The Biggest Spider

Michael works at night. Sometimes I have to be brave when it comes to the insects that like to invite themselves into our house.  Don't get me wrong,  I was never the type to be afraid of insects, spiders or invertebrates of any kind.  However, when there is a boy here that doesn't mind killing these bugs, I am just fine to let him do it.
Tonight I was sitting on my couch, minding my own business when I look over and see a very large, red brown, and quite spindly looking spider on my carpet.  After a slight panic attack and frantically rubbing the skin on my legs to make sure another spider hadn't made himself at home also, I decided I had to act fast.  I took a huge leap off the couch, like you used to do when you were a little kid and you had just seen a scary movie and you thought there was something under you bed so you would stand up on the mattress, take a deep breath and then leap as far as you could so that what ever was under your bed couldn't reach out and grab your legs.  You know, that ninja move. Yeah I did that.   Once I reached my supplies I was clear headed enough to come up with a plan.
First off, my feet were exposed and as any spider assassin knows, you can't have your feet vulnerable when doing a job.  So I put on the most hard core, heavy duty shoes I could find. Combat boots.  I walked over the the spider and I smashed like you would not believe.

Of course it did not die the first time, it decided to try the whole immortal thing and run out from under the shoe I was using to kill him.  But after four more tries I was victorious!

In my head this is about the size, shape, color and look of the spider that I triumphed over. In real life it wasn't any bigger than my pinky toe.  Details, just details.  Overall, I am hero!

http://www.mostplanet.com/largest-spider.html

Marine Corps Ball

The Marine Corps ball is usually held in the beginning of November.  It is a celebration of the Marine Corps birthday that is actually on November 10th.  This year was an exception for Michael's unit however, we got to go to a ball type party a couple months ago.
It was a hectic day for both of us.  Michael had just returned from a 5 day FARP in 29 Palms, and I was flying back from a week long trip to Utah. Despite the rush we both made it to the dinner on time.  It was fun getting ready and also fun to see Michael in his most formal uniform.  I was a stinker and didn't bring a camera to the party so the only pictures I have are of us in our dining room before we left.  But you still get to see what a handsome couple we are!

We had amazing food, good company and dancing.   It was such a fun night.

Homemade Guacamole

3 ripe avocados
Big handful cilantro
Half a purple onion
One lime

Mix everything in a food processor and serve with chips.  So easy and so delicious!

I got a good one

"I want you to love me the way Michael loves Liz." I think that was the greatest compliment I have ever heard from someone. My dear friend said that to her fiance before they got married. I think this is just a small part of what she was talking about.

He is just so great!

Military Life

You have heard about how military life is hard, how your spouse will go to far off lands, fight for freedom, honor, and liberty.  These things are all true. It is hard but it is also hilarious.  I can honestly say my life and experiences in a military community are quite funny, totally worth the adventure.
I often get on Facebook and see people bragging about how their husband or wife is so great because they did well on a test, or are graduating from BYU, or got accepted into some business school in China.  This is simply not my life.  These are all real achievements and stressors and it is not my intention to make light of any thing, I am just showing the difference and I hope it is taken with an air of humor.
My husband doesn't come home and tell me about how he passed his ethics class test with a 90%. He also doesn't come home and tell me about how a project got finished with out a hitch.  Or how he doesn't like work as much because word got back to him that Jim from accounting said something mean about him.  He does however tell me about how he passed his grenade throwing qualification and all I can think is "Do people fail? Because if so, the bad score is the least of their problems I'm sure."  Or he will tell me about how he successfully attached a missile to a helicopter. A normal day to day achievement obviously.  Or how he got chewed out and was forced to do push ups while some sergeant used the "f" word like a teenage girl uses the word "like."  These things have become so common place in my life I forget that its completely crazy and normal newly married life isn't like this.

I was driving on base the other day and approaching me on the road were about twelve HUMVEE vehicles all driving in a line.  (I didn't know the name was an acronym either.)  I was interested until I saw that they all had a "student driver" sign on the front of them.  In the civilian world you see a car with a  "student driver" sticker, some blonde girl chewing gum wearing bangles and sunglasses driving, and you avoid them a little.  Imagine my circumvention when twelve 5 ton vehicles were headed straight for me.  I had to slow down quickly, which is fine with me, better to get crushed my an armored vehicle going 10 miles an hour instead of 50 miles and hour.  The reason from my abrupt speed decrease was because I was in a TANK XING zone.  No, not a pedestrian crossing, a tank crossing.  I'm sorry but in a subaru outback vs tank show down I think I know who will win.
I love this life but I must say I am glad we are only doing this Marine Corps things for another three years.  There is only so much adventure a girl can take.