Warning: Sharp Turns Ahead

Things have been a little crazy around here lately. Actually, that’s an understatement; it’s more like, upside-down, backwards and inside out all at once!

After lots of discussion and careful consideration, CPT Fromage has made a big decision, one I’m super excited to get behind…

He’s getting out of the Army!

(that is, he's submitting the packet and we're crossing our fingers and praying it gets approved. This isn't the real world, so he can't really quit at will. It's unlikley that they'll prevent him from leaving, but it's not beyond realm of possibility that they'll decline him.)

Neither of us has enjoyed this lifestyle and he’s been more disappointed with his job every day, but until recently the plan had been for him to stay in for 8 years in order to give things a chance in his new branch. What changed?

First of all, the more (soon to be former!) CPT Fromage learns about things in his new branch the more he’s been disappointed. It’s really not going to be much better than the situation he’s coming out of, and in all likelihood even if he doesn’t hate it he won’t like it enough to make a career out of it (And if you don’t stay in the Army for 20 years, you might as well have not stayed in at all… no benefits if you get out a day before two decades). Why spend 3 more years doing something he hates if it’s not going to take him anywhere (except on another few deployments!)? Might as well jump ship now, there’s nothing in it for us by delaying the inevitable.

Next, job prospects are less promising the longer he stays in. Again, since he’s not planning to make a career out of military work (he doesn’t even have a desire to get on with the FBI, CIA, etc, where top secret security clearance, etc, would be appreciated), he’s not gaining any skills that will transfer into “the real world”, putting him 8 years behind his peers who are also competing for jobs. Sadly, the fact that he’s a West Point graduate with military leadership experience won’t offer much of a push when it comes to seeking employment later (outside of government or police type work). Once again, it looks like it's going to be best to get off this path now and start down one that’s going to be more productive for us.

Then there’s the obvious: deployment, time away from home, lack of stability and all of the other disadvantages to serving in the Army. With Baby Fromage due next month, the idea of those things sounds even less appealing than it did before. It’s a sucky lifestyle, and it only gets worse as we go.

There are some personal opinions and feelings about the military, and Army in particular, that came into play, but it’s not really my place to broadcast CPT Fromage’s feelings about that here and now.

So what’s next for our family (Hard to belive that in less than 7 weeks until we grow our household by 1!)? I’ll tell you in my next post!

Congratulations, CPT Fromage!

Everyone please send a Hooah! to the ‘stan, LT Fromage has been promoted to CPT Fromage! (Just kidding about the Hooah!, he doesn’t like those, he does however like dried fruit and peanuts…wink wink)

And that is the only noteworthy news I have. Except that the heat index is something sinful like 110* today, but who wants to talk about that?

How Much Longer 'til This Deployment is Over?

LT Fromage has been gone more than 4 months now. Sadly, he’s already lost a very good friend, among the soldiers he’s known that have been injured or given their lives.

When there is a death or injury, in order to make sure the families are the first to be notified, the soldiers are put on “blackout”, which means all forms of communication are cut off.

Blackouts suck. I hate not hearing from LT Fromage for days, and it’s heartbreaking to know why he hasn’t been able to get in touch. The first few times it happened, I was a wreck. I kept waiting for that car to pull up in my driveway, coming to tell me I’d lost my husband. Of course, that hasn’t happened (and I pray it never does), and as time goes on, I’ve learned to worry less.

Before you start hating on me, remember that letting go is really the only thing I can do. Being in a constant state of fear doesn’t help anybody, and it’s rather depressing. It’s a harsh reality that he may not come home, and we’ve had to make sure things are in order, should that fate be ours, but I have faith in his abilities and even more faith in God. It’s always in the back of my mind, but dwelling on it doesn’t make him any safer.

LT Fromage has been on blackout for days, and this morning I got an email with the subject “Casualty Notification”.

Of course I knew this would not be the chosen way to notify the family of such news, but I had never received an email like this, I didn't even want to imagine what it said. My heart stopped, the hairs on my arms stood up and tears welled in my eyes. I had never felt so afraid in my entire life.

It was not my husband. I don’t know why, for the first time, they sent out a mass email to the families of the unit, but they did. While I breathed easier knowing LT Fromage is fine, my heart hurts for those not as lucky.

I know one man with short hair and combat boots looks just like the next (or, they do to me), but each one is eveything to somebody. Now they are called “casualties”, but before that they were known as fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, wives, daughters, mothers and friends. Please keep our them in your thoughts and prayers (especially the family who is suffering right now).

Good Things Come In 3s

Right? Isn’t that how it goes? Everything in 3s? I hope so because so far we have…

1. LT Fromage’s acceptance notice *

2. Some other really good news with a potentially freakin’ awesome outcome… but I’m not at liberty to talk about it. Soo…. Just know that we’re uber excited about something else around here!

3. And 3? Well, we’ll see!

Honestly, I’m so excited about items 1 and 2 I don’t even care what 3 is. I’m also so excited I’m having a hard time composing a coherent post. Bear with me.

* In addition to LT Fromage landing his dream job, he also gets to come home early from deployment to start his training. When I say early, I mean in a few months – long before he was even due home for mid-tour leave!

Talk about MEGA NEWS! I wasn’t expecting this man home until at least September, and that would be for a mere 2 weeks! I’m like a kid at Christmas, folks. Seriously, I’m giddy. And I’ve never used that word before.

Of course, LT Fromage’s early return is a little of a trade-off. On the plus side: This 12-month deployment just got a hellavuh lot shorter, but on the downside: It means that in just a few months I’ll be leaving behind The Little Apple and all my friends here. We’ll also be leaving the dogs for an extended visit with their gramma, as we won’t be able to take them with us initially.

(Let me just say, I have the coolest mamma eva to take our 200lbs of dogs for the next 5-8 months. Thanks, mom! You rock my world!)

Finally, and possibly most importantly, we’ll be moving away from my Thia place. I warned LT Fromage that when the time came to choose Him or the Thai place, I wasn’t sure what I’d do. But he won out (He knew he would!)

So… yeah. Waiting for Good Thing Number 3 to come my way!

Uh-Mazing News!

I haven’t posted in a few days. I’ve been in a funk and while my mom and LT Fromage had to deal with me being a crying mess, they are family, they are obligated, but I spared you, my blog readers, to my mood. You can thank me later.

But guess what….

I’m hesitant to say this is the best day of my life, because getting married was a pretty big deal, but I am super-duper happy to announce that LT Fromage was accepted for his branch transfer! He finally got the news via email, which included this exciting tidbit as well: He may be pulled from deployment early to start training! We still don’t have a lot of solid information yet; things like dates, duty stations, etc, are still undecided or announced, but just the fact that he was accepted is thrilling.

The only downside is that there’s now a 50/50 chance we’ll end up at Fort Hood, TX. One of the few posts we agreed we would never, ever want to end up (And when he originally applied for this transfer, Hood wasn’t even on the table). But frankly, at this point, I don’t even care. LT Fromage will be doing the job he wants, and the time-line couldn’t be better as we plan our future and our family. Anyway, I hear that Texas loves cows, so if we do end up there, I should fit right in *grin*.

Also I had a delicious brownie sundae with the girls at lunch today. So yeah, good day all in all.

Patience... And also brownies.

Mmmkay. So if you read my post about LT Fromage’s request for a job transfer, you know that we’ve been waiting for a simple email. “Congratulations, you’ve been accepted” or “We regret to inform you”

(Remember, this is so much more than just a job transfer. This is like, HUGE. That’s what she said!)

The thing is we originally should have known one way or the other about a month ago. Then, we had an official notification date of April 24^th, which then became the 26^th. Today is now the 28^th and we still haven’t heard a peep.

The thing is I wouldn’t be so upset except for the fact that SOMEONE ACTUALLY KNOWS THE DECESION AND JUST HASN’T PUBLISHED IT YET.

Did you notice I was screaming there? Forgive me, but I haven’t slept in 4 nights now because I’m lying right by my laptop and getting up EVERY FREAKIN’ TIME I GET A MESSAGE hoping it’s the one with the decision.

So far, no emails from the Army but I have gotten a lot of messages about “Hot Asian Singles” in my area. Unless they know whether or not my husband has word on a potentially life changing decision, I’m not interested.

I took a home pregnancy test once and it was like, the longest 3 minutes (or whatever it was) of my life. That is, until now. It’s kind of like I peed on the stick in October and I’m still waiting for the results.

Oh yeah, and I really want a brownie.

So I’ll just be waiting here, tired, and with no dessert.

If you haven’t noticed: Patience is not a virtue I possess. But I do have a mega sweet tooth.

Real World: Fort Riley

Pretend with me for a moment that LT Fromage worked in the “real world”. My post would go something like this:

The hubster has applied for a job transfer. It would entail staying
within the same company, but doing something else for them. He put in his
application and the board of executives has met. Now we’re waiting to see if
he’s been hired.

Well, that was fun. Back to what’s actually OUR “real world”, Military Style.

Some months ago, LT Fromage filled out enough paperwork to purchase a small country ago and since submitting it, the military has contacted and interviewed all of our friends, family and neighbors and verified every detail of my husband’s 25 years walking the earth (“Ehem, Sir, we need someone who can verify that you lived in A HOTEL FOR TRAINING FOR 4 WEEKS THREE YEARS AGO. “ True story.)

Since submitting his packet, he’s had to send in multiple amendments, have a photo taken twice and provide glowing letters of recommendation. The board, who was supposed to meet in January, has finally met and will (fingers crossed here) announce their decision in 48 hours.

While it doesn’t sound like a big deal, we’ve got kind of a lot riding on the news we’ll get the day after tomorrow. When it boils down to it, it may dictate whether LT Fromage makes a career out of the Army. Yep, we’re on pins and needles here in the Fromage house (and the Fromage tent, there in the ‘stan). Keep your fingers crossed for us if you will!

Oh yeah, you want to know something else cool about the real world that we don’t get to enjoy in Military Land? In the real world, if you work, you get paid. In the Army, not so much sometimes. (Can I tell you how relieved I am the government balanced it’s checkbook by payday? 'Cause you send my hubster to a war zone, you effin' better pay him for it!)

Reentering the Blogosphere

Wow. It’s been a while *embarrassed smile*. Yes, I’m still here and doing fine. In fact, so fine I hardly have time to blog! Who would have thought that with LT Fromage away and quitting my job I’d stay so busy? But somehow, I’m busier now than I was when I worked full time and had a husband at home. Hm.

What’s going on in the Fromage household? Well…

We successfully rehomed all of the extra rodents! Well, to be more exact, one died (so sad, she was my favorite) and we ended up keeping 3 that I got too attached to. At any rate, we’re down to 4 mice and 10 rats, which is our maximum capacity (or maybe even a little over the limit…!). All of the other pets are doing well, and more importantly, not procreating.

Lots of girls nights, lunch dates and outings with my Non-Sucky Army Wife Friends. (One of whom just found out her 6-month-old daughter may have leukemia, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers). My mom will be relieved of her duties of phone-friend in about 10 months, but until then she’s always around when I need to hear another person on the other end of the line. (Thanks, Mom!)

I’ve basically stopped cooking. What’s the point in buying groceries, preparing, making, and cleaning up after a meal for one when my favorite Thai restaurant is on speed dial? *A little embarrassed to admit they now know me by name when I call in…* I do miss my kitchen time and I’m looking forward to LT Fromage’s return when we go back to eating home cooked meals every day (among other reasons!).

Lucky me, I’ve been able to talk to LT Fromage via facebook, Skype or the good old telephone nearly every day. Sometimes, for so long we sort of run out of things to talk about! Which is much better than what we anticipated as far as communication goes. (For those wondering, he’s doing well, er, as well as can be expected fighting for our freedom. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers) We’re about a sixth of the way through and going strong!

Thanks for the thoughts and concerns, and especially for continuing to check in even when I'm not posting! Y'all are the best *big internet hug to all my readers*

Ready, Set, GO!

It's finally time for LT Fromage to deploy. Before the month is out, he'll be gone for a long year. Forgive my lack of specifics, but as always, safety first (Check out Sara's blog for more into on OPSEC).

It's hard to belive it's finally here, but we've known all along it was coming; I like to trust that we're well prepared, but ready or not, here we go!

Wish us luck and please keep LT Fromage (Who will be Captain Fromage before I see him again!) in your thoughts or prayers. Whether you support this war or not, do remember that the men and women fighting for our freedom are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, siblings and children to someone out there. This one is mine :)

Was That So Hard?

I had to go to the ER last weekend and when they sent me home, they instructed me to make a follow up appointment with my primary care provider.

I’m not sure which is suckier, the emergency room or my primary care provider. Probably the latter.

First no one would pick up the phone, then when I tried the other, “secret number “, I was put on hold for 15 minutes before I hung up. On my third try, my call was picked up but the gal was too busy talking to the employee next to her to actually answer my call (but now I know all about how her date went…).

When I finally got through, this is how the conversation went:

“How can I help you?”

(Wanted to say “duh….This is the “Make An Appointment” line, right?” but what I actually said was…)
“I need to make an appointment with Dr. So-and-So for tomorrow please.”

“Okay… we can get you in on Thursday at 10.”

(Ooook. Tomorrow isn’t Thursday. Let’s try again…)
“Ok, well, can I see someone else then? I need to get in tomorrow.”

“We aren’t making appointments for tomorrow. If you want to come in tomorrow, you’ll need to call tomorrow.”

WTF?

(Someone needs to explain the purpose of making an appointment)
“Ok. I don’t understand. Do you have any appointments with anyone tomorrow? Anyone?”

“We aren’t making appointments today for tomorrow. We’re only scheduling acute appointments* for tomorrow today.”

*(“Acute appointment” – code word. Even if they’re booked solid for weeks, just say this phrase and you’ll get in faster than you can drive there!)

“Ok. Can I have an acute appointment please? For tomorrow? I don’t even care who with.”
(I almost offered my first born child, but stopped myself because I may need that bargaining tool later)

“Ok, let’s see… I can get you in with Dr. So-and-So at 1, will that work?”

“YES! YES!”

My original choice of doctor? On the day I wanted? Even the time I preferred? Can it be true? What’s the catch…

“Ok, well we have you down for 1pm with Dr. So-and-So, we’ll see you then. Just be sure to watch your phone in case we have to cancel or reschedule you since it might snow tomorrow and we may delay everything, or he may not even come in… Thanks have a great day. Click.”

FML. Everyone still want government run healthcare?

Sharin' the Love

Thank you to Sara, from Sara and her Soldier (who happens to be my in-real-life-bestie-also-a-non-sucky-Army-Wife-buddy, be sure to check out her blog!) for this award!

Now for the "rules" of this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

2. Answer 10 questions

3. Pass it along to blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy
4. Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award

The 10 Questions...

1. Why did you create this blog?

Because I like having a captive audience. Just kidding. Sort of…

2. What kinds of blogs do you follow?

Mostly Mormon girls. (even though I myself am Roman Catholic)

3. Favorite make-up brand?

Bare Minerals

4. Favorite clothing brand?

I do most of my shopping at Target, but if it looks good, fits and doesn’t break the bank, I’m not picky

5. Indispensable makeup product?

Eye liner. Love.

6. Favorite color?

Green

7. Favorite perfume?

Ashamed to say I don’t have one. I do love a light body spray though; vanilla in the winter and coconut lime in the summer.

8. Favorite film?

I have to pick just one? Lars and the Real Girl or Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s a tie.

9. What country would you like to visit and why?

I’m not much of a traveler, I’m pretty happy to stay right here in the good old US of A.

10. Would you rather forget to put mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face?

Mascara, fo’ sho’. I need my bronzer (I don’t use blush) or I’m white as a ghost.

Now to pass it on to some wonderful bloggers...

The Great and Random Ramblings of Cannwin

q.D.PaToOtieS

Pulsipher Predilections

Ooops, I Did It Again

First off, SAIMI! Email me at jme_lee85 at yahoo dot com for your prize!

I feel off the face of the earth once more. I know, I said it wouldn’t happen again, but hey, it did.

I’ve been too busy making lists: What do we need to do before he leaves? (Buy a new computer, new camera, stock up on toiletries, replace his broken rosary….)

Lists for what needs to be done today, which are always too long (pull yourself together, do laundry, dishes, shovel the driveway –again-, work on classes, speed-read every deployment book on the shelf… blog….)

Sadly, blogging has fallen closer to the bottom of the to-do list than I thought it would. Sigh. Following blogs has nearly completely fallen off, but I promise, I miss y’all and plan on some serious catching up!

So forgive me for not having material to post recently. First deployment syndrome is setting in and the reality that this time next month, I’ll be seeing LT Fromage off for the long 12 months ahead, counting down the hours until his 2 week leave when he can come home from Afghanistan.

So readers, I promise things will pick back up, just as soon as I get the dogs bathed, the trash taken out, floor mopped and finish that chapter of “I’m Already Home Again”.

MIA

I know, I know, I’ve been in hiding lately. Last week (while LT Fromage was away at training) I got word (over the phone, with bad reception) that his unit is deploying. In a matter of weeks. To Afghanistan.

Since life is so serene and balanced right now (sarcasm) this was just the news I wanted to hear (or barley hear, due to that bad reception. Still oozing sarcasm, by the way).

So I’ve been pulling myself together, making lists (what do we need to do/buy/change/cancel/add before he leaves?) and buying more rodents (It’s a comfort thing for me I guess… We’re at a whopping total of 13 mice/rats now)

In an attempt to maintain some structure and veer back onto the track of normalcy, I’ll be back to writing up a new blog post weekday mornings. Thanks to everyone who hasn’t stopped following me in my absence; without even knowing you’ve contributed to keeping some regularity in a part of my life.

One more thing, don’t forget to enter to win the latest contest! You only have until midnight to follow my new blog, 365 days in pictures, or link to my blog on yours in order to win the Stick It set!

Comments off on this one. I don’t want pity comments, or worse, no comments!

Do remember to comment on the contest post with your method of entry though, and a winner will be announced tomorrow!

Things I Hate: Doctor's Visits

One nice thing about the Army is the medical insurance. Yup, we're pertty well covered. But the care provided is, uhm, well...

How come I’m asked to arrive “at least 15 minutes early” to see the doctor, and then made to sit alone in a tiny, cold room (with no magazines to be seen! Thank God I brought a paperback with me!) for 55 minutes before the MD ever pops in? Fifty-five freakin’ minutes. No apology, and then I’m rushed through my visit, hardly able to voice my concerns (to which every response is simply “Take this to the lab, they’ll run blood work”) in the generous ten minutes I was allotted.

Apparently, I had a mind reading doctor today, which would explain why he was so busy; he must be quite popular! (This is not my normal doc, mind you. Mine is friendly, and must not have telepathic powers since at those visits, I’m actually questioned about my medical history, current medications, symptoms, etc. You know, the stuff that could be important, like "Yes, this runs in my family, both sides, in fact!")

Mind reader or not, I was unimpressed, and a little irked that just because someone one to medical school his time is more important than a little blogger with internal bleeding. (Ok, irked was the wrong word. I was actually a blubbering baby about it as soon as I reached the lab for blood work. Thanks, girls, for cheering me up and addressing my questions, even though that wasn't your job. And thanks for the tissue, too.)

You can bet, Mind Reader, MD, when I make my follow up appointment in 7-10 days (even though my lab results are back already so it’d be cool to talk, uhm, before then, but whatevs….), it won’t be with you.

So I'll just keep bleedin' away for the next ten days, and since you wouldn't answer my questions about what I could do to ease things along, I'll keep being grumpy, 'cause I don't feel so good.

Anyone still want Government run health care?

Rant over.

Tips for a Successful Christmas Party: Army Style

Having a blast at my company's Christmas party in the photo booth on Friday night

Looking just as happy in the car after the Army party. Not because we were having fun. Because it was over.

A sign in roster as you enter the party doesn’t set the vibe “this is a fun, relaxed, enjoyable get together to celebrate the holiday”. It wasn’t a guest book. Don’t try to cover it up; we all knew what it was.

Don’t assign your guests blocks of time. Invitation should not read “Your hour is from 2-3pm”. You’ve got a massive house with plenty of room to accommodate everyone, and while we sure as H3LL didn’t want to stay even a whole hour, it would have been nice to not be kicked out when “our time was up”.

Speaking of invitations; e-vites are ok for, umh, like Girls Night Out or Super Bowl Parties, but not for your formal, brigade Christmas party. Tacky cheap A$$.

You may not want kids there, and hey, that’s ok, I wouldn’t either, but wording it this way: “No kids are allowed” is a little harsh. Especially when your freakin’ rugrats/devil spawn are running around screaming the whole time.

Dress blues (The Army version of a Tux)? Get serious. We had to get all dressed up for a stupid house party (where we could only stay 1 hour) in the middle of a Saturday afternoon? I wouldn’t show up in sweats, but formal wear was a little over the top.

Special note to the Commander’s Wife: Look, I’m face blind but even I don’t make my guests wear identification. You’re just lazy, bee-ach. With your scheduling, you shouldn’t have had more than half a dozen wives there at a time anyway. Instructing the men to “find the name tag that properly identifies your spouse” isn’t polite. On the plus side, at least we weren’t referred to as “dependants” for once.

Thank God for the after party. Casual dress, real food, lots of booze, music, beer pong and stick on mustaches. We did still use name tags, but we were more creative with things like “FUCK!NG Reindeer” or “Chief Elf”. No one was required to “properly identify their spouse” and you didn’t have to leave until you wanted to (which for us, was when I started throwing up in the yard).

These tips brought to you by a bitter Army Wife, who declines to properly identify herself at this time.

(Excuse the bitterness, a little bit of Grinch is emerging, but with the obligatory attendance to that so-called party in the past, my mood should lighten in no time!)

Be sure to check in tomorrow for the very first Lady Fromage GIVE AWAY!

Those Rednecks with the Rats...

On Sunday I got to shoot my Ruger for the first time, I loved it! Afterwards, LT Fromage and I finally patronized Starbucks for toffee and pumpkin lattes (our first this year!) before embarking on the Ghost Tour on Fort Riley. Other highlights include Mexican food and margaritas, a doggie play date at the park and a yummy Sunday brunch. I hope everyone had a great weekend as well!

Our rat population doubled this week. Until recently, we had 2 little girls, Holly and Lili Marlene. There was a period of time where we couldn’t bring home a healthy rat, we lost 3 this year, so when Holly was feeling under the weather last week, we were prepping ourselves for introducing yet another new rat. Thankfully, she got better quickly but it got me to thinking that perhaps rather than keep 2 rats, we should have 3, so that in the sad event we have another death, no one would be left all alone (Rats like to stay in colonies, they get mighty lonely without a buddy!). After getting to OK from LT Fromage, I picked up a darling little girl on my way home from work last week and we named her Jenny Wren. Not 48 hours later my boss was attempting to rid herself of her little girl (who happens to be Jenny Wren’s sister). To avoid her fate of dropped off at a pet store for snake food or let out side to brave the elements, LT Fromage and I met my boss in the Burger King parking lot and we took, who we are now calling Keltie, home with us. All 4 ladies are happy, healthy and getting along wonderfully.

Yup. We’re that crazy red neck, gun shooting couple with all the rats. You just wish you were this cool... ;-)

On a slightly less happy note, LT Fromage is no longer commanding his troop. A Captain finally arrived and took his (rightful) place; unfortunately, it meant LT Fromage was booted out and into a desk job. The Change of Command ceremony was yesterday so things were a little somber around here. Every day that passes also leaves us a little less confident that the opportunity for a big change will come through. Please keep fingers crossed, however, since we haven’t given up hope yet!

I feel like I should apologize for the lack of posts lately (But then I think, “Hey, this is my blog, I can do whatever I want, I don’t have to say sorry!” But I’ll say it anyway…). Things, as always, are pretty busy at work and home, not to mention I’ve been spending a ridiculous amount of time at the doctor lately. Not to mention all the time it takes now to care for all those rodents…

No Curry in the Camel Bag

Without sharing too much information yet, LT Fromage and I may be in for some more big changes (yes...again). We’ll know something in the next few weeks, so in the mean time, keep your fingers crossed for us, we’re hoping some things work out!

LT Fromage is taking me to look at guns tonight after work. He’s gone already to scope it out and help me with some options. There’s one pink one that made the list, but after some discussion, I came to decide that the thumb safety (which the pink gun was lacking) was more important. LT Fromage didn’t like my idea of using pink nail polish to girly it up… He also said I couldn’t use his extra Camel Bag water thing to fill with green curry so I could drink it whenever I wanted… Come to think of it, he said that trading the truck for a tank wasn’t practical either. Hm. Either he’s a party pooper or he keeps my feet on the ground. Probably the latter :)

I Love Being An Army Wife

As predicted, things have changed yet again. With LT Fromage’s replacement* arriving in the next six weeks, he’ll be slotted to another job. We have no idea what yet what, but I’m sure it’ll suck. Sorry, LT Fromage ::sad face:: This may affect deployment or it may not. We’ll know by November. Right now we’re both gritting our teeth and waiting for April, when things should improve greatly for both of our careers. 28 more weeks.

(*It’s not that he’s doing a poor job as commander; but LT Fromage is just that – a LT (Lieutenant) and the commander’s job is generally held by a Captain. He was picked to fill the spot while it was open, but now he’s got to hand it over and take some kind of staff job.)

Moving on, Thursday night there was another one of those lovely Senior Wives Coffees (Not because I’m a actually a senior, thought LT Fromage likes to joke that I am; I was invited because he is a Senior Leader and I am his wife).

I need to make something clear before I start; this is not the Family Readiness Group (FRG), which is a support system for ALL soldiers’ families. I see the need for that. No, this is a social group for only the higher-ups’ wives.

I would also like to point out that not all Army Wives are stupid. I have some awesome Non-Sucky Army Wife friends, it's just that there are a lot of Sucky Army Wives out there, and they're much more interesting to talk about. If you take a look at the post, "Real Army Wives", we're primarily talking about group B here today, "Wearing Your Husband's Rank", and the women who enjoy doing so.

Anyway. Back to the coffees.

Have I mentioned how much I hate these things? I hate them. I loathe any kind of “mandatory shoulder rubbing”, especially when it’s a group of women who have nothing in common except that their husband’s happen to work together. No one else does this! There are no groups for Accountants’ Wives or Firemans’ Spouse clubs! I wouldn’t go except that my involvement (or lack of) reflects back on LT Fromage. The things we do for love.

So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a moment to address the “charming” group of women with whom I am obligated to socialize and whose company I am expected to pretend I enjoy:

Dear Sucky Army Wives,

I think it’s great that your husband graduated college and now leads America’s finest into battle to protect our country. Yep, they sure do work hard; they’re an impressive group of men. But guess what:

You didn’t do anything! Most of you are umemployed, stuck up, bossy and overweight. Get over yourselves. Quit looking down your nose at everyone, the only impressive thing you did was marry an officer. Get off the couch, get your own college degree or hold down your own job and then maybe I’ll give a $H!T. For Christ’s sake, I’ll applaud anything that required more effort than watching daytime TV 40 hours a week.

Especially LT Fromage’s boss’s wife. Get your kids under control and quit being a bee-ach. You suck and your husband is an idiot.

(I hope the tiny italic font indicated that I said that part quietly and quickly!)

Rant over.