Saturday, June 28, 2008

Army Wives

A friend recently got me hooked on Army Wives. It's a show on Lifetime about the lives of 5 women who are spouses in the military (4 women are spouses of men of various ranks and 1 is a mid-ranked woman who is in the Army herself).

For obvious reasons this show stirs up many emotions for me. Though I know it's not real, the images of men at war, on base and even back home with their families remind me of the years that my best friend Aaron was a Marine stationed in Iraq. I can't help but think I didn't write him enough, support him enough and tell him how proud I was of him. Since his (safe) return home and subsequent leaving of the Marines, we've lost touch. We are still friends, but have grown apart and are no longer a daily or even monthly part of each others lives. It happens with friendships, and I accept that it's a part of growing up and changing and I know in my heart that if I ever needed him, he would, of course be there. I know he knows the reverse is true and I find comfort in that.

Through my own experience with Aaron at war, and even through the scenes in the show I am reminded of how important letters and pieces of home are to the men and women at war. I can't take back the years Aaron was away and my own laziness of writing to him and supporting him while he was away and I will forever hold regret for that. Recently, I joined a soldier pen pal program and have been writing letters to those stationed overseas. I know it doesn't change the past, and it probably won't even make my regrets go away, but I feel better knowing that I am doing what I should have done for Aaron for someone else.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Photos up!

Got a few photos up from my trip! Head over to my site and click on Mexico to take a look.

http://krpphotography.com/

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Back!

I'm back on US soil! Did ya miss me?

I had every intention of blogging during my trip, and I even had internet access, but I just never got around to it. I promise details and photos of my trip this week!

I downloaded my photos and at first glance I'm disappointed in them. I underestimated the brightness of the sun down there and everything has a "haze" in it. I know I can fix that in Photoshop, so photos will be slow coming. I will leave you with one (unedited) though to tide you over in the meantime. This was my view out my balcony every night:


Gorgeous!

Healthwise the week on the beach did wonders for me. I'm definitely feeling 100% better now and think my issues from before my trip were a combo of exhaustion/stress/dehydration. It's definitely a lesson to start taking better care of myself! (and a definite sign to get that second airconditioner!)

I'm catching up on blogs today (goodness you guys were chatty while I was gone!), but I definitely want to say CONGRATS to my friend Audrey at Pinks and Blues on the birth of her 4th son!!!!! Welcome to the world Henry!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Be Happy or Be A Good Earth Patron?

Taking a break from my inexplicable illness posting for a day to ponder something completely frivolous.

I'm considering getting a second airconditioner. I have one in my bedroom currently, which means that during hot periods I am limited to only being in that room of my house, with no TV and makes it impossible to cook. If I got a second one for the main living area of the house, I would be able to roam my apartment freely. I absolutely hate NY summers and being able to cool my entire house would significantly improve my happiness for 3 months of the year.

The downsides:

1) Cost....my power bill already doubles with the use of my bedroom AC only at night, adding a second one would increase my bill exponentially...but only for 3 months....

2) The Environment...I try to be a good earth patron, I eat organically when possible, use "green" cleaning products, bring my own reusable bags to the grocery store and recycle religously....I don't NEED another air conditioner, it's more a convenience and luxury item. Is it worth it?

3) Would I use it enough to justify the cost....I already have window fans in both my living room and kitchen windows that helps with the heat and I'm not home much during the week, so it would mostly be for the weekends and the the nights I get home early.....I DO get off work early some days in the summer and having 2 ACs would also allow me to have guests in the summer, since currently anyone who stays with me has to sleep in my room. A fine compromise when it's say, Eharmony boy, but not so good when it's Dad visiting.

Hmm...to be happy, cool and broke or be hot, hungry and a good environmentalist??

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Still feeling....off

I'm pretty much the same as yesterday. Still just feeling "off". I'm too afraid to go to the doctor this close to my trip, but I've been researching doctors covered by my insurance and there happens to be one literally at the end of my block I'm considering for when I return. I'm worried about a possible language issue (she's Romanian), but unfortunately in my neighborhood, there were no female doctors educated in the U.S. to choose from. **I have NOTHING against doctors from other countries at all and don't doubt their capabilities one bit, but this experience is going to be a rough one for me and I fear that adding language/communication issues will push me over the edge.

I wish more people understood the absolute crippling fear I have of doctors/dentists, etc. The only thing I can compare it to is what a dog probably experiences when you take them to the vet; the shaking, crying and overwhelming "flight" reaction.....except theres the complete embarrassment factor as well, which is actually my primary anxiety about the experience. It's very much a vulnerability issue, I just can NOT bring myself to get nearly naked, have awkward, embarrassing conversation with a stranger that ends in the possibility of them telling you all the things that are wrong with you. It is terrifying and I am in complete awe of people who can just make appointments without having to dial 30 times because you are shaking so much you can't hit the right numbers.

Hopefully my mysterious ailment will be cured by some time in the sun, sleeping in and relaxing by the ocean. 3 days until Mexico!!!!!!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Update

I'm feeling better today. I managed to make it in to work just fine and even though I don't feel 100% better, I feel ok. Hopefully as the week goes on, I'll be back to normal. I'm heading out to Mexico for my vacation on Saturday morning so hopefully by then I'll be completely back to normal.

Unfortunately the weather forecast for Puerta Vallarta all this week and next week is RAIN RAIN RAIN EVERY SINGLE DAY. My parents have been there for 3 days and it hasn't let up the entire time. So much for my relaxing trip to the beach! Ugh.

Monday, June 09, 2008

Black Out....

I was on my way to work this morning and feeling fine, when all of a sudden I started to black out! I managed to prevent my sight from entirely going dark, but I could barely make out anything. I got off the train and somehow managed to change trains to get back home, but it was very scary. I'm feeling ok, but I do notice that I'm still a bit lightheaded every time I stand up. I took a slow walk to the store and got Gatorade and I've been drinking that and water/plain iced tea all day. I'm really hoping it was just dehydration and the heat and that I'll be better in the morning.

**Yes, I know I should see the doctor, but unfortunately my extreme fear of doctors prevents me from going, even in emergent situations.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Thoughts from a HOT Weekend

What do you do when it's too hot to cook? Make chocolate covered strawberries of course! Melt the chocolate in the microwave and dip! The hardest part is waiting the 30 minutes or so until they cool! YUM!

A friend got me hooked on Army Wives** recently, so I ended up on the couch yesterday watching the entire first season marathon. It was a FABULOUS, relaxing day and my strawberries were done in time for the last episode. It was quite the cliffhanger and I'm glad that Season 2 starts tonight so I don't have to wait long to see what happens!

** also it took me nearly EIGHT hours of watching the show before I realized that I was coincidentally wearing my ARMY t-shirt the entire time. I blame the heat.

Friday, June 06, 2008

An AC Whine

I hate nothing more than NYC summers. The smell, the sweaty subway patrons pressed against you and the lack of central AC in most apartments drives me crazy. The next three days are supposed to be in the mid 90s and even though it's only in the 70s today, I'm already in a bad mood. I had high hopes of doing a deep clean of my apartment, but it's going to be too hot to move. I have AC in my bedroom, but I can really only afford to turn it on at night. I've NEVER had to turn it on this early in June.

Sigh. It's going to be an unbearable 3 months....

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Spring Cleaning.....my email!

I've been feeling the urge/need lately to do a heavy cleaning of my apartment. I've blocked out all of next weekend for the task and I'm looking forward to having a clean space.

My cleaning urge has now extended to...my email. I have a "junk email" address that I use for signups and lists of things I don't want in my regular account, but over the years I've signed up for news alerts and store coupons that I no longer want and my email is starting to get out of control. I've begun the arduous task of unsubscribing from the mass of email lists I've gotten myself on, some of which do NOT make it easy to get your name off of and it's liberating. No more precious time wasted on weeding through hundreds of emails a day! I should have done this a LONG time ago.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Countdown!

In 11 days I am leaving the country to go sit on a beach, drink cocktails and NOT do any work for 8 glorious days!!

Puerto Vallarta (actually Nueva Vallarta) here I come!!!!!!!

Monday, June 02, 2008

The TO DO list never ends.....

This weekend I:

- Sanded and got 2 coats of paint on the bench I'm painting for my bedroom.

- Got through the first 2 chapters of my learning Photoshop book (and practiced the techniques until I got them down.

- Helped a friend through a rough patch with her asshole bf (highlights of their relationship include: him having 2 kids with 2 different women, the second of which he had DURING his relationship with my friend; him inviting ALL his women to his birthday party by accident and then realizing what he did and deciding not to show up to the party himself; and their moving in together and his constant refusal to come home most nights (and has now been gone over a week with no word or phone call). We have ALL attempted to get her to leave him, but she is adamant that she won't, so now I just try to help her develop coping skills and some independence so she can at least have some happiness. It's exhausting.

- Organized my pile of stuff for Goodwill

- Made pizza from scratch with Eharmony boy

It was a very productive weekend, but an exhausting one too! Next weekend is my last one before I go to Mexico and I'm hoping to do a deep clean of my apartment and just relax. The deep clean might take up the whole weekend though....NYC is a dirty, dirty place!