Our anti-terrorism briefing

In the normal process of moving military style, there are always briefings.  They brief us on transportation, household goods, shipments of vehicles, housing, JAG, pay, medical, etc.  The newest in the line up (okay, not real new but rather it pertains to those traveling out of country) is Anti Terrorism. 

When we took our cruise last summer to the Bahamas, we had to take it and at work each year we have to take the online training in order to keep our jobs; however, a refresher is always good.

Today, I was reminded to be ever vigilant of my whereabouts and that of my family and always be on guard.  This doesn't necessarily pertain to us though, but as all of us as Americans.  Even those of you reading this in those areas where you don't think 'will ever happen here'....it can!!

For you, I would recommend changing up your route to work and not because an extremist group is just wanting to bang down YOUR door or pay a visit at your work, but rather there ARE bad people out there in general who just are out to do harm.  Pay attention to who might be in a familiar vehicle that you have seen before.  Now, my day is so predictable that I pull out of the driveway at the same time the bus comes driving by and the same pick up comes down the road as I am turning onto it.  Does this mean they want to harm me?  NO, we just so happen to be going the same way EVERY day! 

But, one time in San Antonio when we lived off post, I took the same route home.  One day, I noticed the same pickup following me.  And this wasn't the average pick up.  There was something that made it stand out which is why I paid attention to it.  He was behind me by one car going down the interstate and for two days he went straight as I pulled into my neighborhood.  So, I decided to switch lanes.  He switched lanes.  I slowed down.  He slowed down.  I sped up.  He sped up.  So, on the third day, I decided to take an exit in which I was familiar with this 'back way' to my house.  He proceeded to follow me and I turned, at which point he turned.  I made a turnaround in the parking lot as did he.  I then stopped at an Arby's drive through and he drove by.  I watched him get back on the street and leave, but it was too coincidental for me.  I kept an eye out and never saw him or the truck again!  Maybe it was just a guy trying to find his way or a man who had ill intentions for a woman on the road alone!!! 

Next, don't make yourself a target for thiefs.  Don't wear your blingy, expensive jewelry out and about when on vacation.  It's tempting for theives to try to take it and imagine how they would take a nice ring off your finger?!!!  Also, keep your purse to the 'store side' of the sidewalk and not the 'street side' as some purse theifs will run by and steal it and get in the getaway car or drive by on a scooter!!  They don't care if you get hurt either, so keeping it over your shoulder don't matter, but the shoulder you strap it on can make a difference.  Men, keep you wallets in your front pocket. 

It's also a good idea to keep your photo ID's and credit cards separated so if you do get robbed, you have one set to still ID yourself and to at least pay for anything you need until you can sort it out or get replacements. 

If you travel overseas or just out of the country, don't put on display you are American.  Now, this is against all the red, white and blue coursing through our veins; however, it makes you a target.  If someone thinks you have money because you wear designer clothing, carry expensive purses or you advertise your services...ie, 'I'm a doctor, nurse, attorney...etc'  you are a high dollar target, but this pertains to anyone.  The goal is you could be kidnapped for the sole purpose of getting money for a ransom.  And not a million dollars, but $30K might do it for these petty thieves, but is your life worth it to wear your fancy clothes and purses or broadcasting what you do in life to have someone put your life at stake for some chump change???  Dress down and enjoy yourself, just be vigilant. 

Remember, in staying in lodging out of the country, the hotels don't do background checks on their employees and they may have ill intentions for taking the jobs within the hotel.  They may just work the front desk, clean your room or run the bar, but they may be gathering information about you or preparing to steal your identity.  This can be true in the states as well!!!!!  Don't leave your valuables in the open or unlocked in your room or your car.  Use the trunk, glove box or in-room safe for security.  Also, when staying in a room choose to stay on floors 3 through 7.  Third floor up because the blast from an explosion will lose it's energy/strength by the time it reached the third floor and don't stay higher than floor seven because firetruck ladders can't reach that high! 

When you see something out of the ordinary, say something.  I know it's a saying we hear on TV about homeland security, but it really is true.  If you see someone on the street corner timing traffic lights and patterns, taking pictures of surrounding buildings or they just seem REALLY out of place, then report it.  It is better to be safe than sorry.

As for an active shooter situation....take cover.  Simple as that. With so many shootings in this country, you need to know what to do in that situation.  Take cover and preferably into a locked area if you can.  LEAVE YOUR BELONGINGS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE.  YOUR PURSE/BAG CAN BE REPLACED, YOU CANNOT.  If you can't hide, then duck and cover in place.  As a last resort, try to subdue the shooter.  When the police arrive, stay in place and they will find you. They will be coming with guns at the ready and in full body armor with adrenaline pumping!!!  Don't let them think you are part of it, instead just hold your place, and do as instructed!

This is all very important information and can help you make more informed and decisive decisions whether you live in little no where Nebraska or Montana.  The big city like Sacramento or San Antonio.  This pertains to ALL of us!!

Be vigilant.  Be safe.  Be mindful!!

W

It's always something flavorful around here!

We have been busy selling stuff on Craigslist, eBay, and BooKoo ( a military webpage for selling stuff) with much success.  Sold a bunch of ball gowns that really needed new closets to hang out in.  Some purses, coats and picture frames.  A few larger pieces of furniture that we intend to replace with some nice European pieces from various countries in our new, upcoming adventure. 

Today, we sold our air purifier and the couple that purchased it brought over some stuff to prep ourselves for Germanly like maps, CD's to learn German and some transformers....along with word-of-mouth information about the experience.  More along the type of 'this is what to expect' kinda information.  The information not too many people are really forthcoming with. Almost like it's secretive.  Is it because they think, 'Hey, if I had to suffer through this on my own, you should have to as well'????  Well, now that is not very nice.

Take for instance, one pearl of advice was snow tires.  If your tires on your vehicle don't have a 'snowflake' icon on the side wall of the tire and you are in an accident and you weren't at fault....YOU WOULD BE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THOSE TIRES!!!!  Now when exactly was someone going to share that with us!????

Or, if you take ANY electrical items, they won't work right or work long.  Think of all the little things in your house that plug in.  Smell-good things for the scent you like in your house.  I sold all my Scentsy stuff.  Alarm clocks---mine is still working just fine from high school!  Our coffee maker, which is really nice but we may as well buy a dual voltage one there!!  Laptop, cell phone, camera chargers!  The DVD player, Matt's razor, my hairdryer, the TV's, the deep freezer, the extra fridge, my new Kitcheaid mixer and food processor. 

I guess we will buy wall clocks that take batteries, get cell phones there, get a different coffee pot, use my cell phone as my alarm clock, pray our TV's are dual voltage (which we haven't looked yet because they are MOUNTED on the walls), figure out what to do about the laptops and handmix/chop everything in the kitchen.  I'm not selling my stuff and I'm not risking blowing it up either.  It will all sit in the 3rd bedroom which will act as a 'storage' area.  But, I am not sure they will allow us to ship my washer and dryer there to store for fear we 'would use it' and ruin the housing wiring.  I only want to store it, but may drag it to San Antonio for storage and just buy a clunker set to get by in the meantime!

Some days I am frustrated and some days I am clear-minded, but there seems to be no grey area for me and how I feel about all this.  I am beyond ecstatic to go see Europe and who wouldn't.  It's just the logistics of all of it that's overwhelming.

We shall see and really it's one day at a time!!  One day at a time goes a looooong way in situations like this!!

Wishing me luck!  W

Don't have to be military to have your affairs in order!!

Part of always being on the move and having a family, puts us in a certain situation.  Our final wishes!!!  Have you given thought to your final wishes?  Have you thought about who would take care of your children in the event of your death?  What will happen to all your stuff?  What if you don't die, but are in an unrecoverable vegetative state??

Being military, we are forced to the JAG office to make sure these matters are addressed.  Of course, that is nice because it's not necessarily something we think of on a day-to-day basis.

We are each others beneficiaries and we have our alternates listed.  We have our wishes listed what we want in the event of a vegetative state, what we want when we die, where we want to be laid to rest, where Madi will go, where our assets will go, our everything!!  It's all laid out and in black and white.  No contesting that!!

Whether you have any assets or not, if you have children you should at least have a Will if they person who would be the next according to a court to take care of your kids is not the ideal person.  Who would you want to finish raising your children??  We have put a lot of serious thought into this over the course of the last twenty years as each of the children reach a milestone.  It's not an easy decision, but it's important.

Does your family know what you want if you are in a vegetative state with no possibility of recovery?? Do you want life support measures to keep you artificially alive?  Do you want tube fed and an IV?  Do you just want comfort measures?  Do you want to die at home?

Where do you want buried?  Do you even want buried?  Cremation?  Buried at Sea?  Do you want a memorial or wake?  A funeral or just a graveside service?  These are all important things to know and share.  I feel the funeral portion is more for the living to have their chance to grieve; however, I refuse to be placed in a coffin and viewed!!!  I just don't want it.  I want to go straight from my death bed to the crematorium and placed in an Urn for the funeral or memorial or whatever it is my survivors want at that point...BUT NO FREAKIN' COFFIN!!!!  No WAY!!!!

Are you a Veteran?  Does your family know where to go to get Veteran's benefits and burial benefits?  All this information is important, especially if the ONLY person who knows (i.e. your spouse or significant other) dies with you!!!!!!!!

Since we are going overseas, we will decide on where to store our Wills stateside.  Most likely a safety deposit box in O'Neill since Brandi is the executor of our estate in the event we both die. 

It's not a topic one just talks about all the time, but why not take the time this week to discuss your wishes with your loved ones...or at least formulate a plan to do so!!

So, it's no secret we are headed to Germany!

Well, today was a challenging day.  I realized (although I already knew this) we have a lot of stuff.  Stuff that comes in handy once in a blue moon and stuff that is used quite frequently and then the stuff that is used daily!!  Sorting it and its priority in this house and it's role in our family is not too demanding....EXCEPT when you are trying to decide whether it can sit in storage for 3 years while we trapes off to the other side of this world!!!

So, as I ponder on what to take, what to store and what to get rid of I am now discovering that in itself is a task in itself. 
1.  Take for instance our nice furniture.  Word in the military community is the trip there for household goods is not necessarily a good outcome.  In otherwords, I have heard too many horror stories to send my nice furniture that needs to last us the rest of our lives only for it to arrive in Germany in pieces.

2.  How does one place a priority on what to keep and what to get rid of when all of it is really necessary. Okay, okay...four Disney totes many not be necessary, but each of them have served me well and all hold a special place in my heart.  But that's okay.  They are in my heart, so I can part with all but one.  One should do the trick.

3.  How do I set prices on the stuff I plan to sell, determine what to donate and what to just trash.  It's relatively easy except when I hit the 'submit ad' on websites I'm using to sell stuff.  Mostly I have had good luck with finding homes for some of my used, but in good condition stuff.

Now, on to cleaning out of all the drawers in the house.  Clearing out the nooks and crannies of this place that have been the go-to stash place for just plain ole junk.  Organize the book case and determine what can be donated to the library and what to take or store. 

Enough of that.  On to the big stressor.  Our schedule.  I went from one doc's appt every 6 weeks at a minimum to having an appointment at the rate of 2.8 appointments every week between now and the end of May!!!

Planning for three different moving companies to come and get our unaccompanied baggage which are the bare necessities we can send off early from her to arrive early there for us to use to survive.  Blankets, towels, cleaning supplies, kitchen stuff and that sort of thing.  Just enough to get by.  I usually have this in a rubbermaid bin that I take with us, but we aren't driving to Germany. 

Then, we need to schedule the Household baggage pick up.  This is the stuff that IS going to Germany. The list is short:  the futon, Mad's bedroom furniture, our boxspring and mattress, the old buffet our TV sits on, the old sewing stand, the kitchen cart with two bar stools, our lawn chairs (only four of them and the bag ones at that), and of course, clothing and kitchenware and bathroom stuff....the rest will go to storage.  That's the third company that will come. 

Then, we have to take a mandatory Anti Terrorism Class no earlier than 60 days prior to arrival in country, have the pet's health certificates within 10 days of arrival, Rabies vaccine no earlier than 30 days, get the JEEP cleaned and off to shipment, clean and get the car dropped off at temp storage the day before we fly, keeping in mind all this needs to be scheduled during the week since nothing is open on weekends. 

We have Madi's physical and overseas screening complete, but I'm waiting on mine.  We have to visit the legal office for a mass of Powers of Attorney, update our Wills, Living Wills, Living Trusts, etc, etc.....just a joy really. 

In the meantime, we are prepping the house for departure even though that's not til the end of July.  We have nail holes and other various holes for large frames to fill, sand and prep for painting. We need to buy 500 gallons of Kilz Primer to cover our awesome paint job, then paint the regular paint, get Stanley Steamer in for the carpet.  Have I mentioned how much I HATE carpet!!!  We need to clean the furniture and I'd like to re-stuff the pillows for the living room furniture so it's fresh when we see it again 2017!! 

I need to air dry my washer for at least a week if not longer to ensure it's entirely dry inside and out so we don't come back to a moldy washer that's useless!! 

Clean, empty the oil and gas from the Harley to ship it.

Decide what appliances to take since the electrical conversion seems to mess up that stuff and to be frank, I don't want my TV's, new blender and mixer ruined or for that matter...any electrical stuff to include my alarm clock I have had since high school!  I guess we will be primitive there!!  Hand mixing and chopping stuff and buying used appliances because I believe we will be off post in the community for the entirety of our time there since there is a LONG wait for housing!!  Plus, we want to immerse ourselves in the German culture.

In the meantime, I am trying to focus on going to Nebraska for the birth of my first grandbaby, working on updating my resume, somehow study for my next certification level test in May, prepare for this move, and just enjoy the breaths I can catch in between.  Somedays it seems I go 5mph and others I accelerate at a fast rate of speed to 90mph.  There seems to be no in between.

There isn't nothing that is dropped in my lap that I can't handle.  A positive attitude, the help of my awesome husband, the wise guidance of those that have forged before us and thankfully the Internet I will survive.  Prayers and perseverance make this more bearable!!

 I thought you would enjoy reading this hectic and chaotic thing I call MY life as it's sometimes funny and a way to see that your life isn't really any different than mine in that we all have challenges.  My challenges are living on the go every 18 months to three years.  This is the second duty station we have been at the longest.  The longest was Fort Sam for five years and now here for three.  Otherwise, we were on the go every 18 months. 

Well, now that you read my heap of a mess that is just really organized chaos, ponder on the challenges in your life and how you will positively handle those with optimism and grace.  It's all done with a smile on one's face. 

Until the next blog about my chaotic life and the fact I am IN love with it I bid you ado!!!

Another gone by, and no posts???!!!!..and a gob of new things!

Seriously????!!!!  Life has been too busy and this past year flew by fast!!

As I was reading my latest post...from nearly a year ago, I realized I really have been busy!!  The old adage,'Time flies when you are having fun' really is true!!  It has been fun!!

2012 held many fun things.  We had the wedding which was a blast!!  So many family and friends came from out of town.  The house was busting at the seams with laughter and jubilation!!  The kids were sent off on their new lives and on the one year anniversary of the court house wedding they learned they were expecting!!

I'm going to be a GRANDMA!!!!  Isn't that for really old people??  NOT!! I'm beyond excited!!  Is the timing right?  Is it ever??  Sure there is and now is a good of a time as any!!  So far, it's a boy and I couldn't be happier!!

Madison is half way through her Freshman year of high school and isn't too thrilled about it.  She's been consumed with a gob of homework.  Do people really use that word anymore??  Gob??  Well, I do!  She also has spent a gob of time with her friends and doing things teen girls do....watch TV and text!!

Matt was consumed with the construction of the new blood donor center which opened in July. That was a monumental feat and took a gob of his time from home, but well worth the look on the family's faces when they saw just what had been built in their father's honor!!!

We recently had a string of bad luck with finances.  The furnace, A/C unit and water heater all decided to konk out in the past week in our home back in San Antonio, so we dropped a gob of money of that.  With that and the impending orders for Germany, I decided to take desperate measures with our finances. 

One:  I want to stay on track with the Swingholm Debt relief program we put into place when we moved here.  After the hiccup of the short-notice wedding, we got back on the budget wagon and it was full steam ahead.....until the car needed new tires!

Two:  I have wanted to rid our house of the TV for a LONG time.  YEARS in fact!!  So, we cut off the Direct TV and it's total silence in my house right now.  I can hear the cat nibbling on food, the whir of the heater, the neighbor outside talking to someone, and my dog breathing heavily laying next to me....she's on the brink of snoring!

Three:  By disconnecting the TV (which was really making us unproductful anyway) I have vacummed the house after work, made homemade crepes with sweet cream cheese filling and cinnamon apple topping.  I made homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner, started this blog AGAIN and am preparing to read a book!!

Yes, you read that right!!  I am going to read a book.  From front to back and everything in between!! 

My first choice is Dolly Parton's 'Dream More'  I am into biographies and not so much fiction, although I did grad a book from the 'new' section about a seamstress for President Lincoln's wife or something!!  It seemed interesting and wasn't romance, sci-fi or horror!!!

With that, I plan to sign off and live my unplugged life!!  Take this journey with me as we see how my sanity holds out with this new endeavor.  BTW, I have also SHUT OFF my iPhone and no longer can make/take calls, text, FB, etc!!!  It was really nice not being tethered to the darn thing all day!!!!!