Tuesday, February 17, 2009

A bit about me...an interview

A while ago, The Immoral Matriarch started an interview meme. Somewhere along the way, Margalit volunteered to be interviewed, then offered to interview anyone that as interested. One of my favorite bloggers, Bethany Acutally (I've always loved that name. so pretty and feminine) signed up, then offered it up to her readers. And now, I'm participating.

So here goes...
I'm going to steal my first question from margalit because it's a good one! Then I'll make up the rest.

1. You are a military wife, just like me! What do you think the hardest part of being a military family is? This is a tough question. I think it's trying to explain the military life to non-military families. A lot of people don't understand some of the things we have to accept as part of the job. Like night meetings that don't involve extra time off at another point. Or working when it snows, or holidays. It's just part of it, but most civilian jobs don't require the same type of give, without a take to go along with it. The separations suck, too.

2. Your husband is currently deployed. What are some things you're doing to help stay sane till he gets home? Luckily, I have a great support system in place. My mother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law all live nearby, and I have good friends and a very understanding boss. These help, because I can ask for help when I need it. I talk to my husband in some way (IM, Email, Phone) almost every day...we are so lucky to live in the age of the internet. I can't imagine how the women at home during earlier conflicts managed to stay sane with just written letters. I work hard to include my husband, keeping him connected to the kids and I. At Christmas, he watch them open gifts via the webcam. I inadvertently put the computer in a chair, so it was like he was sitting there.

3. How long have you been blogging, and why do you blog? What's your blog raison d'ĂȘtre, if you will? I've been blogging for 2 1/2 years, but I'm just starting to find my voice. I started because I had to register to comment on a blog I liked, so I figured why not. Now I want to change my tagline/name, but haven't gotten there yet. I've always loved to write, and I kept it up because it's a good way for my hubby to check in when he has a few minutes, and find out things he may not have gotten from me during a conversation. I've also enjoyed the community of blogging.

4. Tell me one of your favorite childhood memories. You know, if I told you about my childhood, many people would wonder how I could come up with good memories. But I have a lot of them...simple pleasures like wading in the creek (pronounced crick where I was at) and catching little crawdads, or going out on the boat and feeling the wind. Almost all of my good memories involve my grandparents. But my favorite would have to be the year Santa came to visit me. I wasn't very old (5 maybe?) and he came and woke me up late at night, bearing a present. I later found out it was my uncle, dressed up in the suit just to surprise me. Knowing how much work my mom, my uncle and my cousins put into surprising me makes it even sweeter.

5. Other than being a mom (obviously) what's the best job you ever had, and why? I really enjoy what I'm doing now, for the most part. I work for the State, and serving the public that way can be difficult. When I first started, I didn't get that we were in "Service." I knew about customer service, but public service is different than that even. And I enjoy it. I enjoy knowing that what I do contributes to helping every person in this state get places safely. I'm able to learn new things regularly, and I've been given a lot of opportunities I may not have been given in other jobs. The pay isn't so great, but the benefits and pension keep you there. Luckily, I enjoy where I work, and the people I work with. It feels like a family.



So there you go. A little more about me. Anyone else want to participate? Leave me a comment!

1 comment:

bethany actually said...

Great answers!

1. Yes, it's definitely hard to explain the lifestyle to a civilian. I think I've been in it for so long I forget it's not "normal."

2. That's awesome you have such a great support system in place! And AMEN about email. Troy's first long deployment happened right after Navy ships started getting email, so we never had to go through one without it. I think communicating via snail mail would be more rewarding in some ways, but also more frustrating!

3. How funny that you started blogging because you had to register to leave a comment somewhere. That sounds like something I'd do! :-)

4. My dad calls them "cricks" too! When was a small child we lived in a trailer court and there was a "crick" running right along our yard. :-)

5. That's so true about Service jobs. So many people don't think about customer service actually being there to SERVE people, or public service. I am glad you love your job, that makes life easier!