Everybody is Famous in a Small Town

Sometimes I find it comforting being from a small town, where everybody knows just about everybody.  Where people are still willing to lend a hand and the average graduating class from the local high school is about 150 kids.  But then there are times that I absolutely despise being from a small town, because everyone knows everybody and everybody's business, word spreads fast, folks are nosy, and the old ladies can only half hear and like to gossip.  I have been experiencing the latter far more times than I would like here since I've gotten back.  Lots of people in the community know that I got married and moved to out to the Land of Oz, however apparently a vast majority of these people do not know me well enough or are not close enough to me to know that my DH has already deployed and that I have just returned home for part of his deployment.  These people tend to be fairly shocked when I run into them out in about town and of course they must immediately find out what I am doing here.  I don't mind telling them what I am doing home, but its how they ask it that I have a problem with.  For example, here are two questions I encountered this week.  1) (I was in a local exercise class that I regularly had attended before moving) "I was shocked to see you here, what are you doing here?" and 2) "Why are you here?"  This really bothered me and I think mostly because of the tone and questioning and what I felt was implied behind it.  I really felt they were after some juicy gossip, like they just wanted so badly for me to say, that I had left my husband or we were on the rocks and that's why I was back.  Well guess what ladies.......sorry I am not your source for a good story!!!!  I am MADLY in LOVE with my husband and I am fulling supporting him until he gets back!!!  And I am here at home, only temporarily for part of his deployment to save some money, I will be returning to the Land of Oz come this fall to establish our new home and have everything patiently waiting for him!!  (Sorry for the vent!)


Til Next Time........Scouts Out!

Bit Off More Than I Can Chew

So I decided to start another craft project to have something to do and help pass the time.  However, this time I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew.  I had been seeing several ladies carry around ACU purses and thought it would be nice to have one, but all of them I found online were $60 or more.  I thought, well I made a whole quilt, a purse cant be that hard.  Boy was I wrong.  First of all, the sew machine is a scary and complicated thing.  I finally got it all threaded and started to sew and then the thread messed up.  After fixing it about three times, I gave up on it and decided to tackle it by hand.  I have got the basic part of the purse done, but the only problem is some how its bigger than purse size, its more like a tote bag.  This of course makes me sad, because I wanted to carry it on an everyday basis, but I guess I will wait to see it completely done before I make that final decision.  The next crafty thing I decide to do is definitely not gonna be this complicated.


Til Next Time......Scouts Out!

What Do You Say?

"I'm sorry" or "Aren't you glad to be home?" or "Have you heard from him?" or "Dont you miss him, when are you gonna get to see him again?" or "Where is he?"  
I can't even begin to count how many I have heard these questions/comments, since my DH has left.  And everytime, I stare with kind of a dumb look on my face with a loss for words.  I know they are just being nice, trying to make conversation and don't know what else to say, but I don't know how to respond.  I mean sure, I know what I would like to say sometimes, but I know most civilians would not understand several of my replies, or would  interpret  me as being rude.  For example, when someone says "Aren't you glad to be back home?" I really want to yell at them and say "NO!", I want to be back in the Land of Oz with my husband there.  But seriously, what are you supposed to say??  If anyone has come up with some good comebacks or replies please let me know!


Til Next Time.....Scouts Out!

Is Communication Really the Key?

As all Army Wives, whose husbands are deployed or out at extended FTXs, I keep my phone on me at all times.  It kind of becomes a new appendage and is never out of ear's reach.  And as I anxiously wait to hear again from my DH, I began wondering is communication really the key to successful relationships?  What about when communication is extremely limited and conversations tend to be one-sided due to circumstances that can not be changed.  Personally, I think in a normal relationship, where the couple is actually together or are able to have regular communication, then good communication is a big factor in a successful relationship.  However, in our situation I think communication is great, but what do you run on for all those days on end when you dont get to talk to your significant other.  Here is where I believe one has to put everything into hope, faith, trust, and love.  I believe those four things will get you through!  Don't get me wrong though, I still want my DH to be able to call and hear his voice, but for all those days that I cant hear his voice, I am very thankful for those four things!


Til Next Time......Scouts Out!

Do The Sweeping, Do The Mopping....

....They always keep us hopping.  Chores that is.  I know we all have our fair share of chores, some of us less than others, but chores non the less.  Seems as if there is always something that needs to be cleaned or done.  There is sweeping and mopping, and dusting and washing.  Folding and cooking, and picking up to put away.  There is one chore that really kind of bugs me and I almost don't want to say what it is, in fear of sounding lazy and trifling, but we all have that one that we wished we never had to do.  For me its putting the dishes out of the sink into the dishwasher.  See, doesn't that sound terrible, I don't even have to wash them, I have a dishwasher.  But here is the thing, I don't mind putting them directly from being used into the dishwasher, I just can't stand touching them to get them out of the sink after they have been sitting there with left over whatever on it and water having been run on it.  Ewwwwww.  I would rather do any or all of the chores, but this one still has to get done, and unfortunately there is no one else to get to do it when your husband is in the Sandbox.  Oh well...what is your least favorite chore?


Til Next Time......Scouts Out!

The Good, The 'Eh', and The Ugly

I have come to the conclusion that every day during the deployment can be categorized in to one of the following:  The Good, The 'Eh'. or The Ugly.  A Good Day is one where everything just kind of goes on as it should. You go about your day and of course you still miss your DH but overall its pretty good  and you have no break downs.  The 'Eh" Day is one that is just okay.  It wasn't really great but it wasn't terrible either.  You find yourself thinking a lot and are kinda bummed, but no major break downs.  The Ugly Day is one where everything just seems wrong.  You miss your DH terribly, nothing is right, you are completely bummed.  Crying and major break downs usually ensue (and maybe you dont even get out of your pjs).  Today, for me was an 'Eh' Day.  As I unpacked and put my clothes away, back in my old room at my parents house, I just got bummed out.  I felt the more I put away, the more permanent it seemed, even though I know thats not the case and that I will be returning to the Land of Oz sometime around November.  It just really bummed me out, made me sad, and made me miss my husband even more.  However, on the bright side, there were no tears!  So thats always a plus.  Guess we will have to see what kind of day tomorrow holds.


Til Next Time......Scouts Out!

Where Would We Be.....

......without modern day conveniences/technology.  As I made my journey this weekend from the Land of Oz back to my home state of VA, I caught myself thinking several times about how glad and thankful I was that we live in the age of cars, radios, air/heat, GPS, highways/interstates, and gas stations, etc.  I can not even begin to fathom the journey otherwise.  I took the time to think back, to many, many years ago about the brave and strong people that made this same journey on the wagon train.  I can not imagine making this trek on foot and with a horse and wagon caring all of your belonging.  There were no highways or interstates, to even help make it easier, instead they migrated over all types of terrain in all types of weather.  They dealt with life threatening dangers along the way and it took them well over two days to make the move.  I am so thankful for the modern conveniences that make it possible for my biggest worry to be how much I will pay for gas.



Til Next Time......Scouts Out!

Oh, That One Wife

Ok, so we all have one.  That one another Army Wife that we just cant stand.  As soon as you see her, either your blood starts to boil or you just want to gag (Im sure you all are nodding in agreement as you read this).  Even if she hasn't done anything to you personally, she just rubs you the wrong way.  Well that lady for me became that one, the very first time I met her at a troop Officer/NCO get together, right before predeployment leave.  She left a very bad taste in my mouth and now every time I see her Im just like ughh.  She is a live wire and at the get together, lets just say she was a little too talkative and friendly to several husbands for my liking and she was very pushy.  Oh, she thought she was cute, gag!  Sorry for the short vent session, but a little word of advice, don't be that wife.



Til Next Time......Scouts Out!

To Go or Not To Go......

....What a complicated decision.  This is a decision that probably almost every Army Wife will have to deal with at some point in time during their husband's career.  There are so many factors to weigh and consider, when deciding to stay on post (or the surrounding area) or to return home for your husband's deployment.  For me, I found the decision surprisingly hard to make.  I thought it would be a no-brainer for I have only been in the Land of Oz since January, am hundreds of miles away from my family, don't know that many people and do not have a job out here.  Yet, somehow I feel a strong attachment to my new community and home, even with my husband gone.  For here, there are several ladies going through the exact same thing, who truly understand how you feel, there is the FRG (Family Readiness Group), PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel), and that unexplainable sense of belonging and pride that comes to those who are members of the Army Family in the Army Community.  How do you choose, your real family or your Army family?? I know every single persons situation and experience is different and what might be right for one wife might be wrong for the next 10 wives you see.   What finalized my decision to go home was, the fact that my DH would worry less (which equals a safer soldier) and feel better with me being at home, knowing I would be taken care and the amount of money we could save.  We also decided that it would be best for me to return to the Land of Oz about four months before he is scheduled to return, that way I can get everything set up and so that TG can return to some normalness. Guess we will find out soon if the decision I made to go home was truly the right one for me.


Until Next Time.......Scouts Out!

Umm....What Season Are We Supposed to be in Again??

So here in the Land of Oz, Friday it was in the upper 60s, Saturday it was around 60 degrees and then yesterday was cold and cloudy.  Just down right dreary.  I had taken the dog out for a walk earlier that afternoon and wished that weather the weather would go back to being warm.  Unfortunately, my wish didn't come true.  I looked out the window, a little later and guess what... SNOW!!!  And I don't mean just flurries, no it was huge, giant, wet snowflakes, with probably at least three inches on the ground.  Its mid-March for goodness sake, its supposed to be Spring.  To make matters worse, upon talking with my mom I find out it was in the mid-70s back at home.  Its hard to adjust to crazy weather or weather extremes that are opposite of the weather you are accustomed to back at home.  Its just another one of those things you get to deal with as an Army Wife.  (Thank goodness I'm not dealing with the weather in say Alaska, and I pray we never have to)  Oh and according to the weather. its supposed to get up to 80 degrees in about two days. 

Until Next Time......Scouts Out!

Where Everybody Knows Your Name.....

That's right, who would have ever thought, your local Post Office would know you on a first name bases.  HAHAHA!  Ok, so all of the employees at the local post office don't know my name yet, but I seriously believe they will before too long.  With all the ideas for care packages and all the stuff that, I think, he already needs, I for see that I will be in there quite a bit.  I am predicting that by the end of the month, I will be a Postal Pro!  Just within the last two or three days have we been given the go ahead for mailing packages to guys.  In that short amount of time, I have already learned that you can mail a trunk, how many stamps it takes to send an envelope to the Sandbox, how long it will take for it to arrive, how to package and ship a laptop, how to package and ship a stetson, how to fill out a customs form, how to estimate the value of what you are shipping, and how to put insurance on a package.  I don't think I have left anything out.  I can only imagine that if I have learned all this in a few days, what plethora of mailing knowledge can one acquire over a year's time?  Maybe, I could get a job at the post office, sure might make things easier.  So if any of you ever have any  type of  packing or shipping questions, my advice would be to find the nearest Army Wife and ask away.


Until next time......Scouts Out!

Federal Investigators and Care Packages.....

......All in one day in the life of this Army Wife.  So I had another 'first' in my life today.  As someone in their 20s you would think one's 'firsts' would be dwindling, not the case for an Army Wife.  My 'first' today was an interview with a Federal Investigator.  Talk about not knowing what to expect and intimidating.  The interview was actually for one of Top Gun's college roommates and fellow BRs (for those of you that follow and know what that means and the close connection that comes with).  This guy has been a remarkable friend to my DH and myself and even a groomsmen in our wedding, which should give you an idea of how close they are.  And here I am sitting in my living room answering questions about him and talking about him, praying that I don't say anything that could be perceived to show him in a negative light or hinder him from getting his security clearance.  One would think that this would be a pretty easy task, however when they ask if you have ever seen them drink or did they ever get into trouble when they were in college, you can't lie.  I mean, seriously lady, they are military and went to a military college, it comes with the territory.  Of course I have seen him drink and of course he got 'in to trouble' at school, he went to a military college, where one gets into trouble for not being in their room after Taps.  I don't know a single cadet who has ever gone through their entire cadetship with out penalty tours or being placed on confinement (the punishments for getting 'in trouble').  Overall though I think it went really well and the lady was extremely nice, I even gave her a few other names of people she could talk to for the investigation.  So after my morning full of questions, I vegged out in front of the computer looking for good ideas for care packages to send to my DH.  During my search, I kept seeing ideas for care packages for Sailors on Sub duty.  After seeing this a couple times, my brain started turning, how in the world do Subs receive mail???  After all they are several feet below sea level.  This just boggled my mind, but thankfully a friend of mine cleared it  up.  So if any of you were wondering, Subs get their mail when they come to port for supplies, or on occasion at sea.  Surface ships usually have a weekly refueling- during which they get supplies and mail via helicopter from the refueling ship to the other ship.  Now I know.  Who knows what kind of  'firsts' or new things I will learn next??  I guess we will have to wait and see, only time will tell.

Until next time.....Scouts Out!

Boxes, Boxes Everywhere....

Oh the joys of packing.  Every Army Wife (or military spouse in general) knows what I'm talking about and some of you may have done it more times than you can count on both of your hands.  Well for me, this is my first time packing up our stuff as a couple.  I mean of course I packed up my stuff to move out here to the windy Land of Oz, but TopGun was already stationed here before we got married and I was able to join him, so I only had to pack my personal belongings.  I sit here by myself, looking around our apartment, pondering what to work on packing next.  One moment, I think I have made great progress and the next, I'm sitting here feeling overwhelmed, wondering how will I get it all done in the short amount of time that I have left here.  As I work on putting various things into boxes and totes, I feel a little, dark, Eeyore cloud come over me and I can't help but feel sad for a few moments.  Here I am packing OUR life away.  The life we just started together and I'm sticking it in a storage unit and leaving behind (just for the time being) the first place we ever lived together as a couple.  I know that we are still a couple, we are still happily married even though we are countries apart, and we will pick right back up where we left off, but its still a little sad.  And just as every strong Army Wife must do, I work hard and push away those blah thoughts and feelings, and instead try to focus on the moving and unpacking I will get to do a few months down the road.   For that will be a happy and exciting time, as I look towards getting to find a new house, settling in, establishing myself back in the Land of Oz, and my husband's homecoming.  Even though it may seem a world away now, I and every other fellow Army Spouse or Significant Other, knows we must keep our focus on the happiness that lays ahead of us on the horizon.  I suppose I should resume my packing and I should be thankful (even if I did have to pack 17 boxes of books) that even though I am packing by myself, that this will probably be the easiest time, for we all know, that we accumulate stuff over the years.

Until next time..........Scouts Out!

Greetings From the Land of Oz.....

Where to start, where to start?  Well, I guess I should start with a brief run down of who I am and where I am in my life as a CavScout Wife.  I am Amber, a 20-something Army Wife and Fur Momma to a Westie named Finnegan.  My Darling Husband (DH), whom I will refer to as Top Gun (TG), and I just got married in December, kicking off my journey as a Cav Scout Army Wife.  We have been together for five years and he has been in the Army for 2 of them and before that he attended the West Point of the South.  We or should I say, I am currently at our first duty station in the windy state of Kansas.  TG is serving his first tour of duty in the Sandbox.  In the short amount of time that I have been an Army Wife, I've already experienced the sudden changes and inconsistency of the Army, for TG was scheduled to deploy in May in support of Operation New Dawn for about a nine month deployment and as you see that didn't happen, since he is already gone.  We were hit with a complete 180, a longer deployment and a new location with about 30 days notice.   I will be returning to our home state of VA for part of the deployment.  I look forward to sharing my experiences and challenges as a Cav Scout Wife through out our adventurous Army life journey. 


Til the next time.....Scouts Out!