Hotel Hate Pt. 1

Alright, I know I *just* posted, but as I was typing about the sorority, the hotel room was blissfully silent. Except. Bug was playing with a laptop that husband and I got for her birthday or something a year ago.

Yes, it's educational.

Yes, it's portable.

Yes, she loves it.

I HATE IT. It is so loud and annoying and in a one room hotel, when she plays with it, that's all I can hear. And it's like she knows, so all she wants to play with is this computer.

I really think whoever made noisy kids toys never had kids.

Soeurs Fideles + Semper Fideles

My Marine and I were having a discussion the other day about why I thought being a sorority girl was good preparation for being a Marine Corps wife. I told him, but I thought I would now share with you!

So, in college, I was in a sorority. *(Duh.)* The best sorority, but that might just be my opinion. Had you known me in high school, you would have been very surprised that I joined, but really, I don't think I've made many choices as good as joining Phi Mu. Some of the lessons I learned in those four years were more important than ones that I learned in my college classes. I remember hearing how much you could learn from a sorority and thinking how stupid it was, but really, the things I took away from Phi Mu are used pretty much every day.

I used some aspects at work *(organizing, taking control, planning, being an appropriately social assistant, etc.)*, but it's become REALLY handy since I married my Marine.

Way back in high school, I didn't really care how I looked. I mean, I didn't *(usually)* go out looking like a bum, but I didn't really care. I got to college and Phi Mu taught me what a bad idea that really was. Now, don't get me wrong, I was not one of the girls who wore heels and pearls every day *(though I knew them, loved them, and did not judge them)*. I just took some pride in my appearance and managed to get out of bed just a little bit earlier to put myself together. This applies now, because - regardless of what some military wives nowadays say - my appearance does indeed reflect upon my husband. I am still not one of those girls who wears heels to the commissary *(though I do get excited for an excuse to wear my pearls)*, but I am certainly not one of the wives who thinks it is appropriate to wander base in my pajamas. As 1950s as it sounds, what I do matters to my Marine. When I represent my sorority, I want it to be a good representation. I don't want people to see me and go, "Oh my God, that is what a Phi Mu is like? Noooo thank you," any more than I want them to look at me now and say, "Whoa, she is a Marine Corps wife? Ew." I want to look nice for my husband and other Marine Corps spouses.

My sorority smile sure comes in handy too. You have to *really* know me to know if it's a fake smile sometimes. This is very handy when you are talking to that Marine who is telling for you the 208447038 time just WHY he and his girlfriend are fighting, or why the Marine Corps is better than whatever other branch *(What, like I need to be reminded?)* and you so don't care, but there's nowhere else to go, so what can you do? You don't want to be rude and tell him to shut up, so you plaster on that sorority smile and figure out your grocery list in your head. It's saved me many times.

And finally, and I think, most importantly, *(and yes, I am aware this seems to be set up like a college essay.)* is the ability to talk to a wall. Some of the new girls who show up at family readiness meetings or FRT sponsored events or even the shop BBQ just look terrified to even be there. We all know that feeling. It's happened to everyone, regardless of who you are married to. And it is so nice when someone with a friendly *(sorority?)* smile comes up to you and draws you out. I remember being the girl in the corner at the first FRT meeting I went to *(Am I the only one who says fart every time she sees that? Dammit.)*and NO ONE talked to me. It was terrifying. Going to anything where there is a nice spouse makes it so much easier. This is especially true when the friendly spouse is a married to a more senior Marine and makes the effort to those of us married to junior Marines. Takes away so much intimidation.

Anyway. I'm sure there are a billion ways Phi Mu has helped me be married to my Marine, but those are the most prevalent.

I wonder what else could have helped?

Hotel Hawaii

Well, we are here. After all the stress of packing and cleaning and getting out of NC, only to go visit family in Va and Pa, then back to NC in a car we rented the day before and an overnight drive for a 12 hour plane ride, we are here. Paradise. And let me tell you, it does not disappoint. I haven't even been off base yet. Heck, I haven't even been to the entire base. *(We still don't have our cars so my travel distance is based precisely on how long I can make it before the kid starts whining that her feet hurt and she's tired and it's hot and blah blah blah.)* The TLF has a nice little courtyard, and from there you can see the mountains all while smelling the ocean. It's amazing. And let me tell you, these are some gorgeous mountains. I have been to the Rockys and the Appalachians...nothing compared to this. These are the take your breath away make you believe in Jesus mountains that people talk about. And they do. I'm going to have so many pictures of mountains in three years, it'll be sick.

We haven't found the ocean yet...maybe find is not the right word. It's not really lost, is it? A friend here told me how to get to one and as soon as our errands are done for the week, Bug and I are going! I'm very excited. I can't wait to add the Pacific to the list of bodies of water I have been in.

Our car is due on Friday, and we have settled in as best we can to the TLF. I'm still trying to figure out how to 'cook' for the three of us with a microwave and a grill only, which is quite the adventure. We've done ok so far, but it's only been about three days. I have made the call to mom for help and I am about to email my grandmother. Hopefully they will come up with something.

I will say, this experience has really solidified the fact that I am a Marine Corps Spouse now. I mean, I knew that before, but how many women have to make a hotel room in to a home? And let me tell you, this is not a Four Seasons four star kind of joint. It is one big room with two beds, a bathroom, a fridge, sink, and microwave. The 'kitchen' area does come with a table that my husband barely fits at with the two of us there as well. We have six drawers and a closet with 10 coat hangers for all our clothes. We also have no idea how long we will be living here. It has been frustrating, to say the least.

All this, combined with the stress of husband starting at a new shop, us having no transportation, and having no one to interact with during the day other than each other *(and yes, some random people we meet in the courtyard)* has led to an interesting weekend. All three of us are pretty stressed out right now, and it's like we just feed off each other. I'm hoping now that he has the job to go to and get settled in to and Bug and I are finding more to do each day, it will get better. I'm also hoping that we get a house soon.

Well, I'd like to say I'm about to go walk some errands, but apparently my eyes are allergic to this wonderful place and while they have been taking turns being swollen, today, they are both. So I'm off to lay a cold cloth on my face and listen to Alice In Wonderland!