Czech Medals Parade

I was asked by one of the Czech CASA pilots if I would help out during their medals parade yesterday. He said to me, "I need a pretty girl to hold the tray of medals." Being blond secured my employment.

 

I wasn't given a whole lot of direction. I showed up and was told to stand in the shade with the medals until the ceremony narrator announced they would be awarding the medals. Then I'd walk forward with the Force Commander and the Force Sergeant Major. I didn't get a walk through or a rehearsal. I just winged it.

 

But it went off without a hitch. Besides the flies. The flies were absolutely awful while we were pinning the awards on the Czech Airmen. They were all over the tray of medals and my hands. It was hard to hold still with them crawling all over my face. The flies in the Middle East are unlike flies in the rest of the world. They lack all manners.

 

 

 

 

The Czech Air Force has some pretty cool guys, and I'll be sad to see them go. I'm really glad they asked me to help out! And the ceremony was broad casted on Czech TV-- I'm famous in another country! Lucky me to be blond.

Staff Sergeant Promotion Day

My date of rank to Staff Sergeant is April 1st, but I did not get to have the promotion ceremony or wear the rank on my chest until today... the 6th. I had to wait for Fort Campbell to send my orders over to Egypt, and surprise, that wasn't top priority! It's all good though, I've been on the payroll as a Staff Sergeant since the 1st.

 

So today I got pinned. My Commander said some really great things about me at the ceremony. He said I am one of the most dependable NCOs he's ever worked with and that I am passionate about taking care of my Soldiers-- he said he was confident I could run the whole company if he asked me to. He said my ceiling for potential in the Army is limitless. I don't think anyone has ever said such wonderful things about me, ever. Let alone in a public forum. It's really touching to know I am held in high regard.

 

I had my battle buddy, Tracy, do the honors of ripping off my Sergeant rank and placing Staff Sergeant on my chest.

 

 

 

I'm really proud I made it to the rank of Staff Sergeant. It may have taken a few set backs, a break in service and a total of 8 years in service to the US Army, but I made it. Better late than never. And I intend to keep doing what I think is best for me and the Army-- it seems to be working out lately.

Wedding Hair

The only occasions I have ever had my hair done professionally have been for my two weddings. And I don't even count the first time anymore since this second updo kicked my old updo's ass all over the place. Hands down.

 

My wedding dress was a reproduction 50's vintage style tea length dress. So I wanted to keep my little retro theme when it came to hair and makeup. I know I do not have any ability to do this. (See my Military Ball photo for the high end of my hair styling skillz.) So I paid an arm and a leg to have a professional at the Planet Hollywood Spa make me beautiful for the day.

 

 

 

I couldn't have asked for a better updo. And my makeup was fabulous. I felt like a movie star.

 

This would be me as a movie star acting with a dinosaur:

 

 

Having this beautiful wedding hair made it an easy decision to ALWAYS have a professional do my hair whenever my dress costs more than $100. That's a special occasion dress price. Since I'm all done with getting married from here on out, that means Military Balls. I can't wait for the next Ball so I can be a beautiful movie star again... but without the dinosaur. Dinosaurs freak me out.

Wedding

James and I tied the knot in Las Vegas on August 10th. There are a million funny or sweet stories to tell, but I think the story that needs to be shared is a story of a catastrophic wardrobe malfunction.

 

**Let me preface this tale by saying I had just been bragging to some friends that this has been a completely stress free wedding for me. Karma is a bitch.

 

So I was getting ready in my parent's hotel room. As my mom was zipping up the back of my gorgeous wedding dress, the zipper broke. And when I say broke, I mean, the dress was completely zipped up the back but the zipper teeth weren't biting each other any longer. This dress was not meant to be backless, and there were only 30 minutes until the ceremony was supposed to start.

 

I burst into tears. Of course I burst into tears. Who wouldn't? My day was just ruined. I put on a ridiculous green dress (it had pockets-- you can't get married in a dress with freaking pockets) and wanted to back out of the ceremony.

 

James saved the day and called every resource he could think of to save the dress. He finally found a tailor downstairs in the casino mall who would look at the dress. I ran to the tailor with 2 friends in tow. The seamstress replaced the entire zipper in just about 15 minutes. I was zipped back into the dress-- and thank you sweet baby Jesus the zipper teeth stayed biting each other. I ran barefoot back through the casino and arrived at the chapel 10 minutes late.

 

Out of breath, but in a beautiful dress (without pockets), I married the man I love... who also saved the day. XOXO

 

 

 

 

Sweet Outfits, Ladies

Friday was Warrior Leader's Course graduation, and you know what that means! It means the wives were out. In the finest attire for a 10am ceremony on post. Check out some of the hotties I saw:

Stiletto heels, skin tight pants and your belly showing. Nice.

Truly, animal print pants outta control.

What ever possesses these women to dress so inappropriately completely blows my mind. But I'm not complaining-- their cluelessness makes going to these boring WLC graduations worth it.

Military Wives Part 2

Military wives were blowing my mind again at Warriors Leaders Course graduation. The ceremony was at 10:30am. Between black fishnet stockings and completely see through white pants, I didn't know who to take pictures of first!



She was a clear favorite.



See Through White Pants Girl in the background.



I've made the decision that when James graduates from WLC, I'm going to show up like I just left the club. Like, maybe literally. Last night's dress, make-up and hair like I was doing the walk of shame to his ceremony.

Another 4 Years

Uncle Sam got me for another 4 years.

It's rough to sign a piece of paper that guarantees you will not make any of your own decisions for X amount of time. But, I'm happy with my decision. I love the Army. I had a 3 year break in service from 2005-2008 and I just wasn't as happy as a civilian. I need this craziness. That probably makes me a little warped, but crazy people generally do well in the military!

This reenlistment will take me to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I do not have orders yet, so I don't know when my report date will be. I'm just glad I got the first post I asked for in the reenlistment process. I didn't have Big Army jerking me around. Fort Campbell is the home of Air Assault. That's repelling out of helicopters, in case you didn't know. So I'm really hoping I can go to that school and be a part of that tradition and madness.

Perhaps the longer you stay in the Army, the crazier you get...? I'll stay in 20+ years and do the research so you don't have to.

Reenlistment On Hold

I had plans to reenlist for another 4 years in this glorious Army today. However, there was an EFMB emergency and my reenlistment took a back seat to it. I don't know how an emergency for an event that isn't even happening until March disrupted everything, but it sure did.

Before I knew the ceremony wasn't going to happen, I signed my discharge paperwork. I didn't know that you have to be discharged first in order to reenlist. I thought it was pretty cool to see my name under the words Honorable Discharge, since I've never seen that before. Haha.

Since there was no ceremony, I suppose that means I am temporarily not a member of the Armed Services. Which technically means I could go smoke a fat blunt, pierce my face, dye my hair pink and cuss out a few choice individuals.... Of course I won't do that, but I sure as Hell am not going to be at work. I'm taking the day off until I get my damn ceremony tomorrow!