rapidfire
A Spouse Spotlight
uthor and Army wife Lily Burana suffered the blues while her husband was deployed. Out of
her desire to spare other spouses the same loneliness, Operation Bombshell was born. Billed as “the world’s only burlesque school for military wives,” Operation Bombshell of- fers free classes in burlesque dancing at military posts nationwide. Who takes the classes? I have taught military wives ranging in age from early 20s to mid- 50s … devout Christian conservatives and tat- tooed rockabilly girls, former gymnasts and women who are six- months pregnant. The Op B girls are as diverse as mili- tary spouses in general. Some women … are afraid it might negatively affect their husband’s career, and that’s a shame. … I’d teach this class to any four-star general’s wife — heck, I’d even teach a four-star general! How did you develop this idea of a class geared to
spouses left behind? One of my students said it best: “As wives, we’re quick to help each other out and put other people first. This class gives us a place where we can be girls, not wives.” How do you fund a free workshop? I hold an annual fundraiser and accept donations from private parties — one of whom is an Oscar- winning screenwriter. (Juno scribe Diablo Cody hosted last year’s fundraiser in Los Angeles.) I am online at www
.operationbombshell.com, and I have an Operation Bombshell Facebook group. How physically demand- ing is a class? We start with some easy stretches to get warmed up, then I use a slow, gentle, and deliberate means of instruction. In any dance class, I was always the slowest student,
so I teach for women like me. If you can take a basic low- impact aerobics or body-sculpting class, you’ll certainly be comfort- able. … It’s all about making the girls feel confident and comfort- able and [showing them] they can be a bombshell no matter their age or state of fitness or flexibility. — Donna Budjenska
Attention! Check out these military-related entertainment offerings.
AUDIOBOOK Falcon Seven (Macmillan Audio, 2010) It’s up to a Washing- ton, D.C., criminal defense lawyer and former Navy SEAL to defend two of- ficers on trial for killing 65 innocent people when their target turned out to be a
medical post. President Obama and the CIA are pulled into the fray in this novel by James W. Huston.
BOOK What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement (Ten Speed Press, 2010) How do you
3 0 MI L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S E P T EMB E R 2 0 1 0
plan for a future filled with prosperity, health, and happiness? Author Richard N. Bolles takes a comprehensive approach to your retirement.
MOVIE Restrepo (Na- tional Geographic En-
tertainment, 2010) This documentary chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghani- stan. The directors strove to immerse the viewer in a real deployment. The film received the 2010 Sun- dance Grand Jury Prize.
MO PHOTO: MCGRATH PHOTO
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