Cross-country update.

After taking off today Jake's jet started to have problems and he had to make an unexpected landing at Ft. Rucker in Alabama. Jake and his instructor are fine but the plane is broken - something is wrong with the hydraulics. Praise God that nothing serious happened but I am feeling so sad for Jake right now. He was just told that he has to get a rental car and drive back to Columbus (which is more than a 6 hour drive). All of his friends are on their way to Florida for a fun weekend and he has to come home. I wish I could do something, anything, to fix this situation. It's just not fair for him to have to miss out on something he's been looking forward to for months. So much for that fun weekend...

This weekend.

Jake is off to Tampa this weekend for his UPT cross-country trip. This trip is a major milestone for the guys in UPT and is really important for training because it gives them exposure to different airfields and airports. Today Jake will be making a 2 hour flight (about 500 nautical miles) into the St. Petersburg airport in Florida, stopping in Tallahassee to refuel. Fun facts: In a car this trip would take 13 hours! Also, the amount of time/miles flown on cross-country trips usually amounts to at least 6 normal UPT flights!

While this is technically a "work" trip, don't let Jake fool you into thinking he's going to be working all weekend long... After his 2 hour flight today, he'll be in Tampa, with 11 of his good friends, free to do whatever they please until Sunday morning, with all their food and accommodations paid for. Not too shabby! To say that Jake is excited about this trip is an understatement. But who can blame him? He hasn't left Columbus, Mississippi at all since July! The poor guy really does need a guys weekend out to have some fun and just relax. I hope that's exactly what he'll do and I'm so excited for him to have a good weekend.

So what will I do this weekend while hubby is away? Enjoy some girl time of course! Tonight after work, I'm going to grab Mexican food with my good friend Patty (who's actually moving to Germany in a few weeks... wow!) We always have a great time together but with our busy schedules we rarely ever see each other, even though she lives just down the street. Tonight will be a lot of fun and I can't wait to catch up with her! Tomorrow morning I will probably just lounge around the house with the dogs, and then tomorrow night I have round 2 of girl's night out! Ann and I are going to do dinner and a movie; not sure what movie we'll see but I can almost guarantee you that it will be a chick flick- any recommendations? On Sunday, Allison (who's husband is also in Florida this weekend) and I are going to spend the day shopping in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We've been planning this shopping trip for a while now and could not be more excited!

Please remember to pray for Jake, that he will have safe flights and an awesome trip. We both have what promises to be a great weekend ahead of us!

Lets talk reality TV.

Reality TV seems to be a hot topic... What's your opinion? Love it, hate it, or love-to-hate it? Personally, I think reality TV is great and I'm not ashamed to admit that I follow quite a lengthy list of shows (Thank you DVR!) Really though, reality TV is cheesy, dramatic, and oh-so-entertaining. Anyone with me? Keep reading to hear my thoughts on my three current favorites - American Idol, The Biggest Loser, and of course, The Bachelor. Oh and I also love Project Runway but its still a bit too early in the season for me to have formed strong opinions on it yet...

I thought we already decided this...

Not to exhaust the subject or anything but here I go again with another track select post (If you're behind, you can read the first one here and the update here). Yesterday, Jake came home and told me he was not quite content with the decision he had made to put the T-44 track first. Oh goodness. I thought, well its too late now - we'll just have to see what happens. Turns out its not too late. Although Jake already turned in his dream sheet, he's apparently allowed to change his mind up until the week before track select (or something like that...) News to me! Well, now we're back to the decision that we've already made twice before; flipping and flopping, while all the time knowing that we really don't have much control over it anyways.

Seriously?

I just looked at my page counter and saw this: 10,000 blog visitors in 4 months. Whhaaatt?! Whoa. And seriously, what are the odds I would look at my page exactly when my counter hit 10,000. So cool!

Some of you might be thinking "What in the world is she talking about?" Well, at the end of September, I added a visitor counter to the bottom of my page. I set it to only count one time per IP address per hour (so that way if someone clicks around to different posts it doesn't rack up the counter). I just thought it would be a fun little widget to add to see if anyone was actually reading my blog, but wow, now I'm officially shocked. If that's not incentive for me to keep blogging, I'm not sure what is! So here's me, sending out a big thanks to you, for taking the time to read about my life and making me feel loved :)

The view from here.

Yes folks, this is my lovely office in Mississippi. And that ↑ is my superhero coffee mug - an official "welcome to the team" gift I received from my coworkers a while back (Remember when I told you my work made everyone into superheros? I think it's awesome). Just about everyday at lunch I blog from this exact spot. I love my office; it's spacious, on the third floor, and has a huge window overlooking the little town of West Point.

Although, it's not super glamorous, I am so thankful for my job and the wonderful people I get to work with everyday. They have all played a huge part in making Mississippi feel more like home. Below is a picture of the team at my office - Note: I look like I'm super tall compared to everyone else but its actually because I was photo-shopped into an older picture and the scale is a bit off.

Sleepy doggies.

We have some sleepy doggies here at the Pruitt house! Lately, Bailey & Badger have been able to play outside all day (while barking at anything and everything that goes by our fence - sorry neighbors!) so when I get home from work, they basically come in and just crash on the couch. Yesss! They wake up briefly to eat and play some more, and then weasel themselves into sleeping on our bed for the night. Ah, the rough life of being a dog...

Fridge notes.

Since Jake and I have been married, we've always left little notes around the house for each other. A few months ago, Jake realized that our fridge could also be used as a big whiteboard. Anything written with dry erase marker just wipes right off. Ever since his discovery, we have loved using our fridge as a handy place to leave our little notes. Today I want to share with you my favorite fridge note so far.

Last Friday was the day that I had my wisdom teeth out and it also happened to be the day that Jake had a big checkride in the T-6 (which he did awesome on by the way). In preparation for his big day, he went to bed super early the night before, especially since his call-time the next morning was 4:30am (eek!). I decided to leave a note on the fridge for him to read in the morning to encourage him and start his day off right. When I woke up the next morning to get ready for my surgery, a few hours after he had already left for work, I noticed that my note had been slightly altered (see the cross-outs and the added p.s. below). He must have been in a hurry and didn't have time to write a whole new note but I am so glad because this was hilarious and it totally made my day. It really is the little things in life, isn't it?

Miscellaneous updates.

Like the new look of my blog? I know I change the design of it often but once I get an idea in my head for a new look I just have to do it. This time around I went for simple elegance and easy navigation. Some specific things I like about it include: the ability to post full-size pictures, faster page loading as a result of less dependence on outside web content, and it's lack of cluttered/needless information. I think its girly and fun and if a blog could "look like me", this would be the one. Hopefully I haven't missed any coding glitches. I guess we'll soon find out. Oh and anyone recognize the header picture? We used it on our Save-the-Date cards two years ago - I still love it!

You also may have noticed that I've changed "Thankful Thursdays" to "Thankful Thoughts". I know you've all just been the on the edge of your seat wondering why (ha!). Fact is, I really am thankful on all the different days of the week and haven't liked being confined to posting my thoughts only on Thursdays. So with a simple name change, the problem is solved and I will now post my thankful thoughts and ramblings whenever I want.

As an update to my surgery last Friday, I have been feeling much, much better. I'm not quite 100% yet and still have some pain when talking or eating, but I'm definitely on the mend! I get my stitches out next Thursday and am hoping by then that pain will be a thing of the past. Again, I am so glad I only have to go through this once.

I mentioned this briefly before, but Jake has decided to definitely put the T-44 track first on his track select dream sheet. He seems to think that the chances of actually getting it are slim and that we should assume we will be staying in Columbus for T-1 training, so that's what I'm trying to do; but you never know so we'll just have to wait and see. That being said, I am now anxiously awaiting February 17th!

To end this random post, here is a random picture of my handsome hubby, because, well, I think it's cute and I also know many of you miss his face. Anyways, happy Friday everyone!

Thankful Thoughts #15.

I am so thankful for my good friends here in Columbus. Friends I can talk to about nothing - and everything. Friends that understand my life right now. Friends that drop by just to say hello. Friends that are so truly genuine. I never thought I would make such good friends in the short time we are here. These are the kind of friends I know I will always keep in contact with, even as we all move to a million new places. I am so thankful!

Let's see if this works.

For a couple months now I have been having problems with randomly feeling dizzy, shaky, and having shortness of breath. Nothing quite so serious as the weird case of bronchitis I had a few months back but definitely something that I would like to go away. Because of that recent bronchitis, I have had done just about every test that could be applicable to my symptoms and it looks like I am healthy as a horse. The doctors can tell me nothing and the problem just won't go away; in fact, it now shows up daily. I decided to take things into my own hands and try looking at the details of my daily life to see if I could figure out this pesky mystery. It didn't take me long to notice just who the little culprit might be... one of my dearest friends... Caffeine. dun-dun-dun...

I love caffeine. No surprise to those of you who know me. Actually, its not caffeine I love but the beverages that just so happen to have caffeine in them. I hate to admit this (and I know you will think I'm insane for this) but on an average day I will have 1-2 cups of coffee and 3-4 caffeinated sodas. I know. It's terrible. Please no lectures. It's not that I need the caffeine, because honestly I don't even notice the effects of it anymore, but its just that the taste of soda always sounds so much better than any other option. The picture to the right shows me at my family's Hawaiian timeshare happily holding my "free refill" soda cup. That week I had more sodas than I could ever begin count.

After coming to this totally obvious realization about myself this afternoon, I decided to look up the effects of caffeine to see if I had found my culprit and *ding*ding*ding* we have a winner! My symptoms. described. to. a. T.

So, as I sit here drinking my 2nd coca-cola of the day, I have decided to give up caffeine for a month (starting after I finish this soda of course). Bummer. But honestly, I would trade a few cans of coke for my near daily panic attacks anytime. I am allowing myself one exception: I can have one cup of coffee each morning. I really do need a cup of coffee to get my day started off right, not to mention it will help a little with caffeine headaches that I am surely in for. After one month (on February 20th), I will re-evaluate my symptoms and see if caffeine was in fact the problem. Do you think I figured it out? Fingers crossed... Oh and here's a fun fact to end with... not buying soda for one month will save me $75 to $100 (at least!) I'd say that's a pretty good chunk of change! Wish me luck!

Grass is always greener.

As the saying goes... The grass is always greener on the other side. I bring this up because lately I have been itching for something new and I need to vent or at least give myself a little pep talk. This blog post might be random and a bit of a ramble but I need to write this out so I can get over it. Hey, that's what my blog is for right?

Details of a painful weekend.

The past 5 days have been painful and honestly, a complete blur, hence my lack of blogging. Needless to say, I survived my wisdom teeth surgery. However my recovery has been nothing short of miserable. I know everyone has a different experience with this surgery and I guess I got the short end of the stick. I would've loved to have been one of those "no big deal" stories. But for me, it was awful. My face says it all. Misery.

This picture was taken the day of the surgery, which was actually my best day out of the last 5 days because I was still on the IV meds, my mouth was still entirely numb, and the swelling had yet to set in. Sadly, the picture above was me at my best. Sheesh... that's an awful picture and yes, I realize I look like I'm 12. It happens. I actually have no recollection of this picture being taken and really I can't remember anything at all from Friday. Apparently, I was texting people right after my surgery? Definitely no memory of that!

As you can also see in this picture, I had one very special little nurse all weekend, Bailey. Usually she is a crazy, hyper little devil of a dog but during my recovery she was calm, cuddly, and never left my side. Somehow she knew I wasn't feeling well and just wanted to make me better. So sweet :) It was too good to be true though because as of this morning she knew I was feeling better and went right back to her crazy ways. Good thing she's cute! Okay, back to the details of my weekend... or at least what I can patch together of it... like I said, total blur.

Goodbye wisdom teeth.

Tomorrow is the day I have been dreading for months - my wisdom teeth surgery. I will enter the oral surgeon's office at 8am and leave approximately an hour later missing four of my wisest teeth. I am not happy about this. It would be one thing if my wisdom teeth were causing me horrific pain but they are in fact not. At least not at the moment. Essentially I am wasting a day off, giving the dentist hundreds of dollars, and having a miserable weekend all for something that isn't even causing me pain now but could in the future. I know, I know, I'm being dramatic. Everyone has said its nothing to get worked up about but I can't help it. Surgery is surgery. Oh well, I suppose it must be done. It's time to get it over with! Any words of wisdom from people who've "been-there-done-that" with this whole wisdom teeth thing?

Knowing of my impending wisdom teeth removal, one of my friends sent me this video below. It is so hilarious! I doubt the meds will affect me quite as much as they did for this little guy but if they do I definitely want Jake to take a video of it.

Thankful Thoughts #14.

I am thankful for the little things in life...
Watching another season of hilarious hopefuls audition for American Idol.
Having my favorite song play on the radio at the exact moment I want to hear it.
Buying a large coke at McDonald's for only $1.
Buying cute new hand towels - on sale! - for the bathroom.
Discovering sweet little notes from Jake on the fridge. 
Driving past beautiful frozen rivers on my way to work.
Enjoying an extra warm latte on an extra chilly morning.
Snuggling with sleepy puppies. Snuggling with a sleepy Jake.
Knowing that sometimes its okay to not act your age.
"Little things" can make all the difference and I am so thankful!

The future.

Jake is just weeks away from being done in the T-6 and Track Select is right around the corner. Time is flying! (pun intended) Yesterday he told me its time to fill out his "dream sheet" for his next aircraft and thus, its time to consider the future. He essentially has four options for his next training aircraft and his dream sheet is as simple as numbering those options from best to worst. Or maybe not so simple...

Obsessed.

On Friday I stumbled across a website that has become a major inspiration (& obsession) for me. It's called Young House Love and its a husband/wife team that has completely transformed their house. Its honestly the best house renovation I have ever seen (and I watch a lot of HGTV!) Click here to see what I mean. The best part is that they give step by step details on how they did everything themselves and how they did it on a low budget. They also give out a ton of design advice and have some really unique ideas.


If you enjoy decoration and design or love looking at new blogs, you must check this out! You will most likely be sucked into their website for hours upon hours, and leave feeling like you want to redesign your entire house. Just a warning :) I have seriously been inspired to give our house a fresh new look! Oh the possibilities...

Hmm...

I'm having a hard time blogging today. Writer's block it seems. Any suggestions for what I should blog about? I think I just need a jumpstart. In the meantime, here is a ridiculously cute picture of Bailey & Badger.

Snow Day!

Yes, its true. Outside my window, large flakes of snow are falling from the sky... in Mississippi! In fact, most of the area has declared it a "snow day" so lots of people are off work and most kids are out of school for the day. My work actually is not canceled today but my boss told me not to come in and just call it a snow day because the drive from Columbus to West Point, where I work, has a lot of bridges that tend to ice over during the freezing rain and snow and that might be dangerous by this afternoon.

So here I am, happy as can be, at home on the couch, in my pjs, robe, and slippers, sipping on hot coffee and cuddling with my puppies while I write this blog. I've even got some beef stew cooking in the crock pot to enjoy later today. I've never had a snow day before. Its like a totally unexpected extra day off to do whatever I please. Maybe I'll read, maybe I'll clean, maybe I'll scrapbook. Maybe I'll do nothing but sit here and watch movies all day and stare at the beautiful snow outside. Anyway I slice it, it's a happy day :)

But there is something I need to vent about if you all don't mind...

New Years 2010.

Sorry that its taken me a few days to post a blog about my New Years celebration. I wanted to make sure that I do it justice and take the time to write out all the details (Warning: This will be a long post!) As I mentioned before, I went to Nashville with Allison, and it was a trip we will never forget! We didn't really have much of a plan when we went, we just assumed that there would be something to do in the downtown area where our hotel was, and boy were we right! It was one of the best nights I've ever had!

Fail.

This morning I had to take Badger to the vet for surgery. The poor little guy had a large sist on his stomach that needed to be removed {FYI, it all went great and Badge is doing fine}. Just to be safe they are testing it for cancer but the vet said that I really shouldn't be worried about that. Anyways, when I left I just really needed a good coffee, so on my way to work, I stopped at a random Mississippi coffee shop. I said to the worker, "Can I please get a latte?" She then stared at me strangely and said "A what?" Yes, she works at a coffee shop and has never heard of a latte. Needless to say I left empty handed.
 

Do what you love. Love what you do.

I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my life career-wise. I've never wanted to be the type of person who goes to work just for the money. I'm also the person who needs to work. I love to work; I just want to love what I do. It's just taken me a while to figure out what exactly that might be. I think I may have finally figured it out...

Plan & Simplify.

Lately, Jake and I have been very motivated to pay off all our debt (especially student loans) and really start saving for the future. We are basically living off of my salary and putting all of his salary towards loans, savings (house down payment & travel), and retirement. It really is a wonderful feeling to put money away in savings and we are so excited about doing that even more this year! To make sure we stick to our plan, we've developed a comfortable but strict 2010 budget. We've always had a household budget since we got married and have managed to stick with it pretty well, but I've always wished I could keep better track of exactly where our money went and how close we were in each of our budget categories.

Recently, Jake read an article about an online budget program and, wow, it is seriously a dream come true. I've never been so excited about budgeting in my whole life! It's called "Mint" and its a free online money management program. It allows you to link to all of your different bank accounts (for example it links to our 2 credit cards, our debit card, our house savings, travel savings, and our emergency savings). It also links to all our debt (our different student loan providers, our car loan, and Jake's AF loan). We can then go to our Mint account and see exactly what is going on in any of our accounts or loans. Even Jake's stocks and investments, including our retirement accounts, are linked letting us know at any moment exactly how much money we have. It has seriously simplified our lives.

And, it takes all the hassle out of budgeting. You can set up specific budgets for anything (and seriously, they have thought of everything!) and anytime a transaction comes through it will put it into the right category. It really does all the work for you! At any time, you can look at balances, summaries, and pie charts that show you just about anything you would want to know about where your money is going.

If you are looking for a way to plan & simplify, you need to check this out. Whether your budget is big or small, you will love this! And their iPhone app is like icing on the cake :)