R.I.P. Casey

Yesterday, my small hometown was rocked with an unexpected death.  I got on Facebook and several friends that I graduated high school with had statuses saying, "RIP.  You will be missed", "Only the good die young", etc.  I kept saying this and was getting pretty scared.  Finally I asked if I was the only 'Havelock-ian' who had no clue what was going on and I got some messages saying that a student we graduated with had committed suicide.

I was shocked, to say the least.  I mean this kid was funny, smart, witty, intelligent, and loved by his friends.  His dad died our sophomore or junior year (I don't quite remember when) and he took it pretty hard.  Casey was his name and we had band together all four years of high school.  We also swam together our freshman year.  I'm not going to act like I was close to him, because I wasn't.  But he was a classmate and we had obviously exchanged many conversations and jokes. 

I have to get something off my chest though.  Suicide is seriously the most selfish and stupid way to go.  It puts your family through more pain than you could ever imagine.  It makes the family and friends feel guilty that they didn't see it coming or that they weren't there when needed.  They will have to live with that the rest of their lives.  Really, that is so selfish.  Sure, I feel bad that he felt like that was the only way to handle things, but you have to be a stand-up person and think about others instead of just yourself.  If I thought that suicide was the best way to go, guess what?  I'd be dead a few times.  2011 was pretty much and awful year.  I had tough times growing up, but I know that there is always more to life and that God will lead us through it.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

With that said, I have to say that I am very astounded by the way my high school classmates have come together.  Our class of 2008 was quite frankly, awesome.  We weren't focused on material things, we were almost ALL friends.  It didn't matter if you were a 'geek' and were in all AP classes.  It didn't matter if you were in the marching band or wind ensemble.  It didn't matter if you were the all-star on the sports team.  We all communicated in some way.  And now, with this sad death, we have come together once again.  Take a look at some of the statuses on Facebook that have been posted-

"Chin up HHS Class of 08. The memories we shared with him will carry on."

"don't ever feel like no one cares. look around you, you are always going to be surrounded by people that love you. no matter how far away you are or how long its been since youve seen or spoken to them. remember that everyone ♥"

"i just want to tell all my friends in Havelock that i love you, stay strong and we are ALL going to get through this because we're a family, and families stick together! dont forget that ♥"

"Havelock fam we have to stick together. Please remember you're never alone. Rest in peace."

"Wearing HHS tomorrow as we come together for a member of our ram nation who has fallen. Please know that you can call me if you EVER need anything.. I don't even care what time it is. I love you guys like family."

"Havelock may be a small town, but we all got each others back...near or far, we stick together"

There are countless more in support of our small town and our small high school.  It makes me grateful that I came from a place with so many people ready to be supportive and uplifting in difficult times.  As Justin Moore said, "A lot of people called it prison when I was growin' up, but these are my roots and this is what I love...I wouldn't trade one single day here in small town USA".

Look, if things are rough for you, try to find the silver lining.  Talk to your friends and/or your family.  Trust in God that everything will be ok...maybe not now or in the near future, but eventually, you will be okay.  Have a blessed day.

God bless the Gentry family and Casey, may you rest in peace.

So. Much. Work.

Hey everybody!!  Oh my gosh grad school work is overwhelming!!  Especially for me, the procrastinator!  I will push through and make it though.  It will just take a lot of dedication, focus, and will power.  Like most things in life right?  :) 

Today I had another good leg workout.  Last week I did all supersets for my first leg workout of the week and I liked it, so I'm going to try that for a while until my body plateaus!  Supersets always give me a great workout. 

OK so right now, I have to admit, I am watching Khloe and Lamar on E!.  I know, I know...."the Kardashians?!"  yessss...but I do like Khloe more than the others.  She may be a bit more outspoken, but she is also the most down to earth out of the group (I feel).  She hates when her family members get upset about simple things and I love seeing that.  The rest of the Kardashians do tend to get reallyyy upset over some stupid things. 

ANYwayyys!   Yesterday I got my Christmas present from Millie!  I know, a bit late, but it takes a looong time to get stuff from Australia!  She got me a bikini with the Australian flag, 2 bags of Cadbury chocolate filled with caramel, 2 boxes of Kinder chocolate, and something that resembles Nutella.  YUM!!  OH and the card she wrote me was so sweet.  :D

 I found this picture below and I think it is SO funny and SO true!!  Girls are definitely catty and this pretty much sums it up!  :) And with this, I'm OUT!  Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Monday Off

Today is MLK day, so I had the day off from work!  Love that.  So this morning, naturally, I woke up and went to the gym!  I worked shoulders today and did cardio.  I just love going to the gym...it is my sanctuary.  It's just me, my music, and the weights I'm lifting.  I don't focus or worry about anybody/anything else.  I seriously need to get my diet on a steady pace though.  I absolutely hate the way my body looks...I can't put anything on without looking/feeling big.  I need to lose the extra crap around my waist and stomach.  One day I will have the body I want, which is pictured below...I just have to work to get there!!

Oh so last night, I made a blackberry/raspberry cobbler!!  It is sooo yummy (and yes, I know it does not help my belly problem!)  Additionally, my dad made good 'ol chicken n' waffles!! A great northern meal...which I definitely think should be a southern meal..it definitely sounds and tastes like one.  I will post pics of both the cobbler and chicken n' waffles on my next post :)

My brother, dad, and I went to the bowling alley on base today.  Let me just tell you, I suck at bowling!! I mean I'm completely awful!!  Jack is pretty good and so is my dad.  There were so many people there with their young children today.  and the children are so misbehaved.  I wanted to go over and spank them myself!!  Hey people!! Discipline your children!!!

Tomorrow morning I have work for a few hours, then I am headed back to school.  Have a great, blessed day :)

Football Saturday

Today has been a pretty good day :) 

I woke up and went straight to the gym to work on my legs, booty, and abs.  After I showered, my dad and I went to the Bike Depot here in Havelock to get my new bike!!  I got the Trek 3700 in green.  It is awesome!!  Here's a pic of what it looks like...

I can't wait until it comes in!!  I have been wanting a bike for a while now and for Christmas, my dad got me a gift certificate to our local bike shop!  How thoughtful?!  After ordering the bike, my dad and I went to the commissary to do some much needed grocery shopping.  We got stuff to make chicken & waffles (YUM!), cobbler (YUM!), and tonights dinner which was mashed potatoes with noodles and boiled beef.  We love depression era food.  So delicious.  Not good for my diet though!! not at all :S  It's so hard to stick to my diet with my brother and my dad around.   I think once I'm at the house alone for most of the week I will be able to stick to it better. 

So grad school is already kind of difficult.  Ive had a lot of reading (with more to do) and I have a quiz on Tuesday and a point paper due in accounting on Thursday.  I need to do that tomorrow!!  Again, it's hard with people at the house...I need some quiet time!  I'm am glad I am getting my masters now as opposed to when I'm a little older and have a serious job and a family.  I definitely would not be able to take 9 credit hours then! 

This evening has been consumed by football!!  The first game of the night (49ers V. Saints) was a great game.  Very exciting and suspenseful.  The Broncos V. Patriots game?  Not so much.  It hurts to watch actually.  There are about 13 minutes left in the 4th and the score is 42-10.  Wow!  what a snoozer.

I hope you all have had a good Saturday and a good weekend so far.  I'm ready for the gym again tomorrow!! I love it!!  Be blessed...

 

I am SO sorry!

I know I do not have that many followers, but still, I feel awful about my lack of posts!!  I literally have been too busy to write!  What's happened since my last post?  Ummm the holidays, my college graduation, work, and oh yeah, starting GRAD school!!

Graduation was really exciting, but I didn't feel as relieved as other college grads might feel.  This is probably because I started graduate school yesterday.  I'm really nervous about this next chapter in my life.  My classes are going to require a lot of work out of me and a lot of reading (which I think is the worst part!)  I'm taking 9 credit hours which is full time and I am also working on Mondays, Tuesday mornings, and Fridays down at Cherry Point.  Busy, busy, busy!

OK so my blog is titled "Patriotic Barbie", so I guess I should write about something 'military-ish'?! :)  OK will do!!  Let me just say, I love working on base alongside the Marines.  I have previously developed some close friendships with some of them and already this winter, I have grown close with several more.  Most are Sergeants and Staff Sergeants who really offer me good advice when I need and they really are great listeners!  Oh and most of them have a great sense of humor...and they laugh at my jokes!  haha that makes me feel good :)  Yesterday I got a new ECU shirt from out student store!  It says "Pirates supporting Troops - Troops Supporting Pirates"  and it has a list of all the military bases in NC!

I hope that all of you have had a blessed holiday season and new year.  Make 2012 great!  If you made a New Year's Resolution, stick with it and make it happen!!!