Ugh.
*Deep Sigh*
I know I should write some funny, witty blog but as most of you know from Nathan's emails He is the witty one.
He has made it safely back to his home base once again but prior to the flight he was forced to shave his beard after he was told a few high ranking officials would be joining him for the trip.
He looks forward to growing it out again on his next long mission.
Things at home have been crazy, I don't know if I'm coming or going most days.
The incoming XO (executive officer) wife and I have taken charge of our FRG as leaders. The FRG (Family Readiness Group) works with the rear detachment to provide support for the unit's families and soldiers during deployment cycles. Each unit has it's own FRG made up of volunteer family members, mostly spouses. The FRG Leader works directly with the commander. The civilian liaison that helps the FRG and commander communicate is called the FRSA (family readiness support advisor) and to give you an idea as to how important the FRG is to the unit, our FRSA's office is next to the XO's office at battalion headquarters.
3rd Group has never had its own FRG for the support battalions so we are building everything from scratch. Had I known this previously I might not have become quite so involved. *insert sarcastic smile here*
FRG's usually have one leader but in our case I did not feel experienced enough to take on the position alone and the other leader has four kids, with her husband deployed. I joke that you can add us together to make one whole FRG leader.
As it stands now I am knee deep in SOP's (standard operating procedure).
I've heard Nathan use this acronym many many times... I now have a profound understanding of it as we are required to know them all and write a few of our own.
The Officer's Spouses Club is nothing compared to an FRG. Every high ranking officer's wife is involved in her FRG. The commanders wife is actually required to act as an adviser to the leaders which means everything we do as leaders goes through her.
I am beyond intimidated.
I am beyond stressed.
Too much is at stake working so closely with these important figures. To add to it, imagine this many wives from the same unit working together... it is a political minefield.
On the upside, holding this position will look good for Nathan during the selection boards when he is up for Major next year.
In addition to the FRG work I have also picked up a few nights a week at an after hours animal emergency clinic, as a receptionist.
My first night was interesting as I showed up to find no one was there to train me. Thankfully I have previous experience with the veterinary database software on their computers.
*whew*
Anything else in a vet clinic is pretty universal so no major problems there.
Towards the end of the night everyone was encouraging me saying I had the job (I think they are trying out several people for the position). I felt no real pressure because we don't need the money and I'm just doing this to pass the time.
Regardless, I was feeling pretty good about myself... until I discovered something on my desk.
A tiny black cylinder with a button on one end and a hole on the other.
A Flashlight!
Cool.
I began to click it on and off while I was answering phones.
*click*
*click*
*click*
*click*
Why isn't the light coming on?
I unscrewed the top and looked inside.
"hmmmmm."
Maybe it's NOT a flashlight?
(a few minutes later...)
"oh!"
I discover a tiny switch pops out on the side.
*click*
"What the....?"
An orange color sprays across the papers in front of me.
"hmmmmm."
I walked into the treatment area and asked the technicians if someone left an orange marker up front.
Someone replies...
"What? An orange.... oh crap."
All hell broke loose as technicians ran across the clinic propping open doors and windows.
The head technician walks over to me.
"What's the deal?" I asked
"Go ahead and walk back to your desk and you'll find out."
I walked back into the receptionist area and sat down.
Almost immediately my lungs clog with mucus and my eyes burn, I ran out of the room coughing and gagging.
Pepper Spray.
VERY potent pepper spray.
I was amazed at how quickly it spread through the entire clinic. Clients in the lobby were stepping outside. Techs and doctors were walking around with disposable surgical masks over their nose and mouths. I was impressed with the surgical mask idea and went to grab one for myself. I asked whose idea it was and found out I wasn't the only one to pick up that tiny black cylinder, a few months ago another receptionist did the exact same thing.
Needless to say I left an impression on my first night, my "trial run" as they called it.
Since then I have been asked to pick up any nights I can, thankfully my knowledge of the work exceeds the miserable night I caused for everyone.
I cringe when I think of how many times I pointed the hole at my face and clicked that button trying to see a light bulb inside.
