can't sleep

I just can't sleep thinking of my husband out there in the gusty 20mph wind. For those of you who don't know ... this week is John's first FEX (Field Exercise). It is a week in the field where they have an enemy and are acting as a battalion to defeat the enemy (and sleeping in the cold, and not showering, and eating nasty space-man-like food, and painting their faces, and ultimately they are freezing their butts off carrying around 90+ pound packs). Us wives are sad and thinking of our Marines often. John left Sunday evening to stay on base before the FEX. Let me just say I am unsure of how I ever slept 22 years alone. I miss him the most when trying to sleep. He is not next to me as he should be. BUT he did come home last night. I picked him up around 1900 and we went to dinner (after he took a 35 minute shower to wash the paint off of his face), and talked and talked and talked and kissed and kissed and hugged and kissed and kissed and kissed. Then he went back to the field today … till Friday. So two MORE nights ... and I thought the first two sucked ...

I am so thankful for the wonderful Alpha Co. wives I have! I will try to give a report of how he says it went over the weekend, [though I may be understandable busy hanging out with the husband I am missing so much right now.]

What I have been doing (other than missing John): shopping at West Elm, watching “Whip It” and all the Food Network shows, cleaning the bathrooms, shopping at Crate&Barrel, shopping at Ikea, putting together a shelf-thingy from Ikea, game nights with the ladies, laundry, working out daily (love the classes offered on base), sleeping-in because I stay up as late as I can so falling asleep is a little easier, and that’s about it. I still have several things on my FEX-week-to-do-list (that I will, hopefully, accomplish tomorrow). Hurry up, Friday. 

Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday.

burn victim.

Story of the week: I burnt myself good.

The amount of tape was probably over kill.

So I decided on the tilapia and hash brown dish (mentioned in the last blog) and everything went smoothly … till I started plating it. Let me explain the recipe (which, by the way, was amazingly delicious), you start by browning the hash browns in a skillet on the stove top. You then add some veggies, then finally the tilapia. Once the tilapia is added you transfer the skillet to the oven, and bake the dish till the fish is cooked through. Sounds easy, and it was. So I removed the dish from the oven (no burns there), and put the skillet back on the stove top, grabbed our cool, funky shaped plates, then grabbed a spatula to dish up the fish/hash browns, then grabbed the skillets 350 degree handle for a better grip…OUCH! Let me tell you, it was bad. And it hurt like no other burn has. [I must also mention that I typically burn myself once a week while cooking, but they are usually little tiny burns… on the back of the hand, the forearm, etc. Not on my palm. I blame the fact that I have been out of the kitchen for two weeks.] Oh man, did it hurt. So RN John came to the rescue. For those of you who may need this tip: soaking your burn in milk soothes (but only for about 10-15 minutes). I ate dinner with my hand in milk. The burn... or burns...are better. I only have two blisters left.

good to be home.

The end of our Christmas break was as vivacious as the beginning. Some highlights: eating at The Burger Stand with the family, Just Dance for the wii (videos to come on Facebook), french toast breakfast, lobster dinner and our day of shooting.

Let me first say that I am a horrible shot, but I will gladly blame my small hands for most of my shooting imperfections. I wish I could tell you what all we shot (any Lynch, Backhouse, or Varney can give those details, if known). Regardless, it was a fantastic day with 70 degree weather and quite the shooting crew. 

one lobster for everyone!

New Years eve brought lots of seafood. It brought me back to the first big Lynch family dinner I ever attended. New Years eve, 2003. We had lobster tails and shrimp galore. Troy boy attended with me to hang out with Brett (or maybe for a sense of security) and we all took pictures around the table after dinner. It was wonderful, as was this year. Though I think the food quantity multiplied (along with the number of family members). Then came the goodbyes. Let's just say it is good to know we will have a few visitors during these next five months.

We brought in the New Year with those Eckhardts that we just cannot get enough of. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful year (2010 truly was good to us).

And we are back! Back to the 68 degree apartment (still not turning on the heat), back to the wonderfully cheap groceries at the commissary (where I spent two hours this morning), back to the friends (even a new one as of yesterday!), back to cooking elaborate meals for my hardworking husband (fish pie or tilapia with hash browns tonight), back to the precious Christmas decorations (that are staying up for at least one more week), back to the D.C. malls we will never fully explore... it's so good to be back.

I still have one suitcase to unpack (the biggest one, in fact...this may surprise most of you who know me well). But I have already set up the wii fit, and my slippers have not left my feet. And John has already enjoyed a cup of coffee and was off this morning in his new boots.

family and food.

The holidays are full of wonderful stories and gifts and games and laughs, but this year the food is what is going to make a lasting impression on my overflowing belly. We have been eating like kings (and queens). I feel ready to be back in my own kitchen (jobless), and cooking up a storm. But before that happens, we have a week in Topeka to enjoy family and friends. Omaha was good to us. We had a very enjoyable week with family and a few friends (Campbells, Martins, Brook, Mar, Anna, Derrick, and our Southridge family) ... and a chicken feast, soup night, Chinese, chili, enchiladas, and pizza (and all of the sweets I am embarrassed to mention). We were also able to see Grandma and Grandpa Gussy, which of course brought lots of laughs and a competitive card game.

Thus far, Topeka has brought a huge family get-together, Christmas, and an Italian feast, and a mexican buffet. Also a quick trip to Oklahoma, and babysitting baby (who's not such a baby anymore) Jude! The rest of the week includes hanging out with mom and dad Lynch tomorrow and Thursday (hopefully a KC trip, and more amazing food--french toast, mmmMMMm) and spending time with Wes and Ash all day Friday! I truly have wonderful in-laws. [We'll see some friends in between.]

Christmas snow.

Tonight is our first Lynch family Christmas (family = John and Tenisha). I can hardly wait for John to get home. I was off early due to the snow (so appropriate since we are celebrating our Christmas tonight ... who doesn't want snow on Christmas ... whether it's the 25th or "Christmas"). And I have been patiently waiting for John. I have cleaned both bathrooms, packed both suitcases, vacuumed every room, washed our sheets, finished all the dishes, and dusted our room. Only have the living room left to dust, and the house will be ready to leave (it does make sense to clean before leaving). 

I am proud to say we have not turned our heat on yet.

I have never been quite this into Christmas (4th of July and Thanksgiving are my holiday favorites). BUT this year is different. I have been saying Merry Christmas to John at least ten times a day since the day after Thanksgiving. This year I have a family (a very pint-size family consisting of John and myself) to start new traditions with. Although I love my mom’s traditions (mainly the ah-mazing chicken dinner on Christmas), it is fun to start our own. Funny all this talk, and really I have no idea what our Christmas tradition(s) will be. Guess I will know after tonight. 

happy birthday ... to me.

Well, I am a year older and I feel a year older. This birthday was not the same without a birthday party (thrown by myself, of course). BUT it was a good birthday, other than having to work. When I picked John up he came out with beautiful flowers in hand. Then took me to Cheesecake Factory, where we both enjoyed the best meal ... starting with avocado eggrolls, followed by our main courses (Burger and sweet potato fries for John/Bang-bang chicken and shrimp for me), and completed with a Snickers cheesecake. OUTSTANDING. Needless to say, we had lunch and dessert for the following day. I also received letters/presents in the mail! Nothing better than that. Oh, and a North Face jacket from John that I am in love with (that's both John AND the jacket that I am in love with).

John has been doing Land Navigation at school and is enjoying being "lost" in the forests of TBS. I have been contemplating quitting my current job and have also applied to substitute teach (much more in my line of business). And our blender has broke.

In other, more uplifting news, we added to our Christmas tree (even put a present under it!) and are ecstatic to come home in less than a week (Nebraska home first, then Kansas home)! AND we have rented Super Mario Bro's for our wii and ... our addiction is back.

Christmas is in the air.

This is one of the few years that I have allowed a tree to be up prior to my birthday. I have a good reason though, we go home in less than TWO WEEKS! So we need time to enjoy our precious, skinny tree. Other Christmas decorations include our new nativity scene which I am loving more every time I see it. The little details are perfect in every way (thank you, Theroults)!

We have completed most of our Christmas shopping (only have three more to buy for ... out of 18). Ahead of the game, if you ask me.

I went back to Nebraska this past week for a dear friends funeral (keep the Batchelors and Jon in your prayers) and left John to fend for his own. He did well. Even got a Tan belt while I was away (they started their Martial Arts training ... not a dress belt). It was good to spend a short amount of time with family and friends but even better to come home to my husband. Probably won't be leaving him again for quite awhile.

There is not much else going on in the Lynch household. John should have a couple "easy" weeks before Christmas then the wonderful weeks in the field will begin (that is when all friends and/or family are invited to come visit and keep me company). Our adventure on the East coast is still greater than we imagined.