time - is not on my side

annnd just like that it's June. How did that happen?

I've been a little bit cagey lately, mostly because I don't want to jinx anything, but Husband has received his official end date of Active Duty service, and we've been in Go Mode since we got the date.

We are in the process of purchasing a cute little condo back in Washington, and I've transitioned from the company I worked for in Raleigh to the company I'll be working for after we move. As of right now I work from home, which has its ups and downs. I really love not having a 65 mile (each way!) commute, getting to sleep in relatively late, and wearing my pajamas to work if I feel like it - although I try to get dressed in work clothes anyway, to keep myself in Work Mode. Conversely, I will be very excited to get to see and talk to my coworkers, to leave the house, and to pass a STARBUCKS on the way out of my neighborhood! The only Starbucks on my drive to Raleigh was two miles away from work. I look forward to getting caffeine in my system long before I'm expected to think or react to work surprises!

Husband meets with Transportation next week to formally schedule moving dates, which will be fantastic. We are beyond ready to get past the 'wait' of this hurry-up-and-wait decision!

priorities

Things I Could/Should Have Gotten Done Tonight:
- folded laundry
- sweep/mop downstairs
- make dinner
- knitting
- quilting of The Thing I Am Not Knitting For My Sister
- sewing a shirt
- replanting the sad Wandering Jew in my kitchen
- removed labels from more empty wine bottles so I have fresh bottles for the peach wine

Things I Have Done Tonight:
- watched baseball
- internet

I've clearly got my priorities in order. Anyone who is still out there patiently waiting for an update - there's a few big life updates to come, and a recap of Ireland (or, more likely, multiple recaps of Ireland, because I could spend a lifetime in that country and still not feel like I've seen everything). To tide you over:

(Cliffs of Moher)

 (Kylemore Abbey)

 (we thought it was a castle... that's someone's house)

 (long way down - at Slieve League)

 (cliffs near Dunluce Castle)

 (Giant's Causeway from across the inlet)

(Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge)

PS - Happy One Year blogging anniversary to me!

Old Friends, Old Homes

Over the weekend, we took a trip down to Columbia to see one of our close friends who is currently stationed OCONUS - Australia, the lucky duck - but happens to be back in the US for a training course. Sadly, he could not bring his wife and daughter back with him this trip, so we didn't get to see them, but they seem to be living it up and really enjoying their time at their new duty station! 

We had drinks and appetizers at Bourbon (creole pimiento shells and cheese? ehrmagherd.), walked The Vista, and took him to The Oak Table, one of our favorite restaurants. The menu changes every few weeks, so no matter how recently we last stopped in there's something new to try. I am trying to be better about my diet, since I've gained 20 lbs since we left Washington, so we didn't order dessert.... A decision I almost always regret. Then again, I probably would not have been able to choose between the Charred Apple Cornbread, Textures of Chestnut, Pumpkin "Tres Leches", or (the one item that is always on the menu and is absolute perfection) the Butterscotch Bread Pudding.

Hush-hush: skipping dessert last night has led me to throwing together a little something for tonight... It's paleo, so it's good for you, right? Right.

In a moment of pure indulgence, Husband allowed me to order breakfast in bed from the room service menu (recommended accommodations if you are ever in the area), so this morning I woke up to a platter of fruit, pastries, eggs, grapefruit juice, and that sweet nectar of life - coffee.

Now I'm just trying to round up everything we need for Ireland - making a list, checking it twice, holy carp I bought the wrong plug converters emergency ordering the right ones for two day delivery, you know. My usual PANICFLAILIAMSOUNPREPARED routine.

Oh, hello again.

Just checking in.
I'm very tired from end-of-month insanity at work (and trying to prepare for being out of the office for two weeks), and very crabby from having the oil changed in my car (WHY must they always move the seat, reset my trip meters, change my mirrors, and turn my lights off every time no matter where I go??), not fitting into my old clothes because my commute gives me no time to work out, and discovering an order I placed through Amazon was fulfilled incorrectly and now we may run out of cat food while we're on vacation.
Yes I'm overreacting, it's quarter past eight PM and I haven't had dinner, but I don't want to eat dinner because I'm fluffy 'round the middle and insert insane thought cycle here I just want the very capable, fit body I used to have and the time to maintain it.
Perhaps in the upcoming months I'll be more reliable about checking in - I come home and veg on the couch any way, may as well come up with a few stimulating thoughts....
I'll certainly come back soon and post pictures of IRELAND! And possibly thoughts relating to how we chose Ireland, where we plan(ned) on going, what we see(saw), tenses depending on when I come back to the blogosphere.
Salad for dinner. Hold the grumpiness.

checking in

How on Earth do bloggers keep up with this nonsense? Sheesh. Life. Getting in the way and all that.

Just checking in to say I'm alive. Perhaps at some point I'll get used to my commute and will have time to keep a record of the lack of excitement around here. In the meantime, I'm going to finish knitting this gosh-blessed sweater....

stop the world, it's time to get off

have you ever been on a merry-go-round, having the time of your life,

when all of a sudden - 

you need to get off the ride, right this second?

immediately.

NOW.

well, Husband dropped the minor bombshell that he might be getting tired of playing soldier

and he wants to see what life is like on The Outside. 

the process to separate takes nine months to one year, but you don't know Husband.

Husband wants out TOMORROW.

so, obviously, I've been freaking out just a wee bit.

he's researching Masters programs, 

going to job fairs to see what the market looks like,

researching the areas we'd potentially like to move to
(it's actually quite exciting to think we could choose our location)

and making a timeline,

but (having done it three times, twice this year alone)

we know starting over is never fun,

and this time it will be without the income and benefits we are used to.

did I mention I've been freaking out a bit?

Husband always seems to land on his feet, so let's hope his lucky rabbit foot didn't hop away.

For Better or For Worse

I've been having a Criminal Minds marathon this weekend while knitting baby gifts for friends. I quite like crime dramas, and both Husband and I enjoy watching the BAU work through what makes these criminals tick. Plus the characters themselves are so well-written and interesting!

One of the pivotal characters is Aaron Hotch, the leader of the group. He is my favorite out of all of them, most likely because he reminds me of Husband: stoic, serious, ridiculously intelligent... and damn handsome. Part of the story of his character involves his relationship with his wife, Hayley. I won't give away the resolution to the issue, but the writers spend a lot of time focusing on how much Hayley resents Hotch and his work at the BAU because it takes his time away from his family... and that infuriates me.

She constantly asks him to choose between work and his family. I'm entirely aware of the difficulties she endures and the frustration she must feel, however - she married him knowing full well the scope and unpredictability of his job in the BAU. She has to be aware not only that he is passionate about the work he does, and he is very good at, and it's a very important job that stops people from killing other people. SERIOUSLY, WOMAN? How on earth can you ask that of someone you allegedly love? How can you ask them to give up a part of themselves, something that makes them who they are? What gives you the right to dictate his life? You're his wife, yes, and you certainly ought to have a vote, but how can you ask your husband to stop being who he is? Don't you realize that forcing him to give up something he so obviously cares about and is adept at will lead him to resent you and be miserable in whatever job he takes next?

Maybe I'm crazy, or is this just a side effect of being a military spouse? Have I given up any hope of control of my life or my husband's schedule?