Things are going smoothly over in my neck of the woods.  I start my new job next week, husband has orders, and the holidays are coming.  For the first time ever (seriously EVER) I started Christmas shopping early.  I dont really get down on the religious aspects of the holidays anymore, but I still just love Christmas.  There is just something in the air, and I love it.  Getting a tree, decorating, the lights, carols, old Christmas movies   Im not switching over to the Christmas music radio station yet or anything, I believe all holidays have their time and place.  I cannot get into Christmas mode until at least the first full week in December.  But I am very excited to have started shopping.  I have one stocking stuffer for the hubby already, and another is on the way.  I have already figured out what to get him for the big gift so I am really excited about that.  My husband is that guy that buys himself the things he wants.  For his birthday, I wanted to get him an iPod… he bought himself a iTouch.  I was originally going to get him a netbook for Christmas… yeah he bought one of those last month too.  It drives me insane.  But I think I have figured out the perfect gift, and the perfect way to keep it from him hehe!

Also, we decided to host Thanksgiving this year.  Since its our last one here in Michigan, we wanted to spend as much quality time with our families on the holidays as possible.  When we have to split a holiday, it always feels rushed and hurried and I hate that.  So I have a 20 lb turkey, and I am getting a Honeybaked Ham as well.  My fridge and pantry are both stuffed full of stuff that need to be cooked.  I am also making a pumpkin pie and some delicious Tollhouse Cookies   So I will be busy the next few days.  But it will totally be worth it. 

What I am not looking forward to, is the fact that in January my husband has to go off to school to be able to go back to the ship.  Yeah… its only 4 months, but he will be 10 hours away.  I have to get into the mind-set of him being gone more than he is home.  And being the only parent home for lengths of time… well lets just say Im not looking forward to that either.  I know Ill get through it, and everything will be fine.  But damn time is flying by and he will be gone before I know it.

Sigh.

Yes folks my husband finally has his orders in hand!  He called the Senior Chief that filled out his PTS form, to make sure it would be all good to go and that everything would be done in time for next month.  Well two minutes later he had an emailed copy of his orders! 

Oh the relief! 

I never thought I would be this happy for my husband to get orders that move us away from our hometown.  But at this point, its been such a long road to get the orders that I am just so happy to have them.

So hubby is done recruiting probably at the end of December, and will go to Virginia for training from January to May.  He reports to the ship in June! 

Ahh… I feel like we can finally breathe!    Sunshine here we come!

Well Friday I was officially offered the job that I had been trying to get for the past month or so.  I am very very excited.  I will be working from home, and I will be able to take the job with me to California.  They see the move across the country as a good thing, since they have clients out there that I could work with.  So I gave my two week notice at my current job yesterday.  I have never given an actual two week notice before.  This was my first real life grown up job.  I was terrified.  But it went about a million times better than I thought it would go.  My boss wished me well, and was happy for me that I was presented the opportunity.

I was a little in shock, but in a good way.

So I start my new job on the 3rd of December.  Which means I need to get my home office in gear.  Our desk was destroyed when we got the hardwood floors re-done.  My husband thought he could move it by himself.  Yeah… I was not too happy about that.  So I found a desk I like, I need to get it on order and paint the office.  It is a dark navy blue color, but I think if Im going to work in it everyday I would like something  a little more cheerful. 

So Yay!  I have a job locked down for the big move.  Just waiting for the paper copies of the orders.  I have again been reassured that there is nothing to worry about.  Im still going to keep my fingers crossed though. 

Happy Veteran’s Day to all Vets and current Active Duty, Reserve, Guard, etc.  Your service is something that you truly should be thanked for.  I very seriously considered joining the Army back in 2002 when I was a senior in high school.  The logical / realistic part of my brain told me that there was no way that I could handle it.  I know that.  So for everyone that has or is serving, “thank you”.

I want to give a special thanks to the people in my life that have or are serving: my husband (Navy), lil sister #1 (Army), uncle (Marines), great-uncle (Navy), FIL (Army), 3 active duty cousins (Army), 2 veteran cousins (Army), another cousin (Nat. Guard), grandfather (Navy), great-grandfather (Navy), great great grandfather (Army), and countless friends and spouses of friends that are or were in all branches. 

Thank a Vet today.  Buy a red poppy.  Or at least stop and take a moment to remember why these people have a day to honor them.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By: Lt. Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I was not having a good day yesterday.  I was in a terrible mood and having lots of pains so my reaction to the news about the orders flipped me over the edge.  Now that the paperwork is done and sent to approval, I am a little more calm today.  However, they only review this stuff one week per month so we have to wait until the first week in December to get the approval and then the orders.  He was supposed to detach from recruiting in December… so we better get them then.  Or I might actually blow a gasket.

Over reaction or not, someone did not do their job properly.  That is what I am the most upset about.  Thankfully  my husband has more diligence to follow up on this stuff.  I feel bad for the others that may have fallen through the cracks and didnt realize until it was too late.  My husband keeps reassuring me that the orders should be fine, and that he is locked in.  But I will not stop worrying about them until they are in our possession.

I would like the stress from all of this to be over, and for us to be living in the sunshine.  That will be nice. 

But from now until the first week of December, it will be more of the same… wait wait wait.  Ugh.

Isnt that the way it goes?  That things are going wonderfully and someone comes and smacks you in the face with a brick.  I was going to sit down and write about our wonderful weekend away for the Awards Banquet, but too many other things have come up. First I find out that I am about 98% of the way to having a new job.  Just need to work out some details like a start date, and to get an official offer.  But I was very pumped after I got off the phone with the Operations Manager and couldnt wait to tell what I found to the hubby.

Three text messages and an hour later I finally ask him – what the heck?  He was excited for me to talk to her this morning and wanted to hear about it asap.

*plop* thats the proverbial shoe dropping.  D’s orders have not been in the system yet, but we knew they would take a while since the Defense bill was signed late into the fiscal year.  Well today when he checked there was an Alert on his file.  I cannot remember all what he said, but basically there was something that was not done for him to be able to get new orders.  Something about if they dont have your job available anymore, will you be willing to switch… blah blah blah.  Why he needs this is beyond me (and him).  We already HAVE orders picked and negotiated.  He is in a critical job. They are not going to need to change his job anyways.  But what we found out today, is that this process takes about a month to be filed and approved.  Once approved the detailer can official cut his orders.  without the paperwork done and him getting an “approval” to stay in his job… well we are screwed.

This is a big Navy FAIL.  My husband has been checking and double checking that everything he needed was in line.  He emailed his detailer on October 5th, and finally got a response October 27th.  He talked to a Senior Chief in the detailers office two weeks ago that said everything was fine, and he was all set, and just had to wait.   What the Hell?  Did he even look at his file?

I am fuming right now.  So is my husband.  This is something the detailer and the Admin at the Command should have taken care of, or at least noticed.  Everyone seems to know that he needs it, but him.  I guess Im wondering how many phone calls, emails and questions need to be asked until you get an actual answer about what is needed from you.

If this isnt taken care of… like rightthisminute, we could lose the orders to San Diego.  Then we go to Japan.  Fucking Japan.  I do not want to live in JAPAN. 

D’s Chief called someone higher up and he is supposed to be taking care of this as we speak.  He has to call at 1 pm to see where he stands.  He is about > < this close to calling the Command Master Chief and giving him an ear of why / how these guys have failed him.

Not fucking cool Navy.  You better fix this.  RIGHT NOW! 

All we wanted were some orders, and for us to quietly leave recruiting.  Now Im about to go Postal on your ass.

Well finally the Defense bill was signed by President Obama yesterday.  Finally.  Only 28 days into the new fiscal year, but who’s counting?  We have been anxiously awaiting the signing of the bill so that we can get an official copy of the orders to San Diego.  D has been checking on the orders every few days with the detailer since October 1st.  His orders are there in the system but he hasnt gotten the official copy because the DoD had no money.  So now that there is money we should get them soon.  So Yay!  D needs to make arrangements for school in Virginia for next year, and we are just anxious to have them in hand of course.  Nothing like planning your life around a set of orders you haven’t actually seen.  But… Im sure we aren’t the first ones in that boat.

***

My hubby got really excited when I showed him an article from the military.com newsletter about a VBSS team that seized a bunch of narcotics.  He’s hot for VBSS teams, mostly because he was part of one, and hopes to be again.  The headline read: “USS Anzio (CG 68), operating as part of the Combined Maritime Forces, a U.S.-led coalition supporting maritime security operations in the region, seized approximately four tons of hashish found aboard a skiff Oct. 15 in the Gulf of Aden, with an estimated street-value of $28 million.”  And with a picture to boot… my husband was all sorts of giddy.

***

I keep having dreams about moving to San Diego.  In them we are usually living in military housing.  In my dreams the houses are always pastel colors with white trim. And the lawns are lush greens, and the families are so happy and smiley.  It looks like a frigging Enzyte commercial, well… or the stepford wives.  I get into a panic into how I wont fit in, and every one will wont like me.  Not because of the person that I am, but because I just can’t smile all the damn time!  My cheeks hurt in my dream.  And I wake up with jaw pain from apparently trying to smile while I sleep.  It’s freaky.  I’d like this dream to go away.

I know.  Im weird.

***

So with that all being said, I am going to leave you with a picture of my husband all dressed up for a VBSS boarding during his last deployment.  He’s wearing the hat because – he really is the fairest of them all. 

He he!  He’s so sexy!

Today is the 2nd Birthday of my beautiful Baby Girl. 

Two years ago today my life changed forever.  I wouldn’t change it for the world.  She truly is the sunshine in our lives.

I did.  When I was 20, and no I did not get it from kissing.  I dont think I have mono right now, but I do bring it up for one reason.  When you have mono there is this completely consuming fatigue that is uncontrollable and no matter how much caffeine you have, you are still exhausted.  I have felt that way the past few days.  I blamed it on my allergy meds, because they really do make me very drowsy.  I skipped them today and I am just as tired as yesterday.  Cup #2 of coffee and I dont even feel the slightest twinge of alertness.

Yesterday I fell asleep at my desk.  I was staring at the screen, with a hand on my mouse and literally fell asleep. 

When I had mono, (before I knew I had it) I would come home from work and take a soothing bath because I was so stressed and tired.  I cannot tell  you how many times I fell asleep in the tub and would wake up cold and shaking and pruney.

Maybe its my allergies.  Maybe it’s because I never sleep well anymore.  I dont really know that answer.

But if given the chance, I would go and sleep on my couch for about two days straight.

Ahhh… that sounds lovely.

I might sound like a broken record on here when it comes to recruiting.  Maybe it’s because I only post when the Navy is pissing me off.  But right now, I am pissed.  Here’s the deal:  there are practically NO jobs for the recruiters to fill.  The only jobs they currently can fill are: SEAL & Nuke.  Their zone’s goal this month: 4 Nukes & 1 SEAL.  HAHAHAHAH!  Talk about the hardest jobs to fill… yeah.  So what does that mean?  It means my husband has to work from at least 8 am until 8 pm every night.  It means that he has to work on Saturday (our daughter’s birthday party).  It means he has to go knock on high school students doors and ask them if they want to join the Navy. 

So things have not been so fun in our house.  By the time he is home at night Baby Girl is tired and cranky and ready for bed.  And he of course gets frustrated because he wants to spend time with her.  Im winning the Mother of the Year award for letting my daughter watch whatever movies she wants every night while I get this hellish vanity project done. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful for the opportunities that recruiting has given us.  We got to buy a house and start a family.  We had the time together to work out the kinks in our relationship.  And best of all my daughter and husband had at least two solid years together to bond.  I am SO grateful for all of that.  Believe me that I can see how lucky we are.

But right now I am frustrated and angry.  And I will have to go shopping for food for the party, and Baby Girl’s Birthday present, and clean the house, and get everything cooked and prepared for the party, and run the errands – ALL BY MYSELF.

Sigh. 

I think what gets me the most worked up, is that they were told that they had to work late so that they didnt have to come in on Saturday.  Yeah, that worked.

The annual Awards Banquet is in two weeks.  I juuuust might change my mind and go to the spouse’s meeting again.  Last year I opened my mouth, asked some questions and got my husband “talked to”, so I planned on skipping it this year.  Hmm… maybe I should just go in there guns blazing and let these guys have it.

On second thought, Ill just stick to shopping instead.  That could be a bad scene.  I have foot in mouth disease for sure.