Murphy's Law of Roadtrips

Chapter 1 : Murphy's Law of Roadtrips

Goodbye Colorado

I’ve been telling myself for weeks now that I need to blog about our adventures leading up to Hawaii and then all that’s happened since we’ve been here so that we can look back on it all one day and laugh.  This is our first big move as a family.  Dave and I met while I was stationed in Colorado Springs in 2005.  We got married in 2006 and stayed in Colorado Springs until 2008.  Then I was assigned to Kuwait, so I was able to leave Dave and the kids in Colorado Springs.  I was fortunate enough to get a return assignment to Colorado Springs in 2009, which is where we stayed until July 1^st. 

On July 1^st, the 6^th Anniversary of our wedding, and the day after Jake and Bri’s wedding, we started our adventure – 3 carseats, 5 kids, 17 bags, a bunch of food, 2 cars, and a bunch of stuff we had yet to sort through, but figured we would do it along the way.  We had been in lodging on Peterson AFB for about 8 days by that point.  We had to drive west to ship our cars from LA.   We decided to make it a mini-vacation for the boys.  We drove down to Albuquerque the first night to spend some time with Grampy.

About an hour before we got there, I started to smell rubber burning, followed by a bit of white smoke coming through my air vents.  Immediately, I knew what the problem was.  Just about a month before that, I had experienced the same thing.  It turned out to be my air compressor and AC clutch.  I paid the $700 to have it fixed before we had to drive cross country.  Here we were, only 5 hours into our trip, and the darn thing quit again.  The parts and labor were warrantied, but by a mechanic in Colorado Springs.  There was no way we were going to drive back to Colorado Springs.

We ate dinner at Red Robin with Aunt Penelope, Travis and Grampy.  Aunt Penelope was able to help me find a decent place to take the Jeep in the morning to get it fixed.  At 7:15 the next morning, Grampy and I made the 45 minute trip to the reputable auto shop.  Sure enough- the compressor was bad again.  They told me it would be done by noon.  Dave made the command decision to continue forward on the mission west with 4 of the boys while Kaleb stayed behind with me until the car was fixed.  At 8:30 am, Dave left with a few bags and 4 of the boys.  Around 12:30, the shop called to inform me that there was more wrong with the car then they thought- a bad fan, some bad tubing, and it would cost more money to fix.  Needless to say, $842 later and at 6pm, Kaleb and I were finally back on the road.  Next stop Phoenix…

We are officially living examples of Murphy’s Law of Roadtrips. Some other time I will account all the ridiculous things we have had happen on EVERY single road trip we've been on.  

Ahh running- why do you hate me so...

I hate running.  Or maybe running just hates me – the roads, the trails, the treadmills, the tracks… it’s all a conspiracy to test my will and determination.  I don't think I've always hated it.  I've grown to respect it as a physical activity, but I still hate it.  I used to play soccer in high school.  I hated running then.  I particularly loved playing fullback because I didn’t have to run as much as when I played left wing.  Then I came into the Army in 1997.  I started running and have looked for every ethical excuse in the world to stop.   

My dislike of running really started at Fort Gordon during my advanced individual training from 1997-1998.  I used to get THE WORST shin splints.  Eventually I ended up with a stress fracture in one of my femurs of all places and was placed on a profile to do the swim event for my PT test.  After having to do that event, I swore I would never get a profile for an alternate event again.  The only thing worse then running for time is swimming for time.

 I think my true hatred of the activity began when I was at Fort Drum, assigned to the 10^th Signal Battalion.  We fell under the 18^th Airborne Corps, and under that regime, all Soldiers were required to complete a 4 mile run in less than 36 minutes IN ADDITION to the passing the Army Physical Fitness Test required of all Soldiers.  That meant we all ran… a lot.  I was always the one that fell out of formation and fell behind.  I was the one that some poor NCO would have to fall back to the rear with to “police me up” and make sure I finished.  I am the reason they have “fall-out NCOs” for formation runs.

In any case, I had a baby in 1999 and then again in 2000… both at Fort Drum.   Followed by another in 2005 and then again in 2007 in Colorado Springs (the altitude adding a whole other dimension to running).  Every single time, it was so hard to get back into shape- progressively getting harder with each baby.  Now I’m wise enough to understand that I had to retrain my new “post-baby body” how to run.  But, without fail, with every child I’ve had, it’s been harder and harder to get back into the swing of things. 

Here we are now- 2012… post baby Elijah… Baby #5.  I’ve been in the Army just under 15 years.  I’m older, I’m slower, I’m heavier, and I’m not anywhere near as energetic as I used to be.  It’s been 6 months since I’ve had Elijah and I’m now supposed to be able to pass an Army Physical Fitness Test.  Passing would require me to complete 15 pushups in 2 minutes, 42 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and run 2 miles in under 21:42.  Where do I stand?  Well, let’s just say I’m not there. 

But I’m determined.  I’m not going to let those roads, trails, treadmills or tracks beat me.  The only way to get better at running is to … well… run.  And so that’s what I’ve started doing.  I’ve started running.  Haven’t really set any goals for myself yet.  I’m just running.  Getting out there and doing it, I’m convinced, is half the battle.  I have my iPod, my headphones and my handy-dandy Nike+GPS app;  and then I run.  Slowly, but surely, I run.  I post my runs on Facebook to hold myself accountable.  Something about sharing my weakness with the world makes me want to try just a little bit harder. 

So, watch my progress and feel inspired.  Feel inspired to confront something you hate and not let it beat you.  My screen name on Nike+ is mwaychoff77.  I always post a start and end message on Facebook when I run.  I don’t mind displaying my awful stats for the world to see.  At some point, I’ll be embarrassed enough by them to kick my butt into high gear.  Feel free to cheer me along, have a good laugh, or even join me in my challenge to beat those pesky roads, trails, tracks and treadmills.

Top 20 Tips for an Effective Leader and an Effective Mom

1. Understanding how to manage your time efficiently will make all the difference in the long run

2. Ensure that both children and Soldiers do not mistake kindness for weakness

3. Understand the difference between efficient and lazy

4. Never forget your priorities

5. A hard right will get you better results then an easy wrong

6. A working knowledge of "Google" and an understanding of legitimate sources and bogus sources will save you from humiliation one day

7. When in doubt, feed them

8. Have a pen and paper everywhere you go; chances are if you don't write it down, you'll never remember

9. An ounce of kindness goes a really long way

10. "Because I said so" only goes so far

11. Set the example, for they will follow your lead

12. 100-mile-hour tape, gum, bandaids, and string fix just about everything

13. The sooner you accept that sleep is a crutch, the better off you'll be

14. Know when to pick and choose your battles; some battles just aren't worth fighting

15. You have to give respect to get respect

16. Remember to give praise for every reprimand you dish out

17. Remember that God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason- use them wisely

18. Find someone... anyone...that you can vent to - one day you will need to

19. Read

20. In the end, no matter what happens, remember - He has your back, He won't give you anything you can't handle, and He has a plan

The war has ended, Change is inevitable

So we recently received a briefing regarding the new changes that are coming for AR 670-1 and the new NCOER  Below is a summary of some of the major changes we are anticipating.  Again, these changes are not currently in affect.


New NCOER


Many changes are coming to the new NCOER. Final product is projected to be complete by April. The time line for implementation following that has not been established.

• New NCOER will be aligned with the new leadership doctrine (ADRP 6-22) and designed to prevent inflation.
• The new NCOER will be designed to generate proper counseling. The new regulation will require the senior rater to conduct counseling at least twice during the rating period as well as inspect the rater’s quarterly counseling.
• Rater will be limited to two blocks on each of the rated areas (“success or needs improvement” or something to that effect, exact terminology was not decided upon during the BOD). This will replace the old choices of “excellence, success, needs improvement (some), and needs improvement (much).
• The NCOER will be the same for E-5 thru E-8, but the board recommended a different form for E-9. The E-9 form will include recommendations from the senior rater on whether the CSM/SGM should compete for increased positions of responsibility and at what level. The exact format was not determined by the board; this will be completed by the working group.
• The Board recommended that the senior rater should “quantify” or “rank” the rated individual against his/her peers. Exact procedures on how this will be done are still being worked. 

Height/Weight/APFT

• The Board voted to add the APFT and Height /Weight test back into all NCOES and some other schools.
• Both the APFT and the Height/Weight will be a graduation requirement.
• Individuals who fail to successfully pass the APFT or meet the standards outlined in AR 600-9 will fail to meet course standards and will subsequently fail the course. The individuals’ 1059 will reflect failure.
• No more marginal 1059’s, every Soldier that starts the course will be enrolled. If a Soldier fails to meet any course standard the 1059 will reflect this failure. No more “turn-aways” prior to the start of the course.
• The Board recommended that some form of reprimand should be given to the chain of command of any Soldiers that reports to school and fails to meet APFT and/or HT/WT. Officers and NCO’s that sign the commanders checklist should be held accountable. This is pending legal review.
• The Board recommended that the regulation should be changed to require units to update APFT and HT/WT data within E-MILPO on a regular basis. No requirement currently exists.

AR 670-1 update


Many changes are coming to AR 670-1. This is just a summary of some of them. 

• New revision of the regulation will define the following terms; eccentric, faddish, conservative, inconspicuous, unsightly, hair braids/plaits.
• AR 670-1 will be a punitive order in the future.
• Sideburns will not extend below the top of the ear.
• Soldier will be clean shaven on and off duty.
• Female and male hair grooming standards will become more restrictive and better defined.
• Females will be allowed to put their hair into a pony tail during PT.
• Males will be prohibited from wearing cosmetics to include nail polish, females may wear cosmetics conservatively, but can only wear nail polish in service, mess or dress uniforms.
• Females fingernail length will not exceed ¼ in, no fake nails, add-ons, or extensions will be authorized.
• Tattoos will not be visible above the neck line when the IPFU is worn.
• Tattoos will not extend below the wrist line and not on the hands. Sleeve tattoos will be prohibited (this one will be grandfathered).
• Soldiers will not walk while engaged in activities that require the hand salute. (eating, cell phone use, etc…) -ACUs will not be commercially pressed; hand ironing of the ACU (UCP) only will be authorized.
• Bags worn over the shoulder will only be black or ACU without logos.
• The new regulation will specify civilian clothes standards both on and off duty and both on and off post.
• No visible body piercings on or off duty and on or off post, males will never wear earrings. Ear gauging will be unauthorized.
• No dental ornamentation will be authorized.

2012 - I Resolve to Document... and stick to my resolutions

Well, it's 2012.  Almost a year and a half since my last blog post. If you asked me to tell you everything that's happened since I last blogged, I might be able to list about 10 things-

• Elijah was born October 14, 2011
• Mom and Aunt Ginny came to visit
• We visited Williamsburg, Virginia (2010)
• Kaleb went on a class trip to Washington D.C.
• I traveled over 75,000 miles on a plane in less then a year
• Kaleb's anger issues have resolved- thanks to Intuniv
• I finished a few college classes
• My sister moved to New Jersey
• We became inspired by Tim Tebow
• Gabriel started Kindergarten
• Brian earned his Junior Brown Belt in karate
• Kaleb played football for the Timberview Timberwolves
• Brian switched schools....again
• Xander stopped sucking his thumb AND threw his infamous puppy blankie away

Okay so maybe a few more then 10.  But regardless, I would have a lot easier time remembering, had I kept up with my blogging.  So, for 2012, one of my New Year's Resolutions is to start blogging again.  Blogging makes it so much easier to reminisce on lifes events, keep friends and family up to date on happenings, and can even be slightly therapeutic at times.