Me? Jealous? NO WAY!

For the past month or so, we've been in a financial pinch.  Well, I guess we've just been feeling a little bit of "hard times".  We haven't eaten out, been shopping, or done anything other than the usual work, school, home routine.  We're slowly getting back to a comfortable place with our finances so we're spending cautiously and watching where every penny goes.  Not a bad habit, but we should have done this long ago. 

Anyhoot, AM1 is currently "detached".  The jets are flying down in the warmth of Texas.  The first night, AM1 went to eat at some chicken place and when he told me, my stomach fluttered and I felt a slight sense of jealousy.  Being the only person around here that cooks, I am yearning for a night out where someone else cooks and caters to me.  Oh, how I wanted to jump through the phone and slap him.  Is that terrible?  To soften the blow, he says, "Well, I wanted to eat at Jack in the Box, but everyone else wanted to eat at a restaurant."  Really?  I was hit with the same jealous feeling again.  Oh, how I wish that Jack in the Box was even an option for us up here in NO JACK IN THE BOX LAND.  He went on to say how their working hours are an hour later than if they were here, the weather is so warm and nice, after work they were heading to the River Walk.  Okay, stop right there mister!!  Are you on vacation or detachment?  He said they're having a softball game on Monday and catching a SPURS game before heading home.  WHAT?  A SPURS vs. KNICKS game?  You have to be kidding!  When they're out at sea and living in cramps spaces with limited daylight hours, I usually feel bad and try not to do things that will make him feel bad.  Then moments like this, I want to secretly send a request chit for early return to the boat (for him, of course).  Mean, but honest.  They took all their jets and half the squadron to Texas so the pilots can fly with their Air Force buddies and catch tee time.  Why would they need their golf clubs on a detachment?  And softball gear?  Yes, call me what you want, but I want some Jack in the Box or something!! 

Okay, I'm not jealous anymore.  I'm over it.  I just really wanted a Sourdough Jack with buttermilk sauce.  I'm glad he's away for two weeks.  It gives me time to get the house in order and to catch up on ME TIME since it's always AM1 when he's home.  The kids are so well behaved when he's away and the house is always tidy and calm.  He should be the one jealous.  Ha!  I think the kids get a little crazy when he's home because he spoils them.  He does everything for them and they get away with things that I absolutely do not tolerate.  With him, it's fun time.  With me, it's 'get it together or else' time.  I'm all about teaching my children independence.  If they're capable of doing something, they're going to do it.  Well, not the cooking and harder chores.  I mean the simple things, like pouring themselves a drink, taking out the trash, cleaning up their rooms, etc.  When AM1 is home, he usually does it all for them so it gets done faster and so he doesn't have to hear them complain (something they don't do with me).  Complaining gets you nowhere with me.  Just do it and get it over with!  Again, I blogged myself into another change of thought.  He should be jealous, not me.  Hahahaha...

Still no camera.  I'm still trying to decide on which one I want.  I loved my Canon EOS because of the quality of the photos, but I also loved my Sony CyberShot because it was easy to tote around in my back pocket or in my purse.  Okay, have a nice day! 

Japanese Treats & a Camera

Two boxes within a month!  That's spoiling us!  We have great friends in Japan that know we miss the yummy treats we enjoyed while we were stationed there.  They sent us a very generous variety of candies, cookies, and chips.  The kids shared a few with their friends, just to familiarize them as to why they were so excited to open the box that arrived today.  Their friends thought some of it was strange and not to their liking, but they loved sharing in the excitement.  J1's friend brought it to our attention that Japanese pop-rocks actually pop and crackle a little louder and harder than the ones here in the states. 

I wanted to post a photo of the treats, but I'm having camera issues!  Locating my camera would be great.  I've been using the camera on my BlackBerry, but the quality of the photos are terrible.  My Sony CyberShot is hiding from me.  It's old, tired, and barely hanging on.  Since my Canon EOS Rebel was stolen last summer, I haven't come around to replacing it.  It's not cheap and I'm trying very hard to spend less this year.  We'll see!  I NEED a camera.  My kids are into sports and school activities that I would love to have photos of.  Okay, in two sentences I've talked myself into purchasing a new camera.  Stay tuned for the photo updates!  That was easy.  Maybe I should blog about those shoes I saw at the NEX.  Hahaha...

Military Housing Communities

We are living in a housing community just for military families.  It's not on a base, nor is it "secured".  There's no sentry, no gate, no sense of security.  Why do we live here again?  Oh, the reasons go on and on why we have to live here.  [another post]  Anyway, after the summer full of burglaries and vandalism, management decided to finally hire security to roam the area from sun down to sun up.  The security drives through each court and the perimeter of the housing area with BRIGHT flashing lights atop their vehicle.  I'm no criminal, but even I know that if I was going to do something I wasn't supposed to I could do it without security catching me.  I'd see their lights from a mile away and could be done with my dirty deed before they would ever know I was there.  That's the problem.  Many people, including myself, have complained and made suggestions to how the security would be more effective without the "here we come" lights.  Not only are the flashing lights ineffective, but the way they roam the neighborhood is so routine that things could be planned and timed.  It's a joke.  I've checked neighborhood police records and there are still as many crimes as before they hired security.  Who's money is being wasted?  Hire security that will lessen the crimes in the neighborhood.  DUH! 

I've read many of the neighborhood crime reports for or area and it is obvious that military communities are targeted for burglaries and auto theft.  Why is that?  Are the people who are burglarizing members of our own community? The maintenance staff?  For all we know, it could be the security guards.  I've submitted my complaint and my suggestions.  Now I have to wait to see if anything will change.  I doubt it!!  The street light in front of our house has been out since we moved in last March.  Every time we bring it up to management and maintenance they say a work order has been placed.  That's great... almost a year later, still no lighting in the court.

Happy New Year! [2011]

Golly gee... the time sure flew right by.  I can't believe 2011 has arrived and I haven't done all the things I wanted to do in 2010.  How did that happen?  I'll tell you how it happened.  My five children and the sea duty husband!!  I can make excuses or even lie a little, but it wouldn't change the fact that they keep me BUSY!  Brushing my teeth and taking a shower are the only two things I can guarantee myself daily.  Everything else for myself must be sandwiched between Mama duties, Soccer Mama duties and of course, Navy Wife duties.  I am not complaining one bit, however, if I don't brush my hair soon I'll have to shave it all off as the only option!

I tried new recipes and experimented with craigslist.org.  I got rid of a bunch of junk that I'm hoping is now someone else's treasure.  Since my last posting, I've been chewed out by an Officer who wasn't having a bad day.  I found out he's always that unpleasant and nobody has the balls to tell him about himself... except for my AM1 who has my back.  He politely brought it to his attention that it was unprofessional to speak to me the way he did.  Never be intimidated by the higher ranked and higher enlisted folks.  Even they need to treat people with respect.  Some officers or higher enlisted folks attempt to pull rank when it's unnecessary and when it won't change the outcome of the situation.  Those are times you just have to laugh it off.  I say "some", because I've only experienced a few rank pulling people.  And don't get me wrong, there are many lower enlisted who don't know how to act on most days.  I'm just sayin'!

Okay, I have to run now.  Ha... not literally!  I just have to get off the computer before J3 thinks he's off the hook for a shower tonight.  Stinky kid!