I am SO SO proud of my husband. He is officially in the USMC for the next 5 years (as he is going career anyway he opted for the extra year) and will eventually be off to school. He is doing a lat move to Radio/Communications so we are looking at school (*sadface*) once everything is processed. About six months long. I will be holding down the fort here in Alexandria until we PCS. After having Ryan all to myself for a whole, uninterupted year I got so spoiled. It will be a hard transition being apart (school is in 29 Stumps Palms in California) but we can do it!
Here are some pictures of the big day. The ceremony was held on the parade deck, you can see the Commadant of the Marine Corps house in the background, and I got a nice bit of shade to watch in. All of his guys were there, plus the Major did the actual re-enlisting. Big honor! (Especially since is the same Major that three years ago NJP'ed Ryan...then promoted him... then re-enlisted him!) Congratulations Ryan! I am so proud of you. I love you!
"I, Ryan's full name, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
Tonight a few friends are coming over for a bbq in the park with some steaks. Should be fun!
I meant to blog yesterday. I had pictures for a Wordless Wednesday post and everything, but silly work got in the way :P It was oddly busy for most of the morning and then at noon I had a conference call about a website that our company is going to be using to make our jobs easier, an intranet of sorts. It is pretty cool and I was paying attention to what our VP was saying, even if my ear went numb for holding the phone there so long! I keep my cell phone on silent, propped up between my keyboard and my post it note holder, so if I get a text or a call it catches my eye when it lights up.
I am 45 minutes into my conference call when I see my phone light up. Ryan is calling me. He never calls me at work. I can't pick up so I let it go. He calls again. I text him saying I am on a conference call, is everything ok? Cryptic husband of mine just tells me, "Call me ASAP." A myriad of thoughts are running through my brain. Of course he couldn't say if it was good news or bad news! The last ten minutes of my conference call were agony! I finally get off and dash into the hallway to call my husband.
His re-enlistment package was approved!!!!
My husband is a proud Marine for at least next four (maybe five?) years!
He did it! He got it! Ahhh I am so so happy for him.
Ryan decided he is going to do his ceremony next Wednesday, so I am taking a few hours off work to go see it. I have never seen him in a ceremony before... we weren't dating through the boot camp/SOI phase, he picked up LCpl before we met, and he picked up CPL when I was living in NJ before our wedding and told me it wasn't a big deal and not to come. I will so be the embarassing wife, camera and all, come next week!
Now we don't have the specifics and all yet. Since Ryan is going into a new MOS (Ground Radio Technician) he does have to go to school. What we have heard so far is that he will leave anytime in the next 1-3 months and his first school is three months long. He will be classified as "TAD en route"... do any of you know what that means? We know TAD, but the en route part from what we gather means he technically is not assigned to 8th and I but just school...? So BAH may change? No idea. I kn ow I cannot go with him to school, at least the first round, but we don't know if I can go after that. It wouldn't be worth to move somewhere for a few months for school just to move again to get orders. I'll probably just stay in Virginia for all his schooling. Sucky part is it is in 29 Palms, so long distance it is!
We are so very grateful. Our neighbors celebrated with us last night with wine, beer and hard cider until it started raining so much we had to break it up! Ryan watched the first half of Full Metal Jacket while I showered and got ready for bed since he was extra motivated. Marines :P
Thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts in prayers as we went up and down over the past few months. It is so so appreciated. When we hear more I will let you know.
Ryan was singing this last night so it has been stuck in my head ever since...
Link up with Goodnight Moon for one of the best link ups everrrr.
And I found out yesterday partly why we are still pending. The Lt Col who is on the board and needs to approve the package has been on leave. The past two weeks. He is supposed to be checking his inbox. He hasn't. And I bet my bottom dollar if this man has spent the last two weeks on leave he will not be back before Easter, so another whole week of waiting at least. If we're lucky.
Yes I know Marines work hard and deserve their leave, but dude, our future is kind of depending on if you check your email. Which apparently you're supposed to. It is a tiny little thing. Just glance! Take care of the important stuff, a reply here a signature there, and go back to your sangria on the beach or whatever it is you may be doing. (Man that sounds soooo nice! A little jealous.)
Argh.
Anyway, head over for your Thursday Link Up with Goodnight Moon.
This week I am not doing country (shock I know) but a little blast from my past... anyone else remember Disney in Concert??? Oh my I thought this group was awesome when I was 11!
*fingers remain fiercely crossed that pending changes soon*
Northern Virginia has been nothing but rain the past few weeks. We have those rare days where it is sunny and warm but then it rains for a few more days and gets a little chilly. Now I don't mean to be complaining about the weather, I know we have it pretty good, but does anyone else feel like they have been waiting for Spring a little longer than normal this year?
What it boils down to I think is that I am tired of being cold.
All winter I have just been cold. At work the heat doesn't flow where I sit, so Sarah and I shared a space heater. I wore long underwear and socks with my heels. Seriously. By the time my car heats up I am at my destination. My apartment gets overheated due to living right above the boiler room so we had windows open or the airconditioner running all winter. I am tired of layers and jackets and shivering. I am ready to step outside of my apartment and be hit with warm air and sunshine.
The DC area is fickle. It will be cold for ages, then a week of "nice" weather, then hot. Then it will be hot for a looong time. Then there will be one more week of "nice" and then back into the cold. There is no equal spread of seasons. Spring and Fall get bled in with Summer and Winter. And it gets annoying.
When I was younger I loved the snow. I loved playing in it and missing school and just the peaceful stillness that accompanied it. Now you know once you're an adult and have to go to work regardless and drive in it and scrape off your car... it becomes less mystical. We didn't even have much snow here this winter, just bitter bitter cold.
This winter was a hard one for our family. I think that may be what makes it feel so long. We encountered heavy loss, illness, uncertainty, and worries that are carrying over even into the Springtime. Losing Ryan's grandfather in January was incredibly difficult. Ryan still wishes he could talk to his Papa, ask advice on big issues in our lives, and he misses him. I miss him too. My surgery in February was a little rough, but it was something I wanted and hoped for and Ryan supported. It did make for some uncomfortable weeks though, during healing. Then this whole re-enlistment business has been over our heads like a dark cloud for months now. Attempt after attempt has fallen though. Plan A obviously stopped, but Plans B, C, D, and even E are floundering. We are still pending.
I love my husband and the support we are giving eachother is amazing. Nothing, especially not cold weather, will change that. We are keeping our faith. We are still waiting and hoping and praying every day.
I know in about two months I will be posting about how ungoldy hot I am and how I wish we could have cooler weather, but for now I am sticking to my guns. Bring it on Spring. Bring. It. On.
Can I just add (on a totally different note since this made me smile today), I really wish I could do this??? (The juggling and the travels!)
We are still pending. Every day this week has been agonizing. I am jumping at every text from my husband hoping it is something. After having such a bubble of hope on Monday I feel it slowly deflating. And now since it is the weekend we have another garunteed 48 hours of no news. UGH. Do they not realize how frustrating this is?! How our entire future is hanging in the balance here?? Just give us something here.
Every night this week we have made it to mass and I am proud of us for that. I even made confession Monday night! It has helped us greatly. The entire mass we're in our own thoughts and prayers but physically together... holding hands, his arm around me, my head on his shoulder, something. Although it is hectic to race home from work, eat and get out the door less than an hour later to drive up there in rush hour, it has been nice. Our church offers nightly mass every weeknight through Easter, and I may push for us to keep doing this the next week or two. After that there is an evening mass each Wednesday, so maybe we can do that.
Faith is what is keeping me from falling completely to pieces over this. Faith and my wonderful husband.
Enjoy your weekends all! Keep your fingers crossed for us for just a little longer.
Of course Ryan's package is still pending. Do they not realize the agony this causes?! Ugh! Just give an answer already. End the will they/won't they internal battle my husband and I are both in the midst of. We're still going to church every night, praying as hard as we can. We make sure to mention at each mass how thankful we are for everything we do have... each other, our home, our family, friends, cars to drive, clothes to wear, food to eat. We know we are so blessed. But we still pray for good news to come of this re-enlistment.
Sigh.
Anyway, make sure you vote for your favorite Best U.S. Spouse Military Blogger! Make sure you leave the URL or it won't count. I want to go to the conference sooooo badly. It isn't too far from me. Is anyone else going????
And of course, my song link up for this Thursday with Amber at Good Night Moon.
Why?
Because last night as I am getting ready for bed my husband is messing around with his phone. Suddenly this song starts playing. I look at him, a tiny bit confused, but Ryan comes and wraps his arms around me and we slow dance in our bedroom to this entire song. My husband is pretty darn awesome.
I cannot thank you ladies enough for the kind comments you left me. It has been hectic crazy, but I plan on going through my email soon and replying to each and every one of you. (Also: I did not mean to imply anyone who wants to EAS does so in a negative manner. I know there are people with families who want to get out and do a different line of work or go to school, I did not mean them. It is more something that is very prevalent at 8th and I where a lot of people just have no desire to be there and cannot wait to just get out. They have given up on the Corps and are very negative towards it. )
We went to church yesterday and I kneeled down and prayed harder than I had in a long, long time. I think the last time I prayed so hard was when Ryan was in Iraq. I saw my husband praying too. I paid attention the entire mass, no wandering thoughts for this girl. (You know, sometimes when the sunbeam hits the priest's head in just the right way and reflects off and you wander with the sunbeam... it happens!) Ryan had his arm around me or held my hand the entire mass. We prayed together. For an answer, a solution, something to get us through.
During mass they discussed an upcoming retreat and Ryan shocked the hell out of me when he said he wanted to go. Sadly when we looked at the information table we saw it was the weekend of our first wedding anniversary and decided against it. But I had another idea. Lent is a time of abstaining, sacrifice, and alms giving in the Catholic church. Ryan already gave up all alcohol for lent (gotta love my Baptist husband, I never expected him to do this with me!) except for wine (because Jesus drank it) and I gave up soda.
Well we agreed this week we were going to give up wine as well. Sacrifice/Abstaining. And we decided to go to the 7pm nightly mass every day this week. Also a sacrifice of sorts. We also grabbed an bag to make an Easter basket for newborns and moms to bring back next week. When we went to the commissary we loaded up on newborn diapers (Ryan was shocked at the price... oy), wipes, lotion, bottles, and pacifiers. Alms giving.
So we have our plan. We're still calling in our favors with anyone who many know anyone. One of my clients at work today said a retired Major General was willing to talk to Ryan and see if he could help. I get the number and go to call Ryan. No answer.
Then I get this text message: I got Ground Radio Technician. Don'y know where yet and nothing is in writing. It has been verbally stated by headquarters that I am approved!
!!!!!!!
What does this mean?
Well, it is 95% certain my husband can stay in the USMC. To be in this MOS basically the Head of it told his Career Planner he would take Ryan if he had taken Algebra in high school. Ryan took Algebra I and II. So Ryan got his transcript, the Career Planner got his package together, and it was sent to the head of Radio Ops. The Career Planner is hoping to call Ryan by 16:30 with more information.
Nothing is in writing yet. We don't know the when or the where yet, but to quote my husband, "Things went from looking really, really bad to pretty damn good."
We still plan on going to church all week, if not for the original intent of prayer for hope for our future but in thanksgiving.
Ladies, thank you so much for your good thoughts and prayers for our family. Please keep them coming a little longer if you can.
And of course once I know, you will know.
On a different note: As many of you know the "A Final Goodbye" post from {mis}adventures of an army wife has been circulating the military spouse community. According to comments left on her blog Jessica has been located and is safe, received treatment. Bloggers, I hope you all know anytime you feel alone and need to reach out to anyone, I am here. Email me anytime at imyewneek@yahoo.com. You are NOT alone and you ARE loved.
26. I work for an Executive Office Suites company. 27. 98% of the time I enjoy it. 28. Our clients are (for the most part) very kind and fun. I was shocked to get Christmas presents! 29. I smoke. Yes. I know. Ick. 30. I am addicted to chocolate. Milk chocolate, especially when combined with peanut butter, is ah-mazing. 31. My husband proposed to me during Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, the fireworks show at EPCOT. I love fireworks. 32. I took painting classes and drawing classes as a kid. 33. Which led me to be a scenic painter throughout college. 34. But I am not very good. 35. My grandfather, Papa, was though. He used to watch Bob Ross and paint along.
36. One of his paintings hangs in the hallway of our apartment right near the front door... my Papa, not Bob Ross. 37. I love baseball. I bleed pinstripes (Go Yanks!) and support the Nationals as a new home town sort of thing over the past 5 years. 38. I may as well add, Go Giants! Go Gamecocks! Go Devils! 39. I love to read. My kindle rocks my socks off. 40. Ok so I am a total dork for loving Harry Potter. 41. But in my defense I started reading the series when I was 11. 42. And I read the 2nd book first because that one for some reason I think was released sooner or more available in the US. 43. My mom sneaked it into my trunk for sleep away camp. She told me it was about a “Boy who is a wizard and a detective”. Not quite mom. I didn’t want to read it, but I got bored and opened it and was hooked from then on. 44. I even like the movies. If I don’t compare them to the books too much in my head! 45. So I must must MUST go to Harry Potter World. Soon.
46. My car is a 97 Ford Taurus with over 227,200 miles on it. His name is Terrance. 47. I absolutely abhor being micromanaged. 48. And I do not take criticism, even constructive, very well. 49. I am a berry fiend. Strawberries are the best of the best, but I am also a lover of blackberries, raspberries, mulberries, blueberries… any and all berries. 50. I met my best friend in sixth grade during a Girl Scout sleepover. 51. We were making swordfish bead keychains and I couldn’t get the sword part of mine right. So Sam helped me. 52. I never knew how to wear make up when I was younger. The first time a girl tried to help me I put concealer on my lips thinking it was lipstick. Hot. 53. Actually, I still have no idea how to do make up very well… 54. But I do like my eyelashes. On the rare occasion that I wear mascara they look cool. Except when I can see them on the top line of my vision. That gets old. 55. I drink one sugar free redbull a day to get myself going. 56. My husband recently got us a berretta 9 mil. We go shootin’
57. I love playing Words with Friends on my iTouch. Play me! imyewneek 58. Cold weather and I are done. I am so ready for summer. 59. But I do love wearing my boots! 60. Same goes for rain. And my galoshes with the little cherries on them. 61. I have fifteen first cousins. Two of whom have recently had babies. Kimmie and Gabriel. Aren’t they precious??
62. Unfortunately I do not tan. I burn and then peel and somehow end up whiter than when I started. 63. I am a mutt. I am a mixture of Irish, Polish, Hungarian, Russian, Slovakian, and Czech. There is the possibility of a smidgen of Ukranian in there too. Basically all of western Europe and Ireland. 64. And I can sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in Polish. We do at every birthday on my mom’s side of the family. Sto lat! 65. But my husband is English, French and Cherokee, so our kids are going to be muttier mutts than me! 66. By the way, for the slight amount of Cherokee my husband has he does have to die for cheek bones! 67. My dream home is a Victorian. I want a wrap around porch, at least one round tower room, and a window seat. 68. When I was a kid I knew the name of almost every dinosaur. Including their scientific names. I wanted to be a paleontologist and at 6 would force myself to watch Jurassic Park. Just in case. Even if I was behind the arm chair with the TV muted while the T-Rex roared. 69. They are still one of my favorite things to see in museums. 70. Crossword puzzles are one of my favorite things to do. 71. Did I mention I want to travel? Ok I did, but I would love to have a job that allowed me to travel internationally. 72. And I want to win an Oscar. Dream big right? Haha. 73. Josh Groban reduces me to a puddle of mush. 74. I hated country music when I was a kid. I think because my parents played it on Saturdays when we would clean, so I associated one with the other. 75. On our second date this song came on in the car and I was singing along. Ryan was shocked since I told him I hate country music but I knew it. After that I gave it a chance and now it is all I listen too.
76. Once I won concert tickets on the radio. To Coldplay. I took Ryan and it ended up being his first concert. Ever. 77. My first date with my husband was to Ruby Tuesday’s in Chinatown and then seeing Baby Mama. 78. He called me at 2am the night after our date because he really wanted to arrange date number two. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming. 79. My husband’s ringtone on my phone is Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey. The first time he went home with me we were on the train and he was listening to my iPod and teasing me for not having the song. I had it on my laptop, just not the iPod. When my mom picked us up at the train station it was playing on the radio in the car. Anytime we got in the car that weekend it came on… it was a Journey tribute weekend. He’s had it ever since. 80. We already know what our first child will be named whether it is a boy or girl. Both names have strong family ties. 81. We also know what we want to name our first dog. Hint, it may or may not be a combination of our names in some way, shape, or form. 82. I took a cake decorating class with my mom and her best friend Fran before I went to college. We made my grandparents’ 60th anniversary wedding cake.
83. I want to learn to speak Italian. 84. I took Spanish from elementary school through college. I understand a lot more than I can speak. And that is still not a lot. 85. I love Etsy and I wish I was creative enough to have my own shop on there. 86. My mom told me I should be a flight attendant so I could travel. I think I would be the next flight attendant you’d hear about jumping off the emergency slide if I ever took that job. 87. Red roses and sunflowers are my favorite flowers. 88. Our apartment is right on top of the boiler room, so it is always hot in the winter. We never once turned on our heat and had windows open and the air conditioner running. All. Winter. 89. My first concert was when I was in 7th grade, N*SYNC at Giant Stadium. I remember BBMack was one of the opening acts. 90. I wanted to cry at my 8th grade dinner dance since no one asked me to dance. The last song of the evening I had gotten caught in the middle of the dance floor dancing with friends for a slow song when it changed. My friends paired off and I felt horrible stuck in the middle of the floor. Then Alex W. saw me and asked me to dance. I will never, ever forget that gesture of kindness. 91. I also had a double (inner and outer) ear infection starting that night and almost had to miss graduation so I could go to the doctor to get better. It was one of those half days that school was just graduation practice and I had to last til 11am to graduate that night. I laid in the nurse’s office for the majority of it. 92. My ears suck, I hope my kids never have them. I got swimmers ear at least twice a summer and had to wear ear plugs all the time. I still have to pour drops in my ears anytime I swim or I get an ear infection. I even perforated my ear drum when I was five since it was so bad. 93. Plus I had to have a pallet expander and braces and retainers. And I am missing my eye teeth. They never came in, as baby teeth or adult. Let’s hope my kids don’t get my teeth either. 94. My laptop in college was named Marty. As in Marty from Back to the Future. My iPod then became Marty Jr. When Ryan and I got a new laptop we named it Biff. 95. I can touch my tongue to my nose. Not the fake out way either, for real.
96. I can also fold my tongue into a clam/flowery shape. 97. My husband and I have been watching the Cosby Show on Netflix lately, and I feel like I keep getting glimpses of my future for my husband’s parenting skills… 98. Ryan and I are very opposite; he is the peanut butter to my jelly. In so so many ways. 99. I cannot for the life of me drive a stick shift. I hate it. Ryan is trying to force me to keep trying since his car is manual. Ugh. 100. I am a nervous wreck over this re-enlistment disaster.
Why is it whenever I go to the barracks I hear guys (and girls) complaining about how they hate being in the Marines? How they cannot wait to EAS and get out? They are just counting down the days until they can get out of there.
There are so many of those.
Yet my husband who loves being a Marine, wants to make a career out of it, works so incredibly hard, has a tremendous amount of pride and dedication... is getting screwed?!
It frustrates me to the point I want to just break down and cry. But I can't. Because that won't help Ryan at all.
No answers from the career planners at all. For my husband to remain in the Marine Corps would take an act of God at this point. Every single thing is full or there just is not time for him to go before a huge board and be told no.
So he went to the Army. He looked at this program they have called From Blue to Green. He got excited about it again. He contacts a recruiter who says... only Special Forces are getting accepted at this point. Which we think is untrue (especially after talking to the army guy who lives above us) and he just wanted to go home early and not deal with it.
Now what???
Air Force? Navy? Nonmilitary life? Prior service recruiters??
My husband wants nothing more than to be a Marine. He wants to continue to serve his country and keep doing what he is doing. But he can't. Yet there are hundreds of people in the Corps that would gladly take an instant EAS date if it were to be offered to then. Ryan never thought when he joined the USMC he would have to worry about job security. Ever. My husband graduated high school and was in boot camp three days later. He has wanted nothing more than this since he was thirteen years old. That was when he decided to join and has never once wavered on that. He has no idea what else he can do besides military service. There are no degrees to fall back on. This is his life. He wants it to be his career.
Pardon my language in this sentence, but this is fucking ridiculous.
I can see how it is upsetting him, how hard he is trying every option possible. I can see how he is keeping himself strong and positive regardless, but I am failing to do the same. I can go to a recruiter today and enlist with no problem, but he can't stay doing the job he has done so well for five years.
I have been praying and praying. I keep praying and hoping and wishing and it is doing absolutely nothing. I've never experienced a hopelessness or worry of this magnitude. That bothers me. Especially since it is for the one I love the most.
We need a miracle here. The rest of my husband's career is depending on it.
As most of you know my husband’s EAS date is fast approaching. I have had posts for months now about him trying to switch his MOS or debating on what to do next… but we’re getting pretty down to the wire here. Ryan finally found something he wanted to do. Back a few months Ryan decided 0313 would be a good fit for him, it involves infantry and LAVs, so it is a compromise. He can still be infantry but from inside a big armored tank thing, both of us are happy. So he submits his package in early Februaryish.
And we wait. And wait. And wait. We find out it didn’t reach Headquarters until March 2. From there we had to wait 30 days to hear at least something back. This week once again we are down to the wire. Ryan has been going in to see the career planner everyday just to be told the same thing, “It’s still pending.” Well yesterday he heard something.
It doesn’t look good for us.
0313 had one open spot. One guy got offered it already and he has until April 6th to decide. If he doesn’t get it, another guy does and he has until April 20th to decide. Which means Ryan wouldn’t get offered it until then. We cannot wait 26 days. And I highly highly doubt both of these guys will not take it. I doubt the first guy won’t not take it!
No 0313 for us.
But, you know what might have been the reason my husband was third out of three for 0313? 2 NJPs. Yup. My husband got busted for underage drinking, not once but twice, and managed to keep his rank. He worked very hard to prove himself once again and in my opinion he has. Both of the NJPs were from 2008, three years ago now. And it is something he honestly can never do again (get it? Underage drinking? He’s 23? Sorry…). But when his reenlistment package goes in front of the board all they are seeing is Ryan on paper, not the amazing Marine he is. On that first page it says 2 NJPs. The first page. They could easily just close it without a second glance. And it breaks my heart. Mistakes my husband made when he was young are hurting us now. One happened before we met, the other when we were first dating. Three years. Since then he has earned a NAM, rose in rank, deployed to Iraq, and is acting platoon sgt! Does none of that matter?!
So now what? Ryan had his career planner try and keep his package going but for Radio Operator. Not much is open. In fact, only 233 spots remain in the entire Marine Corps for this year. See? Not a good time to EAS.
Even with Radio Operator there is a catch. Ryan’s grades from high school in the area of algebra plus his ASVAB scores need to equal a 115 for Radio operator. He has a 114. I kid you not. But! The career planner is going to make some calls and try and push for him since Ryan does have a top secret clearance, that may be enough to make up for that one point? Hopefully this goes through because if Ryan has to start from scratch with a new package it will take a few days to put together and we are just running out of time.
I need your prayers once again bloggers. Hope we can stay in the Marine Corps!
Work is kicking my butt the past few days (and we now have tighter internet restrictions which reeeeeally inhibits the blogging ability :P ) and things have been crazy! And I am still healing nicely.
We may get an answer on Ryan's re-enlistment package by the end of next week. Keep your fingers crossed for us pleeeeease.
Also, send me questions! I don't think I got any in my last post... but I loved your answers! Thank you so much. They definitely made me laugh for some. And I got some new blogs to follow in the process. But ask questions! I would love to do an answer post. Anything, married life, the marines, Disney, acting... go on!
As for my give away.... any takers? Ideas? I am still two away from two hundred and would love to do something special for you all.
1. During military separations (whether short or long) how do you keep yourself positive and motivated?
Well you all are going to throw rocks at me but since we have been married we haven't had one yet! *knock on wood* When Ryan was deployed and we were dating however I was working for an opera and then in Disney World... so I kept myself distracted. I had my USMC pride stuff, shirts and sweatshirts from his platoon, and I emailed him every single day.
2. What is your favorite concert you have ever been to?
Josh Groban <3 Haha yea I am a dork. Coldplay was fun too.
3. What do you miss most about your “hometown”?
I am from the country of Jersey. I miss seeing the stars at night, the quiet, the lack of cars... it is very different living in the city! I still walk every where, even down to the river, but this river in VA is a tad different from the one in NJ! I miss my family and being close to them. I also miss the church I grew up in and was married in. I don't think I will ever find another one quite like it. My mom works there and it feels like a second family to me. I miss it!
4. If you could run in any race, which charity would you choose to support? I've been dying to do the Breast Cancer three day walk for the cure, it is a goal of mine to do that some day.
5. You find out Willy Wonka is your father, what 3 course meal do you INSIST he create in that stick of gum?
First course - Potato soup Second course - Amazing cheeseburger and fries Third course - Chocolate mousse with strawberries
Also sending love and prayers to Japan and the devastaing damage there. I've been watching CNN all day at work, it is heartbreaking. I was very worried until I heard from one of my besties in Hawaii this morning but she and her family are fine.
First of all I have to thank all of you who commented on my last entry. I really really appreciate all your insight and support. So thank you thank you thank you!
So, here's the update/current situation.
Last night we talked about the possibility of Ryan doing recruiting. I even shared some of your comments with him! He really wants to do recruiting and go back to South Carolina for a few years. He would be great at it, I know it. He could talk the fuzz off of a peach if he had to and he loves the Marine Corps. I was a bit jealous that we might end up in his home state, with his friends and family nearby, and him doing the job he wanted. I would be further from my family and friends, have no job at first, and again be in a whole new place! I have visited SC obviously, but living there is a whole new ballpark! We talked about it though. Tears were shed. Compromises made. We went to bed on a good note.
Ryan decided to go in and try and put in for it today.
Full. Zero Boat Space.
In fact, everything is full... except intelligence. Infantry had one space in 0313 (he is 0311) but if he took that, well it would be it. He couldn't lat move again after that and it isn't what he wants. Now with intell he is worried. Ryan has two NJPs on his record from a few years ago for underage drinking. He is afraid that will severely hurt his chances. Plus he needs to write an autobiography as well as a paper on the current events in Egypt (with his opinion on the matter) then go before a selection board. It is an awful lot of work for something that can be so hit or miss. But he doesn't have much of a choice.
Ryan keeps saying if he can't re-enlist in the Marines he may try for the Army. Wait... what?? Since when was that an option?? Well now it is. He wants to try and become an MP or something. Oy. I don't know how you Army Wives do it, but the idea of year long deployments makes me want to hide under our bed with the suitcases and the dust bunnies. :(
*sigh*
I guess just keep us in your thoughts. We'll have to wait and see what happens at this point.
Not my picture, from google, but you get the idea...
Oh. I went out to go to work this morning and my tire had a bubble in it again. Different tire. Smaller bubble. I had to go to the barracks last night for Family Welcome Night (when I have been dating Ryan 2 years and married to him nearly 1 and he was stationed here all the time... but if we both went he earned a day off!) and I parked in the free street parking but on top of this weird asphalt bump. I even asked Ryan if that would damage my tire and he said "Only if you parked there all day. Two hours will be fine."
Flash forward to this morning and there is the bubble. I know I cannot drive on that so I started walking to work. Brr. I called my boss to tell her I'd be late and she insisted on coming to get me. I will most likely walk home in three minutes as Ryan is stuck in traffic somewhere.
