MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #34

What are some  of your ideas for staying connected with family…you know, those people we moved thousands of miles away from? submitted by Live it. Love it (or not). Write About It.

Oh, the usual things.  Being cautious of the time zone differences, frequent phone calls with Magic Jack, Facebook, Skype, and sending home "care packages".

What’s the most romantic gift you have GIVEN? submitted byPainting My Canvas

We did things a little bit backwards.  On our first anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend, I gave M a ring and asked him to marry me.  Uhh...  He was taking TOO LONG!  Anyways I'd say that's probably the most "romantic" gift I've ever given - but I am a good gift-giver!  My gifts are generally more thoughtful than romantic.

Would you encourage your child, if they came to you and wanted to join the military?  submitted by Perfectly Imperfect

To a certain extent, sure.  I'd definitely want my kids to weigh their options before signing on the dotted line, but in general I think it's a great opportunity.  It's not something I'd have ever done myself - I think it takes a special and disciplined type to be able to do it right and I'd not be interested in "half-assing" it, but I know for a lot of people it's a good move - not always necessarily a forever decision but four years isn't the worst thing.  Why not?

What is your least favorite bill to pay and why? submitted by A Little of This, A Little of That

Our car payment!  The lender really ripped us off and took advantage of us, plus since the car is stateside in government storage, it's like we're paying for nothing.  Not to mention it also feels like we've been paying on it FOREVER.  I will be so glad when it's paid off!

What is the proudest moment you’ve had as a military spouse?  submitted by Our Okinawa Life

Tough one.  Aside from the obvious graduations and homecomings, I'd have to say it was probably while we were stationed in Port Hueneme, California.  My husband (with my help) was the coordinator for the annual Toys for Tots campaign.  We worked our butts off that holiday season with him supervising every event, our warehouse, every donation drop-off location, and every distribution; and me running the office and keeping up with every scrap of paperwork.  We were able to get toys to several thousand needy children across three counties that Christmas, and then planned and hosted the most successful appreciation banquet the unit had ever had.  It was an all-around wonderful experience.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #33

1. During military separations (whether short or long) how do you keep yourself positive and motivated? submitted by Married/Single Parent

The obvious answer is to stay busy.  I generally don't have a terrible time doing so with two kids to chase around and a foreign country to explore, but before all that I kept busy by writing, reading, working, and getting together with friends and family.

2. What is your favorite concert you have ever been to? submitted byYoung but Not (Completely) Dumb

Maroon 5!  I saw them twice live with John Mayer.  At a very close second is Simon & Garfunkel.  I took my mom to see them on their reunion tour when it passed through our home town and I really look back on that with a lot of happiness - it was before my mom started showing symptoms of dementia and she told me it was the best birthday gift she'd ever received.  Plus "Feelin' Groovy" is totally my song - don't laugh!

3. What do you miss most about your “hometown”?  submitted by A Florida Girl and Her Soldier

Hands down, no contest:  My grandma.  We talk on the phone almost every day but I would so love to be there with her.  She is my hero and my very best friend.

4. If you could run in any race, which charity would you choose to support? submitted by Wookie & Co.

AFTD - The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

5. You find out Willy Wonka is your father, what 3 course meal do you INSIST he create in that stick of gum?  submitted by A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench

NICE!!  I like this question a lot!!  I think I'd definitely request Marie Callender's potato cheese soup, my grandma's beef and green bean stew with rice pilaf and ooey gooey chocolate brownies!  Mmmmm...  A la mode!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #32

1. Do you or your {spouse} ever wish your {spouse} was in a different branch of the military? submitted by The Turner Family

Definitely not!  We gripe a lot but deep down, we enjoy the Marine Corps.  My husband joined the Corps to fulfill a lifelong dream (and follow a family tradition) and he is beyond devoted to it.  And I have just been spoiled by the Marine Corps' grooming standards.  I like his weekly haircuts and he looks quite nice in his uniforms.

2. What duty station(s) are on your “No Way, Hell No, Not Going, Have Fun Unaccompanied” list and why? submitted by Every Branch

I have three on that list:  Jacksonville, North Carolina (Camp LeJeune); 29 Palms, California; and Yuma, Arizona. Noooo thank you!  Other than those, I am pretty open to whatever new adventures they send us on.

3. If you could be one age forever, what age would you choose and why? submitted by Three Krakens

I don't think I'd want to stay one age forever, but if I had to I'd probably choose an age I haven't hit yet.  Maybe thirty.  Seems like a nice "medium" spot to stay in if we're talking "forever".

4. If you were a breakfast cereal, which one would you be? submitted bythe C.W.

I'd be Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds.  Why..?  Because...  Uh...  They're delicious.  And because they're called "Honey Bunches".  Obviously.  ;)

5. What is your morning beverage of choice and why?  submitted by NH Girl Displaced

I'm a coffee drinker.  My FAVORITE morning beverage is Morinaga CAFÉ.  It's the most delicious ever.  I'm going to miss it when we leave Japan!  But I'll take any sort of coffee with milk and sugar, or a flavored latte from Starbucks.  When coffee is not an option, I like Dole's Orange-Peach-Mango juice.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #31

Trying something new...  the MilSpouse Friday Fill-in!  So...  Away we go!

1. Aside from no deployments, what is one thing you would want to make the MilSpouse life “perfect”? submitted by Oh How Delightful
The thing I'd change would definitely be the uncertainty!  I'd love to have a year's notice on every move and first pick at every duty station.  I'm a planner (I think I mentioned that) and I like to have a good idea of what is going to happen with us in the next 12 months at all times.

2. Just how many peppers did Peter Piper pick? submitted by Married into Army
None!  You can't pick a pepper that's already pickled.


3. If you could have any career in the world with nothing holding you back, what would you do? submitted by It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To
I used to think I'd love to be a teacher...  And then I had kids and realized that it's probably a lot more work than I'd ever realized before.  So...  At this point I have no idea what my "dream job" would be.  I'm in a holding pattern.  I'm ok with it.


4. Do you have a service oriented tattoo and if so what is it. If you don’t what would you get? submitted by The Squid’s Accomplice
Absolutely not!  I wouldn't get one!  I'm not really that kind of spouse.  If I got any tattoo at all, I'd get an ambigram of my daughters names, and nothing else.  Needles freak me out anyways.


5. Imagine a block of time has opened up in your busy day for you to take a class in anything you like. What subject would you choose?  submitted by To The Nth
I would take a creative writing class.  English always has been my favorite subject.