I watched Intervention last night (which generally is not a good idea) but this time it just made me so thankful for every good thing in my life. When it was over, I went upstairs where my husband stated that he loved and cherished me as though I were his little Lamborghini.
It turns out that the original platoon sergeant did not go onward and upward. He is merely attending a school which takes him out of the game for a few months. Essentially, my husband and his peer are expected to jointly run the platoon.
Anyone who has had any kind of management experience will know in a heartbeat what a stupid, stupid proposition that is. It burns me, frankly. It sets them both up for failure, especially with the information flow. Also, the Army intentionally builds up the bonds between the men and their leader, so that they can form a cohesive fighting unit. But how does that work if one day their platoon sergeant is my husband and the next day it's another sergeant? It doesn't, that's how.
But that's just the way things can be in the Army. The Army will do what it thinks is expedient for the situation and everyone sucks it up. Their ability to suck it up is a mark of their manhood, I often think. A favorite pastime of my husband and his friends is to exchange horror stories as though they were scars.
When it has been very bad, Keith will sometimes tell me part of it. Naturally, being human, I feel the urge to share from my wealth of wisdom and dispense advice. I quell this impulse immediately and absolutely.
The fact of the matter is, I have no idea, my perspective from the civilian world doesn't match up at all. A million times I would have given him the wrong advise. I just keep my mouth shut and listen. I get lots of compliments for doing this, which makes it worth while. I mean, it's not easy to restrain myself from giving advice, since I personally know all. grin.
I have unwrapped the dress pattern and I have just a few questions. What the hell is basting? What's a nap? How on earth did I think I could possibly do this? It is insanely complicated and the pattern was markedly as Easy Stitch 'n Save. Easy my ass.
I did, however, wash and dry the fabric, so I feel all professional. I guess there is nothing for it but to jump in and try. I've already given this dress up as a learning experience, I planned all along to make two, the first a monstrous Frankenstein of a dress attempt and the second an actual piece of clothing.
