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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

Courtesy of My Hubby

I’m sure you all have seen the story of the pirates off the coast of Somalia, that tried to overtake the Maersk Alabama last Wednesday.  After five days of holding the Captain of the ship hostage Navy SEAL sharpshooters killed three of the pirates, and a fourth is in custody.  The Captain was rescued and is fine.  I for one am happy to hear that Capt. Richard Phillips is okay, since situations like that usually end up much worse. 

My husband on the other had read the news story – screamed, cheered, and then ran to tell me what happened.  I think he even Hoorah-ed. He was excited to read about the SEALs in action.  And in all honesty, I’m sure he would give anything to be a part of something like that.  On his last ship (a destroyer) he was a part of the VBSS team.  I’m sure he was waiting for the day he could do something that “awesome”.  If you are unfamiliar with what VBSS is here is the watered down version:

VBSS (Visit, Board, Search & Seizure) is a small group of physically fit, good swimmers, good with their weapons.  The guys go through extra training to make sure they can handle themselves properly if needed in a hostile situation and all that good stuff.  The main focus is to combat terrorism and other illegal activities, such as hijacking, drug trafficing and piracy.  They get on a small boat, extend a hook thing, climb board other vessels, search them, and then seize things if necessary.   Okay very watered down version

D has been to training at the place formerly known as Blackwater a few times for it.  I’m sure when he is back on a ship he will volunteer for VBSS again.  He loved it.  He actually has bought his own tactical gear- bullet proof vest, gun holsters, some strappy things, etc.  you know – just in case (whatever that means)    In fact  he loves to spend hours searching the internet for cool new tactical things.  He really is a dork.  But in all honesty it was something he loved, and while he was on deployment it was something that he looked forward to doing.  And like I said, if he was ever in a situation where he was able to be a part of a rescue or anything it would probably be one of his most proud moments.  Not because of glory, no.  But because of his love for what he does, and the thrill of it all.

Baby Girl is teething.  Again.  She is crabby and miserable and doesnt want to eat.  And the most wonderful part is that she is not sleeping well.  I was up a few times last night, so getting out of bed this morning was rough.

So Ive been thinking a lot about having a second child.  And Im not so sure I want to anymore.  Call me completely selfish….but I know it will be very hard on me once we leave here and are stationed somewhere else.  Im sure D will end up on a ship that will be deploying, and I dont know if I can handle a young toddler and a new infant.  I rely so much on D right now, and he does a wonderful job, I just cant imagine doing it all over again without him.  So I thought to myself the other night: what if we just dont have another kid?  Maybe once we move and our situation changes I will change my mind.  But Ive never wanted a lot of kids, two max…and before I got pregnant some days I wasnt even sure if I wanted kids at all.

I know Ive rambled on in a couple of posts about kids / moving / deployments….but I think the reality just hit me that this will in fact happen.  And I need to get my mind prepared.  Deployments, and military life is hard enough without kids…

Sometimes I get a little neurotic and worry that I will not be a good mother while he is gone.  There were some days I could barely drag my butt out of bed, or off the couch from a chick flick marathon missing him so much my whole body ached.  What am I going to do on the days I feel like that and I will have to be mom & dad? 

I know I am completely getting ahead of myself here.  Its just been some worries / stresses going through my head lately… I definitely worry too much.

I love wine nights with my best.  No matter what kind of mood Im in, she always manages to make it better. 

So she cooked dinner and I brought the wine, which were both delicious.  And we got a chance to chat and catch up and just be us.  We really dont do this kind of thing enough.  Makes me think of when D was gone on deployment and she was always there for me. Every single day, even if we didnt do a thing. 

So it looks like her man will be going to Iraq after all.  Sometime after labor day I guess.  Deployments are never fun, but I think her and I will get to see each other more… or at least I will make sure that she’s not sitting home being sad the whole time.

Well my brain is fried today… and I definitely need a nap…. so I dont have much to say.

Well I got some “girlfriend” time this weekend   My best and I got all dressed up and headed out on Saturday night to some of our favorite spots.  First was the always fun piano bar, then the dinky hole in the wall, diamond in the rough bar / dance spot a few blocks away.  I dont get to see her nearly enough, and the night was just perfect.  We got to sing, dance and chat it up at the piano bar, and then do some serious butt shaking later.  He he.

Her and I are like female soulmates.  We are both weird and goofy and love to laugh…. there is never a dull moment between us.  But the best part is, that she gets me – good and bad and doesnt judge anything.  And Im the same for her.  Its love I tell ya.

Well she disclosed that her boyfriend (and Air Force Reservist) is possibly going to be going to the middle east for 45-60 days.  I guess he had the opportunity to volunteer to go over there and he is seriously considering it.  Im pretty sure if she wasnt in the picture… he would already be over there.  But he is worried how she will handle it.  Aww.. how cute. But she is a very stong woman, and she was there for me during my wonderful 6 month deployment and I think that makes her a little more at ease.  His would be 60 days at the most. 

I know she can handle it, even if she doesnt know already.  She was one of the biggest influences that got me through mine and D’s deployment.  Always there to chat, or come over, or take me out when I needed it.  So I think I can do the same for her

“A part of you has grown in me. And so you see, it’s you and me together forever; and never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart”

How wonderfully appropriate. Babe and I have spent a lot of time apart in our relationship… but we became so close over that time. It just made all that time worth it.

This one got me through his last deployment: “Distance between two hearts is not an obstacle; rather a great reminder of how strong true love can be.”

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