Life Update (in Numbers)

The Pilot's grad date got bumped up TWO weeks. We're moving early :)

We are # SEVENTY-ONE on the housing wait-list. Our future home could look a little something like this in TEN to TWELVE months.

Today is our EIGHT month anniversary.

The whole "move process" with the Army has moved on-line. It's a mess. The website tells you to go to the office, the office tells you to go to the website. It's a zoo. There is a HUGE to-do list before you move (I love lists -- The Army has not created a to-do list for the process, so I have created one for us -- but, why is there no list? Everyone has to follow this process... I'll stop before I cannot control myself) After several terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad visits, The Pilot complained.

Somehow everyone in the Transpo office knew. Doesn't help that The Pilot's name is on his handsome uni. So, knowing we complained... The employees were either really nice or really rude. One sweet lady did not know what to do, and asked her co-worker what time the Alaska office would be open (FOUR hour time difference). Her co-worker responded "I know who's asking, and I am not helping." Really? Is this Mean Girls? It gets better...

The Pilot and I are pretty positive this pleasant person goes to our church. I think it will go something like this Sunday morning... "Oh, Hi! You work in the Transpo office, don't you?" She'll respond with a yes. "We thought we recognized you. We are The McDonald's, and we're moving to Alaska. Small world seeing you here." I hope that a fiery conviction falls upon her and we'll let the Big Man take it from there.

I may have gained FIVE pounds from this wonderful dip:

• 2 Packs of Cream Cheese, softened (Use reduced fat if you only want to gain THREE pounds)
• 1 cup Swiss Cheese, grated
• 1 cup mayo (again, you can use light)
• 1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled (turkey bacon could work, but let's be honest... there is no good substitute for the real thing)
• 1 bunch of green onions

Mix ALL ingredients together in oven safe bowl. Cover with foil. Bake for 45 mins at 375*

Decisions, Decisions... This may be a long one.

I continue to struggle about what to do with my job. I worked up the courage and tried to give my notice to my boss, and he said something along the lines of let's see where this goes... I am thinking, what?? I just tried to quit. Again, what?? My mom mentioned that maybe God wants me to stay where I am if that is the way the situation played out. Geeze, I need to pray more.

I was able to talk with another Army wife (who happens to be a Baylor Pi Phi -- doesn't get any better than that) who is in the exact same boat! Who would've thought? My friend is working from home at Ft. Hood but when her husband deploys in Sept, her office wants her to move back to NYC. Talking with her helped to put a few things in perspective. So, this is me venting...

Pros:

• The company I work for is so accommodating. It's a huge organization that has the resources to support long distance and the long term experience will look great on a resume.
• I could move home and save money while The Pilot is doing raising hell over there. Not to mention that I could still have a solid income too. $$
• I'd be close to my family!
• I would not have to kiss my flip-flops and Nike shorts goodbye :)
• It's safe. I tend to pick the safe options.

Cons:

• If I worked from home in AK, Lord knows it would take a miracle to get me out of the house in the winter. If I got a new job, I could get out of the house and meet people.
• If I moved back home, I would have to pack up and move our house into storage (The Pilot deserves a home that's put together) and get me and Monster back to TX.
• In HR, our busy time is open enrollment where I basically travel for Oct/Nov. I mentioned that since The Pilot would getting ready to leave for Iraq, I wouldn't travel... I don't think that is fair to my co-workers.
• What if The Pilot gets to come home early (for the good or the bad). I would feel awful if we (Riley and myself) did not have a place for him to come home to.
• If I stay in AK, I'll be close to other wives going through the same thing (FRG). Closer to the info about the unit.
• It's risky! I am not a risky person.

Just to name a few... So many other thoughts running through my head.

*Army vocab

FRG: Family Readiness Group

Brookie.

What's a Brookie? Wouldn't you like to know...

One thing you'll learn about me is that I love combos. Specifically, I love combos as they relate to food. Peanuts and M&Ms (peanut M&Ms just don't do it). Sour Patch Kids and popcorn. The list goes on. But a Brookie? A brownie and a cookie? Seriously? Yes.

I found this wonderful little blog, Bakerella. Which lead me to this wonderful recipe, and fell in love. These are too easy to make and have simple ingredients. I can't explain it, but they lasted about a week and seemed to only get better! The Pilot even liked them... Try 'em. You won't be disappointed.

Bama Jam & AK brief

BAMA JAM IS HERE!

This is one of the huge (and by huge, I mean only) event to look forward to! It is a 3-day red neck music festival in a peanut field. Lucky for me, girls are in town for it! So glad, because The Pilot is on nights (meaning he goes to work at night). For the next three days, I will be watching Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Train, Hank Williams Jr, DIERKS (I got the clear from The Pilot that it is ok to make out with a rock star), Jake Owen, Robert Earl Keen, Stoney Larue, and the list goes on... Trying to love sun as long as possible. Vacation day? Check.

In other news, we got to go to a briefing to learn more about Alaska. I mean, where to start... It is a fact that The Pilot will see bears while he is flying. You might get a fox or a moose in your front yard, so check outside before you let your kids or dog out. Hey neighbor.

They started off by talking about how AK is the biggest state blah.blah.blah... But most of it is not live-able because of the climate? That's encouraging. Winter can last from Sept to April. Snow could fall as early as July. They also went over all kinds of stuff you can catch in the cold, I've never heard of half of it besides frost bite.

Trying my best to focus on the fact that God won't give us anything we can't handle. It will absolutely be an adventure and I know we will be making incredible newly-wed memories out there... I am thankful I have the man of my dreams beside me as we start this new journey (and I mean journey... we're driving from AL to AK and seeing all the good stuff in between).