In Training

The OB/GYN

Don't run away, this is not about what happened during an appointment and I am fine!  The following is another in a long, amusing line of 'Royal in America' stories ---

I had an appointment booked at the OB/GYN for 8:45am the other morning.  Completely unrelated, I'd been sick with a pretty severe cold/sore throat and not sleeping well lately.  Sometime around 7:30am I called Royal (he works nights) and asked if he would call their office at 8:00am and see if I could reschedule.  If it was possible, I would get an extra hour of much-needed sleep before going to work.  Being the absolute sweetheart he is, he agreed and the appointment was rescheduled for a few days later. 

Then my Mom texted, then Royal texted, then the Doctor's office called (I didn't pick up) and there I was wide awake with plenty of time to make it to the appointment.  I decided to call the Doc and see if they had given away my time yet.  The following is my conversation with the OB/GYN nurse:

Me: Hi, this is Kathy _________.

"Oh hi!  I just spoke with your husband, I hope you feel better."

Me:  Thank you.  I'm so sorry to mess you guys around, but have you already given away my 8:45 this morning?

"No, but I've rescheduled you for 8:45 on Thursday."

Me:  Would it be possible for me to just come in this morning?  I'm so sorry to do this...

"Sure, just come on in.  Will he be with you?"

Me: [completely blanking] He? Um...

"Your husband, will your husband be with you?"

Me: Oh! No, he's at work .... ?

"I just love his accent!!" [honest to God, she giggled]

Me:  OH! Haha. Well it's easy listening.

"Oh yes! We'll see you in a few minutes."

Me: Thank you, bye.

So. That was the day that a middle-aged OB/GYN nurse requested the presence of my young, English-English speaking husband at my OB/GYN appointment.

Finally a Grown Up

I finally became a real grown up at Royal's softball game last night.

I was sitting alone (usual game buddy couldn't make it) mid-way up the stands cheering the guys on the field as per usual.  About halfway through two little teenage girls came to sit - one row up from their family and two rows down from me.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that one of the girls turned around to look at something and then stared at me.  Then she and her friend put their heads together and giggled.  Then, of course, the other girl turned to look but pretended to look past me at something really interesting.  I know because I was looking right at her. 

Next thing, they're saying something about a picture and I see her raise her phone - camera side facing me - to her ear!  She has blonde hair.  It's a shiny blue phone.  Sprouting out of the side of her head the wrong way.

I almost started laughing but then I thought, that's not right - I should say something.
Me (sternly): "What are y'all doing?"
Her: "What? Nothing! It's my phone."
Me: "It looks like you're trying to take a photo..."
Her (blushing): "No. No."

They turned around and then left to walk around a few minutes later. 

How's that for grown up action!  I never thought I could come off as stern or call a kid out for doing something innappropriate (or even think of a teenager as a kid!).  I always knew it would come when I had children of my own, but not until then!   

I found out later that she's the daughter of a co-worker's girlfriend and that she was trying to sneak a picture of my shirt:



And it is an awesome shirt, I just wish she'd had the manners to ask me.  I had Royal take that photo after the game and I send it along to the co-worker. 

Technology. Sigh. 

The S'more: A rite of passage

Prepare yourself. 

My husband has never made a s'more or, for that matter, tasted a s'more!  In all his life camping, serving in the Armed Forces and knowing me... he's never gone through the rite of passage that should only ever be described as Ham describes it to Smalls in The Sandlot:

"Okay, pay attention.  First, you take the graham.  You stick the chocolate on the graham.  Then, you roast the mallow.  When the mallow's flaming then you stick it on the chocolate.  Then you cover it with the other end.  Then you stuff it."

Sigh.  Memories. 

I think I might officially be old.

But back to the point:  I've excitedly scarfed down more s'mores than I'd like to admit and he's not had a one!  This had to be remedied!  And oh baby was it:



We got way too many supplies and ate waaay too many s'mores but it was worth it.  They're actually the first food that we cooked over a flame in our new backyard - which makes it that much better. 

It may be a little thing, but I'm glad I got to share this moment with him. 

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Also of note, this sign is awesome:



Who's with me!?

Missed my blog birthday... AGAIN!

Apparently, it's tradition!  I always seem to forget...

I have been blogging here since November 8th, 2005.  FIVE YEARS! 

I think a little trip down memory lane is in order --

My very first post. It seems so long ago now! I've really grown. I started blogging because Royal was with the Marines and out of contact for the very first time since we'd met.

How we met. Almost six years ago...

Learning to understand his English + Bootneck speak. I've heard communication is important in a relationship!

Inspiring day at the gun store.  I used to work at a gun shop (yes really) and this is about one incredible day. 

A Royal Marines Commando training story by my Royal. 

I'm no longer Royal's girlfriend. We're engaged!

My very first Conmando post: Watch out for the 'Conmando'.  There would be many, many more to come on this S.O.B. (including more than one in 2010).  Probably one of the first times I was linked by the Mudville Gazette!

How to handle a drunken chav. Excellent story.

You are not welcome here (Part I).  A Walkabout bar in England refused a drink to two Royal Marines in uniform that had come in after a funeral. This was even linked by Grim at Blackfive!

We got hitched in Tucson, Arizona (my hometown)!

We moved in together!  In Britain!

A weekend away in Glasgow; OR the big ol' protest we ran into.

The banking saga. Royal was getting ready to deploy and the British banks wouldn't have me!

The first round of deployment troubles.

Is there not enough jobs in America?  Working in Britain.

Padres, doctors, hospital visits.  Pretty much all while Royal was deployed.

The Faslane Peace Camp. A photo essay. Someone went so you wouldn't have to!

Oh yeah, I had mono and wasn't told.  Found out after returning Stateside (unfortunately without Royal) and visiting my U.S. doctor.

Finally letting everyone in on what Royal's job was in the Marines.

Go Home British Soldiers, Go Home. Royal Marines (including Royal) mistreated by Scottish yobs.

The joys of the bi-continental military marriage!

More fun, this time with Sky.

Two long years working on U.S. Immigration for Royal. (Best to scroll down & start at the beginning!)

A dear friend and Marine lost. We remember.

Also worth a look: Royal in America - funny incidents Royal has with people here thanks to his Britishness.  My photo posts - phots that are important to me.

Thank you to everyone that's stopped by these past five years!  Especially to Pat at Past Imperfect and the wonderful guys at Right Hand of God!

My little golden helper

He's a yellow lab, but I always call him my golden boy (aka Rio). 

This is how our golden helper helped us move into our new home...


Played with extra cardboard


Watched us get paper cuts, misplace screws, tools, documents and our minds...


Yeah.


Best of all, his happy handsome face ALWAYS makes us smile!  He loves his new home... and barking at cows.

House Hunting: Part II

I was going to write a long detailed post about how much it sucks to fight underwriters on your possible home loan.  But we all know that, right?  I'm sure most of your stories far surpass mine in horror. 

So.

WE GOT IT!  We got it and have now moved into our very first home!

Here are a few photos, though of course we haven't even begun to decorate!


The back of the house - lovely red brick with a porch!


Our backyard and beyond!  We've seen squirrels, cows, robins and cardinals so far.


A not-so-great phot of part of the kitchen. Yes, my Royal can eat a box of cereal in one sitting.  You can't tell, but the kitchen is actually a pretty red color that we would have never picked ourselves, but just LOVE.


Our pretty things in the big kitchen cabinet.  That red is pretty much the red on the other kitchen walls.


One wall of the living room.  Brand new telly was my husband's favorite part of moving...


Part of the office

Just a few phots for now.  More when we're settled in!

YAY.

House Hunting: Part I.

House Hunting: Part 1

To start this saga, I'll have to go back a bit.  As you may remember, upon entering the U.S., Royal wasn't allowed to work until he received a work permit -- that ended up being almost six months.  We knew about this beforehand, so that plus a few other similar things kept us from purchasing a home right away.

So we began the process of saving money for a down payment on a house of our very own.  A couple months ago, we reached our goal!  We'd been keeping an eye on the market for some time and even attended some open houses to get a better idea of what to expect.  It's the first house purchasing experience for both of us. 

We contacted a local realtor, Nessa - she sold my parents their house 16 years ago! - and described what we were looking for: a brick 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with a garage and fenced back yard (if possible.).  She gave us about 20 sheets with houses & info and told us to put them in the order we wanted to see them.  It was... a long process!  But we finally picked our top fifteen and went from there.  Our #1 choice was far and away our favorite!  No other was even close.

We met up with Nessa for our very first house viewing aaannnnddd... our top choice was in negotiations with another buyer!  I was disappointed, but Royal was crushed.  Even without seeing the inside, I think he'd already moved in!  We went on to look at 10 houses and all of them were far from what we were looking for.  I mean really, if you're trying to sell your house at least move the huge reptile terrariums - yes, plural - out first!  Luckily, everyone had told us not to get discouraged our first time out so we were prepared for the wave of emotions: the freak-out and then minor depression. 

Nessa widened the search and we made another house hunting appointment.  When she handed us our 'to-do' packet on the day our top choice was first up!  We were over the moon!  The negotiations had fallen through and it was ours for the taking.  We knew it was perfect for us the second we walked through the door.  Even the darn paint colors were perfect!  A gorgeous sage green in the bathrooms, a dark red in the kitchen and a lovely desert shade for the rest of the house.  Two car garage in a nice neighborhood, even nice landscaping.  Privacy fenced in the back on two sides and the best part --- NOTHING behind the house but trees!

After trying to take a serious look at the house, we stood in front of Nessa and my Dad with glistening, wide eyes and said we'd take it!

Next up: the godforsaken process that is: applying for a home loan.

House Hunting: Part II.

Brit Visit: Complete with Calls to the Police!

We've been enjoying a visit from our good friends from England, RJ & Car (husband & wife).  Royal served in the Royal Marines with RJ (he is still in) and the four of us have been through weddings, kids and Afghanistan together.  The first week they were here was spent seeing the local sites as they are hoping to move to The States someday. 

This past weekend was the "big city" trip: Fort Worth, Texas baby!  We spent the night at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and the next day hit up Sundance Square, the Stockyards, Sam Moon and Cabelas. Great, great time.  Our last stop was Central Market.  The highlight of the trip if I do say so myself. 

For whatever reason I'm always out of the vehicle first and waiting for everyone else.  As I'm standing there looking back at my three compadres, a car screeches right next to me and speeds off down the parking lot.  I simultaneously jump and turn towards the noise.  There, almost right next to me, I see a nice looking lady in her early 50s. She's yelling "They took my keys!  They stole my purse!"

Changing the major

I changed my major yesterday.  It broke my heart, but I think it's a good decision.  I have ALWAYS wanted to be a history major - be able to say: Why yes, I earned my undergraduate in history.  How cool is that? 

My grand dream is to earn my degree in history and teach high school while I work on my Master's - in history, of course.  Then continue on to a Ph.D. and eventually teach at a university.

All was going well until I discovered that to be a history major (teacher certification or not) you have to take four semesters of Spanish.  I was not happy, but I'm passionate about history and decided that if that's what I have to do...
Spanish 101 went okay - I made an A with lots of studying.  I have Spanish 102 this semester and I'm not ashamed to say it's kicking my behind.  I'm studying, doing extra work on the side to help but it's making my life a living Hell. 

My parents are both professors in the education department.  They teach teachers how to teach.  They know the ins and outs of all teacher related programs.  They also know how much I've been putting into Spanish and how frustrated I've been!  My Mom recommended switching my major from history with teacher certification to interdisciplinary studies - 4th through 8th grade.  Not the grade level I was hoping for, but I will be able to take the high school history certification test before I graduate and therefore be allowed to teach high school history. 

Doing this releases me from any further Spanish (and unfortunately makes this semester useless - though not a waste, I've learned a lot!) and adds some content area classes like math and science.  I will be able to go back to history for my Master's and Ph.D.  YES!

So, welcome to the new me.  I love 4th through 8th graders! 

What language do you speak over there?

Ah, ladies and gents. It's time for another installment of 'Royal in America'

Actually, it kills me to write these sometimes because I know that what some people take away from it is "Americans are self absorbed & stupid".  It's so ridiculous and untrue, but some people are ridiculous, I guess.  Royal meets many, many people every week (especially now that he works as a personal trainer) that have a good firm knowledge base regarding Britain, the military and American history.

But it's true, he occasionally gets one that doesn't have as firm a grasp ...

Recently Royal was speaking to a guy in his early 20s:

Guy: Did it take you long to learn the language?
Royal: I don't... I don't know what you mean... ?
Guy: Did it take you long to learn English [long pause] Or, what language do you speak over there?
Royal: We speak English. 
Guy: ....
Royal: ....
Guy: Oh, okay.
Royal: Yeah.  Well, you know, the English settled the 13 colonies in the U.S.
Guy: [Blank stare]
Royal: And you fought the American Revolution to free yourselves from British rule...
Guy: Oh. I didn't know that.  Guess I wasn't listening that day in History.

In all his time in the United States, Royal has never encountered a person that didn't know about the American Revolution.  We were floored!  While I have lots and lots of complaints about what they don't cover in high school history classes -- well, let's just say I'm not griping about this one.  I seriously, seriously hope that the conversation sparked a little interest in the subject of American History for that gentleman.  Please man, do it for your country.