It's a Small World After All

Everyone talks about how small the Army is once you've been in for a while.  We've had our fair share if "oh my gosh, you know ____" but it's all been within the Army.

Today, while Lily and I were doing a craft in the Housing Office on post, a woman and her TWO SETS OF TWINS comes in.  She's very new to post and is asking the woman at housing lots of questions about a million Ft Gordon/Housing/Richmond County Schools.

Since the housing office was fairly empty we were all talking about our upcoming plans.  I mentioned that I would be driving home this weekend with Lily, Gladys and Sapphire.  The "oh, where are you from?" question always follows.  Let's be honest, there's no point in telling people that I'm from Virginia when saying I'm from "DC" is much more accurate.

Normally "DC" is a sufficient answer but every once in a while you run across someone with a little more familiarity with the area.  I say NOVA and then she asks "Fairfax County?"  "Yes...What school did you go to?"  With some hesitation, she responds "Langley"

She graduated 6 years before I did so there weren't too many people we both knew.  However, she babysat one of the guys from my circle of friends in high school.  Also she thinks she may have known the names of my freshman year boyfriend.

It's so fun to be in the Army sometimes.  You get to meet so many people from so many different places and walks of life.  While I did run far away from NOVA when I went to college, It's now refreshing to find someone who lived a similar first 1/2 of her life as me.

AMAZING

Alright, I'm not one to post bits of TV shows on my blog... Really, if you were interested in watching my shows, chances are, you would have.  Anyways, I'm going to break my "rule" tonight.

This dance was from  "So You Think You Can Dance" and was so fun.  It was entertaining as a dance in and of itself - which is what I think the crowd was so excited about.  It's really fun to see Alex, a classical ballet dancer, not only dance hip hop but also hold his own against Twitch, a renowned hip hop dancer.  It was fast - VERY FAST and VERY entertaining to watch as a Regular Old Joe watching the show with very little dance training...sorry Ravel...  So entertaining, in fact, that I actually picked up the phone to vote for Alex which is something I thought that I would never do.  Really, who cares that much?  This dance made me care. (By the way, I've been trying to call for the last 30 minutes and the phone lines are still busy 2 1/2 hours after they opened)

As a therapist and having the experiences I had over the last year while at school and working at the Tree House,  I have an even deeper appreciation for this dance and it's concept.

In the beginning, Alex goes to see the Therapist.  You can see him struggling to overcome the difficulties in his life (represented with ballet) that he's been unable to overcome on his own.  You see Twitch trying to tell him to stick to his treatment plan (pointing at the clipboard) however Alex is unable to do so (see ballet arms while lying on the couch).  Twitch "models" for Alex to show him new ways he can transform (hello CBT).  Interesting how the dance actually followed a therapeutic model - HAHA

After struggling to find a balance, I loved how in the end Alex transformed into the person he wanted to be.  He wasn't a whole new person, but rather an improved version of himself.  He took his life experiences and made senses of them.  He incorporated these"negative" experiences into his new self in a healthy and balanced manner.

The part that got to me the most was at the end when Alex finished with a ballet move and Twitch followed him.  As a therapist, you work to help your clients change but in the process each changes you - even if that change is small.  

It makes me miss my work even more.  Man, I need to get back into things!

this is what happens:

This is what happens when I stop for a few minutes to read a friend's blog update:

goofball....

Birthday a'comin'

I have started brainstorming for Lily's birthday party but am looking for your suggestions.

Obviously, she'll be 2 an therefore complicated and/or dangerous games are not so good

I'm looking for some sort of activity to wear them out before nap time (WOOHOO) and a craft of some sort.  Food ideas are welcome too and are any cake/decorating/odds and ends details.

Start sending those ideas!  Lily is excited to wear her birthday cape again....Okay...I'M excited for her to wear the cape again!

just for fun!

Although she wouldn't actually touch the caterpillar ("ca-pil") while it was out of the jar...

She loved trying to get it out herself!

good morning

This morning we were lucky to sleep in until almost 9 - mostly because last night before going to bed i popped a paci in Lily's mouth.  When we woke up I wanted pancakes but was bummed that I didn't have chocolate chips to make them yummy,  I did remember, however, that we had overly ripe strawberries and bananas that I would have to toss in a day or so.

I went online, found a recipe and mad strawberry banana pancakes for Lily and Elbert.

After mixing the batter I turned on some music and nothing goes better with the morning activities than Jack Johnson, particularly "Banana Pancakes"

Lily, being the little punk that she is, ate nothing...well, nothing except the powdered sugar I put on top of her mountain of pancakes...

Little punk...

spanish

Yesterday we decided to practice speaking Spanish with Lily.  Elbert turned around to her, waved, and said, "Hola." to which Lily replied (and continued saying for about 5 minutes) "Bye Hola!"

Not sure she gets it ;)