I know this is not a political blog but when you're in the military you life is highly affected by politics. This is one of those times and quite frankly I am SEEING RED!

As you may have read in a previous blog, Congress was unsuccessful in sending a Defense Spending Bill to the President that would not be vetoed (due largely to heavy laden pork or 'ear marks'). But today Ms Pelosi, Speaker of the House, rushed to the cameras to announce the House's passage an Economic Stimulus Package. She touted the unprecedented bi-partisan effort and record-setting passage of this bill, which by the way, prvoides for over one-million homes to get a check from the government for at least #300. Oh, and that includes households who are exempt from paying any taxes.

Ok, so, as Ms Pelosi stated, she wanted to get this money into the hands of those who need it most. Could it be that she really wanted it into the hands of those who vote for her party most? hmmm.....

So let me get this straight...the House can set a record passing this bill, with unprecedented bi-partsan effort but they can't get the raise they passed to the fighting men and women of the military? All bonuses are on hold, including reenlistment bonuses, and our full raise is on hold...but they can send a check to over a million homes... Bear in mind that the rest of government employees are enjoying their FULL RAISE...but not those in harm's way.

And that doesn't even begin to address the fact the the Pentagon is busy shuffling monies to maintain readiness and equipment...

Let me see, is it just me or something wrong here? I'm too angry to keep typing...and you?

Congress and the President were not able to come to agreement on the Defense Spending Bill. As a result the version currently on the way to the President's desk will be vetoed. While I am not going to discuss the merits of the bill or the inability to pass an appropriate and much needed funding bill, I AM interested in the fallout from this situation.

One such fallout is the impact on the individual service member and their family. The announced (and anticipated) 3.5% raise will not be seen in our February 1st pay. Rather we will receive only 3.0% (last year's raise). All bonuses are also on hold...that includes enlistment bonuses, re-enlistment bonuses and special incentive bonuses such as medical, nuclear, flight, etc.

I have my opinion...but what is your opinion? Is congress playing using the military/spending bill as a political pawn for their advantage? Is the President the guilty party? Perhaps it's both.

How will this impact your family? Is your service member up for re-enlistment? Will this impact your decision to re-enlist? Will you postpone re-enlistment to insure payment of bonuses?

In your opinion does this situation affect morale? If so, how?

Let me ask another question...does this impact your vote in the upcoming elections? Are you motivated to voice your opinion to your elected officials?

What is your opinion...I'm listening...

I know this is a 'non-story' now but I am sure many of you have heard the account of the girl, with the assistance and encouragement of her mother, who wrote a fraudulent account of her father's death in Iraq in order to win tickets to a Hannah Montana concert.

There was much discussion about this situation...but I want to know what you as military spouses think about it. Are you angry? If so, why? Are you dismayed at the lie? Are you more incensed by the fact that she lied about something like the death of a parent in combat so insensitively to those who really have experienced this tragedy? Would you be less mad if she had lied that her father died of cancer? Sound off, I want to know your take!

Happy New Year fellow military spouses! I hope your holidays were great!

2008 arrived and like many of you I am pondering my New Year's Resolution, or lack thereof...

One cable network was soliciting home video of new year's resolutions from viewers. My husband and I had a bit of fun fantasizing about what our video might include. Picture this:

1. We resolve not to move this year (unless the DoD decides differently). Fyi, we've moved 7 times in 4.5 years.
2. We resolve to actually live under the same roof this year (unless the DoD decides differently). FYI, we've never spent an entire year actually together since we got married.
3. We resolve to spend at least 300 days in each other's arms (unless the DoD decides differently). Okay, that is a bit of fantasy but work with me here.

I read some New Year's Resolution factoids on the internet (so of course they are totally reliable) which said 25% of us will break our New Year's Resolution within the first 15 days. Another 15% will break it by month's end and by June 80% of us will have abandoned our resolutions totally.

So I have resolved not to resolve (hmmm, does that work?). Therefore I cannot fail. But that doesn't mean I am not going to work toward certain goals.

What about you? What are your resolutions? Do you make resolutions, do you take this time of the year to assess where you are and where you are going? Have you been successful in the past? What are your hopes and goals for 2008?