1. What is your spouse’s best feature?

His smile, hands down…at least in my book. I’m not sure what other women would say, although he gets hit on ALL the time, so maybe I should ask one of these days :).

2. Mild, Medium or Hot sauce?

Before I got my band, hot. The hotter the better. Now, that I can’t drink while I eat to cool the fire down, medium is usually my choice.

3. What is the worst uniform you had to wear for a job?

Well, I have only had two uniforms in my life; a bathing suit and a Kroger’s polo shirt with black pants. So, I guess the polo shirt/black pants combination since that actually required getting dressed…LOL! The bathing suit was heaven, throw that on, put my hair in a ponytail and grab some flip-flops.

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

With Bryan to work, I’d love to see what goes on in the GCU but, it’s a top secret job so THAT will never happen.

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

Umm…actually get to Vegas, buy a house, register J for school, set up said house and get back on track with my eating. It would be nice to finish the 2 books I have been reading for months, but I doubt that’s gonna happen!

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

Laying behind me in bed at night, him reaching over and taking my hand, hearing “I Love You” a million times a day….I could go on and on.

2. What do you miss least?

His snoring and his “trails”…hands down.

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

Why do I only get three, is there a crayon shortage I should be aware of? Should I have bought Crayola stock a few months ago ;)?

Black, teal and red…why, because they are my favorite colors.

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

Cheerful, only because that is supposedly what my name means. I don’t believe it though, cheerful I am not…LOL!

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

Barefoot and pregnant? Only, Bryan has had the big snip, snip so that’s not possible anymore. Otherwise, laid back and comfy, since flip-flops are my shoe of choice 95% of the time when I am subjected to having to wear them.

Sorry it is so short this week, life in PCS status is CRAZY!

Have I ever told you how much PCS prep sucks?!

Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to this move immensely, although right at this exact moment, I can’t differentiate between my desire to move and my desire to have this move over with.

My outlook calendar is bursting with color, my to do lists are never-ending and my energy level is dwindling. Bad combination. I am so very thankful Bryan made it home on the 8th instead of today, as originally expected because I don’t know how I would have gotten it all done without him and not taken someones head off in the process.

Thanks to a TMO (traffic management office for those non-mil types) screw up (who’s surprised…not me), we move to TLF (military temporary living facilities) Monday. Movers come Tuesday and Thursday. Yes, that’s not a typo, Tuesday and Thursday. My house will sit full of boxes and unlivable for a day because somehow Wednesday just totally fell off the radar even though back on June 8th we were booked for July 20th, 21st and 22nd. Only in the military can a day just vanish off the calendar. But…well…yeah, let’s not go there. We hand over the keys to the house on Friday and hit the road to Las Vegas on Sunday.

At this point, Sunday can not get here soon enough. Only 8 days 1 hour 43 minutes until we are on our new journey.

Anyhow, it is now 0551 and I have to be up at 0645, so I suppose I ought to go attempt to lay back down. Bryan and Jacey are headed to the Gulfarium with a friend while I get my last cut and color (I am going to really miss Wendy), then we are all meeting for lunch. Once we get back home, it is back to the to do lists…sigh.

No rest for the weary, uh wicked. Eh!?

:)

1. What food reminds you of your spouse?

Well, considering I am married to Mikey, it could be anything BUT anything mint would probably be the first thing that springs to mind.

2. Who would you rather sit next to in a cross-country plane ride: an irritating non-stop talker, or a quiet stare-er?

Even though, I am not a talker, the talker would probably be easier to tune out. I’d put some headphones in and go about my business. Staring on the other hand drives me batty.

3. What are your best tips on how to save money?

For us is is definitely to eat at home more. We can easily spend $800-1000 a month eating out (I am so ashamed to admit that). Otherwise, I use coupons if I have them. Can we tell I don’t put a lot of thought into specifically saving money?

4. What is your favorite summer memory?

By far, going to the “farm” with my grandparents as a kid. I got to play in fire, eat fresh corn on the cob, ride 4-wheelers and not take a shower for a week (shudder).

5. Do you believe in ghosts?

Nope. I do believe that you can feel a persons presence in things and around you when they die sometimes but not ghosts.

1. What is your favorite household chore?

Huh? Wait a minute, I am supposed to *have* a favorite household chore?! Hmm…does hitting the start button on the dishwasher count?

Honestly, I despise any sort of cleaning BUT I can’t stand a dirty house, so clean I must.

2. What is your favorite childhood memory?

Hmm…it’s probably a toss up between eating cherry tomatoes straight out of my Pap’s garden in my good Sunday dresses (I learned early how to make my Mom freak out) or sitting in my Meemaw’s lap eating Blue Bell Peaches & Cream ice cream. She is who is totally responsible for my ice cream obsession :).

3. What is your most embarrassing moment?

I’ll have to get back to you on this one someday. I have sat here for over 5 minutes trying to figure it out. Bryan says it is because I am too careful and don’t put my self in situations that would potentially become embarrassing.

4. What uniform of your spouse’s is your favorite?

Well, being that we are on our third daily wear uniform (woodland camo, then ABU’s and now flight suit), plus dress blues and the Honor Guard blues, my fav is still the good ole’ woodland camo. ABU’s have grown on me and I do find them quite sexy but I absolutely hate the flight suits. I’d better get used to it though, as it will be his uniform of the day for the next 10+ years.

Air Force uniforms in general leave much to be desired. Now, the Marine uniforms on the other hand….swoon :).

5. What canceled TV show do you miss the most?

Star Trek: The Next Generation….yeah, I’m a Trekkie. Surprised?

1. Tell us about your dream job… one that you could do regardless of pay.

My dream job would to own my own photography business again and be able to fully devote myself. I had began that endeavor here before my cancer diagnosis but got scared after my diagnosis and gave up. Dumb decision. It has allowed me to think more on what direction I’d like to take my photography and while I haven’t settled fully, I do know I am not cut out for family/kids photography. I love the idea of engagement, senior, boudoir and commercial. We shall see what Vegas brings and if I take that leap again.

2. What is your most prized material possession (kids and pets don’t count!)?

Hmm….I think that would be a toss up between my photos/scrapbooks and my cameras. One is a record of all the wonderful memories that will far outlast me and the other is what allows me to record those memories.

3. What has been your favorite duty station and why?

Does it sound funny to say that I hope it is the upcoming one to Creech AFB, NV? I say that because we are likely to be there a very long time and it always make life smoother when you enjoy the duty station. Otherwise, I’d have to say here at Eglin AFB, FL. We’ve been here almost 5 years and have really planted roots. The beach is (was…oil spill) gorgeous but I truly think it is the people that have made it for me.

4. What is your least favorite household chore?

Cleaning the bathrooms, hence why it is Bryan’s job when he is home and I put it off as long as possible when he’s not.

5. If you could give one piece of advice to a teenager today (not specifically a MilTeen), what would it be?

Be true to yourself. Do not conform, don’t try to change your beliefs for someone else and don’t try to keep up with the Joneses.

Oh, and don’t open credit card accounts, they are the spawn of satan :). There is something to be said for being debt free.

Sing it with me…you know you want to now that I have placed that annoying song in your mind.

This is the TDY that neeeeeeeeever ends… it goes on and on my friends.

(Title idea lovingly lifted from Delta…have I ever said how much I would love to meet her in person?! She’s just seems like a fun soul and is an AF wife, too.)

I know,I know, I shouldn’t complain. When we first got these TDY orders, Bryan wasn’t due to be home until July 17th and it is just now July 1st. But, when we were told about halfway through that he would get to come home early my whole mindset changed. If no one had ever told me, I would have been just fine. Instead now, I keep getting my hopes up daily that these mission will get accomplished and he can book tickets home.

As of when I was in New Mexico with him a couple weeks ago, he was on schedule to be home by Saturday (June 26). That would have been prime, since that was the only day Jacey was home before camp and he would have gotten to see her. Then last week brought fuel contamination issues and then a change of command that halted all flying for an entire day (the commander must think he is important or something…ppffttt;-). This week Bryan actually got a mission accomplished on Monday but Tuesday and Wednesday were no go’s due to weather. Today marks the third attempt for his CO-3 ride. We shall see, if he can fly today and tomorrow, he can come home Saturday but I am not holding my breath at this point.

He is SO ready to be home and I am SO ready for him to be home. We are at 67 days and counting….sigh.

I am trying to figure out if the worst part is that we are so close and yet just can’t seem to get there (he only has CO-3 and an Eval flight to be done) or if it is the fact that we are in a day by day holding pattern. That is one part of the flying world I was not prepared for.

Curse this plane that can’t fly in clouds…LOL!

Sigh.

Wonder if Bryan is awake…nah, I won’t chance it. He deserves to sleep even if my stress is all his fault. Yep, his fault.

He is the one that joined the Air Force after all.

Or maybe it was I who married him after he joined the Air Force. Oh well, it is still ALL his fault :).

(Please note the sarcasm, before everyone and their mother decides to flame me. I am joking and I won’t approve rude comments, so don’t waste your time.)

I realized the other day that by the time this whole retraining/PCS is done with, we will have lived in upheaval for a year. A year. That is a long time, even for miltary life. Going into this, I knew it would be a long transition but I guess it really didn’t sink into me just how long and now that it has sunk in, I am feeling the stress. Even though I entitled the post 28 days, that is ONLY until we actually hit the road for Vegas, not everything that still has to be done on the flip side. Oh and let’s not mention all that still has not gotten done on this side. There is only one word for me lately.

SLACKER.

Or maybe two words.

STRESSED.

When Bryan got orders for this current TDY, the assumption was that pretty much all the PCS prep would be on my plate because by the time he finally got home, there would only be a week before we hit the road to Vegas. Only enough time to outprocess and supervise the packers while they hopefully safely package up and ship our household goods. Well, things changed. Bryan would be coming home early, we just didn’t/don’t know how early (was supposed to be yesterday and now is Thursday at the earliest…grr). Anyway, this got me in the mindset that I could wait for him to help me with the rest of the to do list. Sure, that seems like it would help, taking part of the load off me but in turn it simply has me more stressed because there are still too many things on the to do list not checked off for my liking and less time to do them.

Do you ever have so much to do though that you don’t know where exactly to begin?

Yeah, that’s me.

I really hope after my last 4 days of work this week that some of the stress will leave, but I doubt it. Yoga has done wonders for my mood/sense of peace but I am still a type A, high strung individual and that may never change.

I think part of it too is that this move is so different from any of the rest that we have ever done. This time, we plan to buy a house which throws a whole new set of stresses in the mix. Will we get good rates? Will we even find a house that we like before J needs to start school? Will we find a house with good schools (schools in Las Vegas REALLY scare me and we can’t afford the $15-20K, yes, grand, a year for private)? Do we even have a clue as to what we are doing as first-time homebuyers?

Sigh.

I do a lot of that lately.

So, here goes…week #1.

1. How did you and your spouse/significant other meet?

Well, the simplest answer would be online. The funniest answer is, I was a bet…LOL! Bryan found my yahoo profile online and thought I was interesting (unknown to me, he had bet the “guys” that he could get a girlfriend for New Year’s or something like that). He emailed me the beginning of December 1998 and while I was dating someone else at the time, we started chatting. We discovered that we lived and worked less than a mile from each other. Fast forward to January 5, 1999. I broke up with the other guy and Bryan got up the nerve to ask me out. As you can say, they rest is history. He left for basic April 27, 1999, he proposed during graduation weekend July 4, 1999 and we married July 31, 1999 while he was in tech school. Many gave us 6 months and here we are 11 years later.

2. What is the best thing about being a MilSpouse?

Pride. While I may not serve directly, I know that by my participation, others enjoy freedom. It also takes a special kind to “make it” as a military spouse and I am going on 11 years strong.

3. What is the hardest thing about being a MilSpouse?

The separations. While I have it a lot easier than some, being an Air Force wife, the separations still suck the same. I always though I preferred being alone but I know differently now. I am very thankful though that we live in the age that we do with cell phones, skype and email. I truly feel for those spouses that came before us.

4. What is your favorite dish?

Hmm…real dish or dessert dish? Spinach enchiladas would definitely be high on my list for real food. Along with real, cooked with lard refried beans. As for dessert, give me ice cream…pretty much any flavor will do. I am a self confessed ice cream addict.

5. If you could change one thing in this world, what would it be?

I am going to go with a silly answer here. I wish ice cream didn’t taste so darn good, so my scale would go down instead of up.

Anyway, enough complaining. I really am looking forward to the move even if it doesn’t appear that way at the moment.

Sunday, Bryan and I tackled finalizing the road trip stops/plans. We previously had a penciled plan but just couldn’t make it work out. Originally, we wanted to make a stop in Oklahoma City to see some friends we were stationed with in the UK but mileage wise it just wasn’t happening. We are trying to keep each travel day somewhere around 350 miles except the last day, since we want to get to Vegas earlier in the day, so we can make the trek out to Bryan’s actual base, Creech AFB.

So, below is what we decided on…

July 25 – Niceville, FL —> Clinton (Jackson), MS (314 miles)
July 26 – Clinton, MS —> Duncanville (Dallas), TX (399 miles)
July 27 – Duncanville, TX —> Lubbock, TX (344 miles)
July 28 – Lubbock, TX —> Albuquerque, NM (331 miles)
July 29 – Albuquerque, NM —> Flagstaff, AZ (323 miles)
July 30 – Flagstaff, AZ —> Las Vegas, NV (259 miles)

1969 miles total – click to see our route on Google Maps

I wanted to avoid Texas, since we were both born there and have seen most parts of it many times but there just aren’t that many routes between Florida and Nevada. I did absolutely refuse to take I-10 anymore than we absolutely had to though, I’ve made that trek, a few too many times. I am excited about this route, because it will take us through Abilene, TX and we’ll get to show Jacey where she was born and where we lived (we also get to stop for lunch at our fav place, Abuelos). She was only 8 months old when we moved from there and we’ve never been back.

Of course, after finalizing the route, then came hotel reservations. 2 hours later, we had all those made. This is why I do not like road trips. Give me a plane to my destination and a week-long hotel stay and I am a happy camper. Well, not literally since I don’t do the whole camping thing either :). But alas, they are done. They all have pools for Jacey to expend some energy and workout rooms for me to expend some stress/tension. Win. Win.

So, if anyone is anywhere along this route and would like to say hi, please let me know. I am sure a little distraction from friends will be very much welcomed!