Picture of Paul in Kuwait

Equestrian Camp

That is fancy for "hanging around the stable all day with 2 formal lessons every day". Christel-Ann is at the Staffordshire Equestrian Camp this week. I am startiung to dislike summer! How do "real" single working parents of 2 do it? I am very lucky to be able to adjust my schedule due to my circumstances. This week I will start an hour later and work an hour longer, because Of the camp schedule. It will be a tight schedule, dropping off Christel-Ann at camp at one location then Emma-Louise at "Kindergarten" and finally making it to work. I don't need to mention that camp is not conveniently located?!
Christel-Ann will have a great time, she will be assigned a horse to care for this week. She will maintain the stable, be responsible for the grooming, have her lessons on "it" (I will be clued in on the details later)and feed the horse. I can write more on this later, as I have only dropped her off this morning.

Weekend

Unfortunately it's over! Saturday I got my haircut. Will be back at the place on Tuesday because I don't like it. I had to cut the grass, yes it is finally growing in nice and thick. Not on the entire yard, but let's say 90% of our backyard is lawn. We turned on various water toys and had a lazy Saturday, took naps and enjoyed the sunshine. I am still shopping for the perfect hammock and think I know where to find one in South Carolina. Maybe that will be my destination next Saturday!
Sunday was "as usual", went to church and had friends over for a BBQ afterwards. I am getting "pretty good" at the grill. It has always been Paul's job to man the BBQ, but I am not willing to do without so I am learning! Talking about Paul, communications have improved, we are able to chat on a messenger every night now and I can see him over his web cam. That is really neat! And with the audio feature, we get to talk and see each other and he does not have to wait in line for a 15 minute "morale" phone call.

Doctors

I just found a Family practitioner for myself and have made my annual appointment with an OB/GYN that a coworker suggested. That seems to be one of the harder things to "pick" after a move. Personal recommendation seems to be the best way to pick a Doctor. It does not feel right to look at zip codes and provider listings. Before returning to the workforce I would just go to the closest military treatment facility, get a Primary care Physician assigned and then see him/her when needed. We have been very lucky, but being able to go outside of the military care system is great. Maybe I will be given something besides Ibuprofen 800mg as the cure for all ailments.

A few funnies

Reenlisting on the 4th of July

It is official: on July 4th, Paul will fly with General Lynch to Baghdad's "Green Zone" and take his reenlistment oath at Saddam's palace. Because of his reenlistment he gets to have first choice of R&R. We talked about that in the past and decided that the time around Christel-Ann's birthday would be perfect. We are not going to meet him anywhere, just spend quality time at home together and celebrate Christel-Ann's 10th birthday together.

Swim Team

In order for children to have full access to all the areas of the YMCA Pool, they have to pass a swim test. Today Christel-Ann spend time with a friend at the Y Pool and since she wanted full access, took the swim test and passed. While taking the test, the Lifeguard yelled at the Swim Team Instructor "Ey! You need to check out this breaststroke!" She did. And Monday I will be back at the Y, getting her suit and cap and paying the fees...she'll be on the West Chatham YMCA Swim Team. Practice 4 days a week, Swim meets every Saturday. She knows she will miss the Championship Meet because she'll be in Germany, but that is ok with her.

Chris? Christel? Ann?

CHRISTEL-ANN!!
The adults at camp kept asking Christel-Ann what her name is and what people call her.
Spelling is another issue...

Did I say that she is home???!

She arrived back in Savannah at the scheduled time, well almost. As punctual as the Deutsche Bahn ;-)
I was about to faint when I saw all the make-up on her (note to Jen, we will take Clay hunting, that's for sure!) but was so happy to have her back! Well, do I have Christel-Ann back? A spoiled rotten little Tinkerbell that looks a lot like my husband seems to be very familiar with her room.
Unpacking was very exciting. Unpacking? Dumping everything was more like it, but she has about 6 weeks until she needs those suitcases again, so I will let her worry about her mess. Her little sister is, not necessarily to Christel-Ann's liking, attached to her. Follows her everywhere, telling her to never, ever leave again. And that she is....
But for now we have her back home, she is adjusting and attending camp this week. What was her favorite part of her vacation? Space Mountain! (That's MY Girl! And my sister's niece!). Her least favorite part of her vacation: Having to come back home. She did greet me with "I did NOT miss you.....but that does not mean that I do not love you".

More from Baghdad

Paul called. He is now using regular phone cards. The MWR phones hardly ever work and if, the lines are long.
The mail is pretty fast, he receives letters and packages from us in about 4-5 days!
BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) and Camp Stryker are on the same installation. camp Stryker is used by the infantry and BIAP by the Air Force and Aviation guys. (Don't quote me on this!) It is a huge installation, about the size of Ft Stewart without any vegetation!
He is planning to reenlist on July 4th!

LAX-ORD-FRA ORD-SAV!

Christel-Ann was due back in Savannah yesterday. Right around the time she was supposed to leave, Rich called me. United had booked Christel-Ann on the last Flight of the day out of Chicago! An absolute NO-NO for UM's! I won't get on my soapbox about that and make a long story short, her reservation was changed and she was booked on a flight out of L.A going to Frankfurt, Germany, via Chicago where she was to get off and get on her flight to Savannah. Can you believe I was sweating all day? A Girl, speaking German, possibly sitting next to Germans...one inattentive Attendant and she would have gone into the transit area rather than to her next flight! And ended up in Frankfurt! What a nightmare!
But she just called and announced that she is in a different aircraft and surely coming home!
At 16:33 I will have her back! It's been a long 11 days....More on her adventures and pictures to follow.

Saddam's Palace

Paul is going Sightseeing!
He forgot his camera, but will take it next time. You are not getting a comment from me on this one. I was certain that Paul got his castle-fix while we lived in Europe. Evidently that is not the case. He did not elaborate on his sightseeing tour, but I do hope that he will write more about that. He is working closely with 2 civilians who have been in Iraq for a while and are showing him around.
The food is really good (Ben & Jerry's every day!), the accommodations will be better next week as they are moving from tents to trailers. And the transportation issue is being worked. Right now there is a shuttle bus, but it is always late and always full. Work is work, 12 hour shifts are no piece of cake, but it does keep him busy!
When he does move into the trailer, he will be closer to the communication tent, the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) tent with phones has been closed since he arrived. Funny: when he left Savannah, he was given a free calling card. He tried using it, and it is not free from overseas! DUH!!!!

The Alma Mater or Cal State Fullerton

Christel-Ann's destination for yesterday! Visiting Auntie Jennie and Uncle Rich's Alma Mater and Marilyn's office at Cal State Fullerton. Marilyn's office is (quote) "no great shakes", but Christel-Ann was able to talk to several professors and secretaries (wearing her tiara she must have left quite an impression! And will recognize her when she returns in 2016 ;-) They toured the library and an art exhibit about minerals. At the arboretum she took many pictures of plants and in the adjacent children's garden she walked the sunflower maze. Marilyn and her spend some good quality time together sketching before heading home.
She enjoyed her "peek into the future" but I am sure glad she is deciding to go to 4th Grade first.
I must not forget to tell that she went horseback riding and visited the recycling center.
Homemade Pizza was on the menu for the evening.
What a day....! What fun!

Update on Paul

I talked to Paul yesterday. Since he left, my phone has not left my side. He calls at very odd hours. For me and him. Sunday morning at 6 am. I was already sending bad thoughts to Germany, thinking it was someone there that could not do the math. Sorry! When he was still here we would call each other every morning at 7:30. Right after I dropped of Emma-Louise at school and was on my way to work. When the phone rang, and I heard his voice, that was special. I miss those first conversations of the day with him.
He is working 12 hour shifts, right now he is on the A.M shift, that may/will change in time.
Phone as well as internet service is not reliable (yet?). He will have to get out old faithful, pen and paper and start writing to us. I am using a cute idea and sending him themed care packages. The Army lines that he was issued are not the most comfortable. He asked for "real" sheets. Off I went to create a "bedroom" care package. I was tempted to buy GI Joe stuff or Strawberry Shortcake (he said to send "any kind of sheet set, twin size") even Shrek came to my mind. But plain light, dusty brown probably was the best choice given that he lives in a tent.
The Girls are really having fun with those special packages and are quite creative when it comes to themes! Emma-Louise wants to send him a bubble package. Bubble wrap and blowing bubbles for entertainment, bubble gum, what else should be in a bubble package? Any ideas?

The happiest child on earth and her California Adventure

One of the things Christel-Ann loves to do is: ride rollercoasters!
Yesterday she spent 11 (eleven!) hours at Disneyland. Before going, Auntie Jennie took her here :

Today, a very tired Uncle Rich is taking her......to ride more Rollercoasters at the California Adventure Park.

And how do I know all of this?

Because my favorite sister-in-law keeps "Mama" in the loop. My dear daughter has not felt the urge to talk to me. She is having too much fun with her little Buddy! Coaxed him into eating icecream, which he normally hates!

Rich is busy riding the rides today, pictures will come soon!

P.S Do I end every post promising pictures?

Pictures of Christel-Ann after Libby Lu

Turtle Crossing

Emma-Louise and I got into the Van and backed out of the Garage and down the driveway when I looked to the left and saw: a giant turtle!!!!! Casually strolling across my driveway heading for the sidewalk and my yard. All muddy and covered with Mulch on the front of the shell. Mulch that looked just like our mulch, since I am the only one with mulch in the front yard, all the neighbors prefer the pine straw. That gal made real short work with one of my flower beds! Due to the down pouring rain (it has been raining in our area nonstop for over 30 hours) digging through that flower bed was not a difficult task for her. After calling a friend and talking about this experience, I am almost certain that she probably found my flower bed a fine place to lay her eggs! It has been raining too much for me to look but I will do that when the rain lets up. What do I do? That silly turtle! If she did lay eggs, those little hatchlings are going to head for disaster! The street is just a few feet away. I did take pictures and will upload them here just as soon as I can. I will also call a few turtle rescue places and ask for their opinion on what I should do. I am not certain what kind of turtle I encountered but am fairly sure it was a snapping turtle. Look forward to pictures! The image I have posted with this (I know how to do this now!!!) was allready on this computer, taken in November on the way home from Tybee. I need to get with it and install the driver for my camera on this new Schlepptop of mine. Only a matter of hours or days....weeks at worst ;-)

California Girl

Christel-Ann is in California!
Auntie Jennie picked her up at 12:00. She was once again ahead of schedule.
I have 2 monitors on my desk, one of them had the United website displayed and I was constantly refreshing to get the latest information on her flight.
They were headed to go to lunch and then on to Santa Monica for tonight. Tomorrow they will explore the city.
Check out her http://www.fairmont.com/santamonica/slideshowposting.htm?DisplayType=popup/">accomodations< for the night.

Chicago!

Christel-Ann just called! She has arrived in Chicago. Tailwinds pushed the plane and after leaving 10 minutes late, she arrived 30 minutes early. She is in a lounge, "hanging out".
At the airport, 5:30 this morning we checked in, made sure all the necessary documents were ready and correct, then went through a very thorough Safety inspection I am glad we were allowed to stay decent! The guy ahead of us, had to take off his belt, and Christel-Ann commented that she did not want to see his pants fall to the floor. Sometimes a bilingual child is a very good thing! She is starting to get a sense of when to speak what language ;-)
We sat at the Gate, drank Starbucks (is that bad? Christel-Ann loves to sip Starbucks from time to time, and we are not talking Decaf!), read the national geographic kids magazine together and then she made a few requests. "Can you not call me any silly names when saying good-bye?", "Can you just wave and leave?". I complied, well I stepped away from the Gate and then watched the plane take off from the Parking lot (SAV is a very cosy airport).
I will write more when she arrives at her destination!