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Nothing captures the meaning of sacrifice better than this photo – breaks my heart every time. Always thankful to those who serve, past, present, and future 🇺🇸🙏 #veteransday #marines #usmc #veterans #usa

I think the military has made Chuck a better person. He is so strong, and confident, and successful. On the other hand, I think the military experience has made me a worse person, for myself and for him.

“Worse” isn’t quite the right word, but maybe you know what I mean? Less comfortable with myself. Less whole. More frustrated and lost, clingy and dependent. Something like that.

This has nothing to do with Chuck himself, of course – it’s just the reality of military life. That’s my negative moment for the (hopefully) forseeable future! It will pass… They always do.

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FITNESS Over FOOD…. HOOAH!

I love how the Commissaries are closed, but the Fitness Centers are open. You can stay fit during this shutdown, but you’re SOL if you need milk! Seriously though, it is pretty funny. I DO need milk, which I can’t get, but I surely can still hit up the gym!

Anyways! I actually went to “Butt & Guts” on Monday, which is about to be cancelled due to low participation. At first, I didn’t mind that fact – the class was pretty blah and I didn’t feel like anything was really all that intense. I could keep up with all the seasoned class buffs just fine…. But boy was I wrong!! My DEEP core is so sore, even two days later!! I’m really impressed, because ab exercises never make me sore. I actually wonder if secretly I’m doing them all wrong…but Monday, I must have done something right, even if I didn’t feel it at the time.

The class used a lot of “extras”, like weights, balls, body bars (?), etc., so it wouldn’t be super easy to replicate the workout at home (if I could even remember it – it was that boring.) But, it’s nice to know I can feel the pain in my abs after all. Maybe a different class will incorporate some of those moves? I’ll have to keep exploring the options!

I must say, however… yoga is still my fave…

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So what have I been up to…?

I have been in Georgia for exactly 3 weeks now. Honestly, that move from NC feels like a million years ago already. Does that mean time is flying, or dragging? I get confused.

Anyway, boredom/insanity has not hit yet, which is such a relief. Somehow I manage to keep busy with random things every day.

The not-so-random things I’m finding to do are giving me structure and something to look forward to! Primarily, I am learning French and loving it. I’m using both Rosetta Stone and a program called Duolingo, which everyone should check out if you are at all interested in learning a language. It’s fun, efficient, and FREE. I take my lessons right on my iPad. I’m curious to see how advanced it gets, but so far, I’d say it’s moving a little quicker than RS, yet is somehow equally as thorough.

As for RS itself, I’ll have to see how it plays out. Since I already have a base in French (I took it for 3 years in high school), I’m not sure what I will think of it once I’m truly learning new material. It’s great, but I’m interested to see if it’s worth the price.

To get real-world practice and supplement the textbook version, I created an account on InterPals, for a French pen pal. It has all the risks one might expect with an online chat service, but it’s pretty easy to weed out the crazies. I found some good connections, and have only been offered three marriage proposals 🙂 The Egyptian who quoted Phil Collins for me was super hard to resist… right!!!

In other news, classes on the base gym are just $3. I signed up for Butt & Guts, which was cancelled, so I took spinning instead. I HATE spinning. It was a good cardio/leg workout, but talk about boring. Let’s just say I won’t do that one again… but I WILL go back!! Just for something else.

Otherwise, September wedding planning/logistics is just about finished, so I’m ready to tackle the October weddings. I applied for two jobs, just for kicks and to see what happens (probably nothing). Chuck and I recruited another couple from his class for some whitewater rafting this weekend (yay!), and I leave for lovely Breckenridge, CO next Thursday for my sister’s nuptials.

Moving right along over here…!

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On a Roll Today…

Now that the move is over, and I’ve recovered from my trip to Mexico, I’m ready to get all sorts of productive with my time here. Or at least, come up with some sort of plan. I’m not going to push myself to find a job (though that would be nice if I could), so I’m trying to think of ways to stay entertained while I’m here.

It must be said that my biggest surprise in moving on base is how quiet it is. I figured most people would have kids (I’m the only childless spouse I’ve seen thus far), but I did not figure people would keep to themselves so much. There is a USMC wives’ event on the evening of the 19th, but I will be on a flight to CO at that point, so I’m gonna have to miss that… better luck next time.

Also, most of the guys Chuck is meeting at school actually chose to live in random places off base, which completely surprises me. I’d love to know the reasoning of dealing with a lease in an unknown area for 7 months, but I haven’t met any yet to ask.  But, the fact that everyone is pretty scattered probably means a less socially cohesive experience here than we had in NC…

So, things are looking a bit bleak in the friends department, but I am excited to meet up with a girl I knew very briefly in college, before she transferred out. She messaged me out of the blue to say she is temporarily living in Columbus and would love to meet up next weekend. Apparently her family lives here and is active in the community, so maybe she can hook me up with some volunteer work, at least!

In the meantime, I’ve been looking at base activities, even if they are mostly family-focused (i.e, for couples with kids.) I would look into retail work, but there are too many weekends I’m going to have to ask off, due to all the weddings this fall. No one will hire me if I ask for weekends off 🙂

Once I get the checkbook balanced and figure out where we stand, I am going to take the plunge and get Rosetta Stone. That will be something fun and educational to do on quiet days. After struggling with my crappy Spanish in Mexico, I’m more motivated than ever to get my French down before spring! It would have added a lot of value if I could have communicated better in Mexico, and most of them knew broken English!

I think I’ll also get a yoga mat, so I can do some exercise at home. I’m used to carpeting – definitely can’t do crunches on this cold, hard, nasty floor! 🙂

Overall, I’m trying not to get overly antsy, enjoy the lax schedule together with Chuck, and hang out with Miss Bean while making cupcakes again. Even if it gets super boring – it’s just 7 months… and 7 months WITH Chuck, rather than all by myself. Win!

Morning run around the new ‘hood (yes, I ran.) This is not quite the part I live in, though 🙂

WE HAVE A POOL!!!

..For a week anyway, before it closes for the fall. I haven’t had access to a pool in years (even my apartment complex in Arlington didn’t have one.) It was nice to kick back and soak up some sun after a long day of unpacking and cleaning. The water was glorious, if not heavily chlorinated (I’m so used to sea salt!!)

Now I just need to find some friends. This neighborhood is very quiet, which is in sharp contrast to the military base experience of my youth. I did, however, find myself in the direct path of a massive ARMY of women, strollers, and small screaming children the other day. It was like a stampede, and mildly terrifying…

It seems I’m the only DependaCheetah for miles.