It started out innocently enough...











...and to think I was coming SOUTH for the season!

Whoop.

And thanks to satellite tv, Will was able to watch the whole game, too. The whole kissing-after-scoring-points thing will have to wait until March, though.

Thanksgiving with family...at least, with most of my family.

I couldn't be more thankful than I am right now for:

-Mom, Dad, Alicia and Chris to celebrate Thanksgiving with.
-Six dogs to spice things up. (Yes, that says SIX. We're officially a dog family.)
-Friends (Cheryl, Whitney and JoAnn) who make the saying, "The more the merrier," SO true.
-Catch Phrase, Fast Scrabble and Dominoes (in this case Chicken Foot) because I love to play games. We're a board game family.
-Excellent food.
-Watching my wedding video (again) because there's still one or two people out there who haven't seen it.
-Web cam conferencing with my husband, which really does make the distance seem much more bearable. He's already been gone almost a month...now I'm looking forward to half way through! Thank you God for this technology.
-New Year's coming up so that I can see the rest of my family (and we can all see Will via web cam together!).

Hope your Thanksgiving was as rich and blessing-filled as mine. Happy, happy day.

Company...

Fast, furious, but oh-so-much fun! Thanks for coming, Charla! Come back soon.

Update on the flooding post...

I dare say I heard the governor on the news this morning saying the state needs to "relocate" these towns that continually flood. That's too bad, because those towns are going to get the leftovers as far as land is concerned - it's pretty much all taken out here, West of the Cascades. And, if you move a whole town, does it get to keep the same name? Hmmm. The brilliant minds in state government are at work here in WA! Watch out!

I love democracy.

I just don't understand...

Doesn't it rain here in WA all the time? So then, why does it flood so easily? And if this is how it always is (rain, flood, more rain, more flooding) than why do so many people live near the rivers where they have had to evacuate TWICE in the last three days? They keep showing those poor people on the news - they're so used to it they have a system down of stacking everything in the house as high as they can, taking any important paperwork or mementos, and getting to higher ground. I'm glad they're so efficient. But, seriously, twice in three days and we're at the very beginning of the rainy season?

I think I need a few more weeks to figure this all out. For now, I'm stumped.

Things I'm thankful for...


-Watching the Aggies (albeit lose) with about 75 other Western WA Ags. And for doing yells with said Aggies in the middle of a crowded sports bar. And for the waitstaff that clapped for us because our noise level was pretty darn impressive. Whoop! (The picture didn't turn out so well - probably because it was taken by a Sooner!)

-The rain letting up long enough for me to get home from Seattle with a nice moonlit sky above!

-An iSight camera that lets me talk face to face (or laptop to laptop) with my hubby.

-Air travel that will allow my sis-in-law to come visit the rainy Northwest for a long weekend!

-Four month deployments (rather than 12 or 18 months). Praise God for those who do have those long deployments and serve them faithfully with pride, and for the families who support them from home.

-New Washington friends who call just to make sure I'm hanging in there. And for those friends inviting me to spend Thanksgiving with their families!

For my honey (and my blogging friend DeLayne) --

GO AIR FORCE!

AFA - 43
Army - 7

I like comfort food, especially when I'm under the weather. In this case, I'm under the weather in more than one way. I had to send my husband off, sore throat, chest cold and all, and I was left with the same symptoms plus a runny nose, and alone to boot. And today has officially started our rainy season. The news said to expect upwards of 18 rainy days in November. Apparently it is the rainiest month of all up here. Drizzle with intermittent downpours and gray, gray skies. And this is day one?

So, back to the food...I decided I had to get out of the house lest I fuse to the couch and become one with digital cable. I have exhausted two books in the last two days and watched more TV than could possibly be healthy. The supreme answer to a lonely heart and a stuffy nose? Thai food. Yes, the wonder that is Tom Kha. Pair with hot tea, jasmine rice, and a crossword puzzle.

Okay, so obviously I know that Thai cuisine is not my cure-all for either heartache or the common cold. But as chocolate often cures the evils of the world, so does spicy coconut chicken soup. Thank you, Jesus, for both.

In my husband's words...

"It was like Christmas and Thanksgiving all in one day. You're like a Santa Pilgrim."

I love you, too, honey.

Finished Patio...




...required lots of heavy lifting and endless leveling. But it's done, and we love it.

Patio...done.
Garage Organization...semi-done.
Fence Sealing...way harder than it looks. May need to get a sprayer.


T-minus three days and counting. Tonight we're going on a fancy dinner date. I even bought a new shirt for the occasion. We've had a gorgeous day here in the Pac Northwest, and we should have a table overlooking the harbor for dinner. We made reservations early to ensure a sunset view. I love sunsets, eating, and my husband, so it should be a great night.

So, with Maddie all healed up and with Will's deployment a week away, we've gone into project mode. Garage shelves, pegboard, patio...We're going to be organized and have a nice place to hang out in our backyard (well, I will, for the next four months, in the rain...).

A few thoughts on the projects and such:

-My husband doesn't like to read directions (does any husband?) but he lets me read them thoroughly and then tell him what to do. I love this (or, at least, the teacher in me loves this).

-We don't like each other's clutter - I don't like his boxes of uniforms from the Academy and random cardboard boxes (why are we keeping these things?), and he doesn't like my box of candles left over from our wedding (I know why we're keeping these) or my boxes of decorative items.


-I love pegboard and there are so many great organizational tools out there that if we are diligent we should never again have a garage we can't park in.




-I can't wait to park in the garage (especially with the imminent rain).

-I truly strive to enjoy the precious few days we have left before he leaves. Just spending time together is enough - the projects are a bonus!

-We can make a mean pseudo-Chinese dinner at 9 p.m. after slaving in the garage all day (thanks to COSTCO frozen Orange Chicken and potstickers, and Thai style jasmine rice). Teamwork helps when we're both tired.

Here's the little rascal - her eyes are a little glazed from the anesthesia, and they had to shave her poor little leg to put in the IV, but she's back at home and we couldn't be happier!

She's OKAY! I just got a call from the vet - they went in with the endoscope, but some of what they saw in her stomach had already passed to her intestines. This is good because it's no longer in her tummy, but they're watching to see if it gets stuck in her intestines. I can pick her up in a few hours, but we have to monitor her for signs of another blockage (vomiting, lethargy, etc.). The vet said we'll know if it gets stuck because it will be just like yesterday! I just can't wait to get her back home!!!

The vet did note that she woke up FAST from the anethesia (duh, she's a hyper dog!) and that she, once again, was wagging her tail.

Maddie Update:

So far, so good. The vet had to give her IV fluids because she was dehydrated and not drinking water on her own. On top of that they had to wait (longer than originally thought) to let the barium work it's way out of her stomach. They should be doing the procedure any time now (they said midday here, about 2 or 3 for you Central time folks) and I'll update as soon as I hear from them. I talked to one of the vet techs, you know, just checking on my Maddie girl...The girl was so sweet and said when she went in to check on Maddie that she was smiling at her and wagging her tail! BIG improvement from yesterday when I dropped her off. The fluids are obviously helping, and I know she'll be so glad to get that dang thing out of her tummy!

Maddie is sick...

She woke us up throwing up at 4:30 this morning. She kept it up until about 10, at which time she started shivering and looking very, very pathetic. She wouldn't even play with her toy. About 2 I decided we needed to go to the vet...she threw up (on me) as we pulled into the parking lot. All she did was sit right by my feet at the vet. If you've met Maddie, you know how unusual this is - there were four vet techs who were cooing over her and all she did was stare at them with glazed eyes. The vet (a super nice, super young gal) requested x-rays which showed something stuck in Maddie's stomach, as well as an enlarged spleen. They are doing a barium series to try to pass whatever is stuck in her stomach, and they're watching the spleen. She asked me what Maddie could have eaten that would be in her tummy, and I couldn't think of anything. Then the vet asked if she eats Greenies. Why, of course! They are her favorite! NOT any more! Apparently dogs with strong jaws (i.e. Maddie) bite off big chunks that get stuck in their tummies, as Greenies are not digestible. They end up getting "trash gut" where the object can't get out either way. My poor dog...

I'll keep you updated as I hear more. I had to leave her there for the afternoon. And to all you strong-jawed dog owners - avoid Greenies and the other dental bones on the market. Who knew? I am obviously not ready to have a human child, yet.

Edit: After some internet research, it seems that the companies that make Greenies and other hard pressed dog bones DO claim that their products are digestible. The disclaimer is that the dogs must "properly chew and eat" them. So, they are digestible if they are in SMALL pieces in a dog's stomach. I have read about some lawsuits over this very thing, however in those cases the dogs died due to the obstructions. Several vets are quoted as saying they've found treats that have been in dog's stomachs for DAYS, and yet they are completely undigested and hard. I cannot believe I have missed all of this info. Horrible feeling.

UPDATE: Maddie will have the foreign object removed in the morning, hopefully endoscopically. If they can't get it that way, they'll immediately do surgery while she's anesthetized. She can't have a procedure done tonight because her tummy is full of barium.

Whilrwind weekend with Will's parents...

Ray checking out the seafood at Pike's Market.

Laura with a coffee from the original Starbucks!

Will, Amy and Puget Sound.

Dabney Family Portrait (Charla's on the phone)

On the banks of Hood Canal...windy and chilly, but beautiful nonetheless.

Busy...for once!



This past week has brought a new feeling for me, at least since moving here. I'm BUSY! Shocking, I know. We had the blessing of having Will's parents here over last weekend, and we kept them going non-stop (or was it the other way around?)! I finally got to see the "touristy" parts of Seattle, which had been at the top of my list. I'd add pictures but they are all on Will's computer. All in due time...

To add to the excitement, I have worked the past two days, and am about to head out the house for day three (in a row) of working! It feels good. The only bad thing about it is that going into schools to sub makes me oh-so-sad remembering that not so long ago I was part of a school and a team of teachers there, and I truly miss that. I'm sure something will come along here, but again, all in due time...

Hope your weather is as beautiful as ours. Wishing cooler weather to our friends in the South (did we hear something about a cold front?)...

More recipes...


...mostly of the trial and error variety.

I really like to cook, which is a darn good thing because I seem to be doing a ton of it these days. My favorite thing is to bake, but regular cooking is fine, too. I thought I'd be the clever wife and make my husband a nice fall dinner of all-day cooked pot roast. Imagine my surprise when he came home and did not fall prey to the delectable smells wafting through our home. Instead, he suggested we trek over to COSTCO to buy some tuna steaks and sea scallops that he could cook on the grill.

{I must insert a small story here - A while back I suggested that my husband take a day of the week to cook. I do love to cook, but I get overwhelmed sometimes and frankly just plain tired of doing it every day. Seriously, who doesn't? Needless to say, my idea of said husband cooking once a week was not having him cook on a night that I had already prepared and entire meal. Defeats the purpose, no? End of side story.}

Well, I lovingly agreed that tuna steaks and scallops would be a nice treat, and thus tupperwared the pot roast to eat another night.

All of this to hear, two days later over a steaming bowl of microwaved meat and veggies, that my husband does not like pot roast. What? Why could this information not have been divulged when I told him on the phone that I was cooking pot roast? Or when he so sneakily suggested a seafood dinner so that he could get his cooking out of the way for the week? Why draw this thing out?

So, here you go - My attempt to cover up all taste of pot roast while still actually using the pounds of meat formerly known as pot roast.

Empanadas no de Pot Roast

Shred leftover pot roast. In a saucepan, saute diced onions and garlic. Add shredded meat (no longer referred to as pot roast) to the saucepan. Stir in a can of Mexican Rotel. Season to taste with red pepper flakes, hot sauce, salt, pepper, grill seasoning, etc. Simmer on low until thickened. Unroll two refrigerated pie crusts. Using a cereal bowl as a guide, cut circles out of pie crust (yields 4 per pie crust...if you are ambitious you can save the scraps and roll them out again to make more. I just smushed it all together, wrapped it and stuck it in the freezer for future emergency use). Spoon some of the shredded meat mixture onto the middle of the pie crust circles. Spread some egg wash around the edge of the pie crust, then fold over and seal, crimping the edge with a fork. Do this with all of the pie crust circles, then place them on a baking sheet. Brush the empanadas with egg wash. Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy with sour cream and/or salsa.

Reincarnated Beef Brunswick Stew

Cut leftover pot roast into chunks. Put pot roast, veggies (carrots, onions, celery and potatoes from original meal) and leftover gravy into a stock pot. Add barbecue sauce and frozen corn. Season to taste with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, etc. to make it as spicy as your husband desires. Serve with jalapeno corn bread.


Come to think of it, you could just make meals that your husband likes, and then you wouldn't have to think up things to do with the leftover piles of meat! Ha! On a serious note, I wouldn't trade this marriage/learning things about each other that you never knew for anything. I love, love, love my pot roast loathing husband. (But seriously, who doesn't like pot roast?)

Sounds weird...tastes delicious!

There is an appetizer at a local wood-fired pizza joint that I think about and crave, although I've only had it once. It's called Brown Sugar Garlic Mozzarella Bread. Big name, big taste. These people have it down, and this afternoon I tried my best to imitate this amazing treat, and I think I came fairly close. Perfect for a chilly afternoon spent studying (Will) and experimenting (me).

Amy's BSGMB

☞Ingredients:

-Butter, softened
-A few (or more) cloves of garlic
-French bread - slices about an inch thick (I actually used "artisan" bread from COSTCO that had cloves of garlic baked right in - I really like garlic)
-Mozzarella Cheese (I used smoked because it was all I had) - sliced or shredded
-Brown Sugar

☞Directions:

-Preheat oven to 450∘
-In a food processor combine butter and garlic, with salt and pepper to taste. I also added parsley as I orginally used this butter for regular garlic bread.
-Place slices of bread on a cookie sheet and spread some garlic butter on the top (enough to coat but not get soggy).
-Toast bread in oven for a few minutes - it should just be lightly toasted, not browned.
-Remove from oven and top with cheese. Sprinkle the top with brown sugar (maybe one tablespoon per slice).
-Stick back in oven and toast until bread is browned along the edges and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
-Serve warm!

Fall is making me increasingly domestic...

...in fact, give me a few more weeks and I may have my own TV show. Since I work approximately one-half day a week, I have time for such things as...



wreath making...





above-the-cabinet decorating...






and adding splashes of fall wherever possible (although I haven't hung that mirror, yet).

If these sub jobs don't pick up soon, I may go put fliers on the neighbors' doors advertising my mad decorating skills.

Hallmark's Musical Cards...



Maddie's a big fan. Thanks Isa and Lily!

C-17s and Corn Dogs...

We had a wonderful weekend. Will has been gone the last few weekends, and his deployment is quickly approaching, so we decided to leave some of the home projects by the wayside and just spend some quality fun time together. I, for one, had a blast. Here's the low down...

Saturday: Spouses' Flight

1000 Briefing
1030 Buses to Jet
1150 Takeoff

Matchy-matchy in our flight suits!


Don't I look the part? They even had nametags made for us.

In the cockpit...I really, really, really wanted to flip some switches or push some buttons, but I don't think it would have gone over too well.


This is especially for my mother-in-law -- a cruise ship we saw from the air, most likely on its way back from Alaska!


Seattle skyline...I was taking this from a little window in a door - I didn't end up with a picture of the Space Needle and the rest of the skyline, but I figured this was the most recognizable landmark.

Sunday: Fair

Corn dogs, french fries, and salt water taffy...mmmm. We had perfect weather, perfect company and free tickets! The only things we had to battle were the hoards of pre-teens on their way to the Hilary Duff concert on the fairgrounds.

I have never seen such intricate pumpkin carving (especially by a guy who looked like a lumberjack). However, with a canvas that big one can get pretty elaborate in their carving.


Yes, that's sun on our faces. It's not a trick. I didn't even wear long sleeves.

And now the week has started and we're back to reality...Hopefully we'll have a few more memorable, relaxing weekends before the four months of weekends we'll spend apart. I'm thinking bed and breakfast up north somewhere...Just a thought, just a thought.

Maddie likes to relax as much as the next dog. She is awfully fond of the black travel pillow. I'm not sure if you can tell, but she is actually glaring at me here because I dared disturb her nap. So sorry, Maddie, but you just looked so cute.

It's sometimes overwhelming to think of all of the places to go and things to do in WA. Our to-do list is already miles long. I'd love to be able to live here and just explore, without having to work or have my husband away. We have missed out on the clear days, I think, as it has been cold and very cloudy for the past few days, without much relief in the forecast. Regardless, here are the things I should be blogging about sometime (I'm leaving the time frame open due to weather restraints and Will's schedule):

- Mt. Rainier (pictured above)
- Pike Place Market
- Seattle Underground Tour
- Vancouver, B.C.
- Portland, OR
- San Juan Islands
- Olympic National Forest
- Seahawks Game (Will's already been once, and we already went to a Mariners' game)
- Skiing at the various WA ski areas, of which I know very little about
- Alaska Cruise

That's all I can think of for now. Surely there is more to do and see, and I'll add those things as they come up!

On another note, I worked today! I finally had my first sub job, and although it was only a half day, it was wonderful to get up with a purpose and be back in a school. It was a good day. Hopefully it will become a little more regular as the year really gets underway.

Some thoughts...


I really, really miss my friends/co-workers back in Tejas. There's nothing like having someone to share the work week with, being able to go down the hall when you need a laugh, a smile, or a place to sit and vent. Now, three of us have moved and one is pregnant. I just hope we all stay in touch - obviously since one of them is now my sister, I've got one of them for life!

On another note, I'm so glad it's Aggie football time! I need to send a big THANK YOU to my parents for getting us Sirius satellite radio so that we can listen to the Aggie games. We were even able to hear some of the Air Force game this past weekend, making Will as happy as a clam. I just wish we could be there one weekend to go to a game, or at least to sit in Bourbon St. Bar and watch while eating fried food and drinking Ace Pear Cider. Mmmm. So for all of you Aggies who are able to go to games, please post pictures so that I can feel like I'm there.

Things around the house are coming along nicely. I finally started hanging stuff on the walls, although I'm having trouble deciding where to put everything that fit so perfectly in my apartment. Right now most of it is either in the garage or in the spare room upstairs that I'm using as a craft/sewing/gift wrapping/guest room. I guess it would be more appropriate to just call it a storage room for now. Hopefully tomorrow I'll pick up a little bit more, then take more pictures to post. We finally got blinds installed yesterday, and it has rejuvenated me in a way so that I'm ready to continue organizing and purging things I no longer need. We have a little less than a month until our next house guests are coming, and I'd like to get the house in tip top shape by then!

Evidence of a Husband Home

Yep, he's home. I got a phone call at a quarter 'til two this morning. I was groggy, but as I expected, it was Will, who often calls at weird times when overseas. About a minute into the phone call, the door bell rang. I hushed my voice and told Will that someone was at the door. Maddie was going crazy, barking like a true watchdog. Will told me that I should probably answer the door, to which I replied, "Are you crazy? It's the middle of the night!" So, I already mentioned that I was groggy, and definitely not thinking that my husband was going to be so clever at this time of night...Of course, it was Will at the door. Surprise! (I did end up with a big smile after my heart calmed down a bit. I told him that it was scary to hear the doorbell at 2 in the morning. He was afraid if he didn't call, etc. that Maddie's barking when he came through the front door would be even more unnerving. True, true. But with me, surprises are best left for the light of day. Although he did come bearing presents...)

As it turns out, they were sent back a little early, but will have to leave again Monday. So, I've got him for the weekend, and I'll take what I can get!

Have I mentioned that I hate styrofoam? Well, I do. With intensity. Here's why...



...and that wasn't even all of it, I was just taking a break. I ended up having the entire back end of my car filled, as well as the passenger seat. When I called the garbage service to see if they would make a special pick up, or give me some direction as to how to dispose of all of this styrofoam, the kind lady suggested I break it up and put a little in the trash each week. I politely explained that she must not understand the sheer quantity of this hideous white foam that I had in my garage, much less the itty bitty trash can that we have. (Seriously, it's very, very small - it holds two kitchen sized bags if you want to close the lid, three if you don't mind looking hillbilly with trash spewing from the top...We're hillbillies and we're okay with that.) So the nice lady then told me about the local dump. She explained that I could take it all there, they'd weigh my car with the trash and then again after I had dumped it, and if it was 200 pounds or less it would cost $10.64. Two hundred pounds? I don't even know if I had 2. However, I bit the bullet just to get rid of all of it (knowing full well it would take three years if we just put a little bit in the trash each week).

So, yeah, back to hating styrofoam. After said styrofoam had been successfully dumped, I decided to go try out a sub sandwich shop that people have been raving about. Now, people here in the frigid Northwest have serious staring problems, but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I smile at people, and that's totally out of the ordinary here. However, today I was receiving more stares than usual, and I wasn't really smiling because I was still hating styrofoam with a passion I never really knew I had. I thought, well, I did kind of dress nicely today (because I had my substitute orientation this morning before the dreaded dump trip)...Vain, yes, but I was pretty well stumped. Stumped until I got home that is...I sat on the couch, getting ready to eat this sub that smelled oh-so-delectable, and reached up to pull out my ponytail holder. Well, not only did I let my hair down, but I also let down a cascade of styrofoam bits. You know, that stuff has some static cling, and apparently somewhere in my frenzied flinging it decided to attach itself to my head. All over my head. And I didn't know. And people were staring.

Yep...I pretty much hate styrofoam. But, it seems the feeling is mutual, so there's no love lost.

One more quick note...

You know what makes weather news in Washington? 35 days this summer over....80 degrees. Yes, 80. Preposterous.

Short lived...

Nothing can cure a pity party like the season premier of House.

If this first trip is a taste of what the deployment is going to be like, I am going to need a lot of visitors between November and March. Any takers?

The Crocodile Hunter is dead...

I remember in high school (I think a couple of times) a rumor would go around that Steve Irwin had been killed by some wild animal. Only this time it's true...by a stingray.

Add that to the New York officer shot and killed by that escapee, 35 dead found in Iraq, and all of those kids dead in that Chicago apartment fire, and it makes you think your Safari home page should NOT be a news outlet.

Maddie Girl...

I don't think I've blogged about my dog. How can this be? I just saw the blog of a dear friend of my sister-in-law who just got a new puppy. I guess it has inspired me to share a little bit about my Madison Mae, or Maddie, or Mad Dog, or Turd Dog (that last one is Will's creation, of course). She's a five-year-old Welsh Terrier. I got her when I was a junior in college, and she has been an Aggie dog ever since. She loves to tag along whenever we let her, even if it's just up the road to the gas station. She's an easy going, no frills pup who loves the outdoors here in WA. She wasn't much of an outdoor dog in TX, but I think that's because of the heat on her black fur. She does not like to swim, but loves a nice boat ride. She has some very strange fears - the broom, mop, vacuum cleaner and paper shredder set her off into a frenzy. Maybe I just should not clean.

Maddie can go from 0 to 60 in no time flat - evident when you squeak a toy when she's sleeping...I've never seen a dog react faster. She will tear up any toy with a squeaker in it, save for a few heavy-duty stuffed toys from Target. Seriously, I've tried dozens of toys, and these are the only she can't tear up. Also, Maddie thinks any time you talk to her you want to play either Tug (her absolute favorite) or Fetch (a very close second). Everyone is her friend, and she gets VERY excited when her friends come over.

Well, here she is. Enjoy. And if you come for a visit, please tell her "No" when she jumps on you, because, I assure you, she will jump on you.

Maddie is a very affectionate dog and loves to give hugs and kisses!

There is something about a hose, or running water in general, that just brings out the animal in her...It's funny, and somewhat scary, all at the same time.

Maddie always needs a rest after a scuffle with the hose.

Maddie Mae loves her bed, especially with her blanket from her Aunt Alicia. She still likes to sleep in the bedroom with us, but no longer on the bed (like when it was just the two of us in College Station). Now her favorite nighttime sleep spot is on Will's flight suit, which is usually crumpled up on the floor on his side of the bed. Sometimes I can't tell which one of them is snoring (granted, it's usually Will, but Maddie girl has some allergies, and has a tendency to snore when she sleeps on her back).

And finally, Maddie loves to ride in the car. She usually sleeps in the back, but on the long, long drive from Texas to Washington, I let her sit on my lap a bit.

Will thinks she's ready to have a friend, but I'm not so sure. She has many dog cousins (Maggie Louise, Isa, Lily, Sam, Sophie, Seaton, GiGi, Mayday and Plata), and while she loves her visits with them, she always breathes a sigh of relief when she gets to be an only dog again. I guess we'll just have to see. For now, I am more than thankful to have her keep me company, especially with a deployment coming up. She's not much of a guard dog, but she's a great snuggler!