It was a good day, until...

My dramatic rant:

It was a pretty good day. A little hot and humid, but we had a nice thunderstorm which made sitting on the back patio much more enjoyable this evening. With the assistance of a anti-bug candle, of course. As many of you probably already know, I hate bugs. I really hate bugs. And the squitoes? Yeah, well, they love me. It is a genuine love-hate relationship. So tonight, we are enjoying a movie and popcorn when I decide I to venture into the kitchen. Only got be greeted by a lovely, large (ok, HUGE) bug with antlers and I mean this thing was HUGE. So, naturally, I screamed...like any other five year old girl would do. I had already killed one spider today, that exceeds my monthly bug killing average. I couldn't breathe.

Do you seriously think I killed it? Oh, heavens to Betsy, no. Alex did. Well, sort of. And to be honest with you, I think that he was a little concerned, too, though he would never admit it. So he runs off and comes back with a hammer of all things, in spite of my remarks that a larger surface would be necessary for such a huge bug. It ran behind the fridge because the hammer didn't work. Alex pulls the fridge out and guess what?! There are TWO of these awful God-forsaken things!! Oh, yes. Two.

So, if you get anything out of this post, remember that 409 not only keeps a kitchen spotless, but kills large, flying, cockroach-like bugs in a kitchen on the spot, as well. Thank you, Clorox Co., you really aren't kidding when you call it all-purpose, are you?

Add a little sweet to your summer!

I've accepted that it is going to be a hot summer. Temperatures have reached above 100 degrees for the past few days, and it is only going to get hotter. When the AC and the ceiling fans just don't suffice, I've found comfort in something sweet. I always claimed I didn't like sweet tea. Until I moved south of the Mason-Dixon line and realized that I'd never actually had real sweet tea. And now I can't get enough of it. It is the number one drink of the south, and why it is not for the rest of the country, I don't know.

I've done a little research from the neighbors and a friend who was born and raised in the south to come up with a recipe for sweet tea that is all you need for a hot day. But don't forget to drink your 8-10 glasses water, of course!

Sweet Tea

• 1 pinch baking soda
• 3/4 cup white sugar, splenda, stevia, equal, or however else you like to sweeten!
• 6 cups cool water
• 2 cups boiling water
• 6 tea bags (I highly recommend Luzianne family style bags, the iced tea blend)

Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda in a 64 oz (2 qt), heat proof, glass pitcher. Pour in boiling water, and add tea bags. Cover, and allow to steep for 15-20 minutes (depending on how strong you like your tea).

Remove tea bags using tongs, and discard. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Pour in cool water, then refrigerate until cold.

We like the recipe so much that I double it.

ENJOY!!

Have a wonderful day and y'all come back, now. :)

Life? It's as sweet as the tea.

Well, I finally caved and started a blog. Should you chose to "follow" us on here, I'm warning you...I don't quite have this figured out. So there will be LOTS changes along the way, indeed.

To bring you up to speed: Alex and I have been in a long distance relationship for the better part of 5 years. He was in CO, I was in IA...we were both in CO...he was in MS, I was in CO...and finally we find ourselves BOTH in MS. So here we are. :)

Life as we know it in Columbus, MS is pretty good. Alex is in pilot training at Columbus AFB. He keeps really busy and often puts in 12 hour days, 5 days a week. But he gets to fly every day and I very rarely hear a complaint out of him. He's loving it.

Me on the other hand, well, I'm bored (hence, the blog). I graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in May and moved to Mississippi (which was really hard to do) two days after graduation. After two insane semesters, I decided it would be best for my mental health to take the summer off. I kept myself really busy at first. To put it politely, Alex can't decorate. And the house looked like...well, like a prison. It just needed a little help, actually a lot of help. I took down wallpaper, had the walls painted, even painted the kitchen table and chairs within the first two weeks.

I'm slowly adjusting to Mississippi. Life is so much different here. I loved living in Colorado so it was really hard to leave the mountains and my friends behind. It is so stinking hot here. The heat index today was 105! I grew up in Iowa, so I know what humidity is, but this is so much worse than anything I ever remember. I can't walk outside without chaffing. Blech. It doesn't snow here, either. That's so weird. The people here are totally different, too. And without going too far, let's just say they like their food. And I am so thankful for that. The bbq is phenomenal, the tea is sweet, and the peaches will blow your mind. They talk funny, too. Most of the time I cannot understand them so I just smile and nod. I don't say much because they look at me funny and tell me I have a weird accent. HA. Ya'll are the funny soundin' folks. And for the record I'd like to state that I hate Walmart (particularly on pay day)? K, thanks.

In August I'll be starting grad school at Mississippi State or "State", as the locals call it. I'm getting my masters in Aerospace Engineering. I also have an assistantship (heck yeah!) which means that I will be getting paid to go to school. In addition to taking classes, I will be working with EADS doing simulation of aircraft icing. I even get my own office with a desk and name plate on the door! I've met with my advising professor and got a tour of the facilities where I'll work. It's a new chapter in my life and I'm thrilled. It's going to be a huge challenge, but I know I got this. :)

And how could I forget Elle! The mouse is doing just fine here. In fact, she loves it. She's got both her persons now, a doggy door and huge fenced in backyard. She spends her days sunning herself, chasing birds, and sleeping. What a life...

Oof. This blog is way too long. If you're still reading it, I'm really sorry. I hope it wasn't too terrible...

Have a wonderful day and y'all come back, now. :)