You know what frustrates me to absolutely NO END about military spouses?
The pissing contests.
You probably know what I'm talking about.
For example: someone on a military message board I posted on started a thread asking for Valentines day ideas. She's a newlywed, young, and really sweet. She just wanted some ideas on how to make it special.
In comes "pity-me" spouse...
"My husband and I have never spent a Valentines day together since we started dating, and won't this year either", "I usually just send him a care package", "He got to watch me open the flowers he sent me on Skype once".
That's sweet.
Poor girl just wanted some ideas about how to do Valentines day.
By the way, she is ALSO a military spouse. So the fact that you've missed and/or are missing holidays with your spouse is not new or special around here.
I wish wives would quit trying to out-do one another's experiences.
There are millions, MILLIONS, of other people who have been in your situation. While it might be unique to your social circle, it is not unique to this lifestyle.
There is no award for having the best sob story or dealing with the most deployments.
And there is certainly no honor in making other spouses feel bad for being able to be with their spouse while you're not. If anything, it makes you look bitter, and nasty, and ridiculous.
Ugh. This just makes me SO angry!
How about just answering her question? If you can't, you can't. No harm, no foul.
Trust me, I'm not one for blowing smoke up someone's ass or sugarcoating things. I'm blunt and believe in tough love.
This is not that sort of situation. She didn't need perspective, or to be made to feel bad purely because she gets to spend time with her husband on Valentines day. She needed ideas.
Don't be that person. Seriously.
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29 January, 2012
27 January, 2012
No more BCG's!
The Marine Corps is doing away with the famed birth control glasses that we all know and love.
The Husband has several pair of these things floating around the house and his truck. Why? I have no idea. Especially now that he's had Lasik.
I've seen the new frames and they're pretty fashionable.
But still! I'm a little torn about this.
I feel like a part of Marine Corps history is about to die.
What do you think abou the change? Pin It Now!
12 January, 2012
The bright side.
Doing the long distance thing is a fact of life for us military wives. It happens. We end up with months upon months of time spent away from our spouses. Sometimes it's willingly (like when I went back to school and left The Husband in 29 Palms) and sometimes it's against our will (like the famous deployments).
In order to get through those times, it is essential that we look on the brighter side of these situations.
I know how easy it is to fall into a depression during those times, how easy it is to get frustrated and sad, how easy it is to just mope and give up. I've been there.
But for now, let's focus on the good parts of these separations, because they DO exist!
This is my list:
1: I can eat sushi whenever I want without The Husband making a face. He hates fish of any kind and sushi just kind of sends him over the edge.
2: The TV is mine. Teen Mom and Maury marathons, here I come!
3: The bed is also mine. One of the things we decided that we were going to buy when we moved to San Diego was a grown up bedroom set. My parents bought us a bed and nightstand set from IKEA as a gift not long after we moved to 29 Palms. It was cute and served it's purpose, but the mattress we were using was not comfortable (For us. My parents LOVE how firm it is... which is fine with me. They're the ones sleeping on it when they visit now.), and the set is no longer our "style". As soon as we could, when we got to San Diego, we went out and bought a master bedroom suite. Complete with a California king mattress that I'm pretty sure is actually a cloud lined in gold that shoots rainbows that was made by mystical creatures that ride unicorns to work. And when The Husband isn't there, I get that whole thing to myself. If you're like me, I like to do what I call "the starfish" in bed. Imagine this is me...
In order to get through those times, it is essential that we look on the brighter side of these situations.
I know how easy it is to fall into a depression during those times, how easy it is to get frustrated and sad, how easy it is to just mope and give up. I've been there.
But for now, let's focus on the good parts of these separations, because they DO exist!
This is my list:
1: I can eat sushi whenever I want without The Husband making a face. He hates fish of any kind and sushi just kind of sends him over the edge.
2: The TV is mine. Teen Mom and Maury marathons, here I come!
3: The bed is also mine. One of the things we decided that we were going to buy when we moved to San Diego was a grown up bedroom set. My parents bought us a bed and nightstand set from IKEA as a gift not long after we moved to 29 Palms. It was cute and served it's purpose, but the mattress we were using was not comfortable (For us. My parents LOVE how firm it is... which is fine with me. They're the ones sleeping on it when they visit now.), and the set is no longer our "style". As soon as we could, when we got to San Diego, we went out and bought a master bedroom suite. Complete with a California king mattress that I'm pretty sure is actually a cloud lined in gold that shoots rainbows that was made by mystical creatures that ride unicorns to work. And when The Husband isn't there, I get that whole thing to myself. If you're like me, I like to do what I call "the starfish" in bed. Imagine this is me...
I like to do that in the middle of my bed. When The Husband is away, I can do that without punching him in the face. It's glorious!
4: No shaving. Need I say more?
5: There isn't an alarm clock waking me up at 4 or 5 am. The Husband uses his phone for his alarm and the ringtone he uses to wake him up is less than comforting. It has startled me out of a dead sleep many-a-time.
6: The radio and the seat in the car are always the same!
Those are a few of my favorites. I'm not trying to minimize time spent away from one another, so please don't take it that way. I know how much it sucks. I am however just trying to put a spin on it so we don't all end up in a dark corner of our houses with a bottle of Jack and "Arms of An Angel" on repeat.
What are some things that you guys look forward to during your alone time?
Also: My best friend is also a blogger over here at Three Years Down and could use some words of encouragement. She and her Boyfriend are doing the long distance thing right now and it's tough! We all know how a kind word can help, so head on over, check out her blog and leave an encouraging word or two.
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08 January, 2012
It's a new year!
Happy new year everyone (yeah, I know, about a week late)!
I don't usually make resolutions, but I do have a few goals in mind for this year.
1: Go one full year without having to make an insurance claim on the truck. Ha! One of those stupid cement poles meant to protect property was caught on the wheel well on the passenger side. ::riiiiiiip:: And there went the wheel well. The truck is getting repaired. Again. ::sigh::
2: Get back in shape. And OMG, actually follow through!
3: Find a job. Any job.
4: Be happier by choice. I'm currently working on forgiveness, moving on, and enjoying the good things and letting go of the bad. It's a tough process, but it's time to start and get somewhere new.
5: Stick to our budget! The Husband and I always come up with budgets and we never stick to them. We're really bad about it. Well... okay. I'm bad at sticking to budgets. I see something I want to buy or do and I have to pretty much buy or do it immediately. But I really want to work on actually saving for things that I want. I think that will feel like a big accomplishment as opposed to just doing things on impulse.
6: Kick 2012's ass.
Did you guys set any goals for this year? Pin It Now!
I don't usually make resolutions, but I do have a few goals in mind for this year.
1: Go one full year without having to make an insurance claim on the truck. Ha! One of those stupid cement poles meant to protect property was caught on the wheel well on the passenger side. ::riiiiiiip:: And there went the wheel well. The truck is getting repaired. Again. ::sigh::
2: Get back in shape. And OMG, actually follow through!
3: Find a job. Any job.
4: Be happier by choice. I'm currently working on forgiveness, moving on, and enjoying the good things and letting go of the bad. It's a tough process, but it's time to start and get somewhere new.
5: Stick to our budget! The Husband and I always come up with budgets and we never stick to them. We're really bad about it. Well... okay. I'm bad at sticking to budgets. I see something I want to buy or do and I have to pretty much buy or do it immediately. But I really want to work on actually saving for things that I want. I think that will feel like a big accomplishment as opposed to just doing things on impulse.
6: Kick 2012's ass.
Did you guys set any goals for this year? Pin It Now!
