Summer Madness

[Messing around with Zack's gear! (SO heavy!)]

I'm back in College Station after the 100000th trip in the past couple of months.  I haven't spent a weekend in College Station since graduation and I was gone for the majority of two weeks before that.  I've made a lot of trips to Houston for wedding necessities and getting stuff done for nursing school.  This past weekend, I received my physical at my doctor's office and got CPR certified.  I was the only person in the CPR class that wasn't already a health care professional.  One lady was like "I've been taking this class every two years since 1968" and I'm like "Uhhh...I'm a nursing student?" haha.  The good news is that I'm a drug and TB test away from being ready to register for nursing classes. Yay!

This weekend, Zack and I are attending a friend's wedding.  Next weekend, I may be going back up to Ft. Hood for 4th of July fun (to be determined).  He's supposed to leave on either the 11th or 14th to go to New York for two weeks.  I have no idea why but I'm sure it's nothing really worth the trip.  Both him and my parents will be over on the east side of the country for my birthday.  Luckily, I have my lovely best friend/roommate/maid of honor to celebrate with so I'm excited!  Since I've been out of town so much, I haven't been able to spend time with her that much.  She will only be my roommate for about a month more (after 3 years!) so we will be having some quality girl time in July for sure.

[Carrie & I on my birthday two years ago]

Love, Heather

xo

I Hate Long Distance

I love Fort Hood.  I will admit, however, that it really doesn't have much to do with the place.  Fort Hood contains two things: 1. Zack  2. Our home.

Zack and I met in February 2008 when I was actually dating his friend.  We (his friend and I) dated very briefly and are all still really good friends (we're going to his wedding the weekend after next!).  Needless to say, I hardly looked at Zack at the time.  We re-met (the one I actually count because I remember it fully) in June 2008.  We then started the dating scene in July.  Since that time, we were inseparable and he was always with me.  Let's face it, his apartment was nothing more than a glorified shower and closet.

That all changed on October 31st last year.  We had never spent so much as a full week apart before and then he was sent out-of-state for about 6 months for BOLC.  Now long distance is becoming more of the norm.  And let me tell you, I'm not happy about that!  I love coming up here and visiting him.  I absolutely love the home we rent.  I wish I could live here when he deploys next year.  However, the nursing school at Central Texas College says you must take Intro to Nursing (which isn't offered at Texas A&M, Blinn College, or Lone Star College - all of the places that I've taken classes) and it is only offered during the summer and online.  Basically, if you aren't attending the college then you wouldn't know this.  Well that eliminates living in Fort Hood.

What that does mean is I will be living in College Station for another 2 years, making it 6 years total.  It's a 2 hour drive at most so I realize that things could be a lot worse.  I would just rather be here in a 3 bedroom home with my fiance and a yard for Madison than in College Station, in a 1 bedroom apartment.

Ok, I'm going to stop complaining now.  I got into a really good program and my brother will be beginning college this fall in College Station, so I'm happy to be around to help him with that.

In an unrelated topic, tonight I indulged in some adult beverages with Zack (which doesn't go with the wedding diet).  What does Heather do when she indulges in such beverages?  I did the dishes, made pancakes, set up the guest bedroom and am writing a blog. I guess I've found the secret to get me to be productive!

Love, Heather

xo

The Engagement and Nursing School

Time for some much needed updates!  I left off with my graduation from Texas A&M.  Little did I know, at my graduation dinner while I was in the bathroom, Zack asked my parents for permission to marry me.  On May 20th, we were at home in Copperas Cove when Zack called me into the bedroom from the office.  He started talking about how cool his on-post "easy-tag" thing was (the express lane tag) and by the time he started talking about a microchip, I turned and walked back into the office lol.  He followed me in there and took my diet coke from me!  He said I had to stand up and give him a hug to get it back so when I did, he started saying all of these sweet things and dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Of course I said yes!! After we called everyone, we went down to the trusty Walmart to buy my favorite champagne and there was a really neat lightning storm off in the distance.

Less than two weeks later, I got my acceptance letter into Blinn nursing school.  I had a week and a half to respond with my intent but I had also applied to a school in Waco.  Zack and I discussed it and decided that even if I got into the school in Waco, he was already locked into a year-long lease in Copperas Cove so we wouldn't be able to live together in Temple.  Furthermore, by the time his lease is up, he'll be deploying for my second year of nursing school anyways. So it looks like we'll be doing long distance for a little while longer.  Remind me to thank Central Texas College for their ridiculous entrance requirement.

On Friday, I booked a wedding venue.  Woo hoo!  We're set to get married on March 12, 2011 in The Woodlands, TX.  We're getting married at a beautiful resort and also at a beautiful price.  They even took 10% off of our food and beverage minimum for Zack being in the military.  They also said that if for some reason Zack's deployment gets pushed ahead too far or he has to do that training before he leaves, then we can move the date to any available Saturday at no extra charge.  Thank goodness!  We have to make sure the groom is there!!

Since all of this craziness has happened, I've just been doing stuff for the wedding and nursing school.  I had to go renew my tetanus shot (which has been no good since 2002 - oops!) and order a background check.  Soon I get to go to the hospital and take a drug and TB test.  I'm still trying to find a CPR class before the one scheduled on July 17th because I like to get stuff done early.  I also signed a lease on a 1 bedroom/1 study apartment.  I'm dreading moving in late July.  Moving is one of my least favorite things to do.  Did I also mention that I currently live on the third floor and own most of the furniture in this apartment??  One of my top things on my to-do list is to engage in some belated spring cleaning.  When I have to move, I am much more willing to throw a lot of stuff away.  Anyways, I have a little dog that needs some attention.

Love, Heather

xo

Just Wanted To Share

Thanks to everyone who left sweet comments on my last post.  My mom forwarded me an email and I wanted to share.  I don't want this post to be political, I was just touched that unrewarded kindness still existed for some. I remember watching the news all day and crying when this happened so I was glad to get to read a "happy-ending" type story.  I have cleaning to do but I'll be sure to post some updates later!

The doctor had his TV on in his office when the news of the military base shootings at Ft. Hood , TX came on. The husband of one of his employees was stationed there. He called her into his office and as he told her what had happened, she got a text message from her husband saying, "I am okay." Her cell phone rang right after she read the message. It was an ER nurse,” I’m the one who just sent you a text, not your husband. I thought it would be comforting but I was mistaken in doing so. I am sorry to tell you this, but your husband has been shot 4 times and he is in surgery."

The soldier's wife left Southern Clinic in Dothan, AL and drove all night to Ft.Hood. When she arrived, she found out her husband was out of surgery and would be OK. She rushed to his room and found that he already had visitors there to comfort him.

He was just waking up and found his wife and the visitors by his side. The nurse took this picture. 

 

What? No news crews and cameras? This is how people with class respond and pay respect to those in uniform. I sent my cousin in Fayetteville , N.C. (Retired from Special Forces) that picture of George W. visiting the wounded at Ft. Hood . I got this reply:

What is even better is the fact George W. Bush heard about Fort Hood, got in his car without any escort, apparently they did not have time to react, and drove to Fort Hood. He was stopped at the gate and the guard could not believe who he had just stopped. Bush only asks for directions to the hospital then drove on. The gate guard called that "The President is on Fort Hood and driving to the hospital."

The base went bananas looking for Obama. When they found it was Bush, they immediately offered escort. Bush simply told them no escort, just let him visit the wounded and the dependents of the dead. He stayed at Fort Hood for over six hours, and was finally asked to leave by a message from the White House.

Obama flew in days later, held a "photo" session in a gym, and did not even go to the hospital.

All this I picked up from two soldiers here who happened to be at Fort Hood when it happened. This Bush/Obama/Ft.Hood story is something that should be sent to every voter in the US . Those who wanted "change" certainly got it.

So Much To Say!

I haven't posted in forever.  Here's the major recaps:

May 14th - graduated from Texas A&M University

May 20th - got engaged!!!!

June 2nd - got accepted into my top choice for nursing schools!!

June 4th - (will) put down a deposit for a wedding venue

I just can't handle all of the excitement!

Love, Heather

xo