Back to Blogging

Ok, so, I have not been keeping up with my blog lately. After being threatened.. I'm finally blogging. Totally kidding about being threatened, but I'm definitely rooting for some $30 cookies ;)


Any way, So... Deployment has started. Here's to the next several months of doing exactly whatever I want as far as decorating our house we purchased last deployment! Chyeah, he told me to do what *I* want to the house. Definitely going to have some fun with it.

So, what's different for me this deployment so far? Other than making this deployment #2, nothing really. We aren't far enough into it for it to seem any different than their sea trials. So, maybe when we've surpassed the one month mark it will register to me that he will not be home until later this year.

And another thing is different.. we are home owners. So, instead of house hunting- we're, no, *I* am making this house more- us! Err.. well, me. But he likes what I like, so us. When asking him about what to do around here, he said, "Do what you want. This is your house. I'm not here enough, so I want it to be exactly like you want it because you're the one who sees it every day.". I'll jump at the opportunity to have it my way ;)

So, what have I been up to?
Well, the few days before deployment started, I somehow managed to jam pack 7 full photo session into 2 days.  So the week the ship left, I didn't leave my office. I was ALWAYS on the computer- just never on blogger.

I've working on a lot of stuff for the FRG, It definitely keeps me busy. Just how I like it!
I got a part time job to keep me even more busy and the extra cash is nice too.

So, I'm running 2 businesses (CRushGFX and Christina Rush Photography), working a part time job, volunteering as the Media Chair for the FRG, and I'm going to a run every morning to get my butt (literally) in shape. So, somewhere in there.. I need to figure out when to blog.

Another issue. I feel REALLY repetitive when I blog... extremely repetitive. I feel it's the same posts over and over again: He's home, he's gone, he's home, he's gone... and an occasional- oh shit that just happened.

So, trying to change it up some, I will be posting about my adventures with Pinterest and making my house pretty. Hopefully pretty.

What am I working on now? My yard. It's heinous. Probably my biggest project yet. So, if Terri hadn't already stole it.. this would be the "Misadventures of a Navy Wife", why? Because I'm clumsy, haven't a clue what I'm doing with my yard and well... I tend to plan big and make a mess. So, this could be interesting- for you. You might get a few laughs, hopefully.

As of right now, I have a bruise on my arm from prickly seed pod that came from one of the 4 trees in my back yard. How'd I get it? Well, I was weed-eating (hey, that's how us Southerners refer to it), and one of the little annoyances was hiding in a patch of grass along the fence line. When the weed-eater line hit it, it hit me, Hard. I have another bruise on my wrist, it's rather large and has a knot in it.. I have no clue what I did. My poor legs look horrible. Needless to say, I won't be bare legged for a while. I'm the smart one who was weed-eating with shorts on. So, debris flew back a couple times and scratched me up pretty good. It's all worth it though, My yard is slowly looking better and I will soon be starting on my bigger projects, like a concrete patio, new flower bed(s), a garden, putting in a hammock, a bench, etc. Yeah... I'm expecting a lot of ouchies!

Well, that's my blog for now.

Terri, are you happy now?! :p

Awesomesauce

Today, my husband purchased himself as well as me an Apple iPad. I'm ecstatic! I'm actually blogging from it right now!

I have wanted one for some time now, but couldn't bring myself to purchase one.

I wanted an iPad mainly to use for my photography business, but I'm a stickler for spending extra money. Well, now Apple is preparing to shell out th ipad 3, which means the iPad 2 price drops. I couldn't see waiting for the 3 because the differences are not all that much.. Well.. Different, or great enough for the price difference.

At the NEX, the price of te iPad 2 dropped $100. Which made me very very happy.

 After discussing the pros and cons to buying both my husband and myself an iPad, we decided it is definitely a good investment. Last deployment, my husband and I didnt Skype, nor were there many phone calls. A.) We didn't have the ability to Skype and b.) it's pricey to call from the ship! We knew several people who would spend $500+ very paycheck to talk to their significant other. We didn't want t spend tat much and settled for email, which I didn't mind, I like having my email to look back on and read. However, I would have loved to have a few minutes while he was in port to chit chat and see him. Now, he can call me, or video chat with me through our iPads!

 My husband needed a new laptop, but really, a laptop is too much for him, he needed something more simple and easier to carry around and store in his rack. So far, the iPad has been a perfect choice for what he needs and wants. He's having a little too much un with apps.

We have tested FaceTime and we have skyped his sister in New York. Awesome! Also, the battery life on this thing is amazing. Seriously. My iPad had less battery percentage than my droid, my droid had just come off the charger. I've barely used my phone, and have been playing with my iPad nonstop for about 2 hours. My Phone is going dead, and my iPad still has more tan 60% life-it only had 73% out of the box!

 I plan to start doing paperless contracts with my photography. Yay for being more environmentally friendly! I'm also hoping to start using it for in home ordering for my clients. I have to say, my website looks pretty awesome from my iPad!

 So, here's to starting deployment on a fun note. He and I have something to keep us occupied for a bit. I can already tell, I'm going to be inseparable from my new friend.

Focus Dude

Deployment is days away (Officially released) and it's really starting to hit people- hard. So far, I'm good. I feel focused. I'm not allowing myself to focus on the fact my husband is leaving for months soon, but am focusing all I have on myself, my husband and our relationship. I believe that is the most important thing- keeping your head in check, and remembering to not put effort toward the thought, "he's leaving", but on keeping the relationship strong.

I believe if you put all your focus on deployment, you forget to pay attention to what's really important at that very moment, which is yourself, your husband and your relationship (and children if you have any- I do not, so I cannot speak on that). When focusing on deployment, you allow yourself to become negative. It's not even so much the deployment- but the countdown to deployment. It allows you to feel depressed, complain, and a lot of unneeded anxiety. Every post made about not being ready, every complaint is negative energy, anxiety put toward an issue when right now is the best time to force positive energy to helping your sanity as well as your significant other. 

See the positives over the negative. It's not always the easiest thing in the world to do, but trust me, there are positives if you let there be. 

Appreciate the days you have. You can prepare for deployment without putting so much negativity into it. Negative energy will only pollute your mind and I believe, it will make the day of deployment much harder for you. 

It's ok to feel like you're not ready. I mean, we can say that we are completely prepared, but truly.. I don't think we can honestly love our other half and be ready for them to leave on a mental aspect- physically ready, yes. In the physical aspect, My husband and I are ready. Mentally, you always want a few more days, even if you have the mentality of, "Let's just get this started so we can get it over with.". Where the negativity plays a large role is when that is all you focus on, when leaving is all you think about and all you talk about. I believe it's an unhealthy mindset. 

I know my husband is leaving, We've known it for months. We prepare mentally by focusing on time with each other and by appreciating that time. Even if we're out purchasing something to take with him, we don't allow that to be the focus- the focus is spending time together. No negativity. Just breathe and stay calm. 

He wouldn't have chose you if he didn't KNOW you could do this. He wouldn't want to be with you if he didn't think you were strong.