Tales From the Tarmac: Part Deux

Well my journey from the States back to Italy was interesting to say the least.

For starters I wasn't sure I'd make it out of Hometown,Oklahoma. We all boarded a small jet and as we were all settled in, the pilots made an annoucement that the plane was giving an error message and there was something wrong with the fuel injectors. They tell us we all need to get off the plane and see if they can fix it. Unfortunately if they do not there wasn't another flight that day to Atlanta.

10 minutes later they come back on the intercom to inform us they rebooted the computer and the error was gone. To say the passengers were unsettled was an understatement. I hate flying anway, but to fly on what could be a broken plane? Was nervewracking! The girl that was sitting next to me actually opted to get off the plane.

The rest of my flights weren't as scary, but all those that told me the Paris airport was a nightmare were right! Luckily the terminal we landed at was right next to the one I departed from, but that has to be the worst layout in an airport that I've ever seen! I much prefer the layout of Atlanta's airport.

Can I just say though that my flight on Air France was amazing.
1. Free champagne. What's not to like?
2. Amazing food. I had the best meal ever on an airplane on that flight. For breakfast I even had a jar of cinnamon/orange confit. Amazing!
3. Individual viewing screens so you can watch or listen to whatever you want.

I was so glad to make it back safely though. Now I'm just trying to get over this awful jetlag!

Ode to Fajitas

Today I met one of my best friends, Kebi, for lunch at Chilis. While there I enjoyed the always delish mushroom jack fajitas and of course, they didn't let me down.

So, without further ado, an ode to fajitas.

Mushroom jack fajitas...you make me warm inside
From your cheese, mushrooms and onions I never want to hide
I'm sorry that we don't get to meet up all the time
It's only because your calories are so high
And I don't need any more flabbiness on my thighs

OK..not my best work, but you get the picture.

I had a lovely time with Kebi and thank goodness she had her camera with her, because mine decided not to turn on. Blah.

Tonight I'm just spending time with the fam, packing up the rest of my stuff and hoping my laptop gets delievered soon, because if not, Amazon is going to get an earful from me.

Please pray that my flight goes smoothly tomorrow!

Monday Musings

1. I hate snow. I'll be glad if I don't see snow again for a year! I spent a little bit today shoveling snow off our driveway. Needless to say I didn't see that happening when I envisoned coming home for a visit.

2. I'm not looking forward to my flight on Wednesday. I'm praying I make it through customs in plenty of time in Paris so I can just get home!

3. I'm so excited to see Boomer that it's not even funny.

4. Sean and I are getting to talk 3-4 hours a day online and it's making this deployment ten times easier.

5. I cannot wait to get my new laptop tomorrow.

6. I cannot wait to get home and start editing all the pictures I took on this visit.

7. Negative windchills are ridic. I wasn't aware Oklahoma was the new Arctic.

8. I'm hoping to eat at Chilis tomorrow. One last fling with delish, fattening food. Once I get back to Italy it's exercise and good eating. Gotta look good for R&R!

9. There is a possiblity that I'll be heading to NYC to spend some time with a friend after R&R. I'm so excited!

10. I wonder what I would look like with dark hair? Instead of coloring it, I think I'm going to get a wig.

This is on TV?!

Since I've been home I've been watching a little bit of TV. I'm AMAZED at some of the stuff that's on right now.

My biggest shock? MTV's Jersey Shore. It's like the Real World combined with that True Life episode of Jersey Shore. The people on there are literally the stereotypes I think of when I think of people in Jersey. Paulie D? I don't even have words to describe him. It's just like a character you would see on Saturday Night Live! And the girls? All think they are so hot and fun, but when they go out, it seems people just laugh and think they are ridiculous. Somehow it's like a train-wreck though and I can't stop watching.

The other thing I was amazed at? Some of the commercials I've seen. Particularly a commercial that shows two women shopping for men in a grocery store. It's advertising Online Booty Call.com. Um..seriously? There's a website for booty calls? Wow.

It honestly blows my mind!

2010 Deployment Goals

Since I'm going through a deployment for pretty much the entire year of 2010, I've decided this year instead of resolutions that I'm going to do Deployment Goals. This list is going to be ever-changing and I'm sure a few more items will be added to it. As of now though here is my list!

1. Read at least 50 books
2. Start my photography business
3. Lose 10 lbs
4. Make t-shirt quilt with my college shirts
5. Finish my college scrapbook
6. Complete first two years of marriage scrapbook
7. Travel to 5 countries
8. Cook a new recipe at least once a month
9. Decorate our apartment
10. Make Alaska photo album
11. 100 lb dead lift
12. Take Italian classes
13. Learn how to sew

I expect you guys to keep me accountable!

What Are You Reading?

One of my deployment goals is to read a lot of books, so I'm looking for some great recommendations from all you readers.

What are some great fiction and non-fiction books you've read recently? Any favorites that I have to read?

Winter Scenes

While I've been back in Oklahoma I've tried to take advantage and have been taking massive amounts of pictures. It's quite the running joke in my family that I take pictures of everything. I've told them all if I ever get famous they'll be sorry they made fun of my photography because I'll make them buy prints at retail price.

Because for the last couple of days we were pretty much snowed in, I used the time to take some pictures of the birds that frequent our yard. The snow made a wonderful backdrop to the birds and this is one of my favorite shots.



Not having Photoshop to edit pictures is driving me nuts though. I seriously feel like it's an addiction. Must. Buy. New. Laptop. and. Photoshop!