Blogging from my phone

.Hey y'all!! I don't have the internet right now, so I'm trying this phone blogging out. I just bought a Droid phone and I love it, though I'm still kind of lost!

Has anyone else ever blogged from a phone before? It's kind of interesting.

My trip home was super long! I flew out of Djibouti at 1 am on Saturday morning and we flew 2 and half hours to Kuwait. Then there was a two hour layover. Then we flew 45 minutes to Bahrain. That was the easiest flight I've ever been on, I'm telling you. I fell asleep before the plane even took off, and woke up when the plane touced down in Bahrain. It actually confused me a little bit!

Bahrain was like another two hour layover, and then a 3 and a half hour flight to Sigonella, Italy. I had internet there, so I tried to catch up on as many of your blogs as possible, but of course, it was the shortest layover we had, at only an hour.

Next was the two and half hour flight to Rota, Spain. We didn't have internet there so we spent the entire time watching Kitchen Nightmares. That show is the bomb.com. Then finally! The flight back to Norfolk, Virginia! We arrived and were supposed to go to the barracks, but there was an entire base wide power outage, so we ended up staying at a hotel. We checked in at around 5:30 am, and I immediately took a shower.

I had to use hotel shower stuff because I had to toss.mine while in Africa, but I didn't care, I felt so dirty!! After that I went and ate breakfast at the hotel and called a cab to take me to Walmart!!! I walked into Walmart with the biggest smile on my face! Now I truly felt like I was back! Haha. I bought some things and headed on over to the Verizon store to activate my account, and finally join he rest if the world in owning a Smartphone! I bought the Droid X, and so far I love it (when it isn't confusing the heck out of me!!)

Later I went grocery shopping, and it was amazing!! I was able to get some of the yummy stuff I've been seeing on everyones blogs! ( hello Chobani! )

Well I am off to get some more sleep! Tomorrow I will try to find a wireless spot, so I can catch up on everyone!!! Have a great day!!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Hellllllo Norfolk!

Well, I made it! I'm in America, and it was quite the journey! I will post all about it later, but for now I have to go seek out a Verizon store, and a Wal-Mart! I hope everyone has a great day! I'll be checking up on blogs later!! :)

Books, Books, and LOTS More Books!!

Hey Blog BFF's! As we speak, I should be on a flight back to Virginia. If I'm not because my flight got delayed, then I'm probably too busy crying my eyes out over a bucket bowl of 'feel better' ice cream to write a post. So I figured I'd write one now, and have it post later! :)


I started my 5 Year To-Do List, and one of the things 'to do' is to read 500 books. Holy Jeeze! What did I get myself in to? That's 100 books a year, and honestly, if I had 100 books that I loved I could knock that out in a few months. The problem is, when I don't get into a book, I read at about the pace of a snail.


Case in point, I read the last Harry Potter (off-topic, if you love HP as much as I do, check out this site! It's like crack. Harry Potter wiki), Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows in roughly 4 hours. Yet, I've been trying to force myself through the book O, Juliet for about three weeks now. I'm over halfway done, and I hate to not finish something I'm so invested in, but dang it. The book is boring. Plus, since it's an adaption of Romeo and Juliet, I know how it ends. 


So I was faced with the dilemma of just giving up and moving on to other books, or trying to finish, and wasting more precious weeks muddling through this book. 


I finally gave up. Put some new books on my Kindle, and I'm on my way. I'll still finish O, Juliet, but now I don't feel as though I'm wasting my time when it comes to the 5 year plan! Haha. Do y'all like to read? I'm a reading fanatic, but it has to interest me. I love romance novels, and fantasy mostly. I also like biographies, especially of celebrities I find interesting. I've read both Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's bios. They were hysterical! I highly recommend both. 


Right now I'm reading an anthology with one of the stories a Sookie Stackhouse story. I also have another one with a Sookie story on it, that I will read next (I love the Sookie books, and have already read all of the full length books!). I also have Water For Elephants that was recommended to me by Lisa, and I'm really excited about. Definitely want to read that before I go see the movie. 


So basically, if anyone has any books they want to recommend, I'm always taking suggestions! :) What is your favorite book?!

1 - I Ain't Scurred of No Aliens

Yeah, that's right. I leave tomorrow! Needless to say I am super stoked! I have downloaded Season 4 of Kitchen Nightmares and Season 2 of Cake Boss, I have my Kindle prepped and ready, my last load of laundry is in the dryer as we speak. I am completely checked out, and received my Joint Service Achievement Medal, all that's left is take my bags to get checked by customs, sleep, and wake up! So freaking stoked!!


I also have some amazing news! Are you ready?! I did it! I officially registered for the 2012 Walt Disney World Half-Marathon!! (If you want to be my BFF and run with me, go register here!) I had to sell a few organs on the black market to be able to afford it ($140 for a half- marathon?! Are you freaking kidding me?!), but it's Disney! I pretty much would do anything for Disney. (Me and a million other people, which is how they get away with robbing us blind!) 


I'm hoping to also register Shane, he said he definitely wanted to run it with me, but he has been having some knee problems, so I want to talk to to him first, to make sure he is able to before having to promise to sell my firstborn to afford his fee as well. You better believe I'm paying for him if he's able. That man spoils me rotten, and I am always trying to figure out ways to "get him back", since he never wants anything! Plus, this whole running thing is totally my idea. So while I'm still bringing in some dough.... might as well make the most of it, before Shane Sugar Daddy has to front all of the bills... Haha.


I figure since I'm putting Mickey and Minnie through college forking over the $$$ anyways, might as well make the most of it. Stay at one of the resorts (probably the military one, since it's cheaper!), and maybe do the VIP treatment. But I have to talk to the boy before I make all of those plans! :) I should be able to talk to him as soon as I'm in Virginia, as long as our flight isn't delayed, and I can get to Verizon before it closes!


Anyways. I know I should be posting more about how I am so excited to be leaving (and I am!!!), but the whole registering for my first race kinda stole the spotlight from other things! Haha. Here are my fitness goals.


April-June (or maybe May-July) - do the P90X (maybe Insanity version)
September - January - fully devoted to half-marathon training


I also will keep running, throw some swimming in, and definitely yoga the whole time. That's the plan! :) I don't have any photos (there were some taken at the award ceremony, and if I can get my hands on them I will post later!) So I will leave you with this random photo of me taking on the Alien.

Dang. I make Casper look tan. Not to self. Bronzer. Have a great day, y'all! I'll try to make some auto-post blogs, since I have no clue when I'll be able to get back on here. I'm thinking of having of 'Return to America' giveaway... Whatdya think?!

2 - Almost Done!

Whew. Check out is 90% done. Tomorrow we have our 'bag drag' which means we take all of our check on luggage to get searched (customs) and taken away to hold for the plane. So after 4:00 pm tomorrow, I will only have my carry on items. :) Or anything I plan on throwing away. It's so surreal to me that this is finally happening! 


I have totally slacked on exercise this week. I know. Bad Katy. But today I washed my running shoes, so it's official. The next run I do will be in Virginia. :) (We have to wash our shoes because customs won't allow any shoes with dirt on them to pass. They make you throw them away.) I plan on having a nice (cold! Remember I'm used to Africa heat, and anything under 80* is downright frigid for me!) run in Norfolk on Saturday!


Last night we went out to dinner for my going away dinner, and it was super fun! We have a dress code for going out into town (the military is very strict on keeping a professional appearance in foreign nations), and it's pretty simple to follow. Collared shirt, tucked in, belt, closed toe shoes with socks, no shorts above mid thigh, etc. Nothing too complicated, and they aren't super strict on enforcing it anyways. But two of the guys who were going needed to buy a new collared shirt, and let's just say our selection here on base is quite limited. So they ended up both going to the Exchange yesterday (separately!) and buying - then wearing! - the same shirt. We made fun of them all night, it was hilarious! I had to get a picture with the Bobbsey Twins!

We went out for Chinese food, and it was delicious! I always get the same thing at this restaurant, the 'Beef with White Potatoes' and it never disappoints! Eating out here is so different than in the States. For one, the service is completely different. You have to request any refills on your drinks, and I always end up forgetting, and then sitting there with no drink for like 20 minutes! Haha. Also, they don't bring the food out at the same time. So there may be a 30 minute time difference in when the first person is served and the last is served. So we all agree that the rule of 'waiting until everyone has their meal before eating' doesn't apply here, since most of the food would be cold! 


It's also very obvious how America is always in a rush compared to here. They don't rush anything. This totally applies to restaurants. So when you are here, expect a very long wait for your food after ordering. It definitely takes some getting used to! Especially since we have set galley times, so it's always been hours since the last meal, and you are usually starving before you even leave base. It's not uncommon for people to eat a small dinner on base right before going out to dinner in town. It saves on money, and keeps your tummy from growling!


I have no idea what they expect from tips, but I'm a total giver when it comes to tips, I very rarely leave less than 20% in America, and the service has to be bad for someone to get less than that. I don't think I can remember a time when I haven't left a tip at all. So here, I just tip like I would in America, since we don't really have any guidance.... Haha.

I wasn't as angry as I look. I had just taken a bite of food!

Well, that's all I've got for today, I'm going to try to think of my TTT subjects, and hopefully will get that post out today! I've just been so busy, I haven't had a chance to think of them!! So I'll ask y'all some questions!!

Are you a good tipper? Or are you very critical of the service? I'm always a good tipper, but it's not all because I'm nice. Mostly, it's just easier to figure 20% then 15%! Haha. A few of my friends are super critical, though. I usually over tip to compensate... Haha.

Have you ever been to another country and noticed a slower pace of life? Yes, yes, yes. And I'm from the South, where things are already at a slower pace! I want to visit New York so badly, but I think I'd be overwhelmed at first! :)

3 - The French Beach

Hey y'all! First off, there have been some questions as to what 'checking out' means. Sorry for the military lingo. 'Checking out' means the check out process of a command. When you leave a command permanently, you have go around to the various parts of that base (i.e. medical, dental, travel office, etc) and have them make sure you are out of their database, pick up med/den records, you don't owe them any money, you didn't check out any gear that hasn't been returned, you have your flight itinerary, various things. You get a check-out sheet, and every different department signs off on it. So, when I said I was 'checking out' it meant I was running around base getting that sheet signed so I can leave on Thursday. :)


Today's portion of my check out process will be turning in all the (not used ONCE!) gear they gave me. I have three sea bags (huge green duffel bags) full of this gear they issued that I didn't need. This is awesome that they are letting us turn it in here instead of Norfolk, because those bags are heavy, and now I don't need to carry them around. :) Haha. I'm also hitting up the post office to mail all my crap home. I have a huge trunk and about 8 boxes. It's pretty ridiculous how much stuff I have since I was only here 7 months. 


Yesterday was super fun, though! I went out with a group of friends to French Beach. It's this beach out here that they have tables with 'shelter' type tents for shade, and you can grill. It was super fun. I ate so much! We had hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ chicken, and it felt like I was back in Hawaii for a few hours. (Unless I looked behind me.... I had to stare out at the ocean!) It was amazing. We're going out to dinner tonight for mine and my friend Murphy's going away, since we both leave on Thursday. 

Murphy, the guy on the left was obsessed with chasing down these crabs out here. He couldn't sneak up on them though, and anytime he got too close, they would scurry into their holes in the sand. So he went out and collected hermit crabs and brought those back to the table. 

I even went into the water, which if you remember this TTT, I am deathly afraid of sharks, and usually won't go in the water. I definitely did catch myself scanning the water a few times, but I was ok. It was the perfect temperature, and felt amazing! We played Frisbee, and I am awful at Frisbee. Haha. It always went in the opposite direction of where i was trying to throw it. 

We stayed out there all day, and it was wonderful. We came back to base and I had enough energy to shower, and pass out. Haha. So sorry for no blog yesterday, I was beat! Thank goodness I ate my weight in food at the beach, because there was no way I had the energy to walk to the galley last night for dinner! :) 


Well, I hope y'all had a great weekend! I'm off to enjoy my Monday, get some things done, and basically be one step closer to leaving! :) Have a great day!!

5 - The Biggest Loser

Hey y'all! How is everyone doing today? Hopefully safe and sound, especially with all of this earthquake/tsunami mess going on. I'm very glad all of my friends in Hawaii and Japan are ok, and my prayers to go out to those who lost during this tragedy.


Today was a blissful day spent checking out of my command, and I got a whole bunch of stuff done. (i.e. new ID card, picked up my records, and basically just got the majority of this checked off.)

Oh yeah. I'm that cool. You don't have to tell me. Basically me and Sawnni just ran around to a bunch of buildings that people looked us up in their database and made sure we didn't have any equipment that needed to be checked back in, or didn't owe any money. The Navy really doesn't like it when you owe them money.... Haha.

Then we zipped back to our shop because they wanted a group picture f all of us. We weren't all there, but hey, when you work as crazy a schedule as we do... Getting all of us in one place at one time is pretty impossible. We had a guy taking the picture with a professional camera and all, but I wanted one with my po-dunk camera too. So we acted silly for mine. Professional pictures are over-rated anyways....

So, on a completely unrelated topic... I was thinking of my friends' who have done a 'Biggest Loser'  type challenge in their work spaces, and I really think it sound fun, and I think it would be great motivation... unfortunately... I am not really in a place to do that right now at work. Seeing as how I leave in 5 days and all... So I was thinking of doing it via blog-world? What do you guys think? I was thinking make it like 2 months, and then the person who loses the most gets a prize. Obviously you would only participate if you are already wanting to lose some weight, this would just make it a little fun. Let me know if there are any interested (you can email me at khprosc @ yahoo dot com if you don't want to comment about it...) and if I get some yeses, I'll set it up! :) 


Well, I have a brief about checking out today, and this girl is HUNGRAY. So I'm off to breakfast. I'll have another busy bee morning, then I'm planning on hitting up the gym later this afternoon. I desperately meed to do ab work! :)