my top 10

My top 10 things I like and Dislike about Alaska-

Top 10 things I like:

1-my bff'erella is here

2-the beauty that I see daily

3-the history of Alaska

4-the seafood

5-the smells of fall

6-the hiking trails

7-the casual attire(jeans and sweaters are the uniform here, LOL)

8-the snow

9-wildlife(as long as they arent attacking me)

10-nordstroms-lmao

10 things I dont like:

1-the feeling that you are on an island and cant get off(I cant explain it, but you feel that way)

2-the price of fuel

3-the high homeless'ness(its beyond sad here)

4-the cost of milk at the commissary(4.57)

5-SOME of the attitudes that some employees here on post have.. Im seriously shocked

6-that we are not just a days drive from the kids and grandkids

7-that Cassidy isnt here with us(pleasssssssssssssssse come home Cassidy, LOL)

8-that Sal isnt overly thrilled with his new assignment(BUT there is hope, always hope)

9-that we have gone to only 1 car-not fun

10-that my sister isnt here to enjoy Alaska with me and Julie

These things are in no particular order.. I had to REALLY reach for the negatives, but everywhere has a "needs an improvement" area :) They will be things I can overcome.. Ill either kill them with kindness or give them the whats what.. LOL As with Sals job, well he typically gets that way at any installation and then just falls in love with it and has a hard time leaving, LOL.. I think he is just a bitter betty because he doesnt like the temp to go below 79, LMAO!! All in all, Alaska is very nice and we do really like it. The people of the area are FABULOUSLY nice-expect the douche that works in the Nordstroms shoe dept.. He sucks eggs. I must also add that ANOTHER thing to love about here, is the fact that I can wear my cute and fun socks, DAILY!! How fabulous is that?? Still no word on whether or not we have an FRG, or what have you-Sal just forgets to inquire as he is busy with mundane stuff like finding out what he is really doing here LMAO.. BORE, BORE, BORE-ME, ME,ME hahahha.. Tomorrow Julie and I are going to go pour and bottle wine that she made a few months ago!! Im looking forward to that-alot!! I cant remember what flavor it is, but after I drink it all, ill let you know. My sister arrived safely in Scottsbluff, Ne.. They are happy for this new adventure!! I have an interview today with Toys r us in their Customer service Dept.. Not sure im going to take it.. I applied not thinking they would call me the next day LMAO.. I need to get another car first.. They are supposed to come and paint our garage today.. Okay guys and gals, enjoy the day!

fall weather

Fall weather is my favorite and I am getting it in HUGE doses living here in Alaska. That crisp air, the smells-all wonderful... Today I made homeade chicken soup and now the house is filled with delicious smells and warmth. We are all doing well, Tony I think, has strep throat again.. poor kid. He has NEVER been sick and then in the last 3-4 months strep, strep, strep!! He is home sleeping today. Roman and I went to the commissary for some organic veggies for the soup, didnt see any organic chickens BUT found some that are hormone free, so that is okay. Today my sister, Ronni, and her family are making a big move in life. They are leaving Alabama and heading to Nebraska! They wanted a change and something new. I wish them well in this adventure and I think they are going to love their new home. Nick is enroute to Ft Bliss and stopped in Tennessee to see Ashlee, Blake and Kaydence, so that was nice. Its hard being a military family in these situations. It will be a RARE occasion that we have all 6 kids together under one roof, which makes me soo sad.. Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a "regular" person and live in one town our whole life and get to see our kids and grandkids whenever we want, BUT our life has been great and I really cannot complain too much. We have seen and experienced such wonderful things and we did it together as a team. Those memories will be with us forever. Im ever so proud of Nick and Ashlee for following the military tradition in this family, its a hard knock life, but they are doing an amazing job and we are so proud. When Cassidy graduated HS and went to Az, there were a couple times she was "homesick" and I dont mean just for us, for this way of life. When Cassidy had days like that she drove to Luke AFB and would go to the px and commissary. She said it made her feel at home to be around military and military families.. AWWW, my poor baby girl, LOL. Tony really doesnt want to be in the military-which is fine with us. After college he wants to be a police officer. Really, im proud of our children as long as they are all good and decent human beings. So, today while I am making our dinner meal (which is something our kids always love to eat) it makes me think of them and eventhough it puts a tear in my eye to miss the 3 that are on their own, it also makes me proud of who they have become.. I love you Nicholas, Ashlee and Cassidy-We miss you all soooooo much but are very proud of you.. Love, mama!

A beautiful Day!!

WOW, no words can describe the beauty we saw today.. Stunning is what it was. Sal and I and the 2 little boys went with Scott and Julie to the Eagle River Trail/Nature Center for a hike.. We hiked for 4 hours and climbed some rocks, knocked over some dead trees, played in the river, watched salmon swim upstream and just enjoyed what Alaska has to offer. Scott and Julie are our dear friends/family.. Its nice have friends that are such a great match.. Sal and Scott are alot alike and Julie and I, well I think she is me and Ronni's missing link, LOL.. We have been friends for years but its been 2 years since we lived near each other.. Scott is VERY outdoorsy and Sal is getting back into being outdoorsy.. Sadly other than Missouri we havnt lived at a place that Sal was able to do alot of hunting and fishing, so he and Scott will be exploring while we are all here. The kids love Scott and Julie, as if they are family-which is ALWAYS nice!! So we have our family here and its nice to go on adventures like today.. Scott taught the little boys about moose and bear poop that we found along the hike, taught them about birch trees, pine trees, salmon swimming upstream and how to make a teeter totter out of a big log and all the "boys" were throwing rocks into the creeks and having a great time. Im sure my body will hate me tomorrow as I already feel my thighs burning up.. LOL THANKFULLY we didnt see any bear, BUT we did find alot of their poop, LMAO.. The sound of the river was so relaxing, I didnt want to leave that area.. After we got back to the trucks we went to dinner and Piccolinos Italian and Greek eatery.. I had a gyro and salad and it was DELISH! I must have burned a trillion calories today, or close to it, LOL.. All in all, it was a wonderful day.. Thank you Julie and Scott!

PS, little Nic(scott and julies son) and our son Tony, didnt venture out with us, but they have both been on that hike before :) Didnt want anyone to think we left the big boys out.. They had gone out and stayed out all night the night before and just wanted to zone out today.. :)

Okay, okay

Yes, ive been neglecting my blog, but with good reason. I have really just been trying to get the house all exactly how we love it, LOL perfecting chaos is a very hard job, you know. So, im now a member of our PTA and they may not know what hit them when I start offering advice and suggestions.. They are relatively young and havnt done this before and im old and should have PTSA/PTA stamped over my forehead, LOL.. Im a pro at organized chaos but unorganized chaos? Well that makes me want to curl up in a corner and eat crayons.. Seriously.. So, we shall see.. I do find it HILARIOUS that our school has an ice rink.. Only in Alaska!! I am curious as to why PTA is funding the zamboni and maintenance of it, when the COMMUNITY uses it in the evening.. HMMM, Im sure they will eventually NOT want me to come to PTA meetings, LOL And WHY are we funding the PE program?? Well, not the full program but it has specific funding on our budget.. And why do parents complain yet dont help the problem??? I dont ever understand that one!! So we are all doing well, the temps are dropping DAILY... The afternoons are simply beautiful-usually in the mid to high 60's and we have had alot of sunshine but OMG the mornings!!! Today was 37, IN THE SUN!! A little nippy, but wonderful.. That cold air makes you feel alive, unless your Sal, then you are a big cry baby.. We have to get another car, BOOO.. I hate spending money on that stuff, LOL.. But Tony is getting his permit this month and eventhough Sal litterly works in our backyard, he will sometimes need the truck/car, whatever.. So add that to another financial goal for us, LOL.. Cass has and pays for the jeep, which Sal misses (he misses Cassidy too!) A friend has asked me write an article online about mentorship and the military spouse. Im very excited about that because I think mentorship is UBER important and I want new spouses to know that people do care in how they turn out.. Sometimes as a spouse of a soldier, it is expected that we know everything and if we dont, then we just smile and nod that we do.. The kids are all adjusting well.. Every now and then Dom has a teary eye at school, but I think because he hasnt found his niche yet with his peers, although all the kids think he is great and get so excited when he shows up, he is just a person that has to really figure you out, LOL.. Roman, well he is who he is and very adorable and its been fun to have him all to myself.. Ive never had that all day with him, so im savoring it.. Sal, oh poooooor man.. Let me tell ya. I did have a mental breakdown earlier this week because NORMALLY Sal is a very positive person and will ALWAYS see the good in situations.. Well our Army Post and the AF base is joining and becoming one and being led by the AF and Sal isnt overly thrilled about that, because it seems as though the AF is really just throwing some bones to them.. Im sure it wont be that way once this place gets going on the Joint Basing, BUT for now he is the ONLY Army Soldier assigned to an AF squadron, so that is a bit of a task for him, to NOT have soldiers... So, we shall see, we shall see...

Tonight im excited.. Its couples night out for Sal, me, Scott and Julie!!! We are going to Glacier Brew house for DINNA, no I didnt spell that wrong, its how Scott says it.. he is from Maine :) I want an accent like his and Julies.. Its wicked cute!!

Again, I must defend "my world"

Yes, today there was a shooting on post at Ft Bliss.. Tragic, senseless and horrifying.. BUT crime happens EVERYWHERE, even on a military installation.. If you think it doesnt or shouldnt, then maybe you should rethink the military way of life.. We are ALL human and some people whether they are military or civilian are going to commit crimes.. Crime happens Everywhere and DAILY.. You are still safer on a military installation, than just about anywhere else.. Im calling that this was a domestic situation that was dragged out into the open, which is what happened with the shooting over a year ago at the PX and the shooting of a highschool student right before that, that was a random act of horrible crime. If you are ever privy to an MP station in a 24 hour period of time you would be shocked at what goes on, at any given time.. Today its obvious that the MPs handled it great and maybe saved more lives, because who knows what could have happened had the shooter gotten away.. "we" cant get paranoid and think that we are overly safe on post and that soldiers and family members wont screw up and commit these horrible acts.. But they do. You have to always use common sense in your personal safety..

My next issue is complaints about the FRG-FAMILY READINESS GROUP!! There will NEVER be a perfect FRG and they are ONLY as good as you make them.. I dont go into a leadership position thinking I will "show them how its done right" I go in thinking hmm, id like to hear what THEY expect from me, and let them know what I expect and talk about goals and what an FRG is and what one isnt.. You dont have to be part of the FRG and we have all been burned at some point.. But where you burned by a person or by the FRG? Sometimes there are crappy people, most people are good and want to mentor or help out a spouse.. if you had a bad experience, dont let it stop you from being part of another FRG.. I think spouses are forgetting that WE, as in FRGs, soldiers, civlians, military installations, arent perfect.. They are lead by human beings and we are all guilty of having shortcomings at times.. For instance... This last deployment I was a co-leader to my friend Kristin, we made MANY many plans and had alot of great things for our families in the unit, BUT we cant force you to give us correct information, we just cant.. So, if they werent contacted about things due to lack of correct information-guess whose fault that is?? Not mine, Not Kristins)eventhough we definately got the blame) it was YOURS(meaning spouses) Again its about being human.. Im not a mind reader, although my kids might argue that, LOL I cannot know you are having issues with anything during a deployment if you dont let me know. I cant help you solve the problem if I dont know, I dont know you had baby, if you didnt let anyone know you were pregnant. I also think if I had an issue with each FRG over the past 21 years, I would start looking in the mirror to see if maybe I am part of the problem.. Not to say there arent crappy people and less than stellar FRGs, but its rare, honestly..

Okay, Boxes came in...

And boxes go out!!! Our movers dropped our stuff on Wednesday and we are now on our 3rd day of the "3rd day rule" imposed on our family by the "boss", 20 years ago... We have about 11 boxes left to unpack. 7 of those are in our bedroom and 1 better be my VERA bags!! im just sayin'. We have the living and dining room all done and it looks great.. Ill take pics when I can find my camera.. The basement has had carpet put in and is now the boys winter playground/wii place, their playroom is done and their room is about 98%complete, Tonys room is also at 98%, kitchen-done!! This afternoon im taking time off for good behavior and doing some shopping.. Need more twinkle lights for my trees in my dining room, need some pepper berries for some accent pieces and POSSIBLY the most perfect area rug I can find and some kind of coffee table or ottoman for everyones feet, LMAO.

Our movers we very good as were our packers in El Paso.. The ONLY complaints I have about this move is that our El Paso packers, I think were confused after they sealed up boxes and labeled them cups when they were hats, kitchen when it was linen closet, LMAO no harm no foul though. NOTHING was broken or even scratched, NADA!!! *tip to those that will pcs soon, be upfront with how you want things packed, they generally will do it without issue... * BUT, do it with kindness-no diva-ish'ness..

Kids are all good(ill go in order to update everyone LMAO)

Nick and Meagan- they leave Md on Sunday for Ft Bliss and are very happy to have gotten the hell out of FLW!!!

Ashlee and Blake-they arrived in Knoxville 2 days ago and they met with his 1sg and other recruiters and said they are nice. They found an old farmhouse 20 min from the station, with horses and 17 acres

Cassidy-has her job back at bk on biggs and is living with her friends and enjoying life-starting school soon!!

Anthony-doing better in English, living at the gym(as usual) thankfully its litterly across the street

Dom and Rome are enjoying their alaska(that is what they call it) and cant wait for the snow *add boots, gloves and hats to my shopping list*

Sal-hahahhaha, he isnt quite sure about his new job.. Right now he is the new DES SGM, BUT in October when the AF base and Army post here become joint his title will be Provost something/liason to the AF for law enforcement and in charge of the MP station. Its very confusing and he will have to wear a few hats and has been to several meetings and thinks the AF doesnt run it right LMAO.. He is assigned to an AF squadron, and is the ONLY Army person in that squadron, so its bad enough that MPs are the red headed step children of the Army-NOW who knows what we are LMAO.. I will keep my chin up and hope for an FRG or whatever its called in the AF and be thankful that I wont be the leader, just the follower and no stress... HAHAHAH... Ill be volunteering with another FRG here in october for a function and im looking forward to that. Preschool at CDC has a waiting list-OF COURSE IT DOES.. All skies classes here have a waiting list, nice right? So im hunting town tumbling/gynastics gyms off post. I am enrolling the boys in a pee wee cooking class called "mini chefs" NO waiting list for that one!! Roman especially loves to be in the kitchen and cook-watch for him on food network one day. okay, rambled enough. Just wanted to check in and let everyone know that I am happy as are the rest of the Urzi clan..

On a more somber note- today would have been our nephew, Daniels, 22nd birthday.. We miss him daily...

We have internet!!

We have cable, phone AND internet!! And drum roll...................Tomorrow, we have household goods!! Lets take a moment and pray everything arrives in the amount of pieces it is supposed to have LMAO... Dom is in school now and Roman has a waiting list for preschool on post, fun.. I know! So, I may be looking elsewhere for him to get educated, LOL.. Sal had his 1st official week of work and umm, interesting is all I have to say.. He is going to have a huge undertaking (the Af here and the Army are combining) and NOBODY really knows whats going on, BUT PS, the combining of this place happens in less than 2 weeks!! LOL BUT, they selected the right man for the job, as Sal can make prime rib out of hamburger helper and do it without breaking a sweat. Im proud of him, he rocks. I thankfully have my best friend here so that makes things easier for me because she is a wealth of knowledge and a bucket of fun. I am still trying to figure out what ill do here in regards to volunteering, LOL.. They already have a PTA president, no FRG for what Sal will be doing, so hmm, what shall Mary do? I am-at least I think I am- the oldest parent at the school LOL Saw some interesting types today.. Interesting bad, not interesting, hmm Id like to be friends ;) Roman and I went to the PX today and bought toilet brushes for each bathroom, cereal organizers, storage containers(yeah, is this the alaskan adventure you wanted to hear about?) Our daughter and her family have arrived at their final destination for recruiting!!!!! So happy for them and this new start. Our son and his family are in the middle of their PCS from Leonard Wood to Bliss(Nick will be in the company Sal just left-do you think that they will think Sal was demoted? LOL) they are DEFINATELY looking forward to getting the heck out of FLW!!! We love them all and miss them horribly! Cassidy the traitor LMAO is doing well also. She is working full time and BETTER get to the college this week to get the info I am waiting to hear about... Tony starts open gym for bball tonight, so I know he is THRILLED about that.. Now to find him an English Tutor and we will be set.. English for some reason has been a challenge for him this year. he is normally an honor student.. This year, English is thyne Enemy for him.. But he is a tough cookie and if WE have to stay up all night to figure it out and help him, well then-we will!