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Sunday, March 20, 2011
You know youre a TRUE iowan when....
KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE Iowan WHEN: 1. Vacation means going north or south on I-35 f or the weekend. 2. You measure distance in hours. 3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once. 4. You often switch from heat to AC in the same day and back again 5. You drive 65 mph through a raging blizzard, without flinching. 6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings). 7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked. 8. You carry jumper cables in your car and know how to use them 9. You design your kids Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit. 10. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow 11. You know all 5 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, road construction, & It's Hot 12. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to a blue spruce. 13. “Down south” means Missouri. 14. A brat is something you eat. 15. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed. 16. You go out to a tailgate party every Friday. 17. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car. 18. You find 0 degrees a "little chilly." 19. You know the difference between corn and soy beans at a glance. 20. A =E 2hill” is any landmass higher than 20 feet above sea level. 21. You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Iowan friends. What's not to understand?
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Friday, July 2, 2010
My first Day as a Soldier…(Happy 4th, remember the Soldiers!)
It’s a bit random but I thought, what better time to write about my first day of basic training than Independence Day Weekend? ….
The day was May 15, 2003. I was 1 day over 17. On a whim Id decided to join the United States Army. I wanted to be grown, to get away, and to be “free”. But just a piece of advice, if you’re looking for freedom, the military is NOT the way to go! …Anyways, my recruiter came to pick me up to take me to the airport; I was headed to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. As I was sitting in the car waving goodbye to my boyfriend, I kept thinking, “Why did I do this?”, “Is it really too late to get out of it?” …It was.
I met the first person in my platoon at the airport. Sweet girl, just as afraid as I. So, we tried to predict what it was going to be like, exchange overheard horror stories and what our recruiters had told us…they were waayyy off by the way!
From the second I arrived at Fort Jackson I felt as if I were the only one that had no idea what was going on, but apparently everyone thought that! We were searched, our bags gone through and mostly taken and replaced with our BDU’s, PT’s, and what THEY wanted us to have…most importantly, our manual which we had to learn front and back!! After measurements, foot measurements, and LOTS of yelling we were all packed onto a bus on our way to our barracks. We were yelled at insanely and told to keep our bags in front of our eyes, not to look at anything!
Suddenly the bus stopped and the real yelling began. Inside and outside the bus were drill sergeants yelling at us to “move faster”, “get off faster”, “stop looking at me punk”, MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! So we did, and everyone was moving so fast that they were falling over each other, wondering what on Gods green earth they had gotten themselves into!
Once off the bus we were to line up and extend arms and get in “front leaning rest position…GO”…meaning push up position because we were about to get smoked for the first time of many to come! And of course guess where I put my hand? In a fire ant hill. Do I dare move my hand? Not in a million years. So, here I am scared out of my mind, fire ants eating me alive, being screamed at but hoping not to be noticed…and then it happens…A drill sergeant stops in front of me. And he yells “Strawberry Shortcake..” He knew me, and he knew me as a child’s cartoon…and it stuck all through basic and AIT…Just what I needed. Drill Sergeant Fowler was a scary man…
The day consisted of yelling, making people cry, push ups, moving too fast when we had no idea what we were doing…and this went on for a while but after a couple weeks…I really started to love it. It’s true; they tear you down to build you up. I loved Basic Training, I loved being in the army. Would I go back and do it all over again? In a heartbeat…So please remember this weekend for what's it meant to represent. Remember all the soldiers whether they’re veterans or at their first day of basic training…Thank them and remember them! To all the soldiers…Hooah!
The day was May 15, 2003. I was 1 day over 17. On a whim Id decided to join the United States Army. I wanted to be grown, to get away, and to be “free”. But just a piece of advice, if you’re looking for freedom, the military is NOT the way to go! …Anyways, my recruiter came to pick me up to take me to the airport; I was headed to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. As I was sitting in the car waving goodbye to my boyfriend, I kept thinking, “Why did I do this?”, “Is it really too late to get out of it?” …It was.
I met the first person in my platoon at the airport. Sweet girl, just as afraid as I. So, we tried to predict what it was going to be like, exchange overheard horror stories and what our recruiters had told us…they were waayyy off by the way!
From the second I arrived at Fort Jackson I felt as if I were the only one that had no idea what was going on, but apparently everyone thought that! We were searched, our bags gone through and mostly taken and replaced with our BDU’s, PT’s, and what THEY wanted us to have…most importantly, our manual which we had to learn front and back!! After measurements, foot measurements, and LOTS of yelling we were all packed onto a bus on our way to our barracks. We were yelled at insanely and told to keep our bags in front of our eyes, not to look at anything!
Suddenly the bus stopped and the real yelling began. Inside and outside the bus were drill sergeants yelling at us to “move faster”, “get off faster”, “stop looking at me punk”, MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! So we did, and everyone was moving so fast that they were falling over each other, wondering what on Gods green earth they had gotten themselves into!
Once off the bus we were to line up and extend arms and get in “front leaning rest position…GO”…meaning push up position because we were about to get smoked for the first time of many to come! And of course guess where I put my hand? In a fire ant hill. Do I dare move my hand? Not in a million years. So, here I am scared out of my mind, fire ants eating me alive, being screamed at but hoping not to be noticed…and then it happens…A drill sergeant stops in front of me. And he yells “Strawberry Shortcake..” He knew me, and he knew me as a child’s cartoon…and it stuck all through basic and AIT…Just what I needed. Drill Sergeant Fowler was a scary man…
The day consisted of yelling, making people cry, push ups, moving too fast when we had no idea what we were doing…and this went on for a while but after a couple weeks…I really started to love it. It’s true; they tear you down to build you up. I loved Basic Training, I loved being in the army. Would I go back and do it all over again? In a heartbeat…So please remember this weekend for what's it meant to represent. Remember all the soldiers whether they’re veterans or at their first day of basic training…Thank them and remember them! To all the soldiers…Hooah!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
SINK, SWIM or FLOOD
I live in Rhode Island and as many of you have seen, we have been in a state of emergency this week. The rain just kept pouring until finally the rivers and any water source overflowed into our streets, breaking dams, and popping sewer tops off. Needless to say, it has been a messy, wet sad week. I for one have not seen my children since Monday. On Mondays they go over to my brother’s house. Unfortunately this Monday when they went, a dam broke right next to the house, flooding the streets and covering the cars, making it impossible for them to get home. Many people all over the state were being evacuated however, my family was not! So, here I am on a street with no flooding while 2 miles away, my family has been trapped. Oh, it has been a very stressful week to say the least. I miss my children so much! It has been quiet and I haven’t quite figured out what to do with the time. Everyone says “Vacation Time!” but I just can’t seem to let myself enjoy it!! I now know what it’s like to live alone…I don’t think I like it!
Hopefully my family will be able to come home with in the next couple days! I sure hope so. But there is a hero in all of this. You see, I told you how the road was flooded… Well, an elderly man decided to drive through it anyways, and as you can guess he started to sink. Lucky for him, my niece and nephew were there to help save his life. They swam out, pried open the door and pulled him to safety. They are 16 and 19. Now these are 2 kids that have really great souls and hearts. They risked themselves for another human. They are heroes’ in my book! So, Charlton and Lexi… You guys are amazing! Love you so much!
Somehow they caught this on tape and they were interviewed by the news… I want everyone to see how amazing they are so watch the clip!!!
www2.turnto10.com/jar/news/local/historic_flooding/article/teens_assist_with_rescue/34334/
Love, MZJESS
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Meet my Children...
I am a mother to 2 beautiful babies, Raymond and Ayla. They are my whole world. And as any mother knows, life would not be the same with out them. Sometimes it would be easier but never happier. They are such a huge part of my life that I feel by not telling you about them I am excluding you from 2 very amazing people!!
My son Raymond (the 4th Raymond on my husband’s side of the family) was born June 8, 2007. He was just so amazing as soon as he came out. Funny thing, most babies look like so, Ray looked just like he does today only tiny. He had such a definitive face, so distinguished at just 1 day old. He was beautiful. From early on, he made these FUNNY faces all the time that just made me laugh so hard. They all had nicknames, some he did while sleeping, others when we would rub his head. Oh he was a funny boy. Still is actually.
Raymond was tough though. He was colicky and cried all day and night. He would get sick on a daily basis and would have the worst tummy aches. Finally we found a good formula for him and he was ready to go. Only thing was, the formula had added in rice and he ballooned soo big. He was too heavy for me to carry but still so cute. He was always early doing things. He sat at 4 months, crawled at 6 and walked at 8 months. He was running and climbing at 11 months, thus being how he got his first set of stitches at just 11 months. You see, I was in the hospital giving birth to my daughter when I get a call that Ray had ran into a glass table and was bleeding profusely all the while smiling and laughing. Laughed right through the stitches in fact. And he has never stopped since. He still climbs as high as he can, falls, runs, trips, breaks things, and is always laughing while doing it. He loves his sister, his dog, and his uncle Danny. My son is so sweet and cute and charming and I know someday he will do something amazing to this world! Keep an eye out for him, he’s one to watch!!
Now about my daughter Ayla, she’s just the sweetest most loveable thing ever. She was born May 13, the day before my birthday. She was a month early and weighed 8.8 and was 22 inches long. Let me tell you, she was beautiful! We couldn’t find a name good enough for her for quite awhile and finally we decided on Ayla. Now Ayla is a girly girl. Always has been. She’s always been quiet, learned everything right on time, loves her brother and will do anything he does or wants. She loves her “pretties” which is mommy’s jewelry and hair things, she even says “I’m Ayla, I’m pretty.” Lol. She is talking way ahead of age and she is soo sweet. She loves to give hugs and kisses, she loves to tell everyone “LOVE LU” which is Love you. She’s so independent, she doesn’t want help with anything and really barely needs it, she just wants you to sit with her and tell her you love her and she’s pretty.
Ayla loves dolls, animals, Elmo and her brother. She loves makeup and talking on the phone. Let me tell you, this little girl is just a spitting image of me as a child. I love her so much and she loves everyone!!
So these are my 2 great loves in life. The reason I get up with a smile on my face and go to bed with food on my clothes, and a smile in my mind (by this point I'm too tired to actually physically smile) but boy do I love them! Just thought I should introduce them to you so that you can have a tiny piece of this wonderful duo!!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
My best friend could kick your best friends ass!!
So you expected a part 2 right? Well, like a said, I had to wait, and so that you get the full experience, you must wait too. ;) Instead, I’m going to talk about friends. It seems simple enough, even a pointless subject right? But did you ever think about how many kinds of friends there are? There’s your best friends, your good friends, your acquaintances, your frenemies, your super flaky friends, friends because you feel bad friends, friends bc you have to friends,.and the list goes on and on.
As a child I moved a lot so I never really had any ‘best’ friends. My best friend was and still is my mother. She was who I looked up to as a child and now even more as a woman and mother. She’s who I can to cry to, to get comfort to and who I call on a really good day just to share good news or my good mood with. I love her and unfortunately we live half a country apart, but that doesn’t stop me from talking with her almost every single day!
I’m not saying I didn’t have friends. I had lots of ‘friends’ that I still talk to today infact. Just not any best friends, until I met Amy. Amy is my exact opposite. I’m a redhead, she’s a blonde, I’m brown eyed, She’s blue eyed, I’m quiet and reserved, she’s loud and opinionated! When I say we were as different as night and day I am NOT exaggerating. But I have never loved a friend more. We were inseparable and from the beginning there was not one thing I could not tell her. She was a wild child, a free spirit and did not care what anyone thought and I followed suit because with my best friend by my side, I didn’t care what anyone else thought anyway! As we got older we never really lost touch. Today I still talk to her 10 times a day, we share advice, stories, mothering and life tips, rant and rave, and joke and fight as if we were 10 but you could not pay me enough money to give her up!! That is a best friend. She’s been there for me through thick and thin, brain surgery and marital fights. She’s my other half.
I have only one other friend I would consider a best friend. My neighbor and bff Val. She’s unlike Amy. She’s exactly like me in every way. We hate the same foods, love the same movies, and have the same opinions and views on almost everything. We have passion for life, the same down home quiet personalities but are full of yummy chocolate once you break open our candy shell. Val is a wonderful mother wife, nurse and friend and cares so much about people that you can’t help but care so much about her. She’s amazingly beautiful on the inside and out. And funny thing is, she doesn’t even know it!! Lol. I love our laughs, our talks, our children’s friendships and our plans for the future…we’re going to become in-laws when our children marry and we’re going to grow old together…we just know it! Lol.
So, to all of you flaky friends who like the convenience of my niceness, let me tell you something, I have the best friends in the world. You don’t shake me, you should learn to be one of these and you’ll be as happy as I. If you don’t have a good friend, I’m sorry but I have 4.
As a child I moved a lot so I never really had any ‘best’ friends. My best friend was and still is my mother. She was who I looked up to as a child and now even more as a woman and mother. She’s who I can to cry to, to get comfort to and who I call on a really good day just to share good news or my good mood with. I love her and unfortunately we live half a country apart, but that doesn’t stop me from talking with her almost every single day!
I’m not saying I didn’t have friends. I had lots of ‘friends’ that I still talk to today infact. Just not any best friends, until I met Amy. Amy is my exact opposite. I’m a redhead, she’s a blonde, I’m brown eyed, She’s blue eyed, I’m quiet and reserved, she’s loud and opinionated! When I say we were as different as night and day I am NOT exaggerating. But I have never loved a friend more. We were inseparable and from the beginning there was not one thing I could not tell her. She was a wild child, a free spirit and did not care what anyone thought and I followed suit because with my best friend by my side, I didn’t care what anyone else thought anyway! As we got older we never really lost touch. Today I still talk to her 10 times a day, we share advice, stories, mothering and life tips, rant and rave, and joke and fight as if we were 10 but you could not pay me enough money to give her up!! That is a best friend. She’s been there for me through thick and thin, brain surgery and marital fights. She’s my other half.
I have only one other friend I would consider a best friend. My neighbor and bff Val. She’s unlike Amy. She’s exactly like me in every way. We hate the same foods, love the same movies, and have the same opinions and views on almost everything. We have passion for life, the same down home quiet personalities but are full of yummy chocolate once you break open our candy shell. Val is a wonderful mother wife, nurse and friend and cares so much about people that you can’t help but care so much about her. She’s amazingly beautiful on the inside and out. And funny thing is, she doesn’t even know it!! Lol. I love our laughs, our talks, our children’s friendships and our plans for the future…we’re going to become in-laws when our children marry and we’re going to grow old together…we just know it! Lol.
So, to all of you flaky friends who like the convenience of my niceness, let me tell you something, I have the best friends in the world. You don’t shake me, you should learn to be one of these and you’ll be as happy as I. If you don’t have a good friend, I’m sorry but I have 4.
Monday, March 22, 2010
When the Tough Gets Going...SMILE!!
Well now I want to tell you about something I went through recently that have made me a completely different person. Yes, I know we don’t have a very long blogging relationship yet, but I think in order to understand me, to understand my blog, you first must understand this.
It was the week before Thanksgiving 2009. Id been having some headaches, and had been really tired for quite a long time. It was 2 am and I was starting to come to. I began looking around and was more confused that you can possibly imagine…I was on a stretcher…in a hospital?! I couldn’t remember my name; I couldn’t remember my birthday though I must have given them one. I thought I was 14 years old and kept asking for my mom. I can now imagine how people with amnesia feel, and that is the scariest feeling I have ever felt. Around 10 minutes later, my husband showed up. I don’t think I remembered his name though I knew that he was someone important in my life and boy did he look stressed! As it turns out, Id had a grand mal seizure. The first I’ve ever had as far as I know. Around 5 am things started to come back to me, the fact that I was not 14, that I had 2 beautiful children at home, and that I was in Rhode Island.
After a CAT scan and some lab results that all came back fine, I was discharged with instructions to see a neurologist the following week. We went home and I have to admit, I was a little scared to do anything at all just incase I had another seizure, and I was a little scared as to what the cause could be. I called and scheduled the appointment hoping that they could diagnose it as a fluke, a one time thing.
I finally went in to the appointment the following week. The doctor was friendly, and didn’t seem to concerned, which put my nerves at ease a little. He ordered a brain MRI and an EEG just to rule out anything serious and scheduled me to come back in a week. So, I went next door and did the tests, which I’m a little claustrophobic so I didn’t do so well with the MRI. It was time consuming and nerve racking but needed. I just wanted to results already!!
The week following the tests seemed to be the longest week of my life! Finally Friday had come and I went to see the doctor again. He was holding my folder, scanning the results, nodding a little, and saying “mmhmm.” And then I heard the news, I had a lesion on my brain. I was in shock. He didn’t say tumor, he didn’t say anything I understood! Finally, he explained that at this point it was a lesion and that I would need to see a neurosurgeon to get a more definitive answer…MORE WAITING!?! Seriously?! I was put on some heavy duty seizure medication and told to wait for a call from the referred neurosurgeon.
So, I just had to wait and see what was to come. I had never been so anxious, scared and on edge in my entire life! Was this the end? Was this how I was going to go? Would I have more seizures? What next?! So many questions, with no answers, that is the worst feeling ever. And so I did what I could, I prayed and I waited…..
It was the week before Thanksgiving 2009. Id been having some headaches, and had been really tired for quite a long time. It was 2 am and I was starting to come to. I began looking around and was more confused that you can possibly imagine…I was on a stretcher…in a hospital?! I couldn’t remember my name; I couldn’t remember my birthday though I must have given them one. I thought I was 14 years old and kept asking for my mom. I can now imagine how people with amnesia feel, and that is the scariest feeling I have ever felt. Around 10 minutes later, my husband showed up. I don’t think I remembered his name though I knew that he was someone important in my life and boy did he look stressed! As it turns out, Id had a grand mal seizure. The first I’ve ever had as far as I know. Around 5 am things started to come back to me, the fact that I was not 14, that I had 2 beautiful children at home, and that I was in Rhode Island.
After a CAT scan and some lab results that all came back fine, I was discharged with instructions to see a neurologist the following week. We went home and I have to admit, I was a little scared to do anything at all just incase I had another seizure, and I was a little scared as to what the cause could be. I called and scheduled the appointment hoping that they could diagnose it as a fluke, a one time thing.
I finally went in to the appointment the following week. The doctor was friendly, and didn’t seem to concerned, which put my nerves at ease a little. He ordered a brain MRI and an EEG just to rule out anything serious and scheduled me to come back in a week. So, I went next door and did the tests, which I’m a little claustrophobic so I didn’t do so well with the MRI. It was time consuming and nerve racking but needed. I just wanted to results already!!
The week following the tests seemed to be the longest week of my life! Finally Friday had come and I went to see the doctor again. He was holding my folder, scanning the results, nodding a little, and saying “mmhmm.” And then I heard the news, I had a lesion on my brain. I was in shock. He didn’t say tumor, he didn’t say anything I understood! Finally, he explained that at this point it was a lesion and that I would need to see a neurosurgeon to get a more definitive answer…MORE WAITING!?! Seriously?! I was put on some heavy duty seizure medication and told to wait for a call from the referred neurosurgeon.
So, I just had to wait and see what was to come. I had never been so anxious, scared and on edge in my entire life! Was this the end? Was this how I was going to go? Would I have more seizures? What next?! So many questions, with no answers, that is the worst feeling ever. And so I did what I could, I prayed and I waited…..
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