Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Wordless Wednesday & I Want it Wednesday...

Okay - I'm playing along with both Wednesday Specials.

Wordless Wednesday............

I Want it Wednesday.........
(I wanted to put of picture of my Honey in his undies, since that is really what I want...but I figured he wouldn't appreciate that as much as I would. Plus, I  will have these shoes a hell of a lot sooner than I'll have my husband back and out of his uniform!)

Peace, Love & Wednesday!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Just to Breathe You In...

I held my breath Saturday as news broke across the sandbox. There was not a rush of panic and disarray for me..I said a prayer - it only takes one - and waited for God to show up. He calmed my fears and gave me a strength that I thought I'd lost along the way of this deployment. After seeing my husband's tired and weary face later in the day (via Skype), I felt the air I had held from the beginning of the day, slowing release.

Before going to bed I broke out the gym bag that held the clothes Rich wore on our last night together.  The bag had remained untouched  all this time.. for 46 days. It took me at least 30 days to bring it from the back of the car into the bedroom. I would even wonder out loud to myself why I just didn't empty the bag and move on; Saturday I got my answer. I knew I had kept the bag intact just for this moment. Surprisingly, after 45 days, nothing smelled..he had only worn the clothes for a few hours. I threw his underwear and socks in the laundry and took out his shirt, put his jeans back in the bag.

I slipped into his shirt to sleep in. I smelled him all around me...felt him...

Jake jumped on the bed to lay beside me, his head on my shoulder. I could hear him as he inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, again and again, his eyes closed. I smiled when I realized that he was breathing in 'his daddy', just as I was breathing in my husband. We fell asleep this way, the lights still on, for a few hours before Jake jumped down to get in his bed.

On Sunday morning I packed the shirt away in a plastic bag for the next time.


Love, Peace & more Peace & Love!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Flashback Friday!

It's Friday. That means another week has come to an end. Despite a minor breakdown earlier in the week ~ I've/we've made it through. Day 42 is coming to a close before long.

In honor of Flashback Friday...here's some memories to share from way back in 2008. (not far back, but it's all I've got at this moment and this computer to share).

Here we are in Hollywood, California ~ July 2008

This trip out was a great deal of fun. We visited an amazing Winery, did the touristy thing in Hollywood.






Toured the Queen Mary, went to Venice Beach, toured Pook's stomping grounds (Long Beach).
Met our grandson, Landden, who was a month old!
Love, Peace & Happy Friday Memories!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Just A Moment....

The "moment" I've had yesterday is slowly passing. I know that today is another opportunity to breath..another chance to live..one more moment to love. Yesterday is gone!

The "moment" came washing through me like a tidal wave yesterday. Completely consuming me, my night, my day, my evening. I woke up in tears and closed my eyes to sleep last night in the same stream of tears. I felt so totally "alone". Friends and family are around..keeping me company or sending messages ~ I appreciate you all so much. I wish I could explain how it feels to be "Me" so that no one will think that it is 'Them'.

How do I explain the deep loneliness that follows me in my heart every day and every night? I miss having my husband with me to share the life we've built together. I miss going to bed with him at night, I miss waking up with him each morning, I miss the touch of his hand on the back of my neck, I miss his voice, I miss his laugh, I miss his kiss. I miss the way he tries to wink, I miss hearing the garage door open and know that he's home, I miss the feeling of his hand in mine when I walk, I miss watching TV with him, I miss seeing him washing his bike, I miss his smile and laughter as Jake wallows over him.

I miss my Mom and Dad.

I go about every day being the strong one, the responsible one, the keeper of everything and everyone, the one that tries desperately to hold "it" together without my husband, so no one will look at me and worry that I'm not.  I'm just one person and I'm doing the best that I can do; I can't do any more. I'm not depressed, I'm not upset, I'm not weak, I'm not having a breakdown. I don't need a hobby. I don't need to volunteer my time or a part-time job in order to 'stay busy' (I have a full-time job) to 'get my mind off things'. I don't focus on or think about 'deployment' every minute of every day ~ I live with the emptiness that it brings about. I'm tired. I don't sleep well some nights and not at all sometimes. I lay awake while moments, responsibilities, conversations, 'things I need to do, should do, don't want to do'... go through my head all fucking night long.

I worry about my husband. Is he safe? Has he slept? Has he taken time to eat? Does he still love me? When he doesn't talk on Skype - just sits there - am I wasting his time? Does he have better things, more useful things to do? Does he miss me? Does he really want to hear about the 'dirt/sand' project at home or that the dogs make me crazy sometimes? I look at the calendar every day and the days seem to just drag on; I tick off each one.

My job consumes my days - not because I'm busy..but because I am in a low-point. I feel "dumbed-down" by it, unmotivated, unchallenged, bored. It hits my self-esteem right below the belt to go to work and feel like my degrees and more than a decade of experience is worthless. No, I don't want to go back to school for my Masters!

I've been sick and not feeling well - I'm tired of pollen and coughing. I'm tired of feeling tired. Yes, I go to the gym 3 days a week ~ no, I don't want to go every day.

There are times that nothing is wrong ~ I'm just quiet. I don't know what to say most times. I start to open my mouth but words don't come. Or I say something and it suddenly feels trivial; who wants to hear about mundane things? I'm tired of eating cereal for dinner. I can't find the motivation to cook. I miss my husband cooking dinner. I miss how we worked together in the kitchen, floating around each other to pull off a great meal.

No, I don't need you to move out. Yes, the dogs make me crazy from time to time; but they also make me smile just watching them play in the back yard. Don't NOT call me because you think I have enough going on and you don't want to bother me. Don't NOT ask me to meet you for dinner or drinks when you ask yourself, "I wonder what Renee's doing". Yes, I'm stressed sometimes and there's nothing you can do to prevent it from happening. I feel "alone" every single day and you can't heal that for me ~ it just is. I don't 'need' anything. I just want my fucking life back and I'm trying to put the pieces back together as quickly as I can! It's okay that I feel down some times and I want you to understand that. I will have 'moments' that last minutes, hours, days...but they will pass. You are not in my way, you don't bother me, you're not causing me stress. Please don't make it about you, because it's not. I can't be top of the world happy and spunky 24/7 - every one is entitled to a down-day; I'm not any different.  Please understand that I'm still grieving (for Rich and for Mom & Dad). I cry for my husband, for my parents, for me, for you, for no reason at all. My tears flow without notice, without shame ~ it's really okay. Each one that falls means that I'm one tear closer to healing.


Love, Peace & This Too Shall Pass!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Sending PVT Joey....

Joey.

I've loved him for 11 years - from the moment Rich brought him home and into our lives. Our relationship grew rapidly and deeply.. before I knew it I had developed this need for him.. this addiction. Just having in him my life makes me happy! I've taken many trips with him (alone and with Rich) ~ we've traveled many States together. He's always discrete and often stays out of sight from others; yet knowing he's with me gives me a sense of comfort. Joey reminds me that I'm never completely alone in the world and that love comes in many forms.

Rich has known about Joey since he came into my life; has accepted him ~ that acceptance alone makes me love my husband even more.  Rich & I haven't spoken to anyone outside of our close family & friends about Joey and my/our relationship with him....people may not truly understand. Only friends and family members have met him and have allowed him to be a part of our lives without the fear of ridicule. I never dreamed I would share my life or my bed with anyone other than Rich, but sometimes.. to just reach out an touch his hand ... I can't let go. Joey represents Home and the Love there.

Until now.

There is something bigger than me... bigger than Joey...that brings about a long separation. He left for deployment today. It was a major decision for me to send him off... hoping he arrives safely at his destination. A year is a long time and I hope that he comes home safely... I trust that Rich will make sure Joey comes home. Watching Joey leave my arms today, with his dog tags hanging from his neck and that crooked smile... saddened me...frightened me...intensified my loneliness for my husband.  I know that it's the right thing for me and for Rich.

I'll miss you, Joey!
Take my Love and Feel of Home to My One True Love!




Love, Peace & Joey to You!

Friday, May 14, 2010

A Little Salt on Your Words, Madam?

 I had to eat some words lately...swallow some pride! I found that a dash of salt (preferably around a margarita glass) makes those nasty things go down just fine. Sit back, grab your coffee and let me walk you back a few days/weeks.

Remember the post about the Holy Grail of Checking that I did a while back (Just Checking)? I have been faithfully tending to, updating and monitoring the the massive parting gift that my Honey left me before departing this Country. Even from a far, Pook has kept up the SAME spreadsheet - I know he's doing it JUST to make sure I'm doing it right... surely it can't be because he's OCD (nah...couldn't be that).

A few nights ago Rich & I were Skyping.....
Pook: How much was the bill to get the AC fixed?
Me: $425. I used one of your checks. (you didn't think I'd use MY account, did you?)
Pook: What was the check number? I'll bet it was 27XX? (he's looking at his spreadsheet)
Me: Nope...it was #32xx. I could find where you hide put your checkbook, so I got another out of the box. Wait...what are you doing? Are you updating the spreadsheet?
Pook: Duhhh Yeah.
Me: I saw you had a balance on your credit card...I transferred money to pay it off.
Pook: Oops... I did the same thing - so, we've double paid it. Oh, well..there's a big credit there then.
Me: Look, Pook... either I do the money or YOU do the money. We both can't or crap like this happens! You trust me to do it or your don't! We BOTH can't run around paying the same bills! (rant, rant, rant)
Pook: I know....I trust you...hey, make sure you let me know how much the ___ bill is when it comes in.
Me: I will NOT! Don't you have a War to deal with? (Jeezz)

A couple of days ago....
I'm sitting at my computer...updating the spreadsheet...checking things out. I've thrown down the gauntlet so now I had to deliver! (Closed spreadsheet). Thinking to myself... "Self, you've got too much crap on your desktop. No wonder you can't find anything.. look, TWO links that's titled "Renee" (one holds the banking file from Pook). So - I start deleting shortcuts and renaming some to better serve my needs!

(NOTE TO SELF: If you do a right-click on the shortcut and move down to "Rename", just above it is a little word called "Delete").

I deleted the Holy Grail of banking records!!!! (uuhhh noooo...it wasn't saved on my computer)

If you've just gasp and put your hand over your mouth and uttered the words: Oh, HELL No! .... you'd be doing the exact thing I did.

The next day......
Pook: Hey Babe...what's new?
Me: Oh, not much. (I let the conversation play for a few minutes).
Me: Babe, you remember when YOU put "THE SPREADSHEET" on my desktop? (I tried to make it sound like it was his fault; see my angle here?) Well, I ...blah..blah..deleted it on accident....
Pook: (a smile spread slowly across his twinkling eyes) You did? Good thing I've kept my spreadsheet up.....it's perfectly accurate.
Me: Was that a smirk? It's not nice to gloat! Can you send it to me?

Today.... I got "the spreadsheet" this morning! I'm sooooo sure that I'll hear about this for a long time! Damn spreadsheet!

Love, Peace & Happy Friday!

Flashback Friday

I LOVE Flashback Friday!!

The first picture was taken on our Wedding Day (5/98).
The second picture was taken  last Summer (7/09)
Notice how everyone is posed the same in both pictures?!
How did Pook & I get so short?

The Dark Days

I still have them...just without drinking through them. Sometime I wish I could, but it's not an option if I want to live. Peace