AirForceVirgin's Xanga

Ain't feeling it

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:15:25 GMT

Well, I gave it the old college try, but I guess my blogging career on Xanga is officially over. It was, and will always be a wonderful part of my life, but it's time to move on.

I currently write a blog on WordPress about parenting and my daily screw-ups as a parent, as well as the more philosophical, "Holy crap, why did I bring my daughter into this crazy, messed up world, where Rick Santorum is actually winning states in the GOP primaries?" Yeah, I freak out daily.

So, if anyone cares to follow me, that's where I am. I have loved you all, and I have enjoyed being here so much, but, we must grow, and grow I will.

Follow! Follow! Follow! I'm still witty, I'm just witty about nap time, and strained peas, instead of... wow, what did I write about when I was here? Oh god, the child has taken over my life, and I can't remember who I was before. I'm doomed. I'm another doomed parent. HELP! Come read my blog and make me famous, so I can still have a writing career.

Signing off as AVF for the final time...

Sincerely yours,
AirForceVirgin

Bringing it back, old school.

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:09:30 GMT

I'm baaackkkk. Did ya miss me?

What can I say? I heard that absence makes the heart grow fonder, so I decided that two years was the perfect length to make sure all of my subscribers were absolutely beside themselves wondering where I had disappeared to. Did it work? Have you all been on pins and needles waiting for my reappearance?

Damn. Didn't think so.

Eh, anyways. How to crunch two years of living into one, single Xanga post? My life seems too amazing for that, but, I'll try.

Let's see, I am one semester away from graduating with my BA in Communications... and then the job hunt begins. Life for a journalist in this economy-- does it get any more "bottom of the barrel" than that? Anyone want to higher me out to write your Christmas letters?

And, really, my goal is to find a job where I can write from home, because daycare costs are just too expensive to deal with. That's right, I said daycare. AFV made an AFV Jr. Actually, her name is Sydney, and, I promise, I'm not like all those other parents out there who think their kid is the cutest thing ever. But truthfully, SHE IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CREATURE I'VE EVER LAID EYES ON. And I made her. Like, MADE her. I know, I know, it's the miracle that happens a thousand times a day, but unless you've been through it, you will never understand what a crazy, life changing, monumental, amazing, and friggin' painful experience it is. Painful.

AFV pregnant:

I was about 34 weeks here. I still look back in awe that my kid was in there. Whoa.

And, I went through the crazy awesome, painful experience alone. My husband was deployed for the THIRD time to Iraq, and just recently returned two weeks ago when Miss Syd was two months old. Yeah, giving birth without him sucked pretty bad. But, at least she has no recollection of her dad not being there, and he'll see her first of everything. Just kind of sucked having every nurse assume I'm a single mother, and, since I look like I'm 14, a single teenage mother. I kept telling everyone who even looked at me, "Husband is in Iraq-- SEE!? Wedding ring!" Then I got the, "Awww, poor, courageous thing!" look. Infinitely better. And I got extra banana pudding from the cafeteria lady. We're in it for the perks, people. Riiight.

Actually, I can honestly say that the last six months were the worst of my entire life. Not only was I raging, hormonal pregnant bitch all by myself, but he was in a lot of danger over there. Thankfully, he never let me know it, and kept his voice incredibly upbeat every time he talked to me, but I have Google. I know what he went through, and had it all confirmed once he came home and told me his stories. Suffice it to say, I hug him a little tighter every night, and he kisses his daughter as much as he can throughout the day. He's supposed to be AIR FORCE, not a freakin' SEAL. Ugh. /rant

So, that's what I've been doing-- chasing the light in the tunnel towards my degree, getting knocked up and giving birth to the single most beautiful baby on the planet, and dealing with my husband being gone for the third time.

Why return to blogging after all this time? Good question.

I thought about Xanga so many times. I thought about writing so many times. I even tried to write a journal while I was pregnant, thinking it would be something I would want to look back on and read about. But truthfully, those months I spent alone left me with some of the rawest emotions I've ever felt, and I don't think I will ever care to relive them. Now that my life seems to be calming down (as calm as it can be with a 10-week-old in the house), I knew it was time. I could just feel it. So, here I am. I re-upped my Xanga Premium account, and I'm here to start kicking ass and writing about it.

What's been going on with all of you? What's been going on with Xanga? Why is there still no iPhone app for Xanga? I check periodically, you know. Especially since my iPhone is my life (sorry, I recently got 32 GB white 4S, and I'm annoying everyone with how much I talk about it-- didn't want y'all to be any exception).

Talk to me, Xangans. How's it been?
AFV

Oh, and just for proof that Miss Sydney really is the most beautiful creature EVAR, here is my mini-me:

I know, I know. Gah, amazing.

Sunday, December 04, 2011

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:14:28 GMT

For anyone still following me... I'm back, guys. Look for a longer, detailed and all around epic post from me shortly. I've missed you all.

A timeline of ME

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:49:26 GMT

So, fellow bloggers, how are y'all?

It's been forever since I wrote a real post, and once again, neither is this one. I just thought I'd catch everyone up on how I've been doing for the last eight months.

In July, I quit my job working at the financial aid office at the small community college in my town.

In August, I took a series of small roatrips with my mom and sister. We toured a total four universities in three weeks in preparation for my sister's freshman year of college in the fall of 2010. Texas State University in San Marcos, North Texas University in Denton, Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, and Cameron University in Oklahoma. Had a blast, and now I proudly own shirts from every single one. During August, I also started school at the previously mentioned Cameron University. It's about an hour from where I currently live with my husband on the military base, and the drive to and from class every day is absolutely killer. It seriously magnifies how stupid we were to buy a brand new car when I have to trek across 62 miles just to get to campus. Bought the truck in March with 22 miles on it, and now we have 15,000. Yeah, brilliant.

In September, my husband left me to go fight for this great country in Iraq. Sigh. He's still there.

In October, I realized that the tiny community college I had left had not prepared me for how different university life is. Larger classes, harder subjects, and fantastic political debates.

In November, I realized that the profession I had chosen to pursue has absolutely no monetary worth in the real world. Insert night sweats and daily hyperventilating over my future.

In December, I finished my first semester at the university, and am anxiously awaiting the results. I should know final grades by Friday.

Yeah, the university is a lot harder, but my classes are so kick ass. As an aspiring journalist, being able to sit in a class entitled "Newswriting" and "Intro to Journalism" indicts a personal euphoria. Sitting around discussing politics, the placing of opinions in so-called news organizations (ahem, FAUX "News"), and getting graded on it? Unbelievable.

I also wiggled my way into an editorial position on the college paper. Yep, I'm officially in charge of the Arts & Entertainment section of our paper. Not exactly my ideal beat, but it looks like a News editor position is opening up to me soon, and, according to the adviser, possibly THE editor position. How awesome will THAT look on my resume?!

So yes, it's been a trying six months. Quitting my familiar job, starting at an unfamiliar school, working as an editor on the college paper while still trying to learn how the campus really works, saying goodbye to my husband again and anxiously awaiting his return (FREAKING SOON)... whew.

Made it out alive though. I drove home to Texas on Tuesday and plan on spending my entire break here. Normally I wouldn't do this, I would be at my house with my husband, and we would come home a few days before Christmas, or whenever his holiday break began, and then leave on New Year's Day. However, he's not here, there's nothing for me at my house, so I'm enjoying the familiarity and comfort of my family.

So, once again I ask, bloggers, how are Y'ALL?!

'A Christmas Carol:' Same story, fresh approach

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:59:10 GMT

Going into this movie, one might be wary of the prospect of Jim Carrey taking on the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol," after seeing the disaster of a job he did in the adaptation of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Luckily for movie-goers, the latest remake of Dickens' Christmas staple is above and beyond what this reviewer expected.

Writer and director Robert Zemeckis allowed the movie to follow the traditional storyline of "A Christmas Carol," where Scrooge is depicted as a miser, frugal with his money and time, and is haunted by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come in an attempt to save his soul from an afterlife of haunting the earth.

Scrooge is shown as old, wrinkly and cursed with pointed bones and an extreme pointed chin, reminiscent of Jay Leno. Scrooge's business partner, Jacon Marleyis a bit more terrifying than his predecessors and uses the full extent of the theater's sound system when attempting to frighten Scrooge into submission. The Ghost of Christmas Past is an effeminate man in the shape of a candle with the flame as his head, and while speaking, the flame moves from side to side as if flickering in the wind.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is a large, seemingly Irish man with a flowing red robe, and laughs at the sight of Scrooge's embarrassment on their journey as they look into the lives of those he has made bleak. The movie takes on a darker tone during the last spirit to haunt Scrooge, as expected, when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, characterized by a figure that closely resembles the Grim Reaper, reveals to Scrooge that unless he changes his ways, the future holds a very dishonorable death.

In addition to voicing Scrooge, Carrey also lends his voice to Marley, as well as the three spirits that haunt Scrooge. As recognizable as Carrey's normal speaking voice is, viewers won't realizing Carrey is voicing multiple roles, or even involved in the film at all because of how he disguises his himself.

The real surprise is how closely the movie mimics the original Dickens tale, not only following the original plot laid out by Dickens, but also in the dialogue. Despite being released by Walt Disney Pictures, Zemeckis does not cater to the younger audience, but mostly uses phrases word-for-word from the original writing, which might make it hard for children to understand the full extent of the story; however, the look of the film will keep their attention, even if the language doesn't.

The movie was released in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D, and the experience of a performance capture film has improved immensely since Zemeckis' attempts with "The Polar Express" in 2004 and "Beowulf" in 2007. Despite an inordinate amount of scenes that followed Scrooge attached to one of the spirits flying through the air, the use of 3D in the film is artistic, and succeeds in giving the viewer the feeling of actually being involved in a conversation or action scene, like when Scrooge falls into his own grave.

Thanks to the realistic look of the falling snow and the eerily life-like expressions reflected on the faces of the characters, "A Christmas Carol" is able to rise above average animated movies into an entire category all its own. Though a bit darker in some places than most parents would expect of a movie released by Walt Disney Pictures, Zemeckis' "A Christmas Carol" is a wonderful start to the holiday season.

Bah humbug, indeed.

I need hugs!

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:54:09 GMT

I can't explain my absence, so I'm not going to try. I'm just ready to come back, and hoping all of you will welcome me home with open arms.

I will, however, catch you up on what has happened while I've been away.

-- 4.0 for the spring semester
-- 4.0 for the two classes I took in the summer
-- "Vacation" to Illinois to visit my husband's mother and her side of the family. The stories I could tell from that one trip alone are vast and colorful.
-- A very lame 4th of July.
-- Some minor marital problems as a result of being nervous about the upcoming deployment. Happened the last time too, so nothing to worry about.
-- Quit my job last Thursday and feel very unproductive now.

Alright, now that y'all are all caught up, how have y'all been?

That Obama is a character, isn't he?

A more substantial post in the coming days, but I thought I'd start off small and work my way up.

I've missed y'all!
-- AFV

Drumroll...

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:06:16 GMT

Hi y'all... how's it been hanging?

-- AFV

Just A Fun Little "Life Blows" Moment

Fri, 29 May 2009 18:09:43 GMT

It's official: The husband was tasked this afternoon for his next deployment. We know where, when, and for how long.

It's been one hell of a day.

Oy vey.

Jon & Kate Plus Eight Exploitations

Tue, 26 May 2009 15:06:51 GMT

Tonight, when Alexis Gosselin so innocently told her dad, "Daddy, I don't want you to leave anymore," my heart positively broke in half.

For those of you who don't have 81 episodes of Jon and Kate Plus Eight recorded onto your DVR, let me recap.

This past March my mom and sister drove up for a week-long visit, and it is a tradition after the days activities to channel flip at night-- this is how I am exposed to new and random television shows... so yes, I blame my mother for hooking me on this now-train-wreck of a show. I began taping it with a vengeance, and can proudly name all eight kids just by seeing them. I have my favorites, Leah and Aiden, and think Mady needs a good spank on the butt every now and then.

As I watched the reruns (since their last season ended almost immediately after I discovered it), I began noticing quite a difference between the earlier episodes and the most recent ones. The beginning episodes were exactly what the show was supposed to be about: how a couple handles the stress, and the major job it must be to handle eight tiny children. The later episodes were... not so stressed. Lots of vacations, which, obviously, were free, since having eight kids and supposedly only one bread-winner could not possibly finance a trip to Hawaii, or a trip to Disney World, or a skiing trip.

I sort of brushed this off though, thinking, well, it's good that they're able to provide these types of experiences for their kids that they probably would have been able to do if they had only had one or two children. So sure, that's great, go have fun. Then Kate's constant yelling began grating my nerves, and Jon's obnoxious attitude started getting to me, and I then began noticing that these poor children were lacking quite a bit of attention, which is possibly the reason for Mady's outbursts in the first place. I realize that giving the adequate attention needed to eight kids would be extremely hard, but they were ignored more than necessary. The feel good "I love you" moments were passed on way too often, and very little eye-contact was made with the kids unless it was for punishment reasons.

Then... came the tabloids. Jon's cheating on Kate, Kate's cheating on Jon, Aunt Jodi and Kevin sold them down the river to save the kids, divorce is possibly on the horizon, etc... and oh yeah, the season five premiere is tonight. WHAT?!

Tonight's premiere was awkward, uncomfortable, and a sad picture of a once very-much-in-love couple who turned in their marriage for free stuff, fake tans, and money. Oh, and yes, the kids. The kids were turned in as well, the minute the cash started rolling in, I imagine.

As Jon and Kate answered interview questions about their future marital status with open-ended responses that were chock full of subtle hints that divorce is most likely imminent, I was left thinking, and you're going to continue the show? Are you insane? These precious children who as of now are completely oblivious (for the most part, although Alexis has certainly noticed that her daddy is missing) are going to go through life with their parents divorce entirely recorded for the world to see, and you can certainly see the ramifications this will have on them later in life. I expect either one therapist or eight therapists individually will be making a lot of money in twenty years or so off of these kids.

Sure, they have all the right clothes, toys, a big house, and whatever else money can buy, but you can't buy memories and you can't buy a normal childhood.

I will not be watching the show any longer, and I sincerely hope that Jon and Kate pull their heads out of their bottoms, pull the plug on the cameras and work out their marital issues the correct way whether they divorce or not--- in private.

(And by the way, hello, again!)

No More 'Shattered Dreams'

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:12:08 GMT

Every three years at my old high school, the administration, and really, the town as a whole puts on a program called "Shattered Dreams". It's a simulation of a drunk driving accident that takes place on the school grounds.

Prominent students are chosen by their teachers to act as drunk driving victims, are made up with fake injuries, and are placed in a mangled mess of metal to give the effect of a drunk driving accident. A simulated arrest is made, "bodies" are taken away in body bags, "critically injured" students are taken to the local hospital, care flight is called in, parents come and see their child "brain dead" in the hospital ER... it's a very powerful and impacting program.

This year my sister filmed and edited the video, and this is the labor of all her hard work. Think long and hard about yourself, your friends, your siblings... make good choices, and don't become a part of someone else's "Shattered Dreams".

Here is the video

Enjoy, and please recommend.