Disclaimer: I cannot take credit for what happens in Freeport

Whats so special about Freeport, you ask? Think about the best outlet shopping you have ever done in your life. It is not as good as Freeport. Freeport is an outlet TOWN. Abercrombie is in the old Library. There are your standard outlet malls on the edge of the village, but in the town itself, the street is lined with stores. Gap, Banana, the aforementioned Abercrombie, North Face, J Crew, you name it. But best of all, Coach. Which is bad. I like Coach. I buy too much of it when I go in there. I'm going back this weekend :)

The surprise went off without a hitch!

My trip to Virginia this weekend was wonderful.

It started out with a nice dinner followed my obnoxiousness to rival even the best night of Don and Charlie at Mo's. Molly, Patricia, and I went to the Murphy's in Old Town and knew parts to the sing alongs that even the guy playing had never heard before. We had guys buying us beers for no other reason than we were entertaining them. We met some fun people, had some beers, and I was constantly reminded why I missed those guys.

Saturday morning was the walk. Molly, her brother Colin, Patricia and I all went out for it, and we were right up to my Mom before she realized it was me. She obviously had no idea that I would be there, I didnt tell any of the family, so she was quite surprised, as was the rest of the family. It was really awesome to be able to do that, especially for Emily. There was an awesome turnout for the walk, it went really well.

We went out in DC Saturday night, then I took off Sunday morning. It was so great to see them, and I really did not want to come back.

On a slightly separate yet somehow related note, I was sitting in the airport in Boston waiting for my connection yesterday, and there was this super hot guy sitting about 7 chairs down from me. I had noticed him when I came into the gate area, but of course didnt talk to him. Well, about 10 minutes after I got there he got up to go to the Dunkin Donuts next to the gate and hes walking away from it this little kid runs up to him and starts talking to him. Im thinking OK, he must be some sort of pro athlete or something (he looked the part) but I still had no idea who he might be. He went and sat across the gate area way in the back, putting his finger to his mouth like he was telling the kid to stay quiet, not to blow his cover or whatever. Then when he was boarding his plane these 2 ladies came up to him asking for autographs, which made me even more curious. The little kid was on my flight, so as we were in line to board I asked him who that guy was. Turns out his name is Matt Hardy, and he was part of the Hardy Boys, some sort of team WWE act. Quite well known to those who are into wrestling. The moral of that story is: If you see a hot guy in the airport, TALK TO HIM!! He may well be that rich, famous pro athlete you've been waiting for!

Blast From the Not So Distant Past

I was cleaning out my Hotmail inbox earlier, and somehow all the emails that I got from Joe the first time he was in Iraq in 2003 ended up in there. Talk about things I really didnt need to see right now... It was kinda wierd. Made me reminisce a little, and there was a little twinge of the heart action (cheezy I know, but not really sure how else to describe it) but I didnt miss him. I deleted them all. I read three- the first one I got, when I found out he was gone, the first one I got from his ship email a couple days later, and the one he started to write and then realized I was on my way to meet him on the flight line as he was coming home so stopped but still hit send. It was refreshing to realize that while I still have some fond memories of him, I didn't cry reading those emails. In fact, I didn't come close. Im coming closer now writing about it, but only to the point where there's a mini lump in my throat. I think thats quite an accomplishment- 2 months ago Im pretty sure I would have lost it and wanted to call him or email him or something. Not happening :)

That darn elusive little E

Is finally MINE!! I have spent the past 2 years at my last command trying to get a ribbon shoot, and, now that I moved to a new command I finally got a chance to shoot again. And I shot expert. Twice. Im very proud of myself. Now its off to buy the little E and the medal :)

Meet Paco.

He's my new guitar.

I have been saying for months (years?) that I was going to buy a guitar and teach myself to play. Finally, this weekend, I did. Its an Ibanez acoustic (hence the name Paco, it kinda fit), fairly simple, supposedly a good starter guitar, and I bought a beginner book and the learning has commenced. I figure it will keep me from spending too much money and going out drinking too much, and will give me something to do when its rainy and gross out here as it has been pretty much daily since I got here... Im excited about it though. What I really want is to be able to play at an open mic night by the end of the summer. Just one song, thats it, so I have lots to work on.

Speaking of music, got to go see my friend Jim's band, Plaid Daddy, in Portland this weekend. I hadnt seen Jim in over 2 years, and last time I saw him he had a totally different band than he has now, but they sounded awesome, and he still did basically the same set with some newer stuff thrown in. It was a blast, met some cool people, and the bar it was in was awesome- sort of an older version of Keagan's. The whole place is made out of remnants of three bars from Ireland, they shipped the peices over and reconstructed it. Its been there for a while, and has the whole range of beers on tap (Guinness, Murphy's, Smithwick's, NEWCASTLE!!!, Boddington's, Stella, you name it...). Too bad its 40 minutes away... The second best part of my evening was definitely the Newcastle- I hadnt had one since Keagans- but it was beat out by the fact that Jim told me that the last song he wrote for his new CD thats supposed to be out by the end of the summer is called Rebecca and the Thief, and that he doesnt know any other Rebeccas besides me so I must have inspired the name of the song. Not so sure about the whole thief thing, but its still pretty awesome :) I havent heard the song yet though, looking forward to it!

Now if it would just stop raining....

USA Today Article on Emily

In today's USA Today there is a special ad section on the Arthritis Foundation. Inside is an article about my 13 year old sister Emily. (If you click on the link to my Walk Page on the left, youll learn more.) Its not online, but if it comes up Ill put it up here!

Little things

How do they expect you to stay in your lane while youre driving when there are no lines on the street? It may sound silly, but thats how it is up here. You cant tell where lanes start and end, and even the lines in the middle of the street are hard to see. And, on top of that, when it rains, it always makes it hard to see the lines on the street, and it has done nothing but rain since Ive been here....

Its those little things that get me...

The Brunch Report

I actually managed to get myself up this morning and go to mass, and then went and checked out the brunch at the brewery down the road. While it wasn't quite the same without the visits from Wayne while Im eating, I must say it was pretty good, as was the make your own Bloody Mary bar. I think Ill be going there again...

One week down

Today marked the end of the first full week of work that I have had in MONTHS. Yes, you read right, MONTHS. I have a division. Actually, I have two divisions, plus one that Im half owning because ASWO isnt here yet... and work to do... and people besides just MAC.... and Im EXHAUSTED!!

I came home from work today, put a movie in with the intent of hanging out for a little while, and slept for almost 2 hours (I almost wrote weeks there... see?) I need to get re-used to this whole working thing... and PT in the morning too.... Im gonna be one tired little girl for a little while!

But on a positive note, I am really liking my new command. A whole different world than the last ship. Everything that could be better is, and thats pretty much everything!

Whats the meaning of it all?

So why does anyone write a blog? Molly and I had a really interesting conversation that kind of skimmed this issue last night after someone got slightly offended by something I wrote here. This person is not someone I know, not someone whose name I knew at the time I wrote it, but someone that I made an observation about in certain context in a post I wrote a while back. I put the link to my blog on a few profiles I have floating around on the internet, and, randomly enough, this person happened to come across my blog, and in what must have been a bored state because the above referenced post is old enough that in order to access it you have to actually click the link to read the post in which she was referenced. (I know I know, this seems all vague and all, but there's no reason to be any more detailed than that)

The point of all this is to ask a question and offer up some thoughts. Why do you write a blog? I write my blog for many reasons. It is an outlet, a place I can go and write what I think, how I feel, and what is going through my head at the time. It is a method of communication between me and people that I live miles away from. Basically, I write what I want. I call things as I see them. I never go out with the intent of slandering anyone or judging anyone or anything else... Ive had enough random people post on here to know that you never know who will read something. I keep my posts clean (especially now that I know my parents have found this site... oh man thats two in a row that Ive mentioned that...) but Im not tailoring my writing to anyone but me.

OK, I lied. There really isn't a point to this. And you know what? I am alright with that. If you read this, or any blog for that matter, and you dont like something, well, unless there are some legit slander issues or something, get over it and grow up are about all I can say. Because while said post was edited this time, dont expect it to happen again.

An Adequate Enough Substitute....

...But only for the brunch part!

Last night the guys and I went to the local microbrew, a place called Sea Dog's, for a beer. The only draft beers they have are their own, which were not bad, but the best part about it was when I saw their Sunday brunch board. Buffet, menu, and, (drumroll) MAKE YOUR OWN BLOODY MARYS!!! That about made my day. I know where I will be somewhere between the hours of 10 and 2 every Sunday!

Oh, and here's the disclaimer now that I know that my parents have found my blog... its only one bloody mary at a time, and its fun to make them myself, and it reminds me of Keagans...

Sad Loss

As everyone loses friends and classmates in Iraq, I found out this morning that a former company mate of mine died in Annapolis following the PRT.

Myron Ludvick was a second class when I was a plebe, and one of my favorite memories of him was when he was second class training sergeant and one night he took all of us plebes up into the attic above 4th wing, sat us all down, and talked to us. Not at us, like so many people did that year, but to us, and with us. He asked us what we thought, and actually listened. I saw Myron earlier this year when I was in Annapolis for service assignment night, and I reminded him of this story, and he had forgotten about it entirely. Thats just an example of Myron's style, the type of person that he was. The midshipmen are truly missing out on what I am convinced would have been an amazing company officer. I am honored to have known him, and his family is in my prayers.

The article is linked or can be found on the USNA home page.

Laziness is next to godliness... wait, thats not right...

I really do not want to unload my truck. I have been here for almost 48 hours now, and about half of my stuff, actually more than that I think, is still in there. I have brought in the essentials (toilet kit, some clothes, coffee pot, George Foreman grill) but now its raining, and its cold outside, and I dont live near the elevator OR the stairs... oh wow, that sounded really whiny. Anyways, this is the part where I love Navy movers. They come in, pack your stuff, take it away, and then it magically appears where you move to. Except in this case I'm living in a BOQ for the next few months and my stuff is in storage and won't magically appear until I have a house again in Norfolk. So for now its up to me to get off my lazy rear and actually unload. Eventually...

The drive up was actually pretty good. I got a chance to stop off in Boston and visit an old friend of mine. April and I have known each other since 7th grade and been real good friends since 8th or 9th, I cant really remember. I had not seen her since our senior year in college when I went down to UVA and visited her, so it was awesome to see her and meet some new people, and hopefully over the course of the next few months Ill be able to go down there and see her some more.

Time to go think of something to do to keep me from unloading. Or doing laundry for that matter. Maybe Ill go for a drive, start learning my surroundings...

To Maine...

Well, Im off.

This morning I left Virginia Beach for the next six months, en route to the not-so-new world of Southern Maine. Ive been there before, many times, but only on vacation. It is definitely going to be a little different living there for the next 6 months, even more because Ill be living out of a hotel room for most of that time, and the ship for the rest. But Im looking forward to it, nice weather and good lobstah.

The hardest thing about leaving, though, was the one thing that always is. No matter what I somehow always manage to make some really good friends right before I move. This time was no different. In the last month or so I had started hanging out with some really awesome people that I cant wait to see again when I come back or when they come up North. Boston rocks... Im only a couple hours away... come anytime! But really, thanks to everyone who made my last few weeks in Virginia Beach a blast. I miss you guys already!

First Sun of the Year

Not weather wise. Sunburn wise.

I went to Portsmouth yesterday to watch my friend Jason play baseball (and yes Molly, he showed this time). The past couple of days had been cold and extremely windy, so it was a pleasant surprise to walk out to the car and immediately take my jacket off and think oh man, its beautiful outside! It was only about 65 or 70 out, so not hot enough that it even occurred to me that sunscreen might be a good idea. The first exposure of the year usually leads to sunburn, and sure enough I have spent all day today being made fun of because the right side of my face is noticeably more burned than the left. Guess we were sitting just right. Jason got it even across his face, and another friend Becki, who was sitting right next to me, didnt get it bad at all. Guess its just my luck. But hey, maybe on my drive I can even it out, get a little sun on the left.

Catch Up Tasker 1 completed....

OK Molly, its done. Since youve been telling me for weeks now to put those pictures on a website, I finally did it. Im not sure if I missed any, so if you want more please let me know and Ill be on it.

Watched one of my favorite bands on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show last night. This was their first big TV appearance, and they were awesome. Not only because the band is composed of four quite nice looking young men (read: HOTTIES), but because they really looked like they were having a blast. They looked a little nervous at first, but the thing I love about them is when they are on stage, you can tell that they are doing it because they really and truly love it.

Off to Keagan's again tonight... Paul, if you read this, come on out!

Playing Catch Up

I feel like these past 3 weeks I have gotten so far behind on everything, from work to being in touch with my family to seeing my friends.... and I hate it! Now I feel like these next few (last few?) days in Virginia Beach before I head up North need to be spent catching up with everyone. Which is made all the more difficult by my apartment currently being located in my car, therefore me being slightly unwilling to drive it any more than absolutely necessary... But the good news is that I have internet access in my hotel room, so there will probably be a few more updates to this in the next few days.

I spent the last 2 weeks learning the watch that Ill be standing in my new job, and also getting to know the people Ill be working with. Its amazing, the people are of a totally different caliber than anything I ever experienced on the last ship. I am actually enjoying their company, getting along well with my Chiefs, and enjoying myself a little. I learned a lot this week, and now its time to start learning my actual job. What, guns? Ammo? Clueless....

The Last Weekend

So its our last weekend... I can't believe that Molly and I are both moving, and that we won't be roommates anymore. Crazy... We started our weekend off with a bang Friday night, took a little road trip to Richmond and saw Ingram Hill play again. It was awesome to see them actually plugged in- they were great acoustic, mind you, but this was even better. It was a fairly decent sized club, but the crowd was really small. It was, however, a great crowd- everyone knew all the words, and sang along. I think it made the guys feel a little better about the size of the crowd.

Interestingly, the bassist's girlfriend was in the crowd this time. Cute enough, [and believe it or not, she has actually read my Blog, and so, for my good deed of the week, this part has been removed...]

Last night we went out to Mo and O'Malley's to see our friends Kevin and Randy play, which was fun. Usually those nights are pretty mellow- they play more of the Dave Matthews/John Mayer/Jack Johnson type stuff, so its nice and quiet for the most part, and we had a great time.

Today, Easter Sunday, were gonna do brunch and then come home and get ready for the movers to come this week....

Rock Star Nights

I have often used the phrase "Party like a rock star" to describe an unusually hard party weekend, but this past weekend I can finally say that I partied with the rock stars :) Well, maybe not really rock stars, but they will be! I went and saw the band Ingram Hill the other night on the Spirit of Norfolk (dinner cruise, they have them all over the place) with Molly, my friend Jen, and her friend Tony, and somehow I managed to get the band, the opening band, the road crew, and half the radio crew to come out to Mo and O'Malley's with us afterwards. And it only gets better... not only did we get them to come to our bar, but we ended up going back and partying with them further once the bars closed... one of those weekends where the pictures are there, and in a few years when they get past playing small clubs and college campuses I can look back and say I partied with them in Norfolk once!

It only got better from there. The next morning (well, OK, early afternoon) when we finally made it to brunch at the local Irish watering hole, we walked in to find a large table of loud, drunk Irishmen. We had our meals, then moved over to the bar to visit with Steve the bartender (who had just made us some outstanding Bloody Marys) and ended up sitting with these Irishmen as they continued to get drunker... and it was only about 5:00.

All in all, combined with the interesting events of Friday night that I won't even get into, it was a weekend to remember. Too bad there are only a few pictures!

Moving On update #1

Well, its been a little over a week since I decided I was done with Stupid Marine, and so far I think I'm doing alright. Two days after the aforereferenced incident, he did finally call, leaving a lengthy excuse on my voicemail that did not have an ounce of apology in it. My first reaction was what, it takes your phone two days to charge after the battery dies? Going Zack Morris style or something? But thanks to the help of Molly and our friend Terra, who listened to the voice mail with me when I put it on speakerphone, I have not spoken to him. I have not called him, and he has not called back.

I am proud of myself in many regards. He has been messing with me for years, and its time to move on and put him out of my life so he can stop hurting me. There's another part of me, though, and understandably I think, that is just hurting over it. The disappointment is so real- when he was in Iraq we talked about how he didn't write at all while I was on deployment, and I made it clear that it could all be fine and dandy while he was over there but the minute he got back I was stopping with the effort. Maybe he didn't believe me. I think that he really must have though yeah right, she's never done that before, why would she do it now. Well, guess what. I win. I did it, and I'm week one into life without Joe, and I'm doing just fine. For now. Im sure it will get harder, because at some point, somewhere down the line, he's going to call, or he's going to e-mail, either in mass or individual form. It is going to take every ounce of strength I have not to answer that call, or to hit delete on the email. But I think I can. In fact, I know I can.