Brad and Brittney's Blog

Missing Someone?

2008-10-18T18:53:00Z

Brad kindly put a movie for us and ran the controls as I got our movie snacks ready. Then he setteled down for the evening to watch the movies. When I returned to the family room I found Brad like this. . .

That's a Snoopy my mom got for my fall decor. You can't see in the pic, but Snoopy is holding a pumpkin. I think Brad would rather have a real beagle to snuggle with like this. . .

I do miss our kids too. Next weekend the SPCA is having a dog walk to raise money for the shelter and you better belive we are going to be there. Maybe it will tide us over until we can be reunited with Max and Molly.

Yummy Mummy!!!

2008-10-16T10:17:00Z

A couple of days ago I went to a recipie exchange with the ladies at church and our theam was "Fun Freaky Halloween Food." I found this great recipe and was so excited with the way it turned out so I thought I would share it with everyone. I made the coffin out of a cereal box and duck tape. I must say the phyllo dough is not easy to work with when your eyes are so out of focus as mine are. This is a great dish just to make even if it's not a mummy. THe pork stays moist and the mustard sauce gives it a little zip. Forgive my typing, this is really long for my eyes to focus. You might like these pics because you can see how small my kitchen is now. Makes clean up easy.

My Small Kitch

The Final Product!!!!

THE RECIPE

3/4 Cup heavy whipping cream 10 sheet phyllo dough

1/4 cup Dijon mustard 6 tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound) 1 med apple, peeled

2 teaspoon olive oil, salt and pepper

In a small skillet combine whipping cream and Dijon mustard and bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 15-20-min or until mixture is reduced to about 2/3 cup. Remove from heat and stir in thyme.

Meanwhile. place pork on a rack in shallow baking pan. Brush with olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Broil 6 inches from heat souce for 6-8 min. Remove from oven then cool slightly. Change oven temp to 400 degrees.

Set aside 1/2 of cup of mustard sauce for serving; spread remaining mixture over pork then set aside. Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface and brush with butter. (Keep the remainig dough covered with damp towel and plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out.) Repeat layers four times (total of 5 sheets of dough). Place pork on edge of dough and roll up tight to form mummy body then tuck under the edges. ( I had to cut some off the ends of mine to make it look better.) THen set aside.

Place another sheet of dough on work surface and brush with butter repeat 3 times (totally of 4 sheets this time). Then cun into thin stips. . . Wrap these around mummy ( I just kind of tucked them under on each side) Keep 2-3 of the small stips for wrapping the head. This is what really makes it look like a mummy.

Cut remaining sheet of dough in half and sick together using butter as above. Cut a one inch cube from apple (or whatever size you need to look good a head for your mummy). Wrap apple in dough and then wrap thoes 2-3 stips around it as well to make it look really cool.

Place bundles in ungreased shallow baking pan. Bake uncovered for 15-20 min or until themometer emp is 160 degress. It took about 30 min for mine to reach this. Transfer to serving dish then let stand 10 min before slicing. Sever with reserved mustarted sauce.

PRK

2008-10-13T00:21:00Z

Last Monday on my actual birthday I was blessed to get PRK. It's laser correction for my eye sight. Well so far I am not impressed. Everyone, including the MD, tells me it will get better and that PRK takes longer to heal than LASIK. I guess I just need a little patience. So far I see 80/20 in the left eye and 50/20 in the right, which is not well enough to drive. Brad now has his dream job of being a driver.

One thing I have learned though is how hard it is for the elderly to give up their driving privaliges. It's not fun having to wait for someone to take you every where when they are ready. And it's really not fun when that person has been working all day and just wants to sit down and relax for the evening. I have had to deal with a lot of concerned family who just don't know how to tell their loved one that they can't drive any more. More than once I have had people ask me to tell the elderly person they are not allowed to drive or ask the doctor to do so. . . well we can't really do that unless we have a medical reason and too old doesn't count. So next time I get to chance to tackle this situation at work I will have a better understanding of thoes "stubborn elderly who just don't know when to quite."

I will keep you updated with how well my eyes are doing, but for now they are a little tired.

Birthday Weekend

2008-10-06T08:49:00Z

I don't care how old I get I am always going to love my birthday when celebrated like Brad and I do. This past four days we went to Shenandoah National Park here in Virginia. What an awsome time. The weather was perfect with the crisp fall weather yet beautiful sunshine to show off the fall color. The best part was we saw our first BEARS!!!! All that time in Yellowstone and not one bear in Shenandoah we saw TWO!!! The first a comfortable distance away, the send about 10 feet and well that was a little to close for comfort. We scared him as much as he scared us. . . we didn't get a pic of the second because he ran away before we could get the camera out. . . so I am kind of glad we didn't get a pic of him. Here are some pics of the first bear and the some highlights of our wonderful weekend.

Black Bear

Our Camp

Stony Man Mountain

Dark Hallow Falls

Notes to self

2008-09-27T19:13:00Z

1. Never go camping on the tail end of a Nor'Easter.

2. If you think you are ready for children go on a ward campout. . . it will change your mind about all that.

3. Bring ear plugs if you plan on going on ward campout. (I never knew so many kids could be upset for so long.)

4. Remember daddy long legs keep the bad spides away.

Just a few of the fun things Brad and I found on our ward campout last night.Another first for me, Brad was a pro. It was fun to get to know people in the ward in their "finest" moments. A few asked for some pictures from the campout, so here they are.

The rain in Spain . . .

2008-09-25T11:55:00Z

stays mainly on the plain. In Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire hurricanes hardly ever happen.

Can anyone guess what Brad and I did for date night last night?

Another hint. . . think Audrey Hepburn

We went to the wonderful play "My Fair Lady" that the Virginia Stage Company is showing for the opening of their 30th season. I don't know which was better the play or watching it in the Well's Theater in Downtown Norfolk. Stepping into the theater you feel like you've stepped back 100 years in time. Both Brad and I loved it. Brad said his favorite character was Mr. Alfred Doolitte (Mark Peckham) with a close second being Freddy Eynsford-Hill (Jamie LaVerdiere). I have to say my favorite was of course Eliza Doolittle (Jessie Austrian) and Piano Player #1 (Bill Corcoran). Actually the two men who played the beautiful grand pianos were amazing pianist.

I know it was a Wednesday night, but it works for us. For anyone who lives in the area and loves theater, you have to see this play. As for me I plan on becoming a regular for the Virginia Stage Company. . . who can beat the "Best Tickets in Town" deal that they have.

I must say the weather man must have gone and seen the play last night as well with the down poor outside. Now if only he would have listend to Ms. Doolittle about where that rain is supposed to happen. . . I guess I can't blame him too much since we clearly don't live in Spain. I just hope it clears up in time for camping this weekend.

Another First

2008-09-21T22:54:00Z

Today in church we had a "special" ward conference. To no ones surprise they split our ward. I have never been through this in the chruch and was a little apprehensive about it. Sure our ward was the biggest in the stake, but it is nothing compared to the size of the wards I've attended in other parts of the country. I was just so exited to be in one of these wards where there are so many people and new friends. I must say a few weeks ago when I heard this rumor I told Brad I didn't think it was right and well I admit I complained a little about it.

Don't worry though, it was just a test of my faith in the leadership of the chruch and well I guess I passed. By the end of sacrament I knew this was the right thing. I am excited to see what calling I will get. I think they were waiting for the split before they gave us callings, plus the ward was at the point of calling people as "Hymn Book Dispencer for Relife Society." I just hope all the people who scrifice their bodies on a weekly bases to the volleyball court still hold up. . . or maybe we will play one ward against the other now. . . which if I know anything I know what taking side in chruch sports can lead to. . . or at least I have heard that's why they don't have many Men's Basketball games anymore.

Home

2008-08-24T00:46:00Z

Brad is home!!! Everyone should know that by know, but just incase. It was a great homecoming afterwords we went on a little vacation to California, Texas, and Kansas. We have settled into our new place, which took some shoving and staking, but we did. We went from a 3 bed 2 bath house to a one bedroom tiny appartment in downtown Norfolk. We love our new place now that we have purged all our junk. It is amazing how just two people can accumulate so much stuff. As you can tell we now have our computer up and running as well, so we will be putting some pics of our travles and Brad's homecoming up soon.

Feeling Fabulous!!!

2008-07-03T18:38:00Z

Today was my last day with my personal trainer. I have to say this was an awsome experience!!! My trainer, Kim, was so encouraging, yet never let me give up. Trust me there were times when I wanted to just yell at her and say "I can't do it anymore!!" As Clair and Rachel know, we never say can't. . . personally I think it should be taken out of the english lanuage. I didn't redo the body age thing, mostly because of time, but I feel great. It been a long time since I have been in this great of shape and feeling toned. I can acutally do a push up without looking like a girl. Pull-up on the other hand not so great. I plan to continue my workouts on base in Norfolk. The biggest thing Kim taught me is that I need to plan my workout before I get to the gym. I used to just go and do whatever. I now know I need to have a plan and stick to it, that way I am working my total body. I do plan on continuing with my yoga once a week or so.

Yes, girls do sweat.

The Answer is. . .

2008-06-20T23:55:00Z

Jerusalem!!!

"When I paid for the tour it was only a possibility that we would be able to go and we only found out we were definitely going a day before we pulled in. We had a chance to go to Jerusalem. It was amazing. We only were there for one day, well really a half a day because it was a 2 ½ hour bus ride from the port we pulled into. I am going to send you some of the pictures and the rest you’ll see in a few weeks. We pulled into Jerusalem and went to Mt. Scopa which over looks Jerusalem, where we got some good pictures. Then we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, I think that is what it is called. It is built over Golgotha where Christ was crucified. It also houses the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, where Christ was buried. From there we went to the Garden of Gethsemane. That was amazing. It was just a small portion that remains of the Garden but it is was amazing to see the olive trees that are hundred maybe thousands of years old. Thinking that I might be looking on the very spot where Christ atoned for all mankind. After that we had to head back to the ship. It was a great trip. " - Brad

"We had a great time in Jerusalem. It was a lot of fun. It was very hot. We had to wear long pants also so I was sweating like a lady of the night in church. Our time was pretty limited so we didn’t get to wander around that much we mostly ran from one place to the next but we got to see a lot of very cool things. When we went to where Christ was crucified it was a little weird. I thought it would be more reverent and holy. It was more like a circus. Dozens of people crowded up there taking pictures and talking to each other. Also there were so many crosses and lamps hanging from the ceiling you couldn’t really get the feeling of the places importance. Unfortunately most of the places were like that. It was still a great experience. My favorite place was the Garden of Gethsemane. It was the only quiet place with no fanfare." - Brad

Where in the World is Brad?

2008-06-20T00:33:00Z

Tragedy on the Sea

2008-06-12T00:26:00Z

Being in the Navy can be a demanding job both physically and mentally. Brad has had his hardships over the years, but I think this most recent event is probably the worst. Here is an email that I recived today. . .

Dear Loving, kind and generous wife,

I am writing to you, my most precious lotus blossom, in regards to a very important and life changing matter. Upon my return from battling the barbarian hordes we will be in dire need of one of the most basic of human necessities, a television. As you are aware of, when I set out on this ever important mission of carrying freedom to the far corners of the known world, I took with me my trusty T.V. As you know there are casualties in war. It is not my choice who dies or who lives or who makes sacrifices for the greater good. During a fierce storm that threatened our very lives, our T.V. bravely offered his life in place of mine. During a 23 degree roll he saw we were in danger and leapt off the desk he was on and crashed to the deck wincing in pain he was down. I called for a medic to come to his aid but all I got was the dreaded look in his eyes that the T.V. was lost. All we could do was make him comfortable. After serving our family faithfully for years he passed. I am sorry to have to tell you this when I can not be there to comfort you. We did what we could, he is able to function only with DVD players or game systems, not with cable of any kind. Also cosmetically, he his badly hurt broken and battered. As he laid fatally wounded looking into my eyes his last words were not cries for his mother, but were words pleading with me to make his sacrifice worth something. He pleaded with me that the next T.V. to serve our family be at least a 42”LCD T.V. I love you and miss you tons.

Your Loving husband,

Brad

My only response was "Wasn't it supposed to be secured to it's battle station?" Maybe the trusty little compainion went outside for some air and forgot to connect his life line.

Invasion

2008-06-05T01:12:00Z

Brad's most recent activity to "defend our country."

Feeling Like 30

2008-05-15T02:16:00Z

So I joined a gym. I've never really done this before. Sure I have been to the gym a lot in my short lifetime, but it was either for sports or on the military base. I know. . . I know I was all excited about yoga, but the foot doc told me I have to stop for a while and let my ankles have a chance. Being the person that I am I have to do something. . . so this big, fancy, shinny gym on the corner was calling my name. With the membership I recieved 2 hours with a personal trainer, something else I have never done before. I was really nervous about it, but it truned out to be a real learning experience. The first hour was a physical assessment test with this fancy computer. Turns out I have the body of a 30 year old. . . not something I really wanted to hear. Good news though, I can lose about 6 years (off my real age) if I really try. So to help, I now have Kim. I am still nervious about the whole thing, but excited at the same time. Don't think that this "test" is what made me decide to do this. I need someone to push me at times when I work out . . . I love goup/team exercise, but with my work schedual it's not really easy to make it to classes all the time. So this works. I can work out when I want and I have someone to tell me what my body needs. Plus, Brad always loses some poundage when he deploys, so I've got to keep up :) Hopefully you can tell the difference in the pics I take on the pier with Brad when he gets home. Another key factor is that heart disease is a major prob in my family. Being a cardiac nurse, I really really don't want to end up like a lot of the people I see. I am planning on taking what I learn and using it thoughout life. . . planning key word there, so don't hold me to it. Who knows by the end of all this I may just want to become a trainer myself. It would be nice to work on people who really want to help themselves.

Happy Running. . . or whatever it is you do to keep your heart in shape.

Abracadabra!!!

2008-05-12T21:56:00Z

May 3, 2008

May 12, 2008

You should have seen the car that hit me!!! No, I didn't get hurt. I am not sure about the other driver because she drove off. . . although I don't think her car was going to drive for very long. . . she went on to hit one other person right after she hit me. . . and her car just kept going. . . it was amazing. Don't worry I got her # and sent it to the police. I think she may have been too old to be driving anyway.

Now the question is . . . do I tell Brad? 1 person so far has said not until he gets back, which I had planned on anyway. . . 3 people have said "I wouldn't tell him. He'll never know." All I know is that I love having insurance to fight my battles and pay for this kind of thing.