Normalacy Is SO Overrated!

Welcome to my Thursday.  I think I may be becoming a closet morning person.  Oh no!  What is the world coming too?!?!?!

So today is another full day.  I forgot how all-consuming PowerPoint presentation creation can be.  In my defense, I do tend to go a bit overboard.  But I am firmly against death by PowerPoint.  So bring on the color and animation.

So what else is going on in my life?  Not much.  Still am working on unpacking the house.  Still watching the news in the morning.  Today's feel good story...the VTC between a Marine in Afghanastan and this wife and daughter on the daughter's first day.  Today's "really?" story...movie tickets going up to $15.00 per person on Friday...what?!?!?!?  Okay, look.  There's a bunch of news about Obamacare and that crap, but I'm SO sick of hearing it that it's not even worth mentioning right now.

So, I actually made it to bed by 2230hrs last night...of course, I woke up a few minutes before midnight and stayed up for an hour.  But who's counting, really?  However, before I went to sleep last night, I downloaded an app for my iPod with a to-do list.  I got a LOT on there for today.  11 items listed.  2 that are multi step (one that's pretty much a book!).  Let's see if I can get things accomplished.  I usually have a good start, then it fizzles.  Hmmmm....

How's the FRG workshop going?  Well.  It's probably going well.  I think I'm still behind, but I am my own worst critic.  Sincerely hoping to complete 75% of it today.  It's going to be a LOT of work, but it'll be worth it.

Oh, more complaints from me about the government this morning.  Seriously?!?!?!  A 10% tax on tanning beds?  What are these guys' problem?  Can they not find time to hit the tanning bed? If I want to tan, then the government does NOT need to care about it!  Oh, wait.  "Tax and spend.  Tax and spend."  ....NOW I remember why I am in favor a an all-women take over of the world.

*sigh....

-N

Delicious Updates!

Being the end of the week, or close enough to it!, I've updated my delicious bookmarks...10 new sites/pages added (mostly Army Spouse & FRG).  Browse at your leisure. 


http://delicious.com/nanabopeep

More next week!
-N

I'm Gettin' Me Some Skills...

Organization is a skill.  A learned skill.  One that I haven't quite mastered in my 29 years on this earth.  Yet.

But I'd better soon.  My life has EXPLODED.  Which is great!  I love to be involved in things that I believe are worthy and need support.  So, please remember that I am not complaining about the actual activity or that time that I am giving...just the organization that is required to function.

For example, I filed our taxes today.  Could I find the documents necessary to e-file?  Not a chance!  So, I will be one of the 10% that will be mailing my 1040-EZ in this year.  Now, I have learned from this.  And I guarantee that I will be able to find last year's information, oh probably the day after I receive my tax refund checks, but at least next February.  However, I digress.

The one thing that I have learned while the "craziness" of the we-want-to-move stage engulfed our lives earlier this year...organization and procrastination do not mix.  Now, in my own defense I want to state that I HAVE gotten better in the past 2 years.  But no where near what I need.  I am a "fly baby".  (See www.flylady.net)  I have read many of Emilie Barnes books on 'more hours in my day'...and I love them all.  It's not that I don't follow the ideas and tips, I try...I really do.  But somewhere I get off track.  And I just can't seem to get back on.  =(

So, I am trying to change my ways and learn some organization skills.  And hopefully I will be able to constantly use them.  Because part of keeping my head above water is feeling like I am not overwhelmed and overcome.  Feeling as though I am floating instead of drowning, you know.  It's part of taking care of myself.  Apparently being in control of my life and my environment, being organized and on a schedule, and pampering myself are all in the same boat. 

Who woulda thought? 

So, on to learning some organization skills.  Time to crack open a book and gain some knowledge about the tools that I have...look out Microsoft Outlook!  I'm about to take you over and get organized!

...developing myself!
-N

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

I need one!  I'm supposed to be on one!  Where are the complementary drinks with the cute little umbrellas?  Where is the warmer weather and sun, for that matter?  Oh well. 

A few days until we actually LEAVE for leave.  The hubby's on it already (signed out last night), but we're staying put for a bit to get caught up on re-setting the house and paperwork.  So, I haven't been bothering him much today, as he probably does need a vacation.  Although, if he doesn't pick a different video game soon, I'm putting my foot through the television.  There's only so much music for "Mario Golf" that this girl can take!

So, today I have managed to begin reorganizing my office space.  Which is really good news, since I just received a phone call from the hubby's former CO that she wants me to stay on as FRG leader.  Hmmm. 

It's nice to be needed.  It's wonderful to be wanted.  It's exceptional to be considered a subject matter expert.  Let's see what we can accomplish holding 2 tongs in the fire I guess.  I mean, it is completely dependent upon the okay from BN and ACS...apparently the hubby is "technically" off the books at the old unit to deploy with the new unit, but it's 'just a detachment for deployment'.  I don't know how they're going to look at this one.  But I did agree to finish out the April meeting, either way.  So I suppose I'd better get to work on that!

The first question, though....at least in this household, is "what's for dinner"?  I SHOULD make meatloaf.  But I am just not in the mood for it right now.  Hmmm, what AM I hungry for?  We're grilling burgers tomorrow night (it's supposed to be near 70, as opposed to the brisk 41 it is now), so maybe chicken of some sort?  Ooohhh...fried chicken from Wal-Mart sounds good (the hubby likes it better than KFC).  I do know we're having cake for dessert.  I had to make one so I could do some decorating and practice making icing roses.  They actually turned out pretty good!  (I'll post pictures later...PROMISE!)

I could use a good cup of coffee, is what I could go for right now.  Hmmm....the hubby's playing video games (still golf), and I hurt too much to get up and make it, though....oh waiter?  Oh waiter!  Dang it!  That personal waiter is as elusive as the house cleaning fairy!

But....back to vacation.

So, we're headed to GB for 8 days.  I've already got lots of people to see...so much for vacation, right?  I'll be headed in one direction, the hubby in another.  We need to rent a car or something, so we can both go our own ways!  It's not that he doesn't want to hang out with me or visa versa, it's just that who is important for me to see is NOT who it is most important for him to see -ESPECIALLY this trip.  *Sigh*  Well, it's a good thing we can both spend time together, right?  Yup yup, that's part of the reason we haven't left yet...or something like that. 

So, what's the schedule look like?  I'll try to update as I can.  So far:
T1-Travel day
VD1-Church service (evening), A's Dockside: Performance by Leala & Ricardo (evening)
VD2-Church service (morning), cake & party preparations (evening)
VD3-Birthday Party!!!!(early-mid afternoon), Dinner with D?(evening)
VD4-Church service (morning), Family day (ALL DAY)
VD5-Coffee & Lunch w/Char (morning/early afternoon)
VD6-Belated B.day outing with Mellisa (evening)
VD7-
VD8-
T2-Travel day


I will have my cell, iPod and laptop.  I will be checking emails and updating as much as I can, but I also intend to enjoy my Family and Friends' company while I am home...so don't be offended if I don't respond or call back right away.  But I WILL be getting back to everyone who needs to talk or needs information. 

Now, the question is what to pack.  It's always difficult not to over pack when we travel, because I want to be prepared for everything.  Maybe this time I won't be, though.  It will be much easier.  *Sigh* The difficulties of being a woman.  ;P 

Well, it's been a nice little break, but I suppose I should get back to work.  I am only a few days behind on things, and I want to keep it that way if possible. 

More later...

HUGS and BLESSINGS...
-N

Updated Information and Bookmarks 21 March 2010

So, I've decided to start organizing sites that I am finding online that I may want to go back to.  Delicious (a Yahoo! family site) not only allows you to save bookmarks, but to add descriptions and tags!  GREAT!  Now I can actually make a note as to WHY I saved the site in the first place...plus I can add tags to search by!  (Trust me.  Could have used THAT one on the old laptop...wow!)

What good is saving my resources, though, if I'm the only one who's seeing them?  So for all of you who are interested...I've added brief descriptions and tags to all my bookmarks from this week.  I currently have them arranged by date added, so you will easily be able to see what I have added.  I will continue to alert everyone weekly when I add new bookmarks...

Hope you find something you can use!

http://delicious.com/nanabopeep

(Yes, NanaBoPeep...it's a nickname from the nieces...deal with it! LOL)

Enjoy!
Blessings!
-N

The First Day of Spring

Shall I welcome spring with a song or a poem?
Uh, no.  Not this year, thanks.

And it's not because spring arrived here with less pomp and circumstance than normal.  Spring arrived in "Tuckessee" with sunshine and warm temperatures on a Saturday.  It was beautiful out.  I just don't feel like singing this year.

This same Saturday brought deployment for some of my friends and their Soldiers.  This same Saturday sees some of my friends and their Soldiers still deployed.  It's a hard road.  I believe in the military and their presence in combat zones unknown to me...but I am not saying that military life is without tears and loneliness about that fact.

Oh there are plenty of us.  Plenty of resources available.  Plenty of online groups and chats.  But there's still nothing like rolling over at night and your Soldier being right there, hogging the covers.  *sigh*

To those who's Soldiers are deployed or TDY, my prayers, thoughts and virtual *hugs*.  Know that I am thinking about you and your Families and praying for even a moment of peace in your day.

You are strong.  You do what the majority of the nation could not.  You love a Soldier.  Thank you for sharing him to preserve our freedoms.

Blessings!
-N

On Fitting In...

You know, for the most part of my life I have felt out of the loop.  I have felt like an outsider.

Grade school was painful. Junior high was excurtiating.  High school...I think I just quit caring.  After that...well, there was the unsure period in life.  The 6 years when we didn't do much of anything in life and I didn't care who thought what about me.

Then my husband became a Soldier and I became an Army wife.  I had a chance to start over.  To be myself every single time.  Every single day.  With everyone I deal with.

I admit that it hasn't exactly gone as nicely and as smoothly as I would like.  I have realized that, given the chance, I could probably be a very vile person.  I do get very very irritated by minor stupidity and idiocy.  And there's A LOT of that being allowed into the ranks of the Army.  And they bring their idiot family and friends with them.  *sigh

But I have also found out that, not only can I be myself relatively easily, I can become who I want very easily, too.  Meaning...I've changed.  Although I still find myself wondering what people really think about me and who I am, I am less likely to give a hoot if they don't agree with my life style.  I've also come to the realization that I am most likely to actually be harder on myself than anyone else is on me.  So, the question is:  is it low self-esteem, thinking I don't measure up, or is it that my standards are higher than my surrounding social contacts and I am continuing to push myself to be the best I be?  To tell the truth, it might depend on the day that you catch me...

Most people don't realize that I am a traditionalist.  I know that people think that I might single-handedly be setting the standards for the female sex back 60 years.  I think that women, given the opportunity, belong in the home.  We are the heart of the home.  It takes A LOT of energy to keep a home running smoothly.  "But we need the money.  We need to maintain our current level of life-style.  We need more stuff.  We have debt."  Well...living within your means is a GREAT thing.  And a wonderful character trait.  Try it sometime.  You'd be amazed what you can do with one paycheck.

But I digress.  I also believe that we use too many chemicals to clean.  I think more people should grow some of their own food.  I think people should be responsible for their government representives.  I believe that giving of our time and our resources should out-weigh what we take from other people and the world.  I believe that, unless there is abuse (and then the abuser should be nailed to wall!!!), marriage lasts forever.  I believe that EVERYONE should be supporting the troops.  I think crafts and handmade items are slowly disappearing from the world and we will be the worse for it.  I think that there are way too many people who don't understand what holidays and observances should be celebrated or WHY and HOW they should be celebrated.  Traditions are going down the tube.  Family history and ties are falling apart.  Communication, no matter how instant it has become, is becoming a thing of the past.  Letters matter.  For that matter, words in letters matter.  Grammar and spelling are not being taught.  In fact, our entire education system is out of whack!  Faith and religion don't matter to people anymore; therefore values are non-exisitant.  But, maybe it's just me complaining...I don't know.

My belief system doesn't fit with what people today consider 'normal'.  Does that bother me?  Not really.  Does it make relating to other people more difficult?  Sometimes.  But I have been meeting folks here who share some of the same beliefs I do.  And just as strongly.  Which is nice.  However, I have a real problem with myself, living up to my own expectations and the vision that I want people to see. I can make to-do lists, schedules, prioritize...I've tried it all.  A lot of it at the same time.  Maybe that's the problem, who knows?  But I know what it takes to be me.  And that's the best of it, right?  Maybe.

So, as I am staring a new year in the face, a new 'family' to get used to, I find myself wondering 'where do I fit this time?'.  I can't help but wonder if I should just continue on the path of being myself and not answering to anyone for my beliefs and participations or "conform" and play along for the ride...be the one everyone THINKS I should be instead of who and what I want to be.  Hmmm....

It would probably just be easier to be reclusive.  Just not to deal with anyone or anything for the next year.  Is that going to happen?  No.  It would probably easy just to accept the way the Army is and the way society is and blend in.  Is that going to happen?  Are you kidding?!?!?!  As easy as that would be...to take time "off", to relax and not be involved...it won't lead to where I want to be, WHO I want to become.

As much as I know that continued growth is difficult and draining, I know it is necessary.  If I quit moving, I will die.  That's the basics of it.  I can't just put myself on hold for a year.  It won't be relaxing, not for me.  So, I am moving towards becoming me.  Starting today.

I know that I have the tools to do what I must.  Microsoft tools on my computer.  Portablilty on the iPod, laptop and cell phone.  And the all important datebook.  Now, it's all about using the tools.  But more on that later.

For now, I think I have come to the conclusion that I really want to be different. I don't want to blend it.  I don't think society's perception of average is who I want to be.  So forget fitting in!  I will be the one wearing the hot pink polka dots in a black and white world.  You will be able to pick me out of the crowd.  I invite you to choose your bright color and not fit in with me.  We're going to encounter challenges, create new concepts, and make mistakes...but we will forge a new path, create new standards, and generally have a wonderful time!

LET'S GO! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!