Homecoming

Sorry for the long delay!  There's not a whole lot of time for blogging now that my love is home, but I wanted to dedicate a post to his wonderful homecoming.

Homecoming was amazing!  In fact, the amazingness started with him first arriving in the US.  He was in Texas for about a week, but that week was great!  We could text and call whenever we wanted.  Sometimes I would call him in the middle of the day just to say hi, because I could.  I was crazy busy that week with getting everything ready for his homecoming.  I made "camo" Rice Krispies treats, angel food cake, and chili.  I hung a welcome home banner and balloons outside.  (Thank you www.buildasign.com/Troops for the free sign!!)  I also prepared a little welcome home bag for him with a sampler of beer from a local micro brewery, some salt water taffy, and the best gift of all: his renewed Costco membership.

The night before homecoming I stayed up until midnight to change my deployment countdown for the last time.  000 looked wonderful!

I think J's flight was scheduled to arrive at 10:00 p.m.  I cleaned most of the day and then just waited for the clock to tick.  I couldn't believe it when it was time to leave. 

The airport was so much fun.  There were three flights that night with troops from J's unit.  J was on the last flight.  I thought this would drive me crazy waiting, but I enjoyed watching the homecomings.  There really is nothing more wonderful than seeing loved ones reunited.  So much happiness!  It was also fun getting to chat with the parents and significant others while we waited.  Everyone was excited!

Then the time came for J's flight to land.  It was DELAYED!  Ok, not by long, but when you've waited a year, you really do not want to wait an extra ten minutes.  Then he texted me, "Landed!"  I walked a little closer to where the security gate stood.  I had seen so many troops in uniform come through by that point that I almost couldn't believe it when I glimpsed J walking toward me.  He was walking with one of his friends and I thought, "Is that...?  Is that...?  Oh my gosh, it's J!!!"  And then I ran toward him!  Within seconds I was in his arms!  The most amazing feeling in the world!!  

One Year Down

This weekend was full of excitement!!  Saturday marked one year since J was deployed.  One whole year!  And Sunday I received the news I waited one year and one day to hear: J is back in the United States!  He is safe and this deployment is almost over!  

It's incredible really.  I remember that feeling before J was deployed, and throughout the deployment, that a year deployment was an eternity.  It seemed like an insurmountable amount of time that could never end.  

But a year has passed!  A year and two days in fact!!!  How did we ever make it this far?  It seems impossible!  

I'm pretty sure that text from J, telling me he is in the USA, was the happiest news I've ever heard.  That pure happiness just keeps on going!  I couldn't stop smiling all day.  I can't stop smiling now!  All I can think is, "J is almost home!!"  Since J is in the National Guard, he does post-deployment at a military base in the United States before coming home.  This means he isn't quite home yet, but he's close!  SO CLOSE!

Even though he's not quite home yet, life is already so amazing again!  Today at lunch I called J, not because I had anything to say, BUT BECAUSE I COULD!!!  Yes, phones now work two ways!  He can call me AND I can call him!  And you know what?  If I miss a call, I can just go ahead and call him right back!!  It is AMAZING!  And text messaging!!  I love it!  It's like we can talk all day long!

It's amazing how happy I am just having J in the same country as me.  I'm sure I will start dreaming of J's homecoming soon, but for today, I'm just happy to know he's safe and just a phone call away!

Life's Not Fair

I recently read that one of the tricks to happiness is not to compare your life to others.  That's some pretty good advice because life is simply not fair.  

When I go about comparing, my problem is perspective.  Why do I always compare my life to people who I view as having "more" than me, but ignore all the people who have "less" than me?  What's even worse is that I seem to pick bits and pieces out of others' lives.  I don't even compare my entire life to someone else's entire life, I dwell on one thing I'm upset about in my life, and think about someone's life where that one thing is better.

"OH THE INJUSTICE," I think.

This deployment has been a key example of this comparison problem.  

I find myself looking at my friends with wonderful, non-deployed significant others and thinking that this deployment IS NOT FAIR!  In my comparison, I of course don't consider any other aspect of their lives, and I ignore all people not in happy relationships.  

Today has been particularly bad for my comparison mentality.  I can't give many details, but the general issue is that J is coming home after the rest of his unit.  This means that my friends get to see their significant others much sooner than I will see J.  I am so happy for them, but I can't help thinking it's not fair!  

I've tried looking for some silver lining, but I'm coming up dry.  The problem though isn't a failed search for silver lining, it's my perspective.  Why am I focusing on this one thing that seems (and is) unfair, but ignoring everything else?  Yes, between this small group of girls, I got a bad deal on this one particular issue, but that doesn't even mean I got the "worst" deal on the deployment as a whole.  Why do I compare this one bad thing and somehow think I picked the short straw in this deployment and life?

For just a moment, I am going to take a step back and change my perspective.  I'm going to stop comparing and just count my blessings:

I am so blessed to have J in my life.  I don't think I'll ever be able to describe how amazing J is or how much I love him!  It's incredible knowing someone worth going through this deployment for.  

I am blessed to have people in my life who have been so supportive this year.  It's unbelievable how much of a blessing they have all been.  Friends and family have called, sent texts, emailed, etc., constantly giving me support.  Whenever I'm having a bad day, someone's always there to make it better.  In fact, I came home tonight to two boxes my mom sent to cheer me up!  

I have also met great girls who went through this deployment with me.  I am so fortunate to have had friends in the same boat with whom I could go through this deployment.

My sister is about to have a baby and I am SO EXCITED TO BE AN AUNT!

I have a great job.  Despite this economy, I have found a job in my field, doing something I enjoy, and working with wonderful people.

I have a craft room!

I have an incredible cookie cutter collection!

Ok, this could go on for some time...

When I start thinking about "how unfair this deployment is", the biggest thing I need to keep in mind is that every day of this deployment has been my choice.  Every day I have woken up and thought about how much I love J and how this is all worth it.  Obviously, deep down I know I didn't draw the short straw.  

So the bottom line, as it relates to this deployment and my entire life, is this:

 LIFE IS NOT FAIR.  I have been unfairly blessed.

My Happiness Project

I'm tired of being sad.  This deployment has gone on long enough and I am ready to be happy!  So, although the deployment carries on, I am just going to be happy anyway!  SO THERE!

Here's my plan:  

I need to start focusing on everything I have to be thankful for.  The list really is long.  I think when my focus shifts away from the deployment and onto the blessing in my life, I will be happier.  To do this, I am going to write one thing down each night that I am thankful for.  It can be anything, something that happened that day or something more general in my life.  It will be a chance to reflect on my blessings.  

The second thing I will do is write a goal for each day.  I need to have an active plan to be more positive and happy.  My goals can be: "find one thing I enjoy in each activity I do that day" or "take a moment each hour to smile " or "call a friend to chat", etc.  I always think goals should be something I do rather than something I don't do.  Active goals feel more positive and are harder to break.  For example, if my goal is, "Don't say anything negative all day," I could fail by lunch, throw the goal out the window, and feel worse for my efforts.  I prefer a goal like, "For every negative comment I make, I will make one positive comment."  That way I can't fail.  If I accidentally say something negative, I just need to think of a positive comment to also say.  

The final thing I will do is give thanks for each day when I wake up.  This deployment has been all about counting down the days, but I'm ready to start appreciating and enjoying them.  Life is precious and I want to give thanks for each day I have.

Wish me luck on my HAPPY endeavors!  

Paleo Pumpkin Muffin Bake-Off

My most recent deployment project has been my quest to find the perfect paleo pumpkin muffin recipe. To find the perfect recipe, I found four different recipes and decided to have my own little bake-off.

Background: I have recently heard a lot about the paleo diet so I became curious.  After doing a little online research, I learned that it is a dairy-free, gluten-free diet.  This is perfect for me because I'm allergic to dairy and my mom is allergic to gluten.  I am excited that I can now find recipes that fit both our allergies.  The reason for doing pumpkin muffins is probably obvious: I love pumpkin!!!!!  

Preparation:  I looked up recipes online and found four that seemed good.  I wanted to try a variety of recipes so I could really compare.  The main difference in the recipes I chose seemed to be in the type of flour used.  Two recipes used just almond flour, one used a mix of almond flour and coconut flour, and one used just coconut flour.  Once I chose my recipes, I began collecting ingredients.  Most of the ingredients were easy to find.  The one ingredient that proved difficult to find was raw honey. I randomly found some raw honey one day when I was out of town and had no idea what a great find it was!  Once I ran out, I struggled to find more.  Luckily, my mom and sister saved the day and found a store that sold it so I have stocked up!  Here are all the ingredients ready to go:

The Ingredients

Baking: I made two recipes one night and two recipes a second night to spread out the fun.  The recipes themselves were easy.  With a small exception in Recipe #1, each recipe calls for preheating the oven, mixing all the ingredients, scooping the mixture into 12 muffin tins, and baking for the required time.  Once you have the ingredients, making the muffins is easy!  Here are the four recipes:

Recipe #1: Just Almond Flour, Raw Honey, Almonds on Top

Recipe #1 Prior to Baking

Recipe # 1 After Baking

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup almond flour
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/8 tsp sea salt 
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 2 tsp almond butter
• (sliced almonds to sprinkle on top)

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients except sliced almonds
• Scoop into 12 muffins tins
• Sprinkle Sliced Almonds on top
• Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees

Notes:

• I made a couple modifications to the original recipe.  I tried the recipe three times with different amounts of pumpkin pie spice and preferred the 1/2 tsp.  I also sprinkled the almonds on top prior to cooking, rather than after.
• Please find the original recipe at: http://paleopumpkinmuffins.com/

Recipe #2: Just Coconut Flour

                                                                                    Ingredients:

Recipe #2 Prior to Baking

•  1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)
• 6 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 Tbs honey
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp baking power 

Recipe #2 After Baking

Directions:

• Bake for 12 minutes at 400 degrees

Notes:

• Please find the original recipe at: http://www.cindystable.com/paleo-pumpkin-muffins-using-coconut-flour/

Recipe #3: Almond Flour, Walnuts, Most Almond Butter

Recipe #3 Prior to Baking

Recipe #3 After Baking

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tsp baking power
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

• Bake for 32-35 minutes at 350 degrees

Notes:

• Please find the original recipe at: http://carrotsncake.com/2012/03/paleo-pumpkin-walnut-muffins.html

Recipe #4: Almond Flour and Coconut Flour

• Recipe #4 was not a hit with my tasters so I have decided to not include the recipe here.  I think the problem for me and my tasters was that the mix of almond flour and coconut flour in this recipe created a strange texture.  

Recipe #4 Prior to Baking

Recipe #4 After Baking

The results: 

I would say that Recipe #1 won hands down.  I was absolutely amazed that it really tasted like a muffin.  I would never have guessed that it was gluten-free and low-carb.  I have been very addicted to this recipe since I found it.  I actually just made another batch tonight and have eaten three muffins while writing this post!

Recipe #2 is unique in a good way.  It has the consistency of the inside of a pumpkin pie.  For this reason, it would be a mistake to make this recipe expecting an ordinary muffin.  This recipe is also best cold.  I hated it when it first came out of the oven, but I really liked it when I ate it cold the next day.  The reviews on this muffin have been mixed, but strong.  People seem to either really like it or really dislike it.

Recipe #3 is good.  I loved the walnuts in it.  It has a lot of almond butter, which gives it a moist consistency.

As I mentioned previously, I did not care for Recipe #4.  It wasn't horrible, but it isn't a recipe I'd make again.

So the winner is Recipe #1, with Recipes #2 and #3 tied for second place!

Sampling
Top Row: #3, #2
Bottom Row: #4, #1

Waiting for the Phone to Ring

I want to talk to J so much right now!  I am having a bad day.  Of course, there is no way for me to call him.  All I can do is sit here and stare at my phone, willing it to ring.

People say a watched pot doesn't boil, but those people have clearly never left a pot unattended only to later find that the contents have boiled over the pot and all over the stove.  That's the same with a watched phone.  If people think a watched phone doesn't ring, that's only because they've never missed a phone call from their love.

I hate missing phone calls, but no matter what I do, there's no way to always hear it ring.  When I'm at home, I keep my phone on loud and wear clothes with pockets so I can carry my phone around with me as I move through the house to clean or do laundry.  Even so, sometimes I don't hear it ring.  Sometimes the phone is in my purse while I drive or shop for groceries.  Somehow, I don't hear it ring.  Sometimes I have the volume turned down low at work, and I don't hear it ring.  I have missed J's calls even with my phone sitting right next to me on my desk.  Sometimes I'm in the shower or out for a run.  On those occasions I don't even have a chance to hear the ring.  

Missing a call propels me into days of staring at my phone.  "I will never shower again," I promise!  It is tormenting.  I find myself trying to sneak small things in - "If I get up at 6:00 and rush to the grocery store, I wonder if I can get back in time so as to not risk missing J's call?"  

Basing my schedule around the phone is fine if he calls early, but it's not so good if he calls late, or not at all.  Spending an entire day racing to do small tasks, while mostly staring at the phone, is rough.  There's not a lot you can do while waiting for that ring.

Cell phones don't seem to help.  Sure, in some ways this deployment is certainly easier with a cell phone.  I can take my phone with me to the mailbox or for a walk around the block, but it's not like J and I can have a full conversation when I'm checking out at the grocery store.  If I'm out with a friend, I can pick up the phone, but I can't have a 45-minute phone call in the middle of dinner.  In those situations, even if I hear the ring, a quick hello is not what I want.  What I want is to have a real conversation with my love.  

Somehow I've managed to miss J's calls even while staring at my phone.  I remember one horrible night when he tried calling while I was driving home from work.  My phone was in my purse and I didn't hear in ring.  J left a message saying he'd try again.  I had such a hope!  I wanted to talk to him so much that I put my phone on full volume and sat and stared at it.  I wouldn't even read a book in fear of missing his call.  Then suddenly, I had a voicemail.  It was J; he had tried again.  "I'm right here!!!!!!!!!  J, please call again."  I had no way to tell him that though.  I continued to stare, "please ring."  Then suddenly, I had another voicemail.  J was giving up for the night.  I was crushed.  I had spent the night staring at my phone, and despite J's attempts to call, it would not ring!

Staring at the phone might seem sad and depressing to people outside the military world, but phone calls are all we have.  We don't have hugs and smile and time to be together.  We get calls.  I look so forward to talking to J, and during those moments we talk, life seems right again.  I don't know how he does it, but he makes me so happy.  No matter what sort of day I've had, after speaking with him, I feel cheery and ready to tackle life again.  

Bottom line, getting to talk to J is worth it.  It's worth all of the waiting, the staring, and the agonizing.  It's worth skipping birthday drinks, dinner plans, grocery shopping, or a shower.  Perhaps that's just what love is.

So I will keep sitting here waiting, because if I do, eventually, someday, my phone with ring.

BRRRRRRRRRING!!!!

Deployment Wine Glasses

I have a small group of girls I have hung out with during this deployment whose significant others are deployed with J.  I often refer to them as "the army girls."  Some time ago, we joked about how the guys receive patches for each deployment and we really should be awarded patches for making it through this deployment as well.  Deployments are a battle, literally for the soldiers and figuratively for the loved ones back home.

Materials for our Project

At first this was a joke, but then I got the idea that deployment glasses really would be perfect.  I thought it would be fun to design our own glasses with whatever best commemorated the deployment for each of us.  I picked up a box of inexpensive wine glasses, ordered a pack of puffy paint, and we were ready to go.

On my wine glass I wrote: 

• Deployment Conqueror 
• Afghanistan 2012-2013 
• Love Wins! 

Along the bottom I added:

• Love always and forever  

I then drew a little helicopter, a heart, and a yellow ribbon.  I had initially thought of using "deployment survivor" on my glass, but decided "deployment conqueror" had a better meaning.  My initial concern with "survivor" was that someone could easily interpret "survivor" literally, which I wanted to avoid.  I also prefer the connotation of "conqueror."  I won't just survive, or make it through, this deployment; I will conquer it.  Take that deployment!  Whatever you throw our way, our love wins!

 Here is my glass:

Deployment Conqueror
Love Wins!

Afghanistan 2012-2013

The other girls had great ideas as well.  Both girls made dog tags at the bottom of their glasses with their first initial and their significant other's first initial inside the tags.  

Additionally, one of my friends wrote:

• Our love is deployment strong 

She then added a yellow ribbon and a heart.  At the bottom she wrote:

• 2012-2013

My other friend wrote:

• We are one day closer and one day stronger

She also added a yellow ribbon and a heart.  At the bottom she wrote:

• 2012-2013

My friends were nice enough to give me permission to post pictures of their glasses on my blog.  Here they are:

our love is deployment strong

2012-2013

We Are One Day Closer and One Day Stronger

2012-2013

I don't plan to touch my glass until this deployment is over.  At that point, I will have one VERY celebratory drink to cheer that this stinkin' deployment has finally been conquered!!  After that, I will probably turn it into a candy dish or candle holder.  It is not really that practical as a glass.

In all, this project was a lot of fun and I love our deployment "patches"!  

The Three Glasses

When All You Have To Talk About Is A Puzzle

During this deployment, I have had absolutely nothing to say.  I would go to lunch with friends and wouldn't be able to add anything to the conversation.  People would ask me how I was doing, and I wouldn't be able to think of a response past "fine."  Talking on the phone only worked if the other person could carry the conversation.

My puzzle is an example of my inability to speak.  I can't really make my puzzle sound exciting for purposes of this blog post.  It wasn't exciting; it was a puzzle.  Still, there was a time this winter when that puzzle was the only thing I could think to talk about.  I told friends about my puzzle and even posted a picture of it on FB.  I felt a need to interact, but I had nothing to say.  

I don't really feel this silence any more.  I feel back to my normal talkative self.  I can't fully explain why I felt such an inability to speak, or why I now am back to "normal," but I can venture some guesses.  This post is a work in progress; my current best guesses on why it is so hard to speak during a deployment.

Deployments are difficult to talk about.

Deployments themselves are difficult to talk about.  There really just isn't much to say.  Nothing ever changes.  What can I say about the deployment?  J is still deployed.  Period.  I appreciate it so much when people ask me about the deployment and how J is doing, but there isn't much to report.  J is still deployed.  I'm still here missing him.

Then there is the issue that everything is a secret.  Oh OpSec!  How I hate you!  The few things I hear that I want to share are secret.  What do I obsess over?  WHEN WILL J FINALLY COME HOME!?!?!?!?!?!  But of course, I'm not supposed to mention anything about that.  There may be days when I'm extra grumpy or days when I'm extra cheery, depending on the current homecoming rumors, but mum's the word.  I can't say a thing.  

Then there is the final issue that I need to keep it together.  Even if something changes that I can share, some days I just need to block it all out to get through the day.  

Nothing else seems to matter.

To an ordinary person, there would still be plenty in life to talk about, but for me, nothing else seems to matter.  Therefore, it's not worth mentioning.   

When J first left, and I was so scared every day that something would happen to him, it was hard to care about anything else.  How on earth could I care about what I ate for breakfast when my love was fighting a war?  

There is a deployment slogan I see frequently: "Half my heart is deployed."  It's a good metaphor.  Half my heart is fighting a war on the other side of the world.  I may live in a first world country, work a professional job, have good food, and be relatively safe, but half my heart is in an entirely different world.  In that world, people fight wars and are faced with the reality of death.  

Living through a deployment changes your perspective.  Things you used to care about no longer matter.

I want to be a positive person.  

My typical personality is upbeat and positive.  I like to add something positive to a conversation.  When someone asks me how I'm doing, I like to say "Good!"  I like to smile and tell fun stories.  

During this deployment, I simply haven't felt happy and it's hard to be an unhappy person.  When someone asks me how I'm doing, I don't want to say, "sad."  I don't want to talk about how I'm having a bad day, or a bad 11 months.  I don't want to bring down the conversation.

My life is so different from those around me.

Deployments are socially weird.  I have friends in relationships and friends who are single.  My friends in relationships talk about all their fun couple activities.  My single friends talk about going out and meeting people.  Then there's me.  I don't have couple stories and I don't have single stories.  I don't know how my stories fit into any conversation.

I feel like my life is dull and boring.  

For much of this deployment, I have felt tired and uninterested in doing exciting things.  Not doing exciting things obviously prevents me from telling stories about exciting things.  When people tell me their fun stories, my stories don't seem worth mentioning.  "I went to a big party this weekend." "I watched a season of Army Wives."  No no.  It's better to remain silent.

As always, I want to leave this post with a little happiness and advice for my fellow military significant others.  The happiness is that it gets better.  As time passes, you will find things to talk about again.  All those little things you forgot how to talk about start to seem worth mentioning again.  The advice is that until the silence passes, don't be afraid to talk about small, insignificant things, like a puzzle.  Sharing something, anything, will make you feel less isolated.  My puzzle is proof of how wonderful my friends and family are.  They listened to me talk.  Having something to discuss, even a puzzle, really did help me feel less isolated and more apart of their world.  

Owl Post

Before J left for his deployment, I was watching Harry Potter and realized that we needed to get a pet owl.  An owl would be the perfect deployment pet.  She could keep us both company and travel between us with letters and packages!  No need for a post office and a companion for us both!  How is that not the perfect pet?  

I raised the idea with J, and though he loved the idea of getting a pet owl, he was concerned the owl wouldn't be able to fly the entire way across the Atlantic Ocean.  I suppose that is a long way to fly without a place to land, but I still thought there was hope.  I posted the question on a FB status: Could an owl fly across the Atlantic Ocean to deliver our deployment mail?  I believe it was my Dad who pointed out that the owl certainly could if she rode in a USPS box.  The idea was born.

Putting together the care package:  I searched for the perfect owl and I found her.  I wrote a note on a piece of parchment (some might call it paper), and rolled it up.  I then tied the note around the owl's beak with ribbon.  I planned to wrap snacks in little packages and tie them to the owl's legs with ribbon, but the realities of trying to fit everything snuggly into a box prevented that idea.  I ended up just packing the snacks in the bottom of the box.  Some of my snacks included: trail mix, crackers, peanut butter, drink mix, Altoids, and apple sauce.  

Here It Is: Owl Post

I think she's excited for her journey

The Package All Ready To Go 

11 Months Down

Today marks eleven months from when J was first deployed.  I don't have a lot to write today, but I feel like a small post to celebrate the milestone is warranted.  

It's funny the things I find myself thinking about as we get closer to the end.  As time passes, I occasionally allow myself to get lost in my dreams.  There is one memory that keeps springing to mind, an evening where we went to see a horse race.  While waiting for a race to begin, I leaned over the fence separating us from the track, and like the nincompoop that I am, dropped my purse over onto the other side.  I didn't know how to get it!  I could never reach.  I imagined trying to hook my feet into the fence as I dove over for my purse.  Then J, with his long long arms, affectionately smiled at me and effortlessly reached over the fence and picked up my purse.  J is a real superhero!  

I don't know why this memory always springs to mind when I dream about J coming home.  I think it's because it was so simple.  This single moment that reminds me of how J loves me even though I do ridiculous things, like drop my purse over a fence or pour coffee onto an upside-down mug, it reminds me that J and I are a team in whatever little obstacles life could throw our way, and it reminds me that facing life with the person you love often makes the difference between frustration and laughter.  

In those moments when I let myself be carried away in my dreams, I try to imagine life after this deployment.  This deployment feels like a long dark hole, but with eleven months down, it almost feels possible that this deployment could someday come to an end.  When I dream of this end, I dream about trips and adventures, but more than anything, I dream about all those little moments that are made wonderful when shared with the person you love.

So, my big 11-Months-Down toast is this: 

Celebrate the little moments, the random hugs, the loving smiles, and the joy of not facing life alone.

11-Months-Down Toast

Letting It All Go

Since J first got deployed, I have been hoping that he would come home soon enough for us to enjoy some summer together.  Even just a few weeks would be nice so that we could go to the ocean, take a picnic, and maybe have a barbecue.  As summer approached, this began to seem unlikely, but I was still hopeful.  June came with no sign of J coming home.  July arrived with similar silence.  With a long, sad sigh, I finally had to accept that J would not be coming home this summer.  That meant no trip to the ocean, no picnic, and no barbecue.

On Wednesday evening of last week (due to circumstances I won't explain here), I discovered that I would have an unexpected three-day weekend completely free.  I contemplated the idea of doing something fun and random.  I looked up plane tickets, but they were all insanely expensive.  I next decided to look at a trip to the ocean.  I asked around about good spots, looked up hotels, and Thursday night found a pretty decent deal and made a reservation.  I would leave first thing Friday morning.  I couldn't wait!    

I assumed no one else would be free at the last minute to leave for vacation on a weekday, so I packed a bunch of books, seven in total, and decided I would read and explore!  

Lighthouse

I got up early Friday morning and made great time on my drive.  I arrived a little before ten.  I had the whole day free.  I really just wanted to sit by the ocean and read.  It was raining when I arrived, but being the optimist that I am, I assumed it would clear.  I thought that while it rained I would go for a walk.  I walked to a lighthouse and explored.  The lighthouse was cute and the gardens were gorgeous.  I found a covered spot and looked out on the gardens while it rained.

Looking out at the ocean
from under my umbrella

After visiting the lighthouse, I went back to my hotel, hoping the rain would clear so I could go to the beach.  Around noon I finally gave up waiting for the rain to stop and went to the beach in the rain.  I plopped my chair on the beach and sat under my umbrella.  I of course didn't pack any pants for the trip so I tried to wrap myself up in my beach towel to stay warm.  I propped my kindle up against the pole of my umbrella, and as the rain and wind picked up, I wrapped my towel around the sides to keep it dry.  The rain and wind continued to pick up.  I looked around the beach for a warmer spot and saw a shed where, on nice days, people can rent beach chairs and umbrellas.  I put my chair against the shed to block some of the wind.  I tried moving around the shed as the wind changed directions.  

Finally, I was too cold and went back to the hotel.  I tried sitting on the porch of my hotel room where there was a nice overhang, but even that became too cold.  It was a complete downpour.  I went into my hotel room and sat and read on my bed.  BUT WHO GOES TO THE OCEAN IN ORDER TO SIT IN THEIR HOTEL ROOM AND READ?!?!?!?!?!??!?!  NOT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I needed a solution!

I remembered seeing a Marshalls on my drive in, and thought I could find it and buy some cheap pants, a raincoat, or anything warm.  I got in my car and ended up driving about 45 minutes in the downpour, but not finding the Marshalls or any other store that would sell clothes.  As I was driving back to the hotel, I decided to at least stop for food and wine.  Wine is really important on vacation, especially a vacation in the rain!  When I got out of my car to make the two stops, I got drenched.  It was one of those rains where, that second it takes you to open your umbrella as you step out of the car, is enough to soak you to the bone.  

When I finally got back to my hotel, completely drenched and completely unsuccessful in my attempt to find warm clothes, I kind of had to laugh.  This trip was definitely not going as planned.  But, here I was, already soaked, why not enjoy it?  So I went down to the ocean.  When I got to the beach I ran into the water.  I was freezing, but I didn't care.  The wind blew, and the rain poured, but it was so beautiful.  I think I saw three other people on the beach while I was there, a Dad with his about eight-year old daughter, and a runner.  I was pretty much alone with the ocean.  I walked along the ocean letting the waves splash against my feet.  When I got too cold, I crouched by the dunes and held up my umbrella to block the wind.  

At that moment, while I crouched by the dunes and looked out over the ocean, I just smiled.  There was something beautiful about this trip.  I realized that I had let go of any disappointment I had with the weather and decided to just love my trip no matter what it had in store for me.  I wanted a fun weekend getaway and I was going to have it no matter what!  

Later that evening, the weather did clear and I was able to enjoy reading out by the ocean.  

The next day was gorgeous!

The sun rising Saturday morning

It was so gorgeous that the beach was completely packed and I found myself feeling thankful for the time I had to be alone at the ocean during the rain on Friday.  I was glad that I got both the rain and the sun on my trip.

A gorgeous day at the ocean

I ended up completely loving my little getaway to the ocean.  It was relaxing, refreshing, and I'm really glad I went.

I do have one takeaway from this weekend, and that's the value of letting go of the things I cannot change.  One aspect of this deployment that is so frustrating for me is that every day we're apart is a day we'll never get back.  Every day down is another day lost.  Yes, I'm glad we're almost 11 months down, but that's 11 months of our lives we didn't get to share together.  J coming home will not change the fact that we missed a Christmas together, an anniversary together, etc.; that time is lost.  

As it poured on my trip to the ocean and I let go of the rain, I let go of this lost time as well.  I can't change this deployment.  What I can do, is not allow the frustration I feel toward the deployment to cloud our future.  I want to love the life we have together.  I'm not saying that someday I'll be thankful we went through this deployment, like I was thankful for the rain, but I also refuse to hold onto my frustration.  I can't wait for J to come home.  It's time to let go of everything else and look forward to the future.

Girlfriend Discrimination

I know, I know, everyone stares at me like I'm crazy whenever I bring it up, but I swear it's a thing.  It's what I like to call "Girlfriend Discrimination."  It's frustrating and sometimes, like RIGHT NOW, I want to give it a piece of my mind!

What has triggered this specific post is that I just saw a website looking for blog entries from military WIVES to feature on its page.  Yes, military wives ONLY!

Of course, this might not sound like a big deal to you, but feeling like a second-class citizen in the world of military significant others can sometimes get old.  Of course military girlfriends miss out on things like medical benefits, but that's to be expected, and is the same in the non-military world as well.  Military girlfriends, however, also miss out on access to the PX, military discounts, recognition on Military Spouse Appreciation Day, activities on military bases, phone calls from the FRG (Family Readiness Group) seeing how we're doing, and most importantly, the right to even be notified if something happens to our loved ones.

I think in many ways the army is aware of this problem and cares.  J's unit sends out monthly newsletters, or at least was sending out newsletters for the first several months of the deployment, and all the girlfriends were included in the distribution list.  This made me very happy!  So happy that I not only saved all the envelopes, but I also took a picture of one just in case I ever lost them.  Official army correspondence was sent to ME, the lowly little girlfriend.

By complaining about girlfriend discrimination, I don't mean to belittle what military spouses go through.  I am not trying to compare.  I can't even imagine the difficulties of going through a deployment as a spouse, especially with children.  I'm not even saying that I should get the benefits that military spouses receive.  I'm not looking for the government to change "Military Spouse Appreciation Day" to "Military Significant Other Appreciation Day," I'm not looking for the army to open the PX to girlfriends, and I'm not looking for a military discount at the local amusement park.

BUT, I also think that going through deployments is hard and people need support.  Just because I'm a girlfriend does not mean I don't need the occasional hug or the occasional phone call to see how I'm doing.  It also does not mean that the thoughts I express on this blog are entirely meritless.  Maybe I'm not an army wife, but I do love J, my heart does break each day he's gone, I do lie awake each night until I hear that he's safe, and I am committed to loving him and supporting him through whatever this deployment throws our way.

So although my blog posts will stay right here and won't ever be published on a "military wife ONLY" website, I'm going to keep writing these posts because maybe, despite being a lowly little girlfriend, I will still be able to offer support and encouragement to other significant others surviving deployments.

Ramadan

One of my friends mentioned to me yesterday that Ramadan begins today and is a particularly dangerous time for our troops.  This year Ramadan begins Monday, July 8 and ends Wednesday, August 7.  Please pray extra hard for my loved one's safety, and the safety of all our troops, during this time.

Fourth of July

I have always loved the Fourth of July.  When I was a kid, my family went to Wyoming to see my Grandma every summer.  For the Fourth of July, we would sit out by a lake and watch the fireworks go off.  My memories of the Fourth of July are combined with all my great memories from those summers: the Wyoming landscape, with the cactus, lakes, lizards, canyons, and mountains, games with my family, swimming at the lake, laying at the dock, and spending time with my Grandma.  

Once I finished school, the Fourth of July had a fun, new element, with a random day off work.  Last year was amazing.  The Fourth of July fell on a Wednesday and J and I decided to make the most of the day, knowing that his deployment was quickly approaching.  We decided to go to Longwood Gardens, a large garden open to the public with numerous plants to explore.  This was probably one of the worst ideas we've ever had.  It was over 100 degrees, and walking around outside in the sun all day was kind of miserable.  The indoor plants were even worse because there were little greenhouses with not even a tiny breeze blowing.  I decided to take lots of pictures so I could more fully enjoy the beauty of the plants once I was at home in the air conditioning.  

Still, despite the heat and the sweat dripping off my face, the day was wonderful.  It was a day with J to explore a new place, have a new adventure, and spend time together.  I found myself thinking a lot about that day this Fourth of July.  I'm sure everyone who is going through, or has been through, a deployment knows the feeling.  Yes, the day was not perfect and the memory is not perfect, but still, I would give anything to be in that moment again, because we were together.

This year, J is not here to celebrate with me, but I decided I still wanted to love my Fourth of July.  It is a day to celebrate, and with a boyfriend in the military, I have a new appreciation for the day and what it stands for.  For me, the best way to enjoy any day is to embark on a project.  So here it is: My Fourth of July Project.  

Fourth of July Rice Krispies Treats

A friend of mine found the idea on Pinterest and sent it to me.  I had been trying to figure out how I could make a flag, and realized it was going to be way too difficult.  This idea was much more manageable!    



The idea of the treats is to have a red layer, a white layer, and a blue layer.  The easiest way to use food coloring with Rice Krispies Treats is to die the marshmallow/margarine mixture before adding the Rice Krispies.  It's best to make three separate batches.  I started with the red, melting the margarine and marshmallows, adding red food coloring, adding the Rice Krispies, then pouring the mixture into the pan:

The next step was to go through the same process with white.  The trickiest part of adding the second and third layers is that it is hard to spread the Rice Krispie mixture without disturbing the layer below.  I found it easiest to drop chunks of the mixture all over the pan and just push it down, rather than spreading the mixture out like I usually do when making normal Rice Krispies Treats.  

 Finally I added the blue layer:

In the end, the treats turned out pretty well!  I might make these again for J when he comes home.  I was quite proud of my creation!  A beautiful masterpiece: 

Once I got going on my Fourth of July fun, I couldn't stop with the Rice Krispies Treats.  I decided to make a Fourth of July fruit salad for the barbecue I was going to, and I then decided to even eat Fourth of July oatmeal for breakfast:

There's a quote I love that has inspired me this deployment: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."  That's how I felt this Fourth of July.  The weather was amazing, I had my fun project, I went to a barbecue and spent time with friends.  It was a good day!  Sure, I would trade it all for sweating and burning in the hot sun at Longwood Gardens with J, but this Fourth of July I was able to dance in the rain.  

The Passage of Time

I have a superpower: I know how to make time stop.

I can share my power with you, but you may not want it.  You see, I only know how to make time stop, I don't know how to make time move.

It's interesting to measure the passage of the deployment.  I of course count time: the days, weeks, and months.  My love left in the middle of a month, so I count to that date each month.  One month down!  Two months down!  Three months down!

I count the passing of each calendar month, getting excited on the first of every new month.  I fell in love with the 28-day February and I detest the 31-day July.  You might think I'm crazy, but I rejoiced that June was just 30 days.  March!  April!  May!

I measure the weeks.  I always find some solace on a Monday morning, knowing that it may be Monday, but it is at least a new week.  Yes, I have to survive this Monday morning if it means this deployment ever ending.  Monday!

I have my countdown to mark the days.  If I get out of bed, I can change the countdown.  That's the deal!  Another day down.  250!  249!  248!

I also measure this deployment by a series of books, TV shows, events, and frustrations.  

So far, I have read 19 new books this deployment.  I have reread some old favorites as well.  I mark the deployment through the books I've read.  I remember the phase where I cried every night reading Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul, and wondered why on earth I thought reading that book was a good idea.  Then there was the Something Borrowed and Something Blue phase, where I would get mad at J because of things the guys did in the books.  (Why do I always get mad at him because of things fictional characters in books do?)  My new kindle opened the door to cheap classics and I've enjoyed Jane Eyre, Persuasion, and am now reading Emma.  There's been the breaks for children's books with Half Magic, From the Mixed-Up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  (I love children's books and these book have really cheered me up!)  There was my army girlfriend camaraderie book: Dream When You're Feeling Blue.  (This book did make me feel better, helping me realize how infinitely worse war and deployments must have been for people during World War II.  At least we have internet!)  There were my efforts at career development: Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected and How to Win Friends and Influence People.  There were two books I waited eagerly to read: Inferno and The Casual Vacancy.  And of course, there were more.  Another book down!

There have been the TV-show addictions.  Both Army Wives and Once Upon a Time spring to mind.  TV shows are great for passing the deployment.  Another episode down!  Another season down!

I can then measure the passage of the deployment based on J's schedule.  His schedule dramatically changes about once a month. Some months we can talk conveniently in the evenings, other months we can barely talk at all.  There were fun months when we could message online every night, and sad months when I just received a few messages in the mornings at work.  Another schedule change down!

As a runner, I had a long frustrating saga with my ankle.  The frustrating month of being in pain and putting off going to the doctor, the frustrating month of physical therapy, the even more frustrating month in a boot, then the slow, happy improvements in my ankle as I could add walking, then biking, the elliptical, and now running, building milage slowly.  Out of the boot!  On the bike!  Running!  1 mile!  2 miles!  3 miles!

There are happy markers of the deployment.  My sister and I get together once a month and I can measure the deployment by our series of visits.  I have a group of army friends with whom I try to get together about once a week.  I am part of a hat club that goes out to dinner or drinks about once a month.   Another visit!  Another lunch!  Another hat!  Another weekend!

There are the holidays.  Each marking a new turn.  Each giving me something to look forward to and a date to pass.  Valentine's Day!  Easter!  Fourth of July!  

If you look at this blog post, you might be tempted to believe that time has passed.  You could be right (though I certainly won't concede the point), but don't let that fool you into thinking time is passing!  No!  Time is not passing.  Time has stopped.  That is my superpower.  I want to see J again so badly, that time actually refuses to budge.

To end on a happy note - I would hate to leave any fellow military significant others with so little hope at the end of this entry, so I will conclude with the little advice I do have on making time move.  

First, having small events to look forward to helps time move.  When there are holidays, lunches, visits with family, activities with friends, time will strangely agree to move.  I can't understand why time will budge if you're excited about Saturday, but refuses to budge when you're excited about the end of the deployment, but that seems to be the deal.  Time is fickle, stubborn, and rebellious, and we have to play by its rules.  

Second, try for a moment to enter someone else's reality.  You know those annoying comments you overhear when you're out to eat or at a coffee shop, and someone innocently remarks, "time is moving so fast"?  You know how you want to jump over the booth and strangle the stranger at the table next to you?  Don't do it!  Those people are making time pass!  All those people who are trying to enjoy their summer and dreading fall.  All the people thinking their kids are growing up too fast.  All those people enjoying their picnics and barbecues and trips to the beach and dreading the end of their weekends and vacations.  They're making time pass!  When you hear those comments, try to enter that reality.  Try to imagine not wanting July to pass.  For that brief moment, time will begin to move.  Then it will happen:

  Another Day Down!