Hometown Favorites

So, there is this blog called Tuesday Tell All, and I like it because it gives topics once a week to write about that you may not think to normally write about, I saw it on a friends blog (thanks Tatum) and decided to participate. This weeks topic is Hometown favorites, and while Wahiawa is not my hometown, (I am a small town Utah girl!) I will write about it here. Wahiawa is not very interesting, so my post will be about all of Oahu.

Favorite Places to...

Grab Lunch
Cholo's, it's a really good Mexican Restaurant near the North Shore

Go for Date night
Dinner at Assagio's (Italian) and a movie in Mililani

Get wet
Surfing: at White Sands beach, it's the South Shore, waves are not as big (I'm a beginner :D)

Body Surfing: Totally the North Shore, in the Winter time!

Swimming: Wiamea Bay

Come on, it's Hawaii you are going to get wet while you are here!

Get a treat
The Cookie Corner

Get some fresh air
Waiamea Valley, it is a nice little hike in the mountains by Wiamea Bay and at the top is a nice waterfall.

Shop for Fun The Swap Meet at the Aloha Stadium!!!

Splurge
Ala Moana Shopping Center, it's where all the rich folks go!

Drive for a weekend away
Lol, you can drive around the WHOLE ISLAND in two hours! Maybe Waikiki, but it is always SO crowded... Maybe just camp on the beach, but I would rather just fly to the mainland if I had enough money!

CLEP, WLC, ACAP, ED Center, Clearing, CTC and CSU...

The Army is full of acronyms, and unless you have served, you probably have no idea what I said in my subject line, and trust me, having the acronyms spelled out into words doesn't make it any better, however, that is what my life has consisted of for the past while, so I will explain... (not necessarily in chronological order) :D

First, CLEP... stands for..... hmmm..... College Level Exam something, something... I will have to look that one up... So basically, CLEP is taking a standardized test in a subject area to receive college credit without having to take the class. Anyone can take the CLEP exams, the only difference between anyone and military personnel is we don't have to pay for it, (one of the perks of enlisting) so, since my time in service is drawing to an end, I decided to take advantage of this and CLEP two courses that I need to complete my degree. I started CLEPing last Friday, and now I think it is safe to say I am an addict haha. I have CLEPed College Algebra, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, and Information Systems/Computer Applications. It doesn't end there, I am preparing to take four more next week, and every week until I get out of the Army. Nice... and the tests I take now will apply to my Bachelors degree, or satisfy a general requirement. I am such a nerd.... but it does give me something to do while Alan is gone, which brings me to my next subject, WLC, but before I get into that, look what I found! CLEP stands for College Level Exam Program, I LOVE Google!

WLC... Warrior Leadership Course. Before you become an NCO, (Non-Commissioned Officer) there you go, another acronym... an NCO is a leader of soldiers, promotions of Sergeant and higher. The Army sends soldiers to this course to teach basic leadership skills and responsibilities to make them better leaders and mentors. So, usually the class is four weeks long, and that is where Alan is now, except he went to the same course that is only two weeks long. This means that he will be gone for two weeks (DUH) as in he is not coming home, its kinda like basic training... So yeah, I have two weeks all alone, and all I can say is that sounds much nicer than a 15 MONTH deployment, so while it is sad to have him gone, I can keep busy doing things that I need to get done, like CLEP hahaha, and Spring cleaning, and college work...
ACAP. Army Career and Alumni Program. The Army is really good at helping soldiers transition out. They teach all kinds of workshops to assist soldiers as they leave service. I have taken resume classes, salary negotiation classes, interview classes, veterans benefits, everything you can think of, they have classes for. These services cost a lot of money in the civilian world (at least that's what they say) and they are very beneficial. That is one of the things that has kept me busy. Trust me folks, after serving in the military, there is so much to think about when entering the civilian job market. The Army helps a lot, and because of them, I have a great job lined up at the ED Center, being a government contractor. I start the minute I get out.

ED Center, education center, easy enough, there is an education center on most military posts, they offer classes through military friendly colleges and make obtaining higher education a smoother process for military personnel being that we move around a lot. They also provide lots of information about many colleges and offer many resources to soldiers and their family members. Coincidentally (or not) the ED center is where I have been spending my time taking my CLEP exams and is the same place I will be working when I get out. It is actually a really neat story how CLEP, ACAP, and the ed center all worked together for me to be provided this opportunity, on that note I think is it story time... Once upon a time in Hawaii... As I was getting ready to take my CLEP exams, I found myself in the education center to figure out what exams would complete my degree, and other education information dealing with my ETS (end time of service). I walked into the leaning resource center to pick up some CLEP study guides, and the receptionist there and I started talking, and it came up that I was soon leaving the Army. She asked me if I have a job lined up, and I said that I had applied to a few places, and sent my resume out, but hadn't gotten any good leads. She said that I should work there, and asked what I did in the Army. When I said that I was a Computer Specialist, she said 'OH! We JUST lost out computer guy!" She gave me lots of information on the company, and contact names, and described a little bit about the job. She said I should bring in my resume. I was excited about the job, and worked with my ACAP counselor to get my resume ready to apply. The next time I went to the ED Center, she told me that she had talked to her manager, and the manager wanted me to bring in my resume ASAP because she was excited about my computer skills. So, I brought in my resume the next day, and thirty minutes later I had a job offer! I will be working in the computer lab, and will be the IT Specialist for the contracting company (Evolver) that runs the Army education system. It pays nice, and will give me more experience in the field as I continue my education! I am very excited to start working there.

So, my last days in the Army are spent clearing everything. Basically I just go to all the places that apply to anyone and get them to sign off on a paper to make sure that I have everything, or don't have what I am not supposed to, or whatever. There are lots of things to do, everything from post car registration to the library to the housing office to the PX (post exchange, think Wal-Mart except not quite as good...) and everything in between. Pretty much, I am just letting everyone and everything know that on a certain date, I will no longer be in the Army. Paperwork.... Then next week, I say my final good-byes to the Army, and start my life as a civilian, and military wife. Nice....

CTC, Central Texas College; CSU, Columbia Southern University. The college I am in, and the college I am transferring to, respectively. CTC was good to me, I wish I could stay there to get my Bachelors, but they are a two-year school. I have heard great things about CSU, and can't wait to continue in my school. CSU has nice tuition rates, and I will be able to complete my degree pretty quickly, as well as get my full GI Bill. Any soldiers reading this, USE YOUR TUITION ASSISTANCE! The Army give you FREE money to go to school while you are in, and you do not have to use your GI Bill, take advantage of it, you will regret it if you don't, in order to be competitive in the civilian world, you need at least some education, take advantage of it while you are still Active Duty!!! That is my advice, now I can get off my soap box...

So, that is what I have been up to. Things are going well, and thanks everybody for your support and help. (Oh, and thanks Rusty for helping me study for the College Algrebra test, I TOLD you I would blog about it!) Now I need to get started on my school work!

Julie

Army Wives

So, I just found out that my other show, Army Wives, starts Season 2 on June 8th! With Desperate Housewives and Army Wives back on, and the writers strike over, my life can now be complete!

It's a baby shower!!!

Hello Everyone!

So, in case you didn't know, my sister, Jenna (the cuter, more wonderful, and much nicer sister) is pregnant!!! She is expecting her baby boy to be born on May 1, 2008, yes people she is just two weeks away!



Pregnant Jenna

So, She is currently living in Arizona, on Ft. Huachuca where she does not know anybody. No one has thrown her a baby shower, and nobody plans to. This upsets me, so I decided that I would throw her an online baby shower. She made a baby registry at Wal-Mart.com and now everybody that knows her, no matter where you are, can attend her online baby shower. You can find it at http://www.walmart.com/giftregistry. Just put Jenna McMichael in the name boxes and you are good to go. Jenna is having a hard time finding friends and support out there so I thought this would be a wonderful idea to let her know that there are lots of people who love her, so please help her out!!!

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

Julie

OH, and feel free to comment this post, I will tell her to read it!!! :D

<----------- Jenna (pre-baby)

It's a SMALL world...

Having been in the Army for over four years, I have been a lot of places, and seen many different things. I have been exposed to things that I would have never been exposed to otherwise, and for the most part, everything has been new and unfamiliar. Utah is not a big military state, as far as military posts, people joining the active duty Army etc... don't get me wrong, I am not saying it is bad, there is a lot of military pride there, and the support for the troops is overwhelming, I just haven't met many people from Utah in my military experiences (outside of Utah of course). So, in the rare moments I meet people from Utah I like to find out what town they are from, and hopefully relate to them on some level. Having constantly been so far away from there, it is nice to go back, even if just in a conversation, so I would like to tell two specific stories about such experiences that not only made my day by finding a fellow 'Utahan' but gave me further testimony that our Heavenly Father truly watches over us and that this really is such a small world. The first story happened today...


I went to church today alone. Alan had to work, and it was my first time going without him so it was weird for me because every other time since I had started going back to church he has been with me. I had contemplated not going at all, but finally decided it was what I needed because I have been having a hard time with a few things in my life. I planned on sitting with a great couple that we usually sit with, and was sad when I saw that they were not there today. I ended up sitting next to the missionaries, and church went well. I knew I had made the right choice in going, and I felt at peace. During the final hour of church, there were a few visitors that introduced themselves. I was excited when one of the women said the lived in Richfield, Utah which is where my mother lives now, and since I grew up a short distance away, I felt like I should talk to her after church was over.


I soon learned that she was visiting her son, who was inactive in the church, to help him settle into his new home. When I told her my Mother lives in Richfield, she said "OH! You HAVE to meet my Husband, he knows EVERYBODY!" I didn't doubt that since Richfield is not a big place, and thought it would be awesome if he knew my Mom. I followed her around the church until we finally found her husband. He asked me who my Mom is, I told him, and he just gave me the largest hug and said, "you are HER daughter?" It turns out that he used to be the Bishop serving in the ward that my mom lives in. He knows her, and I could tell by the sincere way he spoke that he loved and cared for her as we should all love and care for each other. He even knew where she lives, and the vague references he made to specific circumstances that has happened in my family life made me feel so at ease and comfortable around this man that I had met five minutes before. I could feel the warmth radiating from his spirit, and I knew that God brought them there today to comfort my soul, when I had felt so alone and restless.


This man now works in the Manti Temple, which is the Temple in which me and Alan will be sealed in next year for time and all eternity. He told me the days of the week that he works in the Temple and I told him the day that me and Alan would like to be sealed. He pulled out a pocket calender he had, and we looked it up. It turns out that they do not do that temple work on the day I wanted, but the day after that is very possible, and guess what? He works there that day of the week. There just seems to be a wonderful story unfolding here, and I am so grateful for the church in my life.


Next experience... When I was stationed in Korea, and was not active in the church, but occasionally went to Sunday services I met a man and his wife, who were (you guessed it) from Utah. I found out that he grew up in the town where my Grandparents live now, and upon further discussion, that he knew my family well, and was on the high school football team with two of my Uncles. When I mentioned his name to my Grandfather and Uncles, they recalled him very clearly, and were excited to hear he was doing well. This man was a positive influence in my life, and I spoke with him frequently. I know that he was in Korea for me, to give me a little nudge in the right direction, and for this I will forever be grateful. (*note to self, write e-mail joe on the Do it NOW list...) He provided the first contact with the missionaries for me and Alan together, and really opened the door for me to pursue further involvement within the church.


It took me a while to get to where I am now, and I am far from where I need to be, but constantly moving forward. Alan's conversion story is as much my re-conversion story and we are continuing to grow together, as a family. To feel such a close connection to home while so far away, and to be able to feel such warmth from those people brought into my life is one of the many blessings God has given me, and for that I am so grateful...


Julie

Desperate Housewives!

I am SO happy that Desperate Housewives is coming back on starting this Sunday. I already have my DVR set to record ALL the episodes :D Now I just have to wait for Army Wives to come back on in June and I will be all set!

Just thought I would share!

~Julie~

Things I Need To Do!!!

So, someone once said, if you write down your goals, you are 75% more likely to achieve them. I am not sure who said it, but it makes sense, so, I figured I should start making lists, and now I have a list for just about everything...

The "Do It NOW" List resides in our kitchen on a white board with a list for myself and Alan, things that have to be done, soon... I have a list of things that need to be done before I leave the Army, a list of jobs I need to follow up on for AFTER I get out of the Army, a list of classes I need do get done to earn my degree, a list of things I need to call maintenance about (note to self, write 'call maintenance' on the "Do It NOW List), blah blah blah...

So I was going over my "Do it NOW List" and I started thinking about how much of my time is spent doing things that NEED to get done, how much time is spent doing things I WANT to do, and how much of me is just lazy. So, I decided I don't really take enough time to do things I want to do, so I am going to make my "Things I WANT To Do Before I Leave Hawaii List" Right now...

• Get certified to scuba dive
• Get my skydiving A license
• "Swim with the sharks"
• Go on a cruise
• Surf a BIG wave (10+ feet)
• Go inside the La'ie Temple
• Go on a Helicopter island tour
• Get Security+, MCSE, and Network+ Certifications
• Get a KING size bed
• Visit Maui
• Whale Watching
• Para sailing

Good start... So people, keep watching my blog, cause now I wrote them down, I am 75% more likely to do it :D I will post pictures soon! Oh, and BTW, when I said 'I' I meant 'WE' as in me AND Alan, you don't think I will go shark diving alone.... DUH

Much LOVE!!!

Julie

Keeping Up

Catching Up!!!

Well, when I started this blog in December, I was hoping to do better with it than this. Looks like I have some catching up to do! These events will probably not be in order, so bear with me, and don't worry it doesn't matter if it doesn't make sense...

I went skydiving for my Birthday in February, that was an AWESOME experience! If it wasn't so expensive I would go all the time, Alan and I are thinking about paying to get our licenses so we can jump anytime anywhere for cheap, but that costs a bunch too, we will have to see I guess... here is a picture of me free falling! (I was free falling for about 90 seconds before he pulled the chute!)

Alan was baptised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (better known as Mormons) on March 15th. It was a wonderful experience, he was baptized in the ocean in front of the La'ie Temple on Oahu. It was such a beautiful peaceful day. The church has brought so many wonderful blessings into our marriage, and I am so grateful that Alan has accepted the gospel. We will be married in the temple next year, and in making that covenant with God our family will be together for all eternity. It took a lot of work for us (yes me too) to get to this point. We both quit drinking at the end of last year, and we both quit smoking as well. It has been since February 18th since we have had a cigarette. Here is pictures from his baptism...

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After the Baptism with the Missionaries, and our friend Rusty, who baptised Alan

Me and Alan after the baptism... All smiles!

My Mom was able to come to Hawaii for Alan's baptism, it was SO good to have her here, even though it was only for a short time. We went to a Luau, Pearl Harbor, and of course the beach!

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Me and Mom at the Luau
Our sand covered feet!

On March 1st I got promoted in the Army to the rank of Sergeant (Yes, that is Sergeant Burns!!!). I finally made the NCO corps, just in time to get out. I am getting medically separated from the Army. I suffered injuries during a training exercise that cause significant injuries to my back, injuries that will not allow me to deploy to Iraq, or train, or do any other 'soldier' things. The unit I was in last year, is in Tikrit, Iraq right now. They left a little more than a month after Alan got back from Baghdad. Part of me is sad that I am not with them. While I don't think that anyone 'wants' to go to Iraq, my military family is there, and I feel like I should be with them, just as many of us feel when we are separated from our biological families. God bless them, they are truly heroes.

Now that I am leaving the Army, a whole other world is opened up to me. Well, two worlds I guess, one being that of the military wife (which I already know some, since DUH I am one) and I am so grateful to have been a soldier so that I know the Army and what Alan will be going through. The other world, is the 'civilian' world. I am job hunting right now, and between resume writing, searching jobs, keeping up with my college classes, and trying to transition out of the Army, I am overwhelmed! Job hunting is hard! I am worried that I will not be able to find work right after I separate, and our household taking that large pay cut will be disastrous! The Army is giving me a severance check, and that will hold us over for a while, but I am still worried. I have a few potential jobs right now, and a few prospects are looking good. The Army helps a lot too providing transition services, so that's a plus...

So... it is almost 3 a.m. here, I couldn't sleep but now my eyelids are feeling heavy... Please excuse whatever typo's may appear above, I will have to read through this tomorrow... I will try to keep up on the blogging!

Good night!