Well, the basket party has finally closed and according to Random.org, the winner is….. Allison from Glimpses of the Military Life! Allison has started her own business and has respectfully declined the winnings so the next Random.org winner is ArmyGirlNay from The Albrecht Squad!

Allison, ArmyGirlNay since my party did so well, I’m giving you the choice of one of the following (all worth $25):

1. A mid-size warmer of your choice
2. A plug-in warmer of your choice and one bar of your choice
3. One brick  of your choice plus one bar of your choice
4. Five bars of your choice

Thank you to those who signed up!

Please get back to me within 48 hours or I will have to choose another winner (I’ll also be tweeting you and contacting you on your blog).

If you remember, I had another opportunity last April and was selected as one of the most highly qualified. I didn’t get the job due to someone taking it in a lateral transfer. But I had met the supervisor while I was volunteering at the airport helping military families coming home after being displaced by the tsunami. We seemed to click well enough. He’s been getting my resume from several different people he and I both know, including me sending it to him when I came to the area almost two years ago.

Then in November, right after I was laid off, a community relations job opened up in the Navy too, with the same supervisor. It was perfect for me. Like it was written for me. So I applied. And waited because I felt this was exactly what was meant to happen. The supervisor seemed eager to know I was applying.

But I didn’t get it. Heck, my resume didn’t even make it to the supervisor. I wasn’t sure why, but I figured I just hadn’t figured out the new system the Navy uses to screen resumes (USAjobs). I had CHART down but the new system might have been looking for something different.

So I agreed to do the three month active duty Navy thing that I’m doing right now.

Today, my CAPT walked in and looked at me and said, “You need to call XX because I just heard from the admiral this morning that that position opened back up again.” <side note: the CAPT knew about the job because if I had got it, I couldn’t have done the three months active duty for him>

So I called the (hopefully future) supervisor and he said he was glad to hear from me. He told me the person they had hired had quit three days before she even started the job. So he said the job was open again and said he didn’t see my resume the first time around. I told him I did apply but hadn’t made it through the automatic computer screener.

He then told me that he has no idea why it didn’t make it through except that maybe the other people had more eligibilities. I told him I had the VRA but that my military spouse preference had expired in May. He said he was going to be opening the position wider but that he was limited in what he could open it to due to it being a term position. He then said that he doesn’t know of anyone else who has the resume I do for this position. He offered to meet with me and let me ask him any questions I might have. We have to do it soon because once the position opens, he can’t really talk to or help any candidates or potential candidates. So we have a meeting in a few weeks to chat. I’m definitely looking forward to it.

I do have a job interview on Friday. It’s a great job and may just be local (instead of Seattle) but I’m not sure. Their website says they have offices in Portland and Seattle, but the CAPT (yup, same one as above) told me about the position and seemed to think they had an office locally. That would be AWESOME.  This job pays decent money and is more sales and member relations. While I can certainly do sales and am good at it, I’m more interested in the member relations part. I’m excited to hear more about this position.

When it comes down to it, I just want to work for a company that is solid, dependable (read: won’t lay me off after just a few weeks so they can rent a building in another state) and one that appreciates me for my skills and one I can wholly get behind and enjoy coming into work each day.

I still have more than two months left of active duty but it’s getting to the point where I need to start getting job interviews if I’m to have a job by the time April 1st rolls around and I’m no longer on active duty. It takes a while to go through interviews, then second interviews and then the offer. I still have time, but in another three weeks or so, if I don’t have progress, I’ll start panicking a little bit!

So today I was out doing errands and at one register, my total ended up being $6.72. I handed the cashier a $20 bill, two pennies and four nickles (I was cleaning out my change purse!). She counted the change and then counted it a second time and then looked at me and said, “the change was 76 cents.” I paused for a second and then said (very nicely), “Yeah, I know… this way I’ll get two quarters back.”  She looked at me skeptically and then typed it into her computer and then just handed me my change back.  I shudder to think how much I would have confused her if I would have given her $22.22, expecting $15.50 back. *sigh* I learned to count change properly–including counting the change back to someone starting with the price of the purchase and going up to the amount given to me–when I was eight. EIGHT!

I sure hope that our future children aren’t allowed to use calculators in school until they learn how to do the calculations behind the math themselves. My mom didn’t let us type any papers on the computer (we didn’t get one until 6th grade anyway) until we learned how to type properly…  as in “asdf jkl;” typing. I plan to do the same thing with our kids.

Oh how much I appreciate the things my parents made us do. Sometimes I thought they were too “old-fashioned” but I am so appreciative of it now.

P.S.
Thanks for the comments on MilSpouse Friday Fill-In. I think I’m just going to do it on the first Friday of the month (thus making it MilSpouse FIRST Friday Fill-In). This will give me some more time to write on my blog. It seems as though every time I have a post to write, it’s either on Thursdays or Fridays when I have to get the MFF posts ready. However, I don’t want to abandon MFF completely, so I think this is a good compromise.

So the participation in MilSpouse Friday Fill-In has really been dwindling in the last six months. I’m not sure what the reason is, but I’m starting to think it has just run its course.

So what do you think? Should I continue it, or let it go?

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 44,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 16 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

This past year has been a tumultuous year of ups and downs. But I’ll admit, it was mostly downs. I’m ready to see what 2012 brings and am really looking forward to the year!  Here’s a recap of the year for the Wuzzy Household:

No, I'm not that short, he's just super tall. I'm 5'5".

January saw the return of Huzzy on New Year’s Day and my first dependent’s cruise. At this point, we had been married for nearly two years but only spent 14 weeks together… and not all of it at once!  In fact, we’d only spent seven weeks together at one time.

February was the month we were supposed to move into our new house, but delays with our banks started and were really frustrating us.

March gave us just a hint of what was to come… our nearly 12 year old Greyhound, Chase, had to be sent to the Rainbow Bridge after what we can only guess was cancer of some sort… most likely throat. But it was the traumatizing injury that happened while he was at the vet’s that took him sooner than expected.

April was the worst month in the Wuzzy household. The second week of the month, Huzzy’s dad had a massive heart attack and never regained consciousness. Huzzy was able to fly cross country in time to make it to the hospital in order to be there with his brother while they made the heartbreaking decision to take their dad off life support. He was gone for the rest of the month. The same day we got the call about his dad, we moved into our first home purchased together. That bright point was hard to see at the time but we recognize it now and cherish our home.  Because of his loss, Huzzy was unable to go on his boat’s spring/summer deployment (though he was supposed to pick it up part way through but due to the boat’s change in schedule, that never happened). My cat our family got in 7th grade died (at my mom’s house). It was his time, but it was still sad.

Chase just six months before he died.

May was spent pretty much alone as Huzzy was gone for all but a few days of it taking care of his dad’s estate. We realized our former landlords were not going to give us our deposit money back nor even acknowledge that we existed. I also learned I was probably going to need surgery on my shoulder. It was this month that I also was promoted to LTjg and we started fostering kittens for the local humane society.

June started and ended crappy but the middle was a pretty good because my mom came to visit and Huzzy was here for my birthday for the first time in our marriage. Of course, he made it with only 10 minutes to spare, but technically, he made it. Before either of them got here, one of our first foster kittens ended up biting me down to the bone in my finger (it was a feral kitten I was taming) and I had to go to the ER. Good news? That kitten is now a fantastically friendly kitten who apparently got a great home! Right after that, my mom had to put our childhood dog down. She had cancer. And the end of June saw yet more death… my cat, Sadie, that my mom was keeping at her house and that I was going to bring home in 2012 died.

July was probably one of the best months of the year, even though it started off with the death of someone who was like a grandfather to me. I finally, after 16 months, got a job. I also spent my two weeks AT on the USS Nimitz, which, even though it was in drydock, was fantastic. Huzzy and I spent Independence Day together, which was only our second holiday together as a married couple.

Kissy and Skully, mid-fight, leaning against Lulu on our bed.

August started out with court mediation with our former landlords. That didn’t bring any resolution so a court date in front of a judge was set but the earliest one was five months away. The month also brought news that I was definitely having shoulder surgery and ended with bringing our third set of foster kittens home… these ones just 10 days old (with momma). We ended up keeping two of them and naming them Kissy and Skully.

September was fun because my brother came out to visit. I hadn’t seen him in nearly two years and he had never been west of the Mississippi.

October saw me transferred to a new Navy Reserve unit… one that I’m really excited about working with for the next three years. It also was the month I had my shoulder surgery. Huzzy also left to go on a short patrol (not with his crew) to get some qualifications done.

November was the month I met my new unit… but two days before that, I was laid off from my job. Huzzy also came back juuust in time for us to spend our first Thanksgiving together in one place since we were married. We spent it with friends and some Single Sailors from his command.

December also brought two more deaths… someone that was like a grandmother to me (yes, the wife of man who died in July) and my great-aunt, whom I had met only once. But it bought us yet another holiday together… Christmas. It was nice to spend it together and not be alone. However, he has 24hr duty from 8 a.m. New Year’s Eve through 8 a.m. New Year’s Day, so we’ll have to wait until our fourth NYE married before we have a chance of ringing in the New Year together… if he doesn’t have duty then! We also found out our landlords filed for bankruptcy, so the court has canceled our court date and we will probably never get our money back. A$$hats.

So while we’ve had some great times this year… it has been overshadowed by way too much death. I’m so ready for 2012 and hope it brings happiness, healing (both physical and emotional) and LIFE.

Our deaf guard dog cracks me up when he barks/growls. It’s not a “normal” dog sound, but it’s his sound. For reference on Skah’s size, he’s on a California King size bed and Huzzy is 6’5″.

I grew up, like 99 percent of my friends, believing in Santa. He was a magical part of life that made me think anything was possible.  Come on, if a bajillion year-old guy  who lives at the North Pole and flies in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer (nine if you count Rudolph) around the world to deliver presents made by his many tiny elves in one night without freezing his tookus off… anything is possible.

It was magical until I asked my mom if Santa was real. But it didn’t scar me… quite the opposite. 

Every year around this time, there’s debate on whether parents should tell their children about Santa and whether they risk losing the child’s trust for life. Personally, I don’t think this is an issue at all but that’s because of the way my parents handled the situation. One that I plan to repeat with our future children.

When I was seven, I asked my mom if Santa was real. She, in turn, asked me if I really wanted to know. I thought about it and told her no.

The next year, I asked my mom if Santa was real. Again, she asked me if I really wanted to know. I said yes. And this is where she forever changed my life…

My mom sat down with me and told me that the Santa Claus we all know isn’t real BUT he was based on a real person called Saint Nicholas. She went on to tell me that St. Nick was a real person who lived long ago and who really secretly gave people presents and made the lives of those around him better. She told me that we all have a little bit of St. Nick in us and that we must remember to do good to those around us.

She said Santa helps kids learn about how it good it makes people feel to receive things from others for no reason… and that we must strive to do the same thing as St. Nick and help those around us feel the same things as we felt when we opened gifts from Santa.

While Jesus is the reason for the Season… I think Santa Claus can be a part of it too without ruining it—as long as Santa is a tool to teach children about giving rather than greed. Heck, I still get a gift from “Santa” each year. It’s a great reminder to brighten the lives of those around me.

You may see my post on this over at SpouseBuzz, but you can read it here too (though you really should go over to SpouseBuzz if you aren’t already a reader!).

The Twelve Subby (Wife) Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
A seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the second day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine (gosh you really stink!)!

On the third day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside (shhh, don’t tell),
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud (*cough* thanks, hubby),
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the fifth day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Fiiiiive emails at once!
Four missed holidays (yes my birthday counts),
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Six days of duty…
Fiiiiive emails at once! (Boy did I need that!)
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Seven days to pay the rec bill
Six days of duty (New Year’s Eve, again?)…
Fiiiiive emails at once! (finally!)
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the eighth day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Eight Single Sailors at dinner,
Seven days to pay the rec bill (WHAT did he spend it on?),
Six days of duty…
Fiiiiive emails at once! (finally!)
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the ninth day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
Nine different duty stations! …
Eight Single Sailors at dinner (how much do they eat?),
Seven days to pay the rec bill,
Six days of duty…
Fiiiiive emails at once! (finally!)
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the 10^th day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
10 weeks ‘til the next deployment…
Nine different duty stations (I don’t even know where I am!),
Eight Single Sailors at dinner,
Seven days to pay the rec bill,
Six days of duty…
Fiiiiive emails at once! (finally!)
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the 11^th day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
11 still-unpacked boxes!…
10 weeks ‘til the next deployment (yikes, already?),
Nine different duty stations,
Eight Single Sailors at dinner,
Seven days to pay the rec bill,
Six days of duty…
Fiiiiive emails at once! (finally!)
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

On the 12^th day of Christmas, my subby gave to me:
A 12-hour plane ride to see family!…
11 still-unpacked boxes (from three moves ago!),
10 weeks ‘til the next deployment,
Nine different duty stations,
Eight Single Sailors at dinner,
Seven days to pay the rec bill,
Six days of duty…
Fiiiiive emails at once! (finally!)
Four missed holidays,
Three strains of boat crud,
Two phone calls from topside,
And a seabag of clothes smelling of amine!

Thanks to my friend Sespi over at And You Never Did Think for her help in proofreading and giving a few suggestions. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

(oh, and if you are so inclined to copy this or use this ANY where else, please give credit back to me and a link to my blog here)

Hey, you! Check out my party! (bonus: chance to win free stuff! Double bonus: you MAY get to learn my real first name!)

(please feel free to use this!)

Okay, so my blog didn’t post the MFF thing yesterday or today, so it’s running a bit late. Sorry about that. Also… due to the holidays, MFF will not return until the New Year! Enjoy the season!

I love learning more about my fellow MilSpouse bloggers. So I created a weekly meme. Each week, I’ll post a list of questions on Thursday (so you can have your blog ready on Friday). Come back here on Friday (like today!) and enter your blog post into Mr. Linky below so others know who else participated and we can all visit other blogs. Please leave a comment too! And please feel free to use the button above!

1. One of my New Year’s resolutions is  to lose weight. Seriously. Like 30 pounds. I hope I can do this now that my shoulder is being fixed and I should start to be able to work out again.

2. One thing I’d like to happen next year is to get pregnant.

3. One thing I’m looking forward to next year is shore duty. By then, it’ll have been a long three years since Huzzy’s last and since that was recruiting… that doesn’t count.

4. One change I’d like to see next year is I’d like government to get their heads out of their rears and actually get things done on time.

5. My plans for NYE include I’m not sure… it will depend on if Huzzy has duty or not. If he has duty, I’ll ring it in alone. If he doesn’t, we are thinking of going to a comedy club.

Please don’t forget to add your blog link to Mr. Linky below by clicking on it. But also if you are not participating in MilSpouse Friday Fill-In this week, please do not put your link on there… I will remove it. It is unfair to others who do participate.