Mr, Mrs and Little Mister G: What i've Learned this Deployment

This is the post i started last week... that Blogger decided it was going to delete before i was able to post.... booo

Alright, so this deployment is winding down... not over yet, but i see the end in sight HALLELUJAH!!! So i thought that i would make out a little list of some things i've learned for any wives who are reading this and gearing up for the longest __ months of their life.

So here we go... Sav's list of stuff she now knows.

The night they leave, they WILL NOT leave at the time given.... they'll tease you with a "go home for an hour and then come back" it'll be the worst night ever.
you can bring your puppy to the parking lot when saying goodbye, you just have to put them in your car when the drug/bomb sniffing dogs come out to do their thing.
It's alot harder to lose weight when you have more than half a year to do it... i kinda liked the crunch time of bootcamp more.... ya i know... i'm lame.
it doesn't matter if you DON'T brag about phone calls.... girls will trash talk if they find out you are getting more calls than they are
You could hear from him a few times a day for a few weeks... and then out of the blue... NOTHING for a few weeks... just NEVER expect a phone call, and you won't be quite so disappointed.
When everyone you meet seems to be PSYCHOTIC.... go back to church... you will meet the nicest most grounded people in the world.
Doing craft projects around the house will keep you busy.
It will also keep you out of the rumor mill... if EVERYONE knows you are always on your back porch spray painting SOMETHING... they won't be tempted to spread around that you were out partying.
DON'T party when your husband is gone... doesn't mean you can't go out to dinner with the girls... but going out dancing/drinking... it's not classy AT ALL... especially on an island where the ONLY wives that do that are the unfaithful ones... you MAY be one of the few that does that and is still faithful... but it's less believable.
When you are so sick you cannot even take the dog outside... DON'T suck it up and go help a friend run errands.
Trust no one... this means putting prescriptions in a place where no one is tempted to "take a few"
don't be afraid to take a time out from the other wives... it's better than snapping someones head off.
GO to your spouse's meeting every month! you get great information... and they smash all the rumors... like "oh the boys are coming home 10 weeks early"
Marines love gossip just about as much as wives do. so be careful what you tell anyone but your husband.
A puppy may be the BEST companion... he'll give you a reason to get up every day... and NOT talk back like a child would :)
While you may think it would be easier to spend the holidays alone acting as though it were just another normal day... it's not... Spend it with people that WON'T drive you crazy. people you can make amazing memories with.
People will try and feed you the whole "my husband is gone for a month, so i know what you are going through" NO THEY DON'T they don't have the fear in the back of their mind that their husband will get SHOT while selling security systems in nebraska.... AAAND they can text their honey anytime they want, and will most likely get a response within minutes or hours... NOT send an e-mail desperately asking for advice... with no reply for 3 weeks.
there will be times they will have to hang up immediately, you may not hear back for a few days. try not to stress... if he was on the phone with you when whatever happened... happened... then he is FINE.
Don't put a mopey status up on your facebook everyday... people will want to delete you
Better yourself... but don't change yourself.
Avoid fast food like the plague!
make your care package as creative and loving as you can, he notices... and so does everyone else.
Try to send things to the guys in his team... they will appreciate it more than you'll know.
Painting every room in your house will keep you busy for a few weeks... picking colors and taping base boards and ceilings for hours
Trust your instincts
People won't understand your "need" to do DIY projects... but when they see the lighting, shelving, wall art, rug, and other things finished in the house... they will be jealous... so don't listen to the criticism until it is all done!
You are not in college... no sleepovers, unless it is an extenuating circumstance.
When people complain about how you do things in YOUR own home... tell them to get the Eff out (i don't take my own advice on this one.. although i'd love to)
Walking to the gym burns nearly 500 extra calories round trip.
USO concerts are amazing.
Don't get into a "my husband has worse habits than yours" contest... no one wins... you just look like an idiot for marrying the guy who pees in the sink.
BE A BUILDER!!!! no one wants to be around someone who breaks them down, you want to be around someone who builds you up!
Build up your husband, most of these girls on base have never met your husband... so if you complain about him, they will think him a not so great catch. talk him up!!! i mean c'mon you married him for a reason right?!
Tell your husband EVERYTHING, and lay it out in a way that you are able to say "i have done NOTHING that you should be ashamed of" the trust will be so much stronger if you are able to say that completely honestly.
When you have a rough day, your husband has probably had a pretty bad one too. and already feels like CRAP for not being there for you, don't make him feel more guilty about having to go through whatever you are going through alone.
When sent "just because" flowers, do NOT get upset with your spouse for spending money. you look like a capital B... accept the fact that he loves you enough and wanted to show you how MUCH!!!
Audio books are AMAZING. and make the house sound much less quiet.
your power of attorney means NOTHING, no one on a military base cares about that paper. they still won't let you do ANYTHING... cause they will assume your husband was retarded for giving you one in the first place.
When the boys try to convince you of changes in your husband.... don't pay any heed until you are able to address said issues with your husband... it'll save you a bubble bath where you are contemplating everything and crying... on valentines day...
playing little big planet with your best friend who lives 5000 miles away, will make you happy.
As will skype.
become passionate about as many things as you can.
find pleasure in as many things as you can!
Go to the gym as often as possible... and don't worry if all the guys stare at you... either they are jealous of whoever you are married to... OR they are totally judging you... in which case, it's still attention and you should just pretend they are jealous.... cause it'll make YOU feel better
get pretty, even if it's just to go to the store... it'll make you happier than rockin the grunge outfit.
when there is a lack of testosterone on base, the wives go crazy.... don't be afraid to lock yourself in your house and cut yourself off from everyone for a few days... this deployment ultimately has to be about YOU and YOUR improvements... don't get sucked down!
Call your in-laws often. their son is at war... and if his priorities are straight, YOU are getting the majority of communication with him... just knowing he's fine and still cracking jokes will help them ALOT.
take every opportunity to talk to your husband, and make it the happiest conversation possible.... you don't ever want the last thing you say to him be something totally rude and something you may regret for the rest of your life.
Count down the days till you get him back in your arms, it will make you happy every time you can replace the number with a smaller one :)
Don't ever forget why you married him, and why you are completely in love with him.
When you feel yourself drifting away... hold on to what you have built with him. and if you have built the right foundation, that will bring you back every single time.

Most of all, have confidence in yourself, and KNOW that you can do this. cause you can. you are amazing... it's why he married you. this lifestyle is not for everyone, and those who can do it, are honestly crazy strong women (ya i'll include myself in that category) i have just survived our first 18 months in the Marine Corps which included Bootcamp, SOI, Rimpac, CAX, and now Afghan... that is ALOT of trainings and separations... like i've always told Rye... it'll be worth it... it's got to be.