Thank you Uncle Todd, Slacking, 32nd Brigade and Expressions

All it takes is someone to call me out!
So good job you guys, (this time Uncle Todd) for keeping me in check and making me stick to my New Years Resolution.

I want to post some of the photos that I took from our fun weekend in the Dells....and I will this weekend at some point. I have to work tomorrow so I need to turn it in for the night soon.

So I will enlighten you with a few thoughts and a few photos, because isn't that really what each post is anyway....

1) I am SLACKING on the marathon training. You have no idea! Okay...so I was super super sick for like a week and half....and I literally worked for about 3 weeks straight....but STILL. I don't know what it's going to take! But dang. I need to get cracking people! I am getting SO excited for my trip to St. Louis with Shanna.....we just got our train booked and we're now looking for hotels and SPAS! Oh yeah...and we are running a half marathon too. Another state to add to my list!

2) I want to share with you this link to the ceremony I played for a couple of weeks ago. If you hear music in this clip, that is our unit playing! In my 13 plus years of being in the military; this was a career highlight for me. Maybe one of the most high profile and emotional gigs I'll ever do. This was the largest single deployment of troops since WW2, 3200 men and women that make up the 32nd Infantry Brigade.

3200 sets of ACUs, patrol caps, and combat books; rank and file...and us....all the way up in front on stage to play. Behind the scenes, just outside the Green Room I shook Governor Jim Doyle's hand, and the hand of the Brigadier General. When we were doing our sound check...I was like DANG that is a lot of chairs. But it is hard to describe what it felt like to walk out on stage and see ALL of those soldiers sitting in front of us. My favorite moment was when they brought in the colors....and the SOUND the audible NOISE that 3200 hands made when saluting our nations flag. It was POWERFUL.

The families looked tired. Supportive, but hesitant as all of the Senators and Congress People sent well wishes, and promises of quick returns...etc. During some of the speeches ALL I could hear were the babies crying in the crowd. And all I could think about was who do those babies belong to? Mothers, Fathers, Aunts, Uncles, Brothers or Sisters all of whom are about to deploy to Iraq? I pulled this photo off of the Intranet. Doesn't even do it justice....but it gives you an idea.

3) One of the main reasons for us dropping some serious coin on a new camera was to keep up with our main photo subject Finnegan. I was getting so frustrated at all of the little looks, and nuances that were starting to develop as part of his personality and sense of humor that I was missing because my camera just wasn't quick enough. But this new camera does the trick!! I just love it.

More to come, I RESOLVE!

M is for Many Days Late with this Post

My dear blogging friend Emily played this game awhile back, and so did my sis, and Emily so nicely assigned me the glorious letter "M" so I happily write down now, although tardy:

10 things I love that begin with the letter "M."

1. Moms - I love my Mom certainly, she is awesome and there are so many of her abilities I aspire to obtain. I love being a Mom....I always knew I would and I feel so satisfied and happily overwhelmed by the task, I absolutely LOVE it. I love other Moms! I love seeing other Moms in action and marvel at motherly similarities and differences.
   
2. Music - I love music. All kinds really. I can remember the Christmas I got my first cassette tape Walkman. Man I thought life was OVER in the best way possible. I remember how amazing the isolation of hearing nothing but...(Walk Like An Egyptian maybe?) and tuning out the world. I love making music. I feel very fortunate to still be playing my saxophone regularly...and can't wait to take up the piano again now that we have one in our home.
3. Movies - This is another no-brainer. I LOVE watching movies. I think I just miss having more time to do so. I am on a mission to try and catch up and watch all of the Oscar nominated performances of 2008.
4. Marshmallows - Dang. This list is already tough. Marshmallows! I do love them! Dunkin Doughnuts used to have marshmallow as one of their flavor syrups. I used to get it EVERY DAY. Loved that stuff. It no longer exists (moment of silence here). Marshmallows are a frequent mix-in option at Cold Stone creamery. I LOVE SMORES - key ingredient: marshmallows.
   
5. The Moon - I think the moon is cool. I always look for it. I like it's drastic and steady changes in shape. You can count on it. It can be so incredibly beautiful. I think it is the one thing that I most often photograph and am ALWAYS disappointed by the result. Very tough to capture the moon's vibe.
6. Make-up - Yes, I think in another life I was a graduate of cosmetology school. Make-up is sooo much fun. I love playing with it...applying it, trying new looks, etc. Dorky I realize. My heart pines for hours spent at Sephora....using up those little test applicators by the thousands...wiping my lips raw with endless samples of lip gloss, etc. Make-up along with new clothes are two things I could buy every month if I had the money.
7. Margherita Pizza - And I haven't eaten tonight...so......there is love here for this type of pizza for sure....simple, a classic blend of the essential flavors of pizza. Oooh weee I wish I had some right now.
8. Memories - I love thinking back on memories. The "has been" moments of my life. The good, the bad, the wish I could do-overs...I think it is important for me to reflect on memories because they shape the life I want to live right now. Being proactive to make the memories I want to have in the future.
9. Mangoes - Love love love. Love them in BUBBLETEA! Love them alone. Wish they were easier to cut and eat. I even love the little stringy things they leave behind in your teeth. I think my all time favorite is them in the Sticky Rice and Mango dessert at Lao Xian Xang in Madison (the spelling may not be correct, my apologies) I also love the scent for a body lotion/soap, etc.
10. Motivation - I guess this is a random stretch but I do love feeling motivated. Speaks to my love for setting goals and reaching them I guess. I enjoy feeling motivated in all aspects of my life! It's ability to propel me through all that I need to accomplish is certainly appreciated.

What I Can See From My Bed

It has arrived :)
My new digital camera. (sigh)
I would be remiss if I didn't admit to the chills I received as the lens clicked into place.
Or the thrill of the shutter whooshing shut and the battery charged hum of the photo appearing on my screen.
Or the slight cramp in my hand I've already gotten from endless photo snapping.
Or the slight cramp in my eyeball from looking through the viewfinder.
Just some more muscles to train.

The whole family got involved, posing...realizing that they were ALL going to be seeing a lot more of this large black thing.



Thrilled! Can't you tell?



Even the dog! So excited for me....so nice.



So I thought....I've had this thing out of the box for a couple of hours. I am loading the software on the computer....checking out all the basics...what shall my FIRST photo assignment be....I want to see what this thing CAN DO! WOO!
I decided on:
What I Can See From My Bed.
The first photo installment by one Rebecca Mae Keaty

More photos than you could EVER care to lay eyes on coming soon.

Finnegan Fix

I'm back everyone! Sorry for the delay.
I have been VERY busy working the past week. Many many hours....and I've been sick. NEVER fun.
All good stuff though....I was at this massive conference for the Association of Writers & Writers Programs. Heard some good readings, learned more about the publishing industry, made some important contacts for Open Books.
Being surrounded by all of those writers has ME inspired to write more. Here I presume. But alas, tonight will not be the night. I am exhausted.

Tomorrow it is back to work.
Tuesday I drive to Madison for the day to perform for 3,400 troops leaving for Iraq.
Wednesday and Thursday - work!
And then off for a long weekend with the family to The Dells! :0 WOOT

I know Greta was needing her Finny photo update so here are some pics I took tonight at bath time. My NEW AMAZING FANCY camera is on it's way! Can't wait. Should be here this week.

As you can see Finn is getting quite brave and sassy in the tub. Should be a fun time at the water park since he seems to be getting braver.

A video wraps up this post....this ALMOST rivals Emily's Emmett tumble and roll....as you will see Finn wipe out.....hilarious.
Have a great week!










ALL CLEAN!

Glory Days

This past weekend Nick and I celebrated the 30th Birthday of one of our friends from college.
Leigh Ann.
It got me thinking how lucky I feel that such a large contingency of my college friends live right here in Chicago.

There is Megan. Who you see on this blog quite often! She has become a very very close friend. I love her.....she is so fun and EASY to be around. We have run ENDLESS miles together and her and Finn have a very special friendship.


There is also Matt.

While clearly less photogenic then Megan.... Matt is one of Nick's longest and dearest pals. Matt was Nick's roommate through most of college, he also stood up in our wedding!Matt also was the longtime boyfriend of the above Megan. Matt and Megan started dating before Nick and I did....and they made a great couple for a really long time. I think I have a lot of respect for the two of them because they are still close friends. That is SO hard and rare. And as both of their friends, I really appreciate that it never became about "choosing" between them. We all still have a lot of fun together. It is not awkward at all. I can count on Matt for a laugh almost daily. His sense of humor is awesome.

Some of you might remember Gina!


Not shockingly, she is the gorgeous red head sitting amongst Nick and Matt. Gina was a roommate of mine from college. This girl has a heart of gold and a smile that can light up any room. She is so much FUN to be around and we made a pact to try and hang out more.

It was really nice catching up with our friends, Nicky Reindl....also a friend of ours had lots of fun updates about where some of our other friends have ended up, with careers, homes and families of their own.

Seeing as I met Nick at school (UW-Madison) we lived on the same floor our freshman year for those of you that didn't know that! It got me thinking about those years. I was also SO fortunate to meet my dear dear friend Emily there also. She was a sophomore our freshman year on Witte 9 A! That one random placement in life...a certain floor...in a certain dorm....has brought so many important friendships and my HUSBAND into my life. That's pretty cool.

It's fun to reminisce! To re-tell stories...MANY of them....okay all of them hilarious drunken tales of our escapades on campus. I have laughed more with these people....then most. And I just feel really lucky to still have them around. For them to bear witness to my "new life" as a wife, (NICK's WIFE!) a mom, a working adult, etc....but to also share with them the amazing college experience that we all had.....together.

Finnegan

For Greta

I have some good blog ideas for you this week. Unfortunately for you I am determined to try and finish most of my book tonight. So no long/thought provoking/ in depth coverage of my life. Just a picture of Finn since Greta was griping about my snaggle toes. Can't blame her. Have a good week!