Back from the Thanksgiving holiday! Back to work, anyway. We didn't go anywhere and it was a quiet few days. For the first time, it felt like a true 4 days and I was rested when I came back this morning. We didn't travel, so maybe that is why it felt like that. We just had 2 friends over - Lauren and her boyfriend, Mark. Lauren wrote me an email about how she was going to buy Mark some Boston Market and eat a Lean Cuisine - so of course I put a stop to that! Below is Billy slicing up the turkey breast and a picture of our meal. I'm slightly embarrassed that we only have one green dish on the table, but I really can't think of anything else to include! And of course, the green beans are the only leftovers still in the fridge. No one's favorite.

This morning, I got en email passed along to me from one of our good family friends who is a helicopter pilot in the Middle East right. After reading the email, it was very evident to me that he is in a very dangerous place. I sent out a facebook message to the people who know him and my brother and asked them to send a Christmas card. I hope that some people take the initiative to send a note to let them know we're thinking about them over the upcoming holidays. If you're reading this and want the address for either of them, please let me know.

HAPPY MONDAY!

Gobble Gobble!

It is Wednesday and I have counting down the hours(minutes) until I can LEAVE to start enjoying my Thanksgiving vacation! We had plans to travel to Pensacola to spend the holiday with my bff Candace and her husband, but then Billy got a part-time job and was schedule to work on Friday. Yay for job - boo for not being able to see Candace! So instead, I went to Public last night to buy a small turkey breast and some of the necessities to have our friends, Mark & Lauren over. They are sort of orphans too, so I'm glad we'll be able to celebrate together. I got basically everything I needed for dinner for under $30! Publix had BOGO wine and the turkey was about $9.50. I was very pleased - and Lauren is in charge of dessert. Next, I will need to figure out how to cook this bad boy turkey. We will also be having green beans, NOT GBC - gross, corn bread, potatoes and some veggies for appetizers. Low key, but just fine for this novice.



This past weekend, we were gifted tickets from the Ticketmaster(B's dad) for the Virginia Tech vs. Miami game. We had a lot of fun! Tailgating at UM games is so different than the southern school tailgating I have been exposed to (ECU, UVA, Tennessee, Clemson). There is no southern rock to be heard...just pop and dance music. I guess that is Miami for you! Billy and I enjoyed ourselves sitting on the bed of his truck and drinking our 6 pack of Coors Light. Ohhhh how times have changed! The night before, we were debating if we were still "cool" or not...through the eyes of his college aged sister. I voted no...especially because when we were discussing what to drink before the game, Billy suggested that we only need a 6 pack. Oh, if his fraternity brother could hear that!



On to more important things....DANCING WITH THE STARS! I usually casually follow the votes, but this season I really paid attention and watched the episodes. I was so interested in what was happening with Bristol Palin. I was amazed that she stayed in the contest until the finale! Good for her! I am reading Going Rogue right now, so maybe that was why I was interested....but anyway. Jennifer and Derek won, but I think the Disney star, Kyle should have won. Jennifer was dramatic and Derek is so touchy and annoying, at least in my opinion. But America has voted! Next up: Skating With The Stars. How can that NOT be a disaster? I do love Bethenny, so perhaps I will tune in!

A little sappy...beware

Pray constantly. I remember a few weeks ago in church that is what our pastor said. Ever since then, I have tried to make an effort to pray about things in my life and to really give up the things that I can not change. There are so many things in life that I worry about - for really no reason. Worry will get you nowhere. I even heard that on Delilah last night on my way home :)

I remember last week - or the week before - in church looking over at Billy and he was obviously praying too, which was touching, but also made me panic for a minute - like oh no - if he is praying about this, then maybe this is serious! So today during lunch I prayed again...hard....and then a few hours later, I got the call that my prayer had been answered! And I rememberd to THANK God in the moment too...which is something I rarely remember to do.

I do beleive that there is a plan and that we will not be handed things that we can not handle. While at times that may not SEEM like it is true, we have to have faith.

Christmas Cards

So last Christmas, our picture card was a bit of a lash-up. We asked a friend to come take our picture on the beach, but she backed out. So we headed out on our own and balanced the camera on a trashcan and did the self timer. We took a few at various spots on the beach, but didn't get any great pics. Here is an example from the photo shoot:

With little to choose from, we moved forward trying to find a Christmas card with palm trees. No such luck. But THIS YEAR! Shutterfly has several tropical Christmas card to choose from. Below are a couple favorites:

Hopefully we'll have a few pictures to choose from. The other bonus is that now we have PATTON! Last year we got him a week after I ordered the pictures, so he could not make his debut on the card. You can order your Shutterfly cards here: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

I have also used Shutterfly to order stationery: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards and your family calendars here: http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/wall-calendars

The plan is to get a good picture at the VT vs. Miami game next weekend and hopefully a couple over Thanksgiving weekend in Pensacola! Billy will try – for the 3^rd year to get us in match Christmas sweaters, but hopefully I will still keep him at bay.

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and I DO NOT have to work! But then I have to come back on Friday and back again on Saturday morning for Open House. Booo. But it will be so nice to not wake up to an alarm tomorrow. A real alarm, anyway. Surely when I open my eyes I will have crazy dog sitting there staring at me. Palm Beach County School don't get off tomorrow, to my dismay because I was trying to hang out with my only actual friend, Lauren in Boynton Beach. She's a guidance counselor at the school in my neighborhood. No such luck. People are writing article and editorials about not closing the schools, but I think it is just as well that they don't. They should probably be IN school learnig about why we should honor our veterans. I have several in my family...pretty much every male: my husband, brother, father, grandfather & uncle. Jim, my brother is the only active duty and is currently serving in Kuwait. We just found out that we can text him and he skypes with his fiance. He also has a ROOM to himself and rumor has it that he complained to my mom about some lobster he ate. Not so rough with the Air Force, I guess. Still, we are very proud that he has chosen to serve his country.

Speaking of serving our country, I was watching the "W" on the Today Show this morning. A lot of controversy, obviously, but he gave a good interview and can talk a lot more off the cuff now that he is not president. I would like to read his book and I think he was at a book fair in Miami just yesterday! For my first Grad English course next semester, I think I'm going to take a course on biographies, so I should probably read one first! This is an autobiography, so maybe it doesn't count? Sarah Palin's auotbiogrpahy is also on my list. I'm sure I'll be really popular in this class with those choices!

Ever since I was duped my DirecTV, I really don't watch much anymore. By duped, I mean I was so happy to have all these great channels for the first year, and didn't realize that the price would basically DOUBLE the 2nd year. So I had to cut our package down to the bare minimal and now we watch the news, football, HGTV and TLC. Well, I watch TLC anyway. My 2 favorite shows are Say Yes To That Dress and What Not To Wear. Billy refers to them as "Say No To That Show" and "What Not To Watch". Very funny. He doesn't understand why I want to watch a show about weddings...after all, I am already married. But we watch Property Virgins pretty much every day and we already bought our first home! Same concept, no? Well until June, 2011 - those are our options. With a little Teen Mom on the side. Because, you know, I can't get enough. Of that, OR Friday Night Lights, which is probably the best show no one is watching. This is the last season and I am enjoying every minute!

Happy Saturday! The highlight of my day was coming home from the grocery store and finding Billy mopping the floor. And THEN he vacuumed the pool. Was this to help me or to avoid studying...hmmm? Either way, it was MUCH appreciated! I needed a highlight because ECU let Navy run up 79 points. You read that right - S E V E N T Y - N I N E. Glad Mom & Dad got to be there to witness it.

I Got A New Pair of Rollerskates

If this baby or song doesn't make your day, I don't know what will!

Congrats to my brother and his new fiance! They got engaged this weekend and are planning a wedding for next November in Charleston, SC! The worst thing I can say about them is that they are 'Bama fans! Boooo! He deployed to Kuwait for 4 months today, so Courtney will be busy planning while he is away! I will be a bridesmaid, and other than that, I don't have too many details. I'm very excited for them!



Also, for some time now....well, basically since I got this job, I have been having issues with a coworker...unbeknown to him. This morning he was telling us one of his weekend stories, which I found to be extremely inappropriate and I finally got the courage to tell him how I felt. After I started talking, it was easier than I thought, so hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on out!

This weekend Billy and I did some little projects around the house and started to research the west coast of FL for places to move in a few years. He found a place on a spring fed canal and was trying to reel me in with the thought of swimming with manatees! Le sigh...a girl can dream! But we're trying to make it a reality! This January, I'm going to start talking graduate level English classes to certify me to teach at the college level. I think that will open a lot more doors for me, but hopefully I can make it though 6 courses!

On a sad note, ECU and the Steelers lost this weekend.