Well, today marks exactly 52 days to go with the wedding! I am beginning to get antsy and slightly nervous. Let me clarify that the nervousness is not because of the marriage, but because of the event itself. The Captain is edgy... I know most of it has to do with him getting deployed later this year, but I think some of it is the wedding as well. He doesn't want to admit it, but I know better! ;)
This deployment has become a harsh reality for me already. Training has began for The Captain and his unit and he travels quite frequently now. I am doing my best to make the most of the time he's here so when he leaves, I will not regret that.
The wedding plans are pretty much finished, except ordering flowers. We are going to make all of the arrangements ourselves and have most of the flowers picked out. My fear is they don't turn out the way I want them to...
I apologize for rambling. This whole situation has me frazzled!
I will be going to Fort McClellan next weekend to help with the unit's FRG. I am on the board, I guess that means I'm "official". :)
The sequestration has everyone up in arms! I am not sure how they think cutting certain things from the military is going to help if they are not fully trained when deployment time comes. Sometimes I think I could do a better job with figuring out a way to budget all of this money. It blows my mind how "some people" are entitled to large amounts of money, but when it comes time for the individuals that take care and protect this country, everything has to be cut! Forget cutting some of their salaries, let the nation suffer! I never can recall in my life something this terrible happening within our country.
Ok, I'm off my soapbox now. I know I am all over the place with this blog... It's the ADHD, I haven't taken my med today!! LOL
Anyway, for those of you that know the situation, please keep us in mind when it comes time for prayers. And for those that don't know, it's apparent that he's deploying and not too long after the wedding.
Thank you for reading my crazy thoughts... I promise, the next one won't be so random.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Proposal
I haven't blogged in awhile, but y'all know how the holidays are...
This year was a fantastic Christmas and probably the best one I have ever been a part of. It will definitely remain the most memorable.
The Captain and I had to figure out arrangements for Christmas and decided we would have Christmas Eve with my family, and do Christmas Day at his dad's house in Homewood. Dave kept saying "This is going to be the last Bacon Christmas".
Apparently, he had talked with Mom, Daddy, Emily and Matt and they agreed the engagement would be the best if executed on Christmas Eve, with everyone there. Well, we were getting ready to head to Guntersville that day and Dave had been edgy for most of it. I had asked him a couple times what was wrong and I repeatedly got the same answer. "Nothing is wrong, I'm fine."
After we got to Mom and Daddy's and talked for awhile, Mom told Emily to go pick up ice and she insisted I go with her. While we were gone, The Captain talked to my parents and made sure he had their blessing to marry me.
We get back, eat, and begin to open gifts. We had the best time with the girls!
Dave gave me a few gifts at the house and everyone was happy with what they received. After that, David asked me to point out my favorite ornament on the tree. After the wreck in 2002, when I was hanging on by a thread, Mom bought some butterflies to go on the tree. They signified the miracle of me surviving and ending up almost normal. ;-)
I started looking on the tree for them, but only found one. Well, Emily jumps in and starts to point others out. David had placed the ring on one of the butterflies and I could not believe it when I saw it. I immediately began tearing up... I even up the ring on my finger before he asked!!! :)
Then he of course, popped the question. Obviously, I said yes and am thrilled! I cannot wait to marry this wonderful man that I have been so blessed to find.
Everyone in my family approves! David had told his sister he was proposing on Christmas Eve so when we left my parents' house, we celebrated in Homewood with champagne. They were just as happy!
We have set the date, booked the venue, picked the flowers, ordered my dress, picked out invitations (which I am ordering next week), and booked the honeymoon!
The wedding will take place on May 5th at the Lake Guntersville State Park. The Captain will wear his uniform and we are HOPING to have some of the National Guard guys to come and hold the sabers to walk through. :)
Here is a link to the proposal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU1A4g9jNjM
And here's the ring: 1.01 ct Assher Cut (center stone), 1.35 total ct wt. VVS2 Clarity and F Color
This year was a fantastic Christmas and probably the best one I have ever been a part of. It will definitely remain the most memorable.
The Captain and I had to figure out arrangements for Christmas and decided we would have Christmas Eve with my family, and do Christmas Day at his dad's house in Homewood. Dave kept saying "This is going to be the last Bacon Christmas".
Apparently, he had talked with Mom, Daddy, Emily and Matt and they agreed the engagement would be the best if executed on Christmas Eve, with everyone there. Well, we were getting ready to head to Guntersville that day and Dave had been edgy for most of it. I had asked him a couple times what was wrong and I repeatedly got the same answer. "Nothing is wrong, I'm fine."
After we got to Mom and Daddy's and talked for awhile, Mom told Emily to go pick up ice and she insisted I go with her. While we were gone, The Captain talked to my parents and made sure he had their blessing to marry me.
We get back, eat, and begin to open gifts. We had the best time with the girls!
Dave gave me a few gifts at the house and everyone was happy with what they received. After that, David asked me to point out my favorite ornament on the tree. After the wreck in 2002, when I was hanging on by a thread, Mom bought some butterflies to go on the tree. They signified the miracle of me surviving and ending up almost normal. ;-)
I started looking on the tree for them, but only found one. Well, Emily jumps in and starts to point others out. David had placed the ring on one of the butterflies and I could not believe it when I saw it. I immediately began tearing up... I even up the ring on my finger before he asked!!! :)
Then he of course, popped the question. Obviously, I said yes and am thrilled! I cannot wait to marry this wonderful man that I have been so blessed to find.
Everyone in my family approves! David had told his sister he was proposing on Christmas Eve so when we left my parents' house, we celebrated in Homewood with champagne. They were just as happy!
We have set the date, booked the venue, picked the flowers, ordered my dress, picked out invitations (which I am ordering next week), and booked the honeymoon!
The wedding will take place on May 5th at the Lake Guntersville State Park. The Captain will wear his uniform and we are HOPING to have some of the National Guard guys to come and hold the sabers to walk through. :)
Here is a link to the proposal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU1A4g9jNjM
And here's the ring: 1.01 ct Assher Cut (center stone), 1.35 total ct wt. VVS2 Clarity and F Color
Thursday, September 27, 2012
I'm ya Huckleberry!
After surviving the first week here, that following Sunday David took me to Tombstone. I had never watched the movie (my dad is still surprised). I filled myself in a little bit before we left so I would have a slight understanding for what I was in for. On the drive up there, David filled me in some on details I may or may not had read. It was a short, 20 minute drive there. At first glance, the houses seemed very run-down, but once we arrived in town, everything was updated and very active. David drove up and parked next to one of the few original buildings left in town, the courthouse. I thought it looked rather large for such a smalltown, but it also housed inmates.
Since The Captain had already been there and knew the layout, he guided me to the revived downtown area. I saw several people walking around adorned with the "Old West" attire. I was intrigued! Captain explained that these people do this everyday to keep their town alive. We walked all the way down to the Bird Cage Theater and while doing that, he explained the types of events that occurred in this establishment. Just outside the front door, there is a landmark describing the shooting that took place--I can't remember the guy's name, but it was Curly Bill that shot him.
Once we went inside, it's like we stepped into a time machine and went back to the 1880s. All of the artwork was original, flooring, walls, ceilings, everything! I could not believe this buliding was still in its original form. When they closed the doors, they weren't open again until 1934! In the first room, there was a large bar and mirror behind it. That is the original mirror, as well! I noticed a small staircase in the far right corner of the room that led to a door that was off limits and could only assume that it was a way to get to the balcony? Which was in fact where you could get to the box seats for the show, or the curtains could be drawn to be used as "cribs" for the prostitutes.
We finally reached the stage and "The first baby grand piano in Tombstone" is sitting at the pit. I then noticed all of the box seats and how nice it was for those people to sit above. I wondered first was that where the Soiled Doves went to get business, but Captain quickly told me to wait, because there's more to see. I walked up on stage and looked around, it was very large like what I'm used to. We walked backstage and there were more artifacts, pictures of "Shady Ladies", and information about what happened backstage. I saw barrels, chairs, etc. underneath the stage from that same time. I could not believe all of these things had been preserved! There was also a carriage hearse with a small casket, explaining how people showed respect, how they paraded caskets around, and so on. On the carriage, was information about how it arrived, where it was made, the cost, and value of it now. Next to it was the casket used in the movie, Tombstone and I guess they take pride in that. Captain told me at the release of that movie, "It really put this place on the map." It makes sense... people want to know anything and everything they can about that time.
There were a lot more pictures of the women in suggestive posing and clothing, or lack thereof. I am not sure why, but these women intrigued me. Maybe I just feel sorry for them, but they photographed well and most were beautiful. One thing I did not know was that women were much more vuluptuous then. I was very surprised at the size of these women. It makes me want to go scream at Twiggy for starting this "skinny" revolution in America. I know we have major problems with obesity, but there are still a lot more problems with eating disorders, especially in younger girls. Ok, I apologize for the rant! Back to my visit, a lot of these women helped with charities, churches, etc. I know they lived less than desirable lifestyles, but I guess you do what you have to. In this case, some did. In this last room we went into, beyond the "downstairs", it had a lot of history about Wyatt Earp, how he met Josephine, and their relationship. It also told about the Apache, the founder of Tombstone and a lot of other stuff I can't quite recall. :P
Once inside the reenactment, I learn someone's take on what took place that day. The actors were decent and the shooting was interesting. I immediately told Dave we have to rent the movie. There isn't much to say about the actual reenactment. You had to be there, but it's just a different spin on the movie.
Since The Captain had already been there and knew the layout, he guided me to the revived downtown area. I saw several people walking around adorned with the "Old West" attire. I was intrigued! Captain explained that these people do this everyday to keep their town alive. We walked all the way down to the Bird Cage Theater and while doing that, he explained the types of events that occurred in this establishment. Just outside the front door, there is a landmark describing the shooting that took place--I can't remember the guy's name, but it was Curly Bill that shot him.
Once we went inside, it's like we stepped into a time machine and went back to the 1880s. All of the artwork was original, flooring, walls, ceilings, everything! I could not believe this buliding was still in its original form. When they closed the doors, they weren't open again until 1934! In the first room, there was a large bar and mirror behind it. That is the original mirror, as well! I noticed a small staircase in the far right corner of the room that led to a door that was off limits and could only assume that it was a way to get to the balcony? Which was in fact where you could get to the box seats for the show, or the curtains could be drawn to be used as "cribs" for the prostitutes.
Pictures of Tombstone's History
Huge mirror!
This is the staiway
After paying the strange looking man to enter, we walk into the actual theater room and I was amazed at how many objects they have retained from this era! I had never seen so much history in one room! Captain brought my attention to the ceiling where there are bullet holes. Etither they were shot for enjoyment, or annoyance. Either way, the ceiling proved what people had only talked or written about (i.e., Tombstone). I saw many different types of dishware, surgical instruments, even desks and a small piano that "no one is allowed to touch". I walked to the other side, and noticed a poker table, I was instantly drawn to it. It is the original table and cards they used! The game wasn't "poker", but something just a bit more in-depth. I read the description of how to play, but it just seemed a little foreign. At any rate, The Captain had to pull me away from that so we could move on! :) Girls and their gambling! I think there's a book about that in the 1880s...
The Bird Cages or Cribs
Bulletholes in the ceiling!
The actual card table that Doc and Wyatt played at.
Honest box
We finally reached the stage and "The first baby grand piano in Tombstone" is sitting at the pit. I then noticed all of the box seats and how nice it was for those people to sit above. I wondered first was that where the Soiled Doves went to get business, but Captain quickly told me to wait, because there's more to see. I walked up on stage and looked around, it was very large like what I'm used to. We walked backstage and there were more artifacts, pictures of "Shady Ladies", and information about what happened backstage. I saw barrels, chairs, etc. underneath the stage from that same time. I could not believe all of these things had been preserved! There was also a carriage hearse with a small casket, explaining how people showed respect, how they paraded caskets around, and so on. On the carriage, was information about how it arrived, where it was made, the cost, and value of it now. Next to it was the casket used in the movie, Tombstone and I guess they take pride in that. Captain told me at the release of that movie, "It really put this place on the map." It makes sense... people want to know anything and everything they can about that time.
Baby Grand Piano
Hearse Carriage
Information about the hearse
Then he led me DOWN the tiny stairway... THIS is where all the "soiled doves" worked. It had small bedrooms where I assume they stayed all the time. Outside of that, they had a smaller bar, and more small gambling tables. I guess the women would flirt and such and interest the men and they would "go to work" in their rooms. The rooms had original lamps, beds, trunks the women would've kept what little belongings they had, and even some apparel. I cannot imagine growing up somewhere East, aspiring to be a soiled dove. I know some of the women did not choose that path, but saidly some aspired to this lifestyle...
Small bar downstairs
More gambling tables - all original
This is the room that Josphine and Wyatt stayed in
Private Poker Booth - downstairs
There were a lot more pictures of the women in suggestive posing and clothing, or lack thereof. I am not sure why, but these women intrigued me. Maybe I just feel sorry for them, but they photographed well and most were beautiful. One thing I did not know was that women were much more vuluptuous then. I was very surprised at the size of these women. It makes me want to go scream at Twiggy for starting this "skinny" revolution in America. I know we have major problems with obesity, but there are still a lot more problems with eating disorders, especially in younger girls. Ok, I apologize for the rant! Back to my visit, a lot of these women helped with charities, churches, etc. I know they lived less than desirable lifestyles, but I guess you do what you have to. In this case, some did. In this last room we went into, beyond the "downstairs", it had a lot of history about Wyatt Earp, how he met Josephine, and their relationship. It also told about the Apache, the founder of Tombstone and a lot of other stuff I can't quite recall. :P
Josephine or "Sadie Jo" - Wyatt's girlfriend
After leaving the Bird Cage, we walked around, looked at the "touristy" stuff, had lunch, and went to the original site where the OK Corral once stood. David said we just HAD to see the reencatment of the shooting, so I of course, said yes. Before going to the show, we got to see and read about what it was like at the corral, types of saddles used, what a crib was and the living conditions in those. A crib was usually a row of small "houses" used by the Shady Ladies. They were much less than the nice houses owned by Madams. It was a very small room and the ladies usually paid $20/week for it. I read in a book that the cribs were more or less, "get it and go".
A crib or brothel was just one room
This is what it looked like in the rooms of the houses the Madams ran
Once inside the reenactment, I learn someone's take on what took place that day. The actors were decent and the shooting was interesting. I immediately told Dave we have to rent the movie. There isn't much to say about the actual reenactment. You had to be there, but it's just a different spin on the movie.
Tom and Bill talking
And so it begins
We strolled around town a little more and then we went to the courthouse. We toured through the rooms, learned about different law men, life in the city, and some other random facts. There are more artifacts in these rooms and they have an actual roulette wheel from that time as well! I got to see what the courtroom looked like, but the building was renovated in the 20s, so it looked different. :(
Original Roulette wheel!
The Captain led me "out back" to the gallows. Obvioulsy, they weren't original, but that's a strange site and an awful way to go, if you really stop and think about it. I can't remember how many people died back there, but it was eerie.
Gallows
My visit to Tombstone, AZ was interesting, informative, and fun! I truly enjoyed myself and I am very thankful Captain took me. It will definitely be something I won't forget. :)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Sights on Our Trip
On our first day of our trip West, we drove from Homewood, AL to Eastland, TX. I had only ever been as far as Dalls/Fort Worth. Since Captain drove, I got to pay attention to everything! When we stopped for lunch and a gas refill in Louisiana, I noticed from then on that every single gas station has a casino. That just threw me for a loop. I have never seen that anywhere!
When we went through Shreveport, I begged to stop and play at a casino, but he was less than enthused. I did get to see a Bomber flying over us in our way into Shreveport. I had never seen one that large up close before. Here's how it looked...
From Shreveport to Dallas/Fort Worth, everything looked similar. Once we got past the city and got into the "country", I saw a lot more oil pumps, more cactus plants than I had ever seen in my life, and much less greenery. Captain called the green stuff we did see, "scrub brush". He said it's short and spread out because of the more desert-like surroundings and lack of water, obviously. The groups of cactus plants were mostly encircling the small trees. When we did happen to see some bigger greenery, it was clearly because of a nearby body of water of some sort.
After we left Eastland the next day and headed towards El Paso, things got even more bland, except for hundreds of wind turbine farms. I have never seen so many!! They are HUGE. I am not really sure exactly how tall, but I saw several of the blades being transported across the insterstate and only ONE blade per truck. The trucks' trailors are even extra long. I couldn't believe how large they are. They don't seem that big, but it's mind-blowing!!
Just before we got to El Paso, mountains began popping up everywhere!
When we FINALLY got through to El Paso, I couldn't believe the way the city looked. Mountains and desert was the scenery there. For those that are not aware, it is directly on the border with Fort Bliss in the city. The border city in Mexico is Juarez and apparently, it's too dangerous for us to be there. I begged The Captain to let me go to the border (I've never been out of the US), but he was very adamant on keeping me safe. :)
He showed me around Fort Bliss, where he used to live, and where he worked. The mountains are amazing out there and very much different than the mountains back home. When we decided to get back on the road, our next stopping point was Las Cruces, NM. Las Cruces is just as pretty as the other places because of the mountains. I couldn't believe how mountainous it is in this area!
Here are some pictures of the mountains in New Mexico and around Las Cruces.
When we went through Shreveport, I begged to stop and play at a casino, but he was less than enthused. I did get to see a Bomber flying over us in our way into Shreveport. I had never seen one that large up close before. Here's how it looked...
From Shreveport to Dallas/Fort Worth, everything looked similar. Once we got past the city and got into the "country", I saw a lot more oil pumps, more cactus plants than I had ever seen in my life, and much less greenery. Captain called the green stuff we did see, "scrub brush". He said it's short and spread out because of the more desert-like surroundings and lack of water, obviously. The groups of cactus plants were mostly encircling the small trees. When we did happen to see some bigger greenery, it was clearly because of a nearby body of water of some sort.
After we left Eastland the next day and headed towards El Paso, things got even more bland, except for hundreds of wind turbine farms. I have never seen so many!! They are HUGE. I am not really sure exactly how tall, but I saw several of the blades being transported across the insterstate and only ONE blade per truck. The trucks' trailors are even extra long. I couldn't believe how large they are. They don't seem that big, but it's mind-blowing!!
Just before we got to El Paso, mountains began popping up everywhere!
When we FINALLY got through to El Paso, I couldn't believe the way the city looked. Mountains and desert was the scenery there. For those that are not aware, it is directly on the border with Fort Bliss in the city. The border city in Mexico is Juarez and apparently, it's too dangerous for us to be there. I begged The Captain to let me go to the border (I've never been out of the US), but he was very adamant on keeping me safe. :)
First of the mountains we saw before getting to El Paso
Captain's old apartment
The Captain's old house
The company he was in
Me overlooking El Paso and Juarez, Mexico
Moutains we drove around to get to Nex Mexico
Here are some pictures of the mountains in New Mexico and around Las Cruces.
Just over the mountains in El Paso looking towards NM
Mountains and "scrub brush"
White Sands, NM
The sand is from this type of rock that is no stronger than the human fingernail! Everyday, the mounds are different. When we walked around, the sand is so fine, it felt similar to walking on snow. I just couldn't believe anything like this existed! As much as I love the South and the beautiful scenery we have, the scenery out here is very different and just as breathtaking.
At the visitor's center, they offer the little sand sleds to ride down the mounds, but I didn't really feel up to that. The Captain had done it before, so I was not enthused too much. I was too busy with taking in the wonderful sunset.
I will never be able to express how beautiful it is, nor can I capture it on camera properly. White Sands was the one thing I begged Captain to let me see on our trip. I had seen pictures and he explained how amazing it is, but nothing he said actually prepared me for the view.
I know I am rambling, and I apologize. Here are some pictures so you can see for yourself! :)
Captain likes to play GWAC (guy with a camera)
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Our trip to Bisbee, AZ
Well, it has been two weeks since we started this venture out West for training and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself! I will have to post about all of the things I saw on the trip out here, but I will do that on the next post.
It is a whole other world out here in Arizona. I can’t even begin to describe the differences in the Southeast and here. I will just have to show you with pictures.
The Captain (David) first took me to Tombstone, AZ and I learned a lot I did not know about that era. There was very little law and most women were prostitutes! I never knew that, and now I am very intrigued with how they lived. It is such a foreign concept that it was this, or nothing. These poor women didn’t have a chance. I guess some of them wanted to live this way, but others had no other choice. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that they were raped, abused, left to die. There wasn’t enough law to make a difference at first. I cannot imagine that lifestyle being the only way to survive.
Ok, enough about the depressing women of the West….
This past Sunday, Captain took me to Bisbee. It apparently, is the hippy town of the state. Besides the fact that every other store was a place these hippies had dropped off junk, the town is beautiful! It is surrounded by mountains, much like Fort Huachca. It is another “boomtown” and it has an extermely large open mine for copper. I believe it was in the 80s when they stopped mining, but it’s just a large hole in town. We went to the Mine Museum and I learned more about a miner’s life in those days. They were some tough men! Captain and I were going to go through a mine that is kept up for the public to see what it was like, but I was not dressed for the occassion of 47 degrees and WET. I hope we can try to go next weekend.
This weekend, Captain is taking me to Tuscon and the Missile Museum and I am thrilled!
I will post about that next week!More about Tombstone and life on an active military base later!
Here are some pictures from Bisbee...
Me in the middle of Downtown
The HUGE copper mine
Captain with a pretty view of the city
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