Reminders

Those of you participating in the SpouseBUZZ Challenge need to get your pictures in for the August SpouseBUZZ Challenge. You can get the details here.

I've received several photos for our tattoo-off. Keep them coming. We'll post them soon.

SpouseBUZZ LIVE makes our final stop at Camp Pendleton on September 26. It's a free event and everyone walks away with an incredible gift bag full of information and giveaways. At this event, the first 500 attendees will receive a skin care kit worth $400 and military spouses will have a chance to win a diamond pendant courtesy of USAA. Not bad, huh?

A preview of SpouseBUZZ LIVE can be found here. You can click here to register for the event.

SpouseBUZZ LIVE is open to all military spouses, girlfriends and yes, you can bring your spouse to the event. We always have a several husbands in attendance and some of them have even taken the microphone. 

Reason #57 Why I am NOT a Marine (just married to one):

I don't like sweating.  As in the wet and dripping type of sweat.  Nope.  I don't enjoy it.  In fact, it grosses me out.  Now, I already knew this about myself.  But I confirmed it this morning. 

I started the Couch to 5K program this week in an effort to get in better shape.   I want to use some of that extra time I have now that both kids are in school to get more exercise.  The first 2 days I followed the program inside on a treadmill in our neighborhood clubhouse.  (And yes, I worked up a sweat, just not like today!)  When I found it wasn't open yet this morning, I decided to go ahead and do the workout outside despite the heat and mugginess. 

I knew it would suck.  About half or three-quarters of the way through the 30 minute walk/run workout, I wanted to die.  By the time I got back home and stretched, the sweat was pouring off me.  Ick.  Stretch laughed at me when I asked if you could be allergic to your own sweat.  (My chest started itching at some point and when scratched, I found it was covered in a sheen of sweat.  Ick.  Ick.  Ick.)

I also asked Stretch if he could just go ahead and shoot me to put me out of my misery.  For some wretched reason, the man refused and kept grinning at me (and probably inwardly laughing).

The End of an Era - Changing My Venn Diagram

Yesterday my 6 year old son told me something that nearly made my heart stop.

"Mom," he said.  "I think I want a normal haircut now."

Shhhhh. Be vewy, vewy kwiet.......

.....my Verbal Exchange Student is back in school.

*cue seasonal music*

I don't mean to be a problem child...

...really, I don't!    But I think I may be in HOA, um, H-E-double hockey sticks (trying to keep that G rating, folks!)

I may have mentioned that we currently live in Civilian Land.  Even worse, we live in a gated community.  It has an HOA, of course.  We had to renew our lease at the beginning of the summer which also meant renewing our transponders that get us in the gate without having to go through the guard.  Now, it seems that we have to re-register everything again next month because everyone has to do it then.  Apparently, they do this every two years.

This wouldn't be so bad, except I had to go and ask what we needed to do.  As I looked at the overly long list of required documents we have to bring to get this done, one requirement caught my eye.  We need to have valid driver's licenses with our current address. 

As often as we've moved, my driver's license has rarely had my current address on it.  To make matters worse, I had just gotten a license in our previous state less than a year before moving here last year.  We knew coming to this state that we'd only be here two years.  So I made sure that it wasn't required that either of us get a driver's license in this state.  (Some states don't require it of the service member but do require it of the spouse.)   I'm sorry, but there's no way I am spending the money  going to the effort of getting yet another driver's license when I still have years left on my currently valid license.  Especially since state law does not require it!    

When I told the woman to whom I was speaking in no uncertain terms that neither I nor my husband would be getting drivers' licenses in this state, she looked a bit taken aback.  She even said they weren't told what to do if someone refused to do something.  To her credit, she tried to find out if there was a military exception to the rule and then took my information to refer the question to someone on the board.  She probably didn't think it would be a good idea to give me the man's phone number when I asked for it.  And she might've been right.

At least THIS time, if I end up starting trouble, Stretch won't get called on the carpet with his boss...

This and That

Mocha Wifey hosts a vlog series on PCS moves. Brave girl!

Also found at Mocha Wifey's site, Dr. Oz is looking for military spouses who have lost a great deal of weight during a husband's deployment. Click here for details.

Got an iPhone? Got USAA? Your life just got easier. And check out the new MemberShop. If you don't have Paycheck Chronicles bookmarked, you're missing out on tons of advice and freebies. Who doesn't want a free Chick-fil-A?

I love, love, love my four-legged babies. And I love soldiers, too. This is awesome.

Troop-supporting band Smile Empty Soul has a new album, which can be purchased at the PX I'm told, and they are offering a free download on iTunes for all military members. Warning: Explicit. 

Smile Empty Soul would like to offer this free download as a way of thanking the proud men and women who serve our great country.  We appreciate your bravery, your commitment to our freedom and we keep you in our thoughts for a safe return home. 
 
This free download includes an acoustic performance of This Is War recorded exclusively for the military.  Additionally, we’ve included the new single Don’t Ever Leave from our brand new album Consciousness.  
 
We hope you enjoy our music as much as we respect the hard work you do for our great country.
 
God Bless You All,
Smile Empty Soul

And speaking of bands and appearances and free stuff, here's a chance for you and your family to be featured in a Queensryche music video, Home Again. This song is from their album, American Solider. 

You Show Me Yours and I'll Show You Mine

SGT Danger stopped by to say that he might do a Part II to his soldier tattoo post. Then, reader Basinah asked if they're showing theirs, should we show ours? I think that's a great idea. I'm tattoo-less but for the more brave milspouses out there, are you interested in showing us your tattoos and telling us what they represent?

If so, email your photos by clicking here, and don't forget to explain what they represent. If we get enough responses, I might challenge SGT Danger and his soldiers to a tattoo-off. The Great American Soldiers vs. Spouses Tattoo Challenge.

Please note that by emailing your photos, you agree to have them posted on SpouseBUZZ.

Why Does It Feel So Different?

My girls started school yesterday.  Not just a new school year, but they began their school year at an entirely new school.  The first grader showed only a moment's hesitation with the entire process.  The fifth grader, however, had more speed bumps.

I kept thinking, "This is so much harder with my husband deployed!  If only he were here, this would be so different!"

I realized as I walked from the school building after delivering each child safely to her respective classroom, that I have taken that walk alone, every year whether my husband were deployed or not.

Horror of Horrors

Well, first I disgrace the milspouse community with this little incident. Didn't think I could top that one, but imagine my horror when I took this PCS quiz and found out I'm "mostly" ready for a PCS move, not "totally" ready. I've been at this for quite some time now. I have many moves under my belt. Should be able to do this in my sleep by now. Ugh!

Lowers her head, turns off the light, slinks out of the room and goes back to bed.

Did You Know

Commissary Coupons
Tuition Aid for Spouses (MyCAA)
Case Lot Sales
Google Debuts New Free Service
AF Museum Launches Podcast Audio Tours
More Health Coverage in Alaska
Spouse Quick Hire Rule Beings in September
AF Launches Social Network Outreach
A Look At Alternative Therapies
"Family Matters" Blog Offers Support
Minnesota Pioneers Program

More Updates 

Air Force, We Need to Work on This

I've been trying to find a Cub Scout pack for my son, which is not as easy as it sounds when you home-school!  You tend to miss all the neat-o reminders and such that go home in backpacks from the classroom.

However, I think I may have found a pack; and because I believe in full disclosure I let them know by email that I would not be very available for volunteer time this year while Air Force Guy is deployed and that I understood totally if this was an issue (can't do these things without volunteers, after all!). 

Proving once again that it is a small Air Force, the person who emailed me back let me know that they understood our situation totally, as they were an Air Force family themselves.  Well, cool!  And I felt this urge, this urge to say something that would bring us together, something that denoted a shared experience and a sisterhood.  Something like "Oorah" or "Hooah".  Something... But there wasn't anything to say.  The Air Force does not seem to have a club house password, and it can be a bit awkward at times.

Well, that's not entirely true.  Air Force people seem to say "Outstanding" a lot.  It's just not the same thing, though.  I've seen my Army brother hold entire conversations with people using only facial expressions and the grunts of "Huh and Hooah."  "Outstanding" just does not have the same breadth of expression.

Air Force, we need to work on this.

Fit Club: The August Edition

I admit it, it is lame that I have only posted once this month.  I don't know where this summer has gone - it seems like just yesterday that the kids were getting out of school, and now they are starting again on Monday!

On a bright note, I've been sticking to the exercise and eating right routine and I'm seeing some results.  Oddly, most of my clothes still fit, but the scale is moving and I occasionally get a really positive comment.  At first, I was a little disappointed that I wasn't hearing more from people.  C'mon, folks, I've lost a decent chunk of weight - surely someone has noticed.  I'm starting to realize that this is a tough line for many people.  They don't want to be misconstrued if they say something, and possibly offend someone, but they don't want to not say something, either.  I'm not much help, for I tend to shrug off the compliments because I'm not so good at just saying, "Thank you."

Symbolism

Earlier this week, I found a soldier's blog post courtesy of Mrs. G, which I found interesting. SGT Danger posted photos of soldier tattoos and asked them what their tattoos represented. The post reminded me of a conversation I had with a good friend a couple of years ago. My friend got a tattoo when her husband was deployed and we were talking about radical changes that we sometimes make during a deployment or long separation (going from brunette to blonde, cutting our hair off, getting a tattoo, etc.). Not that tattoos are radical, mind you, but it's an interesting topic.

Here's what tattoos symbolize to the these soldiers (complete with great photos). Have you done anything that you wouldn't ordinarily do, radical or not, during a separation? If so, what did it symbolize?

Q & A Invitation

You can Ask The Chairman.  Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wants to hear from you.

Tonight on SpouseBUZZ Radio!

Tonight on SpouseBUZZ Radio we have a very special show - Dondi Scumaci, author of the books Designed for Success and Ready, Set, Grow!

Dondi writes and speaks about the issues that confront women in the workplace, and gives us solutions on how to turn those situations around to our best advantage.  And let's face it, for military spouses with the constant moves and uncertainty of our lifestyle, her advice is very timely!

In the beginning of Designed for Success, Dondi presents a checklist:

*  Sometimes I don't believe in myself enough - I second guess myself and look for permission and approval

*  I don't want to let anyone down, so I keep saying yes - even when I am overwhelmed to the point of panic

*  Sometimes I accept what isn't acceptable.  I say "It's fine," when it really isn't.

*  I have trouble asking for -or accepting- help.  I think I should be able to handle things on my own and I don't want to impose on others.

*  I'm burned out, stressed out, and overwhelmed.

*  Sometimes I feel like I'm being set up to fail.

*  Career plan?  Are you kidding?  Right now my plan is to get through this week.

See anything there that you recognize?  Then you definitely need to catch this show!  We'll be talking to Dondi Scumaci tonight at 8 PM Eastern on our SpouseBUZZ Radio show.  We'll also be taking call ins. And as usual, our chat room will be hopping!

The First Time

I was talking to a girlfriend of mine recently and she mentioned that she found out her husband would be deploying on his first combat tour (in 2004) through the grapevine. Apparently, her husband was TDY when the rotation schedule was announced. He was not happy that she heard about it from someone other than him. The conversation made me laugh in that slightly twisted way that military spouses sometimes do. The way that says, "Yep, I hear ya sista."

Every family is different and each service member has their preference for how they wish to deliver the news. My husband's hand was forced.

Did You Know?

August is Eye Health Month
Combat Veterans Sleep Research
Monitoring Swine Flu
Important DEERS Information
Marine Fitness Test Changes
Michael Yon Podcast
Navy Relocation Assistance Program
New Army Pre-K Program
New TRICARE Contracts Delayed
TRICARE to Lower Medication Prices
VFW Convention to Stream Live

More Updates

Go ahead, punk...

Recently, I was reminded of a fringe benefit to having my own personal Marine:

Book Review: The Sandbox

My husband is not a sharer.  He doesn't generally talk about his feelings and he rarely has chips to cash.  He doesn't have an ounce of blogger in him, no interest in all at writing for private or public.

So reading The Sandbox was a treat for me: it's a window into deployment and my husband's life.

Feedback Requested on Social Media/Networks

Here is a chance for everyone to have input (and possibly an impact) on policy.

DoD Seeks Your Input On Internet Policy

The Wheels on My Bus

School is starting again.  That means activities are starting again.  Which means I'm going to be a glorified chauffer again; particularly since Air Force Guy is deployed and I don't have emergency back up.  I am really not looking forward to this.

I cut my children's activities down to one sport and one activity each.  But there are three of them still at home, one of me, and oh-by-the-way don't forget CCD and the extras (like cookie booths and camping trips, swim and gymnastics meets) that go along with their activities.  So this year we have one in swim team (practice 4x a week), one in gymnastics (2x a week), one Junior Girl Scout, one Cadette Girl Scout, one Tiger Scout, and one mixed sport class (thankfully only once a week).  I couldn't get all the kids in CCD the same day of the week (because there was a time problem with Girl Scouts), and you can be guaranteed that there will be at least one trip to the hospital for a cracked head (a yearly event with one particularly active child of mine), some ear infections, and one of the dogs will find my secret chocolate stash and need an emergency trip to the vet after befouling my house. 

All of this leads me to the only conclusion possible in such an instance.  I need a wife of my own.  That way maybe we can also fit dinner, laundry, and house cleaning in there.

Deployment Humor, or Not.....

I was talking with a girlfriend and fellow Army Wife last week. We were stationed together two years ago and were just catching up on each other's lives. Her husband is currently deployed and she was filling me in on life at home without him, when R&R was coming, etc. 

My girlfriend began telling me about something funny that happened while the family was Skyping with Dad recently. After I got off the phone, I realized that what was funny to us as Army Wives wasn't what would have been funny to most any outsider who had heard the entire conversation.

During the build up to the "funny," my friend mentioned that her son had introduced his girlfriend to his dad via Skype, and I didn't think twice about it. That seemed perfectly normal and not at all funny or unusual. However, I'm willing to bet a civilian would have thought that was the funny and most interesting part of the story. But it wasn't.

Interesting lives we lead......

Federal Jobs for Spouses

Spouses get federal job boost next month

If I can fix a toilet, anyone can

The old dog is learning new tricks. 

Let me start by saying, I am not handy.  I call tools "thingys and dohickeys" and such.  So when things break around here, and DH is gone, and (I was raised by depression effected folks) I am to stubborn to pay someone $80 to show up at my house.  That is a phone bill, or 4 bags of groceries!

 I fixed the toilet  myself.  This time I actually videotaped it.  I was not intending on it, but my 7 year old son and I decided what the heck.

Mission completion

My mission for Summer 2009:  Survive almost 3 months of boiling heat with both kids at home all day, every day; without selling either child on e&ay.  Do so without going bankrupt.   

It is official, this house hates me

DH left again for a short TDY again. 

I resigned to the fact, and looked at the positives.  Less laundry, less food preparation, chick flicks, I convinced myself all was well. 

Until..

This and That

Free chocolate! Always a good thing......

Remember RedLegMeg's post about her dishonest moving company? Well, be sure to fill this survey out when you move. It'll help all of us.

The American Legion is conducting a Town Hall meeting at Ft. Knox, Kentucky for military families on August 23, complete with a parade. They want to hear about issues affecting military families and how they can help. 

Did You Know?

Autism Newsletters Available
Back to School at the Exchange
Cadre Handbooks for Spouses
Free Summer Concert Tickets
In-State Tuition
Active Duty Dental Updates
New Wounded Warrior Site
Special Needs Program

More Updates  

It's Never a Good Time, But do it Anyway

Today I read a story on the main page of military.com that made my heart clench and my stomach hurt - it was all about what happens when a service-member doesn't make their wishes, should the worst happen, perfectly clear.

The Challenge is Back: Is "E-Clutter" a Word?

Yes, the challenge is back after a little hiatus. Thank you for your patience. Seems it's a challenge to keep up with the challenge....

Roll up your sleeves, it's time to get to work. This month, we'll tackle electronic clutter, personal and professional paperwork.

Crossroad...

We are pretty well settled in to our new duty station.  Our PCS went rather smoothly, surprisingly enough, with a few hiccups along the way.  We were able to visit family and take our time getting here.  We have wonderful neighbors and there are lots of kids for our kids to play with.

My husband starts his military school tomorrow and the kids start school on Tuesday.  And I, well... I'm at a crossroad and can't decide what I want to do with my life while we are here for 10 months.

His Baby Is Just Like Him

I have discovered I have a unique way of staying connected to my husband while he's deployed: his baby is just like him.

I've had food aversion pretty bad with the beginning of this pregnancy, and this baby reminds me of my husband.  I am not normally a cranberry juice drinker, but that's all this baby craves.  And just like my husband, the baby is vehemently against tomatoes.

It's a very strange but cute way of getting little reminders of my husband while he's gone...

The Ugly Truth

This post has been riding with me for awhile.  I've rolled this around, considered not posting it, considered curbing some of the truths, and then became comfortable enough with the truth that I determined I could handle whatever comments people may want to lob my way. 

Next time I buy a wash machine, it better have a neck

Part one of this saga begins here.

The wash machine I so lovingly repaired and have cared for?

This morning, I poured bleach into the machine, and then hit the power button. 

Nothing...

Lean On Me

I have to admit it, I ultra-personalize my phone.  With all the moving and what-not, sometimes my phone is the only thing I get to truly reflect me on a semi-permanent basis.  I have ring tones, answer tones, phone bling...  During Air Force Guy's last deployment I used Bill Wither's "Ain't No Sunshine" as my answer tone, but figured that I should change that out when armywifetoddlermom told me for the fourth time that calling me was "very depressing" because she had to listen to that song while waiting for me to answer.

Point well taken.  Although I still love the song, I changed it.

SpouseBUZZ Heads to Camp Pendleton

Our third and final stop of the 2009 SpouseBUZZ LIVE tour will take us to sunny, southern California. We'll be at Camp Pendleton on September 26. This event, once reserved for Pendleton spouses only, has been opened to all milspouses, regardless of where you live. We were able to secure a larger venue on base, so there's plenty of room. San Diego spouses, come on down! For details on the event, and to register (it's free), click here. We hope to see a lot of you in September.

If you're wondering what these events are all about, here's a brief video clip taken at the Hill AFB event in May.

We're in the process of deciding 2010 tour dates/locations and wanted to remind you that we do accept requests to bring the program to military installations. Two of our three stops in 2009 were at the official invitation of the hosting installation. We've received two invitations for 2010 and we're happy to entertain all official requests, so if you want to see SpouseBUZZ LIVE at your installation, let us know.

Military Spouse Residency Relief Act

Seriously, what Military Spouse normally gives two seconds of thought to the Defense Authorization Bill?  Well..this year we may all want to pay a bit more attention.  Sen Richard Burr (R-NC) has sponsored the Spouse Residency Provision under legislation approved July 23 by the Senate.  This could have multiple benefits for all military spouses in everything from driver's license renewal, property ownership, voting rights, property privileges and income and property tax!

If Every Day is a Winding Road.....

then Friday was a Rattlesnake Canyon double switchback.

I woke up that morning thinking that I was going to enjoy having both twins and the Dark Prince home.  I was going to take the girls shopping for school stuff and then out to lunch. 

Life is what happens while you're making plans.

Thanks, Murphy

Here's another version of Murphy's Law for the milspouse:

When your husband has been deployed for three weeks with limited communications options so far, and he finally gets a computer and gets to IM for the first time of the deployment...your doorbell will ring and your phone will ring twice during his allotted 30 minutes of chatting.

And the phone will be someone important, like your OB nurse, so you will have to take the call and multitask.

Naturally, you've been sitting by the phone all day and haven't had anyone call you...until it matters.

Thanks a lot, Murphy.

New Paternity Leave Policy

Did you know that a new paternity leave policy allows married active duty service members up to 10 consecutive days of administrative leave after the birth of a child?  It was news to me.  Apparently the new policy was signed into law on Oct 14, 2008.  To say that not all of us are aware of this new policy is - I venture to guess - a gross understatement.

Did You Know?

Air Force Spouse of the Year Nominations
DoD Launches MWR Survey
Exchanges to Increase Gas Discount
Look Out For Degree Scams
New PTSD Treatment Available
New SAT/ACT PowerPrep for FREE

More Updates  

A Year Is A Long Time

Well, my husband is nearly half-way through his first year long deployment.  Being Navy, deployments are usually 6 or 7 months.  And it seems I like that, 'cuz all of the sudden this thing has gotten long.  Rreeaallyy long.  My heartiest amazement to those of you who have done this more than once.  I know that I'll make it through (I don't really have a choice, do I?) but golly, this looks a lot more than twice a "regular" deployment to me.  It's more like squared longer.

I'm not really sure what the point of this post is:  am I complaining?  am I helping other people to know that is is OK to be sick of a deployment?  am I applauding all of you who have done this over and over again?  I guess it is probably a combination of all three.  So, "Whaa!  It's OK!  You're Amazing!"

Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!

Having already established that my life is like "If You Give a Moose a Muffin," a new book has been added into the mix at our house.

Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!

Trust me, I'm not trying to get rid of my husband and I really would like to keep him home with us for a bit.  But if the last two deployments he went on busted the schedule by having him leave earlier than anticipated (and quite suddenly in the case of the first deployment), this one has tried to make up for that by continually setting his date to leave back.  This means several things...