Sometimes I think people hear the world freedom and think that word and its related concept means just one all encompassing thing. In reality, there are actually several freedoms and sometimes people can pick and choose which one they want. Maybe a better way to look at it is the use the world luxury. America was founded on an idea that each individual not only could, but had a right to, pursue happiness. That idea doesn’t exist and is at this point unrealistic. Who gets to define this happiness? What about the people who are only happy when using an illegal drug or murdering people? Those people do not have the right to pursue happiness. As a country, that was decided. At an extreme, it can be easy, but it’s the middle ground, the gray area that gets people.
I’m watching again the series band of brothers. I don’t know why exactly, but it reminded me of the choices I have made to obtain the little freedoms I have now, or rather, the luxuries I have now. I have the freedom to do so many things. I imagine many people may take them for grated. When I have a bad day, I remind myself I made a choice and because of that choice I have the freedom to do things like choose what food I keep in my kitchen that I share with my husband. I have mornings I skip through songs on my way to work, not listening to any one in its entirety. I have the freedom to do that and it’s wonderful. I don’t know why I didn’t see it this way before. It makes it so much easier to find peace with it all. I conformed, and in return I can go outside for long walks and eat my lunch in the sunshine. The list is so long it will keep me busy for the rest of my life.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Life is good, Life is great, Life is unbelievable...
Wow. It’s been a long time. I know, I’m turning into one of those people who claim they don’t have time to do things, but in actually just suck at time management. I hate those people; I need to stop becoming one! Anyway, as usual, my life is anything but boring. I think if I actually had a normal, boring day or week or whatever, my soul may shrink a little.
Being married to the navy is definitely interesting. I moved up here thinking that I could count on the other families attached to the same boat as my husband, but boy was I wrong! It’s a real shame too. I wanted to view them as a kind of extended family, but sadly, events have made that ever so impossible. It’s on one hand, and quite possible half of the other, my fault. I simply lack the maturity to deal with a lot of the drama.
Basically, in short, I believe my husband is getting shafted by the navy and its accompanying politics while other members of the same boat are getting rewarded despite bad attitudes and poor conduct. I’m sure everyone has their complaints, but he has every reason to come home, open a window and cry out: “I’m mad as hell and I can’t take it any more.” However, he keeps going like an energizer battery and gives life lots of passion each and every day. I have no idea how he comes home from work and still smiles. If I had to be at work by 6am Wednesday and didn’t return home until 4pm Thursday only to go back and work 6pm to 8pm that very evening, I think I would invest in a punching bag at least.
On top of that kind of work ethic, he also doesn’t complain or bad mouth people. I know that what I just said should be a given, but you’d be surprise in this whole navy world I’m in. One would think they navy would reward such good behavior, and they may from time to time, but for some odd reason, at the same time, the government acts like it doesn’t have to honor contracts. Strangely enough, I’m getting shafted in the same way in my work world. Funny, isn’t it?
I am (or was) under a five month contract, which expired recently, and yet I can still show up to work and get paid. Oddly, somewhere, someone knows what’s going on with that, I hope they don’t fire me. Hopefully, a couple of elves got together in a back room and signed me on for five more months. However, maybe the fact I am not suppose to go from a temp contract to permanency without fulfilling training and getting up to speed on production requirements is what is slowing things. I guess that would mean I would actually have to stay at a job long enough to complete training. Now, I’m in a ten week training and right after I complete that, the company will be under the control of new owners which will probably have their own rules for this kind of thing. Meanwhile, I’m pondering why I was moved from a job where I could actually apply my degree to a department that just simply needs half way intelligent people. Maybe I should investigate if the company is owned by squirrels or moose.
Oh yes, and just because god has a sense of humor, as of last week I developed a nice lovely rash that will last any where from six weeks to six months that feels like I hugged an upset porcupine. It has no know cause or cure so I’m sitting through training while trying to ignore the fact I’m pumped up with Benadryl and Claritin. Surprisingly enough, the lack of sleep caused by the itching, did not trigger an episode of my (insert proper terminology here). At least…not yet…knock on wood.
But alas, it’s not all gloomy news! I have discovered the awesomeness of New England in the summer and by golly it is very awesome. I love nature and the outdoors so much and here I can have the ocean and the mountains. Having a camera is great because it forces me to see the world differently and I notice lots of things I think I’d otherwise miss. I still haven’t really made it down to Boston to explore much more than the science museum and aquarium, both which were below my expectations, but I have faith that other things on my list will not disappoint. J
I must depart dear friends, but I hope that all is well and please enjoy life as much as possible. It changes more than seasons.
Being married to the navy is definitely interesting. I moved up here thinking that I could count on the other families attached to the same boat as my husband, but boy was I wrong! It’s a real shame too. I wanted to view them as a kind of extended family, but sadly, events have made that ever so impossible. It’s on one hand, and quite possible half of the other, my fault. I simply lack the maturity to deal with a lot of the drama.
Basically, in short, I believe my husband is getting shafted by the navy and its accompanying politics while other members of the same boat are getting rewarded despite bad attitudes and poor conduct. I’m sure everyone has their complaints, but he has every reason to come home, open a window and cry out: “I’m mad as hell and I can’t take it any more.” However, he keeps going like an energizer battery and gives life lots of passion each and every day. I have no idea how he comes home from work and still smiles. If I had to be at work by 6am Wednesday and didn’t return home until 4pm Thursday only to go back and work 6pm to 8pm that very evening, I think I would invest in a punching bag at least.
On top of that kind of work ethic, he also doesn’t complain or bad mouth people. I know that what I just said should be a given, but you’d be surprise in this whole navy world I’m in. One would think they navy would reward such good behavior, and they may from time to time, but for some odd reason, at the same time, the government acts like it doesn’t have to honor contracts. Strangely enough, I’m getting shafted in the same way in my work world. Funny, isn’t it?
I am (or was) under a five month contract, which expired recently, and yet I can still show up to work and get paid. Oddly, somewhere, someone knows what’s going on with that, I hope they don’t fire me. Hopefully, a couple of elves got together in a back room and signed me on for five more months. However, maybe the fact I am not suppose to go from a temp contract to permanency without fulfilling training and getting up to speed on production requirements is what is slowing things. I guess that would mean I would actually have to stay at a job long enough to complete training. Now, I’m in a ten week training and right after I complete that, the company will be under the control of new owners which will probably have their own rules for this kind of thing. Meanwhile, I’m pondering why I was moved from a job where I could actually apply my degree to a department that just simply needs half way intelligent people. Maybe I should investigate if the company is owned by squirrels or moose.
Oh yes, and just because god has a sense of humor, as of last week I developed a nice lovely rash that will last any where from six weeks to six months that feels like I hugged an upset porcupine. It has no know cause or cure so I’m sitting through training while trying to ignore the fact I’m pumped up with Benadryl and Claritin. Surprisingly enough, the lack of sleep caused by the itching, did not trigger an episode of my (insert proper terminology here). At least…not yet…knock on wood.
But alas, it’s not all gloomy news! I have discovered the awesomeness of New England in the summer and by golly it is very awesome. I love nature and the outdoors so much and here I can have the ocean and the mountains. Having a camera is great because it forces me to see the world differently and I notice lots of things I think I’d otherwise miss. I still haven’t really made it down to Boston to explore much more than the science museum and aquarium, both which were below my expectations, but I have faith that other things on my list will not disappoint. J
I must depart dear friends, but I hope that all is well and please enjoy life as much as possible. It changes more than seasons.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Joyful words
I find myself buying fortune cookies each time I go to the store. There are days that the fortune I get with each one is the only nice or positive thing I encounter all day. It's sad, isn't it? I would think that the summer up in Maine would be much more joyful, but people just seem more cranky than ever.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Family Visting.
I had forgotten how much comfort family brings. I don’t have to worry about how to act or what to say. I can simply be myself. I can make jokes and not worry about them being taken the wrong way or my words being twisted into some kind of strangeness only the listener could create. I don’t have to explain myself. I can just be and that is wonderful.
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