The CMC of the USN posted on FB asking if you could tell a future Chief Petty Officer something what would it be. He asked due to the incoming new CPO. So here is a letter to them. 

Dear New Chief Petty Officers;

You are about to embark on a new journey one that you’ve worked hard on. And I commend you. But I’d like to take this opportunity to talk to you about a subject that is dear to me.

Take a look at your division and point to the rapest. Point to anyone who at any time has violated someone else sexually. Point to anyone who has made someone else feel violated sexually. 

Point your finger!!!

Do you see those three fingers pointing at you back? 

After you are pinned as a new Chief I want you to go to your Division and talk about sexual assault. Take a stand and say you are against it. That your division represents a part of you, and extention of you, and you will not tolerate sexual assault. 

If you see an assault occurring stop it. I don’t care how high ranking they are. Stop it. 

Sexual assault has become a big problem in the United States. And you can help stop it. 

I urge anyone reading this to help stop sexual assault. 

Congratulations on your promotion. But never forget about what you can do to prevent this from happening

My husband had a friend who wanted to visit us, his first time flying. One of his wishes was to go to Hollywood.

First thing we did was find some Stars. Well the ones on the sidewalk haha

I got to swoon over Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks was my man crush as a teenager and young adult.

My husband laughed when I took this picture. But I HAD to lol.

Walked around the Dolby Theater.

And my loving husband drove around until I could see the Hollywood sign.

My loot from Hard Rock. I try to find a guitar Keychain from each HR I visit. And then found the VW bus pin and well if you know me…

And I scored another Starbucks mug. Which reminds me I didn’t look to see if they had a Hollywood one. Sigh.

Had a blast

Was able to enjoy the San Diego Zoo with my oldest sister.

Polar bears are my favorite. These are San Diego Polar bears, meaning they are used to the warmth so skinny. They don’t need fat to keep warm.

Watched some wolf not wolf animal do tricks.

Laughed a little too hard at this sign

She’s the Queen high up on her perch.

We took the bus first for a tour. Then walked around. It was hot and animals hid in the shade.

I love Silverbacks.

 

At the end of the day had a wonderful time with my sister, her family, and my husband.

Driving around I wanted the beach and ended up at Sunset Cliffs 

It was a beautiful day

I love the beach

Whenever you move one question that is always asked is where will we live.

Leaving Fallon for San Diego so I can get the level of health care I need.

Applied for housing. Even though EFM move can’t get into housing earlier on a wait list 6-8 months. So I started looking for a place.

I never thought having Koda would be an issue. But after calling apartment after apartments I heard several times Siberian Husky are on restricted breeds.

I had one apartment tell me I could get rid of our dog. Umm no I’ll just find an apartment that is friendlier with their dog policies.

I found some breed restrictions to be hilarious. Our English Bulldog was on one.

English Bulldogs are apartment dogs. I looked down at my loveable bulldog and told her she was on a restricted list. She sighed.

My pups are part of my life. And I won’t pick a home over them. Sorry, not sorry.

I thought I found the perfect place. But sadly they strung us along for over a week before no apartment. Being strung along set us back and set our hopes down.

Homeless was a word swirling around our heads. I heard my husband talking to our bulldog “well Lulu we might have to live out of the truck for a while”.

Oh wait I didn’t tell you. We didn’t call soon enough so we don’t have a hotel for over the 4th of July weekend.

The hunt for a place to move in this weekend is intense. This hunt has been happening since we got official orders. I didn’t want to look beforehand in case orders changed.

I do have an ideal spot to live. Call it like a circle but I want to live near this area to be close to base. I didn’t want to live south closer to Mexico due to traffic. I’ve been to San Diego before and the traffic can be bad. And I didn’t want my husband to be sitting in traffic to get to work or home. Looking like a 15 minute or less drive.

Of course I’d love to live in one area but I didn’t marry an actor or some CEO. I’d like to live in Little Italy or near Balboa but $$$ and we don’t have  $$$ maybe $.

If we didn’t have pets we wouldn’t have this issues. Hey why do you have to hate on my babies so much. They deserve a bone for this. Yup going to get them a bone or pig ear. Wait pig ear would make them happy.

They have no clue the struggle. Every apartment I called. That I’d end up just asking if huskies were on their ban list. Then hang up if they said yes. I stopped being nice about it after my 5th apartment. Because it would end up just get rid of the dog.

Nope. Never.

Apartment hunting sucks.

Yes we have orders for San Diego

To the Stanford Survivor I stand with you.

When I first heard what happened at Stanford, mainly hearing from friends speaking out against what the father said, it was just 20 minutes.

Just 20 minutes?!?

Whether it was five seconds, three minutes, 20 minutes, an hour ANY amount of time ISN’T RIGHT!!! Sexual assault is sexual assault and it isn’t right. And all I could think was what if it happened to that father’s son, what would he say then?

I am a survivor of sexual assault. I can honestly say those 20 minutes will stick with her. I couldn’t tell you  how long as each person heals differently. But for me I have PTSD from my attack and it’s something I’ve lived with for over 2 years.

I STAND WITH HER.

I don’t care if he was a good student at Standford. He decided to take advantage of someone who was unconscious. People saw him and stopped him. Actually chased him down and held him down until the police came. So obviously he knew it was wrong. At no where do I care where you went to school or how high your grades were you OBVIOUSLY didn’t learn one thing. You don’t sexually assault any one.

I STAND WITH HER

She didn’t ask for this. I don’t care if she went out drinking and drank too much. At no point in time did she ask for it. I’ve gone out in college and drank too much. I’ve had friends walk me home. Sometimes you just want to have fun and you don’t realize you’ve gone to far until you do pass out. Just because she drank too much and passed out doesn’t mean she was in the wrong.

I STAND WITH HER

She deserves the same amount of respect as Brock Turner. He’s been quoted as being a good student. And we don’t know the victim’s name due to privacy. BUT SHE DESERVES THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPECT AS HE HAS BEEN GIVEN.

 

I STAND WITH HER

I truly hope that his father was hurt by the statement. That his family member and people in his career told him what he said was wrong. I hope there was backlash and I hope he learned his lesson.

I STAND WITH HER

At the end of the day I will stand with her. Because I’ve been there and I know. It’s not the victim’s fault, it never is.

When I think about what happened in Orlando one thing comes to mind. It could have happened to me.

In college one of my very good friends was gay, is gay.

I would go to bars with him, Gregs or Metro. Other gay friendly places in Indianapolis.

I had other gay friends. I had Drag Queens as friends. I had lesbians as friends.

I’m a straight female. But I hung out with my friends at gay night clubs.

So what happened in Orlando could have happened to me.

In college I would go out over the weekend and hang out with friends. We actually had  a thing. Go drink too much at Grey’s then go to eat breakfast at this gay friendly bar that served breakfast. Then I would get escorted home and fall into bed.

Sometimes we’d meet at Ivy’s a gay friendly restaurant and have lunch or dinner.

In college on a weekend I didn’t have my kids you could find me in a gay bar. I had tons of gay acquaintances. And was “adopted” by a gay couple I would call dad.

This could have happened to me.

Because I’ve been around two men kissing and at any point in time someone could have found offense and shot everyone.

When I think of what happened in Orlando I am sad at the loss. But I want to remember that it could have happened to me. I hold it tighter to my chest.

I’m a supporter of the LGBT community.

Please don’t let this happen again.

I’ve had sinus issues over the years. But I finally was able to see an ENT and I’m super glad.

Diagnosed with a deviated septum I opted for septoplasty. To fix my nose of 2 issues. I needed my septum fixed and a turbine reduction.

The weekend before I went to the Lake Tahoe area and hiked. Had so much trouble breathing. I used my inhaler and ended my hike earlier than the group.

I go in for surgery and I’m scared. Just too much for me. Well the nurse was awesome.

She asked me how I felt about lidocaine. Yuppers she injected lidocaine before searching for a vein for the IV 💯

I had a longer wait than thought. My anxiety was climbing. Finally it’s time. They gave me versed before going back to the OR.

I do have to say I love that drug. Looking back I don’t remember much. And I don’t remember the anxiety I had.

I was worried about being triggered. I have a hard time with IVs, shots, blood draws, etc. So I was worried I’d go off.

I was lucky that my husband stayed by me until I was wheeled back. Yay for emotional support. I’m glad he could make me laugh and smile before hand taking my mind off what was going on.

I couldn’t believe how much of a difference it made. Even though I had splints I could breath so much better.

I’m glad blood doesn’t make me grossed out. Cause I had a bloody nose for the next day or so. It weaned off.

If you have sinus problems see an ENT. If you have something wrong with your septum get it fixed. It’s worth it.

I didn’t notice my nose was slightly crooked. But now it’s fine.

June is PTSD awareness month.