My life is running away...

with from me. I can't really decide which. All the same. I feel like I am being swept away by things out of my control. I feel like I'm not longer an active participant in my life. Well, screw that... I no longer feel like I'm in control of my life- "eff" participating. Basically my life is using me to cook, clean and organize daily efforts not to stink and otherwise keep hygiene at a respectable level.
Have YOU ever felt this way?
Surly, I can't be the only one.
Right?

Here's what's happened:
I got a job. "The Man," is toying with me. He's a mean, evil, tireless man. There's always something to do or some excuse as to why I can't have coffee and tool around Target for hours (staring at diapers) with my friends, stay at home in my sweats, wipe the counters with 409 (for the 200th time, in one day), stay on top of the laundry (building outside my room, closet, and in the laundry room). Oh, and never mind all the forms that have to be completed for Passports, Home sale/Short Sale... I'll ya what, this being a grown up business is for the birds!
Do you ever feel like the weekend isn't long enough? Or like life and the world, your family, simply: every-freaking-thing is just passing you by without any opportunity to relax, be thankful, count your blessings, participate or just enjoy any of it?
That's how I'm feeling.

I had a glimpse of the good life. The life which allowed me to have coffee and tool around Target for hours (staring at diapers) with my friends, or stay at home in my sweats, or wipe the counters with 409 (for the 200th time, in one day), stay on top of the laundry. Not to mention allowed for adequate time for blogging! I was out of work for almost two years. Granted, I need to work. We, (the collective, hubs and myself) need to pay our mortgage, pay for things we purchased years ago (most of which we probably don't have anymore or no longer care about)-ahem, debt debt..., and otherwise make ends meat and keep us in the lap of luxury to which we have become accustomed. Right. No seriously, working is a part of my life. It's a part of my life anyway. This is a truth I reluctantly happily accepted about 6 months ago.

So here I am doing a job I'm way overqualified for counting down the months until we move to GERMANY.

Winner!

The winner of my most recent giveaway, of $15 to CSNstores.com goes to Erin! This may come as a surprise to those who know that Erin and I are actual-in-real-life-friends. Well, Erin was chosen by random.org after all entries were put into an Excel spreadsheet.
Somehow I doubt anyone will care, truly and honestly. Because there was a whopping 10 entries to my giveaway. All the same, lets congratulate Erin on her win.
---
More later readers... <3

Happiness

"Happiness is not in our circumstance but in ourselves.
It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. 
Happiness is something you are."


I hope you find you're happiness today. 

Mil-News

I don't know about all of you guys but I pay extra attention to the news about all things military; and Army, more specifically.
Did you hear that July is now recorded as the deadliest month since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, 8 years ago? Total reported US casualties for July is 66.

Photos like these break my heart:

{source: LA Times}

{source: MSN}

{source: AolNews}

It's just heart-wrenching to see. It's reality, obviously but so moving when you're smacked in the face with the headlines on just about every major news website out there. On the flip side I'm happy to see this making headlines versus Season 2 of the Jersey Shore (in Miami... yea, doesn't make sense to be either).

In other Mil-related-news, the deadline is approaching for your stipend if you or your solder were "stop lossed". Military.com reports that "an estimated 145,000 service members are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, a stipend of $500 for each full or partial month served in stop-loss status." 
Click Here to find out more information.

The DOD reports that, "The rate of soldier suicides has risen in each of the past five years. In fiscal 2009, 160 soldiers took their own lives, while there more than 1,700 attempts. Meanwhile, soldiers without deployment experience or with one deployment account for 79 percent of Army suicides." What's the Army doing about this, you ask? A few notable changes are: the creation of 72 additional positions for chaplains, and "the number of recruiting waivers in 2009 is down almost 50 percent from 2007. Such waivers allow recruits with certain medical conditions and minor criminal offenses to enlist, helping the Army to meet recruiting goals. Some of these soldiers, Chiarelli acknowledged, are considered a higher risk for suicide than others" These are all good signs that the powers-at-be are taking note of this difficult and troubling issue. For some, it is too little, too late. I know that change takes time and especially within the Army culture, change is always difficult. So I am happy to see this being given more attention than once again revamping the various service uniforms. To MultiCam, or not to MultiCam? To beret, or not to beret?

In non-military related news, you MUST enter my giveaway, like NOW-ish. I know you like free stuff as much as I do. So just do it already! :)

In a League, all my own!

So here's the thing guys, once upon a time I was "Samantha, The ArmyWife" from A Day in This Army Wife's Life... but now I'm "Samantha, The Army Wife," from A League of Her Own! I appreciated all of the people who participated in the new-name-giveaway, but obviously I didn't go with one of the suggestions. But I will come back to that.
I Llluurve my new digs! I mean who wouldn't? Mrs. Muffins did a fantastic job. We worked together and i tried to convey what I wanted to her and she made it appear before my eyes! She's amazing. Please go check her out and take advantage of her 15% military discount!

Back to the giveaway business. I still have this $15 from CSNstores.com to giveaway.
Here's how you can enter:
1) Per Name-Change-Suggestion
2) Blog about this giveaway
3) Follow me on Twitter {SamS_live}
4) Tweet about this giveaway
5) Blog about this giveaway (you can incorporate into a blog post or post in your sidebar)

So there are {5} chances to enter.
*For those who entered the last "name-change-suggestion-giveaway" you will automatically be entered.
For all other entries you must leave a comment with a link to your Tweet, with your twitter account (for proof of Twitter following), or link to your Blog (for proof of post about this giveaway).
This giveaway will close at 12, midnight Monday, 2 August 2010.
(OMG, is it really August already... HOLY MoLY)
The winner will be chosen via Random.org.

I'm Confused

First, I'm confused why my co-workers find it acceptable and appropriate to discuss politics at work. When I initially spoke to a co-worker/peer about this about two weeks ago she reminded me that a lot of these people have been working together for over 10 years. Ok, that's fine maybe even valid, but I haven't been working with these people for 10 years. Hell, I just passed my 1 month mark! But they insist on dragging me into these discussions. Well, I have a different stance than most of the people at this company. Which is fine. I have no problem disagreeing on political issues. What I do have a problem with, is it, 1: being in the workplace, period. and 2: when my direct supervisor (HR Director of the company) figures out where I stand (opposite from him) and jokingly makes a comment about how they'll "fix me up" and how they'll "help me."

A: I DONT NEED YOUR HELP!

B: I DONT NEED TO BE FIXED!

C: GO EFF YOURSELF!

Totally inappropriate.

I did respond to my boss by stating,"S----, that is the beauty of a Democracy, we don't have to agree and there is nothing wrong with that." To which he stated, with a smile, I think jokingly AGAIN "We'll fix you up, we have a way of doing that around here."

D: WHATEVER.

(sigh.. it's time to go home, I thought!)

Second, I'm confused about the latest craze: Vajazzling.

You remember the BaDazzler, right?

Well, females have proceeded to "badazzle" their nether regions; their female business.

Yeah.

Strange, right?

Yes.

Evidently Jennifer Love Hewitt has jumped on the bandwagon. If you google this (which I'm sure you will out of pure curiosity) her face and name are everywhere!

I was also coerced talked into jumping on the Twitter bandwagon.

Hit me up if you wanna know why I truly joined Twitter, SamS_live.

Erin was kind enough to bust me out!

Here we go people, hopefully it should be fun.

Also confused about why The Cutest Blog on the Block is getting rid of my current blog background? BOO...

Have you noticed the lil' note on my blog about how it's going away in a few days?

Couldn't have a better time to start working on new digs around here!!

Also, don't forget about my giveaway going on right now!

CLOSES tomorrow Friday, 23 July 2010 at Midnight (MST).

Get your entries in now!!

It's BaaaaCCKk!

Hey MilSpouses, I received the following email from MYCAA this morning:

MyCAA Update

DoD will resume the MyCAA program. The Department of Defense has completed the program review and will be making the necessary adjustments to resume the MyCAA program beginning in October 2010.

Starting 8 a.m. (EDT) Monday October 25, 2010, Military OneSource career and education counselors will have a much more active role in supporting military spouses. In addition to understanding resources available via DoD's financial aid support, they will provide support and assistance to identify and gain access to other federal, state, and local programs. All military spouses of active duty service members will be eligible for career counseling and support.

New financial assistance guidelines. With a focus on the original intent of the program, the Defense Department's financial assistance program will:

Be available to spouses of active duty service members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2

Offer a maximum financial benefit of $4,000 with a fiscal year cap of $2,000. Waivers will be available for spouses pursuing licensure or certification up to the total maximum assistance of $4,000

Require military spouses to finish their program of study within three years from the start date of the first course

Be limited to associate degrees, certifications, and licensures

These new guidelines reflect a return to the original purpose of the program - to assist spouses of service members in achieving portable careers. These changes also align the program with responsible fiscal planning by the Defense Department to help sustain the program. Additional program details will be posted on the Military OneSource Web site when they become available. We encourage you to check the site often.

Spouses who currently have an active account will be allowed to request financial assistance until Thursday, October 21, 2010. Beginning September 1, 2010, spouses may request financial assistance for classes that have a start date up to January 15, 2011. To ensure adequate time to plan for courses, no career plans will be accepted after August 31, 2010. All currently approved financial assistance documents will be honored.

Additionally, the review revealed that National Guard and Reserve members must be on active duty for their spouses to receive the MyCAA benefit. Spouses may no longer use the MyCAA benefit when the service member is in an alert or demobilization period. The new eligibility rule takes effect immediately.

The program will be closed from Friday, October 22 to Monday, October 25, 2010, so that we may ensure the infrastructure is in place to implement the new program.

Military spouses are the backbone for military families, displaying strength of character to be admired by this nation. The Department of Defense remains committed to investing in military families, and appreciates the sacrifice of those who also serve.

~~~

So, it's less than it once was, but it's progress and a step in the right direction. Lets just try to see the best in it before we all go off and tear "them" (the decision makers and such) to shreds. Let us also remember we do have the Post 9-11 GI Bill as an option also!

 

Thanks to everyone who entered my GIVEAWAY so far. I love all the ideas!

Anyone who is still interested in $15 gift card to CSN Stores please pop over and enter!