WARNING:
Brandi is tipsy, so this blog may be incoherant, poorly worded, or even blurry (that part could just be me!)

I've been meeting a lot of other military wives lately, and it's really made me think about my own journey over the past 10 years. I realize that I have been in each of these positions, at least once!

The Young Military Wife: Having to move away from everyone and everything you've ever called home. Being introduced into a world that is filled with acronyms for everything. Learning the "ins and outs" of the military life. Thinking a two week field problem is the end of the world.

The first move: Going through the transportation hell and back, deciding on if you want to do a DITY move or let the army break half of your belongings, trying to clean the house to the army standards (which I don't get....Have you seen how worn down most barracks are?) or paying through the nose to have someone clean it for you, making sure that you don't pack the children.

The 1st (or 2nd, 3rd, 4th) Deployment: Learning that the FRG is a necessary evil, getting the POA's (both general and specialized!), having to go over the will and life insurance, staying busy while they are gone, having the kids' realize Dad is gone and decide to challenge every rule you have ever made, dreading knocks at the door, the phone calls that cut out every 3-4 minutes. And for the select few unlucky enough, having a child while your husband is in a war zone.

The Seasoned Military Wife: You have most of the army facilities phone numbers on your cell, you can estimate waiting times at all offices on post, you know how to find AR's, BAH rates, and Housing waiting lists, you laugh at a 6 month deployment, you have friends at least 5 different military posts, your husband has talked about getting out of the army (or becoming a recruiter, warrant officer, drill instructor) but you know not to believe it until you see orders.

The one thing all of these categories share:

1. No matter how many times they leave, it never gets any easier

&

2. Army wives are some of the strongest women on the planet

TV plans for tonight: SNL in the 80's and Rock of Love (my first episode...need to see what I've been missing)

I've been waiting for it.

It had to happen sometime.

Charles has been gone over 3 weeks...why isn't it happening??

Military wives know what I'm talking about. In the real world, it's called "Murphy's Law". In army spouse lingo...."Deployment Syndrome"

It's when everything that can go wrong...does...BUT....only when your significant other is deployed. I've had a relatively stress free time since he left. Granted, it's only been 3 weeks, but still, I started college; put the kids in school...there were opportunities for havoc to present itself.

It finally began yesterday. Vanessa came in my room at two am, with a very high temperature, barking like a seal, and complaining that her body aches. My poor girl had to miss a day of school already...and mommy had to miss her photography class.

She's feeling better today, and I sent her off to school. I was headed to the gym and then to meet friends for lunch, and my tire's flat....yep....flat. Head to AAFES, and wait the 4 hours to have it fixed (silver lining: it was free!). So I missed the gym and lunch with friends

I know that's not a whole lot, but that's how it begins. Then it snowballs until you can't turn around without something going wrong. I'm not leaving the house for the rest of the day! Hopefully that'll work..hehe.

Tomorrow, there's a picnic with friends I want to go to....let's hope it doesn't rain!

Tv plans for tonight: The Best Years and Point Plesant on DVD

As a child, I remember the excitement I felt heading back to school. Sure, school overall sucks. You have to get up early, and there's always that one teacher that's part Nazi but your friends are there, your parents aren't.

However, those joys can't compare to the overwhelming elation a parent feels upon sending their child to school. After a summer of crowded swimming pools, sweltering picnics surrounded by insects, and the countless utterances of "MOOOOOOM, I'M BORED", the sight of the school bus brings a tear to a few parents' eyes. We'd like to say they are tears of sadness or perhaps nostalgia, but deep down inside we know the truth. They are tears of JOY!

Ok, I got a bit carried away there. J Kids are at school, and truth be told, I'm a bit lonely. Not lonely enough to miss them, heavens no, but lonely enough to welcome them back into the house this afternoon with a smile.

I'm going to be blogging a bit more. My composition instructor feels it is a way to improve the writing skills. Of course I could keep a private journal, but what is the fun in that?

Charles still has two weeks before he's home from Cali. I get the occasional call, but I still miss him. The good thing is he will have a 4 day pass when he gets back. With the kids in school, that should be nice. We can have a date lunch...

T.V. Plans for tonight: Wife Swap and Fat March...I can't wait until the fall lineup is back! With the season finales ofArmy Wives and Big Love already over, I'm beginning to get withdrawls.

Sayonara!