Is he a lifer?

I think so. He has only 5.5 years left until he can retire. Believe me, at 20 years and one day, we will be out of there. We seriously considered walking away from it all earlier this year (and that would be huge benefits) but the truth is that he can't get out. Part of that is the stop loss thing you always hear about, but as a practice, they don't give you anything (like a move or promotion) without requiring further service. The soonest he could leave would be at 17 years (2.5 years from now) in and that would just be dumb. He put in too much effort over the last 14 years to not get something for himself out of it.

He is supposed to have a job with relative stability for at least a year when he gets home. While he's back, we will work hard on finding something that requires no more time in Iraq.

Since it's our anniversary, here's a story about why I love my husband. He had a chance to interview for a really hotshot job with the 82nd Airborne last year. Getting this job would have guaranteed further promotion, etc. But they told him that it would mean that he would spend more than 1 year in Iraq, or else go for a year, come home for a few months, and then go again. He told them no way and he got a lot of flak for it. No ambition sort of stuff. His boss basically called him a loser. When he told me about it, he was worried that I would feel the same way - that he lacked ambition and was somehow less of a man. Of course, my response was that I was so happy to have a husband that chose me first. I know he did what he wanted, but I respect that he wanted to give up a dream of his (to be a general some day) to fulfill the dream that includes me and the baby.

Whoot! Go team Fay!

{{Nora}}

sings the Happy Anniversary song to Stephanie and Joe

Timelies and a surprising lack of gronk this morning, despite some heavy duty bizzaro dreams.

Fay, the extra money is probably policy based on the degree and nothing more. It works that way in many (if not all) US schools and has nothing to do with skill. Maybe knowing that will help the roomie deal. I'm so glad you got the job and I hope the old boss doesn't screw you over.

{{Nora}} energy~ma to you.

Happy Anniversary Stephanie. Joe sounds like a great guy.

I'm still sick. yay me.

edited to make a little sense.

Hooray for Fay!

Oh. And the job too.

God knows I wouldn't be happy if I were getting a new tooth.

t makes note for next seekrit Santa

Poor sick Deena!

I don't wanna go to school. But, I want my iPod, so I will go. It will be a boring day. Oh, well.

Boring is better than traumatic (look, look, I know how to state the obvious!). I hope you get a nap at some point, vw.

Yay Fay!

I wish I had your email addy, Fay, as I have a question (unrelated).

I have forgotton what city Fay teaches in, too.

My sister has been video chatting with a man who says he's chatting from Cairo. He wants her to visit him (!) this summer.

Anyway, I got his address and was thinking of cheching him out. At least IRT general area of the city, etc.

Guy's info, whitefonted:

maher seleman
11 fauzy keruls st.
hadyek el kooba
cairo
egypt

Stephanie, I just remembered a great story about your husband- the whole coffee production thing he is/was doing in Iraq. (is that OK to post?) That, with all the other stuff you've mentioned about him, plus the story above, makes me think that he's a really great guy and I can't wait for you guys to be back together.

{Stephanie and DH}} just, 'cause.

Happy Anniversary Stephanie! How long until you can celebrate together?

Thanks Nora. You are so sweet! And the coffee stuff is fine to post - I don't mention it much because it feels a bit like self-promotion, even if it's not about me. An artillery round landed outside the coffee trailer last week and blew a hole in the wall. Everyone was fine - the only damage was a few bags of green coffee beans and a John Belushi poster. Other than that, he's still doing the coffee stuff and it seems to be succeeding.

And, he leaves to come home (for 2 weeks) in about 32 days!