Heather! Congratulations! Drop me a line with your mailing address and I'll try to get a crafty goody out to you asap.
Ok, on to the Q&A:
Are you feeling any better?
Yes, I've been feeling much better since my doctor discovered I was pre-diabetic and put me on special medication to help control my insulin. The discovery that my mood swings were related to food (or lack thereof) was a revelation, and I hope to be able to stop taking some of my other medications, namely those for depression and biplor disorder. It's possible that I haven't been suffering from bipolar as we'd previously thought; that all along it was the diabetes creeping up on me, which would explain why the bipolar meds didn't seem to be helping.
How is your Palm Pilot working out for your memory? Is it helping?
We (hubby and I) jokingly call it my "brain". He's actually told people that he'd have to check with my brain to see if we were available to get together, or that I'd have my brain along and we could check the calendar! There are no more misunderstandings about appointments or hubby's overnight trips for work, and I no longer forget to pick up various items from the grocery store. And I think my memory has improved some, because I'm more conscious of keeping track of events. I love it.
How are work and daycare shaping up?
I'm still often worn out at the end of the day, but in an entirely different way. Being around other adults (and the students) and having "grown-up" conversations has been wonderful. And I enjoy helping the kiddos at school. When I see them getting A's and B's in their classes, that makes me very proud. I like to think that I'm helping them realize that someone cares about their future, and that they are each important human beings.
As for daycare, the munchkin is enjoying himself immensely, and has settled into the routine really well. Just this morning, I had no sooner set him down than he turned to me and started pushing me out the door, saying "Bye, bye!" Talk about independent! But he's always happy to see me at the end of the day, and seems to have lots to tell me about his adventures.
How long have you been sewing?
Originally, I learned to sew in middle school. Home Economics was mandatory for all students, both boys and girls. Similarly, so was shop class. I did better in shop, lol! But my mom had taught me some basic sewing skills before that year, so I was able to make the requisite pincushion and pillow case without too much trouble.
I bought my machine many years ago but never really used it until last year, so I usually tell people that I've only been sewing about a year.
Do you go to your school reunions?
We've only had one, our ten year reunion in 2002, and since I'd already been up that way (Wisconsin...I currently live in Kansas) earlier in the same month, we decided not to make the trip. I don't think people change much in ten years, so I'm looking forward to the 20 year reunion. We did, however, just attend my hubby's 11 and 1/2 year reunion this weekend, and had a good time. His class was only around 30 students though, so it was a very intimate deal. I graduated with 192; I'm not sure I'd remember everyone, lol!
What do you think was the most challenging part of being a woman and
being in the military?
The most challenging part of being a woman in the military was receiving the same respect from some of the other soldiers as the men. I remember a soldier who was under my command; he was very against having a female in charge of him and we often bumped heads. It often bothered me that I was automatically looked down upon by some before they were able to determine my capabilities. But I suppose that is true in many professions. It was certainly frustrating to be considered a "walking sexual harassment case". At least until people got to know me. Unfortunately, this problem was only compounded by the bad apples; there were those females who used their sexuality inappropriately and made it harder for the rest of us.
Having served yourself, how do you feel about
your son one day serving?
It's funny. When I decided to join the Army I was 21 and had already been out on my own for a few years. I wanted some way to pay for college and not be a burden on my parents, who were divorced. At the time, the big bonus to joining was merely money for college. Now they offer large cash bonuses as well. But my dad couldn't understand why I chose the Army. Why not the Air Force, which he felt offered better training, living conditions, etc. My answer to him was, because it was good enough for him and I wanted to do what he had done.
Hubby joined the Army and shipped to Basic Training the day he turned 18. To him, it was an opportunity to do something he'd never done before, and travel away from the small Kansas town he grew up in. His father wasn't happy about it, but now hubby has a wonderful job that he enjoys, because of the training he received then.
My dad is a Vietnam veteran, and I've always admired him for that. He enlisted rather than be drafted, and was proud of his service. If my son grows up to see the pride I have for being a veteran myself, and serving when and where I have, and decides he wants to follow my footsteps, I would be a proud mother.
This is not to say I wouldn't be apprehensive. In fact, when my hubby was deployed to Kosovo a few years ago, and I was home with the munchkin, I felt I had it worse than the other Army wives, because they were naive as to what was going on, whereas I knew. I'd been there. So sometimes it's good not to know. But I do know the years I spent in the Army were some of the best years of my life. And I have a college degree without any debt.
Thanks everyone for your questions and comments! I really enjoyed having to think about these, and I hope that sheds a little light on me!
