The Mystery of Virgina: Part II

Today's mystery includes the Subways of Virginia.

and I ain't talkin about the underground transportation system. But that would be cool.

Like I said before, I love Subway. Mark and I eat there very often. But, as with all things Virginia, the Subways here are weird. Actually, weird might be an understatement.

One of my favorite sandwiches is chicken teriyaki. I like it with lots and lots of veggies, sweet onion sauce, and LOTS of jalapenos.

But here in Virginia, they don't actually have chicken teriyaki. They have regular chicken and they squirt on some weird sauce. I think it's teriyaki sauce, but it tastes and looks nothing like the chicken teriyaki in Kentucky. And, actually, it doesn't even look like chicken teriyaki anywhere.. since that sandwich is on loads of ads, I've seen lots of pictures of what it should look like.

Well, it's gross. I don't like it. Virginia is only one state east, and Subway is a national company. Why do their sandwiches vary so much!? It's a mystery, I'll tell you that.

And on a similar note, what's up with the "new" Buffalo chicken? Here, they don't even have Buffalo Chicken. Very sad, indeed.. since it is one of my favorite sandwiches. At any rate, I've eaten Buffalo Chicken Subway sandwiches for years in Kentucky, so why is it suddenly "new" and for a "limited time only" ?? ... does anyone have the answers to these mind-boggling question!?


Tune in next week for more Mysteries of Virginia. There will be loads more.. I have a sneaky suspicion.

honestly!

Since I moved to VA, I've forgotten how to blog. You might have noticed a lack of material, a lack of funnyness, and a lack of blogging altogether. You weren't just imagining it. My zest for blogging really has diminished.

And I don't know why. Do you?

I'm wondering if I missed the prepatory class for becoming an Air Force Wife. Surely there is some kind of handbook or dvd on how to survive. Or maybe there is a camp to attend to prepare ones self for this journey. Surely they wouldn't just throw us out there and expect us to cope. Or would they?!

In all seriousness, no one is prepared to drive zillions of hours to a new city, state, or country. No one is prepared to say goodbye to their family and friends and move to a place where you know no one. No one is prepared to learn a new city overnight, figure out where the best shopping is, and where all the dog parks are.

(and why the fudge can we not find a good park!??! We've not found a SINGLE ONE. UGH.)

I can't remember where anything is. This place is HUGE compared to my hometown! Shoot, this place makes Scottsville Rd look like nothing! I kid you not, I am just not prepared to drive a 12-lane road. I'm just not used to it. Also, I turned into an ethnic minority the minute I moved here. Who woulda thunk it!?

And I don't like Virginia. Oops. Sorry. Yeah. Sorry to be honest here. But this is my blog and I'll be honest if I want to. I really wish we could be stationed in Kentucky! Our only real time to explore is on the weekends. And, well, those only come around once a week :) So, until then, our nightly television shows are our greatest joys in this weird, big, traffic-y town. What are we, like, 40?!

But in all seriousness, we love our tv shows. Don't get me wrong. Biggest Loser was fantastic last night. I'm open to discussing it. I'm also open to punching Tracy in the nose.

Okay, that is all. I'll keep you updated on our feelings about Virginia. So far we think of it as "good food & good shopping" but nowhere close to feeling like "home."

Although Piper is adjusting well. She loves the green beans that fall from our trees and has already made two enemies with the Pomeranians next door. Lovely.

proof

Further proof that I do have the two cutest, sweetest, most perfect nephews in the land.








and the big one is all mine in just 4 short days...

well, until Wednesday, I mean.

we bought a...

Ahhh.. sitting on our multi-colored rug with the fan on high.. Piper sleeping on the couch.. the Showcase Showdown is on the Price is Right.. my face is red and hot, sleeves rolled up, and my lungs hurt.

Today I did the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.

And I'm pretty sure Piper thought I was dead as I laid on my back to do crunches. I went back down for another run and she ran to me, stuck her tongue in my ear, and licked viciously. What a good little doggy we have.. making sure that Jillian didn't kill me (although she almost did!!).

I'll, uh, let you all know how I progress with the workout. It was brutal, just like everyone told me it would be. Sheesh. I truly feel sorry for those Biggest Loser contestants..

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Ahh.. my favorite movie. Ever. This little gem came out the year I was born - 1987. I had my mommy tape it for me at the ripe age of 5 because I couldn't get enough. I watched it so much that the VHS actually became worn out and it broke. Nothing compares to seeing little Mary in her white baby bonnet and later watching her pee on the couch. Or watching her swim under water, bounce in her yellow baby seat, or drink a bottle from Daddy Tom Selleck. You probably think I'm kidding.

I'm not.

I LOVE this movie. I just can't get enough!

So when I found Sophie the Giraffe online a few months ago, I knew our child just had to have it. Heck, I didn't even know what a Sophie was until I recognized it online. If you recall, which you probably don't, Daddy Tom Selleck bought baby Mary a Sophie teether at a newspaper stand on the side of the street. And he gave it to her in her bassinet, and she loved it.

So naturally, when Mark and I saw Sophie in a baby store yesterday, we had to have it.





Oh, and it's not just me who is a crazy, obsessed weirdo. Even Hollywood moms have caught on:


Why, I'll be swanny, it's Harlow! :)

Oh, and we aren't having a baby. But we're saving it for the day our precious child enters the world! (or.. 5 months later when they start to teethe and have a good grip).


And we all know this post would not be complete without a picture of MY favorite baby:


I could just eat him with a spoon..

shoppppping

Virginia isn't really that cool, really. Except for the awesome shopping. And the awesome restaurants. And the awesome scenery. And the awesome lower sales tax.

Anyway.

Virginia has awesome shopping, like I said. I hate to say it, but you Kentuckians are missing out. I didn't know what "shopping" meant until I moved here.

This weekend, I got this jacket for $24 from Forever 21. It's amazingly soft, deliciously warm, and it even has a hood. I'm smitten!

Oh, and this:

This post was just for you, mom!

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In other news, tomorrow I'm starting the 30 Day Shred. For some reason, our dvd player won't work. It's black and white and has no sound. I'm wondering if it's because our tv is so new and our dvd player is old... ? I don't know. But I'll be doing my workouts from our laptop. Ha.


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My family comes in 6 days! We will be going to the Virginia Living Museum, Williamsburg, the Virginia Zoo (in Norfolk), Buckroe Beach, and the MacArthur Center! I can't wait to see my little buddy.

Today I got an orange timer for our kitchen. The timer on our oven doesn't work, and I hate using the timer on our microwave.

Also, today we bought the first present for our baby that will enter this world someday. Can you guess what we bought?

beefy nacho casserole

So, I got this cookbook as a wedding present.
And I have this urge to be Martha Stewart Jr.
And my husband really likes to eat.
And he especially loves hamburger meat + cheese.
So, I found this recipe.
It's called: Beefy Nacho Casserole.
Mark ate the whole pan of it.
And, mind you, it was a big pan.
He gave it two thumbs up.
And he told me I was amazing.
So, you should probably make it for your husband.
... just sayin.

Here's how it goes:

Note: This is the easiest thing ever. ANYONE could make this. Even my 4-year old nephew. Well, maybe not, since we don't let him play with heat or the oven or hamburger meat. But if we did, he could definitely throw this together.

You will need...

1lb hamburger meat - cooked & drained
1 can whole kernel corn (we used, like, 1/3 a can)
1 small jar salsa (you pick the heat)
1 cup salad dressing (that's mayonnaise)
1 tablespoon chili powder (or more if you live on the edge)
1 package Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
1 bag nacho chips

Combine your cooked hamburger meat, corn, salsa, salad dressing & 1 cup of cheese. That's half the bag of cheese, for you beginners out there. Mix it all up. Take your beautiful Pyrex casserole dish and layer meat, cheese (the other cup that you left out), and chips until you use it all and end up with chips on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and top with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Serve and watch your husband go wild!

...we didn't have lettuce, so we just skipped that.

Come back and thank me when your husband tells you that you're amazing!

Buckroe Beach!

Today we wanted to go to this big, gigantic, fun-sounding thingy at Virginia Beach. It included a gigantic sand-sculpting contest with gigantic sand sculptures. We planned on going. But then we didn't wake up until 9am and realized we didn't really want to drive to Virginia Beach.

So then we wanted to go to the MacArthur Center, also known as the gigantic mall. But we didn't really feel like driving to Norfolk either.

And then we started to miss Jackson's Orchard, so we set out to find an orchard in our city. After searching and searching, we finally found one. Or so we thought. We plugged it in our GPS and set off - only to find that this "orchard" was actually a cart of veggies on the side of the road. Calling it an "orchard" almost seems wrong.

So then we finally decided to just go to Buckroe Beach :) The trusty beach nearby that isn't crowded at all. Each time we go, there are probably 5 people on the beach. It's wonderful!

Piper waves hello to our bloggy readers!

Piper shows her ability to obey Mark by sitting!

I know what you're thinking.
It looks cold.
It was.


Piper showing the world that she really IS a terrier.




Yep. Definitely a terrier.




A really really foamy beach! So cool.

Thanks for the recipe, mom!

clap your hands for C!

This week, my baby boy older nephew, C, was nominated Student of the Week.

Hold your applause until the end of this post, if you would. Thanks.

For this glorious occasion, he was assigned to create his own poster - using the layout his teacher provided. It would nearly be a sin to not share these photos with you.

Note: That's Elmo, baby dolls, and squash that he dislikes.

I know what you're thinking. Why was Shannie not listed in his favorite things box!?

Just kidding.

So if any of you bloggy readers could arrange a meeting with Santa, let him borrow a race car, or drive him to "Jeffries" aka Toys R Us, you would probably make his little day. Just sayin. My best friend comes to see me in 8 days!!!

I think we're going to take him to a live creature children's museum, either Jamestown OR Williamsburg, the beach, and maybe Virginia Zoo. I need to do lots of research! I am very excited. It will definitely be the highlight of my October!

Now go ahead and applaud my biggest nephew. He is a great kid and never withholds his sticky kisses from me.

Letters!

My Paigey Poo did this, and I thought it looked like fun! I love you, PP!

One Letter at a Time...

A - Age: Just turned 22!

B - Bed Size: Full. Mark and I stay squashed together allllll night.

C - Chore you hate: DISHES. omg. SICK. It makes me want to puke.

D - Dog's Name: Piper!

E - Essential start your day item: The Today Show. Is that an item!?

F - Favorite Color: orange :]

G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: silver?
H - Height: 5'4"

I - Instruments you play: clarinet! I almost majored in music!

J - Job Title: Air Force Wife.

K - Kid(s): I'll take 3, please. Or 4 if there is a special going on.

L - Living Arrangements: a free 3 bedroom house.

M - Mom's Name: Rhonda

N - Nickname(s): biscuit. Romantic, I know.

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None

P - Pet Peeve: Meanies.

Q - Quote from a movie: I don't know...

R - Right or Left Handed: Left

S - Siblings: Yes!! My sissy, Lauren!

T - Time you wake up: 5:30 when Mark gets up :|

U - Underwear: I wear them.

V - Vegetable you dislike: Beets, artichokes, and peas aren't too great.

W - Ways you run late: I do NOT run late. EVER. Except that one time we were meeting C&B at B Dubs and we had to take C across town to go home and.. yeah.

X - X-rays you've had: Besides teeth? My foot when I got a spiral fracture after my ping pong incident. Yes, I fractured a bone playing ping pong.

Y - Yummy food you make: Ask Mark. I don't know.

Z - Zoo Favorite: Polar bear!!!!!!!!!!!!

die it.

It wasn't me who found the scale (that's been shoved in my car for two weeks), took off my cotton shorts (just in case they off-set my actual weight), and stepped on.

It wasn't me who saw my weight zoom up ten pounds since Mark came home from tech school.

Nope.

It wasn't me who then vowed to go on a diet. To stop drinking cokes. To eat healthy.

It surely wasn't me who then grabbed a Coca Cola to go along with tonight's meal of cheesy baked chicken and green beans.

Nope.

And then it definitely wasn't me who got the bright idea that Mark needed double fudge brownies.

That would be a terrible idea.

So it wasn't me who baked those brownies - and then did a survey on Facebook and forgot they were in the oven.. - and ran to the kitchen in a frenzy to find them perfectly gooey and yum in the oven.

Nah.

Okay, well it positively absolutely wasn't me who went overboard and heated up the fudge sauce in boiling water and poured yummy hot fudge all over the chocolate brownies.

That would be absurd and really fattening.

So, nope.

It wasn't me who piled 4 huge brownies on a plate for hubby, along with a gigantic glass of milk, brought it to him like a good wifey, and then secretly snuck into the kitchen and ate brownies out of the pan with a spoon.

Just who do you think I am?!

But it was me who drank a little glass of organic fat-free milk along with the brownies I didn't eat.

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Diet starts tomorrow. Gulp.

Just in case you were wondering, I did lose 35 pounds last year with my own little made-up diet. So I do have a history with successful weight loss. Here's how it goes:

Fruity Pebbles with organic fat-free milk for breakfast.
Some kind of healthy lunch - a frozen healthy dinner/ham sandwich with mustard
If I snack, it's fruit. Or something fat-free..
For supper - Subway. Clearly one cannot eat Subway for every meal, but I actually did. If Subway cannot be eaten for supper, a healthy grilled/baked chicken with veggies is fine.

And lots of water.

My goal is 125 (or 120 if I'm an eager beaver! My lowest ever was 122). I now weigh 133, sadly. I'll keep you posted. I know you're just dying to know how it goes!

today!

Went to the post office on base, stood in line for a long time. Got a "change of address" card. Filled it out. Realized we still don't know our zip code. Lady filled it in for us. Gave her our car payment check. Left.

Went to the base Community Center. Asked for directions to get to the Education Center. Got a base map. Again. Left.

Found Edu Center. Went in. Looked lost. Saw classes going on. Finally found where to go. Met with lady. Lady was no help. Lady told me that I have to "figure things out on my own." Made a joint appointment with Mark to meet with a counselor. Realized that trip was no help at all, and I'm still very lost on how to go about getting a master's degree.

Searched high and low for the Hampton City Treasurer's Office. Finally found it. Registered Piper with the state of Virginia. Got a $40 off coupon to get her spayed. Or is it neutered? We'll just call it "fixed."

Plugged "BB&T" in on our GPS. Traveled and found it. Waited around and was helped by a lady with a really weird accent. Thought she was actually joking at first, but then realized that's how she actually talked. Laughed to myself inside my head.

Went back home and had a Totinos pizza. Heard Mark say, "Oops..." from the kitchen. Walked to the kitchen and saw his entire pizza in the kitchen floor. Laughed really hard because he had just said, "Now this is how you cook a pizza!" .. Mocked him by saying, "And is this how you drop a pizza in the floor?!" :) Laughed together. He put the pizza back in the oven to "kill off the germs." Was grossed out by it all.

Held Piper in my arms and cuddled big time with her. Realized I really love my dog, and we are really attached to one another.

Dug the scale out of the car and weighed myself. Realized there was a 10 pound increase since Mark came home. Wanted to cry but held it in. Vowed to stop drinking cokes and restricted myself to water, organic milk, and orange juice. Knew there was little chance of me actually sticking to the plan, but felt like pretending for the sake of my sanity.

Plugged "Kroger" into the GPS. Was pleasantly surprised to know that there is one just down our street. Was also pleasantly surprised to see that our Kroger has an ethnic section with real foreign food from real foreign countries. Nevertheless, walked swiftly by the weirdo food in weirdo bottles that looked weirdo. Knew I'd never buy any of it but felt comforted by all the neat selections.

Bought ingredients for this week's meals, which include: chili, cheesy baked chicken, enchilada chicken bake, beefy nacho thingy, and breakfast casserole. Also picked up a can of Manwich, because you can't go wrong with sloppy joes. Ever.

Came home, laid on the couch, and decided that you must see these pictures of our Pipey. She is truly a doll.

our first home!!!!

and we now introduce: Our First Home.




See the three vases on the bookshelf?
One of them fell off the TOP shelf on our baker's rack today..
and it didn't even break.
talk about lucky...

the same bed frame my parents used for zillions of years :)
and, yes, that is our Cord of Three Strands hanging from our door.
and, yes. it's hanging there because we can't find a place for it.

Isn't our puppy cute?

Of course, many more photos are on Facebook!


Tomorrow will be a "fun-filled" day, including:

a trip to the post office to get a change of address thingy
trip to court house to register Piper with the state of Virginia
trip to wherever to update our licenses
trip to some kind of education office to ask about grants for military wives
and lots more stuff that I can't think of now.


Sigh.