Long Time No Write

Hey y'all.  I'm back for a day.  My big girl graduated last month from VMI and was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy.  Right now she is driving across country to report in to her first duty station in San Diego, the USS Boxer.  She has to earned her Surface Warship Officer (SWO) certification there which should take about 21 months.  Upon completion, she will be reporting to Nuke School in Charleston.  Her graduation and commencement were the highlights of the year.

My Dad is a retired Commander and was able to commission her.  It was a beautiful 3-day event and many of our family members came from far and wide.  Very fulfilling.  Good luck young lady.  We are very proud of you.

On Hiatus

Going on hiatus from blogging - actually already been there. Lots going on and I'm not feeling the need to be organized enough to post new entries on a regular basis. Hollywood comes back from FL today and leaves on Wednesday for Morocco for 40 days. When she returns she has to head out to San Diego for training. I am heading to FL on Thursday to do more college visits with GMan. Hubby very busy at work. I am trying to make the most of my LOA - trying to run on a regular basis and get some projects done at home. So far pretty good. Everyone have a great summer!!!

A few beginning summer photos:

Host and hostess - thanks for a great dinner Shar and EM!

Gene and BarbMe and hubby
The gang

Garden looking good:

Jax trip

Thursday Highlights

I visited the Heritage Store to get a peanut butter smoothie - they use all natural ingredients so your smoothie doesn't taste overly sweet. This one happened to have a carrot-flavored aftertaste - maybe they used the same blender after juicing a carrot? And while you are in there waiting for your food, you can browse through the shop. It is quite interesting - all kinds of spiritual types - I think I saw a swami and I definitely saw mother earth.

I actually like looking around the crystal shop and have become intrigued with these fairy thingees. They look like pewter but the fairy wings are made of some type of polished stone.

Afterwards I decided it was high time to get my car washed. The pollen has been so thick but I also have a great deal of bug guts on the front of my car and the windshield after the recent trip to the Shenandoah Valley. I go to AutoBell carwash and think it is a real bargain to pay $6.95 for an exterior wash and a $3 tip. Ten bucks and the car looks great!

Long Day on Tuesday

I took Ms. Keydet back to school yesterday - up and back on the same day. We had a minor glitch about 40 miles from Charlottesville. I was just cruising along and noticed my dash indicated low air pressure in my back right tire. I can't say enough about my Honda Pilot. I really love it. I felt fortunate to get this warning. So I pulled off the next exit and thank goodness there was a gas station there with free air. I pull up to put some air in the tire and heard some serious hissing. Yes, I had run over something and punctured the tire. Well ole' Ms. Keydet jumps out of the car and says no worries - Dad showed her how to change a tire. And before you know it, between me reading the manual and her handling the manual labor (remember I said I love teenagers?), we had the spare filled with air and on the car. About the time we were wrapping up, a guy offered to help - not needed but thanks anyway! We drove the 40 miles to Charlottesville at 50 mph with the flashers on. We were seriously blessed when we found Tuffy's in Charlottesville. If you ever need your car fixed or tire repaired and you live in Charlottesville, Virginia, I highly recommend Tuffy's. As soon as I had stepped up to the counter the mechanic took my key, grabbed the tire, pulled out the metal slug, patched the tire, replaced the tire and returned the spare. All within a 15 minute window - I promise. Then he walked up to me and said "you are all set." I asked what I owed and he said no charge! I was floored and felt very lucky.

We got back on the road and when I glanced over, Hollywood was back in the familiar - getting a quick snooze in before we returned to post. She's quite good at this - she can pop up in a second. She honed this skill when I used to drive her to high school. She would sleep until I took that last turn and somehow miraculously she would wake up at that precise moment each time. It was so great having her home for several days. We all easily fall back into our old routine when she is here and then reality sets back in as the time to go nears. And so it was time to say goodbye. It has gotten so much easier. The first time I had to drop her off after our first visit back in September, we were both "emo" but time and routine has helped tremendously. As does the fact that classes are over at the end of April! See you soon Snookie!

Got Our Girl

Since this is the last weekend Hollywood can use her "ac" days this year (2 extra days awarded for good behavior - sounds like jail doesn't it?), I went today to pick her up. The weather was gorgeous so I didn't mind the 500 mile drive except when we neared home and sat in traffic on I-64 - you know the usual spots - Ft. Eustis, Busch Gardens, the last 5 miles before in the 2-laner before the breakout into the 4-laner in Newport News. But we made it home safe and sound - Ms. Hollywood was no worse for the wear. I'm sure it had a little to do with her typical "powernap" stance she assumes whenever she travels any distance with me.

I took her by hubby's work where her car stays and we all grabbed a quick bite to eat before she had to home and buckle down on homework. That was the deal - she could miss class on Monday and Tuesday but she had to get ahead of the homework. You can't tell by this picture but her hair has finally grown out just enough so she can pull it back into a ponytail or make that a pony"stub". You might wonder why she is still in her greyblouse at this point. They aren't allowed to have civvies at school and I hadn't brought any with me. She rode most of the way home in her t-shirt and spandex shorts. Not really appropriate for Big Dad's work - well at least not for a few more weeks until the tourists come in their interesting bathing attire.

It is great to have her back, even for a short time.

List of Accomplishments

So I've been concerned that I might not be able to quantify what I accomplish everyday while on my LOA. So I plan to make a list each day so I can see at the end of the day how productive I've been. Today was okay and my list went like this: Make the bed, call Wachovia about a change to my credit card, call on an old bill to see if it had been paid (it had), make the bed, fold towels, do a load of laundry, clean out the car, do some office filing, go to the post office to get taxes mailed, send card to Hollywood, make airline reservations for quick trip, spent one hour helping sister with her business, posted this blog, now going to exercise. Not too bad - I don't feel so guilty about watching Regis & Kelly this morning.

Pandora Radio

This is neat. GMan set me up with my own radio station on Pandora Radio. Just go to Pandora.com and set up your station. Right now I'm listening to the Dave Matthews Band. Great background music. I also have a Motown station featuring Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell music. Very cool. Give it a try.