New Laptop

Okay it's not really new - we've had it for a while but it's been in the shop for the last month - after having to work on it for that long, replacing just about everything on it, they finally finished getting it fixed so now I get to use this sweet machine. It is so smooth and clear - I'm really excited. As long as it keeps working great (it was in pretty bad shape before we took it in...I'm in dread that I will experience the problems we were having at any moment...) Life will be so much easier. The best part of the whole experience was that we didn't have to pay a penny. That is why you get computers from people with a lifetime service plan - because on the rare occasions where there is something wrong with a fundamental part of the equipment they take care of it for you.

More Pictures

Here is a picture of Mycal and me - sorry we are so small in in. When I get a chance I will scan in the other picture we have - until that happens hope this one gives you a little idea. We looked pretty good.

As promised here are some extra photos from the ball - Photography by Michael Jenkins. I love these pictures of the centerpieces. These were the least glamorous ones there (the pumpkin was supposed to be an accent to something else but became the main piece because we had so many more people than expected.) Anyhow it's great that we were able to get these pics.

Harvest Ball

It was so nice - the ROTC bought roses for all the ladies - talk about making us feel extra special!

(The dress is flipped at the bottom so you can see the detail on the back - it's so gorgeous on I really wish I had taken some other pictures. Just didn't get a chance - super glad I had some taken at the dance.)

This is the head table - the other were all round. I don't really have good pictures so hopefully I can get some from the professional.

Yes I did make this centerpiece - and a couple more too (besides arranging all the rest...) It's a good thing I took that floral arrangement class a few months ago. ;) It turned out quite nice.

After tons of work and planning the ROTC Harvest Ball is now done. And if I do say so myself it was quite good. A little background for those of you who don't know yet - the ROTC does a military ball once a year and Mycal was in charge of it this time. So of course he came home and we put our heads together on how we could make it as amazing as possible. I made up an invitation design and priced good center pieces. Mycal was, of course, super busy getting info on things like catering, location, music etc. When we had some good ideas put together he pitched it to the people in charge. Apparently there was a little bit of a dispute between people in charge as to how it should go but the comander liked our plan so he said to go ahead. That was back in October. We have been keeping busy since then following through on all the arrangements - making invitations, booking people etc. It's been crazy - especially this last week. We bought decorations in October (when they were already marked down fifty percent...) By last week we found out 40 more people would be coming. Of course the decorations we bought were all sold out so they (Mycal and the guy in charge of supply) went to Michael's and just bought whatever they had left. Then I had the joy of making something with them. It was pretty crazy. However it all turned out really well. There were only a few minor bumps in the evening so I'd say it was a great success. The tables turned out great, the food was good, the people in charge were happy. It was even more fun because Mycal was willing to get out on the dance floor with me and go nuts (usually not his thing...but definately made the evening more fun.) All in all it was great. I don't have tons of pictures (my camera doesn't do all that well in that setting and there was a pro there so I'm hoping to get a couple of pics from him) I will definately post the picture Mycal and I took together as soon as I get it. In the meantime here are a couple of the decorations and my dress. I will also try to get one of the invititation on here later.

One Minute Writer

Just found this blog and think it's a fabulous idea. I wasn't able to keep it under a minute but with a little practice will hopefully get better. I think that's one of the best parts of this idea - stripping it down to a minute helps distill thoughts to what your really trying to say - great for me since I over think so much and end up adding to much that isn't important which leads to (I think) journaling that sometimes detracts from my feelings with too many facts. Don't get me wrong I think facts are important, I just think that in the long run people would rather have more feeling and only the essential facts than an abundance of facts and only a little of the feelings. You tell me. And when you get a chance check out this blog. http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/

The Human Mind is Amazing

And quite frankly did anyone see that last entry covering so much territory? Good grief if it had been on a map it would have covered the U.S. on three trains (does that make sense to anybody else or only me?) Point being my line of thought travels faster than I can keep track of sometimes and before I know it I've hit three subjects in one paragraph - all relatively different. Is that how everybody's minds function or just me?

'Like Sir Issac Newton's Apple'

That's what Pamela said when I mentioned how happy I am about gas prices falling. I laughed so hard. So I was going to sit down and write about how happy I was that gas is dropping (it still has a ways to go if you ask me but at least it's going in the right direction...) But then it turned into how much I wish I could record little statements like Pam's more often. I don't know how many times somebody says something to me that should be unforgettable due to the incredibly great nature of the statement (profound, funny, special etc) but I don't have anything to write it down with me if I don't do something the instant I think of it, it's gone forever. This is so sad to me. I know I should keep a notebook with me and just write it all down but let's be realistic I barely manage to keep my phone on me (and am sometimes not even successful there) so really what are the odds I'll keep a notebook and pen on me. And even if I did great statements come at me while I am doing things - it's a pretty rare thing to have my hands be free so what's a gal to do? I'm going to go with first of all I need to let go of the need to save everything (a battle I've been waging with the pictures I take for the last couple of years) and secondly I need to find out if my phone has a recording function (I think it does) and figure out how to use it. See the thing is if weren't for sitting down and writing about this I wouldn't have come across these solutions. Yay for creative writing.

Turkey Shoot

Today the ROTC held it's annual Turkey Shoot. It's a fundraiser for troops stationed overseas for the holidays - specifically Thanksgiving. The proceeds go to help pay for food whatnot to make their holidays seem a little less far away from home. Not only was it a great cause but it was tons of fun. Basically you pay a couple dollars for the chance to shoot a pellet gun at a target. The person with the best score in the round gets a gift certificate for a turkey (donated by local grocers). Now I'm not claiming to be a sharp shooter but all of my shots did end up inside the target circle which for round one made me the winner. Yay! It's always exciting to win something - even more so when it's based (even ever so slightly) on merit. Unfortunately for me my second round included many good shots so I didn't win that one but still it was a lot of fun. Speaking of doing a good deed for our troops overseas here is something I ran across that I want to get more involved in - it looks like a much appreciated effort, if your interested check it out. It's called 'Cards for Heros' http://www.cardsforheroes.org/

And on that note

I have to tell you all how much I love Disney's 'Meet the Robinsons'. It is one of the funniest shows I have seen in a while - as far as a genre goes it might surpass 'Hoodwinked' for me. I absolutely love the story, characters, and message. I can't stop quoting it - and I've got Emmuska doing it with me. It's hilarious family fun.

My Pumpkin

I had to show you my pumpkin after raving about it - I mean honestly what else is a decent person to do. Mine is the one on the left hand side of the tree tucked in with the flowers. Mycal's is the big one in front of Liberty and Liberty is holding her own. Emmuska won't let anybody touch hers...I mean it is her 'pumpkin'.

Pumpkins!!

I know that there are a few (in my opinion odd) individuals out there who do not love pumpkins...(I'm not quite sure how but I'm beginning to deduce that it might be a genetic disorder.) In any case it seems that all but the most hardened pumpkin hater still enjoys going to a pumpkin patch and picking out their own large orange squash. There is something about it that is so uniquely fall - the smells and colors, the distinct quality of air. I love it. This was my first memory of going out to an actual pumpkin patch and picking out my own pumpkin and I loved every minute. Perhaps it was more fun because I had the joy of watching Emmuska pick out her own special pumpkin (actually more along the lines of a gourd of some sort...She would pick a non-pumpkin pumpkin - being among the less pumpkin-loving at heart).
Watching Liberty take so much care of her little pumpkin - It was so much fun.
Of course one of the best parts was finding my pumpkin. Not going to lie - it was just about perfectly me. And of course it's not to be found in a single one of these pictures but you can take my word for it - it was the perfect 'Stephanie' pumpkin.
And now that it has enjoyed some time on the front porch I think it's about time to cook it up and enjoy one (of the hundreds) of the yummy things it can become. I'm so excited!