And They Went 2 by 2....& Flashback Friday!

All together now..... (BIG SIGH OF RELIEF)... thanks!

So.... plans are a-changing for Pook and his "Band of Brothers"! They found out when they arrived in Kuwait that they were NOW going to their year-long home away from home in pairs!!! YEA!!!!!! This makes me feel sooooo great! Pook will have one of his Brothers with him!! (can I get a Waahooo?) As a wife of a deployed Soldier - this gives me a huge amount of relief and comfort. Don't you just LOVE military changes?!? I know, I know... it could change again before they arrive - but for right this minute... I'm a happy Wife!

So, Pooks been gone 3 1/2 weeks and I STILL can't fold down the covers on his side of the bed at night! I actually tried the other night to claim the whole bed but it ate at me for a few minutes until I got up, made his side back up, and got on my half! Isn't that just the damned thing you've ever heard? Now, it only took me about... oh, 1/2 day to claim his side of the vanity in the bathroom - now I have two sinks and the whole length of the vanity to myself and my stuff! And our closet.... mine! I don't worry about him tripping over my shoes, running into a hanger sticking out from my section of the clothes rack (because I've just breezed through and pulled something off the hanger), or feeling ashamed because I'm such a closet slob while his clothes ever so perfectly sorted by type, color, sleeves (ahem..OCD...cough)! See - there are perks to this deployment!

Oh, one more thing that I haven't been able to do since Rich has been gone. His gym bag that he used our last night together (we stayed at a hotel near the armory) is still in the back of the car. I know it's there... but I just can't make myself get it out. I think it's the whole.. if I get it out..then I have to empty it and then if I do that, I may have to wash his shirt or anything that smells like him. I KNOW.. I know you are all rolling your eyes at this - but it really is like a security blanket for me in a weird kind of way.

 Well, it's Flashback Friday! Since I'm not in a place where I can get to my treasure trove of pictures..... and since Rich isn't here to stop me (tee hee hee)...I'm pulling out a Flashback pic for your entertainment, of Him! (Honey - it's Flashback Friday... I'd look like a dork if I didn't join in. It's the ONLY picture I have with me to show. Kiss..kisss..hope you understand).

Flashback:  A young Airborne Soldier at 18 (this is such a hysterical picture!!!!!)


Hot, Hot, Hot at 45!

Thank you for all of your sweet comments about our OpLove pictures!! They sure are awesome! If you didn't check them... take a gander: Our OpLove Pictures (go to Client Galleries and type: richardson)

Love, Peace & Happy TGIF!

Broken Silence, Love & OpLove....

It all started Tuesday night.

If you've followed along the bouncing ball of my blog, you are aware that I lost my parents right after Christmas. It truley was, and remains to be, the most devasting thing my family & I have gone through. Whether they are just dreams or true "coming to" moments, Mom & Dad have 'come to' several of my family members; giving a word of peace, encouragement, comfort, love. When I found that Daddy had come to another member of my small family - I was hurt, frustrated, jealous. I threw up a "what the hell" open letter to my Mom & Dad; as I couldn't understand why I haven't even had not one dream about them in 4 months. It wasn't a hateful letter, but I pitched a major hissy fit to my parents - those that know me, know I can be the Queen of Hissy Fits! Trust me when I say, Mom & Dad probably knew it was coming at some point and probably looked down and just watched it unfold. I wasn't ashamed of my words in the least; as they were how I felt and were words I would've spoken to them in life. Whether or not you believe that those that have gone on really do come to you in your dreams, it gives a comfort to know that somewhere up there, you are still loved.

Well, my post received some air time on FB; which started a whole new ball of wax! So I deleted my post (I wish I hadn't), and retreated. I certainly don't mind a comment (I actually encourage it), but I was taken back that it was done openly in FB. Long story short - everything is fine now and my family member & I now have found a peaceful common ground to stand on. Thanks Dad!

Okay... moving on...

The call from my husband came at 1:30am this morning! It was sooooo amazing to hear his voice for those few minutes. He had arrived in Kuwait, awaiting the next phase in his journey. (And NO... OPSEC has not been violated here). We got to FB chat for a little while this morning after I got to work! I'm hoping we can chat a few more time today while he's in limbo.

Moving on... again!

I am so excited!!! I finally got the link to our OpLove phote session and I want to share!!!!

http://www.lighthouselifeinpictures.com/

Main site
Client Galleries
Password: richardson

So, all is right in my world right now!

Love, Peace & Happy Thursday!

Going Silent......

Clearly, I can't post my feelings, thoughts, frustrations or pain here..otherwise it becomes public fodder on FB.

My words have hit a wall... I thought there was a freedom to speak, to express, to share....a reminder that nothings free. You may not truley understand how deep the sorrow feels to feel like  I need to be silent.

 I'm going Silent for a while to think.

Here's something for Wordless Wednesday.... Meet Joey!

Only to Begin Again..

It's been 17 days since the deployment clock started, but the real beginning has begun. The thought of actual 'boots on the ground' scares the hell out of me. There's a destination of unknown for my husband and a journey of counting, praying, tears (lots of those), unknown, fear and breathing in & out for me. I'm not ready but there's no turning back. My husband goes in alone..more than a year...one man...no friends or battle buddies to have his back.  The other 3 Soldiers in his team all go alone, each to their own destinations - same scenario. That's so fucked up in so many way! It saddens me to the deepest of my very core. A team of four brothers that have trained together, grown together, laughed together, cried together, and trust each other .... sent out to the winds. Who will have my husband's back? Who will have the other's backs? As I write those words I cry...I'm so sad and so scared.

I Love You, Babe - 10,000 Times!

A young Army Soldier - just turned 18! Showing his toughness for the camera. The back of the Pic said that he (Rich) was trying to look "bad ass" and his friend was trying to look scared! LOL

28 years later - my husband is still Bad Ass!

Love, Peace & More Peace & Love

I Know What Hell Looks Like.....

It looks like a huge rat!

So, check this out....I work all day, pick up my sister at 5:00pm and boot-scoot 1 1/2 hours to our great-niece's 2nd Birthday Party. Not only were we driving toward the West where a huge severe thunderstorm with a 'strong potential for funnel clouds' is making its way East... but it actually starts to rain by the time we arrive at Chucky Cheeses hell! Yep, Friday night, birthday parties everywhere, kids high on tokens and blinky lights, parents already looking haggard and worn out as they wait for pizza to arrive while chasing the kids around.

The "band" was just getting ready to start their gig (still freaky looking after all these years)....when all of the sudden.....THE FLIPPING LIGHTS GO OUT!!!!! Yep. Out. Dark. Kids start screaming, parents are running around yelling for their kids, with cellphone drawn to illuminate them towards the epi-center of fun!  It turns into complete pandemonium!

We wait... we wait...hey~ look... they brought our pizza (lucky for us our food was at the end of the oven and ready to serve ~ Bonus). Like the insensitive folks we are, we eat in the dark by pen light and cell phone while everyone else is bitching and moaning at the Manager ... "We're hungry, when can we get our food"? "When will the lights come back on"? .. "What are you doing about it?"  The Manager was a pro at handling the situation; very calm. I'm sure she wanted to scream "Well, the ovens don't work because there's no effing electricity, so you won't get your pizza! I have no effing idea WHY the electricity if off and I'm sitting on my ass not doing anything, just for the hell of it". She was very professional but I'm sure that's what she was thinking!

So, after an hour...the sun was going down fast and before long we would be plunged in total darkness inside Chucky Cheeses with still screaming kids and parents., Rhonda and I did the whole kiss and hug and got the heck out of dodge. It was the LONNNGGEEST hour and a half drive home!

Now as my nerves are calming I think I will pour a nice size tumbler of Cabernet to ward off any nightmares that may come.

Love, Peace & "Say No To Chucky Cheeses on a Friday Night When There's a Storm Brewing"!

I Remember When...

I LOVE technology! Rich makes fun of me because there's always some new technology gadget that I want. Not that I always get it, but it's free to want. Right?! Take the cell phone ~ I remember when they didn't exist! (I hear a gasp out there). The first one I saw/used was a huge bag phone that was heavy, cumbersome and and generally a pain in the ass to operate. That was about the time that pagers started coming into play as a means of 'getting in touch" with someone. I loved that little thing! I still used one when Rich and I met. That's right - I didn't have a cell phone 13 years ago. When I finally got a cell phone, the only way to use it at home was to stand in the front of the house, on the left side of the mailbox and and turn ever so slightly to the right! We've come a long way Baby! Yes, I remember that commercial!

Another bit of technology that I am attached to is my computer! Wow... the first computer I ever saw was a cheap little thing called the Commodore 64! We had one (my first ex and I) and I'm not even sure we even figured out what (if anything) it was supposed to do - we were dirt poor, fresh to the Army, one kid and one on the way, still literal kids ourselves...gees...I think we ended up pawning it to buy food or diapers several times until we finally just let it go. Yeah, we've both come a long way since! In the late 80's, after a divorce and coming back home, I came in contact with a REAL computer and ....well, here I am today.

This trip down memory lane is really a reflection to how technology will keep me and Rich connected through this deployment. The only thing I dread are the times of no-communication. I even bought a small netbook today to take with me every where on the chance that we get to Skype without a moment's notice.Who wants to lug around a regular laptop all the time?


We Skyped last night for an hour. As soon as his face came on screen I cried! Even now - I SEE him online...but he must be checking email, facebook, and blogs before he Skypes me. The waiting is killing me!!! HURRY UP RICH!!!! I need to see your face!

Well, there's no real reason for the blog tonight... I'm just expending pent-up nervous energy while waiting (im)patiently for Rich to CALL ME!!!

Peace, Love & a "I hope you hear from YOUR Honey"!

P.S.  I LOVE Skype!! We talked for about 30 minutes! I miss him endlessly! He updated his Blog, too: Rich's Blog.

My Sister's Blog:  Soul Searcher

Wordless Wednesday...

Deployment Sucks!