MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #7

1) What is something you wished you’d learned to do earlier in life?
I wish that I had learned to sew a long time ago.  It's something I still haven't learned to do, and I have all of these fantasies about seeing a fabulous outfit in Vogue and being to whip it up on my sewing machine in an hour for, like, 50 cents.  My mom tried to teach me to cross-stitch when I was about 5 and I worked on some damn yarn cat on a net sampler for the next seven years without ever finishing it, so I think I'd like to stick with sewing for the sake of fashion.

2) What is your biggest pet peeve with the military?
A lot of people will say that they dislike the instability and the inability to plan anything because of unexpected deployments, classes that suddenly pop up, canceled leave, and yes, that bugs me too, but it's not my biggest pet peeve.  My biggest gripe is the rating system.  You see, there are these things called EPRs and OPRs (Enlisted or Officer Performance Reports).  These are done yearly and are the main source of information when it comes to promotions--especially officers.  However, it's gotten to the point where they are so overinflated that everyone looks as though they are Superman, and if you can't somehow turn making photocopies into a Herculean task, you're probably not going to make it past Major.  They're completely awful, and for years the military has talked about overhauling the system, but that would be a huge pain in the ass and just hasn't happened yet.  Sorry, that got... long-winded...

3) What tourist attraction near you have you never seen?
We've been in Charleston for a little over 7 months, and while there are tons of attractions Colby hasn't seen yet, I've done a pretty good job of seeing most of the big sights.  Of course, there's always more to see and I'm desperate to get up to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.

4) What are you avoiding doing right now?
I started Insanity on Monday, and it's not nearly as awful as I'd expected, but I'm always going to avoid doing exercise.  That's just the way it is.

5) Wine, beer or liquor?
Wine--red wine to be more specific!  Liquor has its place from time to time--particularly in a fancy martini, a pina colada or a cranberry and vodka, but NEVER beer.  Blech.  If I have to drink something beer-like, I enjoy a delicious raspberry lambic, but wine still comes first.

Comments

[Yummy Mummy]

I think it would be nice to know how to sew. It would be great to be able to whip up a skirt I love or not have to go crazy looking for the perfect dress because you can make it yourself.

[Kendra]

I too will always avoid exercise. I really dont like to work out. I find it boring, but I know how good it is for me, so I do it. Ugh.

[Freckle on the Nose of Life's Complexion]

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for your sweet words!

I love your blog banner - Wicked is the BEST!

I like this post a lot! I live in NC and still haven't made it up to the Biltmore. It looks beautiful though!

[Julie]

Definitely recommend the Biltmore Estate! ESPECIALLY if you can go around Christmas - all the decorations are amazing, and plus, it's just nice to be in the mountains when it's a bit chilly. :)

[Lynn]

Hell YES for #2! An apt number for that bullet point ... because the rating system is sh%t.

[Kate P]

Sewing! Did you watch Runway yet?

If you do go to Biltmore I'll tell you the best place to eat (my cousin's restaurant). Not that I made it there yet myself, although I did get close last year.

[Kyla Roma]

I'm a red wine girl too!

So interesting to hear your take on the rating system! I love learning little 'insider' things like that :)

[Nicole]

The time for Pina Coladas was not in Japan though. Do you think that it would ever be time for a pina colada in Japan? ;)

[Wife of a Sailor]

Our rating system is different... you actually have to go before a board once you are trying for O-4!

Thanks for participating and I hope to see you this week, too!