Welcome Spring!! It looks as though spring is here (I hope I don't regret making that statement). Taylor has start Lacrosse, I had the yard completely cleaned up ~ all the sea grass is cut, and the flowers are blooming. I'm still waiting a bit before I get all the furniture out and the rest of the spring/summer gear, but it is feeling like spring with all the warm weather we are having.

Taylor has his second Lacrosse game of the season tonight. The first one didn't go so well, so we are hopeful for a win tonight:) Turner is enjoying the weather because he is getting lots of walks and he gets to ride along when I do errands. I just finished up another long-term teaching assignment, so I have some time to get caught up on stuff around the house. I'm starting another assignment soon which will take me through to the end of the school year.

Taylor will finish up his drivers training at the end of school (he has a second session that takes 3 days to complete) and then he'll be ready (?) to get his drivers license. I know that he can't wait to be out on his own, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that;) He's a very good driver, but it is scary to think that he's on his own.

We are looking forward to spring break ~ not going anywhere ~ but it will be nice to have "time off" from a schedule. Taylor has a major project due for English, so unfortunately, he will be working a lot on that, but we plan to see some movies, visit my

mom and dad in Kalamazoo and head to the beach with Turner. When Tim gets home we are planning for a few vacations ~ one to Hawaii (definitely) and Cancun (maybe), so we will look forward to those trips in the future.

Hope everyone has a Happy Spring!!

Hey Taylor: Call of Duty

USO offers a Call of Duty tourney for youngsters.

Base Chapel

The only place on base featuring something green (other than our Army-looking uniforms) is the base chapel with a few trees.

Kuwait License Plate

Dining Facility

Our dining facility here (known in Army terms as a "DFAC) is really good. Food is really good. Other options include a good salad bar, lots of refreshments (including my favorite soda fountain Coke), flat screen TV's and free Baskin Robbins ice cream! There's a saying when deployed overseas: You either come back to the States bench pressing 300 lbs. or weighing 300 lbs. I choose the former.

Water

One thing that is abundant and free here is bottled water (brand is "Aqua Gulf"). Every building has bottles in coolers and our barracks has about 8 cases inside to keep cool. Important to hydrate in the desert. Free and as much as you can drink (and tolerate getting up in the middle night as mentioned in previous blog).

Bathrooms and Showers

Our bathrooms and showers are outside our barracks. Bathrooms are either porta potties (third photo) or, for the more clean and fashionable, two-stall bathroom (shown in first photo). Our showers and sinks are in a trailer behind our barracks and feature about 10 sinks and showers...no humbleness allowed here folks! My middle of the night routine: Roll out of cot, get flip flops on, walk outside, go to the bathroom, walk inside, take flip flops off and roll back into cot. Repeat above depending on water intake and worries.

My Two Favorites Places

The USO here is wonderful. Free phone and computer service, videogames on flat screens (for the younger dudes), free selection of movies that can be viewed in a small auditorium setting with leather lounge chairs and occasional free snacks. My other favorite place is the gym. Not much to look at from the outside but inside it's stocked with lots and lots of weights and cardio equipment. Gym is open 24 hours a day; USO is only closed four hours a day (0600 to 1000)

At the Bazaar

On Saturdays and Sundays, the locals have a bazaar where they sell various things. Here's me at the bazaar.

Amenities at Camp Virginia

Even though the living conditions aren't great, the base has lots of things to do. Here are some familiar restaurants on the base. However, they are much smaller and are usually housed in a trailer. The exception is the Starbucks (where I'm currently typing this blog entry). Taco Bell, McDonald's, Subway, Charley's Sub and Baskin Robbins are all here.

More Camp Virginia Photos

Here's more photos featuring sand and a sign for our barracks. The first morning here, I walked around the base, got lost and could not see another person anywhere. Very surreal seeing blowing sand and no human life. Not sure who has the tan paint contract for the base but they are making a fortune!

Base Images

An intersection on the base...

Camp Virginia Scenery

When you build a base in the middle of the desert, one thing you can count on is sand...lots and lots of sand. There is so much sand here I'm not sure if I'll be able to step on the Lake Michigan beach anymore without having flashbacks.

Outside Barracks View

Our address at Camp Virginia is Pad 22-1

Barracks Photos

A photo of our barracks in Camp Virginia. There are about 30 people which gives us lots of space.

Camp Virginia Living Conditions

After our 16-hour flight to Kuwait (arriving at Kuwait at midnight their time), we boarded buses and drove about 90 minutes to Camp Virginia which is in the middle of the desert. We unloaded about 500 seabags and checked into our barracks at around 4:30 a.m. We live in a plywood floor open bay barracks on Army cots. Here are three pictures that show my bed, closet and clothes staging area...all courtesy of three Army cots. Go Navy!

Stress Doll

Shown here is a stress doll that is made exclusively by military wives in South Carolina. The dolls are to be used when we feel stressed out and need to release some anger by hitting the doll against various objects. This one is a University of Michigan doll, and I haven't had to use it yet!

Departing South Carolina

Our flight from Columbia, SC, left at midnight 24 March. As our bus pulled up to the military terminal, we were greeted and applauded by over 50 military veterans and their wives. As we stood in ranks, they applauded us for quite a while. Then, they provided us with pizza, refreshments, books, prayer beads, stress dolls (see another blog post for explanation), candy and lots of conversation mostly telling us how proud they were of us. When we left to get on the plane, they stood in line; the males shook our hands and most of the females gave us a hug. Very unexpected and very cool.

Flight to Kuwait

On the 16-hour flight from South Carolina to Kuwait (with a brief stop in Hahn, Germany), I had the pleasure of sitting near a Navy working dog named Senna. Senna is 7 years old and a Belgian Malibra (MAL-A-BRA). I was amazed the patience dog had on the long flight...much better than me!

And...the adventure truly begins

Well, Tim is on his way to Afghanistan. He left last night around midnite and was heading to Germany. He should have arrived about 10 hours later (this morning 10:00 am our time and 4:00 pm Germany time), then he was off to Kuwait from Germany. Right now we are hoping to hear from him to see how the flight went and how long he will be in Kuwait until heading out for Afghanistan. So.. the count down starts now and he has 1 day done:)

Final (Honest) Savannah Photos

Final Photos From Savannah

More Photos from Savannah

Here's more photos continued from the previous blog posting. Enjoy.

Tim's Night in Savannah

I was supposed to fly from Tampa to South Carolina 22 March. However, instead of flying there and spending my last few nights in the U.S. rooming with 40 guys in the barracks at Ft. jackson (again), I decided to drive from Tampa to Savannah, GA on 23 March, spend the night and then drive from Savannah to Ft. Jackson on 24 March. I'm leaving for Afghanistan, via Kuwait, just after midnight 25 March.

Here are some photos of my wonderful Savannah hotel room and other hotel sites (Marriott Residence Inn) as well as photos of downtown Savannah, my rental car, etc.

This blog was a great idea Kelly!!