With each of my blogs, I have been counting down to when Bill will be home. If you have not noticed yet... there is a plus sign after the number. Here is the reason, I was told in the predeployment brief that he would be gone roughly 12-14 months. How does one count that down??? With a plus sign, it is such a small nonthreatening sign, it keeps my bubble intact. I surely would not want to still be looking at a number greater than a year...UGH...that would not be a countdown especially in the beginning. I also keep thinking that as the number dwindles... I can start counting up but hopefully by then I will have made it to the phase of "what is one more day ..who cares!" I am not there.. I am staring at 346+ and that number is HUGE!!! I truly hate posting the number, it reminds me. It wears on my bubble.
There are all these amazing spouses that do cute countdowns for themselves and for their kids. Some spouses make a giant paper chain and their kids remove one a day until dad is home, one has a jar filled with Hershey kisses and they remove one a day, one has a calendar with cute stickers for each month mark so when they get there, they celebrate because they are that much closer. As for me, this is the first countdown I have ever done...I do not like it!!! I will admit...that I am only counting on this blog, I have to view my previous posts and count down from it..I can not recall the number from the day before. I am not going to say that this is a memory issue...no jokes about me getting old! I tend to be happier when the days remaining are not looming ahead of me. I also do not have any type of countdown for my kids. I do not want a visual of how grand the separation is. My kids are not missing out because I have never done a cute countdown and therefore do not know what they are missing. Not to mention...the jar of Hershey kisses would not last 346 days...maybe one week if I was lucky. This lack of creativity on my part thus far has been sufficient for my kids and I see no need to set new standards that are much higher than my own. I have parented well... I have taught my kids how to live in my bubble!!!!
Bill-
We loved skyping with you today, we are disappointed in the fact that once again you were not wearing your helmet or flak... here soon your family may think you are on a vacation to some remote island. Remember, my geography skills still have you located somewhere like RI.
Bill, my absolutely amazing and handsome husband has left for a one year plus tour to Afghanistan with RCT8. He is a Marine, a dad and a husband. This blog is for me, his wife to share the trials of being a military spouse.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Phase one ..... scare tactics and opsec ....Day 349+
Ok, so all of you military spouses know this....predeployment brief....aka scare tactics. To my civilian friends, I will preface this with an explanation. Before our spouses deply we are asked to attend what is called a predeployemnt brief. This is where they go over basic information on how long the deployment should be, where the unit is going, the mailing address is given out, communication information is given, and you meet the CO (commanding officer) and your FRO (family readiness officer). The FRO is a paid position and is a person who is stateside and located in the unit offices that deals with the families while the spouse is gone, aka babysitter. Apparently even the military is scared of us spouses when left to our own devices!! LOL
So here is a rundown of what I hear during a brief..keep in mind I am no newbie here. This is what I am told before he leaves... this is why I bring a big bubble to a brief and this is also part of the reason that during phase one of a deployment... that we do not sleep!!!
One of the first things we get told is.....OpSec rules apply. The pre deployment briefing that we get to make sure we give away no secrets. Hello, I am not sure about you, but I have never had secret information nor has my husband shared that much with me. I know they mean non secret information such as troop movement and numbers etc.... but to be honest, do they really think I listen to my husband that well. He starts in with military speak and I tune him out. I believe I already mentioned my geography skills, I think RI might want to step up their security. I am told very bad people are lurking and stalking my every post, my every word. If, a truly bad person is that desperate that they need to stalk me, lowly me, I seriously doubt they are going to be able to pull off any major event. Good luck with my lack of intelligence terrorist!!!! You might want to grab a map because this girl had no clue where Afghanistan was until I googled it.
That being said, I know what opsec means and as a spouse I am not going to divulge information that may harm my husband, so can you (the military) can just back off. I get it and I think you have bigger fish to worry about and not us spouses and girlfriends. Give us some credit will ya!!!
The next is the scare tactic they provide us in regards to our safety. Safety after our spouse is gone. They provide us with horrific stories that are meant to make us more diligent. They tell us about the boogeyman!! Yep that's right, I have the military to thank for my lack of sleep due to the visuals they provided. You see, we get told not to put a sticker of our husbands unit on our car, bad guys know what units are gone, therefore they will target you. They tell us about home invasions on those whom fly the blue star flag. They scare the crap out of you. This is why my bubble gets inflated BIG before a brief. I already received that speech from my parents when I left home about the bad guys of the world. I was taught how to watch my back when leaving a store, how to keep my personal belongings close, how to lock my door and many other tips. Lets be honest, I am not naive enough to think bad people are not out there. I am also not ignorant enough to think that prepared or not, sometimes...bad just happens. I guess I should thank the military for this brief... but at some point I just want to say.... we are adults and maybe some would fair better if you treated them as such. It is time to grow up and not coddle us. I think we can handle it....I sure hope we can.
This is where the importance of the FRO comes in.... now he will be inundated with all the calls from women that are seriously freaked..... well... what did you think would happen after giving us a great pep talk on how unsafe we are!!!
Bill--- I am safe... the boogeyman has left me alone thus far, he has only messed with the frig and the dishwasher. I am hoping that he brings his friend the Easter Bunnny when he comes next.. you know how I can deal with anything as long as there is chocolate!!!
Stay safe--- awaitng confirmation of you wearing all personal protective gear... I am thinking a campaign will be started to send you athletic cups in pkgs so as to truly embarrass you and point out your lack of proper use of your military issued gear!
So here is a rundown of what I hear during a brief..keep in mind I am no newbie here. This is what I am told before he leaves... this is why I bring a big bubble to a brief and this is also part of the reason that during phase one of a deployment... that we do not sleep!!!
One of the first things we get told is.....OpSec rules apply. The pre deployment briefing that we get to make sure we give away no secrets. Hello, I am not sure about you, but I have never had secret information nor has my husband shared that much with me. I know they mean non secret information such as troop movement and numbers etc.... but to be honest, do they really think I listen to my husband that well. He starts in with military speak and I tune him out. I believe I already mentioned my geography skills, I think RI might want to step up their security. I am told very bad people are lurking and stalking my every post, my every word. If, a truly bad person is that desperate that they need to stalk me, lowly me, I seriously doubt they are going to be able to pull off any major event. Good luck with my lack of intelligence terrorist!!!! You might want to grab a map because this girl had no clue where Afghanistan was until I googled it.
That being said, I know what opsec means and as a spouse I am not going to divulge information that may harm my husband, so can you (the military) can just back off. I get it and I think you have bigger fish to worry about and not us spouses and girlfriends. Give us some credit will ya!!!
The next is the scare tactic they provide us in regards to our safety. Safety after our spouse is gone. They provide us with horrific stories that are meant to make us more diligent. They tell us about the boogeyman!! Yep that's right, I have the military to thank for my lack of sleep due to the visuals they provided. You see, we get told not to put a sticker of our husbands unit on our car, bad guys know what units are gone, therefore they will target you. They tell us about home invasions on those whom fly the blue star flag. They scare the crap out of you. This is why my bubble gets inflated BIG before a brief. I already received that speech from my parents when I left home about the bad guys of the world. I was taught how to watch my back when leaving a store, how to keep my personal belongings close, how to lock my door and many other tips. Lets be honest, I am not naive enough to think bad people are not out there. I am also not ignorant enough to think that prepared or not, sometimes...bad just happens. I guess I should thank the military for this brief... but at some point I just want to say.... we are adults and maybe some would fair better if you treated them as such. It is time to grow up and not coddle us. I think we can handle it....I sure hope we can.
This is where the importance of the FRO comes in.... now he will be inundated with all the calls from women that are seriously freaked..... well... what did you think would happen after giving us a great pep talk on how unsafe we are!!!
Bill--- I am safe... the boogeyman has left me alone thus far, he has only messed with the frig and the dishwasher. I am hoping that he brings his friend the Easter Bunnny when he comes next.. you know how I can deal with anything as long as there is chocolate!!!
Stay safe--- awaitng confirmation of you wearing all personal protective gear... I am thinking a campaign will be started to send you athletic cups in pkgs so as to truly embarrass you and point out your lack of proper use of your military issued gear!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Facebook Fiasco.... statements against core beliefs ... Day 350+
This morning started out like every other morning. Wake up kids, make lunches, have coffee, send kids to school on bus. Kids were gone and now I had time to drink my coffee and check out my emails and face book. I tend to linger online in the mornings longer than usual since I missed Bills' FB post last week. Yes, I know this is a huge time waster, but hey I am in phase one of the deployment. I hate missing a call.. remember.. it sucks!!
Today started out normal and then a post struck a cord.... a cord that I must share. I will tell you this, I am not overly political in nature. I have some beliefs and whether they are democratic or republican in nature, I do not know. They are just my beliefs. I tend to stay quiet when others discuss politics, one because I truly am behind the learning curve and two because I usually have the opposing viewpoint and it will not end well.
I am going to copy and paste this post and my responses....
Let me say this..... if you make a statement regarding the War that is less than favorable to a spouse of a service member, BEWARE!!! We will fight for what our husbands do, we will fight for the beliefs of the military.... we do this because the alternative of not believing in our husbands and their "jobs" would rock our very foundation. Like I said before, I move every couple of years, I endure leaving a job, leaving friends... for what... for the love of my husband and for a calling greater than ourselves.
Here goes: I will list the face book poster as DA...(dumbass) and of course me as ME
Bill---- should you read this... no worries here I am holding the fort down and kicking some arse...... I got your back....now make sure you have mine and wear your helmet and flak!!!!
Stay safe....I need no hunters protecting me.... that thought scares the crap out of me :)
Today started out normal and then a post struck a cord.... a cord that I must share. I will tell you this, I am not overly political in nature. I have some beliefs and whether they are democratic or republican in nature, I do not know. They are just my beliefs. I tend to stay quiet when others discuss politics, one because I truly am behind the learning curve and two because I usually have the opposing viewpoint and it will not end well.
I am going to copy and paste this post and my responses....
Let me say this..... if you make a statement regarding the War that is less than favorable to a spouse of a service member, BEWARE!!! We will fight for what our husbands do, we will fight for the beliefs of the military.... we do this because the alternative of not believing in our husbands and their "jobs" would rock our very foundation. Like I said before, I move every couple of years, I endure leaving a job, leaving friends... for what... for the love of my husband and for a calling greater than ourselves.
Here goes: I will list the face book poster as DA...(dumbass) and of course me as ME
DA:
Well one thing's for sure after last nights "State Of The Union", The Republican Party doesnt give a shit about people with pre-existing conditions concerning health care. Their Health Care Package is Golden, they get the best care regardless of a pre-existing condition. People like me who have had cancer, get shit on by the Health Care Industry. Greedy Basturds!
DA:
Im saying the Republican Party would rather fight legislation that made pre-existing condition exclusions and retroactive policy cancellations illegal, rather than make affordable health insurance available to another 32 million Americans. And who really needs to be held accountable is Wall Street. But the Republican Party will always give them a pass rather than punish them for their dirty deeds.
DA:
I made a mistake up there in my last blog. Instead of making Health Insurance available to 32 million Americans, we should hold Wall Street Acountable. My bad.
DA:
I own a small business (name blocked for privacy), its just my father and me. Sure large corporations allow employees with no exclusions, but if you own your own small business, your premiums are OUTRAGIOUS. Blue Cross Blue Shield promised me after 5 years had passed and i had no problems, my premiums would go down to a normal price....THEY FLAT OUT LIED! My premiums went UP in price, and i had to drop them, which is what they wanted.
2003 is when i was diagnosed with cancer. Since 2008 I've tried 5 times to get on with Blue Cross, and each time they have denied me. One time they denied me because of a 2002 deviated septum surgery, and i told them that was way over 6 years ago? They are full of shit also!
DA:
Republicans are trying to make it impossible for small business people to survive, especially in this economy we are in. They simply don't like small businesses, because they don't have their greedy little hands in every move we make~they make no money off of our sector.
Unknown DA response:
They really stick it to the small business man. My dad was the hardest working (& playing) man Ive ever known. He owned his construction company. With all the other taxes & costs he couldnt afford insurance for thr family. When he had his stroke he was Screwed. And the IRS took no time coming in & taking what they could.
DA:
Exactly (name blocked for privacy), and people wonder why i don't vote Republican?
ME:
... sorry but I think the blame needs to be on all Americans here...party affiliation aside. As a whole we have become so PC and concerned on whose feet we may step on that we have given into all of the hands that are out.. We have forgotten that America was built on the backs of those that worked hard...worked hard for the money they made and expected everyone to do the same. If you could not pay a bill... sux to be you... you had to deal and no one helped you out. I am sorry the US is in a crisis, but maybe if Americans would get off their arses and work...hell barter if you can.... but pay your own GOD DAMN WAY... than we would not be even contemplating whose fault any of this is... IT IS OUR FAULT... we as Americans have allowed ourselves to become...pansies!!! We are so concerned about everyone that we failed everyone.... healthcare sux, financials sux....
Time for hard ball and for Americans to stop coddling..... I am sorry your healthcare is so high.... currently you have the choice to opt out... in a couple years you do not.. maybe you ought to save your money and go to Vegas.. you might make enough to just not care!!!!
Time for hard ball and for Americans to stop coddling..... I am sorry your healthcare is so high.... currently you have the choice to opt out... in a couple years you do not.. maybe you ought to save your money and go to Vegas.. you might make enough to just not care!!!!
Friend post:
Teresa Well fuckin said........ Tired of the PC crap.. Can say shootout out anymore for basketball because it might make someone sad, cant use red check marks on kids school work, might make them sad... So they use green now.. wtf is the... diff, its still a mark? and we teach our kids that life is fair,when we all know its not!!! everyone get trophys just for signing up for sports, we have taken the competitiveness out of our kids.... I always tell my kids lifes not fair! If it were we would all get payed the same.. The whole country are a bunch of wusses.
DA:
Teresa you are wrong, why would I opt out of health care and have none? That is stupid? If i opted out right now no one would cover me!Secondly its not Americans fault we are in the mess we are in its the Governments fault? Do you really th...ink "We The People" Make any difference in this country anymore? Is it our fault that the Republican Party gave a slap on the wrist to Wall Street when they bailed out AIG and many other companies that Republicans have stockholder shares in? Its the way of Washington Politics, and whether you want to believe it or not, we are very close to becoming a nation that is not a free nation anymore. The government regulates everything Teresa. Even right now as we our on our computers, someone in a government affiliated office is reading this and other comments as we speak. Its not Americans that have allowed this country to become pansies, its Washington and its constituents. Hell our votes don't even really matter anymore, have you heard of the electoral vote ?
DA:
And (name of friend), i would rather not be able to say "shootout" or not use red marks. Actually red marks hurt. I got them when i was in school and im still scarred for life:) Anyways, i would rather have that crap, than being broke by our government! Government doesn't know how to run a small business, let alone Washington...Your Republican party has proved that with George Bush Junior. Hey...lets go to war on an unjustly charge! Yea...then watch terrorism flourish throughout the land. Good idea George!
ME:
LOL ... what I am saying is that you have the right today to not buy insurance...soon that will not be an option... so yes.. I am saying maybe you should opt out and invest wisely/play craps who cares... but at least you have the right to choose. Yes choosing no insurance means you would have to pay for all your medical out of pocket..woah...that could be a lot. According to the new legislation... you would be granted health care because everyone is entitled. Once again...why??? No, I am not saying affordable insurance..I am saying you will get it. Why is everyone entitled??? Why should we think we are entitled. As for fault of this country ...sorry but one party is not the sole barer of this. But I am smart enough to recognize that all political parties are guilty... guilty of misleading us, the people of the government. They mis lead for their own monetary gains... for their egos.. hell I really don't care what their personal agenda was..but it surely was not an agenda for we the people. If is was... this would not be a conversation we would be having. That said.. sorry Jaime..I do not agree with you nor will I...
This is not a blame game... if you want it to change... do something and quit blaming others. My mom was a small business owner like you and you know what I remember her doing.. yep ... she would spend her own dime and march on Washington to reform laws that hurt her. She joined small business groups that were willing to make a stand.. sometimes it worked but at least she tried to do something... what are you going to do??? Complain on FB or react.... I know you as a fighter and I would love to see you fight!!!!!
This is not a blame game... if you want it to change... do something and quit blaming others. My mom was a small business owner like you and you know what I remember her doing.. yep ... she would spend her own dime and march on Washington to reform laws that hurt her. She joined small business groups that were willing to make a stand.. sometimes it worked but at least she tried to do something... what are you going to do??? Complain on FB or react.... I know you as a fighter and I would love to see you fight!!!!!
WAIT FOR IT.........WAIT FOR IT.........HERE IT COMES!!!!!!!
ME:
Oh in regards to the war... I would like to say F you on that one... we are a safer nation because of the war.. countless men and women laid down their lives so you could make such an ass of a statement... Our military is fight...ing terrorist organizations that wish death on all of us Americans.. the infidels.. the sinners.... and seeing as how they are too busy fighting our military we have been spared an attack stateside. If we were not fighting do you not think it would give terrorist factions time to think and plan out another attack.
As for an unjust charge for war... who cares if it was unjust..it was necessary. Of course our PC ppl of the world needed something more than a necessity of safety and growing intelligence that we were becoming a huge target. Wait..maybe more ppl needed to die on Sep 11..maybe we needed more attacks... is that what you mean??? So , yes ..a reason was born and we went to war... we had backing by our partner nations so we did not start WWIII... On this.. our government was smart.. . Iraq is a better place and one that is not funneling terrorist factions as they were... keep your head in the sand.... it might keep you safe!! I know I will stand beside my military and believe in what they are doing and I praise them for their effort.
Don't come back with a statement of support for them either..... that just makes you a hypocrite... you can not support one without supporting the other.
As for an unjust charge for war... who cares if it was unjust..it was necessary. Of course our PC ppl of the world needed something more than a necessity of safety and growing intelligence that we were becoming a huge target. Wait..maybe more ppl needed to die on Sep 11..maybe we needed more attacks... is that what you mean??? So , yes ..a reason was born and we went to war... we had backing by our partner nations so we did not start WWIII... On this.. our government was smart.. . Iraq is a better place and one that is not funneling terrorist factions as they were... keep your head in the sand.... it might keep you safe!! I know I will stand beside my military and believe in what they are doing and I praise them for their effort.
Don't come back with a statement of support for them either..... that just makes you a hypocrite... you can not support one without supporting the other.
DA :
Who cares if it was unjust? You gotta be kidding! We need to fix America's problems first, then go out and police the world! No need to be pissy Teresa, but who cares if it was unjust? That is asinine.
ME:
Unjust.... that was my take on how you felt we went to war.. on an unjustly charge..(you statement not mine). Sorry but I never got the intel on what that was... I am assuming (which could be bad here) that you are a believer in the conspiracy theories. Fine.. believe what you will. I believe in what I am told by members of the military that do have intel. No, they do not divulge secrets.. but they do believe in this fight. Why wouldn't they... they signed up for it.. no draft was instituted....they volunteered.
As for us policing the world.. I agree... we should worry about ourselves more and less about countries that need to fix themselves.. However, when a country becomes a safe haven , a training ground, a money maker for any organization or group that threatens my country.... yep.. it is time to step up and kick ass... that is not policing anyone.. that is called protecting.. protecting ones own.
As for me being pissy.... yep you hit a nerve here.. I would say I am fired up.. not pissy. That in this day and age.. we still have men without balls..... men not willing to stand up and fight for others.. men not selfish and concerned only when it affects them.
Go have a drink, use your freedom of speech and when you are done... be sure to pour a beer on the bar for those that did have the balls to fight for you.. toast them.. they died for you to be so ignorant!!!
As for us policing the world.. I agree... we should worry about ourselves more and less about countries that need to fix themselves.. However, when a country becomes a safe haven , a training ground, a money maker for any organization or group that threatens my country.... yep.. it is time to step up and kick ass... that is not policing anyone.. that is called protecting.. protecting ones own.
As for me being pissy.... yep you hit a nerve here.. I would say I am fired up.. not pissy. That in this day and age.. we still have men without balls..... men not willing to stand up and fight for others.. men not selfish and concerned only when it affects them.
Go have a drink, use your freedom of speech and when you are done... be sure to pour a beer on the bar for those that did have the balls to fight for you.. toast them.. they died for you to be so ignorant!!!
ME:
I am done ... here is where I draw the line .. remember above I said do something to make the changes... I am reacting.... I am no longer going to respond to your remarks in regards to this. I hope you sleep well tonight.... I think according to you since the government reads these posts.. just maybe they will react while you sleep. See.. how stupid does that sound!!!
DA:
The state of Wisconsin has gone an entire deer season without someone getting killed. That's great, considering there were over 600,000 hunters that got permits this year. Allow me to restate that number, 600,000. Over the last two months t...he eighth largest Army in the world- more men under arms than Iran; more than France and Germany combined~ deployed to the woods of a single American state to keep deer population under control. But that pales in comparison to the 750,000 who were in the woods of Pennsylvania. Michigan's 700,000 hunters have now returned home. Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia, and its literally the case that the hunters of those 4 states alone would comprise the Largest Army In The World. And that is just 4 states! The total population of registered hunters in America today ranges from 23 million to 43.7 million individuals. (Based on the annual data provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) As long as the American Hunter retains his right to Bear Arms, America Will Be Forever Safe From Foreign Invasions Of Troops Teresa.
ME:
There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.” -Ernest Hemingway...
Easy to shoot a deer... now how hard is it to kill a human... doubt I ...feel safe knowing those statistics. I feel safe living surrounded by men who have killed.... who have hunted man.. hunted something that will hunt back!
BTW.. damn you.. like a bad train wreck and I swore I would not repost...LOL
Easy to shoot a deer... now how hard is it to kill a human... doubt I ...feel safe knowing those statistics. I feel safe living surrounded by men who have killed.... who have hunted man.. hunted something that will hunt back!
BTW.. damn you.. like a bad train wreck and I swore I would not repost...LOL
DA:
By the way, deer run faster than men:)
ME:
but they do not shoot back
You can have fat earl wearing his bright orange defend you.. I will have, armed to the teeth, marines protect me. Lets see who lasts longer.Bill---- should you read this... no worries here I am holding the fort down and kicking some arse...... I got your back....now make sure you have mine and wear your helmet and flak!!!!
Stay safe....I need no hunters protecting me.... that thought scares the crap out of me :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)