Military "In-Dependent"

Each one may look different and each is wonderfully unique, But this we have in common:

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house; Moving curtains that won't fit; Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move...
.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS; Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has a HEART and a love for her husband,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband, She will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way.

Black Bean Salad

16 ounce can black beans
1 1/2 cups corn kernels
1/2 cup prepared salsa
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Drain beans; rinse and drain again. Place in bowl.
Add corn. Fold in salsa, lime juice and cilantro.
Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until
serving time. Serves 4-6.

Mediterranean Vegan Flatbread Pizza

Ingredients
2 (8-inch) flour tortillas
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons vegan pizza sauce
1/2 cup very thinly sliced plum tomato (about 1 large tomato)
1/3 cup Mock ground beef (IE: Morningstar Farms Grillers Recipe Crumbles)
3 tablespoons finely chopped red or green bell pepper
2 tablespoons chopped red onion or sliced green onion
4 large pitted black olives, quartered lengthwise
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
1/3 cup shredded mozzarella-flavored soy cheese

Directions

1. Place tortillas on baking sheet. In small bowl stir together olive oil and garlic powder. Brush over tops of tortillas. Bake at 400°F for 8 to 9 minutes or until light brown and crisp.

2. Spread thin layer of pizza sauce over tortillas. Arrange tomato slices over sauce. Sprinkle the mock ground beef, pepper, onion, olives and parsley (if desired). Top with cheese. Bake at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Dooms Day!!!

Ugh. I hate doomsday predictions, and I hate chicken littles. Combine the two and you're in for a world of scorn and ridicule! Graft that stupidity onto an ancient calendar and we're reaching levels of animosity reserved for only the most insidious perpetrators of arrogant Western though.

The world WILL NOT END in 2012! The damn Maya say so, their calendar says so, astronomers say so, archaeologists say so, and so does the dang Bible! No amount of morons looking for star happenings in galaxies light years away, no number of dumbass hollyweird movies, or Discovery Channel specials will change that!



Then we have the sandwich board loons. The "END IS NIGH" kind of folks. The Y2Kers, the Hale-Bop comet crazies, and the like. The ones who screamed that Bird Flu, then Swine Flu would be the eradication of humanity. If only it was, to get rid of the likes of them!

Seriously folks, its time to put down the funky purple kool-aid and get a grip!

Mankind can not possibly fathom the end of the world. I have no idea when it will happen, but I'm perfectly okay with saying Dec. 2012 ain't it. The fact a cycle in a millenial old calendar comes to a close on that date does not equate to the end of the world. If I know you and you espouse this belief, expect an ass beating come 2013, because I will be around and you will be a moron in need of a boot up side your behind!

Humble Crumble Pie

Ingredients
6 servings instant mashed potatoes
1/2 cup shredded Romano pecorino cheese
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 1/2 cups sliced celery
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 bay leaves
2 whole cloves
1 package (12 oz.) Morningstar Farms® Meal Starters™ Grillers® Recipe Crumbles™
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions
1. Follow the recipe per package directions for mashed potatoes, decreasing the margarine by half. Stir in cheese. Set aside.
2. In large saucepan, combine broth, carrots, onions, mushrooms, celery, corn, pepper, bay leaves and cloves. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender. Add MORNINGSTAR FARMS MEAL STARTERS GRILLERS RECIPE CRUMBLES. Mix well. Remove 1/2 cup of broth and mix with flour and slowly add back to the vegetable/crumble mixture. Simmer until thickened. Remove bay leaves.