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.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/monsoor.asp

I got an email forward today from my father in law.  I checked it out on Snopes and its true.  The man in the email and the video above is truly a hero.

We have a lot going on at our house lately.  We have been to a bunch of weddings and parties this summer. And while it has been a lot of fun, I am definitely looking forward to some good ol’ cuddle time on my couch.  Of course, that will have to wait until at least next week.  This Saturday is Baby Girl’s birthday party.  She will officially be a 2 year old next week.  I need to get her a new nickname for my blog since she isnt a baby anymore. 

But party planning is in full swing, and the cake is ordered, party sub is ordered, menu is set and the RSVPs are mostly received.  We still have not gotten her a present yet… but Im sure we will get that done in the next few days.  But with the party comes the house anxiety.  I am crazy neurotic about my house when people come to visit.  I have to spend days cleaning parts of the house that most people wont see.  Is there anything under my bed?  That dirty laundry pile in the back corner of the bedroom?  Is there dust under the baby’s crib?  AAHH… who even cares about that stuff?  No one, Im sure.  But I care.  And along with want to clean the crap out of my house, I get  – oh-my-god-my-house-isnt-good-enough anxiety and want to make all these changes to it.  Of course, this only causes more stress since really… my house is fine.  It has its few flaws and some things that are in the bigger picture stuff that we would like to change.  But really it doesnt need to happen before a birthday party.

However, after I painted our bathroom a month or so ago, I decided to paint our bathroom vanity.  It was this ugly oak color that was old and the top glossy layer was chipping off.  So I decided about a month ago to actually start the project.  I took the doors off, took everything out and started sanding.  Then it sat there, just like that.  Until this week.  And in my house anxiety I walked into the bathroom and my head almost exploded.  “Oh My God I Never Finished The Vanity And People Will Be Here In FIVE Days!!!”.  So yeah, I got my butt in gear and I finished sanding and put two layers of primer on the vanity on Monday.  Yesterday I sanded the doors & drawers and put one layer of primer on them.  Tonight is painting night.

I am excited for the vanity to be done.  Next up: Clean the basement.  We have a small ranch house, so we will definitely need the basement for the party.  Right now it’s a huge mess.  Yay! So much to do… so little time.

Right now I really could use a magic wand to wave, and have everything be done and away in its proper place so I can relax.  HAHAHAHAH.  Maybe next week…

I am in two fantasy football leagues.  I enjoy it most of the time.  This year… I am sucking it up big time in both leagues.  I have a lot of decent players.  However those players are: inconsistent, injured, having bad games, their QBs are having bad games, etc.

It’s a bit of a difference from last year where I was last in one league and 1st in the other.  I at least had one that was kickass.

Eeehhh well.  Thats why its a game.  Im not losing any sleep over it, but my pride is hurt a little. 

Maybe my season will turn around… it is only week 5.  Either that or it will be another 10 weeks of Fantasy Football hell.

Wish me luck.

[Cross-posted at LeftFace]

First this news story made me scratch my head. Then it made me angry.

At an apartment complex in Albany, OR residents are not allowed to fly the American Flag.

But to Oaks Apartment management, Clausen said, the American flag symbolizes problems.

Residents are not even allowed to have flags on their vehicles. One resident was told to take the Flag off of his motorcycle, and another was told to take the Flag off of her car that has been there for over 8 years.

Resident we talked to who had been approached to take down their flags all told us the same thing: that management told them the flags could be offensive because they live in a diverse community.

To me that is the biggest bunch of crap I have ever heard. Honestly? The American Flag? the Flag of the country that you currently live in is offensive?

A valid point was brought up by other LeftFace authors, that some apartment complexes have rules regarding flags of certain sizes (or any flags at all) being displayed on balconies and such. However, that is part of the lease agreement and totally understandable. It’s the reasoning behind the banning of the American Flag at this apartment complex that gets my blood boiling. And that fact that they are telling residents to remove them from their cars as well. How do they think that will even fly?

PSH! If you are offended by the American Flag… then don’t look at it. I personally see absolutely NO reason why the Flag would be offensive to anyone, of any ethnic or cultural background. Even if you moved to this country from another country, there is no reason to be offended. You chose to live here. This is a symbol of the place you chose to reside. Don’t like it?  Then choose to live somewhere else.

Problem solved.