Formal Photo

I was recently forced to get a formal military photo so of course I'm forcing everyone to look at it. I'm not sure when I started hating getting my picture taken, but I loved it as a kid. Even my wedding photos were torture. All of a sudden I forget what a smile feels like and which side I look better from. Out of the 4 photos taken, this was the best one. It's hard to tell in the picture but I was in an extremely uncomfortable position. My body was facing one way with my head forced to an almost unreachable angle, which is why my neck skin looks like Betty White's. I learned that I don't have the range of motion I thought I possessed in my neck and that is how the over-confident, slightly arrogant tilt of my head was produced. This photo will be shown around base and to hundreds of people and all I want the world to know is that I'm sorry! I promise I'm not stuck up and I apologize for the crazy eyes. 

Meteorology

Has anyone ever taken Meteorology in college? If so, was it hard? Oh, it wasn't that hard? Well, you're a liar. I am almost over with this hellish course and want to warn the world. Don't...do...it. It's embarrassing but this is by far the toughest college course I've taken. Granted, I'm 31 and am still in college, but I promise I'm not that dumb.
Somehow this month has turned into the most stressful month of my life and I will be so glad when February is here. I'm supposed to be working on a 10 page paper, studying for an award board, writing an Initial Feedback, memorizing Portuguese vocabulary and getting started on my second to last module in 2 online classes. However, I am listening to country music, blogging, looking for new guest bedroom furniture and doing all I can to avoid actual work.
Corey is almost half way through his deployment. I thought the time would go by fast, but it's not. When he's gone for an extended period of time, my thoughts change drastically. I want a baby, a dog, am scared of the dark, get a little more sensitive than normal and am in constant fear that everyone in my family is dead. My brain gets super dramatic but it's only between the hours of 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm. I'm really only suffering for 3-4 hours a day. Hahah. I promise it's not that bad, but I figured I'd at least document my thoughts while he's gone.
I won my second military award. You can all now address me as Airman of the Year. Yes, that's correct...of the YEAR! It sounds super cool but I always have and always will believe that awards are kind of stupid. I don't care right now because anything that will make me look good on my next Warrant packet is welcome. I'm plan on blowing that award way out of proportion. Why wouldn't the Army aviation community want the Airman of the year? They better want her.
I am excited about 2013. I have a lot of good plans but nothing fun really starts until April when Corey gets home. We're going to France ya'll! Then to Spain, a cruise to Scandinavia to see the Northern Lights and Croatia. Here is my list of Resolutions:

Turn 32
Reapply to be a helicopter pilot

It's really short this year, but I seriously can't think of anything else. I can't decide if I've straight given up or if I'm being realistic. Either way, that's all anyone is getting out of me. I guess I'm just pretty satisfied this year. Of course I'll continue with my life long goal of being 10 lbs lighter (it doesn't matter how much I weigh, I always want to weigh 10 lbs less), trying to get a Bachelor's degree and being the world's greatest Aunt.

I have no recent pictures so here's an old one that depicts how I think everyone feels in the middle of winter.

Me in Kindergarten. It was our Halloween parade and I was mad at my mom for not putting the right thing in my lunch. I'll use this as a reminder why I don't want a baby. Hahaha. Paula Burt is a SAINT!

Family Fun

On my way home from Texas I stopped in Colorado Springs for 5 days to see my family! My grandparents, brother and sister-in-law, and all 5 nieces and nephews were there, along with the ones that already live there :) I had so much fun playing and shopping and getting donuts. I landed back in Germany on Christmas Eve and pretty much slept until I had to go back to work today.
We went to Pixie Skate, which is my favorite thing to do when I visit. The kids are adorable and it is hilarious to watch the other kids eat it. It brings back so many memories of fat lips and sore knees. I had a few dates with these cuties and had so much fun being with family.

She doesn't realize her skates are locked :) 

Check out the pioneer girl in the helmet...

The newest addition, Olivia!!!

After 5 minutes the children need coaxing from the parents

She's not listening

She's really not listening

Safe and sound at home!

Me and my Grandparents!

Babies holding babies

The boys

Me and Jackson on a whole new friend level. I love it :)

My brother and his girl 

More babies holding babies

Cousin fun at the kid table. The circle of life.

She's a Burt

Paula making me laugh so hard I cried. I think she was trying to pronounce a spanish word.

More boys!

Cruising Kitchens

I found this place while I was lost, looking for my hotel in San Antonio. http://cruisingkitchens.com/ . I could definitely see myself driving one of these one day. Especially if the military doesn't work out. Haha. I have always and will always love the idea of being a gypsy. I don't think I would actually love it, but it's okay to be in love with an idea.
They also have a sitting area that looks like they serve food. I went to check it out today but it was closed, so I went to Bento's instead and got the "best empanada in the free world". It was pretty good. Their fish taco was supposed to be amazing but I've had way better. I normally don't notice that with food, but I know I've had better fish tacos than that. I'm a bad critic since I love it so much. I usually don't have anything bad to say, but this taco was way too fishy. There, I'm a food critic.
Here are some pictures of Cruising Kitchen that I stole from the internet.

 

Thanksgiving in San Antonio

I'm in Texas for a while and was able to spend Thanksgiving with some friends from my year in Wichita Falls. They are avid Harley riders and participate in an annual group ride for the Basic Trainees at Lackland AFB. I got to tag along and ride on the back of Jill's trike and it was so much fun. There were around 150 riders and we just escorted a few buses filled with Air Force recruits to the Harley shop where they ate Thanksgiving dinner.
Afterwards we ate at their house and had a great time catching up. The weather is amazing here so riding in late November is perfect!

Art & Jill and her trike

Art and his sweet ride

Riding buddies

I'm most definitely the nerd in the mirror :)

Line of bikes returning from the ride

Non-riders supporting the troops!

Basic Trainees on their way to get some food without being yelled at :)

Javelina Harley-Davidson

 

Small Cities

Here are some pictures from my latest day trips. I love small cities. I always find a chocolate shop and have a few homemade delights and take pictures of all the beautiful buildings. The weather never really cooperates but if you wait for a sunny day here, you might never see another city.

Frauenfeld, Switzerland

Frauenfeld, Switzerland

Echternach, Luxembourg

Echternach, Luxembourg

Getting ready for Christmas!

Art Nouveau sign in Echternach

Art Nouveau tiles above the windows

Strasbourg, France

The weekend before Corey deployed we went on a day trip to Strasbourg. I loved it! It was such an adorable city with a lot of cool things to see. We parked outside of the downtown and took the train in and it was a perfect, stress free day. Plus, the drive out there was incredible. Every curve in the road led to a picture perfect postcard view.
Eating in France is always a little difficult for us because there aren't as many people who speak english and the food is very...fancy. We found a nice place to eat and luckily a server there spoke english but even then the conversation went something like this.
"Here we have the liver of a bird that is like a goose"
"Oh, that sounds lovely. Do you have anything that is like chicken?"
"Oui, I do not know the name of the bird but it is family."
"I'll take it."
The food turned out to be amazing and the whole day was great. Street musicians, open markets, cheese stands everywhere. I love France.

I love the outdoor seating that is EVERYWHERE!

Street food

Beautiful french accents

Petit France, Strasbourg

They have an amazing cathedral and it has an astronomical clock inside

These two were fantastic!

Not going to lie, I kind of want to carve cheese now

Cheese warmers...I snuck my hand in there. It was cold!

Foot bridges over rivers are so cool!

Watch your six on this street :)