The Proposal

First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS (Happy Holidays) everyone and Happy Birthday, Jesus!

So, I kinda knew it was coming... you guys knew that. (;

When I called and told Gran, she said, "Well, dear, I can't say I'm surprised, but that's wonderful."

We were all sitting around the living room - Rod, me, my mom, dad, Sharon, Dan, Daniel and Ray (all of whom have known about it since Thanksgiving weekend, when I did - obviously - come back to Virginia Beach with Roddy and have been doing fine). We opened all of our presents, but apparently there was one left in the bedroom for me.

Roddy brought out a gift bag with a bunch of Lindt chocolate truffles in it... my favorites... and the kind that we fed each other the first night we spent together. There was a whole ton of tissue paper in it, and it took me what felt like an hour to unwrap all of it. There were SO many chocolates, and then in the very center of all the tissue paper was...

...the most beautiful ring I could ever hope for. He came around the corner of the bookcase, got on his knee, and said, "So, I was thinkin'........will you marry me?"

I pretty much screamed, "Yessss!" and jumped on him, hugging him. My dad took a zillion pictures. It was amazing, and so nice to have so many of the people I love there. For those who weren't, we love you and will look forward to seeing you at the wedding! Which, by the way, won't be for a little while. But I'll let you know when we figure all that out. (:

Have you wondered...

Ever wonder why I am living with my parents right now - now that I am far past the horrible stage of my anxiety disorder? Wonder why I can't keep a job long enough to make sufficient income for myself before giving up, slacking off or quitting? Wonder why I still need my parents when I'm far away for a long time? Wonder why I am having such a hard time getting on my feet?

Me too.

I have come to realize that sure, I have made mistakes and I have been lazy, but what it all comes down to is that I haven't really broken away from my childhood yet.

I want to be back in Virginia Beach. I don't want to be there permanently, that's for sure. I 'belong' up north, in New England where there are distinct seasons, cold weather even though I HATE it (it's more of a love-hate relationship), and I can see my family more often, especially when I want to have a family of my own. However, I should be able to handle another year and a half there if it means being able to be with Rod while he gets his foot in the door with his Law Enforcement career, help take care of him and see friends and continue to work at the whole independent, real-world thing.

At the same time, I want to just be here, be comfortable and know that things will work out with Roddy and my relationship no matter how far apart we are. Sure, yeah it will be difficult being far apart so much for so long, blah blah, but those of you who can remotely understand our relationship and how much we love each other and have seen how we went through the eight month deployment last year, yeah, you know we can do it... anything. (:

It's just not fair how confusing life is. I know I have it so good and I am so happy, but that doesn't mean I don't get discouraged every now and then. It doesn't mean things aren't complicated and I don't have to make sacrifices, learn lessons and deal with stuff. Obviously.

I need to start thinking of ways to make a decision once and for all. Will I be staying here in Connecticut and taking care of family and waiting for Roddy to come back, or will I force myself to be in a place I don't want to be in so that I can take care of the man I love most in this world who really needs me?

Disappointment

Rod wasn't able to make it up for the weekend. There was a horrible storm there on Friday afternoon and his flight was canceled. I feel bad, but I was so upset that I had him running all over the airport trying to get another flight. He was going to fly out the next morning, but we decided just to wait until Thanksgiving weekend. That gives me more time, we were going to come back here for Thanksgiving anyway, and I really don't think I was ready to go back with him yet regardless. But I was more bummed than anything that I wouldn't be able to see him. I miss him so badly, and I hate that he's missing me and going through all of this while also starting a new career. I love and appreciate him even more for making it through this with me, though.

Smart-A Answers

#6
It was mealtime during a flight. "What would you like for dinner?" the flight attendant asked John, seated in the front. "What are my choices?" John asked. "Yes or no," she replied.

#5
A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat, she said, "Sir, I need to see your ticket, not your stub."

#4
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but she couldn't find one big enough to fit her family. She asked a stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy replied, "No, ma'am, they're dead."

#3
The cop got out of his car and the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window. "I've been waiting for you all day," the cop said. The kid replied, "Yeah, well, I got here as fast as I could." When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket.

#2
A truck driver was driving along the freeway. A sign came up that read, "Low Bridge Ahead." Before he knew it, the bridge was right in front of him and he got stuck under it. Cars were backed up for miles. Finally, a police car came up. The cop got out of his car and walked to the truck driver, put his hands on his hips and said, "Got stuck, huh?" The truck driver said, "No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of gas."

#1
The college teacher reminded her class of tomorrow's final exam. "Now class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a serious personal injury or a death in your immediate family, but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!" A smart-a guy in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, "What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from utter sexual exhaustion?" The entire class was reduced to laughter and snickering. When silence was restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student, shook her head and sweetly said, "Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand."

Things I should remember

Journey to the Heart by Melanie Beattie

"You don't have to do anything about your feelings. Understand that. Believe that. They are only feelings. Emotional energy is important. It is important not to block it, stop it, deny it, or repress it. It's important to discharge it, to value it, but you don't have to do anything. You don't have to act on every feeling. You don't need to control every emotion or let your emotions control you. Doing something is the old way, the way of control. Simply feel whatever you need to feel. Become fully and completely conscious of what you feel. Take responsibility for the way you choose to express your feelings, then let your feelings go. Release your emotional energy.

The answer isn't in your head, it's in your heart. It's not outside you, although sometimes we receive guidance from others. The answer you're seeking, the guidance you're looking for needs to feel right to you. It needs to resignate with your heart. Your heart is the center, the balance point for your emotions, your intellect, and your soul. Your heart is safe.

Your security doesn't come from trusting others. Your security comes from trusting and cherishing your own heart. Don't let life shut you down. Open your heart as often as you need.

Once you accept yourself unconditionally, you'll be surprised at how comfortable you begin to feel, no matter where you are. We may have tricked ourselves into thinking our security came from outside ourselves; that we needed certain other people or places, needed certain objects or items around us, or had to live our lives in a particular way to feel secure. But relying on things and people outside ourselves provides a false sense of security. False security will be shown for what it is. There's a real security, a true safety available to us all, no matter who we are, where we are or what we're doing. That security comes from accepting ourselves. That security comes from trusting ourselves, trusting our hearts, our wisdom, our connection to the divine and to the universe around us. Once we accept ourselves unconditionally, no matter where we are, it will feel like home.

God vs. Science

I read this bulletin Kaley posted and it really interested me. I don't necessarily know what I believe 100%, but I've begun to want to believe SOMETHING... I think it helps people get through life mentally and spiritually... and below is a really interesting argument. I didn't realize that evolution is not a completely proven concept until I read this and then asked my dad (who has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Environmental Science), it's simply a very well-organized theory with serious but not complete evidence. I do believe it, but at the same time, I want to believe in more spiritual things to set me at ease with all these feelings that I have to control myself and my life... if that makes any sense. I think it's time for me to start going to church again since I haven't been in years. Anyone know of a good one, or have any advice on where/how I should start off? I want one that isn't too demanding in their beliefs, and that is comfortable and interesting. Let me know! xo

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes, sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" the professor continued. "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in the world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues to another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you seen Jesus?"

"No, sir. I've never seen him."

"Then tell us if you've never heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstratable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such a thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No, sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold.' We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.

Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 degrees Fahrenheit) is the total absense of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we used to describe the absense of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absense of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absense of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word.

In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Professor, my point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of the life, just the absense of it.

Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstratable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.

So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absense of God. It is just like the darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absense of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

So excited!!

Rod's coming up to Conn. to visit on Friday! He's flying in after school and staying for two nights and then flying back down south on Sunday, unless I decide to go back with him at that point, in which case he'll cancel his flight Sunday and he, Koko (who came with me) and I will drive back together in the Subie. I'm so excited to see him... I haven't seen him in a week, and by that time it will be two weeks, and I can't wait! We'll want to spend lots of quality alone time together, but if anyone wants to see him/us, let me know and we'll try to schedule something if we have time... otherwise, there's always Thanksgiving and the winter holidays coming up! (:

Guilford

This is where I would love to live...

Guilford, Connecticut.

It's where both of my parents grew up, their families lived their entire lives, my grandparents still live, and it's a beautiful, friendly, suburban town. My dad and mom and her three sisters all got married at the First Congregational Church on the town green. I almost want to get married there, but I haven't been to church in YEARS, so I don't know if that would be a good idea. Then I'd want the reception at Gran's house down the street, like I think they all did, too. People could just walk there! I would love that. Maybe I'll do that either way. Sometime in the summer time a couple of years from now, most likely. And then live there afterward. That would be great.

I don't think Rod really wants to work (in the PD) in Guilford because it's one of the safest, uneventful places in the country, and he'd have nothing to do except unlock people's car doors and scrape up road kill. I'd certainly love it if he worked there, though... nothing to worry about! But I'd never wish unhappiness or boredom for him. (:

It's just such an amazing town. Everyone knows and loves everyone else. I practically know the majority of the 22,000 residents already. Aside from living there, my dad's parents also had a cottage in Indian Cove for most of my life until a few years ago when they sold it. ): Guilford's not TOO expensive to live in, according to city-data.com, the median home costs $371,000 or something similar. The average household income is $84,000, which is about $42,000 per adult.

Spending a lot of my life going there and spending the last three days there helping out my grandmother, I've just remembered how much I adore Guilford. A few weeks ago, my grandma got scammed by some chimney workers, and since then, the whole town has been offering her assistance, advice and suggestions. The town building inspector has been over to visit her twice this week, and in the past couple of days people have been there gardening, mowing, cleaning, washing her windows, and just visiting. Gran knows all the committees and workers in the town by name, it's ridiculous. But I love it! I think it's great. There are no high-rise buildings, there are tons of trees, beautiful, old houses, and everyone is sophisticated but friendly and all seem to be outside, walking their dogs, riding their bikes and enjoying their lives.

Anyway, I will have to talk to Rod about living there. I've talked to him about it a bit already. He graduates from the Academy on February 28, four months from now, and although I want to move immediately after that, I know he wants to "give back" to Norfolk for putting all this work and money into training him and helping him become a police officer. But hopefully we can compromise and move as soon as possible. We can find a cheap place until we save up some money and can buy a house. I can work in a preschool and continue to take my classes onlnie.

I know this is upsetting to some of you we love who are still living in Virginia. However, we will still come visit a lot and you can come visit us WHENEVER, and we will keep in touch every day as long as you all reciprocate. Besides, it hasn't even been decided if/when this is officially happening. Just thinking... xo

Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm doing SO MUCH BETTER! Thanks to all of you - friends and family - who have cared and supported me, checked up on me and been helpful and there for me. I want you all to know how much I appreciate you and love you. Those who have been most helpful have been Rod and my parents, Stacey, Heidi, Ray, Mark, Candi and Nick, Gran, my godmother Renee, various family members and family friends.

During these times, as I've noticed and as my mom and therapist have pointed out... all of you have helped me realize who my true friends are. Whether people are nervous, don't understand the situation, or are busy, those of you who have looked past all of that and checked up on me and been available to me when I needed you have really showed me how much you truly care and how true of friends you are. I sure hope you know I would be there just as much for all of you. The ones I expected to understand the least surprised me and showed they wanted to learn and even a few who didn't, at least sent me their wishes often. All of this has meant a lot to me and helped me get through this hard time ten times faster than I normally would. I'm not "out of the woods" quite yet, but I have improved big, BIG time.

I'm back in Connecticut now with my parents for a little while (they had to go back to work sometime and I still need them a bit right now) and I'm going to be spending a lot of time with my Gran, helping her clean out drawers and things. I love her so much and we have such good times together, laughing and doing crossword puzzles. The woman is amazing to me with how much she's been through yet how much she still is able to do and does.

This weekend we're going to Martha's Vineyard for a night to get away, close the cottage for the winter, and my parents are taking me to the Black Dog (my favorite restaurant in the world) for dinner Friday night. Roddy will be flying up either this weekend or next to pick me up and we'll be driving home together! We're both pretty miserable missing each other, but it's been nice in Conn. with family and friends and have a change of scenery and work on getting better. I can't wait to move back up here - soon! Maybe March of '08. I'll miss everyone in Virginia but will be visiting all the time and getting you up here to visit whenever possible, too! (:

Partner's Guidelines

For those of you who are my friends/family and don't know what to do with me in my situation... here are the guidelines from my "Attacking Anxiety/Depression" (by Midwest Center for Anxiety and Stress) workbook.

Things you should do:

1. Praise often. For even the smallest successes. Your encouragement is extremely important. Praise the participant for even trying.

2. Encourage his/her independence. Let them "go it alone" whenever and wherever possible, but only if he/she is ready.

3. Compliment the participant for his/her progress as far as attitude is concerned. He/she is the last one to notice how they are changing for the positive. Be sure you point it out.

4. If he/she wants you to go along as they practice his/her avoiding situations - such as driving, shopping, etc. - go with them. But allow him/her some distance, all the while letting him/her know you are there to assist and support them.

5. If you are in a situation where the anxious partner begins to feel panicky and anxious, try to help him/her by reassuring them that it is just anxiety. Remind him/her that they are not drying, going crazy or having a heart attack. Reassure him/her that there is no reason to run. There is no safe place. Then distract him/her by showing things to them, using humor or talking about something that they are interested in. Let him/her know that they will be okay, but do not make a big deal out of the fear and panic.

6. Let your anxious partner have a big hand in the decision-making process - where you are going, how long you will stay and how you will get there and back. Let your partner feel like he/she is in control of the situation to some extent. He/she will be more comfortable and probably stay longer.

7. If your anxious partner feels discouraged or depressed about his/her progress, give them reassurance that they are doing well and that it takes time.

8. STAY POSITIVE.

Things you should NOT do:

1. Do not make fun of this condition. Never be sarcastic about it.

2. Do not monitor his/her progress by constantly asking how he/she is doing or saying, "Shouldn't you be doing this or that by now?" This will only make him/her feel like they are not living up to your expectations. It will make the participant very anxious.

3. Do not tell other people about his/her condition. If your partner wants someone to know about it, it is their right to tell them.

4. Do not baby him/her. Be supportive and compassionate.

5. Do not get angry over his/her fears and attacks. He/she really cannot help it when they feel this way. The longer you treat him/her badly or make them feel guilty, the longer it will last.

6. If he/she is having a panic attack while you are with him/her, do not suggest leaving, going home or to the hospital. This will only make them say they need to. Distract them as mentioned earlier.

7. Do not read his/her materials. This program is theirs alone - unless he/she wants to share it with you. Then, by all means, take interest.

8. Don't be too concerned if he/she seems to change into someone who seems a little angry or selfish at first. That will change. It's just that he/she realizes for the first time that he/she is allowed to be angry and selfish at times and people will still love him/her. He/she will find a happy medium. Praise your partner for being assertive.

Virginian

I am now, officially, a resident of Virginia. I have a Virginia license, Virginia registration, and am registered to vote here. Not only that, but I now officially own my vehicle, which I didn't before. My dad signed it over to me today.

They say that people in their late teens and early twenties are most susceptible to anxiety and depression, probably because this is when they are becoming independent and finding out who they are. This path has been extremely rocky for me, the break-away from depending on others, such as my parents and boyfriend, and becoming financially and emotionally independent.

My parents have been here for the last two and a half weeks, and while it may seem at times like they shelter and baby me, the real truth is I am so fortunate that they do. I greatly appreciate their care and concern, and their lucky ability to be able to be here at my side in a second when I am in need.

One positive aspect of this issue is that it has helped me to be more healthy. While it did cause me to stop eating altogether for a few days, now I am back to having an appetite, but it is smaller, healthier, and I have been walking at least a mile and a half every day, resulting in the loss of 10 lbs. in less than 3 weeks (or maybe that's not so healthy, but not terrible).

I guess I just have to take it slowly. My therapist (who is amazing, by the way) has been focusing a lot on the fact that I was adopted, and that even though it was when I was only a month old, I was still taken away from the only attachment I had all of a sudden immediately after birth and was moved around a few times in the first few weeks of my life. That lack of stability, even as an infant - especially as an infant - can psychologically affect a person and is common for adoptees, apparently.

I want to say thank you, not only to my parents and family/family friends (who have checked up on me every day), but to my loving boyfriend and understanding friends. I felt like a few have drifted away from me during this time. Whether you're scared or don't understand what's going on, I want to say that I really do wish you would have at least kept in touch and asked how I was doing or shown some consideration instead of running away. I still want to be friends and am not going to push you away back, but I do want to say to the friends I have learned are sincerely true, thank you so much. You have made this a lot easier and less painful, whether it seems like it or not.

Deployment Departure Anniversary

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of Rod leaving on deployment for eight months. Stacey and I were talking about it today and how it feels like it's been three years, rather than one. At the airport this morning when my mom left and my dad arrived to replace her in my state of complete dependence, we saw soldiers walking through the terminal toward their wives, children and families. It was very moving. A little girl ran up to her dad and he lifted her up and hugged her, and pointed out the necklace she was wearing and talked to her about where he got it from. His son, who was a little younger, sort of hid in a groove in the wall and watched him for a minute. He was much more timid than the little girl, who immediately wanted him to carry her on his back, to which he replied, "No, you're too big!" It was sweet, though.

I know I'm going through a rough time right now, but I should probably be thankful it's happening this year, as opposed to last year when Rod was leaving. I had no immediate connection or communication with him for eight months. Now, if I was to have an emergency, I could call him at the Academy and get ahold of him pretty quickly and easily. Not that I think I would need to do that. Anyway, just wanted to think back on last year and remember how much more difficult today was, then. (:

A special thanks...

I just want to say thank you to a really good friend of mine, Heidi... who, for a while now, I've realized is one of the best friends I could ask for. She's always there for me when I need her, and has shown me that I can count on her and trust her no matter what.

For those of you who don't know, I've been experiencing that awful anxiety I used to have badly in 2005, and it's been terrible... almost made me lose my job (by not being able to go) but I'm overcoming it and working through it, and with the help of people like Heiderson, I am comfortable in knowing I have people who care who will be there if I need them in the worst of times.

Thanks so much! I love you and hope you know I am always here for you, and any of you. (:

Celebrity Adoptions

As you all may know, I was adopted as an infant (domestically) and I am very interested in adopting someday.

I came across this article on Faith Hill at People.com today and thought it was really neat.

Just an infant, Hill is adopted by Ted Perry, a factory worker, and his wife, Edna, a former bank teller in the small town Star, Mississippi. Hill won't meet her birth mother (and biological brother) until 1993, finding them after a three-year search. "The first time I met her I just stared at her," Hill tells PEOPLE in 1999. "I'd never seen anybody that looked like me. It was the awe of seeing someone you came from. It fills something."

(This is exactly how I feel!)

Then, I started reading about her and other celebrities involved with adoption at AmericanAdoptions.com:

Faith Hill is not only a famous country music singer, but also an Adopted Child. "Having been adopted, I really have a strong sense - a necessity almost - for stability. A foundation where my family is concerned. [Success] would be meaningless without anyone to share it with.

Rosie O'Donnell is not only an actress but also a proud Adoptive Parent. "To give them what I never had heals me. Some days I look at them and almost start to cry. I think, how can I love them more than I did the day before? But it keeps growing."

Tom Cruise is not only an actor, but also a proud Adoptive Parent. "And I feel as a parent, my job is to educate them and give them the ability to make good decisions and learn about the world. And they have an opportunity that I never had, they get to see the world. So they have a great life, you know. I want to be my kids."

Nicole Kidman is not only an actress, but also a proud Adoptive Parent. "Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical."

Bill Clinton was not only the President of the USA, but also an Adopted Child. "We must work tirelessly to make sure that every boy and girl in America who is up for adoption has a family waiting to reach him or her. This is a season of miracles, and perhaps there is no greater miracle than finding a loving home for a child who needs one."

Oprah Winfrey is not only a talk show host, but an advocate for Adoption. "My wish is that children be treated as people, and not as property; that their rights as human beings on the planet, to food, shelter, education, and health, be taken seriously."

Angelina Jolie is not only a famous actress, but a proud Adoptive Parent. "Maddox is my baby, he's by my side all the time, and I think I can give him so much. I can no more imagine living without him, than not breathing."

Dave Thomas is not only the famous owner of the Wendy's food chain, but also a proud Adopted Child. "Everyone's got to be for a child to have a home and love. I mean I don't know anyone who would be against that."

Sharon Stone is not only a famous actress, but a proud Adoptive Parent. "He's my wonderful, precious, little Budda. He eats like a champion. He sleeps peacefully and he's the apple of his daddy's eye."

Diane Keaton is not only a famous actress, but a proud Adoptive Parent. She quotes that motherhood, "is the most humbling experience I've ever had."

Babe Ruth is not only a famous baseball legend, but a proud Adoptive Parent. He and his wife had one adopted daughter, Dorothy.

Burt Reynolds is not only a famous actor, but also a proud Adoptive Parent.

Loni Anderson is not only a famous actress, but also a proud Adoptive Parent.

John Denver is not only a famous singer, but also a proud Adoptive Parent.

Walt Disney is not only the famous founder of the amusement park, Disney World, but a proud Adoptive Parent.

Connie Chung is not only a famous news anchor, but also a proud Adoptive Parent. "Oh no. He's our son. He was meant to be ours, he was meant to be matched with us. So it's perfect." (In response to an interview question if adoption causes her to look at her son differently.)

John Lennon was not only a famous musician, but an Adopted Child as well. His aunt adopted him when he was born and raised him.

Jesse Jackson is not only a minister but also a proud Adopted Child. "Charlie Henry (Jackson) adopted me and gave me his name, his love, his encouragement, discipline and a high sense of self-respect."

Mother Teresa affected children and adults all over the world. "Do you want to do something beautiful for God? There is a person who needs you. This is your chance."

Kirstie Alley is not only an actress, but also a proud Adoptive Parent. "And now it makes every day like Christmas. I can't wait to see him in the morning. I can't wait for him to wake up."

Parker Stevenson is not only a famous actor, but a proud Adoptive Parent. He and his wife had two adopted children.

Grey Louganis is not only a former Olympic diver but also an Adopted Child. "Mom said that what really cinched the deal was my smile. Once she saw that, she didn't want to look at any other babies."

Joni Mitchell is not only a famous singer, but a proud birthmother as well. She has recently reunited with the daughter she placed for adoption when she was 20 years old.

Andy Kaufman is not only a famous actor, but also a proud birthfather. He and his girlfriend placed their daughter for adoption when they were young college students.

Kate Mulgrew is not only a famous actress, but a proud birthmother as well. "Life is sacred to me on all levels. Abortion does not comute with my philosophy."

Mia Farrow is not only a famous actress, but a proud Adoptive Parent as well. "I found real fulfillment through my children and through adoption special needs kids."

David Crosby is not only a famous singer, but also a proud birthfather. His biological son quotes, "He was worried about me being this angry young man - 'You abandoned me,' that sort of thing. That wasn't even an issue."

OTHER QUOTES:

"Time and experience have taught me a priceless lesson. Any child you take for your own becomes your own if you give of yourself to that child. I have borne two children and had seven others by adoption, and they are all my children, equally beloved and precious." -Dale Evans, Adoptive Parent

"Both the courage and trust of those who place their babies for adoption and the enthusiasm of those who adopt them are overwhelmingly vindicated by the tens of thousands of successful adoptions that take place in this country every year." -The New Yorker, Editorial

ADOPTED CELEBRITIES:

Eleanor Roosevelt - First Lady
Lynette Cole - Miss USA 2000
Melissa Gilbert - Actress
Priscilla Presley - Actress
Sarah McLachlan - Singer
Scott Hamilton - Professional Figure Skater
Edward Albee - Playwright
John J. Audubon - Naturalist
Les Brown - Motivational Speaker
Robert Byrd - Senator
Peter and Kitty Carruthers - Skaters
Nat King Cole - Singer
Christina Crawford - Author
Faith Daniels - TV News Personality
Ted Danson - Actor (has also adopted a child)
Eric Dickerson - Professional Football
Gerald Ford - President
Newt Gingrich - Politics
Scott Hamilton - Skater
Debi Harry - Singer
Brent Jasmer - Actor
Steven Paul Jobs - Co-Founder of Apple Computers
Matthew and Patrick Laborteaux - Actors
Jim Lightfood - Representative
Art Linkletter - TV Personality
Charlotte Anne Lopez - Miss Teen USA
James McArthur - Actor, son of Helen Hayes
James Michener - Author
Tom Monaghan - founder of Domino's Pizza, owner of Detroit Tigers
Marilyn Monroe - Actress
Moses - Biblical Leader
Dan O'Brien - Olympic Gold Medalist - Decathlon
Hugh O'Connor - Actor
Jim Palmer - Professional Baseball
Michael Reagan - President's son
Nancy Reagan - First Lady
Wilson Riles - Educator
Victoria Rowell - Actress

BIRTHPARENT CELEBRITIES:

Roseanne Barr - Actress

ADOPTIVE PARENT CELEBRITIES:

Calista Flockhart - Actress
Dan Marino - Professional Athlete
Ed McMahon - Entertainer
Jane Fonda - Actress
Kirby Puckett - Professional Athlete
Magic Johnson - Professional Athlete
Maury Povich - Talk Show Host
Ozzy and Sharon Osborne - Singer and Actress
Willie Mays - Hall of Fame Professional Athlete
Woody Allen - Director
Julie Andrews - Singer/Actress
Eve Arden - Actress
Pearl Bailey - Singer/Actress
Harry Belafonte - Singer
Regina Belle - Singer
Lloyd Bentsen - Secretary of Treasury
Taurean Blacque - Actor
Erma Bombeck - Humorist
Mai Britt - Actress, ex-wife of Sammy Davis Jr.
Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland - Actors
Denise Scott Brown - Architect
Art Buchwald - Humorist
George Burns - Comedian
Ben Nighthorse Campbell - Senator
Kitty Cruthers - Skating Champion
Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien and Aline - Prime Minister, Canada
Jamie Lee Curtis - Actress
Bette Davis - Actress
Sammy Davis Jr. - Entertainer
Oscar de la Renta - Fashion Designer
John DeLorean - Industrialist
Patty Duke - Actress
Donna Mills - Actress
Valerie Harper - Actress
Peter Falk - Actor
John Gregory Dunn and Joan Didion - Authors
Henry Fonda - Actor
Joan Fontaine - Actress
Robert Fulgham - Author
Teri Garr - Actress
Lou Gosselt Jr. - Actor
Karen Grassle - Actress
Helen Hayes - Actress
Jesse Helms - Senator
Bob and Dorothy Hope - Comedian/Singer
Gordon Humphrey - Senator
Kate Jackson - Actress
Judy Woodruff - TV News Personality
Diane Wiest - Actress
Jo Beth Williams - Actress
Marcia Wallace- Actress
Barbara Walters - TV Personality
Jann Wenner - Magazine Editor
Kurt Vonnegut - Author
Robert Venturi - Architect
Jill Kremetz - Author
Kris Kristofferson - Singer
Patti LaBelle - Singer
Hedy Lamarr - Actress
Michael Landon - Actor
Jerry Lewis - Comedian/Singer/Dancer/Actor/Entertainer
John McCain - Senator
Paul Newman - Actor
Carroll O'Connor - Actor
Marie Osmond - Singer
Estelle Parsons - Actress
Michelle Pfeiffer - Actress
Al Roker - TV Personality
Linda Ronstadt - Singer
Isabella Rossellini - Model/Actress
Gail Sheehy - Author
Susan Ruttan - Actress
Paul Simon - Senator
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Sr. - Newspaper Publisher
Gloria Swanson - Actress
Robert Urich and Heather Mendes - Actor/Actress

Then, more from Celebrities.Adoption.com:

Many of us have a fascination with the well-known in the world of adoption and foster care: actors, entertainers, athletes, politicians, and others. The list below includes names in the adoption community that may be more recognizable to Americans, but this isn't the end of it. (I didn't include the ones listed above from the other website.)

For years, Roger Ridley Fenton has been compiling a list of individuals and groups of people who were formally and informally adopted, fostered, and otherwise raised apart from their biological parents. Each entry has been researched and cross-checked. The list is an eye-opener, since it includes not only well-known names in the U.S. and Canada, but also names from around the world. For students of adoption and foster care history, the document includes information about groups such as Child Migrants, Kindertransport, Orphan Trains, Chinese Dynasties and others, that trace the history of child welfare, information adoption, and the more formal type of adoption and foster care we know today. The list even includes several who have been rumored to have been adopted... and the truth is revealed. Read on.

ADOPTED PERSONS:

Andy Berlin - Entrepreneur
Anthony Williams - Politician
Aristotle - Philosopher
Bo Diddley - Musician/Performer
Buffy Sainte-Marie - Musician/Actress
Carl-Theodor Dreyer - Danish Film Director
Clarissa Pinkola Estes - Author
Crazy Horse - Lakota War Chief
Daunte Culpepper - Football Player
D.M.C. - Hip-Hop Artist
Edgar Allen Poe - Poet/Writer
Freddie Bartholomew - Actor
George Washington Carver - Inventor
Jean Jacques Rousseau - Philosopher
Jesus - Adopted by Joseph the Carpenter (Bible)
Jett Williams - Country Singer/Author
John Hancock - Politician
Langston Hughes - Poet/Writer
Larry Ellison - Entrepreneur
Lee Majors - Actor
Leo Tolstoy - Writer
Les Brown - Motivational Speaker
Malcolm X - Civil Rights Leader
Mark Acre - Athlete
Nelson Mandela - Politician
Ray Liotta - Actor
Reno - Performance Artist/Comedian
Surya Bonaly - Figure Skater
Tim Green - Football Player/Commentor
Tim McGraw - Country Singer
Tommy Davidson - Comedian

BIRTHPARENTS:

Clark Gable - Actor
Kate Mulgrew - Actress
Mercedes Reuhl - Actress
Strom Thurmond - Politician

ADOPTIVE PARENTS:

Alfre Woodard - Actress
Alexander the Great - King of Macedonia, 356-232 B.C.
Ben Stein - Actor/Game Show Host
Bette Davis - Actress
Billy Bob Thornton - Actor/Writer/Singer
Brooke Adams - Actress
Cecil B. De Mille - Film Director
Chelsea Noble - Actress
Edie Falco - Actress
Father George Clements - Minister
Gary Merrill - Actor
George Lucas - Film Director
Gracie Allen - Comedian
Harpo Max - Actor
Hugh Jackman - Actor
Jane Wyman - Actress
Jann Wenner - Publisher
Josephine Baker - Singer/Dancer
Kate Capshaw - Actress
Kirk Cameron - Actor
Meg Ryan - Actress
Natalie Williams - Athlete
Nell Carter - Entertainer
Paula Poundstone - Comedian
Richard King Mellon - Financier
Sally Jessy Raphael - Talk Show Host
Kay Bailey Hutchinson - Senator
Sir Christopher Guest - Actor
Stephen Spielberg - Film Director

A New Marriage!

We just wanted to send huge congratulations, once again, to the newlyweds - Mr. and Mrs. Jaymes H! We love them. We thank them so much for sharing with us their special day. It was so much fun cruising around on the Virginia Jewel... the food was great... the dancing was even better... cake, too... and, of course, the company.

They are one of the best couples we've met, and we wish them the best of luck and happiness. They're on their way up north for their honeymoon, and we hope they have a great time!

We also want to thank Steph and Jay for giving us our first dance! (Can you believe it - we never danced until today!) It was to, "You Had Me From Hello" by Kenny Chesney and it was our very first dance together... it was incredible.

So much fun today! <3

Steph's Shower

TONIGHT IS STEPHANIE'S BRIDAL SHOWER!!!

I'm so excited. Even though I didn't know her when she picked out her bridesmaids, so I don't get to be part of the wedding party exactly, she's still one of my best friends and I'm SO happy to be able to share this day with her and Jay.

Tonight should be fun, I'll finally be able to meet some of her other friends and give her a little gift, and then Saturday is the Big Day! For those of you who don't know, Steph and Jay are getting married on the Virginia Jewel, a gorgeous boat that goes out on little tours in the alcoves of the Chesapeake Bay.

I went and bought some things to wear yesterday, and so did Roddy, even though he wasn't planning on it, he found another shirt he'd rather wear and I found some jewelry that matches his shirt...weird, right?

I've only been to less than a handful of weddings in my life, and they've all been for people I'm related to. I'm so excited and happy for the two of them and the chapter in their life they're about to embark on together.

CONGRATULATIONS STEPHANIE AND JAY!

P.S. Is it weird that I'm also excited to have a reason to get my eyebrows waxed tonight for the first time in about two months? Needless to say, they're pretty bad right now.

Norfolk and 9/11

I'm at work right now and Rod just copied/pasted this article to me from yesterday. It makes him more excited and proud to become a police officer, and a Norfolk one at that...

__________________________
Filed by Mary Kay Mallonee
Norfolk Police remember their contribution to the 9/11 recovery

Sep 11, 2007 05:02

"I will never forget that smell," said Captain Dave Huffman at the Norfolk Police Department, remembering the unmistakable and inescapable stench of decaying bodies at Ground Zero in New York City.

Soon after the terrorists attacked, exactly six years ago today, Huffman cobbled together a small group of fellow Norfolk officers and drove all night. They had no real plan. They just knew they could not stay here and watch the chaos on television.

They approached the scene in stunned silence.

"The sun was coming up and we could see the smoke," said Huffman. "We all just kind of froze for a minute and looked at the magnitude of it."

They got within a half mile of Ground Zero and had to hoof it the rest of the way.

Lugging all their gear, the men passed things they've never seen in all their years patrolling the streets of Norfolk. They pressed on, passing squashed fire trucks and ambulances that only came up to their knees. They passed a dusty, banged up laptop computer that had been blown out of someone's office in the towers and landed about 12 blocks away.

"What really stood out to me were the firefighters. I could see off in the distance crawling into those holes, those pockets that were made when the buildings fell. They were crawling in there, not thinking anything of their own safety," said Officer Dave White.

The firefighters were scrambling to find survivors, but only found bodies.

The Norfolk officers reached the base of that mountain made of twisted metal, crumbled concrete and mangled bodies. They immediately jumped in on the "bucket line" helping to clear away that mountain - one bucket at a time.

"We saw teeth, chunks of flesh, jewelry, wallets," said Captain Huffman.

A firefighter's helmet went through the line at one time.

Office Dave White remembers finding a plaque in the rubble. When he thinks of September 11th, he thinks of that plaque, realizing that at one moment there was a businessman sitting in his office with that plaque on his wall - and the next moment, there was a Norfolk police officer holding that plaque, standing atop a massive pile of debris and bodies.

Sergeant Bill Thompson worked the bucket line next to a New York fire chief. He was an older gentleman and looked to Sgt. Thompson like he had seen a lot in his career.

"He looked at me and saw my uniform and asked me if we had come up from Norfolk, Virginia. I said we had, and he put his bucket down and hugged me and held me. I'm starting to break up thinking about it," said Sgt. Thompson, trying to keep the tears welling up his eyes from falling.

Capt. Huffman said, "I talked to a fireman who had taken the day off and his whole company got wiped out."

As they worked the "bucket line" and helped move countless stretchers to make-shift morgues, the Norfolk officers each noticed the American flags. They had popped up everywhere, waving pride and patriotism for all to see.

People would hand the officers food and when they unwrapped it, they'd find notes from New Yorkers thanking them.

The men worked until they could barely stand any longer. Then, they worked some more. When they finally walked off for a break they were met with something that brought these strong, tough police officers to tears.

"There was a massive crowd of people and all they wanted to do was touch us and thank us for coming," said Capt. Huffman, choking back his tears.

"I was awestruck and happy to be there," said Officer Leldon Sapp.

Officer Rich Deleo is from Long Island. He's been to the Twin Towers dozens of times.

"It was a huge awakening to the amount of terror that is out there, how devastating it can be and how quickly it can take place," he said.

Sgt. Thompson returned to Ground Zero days later with the Norfolk Police Department's Honor Guard. They attended one funeral after another, amazed at the outpouring of love and support.

"It felt like we were family," he said.

Officer James White came home from that unreal trip and soon after his son announced he had joined the Marines to help fight back. His son spent seven months in Iraq and came home safe and sound in February, to a very proud father.

These officers believe that the U.S. and Hampton Roads are more prepared for terrorism now than ever before.

"We can never forget this. Never forget it, or we are going to pay the price again," said Captain Huffman.

This group of brave men ask us now to remember the victims, remember that day, for those memories will help us stay vigilant and safe.

Missing Family

It's Labor Day weekend... the last weekend of the summer. ): We've been spending most of it outside, at the beach, and today we're going to take advantage of the pool since it closes after Monday. We saw Vertical Horizon at the strip last night with Stacey, and went to Smokey Bones with her, Lee and Brett the night before. We saw "Superbad" yesterday with them plus Kaley and Billy. It was really stupid but hilarious, of course.

Right now we're being bums until around lunch time, then we'll probably head over to the pool with a picnic or something. Roddy's on the phone with Grams and Pop. Trudy and the family are there and we wish we were there, too! We hate being so far away from our families.

Aside from that, everything's going great. Rod has another interview on the 5th for the Academy, and my work is going great. Rod's been enjoying his last month before he starts working again. He's gotten kind of bored at the house by himself, I think... I don't know why he doesn't go out and see friends more... he says because he's on vacation and doesn't need to see anyone. He's gotten a lot done as far as errands and chores and things he's wanted to do, though, so that's good.

The dogs are doing well, too (just thought I'd throw them in there).

We saw Ray last night. He came over on Friday while I was at work and he and Rod went to the pool together and then to a movie, but I missed him so we decided to stop by his apartment last night. He misses us and we miss him, but we're still glad to have our own place. I really missed him in general, along with his little quirks like not letting me leave his room until I'd helped him pick out a complete outfit for the club.

There are fireworks tonight at the beach. That should be fun. I haven't seen Steph and Jay in a long time and it was her twenty-first birthday on the 29th, so I really need to get together with her... not to mention we have to discuss what's going on with me decorating for her wedding (which is in THIRTEEN days and I still haven't picked out and gotten a dress).

Well, not much else to tell....

BBQ at the W's

This video is from sometime in June, but I just got ahold of it recently. It was a BBQ we went to at Nick and Candi's house and Baker, Nick, Crosby and another guy (whose name I don't remember) attacked Roddy and tickled him - it was hilarious.

Check it out.

Get em"!!!!

At Work

OK, I'm at work and Aidan just went down for a nap. I've been researching different infant exercises and activities to stimulate their growth and development and found a bunch of great stuff.

My classes started again today. I'm only taking one this semester: English III.

Tomorrow I get paid, yay, and then we're going over to Candi and Nick's for a barbecue. Right now I'm working on figuring out my options for health insurance since being on my dad's plan will expire in September.

Rod had his police academy "informal" interview yesterday and said it went great. They asked him basically the same, predictable questions they've been asking him all along... has he ever abused prescription drugs, etc. We're so excited to hear about a final date for the class to begin and proof he has a spot in it (which of course, he does).

My plan is to be a nanny until I get an Associate degree, at which time Rod will probably be out of the academy and will have worked in Norfolk the amount of time they need him to before he can transfer to wherever he wants, and then maybe we'll move back up north and I'll work in a child care center or nursery school for a little while. Then, eventually I'll get a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Development or Psychology, and maybe then a Masters in Literature. I want to be a published author someday, too!

These are my hopes and goals. I'd really like to have my own daycare... I just never thought it'd pay enough or impress my family enough like being a nurse or a biologist would, but I realized after going to Maine and thinking about it that it's about what's best for me and what is most rewarding and important to me.

When I have children of my own, I could still be with them during the day before they start school instead of having to hire my own nanny or child care, which ironically I think I'd be too scared to do with all the horror stories you hear these days.

I want to make child care and education better for babies and toddlers, instead of these places you see these days with a woman with twelve kids in her one bedroom apartment watching soap operas and not doing any developmentally proactive activities.

Watching children (people) grow and learn is the most fascinating and rewarding thing in my opinion.

Anyway... I'm going to stop babbling and clean up some of Aidan's toys around the floor since it's already 2:45. He'll probably be waking up in fifteen minutes or so.

<3

New Stuff

I got a new job a few days ago. I'm a nanny again, now for a 3-month old boy named Aidan. He's such a sweet and HAPPY baby.

I've thought a lot more about getting into Child Psychology, Social Work or Child Care. Talking with Grams about her life and her running a nursery really inspired me to do something I want regardless of any doubts or difficulties. In high school I was always told that I should get into social work with children, which could be difficult and rewarding at the same time. And I've always enjoyed being a nanny and working with children.

A year and a half ago, Ashley and I wanted to start a daycare because we both loved taking care of children, but I'd just moved to the area, we were just getting to know each other, and then she got pregnant with a child of her own! =) It wouldn't have been a good idea, it would've taken a lot of money and planning, and I don't even plan on being here permanently.

More later... I got distracted and now it's hours later and I need to go to sleep, I have to be up in 6 1/2 hours. Night!

Home

We're back in Virginia Beach... I'm really tired right now, so this won't be long. Daniel's here visiting us for the week, we fly him back to CT on Friday afternoon. I "lucked out" (if you can call it that, things have been kind of screwed up) not having to work this week, so I've gotten to spend time with the boys. Today we went to Ocean Breeze water park, they're having Military Appreciation week so we got in cheap. It was a lot of fun. Tonight we went to Cinema Cafe to eat some dinner and watch "Knocked Up." Any of you who haven't seen it yet and enjoy ridiculous comedy--we recommend this one.

It's 1:50 AM and I'm exhausted... I don't know why I'm up on my computer. I got thirsty, went into the kitchen to get some water, and got tempted by my computer to check my e-mail and my MySpace and all that.

Goodnight.

Vacation

Our trip to Maine was amazing, as always!

We drove up Monday morning with Daniel and stayed with Roddy's grandparents all week. We just got back to Connecticut a couple of hours ago. My parents are going out for dinner and we're hopefully spending a little while over here with Ken and Bry and maybe Lauren and maybe Daniel swimming in the pool... but it sounds like Ken and Bryan might have some other things to do, which is too bad because we haven't seen Bryan recently.

Daniel comes back down to VB with us tomorrow and spends the week before we fly him back up to CT.

The week was great in Maine, except for a day that was rainy, we had a blast sailing, boating, hiking, sight-seeing, eating, shopping, relaxing... it was great, maybe even better than last summer, if possible.

Last weekend in CT before Maine I got to see an old friend I haven't seen in a couple years, one of my previous best friends. We didn't get to spend a whole lot of time together, but it was still nice to see her and hang out for a bit. We had a celebratory dinner for Roddy with our parents at Cuckoo's Nest which was nice, and visited the C's at Oliver's for lunch on Sunday, and saw Trudy and Bruce and Sammy on the way up to Maine. Their house is incredible! Samantha and I have a lot in common... she loves horses like I used to when I was younger.

I did a lot of thinking about my career possibilities this week. I talked to Mary (Roddy's grandmother) a lot about her life and how she got involved with Rod (Roddy's grandfather) while he was in the Marines and she moved around with him and had to make friends. He got out of the service after a short time, like Roddy is, and Mary started a nursery school. That was something I used to think about doing, but never thought I could or that I wouldn't get very much money doing it. I realized that a lot of my focus on what career I choose has to do with money and security in it, which I forgot is one of the reasons I get stressed and pressured about picking a field I may not even be interested in.

I just need to keep in mind there are other things, too, that I may really be great for and not considering.

Ahh... back to reality on Monday for me. Hopefully my work week won't be too packed because I want to spend time with Roddy and DJ and do some of the things they have planned with them. So sad vacation is over... I'll never forget flying mints and "the shit."

Thanks to everyone for our house-warming gifts... Grampy and Joyce for the gorgeous bowl and plate and Grams and Pop for the dishes, clock and wicker table and chairs for our balcony. And Grandma and Grandpa for the pictures! And thanks to Sharon and Dan for watching the pups for us. (:

Now we get to look forward to Martha's Vineyard!

Leaving In The AM

Tomorrow we take the loooong eight-hour drive up to Connecticut! It is well worth it, though, to see all our family and friends. Friday night we're going to squeeze some people in, Saturday we have the celebratory dinner with our parents and then Ken's new place for a party at night... then Sunday is meeting up with the C's (Rod's family)! I want to visit my grandparents one of the three days, too. It is going to be wild and hectic and busy, but that's OK. Then Monday we leave for Maine with Daniel for the whole week, I am ECSTATIC about this... This time Daniel and I won't do crossword puzzles the whole time, and we will stick to our word on trying to find a place to go crabbing. Rod and I also want to spend a little bit of alone time together, not to mention check out Pop's NEW BOAT, and spend lots of quality time with him and Grams. Ooooh, and ping pong and mountain climbing and movies in the side house and Pop's favorite ice cream place... Ohh it's all so exciting, I can't wait. Mark is watching over our place for us. We're bringing the pups, of course... couldn't leave them here for over a week, plus Koko misses her boyfriend Sarge (Daniel's dog), and my parents miss their "granddoggers" as they call them... they love Bear especially, since he lived with them for a little while. Now I'm just rambling, haven't even put anything into paragraphs, and Rod's waiting for me to put aloe on his back before we get in bed. We went to the Outer Banks yesterday to visit Trina and her family who we haven't seen in a YEAR! We were only there maybe five or six hours because we needed to get home to the pups, but it was great. I'll add some pictures soon. Right now it's already 12:30AM and we have to get up in FIVE HOURS! I don't know if I'll be able to sleep... Night y'all.

He Passed!

Obviously... Roddy passed his Polygraph test this morning! He was a little nervous, but he said they asked some pretty basic questions, such as had he ever done any illegal drugs, had he ever had a DUI, had he ever committed any serious crimes, had he lied on any of the questions they asked him earlier, etc.

Today we're having more thunderstorms. Rod only worked until eleven this morning, just getting his "leave chits" and things from on base, and now he's officially on terminal leave! We went over to Chanticleer to turn in our keys and say goodbye to the place. I didn't even go in... I probably would've gotten emotional, even though our new place is much nicer, I did spend the last year (and the first year with Roddy) over there.

Right now I'm chatting online with an HP specialist named "Solomon," asking him how I can download a new CD/DVD driver on my computer. Apparently, Windows Vista has a problem with this driver malfunctioning on most computers after a little bit of time. Mine hasn't worked for several months.

Then we're going to figure out what we can do on a rainy Monday afternoon that doesn't cost any money.

I stayed up pretty late last night narrowing down my options for careers and thinking about what I want to choose and stick with, and what order I want to do things in (school, etc). I have it pretty narrowed down, but I don't know I want to broadcast it in case I change my mind, like I do all the time.

Tomorrow or the next day we're going down to OBX to visit Trina and her family. That should be fun. Hopefully there will be better weather.

ONLY A FEW MORE DAYS UNTIL VACATION...!

Big Day Tomorrow

So, tomorrow I have the day off again, which I'm not too happy about. I've been having a lot of days off recently... I think the pharmacy may have overstaffed itself when it hired me along with a few other girls because they have limited hours for everyone to work now.

On a good note, tomorrow is Roddy's polygraph test at the Norfolk PD, and his last official day of work with the US Navy before his terminal leave starts!

I'm so proud of him, and so excited for him to start this great, big, new part of his life--his new career that he's so thrilled about. (:

He's a true inspiration to me, that's for sure. His dedication to this dream and his will to start taking Criminal Justice classes AND be in the Reserves all at the same time, really makes me proud to be his girlfriend.

Can't wait to celebrate with him. And now, for my bum-of-a-self to sit down on the couch and watch some of my recorded shows on the DVR and maybe think about what I want to do with MY life...

Relaxing Weekend

This weekend has been GREAT so far.

We had Steph and Jay over tonight. They came over around three o'clock to go swimming and lie out by the pool for some fun and erasing of pasty white-ness, but after a half hour, it began to thunder and then rain. Understandably, we were kicked out of the pool by the lifeguard.

It was okay though; we headed to Blockbuster for our free rental of the week and I made Mexican lasagna (and LOTS OF IT so we have leftovers). We watched a few movies before the H's left (they're going to be married on September 15th). We continued to watch TV before Rod passed out and here I am typing away before I climb into bed, too.

We're pretty excited that in a few days, we'll be visiting our friend Trina and her family in the Outer Banks while they're on vacation (they live in New Jersey - we met her through our old roommate, Ray, who we miss, by the way, even though we're loving having a place to ourselves), and then to Connecticut a few days later, and then MAINE a few days after that!

So, it's been nice... we've had some quality alone time cuddling up with the dogs and had a relaxing night tonight in front of the TV, which we hardly ever do, but how can we resist when we're still in shock by our new entertainment equipment? I'm sure it will wear off sooner or later. (:

♥ xoxo

The Pilot

I realized today that I forgot to formally introduce us... so... welcome to our life!

We're twenty-two and twenty-one years old, living in Virginia Beach with our dogs, Koko and Bear. We've been together about a year and a half, but have known each other pretty much our entire lives.

Our parents lived next door to each other in the quaint little town of Chester, Connecticut, and throughout most of elementary school we caught the school bus together every morning. When we were maybe seven or eight years old, Rod's mom - Sharon - started dropping Roddy off at our house in the morning before school so she could bring his brother Daniel to daycare. Rod and I would eat breakfast, climb trees, play games, and wait for the bus at the end of the driveway.

(He swears we would play 'Cops and Robbers,' but I have no memory of this. Still, I clearly remember convincing him to play 'Barbies' with me, and he claims this never happened, so who will ever know?)

A couple years later, Rod, his mom and his brother moved across town, and we didn't really see much of each other after that, except in school, which didn't involve any dialogue or interaction apart from brief passings in the hallway.

It wasn't until December of 2005 that we met up again and started dating. I'd recently left college in Florida (living at a college was not for me) and he'd been stationed in Virginia Beach with the Navy for two years already. He came home on leave for 10 days, and by the time he left, we were already in love. A month later, I moved to Virginia to live with him, and we've been here ever since!

Now, Rod's in the process of getting out of the Navy and beginning a Law Enforcement career. He starts the Norfolk Police Academy in mid-September. I'm taking a class here and there, still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life... working as a Pharmacy Technician for right now.

I tend to change my mind about anything and everything, all the time.

As of July 7th (07/07/07), we're living in a new apartment at Runaway Bay. It's great, we love it, and we've been working on it ever since, getting new furniture and entertainment and supplies... decorations come next.

Today is a pretty slow day for us. Rod got out of work early, as he has been since he's been checking out of the Navy, and I have the day off. I'm sure Roddy will be fiddling with the new TV and entertainment stand for the rest of the afternoon. I'm about to head over to the clubhouse to take advantage of the gym and tanning bed.

Be sure to keep coming back to stay updated updated! Enjoy. (:

New England

OK, I know I don't live in New England anymore, but I did for eighteen years of my life, and this is funny...

"Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about New Englanders..."
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1) If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in New England.

2) If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in New England.

3) If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in New England.

4) If you've had a lengthy phone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in New England.

5) If "vacation" means going anywhere south of New York City for the weekend, you live in New England.

6) If you measure distance in hours, you live in New England.

7) If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in New England.

8) If you have switched "heat" to "AC" in the same day and back again, you live in New England.

9) If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England.

10) If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in New England.

11) If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph, you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in New England.

12) If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in New England.

13) If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in New England.

14) If you install security lights in your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in New England.

15) If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England.

16) If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly," you live in New England.

Move-In Day

Well, we started moving in EARLY this morning. The place is great, I just feel like we have so much CRAP that needs to get put away and not enough places to put them. But I'm sure I'm over-reacting.

I just met Kelli, the girl who lives above us, she's really nice and has a Weimeraner puppy...the kind of dog Rod loves, and basically made friends with her and I'm watching her dog for her tomorrow while she goes to some wedding or funeral or something, I forgot which. Bear loves Bailey (her dog), he tried getting her pregnant several times.

Now Roddy and Ryan are watching "Shooter" in our bedroom and I'm still putting stuff away. I almost feel like I'm doing all the work. Hmmm. Just kidding, of course. (: I didn't have to help carry any of the super-heavy stuff today, so I guess I shouldn't complain.

We're going to get couches and maybe/hopefully dining room table chairs tomorrow to complete the place, minus a couple other things like a new bed that Rod wants which will come later, probably.

In a couple days y'all will be able to come over and see our finished new home! (: (:

GET EXCITED!!!

Patiently waiting

It's been four months since I watched him fade away across the pier into the dark night air. I skipped work the following morning to drive on base and watch the ship leave, although I couldn't find him in the sea of white uniforms lined up perfectly along the outer edges of the flight deck. I miss him so much, but I know this is just making us stronger... And I am SO proud of that man.