I am going to help.

I have been a selfish brat.
I tend to be a selfish brat a lot.  Not in a way that a is noticeable to other people.  In fact most people think that I am loving, self sacrificing, kind, giving and anything but selfish--of course the brat part, well we can all be bratty sometimes right?   But I have been extra selfish lately and no one even knows it. 

When Hubby and I first starting to discuss the military I instantly turned to the internet for information.  I drew on the experiences of all of the military spouses and girlfriends that came before me.  I asked questions and got answers.  I read about others experiences to get an idea about what to expect.  I then started this blog for a few different reasons.  I started my blog so that I had a way to easily track/follow all of my blogging friends.  I started my blog as a way to chronicle our journey for my self.  Most of all I started the blog so that I might be able to help others the way I had been helped by all of my friends blogs. 

Then Hubby left for RTC...and I became selfish.  I haven't been blogging because I didn't want to blog.  I haven't been sharing because it's painful.  I don't want to sound like a whiny selfish brat but in reality by not blogging I have been exactly that.  If I am going to help other people I need to be honest and I need to blog about what is going on.  Even if I am emotional and whiny and selfish I need to write about what I feel so that others know that it is normal and OK...so guess what, welcome to the emotional roller coaster that is probably going to be my life for the next 20 years. Please fasten your safety belts and keep your hands inside the car while the ride is in motion.

PS--While I am not a dark depressing person therefore I do not anticipate my blog becoming a constant bitchfest I also don't expect it to be all sunshine and rainbows.  Unfortunately I am more of a sunshine, rainbows and puppies kind of person so I have neglected blogging for the fear something negative would sneak in.  It is time for me to get over that fear and be honest with myself and everyone else so here it goes wish me luck! 

My name is Shanon and I am a self-sufficient, strong, independent, career woman who is madly in love with my husband an enlisted sailor in the US Navy and because of that I desperately want to live up to the June Cleaver standard (which we all know is impossible!)...I am Modern meets Traditional.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #39--a couple of days late...

The FYI--Taken from Wife of a Sailor's Blog--

 I love learning more about my fellow MilSpouse bloggers! MilSpouse Friday Fill-in is taking off even better than I could have ever hoped. I learned so much about my fellow bloggers and can’t wait to learn more… and hopefully even MORE will join in as we go.

Here’s the skinny for newcomers about MilSpouse Friday Fill-ins (and when I say MilSpouse, I mean significant others, too!):

Each week, I’ll post a list of questions on Thursday (so you can have your blog ready on Friday). Come back here on Friday and enter your blog post into Mr. Linky so others know who else participated and we can all visit other blogs.  And please feel free to use the button above!

1. Have you and your spouse agreed to live in separate locations (a geographical bachelor tour) knowing that the short-term inconvenience would have long-term benefits for your family? How did it work for you? submitted by When Good People Get TogetherHubs and I haven't really decided what we are going to do but most likely I will be staying in GA for a while as long as his first assignment isn't so far away I can't visit him a couple of times a month when he isn't deployed. 
2. What is your favorite thing about being a MilSpouse? submitted by Sarah Ruth Today   So far really the only thing about being a MilSpouse I have experiences is all of my great twitter and blogger friends so I guess you guys are my favorite part! :)
   
3. If you could still have your spouse/significant other and your family, but take the military life out of it…would you?  submitted by Trust. Love. Believe. Bake. I don't think so.  We just added the military part in! :)
   
4. What have your homecoming experiences been like after a year long tour of separation? submitted by Army Soldier, Army WifeI will let you know when I get to have one but T-19 days until RTC Graduation!!! :) 
5. If you have a child(ren) why you chose their name(s)? If not, why you would name your child something?  submitted by Tiara’s & ACU’s  I really like old names.  For a girl I think we will combine our grandmothers names in some way, for a boy I have no clue!

Welp that is my milspouse fill in for this week!  I promise I will try to be a better blogger :)

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #37

The Scoop: (taken from Wifey's blog)

 I love learning more about my fellow MilSpouse bloggers! MilSpouse Friday Fill-in is taking off even better than I could have ever hoped. I learned so much about my fellow bloggers and can’t wait to learn more… and hopefully even MORE will join in as we go.

Here’s the skinny for newcomers about MilSpouse Friday Fill-ins (and when I say MilSpouse, I mean significant others, too!):

Each week, I’ll post a list of questions on Thursday (so you can have your blog ready on Friday). Come back here on Friday and enter your blog post into Mr. Linky so others know who else participated and we can all visit other blogs. 

1. With PCS moves happening every few years, do you take the time to paint and decorate your home? submitted by Life as Mrs. JPTI can't really answer this yet but if Adam ends up with a rate that moves a lot I will probably decorate but not paint.  With the Navy having so many rates where you stay put for 4-6 years I will probably paint too though, I LOVE having bright colors on the walls
   
2. If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be? submitted by Standing By Him I don't know about the whole house but I love the dining/living room in the Sherwoods home on Army Wives (bright colors, go figure!)
   
3. What inspired you to start your blog?  submitted by Pink Combat Boots I started my first blog in high school on LiveJournal.  I technically still have it but I don't update it.  This blog I started when Adam started talking about the Navy because I was gaining so much information from the MilSpouse community that I wanted a way to better participate and have made some great "imaginary friends" (as Adam calls them) in the process.
4. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on base? submitted by Adventures in Life Since I've only been on a Military base three times in my life I would have to say the ridicilouis trashy outfit one of the Navy Girlfriends was wearing at my friend John's graduation from RTC.  Tried to find a picture but I must have deleted it she had on holey jeans and a top you would ware clubbing...
   
5. Which historical figure (politician, writer, artist, scientist, actor, etc…) would you like to have dinner with?  submitted by Army of Two I would love to have dinner with Ghandi.  He had such an interesting philosophy and I have nothing but respect for his peaceful views.

Please help Raise the Woof!

I sent the below email to my friends and family last night but I want to also share it with you, my blogger friends and family so that you also may help. The friend I will be running with is @sespi from And You Never Did Think if you don't follow her blog, you should because she pretty much rocks!  The family we are supporting is that of @minivangirl from Mom is Tired and @justplainj  you can follow the fundraiser @raisethewoof on twitter also!  They are an amazing couple who continue to impress me.  SO without further ado:

Dear Friends and Family,

On May 14, a friend and I will be running (yes, RUNNING!) in a 5K to benefit a low cost spay and neuter clinic in Augusta, GA. The entry fee for the 5k goes to the spay and neuter clinic, and I would also like to use this opportunity to help fund raise for a military family trying to get a service dog for their daughter, Faith.

Faith is 7 years old and suffers from multiple disabilities, including autism and mild cerebral palsy. Her parents have discovered that dogs can not only provide physical assistance, but also help to calm her. The cost of a service dog ranges from $13-$14k. Unfortunately, the family's insurance does not cover service dogs and they cannot come up with this large sum of money on their own. 

You can hear more about Faith and the "Raise the Woof" fundraiser by visiting this website: http://www.giveforward.com/raisethewoof 

You can also make donations to help raise the funds for the dog on this site. If you would like to help, but are not comfortable donating online please feel free to contact me and I can help you forward it to Faith's family. 

I know that many of us are on tight budgets, but believe me when I say that in this case even $1 really does help. If you cannot afford to donate, please help support Faith and her family by forwarding this email to your friends and families as well. 

Thank you for your support!
Love,
Shanon

I'm finally caught up!

Well on my blogs at least, I have officially read every last one.  I apologize for my lack of commenting, I've had over 200 entries for the past 2 weeks and have been reading 20-50 per night. 

Last night I planted a bunch of plants, now I need to clean off our back patio and that will be done

My apartment is a disaster zone though, it looks like a twister has hit.  My plan is as follows:
1 hour every night spent studying for the GMAT
1 hour every night spent at the Dog Park
30 minutes every-other day training for my 5K next month, the time on the other days will be spent doing all of my extra cleaning that is needed.

I take the GMAT on April 22.  (Good Friday) on Easter I am going to try and have some friends over for dinner.  In Louisville I started cooking Easter dinner for my friends Junior Year and even last year (I moved to GA on Easter Sunday) we did it a week early so I was a little sad it wouldn't happen this year.  My apartment is going to be completely cleaned up by Friday, I'm going to use Saturday to do the real cleaning stuff that I normally do on weekends anyway (vacuum, clean the bathrooms, etc)  Wish Me Luck!  I'm gonna need it.



Now for a whiney moment...
I still haven't heard from Adam and while I know no-news is good-news and that it has only been just over 2 weeks but this weekend has been really tough.  I miss my husband, my best friend, sooooo much, I really just want a short letter or something so that I can feel like he is with me.  My friend Laney has done a great job of helping keep my mind off of him being gone, today she said we pretend hes just at the grocery store for a few hours, which is pretty much the truth.  But I have another friend who brings it up CONSTANTLY and I know she means well and is trying to be supportive but it seems like she always brings it up when I'm not thinking about him.  Then of course I start thinking about him.  I know she has good intentions but it hurts.  Is there a nice way to tell her to stop?

Birthdays at boot camp

Adam made me promise not to send him cards...so instead the puppies are sending him a birthday card! I personally think this is genius but I would like some comments from the peanut gallery, do you think a birthday card from the dogs will be embarrassing? Should I wait and give it to him at graduation?

Milspouse Friday Fill In Catch Up :)

Week 35

1. What is your must have gadget? submitted by Flying High With My Flyboy
   I have to have my iPhone, I just cracked the screen and it is driving me nuts! :)
2. How does your adulthood compare to what you imagined it would be like when you were a little kid? submitted by L to the Third 
   To be honest in a lot of ways I'm exactly where I thought I would be and in others my life is completely different.  I always saw myself as being married by now with at least one dog but I never imagined I would be a milspouse or that I would live this far away from my family!
3. What is your favorite chocolate recipe?  submitted by Our First Deployment
   I really don't think it's much of a recipe but I love chocolate covered fruit!
4. How do you deal with military life when it gets to be to much or to hard? submitted by Combat Boots And Pointe Shoes
   I'll let you know once I get used to it...Really the only thing that has bothered me so far is having to watch PDA but that always bothered me.
5. What piece of advice would you give a new Military spouse facing their first deployment?  submitted by The Albrecht Squad
   Yes please...I like advice! :)

Week 36

1. What romance movie scene reminds you of your s/o or spouse and the LOVE you share? submitted by Simply Sunshine and Daisy’s
   I must say we aren't the lovey-dovey type that you think of when you think romance scene...Maybe the scene in The Wedding Planner when he comes up behind her at the drive in and she is throwing out the M&M's that aren't brown because chocolate is brown already...
2. If you were allowed to deploy with your husband to a war zone would you and why? submitted by I & J No thank you...especially since we still don't know what kind of a boat he will be put on.  If he is on a carrier, possibly because it seems like there is more to do on a carrier than there is in our town but I don't think I could handle anything else.
3. Have you ever done anything (intentionally, or unintentionally) to embarrass your spouse/significant other in front of his military cohorts?  submitted by Marrying the Navy
   Not that I know of.
4. What is your most irrational fear? submitted by Eights on the Move
   I am scared of the dark just like a little kid.
5. If you could only live in one kind of climate for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?  submitted by Many Waters
   Warm enough to go swimming but cool enough for long pants at night and sunny.  I need the sunshine to keep me happy!