He ships out for basic training on June 1, 2010. When he’s done with that, they’ll be sending him to “A” school. When he’s done with that, they’ll be sending him to “C” school. All total, he’ll be in 40 weeks of training (as I understand it, for most of that he’ll be in San Diego). All that training will turn him into a corpsman, which I guess is sort of like a physician’s assistant or uber-EMT (embedded with a Marine platoon, so effectively he’ll be a combat medic).

Looking forward, I can see the advantages — when we need a critter doctored, well, that training should stand him in good stead. *grin*

I was a Navy brat. Now I get to be a Navy wife. At least he gets to keep his long hair until he ships out for basic…and he’s already promised me that I will do the cutting (not something I look forward to, but I’ll be damned if I let some stranger do it, and the hair get tossed into a trashcan!).

The Gratitude Campaign

And hey, Lyse and Larry and the other vets I love — thank you. *hug*

(Which is also a really kick-ass movie starring Will Smith and Mary McDonnell. *smile*)

What are three things you want to learn, and three things you can teach others to do?

This is one of the great things about America (she said, cleverly sneaking in a Patriot’s Journey post) — you can learn just about anything you want to. In many countries, your ability to learn any particular thing depends on your gender, your caste level, your geographic location, your financial status, your family connections, and many other limitations that can’t be easily overcome. However, most of an American’s success or failure depends on hard work, recognizing and availing themselves of opportunities (or creating their own opportunities, if necessary!), determination, and perseverance. Almost every practical thing I’ve ever learned how to do was a result of teaching myself from a book, or finding a person willing to teach it to me.

So here are my answers — I would like to learn how to:

1. Hang-glide
2. Refinish wood (specifically my 62-year-old heirloom Lane cedar chest)
3. De-clutter my house efficiently

I am able to teach:

1. Crocheting
2. Excellent cleaning of just about anything
3. Reading (I taught both my girls)

So what do you want to learn, and what do you have to teach?

In the USA (unlike in many cultures/nations), marriage is not mandatory, or arranged with little regard to the feelings of the bride & groom. For the most part, Americans get married because they want to, and because they believe in the commitment they have with their spouse. While those who choose not to get married may occasionally be wondered about, there’s no real derogatory view taken of them.

Being able to be unmarried without ostracism or disapproval from society means, in my opinion, that marriage can be more valued and appreciated than in cultures where marriage is de rigeur. Not that it always is, but I do think it often is, when people stop to think about it. And isn’t that the way it should be?

I’m certainly not a seasoned world traveler (I’ve been to Canada, once), but from what I’ve heard of my friends who’ve seen more of the world, and from the gentlemen I’ve met who weren’t raised in the USA, it seems to me that American men are more respectful and egalitarian than men from most other cultures. While we’re past the pioneer days, I think that most American men understand that the West was not won by sheltered, mincing, delicate hothouse flowers of femininity, or the sort of menfolk who married such — and the strength and independence of American women is largely understood as a given, and much appreciated, by American men. There are exceptions, of course, but you’re less likely to find male oppression of women, or dismissal of female capability, in American men than in virtually any other culture.

I’ve dated my share of American men (okay, I’ve dated my share and probably a few other women’s share, too). Whether tall or short, rich or poor, gorgeous or plain, religious or agnostic, professional or working class, arrogant or humble, they all have something in common — American men are fun-loving. Even the most driven and ambitious of the lot seem to play just as hard as they work, even if it’s not necessarily the sort of play that women really appreciate.

And hell, they’re just plain tasty. Although not generally as fashion-conscious as many Western cultures, America does produce some damned fine-looking men — most of whom look terrific in a pair of jeans. And our boys are clean, too! They don’t usually overdo the cologne, either. Aside from a few metrosexuals, our guys know that the best smell a man can have is his own warm skin, freshly washed. (The most common complaint I’ve heard about international gents is a lack of bathing.)

While American women may complain about their men more than their men might like, I’m positive that very few of us would prefer the alternative, or are willing to give them up!

It’s 5 miles from my home to my job; I’d hate to have to walk or bike that far to and from work every day! Driving isn’t especially practical, since there are too many days where my work schedule and Geoffrey’s conflict (although I’ve contemplated getting a Vespa). So I ride Trimet, and take a book along so I can ignore my fellow passengers (although I can’t always ignore their nasty colognes, raucous noise, and general stupidity).

But for all its disadvantages, American public transit is pretty impressive.

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Both my grandmothers. *rolls eyes* Don’t name your kids after relatives, people. It only makes us hate our name. (I named my eldest after my childhood cat & a Russian Grand Duchess, and my youngest after characters with the same name in two different movies, and they like their names.)

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Being so proud of my girls.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
If I’m not writing too fast, yes. It’s cute and tidy.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Corned beef. Or roast beef. I’ll have to go with “any kind of sliced beef.”

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
And the stretchmarks to prove it.

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Almost certainly. After all, I spent 30 years looking for the male version of me, and when I found him, I fell in love with him!

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
No, never! *looks innocent*

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Again? Probably not. The next time I want to leap from a high place, it should involve a parachute or hang glider.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Quaker’s 100% Natural (no raisins!)

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Not usually. Unless they’re ghillies.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
In most of the ways that really matter, certainly.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
The ice cream version of Girl Scouts Samoa cookies…I think Dreyer’s makes it.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Posture, smile, attitude.

RED OR PINK?
Purple.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
The aches & pains I didn’t have a decade ago.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My first love, Jamie…probably the only person I’m no longer in touch with who’s never lied to me.

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black slacks and socks, no shoes.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Moose Tracks ice cream.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The assorted rodents (gerbils, hamster, bunny) skittering around in their cages.

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Er…if I were a crayon, I wouldn’t have eyes, so I wouldn’t know what color I was.

FAVORITE SMELLS?
Sandalwood. Cedar. Most woodsy smells.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Molly.

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Gymnastics.

HAIR COLOR[S]?
It’s that in-between color that’s too dark to be blond, too light to be brunette, too red to be brown, and too brown to be red..with a few streaks of silver that I love because they look like expensive highlights.

EYE COLOR?
Stormy blue.

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Not often (glasses are easier), but I do have them. I feel oddly naked when wearing contacts — I guess that’s what comes from wearing glasses for 33 years!

FAVORITE FOOD?
Corned beef. Or steak. Or lamb stew. Or garlic chicken pizza.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scary movies. But not the horrendously bad ones that my boyfriend Geoffrey watches. *grin*

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Elizabeth (it was really good!)

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Grey t-shirt with red & purple lettering (that says, “Behind this shirt is a Norse Goddess” and has an illustration of Freya on the back)

SUMMER OR WINTER?
Neither; I prefer a cool spring day. Today was a great example (in Portland, anyway).

HUGS OR KISSES?
Yes please.

FAVORITE DESSERT?
Plain cheesecake. Or carrot cake.

MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Eh, haven’t a clue.

LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Ditto.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
One of my silly historical Western novels, alternating with the gorgeous book on Stonehenge that my boyfriend Karel got me for my birthday!

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
No mousepad.

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
The 4400

FAVORITE SOUND[S]?
Ocean waves. Happy sighs from my lovers. Gleeful shrieks from my children. Purring from my kitties.

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Neither.

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
3,000 miles. Several different times.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Uhm….sure. At least that’s the rumor.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
In a military hospital.

WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Everyone! (Be sure to leave a comment so I can go harass you. *grin*)

And now for the Patriot’s Journey portion of today’s post — a collection of answers (some of which are skippable, but more than a few which are heart-felt) to the question, “What is so great about America?” And definitely check out the blogs of my fellow journeyers: JimK, Scott, Thebastidge, Doug, Moorewatch and our fearless leader Drumwaster.

10 things to celebrate: Why I’m an anti-anti-American

In other news, we have — or rather, Anxiety has — new pets, a hamster named Nibbles (because he bites) and 2 gerbils with outlandish names that I can’t recall just now. The gerbils are so damned cute, and silky soft …too bad they’re too small to make a good fur coat. And all the birthday presents I got were wonderful! They included a set of nifty chrome bookends, a set of hilarious to-do list pads with magnetic backs so you can hang them on your fridge (my favorite says at the top of each page: “This is Fucking Urgent”), an Au Lait (still my favorite scent — I just wish they made cologne!) collection in a nifty milkcan tin, the first season of Hex on DVD (now on American DVD release!), and Lyse promised me the first season of Stargate SG-1 as soon as we find a store in town that actually has it in stock (we checked 3 places Monday night, to no avail).