Counting down the days

Over the years I have become a countdown person.

I don’t know when it happened, but I suspect it was when I became a military spouse.

My fetish began the first time my husband went away on exercise. Then it grew when he left for a career course, followed by a seven month deployment.

Being pregnant four times, counting down the days until I met my babies probably contributed to my countdown habit. Over the years it has grown to include the days till vacation, finishing a job, family visiting and my favourite, Christmas.

Currently, I am in the process of counting down a few specific events in my life:

1. My husband going back to school; 4 days
2. CMF Magazine fall files due at the printers; 11 days
3. My children returning to school; 12 days
4. Final day at newspaper; 29 days
5. Army Run Don’t want to know; ( I haven’t started running yet)

The primary countdown I am focusing on right now is today. Today is the last day people can vote for Canadian Military Family Magazine Keeping the Balance team member, Megan Egerton. The contest wraps up today, Aug. 16, at 4 p.m. EST.

Our team is trying to help Megan reclaim the third spot on the Circle of Moms Top 25 Military Mom’s blogger team. You can read what the contest is about, how you can vote and why you should vote for Megan. She currently needs 400 votes.

We are also featuring other countdown events in this issue. If you happen to be in the Ottawa area this Saturday you can catch the award-winning documentary If I Should Fall at the Ottawa Film Festival, which is in two days and also this Saturday, Tough Mudder makes its debut in Toronto.

On Aug. 25, in 9 days, the Sean’s Smile Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be taking place in Petawawa. You can read Vicki’s article about the golf tournament named after Sapper Sean Greenfield and how the money raised at the event is making a difference in the world.

And, if you are like me and in the throes of preparing your children for school, don’t miss Megan’s article on back to school tips. She covers everything from back to school shopping to preparing your child for the upcoming school year.