Military Jobs and At the End Story that moved me!

This is something I have been thinkign about for weeks on end I am so glad that it has finally become a news article. As I practically lecture my ex into staying in the Army for the benfits for my kids. I am now considering it myself to pay off college debts I will build over the next 5 years maybe even 6 as I explore what I want to do in life. Mostly considering it because kids safety, security in having a roof over our heads , food on the table and utilities paid. And well now my rapidly increasign medical bills. I need a way to have security.

Military recruitment surges as jobs disappear
As the U.S. economy continues to shed jobs, recruits swarm to the military, despite wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: February 10, 2009: 2:21 PM ET


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Fresh recruits keep pouring into the U.S. military, as concerns about serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are eclipsed by the terrible civilian job market.
The Department of Defense said Tuesday that all branches of the armed forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, met or exceeded their active duty recruiting goals for January, continuing a trend that began with a decline in the U.S. job market.
This is despite more than 4,800 American soldiers, Marines and sailors dying in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
It wasn't always like this. In the past, when the economy was strong, the military struggled to fill its ranks. But since fiscal year 2006, the DOD has consistently met or exceeded its recruitment goals. This occurred even as the Navy, Marines and Air Force raised the bar on their goals.
The military acknowledged that weakness in the U.S. economy, which lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008 and another 598,000 in January, has made the armed services more appealing to potential recruits.
The military isn't necessarily the only hope for the jobless. President Obama intends to create or save up to four million jobs through his stimulus package of more than $800 billion. And some areas - namely health care and education - are currently hiring.
But the dismal civilian job market is not expected to improve any time soon. The Conference Board estimates that the economy could lose two million jobs this year. The military is confident that it will continue to meet its recruitment goals.
"Recruiting is always a challenge, but a tighter job market provides more opportunities to make our case to young men and women," wrote DOD spokeswoman Eileen Lainez, in an email to CNNMoney.com. "The military offers competitive salaries, hefty compensation packages, extraordinary education benefits and valuable job skills and leadership training."
Staff Sgt. Jimmy Spence, a 2006 veteran of the Iraq war and a career planner for the Marines, said, "You're not going to get these kind of benefits out there in the civilian world, with the job security that you're guaranteed."
Spence, who is married with a young daughter, said the health benefits are among the biggest draws for service members with children. He also said that re-enlistment bonuses, as large as $38,500 for a first-term sergeant, have helped to bolster the ranks.
At a Manhattan recruiting center on Monday, a 23-year-old construction worker said he was considering a military career to provide health benefits for his two children.
The construction worker, who would not provide his name, also said he was nervous about the layoffs occurring in his industry. In the military, he intends to study architecture and engineering.
When asked about the possibility of serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, he replied, "I'm not worried about that. I'm just worried about my kids."
First Published: February 10, 2009: 1:01 PM ET

Women and Secrets

One thing I have noticed in the past few years of being a mom and this being my very first weekend without kids since I had them is that I sacrifice allot but I also have gained allot of knowledge. I had to become 30 before I hit 21 when I had my first baby. I gave up working late hours, shopping, hair appointments and manicures. I truly feel like I have let myself go. So right now I am going to start setting up goals to continue in my regain Sascha momentum.

Not only that but this is also to remind us women that men are not physic. I just read in Oprah what women really want for Valentines Day. One lady made something click in my head" For just this once I wish that my husband would hire a cleaning service and make me dinner" that was in my own words she worded it a little more eloquently. But I have decided to put that to an end in my life from the small to the big, cheap to the expensive. So by positing about things I hope to do an accomplish its creating a type of wish list.

This being my very first weekend minus kids and with the man whose captured my heart. We are going to stay up late and sleep in. I plan on getting pics taken. Getting a Sascha update poor guy is going shopping(not at his expense , just time with me while I do this stuff ) lol new eyeglasses cuz I desperately need them, a new pair of jeans I only own 2 pairs from 4 years ago! yikes, getting my brows waxed and a mani-pedi omg I have missed that!. Im calling to get the Internet put into my house and new tires on my car.
To save some money I am cancelling my gym membership :( but I want to get a Wii Fit to replace it. Then we plan on doing a craigslist hunt for a new couch. I need to downgrade lol small spaces need smaller furniture. Oh and definitely fitting in a movie! and a trip to the chocolate factory ooooh yeah! and a fun new shooting game for my Wii. Oh and re purposing my coat closet as a pantry.

In my long run plan for this spring I am planning on starting a veggie garden and planting some flowers and making my house pretty on the outside (requires locating a lawn mower and tools so maybe we wil hit a flea market), as well as cleaning out my basement and decluttering to our hearts content. May need a bull dozer to get rid of my previous hoarding addiction but it will get done! Minimize minimize minimize is going to be my mantra.

Is this in my head???

Or is there allot of crazy things happening! Planes crashing, NY in the Hudson, PR by Quebradilla, In Brazil and I think I have heard of a couple more! Ummm clubs burning in china, then a big new hotel burns in china.

Am I paranoid??? does anyone else see this?