New Article: Ups and Downs of Military Towns

Note: Rhyme Scheme totally unintentional.

My latest article is up on SpouzeBUZZ.com! Check it out and let me know what your view is!

The Ups and Downs of Moving to a Military Town

Are you in the ups? Downs? Do you wish you did/didn't live in a military town?

Bugging Out

If you follow me on facebook you already know the bugs down here in the South are killing me. We had bugs in DC and in New Jersey... hell some people say NJ mosquitos are nuclear/radio active and the size of hummingbirds. Bugs are important to an ecosystem and everywhere and I get it, ok? But right now I am just getting a little annoyed... bugged if you will.

When we moved in my husband sprayed our house with Spectracide on the inside and out. Our house was vacant for six plus months, it was desperately needed. Inside we have been ok up until yesterday. We were enjoying a nice bottle of wine in the backyard, our ankles and feet covered in bug spray, and we were still getting bit. Once again I covered myself in deep woods Off. I, at the present time, have twenty nine mosquito bites in varios stages from that's gonna scar to I got this six hours ago. They LOVE me. So after killing brain cells from the fumes of bug spray I go inside to use the bathroom.

As I am finishing up I see a tiny spider. Now I am not freaked by spiders normally, and this one was very tiny. But then I start to look. In the shower there are about twenty spiders forming a web. The shelf above the toilet had about ten more. All the corners of the ceilings were in various stages of web production. Mind you my husband was showering in said bathroom less than two hours ago! I think he would have mentioned this. Now, like previously stated, spiders don't freak me out that much. That many spiders freaked me out.

My poor husband had to come in and start squishing. He couldn't find the source so he emptied our stuff from the bathroom and made a bleach/ammonia bomb and turned on the fan, sealing the room off. Luckily it killed most of them. I squished a few more when I went to shower but have not seen any since.

Have I mentioned the beetles? The ones the size of baseballs that fly into our siding and I can hear them bouncing from inside the house?

And the mosquitos. I hate the little black and white striped monsters that love my blood. I was getting gas on base last week and I got bit on the face at the pump!

Yea, not the best picture but a woman at the check out asked me, "Oh dear, what happened to your face??" That makes me feel better :P

And I didn't even mention this guy yet.

Luckily he was not poisonous, but I didn't want Rylie out back for awhile after I found it since I wasn't sure. Turns out it is the harmless kind that eats slugs or whatever, but we thought for a bit that it was a baby copperhead. Glad we were wrong!

Our house juts up to a block of woods. I mean literally, a block. It goes for maybe five hundred feet and then there is a street and a Kia dealership. I hear them over the loudspeaker some mornings. The woods may be adding to it, we rarely get bit in the front, it is usually out back, but man I am tired of it. And it is only June! I want to enjoy my backyard darnit, and not bathe in bug spray to do so.

Yes, "Welcome to the South". I've heard it from about twenty different people..... still not a fan.

Destruct-O-Pup

Sorry, I have definitely had a bit of a blogging slump lately! I guess I need to make my life more exciting so I can have something to blog about ;)

Recently Rylie girl has been very destructive. As I type this she is at my feet with half a kong toy in her mouth. Yes, half. The other half she ripped off and I had to take away from her before she swallowed it. Every toy she has is officially ripped to shreds. Her duck collection (stuffed) is in tatters. Her rope toys? Untied and strings are all over the house. Her stuffed puppy she has had since she was little? Headless. The blanket that week keep on top of her crate? Full of holes since she figured out how to pull it in to the crate with her.

If she wants to destroy her things, fine. I am ok with that... but recently she moved to our stuff. In the past month she has destroyed:

- The wall by the front door
- The molding around the front door
- The door stop and molding on the floor
- One pillow Ryan made in home ec in middle school (that was falling apart anyway.. don't tell the husband but I don't really miss that pillow!)
- The couch cushion. That we sit on. Tore it open! I had to flip it to the stained side :(
- One decorative couch pillow (THAT I miss)

- One Sperry, that would be Ryan's. Shredded. $80 shoes, ruined.
- A picture that one of Ryan's Marines drew for him in 29 Palms. It was an extremely meaningful picture we wanted to laser cut into wood and hang over the bed. He left the spare room door open one morning and she climbed up on the dresser and got it

- A return form I wanted to use to send a dress back. Stuck with it now!
- Our old dining room chairs that are now outdoor chairs. Especially since Rylie gnawed the corners off all fo them
- One cushion from said chairs... I am still finding stuffing in the grass
- Pieces of our fence are gnawed
- Holes in the back yard
- Rocks all over the place because she likes to chew them no matter how many times I yell at her

She used to do so well.... and then suddenly went down hill. We could leave her at home for a few hours and she would be out and fine. It usually happened the times I was gone maybe an hour at most I'd get home to a mess. I feel bad, but we now crate her at night and every time we leave the house. She is more destructive now at 8 months old than when she was teething! Or when she had that blasted cone on her head from being fixed.

I have her in my sight constantly when I am home, I just do not trust this pup. I am working on it, but man she is driving me nuts!

How did my little innocent pup go from this....

To this!?

 Destruct-O-Pup, you'd better behave if you want free reign of the house again!!!

Adoption Fundraiser for a Fellow Milspouse

One of my favorite bloggers Ashley from Celebrating Wife as an Army Life contacted me recently for some help. She and her husband Pat are currently in the process of trying to adopt a baby. Ashley battled cancer as a teen which hurt her fertility. This is something both Ashley and Pat were aware of when trying to conceive and after a year of fertility treatments they decided to try for adoption. As I am sure some of you know adoption is not a cheap process. Besides paying the agency there are lots of other fees ranging from classes to home studies that need to be paid for.

The home study is currently something that has become a bit of a speed bump for them. They have hosted a scentsy party in the past to try and raise money and this time they came up with a unique idea I'd like to share with you all. In Ashley's own words:

"It's a puzzle fundraiser! Each puzzle piece is $5. The idea is you purchase a puzzle piece and then we write your name on the back of it. We frame the finished product and hang in our future nursery. :) That way we always have a reminder of the amazing people who helped piece our adoption together. We thought this was such a cute idea and something we can keep forever! We purchased the puzzle and figured we could take status pictures to reveal what the picture is. Keep everyone in suspense!"

I think it is a fabulous idea and I sent in my donation already! If you would like to donate to this wondeful couple you can donate to their Gofundme page: http://www.gofundme.com/ktfgw. Each puzzle piece is $5, a small price to help an amazing military couple become parents. To follow their story feel free to read their adoption blog: http://thegollaschsadoption.blogspot.com/



Ashley, I wish you and your husband the best of luck! I cannot wait to see where this journey takes you!!!

SERVICE: A Navy SEAL at War - Review

A few weeks ago I was contacted to do my first book review. I am a huge reader, but generally I tend to stick to fiction. So when I was asked to review SERVICE: A Navy SEAL at War I was a little hesitant, but I agreed. I am so glad I did. Marcus Luttrell, with James D. Hornfischer, returns to tell his own extraordinary war stories and those of others who have chosen to serve. His first book (Lone Survivor) is now definitely on my to read list! Some of the summaries below are taken from the email sent to me from the publishing company so you can see in detail what the book entails.

Marcus Luttrell became a combat-trained Navy SEAL in 2002 and served in many dangerous special operations assignments around the world. He was deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2005. He was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism in 2006 by President George W. Bush, and received his discharge from the Navy in June 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.marcusluttrell.com/.

After nursing his mind and body back to health, Luttrell returned to war. The book deals with his recuperation, training and redeployment. You meet the SEALs he served with, the ones by his side and the ones who were an intregal part if his rescue the year before.

Reading about missions in Afghanistan was both fascinating and difficult for me. Seeing what these men (and women) dealt with on a daily basis is something I haven't heard much in detail. As most spouses know our significant others are sometimes hesitant to share the gritty details of war with us once they return home. This book provided me with insight that I had only light detailing of previously. The missions his team encountered, the casualties and the fatalaties, painted a vivid picture in my head on the experience these men experienced.

Luttrell reaches a point where his body cannot continue as it had been. Years of being a SEAL and previous combat injuries stop him from going out on missions with SEAL Team 5. He begins to work behind the wire helping oversee the difficult task of mission planning and implementation.

Luttrell also shares stories of brave warriors who served with him all over the world, including:

· The legendary SEAL master chief who showed him how America’s greatest warriors must put their lives on the line for a mission larger than themselves

· The Afghani tribesman who gave him shelter when his hopes were dimming on a distant mountain—and traveled to America five years later to deliver a powerful message

· The dedicated Air Force pilots who took part in the epic combat search-and-rescue mission to find his teammates in Afghanistan, searching relentlessly night after night until the last sliver of hope disappeared

· The ex-Mormon missionary and his five-man team who flew a helicopter on the impossible midnight rescue mission to take Luttrell off that mountain

· The SEAL senior chief petty officer who helped Luttrell kill the stigma of being the lone survivor

· The decorated 89-year-old Marine Corps veteran whose example of peace and grace helped Luttrell get past his conviction he wouldn’t see age 40, and past his regrets after going through the crucible of close combat

Returning home and leaving military life, Luttrell began a quest to understand why a rare few choose to risk their lives to serve their country. Now married and a father, Luttrell also looks at the women who marry SEALs. The book features four women who discuss in their own words the challenges and rewards of being married to a serviceman. Those chapters were some of the hardest to read, two of the stories featuring SEAL widows. I had tears in my eyes as I read firsthand their experiences as a SEAL wife, from beginning to end. You see as Luttrell begins to transition into civilian life.... marrying and starting a family, writing his books and speaking across the country about the SEALs and their experience, something most people knew next to nothing about.

I see posts all the time of people asking for a new book to read, I highly recommend SERVICE: A Navy SEAL at War to any and all of you looking. The book has powerful messages, meaningful stories and a deep insight for those who chose to serve.

Furniture!

We finally got the furniture we have been waiting for! Our Master Bedroom set was ordered the week we moved in and it arrived over a month later. Then we waited for the mattress. Then we had to settle on a dining room set we both liked and could afford. After two months we finally have it all together. We are sleeping in our Master Bedroom (and using the awesome updated Coca Cola Master Bathroom) and have a real dining room. For two years we used an old party table my parents had and chairs from IKEA. They worked great in the apartment, but now it is time to have real stuff!

Here it is!

Our new dining room set. We went to six different stores and got priced on this one three different times. Finally the right sale came along. Thank you liquidation sales!!

Our china is unpacked for the first time since we got married! The apartment had no room for it and I didn't want it to break. I am so glad it is finally out where it belongs!

Champagne flutes and our wedding toasting glasses

AND it lights up!!! 3 different levels of brightness.

  Now just to remind you this is our Master Bedroom BEFORE...

And now, AFTER...

Our master bedroom. Curtains are hung, furniture is in, french doors are functional! Sorry it is a little dark in the picture, it is so bright in there. Ryan said this is his favorite room in the house.



I have a mirror!

It is totally official since our wedding picture is hanging. We need some more art work and to hang our TV but it looks great!



Antique shopping got me more Coca Cola signs and knick knacks. Signs are even in the shower!

Love the knick knacks. I need to stop.

Moved some signs around

I got a proper Coca Cola glass now too

We added just a valence in here and our spare bed room is ready for use. Who wants to visit?

I'm back!

I didn't intend to take a blogging hiatus, but I ended up doing so! Thanks for all of you who stuck with me (and commented/emailed asking if I was ok!), I really appreciate it. So, where have I been? Well if you follow me on instagram (imyewneek) or on facebook you saw I went to visit my parents and my brother and Western North Carolina for a week. Ryan was in the field and I have yet to find a job, so off the pup and I went on a road trip!

My parents moved to Western North Carolina last August. Even though we are living in the same state again they pretty much could not live any further from us, about seven hours. Luckily it is a straight drive but man is that a long time to be in the car by yourself. Twice in one week. I packed up the Rylie Girl and made my way to the mountains. Man was it gorgeous..

The view from upstairs



The stream in the backyard

The house

Rylie girl had to see what I was doing...

Down the street... aka mountain

House again

Pups lounging on the deck



Rylie meeting Buddy, my brother's bunny. She was cute for a few minutes then got overly curious and barked so we put him away.



She also bugged the crap out of Dippy. See the tongue sticking out!? Blatant!

 So just being in the house was great. The last time we were there was on our honeymoon. My parents had gotten the house and mostly furnished it, but they weren't moving down until my brother graduated from middle school. Ryan and I drove there and spent our honeymoon in the mountains, it was glorious. Needless to say it was strange being there without him, but I did love the time with my family. My mom and I went shopping (I got more Coca Cola stuff for our bathroom and other important things like... you know... shoes) and out to lunch a bit. We had family dinners and went hiking. One cool place we went was called Max Patch. It is part of the Appalachian Trail, so even though we were up there with a picnic there were some hardcore hikers moving through!

Max Patch

Pup and I at the bottom

Rylie had to be in front. Always.

Stefan and the Pup

First view

A little further to go

Stefan and Rylie near the top with super hikers

Looking back

Picnic time!

Love this picture of her! SO cute.

Dad wasn't thrilled with her cute begging skills, but he gave her strawberry tops anyway

Rylie, me, Mom and Stefan

Going back down



Hikers at the top

 After that we drove down into the Catloochee Valley to go into Pisgah National Forrest. We had a very important thing to see.... ELK! I was kind of overly excited. There was a chance of not seeing any, but luckily it is baby season, so there were tons! Plus... a baby! My brother's eagle eyes found it in the grass.

Shhh, he is sleeping!

He woke up!

Elk Kisses!

I zoomed in for these shots. You cannot get close (and HELLO, WILD animals!) without a major fine. Or getting attacked.

Baby Elk! Their mom's leave them in the tall grass but are never too far away.

See?

That is a lot of antlerage.

We also drove into Asheville a few times as it wasn't too far. Stefan took me on his ATV through the mountains (terrifying going 45 on a bumpy trail with a 15 year old driving) and I am convinced one of the meth trailers shot at us. We were WAY up there! There was lots of eating out, video games, more shopping and exploring and good family bonding time. One of my favorite dinners was my last night with my family. We drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway (man are you high up!) and went to one of the two restaurants actually ON the Parkway, the Pisgah Inn.

Entrance to the Parkway

At the restaurant

The road we drove on to get to it!

As you can see the clouds rolled in. Most of dinner we had a great view and then BOOM. Inside a cloud.

In the cloud

In the cloud and not looking so ghostly.

All in all it was a great trip. There is a ton to do out where my parents live and I hope Ryan and I can go visit together soon. I was so done being in the car by the time I got back to Jacksonville! It was great to see Ryan and spend the next 72 hours with him (yay post field time off). Of course I had to ruin it and get a vicious stomach bug the night before his leave. Poor guy was holding my hair back until two am and up for work at five. Needless to say Friday was a low key day for me.

The weekend was spent getting our house situated (furniture arrived!) and finally moving in to our master bedroom. We also saw Snow White and the Hunstman (hated the ending, so blah), got some more furniture, and finished How I Met Your Mother on Netflix.We NEED season seven! Ugh! Can't find it anywhere (actually think it is still airing or just finished). We definitely need a new show to watch! I have been to the doctor, the dentist and all over the place so I am glad this is finally written. I will write soon with picture updates on the house and everything.

Thanks for sticking with me!

And Happy Birthday Mom (: Love ya!