Keep Calm and Soldier On

you little lurker, you.

2012-01-16T13:50:00.001-07:00

Did you know that today is National Delurking Day (or maybe it was yesterday)? Anyway, it's the one day a year that I'll ask you come out from behind that warm blankie and cup of coffee and comment (until I start begging for parenting advice)! So...go on...leave me a comment to let me know you're there! What are you waiting for?? PS- if you have your own blog make sure you add a link to your comment. I'd love to read your stories, too!

If you don't formally follow me, you might as well click "Join This Site" at the bottom of the blog. Then you can use Google Reader to keep track of all the blogs you like to check daily in one place! It's very tech savvy and a total time-saver.

Finally, if you've got just another sec, would you click on the button on the bottom of my blog that says Top Military Blogs (it has an American flag and militaryblogs.com on the bottom)? And then would you hit the boost button on the next page? Thanks a mil-spouse! *If you blog, you should add your blog, if you haven't already!*

pretty great news.

2012-01-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hey, guys! I just realized that I forgot to tell you some pretty great news...

We're having a baby!

I'm 15 weeks and 2 whole days pregnant. Just started the second trimester. I'm the lucky gal who had a real breeze of a first trimester- no morning sickness, normal weight gain, sprinkled with tons of tiredness, a couple of killer headaches and a rash on my face (reaction to new pre-natals). The second trimester has been good so far...a few more nagging headaches, weird upper back pain and joint pain in my shoulders, elbows and wrists and a popped-baby-bump to boot.

Our baby is the size of an avocado. The baby is healthy- we got to have 2 sonograms so far (the one above is from 12 weeks) and we got to hear the heartbeat (but they didn't calculate it). I'm healthy. Andy is healthy. And we're all really, really happy!

the most wonderful time of the year.

2011-12-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year. It's MilSpouse Secret Santa time, hosted by Wife of a Sailor!

I mailed out my gift this past Saturday to Shana at Tiara's and ACU's, and knew that my own gift could arrive any time. Imagine my delight when my husband texted me, "Secret Santa came! Get excited!" while I was at work this week.

As soon as I walked in the door, I grabbed not one, but TWO boxes! One had specific instructions not to open unless the other box was present. Thank goodness it was! How would I have convinced myself to wait!?!

My Secret Santa was the very wonderful Lacey, from this life of mine! I had actually never read her blog before, but am so happy to be a follower now. Her story is inspiring, she's totally gorgeous and her taste in Christmas gifts is impeccable! What more could you want in a woman!?

Lacey sent me a new Scentsy Plug-In Warmer (which at first threw me off, because she ordered it for me from another MilSpouse- Julie from Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life) and a Cinnamon Vanilla bar. This has been plugged in my living room (where it matches the decor!) since I opened it. It has totally filled our home with this delicious Christmas-wreathy-homey smell. Just what we needed, since we have NO tree and hardly any decorations (#ChristmasFail)...

She also sent the most adorable bracelet, called "Lucky." It has a little elephant and a little pearl charm. And it is the perfect bracelet for me, since elephants are my absolute favorite, as are a good strand of pearls (so classy and fabulous). The description of what lucky was was really meaningful to me, because right now Andrew and I are feeling pretty lucky. Thank you, Lacey, for reminding me.

And FINALLY, Lacey sent some to-die-for Godiva! Girl's best friend! Peppermint and gingerbread flavors! These will be coming on the plane to NY with us tomorrow, for a little bit of festive snacking!!

I can't thank Lacey enough for such a thoughtful and generous Christmas gift! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, too!

appalled.

2011-12-08T15:14:00.001-07:00

Today I was running late for a work meeting at McDonald's, so I rushed out right after lunch and even drove the 50 feet across the street to the establishment. As it turns out, I arrived before my co-workers, so I decided to use the restroom. Desperate times call for desperate measures....

The bathroom smelled awful, looked like a penitentiary and the stall doors didn't lock. While I was hovering over the toilet (too much? just you wait...), a mother and her young daughter came in. The mom was yelling at little girl to get over to her right now. When I emerged from my stall, the mother had thrown her daughter up on the changing table and was at that moment whipping the dirty diaper up into the air, leaving her daughter bare-assed on the filthy, plastic McDonald's changing table. As I continued to watch the fiasco occurring two feet behind me in the mirror during my own lame attempt at cleaning my hands, I stopped breathing in and decided not to wait for my hands to dry under the air-drier before getting the hell out of there.

When I emerged, wiping my wet palms on my pants and cringing, the young father of said naked girl on filthy, plastic McDonald's changing table offered a cheerful, "Hello, how are you?" "Uhhhhhhhhh.....okeedoke," I said, as I tried to un-screw up my face.

"APPALLED!!!!!" is what I should have said. Think of all the bacteria are now crawling up that little girl's backside! And heaven help the next McDonald's-bound mother to change her kid in that prison, while her 3-year-old sits on the floor licking ketchup and salt off of his pudgy fingers. The lot of them are all going home with Teeny Beanie Babies and a bonus prize of PINK EYE!

I shouldn't leave the office anymore. Lesson learned.

mff.

2011-12-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

1. If I could be on any reality TV show, I’d want to be on The Amazing Race. Traveling the world with Andy.

2. This past Thanksgiving was tasty. My favorite dish was the green bean casserole (that I made).

3. I’m looking forward to December because we're going to New York for 10 days to spend time with my family!

4. One thing I’d like to accomplish this month is baking some delicious treats- cookies, breads, anything really. It's been too long.

5. To me, winter is a time to hunker down.

mff.

2011-11-11T10:07:00.001-07:00

1. Freedom is a privilege.

2. Veterans are to be thanked.

3. This country is my home.

4. Veteran’s Day means a day to remember those who have given of themselves to protect our freedoms.

5. A hero is a soldier.

Happy Veteran's Day. Today I'm personally thankful to Andrew Wilhelm, the E-2 Brewdogs Class of '08 and the men of 1-8 Infantry!

a good day.

2011-11-03T09:35:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to say that I'm having a good day.

Last night I let the puppies sleep in our room. Turns out Hudsie is a total champ at this. He layed down next to my side of the bed and hunkered hardcore. Even Lily did well. She was quiet and sweet and tired. I woke up once at 3:45, and they were walking around the room a little bit. Then Lily licked my hand and Hudsie stuck his nose in my face. Then they both laid back down and slept until 6:15! I was surprised and happy. I think sleeping together in our room made them a little less crazed and manic in the morning. Normally, when we let Hudson out of the crate, Lil goes batty and starts growling and leaping and biting, like she hasn't seen him in years and needs to play with him that instant or it will kill her. This morning, after a night of sleeping side by side, my puppies walked down the stairs with me, went out and ate their breakfast amazingly peacefully. I love them a lot. Even if they do wreck things (Hudsie-boy) and bark way too much (Yipad, I'm looking at you).

Next, because I was up earlier than I needed to be, I had time to wash the dishes that were piling up in the sink. An empty sink really can make you feel like your whole house is much cleaner. Refreshing.

Then on my way to work, I stopped at Walmart (bleh) for a special treat I've been craving- Candy Cane Lane Celestial Seasonings tea and some local honey! When my friend, Ouja, blogged about this- "it elicits thoughts of a snowy morning, putting up a Christmas tree, and cozying up to a comfy Ralph Lauren knit throw on the couch" -I knew I needed this tea ASAP. And, boy, was she right! I am about two sips away from putting a Christmas station on Pandora!

Later, I have my last knitting class with the gals from work. I am going to be binding off my first ever scarf (that I started 10 years ago when I first learned and then forgot how to knit). I'm continuing my garter stitch charcoal gray scarf. AND I bought new, huge 11s (needles) and some thick yarn, and I'm going to see how fast I can start whipping up even more scarves (Christmas presents perhaps).

I'm having a good day.

mff.

2011-10-28T08:30:00.000-06:00

1. The best part of October was going to the pumpkin patch with a few couple friends. In addition to the patch, there was an awesome corn maze, which took an hour and a half to traverse. Plus delicious sweet corn and cider at the end!

The other best part of October? The birth of my newest nephew, Joseph Oliver!

2. The worst part of October was that I skipped the gym for a week and now I'm struggling to get back on the wagon.

3. For Halloween, I’ll be a witch.

4. I hope that in November I finish my scarf that I've been knitting, I get to hold Joey and Sammy a ton at Thanksgiving and I eat so much that I pop a button during Thanksgiving dinner.

5. Wifey has posted MilSpouse Secret Santa

. I will most definitely be participating. It's my first one!

mff.

2011-10-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

1. I want Hudson to stop chewing everything up and crying/rattling his crate door trying to escape at 3:30AM, 4:30AM and 6AM. We're a good family to him. Why can't he just be happy and non-destructive?

2. I have a hankering for pumpkin chocolate chip bread. Anyone have any good recipes?

3. I wish I had some vacation time coming up; I need a break.

4. I hope we sell more Holiday web packages. The more we sell, the bigger my 2011 bonus will be. And I could really use that to pay down my student loan. Mush! Mush!

5. I wonder if my parents will come to visit us before Christmas. I miss them and I really want to meet their new puppy, Gracie.

save the music.

2011-10-17T11:59:00.002-06:00

Alright. Here it comes. My first plea for help (I think). I need you to help me help my cousin, Sage, and the East Hampton High School Jazz Band. They're dying to follow in the footsteps of classes past, and go to Disney World, where they've been invited to perform! They're hurting for new instruments for the program (most are 15-20 years old), they need a means to get there and stay there and they'd love to have some fun,on top of it all. But they won't be able to do it without the help of GLEE Give A Note.

Fox, Ryan Murphy (the creator of GLEE), and the National Association for Music Education- have joined together through GLEE Give A Note to fight for struggling programs all across the country.

GLEE Give A Note will support music education by awarding a total of $1 million dollars in prize money to 73 music programs in jeopardy throughout the United States.

This cause is near and dear to my heart, especially since I had the honor of performing with my college choir twice in Disney. It was an unmatched musical experience, it helped to solidify our groups' "love of the game" and gave us a hunger for more. Can you say you've performed in Disney World AND at Carnegie Hall? I can. Keeping music in schools and keeping it extraordinary is beyond important.

The Marist College Singers in Disney World - 2006

So here it is...the easiest vote ever. You don't have to enter any information, register, explain, etc. It's just one single click of a button! AND you can vote once per day! So would you please help my cousin's high school jazz band win one of the 73 cash prizes? And don't forget to share this post!

Vote for the East Hampton High School Jazz Band RIGHT NOW!

today's mantra.

2011-10-14T15:59:00.000-06:00

mff.

2011-10-14T11:59:00.000-06:00

1. A word that always makes me laugh is chortle.

2. If you looked in my refrigerator right now, the oldest thing you’d find would be an old piece of cake.

3. If I were written about in the newspaper today, on the front page, the headline would say: Woman Almost Kills Her Dogs Over Knitting Nightmare.

Knitting bag was taken into the yard; scarf, yarn, needles, book and Vera Bradley bag destroyed.

4. The last movie I saw was The Bourne Identity.

5. The best thing that happened to me in the last few weeks was the new IOS 5 update for my iPhone 4.

connecting the dots.

2011-10-06T12:54:00.000-06:00

"You can't connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path, and that will make all the difference..."

"...don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." -Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford University Commencement Address

gym-goer.

2011-10-05T13:52:00.000-06:00

Well I'm back at it, after a six month reprieve. This time not as a runner, though. I never really enjoyed running, but I did enjoy that it kept me healthy, fit and kept my body looking good. So I've decided to be a gym-goer, this time around. I've gone three times a week for the last three weeks (even two days while I was on vacation).

The gym at our hotel had a sense of humor. I didn't think it was very funny...

To be honest, so far, I'm frustrated. I've barely lost a pound, and I'm not noticing much of a difference in my body. I'm worried that I'm not pushing myself hard enough, but I don't want to push so hard that I hate going and quit. So I'm trying to keep a happy, sweaty medium.

But you know what? It is seriously hard to self-motivate, no matter how badly you want to be a skinny bitch.

Things that help me:

Going to Target and buying cute, new workout clothes
Setting gym limits: I just have to get dressed and get there. If I don't want to work out by the time I get there, I can go home. I only have to workout for 30 minutes (usually I end up staying to 45). I just need to get there three days a week, and it can be any days I want. I plan when I want to go usually a week out, on our dry-erase calendar. It keeps me accountable.
Watching Netflix movies on my iPhone while on the elliptical (*when you only watch 30 minutes at a time, you really want to know what happens, thus motivating you to return to the gym to watch more)
Making slow-cooker meals, so that I don't feel starved and stressed when I get home. Dinner is just ready.

What helps you? What are you doing to kick your own butt into getting and staying in shape? How do you keep pushing yourself to work harder? Do you set goals? How do you reward yourself?

mff.

2011-09-02T09:00:00.008-06:00

1. My plans for this weekend include laundry, but what I’d really like to do is throw out all of my dirty clothes and go shopping for new clothes.

2. I consider the Labor Day holiday a really nice break from work, but not labor (see above).

3. My favorite meal for cookouts is a brat on a bun with spicy brown mustard, a baked potato with sour cream, butter and cheese and a beer, but my scale wouldn’t agree with that choice.

4. So far, my favorite part of summer has been our new patio set that we got so we can sit and have dinner outside (even though we've only done it a handful of times due to mosquitos).

5. When it comes to deployments, my philosophy is (isn't it obvious)- keep calm and soldier on.

as bad as it gets?

2011-08-10T16:46:00.003-06:00

Not so good news for Army families. (as bad as it gets...if it goes through...)

This news has had military families scratching their heads, biting their nails and reevaluating their career choice in recent weeks. Reduced pension, postponed retirement benefits until age 65 and eliminated survivor benefits? Why did we choose career Army, aside from the obvious- duty, honor, country? It seems like the Defense Business Board is banking on us asking this question. Literally.

I don't like the sound of this at all.

as good as it gets.

2011-08-05T13:40:00.000-06:00

Awesome news for Army families! (or at least as good as it will get for a while...)

Army wives unite and cheer! I just got up and did a dance in my office. It included my own rendition of the cabbage patch...

I am so happy.

mff.

2011-08-05T09:55:00.000-06:00

This week's MFF is a fill-in the blank...

1. Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and...he'll smash a fish against a rock until it's dead, because apparently he'll know that's the way to kill a fish instantly. (Andy showed me this the first time I ever went fishing, in Oregon. I hated it.)

2. It is amazing what you can accomplish if...you actually do work.

3. If you can’t stand the heat...take all of your clothes off. And get out of the kitchen.

4. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to...who Ashley chose in the season finale of the Bachelorette. Ben F. you were robbed. And even if I did like J.P., I liked you better! I wish you never got down on one knee.

5. Well behaved women seldom...get into trouble.

i should write, right?

2011-08-03T09:11:00.001-06:00

Did you know that every single day I think about my blog? Multiple times a day, really. And I wonder when I can find the time to write; what I will write about; when I will upload photos; how long my post will be. But it turns out that I never can seem to find or make the time to write.

I work full time, 8-5. I wife full time, 5:30-10. My day is full of proposals, campaign reports, ad creative, meals, my puppy, watering flowers, snuggling with my husband watching a show or movie, reading in bed and sleep.

So I'd like to pose a question, that I'm sure has not gone unasked by others: When do you blog!?! Because I know you are doing it!! I find time to read your blogs first thing in the morning as I'm simultaneously going through work email. You guys are CHAMPS at blogging!! Teach me your ways, your tips, your tricks. Please.

PS- Looks like I just made time to write.

mff.

2011-07-22T09:21:00.007-06:00

1. Do you eat raw cookie dough?

Yes. I do. I eat raw everything associated with baking- cookie dough, banana bread batter, pancake batter, cupcake batter, brownie batter. Sometimes I bake just so I can eat the batter while doing it... Go ahead. Judge me.

2. When you get online for the first time of the day… what site do you immediately head to?
Gmail and Facebook simultaneously. Email and social media aka my life. Just last night Andrew asked, "Allie, does it ever get old? Facebook?" I said, "No."

3. What was your favorite pet as a child and why?
My favorite pet was all of my pets. They were collectively not as great as Lillers, but very good nonetheless.

Lillers with her Granda. Both are very sleepy puppies.

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

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

Ah-one. Ah-two. Ah-three. CRUNCH! Ah-three.

mff.

2011-07-15T14:29:00.001-06:00

1. If you could have a private concert with any singer, who would it be? submitted by An Air Force Wife’s Blog
John Mayer, so that I would know all the words and could sing harmonies. He would be like, "What? I had no idea you were so amazing. Want to go on tour with me?" And I'd be like, "Oh yeah, no problem."

2. Is there anything you do to supplement your family’s income? submitted by Our Life, One Adventure at a Time
I work full time in advertising sales for a local tv station. Pretty supplemental.

3. During your pregnancy (whether past, present, or future), what did you nickname your unborn baby before you knew the sex? submitted by Explosions of Love
I will nickname my womb-baby Wombat. I just made that up. I don't really like it. I just want to name it when I'm actually pregnant. Kthanksbye.

4. Have you ever won a blog giveaway? If so what did you win? submitted by Mrs. O’s Life
Yes!

5. If I looked into your refrigerator right now, what would I find? submitted by Married to the Army
Chocolate covered strawberries from Andy's 25th birthday, cold cuts, juice, creamer, eggs,cheese, a blueberry compote leftover from cheesecake cupcakes I made for a friend's birthday, half-eaten jars of salsa, sauce, sour cream and ricotta cheese. All the good stuff.

mff.

2011-06-24T14:29:00.001-06:00

1. Are you a different person than you were five years ago? submitted by Sisterly Thoughts

I went from college student to graduate; from dating to Army Wife; from East Coast to Mid-West; from intern to employee; from fish mom to puppy mom. Very different, I'd say.

2. If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why? submitted by Thoughts from a Poekitten
I would definitely take Andy. We've watched the show together and we usually agree on what roadblocks to do. He is very logical about the tasks, plus he's super strong so if it was physical or scary I know he'd do it for us. He is also good with direction and a good motivator. So pretty much all around a great teammate. GREAT JOB, BABY! They would call us Andy & Allie, Soldier and Wife ... or the Goths. (jk)

If Andy was deployed and couldn't go, I think I'd want to go with my dad. I'd want to see if we'd be like Gary & Mallory- very handsome and a lot nutty, but surprisingly efficient or like Ron & Christina- totally bizarre, hungry, disfunctional and inefficient. I think we'd be the former. C'MON, DAD!

3. Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good in to your life? submitted by Just an Arizona Girl
Good. It's my life. It's my work. Blah blah blah.

4. June is National Soul Food Month- what’s your soul food? submitted by NH Girl Displaced
My soul food is candy. And iTop It. And Four Cheese Baked Gnocchi (from the best cookbook I've ever used).

5. If you could live in any other era than the current, which one would it be & why? submitted by Sugar in My Grits
Hmm. It's a tawss up betweeeeennnnnnn WW2 and the 1700s. :)

236.

2011-06-14T10:33:00.002-06:00

First to fight for the right,

And to build the Nation’s might,

And The Army Goes Rolling Along.

Proud of all we have done,

Fighting till the battle’s won,

And the Army Goes Rolling Along.

Then it’s hi! hi! hey!

The Army’s on its way.

Count off the cadence loud and strong;

For where’er we go,

You will always know

That The Army Goes Rolling Along.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARMY! BEAT NAVY!

mff.

2011-06-10T15:59:00.001-06:00

1. When you vacation what type of vacation do you like to take (beach, historic, adventurous, food oriented, etc.)? submitted by Megan Dub-Yuh
I'd like to take a vacation in general. Probably the only kind of vacation I wouldn't like is an adventurous one. I'm not too outdoorsy-adventurous. Although I did scuba dive and snorkel on our honeymoon. That's pretty adventurous!

2. What is your best memory associated with a song (you know we all have tons!) submitted byRamblings of a Marine Wife
The Angels & Airwaves I-Empire album brings me back to sophomore year of college with Andrew. <3.

3. If you had six months with no obligations or financial constraints, what would you do with your time? submitted by Married to the Army
I would travel all over Europe, Asia, Australia, the Virgin Islands, and Hawaii. I would eat at all of the best restaurants. I would drink coffee in every city. I would go to a million musicals, symphonies and concerts. And I would but lots and lots of things to decorate our home from everywhere I went.

4. What is one thing about you that people do NOT typically notice at first that you wish they would? submitted by Our Motto is Patience

I wish people would notice that I'm not a young nobody who knows nothing about this business. I'm great at my job, and I believe the people who don't notice me have a lot to learn from me.

5. …. submitted by The Three Turners: It’s a summer of sequels, and if you had to live in one of each of the following “worlds” (there are three total) which would you choose and why?

*X-Men: Be a Mutant, what would your power be? Teleportation.

*Harry Potter: Be a Witch or Muggle? Witch.

*Twilight: Be a Vampire or Werewolf? Vampire.

summer essential swap: mission accomplished.

2011-06-10T11:47:00.000-06:00

I received my Summer Swap package from Charity yesterday! It was perfect timing. With Andrew leaving for California today (for his sister's wedding; I'm going next week), I've been have a little deployment PTSD. I don't want him to leave (for 6 days- laughable, I know), and the thought of being home without him is slightly traumatizing. But Charity gave me a great idea with this package. I need to just RELAX! So relax I will...

My Package! Thank you, Charity. It was SO perfect for me.

Sweet smelling gardenia candle, room spray and diffuser!

Vitamin C Eye Pads and Cool Gel Eye Mask!

A Cold Cup! (Great minds think alike, Charity!)

A Starbucks Gift Card! (She knows what I love!)

How's this for relaxing? I am a relaxation ninja...

i love apple.

2011-06-07T09:28:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, my iPad 2 was in a really bad way. It got in a fight with the wind and the concrete. It lost. It cracked across the whole screen and shattered the glass in the corner. This all happened while Andrew was using it, while I was at work. When I got home and saw it, I was angry and upset and annoyed and sad and depressed. This morning, Andrew took it to the Apple store. They handed him a brand new iPad 2.

Moral of the story: I love Apple.

...so much.

*This post is in no way a paid endorsement. But Apple is amazing. My iPhone 4, iPad 2 and MacBook are really looking forward to the iCloud and IOS 5. Fall 2011 can't come soon enough!

mff.

2011-06-03T12:03:00.006-06:00

1. It’s now June (woot!)… what plans do you have for the summer?
In a few weeks, we are headed to Napa Valley for my sister-in-law's wedding. Andrew and I are both in the bridal party, and we are both really excited for the celebration (and the mini-vacation). In case you aren't jealous yet, drinks and dancing are taking place in this wine cellar:

I know. It's fabulous.

In mid-July my parents (or maybe just my mom, since my dad is scared of this dangerous beast)...

...are coming to visit us in Colorado. They miss us tons, but the real reason for the visit? To go see the final installment of the Harry Potter series together!!

In August, we are hoping and planning to get to NY/NJ for one of my best friend from college's wedding to her college sweetheart. <3 It's going to be a lovely summer!

2. What is your favorite summer memory as a kid?
My favorite childhood summer memories revolve around the beach and family. I remember spending summer weekends out at my aunt's house in the Hamptons, driving in the back of her truck to the beach, spending all day boogie boarding and all night by a bonfire with marshmallows. We used to have dinner at this restaurant call "The Dock," where they serve the best fresh mussels and Elvis sandwiches. Sigh...

3. If wild animals could be made pets without fear of them ever being dangerous, what kind of exotic animal would you want as a pet?
My elephants!!

4. Is there anything about deployments that you do like? submitted by The Thrifty Military Wife
Being able to watch my shows.

5. I’m starting to run out of questions again… so please give me a question you’d like to see (off-the-wall will most likely make it because we seem to have used a lot of the “traditional” ones).
What is your favorite, most creative summer stay-cation idea? What is the best drink you've ever created yourself at Starbucks? What is your favorite alcoholic drink to order when you're out?

swap.

2011-05-23T09:10:00.001-06:00

When I saw Nicole's post this morning, I knew I was in. It was just what I needed. Something exciting and fun, something that forces me to shop for fabulous summer things, something all about me? Why yes, thank you, I will be participating in the Summer Essentials Swap! I can't wait to get my partner. She will be very lucky, because I LOVE creating over-the-top themed gifts! What a good start to this week...

climbing.

2011-05-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

Andrew and some of his buddies went rock climbing in Garden of the Gods a couple weekends ago. I got some nice pics of them up on the rocks...

something to draw from.

2011-05-16T14:31:00.000-06:00

I have a concert with the USAFA Band tomorrow. We are singing all sorts of patriotic tunes- medleys of Yankee Doodle, God Bless America, This Is My Country and all of the military fight songs.

Our conductor, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, said to us at the beginning of a rehearsal last week, "You have to find something to give the words you are singing meaning. You have to find something to draw from here."

I smiled when he said this, because I think if he had a magnifying glass to hold up to our chorus, he'd have seen a whole sea of "something to draw from." An 18 year old military brat who has lived all over the world, following her father. A 25 year old military wife, whose husband just completed his first deployment. A female soldier from Germany, serving in the US military. And so many of our men- once boys with their hair parted to the side, in uniform, kissing their sweethearts goodbye- now veterans of this country's wars.

We've known pride, patriotism and loyalty; war, heartache and death. We've got plenty to draw on! The words we will sing will never lose their meaning.

Feeling awfully proud to be an American today...

mff.

2011-04-15T12:14:00.002-06:00

1. With PCS moves happening every few years, do you take the time to paint and decorate your home? submitted by Life as Mrs. JPT
Decorate- yes. My mom made me put up curtains in our newest house. And I hang pictures, mirrors, diplomas, awards and sports stuff.
Paint- no. It's not worth the extra effort. Knowing that we'd have to repaint before moving out even though they have painters come in to slap some more white on after we move out anyway? Not so much.

2. If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be? submitted by Standing By Him
I would like to live in the Dunphy home from Modern Family, but only if Phil Dunphy lived there with us.

3. What inspired you to start your blog? submitted by Pink Combat Boots
I knew that this deployment would be something I'd want to remember for years to come. So instead of just reading about everyone else's experiences, I started writing about my own. It was something my husband could read while he was gone and something family and friends could read to keep up with my life.

4. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on base? submitted byAdventures in Life
The weirdest thing I've seen on post is the influx of trampolines and boxer dogs.

5. Which historical figure (politician, writer, artist, scientist, actor, etc…) would you like to have dinner with? submitted by Army of Two
Anne Frank.

hope.

2011-04-11T13:44:00.002-06:00

It's been a while. He's been home for a month. I haven't blogged much since he's been back. Things have been busy. I haven't had time. I haven't had much to say.

Today I got into work and started reading "my blogs." I got to my favorite milspouse blog- {mis}adventures of an army wife, and was absolutely shocked and haunted by what I read:"If you are reading this, you should know that I am dead. At least I hope I'm dead." Her post is not a joke. It contains the words of a woman- an Army wife- who had no hope left. She was not weak. She never mentioned any problems at home (at least not on her blog). She seemed absolutely fine. She was funny; she was witty; she was a great storyteller; she was persistent; she was determined. It turns out, she had no faith in her future.**

So now, I have something to say. It's about something I feel is one of the most stigmatized, frowned upon things that can happen to a military family. It's something that I believe a lot of people don't understand, brush off, or think will get better with time- even the people it is happening to. There is something wrong with the fact that I feel weird even writing about it. That is- NOT being okay after a deployment/a spouse's deployment.

I personally feel let down by the reintegration training I received before my husband came home from his year-long tour in Iraq: "First you will go through a honeymoon phase. Next you will fight. Then you will adjust." But that's not right, is it? Because it can't be as simple as a timeline, as checking "yes" to a box at SRP or as going to briefings and ACS trainings. Reintegration is different for everyone. For one person, it is a Facebook post that say, "Soooooooo happy that my wonderful hubby is home." And for another it is, "Are we going to talk to each other today?"

In the reintegration trainings I attended, we heard a lot about the former. We heard ad nauseum about everyone's inordinate desire for s-e-x. We heard a little bit about the adjustment for kids. But even while I was there, I knew I wasn't getting all the information. I didn't feel like a lot of the women at those trainings. And I never felt like I received preparation for the latter.

I remember some of our neighbors going through reintegration, their husbands returning home just after my husband had deployed. One woman in particular was the most excited for her husband to return, but within a week the "honeymoon" (the one they promise lasts about 3-6 months) was over. I remembering thinking (naively), "How can they be fighting like that? Why the cynicism? Homecoming is perfect! It's everything you hope for for a year! It's the best, because you're together again!"

Watching that couple, even from a distance, was more insight than I had ever received from the military into what the other side of redeployment can entail.

While being together again is the best, it doesn't equal perfect. In my experience, it equals finding a new normal, not trying to fit back into what your old normal was. It's equals not having expectations. It's equals working as a team. And it's alright to not be okay or to not be good at it. It doesn't mean you are a failure. It doesn't mean that your husband will be looked down upon at work. And just because no one is training you for it or talking about it, doesn't mean that it doesn't happen or that you are the only ones going through it.

My hope is that no one ever has to go through what Jessica went through. Obviously, her situation was extreme- redeployment, alcohol abuse, infidelity, depression. And maybe her marriage didn't end because of the deployment. Maybe it would have played out the same way if her husband had never deployed. But maybe it wouldn't have. When he redeployed after a year in Afghanistan, he was not okay. Jessica wanted help for her husband, and it sounded like he wanted help for himself, but was too scared to deal with what getting help actually entailed. She also wanted help for herself. But for both of them, the help didn't come soon enough.

My hope for everyone reading this is that you know help is available. If you don't know where to start, try Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647. You can call to talk anonymously any time. They never have to know who you are, who your spouse is, what unit you are in. And if you do decide it is right for you, know that each eligible service member or family member may receive up to 12 sessions of counseling, per issue, per counselor at no cost.

If you have no hope left, please make one more phone call to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255.

**From what I have read on a few other milspouse blogs and in the comments on her post, authorities were contacted. Jessica is alive and physically unharmed. I am not sure if this is accurate, but I am really hoping that it is. I hope she knows how much I care.

mff.

2011-04-01T11:14:00.001-06:00

1. What romance movie scene reminds you of your spouse and the LOVE you share? submitted by Simply Sunshine and Daisy’s
She's singing in public and talking to strangers. He's embarrassed and pretending he doesn't know her. They're both really in love with each other.

2. If you were allowed to deploy with your husband to a war zone would you and why? submitted by I & J
I wouldn't, because I know my husband would be too worried about me. And if he was worried about me, he wouldn't be able to focus and make rational decisions. So he couldn't do his job. Also, I wouldn't go because I've heard stories about the bathrooms with the toilet seats ripped off and poo smeared on the walls and about combat showers. Not so much for me. Not if I had the choice.

3. Have you ever done anything (intentionally, or unintentionally) to embarrass your spouse/significant other in front of his military cohorts? submitted by Marrying the Navy

No. Especially not intentionally. "Husbands and wives don't do that to each other, Allie. Public humiliation is for enemies." I think what he was trying to say is that I'm the perfect mil-spouse.

4. What is your most irrational fear? submitted by Eights on the Move

I fear throwing up from fear.

5. If you could only live in one kind of climate for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? submitted by Many Waters

I choose the climate that doesn't get snow or graupel or rain or clouds; that has beautiful, warm sunshine all the time; that let's me drink my Saturday coffee on the patio, eat lunch outside and play at the dog park for hours. Where is that climate?

mff.

2011-03-18T10:09:00.000-06:00

1. 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.
I call my parents every day to check-in. I text and send pics and videos of our puppy. I blog. I try to keep up with things like Christmas cards and birthday cards. I never want to be so far out of the loop that I don't know what's going on with everyone. So far so good.

2. What’s the most romantic gift you have GIVEN? submitted by Painting My Canvas
I given a million gifts to my husband, but I don't know what I would call romantic. Tickets to Blink 182? A watch box? A framed picture of the Oregon coast? Deployment binder? Three Valentine's Day cards? A grill light and tools? This is sort of making me feel bad, like I need to try a little harder to be romantic. What even is a romantic gift?

3. Would you encourage your child, if they came to you and wanted to join the military? submitted by Perfectly Imperfect
I don't know that I could encourage my child to join the military, and I feel like a bad and selfish person because of that. But I know the heartache, the distance, the war and the deployment. I know the loss of life, limb and spirit. I know that this can break you, beyond repair. But I also know the pride, the patriotism, the strength and the homecoming. I know the unspoken acceptance, the close bonds and the life-long friendships. I know this can change you, for the better. So while I might not be able to encourage, I know I could support them. This life is an honorable choice.

4. What is your least favorite bill to pay and why? submitted by A Little of This, A Little of That
Ugh. The student loans. Dread. They are never ending and never depleting. If someone wins the lotto, can they spot me enough to pay off my exorbitant college education please?

5. What is the proudest moment you've had as a military spouse? submitted by Our Okinawa Life
Watching my husband's homecoming ceremony. I watched 250 soldiers return from a year-long deployment...there was something so humbling about that moment. My heart swelled with pride as "Proud To Be An American" filled the Special Events Center; the words have never rung more true for me. My eyes welled with tears of joy as I watched them march through smoke in formation, almost running at the end- the anticipation of reuniting with loved ones willing them to move faster. I was so grateful that all of those men, including my husband, were willing to support our country. To give up the simple things, to give up the comfort of family, to give up everything for the cause. And I was so thankful to whatever it was that kept them protected and safe- be it their training, their leadership or a higher power. As they uncased the unit flag, signifying that 1-8IN was home for good, I have never felt more proud to be an Army wife.

mff (on thursday).

2011-03-17T10:00:00.003-06:00

1. During military separations (whether short or long) how do you keep yourself positive and motivated? submitted by Married/Single Parent
Find a friend and get out and do everything you possibly can think of. Shop, hike, run, go to the movies, eat frozen yogurt, watch movies, talk, go to the dog park, go to local events. Go and do. It makes time go by quickly.

2. What is your favorite concert you have ever been to? submitted by Young but Not (Completely) Dumb
   My first John Mayer concert, his No Such Thing tour, remains my favorite. If not for all the teenage stereotypes, than for the amazing night of music.
   I was a sophomore in high school. My best friend Katherine and I drove from NY to Wallingford, CT, with my sister and her boyfriend- signs in the window of our PT Cruiser that said, "Wallingford or Bust!" and "Honk if you love John Mayer!" We listened to the CD on repeat the whole way there. When we arrived, we went straight into the venue. No tailgating for us; we were ready to rock! Our seats were in the second to last row of the balcony...
   As we were waiting for the show to start, a woman came to us and asked to see our tickets. We showed her. She said, "Well, I'm Ina-John Mayer's ticket fairy, and I'd like to trade seats." She handed us tickets to the front row!! We all ran down, Katherine and I practically squealing, "Do you see these tickets? THEY'RE FRONT ROW! WE'RE GOING TO THE FRONT ROW!" We stopped on the way down and bought concert tees. I put mine on immediately. (And I wonder why John didn't ask me backstage for a quickie?) We were up close and personal for the opener- the then lesser-known but well-known by us Maroon Five; I caught Adam Levine's guitar pick. Then we sang every word to our generation's musical genius, John Mayer. He was young and sweaty and made awkward faces when he jammed. He was perfect.
   That concert confirmed my love for his style, his swagger, his skanky for years to come.
   I saw J. May at Red Rocks in September. He was 10 years older, 10 years more talented and 10 years more humble. It was a full circle moment to be singing the same words I sang at 14 along with him again.

3. What do you miss most about your “hometown”? submitted by A Florida Girl and Her Soldier
Besides my family? The food. Bagels, pizza, delis, greek salads, soup and salad places and diners.

4. If you could run in any race, which charity would you choose to support? submitted by Wookie & Co.
I would support the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

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
I really love this question. I would like to start with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar with crostini and kalamata olives on the side. Then I would like to have ravioli in a homemade tomato-parmesan sauce, with a breaded, asiago chicken cutlet. To finish, I would like mint chocolate chip ice cream with hot fudge and colored sprinkles in a cone.

love and gratitude.

2011-03-16T11:59:00.001-06:00

Dear Everyone,

Thank you so much for all of your love and well-wishes this past week. Andy and I could not be happier to be together again.

Your support over the last year will not soon been forgotten. Thank you for your patriotism, for you prayers, for you care packages, for your mail, for your calls, for your texts, for your emails, for your love, for your friendship, for your shoulder to cry on, for your devotion to 1-8IN and for your devotion to Andrew and I. We are extremely grateful that we continue to be surrounded by so much family and friends we call family.

Please continue to support the troops, until every one comes home.

With all of our love and gratitude,

Allie & Andy

PS- Keep Calm and Soldier On.

the end.

2011-03-06T10:10:00.002-07:00

Some days I feel great. Really empowered. Look how much I've accomplished in the last year. I started a blog. I've moved into a house by myself. I made it into an auditioned choir. I traveled across the country by myself. I raised a ~~very~~ sort-of obedient puppy. I went from Couch to 5K. I set a record at work for highest web sales in a month in the company. I became our company's FRG leader. I sent 16 care packages to my husband. I developed an insane streak of luck- winning things from Mary Kay to cash money at Bingo to first prize in our work bake-off to a night's stay in a hotel. I've been to Garden of the Gods, hot air ballon launches, my first murder mystery party, the circus, a renaissance festival, the zoo, Broadway shows, sporting events, a rodeo, the Olympic Training Center, movies, to concerts, dog parks, multiple puppy school graduations, apple orchards, pumpkin farms, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the Harlem Globetrotters, museums, restaurants, bars, bingo night, FRG events and countless direct-sales parties. I've made it this far, I can make it through the rest.

But some days I forget all of that, and I wallow. I clean. I eat lots of candy. I blog. I watch hours and hours of Grey's Anatomy. I have anxiety nightmares about being chased on stairs. I develop bizarre stress-induced ailments like swollen eyeballs and freezing, blue toes that land me in the ER. I cry. I lash out at my family. I sit in my car in the garage and scream. I do thinks like impulse-shop online or at the outlets. I buy 7 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies. I check and re-check flight manifests. I do all of this to try to regain a little composure, because I feel like I'll never make it.

We are so close to the end now. Just days away from his home-coming. We'll finally be reunited after this year-long deployment. And I absolutely know I'll make it, but I sort of feel like I'll never make it.

I selected this post to be featured on www.militaryblogs.org. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

mff.

2011-03-04T10:30:00.002-07:00

1. Do you or your {spouse} ever wish your {spouse} was in a different branch of the military? submitted byThe Turner Family
No. Army is hooah. That's all there is to it.

2. What duty station(s) are on your “No Way, Hell No, Not Going, Have Fun Unaccompanied” list and why? submitted by Every Branch
All those posts that are in the middle of nowhere, where the closet store is a Walmart 20 miles away? Yeah. Not so much fa me.

3. If you could be one age forever, what age would you choose and why? submitted by Three Krakens
19. It was the age I was when I met Andy. I'd be back in college. I'd be super skinny. I'd be singing everyday. I'd go to millions of West Point football games. I'd be sneaking kisses on the roof of Thayer. I'd eat tons of Bananas Foster French Toast at Everready Diner. I'd spend weekends laying on the dock by the Hudson River or strolling around Rhinebeck. Life was amazing at 19, and I'd be happy to stay there forever.

4. If you were a breakfast cereal, which one would you be? submitted by the C.W.
I'd I were a breakfast cereal I'd be Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Spicy and sweet.

5. What is your morning beverage of choice and why? submitted by NH Girl Displaced
I like coffee or tea. I like them from Starbucks, but I also make my own at home or work.

mff.

2011-02-25T11:43:00.001-07:00

1. Aside from no deployments, what is one thing you would want to make the MilSpouse life “perfect”? submitted by Oh How Delightful
I would like to be stationed at one post for a long period of time, so that you don't have to quit your job and start over every two years.

2. Just how many peppers did Peter Piper pick? submitted by Married into Army
The other day I heard someone say, "Peter Piper picked a pack of spicy peppers." I stopped in my tracks, screwed up my face and said, "He picked a PECK of PICKLED peppers. Idiot."

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 feel like I answered this one already...

4. Do you have a service oriented tattoo and if so what is it. If you don’t what would you get? submitted byThe Squid’s Accomplice
No tattoos fa me, and I wouldn't get any. I'm so boring, right? I might be wrong here, but I don't believe old, wrinkly tramp stamps will ever come into style...

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
Photography, please. Thank you.

mff.

2011-02-18T09:49:00.002-07:00

1. What is your favorite MilSpouse blog (not including Wife of a Sailor, who we all love, or your own)?submitted by Our Crazy Life

I love to follow Jessica @ {Mis}Adventures of an Army Wife. I think she is real, thoughtful, relatable and funny.

2. What are your favorite perks about your husband being deployed (we all know there are perks)? submitted by Ramblings of a Marine Wife

Well, recently I went to a Battalion Valentine's Dinner. Operation Homefront of Colorado donated huge Mary Kay makeup and skincare bags AND Arbonne skincare and robes to all of the wives in attendance. As I was gathering up all my loot, I actually said the words, "I'm so glad Andy's deployed!!" Obviously, I did not mean that, but it is really nice to feel so taken care of and respected while he's gone.

I also like to be in control of the remote.

3. How long did you date your husband before getting engaged? Married? submitted by Utterly Chaotic

Andrew and I dated for almost four years before getting engaged on July 4, 2009, on the beach underneath fireworks. Most patriotic couple? Yes.

We got married less than two weeks later in the courthouse, and we had our wedding in the Church with our family five months later on 12/12/09. Most stereotypical military couple? Yes.

4. What do you think your husband would do if s/he wasn’t in the military? submitted by Adventures of M-Squared

I think he would be living The Big Bang Theory as his reality. He would be Leonard and I would be Penny.

4. If you could talk to the Secretary of the Army what is one suggestion you would like to bring to their attention in order to improve the lives of military families? submitted by My Life as His (Air Force) Wife

I would like to suggest shorter deployments. We are the only branch of the US Military to fulfill year long tours. It is too long. Shorter deployments would give Army families at least a fighting chance at normalcy. That's all.

kcaso (for real).

2011-02-14T23:11:00.001-07:00

If I can make it through this week, I can make it through the rest of the deployment.

The big bosses are in town. I've got 11 appointments in the next three days. The topic of discussion for every single appointment- Mobile To Go with KRDO: Put your business in the palm of their hands. We've got to sell both mobile sponsorships this week or I don't know if we'll ever get them sold.

A decision on a huge proposal for March is set to come in this week (cross your fingers).

I've got book club tomorrow night (which I might skip to self-preserve) and Chorale Wednesday night.

Saturday is Banner Making Day. This should be actually be fun. You know...banners for Welcome Home Ceremonies...because this deployment is almost OVER. I've got all these awesome German candies from one of our wives who lives abroad to share with the families. Should be a yummy 3-hour event.

Saturday morning also promises a redeployment brief. I'm really hoping the info is good, because if for some reason it's at all unfavorable, I'm going to hear it from a hundred wives and family members and it's going to be all my fault.

Saturday night is a Battalion Resiliency Dinner. I really liked our battalion Valentine's Dinner this past week, with guest speakers from ACS, a spouse whose husband has PTSD, and a military wife of 21 years who's survived three deployments. I felt like I gained tons of coping strategies and got great reintegration advice. I also won the book the 5 Love Languages- I'm words of affirmation; what are you? And I won the raffle- a night in a suite at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs with breakfast the next morning! Turns out I'm really lucky this deployment. I think this dinner promises more of the same, which is good.

I just need to make it to Monday. The 21st. The last week of February. Because if I can make it to then, I know I can make it to the end of the month and to March when my husband is coming home.

Time to put the game face on...I gotta keep calm and soldier on (for real).

a day at the dog park.

2011-02-05T17:18:00.001-07:00

mff.

2011-02-04T15:08:00.002-07:00

1. Since most of the country has had nasty weather, what has your weather been like this week?
Earlier this week we had temps below 0 degrees, -25 with the wind chill. No, snow. Yes, freeze. Schools on Ft. Carson even had 2 "Cold Days," which apparently never happens. But don't worry. Work doesn't close for cold. We're tough like that. Today it is already up to 40 degrees. Colorado weather is so bizarre.

2. What is/are your best money saving tip(s)?
Start savings accounts for everything. House, kids, gifts, travel, grad school, etc. Then at each paycheck, deduct a set percentage for each category from the income and put into the saving accounts. If the money's not in checking, you won't feel like you have it to spend!

3. What was your favorite vehicle you’ve ever owned?
I've only ever "owned" my 2003 Saturn VUE. It's a good car, but my favorite was my parent's PT Cruiser I ~~crashed~~ drove in high school and college. Love the Peta.

4. What is a question you’d like to see asked in a future fill-in?
What is one of the things you always do special when your husband returns from a deployment?

5. Fill in the blank: You might be a MilSpouse if…
...you wake up converting time to the Middle East.

mff.

2011-01-28T10:32:00.001-07:00

1. If you were a famous movie star, what types of movies would you star in?
Romantic comedies. I'd get to be happy, depressed, angry and in love all in one movie! I'd really get to show off my range...While I'm at it, I'd be happy to fill in for Hermione in Harry Potter. Call me.

2. What is a vacation you would like to take if money were no object?
I would like to go to Europe for 3-4 weeks. Italy, England, Germany, France, Greece and Ireland. Then I would like to stop in the Bahamas for a week to recuperate. Then on my way back to CO, I would like to stop at Disney World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for about 5 days. Make that happen, k?

3. Did you have pets growing up?
I had tons and tons of fish- goldfish, betas, neon fish...the list goes on and on. Fish are great pets. Very low maintenance. Very fun to watch. Very fun to assign personalities to. I loved having fish so much that I even kept them as pets in college and in our first apartment. Spicy, Latte and Magellan were the best goldfish I ever had. I cried when they all died.

I also had a rabbit, Fluffy. Fluffy was a great bunny. He loved to roll around in the snow like a puppy. He was cute and cuddly and the closest pet we ever got to a puppy. When Fluffy died, I was in the third grade. My friend Carolina wrote me a sympathy card that said "I will pray for your rabbit up to summer." I'll never forget how much she cared. Her prayers meant the world to me.

Finally, I had a cockatiel, Squeaky. Squeaky scared me, because he nipped and his claws were always too long.
We used to wear gloves to pick him up. Once he was out of his cage, he'd fly around the den like a maniac and land on the curtains where we could reach him. So you understand that we couldn't care for Squeaky well enough. We ended up giving him to my mom's best friend and bird lover, where he eventually met an untimely death due to an impacted bowel. To this day when I go into my parents house I can hear Squeaky welcoming us home. EEP! EEP!!

4. What do you do for exercise?
Oh boy. Now I actually have to put it in writing. In November, I started a 9 week training program- Couch to 5K. I went from not being able to run more than a mile without collapsing for an hour afterwards to being able to run 3+ miles every time I head out with only about a 5 minute recovery at the end of it. This program is awesome and totally attainable for anyone willing to try. I am extremely proud of myself for starting and finishing the program this month. This past week, I ran my first real race, the Jack Quinn's 5K, in Downtown Colorado Springs. I never walked, and I finished my fastest 5K to date. Now I'm continuing to train for the 5K on St. Patrick's Day. (I hope Andy will be home to run this with me) So. For exercise, I run. I'm a runner.

5. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received as a MilSpouse?
Nothing is set in stone, so don't have any expectations.

ten and change.

2011-01-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Ten months officially down this month. The deployment is finally coming to a close. You can tell everyone is getting really anxious to have their husband's home. We all seem more stressed, more sensitive, more impatient, more needy. In the new year, I've been known to say things like, "If this is what its going to be like for the next few weeks, I'LL NEVER MAKE IT" or "I'M RAPIDLY APPROACHING MY BREAKING POINT!" Slightly crazy? Yes. But don't judge me. I'm judging myself enough for the both of us. I think this is what they are talking about when they say the last two months are the hardest...

In other news, I became the FRG Leader for my husband's company this month. I'm sure it won't put me over the edge. A second full time job, complete with the questions, concerns, rants and raves of tons of wives and family members who feel just like I do and possibly worse? I'm sure I'll be just fine. It's only been a few weeks and it has taken a lot out of me already, but I anticipate that once our guys get home things will mellow out. All of the families will be ready to be just that again....a family. And I'm not going to get in the way of that.

In actuality, I'm really glad I took the position. I love leadership roles. I love the support and loyalty I'm able to show for my husband and his job. I'm enjoying the new relationships I've already formed with the families. I truly care about them very much. It gives me comfort to worry about the needs others more than my own. With every email I send out to the families, I try to remind them of the relief that will come, when our husbands, sons and daddys return home from deployment. And I'm so glad I will be here to help guide them through these last crazy weeks. I'm going to do everything I can help them through this time of almost impossible change.

So. 10 months down, huh? Way to go, Dark Knights!!!

mff.

2011-01-21T09:24:00.002-07:00

1. What do you usually want to know about someone when meeting them for the first time?
I like to know where people are from. Then I play "7 Degrees of Separation" in my head to see if I know anyone who even maybe lives in their state. I love the long shot of- "Oh do you know Jane Doe? She's from Utah, too!" 'Oh no...I don't....Utah's a big state." I also think knowing where someone is from can tell you a lot about who they are- their dialect, their personality, their food preferences, etc.

2. Would you rather know everything about your spouse, or be regularly surprised?
I'd rather know everything about him. I don't like surprises very much. I much rather like the opportunity to be prepared, to know what's coming. Who wants to be surprised by a skeleton in the closet? Creepazoid.

3. If you could live in one city for the rest of your life, where would you live?
London. Great pace. Great transportation. Great history. Great shopping. Great markets. Great people. Great tea. Great sandwiches. Great parks. Great flats. Great palaces. Great accessibility to Europe. Great everything.

4. When you go out of town, what one material thing do you ALWAYS take?
iPhone 4. Internet/phone/music/games. What more could you need?

5. Using no more than 10 nouns, and ONLY nouns, describe yourself.
Wife. Daughter. Sister. Military. Internet. Music. Puppy. Runner. Reader. Volunteer.

mff.

2011-01-16T20:43:00.000-07:00

1. What are you looking forward to most in 2011?
...this question is a gimme! I'm most looking forward to my husband coming home from Iraq. He's been gone for 10 months. I'm ready.

2. What is something random you do on a boring night when your significant other is away?
...also a gimme? I sit at the dining room table and write this post on my blog.

3. What has been your greatest adventure as a MilSpouse?
...this is just getting ridiculous. Ahem. This deployment has been my greatest adventure as a MilSpouse. Highs and lows, ups and downs, its been an adventure to say the least.

4. What is the ugliest fashion trend you ever bought into?
Platform shoes, overall shorts, scrunchies, purple lipgloss- to name a few.

5. What was the high point of last month?
Being home with my parents for New Years Eve. We had an amazing dinner, played games, talked, laughed and made fun of Dick Clark (I know, we're absolutely horrible and it's NEF). But we made up for it by setting the house alarm off at midnight and then banging pots and pans and blowing our vuvuzela on the front step. I just know the neighbors appreciated it. Happy New Year!

not even funny.

2011-01-01T19:55:00.001-07:00

I went home to New York for Christmas this year. Being around family seemed like the only way to make it through the biggest holiday of 2010 without Andrew. For some reason though, I guess this holiday was destined to be a gong show...

I took the red eye to JFK and got the most literal translation of the flight- red eyes from lack of sleep. I think I got about 30 minutes, just after we had taken off. When I woke up, I was convinced I had slept for 3 hours. No such luck. I arrived in New York on Christmas Eve at 6AM, totally exhausted. I took a 3 hour "nap," in the middle of the day and spent the rest of the afternoon with my parents decorating the Christmas tree and putting out our gifts. I kept myself up for the midnight church service, where I sang in the choir with my mom. I got hit with a nice wave of sleep-deprived nausea about halfway through that, but the service was everything I remembered it to be: serene, beautiful and filled with the holiday spirit. Just what I needed.

Christmas day I woke up with an hot, swollen and infected big toe. Very random and very painful. My sister and her husband came over for our family gift exchange in the morning, where I iced my toe and contemplated going to an emergency clinic to have my toe lanced. In the end, I opted to just do a hot foot bath with hydrogen peroxide in it. FYI- it worked! My extended family came over for a delicious lasagna dinner that evening. And my grandmother had a fantastic gift for the whole family (all 18 of us)- tickets to Mary Poppins on Broadway, the very next day!

So the next morning, we woke up to some very dark gray clouds, threatening huge amounts of snow. True to form, they started dumping buckets (18 inches total, when all was said and done) onto quite an unprepared Long Island. With threats of suspended train service to and from NYC, part of our family made the decision to forgo the musical and hunker down at home. The other part saw a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious show and then got stranded in the city. Looks like one thing went my way this trip!

The rest of the visit went relatively well. I was able to drive to NJ to see some college friends for dinner. I did some shopping/returning with my mom, dad and sister. And before I knew it, it was Wednesday night. Time to hop a flight on JetBlue, back to Denver.

I got to the airport about 2 1/2 hours before my scheduled departure; waited in a bag drop line for over an hour; waited on security for about 45 minutes; and then waited at the gate for another hour, through two delays and an eventual cancellation, due to a lack of First Officer. The plane was at the gate. The pilot was present. 3 in flight crew members were ready to go. But for some reason, the FO decided not to show up. No warning. Just a nice cancellation at 10:15PM. I waited in the info line for about an hour, before getting through faster on the phone to JetBlue where I was told the next available flight was Monday night. A five day layover? AND no offer to pay for a new flight, nor for my additional parking fees and dogsitting fees? Cool. Thanks, JB. Give me my money, bitch.

So New Years in New York it was. Although I missed my pup and friends like crazy, I couldn't have planned a better way to ring in 2011. Filet mignon with a roquefort sauce, roasted cauliflower with pine nuts and garlic, salad and pinot noir? Yes, please. And my husband was able to call me from Iraq, to wish me a happy new year at the stroke of midnight. Things that went my way tally: 2.

All looked good for my flight this evening. I flew through security, paid $10 for a cup of coffee and a bottle of water, and was at my gate with an hour to relax. That's when things started slowing down. The plane arriving from Denver was delayed about 20 minutes getting to the gate, which delayed us boarding by about an hour. Then we sat on the tarmac for 1 hour and 45 minutes, before taking off. Just sitting there. Why board us, if we ain't goin nowhere? Torture: You know when it's real.

I'm in the air now, utilizing free holiday wifi courtesy of Google Chrome (we're up to 3, now). I should land just after 10PM, an hour late, which means I won't be able to pick Lily up until tomorrow morning. Do I need to go on? But wait! Stay tuned...because I'm sure my car will be under a foot of snow in the airport parking lot, and it will be -6 degrees as I try to clean it off with my sleeve...

NEF: not even funny. (My 8 year old cousin came up with the new acronym. Add it to the list.)

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-12-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

1. What is the best gift you have ever received or given? (from Jessica Lynn Writes)
The best gift I've ever given was to my husband. A few weeks before he deployed I started making him a Deployment Binder. In the binder- countless sheet protectors filled with a card stock page announcing a holiday, "Merry Christmas! Don't Open Until 12/25/10," with a handwritten card sealed and slipped into the sheet protector. Underneath where the card sat at the bottom of the pocket, I would write a little one-liner about the holiday, too. I covered every holiday, birthday, and anniversary from March 18, 2010 (Deployment Day) through March 17, 2011 (St. Patrick's Day). I can't describe how important it was to me that Andy have something to open on the exact day of celebration. I didn't want him to miss out on knowing that I was thinking of him, remembering him and wishing we could be together. I wrote love notes, limericks, songs and poems; used all of our inside jokes. I even created a few extra cards for the back of the binder- some for when he was sick or not feeling well and some for a rainy day. Whenever he opens a card, he calls me and I make him read me what I had written. It always makes him laugh that I can't remember, but now I have a great excuse. I wrote that card 9 months ago! How am I supposed to remember!?! (9 months down tomorrow!!)

2. Do you celebrate holidays differently when your loved one is deployed/gone or do you keep tradition? (from The Albrecht Squad)
Andy and I don't really have many traditions, yet. We've spent most of our holidays going back and forth, east coast/west coast, to be with each of our families. But what we can do, we do. We always watch Charlie Brown Christmas together; I'll watch it with Lily before Christmas this year. And this year when Andy was home on R&R, we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins, then carved our Jack-O-Lanterns together while watching It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. That will probably be a tradition. We're all about traditions. We just need some time together to start some!

3. If you celebrate Christmas, do you put an angel, star or something else on the top of your tree?
We do an angel at my parents house.

4. What are your three favorite websites?
From Couch to 5K
Facebook
All Recipes

5. On your man do you prefer… boxers, briefs or boxer briefs? Or commando? (yeah, I’m starting to get desperate for questions!)
Boxer briefs. Showmewhatchyoworkinwith. Just kidding, honey. But yes, boxer briefs.

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-12-10T15:49:00.001-07:00

1. What do you see your life like in 10 years?
2020. It has a nice ring to it. I see us finally settling down. We will be out of the Army; Andrew will have (please, don't pull a Brian) gotten his doctorate in physics; we will have some babies; Lily will be aging gracefully (much more mellow and lap-dog like); we'll have bought or will be buying a house; Andrew will have a job that will make him very very happy; I will probably be working; we will have tons and tons of family- our siblings will all have babies of some sort, making for lots of fun family get-togethers; and we will be very very happy.

2. What do you like most about your job?
I like that I have the freedom to make a plan and execute it. I'm not often held back, and I think the reason is that I have good people on my team. My bosses trust me. The news team is open to incorporating fun, local sales initiatives. Our Digital Content Director creates/promotes a hell of a web product for KRDO- KRDO.com, Facebook, Twitter. And our graphic designers create some of the best web product this side of the Mason Dixon.

3. What are three things you do every day, no matter what day it is?
Check email, tell Lily she's a "punkin head," and sigh.

4. What would you do with an extra five hours in your day today?
Stay up and talk to Andrew after my Christmas concert tonight. I miss him.

5. What is your favorite Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate) cookie recipe (please share!)?
I'll come back to this one...

festivus.

2010-12-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

So at work, it's full steam ahead on the Christmas front. We're totally into it. Christmas lights are strung around the office, homemade snowflakes and chain links hang from the ceiling, we're picking Secret Santa's today, and when we're not watching The View or Oprah, we're listening to all Christmas music, all the time! Heck, we even got a real tree! Try not to be too jealous...

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-12-03T10:25:00.006-07:00

1. If you were given $1,000 right now, how would you spend it?
I love questions like this. A quick rundown of all the things I thought of in 5 seconds: Christmas gifts, student loans, rugs, a synchronized musical Christmas light display. What I settled on? Another Golden Doodle puppy.

2. If you had to choose a movie title (a real one that already exists) for your life story, what would it be?
It's A Wonderful Life.

3. If you were a teacher, what subject would you like to teach?
Highschool Calculus. Mad props to Mrs. Mallon! I mean, TUH!

4. Has being a MilSpouse changed how you view holidays or how your holidays are celebrated? If so, how? If not, what hasn’t changed?
I love the holidays. I love the lights, the food, decorating the house. But going through our first (and hopefully last) set of deployed holidays has made things a little tough on the home front. It has been weird to not have Andy to turn to and laugh with, to hold hands with, to lay down with at the end of the day. I miss my friend. And I hate thinking of how much he is missing and how lonely he must be.

I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family in NY and will be doing the same for Christmas. It is tough- travelling on the holiday, leaving Lily, leaving friends who have become family, leaving our home. But it is necessary. If you are able, in this life you have to surround yourself with as many people who love you as possible. They'll shower you with affection, they'll distract you, they'll make you laugh. And while being with family during the holidays is priceless, having Andrew with me would just be better.

5. What is your favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) memory?
While singing the late service on Christmas Eve, the choir would quietly count down to midnight, looking around at the whole church holding candles, singing Silent Night. At the stroke of midnight, we'd all turn to each other and whisper "Merry Christmas" and squeeze hands. Then after church going home, reveling in the "pretties (Christmas lights)," and sitting around the lit up tree, drinking port and enjoying a few of the best Christmas cookies before going to bed.

it's a small world, after all.

2010-12-01T15:42:00.002-07:00

::cue Disney's It's A Small World theme song::

It's a small world, after all, friends, and I'll tell you why. A few weekends ago I went to the OSC Craft Fair on post. I browsed and browsed and eventually stopped at a cute table of hand-painted signs. This particular sign had caught my eye...

I laughed about it with Iris, joking that I should get it for when we have a house full of guests when Andy returns home in March. We ended up walking away, but the sign never left my mind. I told my mom I had wanted to get it, who rolled her eyes over the phone. I told my work friends, who didn't think it was as funny as I think it is.

Then a few days ago I saw Flip Flops and Combat Boots giveaway by That's Sew Savanna, featuring the sign. "It's a sign!" I thought, as I entered to win.

To my delight, I was checking out FF&CB today and saw that I had won! I started to wonder if could this be the same designer I had seen at the craft fair? So I pull out a small pile of business cards I kept from my favorite tables at the fair. Wouldn't you believe!?! It's her. They are one in the same. It's fate. I was meant to have this sign.

So many, many thanks to Nicole and Savannah for the fun giveaway! It couldn't have gone to a more grateful winner!

Now all I have to say is...when the VUE starts a rockin, don't come a knockin!

thanks, delta.

2010-11-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

thankful.

2010-11-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful. I have a magnificent husband, who is spending our first married Thanksgiving in Iraq. I am thankful to him for his selfless service to our country and for loving me so so much during this past almost year of marriage (almost 9 months deployed). I am thankful I've gotten to talk to him on the phone three times already today. I am thankful that I am sitting in the airport writing this post, on my fabulous iPhone 4, while waiting to fly back to NY to be with my family for the holiday weekend. I am thankfuk for USA Parking, who picked me up at my car and dropped me off right in front of my gate. I am thankful for the woman who told me there was no line at the other security checkpoint (even though I kept thinking, "by the time I get down there there will be"). She wasn't lying. I am thankful for not having to go through a body scan or a pat down. I am thankful that I am able to leave Lily with a dogsitter who comes highly recommended, who loves and spoils dogs like they are her own, who Lily really likes and who will have other dogs for Lil to play with while she is there. I am thankful that I will be skyping with Andy when all my family is together at the table. The thought of it and being apart brings tears of sadness to my eyes, but we are so lucky to have technology that can bring us together. I am thankful I get to be with my family for the Thanksgiving football game- featuring our NY Jets!! I am thankful that even though I can't watch the parade live, I got to see the Rockettes live two days ago (and I can watch a recording)! The list goes on and on. I am very fortunate, and I am very thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-11-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

1. If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs – such as food and water – were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?
My iPhone- for pictures, music, games, books, etc... and Lily to keep away the predators!

2. If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?
I would have olive oil and balsamic vinegar from The Olive Tap!

3. If you had to live on a ranch, what kind of animals would you raise/own?
I would have horses, goats and chickens!! Horses for riding, goats for milking, chickens for eggs and adorable baby chicks.

4. If your life was was portrayed as a movie, who would you choose to play you and your significant other?
Rachel McAdams would play me and maybe Matt Damon would play Andy.

5. What was the last thing you put a stamp on (envelope, duh, but what was in the envelope)?
The last "thing" I put a stamp on was a Christmas package to my husbands company in Iraq. I don't want to say what's in it, because it's a SUPRISE!!!

awesome sauce.

2010-11-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

Now That's What I Call Music...(Volume 50).

guy-love between two guys.

2010-11-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Karl, recently shared with me a budding bromance he has with a beatboxing floutist from YouTube ("I want to be that guy"). The talent and skill this guy posesses make it very easy to understand the guy-love between two guys that Karl has for him. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. So now, I bring you into this world. Talk amongst yourselves...

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-11-12T10:36:00.003-07:00

1. Were you named after anyone?

My middle name is Margaret, after my maternal grandmother.

2. What color, if any, are your toenails usually painted?

Usually they are both in line with the season and a darker variation of my fingernail color. Today they are a frosty dark brown/orange color, for autumn. Other favorites include fuscia and grays.

3. How do you flush a public toilet? Hands? Feet? Something else?

Always a foot-flusher. Public toilets are nasty-pants.

4. When you were a little kid, which TV character did you have a crush on?
Brandon from 90210 & Zach Morris from Saved By The Bell

5. Let’s say you had to lose one of your five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). Which one would you choose? Why?
Each time I start to choose a sense to lose, I panic. I need touch for companionship; hearing for music; taste for food; sight for my job. I guess that leaves smell. All I can think about is my Scentsy order coming in the mail...how will I love it if I can't smell it!?! Dislike.

....
Happy 11 Month Anniversary to us!

another day, another graduation.

2010-11-06T18:40:00.003-06:00

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-11-05T11:53:00.002-06:00

So I've felt myself pushing away from my blog for the last 3-4 weeks. Andrew's pending R&R, his time home and this past week of playing "catch up and kick-ass" at work has left me stressed, renewed and exhausted, all rolled into one. Writing took a backseat, for sure.

But the MFF questions from Wifey have kept me (and my blog) going and focused during this deployment, and I've felt guilty not making the time to continue with them. Today I finally feel ready to get back on the bandwagon. I'm ready to move forward again (after the brief and glorious period of time standing still with Andrew home), and I want these next 4 1/2 months to fly by!

SO...here's to a new MFF, FINALLY!! And here's to March 2011!!

1. What's the nicest thing a MILSPOUSE has ever done for you? (navy_smurfette)
I usually call my friend Iris on my way home from work to see what we're doing for dinner/how her day went. One day, pretty early in the deployment, I didn't call. I think I was on the phone with my mom that night; then I brought Lily to puppy school; then I stopped in to the commissary before I went home. By the time I got to the house, it was close to 9PM. I was just putting my groceries on the counter when my doorbell rang. My heart stopped, and I found myself running to the door to prove to myself it wasn't casualty notification. It wasn't. It was Iris. "Iris, don't ever do that again! I didn't know you were coming. I thought Andy was dead!" "I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!! WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME OR TEXT ME. I LEFT YOU 6 MESSAGES!!! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE GUTTER AND NOONE WOULD KNOW! I COULD KILL YOU!!" Iris cared and continues to care about my welfare, for two reasons: one-I'm an amazing friend, and two- I could die and noone would know. That's nice of her.

2. How often do you drive faster than the speed limit?
I've been known to put the pedal to the metal. But after that last speeding ticket, I am the new queen of cruise control. I try to cruise at or about 4 mph over the limit.

3. Did you have a nickname in school? If so, what was it?
Alpal, Al McCull, A. McCull and McCullough.

4. If your life was a book, what would the title be and how would it end?Keep Calm and Soldier On: Allison M. Wilhelm- Mother, Previous Army Wife, Current Dr's Wife, Very Busy Executive. It would end the way it started- with a reminder to keep calm and soldier on. No matter what.

5. Look back (in your planner if you have one) to September 14th… what did you do that day?
I went to work. Then I went to an Officer's Coffee at Montague's Parlor, where we saw the inspector from my Murder Mysetery Birthday!

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-10-08T15:55:00.001-06:00

1. What is the silliest get-up you have ever worn outside of a Halloween party? (from To The Nth)
In highschool, I was in the musical Footloose. I had a made-up part- Kippy, the little sister (so cool and alternative, right?). For much more of the show than was necessary, I wore a 1970's Suzanne Somers jumpsuit (think short-sleeved, maroon with white trim, lollypop shorts), roller skates and pigtails. Totally hot.

2. What is something that you gave up in order to live the military lifestyle? (from Pennies from Heaven)
Living near my family. I really miss them.

3. If money wasn’t a factor and you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? And why? (from Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl)
First I would fly to China and pick up my adopted daughter, then we would fly to Venice for a little family bonding, then we would take a train through Tuscany and drink wine and eat cheese (to relax), then we would fly to London where we would live. But monthly, we would fly back to the states to visit family (and/or we would fly them to stay in our super posh flat in Notting Hill).

4. If you were going to join the military, what branch would you join? Or which MOS/rating would you choose? (from And You Never Did Think)
ahmy. ohyeahohyeah, ahmy. Why? Two words. Rocket trucks. Those things are fast.

5. What is your favorite thing to make for dinner? (from Armendinger Party of 4)
The tastiest thing I've made in a while was Bethenny Frankel's Zesty, Cheesy Mac and Cheese. This recipe is pretty kickass. I don't use soy milk; I use skim. And I don't use dry mustard, because I don't have any. It still turns out amazing.

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-10-08T15:26:00.002-06:00

1. What is the longest road trip you’ve ever taken?
Andrew and I drove about 8/9 hours from Colorado Springs to Kansas City, Missouri for his grandmother's funeral. I drove the whole way, because, for the short while I tried being a passenger, I was so bored I thought I would die. We listened to books on tape (The Hobbit) and road trip playlists and ate a million snacks, including beef jerky (we pretended we were long-haul truckers). After about 5 hours I wanted to gouge my eyes out and, thus, made a vow I would never drive more than 5 ever again. True story.

2. Do you collect anything? Tell us a bit about it.
I collect Vera Bradley bags. I've loved them since sophomore year of high school, when I got my first purse- a Blue Toile Petite Villager. What ever happened to that purse!? Currently, I must have more than ten Veras, plus additional miscellaneous items on top of the purses.

3. What is your favorite part about being an adult?
Making my own decisions. Like deciding to get a dog or deciding to get my Dyson or deciding to buy two boxes of Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts, instead of just one. Doing whatever you want is pretty great.

4. What song brings a tear to your eye?
Butterfly Kisses. ....PYSCH. That song sucks. What really brings a tear to my eye is our wedding song- You and I (sung by Michael Buble, written by Stevie Wonderful). Remembering that day and missing my husband makes me sentimental.

5. Describe your first plane ride (how old you were, where you were heading, etc).
Who the heck can remember their first plane ride?? Maybe it was my first trip to Disney World? I was 7. I was airsick.

HAPPY FRIDAY, FRIENDS! My husband may or may not be coming home on R&R very soon, hence the crazy-business of my life. Which explains me forgetting to do last week's MFF, so I'll do that next. Don't count on much blog consistency from me any time soon, but please do continue to love me.

Chai Lattes, hikes and fall colors,
Allison

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-09-24T10:09:00.003-06:00

1. What characteristic about yourself has either been strengthened or weakened due to your experience as a Military Spouse? (from The Albrecht Squad)

My resilience has been strengthened. My favorite definiton of resilient is being able to weather tribulation without cracking.

Day one of this deployment: I was not very resilient. At all. Ask my mom, mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Hot mess of inconsolable tears.

Month one of this deployment: I was moving in the direction of resilient. I moved by myself in a snow storm, I weathered potty training our puppy (and her biting), I did my first holiday without my husband.
6 months into this deployment: I am now the queen of resilience. I brush off drama, I have yard sales, I do TONS of things to keep busy. Just try and stop me. bitches. right?

2. What is your favorite vacation spot and why? (from ‘Tis the Life of the Army Wife)
My favorite vacation spot is Venice- amazing food, amazing culture, amazing history, amazing everything.

3. If you could have any fast-food restaurant in the food court on base/post what would you pick? (from The Only Pink in a House of Blue)
There aren't very many choices at Fort Carson...I guess I choose Burger King, because its the only fast-food I recognize by name. And I like their nugs.

4. Where did you go on your honeymoon? (from Pennies from Heaven)

We went to the Sandals Royal Bahamian all-inclusive resort in Nassau, and we sprung for the butler service. This is the only way to go. They pick you up from the airport in a private, fancy car. They fast track your check in. They carry your bags to and from your room. They turn down your bed every night with towel animals. They bring you whatever you want in terms of room service. They stock your mini-bar with complementary alcohol. They reserve chairs at the pool. They set up dinner reservations. They tell you what fun activities there are to go to. They make massage reservations for you. They write you love poems. As I said, it's the only way to go.

5. If you could have any job in the world regardless of money, degree or experience, which job would you have and why? (from Proud to Be a Navy Family and The Calm Before The Storm)

I would be an elephant trainer at the zoo, because I would love to have a personal relationship with elephants. People would be jealous of me, because the elephants would play with me and love me and I could ride on them. And also, I could be a surrogate mama to all the new baby elephants that were born. I love baby animals.

halfway home.

2010-09-20T15:17:00.004-06:00

So word on the street says we're halfway through this deployment as of Saturday, September 18th!! I'm feeling pretty good so far. The days are going by faster than I would have thought they might. My coping mechanism? Most days I try not to look at dates on a calendar, so when I do and we're further along than I thought, it's a good day! My husband is (more than) halfway home, and we're halfway back to normal.

In other news, this is going to be a good week...I can tell. Today when I went to the mailbox it was chock-full of GREAT things! A box of new checks with my married name on them...9 months later, a free sample of teeccino...an herbal coffee- naturally caffeine free and non-acidic; my Gold Card (gift card) from Starbucks with my name on it AND a coupon for a free drink of my choice; a Bed Bath & Beyond $5 off $15 coupon, and a CD from my friend Mikey, from Disney World 2008, featuring the one hit wonder Fupalicious singing, "Let's Party Party Party Tonight!" On Wednesday, I have rehearsal for the Chorale. On Thursday, Battalion Bingo Night. Does it get any better than this?

Well, yes, it does- thanks for asking. Andrew is coming home for 15 days of R&R in less than 3 weeks!!! I get to hold my husband's hand, in less than three weeks. We get to kiss each other, in less than three weeks. I get to look into his eyes and tell him how funny I am, in less than three weeks. I'll bet if I don't look at the calendar, it will be here (and gone) before we know it.

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-09-17T11:15:00.004-06:00

1. How do you spend your deployment money, do you save, pay off bills or enjoy the extra money while it is there to buy the things you do not normally have? (from Troop Petrie)
We're definitely trying to save more than we are spending. The savings: we contributed the max to our SDP to earn 10% interest on it; we created a couple new savings accounts- house, kids, travel, gifts- that we are contributing to after each paycheck; we are paying off more of our (my) student loans. The spending: a couple big things have come up, like the Dyson and vet bills; daily, I'm trying not to go overboard.

2. If you could relive one occasion or moment, what would it be? (from Currently On Land)
My wedding ceremony. I have never felt more in love with Andrew and have never felt more loved by our family and friends.

3. What’s the worst job you ever had and if it was so bad why did you take it? (from Faith and Deploying)
I worked as a receptionist for a DJ for about a month and a half. A little background: my boss and his brother sexually harrassed me, almost daily. One day, I was given this monumental database task that was going to take a few days. He expected it finished the same day he handed it to me. He said, "You'd have better brought your pjs today, cause you're not leaving until its done." I laughed, because I thought he was kidding..."Oh, you don't pay me enough for that! Hahaha." I left at 5pm on the dot. My boss called me on my way home and told me noone undermines him in front of his staff, like I did! I was fired!! I laughed and hung up. Oh well...

I took the job because I was frantic about not working after college. I would have taken anything that provided a paycheck, at that point. Needless to say, I don't put that job on my resume...

I'm such a rebel.

4. If you could play any character on TV, who would you be? (from Many Waters)
Lizzzzzzzz LEMONNNNNNNN.

5. If you could become the world’s expert in something, what would it be? (from Army of Two)
I would be an expert on the perfect internet advertising strategy, because then I would be billionaire. ::sing:: I wanna be a billionaire sooooo fricken badddd.....

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-09-10T08:49:00.002-06:00

1. Do you set goals for yourself during deployment? What are some of them? (from Military Mommy)

I set a lot of goals! Seasonal, monthly, weekly and daily. I set goals. Today's goal- make it through the workday, find October themed, local microbrew after work, relax to the max.

2. What would you say to someone dating a military guy or gal? (from Mothering Off the Cuff)

Make sure your love is very, very strong. Make sure you trust your partner. Make sure you are prepared to make the military your "number one," too.

3. If you have children, how do you prepare them to move to a new place? (from The Random Ramblings of A Household 6)
This is part of the reason we haven't had children yet. We don't know how to move them, and we're not sure if we'd want to move them. Both of us grew up in our childhood homes, never moving until we moved out for college. I think we both cherish that about our childhoods.

4. Name one hobby that gets you through alone time. (from My Sailor’s Mistress)
Baking.

5. What’s the one food you don’t ever get tired of? (from That Army Wife Life)
Candy. As I type this at 8:45AM, I am eating fresh, sliced strawberries intermingled with a couple Snowcaps. I think it could catch on...

so i've been meaning to tell you.

2010-09-09T10:24:00.014-06:00

...our neighbors down the street got a 2 month old Goldendoodle.

I know...I can't either. It is too cute.

Soooo I stalked them from my car, when I saw them as I drove home from the commissary. I got home, threw my perishables in the fridge, and then I ~~casually brought~~ ran Lily down to say "hi." Oh. My. Gosh. This puppy is amazingly adorable. Seeing her made my entire night. Maybe even the deployment.

Baby Sammy is a total flashback to Baby Lily. She's beautiful and pouncy and frolicy and fiesty. And I love her. And her owners couldn't get enough of Lillers. It was cool for them to have a flash forward to what their puppy will look like in a few months.

Another interesting thing- Lily, who is often crazy and whacky when playing with other dogs, was very gentle with baby Sammy (who was less than half her size). She let Sammy bite her ears and lips and jump on her and tug at her and basically annoy her, and she didn't make one sound. She just layed on the ground and batting at Sammy with her paws. My little girl is growing up!! She was the old pup on the block!!

And now, in case you, like me, have forgotten what Baby Lily was like- a video of her first time playing in the snow at 2 months old...

have you been tagged?

2010-09-08T09:42:00.004-06:00

I was tagged by A Sailor's Sweetie at Confessions of A Sailor's Wife.

1. If you could have any superpower, what would you have? Why?

I would have the power to apparate. The ability to come and go as I please, instantly, seems like it would make this deployment a lot easier...

2. Who is your style icon?

Reese Witherspoon is my style inspiration. She always looks perfectly put together. With her super-chic-straight-out-of-jcrew outfits and perfect hair, Reese is the epitome of classy and fabulous.

3. What is your favorite quote?

...can I say, "Keep Calm and Soldier On?"

4. What is the best compliment you've ever received?

The most recent best compliment that I can think of, you know because I receive so many, was from the director of the Colorado Springs Chorale. After I auditioned for the group, he told me I had sang perfectly for them; that my aria had been sung with such feeling and nuance. Musical compliments complete me.

5. What playlist/cd is in your CD player/iPod right now?

In my car's CD player is the Canadian Brass: Greatest Hits CD. On my iPhone is a John Mayer and Owl City playlist, in honor of the concert at Red Rocks I went to on September 1st.

6. Are you a night owl or a morning person?

I'm a morning person. When my alarm goes off, it's not hard for me to jump out of bed and get the day going. I rarely even snooze!

7. Do you prefer dogs or cats?

I prefer dogs only and preferably my dog. Cats can suck it. (...my negativity may stem from the fact that I'm very allergic to cats- so no offense. Sometimes a kitten is cute. Sometimes...)

8. What is the meaning behind your blog name?

It's a play on Keep Calm and Carry On. I first saw the quote "Keep Calm and Soldier On" on LovelyYellow Ribbons' Etsy page. It inspired me to write. I still haven't gotten the print yet, though I probably should huh? I owe her that much!

The 8 bloggers I tag are:

1. Caitlin @ star grazing

2. Torrey @ Torrey James Photography

3. A Marine's Wife @ Flip Flops and Combat Boots

4. Keri @ Married To The Military

5. Lauren @ Lauren McCullough

6. LTarmywife @ Stetsons, Spurs and Stilettos

7. Jessica @ {misa}dventures of an Army Wife

8. Wifey @ Wife Of A Sailor

No pressure, friends...

up, up and away.

2010-09-05T15:27:00.000-06:00

This morning I was up super early to head to Memorial Park for the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic. I met up with Iris and her family and our friend Alisha for a morning of awe inspiring hot air balloon launches and purple mountain majesty. Millions of pics ensued...

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-09-03T09:41:00.002-06:00

Without further ado- the MFF!

1. What is a weird/funny superstition that you have? (from A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench)

I am an obsessive list maker. You might not think this is a superstition, but when it stems from a fear that you will lose your mind, forget everything and fail at life if you don't write everything down- then it is one. Right now I have 3 lists running on paper and one list running in my head (I'll need to get that one down soon). I also type and send these lists (work-related) out to my coworkers in emails and then resend them as tasks are completed (with strikethroughs and dimmed colors to delineate completed tasks; I move up tasks still to be completed to the tops of each category and/or subcategory on the list). Can we say solution-oriented?

And to further feed my superstition- my family and friends support the crazy. Enablers! For my bridal shower, my wishing well was stationary supplies! I have enough notepads to last me a lifetime...

::cue Twilight Zone music::

2. What are your hopes and dreams for the years AFTER the military? After all, we aren’t in it forever! (from Stetsons, Spurs and Stilettos)

See Question 2, Plan 2- Second Half.

3. Since [this] month is National Apple Month (no really!), I’d probably ask: What is your yummiest apple recipe? (from NH Girl Displaced)
Wellllll....I actually just went apple picking last weekend with Iris, her two children and our neighbor's daughter, Lorelei (yes I do love this name and want to name my daughter this, no I do NOT have connotations to the Gilmore Girls, and even if I did it would be a positive thing). With out abundance of apples, Iris made a gorgeous, bubbling apple pie with a homemade crust. I made a gorgeous, bubbling peach crisp (with fresh peaches from the apple orchard). BUT, had I used apples, I would've made an apple crisp! I will give you the recipe- a Barefoot Contessa adaptation- in another post, complete with pictures of my crisp-making process (Iris forced me).

4. How long have you gone as a military spouse without talking to your husband/wife during service? (from A Navy Princess and Her Little Sailors)
The longest was during NTC. They banned the use of cellphones. I think, if I remember right, it was almost the full month of not hearing anything- definitely more than 3 weeks.

5. I occasionally watch When I was 17… on MTV. So, what was something that was significant about your 17th year of life? (from Ashley Amazing)

When I was 17, turning 18 the same week, I was competing in the NY State Speech and Debate State Championship Tournament.

My category was Oral Interpretation. You compete, alternating rounds, with a poetry and a prose piece. I combined two poems- Missing Natalie & Victim (from a book called Blood Sugar by Nicole Blackman)- for my poetry rounds. The first, Missing Natalie, is told from the point of view of a young girl, a twin. She tells the story of her sister's kidnapping, her family's deterioration and the question mark that is forever imprinted on their minds. Then, in my interpretation, the second poem, Victim, was told from the point of the kidnapped twin, Natalie. It goes through the moments when she was taken, to being locked in a trunk, her fear as she is trapped in a bathroom of an abandoned house, and her thoughts just before being killed. The poetry was very moving, and often brought me to tears during a performance. On a much lighter note, my prose was excerpts from the book I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson- awesome British, chic lit- my favorite.

For those of you who'd rather I just cut to the chase...when I was 17, I became the Oral Interpretation New York State Champion. It remains in my "Top 3 Greatest Accomplishments of My Life," to date.

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-08-27T10:29:00.002-06:00

1. What secret indulgence do you act on while your spouse is away? (from Devil Dog Darling)
My shows. Everything from Kate Plus 8 to Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami to Bethenny Getting Married to 19 Kids and Counting to Army Wives to So You Think You Can Dance to Glee. Andy HATES my shows. All of them. He reminds me often, "Get them out of your system now, because when I come home it's all sports, all the time." Right, honey?

2. If you were a spice, what would you be? (from New Girl On Post)
Posh Spice.

3. Where do you go for support when your significant other is deployed? (from Texas Meets Washington)
I go to mi mom and mi pop. I call them every day from the car on my way home from work. I do a lot of complaining, a lot of whining, a lot of long-winded storytelling and a lot of loving on those phonecalls. My parents are my outlet. They are my best friends.

I go to my sis, who listens to all the crap I don't tell my parents. She's my other BFF. She always gives me a ton of perspective, love and support. She loves my husband and she loves my dog- she found the key to my heart.

I go to Lily. I hug and kiss that puppy girl all the livelong day. I love her unconditionally, and she loves me back the same. Even when I yell at her to get the eff off the couch.

Oh, and then there are the Army Wives. Be they in person or on blogs, those gals sure do know exactly what I'm going through. Couldn't get through this life without them.

4. What is the oldest thing you own? (from A Troop’s Girl)
I own a gorgeous silver bracelet from my great-grandmother. I'm not sure how old it actually is (mom?), but I wore it on my wedding day as my something old, so I'm assuming pretty old.

5. How did you vision your future pre-military? (from Daddy’s Duty)
I'd live on Long Island, probably with my parents, and commute into NYC for a job in entertainment television. Then who knows. Maybe I would have met someone? We'd get married and buy a house on Long Island and have kids? Why is this so hard for me!? I used to have it all planned out, but that was 5 years ago before the plans changed...I love my present future.

eat, drink and beat navy.

2010-08-23T15:37:00.000-06:00

Inspired by my friend Kim's kitchen sign (which we will be getting for our kitchen ASAP), I give you a song for a Monday afternoon.

the animal.

2010-08-22T19:56:00.003-06:00

The other night when my doorbell rang at 5:30PM I ran to get it (as always with a bit of fear). To my surprise, an enormous box stood at my feet. I stood there for a moment before breaking into the cabbage patch and yelling, "Woop Woop!" I had remembered what it was. It was my new, refurbished Dyson DC25 Animal!

Andrew and I have been talking about us me ~~needing~~ wanting one for months now. Lily tracks dirt, debris, dead grass and hair all over our (faux) hardwood floors, and I've been vacuuming with my cordless Shark at least 2x a day since we moved in.

So a couple weeks ago we made a deal- he'd go play X-Box with his buddies instead of talking to me, and I'd go order my new vacuum. My husband loves me very much and often tells me he feels guilty about leaving me for a year. I choose to capitalize on this guilt and my own self pity in the form of household goods and pet supplies. It could be worse. It could be Louis Vuitton and Louboutin... I'm just sayin.

Well friends, turns out the Animal is AMAZING! In 5 minutes I had it out of the box and put together. In 15 minutes, I had vacuumed my whole ground floor and used the mini vacuum attachment to get the carpeted stairs. In another 15 minutes, I had vacuumed out the interior of both of our cars with the hose nozzle and bristle attachment. The hose was a total powerhouse, sucking up clumps of dirt, small rocks and debris from the mats, so that I didn't have to take them out and bang them on the ground.

The Animal even gave me the motivation to drive Andy's Jeep around post, fill it up and get a car wash! I get a fantastic vacuum; he gets a wife who feels guilty enough to take care of his car! Quid pro quo.

This thing is an animal. I can tell it is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

(*This is not a paid endorsement for Dyson. Although if Dyson would like to pay me, they may. All opinions are my own and are unsolicited- like all of my blog posts. Buzzinga.)

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-08-20T14:01:00.002-06:00

1. If you could be a fugitive from the law for whatever reason, what would your crime be? (from It’s a Hooah Life)

I had to google "What can you be a fugitive for?' I don't think I'm cut out to be a fugitive...

2. How long do you think you will be a military family? (from Julie the Army Wife)

This is an ongoing question in our family, one that doesn't seem to have an answer...

Plan 1: Andrew and I can see ourselves staying in- he'd go to captain's career, deploy as a co. commander, go grad school on the Army's dime, have babies, teach physics at West Point, I'd get a job teaching music at Marist, then we'd stick it out for 20 at WP or in DC, Andrew would get a high paying job on top of his retirement, and we would have homes all over the world and live happily ever after traveling from place to place.

Plan 2: Andrew and I can see ourselves getting out after his five year commitment- he'd go to grad school with his GI bill and student loans, he'd then get a multimillion dollar job, we'd have babies, I'd work part time doing something fantastic when our kids got older, and we would live happily ever after in our huge house with enormous fireplace on our farm in upstate NY, where we would also own and operate a pumpkin patch and apple orchard.

Plan 3: Andrew and I can see ourselves getting out after he's stayed in long enough to have the Army cover all of grad school- then we'd continue with plan 2.

*Disclaimer- I may or may not have fantasized the plans a little bit, but you're got to start somewhere right?*

3. What’s your favorite recipe? (from ME- Keep Calm and Soldier On)

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. I've probably tried 10 different recipes and then tried coming up with my own. But the best recipe I've come across can't be beat.

4. What would you want your last five words to be when you leave this life? (from My Goal is Simple)
Thank you. I love you.

5. Where do you hope to retire? (from Pennies from Heaven)

See my answer to number two, plan 2.

counting down.

2010-08-18T10:28:00.001-06:00

1 month - until this deployment is half over/until John Mayer and Owl City at Red Rocks (Sept. 1)/until our 5 year anniversary (dating)/until autumn decorations go up (Sept. 23-first day of autumn)

2 months - until Andy probably will come home for R & R/until Starbucks Tall Non-Fat Pumpkin Spice Lattes/until pumpkin and apple picking/until Halloween (what Lily should be?)

3 months - until Thanksgiving

4 months - until Christmas/until holiday decorations and Christmas lights go up (Dec. 1)/until our first anniversary (married)/until Starbucks Tall Non-Fat Peppermint Mochas

5 months - until 2011 and my fourth New Years Eve without Andy/until Lily's first birthday/of deployment completed as of TODAY (Aug. 18)

6 months - until Andrew will be coming home in a month/until our deployment calendars run out

7 months - until Andy comes home

8 months - until my 25th birthday/until Andy goes on leave

9 months - until this deployment begins to become a distant memory...

littlest baby lily pad.

2010-08-14T22:26:00.004-06:00

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-08-13T10:55:00.001-06:00

1. What is ONE thing you’d like civilians to understand about being a military family?

People often ask me, "When's your husband coming back?" and I'll say, "March, next year," and they'll go, "Oh man, that sucks." Then they ask where he is and I tell them Iraq, and they say, "Oh, well at least it's not Afghanistan." I would be appreciative if civilians would be more understanding to the fact that my husband being gone still sucks, no matter where he is. And I'd also appreciate it if, when I tell them that he's not going to be back for a while, they'd understand that it feels better to be told "Thank you for his service," than to be told "Oh man, that sucks."

2. What is your favorite mistake?

This question makes me think of the song You're My Favorite Mistake. I'm at a stand-still trying to actually think of my favorite mistake. What about buying 2 Like Its from Coldstone instead of just one? ...but that wasn't a mistake. I meant to do it. How was I supposed to choose between blueberry with graham cracker and peach with reeses peanut butter cups?

3. What indulgence could you give up for a year?

I guess I could give up Coldstone/Maggie Moos.

4. If you could be a winged animal, what would you be?

I would be a baby duckling, that never grows up.

5. What is one question you’d like to see asked in a future MFF?

What's your favorite recipe?

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-08-06T09:50:00.002-06:00

1. What is something you wished you’d learned to do earlier in life?

I wish I learned to cross stitch and sew, so that I could sew a Christmas stocking for Lily, like the ones my mom sewed for our family.

2. What is your biggest pet peeve with the military?

I don't enjoy the not knowing. When is his replacement coming? Will he have A/C and internet? What's his new address? When can I send this package? When is R & R? When can he call? Why can't he call? What's going on? Blah blah blah. Over it.

3. What tourist attraction near you have you never seen?

The Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory. I am SO going here before we leave (hopefully more than once). Rumor has it there are 80 cent boxes of tea!! I'm home!! I mean, really, how many people do you know who own a tea caddy (mine have lids for freshness, but I can't find them anywhere online), a tea infuser mug and perfect tea maker?

4. What are you avoiding doing right now?

Writing a proposal for work. I keep telling myself, "Who cares? I have all afternoon to get it done." Procrastination Nation.

5. Wine, beer or liquor?

If you had asked me 2 years ago I would have said wine, without a doubt. But today, I can't say I'm not feeling an ice cold Bristol's Beehive.

off.

2010-08-04T10:51:00.006-06:00

Because it's been a while since I've posted pics of her, here are a couple photos of my lapdog, Lily, on the couch...

This is Lil pretending I didn't just shout at her to get off. She's showing off how comfortable the couch is.

This is when she forced herself to sit up and protest (notice she is still totally lounging).

OFF. DOWN. GET OFF. NO, LILY. YOU ARE SO CUTE. OFF!

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-07-30T10:58:00.003-06:00

You know, I kinda like having something to look forward to on Fridays, besides it just being Friday. Another week completed. One week closer to my husband coming home. And now, a chance to reflect a little bit. So without further ado- this week's MilSpouse Friday Fill-in...

What is your spouse’s best feature?
Andy's best physical feature is definitely his calf muscles. They are amazing. And his best all-around feature is his loyalty- to me, to his country, to his moral convictions, to our families, to his friends, to really anything he believes in.

Mild, Medium or Hot sauce?
At Chipotle I go Mild (pico de gallo) and Medium (corn salsa). Tostitos Salsa: Mild (even though Andrew thinks its a waste). I like my salsas to add texture and flavor (even a little sweetness), not fire.

What is the worst uniform you had to wear for a job?
I've never worked somewhere that required a uniform, but I've always liked uniforms. I wore them for 12 years during school.

You have invisible powers… where is the first place you would go?
Hogwarts.

What’s left on your “to do” list for this summer?

~~Try to get sod put down in my backyard without having to pay for it~~ --Yard was hydroseeded; I have a lawn.
Order a wedding photo album
~~Get the Dyson DC25 Animal Vacuum~~
~~Send more packages to Andy~~ -- I have sent 11 in 6 months.
~~Train Lily to stop jumping on the~~ couch (last night was a ridiculous battle...One time, I shoved her off with my foot, and she landed on the corner of the table. I felt terrible and jumped up to hold her and pet her, telling her how sorry I was and that I love her. She tried to bite me and as soon as I straightened up, she jumped onto the couch again. The girl was totally fine. I think I have a long road ahead of me on this one...) -- I have given up on this.
Come up with some fun August events- so far, this summer, we've been to the circus, the rodeo, the renaissance festival, a Sky Sox game (minor league baseball), the outlets, and out to dinner a few times. John Mayer is coming up Sept. 1. But I need some things to keep me busy this month! Any ideas?? -- Game night, Sky Sox game, Apple Picking, Lia Sophia party, FRG meeting, lunch with friends, Colorado Springs Chorale audition.

diy.

2010-07-29T11:40:00.001-06:00

Tons and tons of do-it-yourself projects are being completed in the Wilhelm household! I thought you might be interested in my handiwork...(please disregard the yellow photos- my camera had jaundice).

I hung this family dry-erase calendar all by myself, and I update it every month with Lily's and my social events! Andrew, please come home so that this doesn't seem so sad...

I hung the linen curtain on the left by myself (really I just put it on the rod that my brother-in-law installed for me when he visited), I taught my pup to sit and wait (she's totally posing for this picture), and I installed these wonderful pullbacks for the curtains in our bedroom (with help from Iris). The drill was involved. It was crazy.

When I first moved into our house, I hung these fabulous key hooks (courtesy of my mom) near the garage door, but I did sort of a terrible job...who knew that you can't just screw things into drywall? Every time I took the keys on and off, the hooks would swing around and threaten to fall off the wall. Yesterday, I had had enough. I broke out the drill (totally experienced now), put some sized bit on it, drilled 2 holes in the wall underneath my old holes, hammered plastic anchors in and screwed my new strong screws in! I am happy to report, the hooks are rock solid, totally stationary, and they are not going anywhere!

My mom invited President Obama and the First Lady to our wedding in December. Regretfully, they were unable to attend...something about a White House Christmas Party they were hosting at the same time. The neat thing was, they sent their regrets on official White House stationary. So I mounted their correspondence on red cardstock in this frame, along with a picture of Andrew and I after our reception. We're making memories here, people. One day our great-grandchildren will uncover this and they will think one of two things: "Our great grandparents are a part of history! They have awesome correspondence from a President!" or "Were they so lame that they though it was cool to save this generic RSVP from the President, which he didn't even pen himself?" ...I'm going with history-makers!

This beautiful "marker box" is an ongoing project. I have done all the meticulous coloring inside the lines (probably 3/4 of the way done with the coloring), and the next above and beyond step will be to ~~hodge~~ modge podge the box, for posterity. It's alright to be jealous...

Finally, something I don't have a picture of (because I'm too scared to get close to them): I recently hung two traps in my yard- a black fly trap and a yellow jacket trap. These insects are not only pesterous, but they are dangerous to both myself (while I am picking up excrement in my yard) and my dog (while she romps in the yard). They swarm like crazy back there. Just last night, I came much too close to more than 20 yellow jackets while I was out there. I honestly feared for my life. This morning, I am happy to report that I have already caught one yellow jacket. One less sting for all!!

the graduate (again).

2010-07-27T23:16:00.004-06:00

The girl graduates all the time; she is that good. Really every dog seems to graduate...even if they are crazy dogs who don't deserve to. Anyway, Lily somehow managed to complete Intermediate Training at PetSmart in July 2010. Here are some pictures of her big day...

She still hates the garb.

Don't even look at her. She thinks she looks terrible.

Alright fine. One good girl picture.

milspouse friday fill-in.

2010-07-23T16:49:00.004-06:00

So a fellow military wife, Wife of a Sailor, created a meme called MilSpouse Friday Fill-In. It's a way to connect, to commiserate and to comment on all sorts of things... I thought I'd give it a try this week.

1. Besides the horizontal mambo, what do you miss most when your spouse is deployed?

I miss the forest. I miss not having to vacuum or do the laundry. I miss hunkering down and kissing goodnight.

2. What do you miss least?

I don't really miss the additional mess- in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the office. My mess is enough for both of us.

3. You only get three crayons to finish your picture… which three do you choose and why?

I choose green, pink and gray, because they are my favorite colors. When I wonder what I'd draw, the first thing that comes to mind is grass, a pink flower and a little gray cloud in the sky.

4. If you could have your own fragrance, what would it be called?

Keep Calm. It would smell mellow, fresh and clean. Maybe a mix of sweet pea, lavender and vanilla.

5. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now?
Cute, casual and comfortable.

the club.

2010-07-22T11:54:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, Ouja, an Army wife who used to be in our unit here at Ft. Carson until she had to go to Captain's Career Course, came over for dinner. I lit all the candles in the house. I put on a great genius playlist. I made chicken noodle soup and rolls. We each had a glass of red wine. We had tea and angel food cookies for dessert. It was fantastic. My idea of a perfect night!

It was so nice to see my friend again...to be able to talk to her about the Army, life, family, upcoming decisions, etc. It was as if no time had passed since we last saw each other, almost a year ago. I think the Army is like that, though. You make friends, they move away or you move away, then you see them again and they are still your friends. You just pick up where you left off. It's a really interesting thing.

Of course, as we talked about the Army, I got to thinking. And I guess I feel (in a good way) that the Army is like a club. The reality is that people who aren't in the club don't understand what it feels like to be in the club. I'll tell you what it feels like for me, though...It it feels noble; it gives you a great deal of pride in yourself, your family, your country that I don't think you can get anywhere else; it reminds you that this world is bigger than your little home, in the middle of Ft. Carson, in the middle of Colorado, in the middle of the USA.

The other night, I happened to get home from work just before 5PM, and I was driving to the mailbox at the end of the block. As I pulled up to the corner, I stopped. My windows were down and I could hear the close of the work day bugle call. I'm not usually there for that, so it took me a moment to remember to put the car in park and pause for that moment. I could see one of the main streets from where I was. The MPs had stopped traffic at the light and soldiers were standing outside of their cars, saluting. I sat there, alone in my car and started to cry. I was simply overcome.

I never thought I would an Army wife. Never. But when I met Andrew, my reluctance to being a part of the military faded. Maybe his patriotism rubbed off on me, his commitment to liberty and justice for all. Whatever it was, I'm so glad we found the strength to be a part of this, because our life is amazing. Right now, in our mid-twenties, he and I are a part of something so unique. We're making a sacrifice every day. He is putting his life on the line; I'm finding a way through life while he's gone. It is not easy, by any stretch of the imagination. But together, we're making history.

You know, we may not do this forever. Our lives may take us down another road. But right now, in this moment in time, I feel very fortunate to be in the club. And I know that when Andrew and I look back on these years, we will always be reminded of the nobility and the pride, and we will be humbled.

the graduate (part two).

2010-07-06T16:17:00.004-06:00

Puppy school graduation pictures are here! Get ready to squeal...

Showing off how well she sits.

Rebelling against the graduation garb.

Lily Pad Wilhelm, Class of 2010

~The PetSmart Puppy School Graduating Class of May 2010~

the fourth.

2010-07-04T14:15:00.009-06:00

It's weird- I didn't miss Andy so much at Easter or on my birthday. But this weekend, the fourth of July, a few things have happened. The pride I feel in what my husband is doing has become a little overwhelming. And this is coupled with the fact that I'm experiencing one of those "so much can happen in a year" moments. It's a lot to think about. It has been a really hard holiday for me.

This day last year, I was walking around the Hamptons with my boyfriend and my family, wondering when he'd propose. I dressed up in my "engagement dress" and held my breath all day. That night he asked me to marry him on the beach under the fireworks. We walked back to my family; we hugged; we took pictures. They shouted at the top of their lungs "Allie and Andy just got engaged!!!!!" and the entire crowd cheered. That weekend was surreal and perfect.

One year later, we're married, we have a house and a dog, my husband is deployed, and I'm taping fireworks on my phone to email him. Still surreal, but just not really that perfect.

I realize this is one more milestone down before he comes home; so while I continue to be proud of Andrew and his service to our country, I'm also reminding myself to proud of "me," because I'm serving our country, too. All Army families do. We love America. So much. That's why we do this. It's why as I watched the fireworks this year, I fought back a couple of tears. It's why I won't see my husband for the better part of our first year of marriage. It's why we live far from our families. We do this because the privilege of living in America is worth it.

Thank you to our family for continuing to support us, to support America and for continuing to surround Andrew and me with so much love.

Happy 4th of July!

bag of tricks.

2010-06-30T16:22:00.000-06:00

And in case you thought I had forgotten how much you love Lily...

when bad turns to good.

2010-06-30T15:49:00.000-06:00

So this morning, I go downstairs and greet Lily (who for the past two nights has not slept in her crate; just slept downstairs on the floor next to the couch-totally growing up!), and I'm getting ready for work when I suddenly remember- I have to go to the finance office to stop our deposits into the SDP (Savings Deposit Program). This would have been cool (great job actually remembering), except that it was 7:40AM when I realized. The finance office opens at 7:30AM, and I'm supposed to be at work around 8AM. Very little turn around time here. So I rush out the door, super frazzled and start driving to the office on post.

I had never been to this office before, so I was just going off of a street address on a post-it note. I get to where I think the building should be but don't see any sign of it, so I pull into a parking lot and ask an MP. He tells me to turn around and go to this far parking lot by those barracks over there, and then I'll see it on the backside of that uhhhhh brick building over there. ...that cleared it right up. So I start driving in that direction, call Iris and find out that actually I'm almost on top of the building. So I park, jump out, make sure I grab my POA (Power of Attorney) binder and run through rock beds, in my heels, taking the most direct route to the open door.

I go inside and sign in. I'm the only one in the office, aside from the two employees I can see through the open door behind the front desk. I stare right at this one guy, willing him to look up. I do the loud sigh. I wait for many awkward moments. Finally I said, "Excuse me." Ohhh right, right- someone's here. He hands me some form, makes copies of my POA and ID, and watches me. "Um sir, I could use a little help. I don't know half of the information I need to put on this form." 'Are you canceling the STP?' ::I thought it was the SDP:: "Yes." 'Okay, be right back.' He is gone for a minute and brings back Andrew's account info. We tag team the form together. I write STP. Blah blah blah. "Can you tell me how much is in the account, because we want to make sure we are guaranteed the amazing 10% interest rate." 'Uhhhh no I don't know that. Here is this form about it.' "It says SDP. Should I have written that?" 'No no no it won't matter.'

Riddle me this, friends. How do you not know about the few programs your office is responsible for, let alone what those programs are called? TSP- Thrift Savings Plan. SDP- Savings Deposit Program. Maybe he just thought he'd wing it and combine them? STP. Yeah, yeah that's it!

There that went. I hope my form actually goes through, since Andrew doesn't have access to the finance office in Iraq. Finance is at FOB Adder, and he lives at JSS Soto. It is a two hour commute, one way, that they only make for missions, log pacs and things of that nature. He barely has time to grab a whopper when he's there, let alone take care of our financial matters...

So I finish up and drive straight to work. I park. I grab my purse, sweater (since it is usually 32 degrees in our office at all times), flip flops (so I can kick off my heels under the desk), Starbucks Cold Cup and keys and get out. I go to close the door and lock it, but I don't have enough hands, so I obviously decide to balance the cup on top of a flip flop in my hand. Of course it falls and cracks the cup, to the point where it is unusable. I am not kidding when I tell you, I almost cried. Tears welled up. I picked up the ruined cup, locked the car and went inside. I throw my things on my desk and go to pour the contents of the cup into a mug, and as I walk away from my desk I hear my purse fall to the floor and the contents sprawl everywhere. I didn't even look back. I just kept walking. My coworker laughed. Cool.

After talking to Andy on AIM this morning, we decided I needed to get a new cold cup. This stupid cup is my life. I fill it up with ice water all day long, constantly reaping the benefits of hydration from my freezing cold drinks. Long story short, I just love it so much. So on my way home for lunch, I stop at Starbucks. I pick up a new cup and bring it to the counter. I told the girl I had just dropped mine this morning, showed her how it cracked and told her I was just going to replace it. She looked at it and was like, "Oh, wow, yeah. We'll take care of that for you." 'Okay.' "No just take a new one I mean." 'What?' "You can just have this new one." 'REALLY???' "Yes!" 'Oh my gosh. Thank you. Thank you! You don't know how much this means to me.' And then I ran out of the store before she changed her mind! I didn't even buy a drink...Best turn-around of all time!

Then when I was home, I tried syncing my new iPhone 4, which had not cooperated with my Mac since I got it last week, and- LO AND BEHOLD- it synced!!! I put my favorite itunes songs on there and jammed hardcore the whole way back to work, making sure to be EXTRA careful when I got out with my brand new FREE cup!

When bad things happen when your husband is deployed (like your favorite plastic cup getting a crack), it sometimes feels like the end of the wold. When bad turns to good, it feels like the universe is looking out for you. He knew it was too much.

Dear Universe,

Thanks.

Love, Allison

it's such a lily thing to do.

2010-06-18T11:04:00.005-06:00

So as you probably can tell by now, my life on the home front mainly consists of my day to day with our pup, Lily. Hopefully my stories of our whacky puppy are not boring you out of your seats. They're not? Good.

Yesterday, over instant message, I was telling Andy stories about Lily to try to make him smile after a long, hot day full of inventories and no power. I told him about Lily's escape up the stairs escapades. How she tries to run SO fast, to get away from me, that she faceplants the whole way up. And how when she comes back down she goes equally as fast, but this time because she's scared. She makes herself flat like a pancake and basically slides face-first, thumping and thudding the whole way down.

I also told him about Lily's fear of the vacuum cleaner. She barks and barks and darts to and fro trying to get it, but sprints away as soon as I push it toward her. I've tried holding it still so she can get close, I've tried turning it off and pushing it in her direction. All of it makes her crazy.

Speaking of irrational fears... Lily LOVES car trips. She runs straight the the back of the car and waits for me to open the trunk for her. Then she throws her paws up on the bumper and waits for me to lift her in. When we get where we are going, I'll go around open the trunk, and she'll stand on the edge...and become paralyzed. She cannot convince herself to jump the maybe three feet to the ground to get out. I've tried waving treats, tried pulling her forward, waiting for lengthy periods of time for her to get up the nerve, but our (37 lb.) fraggle only wants to be picked up and placed on the ground. The girl is really big, but she just. won't. jump. Come to think of it, she won't even jump off of a high curb...

Finally, I was telling him one of my favorite things. If you call Lily from across the room or if you throw her toys to fetch, etc. she will RUN AS FAST AS SHE CAN and then barrel into whatever she is running toward, because she can't stop her momentum. People, walls...everything. The cutest part is that she usually tries to slow herself down and all four of her paws will be scampering underneath her, like Bambi on ice, before crashing. It is adorable.

Andrew said he really wishes he could be with her during these puppy months, so that he'd be a part of all the stories I constantly tell him. At first this made me sad. It has been 3 months, today, since Andrew deployed to Iraq. Our puppy has gained 30 pounds since he last saw her. She has grown from a puppy that he could hold in one hand to a puppy that can jump and put her paws up on the counter tops. She has grown from a puppy he had to carry up the stairs to a puppy that takes them at a run.

He is missing so much. All of the guys are. They are missing their son's first laugh, their daughter's first steps, kids' first soccer games, high school graduations, puppy training graduations... We miss them; they miss their whole life back home.

I want Andy to be a part of our life on the home front. It's the reason I started this blog. The reason I take so many pictures. And the reason I came up with an even better idea (at least I think). I brought my camera to training class last night, and after class I asked Karen, our trainer, if she would take a video to send to my husband of me calling Lil from across the store and of her running to me. We did a couple of takes to try to catch the scamper before the crash, but this one made me laugh the most. It sums Lilypad up so perfectly. And hopefully Andrew can picture himself behind the camera, capturing the whole thing himself.

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

the big top.

2010-06-12T22:58:00.000-06:00

Iris & Aubrie, Ellie & Chrissy checking out the circus animals before we went inside.

Ellie & Chrissy and the Cartier's clownin' around before the show...

The National Anthem. This is so moving in person- an elephant and his rider parading the American flag around the ring during the anthem. It was majestic.

Check out these contortionists!! We saw some amazing acrobatics.

Man vs. Tiger

My Favorite: The Elephants!!

The Finale!

Me, Chrissy & Iris- Future Circus Performers. I will be an elephant rider, Chrissy will be a stilt walker and Iris will be a contortionist. Thanks FUNUNDRUM, for a super fun night! It really was the greatest show on Earth!

new look(s).

2010-06-11T15:59:00.004-06:00

So the blog's got a new look. It needed it, and I needed it. I'm trying to give myself a little motivation to try to post more often, as if the guilt trip from Iris wasn't enough. I like to post when I have good stories or when I have great pictures to share. But maybe I should post a little more day to day, since this is meant to be an all-encompassing look back on the deployment- good, bad and ugly.

Speaking of good, bad and (not) ugly...Lily is doing really well. She is almost all the way healed from her spay (as if it ever stopped her from being her wild and crazy self). She is being a little more defiant and feisty lately attitude-wise, but she is also much more snuggley and loving. She has been doing a lot less biting and has had a lot less accidents, as of late. (I know, I know- I just jinxed it.)

Lately, I've been trusting Lily more in the downstairs of the house by herself. If I'm leaving for a couple hours and she's been in the crate all day, I'll let her roam around. Like I said, no accidents since we've been trying it out. Great job, Lilygirl!!!

In other Lilypad news, her new favorite treat is ice cubes. She loves to lay down and suck on them and make little melty puddles everywhere. I don't mind it, because it's her own way of cleaning the floor.

Speaking of new look, here is a cute look at Lily right after a recent bath. She REALLY needed it, even if she didn't love it. During baths, she always becomes sort of paralyzed and just looks at me with puppy eyes that ask, "Why are you doing this to me?" As retaliation, she shakes off like crazy, but again I just consider this her way of cleaning the bathroom.Thanks, Lil!

So finally and probably really most importantly- the last new look-our new dining room. Complete with table and chairs! Finally! Worth all of the back-ordering and hassle. Crate and Barrel, we love you.

Pretty soon I will put up some circus pictures. Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey's FUNUNDRUM, to be exact. I've already uploaded them to my puter. Get excited.