“Dangewous”

           Today, Jeremy was doing some Army training thing out in the woods over on North Fort across from company and the motorpools. He sent me a text message asking me to pick him up at 11:45 am for his lunch break. (One car family and all that jazz.)

So I knew where he needed me to go, but I giggled to myself a little that I didn’t get coordinates or something. (Incidentally, there is a pizza place on post that WILL deliver pizza to you if you can give them coordinates to where you are in the field. HA!)

When we were taking him back, Cooper seemed to really enjoy taking the truck in the “rocks” and all the fun that goes with off-roading a bit. (I had fun too.) I dropped Jer off and he directed me where to go to get out of this wooded area. As I was driving Cooper was talking to me about how fun this was, etc. He said, “don’t go over in those bushes mommy,” I laughed and asked him why not and he said, “it could be dangewous.”

Ft. Lewis

    Having lived in the “civilian” world and then coming into the “Army” world later in life has been quite a trip. I think I’ve ranted several times about how this isn’t a job it’s a dictatorship. I say that just because it makes life as a family a bit more challenging when you are used to being able to come and go as you please, get treated like an adult, ask for time off, etc….

However, there are some fun things about Army life. One of them, for me at least, is living on post. If you have never sat down and looked at a map of the lovely state of WA, Ft. Lewis is pretty big. Here’s a satellite image. You’ve gotta scroll around to see it all-but it’s huge.  (You CAN find our neighborhood/house on there if you scroll in tight: Idaho Avenue-the brick buildings facing each other in between N 4th street and N Division street.)

Just to give you an idea, there are several lakes on post, rivers, airports, a golf course, there’s a skating rink, a bowling alley, a bar (or two), a million gyms, 4 pools (indoors), grocery store, post exchange (that’s PX for us Army kids…think Wal-Mart on a smaller scale-but with Coach and Gucci purses), post office, football field(s)/soccer stadium(s), baseball field(s), paintball field, hospital, 5+ churches including a really pretty old cathedral, thrift shop, gas stations, car wash, restaurants, banks, coffee shops (YES! There is a Starbucks on post :)), boat marina, fire station(s), hotel(s), RV park, camping area (complete with cabins), an entire town just for practicing Army type stuff, and the list just goes on. I can’t believe everything there is around here. Plus, I think there are something like 10+ schools on post. There are hiking trails all around, museums, and there is even a new animal kennel/pet hotel being built!

There is so much more I haven’t even mentioned too. You’ll just have to come and see it all for yourself. But my point is that an Army post (the Navy has bases, the Army has posts) is a fun place to be often times. I don’t notice a huge sense of warm, fuzzy community, but I am learning quickly that you just have to go outside and let yourself be seen. So far, I know almost all my neighbors! (Met another one today!) People aren’t as warm and bubbly as I thought they’d be (thanks to TV and that chick in Georgia who I now think is crazy), but as the weather warms up the moms are starting to venture outside and chat neighborly-like.

Another fun thing-there is a playground (a good one) every 500-1,000 square feet. I kid you not. I think there are almost 10+ playgrounds/parks within 1 mile of my house.

So that’s the gated community where I live. Oh yeah…did I mention there is Salsa dancing?

P.S. Scrolling around on that link made me crack up-the image is several years old because Jeremy’s company, the barracks and battalian, a gas station and a church are all NOT on the map for North Fort. That’s too funny to me! So, um, a lot of construction is going on around here.

Eh……

Ok….the nineties were all about navy blue, hunter green and burgundy. Then it went into bright colors-but it was tacky. Then, it migrated into earth tones. I have been waiting for YEARS for happy, pretty, rainbow colors to be “in” and trendy. FINALLY, Pottery Barn has answered the call of my heart.

Have you SEEN the website? It’s all happy greens and yellows. Bright, pretty colors. Why can’t I win the lottery? All I can think is that thank goodness Target manages to take their cues from PB. (Which is why we call Targeeee “Pottery Barn on a budget”) If you’ll peruse the PB site, you’ll also see that they have the prettiest and most tasteful butterflies in a ton of their stuff too.

Anyway, that’s what I know for now. Jer is having a bad day at work today and will probably have to stay late tonight (sometimes Army stuff can be SO dumb).  Coop and I are be-bopping around this afternoon; we’ve got to run up to church and work on some fun things. It’s a laid back week and I’m trying to think up things to do because I’m slightly bored. Not because there isn’t anything to do….I just don’t want to do the things I SHOULD do. 🙂

Ok, TTFN. Gotta get the munchkin.

PT & Army Update

Potty training is going great. I keep meaning to update you guys on our status. It’s by no means “in the bag” but he is doing so well. My girl Crystal made a very witty observation about little C. (because treats just aren’t working for him). She told me to try using TV as a reward. Well, it WORKED! 3 days in a row now, he has gone #2 no problem at all. And has been great about telling me when he needs to go. Today was awesome, he was running around with some friends when he stopped and grabbed his bottom and said “OH NO! Poo-poo!” I quickly grabbed him and took him to the potty and we made it! It was wonderful that he recognized what it felt like to need to do that. I’m so proud of him! So thanks Crystal for your keen eye!

Now on Jeremy’s Army stuff, I’m sure he’ll post about it this weekend on his own blog, but today he is meeting the Sergeant Major of the ENTIRE U.S. Army! He was really nervous about it and concerned that he wouldn’t look good enough for the guy. But I’m sure it went fine. I expect him home in about an hour and can’t wait to hear how it went. I hope he gets a picture…..should’ve given him the camera – SHOOT!

I know nothing else though-Army wise that is. We are supposed to have a meeting in March and I’m eager for some news on whether or not a deployment is eminent. It’s so up in the air I think. I’ll deal either way-I just want to know!

So that’s us. Nothing on our plate this weekend. Just a relaxing weekend at home. The weather has been lovely the last couple of days here. The sun is shining and it’s been about 50 degrees. I’m sure the rain will be back soon, but in the mean time the break has been so delightful. I even opened the windows today!