I Said I'd Never Blog...

Leave it to me to say one thing and do another. Veronica, my younger sister, has been on me for probably a year to get this going. "I don't blog," I said. "It's a waste of time," I said. Then I woke up this morning and thought to myself, "Self, you're always ready for a fight with someone. You don't know how to keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself. Your sweet husband is deployed-AGAIN-and it's just you and your 3 beautiful girls against the world for the next 14 months. Perhaps-and this is a LONG shot-Veronica's right. Maybe you'll have TONS to talk about. Maybe this is one more way to help the time pass by chronicling it all for Dewey to keep him in the loop." So, with that said, I'll take a cue from good ol' Veronica and give you 100 random facts about me to get this party started. However, there isn't much more to me than my husband and kiddos, so it won't be completely about me. Here goes....





1. I have 6 siblings-4 brothers and 2 sisters. And I fall in line at #3 with 2 older brothers, 2 younger brothers and my 2 younger sisters.


2. I've been married to Dewey (Dewey Jr, actually-hence the DJ.) since June 15, 2001. I'm telling you-the JP is the way to go. Our wedding cost a whopping $88. However, we didn't get the honeymoon. Unless you count a weekend at the La Quinta in Killeen, Tx. I love him with all my heart.


3. I have 3 girls- Mary Lillian (Lilly) 8 Kaylan Olivia-6 and Alyssa Faye-4. Kay and Lyss go by their first names, Lilly's the only oddball.


4. I have an Epileptic dog named Bevo. He's my best friend while Clem's gone.


5. I call Dewey things other than his given name-Clem, DJ and Sexy. Pay attention because I alternate names for him A LOT. I call him Clem because I usually only hear him referred to as "Sgt Clemons" or just Clemons. So I decided to shorten it. It's my term of endearment, I suppose.


6. Clem's an E-6 in the army. He was recently promoted to E-7, but now it's hurry up and wait for the army to actually pin him with the extra rocker.


7. Since we've been married we've lived in Killeen, TX at Fort Hood. (In fact that's where Kay was born) Savannah, GA at Hunter Army Airfield (where Alyssa was born. She's our little GA peach.), Fort Eustis VA where Clem was an instructor. Actually, we've been there twice. We're stationed at Ft Hood again-by choice this time-and bought our first house last August.


8. This is Clem's 2nd tour in Iraq. He's also been to Korea for a year. Before we met, he was stationed in Germany and was deployed to Kosovo. He's been pretty much everywhere.


9. I was raised in the church. DJ came home from Korea in Sept '05 and announced he wanted to join the church. Total shock to everyone. He was baptized that Dec.


10. Lilly will be baptized this Aug while everyone's home.


11. Lilly's the oldest of 6 grandkids on my side, but # 5 out of 10 on DJ's side.


12. Dewey and Kay share a birthday-Mar 16.


13. Lyss shares a birthday with my paternal grandmother-Jun 17.


14. Like Veronica, I can't live without playing in the water all summer long. My children have inherited this trait, also, much to Dewey's dismay.


15. Dewey thinks he's fat, so he prefers any activity that requires clothing. Maybe that's why he joined the army......


16. As of right this second, Dewey's been gone for 3 weeks and 3 days.


17. I'm a staunch conservative Republican, as is most of my family. MOST.


18. Alyssa's the devil, I do believe.


19. Bevo's gay. NO JOKE! Ask my parents' dog, Mr. Sambo.


20. Sometimes I want another baby, but then I remember how wonderful it is to sleep through the night and not have to wipe any behinds 24/7 and I have kids that are pretty well self-sufficient. Besides, I'm fixed.


21. I have a PHENOMENAL fear of plumbing in pools and water parks. Don't know why. If I'm at a water park and in a lazy river, I go completely rigid and won't let any part of my body (not even hair) touch the water when I float over one of those grates in the bottom, or even a drain.


22. I love to sail but don't like water that I can't see through. I don't know what's down there looking at me. Creepy, creepy.


23. I have this NASTY habit of biting my finger nails. I've always done it and I probably always will. I don't know why. I don't see how anyone can let them grow. It makes me jealous, really.


24. I'm not having any more birthdays since this year will be my dirty 30. I'm calling it "Black Thursday." The day of the week, of course, will change throughout the rest of my life but they'll always be black whatever.


25. I'm naturally a brunette, but, since Dewey was in Korea, I've gone consistently more and more gray. It's not pretty or distinguished. It's old.


26. I still feel like I'm 20-with a lot more aches and pains, though.


27. I'm glad I'm NOT still 20.


28. You couldn't pay me to go back to being young, stupid and single.


29. I'm still stupid.


31. I skipped 30 on purpose. I don't like reminders.


32. Dewey's my very best friend and if there really is such a thing as a soul mate (even though I really hate that phrase) he's it.


33. Dewey and I met at LensCrafters in Hulen Mall (in Fort Worth). He had just come back from Germany and was stationed at Ft Hood. He also used to work at LC before joining the army. I was working the night he came in. The rest is history.


34. Dewey's the most wonderful husband and father ever. I think he was sent for the kids, not really so much for me, but I'll take it anyway.


35. Besides my dad and Dewey's dad, Dewey's the most wonderful man I know.


36. I talk to Dewey almost everyday, but I write him almost every night anyway.


37. I'm in school right now, online. I'm working (ultimately) toward my Nurse Anesthetist, but I'm thinking about mixing things up and going for Law. Maybe one day I'll sit on the Supreme Court Bench.


38. I also want to be the governor of Texas. (Hello, closed border and express lane on Death Row!!!)


39. I'm a news/politics junkie. Clem told me to stop watching the news while he's gone. He never said I couldn't listen to 2 of my heroes-Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. BWA HA HA HA HA HA!! (See? I'd make a FANTASTIC attorney!)


40. Unlike my sister, I won't reveal my bust size.


41. I do NOT like Obama, and I think John McCain's a wiener. I can't believe he's up there, but I'm voting for him anyway. If it didn't waste my vote I'd write one in.....for Romney, and not because we share a religious affiliation, either. And Hillary's just as evil as Obama, but in a different way....sort of.


42. I'm not really a big fan of ice cream, unless it's Blue Bell's Caramel Turtle Fudge. WATCH OUT!!


43. I brush my teeth at least twice a day.


44. I'll be the first one to defend the military to the death (whether or not I like an individual soldier) but I'll tell anyone who trashes them where to stick it even faster.


45. My brother-in-law thinks I'm loud and mean.


46. I don't think I'm mean.


47. I have a Motorola W490 that's purple.


48. I always have my cell phone on me for when Clem calls.


49. One of my favorite songs is "Soldier Boy" by the Shirelles. Google it if you don't know it.


50. I LOVE LOVE LOVE "Phantom of the Opera."


51. I hate that hippie sloth, Snook, on "It's a big, BIG World" on PBS. I think yesterday I heard him singing about smoking a big, fat one instead of doing chores. Maybe I'm wrong, but it was definitely something along those lines.


52. Alyssa has the most beautiful hair ever.


53. I'm not good at math, but I love all things science.


54. I'm an addict-a caffeine addict. Once an addict, always an addict-at least that's what I think. I love Dr Pepper, so I have to be very careful about my caffeine intake. I just went through withdrawal last May. THAT was a miserable time. I don't recommend it. At least it was caffeine and not something serious.


55. I want my CHL.


56. I think it's hot when I'm talking to Clem online and I see his holster because I know he's packin'. That's sexy, even if it IS only a 9mm.


57. I want my dad's .357. It's awesome.


58. I also want to join the NRA.


HOW AWESOME IS THAT PICTURE??!!

59. My parents are 2 of the smartest people I know.


60. Dewey's another one. He went to the High School for Medical Professions in North Ft Worth. He's wicked smart.


61. I'm not a people person. I prefer my circle of friends and acquaintances.


62. I'm not very emotional, so I have a hard time relating to others, especially the cry babies-VERONICA.


63. Unless you've been in the military or in my position, I don't like any sort of sympathy. I don't like sympathy period because I chose this life. I knew EXACTLY what I was getting myself into. Besides, Clem's defending your freedom. The occasional "Hey, how ya doin'?" is fine. But this is one that REALLY bothers me- just because your husband had to spend a couple weeks in England at a NICE HOTEL on business once, you have no idea what this life is like, so don't try to sympathize with me.


64. Maybe Cody's right. Maybe I'm a little mean.


65. I don't apologize, at least not very often.


66. One of my favorite movies is "Tombstone."


67. I was "in love" with Johnny Depp for almost 20 years, but now he's too much of a social retard for my taste. So are most of the retards in Hollywood. Clem's the love of my life now. Johnny Depp can continue living in France-right where he belongs.


68. I CAN'T STAND Pretty Boy and Hemorrhoid Lips-Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie.


69. Perhaps I'm a little opinionated.


70. I don't like Susan Sarandon or anyone else that lives here and enjoys their freedoms and liberties, but has nothing good to say about those who provide said freedom and liberty.


71. I vote.


72. My children will vote.


73. My husband votes, too.


74. Right now, Lilly's mouth is bleeding. Not seriously or I wouldn't still be at this. She's not sure how or why it started. She's fine now.


75. My favorite flavor is Sour Green Apple. When I see those snow-cone kits at Wal-Mart I want to drink the apple flavored syrup. HOW GROSS IS THAT?!


76. Lilly will tell you that BECAUSE is a conjunction, not a reason.


77. I'm a grammar nazi. HUGE. Clem gets irritated with me because I correct everyone. Like I said, I don't apologize. If you're going to talk to me at least make an effort to sound intelligent. My children will understand the importance of this also.


78. I've had the same best friend since I was 6.


79. I've gained a few more along the way. Like Dana-we've been friends since we were 12. And there's Michele, Jen, Melissa and on and on.....

80. I'm a home body. I'd rather hang out at home and watch a movie than deal with the public.


81. There are 2 people in my GOVT class I don't like, and I don't think they like me, either. You can see how worried I am.


82. I don't do well with people that don't agree with me. I think I got that from my mom.


83. I try not to be judgmental, but sometimes it doesn't really work out well for me-LIBERALS.....


84. I LOVE ghost stories, but I don't like scary movies.


85. "The Little Mermaid" is my all-time FAVORITE movie. Along with "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." I'll put either one on when I have a bad dream or I just can't sleep.


86. I don't like wearing skirts/dresses. You'll almost always find me in jeans and a t-shirt.


87. Dewey's t-shirts he gets from his various units are my absolute favorite shirts to wear.


88. I'm very proud of Clem. I wear his wedding band around my neck since he couldn't take it with him. It's stainless steel. Air crafts and jewelry don't mix.


89. Dewey's MOS is 15U-Chinhook Mechanic-it's that HUGE helicopter that has the double rotors. I made him relcass when 9-11 happened. He used to be a 13B-Field Artillery. I'm sure you can figure out why I told him to reclass.


90. I was 3 months pregnant with Kay when 9-11 happened. I remember that morning like it was yesterday.


91. Kay came 9 months and 1 day after we were married. Ooops.


92. I have lots of regrets and even more guilt.


93. However, if I hadn't made the mistakes I've made I wouldn't have the life and the wonderful family I have today. Every path I took-or didn't take-lead me to where I am right now. I'm pretty grateful for that.


94. I led a rather rebellious life up until a few years ago.


95. I love my family.


96. Kay's in the Gifted and Talented Program-she DEFINITELY got that from Clem. And she's the only one with straight blonde hair.


97. Lilly LOVES to read chapter books.


98. The kids love to sing anything and have the most expansive preference in music I've ever seen any kids have. They definitely got that from me. I LOVE music. Lilly loves some old school Bon Jovi.


99. I taught Lilly and Kaylan to swim this summer. Alyssa still likes her floaties and goggles. They make her look like an insect, but a cute one.


100. Schlitterbahn's my favorite place in the world. Especially now that my kids are old enough to enjoy it, too. It's just one more thing I get to share with them.

I guess I'll throw one more in...

101. I made it through this whole thing and never said one naughty word. Kudos to me.