Something I found

For the girls who get to kiss their boyfriends before they go to bed... Feel Fortunate.

For the girls who can walk the malls hand in hand with the one they love.. Feel Privileged.

For the girls who get showered with hugs and kisses each day... Feel Glorious.

For the girls that can cry and have the love of your life hold you telling you it'll be okay.. Feel Lucky.

For the girls who have a hard time when their boyfriend goes out of town for the weekend.. Feel Blessed.


For the girls who have no idea what their men are doing during the week... Stay Strong!

For the girls who see the love of their life once every few months due to distance.. Keep Smiling!

For the girls that have to hold their heads up when they haven't heard from their men in weeks.. Stand Tall!

For the girls who race out to the mailbox every day just hoping for a letter... Don't Give Up!

For the girls who have boyfriends that are going to defend their freedom.. Feel Proud!

My first day at Macy's

Today was my first day at Macy's, and even though I was doing training, I thought I'd document it!

I got there early - the store doesn't open until 10am - and since they didn't show me the employee entrance, I had to wait for them to open the store. I was nervous! I went upstairs and the receptionist gave me a tour of the store and introduced me to my manager. She's nice! Everyone I've met at the store is nice.

So I was supposed to be there from 10-6 for my training. I had the basic training and then the Point of Sales training. The basic training took me about an hour and a half, which I heard usually takes 3 hours, so I was ahead. It was an introduction to Macy's, their brands, some diversity and safety training - the usual. Anyway, afterwards I started on the POS training. That one supposed takes 3 to 3.5 hours. I was finished by 3, so about 2 and a half hours with a few little breaks.

So I finished the training in less than 5 hours, an awesome time by everyone's accounts! The POS training wasn't hard but it was a lot of different things. I feel like I'll learn more once I'm actually working. I didn't eat my lunch and only had a few snacks, which drained me too much. Now I feel too blah to do anything but lay on the couch!

So my next work day is Wednesday, and I'm actually on the floor then. And then I work a lot after that! I'm just saving up my 10% of every paycheck to buy myself something nice... like a puppy and Wii Fit :P (Ok, no puppy until Hawaii, but I do need to save up to get one!)

Anyway... I'm not going to tennis lessons tonight. I'm tired. I'll write Brandon his letter, maybe a longer one, and call it an easy night! Brandon passed his PT test - I only know this because I didn't get a phone call from him! So, so far so good. He was nervous about the PT test for some reason, I knew he could do it! I hope I get a letter from him soon!

Weigh In and Ranger School

June 5: 133.8
June 12: 131.6
June 22: 134.4
June 26: 133.2
July 3: 132.4
July 10: 134.0
July 17: 135.0

July 24: 134.4

Brandon left this morning. I dropped him off at the Ranger Training Brigade at 10:30am. He had nearly 150 pounds of equipment to bring with him! This morning we shaved his head (it's all prickly now!) and ate some breakfast, then we left. We got lost for a bit but finally found where we needed to be.

Of course, he's only be gone for a couple hours, so I haven't been bothered by it yet. I get to see him on August 14, so less than 3 weeks. That's an easy time to complete! After that we'll be apart for longer... but he'll be home before I know it, I hope.

I worry about him physically - I just hope his back and feet can handle all the rucking and movement. But he's stronger than we can all imagine, so I know he can do well. I'm just waiting for his first letter to come! Soon enough!

I got a job!

So I know I wasn't going to get a job this summer - I was taking a break, figuring things out, enjoying myself. Well, since Brandon leaves on Sunday and will be gone for 9 weeks, I needed something to keep me busy, right? I figured that first week I'd be fine, I would be busy. Then it would start to wear on me. It's not like I have a huge home to take care of, or babies, or even pets, to keep me busy. So I decided to apply for jobs!

I applied at Macy's on Thursday, got an email basically that night from them to schedule an appointment for an interview, and the had the interview on Tuesday.

The interview started as a group interview. There were 7 of us in a room sitting in a U-shape table formation. The two interviewers were at the front. It was rather quick. They had us introduce ourselves, explain why we wanted to work at Macy's, and then handed out cards with different words and explain what they meant. I got "Respect." I didn't think I did so well at the group interview because at the end they asked us if we had any questions. Of course, I couldn't think of any. I finally scrounged one up and asked about how schedules worked.

At the end the reception came to all of us in the hall and said she had to ask for some to stay behind to finish paperwork. That means that those who she didn't name didn't get the job, fairly easy to tell. I got all sad for a second. Then she named my name! It was funny, there was another "Shantal" there, so when she said Chantal, I thought it was the other girl! Until she said "Chantal.... S?" and I knew it was me. So there were 4 of us named from that session.

We waited in another area and then got called in individually to interview with the HR Manager. She was really nice and easy to talk to. Then she offered me the job right there on the spot for Fine Jewelry! I was amazed. I had to go back later with my Social Security Card and to fill out paperwork, which I did.

I start my official training on Monday! I'm very excited to have something to keep me busy while also making a bit of money. We agreed that 10% of my check is mine to do what I want with. The rest goes to paying off my student loans. I need to buy some black clothes for work now, and then I want to buy some dress clothes for the future. Then I want Wii Fit or Wii Active... and then I'm saving up for my puppy!!

Friday Weigh In on a Sunday!

June 5: 133.8
June 12: 131.6
June 22: 134.4
June 26: 133.2
July 3: 132.4
July 10: 134.0

July 17: 135.0

I suck at goals. :P With Brandon home all the time, I don't work out as much as I should. We also go eat out more because he's leaving. He's leaving in a week!! When he's gone, though, I plan on working out much more, since I won't have anything else to do!

I got a job interview at Macy's already! The only place I've heard back from... maybe I'll get it. It would give me something to do. The interview is for fine jewelry. That would be fun!

I don't have much to write today. Just enjoying my last days with Brando before he goes and does his difficult training. I hope he does well and doesn't get hurt! Today we're grocery shopping and looking for a kitchen table to buy (we want a pub table). I hope it's a good day. :)

My life here

I expected to feel much different living in Georgia. I mean, it's a world away compared to Colorado. But the only difference I really feel is the humidity, the heat, and the mosquitos that keep biting me. There are some cultural differences too, but maybe I've already gotten used to them. I've been here for nearly 2 months, and wow, has it gone fast! Maybe home is wherever I make it. With Brandon here, it especially feels like normal. I guess you just live your life, wherever you may be. Hopefully that happens once we get to Hawaii.

Brandon and I are planning on purchasing some scuba gear for Hawaii. That is, hopefully, going to be our main recreational activity. I can't wait!

Friday night we went downtown with the Maffey's, a couple we know here, and went to a club for her birthday. It was a fun time! We listened to one live singer, and then next came the Peggy Jenkins Band, a blues band. The lead singer was amazing. We were shocked! I can safely say she is one of the best I've heard in awhile. Brandon even had fun! I was planning on drinking more, but I think my hypoglycemia has ended my drinking days... I had two small drinks and got this massive headache and stomachache. I guess I'm the permanent DD. :( I suppose there are worse things that not being able to drink alcohol!

We waxed my car today. It's a fun activity we can do together! Brandon and I are always scrambling for things to do together that are different from the normal activities we do. Washing and waxing the car fit great.

You know, life isn't too bad here. I don't have a job, but I've applied for a few for when Brandon is gone, to keep busy. I'm volunteering. I'm making friends. I'm exercising (especially this week, I told myself I'm going every day!). I'm just living as I would. What else is there to do?

Oven-Barbecued Pork Chops

This is what I'm making tonight. It's really good!

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- 6 pork chops, 3/4 to 1 inch thick
- 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey (I use honey)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Dash of cayenne (Optional

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Place pork chops in bottom of a 13x9x2in baking pan
3. Place sliced onion over pork chops
4. Combine remaining ingredients, pour over pork chops
5. Bake uncovered for 1 hour, or until pork is tender

Serves 6

Friday Weigh In & Updates

June 5: 133.8
June 12: 131.6
June 22: 134.4
June 26: 133.2
July 3: 132.4

July 10: 134.0

I haven't worked out this week, and we ate out a lot this past weekend. My bad ;)

I feel bad because I haven't written hardly at all lately on this blog. I mean, I do my updates every Friday for my failed weight loss plan ;), but other than that, nothing really happens. It's probably because Brandon is home more and so we're always doing something! We've been playing a lot of tennis lately, though we both aren't so great at it, and swimming. We also bought a video game we can play together, and have been watching shows.

He leaves in 2 weeks, so I'm trying to get as much time as I can with him. I have no doubt that he'll do great at Ranger School, though right now the school is overflowing with people, so they are kicking people out for the littlest reasons. If he gets kicked out for something it's the end and we're moving to Hawaii. So wow, we could even been moving next month. How insane would that be? In my mind, though, I have a feeling that he'll be very well, so he won't be coming home. But you never know... part of me wants him to come home because I'm selfish and hate being apart, but most of me wants him to go and get that Ranger tab like he wants to!

On another note, last week I finally finished New Moon, the second book in the Twilight series. It was boring and whiny and kind of sucked, but I told myself I would read it, and I did. My reward was Ender's Game, a wonderful book I read freshman year of college. It took me only a week to read (with a couple days where I didn't even read at all!). Now I'll be reading Freedom's Landing, a book Brandon recommended. It should only take about a week to read.

My writing projects have been nonexistent. I know I need to write, I know I want to write, but I just don't. I will as soon as Brandon leaves, though, and make myself do it. It's just so hard to choose one story to work on. I think I'll just work on all of them and choose it from there!

Ok, I'm going to get work done now. ;)

Friday Weigh In & My Week

June 5: 133.8
June 12: 131.6
June 22: 134.4
June 26: 133.2

July 3: 132.4

I'm going down again! Slowly, but surely.

So since I haven't posted a blog in a week, I thought I'd recap my week. I've been sort of lazy about blogging!

Sunday: Brandon and I didn't do much, lol. Hung out, watched Weeds, watched movies, went swimming, the usual!

Monday: Brandon had 24 hour staff duty starting this day at 9am, so he was gone all day. I went to Pilates (interesting, I'll do it again), and then went to Best Buy to buy the new Rob Thomas CD. I found out there that it wasn't out until Tuesday. Sorta sad... or well. I went home and really just stayed home the rest of the day. Watched TV, read, and watched a couple movies before going to bed!

Tuesday: I usually work out on Tuesdays much more, but I've been feeling awful lazy lately. Brandon came home at about 9:30 in the morning from his staff duty, so I stayed home with him. He took a nap while I watched some more Weeds (it's an awesome show). Then we had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings, which made us sick, and went to Best Buy again to finally buy my new CD! We also went to Barnes and Noble's. That night we rested because we felt sick.

Wednesday: I volunteered at the museum from 9-1. Brandon had to work a graduation in the afternoon, though he really was gone for only a couple hours. He came home not too long after I got home. We watched more Weeds, another movie (probably, I can't even remember!), and ate some good dinner.

Thursday: I did yoga and instead of the regular spin class, I just did a half hour on the bike myself. Spin has gotten kind of boring :P. Then I met Brandon at the commissary and we went grocery shopping together! It was super busy because post was closed on Friday. We also got some gyros to eat, yum. Then when we got home we hung out for a bit, then played tennis and went swimming. We've been playing tennis a whole lot lately, since we got ourselves some rackets. It's been tons of fun though!

Friday: We decided to have a little barbecue with some friends and play volleyball. We ate hot dogs and ended up playing volleyball in the pool since the sand was very very hot. We also played some tennis. It was fun! We both got sunburnt and were so tired. We watched Slumdog Millionaire, which is a good movie, and then went to bed. Oh, we had dinner at a sushi place! That was yummy.

Today: I woke up and now we're making a yummy breakfast with bacon, eggs, and toast. We do this at least once a weekend. We're going to play some Wii (Mario Kart!), and then see what the day holds for us! Go see fireworks downtown probably! :D