Just Doing It

Running used to be part of my job and I hated it. When I was in my late teens and early twenties and running more than 15-20 miles a week, I did not think much of it. I was told when and where to show up and blowing it off was never an option (well, sometimes I'd come up with a good excuse.) Ugh, but I dreaded it. I hated the long slow runs, the fast short runs, I hated running with the company, with small groups, I hated running by myself. I hated running trails and I hated the track and if I had to run on a treadmill, I'd fall off and cause a scene just to get out of it. I had a friend once that ran in the front of formation with me and we guided a whole platoon over a patch of ice just so we could fall out, because I hated running when it was cold. I really could not stand running when it was hot out though. I hated running shoes. I have witnesses that can attest to my detestation of moving my feet rapidly on pavement. I failed my PT test more times than I care to admit because I hate to run. Two miles was my enemy. Two miles felt like ten and ten miles felt like... who am I kidding? I've never run ten miles. I thought, "When I get out of the Army I will never run again..."

Now I am 36 years old. I hate the sound of it. But I did read once that runners are in their prime in their 30's. I am going to put my faith and belief in that. I hope that it is true. I really hope it is true because for some reason I have decided to run a half marathon in September. My crazy friend Megan did it last week. Last year Karen ran a half on the Great Wall of China. I need inspiration, so I think of them when I run. Today I ran and passed a PT test in my first two miles, then I walked a mile and thought about how I could dig deep and crank out a few more miles. And then I ran another three miles. I finally found the fabled "zone" that everyone always talks about and I know now, today, that I can really do this. I know at the very least I can finish the 13.1 miles walking in a decent time. But the point is that I am going to do it. Just do it. Except not the whole Nike thing, my feet are too fat for Nikes. Wish me luck.

Let's catch up...

I still can't believe that we live in Texas... It kinda seems like a joke. A very weird joke. My bedroom is still a total mess of Veronica clothing spilling from their boxes. I hate it. But this house feels like home to all of us. Speaking of all of us, my oldest niece, Brittany, has moved in with us for a few months. Honestly, it is wonderful to have her here, she keeps me company and goes to the gym with me every chance we get. Britt has enlisted in the Air Force and is trying to get in shape for Basic Training and that only keeps me motivated to workout as much as humanly possible. We are a good pair. And she is a sweet girl. She likes to help cook and that would be great if it wasn't so hard for me to share my kitchen. I am a total control freak and since we are all trying to figure out where everything goes, it tends to be a little challenging, but I'll get over it. Maybe. Brittany leaves at the end of June and until then I am just going to enjoy having her here. I just don't know if our female cat will ever warm up to her, I tried to explain to her not to take it so personal. Meeks hates everyone except Sheldon, she tolerates me.

Sheldon found out that he is going to be leaving for Iraq the first week of May. I am in denial about it and honestly am not that upset about it yet. Yet. We'll see how that unfolds but at least Britt will still be here with me for a while after he goes. That will be nice. The (sorta) good news is that Sheldon is going to be in charge of an S-3 shop, which means nothing to you civilians... really it means that he will be running the behind the scenes stuff of combat (the office job of soldiering) and the bottom line... not directly in harm's way. Much. (yay.) Knowing him though, he'll still go out on missions on his down time. Don't tell his mom.

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Mom's passing. I have to work in the morning, I thought about taking it off but I have no place to go to be with her in peace and quiet. I feel a bit lost here in that sense. I am homesick the most when I think of her. I guess I felt close to her everywhere I went in Columbus because that was her town, I could drive by the old Baker High School and think of her with a bit of ease and comfort that I can't find here. She is not in El Paso. Except that Brittany is here.

Hugs from Texas,
V

Settling in El Paso Style

There are about six boxes left to unpack (Yay!) All of which are labeled "MBR CLOSET" which means it is my stuff and will never be done (Boo!) But the kitchen is done and beautiful and clean, that makes me happy! Both sides of the garage are clean except for the mountain of empty boxes that the movers will come back for today, guess whose car is left out in the cold? Mine.

I know I have said it before but I have to say it again, I love El Paso. The people here are really nice. The scenery is wonderful. Our house is Great. And it is winter so I don't hate the heat yet. All in all things are great over here.

I am missing my friends a lot but strangely I am missing Karen more than usual... and for those of you who do not know, I have been missing Karen for more than three years since she moved to Thailand, and even before that when she was in DC... I guess it is just something about this climate that reminds me of her (she is from Phoenix)and makes me wish we could talk more. That and she started this killer blog about her life in Thailand and she has a way better camera than me and two super cute kids to take picture of on elephants and doing all kinds of cool stuff... she makes me want to overhaul my blog and jazz it up a bit. But I am not feeling creative today... maybe later.

It has been two weeks since we left and I am just starting to realize how much I miss everyone though. I am hoping that we start receiving visitors soon (hint, hint). I have two guest rooms. Well, one is occupied right now. My niece is staying with us for a few weeks till she takes off for the Air Force. It is nice to spend this time with her, but it makes me glad that I am not 18 again!

I have really been an insomniac lately. Like now, and I am totally tired and delirious but can't sleep. I need a job. I worry too much. Maybe I should go back to bed....

We sooooo made it!

OK, after the whirlwind decision to pack it all up and move to Texas... we are here. I don't eve know where the story begins or when it might simmer down to a close but I figure I should update now before I forget the details. First of all, if anyone knows anyone that wants to rent a house in Phenix City, AL, please let us know. We moved out and hired a property management team and are just going to cross our fingers and pray for the best. We really need to get it rented ASAP, or sell it. Whatever.

We packed it all up the day after my 36th birthday. I wanted them to come back with all my stuff as soon as they drove off with it. It was a lot harder to leave Ft Benning than I ever thought it would be. So many factors made our 3 1/2 year stint there feel like a real home, family was a huge part of it but so were the friends and co-workers for both of us. We love all of you guys and will miss you for a very long time. Thanks for the going away party, Selena and Gwen!

The drive west was quite the adventure! We started out with two cars, his filled with cats, mine with dogs and Dad. Somewhere along the way he picked up a nail in his tire and we kicked it in sideways into El Paso... all piled in my car. We felt like the Griswalds for sure. His car was left at a tire shop in Odessa, TX (300 miles from El Paso) for five days waiting for a tire to get flown in. Talk about stress. Upon arrival at Ft Bliss we were informed that there was no housing available for us, we were devastated.

The next day while we scoured the Apartment Guides for a place that accepts large dogs a lady called us and told us to come sign for our house... huh? Apparently, the brand new housing was going through final inspection and WALLA! A New New New House. With a 2 car garage(for his prissy car)! Then the tire shop in Odessa called and said the tire was fixed and they did it all for the cost of the tire, yes! We move into the house tomorrow. Things are coming together. It is winter so the weather is nice right now, I know it will get super hot this summer... but the Army is footing the bill for our AC. All I need now is a job and I will feel even better. But I feel ok. I feel pretty good about all of this to be honest. I feel kinda great.

El Paso-bound

Sorry for not writing for so long... been busy. Yada, yada, yada...

We are moving. Just like that. All of us. Dogs. Cats. Veronica. Sheldon. And all of our shit. The stress is more than overwhelming and task avoidance is a fun game at times like these. I can't even begin to write about all the things and people and family that I will miss, I can't go there. This a time for facing forward and heading west. Honestly, I am happy to be going. I am happy because it means another year without a deployment, another year together. It means we are closer to my side of the planet, even if it means it is farther from my childhood home. And it feels like a real adventure, we got a new Tom Tom from a Christmas gift card, so it all works out perfectly for exploration! West Texas, here we come!

I'll update as soon as possible. Promise.

Freedom Fries are Dead to Us

I have not had a New Years Resolution in years. None that I remember or documented so they must not have been very serious. This year I am giving up French Fries and Sheldon has agreed to go along with it. I am stating this so that our people will help us stick to it. I started working out a few weeks ago so that I could avoid the typical new years cliche but I thought adding the No Fry Rule would be a nice touch. Who needs 'em anyway? I also vowed to recycle. But if we just stopped drinking soda then that would really help in that department. I can only give up so much these days.

Sheldon just returned from Goose Creek, SC for a mini holiday visit with his Dad, Audrey and his sister Katie. (Happy 17th Birthday, Katie!) I think he had a great visit. Katie had come out to visit for a few days before that and we got to hang out and go to a super fun hockey game and then spent New Years at the Chick-fil-A Bowl with my cousin Paco (Christopher), and his buddy... what's-his-name... Ridian and my Dad. I am not a fan of the football thing but I had hoped it would be a fun game to be at... not so much. GT got dragged around and the LSU fans are weird, funny, but weird. Cajuns. You know. Oh, and traffic SUCKED. Whatever, it was something to do.

Happy New Year!
Here's to staying positive, Cheers!
~V

Dear Mom, Merry Christmas,

I am so glad that Christmas is over, I have never been so glad to be done with Christmas. Maybe I was faking it all this year. I faked caring about the tree and the lights and the food, but I was just worried about the guys, all of them. I am sorry for being such a faker, such a fraud. I don't think it did any good either, I don't know if they noticed or cared and frankly, it just made me more unhappy. So, whatever, it is done. Now I know that just saying "Merry Christmas" does not make it so. I will know for next year. Nothing really takes the sting out of missing you and dreading missing Sheldon when he is gone.

I feel a bit lost,

V