Day 79--Oh! The Things You Learn

Dear Deployment,

I've been somewhat absent lately, namely because my life has been mostly consumed by the stress of said truck from other posts...oh, and this little detail:

This is my car....not working.
Yep, now my car is dead on top of DH's truck's not so fabulous luck with my driving skills.  In my car's defense, it is 20 years old and oh, basically dead anyway, so it was bound to happen...but really?  Excellent timing, D'Artagnion (yes, I name my cars...I also name just about everything in my possession)
At this point, I'm just laughing, because seriously, what are the odds?
I guess the deployment curse likes to have the last laugh.

Between dealing with those two lovely motorized somewhat-working vehicles, I've been playing with our puppy...how has now, officially, entered the teenager stage.

Go ahead, admit it, she's adorable.
that face gets me every time.

Shes currently sleeping in the bathroom....I caught her drinking out of the toilet today.  Pretty sure I was even less grossed out than she was by it.  You know it's time to clean the bathroom when your dog is disgusted by licking the toilet.
I'm getting ahead of myself here.

So, after some deep cleaning of the whole 700 sq. feet we have in our happy home, I still had to figure out a handy dandy little way to plan a baby shower for a dear friend.
So I did.
and I got in touch with my inner domestic, crafting goddess

Go ahead, be impressed.  I know I was.

So yes, I've been all over and everywhere.  Bumming rides here, crying when I have to drive DH's truck there....but I am also learning many valuable lessons that I wouldn't have learned if DH was actually, oh you know, on this side of the hemisphere.

Just to name a few:

• I learned how to call a tow truck and negotiate prices/discounts on rental cars
• I learned not to panic when your beloved named car decides not to start
• I also learned that dad's are a helpful DH substitute when this occurs
• I learned how to bribe people to drive me places
• I learned how to finagle fun and creative ways to save money
• I learned how to take a vehicle to multiple places, ALONE, and get honest estimates out of people
• I learned how to file an insurance claim
• I learned how to teach our puppy to shake, speak, spin and lay down on her bed

I am currently learning how to drive a monsterous truck....it's probably going to kill me.

But above any of this, I am learning my true capabilities as an independent young woman....learning to have confidence in myself and what I know how to do.

I am learning that it's okay to ask for help if you don't know how to do something.

and I'm learning that this whole process is a lot more enjoyable when coupled with lots of laughter and the occasional glass of Riseling

So you know what? Even though we're pushing close to day 100 of DH being gone, I am surprising myself in ways I never before expected.

It's fun when that happens.

Sincerely,

The Faithful Wife