Operation Gym Coup: Final Review

The whole month of June I had been gearing myself up for the last week and shuffling plans around in my head to find time to hit the gym on Friday, the last day of the month. After all, how can I finish the mission strong if I don't even go to the gym on the last day? The problem was, my man is coming home on Friday! It had only been a month since I'd seen him, but it had been two months since he'd been home and I could not wait! So I had been playing out the day in my head...should I go before work which I hate doing or should I go after work and be stressed out because I gotta get ready to pick him up at 8 pm from the airport.

After all of that stressing, I got pretty excited when I found out what you probably already know. Did you say, "huh?" when you read that Friday is the last day of the month? Well, you should have. I was checking out the calendar during that week guess what I learned. Thursday was the last day of the month! Not Friday. I totally knew that Stud was coming home Friday, July 1st, but for almost the whole month I kept thinking that Friday was still part of June and therefore, part of my mission month. I think this happened because I associated my husband being gone with Operation Gym Coup since the mission took place the (almost) entire length of time between my visiting him in San Diego and his coming home. Makes sense, right? Either way, I will have completed the mission on Thursday and wouldn't have to worry about squeezing in a gym visit on Friday after all! Halelujah! That was a good surprise.

Officially, I have to say that I really shouldn't get so excited about not having to go to the gym just because the month is over and, technically, my mission only lasted one month. I mean, that makes it look like I didn't learn anything, doesn't it?

Officially, I should want to go to the gym on Friday anyway...and most days after that as well.

I got so excited about not being required to go to the gym on Friday that it really reminded me that my attitude about working out isn't where I want it to be. Granted, most of the reason that I didn't want to go on Friday is because, frankly, I didn't care about anything that happened on that day except seeing my husband.  However, there was still a big part of me that wanted the mission to be over so I didn't have to go to the gym and that's the part of me that I'm trying to transform. Like any lifestyle change, one of the hardest parts is establishing new habits. I figured that if I made myself go to the gym enough to make it a habit, after that I would actually want to go to the gym. Either I was too preoccupied during the month of June for this to take a effect, or it just took a little longer than expected.

At this point, I know I am a month late in writing this review, I feel like I am much closer to that ideal "workout attitude" than I was at the end of my mission. So I guess it's a good thing it took me so long to write this because back at the end of June, I would have still been just hoping for it. Yeah, that's why I didn't update you right away. Ha.

So if you've been following along on this mission, you're probably wondering if I succeeded. Did I get my name on the list of Top Ten Biggest Users?

Take a look: 

Are you hearing that pathetic game show music when the contestant loses? Yeah. I was hearing that too when I saw it. What made it MUCH worse was that it was my bright idea to run by Anytime and check with Stud on his last day home. I was already either crying or thinking about crying most of the day since Stud would be leaving that day and then I had to go and check the stupid list. Man, I was disappointed. And frustrated. And angry. I had missed the list by two gym visits. Stud tried to give me a pep talk on the short ride home, but I knew I could have done it...I just didn't. My husband is super good at helping me keep a healthy attitude about fitness. He's challenging but understanding. He told that I had had a lot going on and that I couldn't get down about it because that would probably keep me from going to the gym the next month. Luckily (sort of), saying good-bye to him later that afternoon put the whole mission-failure woes right out of my mind.

When I came back to focus on it, I decided that it was already too late into the month of July to try to start over the very next month and log enough gym visits. Stud was here from the 1st through the 10th and though we did workout together twice, it was not the focus. On top of that, I was in San Diego the weekend after that (to read about that awesome last weekend check out this post). So I decided that I wasn't going to push the issue during the month of July. I did, however, get right back on the horse and have been to the gym several times in the last couple of weeks and it has felt great.

It is still my goal to make it on the list one of these months. It just may be August too so stay tuned!

Oh, and by the way, when you saw "Andrew B." on the list did you have to look twice? That's the second miserable time that that name has crushed my spirits. Waaaaay back in 4th grade we were getting ready to end the school year and my teacher was giving away prizes of things that we had used during the year but weren't needed for the next year. When each item was to be given away he would draw a name and then write it on the board with all of us watching. I don't remember what the item was but I clearly remember my teacher writing "A-N-D-R-E.....W." UGH. Stupid Andrew. What a letdown. That last letter was suppposed to be an "A"! You know, you see five out of the six letters of your name it and it never occurs to you that the 6th letter won't be what you're expecting. At least, those are my feelings. Sorry to anyone of you named Andrew reading this. It's not that I don't like you, it's just that your name has caused a decent amount of disappointment in my life. But perhaps so has mine for you so I guess we're even. 

It's been such a long time...

If you aren't hearing Boston after reading that title...you didn't grow up with my dad. Loooove Boston! But, really, it's been forever since I posted. Sorry about that. The end of June and July so far have been pretty whirling for me. The last week in June I was preparing for my hubby to come home for his last leave before he deployed. Ten amazing days flew by and then he was gone again.We packed a lot into that time. We saw lots of family and friends, got to visit the newest addition to our family (my cousin's sweet baby boy), caught a movie, went to the gun range with our dads, had a party for Stud and saw fireworks on the Fourth, had a date night at the Melting Pot (yum!), managed to work out twice together, went to church, kayaked, played laser tag, hung out at the pool, finally picked out some wedding pictures (it's been a year and a half!) and just enjoyed being together. It was great. Saying goodbye, though, was really not great. Man, do I hate that part. Stud had to go back to CA for about a week before he actually left for Afghanistan.

By Wednesday of that next week I was in the swing of my normal routine, though still missing my husband terribly especially knowing that we were now in the long haul and that it would be several months before we would see each other again. That night on the phone, Stud casually mentioned that he had the weekend off and all I could think about was how much I wished I could be there to spend that time with him. Thursday morning I couldn't help but texting, "Would it be ridiculous to try to come out this weekend?" Expecting my much-more-level-headed husband to say something to the affirmative, his response of, "No, it wouldn't. Last chance to see me," sent me into a frenzy of surfing travel websites and making calls. Just a few hours later I had the approval from work to take a half day on Friday, the commitment from my dad to bring me to the airport and pick me up and a seat on a flight out to San Diego.

I gotta admit, I felt a little like a crazy person making such an impulse decision to leave the state, but that didn't last long. I was so excited to spend one more weekend together, and it was such short notice that I didn't even have to spend more than two days in aggravating anticipation!

I wasn't able to get a direct flight there (or back), but even leaving at 2:45 pm I got to San Diego at about 6:00 pm (I love gaining those two hours in the time change). The plan was for him to get a ride to the airport and meet me there, but he didn't get released until an hour and a half after he expected so he was running late. I decided to go ahead and take the shuttle to get our rental car and meet up after that. I had arranged to rent a Dodge Charger to surprise Stud because he is all about the Charger right now. I was pretty bummed, though, to learn that they didn't have one on hand when I went to pick it up. I was informed that one was supposed to be coming back very soon and, since I had to wait for Stud to get to San Diego anyway, I decided to wait at the car rental station and see if the car would come in. I waited FOR-E-VER. The lady who had helped me felt bad for me for waiting so long so by the time Stud was getting to San Diego (over two hours later than expected), she offered me ANY car in the place. "Take the convertible!" she said. Oh yeah! So out of the rental station I drove in a pristine, white Mustang convertible. They were so nice that they even said they would call when the Charger came in and we could switch out the cars if Stud still had his heart set on a Charger. The minute, though, that he got in the convertible he assured me that there was no way we'd be exchanging it for the Charger. Ha! We absolutely loved driving around in that baby all weekend.

That whole experience of waiting for Stud and not getting the car I thought I wanted was the only hitch in the entire weekend...and look at how it turned out! Free upgrade! The whole weekend was beautiful. Absolutely amazing.

Stud is gone now. He's in Afghanistan and I won't see him for 7-9 months. We've both been treasuring the memories from that weekend and letting the good times be our comfort when we're missing each other.

So, partly for my own therapy and partly so you can share in the magic, here are some pictures from our blissful final weekend. Oh, and I apologize for the crappy picture quality. They were all taken with my phone.

Our ride for the weekend: 

Ha! Just kidding. This baby was parked outside of a great restaurant we love called Escape Fish Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter on Friday night. It caused quite the scene. The owner, wherever he/she was, left it like that with the doors open for at least a half hour causing everyone to gather around it staring or get their picture taken with it. 

You seriously MUST go to this restaurant if you are ever in San Diego. The food is delicious and both times that we were there (we went there the first time I went to visit Stud), the owner was there working and mingling with the customers. It's a small operation but I think that's what makes it so good. Can't wait to go back there.

 

Check out their website here.

Ok, serioulsy. Here's what we got to drive all weekend: 

Who is that handsome man?!

 That car was a blast. Driving around was fun all by itself...just had to remember the sun tan lotion! All the guys on base wanted a ride (partly just because almost no one has their own vehicle) and we had a ton of fun testing its limits on freeway.

Now here is a look at some of the fabulous food we ate at a restaurant in Seaport Village called the Harbor House: 

Check them out here!

We ate on the patio overlooking the water: 

Photos courtesy of the Harbor House website.

Oyster shots! What a kick!

After an amazing dinner we took a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, just like we did on our honeymoon in New York City. 

His name was "Doc"

And a little later that night...

Fireworks on the water.

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

And here is where we stayed: Camp Pendleton (45 miles North of San Diego).

Where Brandon was living; the front gate to Camp Pendleton.

Stud had to spend some time packing

That little roll is one day's worth of under clothes: shirt, shorts and socks.

And getting a haircut

Those guys can cut a head of hair in about 7 minutes! Haircuts are a weekly requirement for all Marines.

On Sunday, our last day, we visited Old Town again (we had gone there a couple times the last time I visited Stud). That area, and a lot of San Diego, is filled with beautiful, flowering trees.

 

It almost makes up for the fact that San Diego is sooo dry. I'm always happy to be surrounded by green when I get home.

I wouldn't know how to reproduce the shots below but I think they're kinda cool!

The nature here is so different from home. There's always something really cool to look at.

You can't really get more vibrant colors.

It is such a beautiful place and there are shops everywhere. It's the historic heart of San Diego so most of the shops have a Mexican theme to them and their are lots of Mexican restaurants from which to choose.
We happened upon a lovely wine bar with the most inviting outdoor seating.

We lounged there for awhile and shared a bottle of our favorite wine. It was so relaxing and lovely.

Even their bathroom was a sight to see, painted as a scene from the bottom of the sea:

I definitely want to go back to that place. We were the only ones there so it was marvelous. Of course, not many people are drinking wine at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, but, hey, it was our last weekend and we can't help what time of day we stumble across a delightful wine bar.

The fantastic thing about this weekend, other than the simple fact that I was with my husband 24/7, was that it was a bonus. Completely unplanned. We had no idea that we would get this time together and since we had already spent several days in San Diego a little over a month before, there was no pressure to "see" San Diego. Of course, no matter how many times you go to San Diego, there will always be new things to see and do, but we didn't really do anything new this time. It was low-key and perfect. It was comforting and romantic to visit some of the same places that we had seen the first time around, like they were "our" restaurants or "our" nooks. So to finish off our last day, we headed to La Jolla, a place where we had dinner with a view of the sun setting on the ocean that last time we were in the city. We were too early for the sunset this time, but that didn't matter. The restaurant is called Brockton Villa and it has a great patio that sits a couple stories above the road that runs along the coast. From there you can see and hear the seals sunning themselves on the rocks and playing in the water.

This was our view last time:

And this is where we sat this time:

Click here to see a virtual tour of this ocean-side restaurant.

After we ate there, we walked down to the coast and explored a little. It was really pretty.

I do wish we would have had a little more time there. There was so much to explore there and it was beautiful. They even had a little cave/tunnel down by the water that you could go in.

Here are some more pictures of the incredible wildlife.

We got a glimpse of the sunset at the very end. 

From there it was back to San Diego to drop off the Mustang and catch the shuttle to the airport. The USO at the airport conveniently offers rides from the airport back to Camp Pendleton so Stud was able to be with me right until I had to go through security. We got to the airport with about 30 minutes for getting checked-in and saying goodbye. Brandon waited right on the other side of security to wave goodbye at the very last moment that we could see each other, just like I had done when he left Minnesota and we thought we wouldn't see each other again before he left. That goodbye was super hard. You wonder if you're hugging him for the last time ever and seeing his face for the last time. Even if you try not to think that way, it creeps in. 

God must have known I needed a distraction because that flight (to AZ for a quick layover) was the first time I've flown where I chit-chatted with the person next to me. Without that person to talk to, I probably would have wallowed in the sadness the whole flight. In no time I was on the next flight on my way home to Minneapolis and was thrilled to learn that I had been upgraded to First Class so that they could seat a family together. I didn't believe it at first but after checking and double-checking my ticket I was delighted to sink into the extra big, leather seat where a pillow and blanket were waiting. I slept almost the entire flight home, even it was only two and a half hours. I had to work the next on only about three hours of sleep but I would have put myself through a lot worse than that for the chance to spend that last weekend together.
 

Operation Gym Coup: Week Three Review

Wow! It's already the end of week three! Do you know what that means? It means Stud comes home in ONE WEEK! I can't wait. Until then, I still have some major work to do.

This mission has been going well but I haven't always been super enthusiastic about getting myself to the gym. In fact last Thursday I was practically in tears on the phone with my hubby. It was probably like 9:30 pm and I still hadn't gone to the gym and I hadn't gone the last two nights either. I couldn't afford that kind of slacking if I were still going to meet my goal. On top of that, I was going out of town that weekend and for sure wouldn't get to the gym Saturday and if I were going to go Friday, it needed to be in the morning before work. So there I was, on the couch, not wanting to leave the house knowing that not only would it be a late night, but also an early morning if I were going to get to the gym before work.

But Stud definitely encouraged me. He reminded me that a goal is a priority. Since when can you achieve your goals without having to sacrifice anything? Wasn't I going up north to relax all weekend? Couldn't I just push through the next twelve hours? How important is my goal anyway?

Needless to say, I got up, put on my gym clothes and made it to the gym by 10 something AND was right back there at 6:20 am the next morning. It sure felt good to follow through and I'm pretty appreciative of my hubby's motivational speeches.

Lately I've been thinking about what I like too much that prevents me from making my goals the priorities they should be. Here's a list of things that I've come up with so far:
1. Sleeeeeeeeeeep!
2. Relaxation/down time
3. Talking to Stud on the phone (that one seems fair!)
4. Crafting
5. Movies

All of these things often seem way more enticing than hitting the gym. However, I've been trying really hard to not see the gym as a drag, but as a commitment to the lifestyle that I want to have. It's like that song from the Sound of Music: "Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could." I can't expect to get fit without putting the work in. By the way, I think there's something to learn from that song, Big Bang theorists...helllooooo!


I was also really encouraged this week by getting a chance to meet and talk to one of the new owners of the Eden Prairie Anytime Fitness. She and her husband just bought it a couple of weeks ago and they happened to be there later at night one night this week. I was happy to see someone in the office because I had noticed that on AnytimeHealth.com, where I can track how many visits to the gym I have made, it only logs one visit per day. When I realized this I was pretty bummed because I needed to swipe my card twice a couple of days to get credit for doing the MS 150 (especially since I was gone those days and couldn't get to the gym if I wanted to) and I was also banking on getting some more double days in on the weekends to make up for some of my slacker days during the week. By the time I realized it was only counting once a day, I was already to the point where I thought I wouldn't be able to catch up even if I went every day until the end of the month. However, I talked to Amanda, the new owner, at the gym and she was able to look me up on their computer and confirm that all of my visits are indeed being counted, just not on my personal page at AnytimeHealth.com. 

Not only that but she looked at some other numbers and told me that I was currently in second place!

Yep. There was only one person who had logged more visits that I had (three more, to be exact). Wow! That was such a boost! This victory is mine for the taking! And it IS that dramatic. Ha. 

So with the pep talk from my husband, the knowledge that all of my visits are being logged and the little tidbit that I'm scarcely behind the top biggest user,  I had no problem getting to the gym almost every night this week. 

This last week is the final push and I plan to go twice both days this weekend since I have most of the weekend free. I'm even getting better at doing some weight-lifting and not just cardio while I'm at the gym. It is really important to add weight training to your routine. A lot of the time I feel like lifting weights is just robbing from my cardio time but the more muscle you have, the more calories your burn at rest so it's really not a bad trade-off. Plus, feeling sore the next couple of days really makes me feel like I did something and it's tangible evidence of your muscles (and your body) transforming little by little. 

This is what I got to see on my way to the gym one night last week: 

Couldn't ask for a better backdrop!

Here's to finishing out this last week strong!

Operation Good News

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:14-17

As a Christian, it's not just a nice idea to read the Bible. It's of utmost importance...and it's not optional. Matthew 4:4 reveals what we can already intuit, that physical nourishment isn't enough to satisfy a child of God: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." In John 4:13,14 Jesus himself told the woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." We must be convinced that we are not just flesh and bones whose only needs are physical. We need and crave spiritual food just as C. S. Lewis wrote, "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body."

Moreover, it's our responsibility to know the truth that is found in God's word (2 Timothy 2:15 compels us to be someone who is "rightly dividing the word of truth") and we are indeed commanded  in Joshua 1:8 to "meditate on it day and night." With verses as plain as that, there's no getting around the fact that Christians need to be in the Word. 

Lack of direction can be one of my biggest obstacles to staying in the Word. I can't tell you how many times I have sat down to read my Bible and couldn't think of where to start. Should I start a new book? Read some psalms or proverbs? Do a topical study? I've even opened my Bible to a random page and started reading from there. Part of the incredible beauty of the Bible is that you can be fed even through such haphazard methods. What you have read 20 times can reveal new truth the 21st time and what you randomly read one night can be more perfect than anything you could have methodically been searching for. Hebrews 4:12 explains why every bit of the Bible is so powerful: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."


Unfortunately there are a variety of things that keep me from reading the Bible as much as I know I want and need to. And what's a great way to turn this situation around? Make it a mission! If this is your first look at one of my missions, you can check out my whole philosophy behind missions here. For those of you already up to speed, you know what's next: OSMEAC.

O Here's where I am: I've got more Bibles around the house than days of the week but they are read far too sparingly. 


S Here's what's happening: I'm not getting the spiritual food I need. Just like a relationship with another person, your relationship with God needs to be cultivated. I wouldn't expect to grow closer to my husband if I never talked to him, would I? And how foolish would I be if I never read the emails and letters and texts that he sent me? All relationships require time and effort. As a Christian, I have so much to gain from reading the Bible and yet it often seems like a struggle to make it daily habit. 


M Here's what I'm going to do: My mission is to read the entire New Testament, the Good News of what Jesus has done for us, by the end of the summer (that is September 1st). There are 27 books in the New Testament...."each one a special part. So I learned this song and it didn't take long till I knew them all by heart!" Sorry. Those songs you learn as a little kid really stick with you! So, like I was saying, 27 books make up the New Testament and, in my Bible, that's almost exactly 500 pages. 


E Here's how I'm going to do it: There are approximately 10 weeks left of summer so that breaks down to about 50 pages a week, which is less than 10 pages a day...how attainable is that?! Honestly, this mission almost seems too easy. But I'm gonna stick with this time line so that I really get the most out of this mission and don't just rush through these truth-packed pages. I typically like to read my Bible before bed but I'm going to be flexible about when and where I read. 


A Here's what will help: As usual, being intentional is key to most of life's pursuits. Reading my Bible is something I think about every day, but it's not something I'm intentional about every day. This mission will not only help me organize a plan and provide direction, it will remind me that I have to consciously pursue the things that are important to me. It will help motivate me to read because I'll know exactly what I'm going to be reading when I open my Bible instead of picking a passage on the fly. 

I'm also excited to make this my first mission with a call to action! Something that I think would be an awesome support for this goal is to partner with other readers. If you are interested in joining me on this mission, please let me know! I would love to share what we learn and the new things that stand out to us as we go. I'm looking for at least five partners with this mission (and would be extremely excited to double that), to read the entire New Testament by September 1st and to share what is revealed to you in the process. I encourage you to leave a comment stating your intent to join in on this journey that will surely be rewarding. Who knows who will be encouraged and motivated by your commitment (you know it will at least be me)! 


Finally and foremost, the thing that I believe will help the most is simply getting started. Hunger for God's truth and promises is both satiated and augmented by the reading of scripture. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm really going to enjoy and be challenged by this mission!


C Here's the accountability: As always, this blog offers much of the accountability that I am relying on to accomplish this mission. I will be posting updates, though probably not weekly as I have done with other missions simply because this is a longer term mission. I will also be communicating my goal to some of my mentors in the faith to make sure that I am progressing at a nice, even pace instead of trying to read 450 pages the last two weeks of August. 

"R" is for Rank and Insignia

*This post is the first of a new series entitled "ABCs of a Corps Life" about everything military-related. 

Check out this page for more info and for an continually updated list of topics.*

I'll never forget one of the first times that I saw a "silver lining" to Stud's military involvement. Remember that it had only been a few months since we rekindled our romantic relationship when he came home from his very first round of training and found out that he would be deploying right away. I had a lot of mixed feelings about the Marine Corps and its power to take this man away from me at the drop of a hat. Well, the adjustments just kept rolling in over the next few months, but one day we were talking on the phone during either his training or the deployment and he said, "Oh, by the way, the Marine Corps Ball is in November." What? Ball? Marine Corps Ball? Ok, now all of this military stuff is starting to pay off!

So what? I'm a woman, aren't I? If being told that I get to attend a ball puts me in a better mood while my love is gone I'll take it! And so began the hunt for the perfect dress...not that it mattered because I bought one only a couple of weeks before the ball even after having MONTHS to look for one. However the dress wasn't the only think on my mind about this weekend (the Marine Corps Ball is actually a weekend event). After hearing Stud rattle off people's names preceded by their rank for the last several months, I wanted to make sure that I, too, would know what's going on and when I was talking to someone "important." I figured that spending a little time to become familiar with the USMC rank and insignia would be a great way to show my support and pride; and, hey, if this was gonna be part of my life for the next 6-8 years, I needed to stay on top of it as much as I could!

It's funny how little ranks meant to me as a civilian in a purely civilian world. Lieutenant? Private? What's the difference? In movies it was only body language and the way people reacted to each other that told me who had authority over whom. If you get a Lieutenant and a Private mixed up in the military, though, you're in deep...well, you know what.

Rank is a BIG deal. I'm still wrapping my head around just how important the rank structure is and sometimes it still boggles my mind how tightly the men and women are held to their ranking system. Don't get me wrong, I understand that it is, indeed, very important for this structure to exist and function properly. I mean, of all people, I get structure. Like anything, though, it's not without its drawbacks. For example, you get an arrogant Staff Sergeant who decides he doesn't like a particular PFC and things are not going to go well for that PFC. Right or wrong, getting dumped on by a higher-ranking Marine is most likely just part of the upbringing for most Devil Dogs. Whether it's some form or initiation, a punishment gone overboard, or just a reality of imperfect humans performing imperfectly, poorly-yielded authority is probably no more common in the military than it is in families or corporations; even if you have a generally good system, some people are going to abuse it or get abused by it. When you're in the military, though, you can't just quit your job if you boss is a jerk or move out if your parents are too strict. Compliance and obedience are part of the deal and they have to be if the military is to run successfully for obvious reasons. Having positive or negative experiences with your chain of command can really make or break your attitude especially since, in the military, you can't just leave work for the day or go out for a drive; you're "on" all the of the time and you don't control your day-to-day, hour-to-hour life.

Before you get the idea that all the "highers" just throw their weight around and that it sucks for everyone, let me highlight some of the really beneficial aspects of the rank structure.
1. It creates an organization in which everyone knows where they stand.
2. It provides motivation to improve and move up.
3. It fosters camaraderie among peers and, hopefully, trust in those in authority.
4. It ensures accountability.
5. It demands quality.
6. It's traditional (for a lot of people, this is enough of a reason by itself).
7. It allows people to focus on their particular job, and for all functions to come together methodically.

It may be hard to get used to, but this structure seems to be the backbone of the USMC. It facilitates all other functions from training to supply chain, transportation to support services, and, let's not forget, kicking butt!

Oorah!!

Seriously, how handsome is this Lance Corporal? 

Clockwise starting at the top left:

1. Training in boot camp

2.Gunner for convoy security (Iraq)

3. Goofing round in Iraq

4. Graduating from boot camp

Ok, so just in case you want to familiarize yourself with the Marine Corps rank and insignia, it is as follows:

Enlisted ranks

See the insignia for Master Gunnery Sergeant (third from the right)? I call it a pineapple but apparently it's a bursting bomb. I didn't know this until Stud was quizzing me and I said "Master Gunnery Sergeant: 3 chevrons (the bars on top), 4 rockers (the bars on the bottom) and the pineapple." He wasn't sure what I was talking about at first. I wonder why it was so easy for him to perceive a bomb and for me to perceive a pineapple. Yeah, such a mystery.

 Photo credits here, here and here.

Here are the officer ranks. In the Marine Corps, if you went the enlisted route, you become a non-commissioned officer (NCO) once you hit corporal and through sergeant. At staff sergeant and above, you're known as a staff non-commissioned officer (SNCO).  However, to start out at Officer Candidate School (OCS) to become a commissioned officer, you have to already have achieved a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Officer ranks

Charts from www.marines.com.

Each branch of the military has its own ranking structure although they share similarities. Marine Corps insignia is displayed on the arm of the uniform or on the collar. If you want to learn more check out the USMC website.

Knowing the ranks goes a long way in understanding what a service member is talking about. It can automatically give you perspective when hearing about various situations. If Stud tells me that he heard a rumor that they were coming home early (this happened last deployment) and the info is coming from a lance corporal or even a corporal or sergeant, I might not get too excited. If, however, the news came down from a captain or a gunny (Gunnery Sergeant) or someone like that, I might get my hopes up. As a side note, rumors almost never pan out no matter where they originate. When Stud tells me about so-and-so, I almost always ask what his or her rank is just to get an idea of where they fall into the structure. There's a lot at play in the conversations and practices of those serving. And to make things even more complex, there's also a rule against fraternization. So the men and women are really only supposed to hang out with people of their same rank, which can also skew the information that each person receives. This rule has exceptions but, from my view on the sidelines, they seem to keep it up pretty well. 

Of course, all of that being said, there are tons of nuances to keep track of. Here's my simple understanding: technically, if someone outranks you, they can tell you what to do, but sometimes you get told what to do by multiple people and it's not always consistent. Or sometimes someone outranks you but isn't directly in your chain of command. In those cases, it's not so cut and dry. One of the most common questions I ask after Stud tells me about a situation is, "Yeah, but do you have to listen to him?" Haha. I guess that shows my rebellious side. There's just too much authority to keep track of! But the guys (and gals) do a fabulous job for the most part and they get it done! Seriously, how many of us could hold up under so many levels of authority? You really have to admire their patience, flexibility and loyalty. 

Bravo to all you men and women out there who maneuver the waters of rank structure with pride AND humility. Your willingness to walk that line allows the military machine to power along and keep us safe! 

So that's my brief explanation of my limited understanding of the Rank and Insignia of the Marine Corps and how important it really is. 

Cartoon credit and unedited version here. The Marines are part of the Navy and sometimes it's not a stretch at all to apply the term "Swear like a sailor" to some of these...

ABCs of the Corps Life

The Few and the Proud. Be All that You Can Be. It's Not Just a Job. It's an Adventure! I bet we all know several slogans like these, seeking to entice (mostly) young men and women to consider joining a branch of the US military. I remember my last year in high school and for the next couple years getting calls from recruiters asking if I had weighed my options and filling me in on the benefits of a military career, but until a few years ago I never gave much thought to the military. I wasn't close to anyone that was currently serving and it just never seemed like a realistic lifestyle for me. I've always had a lot of respect for our members of the military but it was easy to feel so removed from it all. I figured that the people who needed to know what was going on were doing what they needed to do and therefore I could focus on my own pursuits. Of course, that all changed when the love of my life enlisted. I won't go into all the sappy details but if you're curious you can read about them here.

Being married to a Marine has opened up a whole world to me about which I hadn't a clue. I am very proud of my husband, his fellow Marines and the men and women who serve in the military in general. It's been an honor to get to glimpse into this realm where people aren't just going to work, they're going to war so that the rest of us can go to work. I could go on an on about the impact that the military has had on our lives in the few short years since Stud enlisted so I thought it would be helpful to give it a little structure. Oh, how I love structure.

This is the place where I will share what I have learned, what I still don't understand, the struggles that I face, the pride I feel and everything else related to life through the eyes of a Marine wife. Please check back as I will continuously be adding to the list, listing subjects alphabetically. If you have an idea, a topic you'd like to see covered or a question related to military life, I'd love to hear it and possibly write about it! I'll be asking other service members, wives and family members to contribute too.

Operation Gym Coup: Week One & Two Review

June has been flying by and I'm already two weeks into my goal of becoming one of my gym's Biggest Users. I meant to get an update out after the first week, but preparing for the MS 150 last weekend got in the way so I'm combining weeks one and two. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about this goal just because I've had so little motivation lately; I wasn't sure I could get myself to the gym almost every. HOWEVER, it's been going great! It actually feels soooo good to be going regularly again. I'm surprised at how much I missed it without even knowing.

It's so interesting how your perspective of "the gym" is shaped. When you think of the gym, you probably have a completely different picture in mind than I do. For example, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to go to the gym every morning before work. Would I see the same people? Would I be frustrated by how busy it is or enjoy the community feel? Would the morning light coming through the windows make me somehow feel differently or change my motivation? Would the knowledge that after I'm done working out, I have to go to work alter how long I want to work out since it always seems like I want to do something as soon as I don't have time? So many things subtly impact our attitude about working out and the environments in which we exercise.

I like working out at night. Always have. There are all kinds of reasons to not work out at night but I just prefer it. It feels so good at the end of the day to just go and get your blood pumping and endorphins flowing. It helps me let go of everything from during the day. So when I think of the gym, I picture a quiet place where there are only a few people who are finishing out their day by powering through a workout. The sky is dark and you can see your reflection in the window. The equipment is all neat and clean and the storage cubbies are mostly empty. It's such a relaxing place to get into your own thoughts and drives. It's just you pushing you.

Plus, the entertainment is way better at night. One of the things that has come to be a motivator for me is being able to watch specific shows at the gym. I love Anytime Fitness because a lot of their gyms are equipped with machines that have their own personal TVs with headphone jacks. We don't have TV or cable at home (just movies and Netflix streaming) so sometimes the biggest reason I drag myself to the gym is to see What Not to Wear or the new episode of Law and Order. It's like a treat. It also helps me endure a longer workout because sometimes I really want to see the end of whatever I'm watching. There are a lot of benefits to working out without distractions and focusing on your body, but listening to music or watching something can be really effective too. I don't usually plan ahead to go just for a specific show unless it's something I really like, but here's an example of what a week's schedule might include if I did:

Monday - Pawn Stars @ 9:00 PM on the History Channel

Tuedsay - Wing it!

Wednesday - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit @ 9:00 PM on NBC

Thursday- The Daily Show with John Stewart & the Colbert Report @ 10:00 PM on Comedy Central

Friday - Say Yes to the Dress @ 9:00 PM on TLC or Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC

...not the best TV has to offer but almost anything is better than nothing. Ok. That's not true. A couple nights ago I would turn to a channel, wait for the commercial to be over to see what was actually on, discover it was something stupid, turn to the next channel, wait for more commercials and so on...the second half of my workout I watched more commercials than I did any actual show. No wonder I don't miss TV. And I still haven't gotten into watching sports while I workout. I see all kinds of people watching sports at the gym and I just don't get it. This is mostly because I HATE watching sports on TV to begin with, but what I haven't figured out is whether they watch sports because that is their program of choice and they would watch it even if they were not at the gym, or if they watch it because watching other people being physically active is motivating them to work harder on the treadmill. Can someone enlighten me on this? Nothing's worse to me than when I gotta "share" a TV with some guy who has it on basketball. Enough about TV, eh? 

Down to business. How do you think I did the first week? Take a guess. From June 1st to June 8th how many times did I go to the gym? 

Here are some pictures of my cats to give you time to make your guess. 

 

Analie misses Brandon almost as much as I do.

They look for his truck to drive up (or at the birds). 

Ana watches TV to pass the time.

Derby dreams of Stud petting her.

Ok. Do you have you guess?

If you guessed THREE...

you were so wrong. And thanks for the lack of confidence. Sheesh.

If you guess SEVEN...

you were also wrong, but I appreciate your support!!

I went SIX times. Yay!

Here's a screen shot from my profile on Anytime Health so you know it's true. 

I was feeling pretty good after the first week. My plans for the second week got a little interrupted by the MS 150, but, hey, I rode 150 miles in two days! So I think I'm still on track. If you want to see how I got involved with the MS 150, check out this page. I didn't work out the Thursday or Friday before the weekend of the ride. I intended to Thursday but there was so much to get done and the day just got away from me and Friday I knew ahead of time was going to be a non-gym day. I'm eager to post about my experience with the MS 150 this year but for the purpose of this review I'll just say that it was a fabulous 75 miles on Saturday and a PAINFUL 75 miles on Sunday.

I actually made it back into the gym right away on Monday. I was pretty sore and a little stiff still so I went early enough in the evening to walk the 15-20 minutes to the gym instead of driving and spent my time there just stretching and doing some upper body weights. I also swiped my card an extra time to count one of the days that I rode last weekend and I'll swipe an extra time again to count the second day. I am totally giving myself "gym" credit for those two days. Total time on the bike was 5 hours on the first day and 6 hours on the second day...just a tad more than I usually spend in the gym on a normal day. Ha!

This week has gotten off to a slow start. Since Monday I haven't been to the gym. Two days off in a row doesn't seem to bad but I get kick it up a notch to achieve my goal. It's not really that I don't want to go to the gym...although I think the long weekend zapped some of my energy. It's scrapbooking. Yep. Scrapbooking is thwarting my goal. I decided that I want to make a scrapbook for biking and the MS 150 so I got a bunch of supplies and once I get going I just don't want to stop. It's hard when I'm all settled in in the evening working on a project to get changed and go out to the gym. But tonight I gottta go. I'm gonna be out of town again this weekend so I really can't afford to take any more days off just because I don't feel like it. Wish me luck because I'm starting to feel a little discouraged. I'm still confident that I will achieve my goal but I'm just dragging a little. Stud and I haven't had a decent conversation in what feels like forever and I'm so ready for him to be home.

Here's a glimpse at probably the most relaxing part of last weekend: all of the tents set up as the sun went down on the first day...

Rosette Name Plaque

I didn't realize how vast and varied Blogland is until I started really getting into DIY projects and crafting. Reading so many creative and interesting blogs is what really made me want to have my own. I've always liked writing and being able to have a record of my thoughts, but when I saw what so many people were doing with their blogs, how they were sharing their ideas and showcasing their talents and achievements (and failures too), the desire to have my own space grew and grew. I could spend hours blog hopping. I often start at one of my favorites, then click on a link to one of their favorites, and so on until I can't even remember how I arrived a new blog that I absolutely love. After all my other posts, I'm excited to finally post something about what got me so interested in blogging.

Crafting has become a huge passion of mine. It's thrilling for me to be able to take a bunch of supplies and make them into something totally different, completely customized and uniquely perfect for my purposes. It's an even bigger thrill if I can do it for cheap! Crafting opens up a whole new world of what things could be. My hubby and I were browsing in Goodwill several months ago and I remember showing him things and getting a face like, "Are you kidding? That's hideous." And, of course, Goodwill has (more than) it's fair share of hideous things. But as he was looking at what was there, I was looking at what it could be. In fact, it's very rare for me to go shopping for things and expect to find something I'll like without any alterations even at non-secondhand stores. When I explained to Stud how I was looking at everything he expressed that, to him, that's a frustrating way to approach shopping, having to imagine what everything could be instead of just taking it as it is and then having to get it home and do work on it. But, aha! That isn't work for me. It's fun! I don't want to display other peoples' ideas of home decor. I want to make my own! Of course, not everything in my house is homemade or altered, but I do find a lot of joy in making something from scratch or finding something that I would like a little bit better if I made a few changes to it.

Another great thing about crafting is that it opens all kinds of doors for giving gifts. How many times have you had the perfect idea for someone but knew that you would never find it in the mall? It's so perfect you don't even know how to look for it. Well, the more you get into crafting the more you can make those gifts that are exactly what you want to give (and hopefully what that person wants to get). Homemade gifts can also really come through for you in a pinch, when you don't have much time and/or money.

Ok, so not everyone is thrilled with homemade gifts, but, when in doubt, try combining homemade gifts with "real" gifts to get them used to the idea. Hehe. For example, I typically wouldn't make something homemade for my brother whose interests (such as music and sound, writing and film, and cars) don't really lend themselves to crafts, but as part of his Christmas present last year, I made coasters with pictures of album covers from one of his favorite bands on them. And since this particular band, Porcupine Tree, isn't super well known, there is a very limited selection of memorabilia for them. There. Homemade, customized, rare and still kinda cool. Right? Check out Porcupine Tree here (they're kinda dark and they're album covers are creepy, but their sound is pretty mellow). And listen to one of my favorite songs of theirs here.

I gotta say one more thing about crafts and gift giving: packing is huge! When I was little we got Christmas presents in the mail from my dad's sister, my Aunt Les, who lives in Ohio. I always knew which presents were from her because of how they were wrapped. They were so pretty! They always had elegant paper and some sort of special bow, or embellishment or cute tag or something. It was like the wrapping was part of the gift. You could tell that extra time had gone into wrapping them. The more that I get set up with my own supplies now as an adult, the more excited I get about spending time on the wrapping and presentation of the gifts I give. It really does make a difference and builds that much more anticipation to open it! Even if you aren't giving homemade gifts, you can express how special the receiver is to you by spending time on the wrapping with homemade tags, bows or even homemade wrapping paper. Plus, in my opinion, putting a ribbon on anything makes it a gift, no matter how small or seemingly trivial. But beware: no matter how much time you spend on a package, it will get destroyed...and that's ok. :)

Ok, blah blah blah. Crafting is fun and useful. Onto the actual craft.

One of the last days before Brandon left to start training in CA, we went to Stillwater, MN to explore. Stillwater has all kinds of cool shops and antique stores and you could probably spend a couple of days there looking around. In one of the shops I found a wooden plaque that spelled, "Bloom." It was so perfect for a friend of mine whose last name was Bloom. On top of that, she just moved and I was on the lookout for a housewarming gift. On top of that, it was on sale! I had to buy it. However, the plaque was covered with some kind of dumb, pastel, polka dotted paper so I didn't want to give it to her like that. Yuck.

This friend of mine is into roses (not only the way it plays off of her last name, but the imagery of them and what the word "bloom" can signify), so I brainstormed how I could incorporated roses into the plaque. Then I remembered a tutorial I had noted for a rosette covered wreath found on a blog called Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn.

I've had this project on my list for awhile. It's made with newspaper but you could use pages from a book or a map or magazine or anything. I've been wanting to make one with paper from the New York Times or something like that to remind us of the wonderful time we spend in New York City on our honeymoon. Anyway, I remembered this tutorial and thought it would be cute to cover the plaque with little rosettes. But I wanted to make it red and give it some texture so I used red felt and, following the instructions from the tutorial, starting rolling up my roses.

It took A LOT of roses to fill up the letters so when I got sick of rolling roses, I would take a break and start gluing them onto the plaque with a glue gun, using different sizes to fill different parts of the letters.

More rolling and gluing. 

Take a break to shoo the ladies out of my bag of supplies.

And after just a few hours of rolling and gluing, I had the plaque covered. 

Sorry, the shadowing makes it kind of hard to see. Here's another: 

Seeing it all done, I felt like it was missing something. I thought about it for a little bit and finally decided to add some little leaves to the corner. I layered some green felt and some green, sheer chiffon fabric to make a little cluster of leaves. The chiffon fabric was leftover from making my lady cats tutus for Halloween. They were not impressed.

 Ana wouldn't stay in it long enough for a picture and Derby wouldn't do anything but sit or lay down in it and try to weasel her pudginess out of it (at which she was quite adept).

Make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif.

I think that sheer fabric helped make all of that felt a little more delicate and feminine. You can't see it real well in these pics, but here are a couple shots. I placed the cluster on the bottom corner of the plaque, off of the "M."

And here is the finished product: 

My friend loved it and actually collects things that say "bloom" so I was super excited to find the plaque and customize it to make it exactly what I wanted to give to her. And, heck, this reminds us to

Bloom where you're planted

and 

Stop and smell the roses. 

Have a great day!