Playing the waiting game

If you know me in real life, you'll come to realize that I'm not a very patient person if I don't have an idea of WHEN something will happen.  I don't mind waiting when I have a specific date or time set, but waiting on an answer that will come SOMETIME is driving me absolutely insane.

Officially sold the car last night.  Filled out the Bill of Sale and they took it!  Happy to have that taken care of.

Dreamed of Japan last night.  Good sign?

Lots of sub jobs lined up, even without being at the preschool anymore.  They finally hired someone permanent.  Not complaining though, I'm thankful I got to be there for over a month as a sub!

Had to kill a monster spider the other night:

Yes, those are guts.  It took like 20 stomps to kill this guy.

Just so you can see how big it was.  Much bigger with guts intact.

Pictures from the picnic

Friends!

Love!

My extended family is getting smaller and smaller

Well, I think the only people that will be at our going away party from my side of the family are my mom, Aunt Mary, and Rylee.  My other aunt isn't being very supportive (not surprising) and my cousin is being ultra dramatic and turning her back on my Aunt Mary.  It's really pathetic and from what I understand, she was told exactly what she needed to be told, but it doesn't take away the hurt that she has already caused my aunt.  Sorry, but that's unforgivable.  If anyone knows my aunt, I know they couldn't imagine hurting her, and that just shows what kind of people she is having to deal with right now.
So as far as I'm concerned, she is not welcome at my going away party because I don't want anyone like that around me.  My uncle hasn't been welcome since I first heard about his whoring ways.  My other aunt and I have never really gotten along, especially after I called her out for treating my grandparents like crap when my grandma was dying of cancer.  I also know that she stole a bunch of stuff from my grandparents' house after she died and lied to my granddad about it.  So...not the kind of person I want to be around.

Anyway, I'm happy with who I will have there along with my friends and Ben's family.  It's enough for me.  I'm thankful for what I have.

Ben called Japan last night and the guy sent along the paperwork to the next people that day (Tuesday in Japan, Monday night here in the States).  So we should hear back in the next 2 days ish.  Much nicer than the idiots at the office here.  They're going to have an earful from me once we get everything situated.  Ben said he sounded positive about the situation, so here's hoping!

Babysitting my friend's son tonight.  I'll probably take some pics and post later.  He's such a little doll.  Hopefully, any kids Ben and I have are cool like him.  (duh, of course they will be!)

Couple new paintings for the weekend.

Nightmare Before Christmas for my mom.

Mary and Rosie for my Aunt Mary.

This Weekend

Ok, so we're keeping our Element.  Ben learned that TMO (the movers) will store it for us for free here in the States while we're gone AND USAA won't charge us for insurance while we're away.  He said, "I think it'd be nice to come home to a car that's fully paid off with less than 20000 miles on it."
Yeah, I agree.
Phew!

We also learned that we will receive a "spouse relocation allowance" for making me quit my job to move.  It's basically a month's worth of pay all at once when we get to Japan.  Pretty nice, if you ask me!  Wasn't expecting that, but I'm thankful for it, especially since I did have a great job that I had to quit because of our orders.

Last night we scrapbooked.  It was pretty fun, but I need to print off some more pictures.  For sure.  I have all these brilliant ideas, but just not the right pictures...or the right papers to go with everything. 

You know those blinders that horses that pulled carriages wore? 

I think my husband has an invisible pair that he wears when he plays video games.  Right now, the game is Red Dead Redemption.  Every time I look up, he's either riding off into the sunset on a horse or killing cougars or coyotes.  Doesn't look all that interesting, but he seems to like it.  Whatev.

Working on 2 paintings.  One for my mom, one for my aunt.  I'm really enjoying them so far. 
Got paid for the painting I did for Colsie, but I forgot to take a picture of it!  I'm sure she'll take one for me.  Her husband was like, "Let's put it here...." and she said, "No, we're not keeping it, it's a gift!"  He said, "Maybe we'll just have to get another one done then."
Makes me feel really good that people like my stuff.  Not like I'm a professional or anything, but I'm really glad that it's enjoyed. 

We're going to a picnic today for one of the people who was in charge of the tower during all the big checks and visits from the big wigs.  Should be fun.Hanging out with friends tonight. 

Tomorrow is Ben watches football on base day and Danielle gets stuff done around the house day.  I don't mind.  It's hard to do stuff when he's here just because I have a system.  He said he'd take me to see Dinner for Schmucks tomorrow evening too.

Well, I think it's shower time.

I'm keeping my head above the water.

Called the base AGAIN and was very rudely told that the person who is doing our case was out until Monday.  Umm, Ok, I don't care.  Figure it out and tell me what I need to know.  I explained that their office was supposed to send out everything 2 months ago and didn't, and that they would be calling if they were in my position too.  Ben called today too and they were rude to him too!  He's calling the base in Japan tonight to see if he can just get information from them.  This could have been taken care of so long ago had the people in the office we had to deal with not been morons.

Ben also decided (weeks before we leave) that he wants to sell our Element. 

WTF.

As if I didn't have enough on my plate, now I have to think about this.  Honestly, I'll give it a shot, but I'm not going to lose a bunch of money, and if it doesn't happen, we can just store it and have a car once we get back to the States.
I just can't handle much more.

Yesterday, I discovered that the 2 mile track around my housing area is a very enjoyable bike ride, especially with an ipod strapped to my arm blaring really awesome music into my ears.  I think this is going to be a new nightly ritual for me.  Walked the dogs too.  Maybe I'll walk them along that track instead of through the neighborhoods.

Not too happy with the school district around here.  None of them seem to know exactly the right information or they know not enough of it.  If you work in the same building as another, shouldn't there be some kind of communication?  Even if you're too lazy to visit another department, can't you just simply email others?  I guess that for some of these people collecting paychecks from the state (4 people doing the job of 1 or 2), it constitutes as too much work.  Whatever.

I'm going to go hang out with a friend tonight at her son's soccer practice.  Should be a good visit.

Got the car sold!  We'll pay a little out of pocket for everything to go through, but that's one thing off of my plate.  Got the initial paperwork sent in to Japan.  Not approved yet, because we don't have a flight number/date because the stupid base here isn't doing their part (don't even get me started on them again), but I got my stuff sent in and have been in contact with a very nice person from Japan who is being really helpful.

I need to count my blessings and the positive things that are happening in my life so that I can overcome the stupid stuff I have to deal with on a daily basis.

Here are the positive things happening right now:
1. Got the car sold.
2. I've had steady sub work.
3. I got to be at Cameo for 5 days and absolutely loved it.
4. I did 2 paintings for Colsie, one she's buying for a friend!
5. I did a really cool zombie painting and it turned out REALLY cool.
6. Got my pet paperwork turned into the Narita airport.
7. Husband has been doing P90X and is looking ever more fly than usual.
8. I'm having a good time with the girls around here lately.
9. I've been getting more motivated to continue to take pictures of our belongings for the movers to pack up.
10. Even though I don't know the exact date I'm leaving, I am still looking forward to going home to MO and seeing all my friends and family!

Wow.

To say that I have been busy would be an understatement.  Between getting really mad at the people on base who have YET AGAIN effed up our paperwork. (They've supposedly sent it out-after not sending it for a month and not telling us they didn't), working, selling our car, figuring out the pet paperwork, taking pictures of our belongings for the move, and constantly having to do housework...I haven't had a lot of spare time.  No wonder I haven't been sleeping well.  I wish I could have a day where I didn't have to worry about anything or anyone.  Ben says, "Don't worry!", but that doesn't help because I will still worry.  I don't want to just brush things off and hope it falls into place.  You have to trust God and work for what you need done.

Friday night marked the last time I will see my good friend, Katie, for who knows how long.  She's in a class for the AF in San Antonio and won't be back until after I leave for Japan.  What better way to celebrate a friendship than have a girls' night with wine, fruits, and cheeses?  (Not to mention gabbing and gossip with a bunch of other girlfriends!)  I may or may not have drank a bottle of my favorite wine (yummy, Nobilo!)

Yeah, that's a lot of wine there on the table...

I'm not up for tackling the kitchen pictures today (since I'm the only one who does the dishes and household shopping and cleaning of the area) because it's filthy.  We haven't had dishsoap in 2 days and instead of doing dishes by hand like I did twice yesterday, the sink just got fuller for me today.  BLAH.

Anyway, I'm off to go take care of things.

I've been feeling quite overwhelmed lately due to the lack of work ethic of certain people who didn't send off my paperwork for Yokota and keep making excuses...therefor delaying EVERYTHING we need to do for Japan...

So I've decided to make a list of positive things that are happening right now to keep me on the right track.

1. I've been subbing consistently since school began and both schools that have had me love me.
2. I've been painting a lot and have been painting for people and they are liking what I've done for them.
3. The pets have reserved spots at the kennel in Yokota until we get a garden unit.
4. We finally have a buyer for our Pontiac.
5. I have people here who will stand up for me, even when it's tough.
6. Ben is dealing with the inefficient people and the paperwork because they're not listening to me.
7. I'm having a blast working at Cameo.
8. My family seems to be doing pretty well at the moment, and that's always good.
9. I have people praying for me.
10.  I am going to have wine with my ladies tomorrow night and it will be a blast.

Those things alone should keep me on the up and up.  Gotta remember not to let the stuff that I can't control get me down...because it WILL work out.

I go to the Rapcon tomorrow to get a handwritten and verbal apology from the guy who watched my house this summer.  Not only did he leave my house a disgusting mess, neglect my animals, and lie to me about those things...but he also lied and told me that another person went through my drawers and snooped.  Once I emailed his supervisor (who is like a father to me out here in New Mexico) and told him what happened, the confessions came flying.  I'm going to have to keep my house locked up safe though, because I have a feeling that he'll try some kind of retaliation.  Not sure what, but it worries me.  If he's able to completely neglect my pets while he's supposed to be caring for them, what will he do now that I've got him in trouble at work and must apologize to me?  Luckily, we're not here much longer and will be at the house most of the time. 

 

Here I sit, with coffee watching Glee

Glee makes me miss show choir sooooooooo much.  I miss being onstage and performing...

It's cloudy and crisp with just a hint of a breeze outside today.  I think I'm going to light one of my fall scented candles...because that would just complete it.  I love fall and can't wait until the weather totally changes over from disgustingly hot (like it was last week) to comfortable weather.

I'll say something.
Sincere apologies hold a lot of weight with me.  So does the truth.
Having done neither, I know 2 young men in a lot of trouble right now due to the lack of respect and the push of an angry friend. I'm not going to go into details, but I will say that I just sent an email to my very good friend (who is like a father to me) here at Cannon who I don't think will take the information I have let him know in a good way.  Unfortunately for the 2 young men mentioned above, they will be around when the email is read and will probably be ostracized.  One of the young men isn't even welcome at anyone's homes anymore.  That's what you get though, especially when you are so disrespectful to me here.  I am friends with everyone and have helped out everyone.  It was a mistake of their's, and now they'll have to accept what comes.
Ben was a bit apprehensive about me telling my friend what happened (due to past circumstances), but while we were at a friend's house, he said, "Actually, you know, things would be different if either one of them apologized about it to either of us."
Too true, Ben, too true.

And now, some happy pictures!

Ben and Margot playing Call of Duty

Waiting for me to throw a toy!

Sleeping...comfortably? Yes, those are my legs.

Phew

Subbed at Cameo today (as my friend Paco put it, "You're making a cameo at Cameo!"-love that guy).   Saw almost all my little ones from last year and they were so happy to see me!  I can't believe how much I missed them...and missed being at that school.  I really really loved being there, and I'm sad that I only got one year, but incredibly grateful that I got that year.


Thank goodness for coffee though...I was up 6 or 7 times in the night cleaning up throw up from Rilo.  It was all bile, not sure what made her tummy hurt so bad.  I triple checked her vaccinations before falling asleep and she's all current.  I was so worried though (after the very last vomit) that I didn't fall asleep for about 40 minutes.  Not good when you have to be up at 6am for work.  Tried to keep it quiet though, for Ben, since he has to be up at 5am.  Sleeping in tomorrow though, cause it's my day off!  Had Ben watch Rilo this morn as he let them out and he said that she was acting normal.  I set her up on the loveseat with her favorite blankie before I left for work.  Came home, no vomit, and she's acting normal.  Must not have been a sickness, just an upset tummy.  I have water in there for them now in the night, just in case.

People on base with my medical clearance are about to get in some serious trouble with Ben's first sgt.  They've put off our paper work to get cleared to go to Japan for a MONTH (this was after making me wait a month to even have an appointment to see the dr.).  Dr. called me today and asked me the exact same questions he did when I saw him the first time.  Lady at Tricare seems to not remember a conversation that we had last week...making more work for me.  I told Ben today that I just couldn't do any more because I'm not military and they're obviously treating me like I'm an idiot.  Ben got some higher up people involved in it (because they're holding our official orders until all this clears), so hopefully it'll be taken care of soon.

All in all, a stressful evening.  Luckily, we have Dexter season 4 to watch (just got done with episode 6).  Love that show.

More picture taking tomorrow, this time of our game systems and games other than Nintendo.  Also furniture in the living room.  Little by little, I'll have it all done, just gotta keep on moving forward.

What flavor would you like your malt? Braaaaaaaaiiiiiiiins...t

Today was a decent day.

Slept in.
Had coffee.
Got 2 belts from Hot Topic (thanks, buy one get one half off on all accessories!)
Grocery shopped.
Had our car looked at (Please buy it, someone!)
Took dogs on a walk.
Finished a zombie painting.

Had dinner.
Surfed the internet.

Now I'm just chilling at home (Ben is at a concert) and about to start a movie because my pets are looking at me like I NEVER pet or cuddle them...they're staring at me from across the room.

My next endeavor is to finish taking pictures of Ben's Nintendo games (I do not trust movers) so that we have a physical record of what we have.  I'm going to do that with EVERYTHING in the house.  I'm not going to let ANYONE screw us over on anything that belongs to us.  We've worked hard for everything we have.

Subbing at Cameo tomorrow!  I'm super excited to see all my former students and all my friends!

Here are the pics of my vampire earrings, I put them in this weekend (It's hard to get a good picture, btw)

You can kinda see the teeth in this one.

Well, I've got work to do, so until next time!

My little family makes me happy.

It's another lazy Sunday in the Ward house....although, Ben has the mow the lawn and has a draft for fantasy football tonight.  I'm probably going to turn on The Soup and start making breakfast here in just a bit (after my coffee, please...let's get our priorities straight!)

I need to get the laundry done (blech), I need to start taking pictures and documenting everything we own for when the movers come. (I'll probably do that when Ben goes to his draft)  I also need to finish Colsie's painting for her.  

Ben and I went to Bath and Body Works last night to pick up some candles (2 for $20!!!) because I also had a 20% off coupon.  He loves fall scents the most, so I grabbed leaves and he picked out pumpkin patch.  Spiced cider is burning in my house right now, and it feels like a fall day.  I don't want to go outside yet and ruin the illusion of cool crisp weather...cause it looks quite warm out my window.

That's about all for now, hope everyone has a fantastic Labor Day.  I plan on sleeping in.

I thought this weekend was going to be a bit more exciting.  I also thought Ben and I were going to go out on a date, but that didn't happen.  Friday we went out with people, Saturday we stayed in until we went to Heather and Dustin's. I thought we were going to go do something beforehand, but I'm not going to be a nag.  Thought something was gonna be going on tonight, but now that no one wants to do anything, we're just going to sit at home and watch a movie, apparently.  I've been home all day long.  I've cleaned all day and just got done taking pictures and recording his Nintendo games as part of my preparation for the movers.  I'm effing bored.
I'm just slightly frustrated.

Another day in my life...

Ben and I decided to rent 5 movies last night to watch over this Labor Day weekend.  We got movies that we know we should have seen before, but we just never got around to.  They are:
Insomnia (just finished)
Man on the Moon
Stripes
Caddy Shack
and
Animal House

Robin Williams plays such a good villain in the stuff he's done.  He should completely make the switch from comedy to dark stuff.  Jim Carrey is the same way for me.  I much prefer him in his serious roles rather than his comedic roles.  Exceptions to that are: Dumb and Dumber (obviously a classic) and most recently, Yes Man.

Saw Machete last night.  It was brilliant.  Despite the obvious undertones of political immigration opinions, the movie was well written with just the right amount of gore and action.  It wasn't too cheesy like The Expendables (which was super lame), and the violence didn't look like it was CGI from 1995.  The actors were well chosen (yes, even Lindsay Lohan who played a drugged out whore...what a stretch).  Cheech played a BA priest, Don Johnson a vigilante hell bent on shooting the immigrants as they crossed the border, Dinero a Senator and secretly a vigilante who was working with the very people he despised.  Segal played a Mexican (it was a stretch), and he looks so weird, but not as bad as Stallone (who my husband so aptly put, "looks like he's melting).  Great movie, can't wait for the trilogy.

Not sure what we're doing this weekend, but I do know that I want it to be relaxing.  I've got way too much on my mind with Japan, my medical clearance, working at the schools here in town, getting a record of all of our belongings (because the movers are packing it and I don't trust ANYONE and all of my belongings are important).  I'm also worrying about my aunt.  She's living with my mom and dad now with my youngest cousin.
Mike is at their house (trying to turn people against my aunt and doing home repairs that needed to be done 10 years ago. Perhaps he's getting it ready for his whore, maybe he's doing it now that she's gone just to be mean, who knows.)  He also told her he'll be in Florida for the weekend for "work".  Really?  A concrete convention on Labor Day weekend?  In a town that just happens to be right on the coast?  I've got the number to the place that it's supposedly happening at, and I'm going to call it on Tuesday to see if it was true.  I highly doubt it.  He's such a liar, and it makes me so sad that this is happening to her.  My aunt is one of the most wonderful and kind people that I know and it just sucks that something this bad is happening to her.

Some lady in Japan may have me do letters for her new daughter's room, so I did a sample letter for her in the design she wants:

And on that happy note, I'm going to go watch another movie with Ben.

A sketch

New sketch-painting for Colsie for a friend.