Military Couple

Did I tell you about how awesome our life has been since we joined the military on November last year? Man, it is the best! Actually, the best decision that we have ever made yet so far. We got to see two states since then... been in the chilly place of Great Lakes, Illinois on the winter, and been here in San Antonio, Texas at the moment. We are about to receive our orders for our first command, and what can I say? Everything went by so fast I can't believe in a week's time we will be graduating (for the 3rd time within the military) and we are off somewhere else after that!

When we joined there were a lot of questions hanging in my mind, and we've been getting different answers here and there. Now that we are in here, the experience is totally different. I would say that for those of you who are contemplating on joining the service, you need to feel it for yourself to understand better if it will work for you. The basic training (bootcamp) was great, it was not as scary as it sounds. All it takes is getting used to the lifestyle for a while and opening your mind to take orders from those above you. The "A" school was a challenge, it was fast-paced, but every program in the military will ensure that everybody gets out euipped to carry out the mission in whatever field they are in. At first I thought we would just do probably 5 years, but now it has changed, we would like to venture and do the whole 20 years.

Being here, though we get annoying questions all the time like:

-Is that a common name in the Philippines or are you guys related?

I revolutionized my answers by the way, from just telling people straight out that we're married, to:

-I didn't do my laundry so I just happened to borrow his uniform for the day...
-We're twins...
...or... -Yes, we're married, sucks for you... just kidding :)


They just find it strange that we both went to bootcamp together, came to school together (and we were classmates at that), and we lived in the same barracks (separate rooms of course). Everybody our senior would tell us they've never seen a couple went into this together, at least one will come in first and the other one will follow, but not join together. Well, I guess we're just lucky like that!

I could write endless thoughts about this military career but I don't have all the time. It is definitely a good feeling to serve and have an awesome career at the same time, and it feels great to become a part of something big.

Hit me up if you want to know more about enlisting (in the NAVY), I'd be more than happy to guide to the best of my knowledge. Until next time blogosphere. I'm happy I recovered my blog at last!

Weekends in San Antonio

This is a cool laid back place, kinda like Los Gatos, California with the same ancient Spanish feel, but only a little bit affordable.

We stay in the hotel every weekend to unwind a little bit from the barracks. We need to breathe in some civilian air too you know,  but still sailors 24/7. It's nice actually.  It's manageable.  We are liking the lifestyle. Although of course it is a little bit costly,  but we have to have this kind of break in order to maintain  a normal mental status.  The 50% discount the hotel gives to military members help us survive somehow.  The food,  the car rental,  and the recreation is of course another story. 

We are still in our fast paced crazy EMT course so we still can't focus discovering San Antonio. I promise I will give you a better preview in the next weeks. In the meantime,  it is like this - pretty laid back,  and of course just studying in between.  As long as me and my love are together,  I couldn't ask for anything more.

54 Days to Bootcamp

I just thought about doing things for fun, and documenting every moment of it in an album called 54 Days to Bootcamp.

We never really had a real traveling the world adventure since we got married, but I t guess this time we have to do something that we could bring to cherish while we are in and not talking and seeing each other in 3 months. We have been in a 3-year long distance relationship, and we are 100% sure we could pass the 3 months away from each other, or something like that since we will be in the same facility anyway.

The album I am referring to will be in Facebook, of course, where else? I am cooking one southern food tonight and that will be my very first photo in the countdown. We will eat dinner tonight on our bed, at 11:30, while watching Saturday Night Live. Hey, that is something, right?

That's What You Call "GENES"

My husband is not the type who would speak his mind, as with the majority of the male populace I guess. Never, ever, in all the years that we have been together have I heard him comment anything about me, at least physically.

Until one day, he said...

"Baby, you walk just like your mom, do you know that?" - yup, blew it in my face just like that.

Hey! That wasn't fair! I hate the way my mom walks! Simply put, I couldn't take my husband's comment! IT HURTS! It HURTS REAL BAD!

Tutorials by JFotography

Tutorials by JFotography

I just found another source of inspiration for my photography ambitions! In fact, I am trying her tutorials right now. Tomorrow, if it will not interfere with my daily exercise schedule, I will pose as my own model. I need to learn playing with lights first. See ya!

Please visit JFotography and see for yourself!

Again

... I'm afraid this is going to be on a day to day basis now. I'm good with my milk and fruits, plus I take my multivitamins, I have no idea why my ankles are so sensitive. I'm pretty sure it's not my shoes too because I got a good running shoe... Must be my age.. Tsk!

Injured Everyday

Aha, that is exactly what I get for not letting my feet recover. I am getting used to running though, and if you have a husband who takes care of your injury, you would rather be stubborn right? More running! Two months to go!

On Joining The US Navy

At first thought, I know you would be shocked.

Patriotism is a call to everybody, but it is not everybody's calling to serve his country by joining its Armed Forces.

So... Honey is a US Citizen and he decided to serve this awesome country, and I have nothing against that. At first I said okay, you join in and then I'll follow you wherever you will be stationed, I'll just keep my job or maybe look for other jobs. After a lot of thinking though, I decided to serve together with my husband and get a career while in service. Now, we are in the Delayed Entry Program to the US Navy and we are both shipping out on November 14.

I am a Permanent Resident Alien in this country. So much for the spouse support I'm giving, I want to give back by joining the service because I felt I was given equal opportunity here as with its citizens. I was able to advance myself and was able to help my family overseas. Serving and at the same time getting a career inside is actually a fabulous idea.

We have less than three months before we leave. We have informed our present jobs that we are joining the service. Right now we are thoroughly preparing physically and mentally for the basic training which will be in Chicago for about three months. I am working twice as hard so I can do a 1.5 mile run in 16 minutes, do 13 push-ups, and do 43 sit-ups. The only thing that I am not confident about doing yet is the swimming, I thought I need to enroll in order to learn the very basic and be comfortable in the water at least.

The hardest part for us couple might be just the bootcamp. We will see each other inside but we will not be allowed to talk. We signed up for a 4-year contract and we will be working as dental assistants in a hospital. There is a possibility too that one of us will be deployed at sea, but the Navy said as long as we will be good sailors, they will try to keep us within 50 miles from each other.

I am actually excited and couldn't wait to be done with boot camp and a school! Will give bits and pieces from time to time.

New Space Preview

I have been slacking, I know... I have to many things going on as of the moment, but as promised, I will give you a sneak preview of our own little space...

When we moved, pretty much we brought a lot of stuff with us. Bed and appliances, and then we bought new stuff too. Below are some of the accents that are recently acquired:

...that really chic rocking chair...

...that Standing Oval Mirror that I requested since day 1...

...and a study table and chair replacement...
Moving is fun, I tell you it was a walk in the park for me and I could do it again. We have moved like 10 miles from where we have lived last so the move wasn't that bad. Plus, I was really so prepared that I boxed a lot of our stuff weeks ago, that on the date of move in, we just loaded and unloaded our stuff. That's how I do it, I was a trained girl scout after all.

These three accents make up everything that's in here. I would love to take a photo of our TV stand only that I have no enough lighting anymore at this time. I really love to keep our space here, and I don't want to accumulate things ever again. It helps to just keep the stuff that you really need and break free from the sentimental bondage and throw away the useless things.

I will talk more about this apartment community some time soon. We have been here for a month, and so far, it has been awesome!

Successfully Moved-In

We officially started our lease on our new apartment yesterday. We have found this new place a month ago and we both fell in love with its homey atmosphere. Compared to the other apartment communities that we scouted, this one has a serene atmosphere, it is clean, it is quiet, and you would never see personal stuff hanging outside the balconies. Pool is quite inviting too.

We are in the second day of unpacking and arranging our stuff, Honey is still sleeping but I am already up and running excited to get us all set here. I love the independence. I love the fact that I at last own the kitchen and I can live in a clean well-maintained pad. I love the walk-in closet, I love the bathroom, I love everything about this place! There are trees and flowers outside too and the parking is generous! How did we get so lucky?

I will be taking photos of this place to send it to my mom in the Philippines, and if I remember I'm gonna post some here to share with you guys.

I just sneaked out, I'll update soon!