Post Graduation: Day 229

Yes, I'm back. Hi there. It's been a really, really long time since I posted.  I'd like to say it's because I've been too busy, but in reality it's because I haven't been busy enough.  I know, it doesn't make sense, but in reality, I'm not going to post about long boring days doing house-wifey things.  But today, I came across this on my phone:

Wow.  A whole year has gone by since I sent my soldier off to become GI Joe.  Wow.  That kind of blew my mind.  Not just how fast a whole year had gone, but how slow it felt, and how much has happened.  Barely three months into marriage, a few weeks before Thanksgiving, my man was off, not knowing the next times I'd speak to him, with just the promise of letters.  I still can't believe it was real sometimes.

I'm going to recap how much has happened in the last year since he left:

• I left my job in Philadelphia.
• I left Pennsylvania and moved to DC.
• I was unemployed for four months.
• Enough family drama with my sibling to last a lifetime.
• My husband graduated from basic training.
• My husband started his new job.
• Auditions and master classes.
• A death in the family.
• We celebrated a year of marriage.
• My niece turned one.
• I got a new job.
• I got pregnant.
• I had a miscarriage.

All of that feels like enough for more than just a year.  Even a lifetime.  It's been a difficult year, I'm not going to lie.  There has been a lot of hard break and difficulty and negative things, but so many positive things, so many successes.  Even though it's not New Years yet, I feel compelled to begin contemplating the things I hope for this upcoming year, a year as an official Army Wife.

Now, before you leave with too much seriousness.  LOOK!  Vanilla extract in the making!!!

Week 0 - Day 5

Some updates from my soldier!  Of course, I MISSED his call yesterday!!!  Major, major sad face.  I must have read every existing army wife/spouse/girlfriend blog on the planet and all of them warned me to keep my phone on me, on the loud ringer, at all times, in case you get a phone call.  The 90 minutes I was in getting a much needed massage, he called me right at the tail end, so in theory, if I had heard my phone, I definitely would have answered, despite the lavender, drugged state I was in.

Sidebar, if any of you are looking for a good Christmas present for me, I would love a lavender scented microwavable heating pad.  I had one over my shoulders while waiting for my massage yesterday and it was heavenly.  I highly recommend it.

So I missed the phone call, but I got an extra long text with some new details.  He says that I should book his Christmas vacation transportation soon (which I sort of already knew and was told to wait by him and now airfare is all jacked up, but whatever) as well as a "bus" from the Fort to the airport.  Not sure how that's going to happen, although I'm tempted to get him a limo... anyone want to go in with me to get him a limo?

He gave me the details of his pay, and told me that because he is a higher rank than most of his peers (he's E4), he's getting more responsibility and respect.  I'm so happy he is getting leadership experience and thriving with it.  Those of you who know my husband know that he tends to be more of a follower than a leader, however, he has the ability to command attention and command a room so his potential to lead is very great.  With being a leader comes the fear of failing and making mistakes which is a big one for him so I am so thrilled that this experience will give him some positive growing points and help him conquer some of those fears.

I was also told that he would have more time to talk since he started official basic training TODAY!  So yay for more phone calls.

On the home front, my house is getting messy.  I always appreciated how he would be home to help with general apartment upkeep, but I'm really appreciating it now.  The downside of trying to have a life (which I feel like I've been doing well so far) is I'm never home.  As it is, my weekend is almost completely booked up.

Here's how I am doing with my lists:

1)      Work out, work out!!
So far I am really sucking at this.  There is a yoga class today at 12 pm.  I will make an effort to do this today.

2)      Write to Adam every day
Four letters down... waiting for an address to send them all, I will let those of you know if you want to send him something.

3)      Learn one new aria

0% complete

4)      Audition for local community theater
There are auditions coming up in Chesnut Hill for some straight theater also I submitted for two local auditions via e-mail.

5)      Lose 8 lbs.

I'm going with too early to tell.

6)      Finish decorating the apartment
Yesterday, a wedding photo I had blown up was delivered so I'm on my way...

7)      Reorganize
 Nope

8)      Finish sorting thru wedding stuff
Nope

9)      Complete Christmas Bucket List
 No updates

10)   Finish EMS Continuing Credits
Completed another credit course yesterday.  4.5 down 19.5 to go...

11)    Finish designing this blog

 Nope.