STRESS. STRESS. STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.

STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO STRESS ABOUT YOU ASK?? YOU ARE JUST MOVING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF EARTH WITH YOUR HUSBAND & DAUGHTERS.

HERE IS A SHORT LIST.[ PLEASE EXCUSE ABBREVIATIONS AND ARMY LINGO THERE IS NO TRANSLATION FOR SOME OF THE FUN THE ARMY INVENTS FOR OUR ENJOYMENT.}

1. PCSING TWO MONTHS BEFORE SCHOOL LETS OUT. JUST ENOUGH TIME TO ENROLL THE KIDS, LET THEM PLAY NEW KID FOR THREE WEEKS, THEN PREPARE FOR SUMMER.

2. THE EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM. GOD FORBID YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, OR YOUR CHILD HAS ASTHMA.

3. PASSPORTS. TWO FOR EVERYONE. TOURIST PASSPORTS CAN BE A PAIN GETTING FOR CHILDREN, BUT OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT PASSPORTS ARE LIKE SELLING YOUR SOLE TO UNCLE SAM

4. HOUSING WAIT LISTS. YOU DON'T THINK IT'S AS EASY AS THE ARMY SAYING YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS. YOU CAN BE PRETTY DARN SURE THEY WILL NOT HAVE A HAVE A HOUSE WAITING WHEN YOU GET THERE, IT CAN BE A YEAR BEFORE YOU GET GOVERNMENT HOUSING. [HENCE WAIT LIST]

5. GUEST HOUSE. OF CORSE THEY HAVE A GUEST HOUSE, WERE ELSE WOULD THEY STICK THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THEY SEND TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES?

6. PETS. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS PACKING FIDO IN A DOGGIE CARRIER. ONCE YOU GET TO YOUR NEW COUNTRY YOU SEE THE WAIT LIST IS 9 MONTHS. YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE GUEST HOUSE. OPPS! THEY DON'T ALL TAKE PETS. OH NO! THE KENNEL IS FULL BECAUSE THE GUEST HOUSE WON'T TAKE PETS. WELL WE CAN RENT OFF BASE.

7. RENTING OFF BASE. AFTER YOU FIGURE OUT MOST LANDLORDS DON'T TAKE PETS YOU REALIZE AFTER THE FIRST 10 FEET OF SNOW THE HEATING BILLS ARE PRETTY HIGH. THE EURO ISN'T DOING TO WELL, AND YOU HAVE TO GET A GERMAN BANK ACCOUNT! YOU FIGURED THAT OUT ONCE YOU GOT THE TRANSLATOR.

8. DRIVING TO THE BANK.[OR STORE,SCHOOL,KENNEL..... OH NO!! YOU NEED TO PASS THE GERMAN DRIVERS EXAM. MAKE SURE YOUR LICENSE DIDN'T EXPIRE 4 DAYS AFTER YOU MOVED TO GERMANY OR YOU WILL HAVE A LONG WAIT.

9. TLA,DLA,OHA,COLA,PER DIEM,... CROSS YOUR FINGERS MAIN FINANCE WON'T SCREW UP YOUR PAPERWORK.

10. TRAVEL OFFICE. YOU CAN ONLY MOVE SO MUCH WEIGHT. DON'T FORGET YOU MAYBE IN A ''STAIRWELL'' APARTMENT. AKA HELL. SO DONT BRING THE SWING SET,SAND BOX,PATIO FURNITURE,... WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULD, YOU MAY GET A 3 STORY TOWNHOUSE WITH AN ATTACHED 2 CAR GARAGE.

11.TAKING THE CAR TO THE PORT. WE ARE LUCKY, WE ONLY HAVE TO DRIVE 400 MILES OUT OF THE WAY 40 DAYS BEFORE WE PCS. WE HAVE TO SELL THE 2ND CAR BUT KEEP IT LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION. NOT TO MENTION DH HAS TO BE AT WORK THE SAME TIME MY OLDEST HAS TO BE DROPPED OFF AT SCHOOL.
I COULD KEEP GOING FOR EVER BUT MY HUSBAND SAID ''YOUR REALLY BLOGGING TONIGHT'' SO I WILL STOP WHINING FOR NOW.

JUST A NOTE. YES WE LOVE THE ARMY AND WILL REUP AGAIN IN 2010, IT MAY BE STRESSFUL BUT I THINK IT WILL BE WORTH IT.