...With a little help from my friends

So my days tend to be pretty uneventful, but yesterday was a good day.  I worked yesterday, and got a text message from our friend Stacy.  I have known her since junior high, she met her boyfriend, Alan, in high school.  The two of them got engaged soon after.  It was almost three years after graduation that they met my then boyfriend, Jesse.  Her and I had kept in touch every so often after high school, but started to become close again after Alan was diagnosed with cancer.

He thankfully got through it, and Jesse got dubbed as "cousin Jesse" in Alan's family.  I needed a change in my job, and applied at Hoya Vision Care in Tacoma where Luann (Alan's mom), Bobbie (Alan's sister), and Stacy's dad all worked.  I got the job there, and Jesse and I have since kept in contact with everyone.

And back to yesterday... I got a text message from Stacy telling me that she wanted to make an apple pie and asked me to help.  Needless to say, I came home from work, changed, then headed over.  Stacy made dinner (which were delicious egg rolls), we went out to the hot tub in the apartment complex (it was an indoor hot tub), and made an apple pie.  Of course me not considering that I would be running around in a bathing suit, I didn't bring sandals.  So, I got a pretty good laugh when Stacy saw me in a bathing suit and furry boots.  The apple pie making was interesting too -- but what happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen!!

I do have to say that I really appreciate having great friends such as Stacy and Alan, and that they are able to make time for me with their busy schedule!  I am very thankful for them.

Veteran's Day & Update on the House

This Veteran's Day I want to thank all of our military personnel past and present for their service to this great country.  They are in my thoughts and prayers!

I haven't spoken to Jesse yet today, but by the time he calls me it won't be Veteran's Day for him anymore! I did wish him a happy Veteran's Day yesterday though.  He is my hero!

On another note, my father went with me on post today to sign the lease for the house.  I got a copy of the lease and everything, but won't have keys still until the 24th.  I drove by the house so that dad could see what it looked like and the people who live there already have a U-haul truck parked out front getting ready to move.  I'm guessing on post they need a good 2 weeks to fix up the house because that was about the time they needed at Fort Benning.  I have a briefing that I'll have to go to, I have to register our animals on McChord along with getting their microchips updated to the correct address.  Then I'll have to go and get a digging "permit" to put up a 4-foot fence for Stryker.  In all, I should be pretty busy after I get those keys!  And you can have up to 4 animals on post in your house.  Hmmmm....  LOL.  That's not going to happen, don't worry.  It is awful tempting though!

If you are local here, we're going to be doing some painting in the new place the 28th.  If you're interested in helping, please let me know.  My e-mail is marissa.mcadam@gmail.com.  Also if you live in this state, tonight at 5 PM they're going to have a special from Ft. Lewis talking about our units based there.  So, you may want to tune in!

Articles Worth Reading

I know that it's nearly Veteran's Day and I am going to dedicate a blog tomorrow to our veterans of this great country, but I wanted to shed light on a couple of articles that I found today.  They come in my newsfeed to this blog (currently located on the right side of the page), and I saw some positive words that I felt were uplifting to me personally.  I wanted to share them with you.

One article is about support for our troops overseas from our local community, and more specifically Puyallup.  I highly encourage you to visit anysoldier.com to "adopt" a soldier!  This article goes to show the impact that you can have on a soldier, a VETERAN's life.  The link to this article is:

http://www.theolympian.com/living/highlight/story/1029981.html

Second is an article I feel embodies the feeling of many of the military wives (and even some of the military serving overseas) that I know.  How true I feel that this is!  I do have to say that I don't believe everyone feels this way, but I want to share the article from a spouses point of view of the war:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/10/EDSS1AGLS3.DTL

I hope everyone has a great day, please keep the members our armed services, allies, and veterans past and present in your prayers this Veteran's Day!

Care Package & New FRG

So today was a pretty busy day for me, I have a temporary address for Jesse at the moment, in which I sent a ton of things he needed to.  We don't feel as though we should share the address with anyone at this time, just because this address is a temporary one.  There's a good chance in the next few weeks he should have his new one, and with the time it takes to get a care package, it has the possibility of missing him.  So, as I said before, I went and sent him some stuff that he needed, along with some stuff that he didn't really need... But they were fun.

Above I have a photo of my stationary that I am going to write him on (along with some care package items).  All this stationary is different colors, and have different colored envelopes.  I'm pretty excited about that... Even though I think I'm the only one between me and him!

Other than that (which I spent most of my morning doing) I got ready for work and headed out to the Tacoma Mall.  I called my friend Katie (my friend from Fort Benning and IBOLC's FRG) on the way out there, it was nice talking to her!  It feels like it's been forever!

In other Army news, I am getting placed in a Headquarters Company FRG (Family Readiness Group) of 2-1.  I'm very excited about that, finally getting more to where I would like to be in the FRG.  Jesse is excited too, happy that I'll be in the loop of the happenings of the battalion.  It's exciting!

There's going to be a lot going on this week and the week of Thanksgiving for me (and my family) so I hope time just flies!  I will post plenty of pictures for all of you to see.  My brother's 22nd birthday is on Thursday and he's coming home for the weekend.  We'll be going out to dinner along with doing cake and gifts.... Which reminds me I have to go shopping!

Goodnight everyone, and don't forget to remember a veteran this Wednesday!

November 2009

Quick Update...

Again I've been changing the background on the blog, and I can't make a good decision!  I'll probably change the background again.

I wanted to make a note that I got to talk to Jesse a little bit ago, and we probably won't have an address for about another month.  So, it's gonna be awhile until we have any place to send stuff to!

That is all for now!  I'm tired and am going to a Southern Living Party and then off to work tomorrow (or should I say this?) afternoon.  I probably won't post more until at least Sunday.

I will post the new November photo album soon!

Jesse's Care Packages: What TO do and what NOT to do!

First of all, I would like to say that my thoughts and prayers are going out to Ft. Hood tonight.  How horrible that was!  It's very tough to see soldiers turning on soldiers in the worst way possible.  Being a spouse of a soldier it hits so close to home.  There is enough danger and worry as a spouse (or a close family member or friend) to someone in the military, and its even worse to hear of this type of situation.  Its hard thinking that this is the first time something like this has hit a military base, and it adds salt to the wound to find that this tragedy was created by people who live, eat, and breathe this same life as Jesse and I do along with many of our friends.  It is just heartbreaking.  It should be interesting to see if this event changes security measures on our posts nationwide.

Here at home my mother had off today and decided to do some much needed cleaning and decorating (for Thanksgiving) and my father got home early from work.  He did get laid off, an event that happens quite often in his career as an ironworker.  It is good to hear the economy is picking up, for they are expecting more work again in January.  So there is that possibility that he may not have a job through this Holiday season.

He and I took a trip to the store (I'm a little obsessed with finding stuff I can send to Jesse), and bought a lot of stuff.  Or at least probably more than I need to buy at the moment.  But, I feel good enough about it.  I also was on the hunt for some very large cardboard photo mailers for some large photos I'm going to be sending out around Thanksgiving.  Most everyone that follows this blog will likely get a photo of Jesse in or with their Christmas card this year.  I also mailed my Thanksgiving cards today, which I know seems a bit premature, but I had a couple people I wanted to get them out to sooner than later so I just sent them all!  I also stocked up on my stamps, I'm gonna need 'em!

So, my point to this blog today (other than my aforementioned updates) is to try and give you some do's and don'ts for Jesse's specific care packages.  I also will offer some suggestions.  I know many of you remember Jesse's last deployment and sent things to him then, but I may bring up some points you want to consider.  I also may bring up some stuff that may be cheaper and easier to do.  All things I am discovering myself through this deployment along with Jesse's experience with his past deployment!

DO's & DON'Ts:

  - Keep in mind Jesse will have to likely carry around anything you send him.  Many sites recommend sending "fun" stuff like mini Christmas trees, decorations, etc.  Most likely that is something Jesse will not do, for in the Infantry they often times don't sit at a desk, they are going out and doing missions.  If you send something like that Jesse (nothing against the person who sends/wants to send the gift) will throw it away.
  - Try and avoid sending things/packages that aren't disposable or that you wouldn't want thrown in the trash (ie cookie tins).  I personally will be sending goodies (such as cookies and other food related items) in small, sturdy boxes within a bigger box which will prevent the goods from being crushed.
  - If you send cookies/goodies/food, it's best to send everything with (or in) a ziplock bag.  I'm probably going to use a food saver and include a ziplock bag with them so he can transfer them from the food saver bag (which keeps the food fresh) into something he can carry around and seal (to avoid sand/dirt).
  - To keep things fresh I've been told adding a piece of bread to the cookies to help with moisture issues is a good idea.  Like I said before, it can take up to 22 days to get to him.
  - Sending candy is fine, as long as it won't melt in high heat.  I wouldn't send chocolate for that reason, even though chocolate chips in cookies and such should be fine to send.  Besides that, Jesse doesn't really care for chocolate candy anyway, he prefers things like Mamba's, Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, etc.  Include a ziplock bag with anything like that you send!
  - Postage is like sending something stateside!
  - Letters & drawings/pictures from kids would be a good morale booster for Jesse!  He may not hold onto them for a long period of time but I know he would appreciate them!  Please don't send anything that you would NOT want to be thrown away.
  - I am going to send any Thanksgiving and Christmas cards that I receive onto Jesse so that he can see them.  Please let me know if you need my address.  If you want to send cards to Jesse that is fine too.  I likely will be sending him packages bi-weekly and letters daily.
  - USPS offers FREE boxes, larger envelopes, and priority mail tape to military families (and probably friends too).  This includes 10 boxes, 10 customs forms with envelopes, 10 shipping envelopes, and a roll of the tape.  Call (800) 610-8734 for this "Mili-Pack."  It does take money to ship the box but it's a flat rate.  You can visit www.usps.com and look up "Supporting Our Troops."
  - Also, make 100% sure you send it addressed to Jesse specifically.  When I get the address I will post it EXACTLY how you need to send a package to get to Jesse.  If you are interested in sending a care package to any soldier, visit www.anysoldier.com, do NOT send it to an address with the name as "Any Soldier" or anything of the like.  It will not go anywhere.

I may add/subtract from this list so I don't keep posting stuff about care packages on every blog.  So if you need a reference it'll be here!  I do not have an address for Jesse yet, I'm thinking I will by the end of the weekend!

Sites that I found interesting with care package information:
www.spoucebuzz.com/blog/2006/12/care_package_id.html
www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html

There ARE restrictions to what you can send.  Please take note of those, even though I don't believe anyone will send most of the things they list!  Please e-mail me with any questions.  My e-mail is:  marissa.mcadam@gmail.com!

Shipping Overseas

No, I don't have an address yet!  But I wanted to post some information about shipping, shipping restrictions, etc.  USPS does have a flat-rate box you can buy specifically to shipping to an APO address.  They also list restrictions and such here:

http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/

I am going to check with Jesse on a few things before I talk about suggestions on what to send him and what not to send him.  A few tips:

-  Do keep in mind that it can take up to 22 days to get a package.  If you are on the East coast, it will probably be quicker.
-  Regular letters and items requiring regular postage will likely be quicker than packages.
-  Keep in mind that they have hot days.  Anything that might melt or be damaged more than likely WILL be damaged.

I am going to send him some stationary for Jesse to use to mail to people (and myself of course) because chances are e-mail or anything computer wise will be difficult to do.  Computers there are also VERY slow and there are time limits.  I don't really think Jesse enjoys that much so he probably won't be contacting anyone much that way.

I will post an address ASAP.  On another note, things with me are still fine, I've been busy.  Yesterday I worked on our Christmas cards close to all day, my mom and I took the dogs for a walk, and then we worked on my Army no-sew blanket.  I will post photos of the blanket, it's a hit among all of our critters.  Daisy, Luna, Spuz, and Gwen have all slept on the thing!  I rolled over on Spuz this morning because I didn't know he was there (he never sleeps on the bed anymore).  Oops.

Today mom and I went to Scrap'n Book, Aaron Brothers, and a paint place to do some shopping.  I think I've decided that I want to paint one room pink (probably the laundry room) but we need to see inside of the place before we make any concrete decisions.  I can't wait to see that house!

Please e-mail me if you have any questions about anything!

Jesse Has a Battalion!

Jesse called me and let me know that he does have a battalion now.  He hasn't linked up with them as of yet, but should be with them in 1-2 weeks.  He is going to be with 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment (also known as 2-1)!  We are both very happy, and it really does take a load off because 2-1 is a battalion that hasn't been making the news as often as some other battalions.  So it's very exciting!!

He doesn't have an address or a platoon, and probably won't have either for a little while.  He also does not have good access to internet.  So, talking or contacting him through Facebook or e-mail is probably not really going to happen much or if at all.  Land lines also are hard to come by, there are a few phones but not many and usually there are a lot of long lines.

For me today was an interesting day, my brother had come home for the weekend and we drove him back up to the University of Washington today.  We swung by the Apple Store in the University District on the way home to check out some stuff.  Then my dad and I went by the storage unit to check on our household goods that are in storage, and changed out the damp-rid in there.  I made some mental notes on how much stuff we have in storage and what I might be able to move in our CRV.  After we came home and I went with mom out to the store.  We looked at all kinds of cute stuff, I picked up some candy here and there to send Jesse.  Also since Jesse is going to be gone for such a long time, I've been stocking up on baking supplies and stuff, and with the holidays coming up everything is on sale so I say, why not?

Other than that, like I did say earlier, Jesse won't have an address for a while yet.  I will make sure to post it when I do get it.  I already have a box ready to start packing for him!

That is all for now!