Life as I know it

Wake me up when September ends

2010-09-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Can you believe September is almost gone? Hey, I am NOT complaining. (Didn’t they write a song about sept. ending anyway? Hahah)
Well, let’s see..April- Aug was rough but do-able…im still kickin’. A spur of the moment opportunity presented itself at the beginning of September and I found myself in DENVER, COLORADO at a Women Marine’s Association convention as the “OEF” active duty member. It was AWESOME. You know, I did not really expect it to be so good but it was not focused on “I am woman here me roar” which is probably my least favorite saying, and more on the history of what we women have gotten to do. Everything from the evolution of bootcamp to operational differences, it was awesome. Oh yeah, and Kels and Marc came….AMAZING. What a blessing. It was sincerely a pure gift from God.
I went up to Mount Evans one morning, too. Before the sun. The view I saw up there was just out of this world.
By the end of the week in Denver, I was ready to get back to my team. Being stuck between two worlds is harder than just being GONE. So when I got on that plane I was ready. Sad but ready.
I got sick on the way back, with a virus and muscle spasms (so they say…I still think it was my kidney). I have been back for almost a week now and am just feeling almost myself.
I have 51 days until I get back on a plane headed to Knoxville. I CANT wait. I finally get to see my family AND marc!!!!!!
Dad turns 50 in a few days and Marc turns 26 in about 4 weeks. I don’t like missing bdays L
Well, I think that is pretty much it for me here. I hope all of you are finding yourselves blessed!

Karma Happens...(hhehe)

2010-06-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

From a recent mission...can you tell I hate being on that side of the camera? AKKWAARRD.

TOBY!

2010-06-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

Wow I'm a slacker...or just in Afghanistan

2010-05-28T12:10:00.001-07:00

Hey! I know I know. SorrrrY!

So, I think the last time I wrote was probably near Octoberish? Well, it is definetly almost JUNE. I have been here in Afghan since March 16th ish. It's really hot. I don't sleep much. But I have friends here, and family at home...oh yeah and GOD so im doing just fine. I have picked up the guitar FINALLY and LOVE LOVE LOVE playing. Im still a newb so don't get too excited. hahah. My big brother turns 25 tommorrow! I CAN't believe it! I hate missing birthdays. Oh well, life will go on.

There is so much to say but nothing you'd really understand or that will make sense....so I suppose I will just leave you with a rough idea of what my day looks like....(on those that are predictable...which is basically NEVER (ha))

0600 wake up and SOMETIMES run, eat

0900 be in at work (2nd shift)

1800 gym...i WILL do 10 pull ups before i leave

0200-0300 finally slip into bed.

lather rinse repeat. Throw in the missions, crisis' everyone seems to have, church music practice, guitar practice, and drama and call it a day!

It def. could be a lot worse. It is all relative. I just miss home. And marc. He is home though. It's tough not being there when my family is experiencing life together without me, too. Thankfully it is only times such as these that I am writing this that I realize how horrible it is. Other times I walk around in a constant state of denial....telling myself I will wake up from this lull in life in about 12 months from now and get a quick back brief and be there as if I never left. I'll let you know how THAT works for me. ahahahha

Well, that is all for now. I love and miss all of you all!!! Keep in touch!

xoxox Linds

2 DAYS

2009-10-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

Camera turned in, paper signed, bags packed, Anchorman playing in class...it's a good day. I don't even care that there are some people I want to smack with a shovel- I'm just counting down the hours now. Let's see...approximately 55...give or take. I've learned a lot, seen a lot, grown a lot, and now I'm ready to get up outta here. There's nothing more to say at this time, so I'll just sign off now. Family- I love and miss you, Marc- Umm..yeah, let's not do this again. I CAN'T WAIT BABY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

2009-10-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

Why must all good things come to an end? And why can't you have your cake and eat it, too? Well, my parents drove up Friday and just left. We had so much fun. We had some wine, good seafood, time on the water, shopping, pageant sabatage hahahah, and good ole' fashioned quality time. The suckiest (only sucky) part of the whole thing was saying goodbye. Today was pretty significant to me...3 years ago today I had family day at Parris Island, last year today I was on the plane to Iraq, and today, dad's bday, I got to be with them. Although I won't see them during Christmas, Thanksgiving, mom's bday, or mine, we had this weekend and I'm so grateful for that.

So, now I'm doin laundry and packing for California. Marc here I come. I have 2 days of class, graduation, then I'm outta here. Hope you all are great. xoxo

October 1, 2009!!!!!

2009-10-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

MY FINAL

HI! Ok, so for the first time in 2 months im breathing. I turned in my final project, my parents will be here tommarow, and I get to see my best friends and boyfriend-love of my life in less than a week. So despite the fact that there is so much drama at work, (a lot of back stabbing going on and just plain immature unprofessionalism), I know that God will get me through it and I just can't wait. The air is zestily chilly, the sun's out, and it's almost the weekend. Now I get to work on getting my portfolio together, pack, and see my beloved parents. Love ya'll. Thanks for your prayers.

Sept. 24, 2009

2009-09-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

(above: recent work)

ALMOST OCTOBER! WOW...

Hey! Ok, well I just finished 4/6 final assignments...leaving 2 (duh). Im so close to the end. Today marks the "2 weeks till going home"-and I couldn't be more stoked. So many things to look forward to. Leaving here, being full duty, Marc's bday, my comp. score went up a little, I'm just feeling optimistic. Maybe it's the caffeine from my iced coffee...or the Holy Spirit haha; either way...today's a good day.

My day's have actually gotten better here, too. I've made a few new friends...OUT OF THE CORPS (no offense but ya) which has allowed me to escape the never ending windmill of negative (excuse my french) bitching that seemed to consume me for the majority of time here. Better late then never, right?

Oh, by the way, I've been reading Proverbs and Joshua. I STRONGLY suggest that if you find yourself going through spiritual warfare, and need to be reminded of what you have, read it. Also, Marc...ya...sorry ladies, but I took the best catch out there. He's seriously simply amazing. God has completely blessed me...and I'm so humbled.

ALSO...mom decided to tell me that my dad was bleeding from the brain (joke of course), so if any of you all have been told that lie, thank you for prayers but he's ok. hahah.

Now that I've ranted about a cornacopia of nonsense, I will go. Miss you all.

Head above water

2009-09-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

So it's Tuesday...and NO im not at Panera right now. haha

I just turned in my first assignment and I can breath now.

I pretty much got screwed out of interviews all weekend,

and got one by the skin of my teeth, just in time.

I actually managed to learn something from my interveiwee.

So, here's this guy, 62 yrs old, gave up 17.5 years of his life for

the Corps. Goes in after getting out for open-heart surgery,

and wakes up 2 months later after being put in a coma due

to complications. The doctors induced the coma by the way.

He also had no teeth anymore because of dental infection that

has to be removed before surgery. None of this he knew untill he

woke up 2 months later. Wow. And we think we get screwed by

Navy medecine.

Needless to say, this man volunteers all of his time at the

Washington zoo, walking around, helping people, talking to them

and just being a jolly old guy.

He doesn't seem to ask for anything from anyone. He just carts

around on his scooter (can't over do it bc of heart) BEING.

The medical mishap was only like 1 of the many horrible things

that's happened to him. Don't get me wrong, his misfortunes don't

discount mine/ours...but man, it sure puts things into perspective.

So yesterday afternoon I spent about 4 hours literally chasing him

around the zoo, streets of Adams Morgan, Md, and eating free

gelato his friend from India gave me.

Well, class is thankfully over, assignment's turned in...think i'll go to a movie!

Sunday Sept. 13, 2009

2009-09-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

GREETINGS,

I've never been a big "blogger", but I am however, a big talker... so I figured I'd keep this thing going...so that for those of you I love but don't have a lot of time to keep up with- you can see what's up. Or maybe it's a vent tool for me. HA. Either way, I'll keep the writing to a minimum and the pics interesting. I'm in Ft. Meade right now for a course..."intermediate photojournalism". I've been here for a month and have a little over 3 weeks left. I can't WAIT. The

class is good, hard and challenging, but very

rewarding. But I'm smack dab in the middle of a bad spot...away

from Marc the love of my life, and my amazing family. So, needless to say I'm ready to go.

I'm taking over Panera I'm convinced. They have free WIFI and I've been here the last 2 days doing research and homework. And blogging I suppose haha. I make myself leave my plug for my computer in my room though so that I can only stay as long as the battery lasts. Sad, right? I was supposed to be on a photoshoot and interview today, but that fell through last second. Yes, another cause of panic because of the fact that my story and photos are due Tuesday. I'm praying my last resort (tmrw morning) doesn't fall through. Or I'm a DONE for.

Well, that's that. I'll be writing and shooting all week...assignment by assignment one day closer to

going home. God bless!

PS. My latest craft trick