So. . .a good sign that it has been too long since you blogged is when it takes you 5 trys to remember your password.

For those of you I’m terrible at keeping in touch with (yeah, I know that includes everyone.  The first step to overcoming your weakness is admitting them right? ) here is the last few months in a nut shell :

-         I’m still in the Army (Translation:  I don’t have a life outside of work)

-         We trained a lot (Translation:  I spent a good part of the last year in various parts of the United States sleeping in a tent on a cot and showering with baby wipes to help me adapt to living in Iraq again—where incidentally the vast majority of the time I sleep on a bed, in a trailer, and shower in a shower trailer.  Yeah, we don’t get it either.)

-         We deployed to Iraq (Translation:  Neither Mark or I slept for about a one month period during which we rushed around like crazy people to pack up everything we own to put into storage, put our house on the market, store our cars, and forward our mail in preparation to move to the desert for a year with whatever we can fit in a large black truck and three green duffle bags. 

So, while I do feel bad for becoming such a xanga slacker, I have been comforting myself with the fact that you weren’t missing any interesting updates.  I will however try and do better!

I hope all is well with each of you!  I miss you!  I’ll try and write again soon.

Luv

Anna

You know you have been in the field to long when you catch yourself making the comment "Wow these are some really nice porta jons!".  And you actually mean it.

Hello friends!

Life is continuing to speed by.  Mark and I spent the whole weekend packing for NTC (basically a month long field problem in California to prep our unit for Iraq) and Christmas shopping online since we wont have much time left before the holidays when we get back.  It seems like we are constantly in a state of packing or unpacking Army gear.

In other news, the Army 10 miler two weekends ago was a blast.  I am officially addicted to road races.  Our guys team won the category for Men's Active Duty Army Teams and our Woman's placed 5th I believe.  My time was decent (84 minutes) and a personal record for me so I was very happy.    

Here is a picture of me after the race with some handsome guy who was cheering for me.

Here is a picture of all three of the Fort Hood teams at the awards ceremony. 

If you want, got to this link and type in Avery and there are pictures of me actually running.

http://www.asiorders.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=17206

I kind of look like I am suffering a stroke in some of them so check them out if only for the comic value!

Also, if you want some more entertaining pics; here is the very unintentional haircolor that I am currently sporting.

I'm not really sure why it look like I have a bald spot in that second picture.  Maybe I should be concerned about that.  But anyways, yeah what started out to be a simple attempt to darken my hair a shade or two for the winter went horribly wrong.  Apparently my hair has some red undertones that my hairdresser didn't know about and it turned out a very bright red instead of light brown.  The only way she could tone down the red was to darken it even more which left me with sorta dark auburn thing.  Its kinda interesting even though I do feel like an Anna imposter every time I catch a glimpse of myself.  Haha oh well, good thing I wear my hair back in a bun everyday at work with a hat over it a good part of the time!

Hope you all have a fabulous week!

Luv, Annabell

This week is kicking my butt.  I am sure glad today is the last work day for me!  I'm off to DC tomorrow morning for the Army 10 miler!  Say a little prayer for me on Sunday around 8am-10am eastern time if you think of it!

Also, its been forever since I posted pics so here is one of Mark and I on a recent weekend trip to Colorado. 

Hope things are going well for you all!  Sending love from Texas!

Hello all!  I'm back from a few weeks out in the "field".  There is nothing like a few weeks of Army training to help you appreciate the luxuries of modern living, and by that I mean AC and showers!    Mark and I had a great weekend relaxing and getting our house back in order.  The high lights for me were my standard post field manicure and pedicure followed by my handsome hubby taking me out on a date to a outstanding local steakhouse.  It is a non-chain restaurant complete with valet parking, live music on a grand piano, and phenomenal service.  The food was absolutely amazing and we had such a fun evening.

I feel like it has been so long since I talked to any of you personally, so here are a few updates on what is coming up for us in the near future:

-two weeks from today I get to represent Fort Hood at the Army 10 Miler in D.C! 

-We will be gone for the month of Nov (boo for missing my birthday and Thanksgiving yet again!!!) for more Army Training and then hopefully some down time for the Christmas/New Year holidays.

-I have officially made the decision to resign from active duty when my commitment is up this spring.  My packet finally has all the appropriate signatures and last week was sent up to the Department of the Army for approval.  This does not mean that I will actually get out in the spring as there is a good chance that our unit will be needed to deploy around that time and I would be "stop-lossed" until we get back.  If that is the case, Mark would be going at the same time too so it would really be the best possible scenario.  Either way it has been VERY exciting to start making plans for what comes afterwards!!

Hope all is well with each of you!