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My Career. Your Career.

Posted on January 6, 2012
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A while ago I came across to some online discussion about spouses wearing their husband/wife’s military rank, and even using it as a tool against other, (lower-ranking) service member’s spouses, or even worse getting their spouses’ chain of command involved in their personal problems. I was shaking my head. And I was disgusted.

Military is a choice of career. Being a soldier is an occupation. Military is a professional environment. Although not in a traditional 9-5 meaning, it still is a workplace. While military requires more from the whole family than some other jobs, the responsibility of the work itself is on the service member’s shoulders. However, still I read and hear about spouses who either hide behind the other half’s rank, or go after the chain of command for various reasons: when they have been mistreated by someone, when the spouse is having a hard time in the military with his/her peers, ….. there are spouses meeting with commanders and trying to beg another chance for a spouse who has by his/her own behavior ruined his/her military career … the list is never-ending.

My blunt, honest questions is how some people can do it? Or why they do it?

It would never, ever come to my mind to hide behind my husband’s rank. It is his career. I have my career. Furthermore, I would never accept him being involved in my professional life beyond normal collegial socialization, nor I want to be involved in his professional career – beyond the social and formal events. If he had a problem with his job or colleagues, I would tell him to go and figure it out himself. Honestly, I can’t come up with any, single reason why I would need to escalate something to his chain of command.

Maybe I am missing something but I don’t understand why some military spouses are so eager to get into other person’s job environment. My career in the corporate world started already in 1998, over a decade ago, and  I have never seen spouses behaving like this – nor as a manager I would have not tolerated it.

Drama queens? Bored? What is it? If there is an explanation or theory on this, I would love to hear it.

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Cheers to 2011! Welcome 2012!

Posted on December 31, 2011
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Less than seven hours left of year 2011 here in Alaska. When looking back this year, I can only wonder how fast the time can fly by. 2011 has been a wonderful year with full of extraordinary events. We lived an adventurous life – skied, snowboarded, went halibut fishing… We traveled, had fun, were busier than beavers with our careers, tied the knot, … what else could one ask for one year?

Back in March we got engaged – Jason popped the question under the starry Hawaiian skies. Maui will always have a special meaning in my heart. Fast-forwarding to July, we said I Do’s at Fort Richardson chapel in Alaska.

Besides traveling to Maui in March, we were honeymooning on O’ahu in September, checked out San Francisco in May, and San Diego in September. And then in Chicago area in December. And in the middle of all this, I have been jet setting all over Alaska from Barrow to southeastern tips of this giant state – spending time on the plane nearly every week.

Work-wise … well, I don’t even know how we have been managed to juggle with all the tasks we both have. Maybe the love for our duties is what keeps us going. Jason has been busy with his new unit – being in charge of the troops and running the daily stuff make his days constantly longer, and sometimes weekends shorter. Despite all the travels, I couldn’t be happier with my daily job. I am working with the best people people ever who are motivating and supporting – always thriving the excellence. One of my life-long dreams came true just a couple of months ago when KominiakPhoto opened an online Fine Art Gallery. The gallery is one of the 2012 Projects that I am hoping to concentrate more.

It has been such a busy but awesome, wonderful 2011. The bar is set very high for 2012, and I can’t wait to see what the new adventures will be.

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day” –Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 

So the opportunities …. I do have some goals and plans for the New Year – stop by tomorrow, January 1, to read about Top 5 goals for 2012!

Meanwhile, here is a review of 2011 New Year’s Resolutions, last years goals worked out pretty good.

Resolution 1: Cherish every day. I think I have done pretty good job at that.

Resolution 2: Dedicate more time for the photography. Fine Art gallery is up and running – can check this one off too!

Resolution 3: Keep up with the school stuff, maintaining the existing GPA. Straight A’s the whole year of 2011!

Resolution 4: Run a full marathon in 2011. While I have been running 20+ miles runs, I didn’t do any long-distance running races in 2011. Mainly because Alaska is not the best location for running, and a couple of marathons I had on my mind were overlapping with some of our travels. So mileage done, races not. 2011 is a new year!

Resolution 5: Add a short yoga practice to be a part of my daily workouts. Got it covered – I am doing yoga practices nearly every day, and my flexibility has gotten so much better.

 

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Gym Dating 101

Posted on July 18, 2011
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What are the best places to find dates? According to AskMen, singles should think about wine tasting events, dog parks, volunteering events, and — surprise, surprise — gyms. I have been working out regularly almost forever. And does the gym work as dating scene? Yeah, I would think so. It’s a great place to make a contact with the opposite sex while being sober in a rather casual environment. Especially if the other person is not taken.

And I think I have seen it all. I have seen guys hitting on girls who are tired, sweaty and in the middle of their workout. Does anyone want to socialize when completely out of breath, and just feeling hot, not so much looking? I have seen guys who don’t understand word ‘no’, and just keep trying and trying even though a girl has made it clear that she is not interested in the person. Or is already taken.

Saturday morning I was doing my cardio, CrossFit and some extra strength training. The gym was pretty quiet, and on the weight area there were only a few guys and me. And there I am, in the middle of the bench presses, and this guy shows up.

Him: “Wow, good job. You must be in a great shape.”
Me: “Yeah, well, I guess so. I work out 6 or 7 days a week.”
Him: “Would you like to have dinner sometime?”
Me: “Um, dinner? No thanks.”
Him: “You are attached?”
Me: “Yes. Happily married.”
Him: “Oh. Well, you look awesome. Are you sure you don’t want to have dinner?”
Me: “Positive.”
And he walks away.

A bit later, during the same workout, another guy walked up to me, said a couple of compliments about the number of push ups I did, and asked if I’d like to meet at the gym sometime later. And again I tell that great idea but I am happily married, and hear the story about how lucky my husband is.

While it is nice to hear compliments, I am still surprised how quickly guys act when they are trying to get someone out for a date. Or how persistent they can be. Even though I don’t think I have a whole lot of male readers, I still offer a couple of pieces of advice for playing the dating game at the gym.

– First of all, don’t disturb girl’s workout especially if she is serious about it. Let her finish with what she is doing before trying to start a friendly chitchat.
– Think twice about your compliments. Some girls get them a lot. Seriously. A lot. So cheesy words about her being in great shape may not help your case.
– If the girl is not available, just get over it.

Dating world is difficult. I know. Hats off to the guys who are brave enough to talk to hardcore gym rats like me. But remember that some girls are already taken – and wedding bands are a pretty good clue about that.

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What I’m Loving Wednesday!

Posted on June 29, 2011
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I have seen the What I’m Loving Wednesday! postings on some of my blogger friends’ sites, and this morning saw it again at A Few of my Favorite Things. So I finally decided to check it out, and join the fun. We all do have people and things to love in our lives, don’t we?!

Today I’m loving ...

… the summer. My summer semester classes are finally over, and I finally can have my normal routines back. Lovin’ it! Oh, and the weather is cooperating too.

… my new running Asics Gel-Kayano’s. It was time to let the old pair to retire, so got these cuties. They’ll be my best buddies for next 400 miles.

New Running Buddies - Asics Gel-Kayano 17

… long weekend. I can’t wait for the 4th of July, which is also my favorite holiday. Stay tuned to read about our weekend adventure in a few days!

… quilting! My animal appliqué class 2/2 is tonight, and I am so excited to continue working on my moose quilt. Pictures to follow as the work progresses.

… Jason. Last but not least, I always love him – more and more every day. He truly is my best friend through thick and thin, and relentlessly supports me in all my endeavors. I am very lucky and blessed to have a privilege to  share my life with him.

And now it is your turn – share your loves for Wednesday & link up at Jamie’s blog, This Kind of Love.

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MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #46

Posted on June 24, 2011
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I am so looking forward this weekend. The weatherman is saying that it should be nice and warm in south central Alaska, and I can’t wait to spend the weekend in outdoors activities – biking, running, more biking … On Saturday afternoon there is Army Band Jubilee concert in Anchorage downtown – sunshine would make a park concert perfect, wouldn’t it?! But let’s get to this week’s Friday Fill-In. Always awesome Wife of A Sailor put the question together once again.

1. Are you a different person than you were five years ago? (submitted by Sisterly Thoughts) For sure! First of all, I believe that people change over the time. The life – its ups&downs – make us who we are today. Five years ago I was very, very career-oriented, and lived jet-setter life rushing from one place to another. Work was my lifeline.

Today I am crossfit addict, health nut, and still love what I do – yes, I push myself very hard but in different things. I guess I am always an overachiever, Type A personality, a go-getter. However, I also enjoy settling with someone who shares the similar zest for life… I didn’t always think that I should share my space with someone.

2. If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why? (submitted by Thoughts from a Poekitten) My better half and partner in crime, Jason! Of course! He is my best friend, we both love traveling and great adventure. We are pro’s what comes to making it through in foreign countries or finding the best flights. And we have fun. He is definitely the best travel buddy I could ever have. Better than best.

3. Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good in to your life? (submitted by Just an Arizona Girl) I follow Twitter not-so-frequently, and if I don’t log in for a couple of days, it doesn’t change my world. Speaking of which, I just got a new Twitter account set up for my Photography services, so feel free to follow HERE. Facebook is a great way to stay in touch with friends who live all over the world – for me it is enjoyment and brings good things into my life, not stress.

4. June is National Soul Food Month- what’s your soul food?(submitted by NH Girl Displaced) Hmm, my soul food… uh-oh. I am not very food-oriented but West African Peanut Soup gets very, very high on my list. Especially the (healthy) peanut soup á la me.

5. If you could live in any other era than the current, which one would it be & why? (submitted by Sugar in My Grits) I am actually really happy to live in this era. I might be curious about the industrial revolution era, just to see how big impact the industrialization made in people’s life at that time.

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