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.

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.

Grab a Kleenex First......

If this doesn't cause you to break down in tears, I'm not sure what will.

The Way We Get By - Trailer from The Way We Get By on Vimeo.

The blog is here. 

More information here.

Thank you, Maine troop greeters. You'll probably never know just how much you are appreciated.

From Combat Boots to High Heels: Raquel Riley's "Got the Look"

Tonight at 9pm EST, the second season of TV Land's, She's Got the Look will debut. She's Got the Look is a "model competition for women over 35." This season, the military community has someone to cheer for. Raquel Riley, a former Army Captain, was chosen as a finalist. 

Raquel Riley of Clinton, MD is a former officer of the US Military and a top ten finalist on, "She's Got the Look," premiering June 11th at 9pm EST on TV Land. Riley ditches her combat boots for heels and struts her stuff down the runway in this 35 and over reality modeling competition that searches for the next face of the fashion industry. 

35 Year-old Raquel takes her discipline and athleticism from Captain to the catwalk with an undeniably motivated and confident attitude and the support of her husband and three kids.

Click here to see Raquel's screen test (she's featured in the third video).

Next Thursday, at 8pm EST, SpouseBUZZ will talk with Raquel about being a finalist on the show, and about her time in the Army. Stay turned for more information on how to listen to the show, and how you can call in and speak with Raquel. 

More background below:

Army Wives: Season Three Starts Sunday

Season Two of Army Wives had just begun when my husband and I started our PCS move. I was only able to watch a couple of episodes before we left on our journey across the country. There was no way to DVR the episodes while on the road, so I missed two episodes, and when I finally moved into the new house, I was so busy with unpacking and setting up that I had to DVR the rest of the season, and our weekly threads imploded. 

Brothers At War

Last night I was lucky enough to live in one of the cities in which the new movie Brothers At War premiered.  My husband and I showed up early and got to witness the red carpet event with director Jake Rademacher, his brothers from the movie, and Gary Sinise.

When I saw the trailer two weeks ago, I groaned.  I feared another Hollywood movie that made soldiers look like dupes and sadists.  But later when I saw that Soldiers' Angels was backing the movie, I told my husband that it had the seal of approval and that we ought to go see it.

I thought it was such a good movie.  It was laugh-out-loud funny in parts, sad in other parts, and above all it was real.  My husband said he could relate to the scenes with the soldiers, the scenes with the Iraqis, and most things in between.  And after the showing, when we had a Q&A session, the director said that if any war stories get told, they're the big battles or the major tragedies.  Instead, he wanted to show regular old soldiers just doing their job, not on the most exciting day, not on the most frightening day, but just on all those days in between.  I think he did a wonderful job, and his family has really opened their life up to America to show what we military families go through year in and year out.

If this movie comes anywhere near you, I recommend going to see it.

A Touching Dedication

I received an email from my FRG this morning and was surprised to find a link to a great song (and video) that is dedicated to, and aptly titled, The Military Wife.  I was even more surprised when I realized it was a song by Soldier Hard, a To The Fallen Records artist that was featured on SpouseBUZZ Talk Radio back in Sept. 2008.   

The song was played during the show, but for those of you that missed it or would like to hear it again, you can listen right now.  There's even a link where you can access a free download of the song.

Enjoy!

What's On Your Shelf?

I have family visiting right now - two weeks worth of visit.  We haven't seen my 93 year old grandmother for about two years, so it's a welcome visit, although the normal stresses of doubling the number of people in a house and three adult women in the kitchen apply.

And as usually happens when people visit, our discussion turns to the books that are on the shelves covering at least two walls in every room of my house.  The discussions that arise are markedly different depending upon whether our visitors are military or civilian, and my Grandmother's experience as an Army spouse during WWII was quite a long time ago.

This leads to strange comments like, "Oh!  I see you have two of Iris Chang's books!  She was so marvelous.  It's just awful what happened to her.  And what is this?  You Can Fight Tanks With Bayonets.  That's... interesting. Hm.  And Militant Tricks?  I haven't seen that title.  Very interesting bookshelf."

Bust-A-Move: It's Time to Topple the Air Force!

Remember our Service Wars Bust-A-Move contest? The first round went, hands down, to the Air Force. This Army wife is very, very disappointed to find that once again, the Air Force dudes are showcasing some moves, humor and creativity and so far, to her knowledge, her beloved Army is not even in the game.

It's downright embarrassing to be upstaged by the Air Force. Heh...

Time for another Service War contest. If you find good video from any branch, send it to me and we'll host another Service Wars: Bust-A-Move Edition. Now, If you'll excuse me, I'm outta here in search of some cool Army video because the Air Force MUST be stopped....

Thanks to DT for the link.

Army Wives: For General Discussion

I've been traveling and otherwise occupied for the last four weeks. Ugh! That means that I have four episodes - four - of Army Wives to catch up on before the new episode airs on Sunday. Sorry for the slow down in the discussion threads this season, it's been a bit crazy around here.

So, for now, I'll open this thread for general discussion about Army Wives and the last few episodes. Feel free to chime in about the overall direction of the show, or specific episodes. All in all, are you happy with season two and how would you compare it to the first season?

I probably won't read the thread until I catch up on the back episodes over the weekend (don't want to read any spoilers), but talk amongst yourselves....

Museum Day 2008

Looking for something fun and frugal to do this weekend?  Saturday, September 28 is Museum Day 2008.  Museums across the country are offering free admission for Saturday only (Sunday if they're closed on Saturdays.)  I've looked through the list and I have found several museums in my area that I would like to visit.  There are museums near almost every large military base, as well.

For more information or a complete list of museums, visit Museum Day 2008.

Cross Posted at The Paycheck Chronicles.

That's My Normal

Andi mentioned at SpouseBUZZ Live over the weekend how one person's weird is another person's normal.  Her example was how she does laundry immediately after her husband deploys, in contrast to the many wives who seem to hang on to those stinky shirts as long as they can.  I came across an example of this weird/normal dichotomy in my own life recently.

Fellow milspouse Sis B called me two weekends ago and asked what I was doing.  I told her I was watching Band of Brothers.  She litterally gasped out loud and asked me how on earth I could stomach it while my husband is deployed.  Her weird, my normal.  I said that the only time I get to watch military-themed shows and movies is when my husband is gone, because when he's home he nitpicks the stuff to death: this beret is crooked, NCOs don't talk like that, etc.  The last time he was deployed, I finally got to sit down and watch Black Hawk Down and We Were Soldiers.  I peacefully enjoyed Patton, The Big Red One, The Longest Day, and Band of Brothers.  And I decided to watch Band of Brothers again this time around, for old time's sake.  I like to watch military movies while my husband is gone; somehow it makes me feel connected to the mission and to my husband's life.  That's my normal.

Do you have anything you do that is weird for your friends but normal for you?

Army Wives Season 2 Episode 12

This week's Army Wives was about communication.  Or the lack thereof.

Army Wives Discussion Thread: Back in Business

Okay, like I said a few days ago, we're back in the game, so let's hit it.

First of all, I'm receiving a lot of comments and email from those of you who feel the military themes are being pushed into the background this season, and that many of the situations are ones that could occur on any drama or soap opera. I have to admit, I haven't really noticed this because whether or not they play the military angle up, I automatically read that angle into every situation. But after viewing the last Army Wives episode, I realized they missed at least one opportunity.

 

Army Wives: Some News and the Return of the Discussion Threads

Many SpouseBUZZ readers (especially Angie and Heather) have been after me to revive our weekly Army Wives discussion threads. I apologize that we haven't opened one in a while. The PCS move, and then some subsequent travel, threw me for a loop.

I've got two news items related to Army Wives to share with you, and then we'll do a mini round-up and resume our more comprehensive threads next week, after tonight's episode.

For the news....

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.

*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?

Army Wives Recap

Did you cry last night?  I mean, I don't cry.  But let's just say that theoretically I could have cried at last night's Army Wives episode.

That returning MIA funeral at the end?  It did me right in.

But that wasn't all that happened this episode...

Army Wives Discussion Thread

You all are going to laugh at me for this - I totally know you are.

I missed Army Wives last night.  And I didn't just miss Army Wives, I missed Army Wives by alternately nodding off and being distracted and semi-conscious from a week of barfy kids and a weekend of "Hey!  Let's give Mom a virus!  I'll bet she'll LOVE that!"

Okay - the good, the bad, the ridiculous... You guys tell me, PLEASE!  How was it?  And don't worry about spoilers, either.  I always read the last chapter of the book first.

Previous Season Two Threads:

Season Two Premiere

Episode Two

Army Wives Discussion Thread: Season Two, Episode Two

Time to dissect episode two, so let's jump right in...

I found it ironic that when Chase unexpectedly returned home, Pamela chose to keep her distance from him for a while, because we were just discussing this very thing (emotional distance) on SpouseBUZZ before the show aired last night. Pamela had gone through a traumatic experience with the bombing at the Hump Bar, and she didn't have a way to contact Chase, so she did what we all do in a similar situation, she dealt with it alone.

Clearly Pamela realized two things; she can go it alone if she has to, but at the same time, she is beginning to realize how frustrating the secret nature of Chase's fairly new job is going to be. Pamela said to Chase, "I needed you then and I couldn't even call you." But, turnabout is fair play, and when Chase told Pamela that he was informed that her van was at the scene, the shoe was on the other foot.

Army Wives Season Two Premiere: Discussion Thread

The Army Wives are back. Katherine mentioned that the premiere would be riveting, and she was right, especially the last two minutes. We'll resume our weekly Army Wives discussion threads here at SpouseBUZZ. You'll be able to weigh in right here every Monday. We look forward to reading your reaction to each episode. Our season one discussion threads were interesting, partly because of the varied reactions to each episode.

So, let's get started....