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!)

The List

The List
So I came across this list on http://www.curiousmess.com/ and thought I would take part too!
You're just supposed to go through the list and bold the things you've done. Bolded more than I thought I would, but a few of those are still on my list of things to do before I die. (Old Faithful, Niagra Falls . . .)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day


Bucket List earrings by bearrunroad.