milso

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A Georgia Update… We Made It!

Well, we survived the big move. It’s an 8.5 hour drive from North Carolina, but with all the stops and shenanigans along the way (dealing with the Uhaul, the public scales, the Ft. Benning housing office, the inspection office, blah blah blah) I probably spent a grand total of 14 hours in the car. Poor Annie had it the worst – I tried giving her children’s Benadryl before we left, in the hopes that she’d pass out for most of the trip, but that only resulted in prompt vomiting all over the freshly cleaned floor. Bubble gum must not be her flavor…

Anyways, midnight driving is tough. Never do it! I swear we almost died multiple times, drifting off along the highway. But somehow, we made it. Our house is MEH, compared to what we are used to. I guess we were spoiled with our nice house(s) in NC. This place is straight up white walls, white linoleum floors, plain appliances… 1950s functional with zero personality. I call it the “ugly house”, though it looks nicer now that we have our stuff in it. We had the option to get another, slightly more charming apartment in a quintessentially southern looking part of base, but this one is more practical… and Chuck preferred it (apparently he has no taste!) But after being awake for 36 hours, I gave in pretty quickly. It is temporary, afterall.

Honestly though, it’s exactly what I remember of growing up in base housing. I was less surprised than Chuck was. It’s funny how back then it didn’t even phase me – but now that I’ve experienced the “real” world and have more adult taste, I’m all turning my nose up at the place. And to add insult to injury, we’re paying full BAH for it (and more than we paid in NC), so we are not even saving money by living on base… but c’est la vie. Utilities are included, except for internet/cable! So that’s nice 🙂

I will say I’m pretty bummed there is no washer/dryer!! I was so looking forward to having one again… but I guess I shouldn’t have expected it. So, we will buy a set this week. Gotta love those unplanned expenses…

But enough complaining! I’m grateful to have a roof over our head for the next 7 months. It’s easy and safe. And increasingly comfortable 🙂 I’m just so happy to have Chuck here with me on this adventure (having him home all the time still hasn’t gotten old!)

🙂

The many positions of Bean on our epic road trip to Southwest Georgia. It’s been a longggg few days folks, but things are calming down. More to come early next week, once we get Internet up and running.

On this day two years ago, I welcomed Chuck home from his first #deployment to #Afghanistan. Today, it’s extra special to so recently have him back from his second 😊#tbt #throwbackthursday #usmc #milso #military #freedomisntfree #homecoming

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There are a few people in my life who view my relationship a certain way because they don’t understand military life. Specifically, they hint that Chuck’s service and deploying is an affront to me, like he doesn’t really care that much about my wants and needs, and doesn’t mind leaving me. In other words, if he “really loved me”, he wouldn’t put me through X, Y, and Z. As if I don’t have enough to over-think when it comes to military life and deployments already… oy vey.

It’s just one more example of an unintentionally non-supportive comment people make that I wanted to briefly vent about here. I know they are just watching out for me and my interests, which is so nice, but it’s not quite like that (I hope 🙂 )

On a lighter note, Chuck has officially been home for 1 week, and it’s been so much fun! I’m still getting used to coming home from work and he’s there, or waking up in the morning and he’s there. Not sick of each other yet 😉

HE’S HOME!! Sadly, these were the only 2 shots I got (I insisted on one without sunglasses), so you’ll just have to take my word for it that homecoming was as happy and romantic as you’d imagine!

2 deployments and 2 work-ups in less than 3 years… I am so ready for our break 🙂

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Chuck gets home in a little over 48 hours!!! I can’t believe it’s *almost* here! It’s going to be so strange, taking him to a house he’s never seen before, and that’s been all mine. I’m also curious to see how Miss Bean reacts – she has only recently gotten comfortable taking over his spot in the bed!

I did finally unpack his clothes and found space for them in the closet (kinda.) I went to the grocery store and got some of the things I know he likes most – bacon, mozzarella cheese, ground beef, Italian sausage… My grocery bill has effectively doubled…

Our August is going to be very busy as we prepare for guests and moving out – plus I’ll still be working. But I am grateful for a long weekend where it’ll just be the two of us to readjust to life together and catch up beyond the idle chit chat of our e-mail convos.

But first, I need to finish up all my remaining Sex and the City episodes… FAST!!

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One thing that’s weird about my Military Life 2.0 (with 1.0 being my childhood as a military brat) is that neighbors are not friendly. I didn’t know my neighbors in my last neighborhood, and I don’t know them in my new one, either.

This is strange to me, because when someone was new in the neighborhood growing up, people always made the effort to say hi, introduce themselves, and bring delicious homemade baked goods to welcome you. My attempts to befriend new neighbors in the last neighborhood were essentially met with “thanks, but no thanks”, and in this neighborhood, I have yet to be acknowledged at all!

Of course, they probably all think I’m a witch or something. Young woman living alone who hangs out with her cat out in the driveway on random balmy evenings. Only seen at night. And now feeding mysterious black cats that are showing up in my yard at odd hours.

I’m pretty excited about that by the way! I love black cats.

Hmmm… maybe I am a witch.

Guilty….! Hate when this happens 🙂

My current wardrobe issue, however, is what to wear for homecoming! Chuck gets home in 3-ish weeks!!! Yay!! So should I buy a new outfit, or wear a trusty one I already have? Last time I was quite overdressed compared with everyone else, and odds are Chuck won’t care what I’m wearing, or barely notice. But these are the things one can’t help thinking about after 6 months apart. Looking good, but effortlessly so!

Chuck gets watermelon and eggs for the 4th of July! It’s the little things… 🇺🇸🍉#soexcited #countyourblessings #happybirthdayamerica #deployment #milso #usmc