Great Scott!

Ok, if you're a long term reader you should know by now I am pretty much a nerd, so this entry shouldn't be too shocking for most of you. For new readers, well, surprise! I'm a nerd!

Today, October 21, 2015, is Back to the Future Day. On this day Marty and Doc Brown arrive from 1985 to the future.... after today Back to the Future will officially be in the past. Scary huh? Back to the Future (1, 2 and 3) have always been some of my most favorite movies. I have owned a BttF shirt for many years. In Universal Studios I bought myself a Hill Valley class ring (no, you cannot make this stuff up). In college I had a full size movie poster from the first movie that hung up in my dorm rooms and apartments until I graduated. I have owned the trilogy on DVD for years after scoring them for super cheap at a Black Friday sale years and years ago. Needless to say, I have waited for this day for ages!

Now it seems like a lot of BttF fans are coming out of the woodwork and I am totally ok with that. Enjoy it!

There are tons of news articles today...

Back to the Future II: What did it get right and wrong?
Test Yourself with this Back to the Future Quiz
Back to the Future: Queensland police deploy 'hoverboard unit'
Great Scott! It's Back to the Future Day
Universal Pictures released a spoof trailer for "Jaws 19"

And more. But seeing this video this almost made me teary...

Sure, we may not have hover boards or flying cars (yet), but we do have 3D movies, thumbprint scanners, flat screen televisions and more. And even though they may not be as prevalent, fax machines do still exist. I have to teach people at the library how to use them on a daily basis! The Cubs even made it to the playoffs!!! I don't think they will win the World Series though, the Mets are on fire, I hate to admit it! You can even buy Pepsi Perfect for $20.15 for a limited time only. Luckily I am a diet coke fan or I'd be tempted. Ok, I am tempted. But they sold out!

One movie theatre in town is showing a double feature tonight at 7pm, but my husband does have work tomorrow even if I am off. We compromised on our own double feature at home tonight after work, care of my DVDs. Fair enough.

The future is not yet written. Make it a good one my friends.

Angry

I don't know how many of you have seen this particular news piece floating around, but it is one that makes me particularly angry.

The original story (found here) from a few days ago explains the situation. A former Marine decided to protest the Berghdal/Taliban exchange outside of Parris Island.... you know, because of all the recruits coming in and out of the gates there. Seriously, protest all you want, but at least put some thought into your location. Something pertaining to politics perhaps, or an Army base? Regardless, he decided to wear his campaign cover, the hats all drill instructors in the Marine Corps wear, as a sign of solidarity to "all the active duty military that can't protest" about this.

Sgt Major Archie heard about this and on the phone asked the former Drill Instructor not to wear his campaign cover to the protest. The man ignored him and Sgt Major Archie saw him wearing the cover the next day. He pulled over, the two men got into a shouting match, and the Sgt Major knocked the cover off the guy's head when he got too close. He then grabbed the cover and drove on back to base.

Now the former Drill Instructor (who I do not even want to give the pleasure of naming, that's my opinion of him) is pressing third degree assault and battery charges. Sgt Major Archie turned himself in to the police immediately after the event and was bailed out that evening.

Now I just read that Sgt Major Archie is voluntarily stepping down.

And I am so angry.

Do you have the right to protest? Absolutely. Do you have the right to wear pieces of a military uniform, active duty or not, to said protest? NO. You do not. Sgt Major Archie acted like I believe almost any military member would. You cannot wear your dress blues to the grocery store once you get out. Military functions, parades, weddings, funerals, ceremonies... yes. Protests??? HELL NO. You know better former Drill Instructor. You keep yelling in the video that you're no longer a Marine and the Sgt Major has no authority over you and then turn around to the news crew and say you wore the cover in solidarity with those who are active duty?? You cannot even keep your own viewpoint straight!

Not only that, but this is on a semi personal level. Sgt Major Archie was the Sgt Major in my husband's unit up until earlier this year. When my husband was in Afghanistan the Sgt Major got orders back to Parris Island, his dream job, and sadly left. I saw him at many functions prior to the deployment and heard how he spoke to the Marines, and it was inspiring. The man was motivated, cared about his job and his Marines, and was a prime example of what a Sgt Major should be. His voice was stereotypically Drill Instructor, deep and gravelly and just awesome. I nearly giggled the first time I heard him shouting motivationally across a unit softball game. He was an exceptional leader and my husband constantly said how much all the Marines loved working under him.

And now that man is no longer an active duty Marine after doing what (I personally believe) is right. It is a damn shame. I am saddened to see he resigned and I know I am not alone in that.

To that former Drill Instructor who caused most of this mess; you're a disgrace and an idiot. I hope karma is swift with you.

Period.

It's the Day of the Show Ya'll

When I went to Catholic for college someone started saying "It's the day of the show ya'll!" in a very particular voice that unfortunately I cannot replicate in type, but it has always stuck with me. Every opening night in college for every show someone would be shouting it to fellow cast and crew as we saw each other throughout the day. As I awoke this morning it was the first thought that popped into my head. After two months the day has arrived, tonight is opening night! I can't believe it!

We have never performed in front of an audience. Our preview had maybe one random person there who couldn't come for the show but even he had seen act two in rehearsals. Tonight will be different. I can feel anticipation running like a current under my skin and a flock of bumble bees (forget butterflies) has been buzzing in my stomach all morning. It is a good thing surprisingly. I think if I ever were to do a show or a project and not be nervous/mildly stage fright ridden there would be a problem. This feeling makes it worth it. If I weren't nervous it would make me more nervous if that makes sense!

Yesterday my neighbor Miss Donna showed me that we made the local newspaper too!

Pretty cool! I made sure to go buy an extra copy too, just in case. I cannot tell you the last time a show I was in made a newspaper, probably high school!

Mel, the guy playing my husband, also helped me out today and got me a free haircut/trim. He works as a barber and insisted I go (yes, my split ends were that bad) and he would take care of it. I just got home and even though only an inch or so of hair is gone it looks miles better already! The woman doing it really wanted to take off more since it is thinning at the bottom but I knew our director wanted nothing more than a trim! Me too, truth be told. It seems to take a lot more work to grow my hair out as I have gotten older so cutting off a lot, even to help it grow, makes me hesitate. We shall see how I feel after the show.

So if you live in Jacksonville please come see the show! Apparently the elderly population of Jacksonville is notorious for coming regardless but we'd love to fill the house. Especially with people who won't say, "Wait, what did he say? I can't hear him!" very loudly during the performance (it happened in the spring show!). Tickets are disturbingly cheap and I would love to see you all there. 8pm tonight through Saturday and a 3pm matinee Sunday at the community college. My mom is driving in tomorrow and staying through Tuesday and I am very excited!!!

EEEEK! My first opening night as a performer in three years. I cannot believe I waited so long! I love this cast and crew and the show is a fun murder mystery with a twist ending that I think everyone will enjoy.

See you there!

We Are Worth More

Have you all seen this article?

Yesterday it came to my attention on Facebook and I have to say.... it made me really angry. "12 Great Jobs For Military Spouses". As someone who is currently looking for work it definitely caught my eye. Maybe I missed something, maybe there could be tips and hints and advice for lots of women out there in my exact same position.

I was wrong.

The article starts off well. It talks about how compared to the overall public military spouses are more educated. 84 percent of military spouses have some college. Further more 25 percent have a bachelor’s degree and 10 percent have an advanced degree. Those numbers don't even include other marketable skills that require special licenses. 35 percent of military spouses in the workforce are in jobs that require a professional license (which is an initiate that Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are working to allow those spouses to work in all 50 states without transferring licenses every three to five years). In fact 85 percent of spouses are in my exact situation. 85 percent. That number seems disturbingly high to me.

Seeing those numbers made me proud. We are a well educated community with a lot to offer the world. Our spouses being military does make that more difficult, but not impossible. Moving so much does stunt career progress sometimes, you may work for a company that has no representation in your new location, so you have to start over. I can relate.

But then I got pissed.

The twelve great jobs this woman writes about? Insulting. For an educated group of people it seems more like a list for a high schooler looking for their first job. Hell, if the article had a different spin, it may not have annoyed me so much. Maybe if it was "12 Money Making Endeavors for Military Spouses Between Jobs" or "Extra Income Ideas" it may not have annoyed me so much. But for saying how educated we are and what we can achieve.... it boils down to this.

Direct Selling (like Avon or Pampered Chef), Child Care and Babysitting, Selling handcrafted goods online (Etsy), Tutoring and Substitute Teaching, Errand Runner, Catering and/or Cake Making, Pet Services, Gift Basket Creator, Personal Trainer, Administrative Assistant, IT Specialist and Tax Preparer.

Those are the 12 great jobs?? Now, some are fine, even terrific careers. I know plenty of spouses who do direct selling or have amazing Etsy shops. If you love numbers a tax preparer is great. If you want to teach, it is a good choice. But gift basket preparer??? Errand runner??? For being as ambitious and educated as you make us sound that is honestly the best you can come up with? THAT is where it gets insulting. And the descriptions... oh man. I have been talking to Ryan about going back to school for culinary arts, more specifically a pastry chef. I have taken cake decorating courses and I love to bake, it is something I have been toying with, but the description from the article made my blood boil.

"Those hours spent watching the Food Network might be the genesis of a money-making plan. If you have great culinary chops, try catering parties or backyard cookouts, selling homemade baked goods or offer your services as a personal chef. A course in cake decoration, candy making, and baking from a community college or gourmet food shop can boost your presentation skills."

I spend hours spent watching the Food Network?? In between keeping the house clean, taking care of the dog, grocery shopping, maintaining the cars, the yard, laundry, cooking dinner (and baked goods for Ryan to take to work), blogging, writing articles for SpouseBUZZ and applying for jobs I spend hours watching TV???? Most days the TV isn't even turned on in our house until after dinner when we sit on the couch and watch Doctor Who on Netflix together. And just because you watch the Food Network does not make you a chef. People go to school for years to do that. Yes, home based businesses can grow from talented individuals, but the way that the article says it anyone can turn a TV show into a career.

And I am so glad I went to college for four years to be a babysitter. Because that is all my bachelor's degree can get me. I worked my butt off in college for four years. Yes, my concentration was theatre, but I have a BA. I took all sorts of liberal arts classes.... math, science, philosophy, religion, Spanish, psychology and anthropology to name a few. I had a full course load of classes (and homework and studying) plus I would be at the theatre five hours a night during the week and all day Saturday. And I worked in the scene shop in the theatre part time so I could make money. Full course load, rehearsals and a job.

And I can babysit.
The article is from The Jacksonville Daily News. Jacksonville, a huge military town, has the nerve to publish something so backwards from 1960? You are a major paper in a military town. You claim spouses are these educated people and we can run errands. Insulting. How do you think people would react if this was an article directed at women in general? Civilians?

Yes, my husband's job makes me move.... but I shouldn't have to be a secretary until I retire. We are worth more than entry level jobs for the rest of our spouses' military careers. We support our spouse and they support us. Our dreams, aspirations and goals may be harder to obtain, but not impossible. I will stand by my husband's side and do what I can to help him and his career... and I know he will do the same for me wherever he can. The military has given us so much, sometimes is really sucks (deployments, field ops, PCSing as soon as you feel 'settled') but that is the life we choose to live. But gosh darn it I can have a career too. I can support my husband, hep keep up a house, a dog (someday kids) and still pursue what makes me happy. We all can.

We are worth more.

How do Habits Change When Your Military Spouse is Away?

How do Habits Change When Your Military Spouse is Away?

My second article was posted on SpouseBUZZ yesterday! I am really loving this (: Please go check it out and let me know what you think! Do your habits drasitcally change when your spouse is gone?

Plus: Some very exciting news is coming up! All thanks to SpouseBUZZ! Details soon to follow...

Small World

Everyone will always tell you it is a small world. Since I have been married to Ryan I have heard it is an even smaller Marine Corps. Someone will always know someone or have been stationed with someone you knew. This week that really rang true with me.

I am sure most people have heard about the six Marines stationed in Hawaii killed in the helicopter crash in Afghanistan. One of them was from New Jersey. I did not know him personally but we had mutual friends... I discovered this on Facebook. Cpl Kevin Reinhard went to the all boys Catholic high school near me and graduated high school the same year I did. I went to middle school with some of his classmates. He went to college in NJ with some of my friends from my younger years.

Seeing that made me cry. I can't lie.

I also got angry.

When I first heard about the crash it was a thirty second blip on tv on CNN. They were barely mentioned. Yet when Marines are found doing unsavory things, like the urinating on dead bodies, you hear about it non stop. Why are those who gave their lives for their country just a blip? Why are they a small link on the fifth page on the AOL homepage when the bad story is on the front page with a huge picture?

I know the bad news always takes priority in anything. The evils of the world always seem to make bigger headlines than the poignant stories that people should be more aware of. I was telling this to Ryan last night and he was very matter of fact about it. They don't do what they do for a pat on the back or thanks and honor and glory. They do it for a higher calling, because they think it is the right thing to do. If they wanted a job with that level of praise they were in the wrong career field. He never expects anyone to thank him, and in fact it surprises him when they do. He is incredibly humble, I've seen it.

Yet if we are at a rest stop and a WWII vet or a Vietnam vet is wearing a hat or jacket saying so, my husband will be the first to shake their hand and say thank you. I am trying to get better at that too.

Thank you to Captain Daniel B. Bartle, 27, of Ferndale, Washington; Captain Nathan R. McHone, 29, of Crystal Lake, Illinois; Master Sergeant Travis W. Riddick, 40, of Centerville, Iowa; Corporal Jesse W. Stites, 23 of North Beach Maryland, Corporal Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, of Colonia, New Jersey; and Corporal Joseph D. Logan, 22, of Willis, Texas. Your sacrifice is not something I can put into words, but thank you. Thank you for answering to a higher calling and doing what you felt had to be done. Thank you to your families. May all six of you rest in peace.

Priorities people. Priorities.

:(

Not gonna lie, this article broke my heart. I may have teared up at work.

Remembering the Fallen

Originally I wanted to write about my weekend, but I think that will wait until tomorrow.

I was sitting in the car Saturday morning when the CNN Breaking News story came on the radio. My heart sank when I heard the story of the helicopter crash and loss of 38 lives. 20 Americans out there fighting for our freedom as well as eight others... Afghan Soldiers, a Dog handler and more... gone. It choked me up and made my throat painfully tight as I imagined 30 American families getting a knock at the door. The worst nightmare of any spouse or parent. As American Soldier came on the radio following the news update I almost cried in the car.

Coming in to work this morning and talking with all the clients of ours who are military veterans was sombering. Seeing the report on CNN interviewing their families, reading this news article... the biggest single loss of American life in one day since the war began a decade ago.


God Bless these brave men and their families.

And thank you.

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten."
- Calvin Coolidge

Not What I Planned...

Today I was hoping to write about the amazing time I had at the Milblog Conference Reception on Friday night. Or about our Anniversary Weekend... but there is a big news buzz that cannot go unmentioned.

Plus I left my camera at home so I don't have the pictures I wanted to accomodate the other posts available :P

Sunday we kept things pretty low key, I will write about our anniversary tomorrow hopefully... but we had actually gone to bed when Ryan got a text. This is sometime after 11pm. I looked and told him it was a CNBC news alert and he told me to just ignore it, it was probably about the market in Japan or something. His phone flashes all night if you don't check the message so I told him I'd check it regardless.

I read it and saw Bin Laden was killed. I rolled over and told Ryan and he was in the living room turning on CNN before I barely finished my sentence. We watched Obama's speech, which I thought was very good personally, and then I had to convince Ryan why going to the White House at midnight was not a good idea... ie the metro is closed, we cannot drive down there, and you have work in about five hours ... so we went back to bed.

It was a very surreal feeling to sit there and listen to the President speak, my head resting on my husband's shoulder, both of us as still as statues. I remembered being 14 years old and in Spanish class when the news of 9/11 broke. I remembered being terrified living so close to New York City, scared for the safety of my family, friends and myself. The nightmares of planes and fire that were in my nightmares seemed to last forever.

But we began to heal. Our country slowly knitted self together as that strange name slowly came into focus. Osama Bin Laden. Blame. The image of a bearded man with a large gun smiling at the results gave me chills.

I never expected to marry into the military, but I did. My husband pledged his life to our country because of 9/11. Our lives are forever changed from it. I pray the troops do not suffer reprecussions from this, that our people stay safe both here and abroad. And although I know it is wrong to celebrate death... I won't for a second pretend I am not unhappy about it. I think he got exactly what he deserved. That is just my opinion. It is my blog, I tend to throw that out there a lot.



May the souls of those lost in 9/11 (and in the war since then) rest a little easier. May their families feel some comfort. God Bless America.

Article Rant 2

The ignorance of some people in this world truly amazes me. And the fact that this is the second time (I can remember) I have had an entry like this baffles me.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100331/ts_csm/291560

The title of the article on Yahoo News today was: "Dad of a fallen Marine perseveres against protests at military funerals"

I will summarize, especially if you don't want to read it yourself because as a military significant other (or any regular decent human being really) you may find your blood boiling.

Albert Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, was killed in Iraq in 2006. At his son's funeral in Maryland the Westboro Baptist Church, a Christian fundamentalist group (of morons) from Kansas led by Fred Phelps, protested at his son's funeral. They got as close as 30 feet from the church doors protesting that Snyder's son deserved to die. This was God's way of punishment on America against homosexuality and the government itself. Snyder was forced to enter the church at a side door because he could not get through. So like any sane person would he sued those jerks!!! They were holding terrible signs that I will not even post here, you can see the pictures and the videos in the article. Well Snyder learned this Friday that a federal appeals court is requiring him to pay more than $16,000 in legal fees to the Westboro Baptist Church from when he took them to court!

Of course he refused, as he damn well should!

The whole violation of the first ammendment argument came up, but as quoted in the article, “I really don’t see that [the protest] was a violation of the First Amendment [principles]. It was a violation of decorum and good taste and all sorts of other things, but not a violation of the First Amendment,” says Charles Gittins, a civilian lawyer in Virginia."

Damn straight.

Snyder refuses to pay until the case is heard by the Supreme Court, which it will be this fall. All I can say is GO SNYDER! And God Bless your son who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.



On a happier note, hello new followers! It made me smile to see a few more of you! Thanks for reading, hope I don't drone too much!

More Troops

Obama made his announcement.... 35,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Meaning over 100,000 troops will be there. One Marine unit will be in before Christmas. BEFORE CHRISTMAS. There are Marines and Marine families out there who were planning a holiday together who now will be apart. Large numbers will deploy early next year as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091201/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_afghanistan

I am kind of scared Ryan will be in one of them. He only just got back from Iraq. He was only there about four months, not the full seven. I know he has to be home for a little while at least... but we're apart until at least January anyway and, well I have been dreading this announcement from Obama for weeks now and I am still kind of nauseous about it. Yes it could be worse. Rumors of troops ranged from 30,000-85,000 so this lower end of the spectrum is definitely a good thing.

Ugh.

I know I am supposed to ignore the news...

But this one caught my eye...it is about possibly sending more troops to Afghanistan in the next year. Anywhere between 10,000 and 80,000. 80frickenthousand. That is insane.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091014/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bc_us_us_afghanistan

Especially the last paragraph:

"An Army brigade generally has between 3,500 and 5,000 soldiers, while a Marine expeditionary brigade could be built up to about 17,000 troops. However, sending a high number of forces would put more stress on troops who are already stretched thin from fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, and likely would reduce the time they would get at home between deployments."

Oh God I hope not.


I talked to Ryan for nearly three hours this morning. We did fight for part of it unfortunately. He is upset Disney will only give me four, maybe five days off for me to come see him. I thought it was a good thing they were willing to give me that many in a row at ALL and he thinks it is not enough. So a fight naturally ensued. But we worked it out.

And we talked about possibly getting an apartment together when he gets back (: Try living together and all. Once I am done with Disney that is. I have an audition on October 29th which will decide if I stay here longer, if not back to DC possibly? Or California? Not sure where Ryan will be stationed, but the chances of me going with him are pretty darn high. I cannot wait to fall asleep next to him each night and wake up next to him each morning. Just to see him anytime day or night, it will be so so amazing....