Harder than I thought

Hi friends,

Despite the fact that I spend my mornings with two adorable little girls I have been on the verge or crying all am. Truth be told it is probably hormonal, but I am seriously missing my bro. It has been almost a month since I talked to him last. Now I am sure in the past we have gone about a month without talking, but I doubt it. I know I'd call home and he'd answer the phone. We would talk for a few mins and he'd go back to video games. Now, he is cut off. Maybe even more than boot camp. He doesn't really write, he isn't allowed to call/text, we heard from him a lot during bootcamp. We found out that he is going straight to Missouri next week. I think that he will at least be able to talk to us then. I just feel sad, I miss the brat. I can't imagine how the families of those deployed do it. I dread if that happens. Seriously, I think it is just the fact that I can't talk to him that bothers me. Anyway, I am just feeling blue today. Sorry to be a debbie downer.

Brad, We miss you.

I have always considered myself lucky that most people close to me are still alive. I still have all 4 grandparents. When I graduated high school in 2003, I had only been to one funeral. I cried and was sad, but the nature of the relationship didn't lead to a lot of pain.

My life was forever changed June 21, 2004. It was about 3 weeks after my first year of college and I was house sitting in Gaithersburg. My cell phone rang and my friend was calling, she was upset. Then she said it. Brad died.

Brad was a year younger than me in school. I worked as a cashier at the local grocery store. Brad got a job there not long after me as a bagger. He was always smiling and never grumbled when asked to help out. I remember one night after we all got off work, we went to play putt putt. My stomach hurt so bad that night for laughing so hard.

I left for college, but I always dropped in when I was home to say hi to everyone. One of the first places I went when I came home for summer was to Giant Eagle. Brad was in the middle of putting away returns. He followed me around the store riding on the cart, and chatting (trying to get me to come back to work I believe.) He was so happy that day. Smiling and laughing it up as we made fun of co-workers.

When I got the call, I didn't believe it. Brad took his life. I just kept saying no, no, that isn't possible. I still to this day wish I knew why it happened. I wish I could have said something or did something to change things. I never saw pain when I looked at Brad, I just wish I could have, so I could have helped.

Brad's death changed me. I never take for granted the fact that my friends know I love them and that I am here for them no matter what.

It has been 6 years, I always remember this day. But I am not sad today. I am celebrating the life of Bradley Quashnie. Today I remember the good times, I sit back and smile at all the silly times we had at a really crappy job. Without Brad and his friends at GE, work would have been 100 times more miserable than it was!

We love you and miss you Brad! You are always remembered! Your family is always in my prayers.

Today I donated to The National Hopeline Network in Brad's name. This organization started programs in suicide prevention. I couldn't give much, but I hope what little I could give helps.

Happy Anniversary!

June 20, 1981 my two favorite people got married. Mom chased my dad for over a year, at age 14 (or maybe 15) she finally caught him ( I guess he got tired of running :D)

They were 21. They moved to Kentucky so my dad could go to seminary. They were poor and young, but they relied on God and made it. Their biggest accomplishment during that time was having me! Nope not the PhD, me. :D




They are wonderful parents. They have taught us how to be good, respectful adults. I love now that I am older how our relationship has changed. We are more like friends.

My dad amazes me with his guitar making, and I love our chats about Maryland basketball. I have always been a daddy's girl. I don't see that changing. I still climb up in my dads lap for a hug and a little snuggle. Yup at 5'7" and 25 years old! My dad always has wise and logical advice to give. I am pretty sure I can't make a single decision without a consultation with dad. My dad is funny and always knows how to make me feel better. Once after a breakup in high school, he sent me flowers with a card that said "men are pigs." I laughed and agreed. I love my "old man" so much.








My mom exhausts me, the woman never stops. She is always going and doing, typically for others. She will give you the shoes off her feet if she thinks you need them more than her (and she has.) No matter how old I get, when I am sick, I want my mom! On my 24th birthday she laid in bed with me all night rubbing my head and ear while I cried in pain from an ear infection. My mom is a warrior of prayer and I have learned by her example that nothing is too small or silly to pray about. My mom has become such a wonderful friend. Even though I tease her that she is crazy, I love that about her. She is always doing something "crazy" to make me laugh. The bet part is I am always laughing with her.





I couldn't be luckier to have parents who love each other very much. Now that Austin and I are out of the house I am sure they are having fun with each other.








I hope that for the next 50 years the only thing to come between you guys is Kobi. (The dog seems to think sleeping in the bed between my parents is his right as doggie of the house.) I love you both very very much. Congrats on not killing each other for 29 years! :D

**** I have more recent pictures of them I know I do! But I am at work, so I just found some quick off my facebook****

A new perspective on teachers

I saw this one facebook. I liked what it said. Teachers are very important and they certainly don't get what they deserve. 



Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan -- that equals 6 1/2 hours). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. 


Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE.... That's $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries). 
What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 15 children X 180 days = $140,400 per year. Wait a minute -- there's something wrong here! 



There sure is! 


The average teacher's salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days =$277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) 


WHAT A DEAL!!!! 

Am I Crazy?!

So last Friday Austin, his girlfriend Ariella and I went to Kings Dominion. I love roller coasters, but there was one I was a little nervous about.

The Intimidator 305. Imagine this - 305 feet up, 85 degree drop, speeds of (well I don't really know but it was fast)

Want to see a pic?

Image Credit

The part on the right is the lift hill (at least it only takes 15 seconds to get up it) The part on the left - the drop. HOLY CRAP

As scared as I was - this ride was amazing. My first time on it Austin drug me on to the front car. The ride was so fast my eyes watered. 

The rest of the park was great too - we rode the I305 twice and the volcano twice. Austin made me ride the drop tower - 272 feet up - 76 mph drop. 

Needless to say my throat hurt Friday night and Saturday. I had such a good time hanging out with my brother riding rides. 

I can't wait til he gets leave again so we can go somewhere else!

Here is a video of the ride- It just doesn't do it justice, but it is good.

A New Meaning To Memorial Day

I never really understood Memorial Day while growing up. It was a day off school, a day when swimming pools were opened and the start of summer.  As I got older I met people who were serving in the military. Some are overseas right now as we speak. Then the meaning of Memorial Day really starts to sink in. This is a day to remember those who died fighting for our freedom and a day to say thank you for the sacrifices the members of the military make.
This Memorial Day I am spending it with my brand new Marine. Tomorrow is my last day to spend with my brother before he goes off for more training. The thing is, after training, is more training, and then he gets stationed. I don't really know how often I will see him the next few years, but I do know it will be a lot less than normal. My brother signed up to do something I could never do, serve our country in the military. I would never survive the boot camp process. I certainly don't think I have what it takes to make it through a battle. Lucky for me and most other Americans we don't have to. We have people like Austin who signed up to do it for us.
This Memorial Day please remember those who have fought for our freedom and died. Remember those who paid the ultimate price so that our everyday is free and easy. Tomorrow when you are cooking out and relaxing - say a prayer for those who are out fighting the fight for us.

God Bless Our Troops!

One of the proudest days ever

After 9 hours of driving, and 1 hour of sleep we finally made it on base at Parris Island, SC.

We had to leave SUPER early because we were told that it would take a long time to get on base (which doesn't seem to have been the case- but at least we were on time) We were on base at 5:30 am. We could hear recruits yelling and marching. We were trying to find our Marine, but of course we had no idea where to look.

FINALLY around 6:30 we saw them lining up and walking over to the parade deck. At 6:45 they marched over in front of us and stretched, it as the first time we saw Austin. It was hard to find him at first, he looks different. So Skinny!

Anyway, they stretched , then went on a run through base, so all the other battalion would know who was graduating. They ran past us a couple times, got some good pics. Then we had to kill time for an hour (longest hour of life) til the liberty ceremony started. At 9:30 they gave us a talk about what the Marines had been through and rules for the day. Then at 9:50 they marched in. We were introduced to the Drill Instructors that worked with them for the past 12 weeks and then they said dismissed.

Everyone ran for their Marine. Mom and Ariella got there first (duh). As soon as I hugged him I started sobbing. I was so proud. He said he was proud of himself too! It was so wonderful to hear his voice.

We went to the barrack where he spent his last 12 weeks and he showed us around (no pics of this - not allowed) Pretty rough. The toilets didn't have doors. EW.

Then we went and had a picnic and then wandered around base.

I am going to share a bunch of pictures so my family in MD can see them since Facebook won't let me load any. LAME.

Waiting (it is still dark)

All of our signs

Please excuse my puffy eyes - I was dead tired.

The girls got their boy

Dad is so proud

Sobbing. ( I look gross)

Austin and his Senior DI

There he is Pvt. Eubanks

So happy

(Austin is the 2nd from the right)

(2nd from the left in front row)

Talking to Mema

 More to come this weekend of graduation. Now off to sleep!