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Monday, January 25, 2010

Hunting and Friends


Travis's hunting license and new hunting hat :)



Travis went Duck hunting for the first time!! I think I was more excited than he was because I packed a whole cooler and bag of snacks for him to take with him. It had muffins and orange juice, cookies, chips and salsa, beef jerky, soda, water and more. It was a hit! Travis woke up really early and was grouchy for his very first day of hunting. One of the first things he said was, "I hate hunting this is way too early." I told him to buck up and get going!!! I had his coffee in the themas and his snacks by the door. I kissed him goodbye and went back to bed for several more hours. At about 0900 I get a text from him it is a picture of him sitting duck hunting with a big grin on his face!!! After that all he could talk about was how fun it was! Travis and his friends shot 12 ducks that day and he couldn't be prouder.

Travis and I had a joke that his first bird he shot he would take to the taxidermy and get it stuffed. We would mount it on the wall or even better hang it from the ceiling above our dinning room table. I would laugh hard at the thought of the duck handing right by my antique china cabinet. I thought this was a joke.....Travis thought it was serious. You can only imagine my shock when Travis called saying he kept the smallest most handsome duck and was going to take it to the taxidermy shop on the way home! I started laughing, but then quickly realized that Travis was serious. Then we started arguing about it.....how did we get here! I never thought when I married Travis I would have to argue about if a stuffed duck should hang over our dinner table!!! I finally said he could stuff it and we could start a wall in the garage for it. Travis didn't agree and the duck is still frozen in our freezer. Which all things considered I think it looks perfect there.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Teriffic Tuesday!


Today was a great day for Travis and I. Travis had his first real day of work to day...I mean 9-5, plus 0630 physical training! He is pretty tired though, but glad to have something to do! My day was very busy! It was Shop for a Hospital Day. I don't have my Louisiana license yet so today my plan was just to look at the hospital on base and in the Leesville community to get a feel of what they are like and the potential job opportunities. My first pick, the hospital on base. If you have read my blog you will know Travis and I have had some scary and odd encounters with what I like to call the "locals." Therefore I was really hoping that working on base would be the place for me so I could avoid close calls that I have had in the past. I got all ready (which has only been the third time in two weeks...so a big deal) and hit the road to visit the hospital on base. I walked in and asked the front desk where human resources was....both of the privates didn't know and apologized but luckily there was a woman who told me it was down the road. No problem I thought and I got in my car for a short drive. I entered the building and spoke to a woman who told me what I had to do for my application to be accepted and that there were very few positions open. I thanked her for her help and told her I would return with a resume, but I just wanted to look around the hospital and get a feel for it. She directed me back to the hospital to talk to the director of nursing. Again a short drive to the hospital where the two privates didn't know where I was supposed to go, but found out and took me to the director. She asked me what I wanted. I explained my situation and how all I wanted was to walk through the hospital. She told me there was no jobs available and if I had less than one year experience it wouldn't be worth applying because the pay is so low. I thanked her and left a lot disheartened. I was really hoping this would be the hospital for me, now I had no choice but to wonder into the "locals" land.
Not expecting much different I headed to Byrd Regional Hospital. I found my way to the human resources office and was met with a smile and friendly hello. I explained that I just moved to the area and was waiting to receive my license and so I just wanted to look around the hospital and see what positions where open. She asked about my experience and I told her I did some work in the surgery unit at the last hospital, but it was short due to the move to Fort Polk. I didn't need to say much more her eyes got big and all the sudden she was calling the director of surgery and trying to arrange a meeting. Then she got up and got one of the CEOs of the hospital to come meet me and say hello. Before I knew it I was in the other room with a another woman who was asking me about my experience and just chit chatting. Five minutes later the director of surgery was there and was sitting with me asking me questions about myself and my nursing. She explained the job and I was very excited since it was my dream job!!! It was one year of training in pre/postOp and OR nursing. She gave me a tour of the facilities and to my shock she introduced me as the new nurse on board. I didn't know I had officially accepted the job, but I was glad too!!! Everyone I met was very friendly and told me I would love working there! I was so excited!!! The director told me just to send in my application and then I could start once my Louisiana license came in. We shook hands and I left a little confused but SO excited. I texted Travis, "I got a job, I just need to send in my application."
I know I can't be to proud of myself because I am sure they would have taken any warm body, but I couldn't believe that I had gotten my dream job, without a resume or application!


Another exciting thing today was that we got our wedding pictures!!!! Finally they are hanging up on our walls to make it official. It is funny how being married a year you would think you would know each other, but Travis proved me wrong on that! Travis today came home excited and told me that I should have gotten an email form FRG "Family Readiness Group." While Travis was cooking dinner I checked my email. Everything looked great except I noticed my name was spelled "Katherine." Very wrong!! Darnet I thought they spelled my name wrong. I yelled at Travis in the kitchen, "They spelled my name K-a-t-h-e-r-i-n-e" he responded "K-a-t-h-r-y-n-e." I corrected him again and said what it was supposed to be. Then Travis goes, "Oh yeah I forgot how to spell your name today. The lady couldn't believe it, but I always call you Katie. I tried to go back and fix it, but I guess it didn't work." I felt mixed feelings should I be mad? laugh? cry? My husband doesn't know how to spell my name? I was speechless. Where had he been this last year? Was there there when we signed our marriage license with our names on it? Or all the paperwork to have a joint account at the bank? Yes....yes he had been there! How do you really get mad at such a dumb act...so I let him sit in the silence. Pretty soon he was apologizing and trying to explain his situation. Travis truly is the smartest dumb person that I know and love.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Anniversary Continue...


Back from lunch! This is one of the dressed Travis got me at Threads!
My mom said we should take a kissing picture of our first anniversary....Travis said I had to use this one!
Travis opening the bubbly!Trav gave us two thumbs up!

After church Travis took us to our favorite restaurant in town, Hana! It is a sushi place, my favorite! It was a great lunch and it was fun laughing over the past year and hearing Travis's favorites. We both agreed our trips to see each other in Oklahoma City while Travis was training were very fun and unforgettable! I will spare you the details! It was meetings like those that made the long distance not so unbearable! Plus it always felt like our honeymoon over and over again! Just in the last couple weeks having a home and living with Travis again, I don't think I have laughed so hard! Several times a day he will get me going and it will end in blurry vision due to tears and my stomach muscles aching! It is usually when he is trying to be sexy and trying to get me in the mood, but it never works and instead he just has a body the jitters from laughter. I wish I could share one of these times, but either I forget why I started laughing or it is inappropriate.

After lunch we stopped and got a movie, District 9 and headed by home. Before the movie we got distracted and ended up putting beans in our jar :) This reminded us to count our beans! For those of you who don't know about the bean jar it goes something like this. For the first year for you marriage every time the two of you "do it" you put a bean in the jar. It was our first year and our jar of beans was ready to be counted to see how we did :) I told Travis to pop the champagne bottle to celebrate while we counted. We divided every pile into twenty beans. Soon our table was full of piles. Then I counted all the piles one, two, three....fourteen, fifteen....twenty-one, twenty-two. Times that by 20 (for the number of beans in each pile) add ten due to a smaller pile and you have 450 beans!!!! Travis and I were both shocked especially since five to six months of our first year were spent apart! Trav looked very proud as he looked at the work he had done!

After the counting we spooned on the couch Travis, Me and Charlie. The rest of the day became lazy day! I blogged and watched Dancing with the Stars and Travis watched while playing his DS. Finally I said we had enough and we layed on the couch just talking and decided to do a Dancing with the Stars Marathon! We made it to week five and then went to bed. Not the most exciting way to spend your first anniversary but memorable none the less! I told Travis that this way all he has to do is get me a card and it will be better than our first year anniversary :)

Our One Year Anniversary!



It's been a year! I can't believe it! I thought I would try and recap the last year, but there has been so much change and airplane flights it is hard to know where to start! Travis and I had our first home, lost our first home and finally moved across the country to have one again! We got a new dog, Travis started his first job, I started mine (and quit :) .) Still no children and none in the near future!

Many people asked what we did for our anniversary. It started like this, I got up early and made Travis his favorite breakfast, breakfast burritos and hash browns. He had his cup of coffee and his Bible and we sat and ate and read together. We quickly picked up the house and then I jumped in the shower for church, while Travis assembled a stand to go in the shower to hold our soap and shampoo. First the washer and dryer and now he is assembling everything :) We got ready, and of course left the house running late. It was our first church to visit here in Fort Polk. There was baptisms, singing and then the pastor spoke. There were a few differences that were hard to get over. First, the people that got baptized wore white gowns....I had never seen that before! But as a woman I know that would not be the color I would want to get wet in! The worship was good, but the people standing on stage singing didn't look very happy, so both Travis and I kept our eyes on the screen so we wouldn't be distracted. Lastly the pastor only spoke for 20-30 minutes. I am used to an hour! He message was good and backed up by scripture, but he yelled while saying everything.

I was thinking to myself as the service was coming to an end, not bad, but different. This might be the right church for us. Then the pastor asked if any wanted to come and accept the Lord or just come and pray at the front of the church while the music is playing. The music starts to play and a little boy with his parents goes up and accepts Christ. Still thinking, wow that is nice. Then all of the sudden Travis leans down and says, "Do you think we should go up and pray like the pastor asked," I am sure I broke out in hives right then and there and if looks could kill Travis would be dead. "NO!!!" I said! Poor Travis he has such a tender heart but it was our first Sunday! Could he wait a week before we both become Jesus Freaks! Then he continues with, "Will you come with me?" "NO!!!" I said! Is he not getting it there is no way I am going up in front of these people unless you kill me and drag me! My feet were frozen in cement! Travis realized at this point I wasn't budging. Relief I thought the pressure is over. The pastor prayed and we were dismissed. He asked all new comers to meet in the welcome room, I was uncomfortable but it would be nice to meet the pastor. We started walking and Travis goes, "I am going to ask the pastor to pray for me." Everything in me yelled "No!" Now I didn't even want to meet the pastor! But I sucked it up and we went to the welcome center.

We were met with friendly faces, I mean a lot of friendly faces!!! Everyone came up and talked to us, offering the programs they had at the church! I felt a little like a cow being pushed back and forth in a pin. Finally the pastor came over to introduce himself. Travis said his name and I said mine, "Katie." We talked a bit and when the conversation was coming to an end he said, "Well it was nice to meet you Travis and Amanda." I corrected politely, "It's Katie," he apologized and then asked to pray with use. We bowed our heads and he said, " God thank you for Amanda..." "Katie" I said with a smile and we all started laughing! After prayer he introduced me to another woman and said my name as many times as he could to prove he had it! Over all I think Travis and I are willing to go back to church. There were no red flags, just traditions that were different than we were both used to.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Cecil's Cajun Cafe


Our date night to finish adventure day!

Crawfish tails...deeelious!

Off we went to Cecil's! It was a nice relaxing drive and we got to see parts of little Deritter. We sat down at our table and our first risk was ordering crawfish tails. We loved them!!! If you ever get a chance have crawfish tails. They are a mix between shrimp and lobster tails...yum! Travis ordered a tiger hamburger and I got the New Orleans Fish which was tilapia with a crab sauce. I even got jambalaya! Our food was delicious and a place we would return to.

We decided that on the way home we would stop and get a McDonald's ice cream cone. This has kind of become a tradition here in Louisiana. It all started the second night after a long day of unpacking and just wanting a "sweet treat" as I like to call it. With not much convincing I had Travis in the car on our way to get a McDonald's vanilla ice cream cones. We chose McDonald's because it is a chain and so it should be standard food and service. We pull up to the speaker and in a sweet voice we hear, "Welcome to McDonald's would you like to try our hot chocolate" I politely declined and about to make my order when I hear, "Okay, pull up to the second window." This threw me for a loop and in my shaken state I asked, "You want me to pull up to the second window?" She answered, "Yes ma'm." Not wanting to argue with the lady that stood between me getting and ice cream cone I started to pull forward. I slowed down as there is girl with a headset on in the first window. I started asking myself was it the first window or the second. With the pressure of not getting our ice cream cones both of us started wondering if we should stop or risk it and go to the second window. I creeped by first window the the girl didn't seem to notice us. We finally pulled up to the second woman and there was a younger girl with her hands on her hip leaning against the window just staring at us. One...two....three.....five seconds went by and she didn't say anything. I realized I was supposed to order so I say, "Umm two ice cream cones and a water." "Is that everything?" she finally spoke. "Yes, thanks." She turned and walked to get our order. Travis and I started asking ourselves what just happened, where we missing something or was this too weird! The girl came back to the window and said, "It will be $2.14" Travis couldn't help himself and asked, "Is there something wrong with your speakers and that is why you didn't take our order?" I just smiled thinking of course something isn't wrong with their speakers she asked me if I wanted a hot chocolate. She answered, "No we just have fewer people so it is easier to just wait and get ya'lls order." I nodded my head like I understood, but I have been in the fast food business and this made no since at all! Travis and I pulled away; happy we got our ice cream. Then Travis said, "If only there was some professionalism in this town it would make a lot more money and grow."
Due to all the rain we had a small creek going through the neighborhood.
The town house

After Threads we decided to go home and go for a walk around our neighborhood. Charlie was the happiest about this decision. It as nice to get out and go around our new home. Like every night the topic of dinner comes up. I never feel like cooking and Travis cooking is out of the question, not because he is a bad cook but because he makes a huge mess. In our house if you cook you don't do dishes, and since there is two of us if Travis cooks I do ALL the dishes. Back and forth we went on what we should do and finally I got a good idea that neither of us should cook. We had heard of a really good place in Deritter about 30 minutes south of where we live. It is supposed to have good Cajun food. We rushed home got ready and were in the car for our first Cajun meal.

Threads!


We finally found Threads after much arguing and driving around down town Leesville! We walked in and it wasn't a disappointment ! It was boutique clothes in the most adorable shops. Travis bought me two dresses. I wore one the next day when we went to church! Travis was so sweet and just let me try on clothes and when I asked him what he thought it would either be "Yes" or if he didn't he'd say, "Well you know fashion, what do you think." He is so smart!

Looking for Threads...


This is the court house in Leeseville.




I also decided that I only wanted to show you the best part of Leesville so you will be more likely to visit!
I was looking for a shop that I saw our first night into town, but it was late and we had gotten lost so I wasn't quite sure where it was. I was glad in the end that we had to wonder around because we went off the beaten path and found the historic sites of Leesville. The charming buildings were so cute, unfortunately most of them are closed (as in condemned). Which only makes me want to start a coffee shop with lattes and mocha's because so far I have found none here in Leesville and Fort Polk.
As a regular latte drinker it has been very difficult. If you are a avid coffee drinker like myself you know the warmth and comfort that comes from your friend and mine, Mr. Latte. When your having a bad day and need a pick me up, just pick a latte and you will feel much better. It listens and never asks dumb provoking questions that lead to more fighting. Yes my good friend latte is gone, and my pal Mr. CupofJoe never hits the spot. I am thinking maybe I will get my own espresso machine, but if I am going to get a machine I might as well open a shop :)

Fox's Pizza




After all the shopping Travis had lost all his strength and insisted that we had to eat, even though it had been maybe an hour or two since we had breakfast. We went to Fox's Pizza which believe it or not was in the same parking lot...small town. We ordered pizza and sat down for a nice relaxing lunch. Travis felt much better after his belly was full, but was curious how much more shopping we had to do. I insisted we only had two more stops. The next one would take a little hunting down because I wasn't sure where it was....This let to our goose hunt!

Second Stop...Stag


Travis and I trying on clothes :)

The one and only big department store besides Walmart in Leesville is a store called Stage. This was our second stop and it was a good one. Travis let me shop and shop although I think I let him have a little fun because he got to see me try on clothes :) He was so sweet and I got a lot of great things, especially for job interviews.
Another fun thing at the store was that we bumped into a few women who were so excited to educate the new folks in town about what is good or not around the area. Travis was very excited to hear there was a Casino close by. I told him maybe for his birthday...I am hoping by then he will forget :)

Ivy Cottage



Our first stop was this little shop called Ivy Cottage. The rain and mud didn't slow me down, but my heals getting stuck in the mud might have. I finally made into the shop and it was like a entering a great oasis of hope. Everything was SO cute! I was oodling over every small thing! The birds so I can continue my bird collections. I was dropping hits to Travis here and there about things I liked because Valentine's Day and my birthday are coming up and if he is left to himself to buy me gifts it's a little scary!!! Anyone who knows Travis can agree! I was so excited to finally be somewhere with design and class! The woman working was very nice and we chated for a little bit. My favorite part of the store was the baby section! It is times like these I wish I was with child! But until then I will have to spoil other people's babies. With the excuse of Valentine's Day close I started buy gifts for my nieces and nephews. I would love to disclose what they are, but they read my blog so I will have to keep it secret until I send them off. But they will love it!!! Travis was so sweet and just let me walk around looking at everything, and then re-walk the entire store!

Our Adventure Day!!


The highway out to town!
It raining and we are still going out!

I don't know what the heck this means...and I am sure most people in Leesville are boggled by it too!

Travis had a four day weekend! We spent Friday laying in bed and just doing some needed relaxing. But Saturday I had big plans for us! I told Travis Saturday will be "Adventure Day." We will explore all of Leesville (which really isn't much). There had been a few shops we had driven by that I was curious to go in and see. I had the whole day planed, start to finish. Like always though my plan never goes as I hoped. I woke up in the morning with a huge headache. I layed in bed till 1000. I finally got up and made Travis and I breakfast and then layed on the couch again. Travis rubbed my neck and soon my headache was feeling much better. I make myself sound so calm and collected, but I might have cried a little because we left the house so late, luckily Travis is blessed with the gift of patience and just let me work through it. Travis and I got all ready and we headed out the door! Second problem was the rain...it was pouring down! We got our jackets on and umbrella and soon were on our way for "Adventure Day." We drove from base to town ready to capture the day full force!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

The President is come....



So with our first guest coming Susan and Lauren. I was buzzing around the house trying to make sure every nook and cranny was in place. I had to get flowers at the store, hang up pictures, make sure our guest room (bird room) was ready to go! My favorite thing was setting the table with all my new dishes from Nanny and our new china! I would put something out and then yell at Travis to come see how beautiful it was. I kept asking if he thought his mom and sister would love it! He ensured me they would feel very special! I had planned the menu several times in my head and how dinner would go! I even thought of conversation starters if things got dull! I don't think I have ever been so excited to have guest in our home...I felt like I was having the President over for dinner!!
Susan and Lauren arrived at 1900ish (7pm). The candles were lit and everything was in it's place. We gave them a grand tour of the house and hearing their oohs and ahhs made me the proud owner of our new home!!! We sat down for dinner and had miso soup, homemade wontons with green beans and chinese salads, and dump cake for dessert with green tea! We laughed so hard and talked late into the night. Travis got out Wits and Wagers and we played a few rounds. I am sure we would have stayed up much later but Travis had to get up for PT (physical training) at 0550.
The next morning Travis, Susan and I got up and had breakfast while Lauren slept. Travis went off to work and the rest of us girls just sat around and had a relaxing morning. Travis got off or work early and came home and had lunch with all of us. He recommended this hole-n-the wall BBQ place he had been to the first time he was at Fort Polk in December. I have no idea how he found this place because we pulled up and said, "Here we are" and Lauren and I at the same time said, "Where is it?" On the side of the building there was the restaurant. Bobby one of the owners took our order and we sat down. It was great food and big portions! We finished lunch and gave Susan and Lauren a quick tour of the rest of Leesville, which entails driving down the one road to see our twenty stores. We had to be back by 1300 for the washer and dryer to be delievered and Lauren and Susan had to get on the road again.
It was so much fun having them stay with us and I hope we have more family comes and visits!

Washer and Dryer

Travis and I picked out a washer and dryer the second day we were here. After about an hour conversation with my mom on the phone who looked up customer reports and calling local shops to see what their prices were. We crunched the numbers and decided this was in fact a deal!!! I was so excited to get Travis and I's first washer and dryer. There were delivered Wednesday afternoon. I decided that this was a man's job! Travis got all new tools for Christmas and I didn't want to rob him of the opportunity to use them. Travis sat and read all the manuals. He started with the washer. He hooked up the hoses and started running water and realized there was a leak. He called maintenance and they were scheduled for the next morning to come....so day one was over.
The next day the maintenance man came out and stayed for five minutes and said, "Ma'm it's fixed." With that obstacle behind us Travis came home and finished hooking up the washer. He cleaned out the outside vent and then began hooking up the dryer.
It is important for you to know that Travis is about has handy has a monkey with a screwdriver. I heard a lot of sighing and asking for me for help, but I kept refusing to help so that he had to figure it out for himself and learn!
Half way through the dryer installation he got very frustrated from the clamp on the hose. he called me in there to help, so I finally got up and walked in there and he was laying in a space about a foot wide. There was no way for me to help him....so I sat back on the couch. He finally struggled through it and connected it!! Yeah I thought to myself...I am forming a handy man :) But my dream was short lived he had me in there again swearing that he needed my help to screw a clamp together. I took the tool and did one side all by myself, gave him the screwdriver back and again sat on the couch. Five minutes later the other side was screwed in. Almost there I thought! But things came to a dead halt when the other clamp for the hose didn't work...end of day two!
Day three we went to Lowes and spent way more than we intended (it seems to be trend). We got a new clamp and went back home. Again there was sighing and load gruff, but he did it! He kept saying he hoped nothing would blow up because of all the warnings in the manuals, but I assured him that normal Americans like ourselves do it unsupervised all the time!
Today Travis did the first loads of laundry and is totally in love with the machines. He mentions all the time how quiet they are and has made me come watch them during their cycles.....I just think he proud of his handy work. I am proud of him too!

The Upstairs


Our love nest!
Our master closet...room for more clothes :)

Our master bathroom...it is so small that if we have a full roll of toilet paper we can't close the toilet bowl :)
Our princess bed for our guest

Our bird room :)
Please come visit us!!! It will feel like a home away from home!

More home...


This is the far side of our living room
This is the other side of the living room.
This is our dinning area. Along with our beautiful china cabinet.
Our table was all set with our china for our first guest. It was the first time I have used our china...so fun!!!
Our kitchen

Home Sweet Home


Here is our house looking from the street.
This is standing in our driveway and looking at our neighborhood
This is looking from our patio. There is a playground and basketball court on the right. Lots of lawn!Here is the patio. The table and chairs used to be Nannie's kitchen furniture.