"I love your blog!"

I got an award from Jenn over at Chances I'm Taking! Thanks, a lot Jenn. I love your blog, too but since I can't re-gift, I'll pass it along to some other of my favorite bloggers, but that is to come a little later. First off, we've got some business to get down to. With this award, I must list ten things I love (in no particular order)--

1. My military life I was so glad to have Captain J home for this Memorial Day. Even though the weekend didn't go quite as planned, I'm thankful beyond belief that he was stateside this year. As we close up the month of the military families today, I'd just like to say--thanks. Thanks to those who serve. Thanks to the families who stick by those service men and women. I'm proud to be an army wife and I feel incredibly lucky to be born in the best country in the world!

2. Wonderful Friends New and old-I'm so glad you're in my life! For those of you this week who listened to me complain and brought me Diet Dews- You're the bomb! For those of you who made me laugh from miles away...thank you! To my new "couple" friend- I'm so glad I met you. For my bloggy friends for checking in on me and reaching out, you rock!

3. The fact that I caught a fish this weekend Umm..yeah...Not only did I catch a fish, I outfished 3 guys! I caught 3 fish which was the record for the day. Beat that, boys! Ha!

 

 

4. Technology Skype and video capable cell phones make me happy every week. I get to see my family from many miles away and it helps me tremendously.

5. My sweet puppy Drifter was so happy this weekend. He got to play with his buddies quite a bit! He's a much more pleasant pet when he's fully exercised and socialized.



6. Spiced Chai Tea Cheers me up every time.

7. An empty hamper and laundry basket Unfortunately, our closet is what is actually empty. Zut alor!

8.We don't have to move This was the BEST news I heard all weekend. I was getting really frustrated with Captain J the situation. I was driving him nuts, I'm sure. He said it would all work out and I guess it has! The owners decided not to sell the house. Woo hoo!

9. Chocolate 'Nuff said.

10. Air conditioning Man, I miss that.

Alrighty, now that those are taken care of- Let's pass it along, shall we?

Drumroll please.....

I present this award to-

Ashley @ Be Real Be Happy

Mom @ Kimbodarlin's Blog

Mrs. Dear @ Lovin', Huntin', and Fishin'

Amanda @ Where the Boat Leaves From

I was supposed to pass this along to ten people, but in normal Mrs. K fashion...I decided four was good. It' s more special that way, right? There are tons of blogs I love, but these are worth a look at it. These ladies are fabulous!

I promise to write more this week. I know I've been MIA lately. Blame it on the gorgeous weather!

Wish me luck...

I'm unsure why I decided not to brush my hair before this but I'm just gonna roll with it. It's 5QF time, ladies and gentlemen! Which means....It's vlog time at Mrs. K and Captain J. I hope you enjoy. Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Grizzlies

Forget baseball. Forget basketball. And soccer? Yeah, right.

I am a football fan. Just the other day I had on a New York Yankee's hat and someone at Wally World excitedly asked if I was a fan. For the life of me, I don't know why I didn't just say, "ehh, it's just a hat I have." Instead I began to explain that MY sport was football....like I couldn't like multiple sports. How weird? I'm sure I sounded like a total football snob, but that's okay. It's America's REAL favorite pasttime.

Living in the Great White North keeps me from this passion of mine. Watching football on T.V. just isn't as fun because I have to wake up bright and early Saturday mornings to watch the games because of the time difference. Plus Captain J doesn't care much for football unless the Steelers are playing. In addition to these obstacles, it's really difficult to find a football game in these parts as you can imagine.

Indoor football is the closest we have for any hope of getting my fix. I used to think it was kinda lame, but now I'll take what I can get! Last weekend, Captain J, 3 of his buddies, and I went to another game. It was a big game supposedly. There was to be much excitement and lemme tell ya, it didn't disappoint.

For the majority of the game, the Fairbanks Grizzlies were behind by a few points. There were a few awesome tackles and barely caught impossible to catch passes but for the most part, we were not emotionally invested in the game. It was hotter than a tamale in the arena and we were all pretty much trying not to move around much. We mostly nibbled on pretzels and fudge and washed that down with beer--You know...all the foods ya shouldn't eat but feel entitled to in such a scenario. And we just chatted- only half way watching the game.

Then the fourth quarter came.It was intense and at one point it wasn't looking good for the home team...so much in fact, that several people got up and left. The game was over. I had given up. Miraculously, with a few seconds left to play a call was taken back and the Grizzles got the ball again. They scored a touchdown that left us down by one point. We all sat there as we realized that overtime was imminent. Just as we were on the edge of our seats, they decided the'd go for two instead of kicking a field goal. Pretty cocky move, huh? Anyway, with no time left to play, the Grizzlies ran the ball into the endzone scoring two points and winning the game by one point.

And the crowd went wild!

Of course after that kind of victory, we had to go get t-shirts!

As we exited the stadium, some incredibly intoxicated middle aged woman began hitting on one of the guys. We took a video of the escapade that we often play back and laugh at. She was ridiculous! Apparently, this wasn't the first time they met...He might just have a stalker. Thankfully, I'm pretty dang sure he can outsmart her. She's not the brightest crayon....hittin' on a married man like that. Tsk, tsk!

See ya tomorrow for 5QF!

Fish Tales

Remember how I told you that I may or may not have caught something on our fishing trip last Friday? I'm sitting here watching the Biggest Loser Finale and I thought I'd catch you up with that fish tale. I'm here to tell you the truth now, but first allow me to show you these (and the guy who caught the first fish of the season):

 

Notice that smirk? It gets worse...

I kept hearing, "I'm sorry, babe" (sounding anything but sorry) and that signaled me to understand that he caught another stinkin' greyling:

Me? Well, I caught something, too...

I got really excited when I felt the tug- then when I started reeling in my smile turned upside down. I caught a darn stick?! Ahh, the frustration. There were a couple times when I saw a fish bite my line but I just couldn't land one. I have all these excuses, though like-

1. J had already caught a fish in the place I fished then he moved along to the next spot and caught another. Basically, he scared off all the fish in my spots. Ha!


2. Also, my bait and hook were too long for those teensy little fish. They just couldn't get their entire mouths around it so I couldn't get a good hold on them.

Those are legit, right? ;) I feel as if I should also add that those waders make me look slightly hefty, but I just embrace it because I had to get young boy waders because the womens were humongo and the mens were even bigger. You like em? They crack me up. I almost look like an outdoorsman. Almost.

Look at that girl! She can accomplish anything...and I will. I will catch a fish before summer is out! Just stay tuned (Disclaimer: You may be waiting awhile).

Guest Post on Tasty Treats

Many bloggers enjoy keeping their site fresh and interesting by inviting a guest writer to share their thoughts on various subjects and/or experiences. I've never done so but I've found the idea to be attractive. I'm aware that as a personal blogger I easily become somewhat narcissistic in thinking that the rest of the world really wants to know what is going on in my little life so I believe that occasionally it will be nice to take the focus off of me for awhile so I can get grounded again. I mean, you surely don't want to hear about me all the time, right? With this in mind, I decided to invite a very regal, young gentleman to share with you today about an experience he encountered this weekend. I do hope you enjoy his thoughts! Introducing...

High Plains Drifter

Photo by Joshua Reed

aka "K-Fed", "Stop It", "D-Nugget" and just plain ole "Drifter"

Drifter is a dashing young dog with incredible humans watching after him. He enjoys long walks down Farmer's Loop Road, trips to the dog park, drinking from the toilet and chewing on contraband items (as determined by his owner). Drifter is youthful in age and spirit and has a lot of energy and passion to share with others. Without further ado, here are his latest thoughts:

 

Hello, Mrs. K and Captain J blog readers. I'm Drifter--their mostly happy but definitely whiney Alaskan Husky puppy. I'm 7 months old or so they tell me and I've been living with them since February. Dad (aka Captain J) rescued me from the animal shelter in Anchorage as a Valentine's gift for Momma (you will know her as Mrs. K). For this reason, I try to be extra good and not give her too much of a headache seein' as how I was a gift and all. When I am good they don't notice me misbehaving, I am rewarded with treats. Last Sunday, I was allowed my very first scoop of the tastiest vanilla ice cream a pup could ask for. We walked around on College Rd. and came to a delicious ice cream  palace place called Hot Licks. They let me have my very own sugar cone and even held it up for me as I ate. I could scarcely contain myself as I licked as fast as my tongue would allow. I barely even stopped for a breather. It was one of the best days of my short life. I don't know what I did to deserve such royal treatment, but hopefully I'll keep it up! Here are some photos from my favorite day-

YUM!

Thanks for taking the time to read about my awesome day! If you want to learn more about me you can look me up on facebook. I'll let you do the searchin' , though. I do love games! Until next time--Ruff, Ruff!

(*In all seriousness, if anyone would like to do a guest post on a topic of your choice feel free to contact me at mrskandcaptainj@hotmail.com . I welcome bloggers and non-bloggers alike! Let me know if you'd like to participate or send me your work and a short bio (and pic if you'd like) and I'll be sure to give you all the credit. If you're not a blogger, it's a good opportunity to have your voice heard and get your foot in the wonderful world of blogging. If you are a part of the massive blogging community then you will have the benefit of exposing my readers to your link and possibly upping your follower numbers. Let me know!

 

Crazy Fun

This weekend was crazy, fun. I told you Captain J and I had made lots of plans, recall? Well, most of those plans happened and then some. If I were to describe each event in this one itsy bitsy blog post then, well, you'd stop reading. I mean, YEAH, it was loads of fun, but nobody likes an uber long post. Am I right? Or maybe this is an excuse to not write much right now as it is almost midnight. I'll ponder that as I type and get back to you.

Where to start? How bout in the middle (because those are the pictures I have uploaded to my computer!)?

Captain J and I attended a wine tasting with a few spectacular friends. We were invited along by Sgt Major so and so who was attending. We heard "wine" and "riverboat" and thought, why not?! Let me start off by saying, I'm glad we went. I really am, but...

Fairbanks isn't the place to experience the whole wine tasting on a fabulous boat scenario. If this tells you anything about it, it only set us back forty bucks...TOTAL! The wine was great, but then again we aren't exactly wine-oes. Our house wine is Oak Leaf from Walmart...I mean, c'mon. The riverboat was named the Tanana Chief and it sat quietly beside a large highway bridge- ALL NIGHT. Yes, the boat never actually moved while we were galavanting around pretending to be classy enough to know good wine when we smell/taste it. The water in the Chena River isn't up far enough to justify trying to take a boat that size down it so we just stayed put in one spot. That was all fine and dandy, I suppose. I'm not sure what we were expecting anyway- Fairbanks isn't known for its boats. 

Anyway, the drinks were flowin' and our wine list was being peppered with guys with mohawks (the wine rocked!), turtles (the wine made you want to hide in your shell), dead guys (terrible wine), and straight-faced smilies (the wine was mediocre) when the staff announced that it was time to eat. We ventured downstairs to find out that it was Taco Night on the ole Tanana Chief. Who ever heard of tacos and wine? Good grief. Oh well, it gave us a good laugh. Also, our totally legit rating scale left us chortling, too so we left the riverboat and headed over to another favorite stomping ground: The Pump House to continue our good time.

And continue our good time, we did! I can't really explain to you how the rest of the night went down. It was one of those nights that I want to preserve in my mind yet nothing special really happened. It was just a bunch of friends hangin' out at our favorite locations around town. It was good interesting conversation. It was laughter. It was a farewell of sorts. It was a random dance party at the close of a Greek restaurant. It was an impromptu karaoke tribute to Journey. It was old school jams and rap sessions. It was totally random...just how I like life to be.

Did you catch that farewell part? Unfortunately for me, I'm having to say goodbye to another friend as her hubby is headed off to MCCC in another state. I first mentioned her here and since then we've made several fun memories. I hate to see her go! That's the way it is in the military, though. Hopefully our paths will cross again.

From the Pump House we went to Bobby's, a nice Greek restaurant in town. We closed down the place! This light thing here in AK is pretty awesome really deceiving. We had no idea that it was nearing two a.m. as we switched the radio to Pandora and revisited some old music favorites. By the end of the night, we had sparked a random dance party in the middle of a restaurant that no one dances at yet everyone who was there participated in. It was a good time. I actually got part of one old school jam on video as we all tried to sing along but I don't think you want to see us attempt Salt-N- Pepa's "Shoop".

 All-in-all, Friday was a fun day, but I left out parts that I'll be sure to update you on soon. For example, I may or may not have caught something on our fishing trip earlier that day. You'll just have to wait and see. The rest of the weekend did not disappoint, either. More to come! I've just decided that sleep actually does sound pretty good so I'm off to dreamland. Ta-ta!

hot pink crayons, poo, & iphone apps

Maybe this post will go down in my blogging history as having the most random title ever. I think it's winning so far. For you newcomers, this is 5 Question Friday Day. We do it every Friday! Mama M. started this blog partayyyy so I hope you'll click on her link and go check her out!



In closing, I hope you all have a spectacular weekend! Captain J and I have lots of plans so I'll be sure to update you soon on our weekend happenings- should be a good time! Au Revoir.

My One Inch Window

One inch windows. Have you heard of this notion? It's the suggestion made by Anne Lamont that writing can be done within the confines of what can be seen out of a one inch window. Imagine cutting out a one inch window from a piece of paper and carrying it with you on all the experiences you can't wait to write home about. You may want to gush and gush on every minor detail in hopes of preserving it in your own mind or enlightening those around you, but you can't. You may only choose to describe what shines through the tee-tiny space. What would you write about?

I was pondering this while I was perched on my couch with a bird's eye view of my puppy sleeping down below. I had been tip toeing around that hyper dog all day long trying to get some chores around the house accomplished. I was annoyed- No, not at him but at my situation. You see, I'm just another one of those twenty something year olds who have no idea what they want to do with themselves. Daily I wonder how my life would have been different if I had continued my education and finished up my Master's. I wonder if when we do start a family if I'll still have the desire to be a stay at home mom that I have now. Then, I think, what's next? I'll send the hypothetical kid(s) off to kindergarten and then where will I be?

I yearn for productivity. I want to be helpful financially in my marriage, but I also want to be happy (which I am!). I know working a mediocre job that I do not enjoy will only make me miserable. A couple years ago, I had this job that seemed like it should be an awesome experience. I was working in my field (psychology) and I was helping people. Who doesn't want to do that? But it turns out, helping people is much harder than it looks. Especially when the people I was supposed to help didn't want to help themselves. After much debate, I ended my employment there and never looked back. I went off to grad school to ensure that I would never have a crappy job again. It turns out, that's probably a pipe dream.

This brings me to where I am today. If not counseling, then what? I realize now is the time for school. Now is the time to be saving for our future. We are saving, but I know I should be helping now but I just don't know what I want to do. I don't mind getting a part time job that I'm less than interested in because I know it will only be temporary and I want to contribute. But as far as school goes, I don't know what I would want to study now. In addition to that, I don't know if finishing my Master's is a goal because I feel like I NEED it or if I hate that I started something and never finished.

I will never regret taking time off from school to come up to Alaska with Captain J. Never. I know this is where I'm supposed to be right now and I am content in my present. It's my fear of the unknown, of my future that really sends me into a frenzy. Oh, to be one of those individuals who are completely free, living in the moment.

As far as my one inch window of today, I look out and see green trees blowing in the wind. The window is opened slightly and the fresh Alaskan air is blowing in. Candles are neatly placed on the sill and below this there's a comfy place to read. I have a wonderful life with my silly Drifter and the best husband I could ever ask for. There's no point in dwelling on concerns for tomorrow. Life is good today.

Love,

Paneras in Utopias?

In a perfect world, what an awesome idea is this? New Panera location says pay what you want. The chain opened a new location in Clayton, MO that has vowed to throw the price tag out the window. They encourage customers to pay what they wish. It's sort of like the idea of 'take a penny, leave a penny' only on a much larger scale. What a brave move, ehh? While I sincerely believe that there are many generous people in the world, I also know for a fact how stingy and unfair others can be. I honestly do not see this plan panning out for Panera, although I hope it does! So many restaurants in the U.S. get away with highway robbery because their prices are already ridiculously high. In American culture, I think it's safe to say that eating is a social event. Any time we haven't seen our friends in awhile, we meet up for dinner or when someone dies we show our sympathy by cooking up a nice, big fatty meal. We use food as a vehicle to connecting with others and this is why our restaurants can charge whatever they wish. They know we'll probably keep coming back for more! In other words, I commend Panera for giving this a whirl because it really is a bold move. Maybe it will work. Just going through the drive-thru at Starbucks and pulling up to the window to learn that someone already paid for mine is enough hope for me to actually think this plan could work. I suppose we'll have to wait and see. Until then, cheers to Panera! Just my two cents for the day.

What do you guys think about all this?

These are a few of my favorite things-

Captain J and I grilled out last night. After having to tow the jeep back to the casa, we decided  a little Vitamin D from the sun is just what we needed. The steaks, corn on the cob, and family time was just a bonus!

These are a few of my favorite things-

Perhaps I'll be back tomorrow with some thought provoking, interesting post but maybe not. I'm just enjoying my time outside these days. Forgive me? 

"They paved paradise

...and put up a parking lot." Every time I drive through Fairbanks these days, this song pops into my head. Outside my house I see blue skies and several shades of green encompassing our little part of the world. If I hop in the car and pull off of our road, I can see beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. I see people outside biking, roller blading, walking their dogs, running, and enjoying this warm weather.

When I drive into town, though....It just makes me cringe. There are miles and miles of pavement and stores (and definitely not the good ones). The surrounding area is gorgeous and the worn down town is a stark contrast. For this reason, I'm glad we live out of town. I can't wait to get completely out of Fairbanks and head into a less populated territory. I breathe easier out there.

I'm not knockin' the big cities, but they're just not for me. Surround me with God's beautiful creation and I'll take that over Starbucks and Hollister any ole day! Finally, I'm to the point that I can say:

The winter was worth it. We made it and now we have this awesome weather as a reward. Alaska truly is a unique place to live and I'm very thankful to have this experience.

(Oh, yeah...did I mention...Captain J is home sweet home!? He passed with flying colors and was one of 41/400 that did so. I am very proud.)

Much love,

Boo hooooo

I am selfish. I realized that today as I was feeling sorry for myself. Captain J gets home tomorrow and I was eagerly looking forward to the  moment I get to see him again when there was a knock at my door. I peeked out the window to see a young man around my age standing on the other side. I opened the door while Drifter greeted his new friend and he introduced himself as the guy who built the house we are currently living in. He went on to say that he was graduating on Saturday with his Master's and his entire family was coming into town to celebrate. THEN...Are you ready for this?

He asked me if he could bring all of them over to view the house on Sunday. He'd like to come at the same time we'll be at church. The first full day back with my man and I'm sure J will want to relax and just enjoy his time before he has to wake up at 0500 and do it all over again. I just want some time and we haven't had that all week.

Of course this young man is proud of his house that he designed and built himself. Of course he should get to show it off to his family.

The timing is just really bad. Boo :( Looks like I'm going to have a gazillion strangers in my house in two days. I guess I should go clean. I know Captain J is going to love this welcome home (insert sarcasm).

Tongue to Nose Challenge 5QF Style

Click here to play along with Mama M.'s Five Question Friday Fun!

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday....

Life is easier with friends. This is just something I've learned in my twenty four years here on Earth. Maybe it's not a huge revelation, but it's one I've come to trust. This, I know.

When Captain J left, I was worried that I would seep back into my sedentary lifestyle where laying on the couch all day in front of sitcom reruns was perfectly okay and eating too much or forgeting to eat was commonplace. That's how it was for me during the deployment. I felt like I couldn't leave my condo for fear of missing his Skype call. I became a hermit. I was a slave to technology- my computer and my phone never left my side. I'd take them to the bathroom with me. They'd be beside my head as I slept. It was a difficult year. Luckily, I know people aren't shooting at him or attacking his sleeping quarters with mortars where he's training now so that gives me great comfort and I can relax and try to enjoy my alone time.

This doesn't mean that I don't miss him like crazy, though. I do. Our bed seems too big now and I don't like sleeping in it. When I go to the sink in the mornings to brush my teeth, I don't like seeing the lone toothbrush because it's just a reminder that something is missing. I hear his voice in the evenings and I can hear his exhaustion.

But as I was saying, it's good to have friends that keep me busy. My days have been filled with reruns of a certain show that I'm embarrassed to admit to watching. While this may sound like a "deployment day" to you, I can assure you it is not because I had a friend to join me this time. I also haven't neglected my workout routine either! You're still wondering what show I'm watching, aren't you? I'll tell you if you promise not to laugh. Ok, ready? Army Wives. Yep, that's right...I said it. I like the show. How could I not? Some of the drama that goes on in those military circles is pretty accurate while some of it is just ridiculous and made for t.v. but I love it nonetheless. The show highlights a lot of things that military families deal with on a daily basis and wraps it all up in a fun, addictive package that is Season One. It's nice to watch it with some real Army Wives, too! :)

Anyway, I've stayed pretty busy in J's absence. Alaska is getting to the point where it's light outside quite a bit so it's not too strange that Nicole and I took her daughter to the playground to slide at 10 o'clock one night. She loved it, loved it! And that may be an understatement. My arms grew tired of lifting her back up to her mama every 30 seconds so she could do it all over again. Man, what a cute kid.

It just reminds me how excited I am for each chapter in my life with Captain J. We know we have so much to look forward to as well as enjoying the here and now. It will be wonderful to start our own family in good time.

For the time being, though, this little guy has been my life-



He has kept me company. He has slept beside me and on me on our couch. He hasn't run off. We've gone on walks. We've gone to the park. We've made other doggy friends. Amy and her precious puppy, Knightly joined Drifter and me at the dog park a couple times this week. We had one little mishap while attempting to walk Creamer's Field. We were both using retractable leashes and our puppies started playing and running- tangling each other up and then wrapping Amy and me together. It must have been a sight to see. Needless to say, we didn't stay there long at all.

It has been nice having something to do. Last night, I hosted a Ladies Night at my house. It was only the three of us but we had a good time catching up and talking. I bought some Italian bread and made a dip for it. We had cheese, crackers, and postachios with red wine and my specialty drink. It was fun. I always enjoy hanging out with these two:



 (Notice my wine stained teeth? Eek!)

That's what my week has been like thus far. Tonight, I'm going out to dinner with a friend. Hopefully, Friday and Saturday morning will fly by and I'll be back in Captain J's arms in no time. I sure do miss him!

Kitchen Talk

There's a house located in Sweetwater, TN that I used to call my home. My family and I moved in it when I was at the ripe old age of 8. I remember much about this house, but I wonder why the kitchen is fuzzy to me. I spent six years there. Don't families congregate in the kitchen as someone cooks the dinner and someone sets the table? Don't people discuss what went on that day while waiting for the dinner bell to ring (figuratively speaking, of course, unless you're in Ducktown, TN but that's another story for another day)? It seems to me that the kitchen is where it's at! Just think about all those family get togethers. People group around the kitchen to talk and simultaneously annoy those who are actually using the kitchen to cook. Our lives are sustained around this very act of eating that takes place in these rooms. So, why is it that I can't recall much about that kitchen?

I have an impression of a light green. I know if I turn my head towards the white refrigerator that I will see a magnet with a cactus on it and loud, bright colors- a souvenir from our family vacation to Arizona. There's a pantry in there, too and it seems pretty big to house food. Inside there are fudge rounds, but not many are left! The tiles beneath my feet are squares and cold to the touch. Beside the bar area, there's the faintest hint of dog prints where the tiles were laid out to dry. There are tall, white cabinets that are always so out of reach for me just beside the pantry. Although, I can't see the light fixture or the countertops, I can see the old table that my great grandfather built. I can see my little brother crawling around at my feet...

which is a miracle because he's not so little anymore. I have trouble remembering some big things while seemingly unimportant ones (hence the Arizona magnet) are abundant. But the memories I do have of so long ago, I want to preserve. Do you ever close your eyes and think about where you've been or how far you've come or how your life has changed? I do. And if I could go back for a day, I would soak up every last detail of the family habiting that kitchen. I would pick up my younger brother. I would be nice to my big sister. I'd give my stepdad a hug and I'd go tell my mom I love her. I miss them so much.

I know I'll count my lucky stars if Captain J's and my kitchen is half as decorated with love as my family's kitchen was so many years ago.

What do you remember about your old kitchen?

Glory Days

I couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old on the most glorious fishing day of my youth life. I was excitedly changing positions from a boat, the Kimbra Susann, to the docks of a marina in my East Tennessee home. These were the days when bobbers were still deemed appropriate for me and no one minded baiting my hook. Sometimes, in an effort to avoid those slimy, yucky worms, I just used spam and that worked just fine. Ft. Loudon Lake fish just aren't too picky. This very fact spoiled me for years. To this day, I still look back on my glory days when catching twenty fish on a single Saturday was just another day's work.

Don't believe me? Well, it's true (at least I think it is) and it's no fish tale. Perhaps I caught the same single fish over and over again because that sure is what it felt like. I remember catching a fish, throwing it back, and having another bite on my line in no time. This is just how it was and I remember thinking fondly of the sport. I seemed pretty darn good at it!

Let's fast forward to Captain J's R&R, shall we? In May of 2009, he was home for a couple weeks from the sandbox. Of course, he looked forward to his favorite pasttime: fishing. We loaded up in the bass boat and sped off to find a quiet fishing hole to relax, get some sun, and catch a fish or two. Those were my motives, anyway. J caught the first fish and my father-in-law and I chalked it up to it being J's day. The universe was somehow recognizing he was temporarily home from a deployment and it would be nice to give the ole veteran the first catch of the day. But the second, third, and fourth came with not so much as a nibble to MY line. Discouraged isn't quite the word. Where were the days when, Mrs. K -Fisherwoman Extraordinare, could cast a line and reel it back in with a good size slippery sucker at the end?



Gone, I tell you.

I haven't caught a fish since. I mean- sure, I've reeled some in but only because Captain J will hand me the pole after having already felt a tug. It's becoming very frustrating and simply typing this out makes me want to grab a line and head out to the Chena and see what I can find. My luck, I'd catch one without an eye witness or proof in a photo. That's my goal for this summer. Some people my age want to find a job or exercise or plan a wedding or a baby shower. Me? I just want to catch a darn fish!

I really hate to see it.

If you could enter into her mind for a day you'd know what she was thinking. You would be able to feel that raw emotion that is evoked when she sees an image such as this. You would know that the knowledge of him leaving again breaks her down to her core and reminds her how incredibly vulnerable she can be. You'd also see her hold back those looming tears as she finishes packing up her husbands gear. It's time for him to leave again and leave-he must.

I really hate to see it.

Mil Spouse Appreciation Day

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day! President Obama had this to say about military families and spouses:

 "I am inspired every day by our men and women in uniform and their families.  They are America's greatest military asset, and my Administration is committed to fulfilling our obligations to them. Today, let us honor the spouses and families who support our servicemembers and, in doing so, help defend our Nation and preserve our liberty."

It's a touching sentiment to have the Friday before Mother's Day each year to be recognized and celebrated. This was first brought into light by the greatest President of all time, Ronald Reagan (Sorry, I had to throw that in there). Anyway, I think it's a great day to celebrate not only the spouses who sometimes carry the burdens of deployments, long distance relationships, and long work hours but also those girlfriends, boyfriends, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, and all those family members who aren't normally recognized.

This one is for you!

If you want to visit many, many other military family blogs, there's a gigantic list of links here.

Happy blog hopping and Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

Versatile Award

I have lots to share with you! First of all, I got a blog award! Not just any ole blog award--my very first one. I'm pretty pumped about it. The lovely lady over at In the Military and on the Move gave it to me so go show her blog some love and tell her Mrs. K sent ya! The award comes with a set of rules. One, of which, says to share "seven things about yourself."

1. My least favorite chore is pulling weeds.

2. I'm allergic to sulfa.

3. I love weird socks.

4. My carpet that I'm currently laying on smells like vanilla.

5. I call my best friend Meaghan, my LP (life partner).

6. I collected beanie babies as a tyke young adolescent.

7. All the clothes I'm wearing right now are Captain J's.

Pretty random, ehh?

Anywho, the other rules say to pass the award on to 15 bloggers. 15? Eeeekkkk! I think it will be more meaningful and special if I just pass it on to a handful of bloggers. The award is 'The Versatile Blogger' and the following are people I think fit that title well--

1. Carissa writes often of her love for ketchup and John Cusack. She's a very funny and interesting blogger. She also has some pretty entertaining vlogs. Check out her latest video blog here.

2. Jenn blogs about her upcoming wedding to her man in uniform. She also has positive, uplifting posts that often brighten my day. Occasionally she shares her experiences in exercising more and learning to enjoy the physical milestones she hits. Go check her out.

3. Tabitha always seems to have something positive to say, too. Her blog contains her workout and diet regiments along with more of her day to day experiences. She has a really cool bucket list type deal on her page and she just completed her latest "Sing Karaoke" found here.

I think 3 is a good number :) Thanks again to Mrs. M at In the Military and on the Move for my first award!

In other fun news--

A new bloggy friend recently compiled several military family pictures into a short video. Yours truly along with Captain J can be found in it if you look closely. I thought she chose the perfect song to use in the video. Gotta love Jack Johnson! Anyway, here's Mrs. Gambizzle's tribute to our service members and their families. You can check her out at Life as a Sailor's Girl.

Talk Blog with you soon!

Love,

Insert creative, quirky 5QF title here

To play along with 5 Question Friday, visit Mama M's page found here.

Also, stay tuned for another post shortly. I recently received my very first bloggy award that I will be passing on! Excitement :)

Mom

It's almost Mother's Day so to celebrate I wanted to write a tribute to my mother. Basically, I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have her. As I grew older, I began to realize just how amazing and awesome it was to have a family that was supportive and got along with one another. I began to appreciate even more the fact that my mom was my best friend, but as I was growing up she was also a parent. Some parents find it hard to find balance between the two but she did that very well. I'm so thankful for her! Any triumph or failure I have in my life, she's one of the first people I think to call. I know she's always there for me and that is one of the best feelings in the world because I know God blessed me when he chose my mother for me.

 

This photo was taken last Mother's Day. She stopped off at school to see me while I was finishing up my first semester of graduate school. It's crazy what a difference a year can make!

Anyway, if you want to read what goes on in the life of Mrs. K's (that's me!) mother then just go to Kimbodarlin's Blog. She's a thoughtful, fun, and wise writer so go check her out.

Mom- I love you and miss you soooo much!

To all you mothers out there, I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Love,

Wordless Wednesday

Ok..maybe just a few words. This was earlier today--just enjoying some quiet time together. Gah, I love this man. Anyway, maybe you're wondering where I've been. I haven't posted much lately and for that I'm sorry. I'll be back around in no time. If you're having Mrs. K withdrawals though, you can check out My World, My Playground for your fix.

Love,