the Animorphs books she gave me"

"Remember not to act too cool once you get to California"  Ha!

Being called cool and pretty and funny and nice stroked my ego a bit.  And made me feel like I didn't suck at my profession.  That I had reached some little souls and sprinkled some good memories amongst them.  I only received one angry response, but that only made me laugh.  

I might get a little teary tomorrow saying good bye to some of my sweet little buddies that are leaving me to grow up!  On the other hand, I might do cartwheels when I see some of them go!

Love, 

A pretty, nice, funny Kaley

Crazy Navy Wife

If you know me you might call me meek and mild-well maybe if you didn't know me you would call me that.  Anyway I am only meek and mild when it comes to confrontation.  I hate it.  I loathe it.  I despise it.  It makes me queasy and causes my hands to quake with nervous tremors.  But these past two weeks I hit a wall.  I just miss my husband too much.  I'm fragile.  And so my wrath has been unleashed (a little like Annie on the 90210 finale...anyone?)  

First I beeped my horn at a car because of a conflict in merging.  

Then I upset my little Aspberger's friend by crumpling up this little "Dr. Paper" he makes everyday.  (This really wasn't an outpouring of rage, I did it on accident)  I could explain Dr. Paper... but actually I can't.  

Then I gave attitude to a PTA member.  And cried about it to the principal. 

And I was thinking, you know who your biggest cheerleader is?  The husband.  And my husband is in the Middle East.  I thought, if only Nick was here, he would understand.  

Husband=protector, provider, best friend.  

And you know what?  He called!  He called and supported me and encouraged me and reminded me why he was my soulmate.  I feel incredibly blessed that the Lord sent me this encouragement today right exactly when I needed it.  He is Good.  And I love my husband and my God.  And I think I'm going to exert some effort in not freaking out on people for the rest of the week.  In all fairness, the PTA member did deserve for me to give her some 'tude.  

Love, Kaley

PS And as a teacher (for four more days) I am going to cease beginning sentences with "and"

PPS 

Happy Birthday Sara Watkins!!

Things I want.

I want: 

• Him to come home.
• Peace in the middle east
• Abs
• To still be teaching next year (sad face)
• French Fries
• Narnia to be real

And really, is this too much to ask??

Love, Kaley

Why Having Shopping Bulimia Can Ruin a Marriage.

I have a shopping disorder and I am here to proclaim it.  Acceptance is the first step towards recovery.  Last week I was feeling a little down.  You know, husband gone, no plans, talking to the cat kind of down.  I thought "I should go to the mall"  I had made a large purchase two weeks earlier and had abstained from shopping for anything since.  Well, the dam burst forth and we had on our hands a shopping spree.  I had abstained-then I had to binge.  I couldn't control it(for you faithful readers, no, the verse in my credit card slot did not even stop me!), once I broke the seal an eruption poured forth!!  Real life Retail Therapy (It works)  Well, it works until your husband finds out.  I'm telling you what, technology ain't what it used to be.  My hubs is floating in an ocean somewhere tracking my spending!!

I get an email containing only this memo:

"Shopping Spree??"

How does he check banking from the ocean? This man must have the patience of Moses!  

Okay so now I have come to the conclusion that I can't get away with shopping sprees any more.  Electronic banking has seen to that.  

So now what do I do when I feel desperate?  Get a little edgy with all this deployment business?  

Well folks, the answer lies within one man- Kirk Cameron.  

Kirk Cameron you say?  Oh yes.  Someone adapted the 40 day challenge from the movie "Fireproof" (Tag lined 'never leave your partner behind' tee hee) into a website for spouses experiencing a deployment.  They give ideas of how you can love your spouse through a deployment!  This is great! Now this is what I focus my energy on.  Here's the site.  I think they want me to buy the book, but like I say... I'm all out of shopping sprees!  The next book I'm going to read to learn about being a Military Wife is "Separated by Duty, United by Love" which sounds very Lifetime, but it got good reviews.  

Love, 

Kaley

(and maybe Nick? Are you there Big Brother??)

PS my marriage isn't in danger.  I love Nick and he loves me despite my pointless and frivolous spending habits.