M is for Matthew!

The past few months of my life have been ridiculously cram-packed full of an ungodly level of busy-ness. I intend to give a brief recap, because TODAY is the first day I feel relaxed enough to do so. And by that I mean, I'm not actively participating in some vigorous activity currently, so I'm going to toot my own damn horn for just a minute!
Lets see...when did this all start? OH yeah, August. So in August, I'm told I'm going to be doing some really "cool stuff" for work. (In most cases this means my life is about to be an absolute living HELL, but in this case particularly, it was some pretty awesome stuff! But it didn't come without its always required purgatory time.) So onto the start of this 'I'm new here and trying to make good first impressions and seem as though I am far more intelligent than I am and that's why they picked me' "cool stuff". First of all, boy was it ever nerve racking to maintain that^  facade for six LONG weeks. Anyhow, classes for this stuff started and they were about, you know, all day long, 7 days a week for four weeks or so. Dinner obligations started dropping off of cliffs and then before I knew it any wifely house keeping related obligations--such as grocery shopping--started down that same slippery slope and after week two, Travis was back to having to fend for himself or have take out for most meals. (While this isnt so uncommon in our lives, I cook as often as I can, but sometimes my lack of energy heavily outweighs my desire to stand in a kitchen for any length of time.) This time the lack of home-cooked meals and house keeping was well worth it because I was learning at the cyclic rate--and I'll admit, I was loving it. (I may be overly nerdy, but there is just something extraordinary to me about learning real-life usable things; I can never get enough. I think that had I felt like college was initially providing me with that same type of learning experience, I'd still be in a class somewhere, completely enveloped in studying information. I would still love to get back to doing college things, but that's a tangent and another topic for a different day.)   So the four long weeks come to a close or just transition rather, into application that took place far away from home and lasted an additional two weeks. Not that Travis could miss me, I'd hardly been present the prior four weeks. But off to a yucky place for two weeks. (I'm quite partial to constant sunshine and perfect whether now, ya'll.) Let me just say: Those two weeks were probably some of the most mind-bending back-breaking days I've ever had. From sun up to midnight each day. My poor hamster was running so fast his wheel was red hot. But what an incredible learning experience I was afforded! It was a hectic, crazy, exhausting, trying six weeks, but I gained a wealth of knowledge and a noteworthy experience!
 So back home I went. But those six weeks were just the start of my exhaustion. I came home late on a Saturday evening to discover I was scheduled for the range just the following Monday. I had just enough time to unpack some of my bags and do laundry on Sunday before heading to grass week bright and early the following morning. That wasn't so terrible... until I found out I'd also be required to put in a full days work after snapping in. At this point, I'm over tired and starting to resent that I have gone 7 weeks with one Sunday off to do laundry. It's a countdown to the weekend. Not so much of a weekend without my main squeeze who'd at this time just left for out of town business, but it was a weekend, kind of. (Laundry, cleaning, gear-finding parties, etc.) Monday. Range week. Oh joy. I have the ostensible pleasure of waking up at 2:30 AM to arrive promptly at 4 o'clock in the morning at a place where we hop into a uncomfortable vehicle, with a bunch of gear on, get bounced around in the back of said uncomfortable vehicle for ehhh, about 20 minutes, to rattle you up really well and ensure no extra shut-eye be taking place. After this joy ride, you arrive in the middle of a pitch black, dark and freezing cold field. Wherein you dutifully wait the next 2 hours for the sun to come up! And you do this... Every. Single. Day.  Long, whiny, story short, I got Sharpshooter, because it rained a freezing cold rain all day on qualification day. (The only day I've witnessed rain here, mind you. Don't ask me for lotto numbers.)  Considering my skill set and those less than desirable conditions, I can't say that I'm entirely too unhappy with that score. I'm still nobody to mess with ya'll! If it's pouring rain and freezing cold, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll still be a dangerous gal it just may take me two shots instead of just one!
 So what did I do the weekend after do you ask? Did I rest my tired eyes, sore muscles and fried brain? I did not. Having the silver tongue that I do, I talked some sweet nearby neighbors into getting me to the airport at 4:00 AM on a Saturday. So that I could fly home. For my very best friend's (who also happens to be my little sister) baby shower. I had spent the past weeks (after long, long hours of work) meticulously planning every tiny little detail of what I hoped would be a perfect baby shower for her.  I got in that Saturday after my darling SIL picked me up from the airport and got right to work finalizing the tiny details and preparing for the big day (which was the following day; Sunday).  Got very little sleep and started the morning early getting tables and chairs and putting everything together. No rest for the weary! But I somehow (with the help of a few special people) pulled it off. And I have to say, I was quite impressed at the party I was able to throw on little to no sleep after eight weeks of going non-stop.  I can only imagine what I'd be capable of if I had gotten to plan everything like a normal person, with a little time.

This is one of very pictures that were taken. Failure on my part for not pre-arranging some decent picture taking, but it kind of shows the table arrangements I made. Blue mason jars were take-home favors. 

    There were little name tags that I made in hopes of eliminating the awkward "I have no idea who I'm talking to right now" moment at the shower.  They were hit and I got lots of "how cute" compliments. Crafty is my middle name ya'll.

Cute little cake made by Cake Charisma. Kept with the theme of elephants and was different layers of blue inside and very tasty! ('M' is for Matthew; my arriving-soon nephew!)