Melissa, Oh!

Tag: Gray

  • At least it didn’t take me this long to cross the finish line

    So, I ran a little marathon about a month and a half ago. And I have not forgotten about writing about it. I have been putting it off because I’ve felt really busy and like I don’t have the time to devote to it that I need. And I was hoping to get Jeff’s photos…

  • At least it didn’t take me this long to cross the finish line

    So, I ran a little marathon about a month and a half ago. And I have not forgotten about writing about it. I have been putting it off because I’ve felt really busy and like I don’t have the time to devote to it that I need. And I was hoping to get Jeff’s photos…

  • This is my costume. Now give me the damn candy!

    Music to marathon to: Halloween costume to run to: What happens after I visit the mall and Claire’s Boutique has a 50 percent off sale on all of their Halloween gear: What happens to my outfit after I ask my awesome, clever blog readers for help: I loved everyone’s suggestions – so I used them…

  • How to stalk your friends

    So, I spent the past week at the beach with my in-laws, so that’s my excuse for why I haven’t been blogging lately. Yes, there was wifi at the beach and yes, I had my laptop. It just couldn’t compete with the ocean and the sand and the breeze … We stayed at Camp Lejeune,…

  • Top-secret assignments, trips to DC and my in-laws are cool

    This post is random (advanced warning). I had a dream last night that I was being secretly recruited by the FBI for an assignment of which I had no knowledge of but if I told anyone I would wind up dead. Also being recruited was an exboyfriend who is notoriously untrustworthy so why I would…

  • Coming soon: A little ladybug

    She wants to approve all baby bump photos before they get uploaded to Facebook, so I’m going to be careful about the ones I use here since she hasn’t told me which ones she likes yet.  But I’m so excited about the first photos I’ve been able to take of my unborn niece, that I…

  • Late to the ball (not this time!)

    So, this photo was not Photoshopped. But it sure looks like it was, doesn’t  it? This image cracks me up. It was taken at the Marine Corps ball in November; my in-laws were in town this weekend so they gave us our copy then. This was taken by the portrait photographers hired by the Marines.…

  • Late to the ball (not this time!)

    So, this photo was not Photoshopped. But it sure looks like it was, doesn’t  it? This image cracks me up. It was taken at the Marine Corps ball in November; my in-laws were in town this weekend so they gave us our copy then. This was taken by the portrait photographers hired by the Marines.…

  • Life is a gift. Use it or lose it …

    So, I’m a little late on the the whole “look back/look ahead” post that comes at the end of the year, but I was too busy celebrating the holidays to take the time to sit down and think about it! So, better late than never, right? Last year I wrote about some thoughts on 2008,…

  • I hope you have the time of your life …

    These are good times, my friends. Good times. As I prepare to run the longest run of my entire life in 3 days, my job this week has been to relax and be stress-free. And you know what I’ve realized? It’s really not that difficult. There is a lot to be happy about. Whether I’m …

  • Tradition, emotion, birthday cake and booty dancin

    So yesterday I mentioned going to the Marine Corps ball this past weekend in Charlotte. I’ve been to a lot of these balls over the years, but it never ceases to amaze me how touching/meaningful/fun they are. So, the ball always starts with the dress, as does any formal event. Colleen and I spent a…

  • Tradition, emotion, birthday cake and booty dancin

    So yesterday I mentioned going to the Marine Corps ball this past weekend in Charlotte. I’ve been to a lot of these balls over the years, but it never ceases to amaze me how touching/meaningful/fun they are. So, the ball always starts with the dress, as does any formal event. Colleen and I spent a…

  • The strength of family, the strength of a Marine

    I met Gray when he was 16, so it’s a little hard to believe Colleen’s little brother (now my brother-in-law) is old enough to defend our country. Apparently the Marine Corps doesn’t find it hard to believe because they’ve found a spot for him in Iraq for the next 6 months. This will be his…

  • One brother deploys, another marries

    Yesterday was a big day in the family. One of my brothers-in-law, Gray, a First Lieutenant pilot with the Marine Corps, left for a 6-month deployment in Iraq. Another brother-in-law, Casey, tied the knot with the love of his life, Kristina, in Clearwater, Florida. A lot of emotions here, but above all, love and pride…

  • Lessons from Grandma: Speak your mind, live how you want, and don’t let time slip away

    The first time I ever met Jeff’s grandmother was in April of 2000. Jeff’s sister, Colleen, his stepdad, Gray, and I drove from N.C. to Florida for his brother, young Gray’s, high school graduation. We arrived at Grandma Kochel’s house late – probably 9 or 10 p.m. I walked into Grandma’s house for the first…

  • I was the center of attention tonight. All eyes on ME.

    A little background first: I have fainted two times before. 1) 2003, at the doctor’s office, getting blood drawn for a physical. I felt the expected “I’m gonna faint” feeling … but this time, I actually did it. Actually fainted twice in a row, but I’ll count it as once for purposes of this post.…