Ahhh, the Army
Sometimes my eight (or 12, depending on whether you count total or consecutive) year European vacation is more annoying than glamorous. Take for instance the Quilting Arts calendar contest. The due date for submissions is two days from when I write this, and I suspect many applicants are finishing up right now, and planing on overnighting their pictures. I put mine in the mail a week ago AND paid a premium. I can use the military mail system and pay US instead of international rates, but even Priority Mail can take up to 10 days, and the day I went to the post office was nine days before the arrive-by date, so I had to go for the ultra-rush guaranteed two day delivery. Christmas is the same way — Shopping and posting is done by the 15th of December. OK, that’s not so bad: we then get 10 days to relax and soak up the Lebkuchen and Gluhwein. I know, if this is my biggest problem, I’ve got it darn good.
And we know we’ve got it good. That’s why TS&WGH has spent the last six months or more looking for a job that will keep us here. Unfortunately, Plan A that would keep us right here didn’t work out. Plans B and C which would have kept us in Germany didn’t work either. I think there was a Plan D here locally, but the job description included cannibalism or something like that so he passed on it. Now we’re at the point where we are on the Army’s radar. We’re on the books as available to move this summer. Plan E was looking good, but an integral part of it is now up in the air. Plans F and G exist so far only in TS&WGH’s head. My fingers are crossed that Plan E works out in the end as I’m not so excited about F and G. Of course, even once things are written down on official paper they can still change. So, for those curious about the background on the cuckoo quest, there you have it. We won’t know until we know. But then, I’ll let you know.
There’s always Plan X, which I throw out in situations like this, but he never takes me up on it.
March 5th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
too bad the plan that would have brought you nearer to my doorstep didn’t work out… i would have loved to have a weekly teaparty with you
March 5th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Fingers crossed it all works out somehow just the way you want it to.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I’m hoping for plan E, but I think any stateside plan will be good. Just think, after all those years away, you will be able to blog about the quirky things we Americans do.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Hmmm, makes me wonder what plan X is, but I think I might already know…
Thank goodness I don’t have to talk about plan X with ITMan anymore, as it just doesn’t apply. I’m bummed that you might be moving on just as I’m arriving, too. No fair, but the Army seldom is, really.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Oh Kristin! I feel for you. I’m not sure exactly what letter plan it was that brought us to Dallas (certainly not A, B, C or D), but it all worked out pretty well. I’m hoping the same for your family.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Oh I forgot to comment about the picture… perfectly appropriate. Military life is a combination of the rugged and the sweet, and you often feel like your getting poked all the time.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Yes, I was thinking the picture was a good metaphor as well, pins and all. The military is sweet, isn’t it. A little bit of heaven and well…you know! Funny, I used to really think that it was cool to have your homesite in the hands of others, but that got really old. DH is retired now, but I do sometimes think fondly of cardbord boxes and mailing tape..a possible theme?
March 6th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Oh, the photo is perfect — a bunch of pricks.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:48 am
You know that where ever you go, we will follow as we want to know more of the story. When will Kristin blow everyone’s minds and be recognized as the famous & talented artist we knew she was all along? Will Katja become a famous model? Zavi the presidental candidate in um – 2040? (I may not be around for that one!) Will TS&WGH become a 4 star General? I hope everything works out so that you are all happy and together. Cheers.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:37 am
If your Mom is rooting for plan E then I think that’s the one I’m hoping for too. Whatever it is I figure you’ll make the best of it and the good thing about a cyber community is that it is not dependent on geography. As Jeannie said, we’re all still here. Still, I hope whatever it turns out to be will be what is good for you and your family.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
That would be so frustrating. We have close friends here who are so tired of the Air Force’s plans A-F that they’re thinking of buying a new house, even though they’re slated for transfer, just to have something else to think about.
But that’s pretty extreme.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Keeping my fingers crossed that you get to stay in GER. It’s good for our country’s quilt cred, you know
(I remember that state of existence, back when we still lived in the UK and I was desperate to stay there … now, as we all know, I’m desperate to go back!)
March 6th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
my uncle was in the army, too – he quit to stay in heidelberg and worked as a civil servant in patrick henry v.- so, no 4 star general in our family
March 6th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
and that is why I am now in the UK. Not even on my radar – so call it plan U!
March 7th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Since the four of you have enjoyed Germany so much, I really hope that you’re able to stay. But, I have to admit that the thought of having you in the same time zone again just blows my mind! So, from that standpoint, Plan E sounds pretty tempting to me. Be sure to let us know how things develop.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Plan E will happen! I demand it and will it. So there.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Ok, your husband’s comment has me laughing so hard I’m about to wake up my daughter. Here’s hoping things work out for you the way you want them to. As for the Army — um, my dad used to be able to list the years, months, days and hours he spent in. Yeah, ’nuff said.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
ugh… sucks not knowing.. TS&WGH’s comment made me snort my coffee, too funny. hope it all settles down soon whichever plan comes to fruition…
March 7th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
oh, wow! That must be really nervewracking not knowing where in the world you will be living by next fall. I am sorry to hear that your original plans aren’t going to work.
I know how it is with the mail system!
Love the pincushion! Such incongruity.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:43 am
don’t go! don’t do it!
how will i get my fix?