Milspouse First Friday Fill In #72

Thanks to Wife of a Sailor for hosting another fun-filled MFF! As always, head over to her site if you’re a milspouse or significant other who wants to link up!

1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed?

Hmm. I think I would do a better job convincing Chris to take my car to DC instead of his (for those who don’t know — Chris went up to check out houses and his car broke down, which is what I was worried about and why I wanted him to take my car instead.) Even though we said we weren’t going to put any more money into it, the repair place said if we fix these two things, the car should run for a couple more years at least and that’s better for us right now than buying a new car so we’re fixing it. But it’s staying up in DC until we PCS up there, so we’re a one car family now. It’s terrible.

2. What was your favorite thing that happened in May?

My BFF called me out of the blue and said she was going to come visit! We had a great time lazing around, eating junk food, watching TV, and going to Savannah – where we went to the Moon River Brewing Company (my favorite!) and Paula Deen’s restaurant (overrated). I miss her!

3. June includes the first day of summer… what are your plans for the summer?

PCSing to DC and getting settled up there! My brother and sister are coming out, and we’re planning to spend a day or two in Baltimore and a day in Philadelphia. I’d like to go up to Annapolis and look around again – I really liked it last time I was up there. And maybe this time I’ll be brave enough to try the soft shelled crab! And we’ll probably go somewhere for our anniversary… maybe NYC again? We’ve got enough airline miles for two tickets to Hawaii (and for two tickets to Europe… thanks direct support tour!) and I’d love to head that way, but I don’t see that happening this summer.

4. Do you use the services on base (gym, financial planning, family services, daycare)? And if so, what’s your favorite one? (thanks to Shanon at Modern Meets Traditional for this question!)

We don’t have kids, so no daycare, and Chris is one of the command financial counselors, so he does our financial planning. I used to use the gym all the time before I joined my MMA gym, but now I go to my other gym instead. I still use the track sometimes, because it’s a three mile track and it’s so much better than running 12 mind numbing laps around a 1/4 mile track, but since it’s warmed up, we’ve been running at the canal on weekends (which has miles markers). So now, pretty much the only time you can find me on basepost is when I’m at the commissary.

5. What are you looking forward to in June?

Moving! And hopefully getting renters and a job!

Milspouse (First) Friday Fill-In #69

You know how it goes… thanks to Wife of a Sailor for hosting! Head on over to her blog if you want to link up!

1. What is your favorite/most unique anniversary/birthday gift from your spouse? suggested by Bel at Being a Better Me

Hmmm. Well Bones was a birthday present of sorts and I adore her, so probably that. But this year for my birthday, we went to the Zac Brown New Year’s Eve concert in Atlanta and that was pretty amazing too!

2. What’s your first thought when you see it’s snowing (or what would you say if you don’t live somewhere with snow? suggested by Poekitten from Many Waters

“Why is this rain weird?” Heh… no joke, that’s what I said last time it snowed here. I’ve only seen snow falling a few times and it always confuses me. But then I get really excited!

3. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed? suggested by Erika from Chambanachik

I wish my recruiter would have responded to my emails sooner so I could have put in for the March Reserve board… but I guess waiting for September won’t kill me!

4.What was your favorite thing that happened in February?

February was pretty uneventful for me, but… oh! Two of Chris’s friends that he deployed with on the Abe Lincoln were randomly in Atlanta. They called us and we made the drive out there to meet up with them for dinner. We saw the wife and their two (adorable) children when we were out in San Diego for my sister’s wedding, but we hadn’t seen the husband in a few years. We met up at the Mellow Mushroom (where both our pizzas were comped for reasons I’m still not quite clear on) and had a great time just talking and catching up

5. What are you looking forward to in March?

Hearing back about a couple of job applications! Well at least I think I’m looking forward to it. We’ll find out soon enough I guess

Milspouse Friday Fill In #66

Ok, all our guests are gone and the storyline I developed in my head while I was traveling/hosting has been written out (my book is a good 50 pages longer), so now I’m back. For reals back. I even have two blog posts in my head! So to celebrate my being back, here’s Wife of a Sailor’s Milspouse Friday Fill In. You know the drill. Head over there to link up if you are so inclined.

1. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to keep losing weight and working out. I dropped 25 pounds this year, let’s hope I can do another 25 this year! (And then I’ll be super amazingly content.)

2. One thing I’d like to happen next year is to get a job! I’ve got some prospects on the horizon, but nothing for sure yet.

3. One thing I’m looking forward to next year is PCSing to DC! Jobs for me! My BFF Casey and so many friends from grad school! No more Georgia!

4. One change I’d like to see next year is the Republicans nominating someone who can actually win (read: Jon Huntsman). Not holding out hope for that though.

5. My plans for NYE include ringing in my 28th birthday somehow! Details not yet determined.

Milspouse Friday Fill In #59

Thanks Wife of a Sailor for hosting another fun-filled MFF! As always, head over to her site if you’re a milspouse or significant other who wants to link up!

1. My favorite thing that happened this week was going to Carrabba’s with two friends whose husbands are also deployed. Good food, good company, and chocolate cake can’t go wrong.

2. Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck. But Kenickie will hit his head on a car door and be out of the race.

3. Autumn is officially here and my favorite part of the season is college football (GO STANFORD!). Also, see this post.

4. One of the things I’d like to do before winter arrives is figure out how to shut off the water outside so the sprinkler pipes don’t burst.

5. I WOULD be willing to participate in MilSpouse Secret Santa.

Milspouse Friday Fill In 56

Thanks Wife of a Sailor for hosting another fun-filled MFF! As always, head over to her site if you’re a milspouse or significant other who wants to link up!

My plans for this weekend include cleaning and running, but what I’d really like to do is go the the beach.

I consider the Labor Day holiday a good excuse for a BBQ.

My favorite meal for cookouts BBQs is carne asada, rice, and beans, but my southern friends probably wouldn’t agree.

This is probably a regional difference, but the word cookout is not in my vocabulary. I say BBQ — which means anytime we cook something on a BBQ regardless of what it is Yes Southern friends, I realize you think this is blasphemy.

So far, my favorite part of summer has been the two weeks Chris was home!.

When it comes to deployments, my philosophy is they happen, but they’re not the end of the world. Accept it and carry on.

Milspouse Friday Fill In #54

Thanks Wife of a Sailor for hosting another fun-filled MFF! As always, head over to her site if you’re a milspouse or significant other who wants to link up!

1. My spouse and I rarely agree on _________________, but always agree on just about everything… Seriously, even we tried to brainstorm something we rarely agree on, we couldn’t come up with anything. We’re too mellow.

2. If I could use one word to sum up the way I feel right now, it would be lazy.

3. One of the things my spouse does that grosses me out is puts so much mayo and mustard on his sandwiches that it squishes out the side. Just writing that made me gag.

4. My readers may think I’m crazy for doing this, but I really love to listen to military cadences while I run.. Seriously motivational.

5. Frankly, my dear, I don’t care about calories today.

What’s Your Song: In America

My song this week is “In America” by the Charlie Daniels Band. Have you ever heard any Charlie Daniels besides “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”? I know way too many people who haven’t. Anyway, “In America” is probably one of my favorite songs of all time and I’ve been blasting it in my car this week, so it’s my song of the week.

Well the eagle’s been flying slow
and the flag’s been flying low
And a lot of people are saying
that America’s fixing to fall
But speaking just for me
and some people from Tennessee
we got a thing or two to tell you all

This lady may have stumbled
but she ain’t never fell
And if the Russians don’t believe that
they can all go straight to hell
We’re gonna put her feet back on
the path of righteousness and then
God bless America again

And you never did think that
it ever would happen again
In America, did you?
You never did think that
we’d ever get together again
Well we damn sure fooled you

We’re walking real proud and
we’re talking real loud again in America
You never did think that
it ever would happen again

From the sound up in Long Island
out to San Francisco Bay
And every thing that’s
in between them is our home
And we may have done a little
bit of fighting amongst ourselves
but you outside people best leave us alone

Cause we’ll all stick together
and you can take that to the bank
That’s the cowboys and the hippies
and the rebels and the yanks
You just go and lay your head
on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan
and I think you’re gonna finally understand

P.S. I may or may not have been listening to this while trying to come up with a name for my blog.
P.P.S. I’ve got my husband home for not long enough an unspecified period of time so I’ll be neglecting my blog for a while

Milspouse Friday Fill-In # 50

Thanks Wife of a Sailor for hosting another fun-filled MFF! As always, head over to her site if you’re a milspouse or significant other who wants to link up!

1. Do you eat raw cookie dough?

Yep! But only homemade… the stuff in the tubs tastes funny. I always have and I’ve somehow made it to the ripe age of 27.5 without contracting salmonella. I like to live dangerously.

2. When you get online for the first time of the day… what site do you immediately head to?

My browser opens to Gmail and Twitter. From there, I go to my comics (For Better or For Worse and Luann) and my advice columns (Ask Amy, Carolyn Hax, Annie’s Mailbox, Dear Abby). If I don’t start my day with them, it throws the rest of the day off!

3. What was your favorite pet as a child and why?

Umm. Tough question. I guess Roundy, because she was my cat. But I wasn’t big on pets on when I was little – my allergies were REALLY bad. Luckily, I grew out of my dog allergies as I got older. The cat allergies not so much… they still make my eyes water and certain cats make my hands swell when I pet them

4. If you had a snail that could magically grant wishes, what would you name it?

Tommy the Wish Snail.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?

You know, when I was in high school, we had a calculus problem where we had to calculate how much one lick removed from the Tootsie Roll Pop and then use that to figure how how many licks it takes to get the center… I got it right (at least for my specific lick), but I don’t remember the answer. Not even a little bit.

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #48

Thanks Wife of a Sailor for hosting another fun-filled MFF! As always, head over to her site if you’re a milspouse or significant other who wants to link up!

Does your Significant Other read your blog? Why is this a good or a bad thing? submitted by Mrs. Alana’s Miscellany

Yes, he does. It’s not a good thing or a bad thing, it just is

What is one item in your house that holds the most sentimental value and why? submitted by The Albrecht Squad

Two things: (1) my box of ticket stubs, notes from friends, letters, cards, etc that I’ve had since middle school. It’s literally bursting at the seams… I should probably get a new sturdier box soon. (2) my dad’s sweatshirt from the police academy with our last name (my maiden name) on it. It’s so thin and worn now, but I love it.

When it comes to water fun in the summer do you prefer the beach, the pool, a lake, or the sprinklers? submitted by The Turvo Times

If I had grown up in the South, I might say the beach. But because I grew up in California, where the water at the beach is always freezing, and I don’t like swimming in lakes because of fish, I’m going to say pools. But regardless of freezing water, I love the beach! Here in Georgia is the furthest I’ve ever lived from a beach (~3 hours) and I didn’t realize how much I would miss it.

What is the one special thing that you do for yourself to get you through the first week of a deployment/separation? submitted by A Creed and a Psalm

The day that Chris leaves, I treat myself to a nutritionally crappy dinner – chicken tenders from Sticky Fingers with sweet potato fries and broccoli cheese casserole, a loaded burrito from Barberito’s, broccoli cheese soup or loaded baked potato soup from Panera, etc. I think I once even went to KFC. Those things are not in my normal diet at all, so it gives me something to look forward to after Chris leaves.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure website? submitted by Christine’s Little Blog

A Hamburger Today. When I read A Hamburger Today, I secretly wish that my job was driving around and reviewing different hamburgers. Hamburgers are pretty much one of my favorite foods ever. And the second is pizza. Coincidentally, there’s also a website for that: Slice. Mmm hamburgers and pizza

What’s Your Song #20

[click above to see other participants this week]

I’ve always enjoyed seeing different bloggers post their songs because (1) it gives me a way to tell what day of the week it is, (2) I love music, and (3) I love finding new music. For some reason or another, I’ve never participated so this is my first song – and it’s not even a country song!

I was introduced to Damien Jurado by one of my good friends in college and “Ohio” has always been one of my favorite of his songs. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.