I had an army friend of mine ask me how I was doing with accepting all this stuff called "army life". I told her I was probably at about 50%. Jeremy is still trying to get me to assimilate more into army ways. I think I must still be trying to live like I was in laie Hawaii, with no cares or worries. Army is much more rigid than that.
An example of my carelessness is this scare we had a few weeks back. It was in the first week or so that we moved and life was stressful and crazy, and the poor kids were getting the brunt of everything it seemed. I felt bad for them, and I tried to note small ways that we could help their day seem better- a little less big-kid like. So I thought it was way cute when they got so excited one time we gave thme a "ride" in the car, which means they get to hold on with no seat belts while we drive a short distance. And I mean a short distance. (I'm going to regret saying this aren't I? I'm going to have to explain my actions for years to come.)
Anyway, I didn't think it was a big deal, just 100 yards or less. We've pulled this kind of stunt at Grandma's house, course she had her own road and was not in the city technically. Anyway, Jeremy is dead set against this idea of mine, but I talked him into it one time. I had jumped in the back of the van with Willie and the baby and we were driving along when... ba baa bummmm! The sheriff drove past us! Jeremy turned white and said, Oh crap! We watched the sheriff and sure enough, the car turned around in the drive we just came out of and started heading our way. Jeremy was so upset at me! (I don't blame him.) Then, out of sheer luck, the sheriff turned down another way and we kept going. We were free for that night. Jeremy was repeating 'Never Again' over and over. He was saying how he saw his whole career flash before his eyes. Poor guy. I felt real bad. Needless to say, I've reevaluated my caution and respect to army strict adherence to laws of the land and I've repented. :)
It's amazing how much your "employer" can have ahold of your personal life. There's still many more ways I could be better at being in the army. Army families should have a high standard to show others. And I think that's important, I just got to get in gear I guess. From the wife's point of view- running the forgotten patch to the hubs, stopping in the middle of the street for trump or drill or whatever is going on, random vehicle weapons checks, etc. These little things that make me think, I'm not in the army, but... I am.
Yeah, so 50%, if that. I still don't have our insurance and benefits figured out. And I thought people were helping me learn that and learn what stuff was going to be available to me, the army wife, but after they talked to me- all I've figured out is there is a playgroup (which I haven't made it to yet) and they would love to have me volunteer if I can. (slight chuckle.) Yeah, so no "benefits" as of yet.
Friday, July 30, 2010
We got a dog!
...for a day. :)
Although the seed was planted in me long ago to get a dog, the overall premeditated period for this venture was pretty short. I grew up saying I wanted a dog and no kids. Now here I am, three kids and still wanting a dog...until now.
Brand new to the area, some new friends from our ward invited us to dinner where I found she was a big dog-lover and had trained her dog very well. I told her how I've always wanted a dog, but didn't know anything about them and needed to learn. She was excited to help me learn all I needed to know and gave me a book to read. Later that week, she let me know that a family in the ward had a black lab puppy they were trying to find a home for. We were quickly introduced and we liked the puppy but I just wasn't sure it was the right time for us to get a puppy. But here the little furry thing was. It was so cute. So wantable. I don't even have any furniture it could ruin, I don't care about the carpet we have right now, I have this great friend who is helping me learn all I need to know...all these thoughts made me think, maybe this wouldn't be a bad time to get a dog. And so I talked Jeremy into it.
We begun making all kind of preparations and, although I had already read quite a few chapters in the book, I began speed reading even faster. There was a lot to think about and I made three trips to the pet store in just a few days trying to get ready for her. We picked up the puppy on Wednesday evening. We hadn't technically got an approval from our leasing office though, but I assumed it would be okay- something you just kind of go down and sign the papers for. There were a ton of big dogs in the complex that walk around, it seems like.
It was kind of crazy night, our first full attempt at taking care of a dog. She was a great puppy! She even went potty on her pad a couple times, and just laid in her blocked off area, very mellow for a puppy, which means we could call ourselves lucky. All of this only made me feel worse about what I realized the next day, for it was all soon to end...
Jeremy went to the office the next morning and talked to them about the puppy. Even though it was still small, because our lease term was 13 months and the labs will be over the size limit by that time, they were giving us trouble about getting the puppy. You see, we kind of didn't tell them that we had already kind of got the puppy. So the puppy lived with me "illegally" for that day. We took her to the vet and got medicine for fleas and worms. We took her with us to pick dad up from work. This was all quite a bit of work doing a puppy and a 6 month old- not to mention two other kids- at the same time. Not that I can say i wasn't warned, in fact, there were many people that snickered and looked at me doubtingly when they heard we were getting a puppy- which was kind of hard to deal with in itself. But the basic fact was this- the office hadn't approved her yet, so we quickly took her back to our friends house who had been fostering her that night after work. We didn't want to be fined for having a dog. That night, I sat in my house, on break from this smell and everything that comes with the inclusion of an animal, and I realized... it's not right to have the dog here with us right now. The other kids, the close quarters, the neighbor downstairs that already thinks we're too loud, the fact that we're not sure where we're moving to in 6 months... it all kind of clouded over and I realized it was not a good thing- though the dog was a very good dog- it wasn't time to get a dog. It had been a costly decision in a way. I loved the crash course in dog care. I loved that cute little puppy face. But it wasn't the right time for us to get a dog.
Now, I'm looking back on that crazy week thrown in with the already crazy experiences that comes with moving to a new place. I have to be completely honest and say, I've started to have this inkling that I might not be a dog person after all. It was a heart breaking week for me, something I'm still trying to understand. I see others with dogs and I still feel a little 'jealous'. I still perk up when I see a sign or ad looking for a dog owner. I'm not sure what keeps driving that in me. But Jeremy has put his foot down and said No for now.
Although the seed was planted in me long ago to get a dog, the overall premeditated period for this venture was pretty short. I grew up saying I wanted a dog and no kids. Now here I am, three kids and still wanting a dog...until now.
Brand new to the area, some new friends from our ward invited us to dinner where I found she was a big dog-lover and had trained her dog very well. I told her how I've always wanted a dog, but didn't know anything about them and needed to learn. She was excited to help me learn all I needed to know and gave me a book to read. Later that week, she let me know that a family in the ward had a black lab puppy they were trying to find a home for. We were quickly introduced and we liked the puppy but I just wasn't sure it was the right time for us to get a puppy. But here the little furry thing was. It was so cute. So wantable. I don't even have any furniture it could ruin, I don't care about the carpet we have right now, I have this great friend who is helping me learn all I need to know...all these thoughts made me think, maybe this wouldn't be a bad time to get a dog. And so I talked Jeremy into it.
We begun making all kind of preparations and, although I had already read quite a few chapters in the book, I began speed reading even faster. There was a lot to think about and I made three trips to the pet store in just a few days trying to get ready for her. We picked up the puppy on Wednesday evening. We hadn't technically got an approval from our leasing office though, but I assumed it would be okay- something you just kind of go down and sign the papers for. There were a ton of big dogs in the complex that walk around, it seems like.
It was kind of crazy night, our first full attempt at taking care of a dog. She was a great puppy! She even went potty on her pad a couple times, and just laid in her blocked off area, very mellow for a puppy, which means we could call ourselves lucky. All of this only made me feel worse about what I realized the next day, for it was all soon to end...
Jeremy went to the office the next morning and talked to them about the puppy. Even though it was still small, because our lease term was 13 months and the labs will be over the size limit by that time, they were giving us trouble about getting the puppy. You see, we kind of didn't tell them that we had already kind of got the puppy. So the puppy lived with me "illegally" for that day. We took her to the vet and got medicine for fleas and worms. We took her with us to pick dad up from work. This was all quite a bit of work doing a puppy and a 6 month old- not to mention two other kids- at the same time. Not that I can say i wasn't warned, in fact, there were many people that snickered and looked at me doubtingly when they heard we were getting a puppy- which was kind of hard to deal with in itself. But the basic fact was this- the office hadn't approved her yet, so we quickly took her back to our friends house who had been fostering her that night after work. We didn't want to be fined for having a dog. That night, I sat in my house, on break from this smell and everything that comes with the inclusion of an animal, and I realized... it's not right to have the dog here with us right now. The other kids, the close quarters, the neighbor downstairs that already thinks we're too loud, the fact that we're not sure where we're moving to in 6 months... it all kind of clouded over and I realized it was not a good thing- though the dog was a very good dog- it wasn't time to get a dog. It had been a costly decision in a way. I loved the crash course in dog care. I loved that cute little puppy face. But it wasn't the right time for us to get a dog.
Now, I'm looking back on that crazy week thrown in with the already crazy experiences that comes with moving to a new place. I have to be completely honest and say, I've started to have this inkling that I might not be a dog person after all. It was a heart breaking week for me, something I'm still trying to understand. I see others with dogs and I still feel a little 'jealous'. I still perk up when I see a sign or ad looking for a dog owner. I'm not sure what keeps driving that in me. But Jeremy has put his foot down and said No for now.
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