The Disappearing Church

Down the street from where Dane and i live there is a church sign; however the church is behind some trees and about 1000-2000 ft from the sign. When we first saw it we were really confused...we thought that their was no church, just the sign and a parking lot. A few days later we finally saw the church, the only problem was we noticed there was another sign saying "Stratmoor Hills" once again we were confused. So a couple of days ago we were going to a Carls Jr in the area and we navigated to it on our GPS (Tom-Tom) and it said an address in the city of "Stratmoor Hills." So we finally figured out what the other sign was for. All this time we thought that it was still Colorado Springs, when it was another town altogether.

A Whole New Outlook

We have finally settled in to our new home in Colorado Springs. There are mountains all around and the post is really cute. Most of the buildings on post are red brick with green roofs and windows as a focal point. When I get I chance I will post some. As for our new apartment…it’s great. We like it more than our apartment in Killeen, it is just more…us. The fireplace is gorgeous and we have an actual mantle. The apartment complex we live has this program where people moving in can choose one wall to paint a different color than the rest for free. The second one is 50 dollars. We chose to just do the one wall and we painted it light green. It makes it feel more like home. Colorado Springs is a very big city and there are lots of things to do. The other day we went to “The Garden Of The Gods” It was extremely beautiful. We are looking forward to doing many more things in our new town.

Our Last Week In Texas

This past week has been great. We have gotten to see many friends and family, some we havent seen in years. About a week and a half ago i went to a burger place with a couple of friends. When we walked in i saw this sign that said "Todays potatoes are from: Rexburg Id". That was amazing to me. Here i am, in Harker Heights, Texas...as far from Rexburg as i have ever been and i had a little piece of home with me. To any of you who live in Rexbug the fries tasted just like Big Judds out in Archer, Id. They are some of the best i have ever had. It made me very happy. :D.

The begining of this week we were starting to pack. To those of you who don't know how it works...unless you do a DITY (do it yourself) move the Army will have people come and pack your house up in boxes the day before or the morning before the movers will come to pick it up. Well we decided that we would have the Army move us but we did a few of the boxes ourselves like our clothes and some of our tolitries. While we were packing my clothes we got rid of nearly half of my shirts and a couple pair of pants. Now i guess i didnt realize how many clothes i really had until we got them out and counted. I will keep the number to myself but it was quite alot. This is what it looked like before they went to Good Will.

Our week continued with alot of activities. I had AFTB (Army Family Team Building) for 3 days of our last week and then we headed to San Antonio on Friday. We visted some of my family in Shertz, Texas. On friday night we went out with my aunt and uncle to have some great mexican food and go on the San Antonio River Ride...

On Saturday we went to Sea World in San Antonio. The owner of Sea World and Busch Gardens etc. has something called "Salute to our Heros". Suffice it to say that Dane and I both got in free and if we had 2 more dependants they would have as well. This is something that they give to the military once a year to any of their parks. We had alot of fun. The roller coasters were crazy and amazing. It started to rain about halfway through the day and alot of the rides shut down so we took the opportunity to go to the Shammu show. Shammu completely soaked me with his fin splash...Dane got mildly splashed...he thought it was hilarious. We also got to see a water and jet ski show that had some pretty sweet tricks. The water skiers even did it bare foot. We got splashed by them as welll ;).


Yesterday, Memorial day, we went to the 4ID and 1st Cav memorials on Ft Hood. We also got the chance to peruse the 1st Cav museum. We have previously gone to the 4ID museum...if you ever get a chance you should go. They are pretty awesome. Currently we are driving across the country. Final destination....Ft Carson, The mountain post. We are excited to get there and see our new apartment, get to know the town, and start a new adventure. A friend of mine once refered to Army life as a book. Each post is a new chapter. Well we are about to start the next chapter in our life...i just hope we are ready for it.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid Drivers

You know i have seen some driving down here in Texas...some good some bad....but nothing so bad as this past friday night. We were driving just getting off post when we came upon this car that had their base up so loud it was shaking our car while we are at the stoplight, So Dane honks a little...maybe that will get them to turn it down. The light turns green and we go, well this guy that is in a black lincoln sedan, speeds up like he wants to race. Dane just speeds up to the speed limit and keeps driving. Well he flips us off and then he starts THROWING STUFF at our car! I couldn't beleive it! It made me so mad especially when the one he threw was a lighter. I couldnt understand who would be so stupid as to be that mad just because someone honked. He was the one disturbing everyone around him, making them listen to something they didnt want to of their own free will. So finally they get off the highway and we take the next exit. We we're on our way to dinner with some friends, so we are trying to decide where to go, everything is packed cause its a Friday night. We decide to check Olive Garden...its a little later, maybe it will be okay. While we are in the parking lot the black lincoln sedan pulls up and stops in front of us...I didnt know what to do...So the guy gets out of his car, Dane rolls down his window and the guy says "PARTRIDGE!!! I didnt know that was you!! My friend driving asked if any of us knew him but i couldnt see you, otherwise i would have told him to stop!! Lucas is that you back there?" Then the driver comes up, "I'm so sorry dude i didnt know that he knew you. We dont mess with our battle buddies," then the other guy, short guy, says "It's a good thing he knew you or we would have messed you up....i mean the girls would have taken a pass...but you two....would have been messed up" I couldn't beleive it. This guy had actually thrown two lighters and a pencil at our car and all he said was that if they hadnt known him they would have gotten into a fight right there in the parking lot. What stupidity! People just astound me with their stupidity. Its just a single honk, and even if it wasnt, how can you get SO mad that you start screaming and throwing things at a car while on the highway? That is my question to humanity today....because im not sure that i beleive in it anymore.

My Battle With Menopause

I know what you're thinking...Meopause?! How can she possibly be going thru Menopause. I got a shot today of some medicine that basically makes your body go thru Menopause. This medicine is called Lupron, and it is 700 dollars per shot. Luckily, because we have Tricare and we were seen at Darnell Army Hospital this shot was completely free. Basically what this medication does is slow down estrogen production, therefore it causes menopause-like side effects. Anyone who has read my blog previously knows that i have been having severe abdominal pain. My doctor here in Texas says that she is not sure what is causing it because my ultrasound came back normal. So we are doing this as a diagnostic treatment. Basically just to rule out anything to do with my ovaries, or if the pain doesnt go away then it is definately somethign with my ovaries and uterus. The shot that i received slowly puts this medicine into my body throughout three months. So for now....its still a big unkown...at least for another couple months. Thank you for everyone that has supported me thru this. Hopefully it wont be too much longer before we find out.

A Couples Tag

Couples Tag. Answer the questions below that have to do with your relationship. Then Tag other people to do the same on thier blog.

What is his name: Dane Alan Partridge

What is her name: Jessica Lynne Partridge

How long have you been together: Almost a yr. Married 6 months

How old is he: 21 on monday

How old is she: 18

Who eats more: Hmm. Probably Jessica. Dane used to eat more...then he went to Iraq.

Who said I love you first: Casey. Jessica, it took Dane a couple months to say it back

Who is taller? Dane, by an inch or two

Who sings better? Jessica

Who is smarter: We are both smart.

Who does the laundry: Jessica..usually. Dane would do it if i asked but, i dont so, i do it.

Who pays the bills: It depends on the bill. Usually we pay them together or Dane does them.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: Dane does

Who mows the lawn: We don't have a lawn. We live in an apartment complex so technically the landscaping crew does.

Who cooks the dinner: Jessica usually. Although Dane cooks on Sundays

Who drives: Dane usually

Who is more stubborn: We both are really stubborn. If we disagree we sometimes go so far we just need to say "Break" or something like that and not takl about it anymore otherwise it becomes a big argument. We would probably even fight about who is more stubborn....lol

Who kissed who first: That was a mutual thing...Our first kiss was at the airport less than a week before our wedding.

Who proposed: It was kinda a mutual decision. At first it was a maybe wedding. Then it was a real wedding being planned and Dane made it official with his engagement video and my ring i picked out, a month later.

Who is more sensitive: Jessica, most definately

I tag: Consider yourself tagged if you haven't done this yet!

My grandmothers eulogy, written and read by my father

“Genelle Harrell”—Remarks by Jack Harrell
April, 17, 2009


Genelle Williams was 16 and pretty when Jim Harrell told her father he was taking her to town to get her teeth fixed. Jim and Genelle came back the next day having married in Kentucky, where parental consent wasn’t needed. Their 27-year marriage was tumultuous because of choices they both made. Toward the end of their marriage, after years of fighting, after all the financial feast or famine, Mom had a nervous breakdown. She overdosed on pills and alcohol, and the doctor said she wouldn’t come out of it. But she woke up the next day as if nothing had happened. She never abused substances again. Soon Mom and Dad divorced.

This was the beginning of a second life for her. Jerry and Peggy were in Kansas. Sharon was married, and then Pat got married. I was five when Mom and I moved into the little pink house in Parkersburg. Mom couldn’t have bought that house without a lot of help from Sharon and Dick, and from her good friend Ray Burgener. My mom’s second life was a good life, a life of work and simple satisfaction and focus on the right things. Through it all, she proved that a person could start over and do better the second time.

In the little pink house, there was no shouting or fighting, no overturned dinner tables, no financial roller coaster ride. For 17 years, Mom worked in the Housekeeping Department at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, Illinois. She made beds, mopped floors, and cleaned at a starting wage of $1.25 an hour. She only missed one day of work at the hospital, when southern Illinois got a foot of snow overnight and state highway 130 was closed. I estimate that she walked about 15,000 miles in the hallways of Richland Memorial over those 17 years. Her feet would get tired, but she’d say, “Feet, you gotta do it.” She retired in 1984 as supervisor of the department, receiving the hospital’s Employee of the Year award.

A few years after Mom bought the pink house, Ray moved in with us. Mom and Ray were two broken lives that came together. Out of what was broken, they made a home that was physically stable and emotionally secure for the three of us. They both needed a safe house, I think. I’ll forever be grateful for the home they built together.

At the end of the work day, Mom would come home and put her pocket change in a jar. When the jar was full, she’d roll the coins and take them to the bank. She paid her bills on time, bought clothes at discount stores and day-old bread at Bunny Bread. Eventually, she paid off the mortgage on the little pink house. When she retired, she had several thousand in the bank.
Ten years after retiring, Mom could no longer take care of herself and Ray both. Until then they’d gone for walks every day, spent their money on small luxuries, visited us out west.

In 1995, she moved in with Sharon and Dick here in Utah. Mom insisted on paying a little bit each month for room and board. She had her bedroom, with an adjacent bathroom. She called it her apartment. She could go to the kitchen to cook and read the paper. She had her political TV and radio shows to watch and listen to. Sometimes she talked to the TV set, saying, “Liar, liar, liar,” when a Democrat spoke. (Perhaps the real cause of her death was the election of President Obama. A democratic president and Congress was just too much.) Above all, she took care of herself as much as she could. She wanted to pay her own way. She didn’t want to be a burden.

As her health got worse, though, it became harder for Mom to do for herself. She didn’t want to languish in a nursing home. “There’s old people there,” she’d say. It was such a blessing that her last conscious moment was in the kitchen, leaning on the counter, reading the newspaper. Sharon was there, pouring a cup of coffee when Mom collapsed. Mom hung on another 24 hours in the hospital, but she never regained consciousness. Maybe she took a last look at the newspaper and decided there was nothing left for her on this earth. So she made a clean break.

One of the great loves of her life was music. I never heard Mom say the words, “Turn that music down.” She loved music of all kinds. In the early 1930’s, she and her sister Ellen were a teenage music duo. They both sang and Mom played the guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. They could make five dollars a show—enough to pay Grandpa Williams for gas and each buy a dress for a dollar or two apiece. They once were broadcast live on WLS radio in Chicago. Just this week I learned that Mom and Dad often sang together in clubs. Dad played guitar and Mom played fiddle.
In the late 1970’s, when I was a teenager in a rock band, Mom and Ray would sacrifice two nights a week, leaving the house and spending the evening with Sharon and Dick so my band could practice in the living room of the little pink house. She liked all the songs our band played, but the one she always requested was Lynard Skynard’s “Gimmie Three Steps.” Years later, living with Sharon and Dick here in Utah, Dick would drive her to a doctor’s appointment and put Ernest Tubb or Jerry Lee Lewis in the CD player. “Turn it up,” Mom would say. She liked piano music and twin fiddles and steel guitars. If the music had a solid beat and the musicians were talented, she loved it.

Mom had a lot of Genelle-isms, expressions that seemed unique to her. If she was surprised by something, she’d say, “I never seen the like.” If she was astonished or amazed, she’d say, “I’ll swan to my soul.” She also liked to kid, “Do it my way, you might like it.” In making arrangements for this service, we wanted to keep things informal. It would be too easy to imagine Mom saying, “There ain’t no sense in that” if we went overboard on ceremony. In our family, we like to tease each other and exaggerate, just for fun. I might tell mom I had a case of beer in the car and planned on drinking it while I was away from BYU-Idaho. Or Dick might say Mom had been gone all day with a new boyfriend she’d picked up at Wal-Mart. In the face of our teasing, Mom would answer, “You’re the lyin’-ist bunch of people I ever seen.”

Mom often made us smile when she got words and phrases confused. In the morning she ate “breakwust.” Every few months she went to the beauty shop and got a “permlent.” She worried about Sharon’s “40K1.” And she talked about people in “the LSD church.” Until her death she thought my wife’s brother Kurt was named Kirk. As a boy, I often heard her refer to see-same hamburger buns. When I was a teenager, I looked at the package myself and realized it said “sesame seed” buns. Yes, she quit school after the 9th grade, but she was a smart, practical woman who fared well, even if she didn’t read all the labels right.

All her life Mom believed in Christian principles. Her brother, Bernard, whom she deeply admired, had studied to be a minister. She loved to hear him read from the Bible. She had great respect for the scriptures, largely because of the beautiful things Bernard found in their pages. Mom usually worked on Sundays and rarely went to church before she retired. She joined the LDS church in 1987, though, attending the Olney Branch and serving as chorister. Once in Utah, she enjoyed watching LDS General Conference and other shows on BYU television. Mom believed in a God who loves and understands his children and will righteously judge the world someday. In her last months, when she struggled with her health, or when she saw discouraging news on TV, she’d say, “Old Scratch is around the corner,” calling the devil by that old country name she’d learned growing up in Illinois.

Most of all, Mom loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. These past few months her health was bad enough that she had a hard time getting in and out of bed alone. A month ago, after a night in the hospital, the physical therapist told her she “showed a lot of potential.” Before that she’d gotten discouraged. But then she rallied. She wanted to get better so she could make Sharon’s “breakwust” in the morning. Now, Sharon is a grown woman and doesn’t need anyone to make her breakfast. But Mom wanted to. Cooking a meal, washing a dish, making a phone call, or sending a card were some of the small ways Mom showed her love.
I think the deepest way she showed her love to others was by letting people do things their own way, and asking the same for herself. “That pleases me,” she’d say when mutually agreeable arrangement were made. When I would ask her about preferences for Christmas visits or meals or gifts, she’d say, “You kids just do what you need to do.” She respected and accommodated the wishes of others. But she wasn’t a doormat. She wanted others to do what they needed to do, and she claimed the same for herself.

On Sunday morning, while Cindy and I were in church, Sharon left a message on our answering machine in Rexburg, Idaho. Sharon said the doctor didn’t think we’d make it down before Mom passed away. Cindy got the phone message first and called Sharon. Then we started packing. Because I was in a hurry, I thought, “I don’t have time to grab another pair of socks.” Then I realized what Mom would say, almost as if I’d heard her voice: “Go get another pair of socks. You do what you need to do.” I felt calm from that moment on.

Of course, Mom surprised us all by hanging on for 24 hours, making us all marvel at her strength. “She’s a fighter,” we all said. “She’ll go when it’s her time,” Sharon said. I felt calm and assured all through the night. The security I felt in my heart came from my lifetime of dealings with Genelle Harrell. Even if she passed away, her love and goodness would be steady. Our love for her would be the same. There was no need for panic or doubt. As we waited up all night long with Mom, we watched her breathing grow slower. We knew she was passing. We were sad and often teary, but not frightened.

I knew driving down from Idaho that I would cry. I knew I’d cry a lot. But I wouldn’t cry out of sadness for her death. Instead, I’d cry from joy and gratitude for her life. Now that I’m almost finished reading this, I’ll cry because I’m so grateful and happy that I ever knew Genelle Harrell, my mom—our mom, Genelle, our “Grandma Nelle.”


I guess to close...My grandmother was a wonderful woman and grandmother. I will always miss her. Luckily i have great memories of her and she will be in my heart forever. I beleive that i will see her in the afterlife. At least now she has no more pain. Grandma...i love you.

A picnic by the lake

Yesterday, we had the oppertunity to go out with one of Danes battle buddy, Steve and his wife. We planned in advance to have a picnic out at a place called BLORA, which stands for "Belton Lake Outdoor Recreational Area". We agreed that they would bring the beef and fixings for kabobs and we would bring juice and chips and potatoes. When we got out there Steve's wife, Natalia (who is Ukranian) pulls out all of this food (Marinated beef, chopped peppers and onions tomatoes, bread etc). I was amazed as i watched this woman but together delicious looking kabobs. I dont know about anyone else but most of the time when i think of kabobs i just think, throw something together with what you have and put it on this grill. She put them in order, beef, onion, pepper, beef, onion pepper and so on. I wish i had taken pictures. Dane commented on how wonderful the meal looked and Steve said that you should see when she makes a real meal. I dont know if its because i grew up in Idaho, or America, but i was amazed that she did this for every meal. I was impressed and just a bit jealous of her cooking skills. While the men went to get wood for a fire i had the oppertunity to speak with her. She speaks english pretty well but when Steve is around she speaks to him and he translates, so i was suprised when she first spoke. We had a nice conversation about school and her country, how she met steve, and other getting-to-know-someone topics. After we left i mentioned to Dane and i think it would be exhausting to be in a country, hearing all around you a different language that you dont understand completely, not having very many people that can speak your language. I thought she did rather well, she even apologized that the meal didnt look too great (everyone else thought it looked scrumptious). I guess to end i would just say, this is the first time i have been with anyone of a different nationality for very long and i was really impressed with her and her strength and ability to not get frustrated when someone cant understand what she is saying or she cant remember a word in the language they do understand. I cant say that i would be able to do that the way she did. Overall i think it was the best time we have had since we got married, while we have been out with other friends, because most of our friends are single and its a little different to be able to hang out as married couples. The lake was beautiful even though yesterday was an overcast day, it was nice to get out of the house and out into nature.

As of now...

As of yesterday Dane was given a report date of June 24th to report to Ft. Carson. However, we don't know when we would be released here at Ft. Hood to make the move. That date is also subject to change (don't ya love the military ;) ). I love it down here at Ft. Hood but i have also gotten very many outstanding reviews for Ft. Carson. Dane is happy to make the move, he can't wait to go snowboarding. Apparently, most people who like it up at Ft. Carson, they like it for the snowboarding and the skydiving. Which probably means one of these days i will be posting about how Dane and i went skydiving at his request, and my hesitation :D. If all goes well i will be in school in Colorado, preferably while Dane is deployed, to give me something to focus on, something good, while he is gone. We still are not sure when he will be deploying to Afganistan but i will keep everyone posted.

Home Sweet Home

We have now been home for a week. Everything is unpacked and Dane went back to work yesterday. Its nice to be home. Texas is nice and warm (unlike Idaho ;) ). I love it down here in Killeen. Its unfortunate that we will probably only be here for a couple months. I have an ultrasound appointment to see what is going on with my cysts next monday. Hopefully they can tell us what is really going on.

Desert Drive

Currently we are driving down the highway somewhere between Arizona and New Mexico. There is hardly anything to see except desert and mountains in the distance. There are several billboards (the only ones actually) that depict "the thing?" in odd scary writing, oddly enough, they are advertising Dairy Queen. We are really curious now. :D. I have decided this trip has been saved by books on tape. Before we left Rexburg we got 3 books on tape so that we would not be bored with music on the way down. Fortunately, not only does it keep us from boredom but it made the trip to Arizona much faster. Hopefully it will do the same now.

Our Trip To Arizona

Well, we took off from little ol' Rexburg yesterday at about 6 am. The trip, although long, was nice. It was very scenic around the Arizona border. I will post some of the pictures later (when i can figure out how ;) ) This particular picture we thought was funny. This is in Utah almost to the Arizona border where Yankee Doodle meets Independance. It seemed so perfect for a picture. Our trip cross country is halfway through thank goodness and we will hopefully be home Monday night.

To program or not to program....that is the question?

Well if you have read my previous post you know that we bought a used SUV last week because our car died on us. This SUV has one of those lock/unlock remotes for your keychain. We only had one that came with the car and we decided to order a new one because we would both like to have one. So...i dont know if any of you have ever had to program one of those things but we had quite an experience. There are several things that you have to do to program it. You must open and close the door then flip the keys in the ignition a couple times, open/close the door again etc. When we first picked it up Dane was trying to program it and after a couple of times in the parkinglot of the security store he decided that we should finish at home, (he didnt want to keep looking stupid ;) ) So, we took it home and he kept trying. After a few more trys he decided to read the instructions again (we had both read them more than once and we couldnt understand why it wasnt working), well it turns out that we missed the very first step. 1. Open drivers side door. :D So he had been open/closing not closing/opening. It was one of the most hilarious tihngs to watch...open, close, open, close. Anyways, we finally got it programed and at least we have a good story for it right?

Our Car Mess

Earlier last week we were driving our car when we heard a knocking in the engine. We didnt know what it was until Dane had his father look at it. His father said that he would be lucky to make it back home. Well he didnt make it back home. Therefore, we really needed a new car so that we could make it around and make it back to Texas. We were lucky when we were looking and we got a great deal on a Isuzu Rodeo. Its a red 4 door. Of course, it doesnt get as good gas mileage as our station wagon but its still a good SUV.

The Crazy Highway Incident

Since we have moved down here Dane and i have had some pretty interesting experiences while driving. This one i think is my favorite. We were driving home from a movie at about 8pm in a nearby town (because Ft Hood, Killeen, and Harker Heights basically just...meld into each other) and we take the ramp to get on the highway. Well right before we entered the ramp Dane (who was driving) noticed that the woman in the suburban in front of us didnt have their lights on. Now by 8pm here its pretty dark and it was dangerous that she didnt have her lights on. Dane tried flashing his lights/brights at her to get her to notice. She did nothing. He tried again, still to no avail....so what does my husband do? He gets into the other lane, speeds up so that he is parrallel to her and starts motioning and mouthing "Your Lights" over and over. Finally this woman rolls her window down (going 50 miles an hr on the highway) and i roll mine down and we yell "Your lights. You need your lights on". She makes an "O" shape with her mouth and turns her lights on and waves....It was hilarious. Then, because our exit was coming up very fast Dane had to slow down to 35 to get behind this woman so he could exit. We laughed all the way home...where Dane said "I've done my good in the world today" Hehehe ^_^

Neighbors

Well...for those of you who knew what kind of neighbors i had downstairs at my last apartment you can now relate to my new downstairs neighbors!! Yes thats right!! They like their base JUST AS LOUD as my previous neighbors. We were getting ready for bed last night when we hear and feel the familiar sounds of obnoxious neighbors. Hopefully this doesnt go on for too long because i don't want to have to call the police on them as i did my old neighbors. I politely went down and asked them to please turn it down and he was really kind about it, so we just hope we wont have any further problems.

Tribute

Today my great grandmother Wanda Joyce Bloom Bennett passed away at 11:23 am. She was born March 5th 1921 in Kemmerer, Wy. She married Verl Bennett the 28th of June 1939 in the Salt Lake Temple. I didn't know her very well but it still saddens me to hear about her passing. I am glad, however, that she is finally at peace.

I love you grandma. Rest in peace.

Medical Awkwardness

The following is a true story from our life as it happened today. ^_^

I have been having these abdominal pains for a couple of days lately and symptoms of being pregnant. So today Dane takes me to the doctor. Because of complications at Ft. Hood with our insurance and the clinic i am registered to, he takes me to the ER on post. Lo and behold a long wait to find out answers...We are sitting in the patient room waiting for the Dr. to come in just laughing and having fun together. The nurse walks in and the first thing she says is "Is this your first baby?" I blurt out the only thing i can think of...."Am i pregnant then?!" The nurse looks down at her chart and back at me and goes "No, you aren't. Wrong room." and laughs really awkwardly. Then she goes down the lists of symptoms and asks if i am having any breast tenderness. Dane bursts our laughing. If he had kept quiet i would have just said no and we could have moved on with the other symptoms. Instead i had to explain to the nurse that we are newlyweds and that he just came back from Iraq ten days ago. The nurse then chuckles and says "Oh alright. The Dr. will be in in just a moment," and leaves the room....We couldn't stop laughing for quite a while after that. The whole moment was just utterly hilarious.

Anyways just so you know. I'm not pregnant. I have ovarian cysts on both of my ovaries. But im doing okay so nobody freak out or anything. I'm taking antibotics and everything will be fine. However, my day will always be remembered because of these wonderful, hilarious memories.

Pregancy Tests at Walmart

A friend of mine recently blogged about how Pregnancy tests are impulse buys at the dollar store. Here is another fun tidbit...Here in Killeen the pregnancy tests have to be behind the counter at the register where you show your I.D. to get Tobacco.

I was waiting in the checkout line with my husband at our local Walmart. We happened to be in the line where you can buy tobacco (don't worry we don't smoke! It was just the shortest line). I noticed that the Pregnancy tests and smaller boxes of Condoms were there as well. So i asked...the Walmart Employee politely informed me that they are the most often stolen items so they have to be kept behind the bar so that no one can reach them without assistance or someone noticing them taking them. I couldnt beleive it....people really steal pregnancy tests? So much that they say it is the most comonly stolen item here in Killeen, Tx? Thats pretty amazing to me. It seems to me that you wouldn't want to have to go thru this specific line and say "May i please have an E.P.T. as well?". That is just awkward. I also find it very sad that someone who thinks they are pregnant get so desperate to know that they steal a test.

I find that the more i live away from dear little Rexburg, the LDS bubble i grew up in, the more i lose faith in humanity. I am starting to understand why people say that Rexburgites are sheltered and the phrase "it's a big, bad world out there." So to everyone that still lives in Rexburg... Be glad. It truely is a nice community where people help other people, and are curteous and kind.

Another fun fact for you today... Ft Hood Army Post (not the including the surrounding area...just the post)... is actually has more population than Rexburg, Id.

Outdated Technology

Have you ever just loved your technology and not wanted to switch to something "new and improved"? Now...how it can be NEW and IMPROVED is just another story...either its new or its improved...how can it be both? Anyway....Dane and i were in the Verizon Wireless store because he needed another wireless internet card and he asks for the second type that i guess is shaped funny (now i don't know if any of you know about this. I wasnt aware of how it all worked until Dane explained it. Basically its a card that goes in your computer and gives your wireless interent whereever you go). The sales rep looked at him like he was crazy and said "have you seen our USB internet chip?" I guess he has been out of the country so long that they had new and improved internet chips and he didnt even know. Then the woman looks at his phone (he has a Razor...one of the original ones) and says "Sir, I'm sure you are up for a product upgrade, let me just check your account" So, we find out that he has been up for an upgrade for quite a while. He gets a new phone and he comments later on how you get so used to your hard to use old technology that you don't know what to do with something that is simple and works well. I just find the point very valid. All this new technology is coming out but people who are used to the old stuff don't want to change...Then when they finally decide to "Take the plunge" they find out that it was easier all along.

I guess this really doesnt mean anything... I just find it funny that in our complicated world of computers, internet, cell phones, and cars you would be surprised over how many things in life are just...SIMPLE.

It all started with a....parking spot....

So Dane and I needed to go to Walmart a couple days ago to get some stuff for our new apartment. We gather our items, check out and roll the cart out to the car. We had managed to get a very good parking spot pretty close to the doors. We load our bags and i take the cart to the cart return when i see that there is a car waiting for us to pull out so that they can get our parking spot. Then a suburban comes up on the other side and she is also waiting for our one parking spot. When i get back to the car i tell Dane that we better hurry so that they don't have to keep waiting. We pull out in a way so that the woman in the car can get our spot because she had been waiting longer. We start to pull away and we see the woman in the suburban get out of her car and start screaming at the lady in the car because she had "stolen her parking spot". About 5 minutes later her husband had to get out of the car and restrain her. The woman in the car called the police. I couldn't beleive it. It is just a parking spot...Why is it even that big of a deal? Is it really worth making a public scene? Now i know probably everyone reading this has been cut off by someone or someone has taken your spot and i know it probably makes you angry, but would you actually get out of your car and yell at them for it? I was proud of Dane for pulling out in that certain way so that the woman in the car could get it because they honestly had been waiting longer. So i guess the thought for today is... How willing are you to make a fool out of yourself for an insignificant thing?

Happy Sunday Everyone

My thoughts on Valentines Day

I was having a conversation with a friend who asked if i think that Valentines Day is really Single Awareness day. This is what i said and truly beleive.

"i personally beleive that valentines day is about everyone loving everyone. its not just about one person or one couple. so ppl who think of it as singles awareness day i think are selfish.

no offense.

Thats just my opinon. what can be better than a national holiday about people just loving each other?

I just think that people should think about it more.....maybe some couple only ever has romance on Valentines day. Maybe its the only day that they are nice to each other. Maybe its not about just me or you. Maybe its about a whole day where everyone is kind, courtous and thinks ab out other people for once.

The world doesnt have enough kindness.

If people thought about every day as they do valentines maybe we would have a better world
*steps off soapbox*"

Maybe you don't agree but i just want you to ponder...Do you ever wish that the whole world was like your favorite little town where everyone was courteous and kind. Helped people. Remembered your name when you go into a resturant and ask about your kids or parents because they were actually listening to you when you told them your story? Do you ever just think that it is too hard or too painstaking to help someone out or donate a few hrs of your time to better mankind? Maybe im coming on too strong but if we showed kindness the way we do to our loved ones on Valentines day...Maybe just Maybe...If we used that kindness in our everyday life...we would all have better lives.

Happy Valentines Day everybody.

Our Little Pear Tree

So when we were setting up this blog we were trying to think of something to call it. We decided since we are the Partridges that would make our life the Pear Tree. Therefore, this blog about aforesaid life is the Pear Tree. I guess this is where i tell you about our life...like every other Blogger out there. I am 18 and my husband Dane is 20. Dane just came back from his first tour to Iraq. We are currently living in Killeen Tx right off Fort Hood. As of now my husband actually is coded for Ft. Carson, CO. For those of you who are wondering what is going on...We might move to Carson we might not....Its all up in the air right now. We just signed the lease for a cozy 2 bedroom apartment and got some nice furniture for a good price. Its nice to have him home from Iraq and be able to build our life together. I guess thats all my fruit for today...Happy Valentines Day everybody.