What REALLY happens when you're a pilot's wife

So let me give you my typical days around here.

 Before I go to work I clean/feed the horses, feed and let out dogs, this really doesn't take too long and including a shower I can be out the door in (if I push it) 45 min.

 I come home from work let dogs out, feed/clean cats, feed/clean horses.

 This in general leaves me little time to do anything else were talking 6am-7pm here, but I do try. So last Thursday I came home and cut the grass some, this was also my night to play "slumber party" at the hospital with my grandma (completely different post but she's not doing well and someone needs to stay with her pretty much 24-7). I come home from work Thursday follow my usual clean/feed routine, then trying to be a nice wife I start to cut the grass, more accurately I cut the grass that wasn't standing water from the rain, but I figure any little bit helps when you have 5 acres. Now DH is SUPPOSED to be home Thursday nights since he's working in the office BUT of course he's not some kind of blah blah blah about people timing out, he's in Hawaii.

 So I am done cutting the grass and I am bring the horses in before I head to the hospital, Hokus and I are jogging in together and something happens, I'm still not sure what, but we both go down in a terrific display of legs everywhere I tripped, he tripped it was awesome! Once I hit the ground I'm scream and swearing at the top of my lungs, as we all know I broke my foot a few months ago, and I was pretty sure I had just broke it again. This is when being a pilot's wife gets real.

 There I am swearing and crying my eyes out holding my foot which feels like some dropped an anvil on it, and what am I going to do? DH isn't home, I can't exactly call my parents as it's my moms night off and she really needs a night off she'd been up for about 3 days straight with my grandma.

 What are my options? I crawl across the barn (mind you the stall doors are still open horses are wandering around) to my phone (still bawling and swearing) I manage to get a hold of dh before they start the leg back to Hawaii, I can't hardly talk because I'm crying so hard, and for those of you who know me, for me to cry because of pain is really bad, in fact I can't remember the last time I cried because something hurt. The only thing dh keeps saying is he will call my parents/his parents someones parents, which won't work because I need to get to the hospital to babysit my grandma. So at this point I'm still crying but he's kind of pissing me off. What I really wanted to hear was "I'm really sorry I'm not there." I don't need him to fix the situation I just wanted someone to cry to, instead I get Mr.Fix It, and then I get "I'm sorry we're closing the door I gotta go."

 Anyway since I didn't have choice I managed to hop in the house, take a shower, change and get to the hospital to babysit my grandma. I put on my old boot from when I had broken my foot and then managed to take enough Vicodin to live through the next few days.

 My next days adventures included driving all over Chicago in the truck to get hay, and picking up my contacts, and picking up dh from ORD. So once I picked dh up I then finally made it to the ER! Where they took 3 x-rays and said "you need to go see the dr you were seeing so they can compare the x-rays....btw here's some more Vicodin, I can write you a note for work, and don't do anything for the next week."

Anyway the whole situation made me really think, we pilot wives really are on our own when our hubbies are gone. The whole situation really kind of ticked/ticks me off, I REALLY could have used dh being home that night. Was it absolutely necessary?  No, I did manage by myself, but doing everything yourself gets old and to be honest I'm still a little ticked at him for being gone even though it's not his fault.

Being Grateful

As all my pilot wives know, bad things happend when the pilot is away, it doesn't matter how hard you try to avoid it shit happens

But this week its been interesting, the shoe has been on the other foot as they say.  I have been crazy busy with the new job and during the week it's all I can do to keep up with the work around the house (remember the 5 acres and horses) and going to work.  So this last weekend when dh was home I had to work Saturday (thankfully it's only one saturday a month).  I came home and was pleasantly surprised that dh (and the fence guys) had finished the run outs for the horses!  He had spent most of the day working on varouis outside barn type projects.  As I was walking around listening to him talk about everything he had done I realized " this is what I do all the time when you're gone."  He had (selflessly) spent the day working on something I wanted done, even though he had  a ton of work to do.  I was incredibly grateful.

Poor dh could not catch a break though....I woke up sunday mornng sick.  I don't mean functional sick, I mean pitching a tent in the bathroom sick (I think food poisoning).  I manged to let the dogs out but that was it.  I finally passed out about 9am.  I woke up at 11:30 just in time to see dh's dad pull in to pick him up to play a well deserved round of golf.  So I quickly go on the hunt for dh, he's just leaving the barn.  He had cleaned the stalls, turned the horses out and moved one of the huge water tubs in the field.  Again I was so appreciative he had done all this!

The whole shoe on the other foot situation got me thinking.....I was/am so grateful that dh had stepped up and helped me out either because I was at work or I was sick.  I really wonder if he thinks like this when he is at work and when I do everything around here while he is gone, or if he just has come to expect it?  While I don't know the answer to that question, I do feel bad he has had to help out so much this weekend because he has a couple of really big projects at work this week and a PC, so I'll be sending him good thoughts all week!

Sweat Pink Ambassador!

So a few months ago I applied to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador (running and fitness). I hadn’t heard anything back so I figured oh well they obviously had more qualified candidates then me…I mean lets face it, I just started running and my blog (at best) is functional.

So imagine my surprise when I got an email a week or so ago that wanted me to fill everything out so I could be an Official Sweat Pink Ambassador! If someone had told me a year ago I would run 1/2 marathons (and soon a full marathon!)I would have said “You’re Crazy!” Besides the fact that I hadn’t run much, I’m not exactly the picture of health, between the hysterectomy, appendectomy (complete with cancer) and a kidney surgery or two thrown in for good measure. So for me to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador I’m thrilled

I’m so excited to have the opportunity to inspire and help others who want to run, and overcome their challenges!

Things you don't learn in school

So since I have been doing such a stellar job (haha just a little sarcastic) of blogging every day in May (where does the time go?) I have decided to pick this topic from the last few days that I have missed. I picked this topic also because my cousin just graduated from high school so it's been a recent topic.

 So you know those classes you had to take that you HATED....be it Math, English, History...whatever class you hated, you know what? Those were just preparing you for a job that you hate. As my mother always said (says) "Having a job you like is not a requirement." This is absolutely true. Yes, yes it's great if you have a job you like, BUT the more important thing is that you have A job.

 If you have the opportunity to go somewhere interesting, or have an opportunity to do something cool, as long as you won't end up in jail (or anywhere near cops) DO IT! You know why? Because that thing I mentioned in the above paragraph will get in the way All.The.Time. once you're in the real world.

 Speaking of the real world, please don't go to work expecting a prize for showing up everyday....that's what your paycheck is...always remember "you're special, just like everybody else."

And listen to your parents, even if you ignore them and think they are wrong...just keep it in mind, because one day you will wake up and realize they have been right about most things.

Ohhh and since I'm old now and I'm sure this isn't on the radio anymore.... Don't forget your sunscreen

A Day in the Life

Of course what isn't pictured here is me cleaning stalls, weed whacking and cleaning the house!

Top 10

So today's theme (if you will) is 10 things that make you happy.....if you remember yesterday's post you should probably guess that SLEEP is one of them! Just an FYI these are in no particular order, other wise sleep might have been a little lower on my list.


JIMMY BUFFETT CONCERTS---if you haven't been to one GO!

Jimmy in Concert in LAS

I would be a horrible person if I didn't mention my PARENTS, they are simply the best!

The BEST Parents in the WORLD!

My ANIMALS of course, animals not pictured...pretty much everyone; horses, cats, and the rest of the dogs :)

Flop in the snow

DISNEYWORLD, how can you not be happy at the "Happiest Place on Earth!"  Especially at Christmas...definitely the best time!

EPCOT at Christmas

I would probably burst into flames if I didn't mention my HUSBAND, but I'm only putting him on the list if he isn't being "grumptastic." (Thanks for the word Shelley!)

Dh when he's not grumpstastic

 HAWAII- need I say more??

Kona Airport

 How about TRAVELING? I would be a horrible pilot wife if I didn't mention that!

Spain at Christmas

 I have to mention ANIMAL RESCUES; I love these people they spend all day fighting an uphill battle and even when they win and save a dog/cat, there are more that they lose, but they never give up! Here is one of many that I think do a great job SNARR Rescue

And of course what would life be without FRIENDS!

Now I am sure I missed somethings, as in general more than 10 things do make me happy....some days sitting down and drinking a diet coke makes me happy, but I really liked these and it was fun (though a complete PITA) to do pictures with each one!

ABP out for Sleep

So in my great (becoming great) effort to at least do everyother day in Blog a Day in May One of the things I miss the most is sleep and down time.

It seems I can never get enough of these two things with dh being gone a good 4 days a week and me working 3-4 days it's crazy how fast time goes!  Of course it's a little harder right now with the broken foot and all so that doesn't help. I seriously feel like I am always tired!  My idea of a good vacation anymore is going somewhere and not moving and watching tv how sad is that??