tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40347289644259677512024-03-08T01:41:15.562-08:00Mrs. Co-PilotA site that helps me ramble and decompress while at the same time hoping to help others who are going through or went through similar challenges, struggles, hardships, adventures and just life experiences. sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-64279495727750262972019-06-28T10:52:00.002-07:002019-06-28T10:52:34.783-07:00Gone Again Seems like he just got home and he's off again. That's because he did just get home. Only two days home this round and off again. So back now to juggling life as a single parent for the next few days. Because let's face it, even though I am married, I am also a single parent. But I am not saying this to have you feel sorry for me or anything, it is merely a statement of fact. And, before you get your pitchforks out and chase me down, I <i>know</i> I married a pilot so I knew what I was getting into, not complaining about it, just stating a fact of life.<br />
As my children grow and start thinking of their careers in life, this also makes you reflect on your careers in life. My sweet girl is living out her dream (at least I hope it is what she's truly passionate about) and studying Marine Biology. Hubby of course worries daily that she won't be able to find a stable job with good income after graduating as to some, this is one of those "fluff" type degrees. I then remind him that her <i>actual</i> degree is in Biology, just a marine focus so can do many things with that. Of course I worry too but I want them to be able to take their young lives to explore their passions to find that career that excites them because as the rest of us adults know, there is a LONG time in your life that you will be working and if you don't like your job, it can pull the rest of your life down.<br />
Our boys on the other hand have started to talk about life as a...dare I say...pilot. Now I think a lot of people get giddy and proud when their kids want to take after them. This is another area where my pilot gets worried. Though he loved his career, it is still a job. And when they say this his mind starts racing and for reasons to protect his kids it seem to focus more on all the "bad" of the career than the good. But he is the protector right? It's his job to worry and prepare and since he (and of course I) have lived this, we know all to well how it can be.<br />
But do we really? Actually, no. We know <i>OUR</i> version of how to live this life. This now goes back to what I talked about in the last blog on how two people can be part of the same scenario, but still have a different recollection of that scenario. When we truly started this life journey together, he was not a pilot. OK, let me back that with saying he <i>was</i> a pilot in he had some ratings and did some schooling but was not flying commercially for anyone. He had started it all in college but for certain reasons he decided it was time to stop and move home. Which luckily for me he did or we may have never been re-acquainted.<br />
Now to jump to the beginning of the "us" part. He was doing electrical work as a career when we started our life, but I knew he had this passion for flying still. It was in his family blood (uncle, grandfather, etc) so I knew deep down that this may come back around. He is so smart, mechanically minded and level headed and friendly that I knew he possessed the traits of being a good pilot. Good thing I kept that in the back of my mind. Then that fateful day came when he realized though he also liked electrical work and was good at it, it wasn't his passion. <br />
We had the first "talk" of many as moving and life changes would have to take place and he jumped back into it. So when I say we don't truly know the story of the pilot life I mean, we only know <i>our</i> version of the truth. There are many others out there so we can only prepare our boys for what we know and that's all we can do. But that's really all we can do with all aspects of parenting, arm them with what we know to be and the rest they have to figure out for themselves. The biggest part I can arm them with is this, If you are going to do this and want a family as well (which of course I hope they do) <i>BOTH</i> parties have to be so strong and independent yet truly want to be with their other half. There will be many sad and lonely nights for both sides but many good ones. Have to be a glass is half full type of person I think to truly make this lifestyle work. Funny side-note, he saw a post either on a trip or the Internet somewhere that stated "It truly doesn't matter if it is half full or half empty, there is room for more beer!" When I think about that saying I take it in this direction, you might as well live life to the fullest so fill it up! sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-81501102292836005252019-06-25T08:24:00.000-07:002019-06-25T08:24:20.279-07:00Old Sayings and Life There are so many "old sayings" that you hear growing up and most of the time you think, "yeah, whatever, sounds...<i>antiquated</i>" (for some reason I love that word) until the time comes when that particular "old saying" starts to mean something in your life. Take a moment and think back to some you remember hearing a lot, then and even now. For me, at this moment in time, there are two that are truly hitting home. The first comes in a variety of ways but the main point is "they grow up so fast" of course referring to your children.<br />
When you are the child hearing this most of the time you were probably thinking, yes! I can't wait to grow up! be my own person, make my own choices and live me own life! Well yeah, that's the normal thought process. Then you "grow up" (let's just say after high school age for arguments sake) hit a few bumps in the road here and there and run back to your parent(s) for help, guidance and, probably money as well. Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones that has that resource to help in all aspects, and if you didn't (or don't) then hopefully a really good friend base you can lean on. That's what I hope for for my own kids.<br />
Having a child that is now in their third year of college, each time they head back to school so many things go through your head. What did I not teach them yet about being on their own? What can I cram into a "summer of learning" before they head back? Which of my many flaws did I thrust upon them that I have to start un-doing? Are they confident, independent and... truly happy? Then you think to your self can any of the questions actually be answered? Not just for them, but you as well? When you figure any of this out, please share it with me and the world please. <br />
Then I think of my husband and his life. Yes, I said <i>his </i> life, not <i>our</i> life. Here's where my next<br />favorite "old saying" comes in. This one has actually been altered to me now after recently reading a new version, and I like the new one sooooooo much better. Old version, "Happy Wife, Happy Life." Yup! We've all heard that one and joked about it, whether married or not. If you scour the internet you will find oodles of places that talk about this saying in length. One I found interesting comes from the man's point of view on <a href="https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/exposing-myth-happy-wife-happy-life-wcz/">https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/exposing-myth-happy-wife-happy-life-wcz/</a> which brings me to the new version of this I like better way better, "Happy Spouse, Happy House."<br />
Think about this and now put in on a more global level. This works whether about marriage, friendships or the workplace if you put it in a general sense context. What I mean is, everyone within the relationship should matter. Things shouldn't be one-sided and more about the other person, if it is, that's when things like resentment can come about. That is where things I think get screwed up. There can be many times where it <i>seems </i>as if everyone is well, selfish. The thing is, I don't think most people even realize they are appearing that way either.<br />
A person I used to associate more with when I lived in a different city was a therapist. And she said something that to this day always sticks with me. This is paraphrasing and my version of what was said so long ago but it still works. She said it is hard to see something when you are deep in it. Hmmmm-K. Think about it and dig deep and you will realize it is true. People are amazing creatures and no one really knows truly how we work and why. Anyone who has tried to solve a mystery whether police, a parent, etc., when you walk into something, try to get both sides of the story, each one is different. Past experiences, life and your brain "protecting" you from life make this happen.<br />
As I continue on the next decade of being a "Pilot's Wife," I have learned and grown more myself and I try to remember this when my husband comes home from his work life. I state it that way as it can truly be a different life. He's gone for days, cut off from us, (yes we call, text, FaceTime etc but he isn't with us here, in a physical sense), so I want to try and make his home life happy as well. But that's the tricky part of life and "Happy Spouse" is being able to do that while at the same time not losing yourself and your own happiness. The hardest part I have with that saying currently in life is mainly being the peace keeper between him and the ways of the teenager. I, of course being around it all day I am more used to it. Some days this can be truly exhausting and stressful but I don't want his time home being in a head-to-head battle just as I don't want our kids then stressed and being, well, happy he's going back to his work life. So getting both sides of this teenage equation to be a "happy spouse" can be trying. To top it all off, at the end of the day <i>we</i> (him and I) have to be good and happy together because "they grow up so fast" and it will soon be back to just the two of us. These are the days of our lives.sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-77455350758896495402018-10-20T13:58:00.000-07:002018-10-20T13:58:38.869-07:00Embracing Life, Change and the Future...Suck it Up! Well so much for writing more often! Good to have a goal right?! It's good for the soul. The best thing about writing a blog is that you can go back and read what you wrote and see how things may have changed, or how they stayed the same. Yes in the olden days we had our diaries, but in this new aged digital world. just maybe my words can have an impact on someone else as well. I suppose I would always wish it to be a positive impact but after seeing too many negative posts on many different forum sites over the years I know that won't always be the case. People need to just <span style="color: magenta;">suck it up</span> and realize that they just need to watch their own bobber and live. What I have been wondering for some time is what has happened to people that they seem to be getting more negative in life? Have they always been this way and we just have more access to now? Is the media creating more hype around things to keep that "shock" factor in everything? I think of myself as a half -full person and I think I have been that way most of my life. Of course would have to ask my parents and childhood friends to see if that is truly the case but I feel I have been. Of course I am no different than anyone else in that I get mad at stupid things and lose my temper at things that really have no merit to getting that upset on, but as a whole I really truly believe that life IS indeed what you make it so <span style="color: magenta;">suck it up</span> and be happy!<br />
My oldest will be turning 20 this next year. Twenty! When did that happen? Just last week I swear she was 5! As she is now embarking on her second year in college I sit many nights wondering how I did as a parent...so far. She has taken a big leap and chose a school over 1,000 miles away so is that to get away from us or to just spread her wings? Of course the mom in me believes it is to chase her dreams. I am so glad she did. Regret in trying new things is a thing that I don't want my children to suffer from very often. I am not naive to think they won't have those types of regrets, but I want them to be few and far between. Recently she has called often about her classes this semester as she took on a hard and heavy load. She ended up really struggling in one and dropping the class and still has one that she isn't doing as well as she would like. One main reason, she really dislikes this professor. So here is a great life teaching mom moment. My advice to her?..<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;">.suck it up</span></span>!<br />
There will ALWAYS and FOREVER throughout your life be people that you do not like. I don't like saying it in that way but it really is the best way to state it. But should you let that person ruin your life for you? Absolutely not! Will she get a great grade in this class? Probably not. Is she going to be pissed about that? Absolutely as that is her personality but she has to learn to<i> <span style="color: magenta;">suck it up</span></i>. Take the good with the bad and let it roll off and move on. I know this is something I have been trying to teach them more so the last few years in life. When they are little I think we almost get too caught up in teaching the basics in life like walking, talking, kindness and empathy (hopefully), that I think we may miss some of the really important life lessons like self esteem and yes, sucking it up. But then we are set with the task of can you truly <i>teach</i> these things?<br />
I remember growing up we had a program called "Project Charlie" in grade school. I don't remember all about it but I remember thinking it was a program to help you learn self-esteem and other traits. So I looked it up and it turns out it wasn't that at all but an early version of a drug and alcohol prevention program that no longer exists. I found this definition on the web, (so of course it must be true right?) <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Project CHARLIE (Chemical Abuse Resolution Lies in Education) is an attempt to influence children's attitudes and behavior concerning substance abuse by teaching them social skills and enabling them to resist peer pressure as well as informing them about drugs. Project CHARLIE incorporates the principal elements of a successful drug education program into its curriculum; however, its emphasis on self-esteem and self-awareness may be misplaced. Comparisons between primary school pupils exposed to Project CHARLIE for one year and peers who have not reveal that Project CHARLIE children: (1) have greater knowledge of the effects of medicinal, social and illicit drugs; (2) are more secure in their ability to resist peer pressure to commit antisocial acts; (3) produce both more and higher quality solutions to social dilemmas and fewer solutions of poor quality; (4) do not have substantially higher self-esteem</i>. (<a href="https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=161429">https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=161429</a>). </span><br />
So why did I remember it as a self-esteem program? The only thing I can think of is maybe my instructor(s) main focus was love yourself enough to say no and not get involved in all that peer pressure crap. Which is a good thing to learn, then and now. Kids now do have it harder than we did in that if someone didn't like you and sent you a "bad note," all you had to do was rip it up and it wold be forgotten. Now it can stay and haunt you for days and even years. Even if you delete it, someone else may still have it and use it against you later. And there is always someone watching and taping you now as well. So how can you teach them that if your "friends" want you to join in something that is "bad" and you don't want to that you need to <span style="color: magenta;">suck it up </span>and realize they are not truly your friends and move on to find some new ones.<br />
I think that even though I am a half-full person, I know most of that comes from being able to be happy with me and let things go. Now I am sure I was not always this way growing up and a lot of these things I have learned along the way but that is why communication is so important with your kids and everyone in your life. So figure out a way, as a parent, a family member or a friend to <span style="color: magenta;">suck it up</span> and have those sometimes hard conversations. Knowing that some times they may get mad at what you say but if they truly care for you and honestly absorb what you say, if it is something that is truly to help them in some way, they will always end up appreciating what you did to try and help them learn and grow as a person.<br />
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sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-92010667929380018792018-05-21T08:29:00.002-07:002018-05-21T08:29:57.273-07:00Parenting Friendships As I sat and read a blog that popped up on Facebook, (my children joke about that being the "old persons" SnapChat), I reminded myself how I was going to "write more often as it is a relaxing and liberating thing for me to do, whether or not anyone reads it." So here I am...again...TWO YEARS LATER! WOW! I am almost surprised that this account still exists and the old ones are still visible since it has been in-active for so long. Hold onto your seats as away we go.<br />
Obviously a lot has changed since my last post, the biggest change is my oldest started and has now finished her first year of college...1,800 miles away from home...in Florida! So, here is where those of us who are pilot-wives can say we are truly blessed to have a little different opportunity than some for our children to go that far away and not have it "seem" as far. Or so I thought. Having younger children to still parent, admittedly I didn't get to visit as much as I thought I would and or wanted to. There has been some guilt in I remember saying to her, as we are looking at schools, "we have the ability to travel like many others don't, take advantage of it and see where it takes you," "I don't want you to look back and say I wish I would have at least tried!" As parents we all can name several times in our past with a few I-wish-I-would-have moments as we grew up, and especially even now as parents. I like to call those the "yep, screwed-up-again" parenting moments.<br />
As the first year passed and I talk to her, other people who she has also talked to, I found that she wasn't always telling me the truth about how she was feeling and what was going on as she didn't want to disappoint me, make me upset and all those things that you DON'T want you child to feel. Ugh! Punch in the gut "yep, screwed-up-again" parenting moment! So how do we know when we are doing that? I like to think of myself as an intuitive person in a lot of ways but apparently missed the mark on this one. I know I have been one of those people who say "yeah, they are living vicariously through their child," usually with sports where you see that kid that you don't think really wants to play and that parent in the background screaming them on. So was I doing this to my beloved first born? Was I thinking how awesome of an opportunity she had to do something amazing and pushed her into it? Time for a reality chat with the girlfriends.<br />
Girlfriends...I love girlfriends! As we grow and blossom into parenthood, we will find there are different classifications of our friends now, just like back in school days. There was your school friends, your sport/activity friends, your neighborhood friends. Sometimes these friends crossed over categories but all in all they were still friends. The same happens in adulthood but it seems it ends up being a more narrow field, at least in my case. You have your work friends, and your kids' friends parents and neighbor friends. You will have those friends from childhood that you still talk to and connect with when you can, but if your life has taken you away from them at all geographically, you do drift apart. Especially when you hit that age of life I like to define as the "running my kids everywhere" stage.<br />
Back to girlfriends. We have moved, yes mostly by choice around my husbands career, and so my friend base is literally in many states. Of course I cannot see those out-of-state friends as often as I would like to, even with my flight privileges that silly thing called parenting and time seem to get in the way. With our last and current move, we have been here going on ten years now, my current friend base seems to have circled more around my middle child. <br />
My oldest is socially quieter and more reserved so she wasn't one who wanted to do a lot of sports or activities outside of school. Not to mention my time overall was different as her brothers, being younger, needed more hands-on attention so I sadly didn't meet a lot of her "school friends" parents outside of the quick hi/bye at birthday parties or sleep over drop offs. She was also more reserved in who she chose as friends. She was/is selective and had a smaller core of friends as she doesn't like drama, catty-ness and all those things girls can be famous for so once Middle School and High School came, her outside of school friend base got smaller. In many ways that did make me sad for her, mainly because I was so different and in sports year-round that I had a lot of friends. But looking back now and thinking about how we classify things in life, a lot of them in the early teen years were probably more acquaintances you hang with a lot more than true friends. So she is a lot more ahead of the game and more mature than I was at her age.<br />
My middle one is a typical middle child in that he always wants people to be happy so <i>being</i> a friend came easy to him. Not to mention he is was and is in many sports so he is always around buddies. Though there were many times I remember saying things like "don't let them do that" and "you don't always have to give in" and phrases like that. I also have found myself telling him, after living through it with his older sister that as you age and go from Middle School to High School, your friends will greatly change. People will start to have different likes and passions that once tied you as friends. Now that doesn't mean you aren't still friends, but you won't be as close as you once were. The hardest thin he as found is when friends act differently depending on who they are around and which "group" they are hanging with at the time. These things are hard to teach about and help them through so I find myself saying things like "well if you don't like it, make sure you are not one of those kids that does it," and "keep being who you are and your friends will remain." I also say you may be changing and acting differently than you realize as well so try to be subconsciously aware of how you are treating people. I know, easier said than done in the teen years, hell even in adulthood!<br />
Then there's my crazy youngest. He seems to be a combination of both my older kids. He is in a lot of sports and school activities so is around a ton a kids, but he does seem to keep circling around a smaller group for most of the time. He is fun-loving, sweet and easy to be around. He can be that goofy joke-ster but then the serious intellect. He is so observant and pays attention to all the things his siblings do, and always has. He would sit and want to watch my oldest do homework and sometimes pretend to do it with her (there is a 6 year difference between them) and sometimes did. His brain is far beyond mine in what he can take in, learn and remember. I truly hope as he goes on through adolescences and into High School, he keeps all that makes him who he is.<br />
So now to my friends. Being the wife of a pilot makes life a little interesting. Having moved like we did and having younger children, I never really had that career that you think you will get as you dream of growing up. Each time we moved I had to try and find a job that either paid enough to make it worth having kids in day care or a job that I loved so much it didn't matter (which moving and switching jobs like I did made it harder). But I found with our first move, I already had the job I wanted...mom. This came as a bit of a shock to me once I hit that realization as I was always going to either be a vet, or have that "corner office with the view" in a high powered ad agency. So once we figured out we could make it work with me staying home and being mom, then I could look for jobs that would work around his schedule and just give me some grown-up time, (Those that are are also stay-at-home parents understand that all too well).<br />
The weird thing is this is when my girlfriends started to take shape. My kids were too young (5 and 1 at the time) to be in too many things yet so I mainly talked and hung around my awesome neighbor (who we already knew as she was also a pilot-wife) and helped me constantly as they didn't have children at the time, or the ladies I worked with. But mainly I spent most of my time with my kids. We would drop my oldest off at Kindergarten and then my middle (youngest at the time) and I would either to right to the park and play, go for long walks or if weather was bad go to the mall and walk around. Which is also probably how I lost all that baby weight that seems to still haunt me now...lol. If the hubby was home, we would have things to do around the house or he would join us. To this day even though I don't get to see my neighbor, as we are thousands of miles away, we know that we are always thinking of each other and know if needed, we would be there in a second for each other. There has been a small handful of people where I would think of weird things like, if something happened and this friend couldn't have kids, would I be a surrogate? (yes my brain sometimes is odd that way), and she was one of those friends. When it came to them finding out they couldn't have children, I would have had they asked, even though I tended to grow big babies!<br />
Our next move was in a lot of ways the same, except this time I was pregnant...surprise! The funniest thing about life is the people you sometimes meet by chance turn out to be friends. Case in point our realtor we hired to help with our relocation. She was the neighbor of my step-sister so I knew she was good at her job, but she went above and beyond for me. When we first decided to move, again, it was partly for my hubby's job but mainly as we were suddenly surprise with a third baby on the way. We weren't crazy about the schools where we were and I was hit with having to be a part-time single parent to three kids! I didn't know if I was up for it so I wanted to be back closer to family. My dad had just retired (which would end up being the first time of many...lol) so we thought perfect, he will have time to help if needed. So when we started to look for houses we didn't at first fully tell my dad that we were expecting again, but it kind of slipped to our realtor and she graciously kept the secret, though she hated to, until we could tell everyone. Long story short she ended up being my first friend, even to the point of going to doctor's appointments with me (we were down one vehicle when we moved for a bit due to a car accident during the move, that story is a blog in itself) and one of the nurses assuming she was "grandma" even though she would have had to have me when she was like 12 for that to work. Then she helped us find a great house with awesome neighbors. Two families of which became and remain good friends. Each of us traveling to visit each other usually at least once a year.<br />
On to life now. My youngest was young when we moved here so I couldn't jump into being the volunteer at school for my older two like I would have liked and getting used to a new community can be harder when you are a stay-at-home mom around a toddlers schedule so we spent many hours together. Plus since we built our house a lot of my free time was getting that in order which took a lot of my spare time as well. Then my middle started having the sport bug and getting involved in many activities so that is where I started to meet other moms. Football and baseball being the main ones. One may wonder how we start to make those types of friends. Do we gather around those that cheer similar to us, have the gift to gab and approached you first, was there one moment or several little ones that pulled you together. I am sure there was some expensive study done somewhere on this but the bottom line is it truly doesn't matter how you found each other but THAT you found each other. I have looked to my friends for guidance, support and yes occasionally that ego boost that we all need from time to time. Friends are good for that!<br />
Friendship is a human need. As one definition of friendship states that there are "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">characteristics present in many types of such bonds. Such characteristics include affection, kindness, love, virtue, sympathy,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> empathy, honesty, loyalty,</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> mutual understanding</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> and compassion</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">enjoyment of each other's company, trust</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, and the ability to be oneself, express one's feelings to others, and make mistakes without fear of judgment from the friend."</span> Much like I tell my kids, I know my friendships will change and evolve over the years. Some you may keep close, others will become more of an acquaintance but they are all still friends. I am truly blessed with the amazing friends I have had in my lifetime and I hope you all realize, whether we talk a lot or just occasionally, how much you have meant to me over my lifetime! sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-31610948226968515732016-08-27T21:46:00.000-07:002016-08-27T21:46:45.931-07:00 There are so many sayings about time. Some days it flies by and we feel like we can't breathe, other days it's as slow as a snail and you can't wait for it to end. It has only been since April since the last time I was here, it feels like an eternity. So much has happened in the last few months that we have been waiting for for what seems like forever, that is why time seems to have slowly crept by. We found out he was finally getting his break at big Delta in January, and then the other shoe fell and we realized they were not going to release him for a while because they were apparently "short-staffed." So as the months slowly past and he kept being delayed, it appeared as if we were going to have to wait the full year, which was the max they could "keep him." As we slowly crept closer to that time, he was finally released and started in November.<br />
So then starts the whirlwind of training and being back to low man on the seniority pole and having to commute, but I know the trade off in the end will be all worth it. This is what he's worked for for a very long time. The best part for me is he was on reserve for such a short time compared to his previous career. To some that might not seem like a big deal, it's truly a huge deal. He spent the greater portion of his 12 years at his previous company on reserve, so those of us who live with that know we truly never know the schedule. Most of us pilot wives know how to plan life, it still makes it easier. We know that our pilot may not get to go to the party, baseball game, or even the dinner with friends but it is so nice to also know when we can expect him at the dinner, the baseball tournament, or the family dinner. But truly the best part is actually getting to that point where we may be able to finally meet our pilot on a long overnight somewhere. To see the full months schedule and be able to call grandma and say can you take the kids for the day, or weekend, and be able to hang with him for a while is truly a magical thing.<br />
I have heard many times recently how nice it must be to be to be able to fly off and meet him for a night. Most truly don't understand the reality of it all They don't take into account how we have spent the last decade, while they climb the flying ladder, to get to this point going solo. Then being a single parent post children. And I say it that way to cover how in the beginning, before children, you would go to that party by yourself, that wedding by yourself, or that family dinner by yourself. Then comes the children and you still go to the dinner by yourself, yet with your kids, the wedding by yourself yet with your kids, or the party by yourself, yet with your kids. And it is always the same questions of where is he flying this time, where is he off to this time, when will he be home and you truly don't always know the where, but you always know the when. You always anxiously await that return day knowing that you get a few precious days with them before they head off again.<br />
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<br />sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-74094160769796047442016-04-28T09:22:00.001-07:002016-04-28T09:22:17.169-07:00So the old saying of time flies when you're having fun isn't just a saying in my life apparently. It is literal in many ways. I see now that it has been over 3 years since I have written. And possibly why my stress level is also higher. I have found, much like Oprah told all years ago writing (or journal-ing) calm my nerves and let me "get it all out" so it doesn't fester and rot. Well guess what, been rotting a little and need to get it out before it rots and starts to sink up the joint.<br />
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So where to start. The past few years since my last entry have been kind of a blur. I ended up deciding to get my "quick" teaching license. Okay, so you are all like what the heck is a quick teaching licence. Well, since I have a 4-year degree, I was able to get a special license that allows me to teach, BUT only up to so many days in 1 classroom at a time, but I can float between different classes, schools, whatever, every day to my heart's content if I want. This is a plus in many ways. I can't commit to a longer assignment without a variance from the State of MN, but it is also a minus in that I cannot sub in one classroom for a long-term assignment without a variance from the State. Well I found out last year, after lots of kindly asking from Administration and soul searching if I wanted to take on a classroom during a maternity leave, that it isn't that hard to get a variance so it works out in the end.<br />
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The longer you are around a building and a group of teachers, the more they get to know you and how you work and then the more "jobs" you an get even before it goes into the computer automated substitute system (Aesop in the sub world). So there are many months that I can almost work full-time if I want. But you also have to gauge things like if you need a little extra income in September or June, they usually don't take time off in those months.<br />
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So that has been my "job" life the past few years, subbing in mainly elementary classes. I also tend to do a lot of Special Education settings, which I seem to have a knack for (or at least they think I do because they keep calling). I have found a new appreciation and admiration for Kindergarten teachers. That is a tough gig with a LOT of one-on-one attention needed ALL DAY from 18+ kids as once. I know now that I could not do that grade on a daily basis! My love has been in Special Ed and then like grades 4th and 5th. Those older elementary grades are finally able to have expressions and be involved and engaged a lot more in the teaching activities and it is more of a back-and-forth then feel like you're just up there talking and lecturing like with the younger ages. And, they haven't quite got to the sassy self-expression part of more middle school ages seem to be. I haven't dabbled in high school age,...yet, a little afraid they they will know a heck of a lot more than me of whatever subject it is!<br />
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Then there's my kids. They are rowing faster than I want of course. And you hear that all the time about time flying and you blink and they're grown. Well, sadly it is all true! I can't believe that next year I will have a senior, 8th grader and 6th grader. Seems like yesterday I was trying to chase a toddler while holding a baby and trying to get a school-ager off and ready for her day! They have all grown into their own special and very unique people. Each very head-strong and determined (not sure where they get that, yes, that is sarcasm again), and of course every parent hope of high self-esteem continuing to blossom as well. I love running all-levers forward chasing them from sport to sport to school activity and back home to do it all over the next day. They all do so good in school that I can't believe how lucky I am! We rarely fight about homework or school and after some days where I have to struggle with students at work, I come home and thank God above at how lucky I am.<br />
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So enough about me, me. Now on to the other me, me. The Pilot's Wife me. The road has been a long and very up and down one the past 12 years of this life I have lived. But the landing lights have finally brightened at the end of the runway (also know as the light at the end of the tunnel for you non-pilot people). My hubby FINALLY got the call to go up the the majors! Even though that in itself was a stressful and crazy wait, due to the "pilot shortage" at his now previous airline, and the fact the current airline "owns" the other, he had to wit almost a full year to go to class and switch companies! They kept saying they couldn't afford to let him go just yet, but luckily there was a contract in place that they could only keep him so long, but man did they wait until the last possible moment to release him! Having that said, it has so far been a crazy and sometimes very stressful ride,<br />
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Check back later for the next installment of "Finally at the Majors!"sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-43698779298222711002012-05-09T06:36:00.002-07:002012-05-09T06:36:34.391-07:00Almost 40 - A Quick Look Back Wow the old saying of time flies is true for me lately. With all this digital media to try and keep up with makes a girl go crazy at times! As I approach a milestone birthday this weekend, it does make you take a step back and look at your life. Of course there are many regrets along the way and "wish-I-would" haves, but overall, I like my life! I have a great family, awesome friends and though everyone wishes they had more money from time to time (except maybe Trump, Oprah or Warren Buffet), things are good. <br />
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Of course there are a lot of things different about my life now than when I was planning my life out eons ago, but the path that I have followed is a good one. The big office, corporate gig wasn't for me and that's ok. Being a vet wasn't in the cards and though I do wish that from time to time it was, I obviously still love animals and get to be around a lot of them whenever I want to. Subbing has fit the bill right now and I really love it. But the absolute best part about my life so far are the people in it! I am so glad we took the chances and moved to different states, though not for very long in the whole scheme of things, it was awesome as we made some of the best friends we have ever met in our last three moves, including our current location. Though we never know where the wind may take us, knowing I have a great support system of family and friends, I can't wait to see where the next 40 years takes me!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-13002893703661541922011-08-01T06:50:00.000-07:002011-08-01T21:13:11.838-07:00Apparently life has been to hectic for me to keep up with this lately. Wow, didn't realize how much time had passed since me last post. Enough now that my baby just turned 6! Now here comes the million dollar question EVERY <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SAHM</span> gets from pretty much everyone once your youngest goes to school full-time. "So, when are you going back to work?" or "What are you going to do now?" Seriously! Like your duties as a mom suddenly stops when they go to school? Really? Wow, news to me! I am <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">SOOO</span> lucky to have a loving husband that makes a good enough salary that I am able to stay home and isn't pushing me to work full-time. This question honestly drives me crazy and I am doing everything I can to not bite the heads off of the people asking, almost as much as those that find out I am a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SAHM</span> with a four year degree and say, "Oh, putting that degree to good use I see" with the sarcastic tone because yes, I am putting it to good use as I have a million different "hats" I have to wear as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">SAHM</span>.<br /><br />SO here' what I say to them. My oldest is up at 6 and on the bus at 7, my younger ones get up about 7 and on the bus at 8:10. So reverse of that my oldest gets off the bus at 2:30 and younger ones at 3:30 which gives me then 6 hours to get ready (cause there is no way I am getting up at 5a.m. to get ready before she wakes up!), go to a "job" and be home in a reasonable enough time to help my oldest with homework before the younger ones get home and need my attention as well. Not to mention have everything done and ready before going to any afternoon/evening extra curricular activities to which there is no "magical bus" that will bring them to these said events and bring them home so that is also part of my day as well, along with the house and yard work that also has to be done. Now I am not bitching about this as this is the life I chose, rather I am letting all those out there know that just because our children grow up it doesn't mean our responsibilities get lighter...on the contrary I think they get worse!<br /><br />When they were younger you could tell that little white lie of "no, they aren't home and can't play today" pretty easily, but as they get older and can talk plans through that doesn't work anymore so you also have to throw in the play dates and other friend events on top of everything else, not to mention try and find some time in between all of their things to meet with your friends every once in awhile and maybe even have a date with your husband on one of the days he is actually home. Again, not complaining as I knew when I married someone who wanted to be a pilot that this is what I was in for, rather just reflecting on my life.<br /><br />I have a few friends that complain to me and say how lucky I am and how easy I have it that I don't have to work full-time and still do it all (these friends apparently don't think their husbands help out much, some I can say that this is true, others they just like to bitch) but again, this is hard for me to listen to as I reflect in my head..."you should have known what you were marrying." To which I also, think in my head as to not start a girl fight, that you guys don't realize how lucky you are to have a husband that is home every night. Now how he acts when he's there is not anything I can control but just having another adult presence from time to time is huge! The way I get through mine being gone is reminding myself that I have it easy, he's not in the military and gone for months at a time! That way the number of days he is gone doesn't seem so bad after all!<br /><br />I am just amazed that their is still animosity between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">SAHM</span> and working moms, we are all moms and should join forces to make everything better for our children instead of complaining to each other and seeing who has it easier or harder in life. Life is what you make of it and you are the only one who can choose to be happy in it...so choose wisely!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-71167692542943880612011-01-05T20:56:00.000-08:002011-01-05T21:23:42.203-08:00Last Year a Blur...2011? Where did 2010 go? As I am sitting here writing again for the first time in forever I realize this whole year seems to have been this way. I blink and another month has flown by! I don't know why this year is so different and why it seems to have gone so fast. Is it because my youngest is in school (PT time as it may be, it's still Kindergarten!) and he has more to do which adds to my already long list of things to do with my older two? Is it because on top of being a pilot, which takes him away from home for days at a time, my husband is now also a volunteer fire fighter so our days are always filled with the "be ready to run out the door at any moment" lifestyle? Is it because I am now on two boards and chair a few school events and desperately trying to get into more of a workout routine that I am was also personally busier this past year? Or maybe my time management skills have just flown out the window!<br /><br />Well I don't think it's the last one because, except for a few Christmas cards I got everything done last year on time (if there was a deadline) or at least by my own personal deadline. I am so glad that I don't have to work outside the home full time that I am able to do the things I do. It is worth every sacrifice we make in order to do this, and I personally don't think we have to sacrifice a lot. So we drive older cars. They still are safe, run good and we take care of them so they're not rusty old prices of crap to look at. We don't go on vacations every year, but we do go to a cabin a lot (my brother-in-laws) which in itself can be like a vacation. I don't have a lot of "real" jewelry, but I like my Premier jewelry just as much, if not more because I don't have to "worry" about it as it if were real. Most importantly our kids get to do things and be in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">activites</span> that they want so I think things are perfect!<br /><br />As I wrote on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span> page the other day I have a New Year's resolution. Now don't laugh or judge because it's not the usual "I want to lose 20 pounds," (which of course I do but that's beside the point), it's more profound and reflective than that. Here's what I said: <br /><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"> Keep what's important front & center, let go things that are not; make sure those that are important know they are; make new friends and keep old ones close and remember in making yourself happy you also make your relationships happier and stronger in the end as those who are truly your friends will want that for you.</span></h6>Sadly shortly after writing this a dear old friend of mine told me she was separating from her husband. So I made sure she knew how I cared about her, was here for her and will help her with whatever she decided will be the right path for her to take. Then I felt even worse as I found myself thanking God that I had such a great relationship and wasn't having to go through that myself...does that make me a bad person? No, I think it makes me human. And this is the first New Year's resolution that Ive made that I am going to seriously and with every ounce of effort try and see this through. Every time I find myself pulled into drama that is unneeded and unnecessary I am going to try and step back from it. Now that doesn't mean I won't listen to the drama as I can't shut it out completely, as it is all around me, but I am going to try really hard to not fuel the fire of the drama so that it grows into a saga. Don't need any "never ending stories."<br /><br />So as I leave tonight's blog it is with my thought for the day; don't stir the pot. And if need be, take the spoon out of someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">else's</span> hand who is as it will only benefit both of you in the end.sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-55463517786173193422010-08-06T11:41:00.001-07:002010-08-06T11:52:29.240-07:00Wow the time is just flying by this summer but in good way. I have been so busy this summer that I didn't even get any annuals planted and those with him in Chicago on one of his long lay-overs. that know my well are still shocked by this! I thought being married to a pilot was busy, add to that a fireman and whoa, you could keep yourself busy all the time. Of course I am one of those people that joins every group possible when confronted with something interesting so that could be part of it.<br /><br />My hubby finally had a set schedule in July so I was able to plan a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">rendezvous</span> Besides having <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mechanicals</span> and getting stuck forever trying to get home it was so much fun. Getting to meet and hang out with his crew (who were all really nice and fun to be with, of course being the captains wife they may have been extra nice...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lol</span>). I finally got the taste the world famous Gino's Pizza and it was well worth the life-passing-before-my-eyes cab ride to get there. And you thought <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cabbies</span> only drove crazy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">in</span> the movies...ha!<br /><br />My latest conquer is now starting (or re-starting) the fire auxiliary for my hubbies unit. This is really exciting for me because as a pilot's wife there's only so much you can be a part of but this, you can be right in the action without being right in the action so I am totally psyched. Plus I can now see first hand how it really works and once the kids are a little bigger I may just want to be a fire fighter too and show those boys a thing or two...I love doing that! ;0)<br /><br />So we recently went around to the national night out parties and that was a lot of fun. Seeing all the kids faces light up when that bug fire truck pulls around the corner is priceless! And the police department is sponsoring a family fun night-out at the fire station so there will be all kinds of great stuff to do and me and my new camera will be going crazy! Get to dunk the chief in the dunk tank too (along with the hubby)...good times!<br /><br />Hopefully I will get to return and post more frequently but only time will tell! Until then, peace and happiness to all!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-42759628270469393612010-05-17T11:29:00.000-07:002010-05-17T11:43:57.276-07:00Wow - where's the last few months go?It seems like forever since I've added my two cents...so long that it is now probably almost up to a dime now!...It seems like every time I turn around things are getting busier, but that's what I seem to thrive on. I have joined the ranks of my local city's Park Board so that adds a few meetings and the like here and there on top of just running a household of 5 where one of the grown-ups is either gone at work for days at a time, helping friends or fighting fires, etc. But I wouldn't have it any other way...though it would be nice to have a few more dollars rolling in which is why I am now also on the prowl for a home-friendly part-time job so wish me luck!<br /><br />May is just a blur already and it's almost half over. With all the family birthdays (even starting end of April with hubbies) 2 of my nieces, my mom, my step-dad, my sister-in-law, my daughter and even me turn another year older this month. Good thing we don't do a big gift exchange or I'd me more broke than at Christmas time! We have a family reunion (his dad's side) at the end of the month too but that's always a blast as his family is fun to hang around with. And we go up to the cabin and just chill for a long memorial weekend so it's perfect! This year the water may even be a little warmer with that hot April we had, though most didn't care last year and still went skiing and swimming, not me though, I need warm water in my old age!<br /><br />We're getting more involved with the community/fire department stuff/school too and that feels really good to do something on that level. I think it teaches the kids some good values as well. They came and helped when we assisted the Lions with tearing down and re-building their park, which is down the road from our house so we utilize it anyway. I think they'll take more ownership it in now and help keep it nice, though as of now my kids don't seem to be, or haven't been, the vandalizing kind and they'd BETTER NOT EVER BE!<br /><br />One note of personal frustration has been my weight, as usual for most women. I have been eating better and working out more regularly than ever the past few months and it is a little frustrating with how slow it's going, but I am, admittedly, impatient in many aspects so I know I have to just suck it up and keep plugging away. People have started to notice and the clothes are fitting better so it must be doing a little something - except that baby pouch may be my nemesis for a while to come, at least until I have that tummy tuck ;0)<br /><br />Well off to enjoy this finally sunny string of days and as the weather continues I'll admittedly not be on as much for those pining away for the next story, I'll do my best!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-16520016728579886572010-01-27T20:28:00.000-08:002010-01-27T20:39:57.651-08:00Does PMS come with Age?OK ladies. I have never had what most would consider PMS ever, until now...I think. Either that or I am just getting tired and bitchy in my old age. I am creeping upon the big 4-0 soon and don't like some of the crap my body is going through these days. First of all before my period starts I at times feel like I am either getting a bad cold or even the flu, and don't even get me started about breaking out! I am breaking out more now than I did as a teenager! This totally bites because it is on my chest and back, areas that are hard for me to reach to put any meds or anything on of course, and not to mention going to the dermo and getting meds is extremely expensive!<br /> So now on to the bleeding levels. I am so surprised that I do not get anemic on those first two days. Most nights I have to get up 2,3 and even 4 times a night so that my bed doesn't look like a crime scene! Talk about feeling so far away from sexy! Then there's the beloved clots that look like I an giving birth to an alien child...all I can say is gross. This is the crap that my mother never talked about, but I am gathering she didn't have any of these issues since she sounds sympathetic and not empathetic when we talk. Of course she had to have a hysterectomy after having me so that could explain it too.<br /> So now I am to the point , and age, in my life where I am sick of this crap and am finally talking to my doctor. We tried going back on the pill, which sucked because my tubes are tied so there so no real reason for taking it. Amoung all the vitamins and other crap I have to remember every day already. That didn't solve it so now we;re getting ready for plan B. Ablasion (basically much like a DNC) stay tuned for outcome. If this doesn't work then my next option is a hysterectomy, which I don't want to have. I am already having a heck of a time getting my stomach back in shaoe and my youngest is now 4! Ugh!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-87568864652349587822010-01-20T21:14:00.000-08:002010-01-20T21:22:46.926-08:00Now a Fire Widow too!Fire training has started tonight. It will be 2 nights a week for the next 4 months. Ugh! At least this is a set schedule and not the usual fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants schedule that I usually have to live with. But it's all good as thus has really helped him meet some guys in our new neighborhood now that, because of his "real" job, hasn't had time to do. Nice thing for me is most of them are also married so that automatically gets me a few more women friends with common interests as with all my pilot wives!<br /> The more I think this through there a re a lot of different advantages for me with this new fire job too. Besides meeting the wives, several of the firemen are also police in our city and a couple are county sheriffs so I have that little security blanket (literally) and there is now 30 men I can get to know better and call on for assistance is something catastrophically goes wrong with the house while he's on a trip, which all of us pilot wives know that is an inevitable thing...something always happens at least once a year!<br /> The kids are already used to him being gone and they are getting kick out of knowing what's going on around the city before everyone else knows. Of course the joke in the fire hall is that our kids best not do anything "bad" in town or else their dad WILL find out about it because of what he does now. One of the other dads jokingly told us that he told his kids they better go at least two counties over if they plan on being delinquents. I thought that was good humor!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-63879316568549213352010-01-13T13:24:00.000-08:002010-01-13T13:36:10.214-08:00The Bachelor...hahahahaI have to laugh when I see the women that drool over the men in this show. I really have to wonder that, at least in the case of this season, if the women really know what they are getting into. There is a big misconception that people still seem too have about this "glamorous" life that people think pilot's (and their wives) lead. They spend hours trudging through different airports, sitting for hours in hotels all the while their families have to go on with their lives like they aren't really a part of it yet at the same time a HUGE part of it. (Wrap your brain around that for awhile).<br /> Being a pilot's wife has so many double edge swords attached to the title that it would make your head spin! You do get to still have a lot of freedom and time for yourself, yet you get lonely and miss them and sometimes resent being married to someone that you don't see for days at a time that makes you "feel" single. Then there is the inevitable time when something at the house or with you goes terribly wrong and then you are quietly cursing them because they are not around to help, yell at or do anything about whatever it is. All things from always mowing the lawn or shoveling; to a stopped up sink or frozen pipes; to having everyone in the house including yourself having the flu...those times are hard when trying to be mom and dad.<br /> Then there is the times that you realize that all that time away from each other and dealing with all that crap you have to deal with makes you truly cherish them a lot more when they are home. Though we all secretly joke about that when they do end up retiring, we'll drive each other in sane because we are so used to them being gone that when they are home for long stretches, we're not used to it! Though through it all we truly love them and are happy they love what they do!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-16620742073887479812010-01-11T12:59:00.001-08:002010-01-11T13:10:17.729-08:00A New Year and a New Time CommitmentWe have now officially been into the new year for 10 days now. My husband has now also officially joined the ranks of the volunteer fire department here in our town. This is a great thing for him though because it is getting him involved in our community and getting him to meet "guys" close to us that he can now hang with and get to know. It's hard when you have a job like his that is basically all over the country so your friends get spread out in the same manner. It will be a little bit of ab adjustment this first year as there is a lot of training he has to go through but we'll make it work, we always do! The kids get a kick out of it though and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">admittedly</span> get a little saucy now that they can say their daddy is a pilot AND a fireman! I like the two uniforms myself! ;)<br /> This year though there has already been over nine fire calls, most have been quick CO calls but today one of the kids decided they wanted to light a fire in the boys bathroom at the Middle School so made for an interesting morning as the kids were getting ready to go catch the bus and his pager goes off...I'm sure the talk at the bus stop was interesting (even though we told them not to make a big deal out of it and that it was probably just a false alarm...you know kids).<br /> We were invited to go to the Christmas party this past weekend and he was actually off se we went and got to meet all the current and retired firemen and their wives so that was nice, though I can only remeber about 5 or so names! It worked out good to as it was ourr 11th Anniversary that same night so my mom came up and hung out with the kids while we went out. We don't get to do that alot as we don't have a sitter here (and I refuse to pay to have someone watch my kids ;) and grandma is just far enough away that I wouldn't call just for a dinner date.<br /> Now I ztill have to figure out what i want to obe when I grow up. Though I still have 2 years before my youngest is in school full-time. I know the time will fly nby and I know I don't want to go back into Insurance marketing so hmmmmm....what to do!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-33959552492977194892009-12-31T20:10:00.000-08:002009-12-31T20:16:53.267-08:00Happy New Year!Well here I am on New Year's and, of course, he's flying but the funny thing is, it's no big deal. My daughter is up at the cabin with her uncle and cousin having a new Year's party and me and the boys are just hanging tonight. I started the day going to a funeral for a friend I went to High School with, WAY to young to be taken from us so my mood wasn't really in a party type mood anyway.<br /> Having small children I would have most likely been coming home around 10 p.m. at the latest anyway as my 4-year old wouldn't be able to last much later, and that's not fair to him just because I want to stay out late. We have also been invited to a Friday New Year's luncheon/BBQ tomorrow so we'll still get to party.<br /> Well, off to cuddle with my boys and watch "Night at the Museum"...Happy and safe New Year to all!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-24833168732949379372009-12-12T17:31:00.000-08:002009-12-12T17:41:59.176-08:00Christmas Crazy has BegunFirst on many Christmas gatherings, of which he was flying for today's. Though I know he'd like to make each and everything we know it's the nature of the beast. I keep reminding him that of the days he isn't working he gets ALL DAY at home with his family and not having to go into an office and just get home in time to eat and put the kids to bed. As I reflect on these days I truly think that we get along as well as we do because we truly treasure the times he is home more so than we might if he were home every day.<br /> Tomorrow is his work's Christmas Party, he is again on-call so we'll see if he's a able to attend. We will still go even if he can't because they asked for ages and numbers of kids earlier for ahead count so they will each get a little "present." Plus, I am trying to teach them that even though dad can't be with us for everything, we still need to participate in things as he'd want us to enjoy ourselves.<br /> Though today was a little frustrating with his schedule as he had a long duty day, but 3 hours of sitting in MSP in between flights. Had we not been at a family Christmas luncheon we would have gone and got him and at least went out to lunch or something so he wasn't sitting there twiddling his thumbs! Though there is a computer and T.V. in the crew room, I imagine it gets boring after awhile, I know I would.<br /> It is also refreshing to remind him that hes not the only one with a whacky schedule as at today's gathering we were trying to find a time for the immediate family on my mom's side to get together and with 2 family members working in the medical field, there's is just as bad around holidays too! And my little brother (he's 33 but still my "little" brother) works for Schwann's so he works all the time too as if he doesn't sell, he doesn't get paid!<br /> Well, time to go and watch "Rudolph" and "The Polar Express" with my kids! Have a good night all!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-78883341667963196732009-12-05T21:11:00.000-08:002009-12-05T21:19:33.817-08:00Tree Day!Well, today we had decided to try and got to the tree farm and cut down the tree. He started call at 10a so we figured to be safe let's be there right as they open (9:30a) just in case. Well, luckily he didn't get called in because it did take us an hour and a half to find it. We were being picky this year because of where I want to put it, it had to be tall and skinny! But just as the kids were getting bored and restless, we ran into several families that had their dogs with and that saved us. They were petting and playing with them...really made me wish we had the money to finish the yard and house faster so we can get a dog again! But, after all that we did get the most perfect tree for the spot! <br /> We were able to get the tree in the house and he even helped get things set up for my Premier Jewelry party, played with the kids for awhile during the party but then, yes, he did get called in. So we'll see if it just ends up being an over night-er like he was called for or stretched out 'cause once they got him in there grasp you never know! Sucks too because I have the chills tonight so I am even pulling out the big old ugly long-sleeved-flannely-nightgown. Very NOT attractive! <br /> So hopefully he'll be home at a decent time tomorrow so we can decorate our perfect tree! There's always hoping right!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-86303855028137273042009-12-02T19:54:00.000-08:002009-12-02T20:13:48.108-08:00Holiday - Round 2 (a.k.a. Christmas)Well finally got his December schedule and of course since he is "low man" he is on reserve yet again. But hey, we got lucky and he didn't get called in over Thanksgiving so maybe we'll be lucky again. Our kids don't get too upset anymore. They are so used to it and they love getting to have more than one Christmas. We usually end up celebrating with family that's close and then again when daddy is home.<br /> Next to Halloween, this is my favorite holiday for decorating. Monday and Tuesday the hubby and I put up all the lights on the house. He is such a sweetie too because he knows how much I love putting up lights all over so he piped some outlets under the deck so that I can run lights up and around the railings and have all my little lit Christmas trees on the gazebo. And then run the "big balls" (he he) hanging from under the deck. Today I finished all the the indoor decorating (at least what I have, who knows what shopping excursion might bring a new piece to add to the collection!).<br /> I also wanted to get the house looking "just so" form my Premier Design Jewelry party this Saturday. The bummer about this new house though, we don't have all the nitches that we had in the Memphis house for putting all my decorating stuff, but I made do and I think it looks awesome. It will be a lot nicer when we get the basement finished and I can get the big TV and cabinet out of the living room. We are going to get the tree this Saturday, or at least try to. Charlie is on call so hopefully we'll be able to go. There is a cute tree farm we went to last year where you cut your own tree down and then they have hot cider, cookies and all the other fun stuff like that. Can't wait for the smell of Christmas so finish off all the decorating!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-7982272039472233752009-11-25T10:35:00.000-08:002009-11-25T10:52:58.352-08:00Thanksgiving PrepSo here we are the day before Thanksgiving. We wanted to go to D.C. and visit grandpa but as usual the flights are way too full and we'd get stuck in non-rev hell if we try. I guess that's a double edge sword because as far as my husband's job goes it's good they're full, but it would be nice to fly when and where we wanted to a little easier, like in the "olden days" of more flights and less kids in tow. ;)<br /><br />But luckily we are once again living in the state where the majority of our families are so it's not that we have a lack of things to do. Stopping by each of our mother's houses on Thursday, deciding if we want to stay in town (we live a little out of the city) and hit the malls for stupid crazy early sales and leave the kids with his mom, go to my nieces hockey tournament and hook up with my dad for dinner on Friday and then up to the cabin for the weekend since he actually has the weekend (and Monday) off, which is only because Thanksgiving falls during the week since he is still low man on the seniority list of this airplane and base. But, that is one of the many things you get used to in this pilot's wife lifestyle. <br /><br />We have only lived back in our home state for about a year and a half. We are about 45 min away from the airport and most of our family and friends. The kids, of course, have found friends fast and easy with school and activities but it is harder for my husband and myself to do that. Since his "office" is not here and I don't work outside the home adult contact to meet people is more limited. So to try and meet more "guys to hang with" my husband has decided to try out for the volunteer fire department (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">whoo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hoo</span>! two uniforms to drool over...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lol</span>). He passed the physical test last week and they will begin interviewing after Thanksgiving. He told me he had to laugh when the chief was giving his speech about making sure the wife/girlfriend was on board with this because there is quite a training program that the city taxes pays for and overall this could mean missing holidays, birthdays and family time in general. He said he knew my comment would be "what else is new? that's normal life around here!" Though I think it will be good for him. Funny thing is at the testing, he found out one of his F/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">O's</span> lives here too and must be close to us as you have to be within<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"></span> 4 miles of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">firehouse</span> in order to qualify, so the world is indeed a small place!<br /><br />But to all of you here's hoping your Thanksgiving holiday is full of fun, laughter, great food and good company!sterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034728964425967751.post-18048466087861626892009-11-24T10:36:00.000-08:002009-11-24T10:55:22.986-08:00Blogging 101Well here I am adding to my already long list of "on the computer too much already" stuff and adding a blog to my resume. I have been writing my own little memoir for awhile and even forwarded some of it to Oprah once, obviously she (or her staff actually) didn't see it worthy enough to be used on the show. Go figure! So now I have to figure when and what to write on every day.<br /><br />Since we are coming up to the holidays I guess I will focus on that now. The holidays and being the wife of a pilot. Funny things is, for those of us who lie this life the holidays aren't always really much different than most other days. They are either home to join in or they are not. When we were first starting out on the great journey of life I will have to admit I felt guilty and didn't always make plans because I wasn't sure if he would be able to come. Then I came to my senses and realized if I did that then the kids and I wouldn't ever do anything either. So here was come upon Thanksgiving and, as usual, he is on call (or on reserve for those who want the "real" aviation terminology). We (meaning the kids and I) were going to try and go out to D.C. and visit with my husband's father, but as usual, we can't non-rev as the flights are all too full and can't afford to buy four tickets so we are not going to make it out there. Nice thing is though now that we've moved back to our hometown we still have lot's of family here to spend time with.<br /><br />That's when I could get into that debate with people who give me crap saying things like "well you get to fly for free" to which I respond with, "yes, we can, but we can't always get on the flight we want. Then that means either giving up and going back home or sitting at the terminal for sometimes hours waiting for one we can get one...with three kids 10 and under...not fun. Then when we can get on all of our seats are usually spread all over the plane and my children are still too young to be too far away from my view so we then have to take time to ask people to move around. Sometimes they are nice about it but many times the sigh and roll their eyes."<br /><br />Non-reving. That in itself could be it's own book. Funny things is I find that when my husband meets us on the flight from work (i.e. in uniform) people are always a lot nicer and more cooperative about switching seats. So I guess that's a good thing because that means the uniform still has some respect anyway. Funny story with that for another time. So that's all for today and hopefully I'll remember I have this! hahasterncopilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11135390231124793644noreply@blogger.com1