Tonight on SBTR: Reintegration

Tonight on SpouseBUZZ Talk Radio, we're going to have a very candid conversation about reintegration. Reintegration can be a huge challenge for military families, as many of you know.

Until we received this email from a soldier, I rarely thought about reintegration from my husband's perspective, only mine. What will make tonight's show extra-special is that not only will a milspouse be our guest, but her husband has agreed to come on, too. Brave guy.... Butterfly Wife and her husband, code-named Jack Bauer, have recently went through the reintegration process. In fact, they may still be going through it. We'll find out tonight.

Tune in at 9:00 p.m. EDT by clicking here. Don't forget to join us in the chat room, too.

See our reintegration index here.

FREE Call Home For Deployed Servicemembers

Many thanks to VFW National Military Services.

Details after the jump.

Deployment Gremlins: Real and Mental

Today I found a deployment issue I hadn't thought of.  For the first four years of our married life, and throughout the first deployment, my husband and I shared one car.  Now we have two and he's deployed again.  I thought it was a great novelty to drive his car, but I didn't realize how exclusively I was driving it until I went out to get in my car today.  Dead battery.  I realized it hadn't been driven in about five weeks.  Oops.  I'll have to do a better job of making sure both cars get driven equally.

So I had to jump one car with the other.  That's Homefront Six's area of expertise, not mine.

Neighborly wisdom

Isn't it nice when fellow spouses are traveling through town when you can lend a hand on what's available here locally?  Yesterday a friend of mine in the neighborhood had a milspouse visiting her from her old neighborhood.  My friend is civilian - but we don't hold that against her! - and she's shown a penchant for befriending military. 

This poor visitor's son's leg was in a cast and it had become uncomfortable and was giving him blisters....what to do?

Hittin' the Road: Is SpouseBUZZ Coming to a Town Near You?

Only five weeks until the SpouseBUZZ LIVE fall tour kicks off. If we're coming to a town near you, please register to attend the event, we'd love to meet you. Why should you go? Because it's a fun-filled day of bonding with other military spouses, sharing our experiences and making new friends.

Testimonials from past events:

Not much I can say except WOW! It was an awesome day. It is a day that turned my life as a military wife into a different direction. It made me put into perspective some things that I guess I just didn't have a grasp on yet. – Sgt's Wife, SpouseBUZZ LIVE Ft. Hood

Thank you for a wonderful event. Loved it. When you have another one I want to come and bring all the young wives from my unit. What a wonderful experience, absolutely worth the babysitter and dragging myself out bed. Thank you!!!!!! – ArmyMom, SpouseBUZZ LIVE Ft. Bragg

I walked out a bit shelled shocked from having had such a great time and being treated like a VIP for the day. And to think I actually considered not going! – Navy Wife, SpouseBUZZ LIVE San Diego

What are we going to do? Load you up with a bag full of goodies, talk about our lives in a humorous fashion, talk about anticipatory grief, reintegration, PCSing, deployments and much more. Plus, you'll have a chance to win fabulous prizes. Previous attendees have won diamonds, major appliances and jewelry! Can't wait to see what prizes will be given out on the 2008 tour!

The SpouseBUZZ LIVE website can be found here.

Tour Dates:

Norfolk - September 6

San Antonio - October 18

Seattle/Tacoma - November 15

Furniture Shopping - Military Style

My husband and I recently purchased some new furniture for our living room. It's been many years since we purchased living room furnishings and I had forgotten just how differently we approach this task than my non-military friends and family. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of civilians do not go through the same exercise that military families do when they're furniture shopping.

Oh sure, we all go through the comfort and pricing test, but that's probably where the similarities end as civilians, generally speaking, don't have to move as often as we do.

Yes, it's another deployment post. :)

I always feel incredibly guilty when I'm so busy I can't even find time to blog; I'm finishing up my teacher certification, starting a teaching job next week, taking a trip to Seattle this weekend, relentlessly loving an infant, planning for R & R, and up until yesterday, mothering my step daughter for the summer. Whew.

But in the few quiet times that I have, I think of Scout.

Walking Into Mordor

Today I did something I dread, something I really hate to do.

The kids and I had to go to Wal Mart.

Don't get me wrong, I used to love Wal Mart as much as anyone.  For some reason, though, our last two duty stations have been near stores that are perpetually crowded and dirty.  The shopping carts are rusted together, and the sock department smells like a fart.  I try to avoid it whenever possible.

Today it was not possible.  We had to (cue Psycho music) go Back to School shopping.

Did You Know?

Army Launches New Website
Chiropractors Offering Free Services
Nationwide Auto Transport Military Discount
Discount Airfares Through 2008
From War Zone to Work Zone
Fund Assists Injured Veterans
Funniest Military Stories Earn Cash
Join SpouseBUZZ Live in Norfolk, VA
Marathon Fees to Increase
New Army Deployment Deferment Policy
Officials Release Facts on New GI Bill
Spinach Artichoke Chicken Recalled
Test Your Singing Voice
Troops' Pets Need Homes
VA Announces Online Claims

We Will Deploy

We all get tired of answering the same questions over and over about deployment.  We've beat that dead horse here on SpouseBUZZ numerous times.  And every milspouse at some point has to let rip on all the dumb questions that people ask.  Sara of When In Rome let loose today, including some well-placed swear words for emphasis.  I just had to laugh because we've all been there, but I did like how she phrased one thing.  To the question of "So is he done after this?"; "Is this his last tour?", she includes this sentence:

[A]ll I can say is as long as we are in the military and America is in Iraq or Afghanistan we will deploy.

Such a simple sentence and thought, but really such a good answer.

FIRST Magazine Wants Real Army Wives

First it was MTV News, and now it's FIRST Magazine.

My name is Dana and I'm a journalist for FIRST magazine. Currently, I'm
working on a story about the show "Army Wives," and I'm looking for
real-life army wives to feature as well.

We're looking for their best original tips/strategies for dealing with
the stress of raising a family, balancing the house/work, etc while your
significant other is away or just dealing with the stress of it in
general.We're also looking for a woman who is experiencing pregnancy (or has in
the past) while enlisted.

If you're interested in sharing your story, click here to email Dana. Dana has requested that you include a brief paragraph about what she described above and include your name, age, city and state and a current photo.

By the way, MTV tells me they received some great responses from you. If you were selected to be featured, be sure to let us know where/when we can read/see you!

*SpouseBUZZ is not affiliated in any way with FIRST magazine.

When ACUs Attack

I was thrilled when the Army ditched the old BDUs and went with the much lower-maintenance ACUs. After all, who wants to spend so much time starching and ironing BDUs? Or forking over money to let the dry cleaners do the job. I was stunned when my husband came home a few years ago with a uniform that was simply "wash-and-wear."

Brilliant idea.

*Those* Movies

When the movie Hitman came out, I remember thinking it looked like the stupidest movie ever.  But now that my husband's almost been gone three months, and I've been deprived of testosterone, all of a sudden the movie seemed like a great idea.  A really great idea.  I watched it last night, and...sigh...I was right.  Muscles, 100-yard stares, men kicking butt and taking names.  Delightful.

I remember when Butterfly Wife wrote a post about her testosterone void, asking, "So what's a girl to do?"  I answered that Rocky III and Tombstone helped me out the last time.  Hitman helped last night.  And I'm saving 300 for a rainy day, when I really, really need it.

So let's hear it, ladies.  What movies help you through the deployments?

My Deep, Disgusting Secret

Last week, AirForceWife wrote about our conversation in the bookstore, her need to get anticipatory grief out of her system.  It took me a few days to work up the courage to publicly admit my side of the conversation.  I also needed to run the idea by my husband; he isn't entirely comfortable with the fact that I have this compulsion to reveal embarrassing emotions and thoughts to the entire internet.  He also doesn't really feel the need for anticipatory grief in his life, and I think he finds this milspouse urge to plan for death unsettling and unnecessary.

550 cord comes to the rescue AGAIN!

Not for me. Shucks.

But impressive INDEED!

My Husband's Got Jokes

The other day, I set my purse down in the living room and walked down the hallway.  A minute later, I hear the cell phone ringing.  I run down the hall, rummage through my purse like a madwoman, and grab the cell phone right as it stops ringing.  I recognize the displayed number as my husband calling from Iraq.  And I'm standing there with the cell phone in my hand as he's leaving a voice message.  No way to call him back or to let him know that I'm stupidly holding the phone.

That's excruciating.

I sent him an email later, saying that I was dying as he left that message, and that if he ever doesn't reach me on the cell phone in the future, he should hang up and try back one more time.  Chances are I'm rummaging through my disaster of a purse, which is always what happens when my phone rings.

So a day or two later, he calls again and I miss it, but he calls right back.  After we get off the phone, I go to my voicemail and hear what he left after the first call: a sing-songy teasing voice saying, "I'm not calling back -- you shoulda gotten to the phone in time!  Just kidding..."

My husband's got jokes.

A Pity Party, a Heavy Heart and Some Perspective

This morning, I woke up early and immediately began fretting over one of the most disastrous weeks I've had in a very long time. I was in full-fledged pity-party mode. And then I read this. It made my heart sink, but it also stopped my pity-party.

I said it a while back, and I'll say it again today. If you don't do anything else this weekend, make sure you click here and watch this video. Watch it with the entire family, it's family-friendly and probably something the whole family should watch together. Skip that other flick this weekend and put this on your must-watch list. You will not be sorry.   

Rest in Peace, Randy. And thank you for all the lives you've touched, and for the lecture of a lifetime.

Fit Club - Report in!

So, after a week's hiatus (Swim team summer season is OVER, YAY!), I have to ask seriously how many of you are braving the summer heat and humidity and keeping up on your fitness regimen?  At least a little?

I know how hard it is, I am trying, but I had a carb attack this week.  I just can't, can't say away from the Fig Newtons forever.  They are so good.

So I have to give myself a pep talk:

Tonight on SpouseBUZZ Radio!

Tonight on SpouseBUZZ Radio we've got a very timely show you won't want to miss - because it's all about your home.  The housing market stinks right now, but that doesn't slow down the PCS cycle.  Should we buy?  Sell?  Rent?  And if we have to sell, how best to make our house stand out in this market? 

We're going to have Larry Whitehead, of LarMad Homes, on this evening to give us the scoop so we can go into our next PCS armed with lots of facts and knowledge to come out of this market on top.

You may remember that I sang Larry's praises before, when we moved to the DC area.  Now you can talk to him, too.  Write your questions down so you don't forget and be sure to call them in!

Don't forget, SpouseBUZZ Radio at 9 pm Eastern tonight!  And as always, our chat room will be hopping.   

National Military Family Assn. - Government and You E-News

July 22, 2008

1. Congress Overrides Presidential Veto to Pass Medicare Bill

2. VA Announces Online Claims Applications

3. Admiral Mullen Opens 2008 NG Family Training Conference

4. Dr. Casscells Asks for Your Input for Health Care Improvement

5. Army Lengthens Family Time with Newborns, Newly Adopted

6. NMFA Attends Preventive Health Care for Children Conference

7. TRICARE Covers New “Back” Surgeries

8. Reunion and Reintegration Focus of Webcast

Missing Friends

We talk quite a lot about how we miss our good friends every time we leave a duty station.  It's always a sad experience, and only tempered by the fact that we know we'll make more friends.  And we'll keep in touch with the friends we leave behind.

But we never think about how our pets feel...

Did You Know?

Europe to Sponsor Marathon Teams 

Online TRICARE Enrollment 

Travel Card Switch Coming 

TRICARE "Backs" New Surgeries 

TRICARE Helps Out in Flood States 

SpouseBUZZ Live Tour is Here 

Education Grants for AF Family 

Survey Request: We need Your Help 

Tuition Assistance Payment Rates 

PCS Season Moving Tips 

TRICARE Provides Crisis Information 

Annual Observance for the Wounded 

Rate the Military Health System   

Schools Prepare for More Students Under GI Bill   

Deployment Guide Update Accelerated 

Online Journal for the Defense Industry Launches 

Armed Forces Retirement Home 

Owning up to Fear

Fear is the dark place we go when we contemplate the worst.    Fear is Alice in Wonderland's rabbit hole.  Milspouses and milparents tumble down that hole more often than they will admit when there's a combat deployment involved.

In my life, I have feared many things.

"Talking" on the Telephone

Dear old Dad has been away from home for an entire week, and my kids are really missing him.  Or so they say.  Like when it is time to go to bed, or I need them to get moving just a little more quickly, or when I ask them to take out the trash.  "I really miss Daddy," they'll say, with just a small twinge of pitiful thrown in for good measure.  Thankfully, he's only going to be gone a few weeks, he's safely on land, and we get to talk on the phone regularly.  At least, I thought we were talking.

Is Girl Scout Camp Really Worth It?

My second daughter started her first sleep away camp today.

I'm surprised I survived.  Because in true Air Force Family style, there was a bit of a bump in the road.

Helping Our Own - Pet Style

Many of us who are pet lovers see our milpets more like members of the family.  They sure aren't simply just pets.  They see us through the sometimes bumpy road of military life.  And they are all super cute in the eyes of their owners.

I have been lucky enough to know several families that have fostered pets for other military families and/or service-members over the years.  Many have done so via NetPets Military Pets Foster Project.

Families are always needed to help.  Currently the need is high in Europe and the Pacific.

Condolences

At Spousebuzz, our online family has celebrated homecomings, weddings, births and all kinds of happy events.   It's wonderful to share our good news, isn't it?

Life gives us good moments but it also gives us sad ones.  Guest author, DL Sly, is going through one of those sad moments right now.  Last week, her beloved father passed away.  Suddenly.

All of us at Spousebuzz send our deepest condolences to  Sly, her mom and her family.

This one's for Sly's Mom. 

Friends -- best measured by the "cup"

Life.  Mostly uneventful when measured by the year or the decade.  Probably because we have been taught and have learned to: adapt, attempt to better, improve, sometimes get-along, but ultimately, to simply accept and press ahead--Life can be like a kitchen.  Sometimes it takes all we have, to do these things all-the-while keeping an eye out for everyone wandering in and out of our Kitchen of Life: our spouses, our kids, our pets, our neighbors, our parents ... and we end up hauling around those fancy stainless steel Williams-Sonoma pots w/ the silicone non-skid bottoms, full of all of these things we're keeping an eye on as that's how we Chef's in the Kitchen of Life, manage.  ... even when we're not feeling too Chef-like.

And by the time we've made it to the end of the day clean-up, reflection sets-in.  As we're cleaning up our Kitchen of Life, putting away the measuring spoons, cutting boards, and knives and with the last bit of energy to muster, we've hauled out the trash -- it's with that almost casual look up to the stars you suddenly realize one more day has gone by, and again we have forgotten to, didn't get around to, ran out of steam, got too busy to ... remember our friends ...

Vacation: Military Family Style

I recently returned from a 2 week vacation with my kids at my in-laws... and no DH.  Before you gasp with horror - I actually LOVE my in-laws! 

DH has been TDY for about 6 weeks and I had a really strange sense of "feeling bad" that I was taking a vacation and he was not.  It wouldn't have been so bad, considering I do most of my traveling when he is gone (haven't figured out why yet), but this TDY has been beyond miserable for DH.  Things seem to be getting better for him lately, but the first month was really.... um..... crappy.

Mind-Blowing News

My husband is currently deployed, with six more months left on this deployment.  And he just informed me of his next deployment date.  Is that surreal or what?  I mean, we know he will get home around the end of the year and then now we already know when he will be leaving again.  And it's roughly a year from today. 

Sorry, we're new to this branch of the Army -- a branch that deploys for shorter times but frequently -- and this just blows my mind.  I knew it would be like this, theoretically, but it's strange to actually start living it.

Pop Evil Salutes Military Families: Calling all Lejeune and Bragg Spouses

Updated and bumped. Leigh was a great guest. You can listen to the archive of the show by clicking here.

Today we will feature a special edition of SpouseBUZZ Talk Radio at 2:00 p.m. EDT. We'll open up the chat room, too. Joining us will be Leigh Kakaty, lead singer of the rock band Pop Evil. We have a ton of things to talk with Leigh about, not the least of which is the band's support of our troops and their families. We'll talk about what they're trying and hoping to do for the troops....

Guess what Pop Evil is offering the SpouseBUZZ Talk Radio audience? A meet and greet with the band when they play at Sand Jam 2008 at Camp Lejeune on Saturday, August 2. Sand Jam 2008 is presented by Camp Lejeune's Single Marine Program.

The first military spouse or service member who calls into the show today will be given the opportunity to meet, chat with, get autographs from and take photos with the band at Sand Jam 2008! The caller who wins can bring a guest. *Transportation is not included, the winner must be able to get to Sand Jam and be willing to give name, email address and phone numbers of them and their guest in order to be cleared to meet the band. A valid military ID will be required.

And remember, if you're in the Ft. Bragg area, it's a fairly short drive from Fayetteville to Jacksonville....

Tune in today at 2:00 by clicking here.

Tonight on SpouseBUZZ Talk Radio!

We've got Nikki Fitness joining us tonight!  You really don't want to miss it!  How on EARTH am I supposed to keep working out and eating right during PCS and summer vacation season?  If this last week is any clue, I need a Nikki intervention...

Listen HERE! 9 pm Eastern tonight!

As always, our chat room will be hopping. 

On Mil-Spouse Conversations

I had the wonderful experience this week of a visit from the lovely and talented Sarah, and her dog Charlie. 

We had a few interesting events happen as Charlie, the 22 pound Tibetan Terrier, causing bodily harm to my 60 pound pit bull Ike.  Ike is now missing one toenail at the root.  And he also has the humiliation of knowing his butt was kicked by a Tibetan Terrier.

But the best part of Sarah's whole visit, to me, was when we got to talk some shop while waiting for Brad Thor to start his appearance and book signing (oh yeah - I got to meet him!  I was like a teenager waiting for High School Musical Live! to start).  Sarah and I spent the time talking about what our plans were if something ever happened to our husbands.

Big Girl Panties? Big Girl Bag!!!!

I lost my big girl panties a couple of weeks ago or maybe I threw them away.  In any event, I haven't been wearing them lately.

Today, I put them back on.  I dealt with an issue that had been bothering me for the past couple of days and then I went to breakfast with a good friend (Thanks, Norma!!  It was just what the doctor ordered!!)

And then I thought,"If I have to wear the big girl panties, I should upgrade my bag too!!"

Thank Goodness I have 2 ID's....

I was going rifling through my purse the other day, when I noted my driver's license would expire on my birthday.  This was actually pretty good timing as we have just transferred out of state, and I would need one anyway.

However, I realized I had 3 hours to do so.

Darn.

MTV Wants Your Stories: Digging Deeper

I have a theory on why the television series Army Wives is so popular, and it has nothing to do with the brilliant cast. Nine out of ten times, when I see a story on the news about military families, it goes something like this:

Reporter:

This is milspouse Suzie. Suzie's husband Scotty is about to leave for his third deployment. He wasn't home when his daughter was born. Scotty's son is three years old, but his father has only spent one short year out of those three with his son. Suzie knows it's going to be hard without Scotty. The family is trying to spend as much time together before Scotty leaves in September. Another good-bye.

Predictable.

“Websites for Heroes”

DoD Approves New Social Networking Website

Pentagon officials approved “Websites for Heroes,” a network-secure, password-protected website for Soldiers and families. The website allows families to post 2-hours of video, unlimited pictures, message boards, kids’ pages and interactive calendars. The website will enable troops to maintain communications with their families during deployments and other assignments. Previously, the DoD banned social networking sites, such as MySpace and YouTube, from their computers making daily interaction difficult for military families. “Websites for Heroes” is exempt from that ban and is accessible on DoD computers. Donations are accepted ($99 per year) for military families to access the site. So far, more than 1,300 military families have requested a website. For more information, go to http://www.websitesforheroes.com/.

Donations can be made from the general populous to help provide these sites for military families.  Sponsors are continually needed.  Military families can see the website FAQs here.

Have you signed up for this site?  Are you currently utilizing this site successfully?  Have you had any issues in signing up or using the site?  Let us know.

Did You Know?

President Signs Tax Relief Act 

New 2008 GI Bill Payment Rates 

How the New GI Bill Impacts You

Bill to Force Pre-deployment Counseling 

New Leave Carry-Over Policy 

DeCA Scholarship Kicks Off 

Preparing for Shipping Your Vehicle 

DoD Sets Enlistment Waiver Standards 

Web-Based Pay System Coming 

Space "A" a Great Way to Fly 

New Policy for Growing WTU Population 

Honor Flights to DC Memorials 

New Physical Disability Review Board 

PA Bill Encourages Buglers 

Dot-Mil-Docs Discuss the Hard Topics 

Ground Broken on New Walter Reed 

Study Links PTSD with Heart Disease 

Keep the Eternal Flame Alive 

Home Loans Fund for MA Vets 

Improve Your Academic Skills

Camps for Special Needs Children 

Tuition Help for Spouses 

Help for Military Children 

AAFES Back-to-School Essay Contest 

Gift Certificates from the Homefront

Helping Troops Call Home

It's Not a Marathon, But It Might As Well Be

Thank you, Liberal Army Wife.  At your site, I saw that the Marine Corps Marathon has a 10K Walk/Run.  I know that it isn't a marathon, but for weak kneed, way past a healthy weight me, it might as well be.  I've been feeling sorry for myself because it can be hard to exercise when you're the full-time grown-up on duty.  I was searching for some motivation and I think this might be it.  October 26 is more than three months away and I'm sure that I can get myself together by then.  So far, I've convinced my mom and my friend to join me, and I registered today. 

Anyone else want to join us?

Reality TV Worth Watching

On Sunday evenings, you'll find actresses playing Army wives, but on Wednesday evenings, there's a different kind of Army Wives programming. The kind that features a real Army wife showcasing her daily life as she works her way through a 15-month deployment.

An Emotional PCS Move

I've never really thought of a PCS move as emotional. Stressful? Yes. Oh, yes. But emotional, as in lots of tears? Not really. There is, of course, sadness associated with all the good-byes that come with a PCS move. But for me, the stress of a move tends to overshadow the sadness of saying good-bye to friends. PCS stress is like kudzu, it takes over everything and just chokes the life out of you.

But this move was different than all the others. I think I developed a permanent lump in my throat this time around.

Carrying Them Home

Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty had been missing in Iraq for more than a year when they were found three days ago. 

For more than a year now, their families have hoped and prayed for their safe return.   People all over the country (most never having met these two fine men) have hoped and prayed the same thing.  Their fellow soldiers, in addition to that, did not stop searching for them until they found them.

Now, their brothers and sisters tenderly, and with the utmost respect, prepare to carry them home.

These men served together, fought together, died together and are coming home together

Godspeed to Sgt. Jimenez and Pvt. Fouty.  Go rest high on that mountain.   

Your families will be in our thoughts and prayers as well the troops in Iraq who continue the mission that you sacrificed everything for.

A Heady Dose of Perspective

As I wrote in the post to my son, I theoretically understand that he's busy.  I really do.

To put in perspective just what "busy" means for a Marine, go here. 

Thanks, Major Pain, I needed that.  By the way, could you ask him to call  his mom?

Fit Club - Report In!

Fit Club posts are going to be a little late in the day for the next three weeks or so - summer Swim Team season has intervened with a vengeance. 

It just so happens that from 8:30 am until 11 am five days a week I am sitting by the pool watching my kids in my workout clothes (I go straight to the gym from the pool) with my hair in a hat, stinky (why take two showers within a four hour period?), and looking as completely un-sexy has humanly possible around a bunch of gorgeous fit people with glowing tans.

Talk about a motivator...

Wow, My Husband Just Lost His Mind

This weekend, I am taking a trip to visit some good friends I've made via SpouseBUZZ: Heather S and AirForceWife.  And AirForceFamily has some sort of Super Mega Secret Surprise cooked up for me on Tuesday.  I have no idea what it is, and my husband is the insanely curious type.  I was just telling him about this Surprise when he called me from Iraq, and we had this hilarious exchange:

Sarah: I have no idea what they have planned.
Husband: I wonder what it is.  You'll have to call me when you get home Tuesday night and tell me.
Sarah: Um, honey, I can't call you.
Husband:  Huh?  Oh yeah.
Sarah: (Uproarious laughter)

I'll call you, husband, as soon as you give me your phone number!

Happy Birthday, LCPL Dark Prince

My darling son,
Where you are, it's  your birthday and you've turned 22.  I don't know where the time went.  When did you get so "adult"?

On the Radio....

There will be no show tonight on SpouseBUZZ Talk Radio. Instead, we're giving you a twofer next week. On Tuesday, we'll be speaking with members of the band Pop Evil about their new album, working with USO favorite and troop supporter Kid Rock and, of course, their support for the troops. Tune in Tuesday evening by clicking here. For all you Camp LeJeune folks, Pop Evil is heading your way on August 2 as part of WXQR's Sand Jam. 

Next, on Thursday, our regular night for SBTR, airforcewife will welcome Nikki Fitness back to the show. I'm sure Nikki will be full of helpful tips on how to whip our bodies into shape.

A picture is worth a thousand words

In this day and age of digital photography and easily-affordable cameras, we ALL take pictures. Lots of pictures. I wonder if military families - in an effort to document lives that are often lived apart from extended family members - take more than the average family?

MacGyver has always been into photography. He loves cameras and has many of them. For Christmas, his parents gave US (and I had to remind him that they gave US) a Nikon D40. Up until that point, I had just been using a little Canon point-and-shoot digital camera. But now that I have the D40, I am looking to improve the quality of the photos I take. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on and scouring the 'net to dig up tutorials.

I'm also working on learning a little bit about Adobe's Photoshop but, for now, I prefer using the freeware program PhotoScape. It's been the easiest and most intuitive of the programs I've tried out.

So what kind of camera do you have? Are you working on learning more about how to use it and how to improve your photography skills? What photo editing program do you use?

But What Do I Do With a Boy?

My son has been exhibiting some new behavior lately.  It appears that he has reached that stage in his development where he is trying to figure out (aside from the physical differences) what is grown up "man" behavior and what is not.

And, since Air Force Guy is TDY for most of the rest of the year, I have been thrown into the enviable (insert sarcastic snort here) position of trying to facilitate this.

July 4th Review

It was supposed to be a bright, sunshiny day.  The kind that was filled with summertime potential, pools, laughter and hamburgers on the grill.  It was Ohio.....rainy, cold, dreary and depressing.  It was how my Fourth of July was destined to be.  So, we scraped the pool plans, grilled (but ate indoors) and planted ourselves in the front room with a good book!  Mine was an extraordinary book - "Final Salute - A Story of Unfinished Lives" by Jim Sheeler.  It's no wonder he received a Pulitzer!

Turns out it was a moving and emotional way to spend Independence Day....