Open Doors

My house smells like someone dumped a gallon of lysol combined with pinesol into our air-conditioning unit... oh wait someone just did. Something similar anyway, I have such a headache! I opened the back door and front door using the ocean breeze to "air-out" the house. It's helping, but man... whatever the maintenance guy used was POTENT.

I know that getting a hold of maintenance, especially with military housing can be a pain... but I do my best not to complain. Back in Maryland one of our hot water pipes cracked and leaked all over the kitchen. The next day they came out and fixed the problem (they did light part of the house on fire, but you can read about that here). We also had our air-conditioning unit break, within 2 days they had a new unit delivered and installed. Here they just completed preventative A/C maintenace, which is great since they tested the unit, cleaned it, and replaced the filter.

I cannot imagine the cost of all of those repairs had we owned the home. Plumbing and HVAC are two of the most expensive repairs homeowners can experience! While having our "own home" sounds nice, right now I am perfectly fine with renting and not pouring thousands of dollars into someplace we're only going to be in for 2-4yrs.

Back to having the doors open, I'm loving the "wintry" weather we've been having. Breezy, rainy, and in the low 70s in the day... then down to the low 60s at night with the cool tradewinds. I am really sad I haven't found any lights for our lanai, last night would have been perfect for sipping cocoa in a light hoodie. I did get our bamboo windchime put up, I love the calming noise it makes. Along with finding the perfect lights I am planning on getting a mini-bamboo fountain. I foresee many deployment "projects" ahead!

Monday: Pick-Me-Up

My husband and I agreed on small stocking stuffers and three Christmas gifts for each other... 2 small, 1 bigger (a dremmel glass drill for me, a trident knife for him). Evidently his Black Friday trip at 4am brought him quite a deal, because much to my surprise I opened this:

I'm not really sure who I'll be baking for within the next year, maybe the guys in the barracks? Throw a dinner party? Hmmm....

How was your Thanksgiving?

"Thankmus"

My dad is a retired firefighter, so I am used to celebrating holiday's a day or two before or after the actual holiday/birthday. So, I know the actual day isn't as important as the people you spend your time with...

However squeezing two HUGE holiday's together into one weekend is kind of overwhelming... Yesterday was Thanksgiving, tonight is our "Christmas Eve" and tomorrow is our "Christmas." I set up a very small table, nothing like my normal Christmas decor (two huge rubbermaid totes full of items):

I am hoping we can catch one of the local tree lighting ceremonies or holiday craft shows before my hubby leaves. I know it's been a long-time coming, but all of a sudden this deployment seems to have snuck-up on me!

Monday Pick-Me-Up

I have lots to be excited about on this Monday morning...

1. My husband is home from the field  (although he is working... don't get me started on the fact we aren't getting pre-deployment leave... *sigh*)
2. Thanksgiving is on Thursday (although I'm praying this week is really slow)!
3. My hair color...

Technically it was suppose to be "auburn cherry" I think my hair only got the "cherry" memo... but it's unique and I like it! Plus, it'll wash out in 28 or so shampoo's I'm WAY too indecisive and lazy for permanent hair-dye upkeep!

So, how are you beating the Monday blues?

2 fails 1 smile

#1
My linky party was kind of an "epic failure" this week... I had zero, zip, zilch people participate in "Monday: Pick-Me-Up" Maybe next week? *hint-hint, wink-wink, nudge-nudge*

#2
B and I loaded up her little ones and headed for North Shore... we didn't take into account that the President's limo ride to the Air Force Base would close down the ENTIRE freeway. So we meandered through side-streets and neighborhoods until we got to where the freeway was open, that only took like an hour. We finally arrived at the Reef Hawaiian Pro Surf Competition only to see this:

"No Contest Today! Check Back Tomorrow after 7:00am"

We decided to hang out for the day since we planned to anyway. We had our beach gear, ice chest full of goodies and lunch, and two little boys loving the sand. I managed to convince her older son (3yrs) to let me take him out in the waves (since he normally only goes with daddy)... he had a blast, as did I until I realized I had sliced my toe open on the reef... oops. I still played in the sand & walked around town shopping for 2.5hrs afterwards on it. Let me tell you- soap, q-tips (to get the sand out), and hydrogen peroxide were my lover/hater that evening! Here it is after getting most of the junk out of it...

Not the greatest photo... plus it doesn't look too bad since it's not bleeding or full of sand!

It's now bandaged up and I feel so awkward wearing socks/shoes around town! Despite some "epic fails," I'm still having a pretty great week...

How about you?

Monday: Pick-Me-Up {1st Linky Party!}

Can I just say that I am super excited about hosting this linky-party (I mean I'll be more excited if people actually participate, but since I do this every most Monday's it's not like I'm going to stop, if people don't join in)! That being said... please post your "Monday: Pick-Me-Up" and link it here!

You can find the code for this button to your right -->

I could be grumbling today since:

• my hubby is in the field and I've got a week-ish left of cooking dinner for one
• the fact he is in the field... training for this deployment has been ridiculous, I mean you can't get much closer to the actual deployment than we are right now
• honestly, I just want to lay in bed all day

BUT... this little gem brightened my mood:

We had our pre-deployment pictures taken last week...and last night the photographer posted this photo in a "preview album" on her facebook page. I am so looking forward to seeing the rest of the photos, the last time we had any taken of us it was on our wedding day!

So what are you choosing to focus on rather than "Monday Blues?"

236th Marine Corps Ball

#1 Happy Birthday Marines!

#2 Thank you to everyone (of all branches) 

who have served, are serving, or will.

The ball this year was a bit of a let-down... here are my reasons for saying that:

• I know we live in Hawaii... but tickets should not be that expensive and not include an open bar during "cocktail hour." Why even have a cocktail hour? This is the first ball I've attended (4th) that hasn't had an open bar for at least the cocktail hour.
• I don't know if we have an abundance of really young marines or jaded marines or what... but they were super disrespectful during the beginning and end of the ceremony. It took them halfway through the opening speech about the missing man table to quiet down at the beginning, then during the video from the commandant of the corps people were chatting, getting up for drinks, and leaving the ballroom! Seriously? I mean, really now?
• We were right in the middle of the APEC conference so getting to the venue was a bit of a chore (many closed streets and high security areas)

However...

• I got to hang out with my {new} closest friend B
• I saw some of the ladies from my church
• I enjoyed spending time with my hubby (I sure am going to miss that man)
• We gasped/gawked/laughed at some wardrobe decisions (we had 3 wedding gowns, at least 4 women who could barely move without risking everyone seeing their hoo-hah, a larger women in a skin-tight sequined dress with an afro wearing white gloves and 5in stripper heels, and many more...)
• The dinner was delicious and our dessert was a pineapple & lilikoi (passion fruit) ice cream cake!
• The dance floor was super fun (it's always nice when people actually dance)
• We woke up and got to walk along the ocean! 
• I felt like a princess with the knight in shiny armour dress blues to match.

I would LOVE to show you a picture of me and my handsome hubby... but some details and me (+my friend)  are all you're going to get...

This is my 2nd time wearing a "short" dress... I deem knee and below as appropriate. Plus, If you can believe it both of our dresses and shoes only cost $135 together! Bargain shoppers! We painted our own nails and I did both of our hair. Talk about "cheap" dates. **also- I have no idea what I am doing with my hand, haha!**

I hope you are all having an amazing Veteran's Day Weekend!
Take some time to remember those we've lost.

PS: I'm linking up with Semper Wifey for her USMC Birthday Bash!

JSC: Re-Cap

The Joint Spouses Conference took place at Hickam AFB this year. It was my first conference like this and I plan to continue going until we PCS from here.

I don't have as many beautiful pictures to share with you as Annie did... partly because my first two work-shops were Stand Up Paddle Boarding and I didn't really envision my Canon Rebel enjoying the hot interior of my car very well for 2.5hrs. However, I took my little Olympus Waterproof and Annie let me borrow our group photo!

Finally meeting Jennifer & Annie!

I arrived pretty early in order to register and find a seat for breakfast. I ran into a couple of ladies from the LINKS and MCFTB classes I had taken at our base, they were excited to see me there. The breakfast buffet was huge and almost overwhelming, it took me forever to decide what I wanted to eat! After breakfast we sat down in the conference room for the opening ceremony. I will say that having a room full of military spouses stand with their hands over their hearts for the National Anthem is quite a sight to see. No hemming or hawing or wishing the singer would hurry up and not draw out his notes. Just quiet reverence, smiles, and even a few tears.

After the opening ceremony was done we headed out for workshops #1 & #2, like I said above, mine took place in the water! I had actually SUP'd the weekend before with my dad. I learned on an 11' board so I made sure I tried a smaller one this time around (10'6") I loved it, it was much more maneuverable for me. I want one so bad... *hint-hint "santa"*

After SUPing we changed and headed to lunch. Lunch wasn't really impressive, some sort of cold beef salad... however, desert was pretty good.

I felt kind of bad though because it was a scone and all of our spoons were clanking while the guest speaker was doing her thing. I think Kimberly Dozier is a good speaker (she is a journalist, so she knows how to address a crowd) but I'm not sure her story was completely applicable to all of us. Myself personally... yes, we have friends in the Wounded Warrior Barracks. Hearing her describe her brush with death then recovery and healing was insightful. It was also a bit terrifying, we know that our husbands' go to war, but sometimes we don't need to know all of the gruesome details until he comes home and feels the need to tell us (if ever). That being said I did purchase her book and wait in line for her to autograph it. While that was cool, I really just waited in line to talk to her. I asked her why she wanted to speak to a group of military spouses. She said that there is no other group of women out there that would be able to sympathize or learn from her story. I guess I get that.

After lunch I had three work-shops that were just "fillers" because I didn't register early enough to get the classes that I really wanted. I had "Your ideal life," "How does your garden grow?," and "Bento box Hawaiian quilting." None of them were amazing, but I did learn some useful tips for growing a veggie/herb garden on my lanai (patio) and I did actually start a Hawaiian quilt square, but I confess it's sitting in it's little bento box 2.5wks later with no further progress.

Next year my plan is to register as soon as it opens, even if I have to wake up super early! I didn't win any of the drawings or the silent auction items, but I had a nice day overall. The wine and pupus (appetizers) at the end of the day were really good accompanied with enjoyable conversation with  Annie & Jennifer. If you're in Hawaii, I hope to see you there next year!

Monday: Pick-Me-Up

I'm at the "wishing time would slow down" part of this pre-deployment. I am definitely trying to enjoy life each day no matter what it or the marine corps throws at us! Food poisoning? We can still go sit on the beach. 18.5hr work-days? We can still cuddle on the couch watching a movie until we fall asleep. They aren't ideal situations to have occur in the last few weeks together... but... what can you do?!


*Also, I have a question for you! Would you be willing to participate in a "Monday: Pick-Me-Up" Linky Party? I'd make a fun button and you could link-up on this post every Monday. I know that in general Monday's are the least favorite day of the week so if we all flooded our blogs with a "pick-me-up" wouldn't that be fun? Let me know by commenting or participating in the poll at the top of the right column. Thanks!

rearing it's ugly head

My recent issues with anxiety and panic attacks aren't a secret {here, here, or here}... I just don't like talking about them because I get disappointed with myself. I get disappointed that even with my faith, reading the Bible, and prayers (by myself and others) I WAS doing better. However, I feel like instead of complete healing this week I am reverting. During the day I know that the deployment is getting ever so close but I work through it, I try to spend every second of the hour (or two) that I do get with my husband after he's worked a 16.5hr shift being positive and not thinking about him leaving... but my mind plays evil tricks on me. "Enjoy this, soon you won't be able to touch him, see his face, or hear him." Then I break down into tears and my poor husband just sits there and takes me being an emotional mess. Not the kind of "bonding time" I had in mind for our last weeks together.

I'm not sleeping so I'm exhausted.

My heart races all night so my chest has a dull ache in the morning.

My stomach is constantly in knots so I never feel 100%.

This sounds terrible... but I'm hoping once he actually leaves my body sucks it up. He'll be gone, so I can't dread his leaving me. I really can't imagine going through this nightly for an entire deployment... *sigh*

I have a meeting with the doctor tomorrow about my medications/travel arrangements (visiting family for Christmas)... I know she's going to want to start weaning me off my anxiety medication, but despite the fact that it can become addictive I don't know if that's a good idea in the weeks leading up to my husband's departure. Especially since all the above has continued to happen even while on it... I guess we'll see what happens.

Do any of you struggle with pre-deployment anxiety/panic attacks?
Did they go away, or is it a once you get them you have them type of deal?
If you don't want to comment for personal reasons, feel free to e-mail me:
skinniepiggie{at}gmail.com

I just want to be happy again,