In which I explain (or don't) my deployment.

The short answer to the question you may or may not have asked is "I dont know." But I'll rewind.

If you've been reading my scattered musings, you know I'm about to go on deployment. You may even have a general idea of vicinity and possibly the name of a Naval Vessel. All this is true, and let me fill you in on something.

That's ALL I know. Really. I mean, I know the ship name, even some of the folks on it. I know what general area I'll be in, but that's it. I don't know when I'll be home, and at this point, I don't know when I'll be going. See, I'm on leave right now, hanging with my family. Doing what you would do if you were about to leave home for an indeterminate amount of time to go somewhere unknown. I will know when I am to leave when I get to the Regional support detachment. They'll hook me up with a flight (or flights) and a way to get there. And a departure date. But until I check in, I won't know a thing. And I'd rather spend time with my kiddos right now. So please, for the love of all that is holy, STOP ASKING!!

I will tell you what I know, when I know it, if I feel like it. The way I look at it is this. The only 3 folks in the world who DESERVE to know anything about my whereabouts are my spouse and kids. If you had anything to do with my birth, the birth of my spouse, or the birth of my kids - you will know what I know when I know it or shortly thereafter. The rest of you will find out as I tell you. Remember when you were pregnant and your Mother-In-Law called everyday and asked if anything had happened yet for a month before the birth? Now you know how I feel. I really don't know anything.

And you know what? I'm OKAY with that. It's my job, not the end of the world. We plan for this stuff. El Jefe and the children will be fine. Anna may not get her hair braided for a while, but that's fine. She will learn about baseball. Sam will get to cook more with Dad. He's good daddy, and is used to this. What I would really like right now is for everyone else to calm down.

25 Random Things about Sailor Jenny

Yes, I've been bitten by the Internet meme bug. I originally posted this on Facebook, but I thought everyone in bloggyland would like to know a few choice tidbits about me, too.



Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.



1. These silly notes have been awesome and I've been secretly wishing I'd get tagged. I love getting to know old friends all over again.

2. I'm addicted to coffee. The folks I work with know better than to talk to me before I've had a cup, because I don't make any sense.

3. I'm a food snob, and I'm very picky about what I eat. I have to know where it comes from and I only buy local produce grown organically. I don't eat at chain restaurants.

4. All bets are off on deployment. I will eat anything on a stick from a street vendor on the darkest alley in Southeast Asia. And love it.

5. I got sick doing that in Hong Kong and learned more than I ever wanted to know about how horrible public restrooms are and that they mentholate kleenex in HK. A little advice? Don't use mentholated kleenex for TP.

6. I have OCD. I also have to have everything symmetrical.

7. I enlisted not knowing what the hell I was getting in to and to get the hell out of New England. I miss home more than I ever thought I would but just can't see myself going back to stay ever.

8. I have only 7 years and 4 months until I retire and get a real job and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. My thoughts so far are maybe an Alpaca farm in TX; but I have the feeling I'll end up teaching.

9. My sister and I are polar opposites. I have no idea how two people who grew up together are so different. I wish we were closer but it seems like we really have nothing in common.

10. I love my job. I love the sea, I love the opportunities it's provided me, I love the travel and the responsibility. Still, most days I feel like I don't belong.

11. I'm jealous of all of my friends with degrees, especially my SIL who is a Doctor. But not jealous enough to actually go back to school.

12. I almost didn't have another baby because being pregnant with Thing One was horrible. I lost 3 babies before him and one after and didn't know if my body or my heart could take it. I can't imagine life without Thing 2. My kids are amazing and I would do it all over again for them.

13. I got married at 19 and didn't tell anyone for a while. When we finally did, I'm pretty sure everyone thought we were crazy. We were, but El Jefe is the most wonderful amazing person I've ever met. We'll be married for 12 years in June.

14. I'm an internet addict. I've 'met' some amazing people through the internet that have made a huge difference to me and I've never even seen them IRL.

15. When I was 15 and crazy my folks sent me to live in VT for a summer with my mom's cousin. Those three months were some of the most defining months in my life. I learned to love fresh butter, cucumber sandwiches and me.

16. I read ravenously. I'm looking forward to deployment because despite the 18+ hour days, I get a lot of reading done. I have tons of books on my Kindle just waiting.

17. I can't wait till my hair turns grey. I have the family grey gene and I'm really proud of it and it grows in a 'Stacy London' streak.

18. I've lived here in San Diego county longer than I've lived anywhere in my life and I don't really like it here.

19. I collect the Evil Queen from Snow White. I have a replica of the Magic Mirror in my house. We also have a xmas ornament from Disneyland for every year we've been married.

20. I buy almost everything I can handmade from small businesses. I have a lot of custom clothing and I love it.

21. I have a pool in my backyard that I've never been in.

22. I hate working out, and the only reason I ever do is because I will lose my job if I get too big.

23. I collect watches, even though I can only wear one at a time. I tend to judge people based on their watch. Also, shoes.

24. I am the least photogenic person on the planet. El Jefe has a file in iPhoto of my "Greatest Hits". They're terrible. But funny.

25. I collect hobbies. They're always crafty. I knit, sew, scrap, bead, solder, paint and lots of other stuff. Nothing well, but I have to have a craft going at all times.



(This was harder than I thought!)



I'm not tagging anyone here - but I shared and you should feel secretly guilty for reading my deepest random things and not posting yours for the world, too. So lovely readers, please share! (And if I don't alerady follow your blog, leave me a comment so I can!)

Bittersweet week.

"With No Anchor, With No You" - thedreamygiraffe -$20


I aplologise for my probably inconspicuous absence, but I've been here, being sad and keeping busy. My shipmates know (and now you do too), that I was up for a big promotion this year. It's an annual promotion, selected by board after a grueling exam, and I thought I had a good shot this year. I did, really. But for whatever reason, I was (am) not what they were looking for. Circumstances being what they are, I have a hard time escaping my failure. You see, El Jefe has already attained this level in his career. Two years ago, he was selected and the carnival ride that is the transition period began. El Jefe means The Chief. And he is.

Advancement into the Chief Petty Officer grades is the most significant promotion within the enlisted naval ranks. At the rank of Chief, the sailor takes on more administrative duties. In the Navy, their uniform changes to reflect this change of duty, becoming similar to that of an officer albeit with different insignia.

I was eligible for advancement with several of my friends, a few of whom were selected. Mike, Mike, and Jeff; you guys deserve it and I can't wait to shake your hands when it's all over. That part makes it sweet. El Jefe has been chosen to "sponsor" one of his own selectees - an honor in and of itself. He's through the roof proud, and so am I. But I'm still sad. My friends are moving on without me, El Jefe's caught up in the work of the next 5 weeks (the process is a long one . . .) and I haven't really had time for myself to just be sad. It's hard to vent to him, he's very supportive, but hard on me. And he's very busy himself. Sigh. I really just need to take a day off, but I've taken on a bunch more work - both to busy myself and numb the pain, and to do what I can to come closer next year.

Must go study!!

I know what angels sound like.

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I am not a religious person. In fact, I'm pretty much the antithesis of that. But I swear that there is one thing on Earth that can make me question my lack of a belief system.

On Monday, El Jefe and I went to see Alison Krauss and Robert Plant live at Humphrey's. (San Diegans, if you have the opportuntiy to see an artist you enjoy at this great venue, GO!) They collaborated in 2007 on an album called Raising Sand. Produced by T Bone Burnett (a legend on his own), it is a compilation of mostly lesser-known material from some of the great writers of blues, country, folk, gospel, and R&B, including Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Milt Campbell, the Everly Brothers, Sam Phillips, and A.D. and Rosa Lee Watson. The album is amazing, the pairing, moreso. (Side note. When I reach 60, I hope to look as good as Robert Plant. Damn.)






It was an amazing show, but the two best moments were Black Dog - slowed WAY down and haunting; and Down to the River. If you have never heard Alison Krauss sing live, you are missing out. There are tons of You Tube videos, Here is Down to the River and Black Dog OMG banjo. I won't embed them, you have to watch them without distractions. Alison Krauss has simply the most beautiful voice. Ever, anywhere. I'm not a fan of Country music, but I'm a fan of her. Wow.





So it was a nice birthday gift for El Jefe, who turned another year older on Wednesday. Wow, I'm still gushing!

Eleven years has FLOWN by.

El Jefe and I have been married for 11 years today. (OK, so our families found out about 10 years ago - but who's counting?) Here's a blast from the past ('02, since that was the beginning of the digital age for us!)

















And here's a NOW picture. Whew. What a long (and short) strange (and wonderful) trip it's been.







Suggested Aniversary gifts? Steel and jewelry. Hell yeah. I'm all over that. TimothyAdamDesigns has it covered! Or OMG, this RING!!! No way, I love this watch!!!


Happy anniversary to me!!

I'm alive and quite well.

There's quite a lot going on here at Casa de Jenny, so I apologize for my absence. I promise, next week (Saturday, probably) I'll be back to my usual blogging. But for now, feast your eyes. (Click to see it in a bigger size. Totally worth it!)






















I got this today (on the heels of another wonderful piece which I will blog at a later date). It rocks. I can't explain the feeling of seeing yourself on canvas if you haven't experienced it. It's amazing. It's in honor of our 11th anniversary, on Tuesday the 10th. Eleven years. Craziness. So I felt it needed commemoration. Anne knocked it out of the park. This is US. In all of our dorky, self assured glory.

It was done by AnneE on Etsy, and was a custom commission from Alchemy. She does awesome work for sale in her shop, and is SUPER cool and easy to work with. Thanks, Anne!!