Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In

1. I always feel like I’m  twenty-seven years old, but in reality, I’m twenty-three .
   
   
   (I've always thought I act mature for my age, and generally I get the same reaction from others.)
   
   
   
2. I wish my family understood better when I tell them call me anytime .
     
   
    (This one was hard. My family's pretty understanding of my life and the way I live it, they're always supportive. But one thing they're always worried about is bothering me when I'm busy or when the time difference doesn't work. Even though I'm all the way in Japan, I still have voicemail! )
   
   
   
3. If you saw me when I force my husband to kill all the bugs in my house , you’d think I was a total girly-girl, but if you saw me when I'm drinking beer and telling dirty jokes with said husband's sailor buddies , you’d think I was a tomboy through-and-through.
   
   
    (I don't like bugs or critters. I may have screamed numerous expletives into a voicemail machine when I found a huge tarantula in the house while Jeff was at work. I may have thrown a garbage can over a mouse and left the house for the day a few years earlier when my parents' place got a couple mice invaders. But, I'm not a girly girl really. I don't like drama. I don't have perfect hair or nails and I don't care too much about clothes or accessories. I'm usually more comfortable goofing around with the guys than with their wives.)
   
   
   
4. I feel like I’m in a totally different universe when people are astonished that I'm not having kids yet, despite the fact that I'm only twenty-three.
   
   
    (I've blogged about this before, but it never fails to trip me out. Seriously guys, what's the rush? I'm not in a rush.)
   
   
   
5. In honor of this being MFF #60… 60 months ago  (exactly 5 years ago, so September 30, 2006) I lived in the dorms at Aurora University  and my life was totally different because I was in college, fresh out of high school and with a lot to learn, with a boyfriend in the Navy overseas, and a tepid roommate that I tried my hardest to get along with and failed.
   

   
   
    (Feels like forever ago! It was definitely an interesting experience and I have a lot of amazing memories from my years in Aurora. But, I don't miss the dorms, the less than stellar roommate [my next roommate was ah-mazing], the long distance relationship, the general chaos that is college life. Although that year was definitely the most uneventful. Sophomore year I had cortisone injections, surgery, and a marriage. Junior year I moved cross-country to California and started at a big state school with a brand new major. Both junior and senior year I averaged about 23 credits per semester. Senior year I finished in a rush before moving overseas. Whew, I get tired just thinking about it.)
   
   

   Join in the fun! 

   Wife of a Sailor's MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

Friday Fill-In

1. The best thing my parents taught me to do when I was a child was to give it my best. Whether I win or fail or accomplish what I set out to do isn't as important as how I go about doing it. Cutting corners will only get you so far. Being an honest, reliable and responsible person will get you where you want to be.

2. However, one thing I wish they did differently was push me to step out of my comfort zone a little more. I'm an incredibly shy person, and I was worse as a child. They allowed me to be shy and let me deal with each situation as I was comfortable, offering support and encouragement regardless. Really, I think they did a good balancing act between pushing me and letting me find my comfort zone, but it's always easier to blame the parents than my own reluctance to try new things! I don't have many complaints about my childhood; I think they did the absolute best they could with what they had and I think both me and my brother have turned out pretty damn well.

3. One thing I’ve always wanted to try but haven’t is riding in a hot air balloon! It's one of those things I think would be so amazing. Jeff, on the other hand, disagrees. He wants me to skydive instead. Um...dream on.

4. One thing I never thought I’d try but I have is to live overseas. I always pictured myself setting somewhere around Chicago in a different suburb than the one I grew up in, but not going far. Instead I moved to the west coast, then went to the far east. Who would've thought? Certainly not me. It's been an incredible experience so far though, and I can't wait to see what the next years have in store for me.

5. If I could give my 16-year-old self one piece of advice I’d tell myself give that weird guy that does set construction for drama a chance? Haha, that'd be my husband. We flirted for months before we ever got close to "dating", and that was mostly me putting it off. We both used to joke that I needed to not be so stubborn and we could've gotten another 6 months before he left for the Navy. Oh, and definitely STOP DANCING when you have injuries. Jeez, I thought those performances were everything, and they were important, but so are my feet. I'll be paying for that stubbornness with decades of foot pain. Ouch.

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In

1. If you could have a private concert with any singer, who would it be?

Hmm, Aaron Lewis from Staind, his voice is ah-mazing. His lyrics are beautiful and anything he puts his voice to is magic.


2. Is there anything you do to supplement your family’s income?

I work. We're dual income at the moment, which is nice. I also completed my degree and intend to use it for pretty much the rest of my life. The only time I see myself not supplementing our finances is when I'm popping out kids.


3. During your pregnancy (whether past, present, or future), what did you nickname your unborn baby before you knew the sex?

Hm, no idea. Haven't thought about pregnancy too much, but more about what happens after the little bean pops out. Jeff jokes a lot about "junior", as in "I bet junior's getting hungry!" when I say I need to find something to eat. It's not as funny as he thinks it is.


4. Have you ever won a blog giveaway? If so what did you win?

I think I've only done one. Teresa @ Army Wife Post gave away hair products at one point, so I commented. Never won though, but never really tried.


5. If I looked into your refrigerator right now, what would I find?

Beer and leftovers. Which is all that's really left at the end of the week. Maybe some stale bread and some questionable fruits. I go grocery shopping on Sundays usually, one week at a time, so things are looking scarce by Friday morning.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

1. Have you (spouse) ever considered joining the military and what do you think of dual military couples?

I'm not fit for the military. I couldn't do boot camp at the moment, but I could always train my butt off to get through that. But I know I couldn't handle the stress of deployments and war and all the other bigger than me things the military has to handle. It's just not in the cards for me. I have a lot of respect for couples that make it work though, because a dual military marriage has such unique challenges.

2. What is your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon?

Relaxing. I like to have easy Sundays before another long week starts, so we love to spend it eating comfort food, watching some new movies or TV shows, and just lazing around the house.


3. What do you usually do for the 4th of July holiday?

I don't really have a usual. If I can, I'll take some fireworks and some grilled food. I honestly can't remember what I even did last year. This year, both are on the menu!


4. If they could make an Olympic event JUST for you that you know you’d medal in, what would it be?

Uh, procrastinating? Paying attention to all the little details? Catching grammar mistakes?


5. What have you been doing to get yourself bathing suit ready for the summer?

Psh, absolutely nothing. I've been working out on a more regular basis, but I'm not really focusing on swimsuit season. I don't tan, so I don't really care. I think I may have to attempt to even out my color though. I'm getting really funky tan lines from my polo at work. I've got the farmers tan going on, then a weird v-line at my neck. And the whitest skin everywhere else. Woo.

Happy Friday!

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In

I haven't done one of these in a while!



1. Are you a different person than you were five years ago?

I was 18 five years ago, so yes. I was fresh out of high school and ready to go to college, my husbandboyfriend was in Italy, I was preoccupied with worrying about who my roommate would be and what she'd be like (Answer, boring, shy, and way too small town for a semi-medium city like Aurora. I was much happier with my second roommate). I've learned a lot in the last five years. Besides the obvious attaining of a degree, I've traveled and met a lot of people that have opened my eyes to new things.


2. If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why?

My husband and I have actually talked about this. We could never do anything like that together, because we'd fight too much. We're both stubborn and have our specific ways of doing things, and we just don't work well under pressure together. I could probably do it with my brother, though. He's pretty laidback and has lived with me so long that he doesn't usually get annoyed by my annoying personality traits...



3. Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good in to your life?

I don't use Twitter, and I don't go on FB too much. I do admit to the occasional stalk fest, because I enjoy seeing what people publish about their lives. I'm nosy and like to know everything, which means I may look up old friends from junior high or high school or friends of friends or what have you. But I only do that once every couple of months. For the most part, it's a great way to stay in touch with everyone back in the states. It's my main form of communication with most people, except our parents who both have Vonage World and get free calls to Japan ;)



4. June is National Soul Food Month- what’s your soul food?

It's gotta be garlic dip. It's a family tradition and I've grown up having it at every family get together and celebration. So now, it's synonymous with laughter, family, tradition, holidays, and just a good feeling. If I'm having a rough week or celebrating a holiday away from family, it's something that's guaranteed to make me smile. I've also built up my husband's love of garlic, because a love for garlic is a requirement to be part of my family.


5. If you could live in any other era than the current, which one would it be & why?

I always say the 1920's without a really good reason. I'd love to go back to every era and see the good and bad of it. It's why I love literature, it's a way into that piece of history or present. It's also why I love cultural studies and history, and my husband and I have talked for hours and will no doubt continue to do so about certain cultures and time periods we both love. It's a fun past time. So my answer is..every single one? I'm a horrible decision maker and I want to see and learn everything...


Hope your weekend is relaxing! It's rainy and overcast here, so I'm thinking watching some movies and snuggling on the couch sound like the perfect solution.

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In

Another round of milspouse questions! Join the fun at Wife of a Sailor.




1. Do you think civilians, in general, understand the meaning of Memorial Day?

As a whole, probably not. Let's face it, there are a whole lot of people that are just ignorant about a lot of things in this world. But I wouldn't write off just anyone who doesn't have a direct tie to the military. Just because I haven't personally been to a war zone and experienced those things doesn't mean I don't appreciate those who have done those incredible things for us, and my empathy has nothing to do with my husband and his military affiliations. I think it's a different understanding when you're closely connected to the military world, but the awareness and support can come from anywhere.


2. What are your plans for the Memorial Day Weekend?

Relaxing! Grilling, getting out in the sunshine, enjoying some nice weather. Oh, and avoiding any weather hazards from the typhoon that's headed in the direction of Japan. We should only get the tail end, so we're expecting some storms.


3. What skill/talent do you wish you had?

I wish I could be able to walk into a room and make friends with everyone. That easy confidence that makes you approachable and comfortable with perfect strangers. My shyness comes and goes, but it's never easy for me to meet new people and I never feel like I'm making friends with someone I just met. I'm always a little awed by people who can do that so easily and frequently. I want to be socially comfortable!


4. Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

Yeah, I don't really care. Some eggs of some earlier species probably had some weird mutation that turned those eggs into chicken-like creatures, which continued to breed and evolve until the chicken species developed. Woo, science.


5. What is the best thing about your post (base)? The worst?

Hmm. Best is probably the support system built in. There are a ton of recreation activities every weekend; there are a ton of support systems built into the command; there are all sorts of places to go if you need help that will actually help you. I think being overseas is a huge reason behind this, but it's a world away from our last base. The worst is probably the fact that we are Navy on an Air Force base. In an ideal world, the opportunity for both branches to work together and learn together would lead to a more productive base. In reality, there's a lot of politics and favoritism. Not from the commands in general, but from individuals. The Navy and Air Force obviously work differently sometimes, so it gets confusing when things are phrased differently and things are done differently. Some people embrace the diversity, and some people don't, which makes life more frustrating for the rest of us. That's a problem that doesn't bother me daily though. I don't have too many complaints about our current base actually.






Happy Memorial Day!

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In

I haven't done one of these in a while, partly because by the time I see them it's already Saturday in these parts! I'm on top of things today, and snagged the questions on Wife of a Sailor's Thursday Preview, because it IS Friday here.

This time difference stuff is tricky.




Okay, on to the questions!

1. Have you and your spouse agreed to live in separate locations (a geographical bachelor tour) knowing that the short-term inconvenience would have long-term benefits for your family? How did it work for you?

Not yet. We have talked about the circumstances where this would be better for us, but they're few and far between. For us, being together is more important than any of the inconveniences of say, living overseas. It hurts my options for starting any careers, it makes life a little more challenging, but being together wins out. That may not always be the case, but it is now.


2. What is your favorite thing about being a MilSpouse?

The opportunity to travel. I would have never gone to California and definitely not to Japan if I hadn't married Jeff and he hadn't been enlisted in the Navy. The experiences and opportunities I had in California changed my life, most specifically my degree and possible career paths, and I can only imagine what I'll come home learning from living in Japan. While we do miss home and the option to buy a home and settle in one place to start a family someday, traveling and living abroad wouldn't be possible for us without the military.


3. If you could still have your spouse/significant other and your family, but take the military life out of it…would you?

This is an oddly worded question. Would I still have my husband if he wasn't in the Navy? Of course I would. I didn't marry him for his enlisted record. Would we take the military out of the equation if we could right this second? No, not right now. We made this decision a few months back, and for us and for our future, it's the smartest move to stay in the military. That may not always be the case, but Teri's husband and the enlisted sailor are two different things; we can drop one without dropping the other.


4. What have your homecoming experiences been like after a year long tour of separation?

We have not gone through year long tours. We've been separated for a year at a time because of distance, but that was when we were dating. Since we've been married, Jeff's deployed for a year total, but in two chunks. The homecoming, as it is for everyone, is a mix of emotions. Elation and excitement that he will finally be back home where he belongs. Frustration and impatience at the adjustment period as you both figure out how to live together again. Lots of new love for the things you forgot he does or says when he was away. And a million other emotions all mixed in.


5. If you have a child(ren) why you chose their name(s)? If not, why you would name your child something?

We don't have kids. We talk occasionally about naming our kids, but we never agree on anything. I have a couple names I love, but they're not "the names" or anything. We've talked about naming kids after someone in our families, but we decided that didn't fit for us. I might become the crazy pregnant lady that has to look up the meaning of every name we debate, but it will probably end up that we pick a name we both can settle on. I don't really think a name has to mean anything before the kid is born; he or she will make it mean something as he or she grows up.



Join the party!

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In

I'm a sucker for surveys, so Wife of a Sailor's Friday Fill-In's are right up my alley.


1. Since most of the country has had nasty weather, what has your weather been like this week?
I'm not IN the country ;)
It's actually been pretty nice here in northern Japan. Since we've gotten here, it's been snow and 20's all day every day. The past few days have hit 40 and it's been clear and sunny! It's back to snow again tomorrow, and I don't really mind.

2. What is/are your best money saving tip(s)?
I'm no expert at saving money tips. One thing I try to keep up is meal plans. If not, we both give up and go out to eat. Which is bad for our wallets and waistlines.

3. What was your favorite vehicle you’ve ever owned??
Our 2008 Dodge Avenger. My husband bought it brand new and it's gorgeous, with leather seats and a beautiful dark blue paint color. It's reliable and easy to drive in. I drove it cross country twice with no problems. It's sitting at my parents' house waiting for us to return to the states, where we'll happily start driving it again.

4. What is a question you’d like to see asked in a future fill-in?
Hmm, I haven't done too many of these, so I'm not even sure what's been asked!

5. Fill in the blank: You might be a MilSpouse if….
The first questions you ask new people include "where did you come from?" "where are you originally from?" and "how long have you been in?". There was recently a fire alarm in our building, and all of us wives waiting outside spent our time sharing stories of where we've been and where we're from. I think it's even more noticeable overseas, although it happened a lot in the states too.



Not much going on around here this weekend. We watched The Town and re-watched Red tonight, complete with ice cream and cuddling up with a blanket. I think Red is my favorite movie we saw in theaters in 2010. It's action and comedy and romance and all of these experienced and hugely talented actors like Bruce Willis and John Malkovich. You should watch it!

This weekend we're planning on sleeping in and gearing up for the Superbowl! It's on Monday morning here in Japan, and we're meeting up with a group at the local bar to cheer on the Steelers. Have a fun weekend!