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.