Back to Normal

After a month of living in sunny 80 degree weather, Superman was greeted back home with a snowstorm.

He ignored all signs of a Nor'easter and took a hose to his precious lawn. Only to have it freeze over.

He shoveled and salted the whole driveway.

He took one look in the refrigerator and pitched and restocked.

He took one trip to the bathroom and grabbed the cleaning brush.

He changed the flat tire and installed a new battery so the car would start.

Then he mentioned that in his phone favorites, I've moved up the list to number one on his "most called." Even surpassed the military and the Blue. This won't last for long since we'll actually see each other, which is just fine by me.

I say, everything is the way it should be again!

Here we go again...

Our military hiatus is over. 

Just when we had slipped into a routine of together and work and home and TV and relax and bed... the military has ordered Superman away for a month of training. 

Better now than when bebe's here, we say. 

Last time Superman was sent to this particular locale for training, I was sent the following picture of him: 

All I kept thinking to myself... besides, I HEART THIS VISION OF A MAN... is, I hope to hey-zeus he did not go out and get himself all of these toys. 

Because Army wives, we all know that when our husbands leave for prolonged periods of time, you can almost guarantee they'll get the toy itch. 

And you can bet your life that they'll scratch it. 

Luckily he only scratched one of those three itches. This: 

At first, I was nervous and scared of the dang thing. But soon enough it became a staple in our relationship --  an integral part of our dating adventure. We even featured it in our engagement photos. But in our quest for financial freedom before tying the knot, we sold it. That's when I realized how much I loved it. I think I cried more than Superman. I loved that bike and everything it stood for with all my heart. 

As long as I'd known Superman, he owned a bike, so seeing it go was like a losing half a person. He felt the loss too I'm sure, but not as hard as I did. 

Now, I've got the itch to get this toy back, and ironically Superman is not having any of it! It's certainly not the financial freedom this time. I think being a part of the Blue and seeing what these bikes can do to you when something goes wrong coupled with baby on the way has turned him into a no-thank-you. 

Nonsense! Let the record show that I want one. I want to ride all over town with one. I want to join in the bajillion motorcycle runs for charity and  be a raging motorcycle riding philanthropist. 

I'm just saying that if Superman decides he wants to scratch that itch at this locale again, I wouldn't be mad is all. 

Men in Uniform

Men in Uniform. Oh, yeah. Everything that phrase sounds like in your head is exactly what it's like in real life. Trust me.

*Cue some jam from a chippendales routine*

Well, everything except one thing... dry cleaning.

Now that Superman wears two uniforms -- the Military, and the Blue -- my world personifies the sexy man in uniform (I must've done something right!) But it also means that we practically live at the dry cleaners. Every day we have a new patch to sew on, pants to take in, uniforms to clean, shirts to press...

So I'm spilling the dark side of  the "man in uniform" -- here it is:

Sexy is pain.

There. I said it. There's a lot of behind the scenes upkeep behind a man in uniform. And the Super household gets that times two!

Lately, the sweet messages I would get written by Superman have now been replaced by notes like this:

A not so subtle reminder to get my bee-hind to the dry cleaners or Superman will be pantless. Come to think of it, that doesn't sound all that bad to me...

Viva La Stilettos!

Stilettos are perhaps the most dynamic of fashion pieces for lady Appleites.

It's regarded as the status symbol of mastering the uneven streets of New York while doubling as a weapon to kick the poop out of anyone who gets in your space.

But for this Army wife whose husband is on a mini-deployment, stilettos are the new toolbox.

A few nights ago I came home to the sound of the fire detector beeping loud and obnoxiously every 30 seconds. I couldn't reach high enough to check it out. At first I thought I'd just leave it alone and maybe I'd stop noticing long enough for Superman to come home and fix it. (This is coming from the same lady who, 3 months into a yearlong deployment to Iraq, wanted to wait for Superman to come home and change the burnt out light bulbs in her bedroom).

But after a few subsequent beeps, I had enough.

I grabbed a pair of my stilettos and chucked it at the detector, and it came crashing down. Lord knows if I broke it since pieces of it went every which way. But the house is peaceful and quiet again. So, I call that fixed.

And that, my friends (and husband), is why every woman needs less screwdrivers, and more stilettos.

This Day

A decade ago I was sitting in my high school law class. 
I didn't know then that today the world would still be at war.

And I didn't know then that I would be married to the military. 

But I knew that in every way my life would change.

Lara Loves Travel

Earlier this year when Superman was getting ready to deploy, I started a photography "ramped-up hobby." a.k.a. -- business.

My primary business goal was to cater to military families whose loved ones were deployed. I really wanted to make sure to capture the moments that a loved one couldn't be there to see. There have been so many great opportunities that have led to some really great shots...

And while I continue to work with military families (and love every minute that I do!), I've started a more public collection of prints to sell called, "Lara Loves Travel."

So, in the next few days, when you're sitting in your office, or in class, or in your room... counting the hours... and instead, wishing you could be here:

Or here:

Or hangin with him:

You can. Through the "Lara Loves Travel" collection. Some are on Etsy now! More to come.

U.S.S Intrepid

Our memorial day weekend is off to a great start! We met up with my coworker (and friend!) and her husband and toured the U.S.S. Intrepid. This was Superman and my first time on an aircraft carrier.

I know it's said that all military men are history buffs. But Superman takes it to a whole new level. In fact, we joke that Superman has graduated early to the status where he can put the "Iraqi Vet" trucker cap, complete with a boatload of pins, and just hang at the VFW with all the good ol' boys trading more war stories than the day is long.

Of course Superman knew all you never wanted to know about these planes. All Superman needed was some dress whites and he could've pulled off  being a tour guide for sure.

Besides the interesting history, we had some majestic views of the Apple overlooking the Intrepid. Absolutely stunning.



Stay at Home.... Wife?

Of all the acronyms -- and there are ALOT -- that are used in the military (and perhaps in civilian life!) SAHM -- stay at home mom -- is one of the acceptable ones.

Many women who hear SAHM think a busy mother with a household full of children, a supportive mother who is putting her all into raising her children... you know, all that good stuff.

But what about those of us that don't have children? When our husbands' jobs are constantly evolving, taking us from one location to another, or their schedules are just too erratic, or perhaps we're active duty and are PCSed numerous times that we can't even maintain a career, let alone hold a steady job.

So what if we turned that 'M' upside down. What about Stay at Home Wives? Are SAHW just as readily acceptable as SAHM?

Before becoming an Army wife, I viewed SAHW as a crutch. A SAHW was just as embarrassing -- if not more so -- as when the military calls you a "dependent." Certainly they're not talking about me!

But I've thought about this concept many times over the past few months -- since Superman is currently in between assignments and we're not quite sure where his next job may take us. And let me tell you, the thought of being a SAHW still scares the bajeebees out of me. This article didn't quite help make the case.

I've interned every semester of my undergraduate career, and worked three jobs during grad school. I've been lucky enough to be over employed. Even now, I have a few side hustles besides the full-time dream job I now have. When I have a weekend or a few days off, I don't know what to do with myself.

Don't get me wrong. There are so many days that I idealize kicking back and just relaxing. But I snap out of it really quick. Who am I kidding. I am a "work"-a-holic. What would I do with myself? This, I now think, is my biggest fear.

I often wonder how some wives who, premilitary, were attorneys, teachers, stockbrokers, producers, nurses, etc. cope with the fallout?

Is the only "acceptable" way to be a SAHW is to be a SAHM?

Friday Roundup

In case y'all missed it... this week, these Appleites:

Told the military (which hates when we plan things) to take a hike and booked a Mediterranean cruise! While I've visited Turkey once before, we'll be stopping in cities neither of us have ever been. We're super pumped, but I'm super anxious! Can we afford everything we'll want to do once we get there? Will the military/life/work try to foil our plans before we even get there?

But before we get there, there's so much work to be done! Day and Night has been work work work. This is why I don't have any fun Manhattan shots to show...  I've been working so much, in fact, that Gatto has picked up on my habits!

And now, I'm out of breath.

What are you up to this weekend? I need to know so I can live vicariously through you!

9 Years, 7 Months, and 21 Days

Life was so different.

And today, as a Muslim, Military wife, and Manhattanite, every day since September 11, 2001 has challenged everything I ever thought I knew then.

I could explain it -- but it would take me a provocative front cover, edge of your seat back cover, and many chapters in between...

"The Other Woman"

If you're married to a Soldier, you know that the inner circle you think you've created, also known as "marriage," is really a triangle. Because just as long as your Soldier is in it, the military will always be, "the other woman."

In fact, there will always be one person in the military -- whether it's an XO, a battalion commander, or even just a good buddy -- to whom your Soldier will beckon at every call. And in the military, that "call" most likely means no spouse allowed.

We definitely have one of those. Let's just call our triangle completer... C.B.I.

Superman describes C.B.I. as almost inhuman. At first, I thought Superman was a little loony. Until a couple years ago when I met C.B.I. I realized - it's no lie. The man walks with purpose. And when he speaks to you in a crowd, the whole room disappears. Many times I wonder what his wife must be like. I mean really now, it's one thing to be married to a Superhero, but an X-men?

The good and bad of it all is that C.B.I has taken Superman under his wing.

(No, C.B.I. doesn't really have wings... I think.)

Every so often, C.B.I will appear back in our life, and give Superman an offer he can't refuse. And the bad part is sometimes, Superman doesn't. A few times, it landed us in a relationship conundrum because the decision was made before I could even chime in. I thought the "other woman" should just be quiet background noise, but initially it started to have more clout than the Superwife! You betchur bottom that didn't last too long.

Still, every now and again, when the phone jingles with the special C.B.I. ring -- or during a public event when C.B.I. scoops Superman away to talk business -- I can't help but get a little anxious about what new obstacle course adventure "the other woman" will be throwing our way.

History Buff

If you've married a man in the military, chances are you've married a future history professor. Lately we've been taking alot of American history trips -- like our latest weekend getaway to Philadelphia.

I was there to attend a professional conference. Superman on the other hand found it to be the perfect opportunity to brush up on his history trivia. We checked out the Liberty Bell, city hall (where the constitution and decleration were signed) and the nation's oldest tavern.

But the best part -- we met my parents half way!