4:35 PM

Crazy, Insane, Disturbed, Unbalanced...

Each one of us claims to know someone who is crazy.  This blog isn't about someone who is clinically crazy, but rather about people whose own actions make them seem desperate and insane.  I have never in my life seen such disturbed actions by grown adults as I have since I moved to Italy.  I guess I was naive to the fact that there are people out in the world who only think of themselves an no one else.  These are the same type of people who put the blame on everyone but themselves, even when it is blatantly clear who is to blame.  Since moving here, and more so here recently, I have seen this craziness up close and personal.  You see, there is a person out there who continues to bully my friends and I.  I mean they have attacked each one of us personally, and professionally.  To seriously go after someone's job for no other reason than the fact that you don't like who a person is friends with definitely shows that you are not all there in the head.  And the funny thing is, all this is done behind the safety of their own computer.  It's never face to face...probably too intimidated to do anything like that.  They claim that they are the one being picked on, written about, whispered about, spreading lies about, etc...you get the idea.  It couldn't be more wrong.  Said person has done each and everyone of these things to either myself or my friends but to a much greater extent.  I don't even know this person...I have met them once, and they decided that I am not worth knowing b/c of who my friends were.  That right there shows what kind of character you have.  Now why am I writing a blog about it?  Well, it has been going on for far too long, and I just can't keep my mouth shut about it anymore.  You attack my friends and I, then you get exactly what's coming to you...and karma is a bitch!  Now the reason I can't name the said person is because they stalk all of our social sites, and when they find anything that has their name on it, they report it somehow...calling the cops, calling the person's place of work, or making up fake profiles to bully others.  I am not exaggerating people, anyone who would go through so much work just to stalk a person is definitely crazy in my book.  They also write blogs and post pics from others websites that are private.  As soon as this comes to light to others though, it is brought down all of a sudden.  If you are going to talk shit about everyone, have the balls to back it up.  All I see is a crazy person with no back bone who seems so desperate to be talked about.  So in that sense, here's to you!



I leave you with this thought:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.....

8:06 AM

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

I am now planning for our move back to the states since it seems that is where we are headed.  I was pretty upset about it at first, but now I am remembering that I get to have a house w/ real closets, and I can go to Hobby Lobby to get decorations and such..lol  I am totally stoked about finding a new house wherever we end up and decorating it!

8:04 AM

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Who would I want to switch lives with??  I am gonna take after Doris on this one.  I want to switch lives w/ someone rich.  Be able to go shopping without having to look for discounts...lol  I am a bargain shopper, so I'm not sure how well that would work out, but I would definitely give it a try!!

9:21 AM

Day 16: Another picture of yourself

This is Anne & I at her baby shower.  She is one of my dearest friends, and I miss her greatly!  Thankfully, she is only an 8 hour drive away..haha.  I will be in Germany in a month or so to see her and the new baby!  I am totally stoked about that!!!

9:09 AM

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

1.  Fergie/Sean Kingston: Big Girls Don't Cry mix
2.  The Charlie Daniels Band: The Devil Went Down to Georgia
3.  Time McGraw: One of These Days
4.  Flipsyde: Someday
5.  The Beatles: Let it Be
6.  Red Hot Chili Peppers: Snow
7.  RENT: Seasasons of Love
8.  Joe Nichols: Gimme that Girl
9.  Lady Gaga: Bad Romance
10. Heart: Alone

This really doesn't show my broad range of music..lol  I love just about all kinds.  There is even some Selena in there somewhere..lmao!

8:58 AM

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

Here is a pic of Mom and I.  This was the first time they came to see us in Italy.  We are on our way to Venice!

Lily doing my dance from Jekyll & Hyde...haha

Eric @ my Uncle David's

Eric, Matt, Erin, Lily, Dad & I

Nana, Pawpaw, Mom, Lily @ I.  3 generations of redheads...lol

Lily & I on the plane to Italy!

Dad & the boat he wishes he could have..lol

Jennifer, Erin & I

Our happy family...The Rethage's!

9:23 PM

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

I am actually going to leave this one blank b/c there may be some hurtful things said, and I don't want this to be a negative blog.  There are a few people out there who know how I feel (or atleast I hope they do) about certain situations that went down over the past year or so.  It's not just one person, so this isn't calling a single person out.  It has to do with a few people, and I don't want to call them out.  I will leave it at that.  I think I will make a private blog though and write a letter to those who have hurt me recently...might make me feel better...lol

8:38 PM

Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

I have been following a few friends of mine for the past year or so.  I actually started my blog a little over a year ago, but solely as a means to vent about certain people.  It was never made public, but more or less like a diary.  Then, one day, I decided to get rid of all the negativity and make this blog something fun.  Because if you know me, you know that I am a fun person...I try to not be too negative, but sometimes, in certain situations, it is just inevitable..lol  So that's why I now have a blog!

8:34 PM

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

I will go with Halloween pics for this one...seems only fitting!

 Jen, Me, Juan & Mandy
 Doris and her awesome make-up job on Eric!
 Melissa & Eric
 Jason & Eric
 Trudy & Eric
 Brooke & I!
 Eric & Jason
 Juan & I...laughing so hard that I literally can't breathe!!
 Jen & I...laughing hysterically again...I wanted her blue suede shoes...lol
 Jason & I
 Eric & Juan

 Trudy & I
Jen, Juan, Mandy & I

1:36 PM

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad.

Well, music is a huge part of my life.  Most people don't know that, but I listen to music all the time.  I play different music for the different moods that I am feeling.  Here are some of my favorites...in no particular order!

HAPPY/HYPED
Garth Brooks: Callin' Baton Rouge (live version)
Garth Brooks: Standing Outside the Fire (live version)
Chad Kroeger: Into the Night
Ben E. King: Stand by Me
Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feelin'
Bryan Adams: Summer of '69
Buddy Jewell: Sweet Southern Comfort
Zac Brown Band: Chicken Fried
Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Want to Have Fun
DJ Khaled: All I Do is Win
Flypside: Someday
Frankie J: Obsession (no es amore)
Elton John: Tiny Dancer
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Jaron and the Long Road to Love: Pray for You
Jason Aldean: She's Country
Jay Z/Linkin Park mix: Numb/Encore
Jo Dee Messina: I'm Alright
Journey: Don't Stop Believing 
Lonely Island: I'm on a Boat
Luke Bryan: Rain is a good Thing
Michael Buble: Haven't Met you Yet
Milow: Ayo Technology
Panic @ the Disco: I Write Sins Not Tragedies

SAD
Limp Bizkit: Behind Blue Eyes
The Wilkinson's: 26 Cents
Blake Shelton: The Baby
Mark Chestnut: Almost Goodbye
Alan Jackson: Sissy's Song
Simple Plan:Untitled (how could this happen to me)
3 Doors Down:
Brad Paisley: Whiskey Lullaby
Fort Minor: Where'd You Go
Heart: Alone
Jamie O'neal: Somebody's Hero
Bette Middler: Wind Benaeth My Wings
Johnny Cash: Hurt
Maroon 5: She Will be Loved
Michael Andrews: Mad World
Michael Jackson: Smile
Miranda Lambert: The House That Built Me
Rascal Flatts: Here Comes Goodbye

BORED
Billy Joel: Piano Man
CKY
Clay Walker: She Won't be Lonely Long
Craig David
Cyndi Lauper: Time After Time
Fort Minor: Right Now
Frankie J: Suga Suga
The Fray: You Found Me
Gretchen Wilson: Redneck Woman
Ironik: Tiny Dancer
Jason Aldean: Amarillo Sky
Joe Nichols: Gimme that Girl
Joe Nichols: Tequila Makes her Clothes Fall Off
John Legend: Ordinary People
Justin Timbelake: Love Stoned/I think She Knows
The Killers: Mr. Brightside
LL Cool J: Doin' It
Ludacris: Southern Hospitality
Milow: You Don't Know
Outkast
Phil Collins: In the Air Tonight
MAD 
Dixie Chicks: Not Ready to Make Nice
Simple Plan: You're Love is Just a Lie
DMX
Jamie O'neal: There is No Arizona
Jo Dee Messina: Lesson in Leavin'
Justin Timberlake: What Goes Around
Leah Andreone: It's Alright, It's OK
Lil' John: Bia!
Miranda Lambert: White Liar
N.E.R.D.: Posers
P.O.D.: Youth of the Nation



I think that is enough for now.  Like I said earlier, I LOVE music, and it's a form of expression for me.  I could literally be here all day long adding more music!

2:33 PM

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

I got Lily's costume finished up this week, and I got all the laundry put up.  That says a lot, b/c I hate putting up laundry..haha  I also helped Lily study for her spelling test, so we will see how well she does.  We took about 20 minutes every afternoon to go over her words.  Not to mention all the other homework she has!!  I also was there for a really good friend when she needed me and was having one of those days.  You know the kind...it's just more bad news after more bad news.  I was there just for moral support, and then I was able to help her out with her family too.  You gotta love friends like that!

11:14 AM

Day 08-Short term goals for the month

Well, this month is pretty much over, so I will go with the month of November.  I want to get all of my x-mas cards sent out this month.  It never happens b/c I am such a procrastinator, but I am going to try to make it happen this month.  That goes for the shopping too.  I am always waiting to the last minute to get stuff.  Another goal is for Eric and I to go on a date night.  We haven't done that in a while, so why not now!  There really isn't a ton of stuff that I need to do, so this blog is a little boring this time...lol

9:30 PM

Day 07- Someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Hmmmm...the biggest impact on me...  I think I am going to go with my family on this one.  My mom, dad & Eric (Lily too) are the biggest impact on me.  I constantly turn to them for support, comfort and love whenever I need it.  No matter what I have to say, they listen and give me feedback, whether I want to hear it or not.  And, truth be told, they are right most of the time...but don't tell them that..lol  I am fortunate enough to have such a wonderful family and support system.  I also want to include some friends in this blog, and you know who you are.  A few of you have definitely made an impact on me, and I will always be grateful that we met.  It's hard to find friends that you consider family, but I have found some here in Italy, that I can't imagine us ever growing apart.  That's what family is though, you grow closer, stronger & love each other un-conditionally.  You will grow older together, but never apart.  I may do something or say something that upsets you, but my family will always be there to pick me up when I am down or tell me when I am wrong...never kick me while I am down.  Eric is probably the biggest impact on me.  I mean, he is the father of my child..lol  He has been there for me through some very hard times, and even more amazing times.  Never judging me, but helping me instead.  That alone shows me that he is the one meant for me.  Just like I can't see myself without my family, I sure as heck can't see my life without him in it!  Ok, that's enough mushy gushy stuff for.  I gotta go watch Glee now....lol

And that's another thing...Eric always watches Glee with me too....just another crazy reason why I love him...haha 

9:03 PM

Day 06 - Favorite Super Hero & Why

Hmmm....not so sure I can answer this one.  I really don't like sci-fi stuff at all.  And the only time I watch it is when Eric makes me...lol  So I am gonna go with a comedy super hero...b/c I love to laugh!  Eric made me watch this stupid movie, and although it had some funny parts, it wasn't great by any means.  But it get's my vote in this blog b/c funny is always better than sci-fi...haha

9:51 AM

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

I have been to so many places, that there is no way to pick a favorite, so I am going with the latest place that I have been.  Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany was one of the highlights of us living in Europe.  My only regret is that we never went before.  Eric and I had soooo much fun!

What the inside of the tents look like...

Dancing the night away in the Lowenbrau tent!  With tons of strangers...lol  And getting pulled off the table b/c apparently you aren't supposed to dance on the tables...who knew...everyone was doing it!

Some friends we met at one of the random tents..lol

Mmmm...pretzels and fries w/ mustard...delish!!

I know that I am very fortunate to be able to travel so much while living in Italy.  I will forever cherish my memories here, and hope to come back one day.  For me, it will be a very sad day when I have to leave Italy :(

11:36 AM

30 Days of me, Day 4

A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Hmmm...I pick at my nails constantly.  My nails are always breaking, and I sit there and pick at the flakes...eww!  Another really bad habit, and I know I'm not the only one b/c a friend told me she does the exact same thing, is running my fingers through my hair and finding the coarse ones and pulling them out...weird!  Not like I pull all of my hair out, because there aren't that many, but I find them and pull them out.  The texture of them is just weird to me!  Another weird one is combing my cats for fleas...I hate fleas, and if I can see one on them, I have to get the brush thing out right then and comb the cats...lol  That's all I can think of for now, but I am sure there are more.  Those are the 3 that popped into my head.

12:21 PM

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

I have chosen to post pics of all of my friends here in Italy.  I have way more pictures of these people than of the people I went to school with..lol  These are in no particular order, just friends from Italy that have some kind of impact on my life!

These are 2 of the first friends that I made here.  Jessica and Cheryl.  I have tons of crazy pics of Cheryl and I together, but I wanted to go with something nice...lol  Although we don't talk nearly as much as we did before, I am grateful for the friendship that I had in both of them.

A group shot of a few of us.  The original "coffee & coke" gang!

Brooke and I at the BEST chicken place ever!!  Velden, Austria

I love this girl so very much!  CG knows how to make me laugh hysterically all the time.  I know her and I will always be close to one another.

Trish, Brooke & I.  I didn't get to know Trish that well until the last year or so, but I would consider her a great friend.  I hate that she is moving next week!

This is Anne.  Her and I grew very close while her husbnad was deployed, and have grown even closer since then.  She used to live down the street, but has since moved to Germany.  We still talk quite a lot, and still see each other just as much.  I am going to be very sad when I have to move back to the states!  I know that we will always be close though.  Our love of all things southern, Prins (her dog), shopping, maybe gossiping some, and our overall likeable personalities make us great friends!

This is Rach.  She is my partner in crime when it comes to musical theater.  She makes me laugh so hard that I alnmost pee myself.  I miss her and her family very much too!

These are some of me newest friends here in Italy.  From left: Mandy, Kassandra, Jen, Melissa, Doris, Nicole, Me, Trudy & D'anne.

 Melissa and Malik are by far the funniest, loudest, craziest friends that I have.  And I mean all of that in a good way..lol  I love Alyssa's head at the bottom of the pic...haha

This is Ryan & Nicole.  Ryan started off as Eric's troop, but we all quickly became friends after Eric left to go back on flight.  They know that we will always be there for them!
Brooke, Anne & I in Salzburg.  December 2008  Forever friends!

These are my deployment buddies.  Mandy & Jen.  All of our husbands were deployed together, and we all 3 stuck together through all of it.

 Ha!  Halloween 2008.  Man, we had a great time!

This is Doris, and she is my cajun friend!  She is one of the most sincere people I know, and I love her dearly!

This is Trudy, my other cajun friend!  How do we not have a pic together???

Last but certainly not least is my Mom.  She is one of my best friends!

Okay, I know that I am leaving some out, but that's all that I can think of for right now.  I apologize if I left you out!!  I may come back and add more though.  Friends come into our lives and leave at different times.  It all happens for a reason, so because of that, I am grateful for these friends listed above.  They have helped make me who I am today!

9:28 PM

My love of all things Fleur De Lis

I call it my love for all things fleur de lis, but some might call it an obsession.  If you know me at all, you know that one of my favorite things is anything fleur de lis.  I thought I would share with you all how much stuff I really have....
One of my favorite buys from Nove!  I love this bowl!!

If I am reading a book, it is always goes inside this book cover.

 A random flag that I found.  I use it as a wall hanging though...

My most recent painting.  

My wallet that I love dearly :)

Just a hook thingy...

Fleur de lis night light

Spoon rest...kinda dirty, sorry...I just made dinner...

Cookie cutter!

 Bottle opener

 Random wall hook...
Wall hanging

 You can clearly see that I like these things.  Not sure where this obsession came from, but I just can't stop!  I have countless necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, clothes, shoes, stationary, etc.  You get the idea.  Maybe I'll have a fleur de lis Christmas tree!  I am even working on a fleur de lis tattoo.  To each his own....lol