Faraway but not Forgotten

I am reluctant to make posts or share awesome things with this blog due to “Op Sec.”  This blog was initially created to share our lives with friends and family, no matter where they are located. But there is this nuisance known as “Op Sec” or “operational security.”

Let’s delve into this military spouse world. Op Sec is basically not revealing any sensitive information that could expose your spouse/self/family to danger. For example, no flight times or arrivals or departures for deployments.  

And the military does nothing to curb paranoia. In fact, they thrive on paranoia. I think its almost a necessity to have paranoid people be soldiers because the overly cautious is better than loose lips. (sink ships, ya know).

So, Op Sec can also ‘mean’ a threat if I reveal Eric’s job/current goings on/whatever because it could have some slight sliver of a chance down the line to expose information to terrorists and put our family at risk.

I know, I know. Its bizarre to consider this a threat if you’re in “civilian world.” I scoffed at Eric when he told me I had to watch what I said in public. But by the time we left Italy, I knew to lie lie lie when anyone in Italy asked me why I was there/where I lived/etc. Just visiting. Studying around here. Etc. 

So, I’m not posting the youtube video I wanted to post that could show you “this is what his job is like” because I’m just not sure whats cool to share.

Sucks to be you???!

When E was home on leave and I had Helena we spent an evening with the Finneys playing Rock Band and having a good time.  Thus created my favorite of Eric’s “songs with the words changed.”  I heard the song today and I’d like to relay the refrain:

“In the midnight hour

she cried more, more milk.

With a rebel yell

she cried more, more milk.”

Young Soldier 1 “Lets go back to the barracks and watch ‘Red’ in my room with the volume really loud” 

Young Soldiers 2,3,4 “Yeah!”

Where do we shop?  

“On the economy” or italian shops:  The exchange rate tends to be pretty crappy. And when it comes to goods like clothing or any material Italian shoppers go towards the expensive end. We occasionally go down to shops and buy items with our Euros. Emissfero (that is not spelled correctly) is like a Meijer sized grocery store and offers a lot of fun different options.  Thursdays are market days in downtown Vicenza.  Its the tale end of their two sale seasons so we’ve picked up some baby clothing from shops around downtown.  

On post:  Those acquainted with the military life know of the “PX/BX” and Commissary.  But those who are not would might need an explanation. The commissary is your run of the mill grocery store.  When a friend from the states visited (while she’s been working abroad as an au pair) we took her to the commissary to pick up all sorts of American foods she and her “family” missed.  The PX/BX is the “walmart” selling clothing, bikes, gardening supplies, jewelry, electronics and so on.  The PX’s clothing options are slim.  And their variety isn’t the best.  Both shops require a military id and take only American dollars.

Online: Teri wears a size 11 shoe and this size does not exist in the beautiful italian shoe possibilities.  In order to purchase things like shoes, pants in “long” sizes, or basically anything stateside, we become geniuses at online shopping.  Our addresses are an APO address which means we pay for American shipping.  Amazon is a favorite, particularly of Eric’s.  You see many people picking up packages from their favorite shops from home in the post office. 

I wrote this post at least  week ago and tumblr ate it. I am positive it was probably 10times more brilliant the first time. :)