Being A Military Wife Is....

Recently, I read a great post entitled "Being Poor Is..." You can find it here: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2005/09/03/being-poor/ and while I can't say that I related to everything, there were quite a few that hit home. I was inspired to write this post based on that.

Being a military wife is long stretches of crushing loneliness enhanced with fear and worry.

Being a military wife is being an atheist, yet repeating over and over in your mind constantly while he is gone "pleasepleaseplease just let him come home to me...pleasepleaseplease just let him come home to me..."

Being a military wife is never losing hope.

Being a military wife is getting angry when politicians don't keep their promises.

Being a military wife is actually believing politician's promises...even if just for a moment.

Being a military wife is crossing your fingers, eyes, toes and holding your breath on those days he takes the test...but being positive and saying "Don't worry, honey, you'll get it next time." when he doesn't make rank.

Being a military wife is gracefully putting up with those jokes about how military wives sleep around on their husbands while they are gone away, even though you want to scream every time you hear one.

Being a military wife is knowing that "those" military wives DO exist and using every single bit of strength and resolve within you to not punch them in the face.

Being a military wife is gracefully putting up with "a girl in every port" jokes about your husband's job, even though you want to scream every time you hear one because you do not want your husband disrespected in that way.

Being a military wife is having a best friend (who is also a military wife) who has a husband who IS that guy with a girl in every port and using every single bit of strength and resolve within you to not punch HIM in the face.

Being a military wife is years of ramen noodles and koolaid until he makes decent rank because diapers are expensive and thank goodness there is WIC for formula because you are too damn proud to ask your family to help you with anything.

Being a military wife is your children being [mis]diagnosed by school employees as being "depressed" or having "anxiety" and explaining until you are blue in the face that they do NOT need medication (you've already brought them to see someone to talk about their feelings with, anyway who has made it clear that they are fine), they are just bummed and scared because their father had to go away to war...AGAIN.

Being a military wife is putting up with false pity from friends, relatives, AND the general public and HATING every single second of it.

Being a military wife is learning to sew patches and ironing the way his higher-ups expect it to be done...and being patient when he freaks out if it's not absolutely 100% correct because you know it's not YOU, it's the crap he'll have to put up with at work if it's not 100% correct that is upsetting him.

Being a military wife is giving up and taking it to the tailor on base.

Being a military wife is listening to people tell you how lucky you are that you "get" to shop at the commissary for groceries, when you actually found a MUCH cheaper place out in town.

Being a military wife is being thankful and grateful to live in military housing...even though the walls are paper thin so you get to hear the neighbors fighting (or worse, having sex) and their children crying and running across the floor...at all hours of the night and day and there's always something that needs to be fixed.

Being a military wife is encouraging your young son to follow his dream of being a Marine, while in your mind SCREAMING "OH PLEASE DEAR GOD NO JUST GO TO COLLEGE!!!"

Being a military wife is being proud to be a stay at home mom because the children already have to put up with their father going away, you couldn't possibly take that job and leave them with someone you barely know to care for them just so you can have silly things like new clothes.

Being a military wife is reading blogs/articles/news stories/books/etc. written by men who don't have the courage of a grasshopper, glorifying and/or stereotyping service members and clicking out before you leave that lengthy comment telling them that they have NO idea what they are talking about and to please just STOP saying those things and perpetuating stereotypes.

Being a military wife is laughing your head off with your husband as he tells you about the jokes that he and everyone at his job spend all day making about the ridiculousness that is Fox News.

Being a military wife is starting over every 3 -4 years.

Being a military wife is hearing your strong one, your rock, shatter into little pieces on the phone in the middle of a war zone because he misses you and the children SO much and then wishing you had a special flying machine to take you there RIGHT NOW, this very second, to hold him as you tell him everything will be just fine, don't worry, you will get through it and be home with us soon.

Being a military wife is talking a million miles a minute when he does get the chance to call because you have a billion things to tell him and very little time to do it...and having a little piece of your heart die when you hear the click of the phone going out and wondering when he'll get another chance to call....IF he gets another chance to call.

Being a military wife is trying to explain to people why it's hard to fall asleep in your own bed with the man you've known since you were 15 years old and been married to for almost twelve years because you are SO used to him being GONE and sleeping alone that it actually feels ODD not sleeping alone and having them not understand that at all.

Being a military wife is knowing exactly what "community" means and why it is so very important.

Being a military wife is floating checks until the 1st or the 15th.

Being a military wife is knowing what it is like to live like a single mom even though you are married.

Being a military wife is missing your family, friends, and your hometown so much sometimes it hurts.

Being a military wife is thinking you just might faint as you see his ship pull into port because he is FINALLY, finally home.

Being a military wife is obsessing over a new outfit, your hair, your skin, your nails, etc so you look PERFECT when he does come home...and laughing when he doesn't even notice and says that he appreciates it but you could wear a potato sack and it wouldn't matter because he's just SO happy to see you.

Being a military wife is time somehow speeding up while he is on shore duty, yet going by agonizingly slow while he is on sea duty.

Being a military wife is thinking the day you get your taxes back is Christmas.

Being a military wife is finding out that one of the guys you had over just last weekend for a bar-b-que, died in the field.

Being a military wife is watching that friend's wife and family fall apart.

Being a military wife is finding out that one of your husband's friends was injured out in the field and is having a hard time receiving the benefits he is entitled to and crying so hard for them and everything that they have to go through that you throw up.

Being a military wife is realizing just how proud of someone you can be.

Being a military wife is finding so much joy in simple things like holding hands with your husband on the couch while watching a movie.

Being a military wife is appreciating every single tiny thing that you have.

Being a military wife is being poor monetarily but rich beyond most people's imagination in love.

Being a military wife is never what I planned or expected to be, but everything that I am.

Jim Morrison Was Right

The West IS the best.

I'm not so sure about the whole take a lot of drugs, move to France, and die in a bathtub thing but on his statement attesting to the awesomeness of the western part of America, yeah...I can agree.

What an AMAZING trip!



We started out by driving hours upon hours from here in Texas all the way to Tennessee (half way mark between us and family) to drop the kids off with my sister-in-law so they could spend time with the family up in Massachusetts for the summer.

I'm so glad they are able to spend time with them. I was worried that with us being so far away from everyone back east, we wouldn't see family again until we move back...IF we get to move back. They are having a blast this summer and that makes me happy!

We spent the night and the next morning, we were off!

Once we hit New Mexico, I started to get really excited.

We had been to Roswell previously but as we got farther and farther west, we saw more of the beauty in that state than Roswell even hinted to. We stopped and spent the night in Albuquerque, and while I didn't think either of us would sleep well because of the excitement, we were EXHAUSTED by the time we got there and slept like babies! Bright and early, we were up and on our way, again.

Our first stop was the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Park in Holbrook, AZ.

It was breathtaking!



I didn't even know colors like that even existed in nature!



We took the entire tour of the park and took about a gazillion pictures!



If you ever get the chance to visit this, definitely do it!

From there, we were on to Vegas.

Isn't it funny how when you are excited about going somewhere, the trip seems to take forever?

Well, maybe not so much funny ha-ha as it is by the time we were on the last stretch I was just about delirious funny what with all of the anticipation and gorgeous scenery swirling around me.

Who knew the desert could be so fascinating?

We finally get to the Excalibur and of course, are immediately pounced upon by people wanting us to take one of the days we're there and spend it at a timeshare.

Everyone is SO excited to sell you something in Vegas, at least THAT hasn't changed in the 8 years since I had last been. I couldn't believe how much HAD changed, though.

Ahhh, capitalism.



It can be a beautiful thing...especially when you win a crazy ridiculous amount of money playing PENNY SLOTS.

Yes. I was a big winner. Happy birthday to me!



We visited all of the hotels and casinos on the strip and by the end of the day we thought our legs were going to fall off.

There's a lot of walking in Vegas...but it's worth it.



Our last day there, we decided to head out to Red Rock Canyon.



Chris was a little disappointed that we didn't see any donkeys or mountain goats, but the gorgeous landscape alone was enough to satisfy even his crankiness.

It was a beautiful day and enjoyed ourselves very much.

Sadly, we had to leave Sin City and all of the lights and noise and make our way home.

We decided to stop in Fort Sumner, NM on the way home and see the Billy The Kid Museum.



Not only did they have a fantastic history of Billy the Kid and the west, there were lots of antiques, oddities, and things from the past on display.





It was definitely interesting to see and I'm glad we decided to take a detour down historic Route 66 to check it out!

I've been home a few days now and am still letting everything I saw and experienced settle in. It was incredible to travel all of that way and see all of these things that I had only read about in books before.

I feel very lucky to have been able to do that and even more so that I was able to do it with my very best friend in the universe right by my side.

It truly was the best birthday EVER!

100

It's my 100th blog!



I've seen people post "party" blogs to celebrate such things. I've also seen people fly right by their 100th blog without a mention at all.

On other blogging platforms, I have not mentioned nor thought much of it regarding myself.

Why is it different now?

When I decided to bring my voice to the entire inturdweb, it was huge decision for me.

Colossal.

Monumental.

Epic, even.

In other words, I fought a mini-battle in my mind as to whether or not I really wanted to put my thoughts on everything from infomercials to abortion out into the open for all to see.

I didn't think I had the strength or courage for it.

One hundred blogs later, I can't believe I actually had to think twice about it.

So, yes, today I am celebrating. I am celebrating that I fought that mini war within myself and won.

In honor of my little milestone, I decided that I would list my favorite blogs out the hundred for you to revisit or visit for the first time. These have special meaning to me, were fun to write, had great comments, or I just like them.

And, we're off...

1. I'm Not Going To Myrtle Beach, There's A Hurricane Blowing Through It!

2. Check Out My Gravel Pit

3. Shove It, Cinderelly

4. Your Label Won't Stick On Me

5. Stop This Day

6. In A Summer Bedroom

7. This Is What Boredom Causes

8. Sometimes I Dream

9. Snarkety-Snark

10. According To Google, I'm A Pornstar

I hope you enjoy them as well! Thank you for reading ♥

Will You Smile Again?

What is my favorite song this week?

Will You Smile Again? by ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead



♥

The Passion Of The Zygote

Justification and Hypocrisy.

I've been thinking A LOT about those two words, lately.

For example, sometimes I feel that I live a very hypocritical life in that I scream from the rooftops about the necessity of equal rights for women, yet for all intents and purposes, I am a stay-at-home Mommy.

I justify this by pointing out that even though it was difficult, I did go to college when my children were young, I worked as a paralegal (and other various jobs) for many years, and I vote, not only in national elections but local elections every chance I get. I may be a SAHM now, but I am not by any means, a stereotypical one.

I see the hypocrisy but I raise you, some justification.

I do what works for my family, yet my convictions are rock solid.

Another example, pointed out by my friend in his blog you can find here: http://thewriterswashroom.blogspot.com/2009/06/members.html is that I am an "improperly proper political lefty - a military wife." I like this description because I have come up against much opposition and misunderstanding when it comes to my political views and being married to a sailor, to which, I respond: It is a stereotype that all people who support the military and the troops are Republicans or affiliated with the right wing. People on both sides of the fence automatically assume that both my husband and I are Republicans. I am most definitely a Democrat after many years of being an Independent (I switched over to the Democratic party to vote for Barrack Obama in the primaries) and my husband is a left-leaning Libertarian who voted for Obama in this past election.

The so called hypocrisy would be that supposedly the right has the military's best interest at heart yet we stay as FAR away from the right as possible because the justification is that we want what is best for THE COUNTRY not just the people who defend it.

In short, I see how hypocrisy and justification can come into play in many areas of my own life and how it can come to be when standing up for principles.

HOWEVER.

What has put it into the forefront of my mind the most, lately, is the hypocrisy and justification of murdering (in a CHURCH, no less) a doctor who performs abortions because they are murder...

Dr. George Tiller's Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tiller

I see all kinds of hypocrisy going on about this case, yet I see absolutely ZERO justification for it.

I see it as nothing less than domestic terrorism.

These same people, who are described as god-fearing, USA loving and terrorist hating, moral, upstanding citizens are committing acts of terrorism and murder upon their own countrymen and violating law.

That's hypocrisy.

Their justification for this is that "murder is wrong" and they are fighting back against moral corruption they witness in their nation by, in effect, MURDER.

It just doesn't make sense to me.

You see, no matter what your convictions, morals, or values are in this free society, it is exactly that...a FREE society. While you may not agree with some of the things that transpire in said society, it is NOT up to you to resort to murder and terrorism to "make it right."

That is when you cross the imaginary line of what is sane and what is not sane.

Sane would be voicing your opposition to something that you do not agree with. Insane would be blowing up abortion clinics or shooting abortion doctors in a church to prove a point.

So, I have been trying to understand the logic behind this thinking process but I don't think I will ever find it.

Hypocrisy and Justification.

That's the only thing I am able to see.



Your thoughts?