Just kidding...

You remember the last blog post right? How we received orders to go to Japan?
Well, that's actually not happening anymore...

The orders weren't cancelled technically, they were amended. My husband and I decided it was best for both of us to not be stationed over in Japan.

There's nothing wrong with Japan but since once again my schooling wasn't provided over there we decided it was best for myself and the kitties to head back to the states (and receive NO BAH) and my husband take this next tour unaccompanied...for 2 years instead of 3.

Luckily he was able to request amendment from Japan, so now we are headed back to the states!!!!!
We have not received the list yet which will be coming out next month, but we're hoping something close to the PNW will be on it.

These are what we're hoping will be on that list:

• McChord/Lewis WA
• Fairchild WA
• Malmstrom, MT
• Beale, CA
• Travis, CA

Hopefully at least one of those bases will be on the list!!! Wish us luck!

The wait is OVER! PCS Announcement!

The wait is over! We finally know where we'll be headed to come this October! My husband and I wanted to stay overseas for the remainder of his first enlistment, so when the listings came out for our month block both Alaska and Japan were on the list. He decided to take a whack at it and sign up for both.

Well today we found out through a work e-mail he was chosen to go to Japan! We'll be headed to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa-Shi Japan this October!

Venezia=Venice...What?

Yesterday we went to Venice for the first time in the nearly 2 (husband's nearly 2.5) years stationed here at Aviano! I know sad, but remember we aren't exactly your typical world travelers.

Sunday, February 23 was the start of "Carnevale" aka what I like to call "Italians mix of theater costumes and Halloween...yikes. It was crazy busy. One of my major pet peeves is being in a huge crowd of people; especially a huge crowd of foreigners. Yeah, not my cup of tea.

We went with some friends who had been to Venice previously, which helped tremendously to know where to go...because being the complete tourists my husband and myself are, and of course thinking we can totally get by and not read any maps or brochures; would have totally and completely screwed up this trip to Venice...ha!

Here in Italy if you want to get from point A to point B one typically takes the train. One of the many types of transportation I have never had the chance to endear in my short little life. So what better way to get to Venice than by taking the train?

Well, after a crazy schedule and hopping numerous trains due to our first train not functioning we finally made it to Venice...only 3 hours later than we had originally planned. It was Cah-Razey! No like totally and completely populated by tons of foreigners, Italians mostly (hence living in Italy, duh.)

Here are some pics of our first time in Venice during Carnevale!

On one of the bridges in Venice...can't remember if this one had a name!

There were a TON of masks of all different characters!

Sun glare. Not the best thing for a lens without a UV filter, but I still thought this shot was cool.

Gondola! These were everywhere!

As you could tell by this pic, the streets were incredibly crowded. Not the best for a person with severe claustrophobia and anxiety!

Nutella treat. How could we say no?

Over another bridge. 

We took a water taxi thing back to the train station.

I'm still getting the bugs worked out on my camera, so sadly all these shots were taken in the auto mode (Not the best to learn with on a DSLR!) I'm still messing around with all the different modes and forcing myself to stay in manual mode (although it's confusing because I don't know what half of these numbers mean!) Looks like it's back to YouTube tutorials!

Talk About It Tuesday: Major Eye Roll...

It's "Talk About It Tuesday" Major Eye Roll addition, and boy do I sure have something to talk about!

Do you ever read something and as you're going along can't help but constantly eye roll over what you've just read? Yeah, that happened to me today while I was reading something.

I'm saying this rather politely in my opinion, but I can't stand when people sugar-coat things. None the less when I personally feel like they are trying to get under MY skin by trying make something sound more impressive. I mean really? The only reason someone can even refer to an experience is because of the help of someone who influences them right? We as individuals wouldn't be anywhere without being influenced by one of more individuals right? We see someone achieve something great, so we want to try that accomplishment as well.

Experience growing up a certain way will hands down triumph over having little experience over minor and expected situations.

Lesson of the day: Be thankful for the individuals in our lives who have the connections to open up so many doors in order for us to succeed at what our future plans are. It's because of THEM you are receiving this experience.

Emotional Over Candles

Everyone has their emotional, cry-like-you-never-have type of days.
I didn't think today would have been one of them.

I usually go on base to the BX and Commissary on average 1-2 times a week (sometimes more depending on if I bought something off of Varage Sale and the seller and I agreed to meet.)

Most of the time I get what I need and get out. I don't like spending a ton of time in the BX/Commissary especially if I'm not all "dolled up" with some make up on my paste-y white complexion of a face (believe me this place is like a fish bowl...there are eyes and ears everywhere!) [Insert sarcasm here.]
ANYWAYS...
When I do look somewhat civilized and don't mind someone actually having a conversation with me I will on occasion go sniff around the store and have a look-see at what's new. On this day I decided to mosey on over to the candle section (I am literally obsessed with Yankee Candles and am extremely biased they are the best candles in the whole wide world...you will not win this battle with me.) Hark! There were new scents!!! Ahhh! So...what does a girl like me do but open every single one of the new jars up and take a big whiff.

Biggest mistake apparently that day.

The very first scent I decided to smell was called "Sweet Pea." It was in this new opaque cream-colored jar that wasn't your typical "Yankee Candle Jar" design. It was like a ceramic pot. It was printed with a hand-written type font. It was just adorable. I burst into tears. The end.

No, not really.

At first whiff it reminded me of that scent from Bath & Body Works- you know the Sweet Pea scented body lotion? It was spot on the same scent as that. And it reminded me of high school. Of how this girl in my physics class had that lotion and offered some to me to try. How I fell in love with it and wanted to get my mom that same scent of lotion for Mother's Day. How I haven't seen my mom on Mother's Day in over 2 years because I live overseas.

And I became sad.

My eyes filled with tears and I began sobbing. Right there in the candle section. Right there in the BX. How embarrassing. I apparently was super sensitive that day and just the scent of candles brought back so many wonderful memories that remembered just like they were yesterday. I can't believe where the time has gone.

I had to stop. I know someone could walk up to me and ask me what's wrong and then I would probably start crying even more. I carefully put the candle back on the shelf and went to the paint section to think about the next project I could do. Ugh, I wish I had a Kleenex right about now. Dang it.

The moral of this story is like this: If you feel like you're about to cry and you're in a public location, get yourself away from that situation and try to think about something else. Words make it look so much easier but honestly it helps to think about something funny. While in the paint section I thought about something one of my cats did the other day and I started laughing out loud. And people probably thought I was special.

We all have our sensitive moments. Let it out when you feel is the appropriate time and place to.

Bunnie Got Her Wings

I never thought I'd have to hear this. Not now anyway. Not while I was living over here in Italy.

I usually talk to my family on the weekends because we can talk for a long time since the time difference is 9 hours. I hate being so far away from them, but love I'm able to talk to them.

On this conversation my dad told me something I did not see coming. My special little kitty "Bunnie Bipity Bop" had passed away 2 days earlier. I was completely and utterly heartbroken. The phone of course cut out right after my dad told me that and I couldn't bring myself to call them back right after. I just sat there, curled up in a ball and cried. My two kitties here with me came up and laid next to me. They knew I was hurting. I told my husband who was in his office playing his computer games. He was sad too because he knew Bunnie and really liked her.

Bunnie wasn't ran over by a car or killed by a neighbor dog or another predator. My parents took her to the Vet because she wasn't acting like herself and after a week her test results came back. They were not good. Bunnie tested positive for this rare feline disease which mutates from the common feline virus called "Feline Corona Virus or FCoV." Feline Corona Virus is very common in households with multiple cats and most of the time a cat will shed the virus and can get over it within a few weeks. Apparently what happened with Bunnie was she didn't shed the virus. Unfortunately the virus mutated and became Feline Infectious Peritonitis or "FIP." Only 5-10% of cats with FCoV will become infected with FIP. It's extremely rare.

What my family and I are thinking is Bunnie had FCoV since she was a kitten. She was probably a carrier of the disease and lived until she was almost 5 before the virus mutated and became early stages of FIP. The Vets said because of her age she was probably cared for very well because most cats with FIP don't live past 2 years.

I know slowly but surely my heart will heal, however right now grieving is the only thing I am able to do. I am so fortunate I was able to come back home last summer to spend time with her and cherish her company. I know she missed me while I was away because she slept on my bed almost every night while I was home. Even though I am back in Italy I still miss her. I thought of her often my first months here, and wished I could have taken her with me.

My husband told me to be thankful for the time I had with her, and to not sulk in these moments of grieving, but to be happy that I have two wonderful and affectionate kitties here with me in Italy. And I am, really, but it is hard to say "See you soon" to someone you loved very deeply.

Yes I said "See you soon." I don't believe in goodbyes. Bunnie went to Kitty Heaven and I know one day far from now I'll see her up there. I'm very thankful for my family who knew when it was time to let her go, and I know she didn't suffer. She was one of my favorite cats ever and I'll never, ever forget her.

I will always love you Bunnie, and know you'll be looking down upon me from Heaven!

Buon Natale from Italy!

Yes once again we are saying "Buon Natale" from Italy!

Thankfully this will be our last Christmas in Italy, and hopefully away from our families. We both come from close, always together on Christmas type of families. Having to spend the holidays away makes not only us sentimental but also our families. Many people ask us why we choose not to fly back to the states during the holidays to be with our families, and our answer is this:
Living overseas for us is challenging. Flying commercial is very expensive during the holiday months, and forget Space A (a.k.a. "Rotator.") Everyone is flying back to see their families. We also have pets and even though cats are much easier to care for when we go on vacation, most of our friends go on leave during the holidays. For us staying put during the holidays is just less of a headache.

Enough of that annoyingness. Christmas this year was great. We both got exactly what we wanted. I got my first ever DLSR camera, a Canon Rebel T3i. It's a beginner model which is what beginners like myself should start out on. I see spouses over here who think they're "professional" and purchase a Canon EOS 5D Mark III...seriously? Those cameras are $$$$ and the spouse a beginner. Good luck figuring out all those buttons sweetheart. Anyways I can't wait to start practicing with my camera and hopefully develop a knack for picture taking with a DSLR! I decided on this brand after doing some research since I not only wanted to take pictures but also record videos as well. In the near future I plan on creating a YouTube channel and sharing my experiences on there as well.

Hope everyone near and far has a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!!