Perchance to dream, of orders

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To be living in paradise, on the coast of somewhere beautiful, on the shores walked by Hemingway and Truman, oh what a wondrous Coast Guard day that would be. No, we did not get orders to the locale pictured here, but oh how I desired to see that on our desired destination list.

Picturesque, isn't it? Can't you just see yourself jumping into the photo? Go ahead, sink your toes into that warm, soft, white sand. Feel the cool, breeze caress your cheek as you whisk a tendril of hair away from your glazed over eyes. (And, yes, I was there--no, I didn't want to leave.)



And, yes, Virginia, there is a Coast Guard unit there....in paradise. In fact, there are many options for which someone can dream.


There are neat nautical and maritime treasures you will see as you traipse about the town.

My friends, that is Key West.

I got a little ahead of myself last summer when the man in blue referenced Key West might be an option for his dream sheet. Seriously! Woah, I was jumping up and down inside at the possibility. I researched the heck out of the school system. The man and blue and I even planned a mini-vacation/second honeymoon (of sorts) to this amazing destination before dream sheet time. We knew it was going to be one of our top places. Everything appealed to us, not to mention we have friends down there and he has traveled there for work on numerous occasions.

Sadly, we never had the opportunity for a dreamsheet this year. Yes, we were due for a rotation. PCS 2010 is our year. Still, one fateful afternoon, the man in blue received an email. "Pick your cutter, before it picks you." This was before the shopping list was even out. Yay for impending advancement, but bummer for no chance to submit a dreamsheet this time around. And, no, Key West was not an option on that list the man in blue received.



dum da dum dummmmm dummmmmmmmmmmmm

sucker punch to the stomach

stop me if you have heard my lament before



Anyhow....fast forward six months since we first received word of the man in blue's actual duty station, I'm doing okay.


The coast to which we are headed is not somewhere I've ever lived. Sure, I've visited, but to experience 24/7 for a period of up to 3 years, well, that's going to be a tad bit different. On a positive note, the man in blue and I are heading out that way to check out the area soon. We are going to try and narrow down which area appeals to us most that is in reasonable commuting distance to his new unit. He is being great about it though and really letting me focus on what I want this time. After all, he'll be underway most of the time and it'll be me and the little ones living there mostly.



I'm focusing on the beach. That's right. I'm looking for a beach area with a relaxed atmosphere. The home does not have to be pristine or upscale, but I will need a place to focus on my writing. I'm getting back to the novel. That's right, I have to. I said 5 years ago I would write it. I stopped. I let life get the better of me. I forgot me and ran fast with the rat race. I'm committed to enjoying this next home of ours and the relaxation/semi-vacation/hiatus it will bring for me. And, yes, I will still be on the coast of somewhere beautiful chillin' with my Kenny Chesney music on more often than not. :)



~~~~~~~
For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed.

- Ernest Hemingway (who called Key West his home)

It's only been few days, but what a rollercoaster ride.

So, I've gone through every possible emotion thus far. Okay, not denial. I'm sure that will come when we are actually physically leaving this place behind.

I cried like a baby at first. Felt like someone punched me in the gut. I was literally sick. Part of me thinks it was just the initial blow and reality of it all. The other part of me thinks it was excitement. I know, a weird way to express excitement.

We've told our families and most of our friends by now. I don't think anyone was expecting this, especially my mom and dad. They (everyone here that we know and are related to) have all been spoiled because we have been here so long, they never thought we'd actually transfer out. Well, folks, it's happening.

I've come to terms with it. What else can I do. I won't bloom where I'm planted; instead, I plan to enjoy the crap out of this upcoming extended vacation. I have already started exploring options for jobs (eh, just ok) and the landscape for excursions (way cool). I'm going to be out of my element, but I'm pretty adaptable. I think it'll be just fine and then some.

Now, if I can just persuade some of my dear friends to somehow manage to get orders there too.

The next day.

There was no news.

I did, however, get a frantic email from a dear friend, wanting to know the scoop. I was floored because outside of writing on this blog (incognito of course) I didn't share the information with anyone (okay, my mom doesn't count). I was so confused when I got the email. Of course, I soon realized, thanks to her admission that she stalks this blog. Yay! I love readers, especially friends who read the gibberish I write and the wonderful posts of my fellow contributing writers (come out wherever you are ladies).

Back on the subject....

I totally didn't expect any news today. These AOs are busy folks. They have a lot to deal with and a lot of decisions to make. I do not envy them; however, I pray for their sanity and gentle assigning :).

On another note, the man in blue will be off again soon. That's right, my temporarily land-locked Coastie will be venturing away from homeport soon. He found out at lunchtime again today. I'm started to sense a trend here.

So, the kids are a little unhappy. Scratch that, they are really mad. If they think that's bad--wait 'til the PCS orders are cut, I think my oldest may actually try to be adopted into a different family just to stay here.

Until next time. I have a feeling my posts are going to pretty frequent--to keep my sanity, of course.

A day in the life.

Waaaaahhhhhh!

smack! Wahhhhhh smack! Waaaah. (to myself, why won't this alarm shut off?) Oh, it's a child screaming, no wonder my 'snooze' isn't working.) *

Up and at 'em. It's a weekday morning in the life of a Coastie wife whose man in blue has ventured off for a bit. Wrestling youngin's out to the breakfast table is no easy feat. Heck, convincing them that wearing regular clothes to school in lieu of jammies, is even more trying. Give it a whirl sometime. Okay, maybe it is just my stubborn rugrats.

After a great deal of breakfast debates (despite my carefully planned out menu) and the rush to brush (teeth and hair), the clown car begins. All of us hustle out the door, lunch bags (check), backpacks (check), mom's purse (check), child 1, child 2, baby.....uh, where's the baby. Ah, yes, standing in the front lawn insisting to play with his lawnmower whilst you shush him (so he doesn't wake the neighborhood) and cajole him into the car.

Ah, the car. It's a beautiful hint of paradise on wheels. For, my friends, it is the minivan (cue heavenly chimes). I know, you envy me. I would too. With it's sprinkling of left over french fries embedded underneath the car seat you just cleaned and the speeding ticket you have to send in, the beauty on wheels is luxurious accommodations for any proud parent. Just enough headroom and enough room in the back that when the kids decide to chuck something at my head they can barely reach because they are not that good of a shot. *sigh* the joys of parenthood.

Calming them down from the frenzy of the out-the-door rush, we enjoy some happening kid tunes or some soothing tropical beats (thanks to Kenny Chesney), but that's more for me. :) They do their best to sing along until someone shouts Mom, she's singing too loud, I can't hear myself. Sweet, isn't it? Thankfully, the ride to school is but a mere five minutes.

Pop open the luxury van doors zoom, and scurry into the school dropping off paperwork, bags and children. Can't forget the children. 'Course they might be a hoot at the office. I'm sure they'd love to stir up some trouble there.

Back in the car--just me and Kenny. Down the highway, into morning bliss (eerrrrr....traffic). Commuters are so pleasant sometimes, aren't they? They really can brighten up your morning with the angst and crazy driving. Henry Ford must be rolling over in his grave with the sport and leisure of driving disgraced as it often is these days. In any event, I'm no angel, I'll admit, and I even have been known to pick up the phone when driving. Yikes!

Speaking of the phone while driving. Oftentimes, in port elsewhere or even at the base he's stationed at, the man in blue will often call me about this time of the morning.

Good morning beautiful, how's your morning? How were the kids?

Silly man. He gets the same story every day, yet, I humor him and tell just about the same story. You think somewhere along the way, I'd figure out how to cultivate a sense of a calm. I guess it's just not my nature.

We chat for a bit and then down the highway I continue, now full steam ahead. And, he continues on with his peaceful morning, that has been consistently childless (except of course, if he's dealing with...never mind).

Work = vacation

Alright, perhaps that is a bit drastic. Still, sometimes, it's my refuge. The place where I return to adulthood and recharge only to have demands put upon me by older individuals, well older than my children anyway. Somewhere, wherever he may be, my man in blue is still enjoying his childless day, probably without a worry in his head. See, I'm a worrier, I worry all day about him, the kids, what's for dinner, can I fit a workout in tonight, what to blog about (not really), and so much more.

The day ends. At this point, while the man in blue is away, I have to leave work early to be able to pick up the kids from preschool/after school care in time. See, normally, leaving early would be desirable, but there is nothing I hate more than rushing. After all, that is how my day starts. I hate when it ends like that. So, I zoom back up the highway. I arrive to screaming, wild and over stimulated children who are starving for dinner, which baffles me as they eat non-stop all day practically.

Dinner is pretty much a repeat of breakfast. We hope to hear from the man in blue and if we are lucky even get to video chat with him, depending on where he is. Still, sometimes this almost makes matters worse. As the night wears on and weary children grow sleepy, they start to miss daddy even more. An excuse to stay up? A serious missing of him? It's hard to tell. Once they are settled in bed, typically a hour after they were all first sent to bed, I scurry to get everything done, the bills, the cleaning, getting the clothes and lunches ready for morning. Last night I didn't sit down (literally) until 10:30 p.m. I even ate dinner standing while trying to do the laundry at the same time. I am super-stupid mom alright. Multi-tasking is such a ridiculous sport sometimes, but hey, I'm a glutton for punishment.

FINALLY.......after hours of non-stop everything, I hit the shower and then the rack. I say rack, because well the bed sometimes feels as uncomfortable as that when the man in blue is away. You know how you just can't quite get comfortable. You toss and turn and hear every little noise. Yeah, it's something like that. And, then, (barring any night terrors or other incidents during the night) we sleep and get up and do it all over again. That is if get any sleep, again. You think being as exhausted as I am I would just crash. You know how that goes though.

See, life does go on, when my Coastie's away, it's just in fast forward mode, trying to be both parents at once and saving the world one diaper, gummy snack and sheet of homework at a time.
So, honey if you are reading this, I might miss you a little bit. Oh, and rumor has it some shopping lists are out, come on home so we can chat about it and plan my 3-4 yr vacation in some tropical location. The kids can stay with family. ;)

And, if the rest of you folks are still reading this, you are nuts. :) Of course, maybe you can relate. Can you?

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*Disclaimer: No, I wasn't smacking a child. It was the alarm clock my dears.

Dog Days....making way for PCS 2010 craziness

The summer is still here, but with the rush of students to school and fall on the horizon, we are clinging on. Well, at least I am.

With excitement and anxiety, I know that this could be my last summer at our current location for awhile anyway. That's right folks, PCS 2010 is our year! Yikes! I should note that I have never done a household PCS. I have only done a small DITY move once upon a time pre-children/pre-marriage/pre-hubby. In his multiple tours thus far, DH and I have been fortunate to stay relatively close to the same area, that his orders didn't warrant your typical PCS move. I'll leave it at that so I don't have virtual eggs of jealousy thrown at me.

I have said "I want to go", "Let's see the world", "Travel is for me" so many times that it may finally become a reality. However, as we all know, hurry up and wait hasn't even set in yet. We will soon see cuts come down for rates. Following that or possibly simultaneously, shopping lists will be published for the members. Then, it will be crunch time for research and on one little piece of paper (or computer screen if you will) shall reside our top picks. Will we get what we want? Will priority hinder us? Will seniority or junior rank be an issue? What about schools for the kids? How about a job for me?

The most important question, what beach will I get to enjoy? :)

So, since this year is going to be a whirlwind for me, I'll try to update more often to share with you all of the ebb and flow excitement. Stay tuned...for my camrades are sure to poke fun at me. And, I promise I will try to laugh at myself and not pull all of my hair out. Key word: try.

Piracy in the 21st Century, what say you?

Today, I had the pleasure of hearing a flag officer speak and one of the subjects he touched upon was modern day piracy. I don't know about you all, but it's not something I'd ever really focused on as a concern. Sure, I've been educated in acts of terrorism, included piracy, and understand, but may not be personally fully prepared for (of course I don't sail), the risks of sailing the seas, but pirates?

I'll be honest with you, I didn't really follow the latest and greatest news on the piracy case. I only know bits and pieces. Sorry, I've been a tad preoccupied.

At any rate, the whole act seems so archaic or does it? Maybe that's why pirates are still successful. Folks underestimate the potential for pirates to overtake their vessel and/or take their lives and materials. Why is that the case?

I'd interested to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Also, be sure to check out Rear Admiral William Baumgartner's recent speech on the subject as he spoke on "International Piracy on the High Seas" before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation, Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, U. S. House of Reprsentatives on February 4, 2009.

Travel Cards - IMPORTANT NEWS!

If you or your spouse have received or are awaiting the new travel (government) card, be sure to read this informative and important post at CGBLOG: Don't Shred Your Old Travel Card Just Yet.

Phew, I just read this in time. DH was about to shred his soon. As he's been on leave, he hadn't received this official word yet. Thanks CG Blog for publicizing the information!