Truckin'

I got to drive a fire truck!! I have to admit that this was one of the coolest things I've ever done. There are so many buttons, levers, gears, knobs, etc. It was like getting the keys to Inspector Gadget's wheels! The greatest part was that my sweetie was our instructor!! I was so impressed with how great he was with everyone and how knowledgeable he is!

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire!

The first two weeks of our fire academy were relatively uneventful. Mostly classroom stuff -where the stations are located in the county, who reports to whom, that administrative buracratic crap that I find interesting but not enough to write about it.

In the third week, things were more hands on! We learned about Personal Protective Equipment, SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), and used thermal imaging cameras. Dressed in "turnout" gear, we did an exercise simulating a smoked filled room with a hose on the floor as our only guide to the way out. Being clausterphobic, I opted out of wearing the SCBA, but I still completed the exercise on all fours, following the hose to fresh air! The camera was pretty cool - similar to what you'd expect with night vision goggles - giving everything a creepy green glow.

It was fun, but it really gave me a greater appreciation for the work that firefighters do! Thanks honey!!

Happy Anniversary Babe!

Today, DJ and I have been married for ONE year! They say the first year is the hardest and although there were some moments I wanted to kick some spousal booty, I think we did pretty darn good!

We spent weeks talking about what we were going to do to celebrate - spend the weekend at the Jefferson, spend the money to finally put our wedding announcement in the "paper" (since paper is for the first anniversary), go out to a really nice restaurant for dinner, blah, blah, blah. What we ended up doing was running errands and going to dinner to O' Charleys.
It was actually a pretty great day!! I love you DJ!

Johnny Ain't Got Nothin' On Me

When I think of Johnny Cash, I think of that haunting video of the man in black performing the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt". The second thing I think of is his classic hit "Ring of Fire".

Coming next week, I'll be falling into my own ring of fire. My hunky firefighter of a husband has convinced me to participate in our county's citizen firefighter academy. I'm partly excited and partly terrified. I've always fancied myself an adventurous person, but somehow dressing in a big yellow suit and entering a burning building (on purpose) isn't exactly what comes to mind.

I'm hoping to keep a diary of sorts on my experience!

The Beauty of Friendship

I have many friends. I'm not saying this to feel popular or important, but just that even though they may never be mentioned, I feel damn lucky to so many great people in my life.

There are a few friends however that I will forever mention because they have been a part of my life as long as I can remember and I can honestly say that they have helped me become me. I think if you were to add up the laughs, memories,tears, and time that I've spent with these ladies, I'm sure it would add up to most and certainly the better part of my life.


This photo from my wedding shows three of my girls - Gretchen, Christie, and Terri.


Gretchen and I met in 1999 while working for a small software company. I hadn't even been hired yet, but I remember when I met her during my interview that somehow if I got the job, she I would be great friends. Luckily, I got the job!

I don't think we talked much to one another then, but my first memories of Christie were in Dr. Challendar's freshman English class at Longwood College in 1989 (yikes I feel old). One night while making a "pizza run" (which I often did while pledging a campus sorority), I didn't have enough money to pick up the order and Christie who was standing behind me in line said "no problem, I got you covered." Not only did she save me a trip back to my dorm, but she opened the door to a great and loyal friendship that has lasted since that day.

Terri and I never met. She was born into my life. What I mean by that is we are related. Although she is technically my cousin, she has ALWAYS been like a little sister to me. When we were kids, we often spent two or three weeks together in the summers. Recently, I was doing some spring cleaning and I found a letter that she had written me after one of those summers. Basically, it read..."I'm glad we got to spend so much time together this summer, and even though we argued constantly, I love you. You make me laugh." I think that pretty much sums up what it's like to have a sister!

I love you girls...you rock!

Doggie Days

It goes pretty much without saying, but I'm going to say it...I love my dog! Raif is 85lbs of unconditional love!!! He waits impatiently until I come home and can barely hold himself back when I make offers of affection. He groans in appreciaton when I rub his back and returns the favor with loving nuzzles. He conveniently forgets when I've been a bitch and wags his tail so hard his hind end lifts off the floor whenever I enter the room.

These days, my boy has his troubles. Fast approaching twelve years old, he whines quite a bit and has great difficulty getting up in the morning. I fear one day I'll wake up and he will have gone off to the big bone bank in the sky. But until that day comes, I will relish every minute of his fuzzy love.

Babies on the Brain

I think about babies - all the time. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my biological clock reminding me that it is nearly midnight and my uterus is about to turn into a pumpkin. DJ and I have only been married for 6 months (on Sunday) but we've been trying for two months to get pregnant. I don't have any grand ideas that is going to happen right away, but I still can't stop thinking about little baby clothes, which car seat we'll need to get, you know - baby brain. My dear friend Gretchen has a baby boy now and he is a doll. I love being around him, hugging him, laughing with him. I hope ours is as laid back and sweet as little Collin.

Hopefully the stress I put on my parents growing up won't come back to haunt me in the form of my child!