Today’s Broadcast Has Been Interupted To Bring You The Following Sunset…

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I hope all will take the time to click on the above link to a see a beautiful sunset. The picture was taken as the sun set over the Cumberland River. I thought it was an unusual sunset as there are no traditional pink and red colors surrounding it.

This will be my last blog entry for awhile. I don’t know when time will allow me to update or if circumstances will allow me to do so.

God speed to all and for all those runners out there, may you continue to put one foot in front of the other as you pound pavement on the streets where you live.

Taking Time To Say Good-Bye

A friend, her two daughters and I met at a seafood place for a late lunch this afternoon. It was our time to get together and visit one last time before I head down range and before she and her family head to new adventures at an unknown destination. While she and her family won’t move on for a few more months, the bottom line is that they’ll be gone before I return from down range.

After we ate, we met up with my friends’ husband and walked along the riverwalk and through parts of downtown that I’d never seen before. Click on the links to see pictures from our travels.

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A Cool Saturday Morning

I sit here at my computer, drinking a cup of coffee and missing my morning newspaper. It’s not that I normally drink my coffee while reading the paper, it’s probably more that I miss walking to the end of the driveway to take it out of its designated box, knowing it’s just the right temperature outside to sit out on the deck and read it. I can always buy a paper while I’m out and about today, but I don’t think it’ll be the same. I think there’s something mind boggling about being able to walk to the end of the driveway without caring what you look like in order to retrieve the morning news. The temperature in the mornings now is almost too cool to sit out on the deck to read anyway. Doing so is better left until early evening.

It’s amazing what one comes up to do without a television to watch. I picked-up a book at Church last week and have begun reading it. It had been sitting on the table of our ladies’ Bible class room and my curiosity provoked me to read a paragraph or two. The book is entitled, “The Shunning,” by Beverly Lewis and is about an Aumish girl and a family secret that unfolds for her. It’s pretty good so far.

The “big tractor” came and mowed the lawn yesterday. The person who operates it does such a good job fine tuning the yard. I’m not sure the actual grass needed cutting. It could’ve probably waited another week, but those icky weeds seem to be what grows the fastest when the rain comes.

Yesterday was the haircut day. Yep, after much debate, I got it chopped. It’s not as short as I thought it was going to be, but is basically a layered bob style. The front is still longer of which I like while I won’t have to be concerned with pinning the back up - at least for a little while. I think it will be less of a headache, although I’m afraid I’ll still have to figure out something to do with the longer hair on the sides and front. My helmet has a pad on the back of it, that while it can be adjusted up and down, had to be so every time I put it on in order to fit around the little hair bun I had going.

I spoke to one of my sisters last night. She loves fall so much and is having such a terrible time with her allergies because of the changing seasons. I can’t imagine having to go through that. I saw a website the other day about a Christian Family Farm that people can go to and tour and etc. The sight was advertising the Farm’s Fall activities. Where-o-where has the summer gone?

I’m sore from yesterday’s run. That’s only a sign that it had indeed been too long since I had pounded pavement. Yea, I’m going to be lazy today. I guess my excuse is that I’m doing my normal thing of taking a rest day between running days.

Today marks the half-way point in the month. Enjoy it with family & friends.

A Run Thru The Neighborhood

Abbie and I went for a run through the neighborhood this morning. I don’t know how far we went. My intent was to do a 30-minute run, however once I had locked the door behind me, I discovered that I had forgotten my watch. I thought about unlacing my left shoe in order to access my house key, but decided that was too much trouble at the time; besides, Abbie was ready to go. So, I really can’t report how long we ran for or how far we went for that matter.

Running through the neighborhood hadn’t been done before. I think I was reluctant to do so with Abbie in tow (or me in her tow) because of the possibility of being confronted by stray dogs. We didn’t meet any this morning, so I decided that in time, this will have to become a regular event for us.

We first headed towards the newer part of the subdivsion and I thought to myself that my house sits on the “dividing line” between the older part of the subdivision and the newer part. (I’ll explain this thought in a moment or two.) As we passed by the houses, I said good morning to those I saw. I think they thought me strange for doing so, but that’s okay. I ran to the end of the street - litterally, we couldn’t have gone any further without going onto dirt where I’m sure houses will be erected at some point. I’ve noticed new neighborhood streets being paved off the road I take into work and was able to see this morning where those roads will lead. Yep, they’ll make for another way into the neighborhood.

When we got to the end of the street, we turned around and ran the other way. Once we crossed the “dividing line” there was just a sense of that part of the subdivsion being a bit older. I can’t really state why, it was just a feeling, but not a bad one as the houses weren’t really any different. Perhaps it was just a matter of knowing that the other direction was where building was still occuring. I did think to myself along the way, that I’m glad I’m a stickler about wanting my yard nicely cared for and somewhat landscaped. There was a difference in those who allowed their grass to grow and those who took the time to tend to it more often.

I’m glad we went running this morning. It had been at least 3-weeks since I had done so and my body knew it. Not to mention, I hadn’t run with Abbie since leaving WP.

Don’t Forget To Do The Snoopy Dance

My plan was to get up and go in and do some sort of physical training this morning. It didn’t happen due to my realizing that the shorts to my physical fitness uniform were packed in my duffle bag and the ones I had intentionally left out to cover me until I left, had been packed by the moving company. Okay, my next plan of action was to take in civilian clothes and just go to the gym after I got off work. Needless to say, I realized too far down the road that I forgot to put a change of workout clothes in the car. I sit here typing, with the determination to go for a run tomorrow morning.

Today was frustrating in a few ways that I just can’t write about on a public blog. Basically, the day boiled down to a lot of changes and wondering if those changes were for “real” as I told myself that, after 18-years of service, I should know the hurry-up and wait game better then anyone else. Someone mentioned something about me being a pretty organized person right now. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. The same person also mentioned something about me just being frustrated over things I can’t control. I’d have to admit I agree with that. Still, at this point, I’m back to wishing that I was already in the air.

Life’s good - ya know. Sometimes, I really just need to sit back and smile and do the Snoopy dance.

Surrounded By Little

The moving truck pulled-up and took all the boxes away today. Abbie has done so well with the cahos of having been surrounded by boxes and watching the movers take things away. I thought she’d freak out or something, but to her, it’s as if nothing’s different. I think it helps that some of her familiar surroundings are still around. She and I threw the ball around for awhile this evening. I think I actually wore her out and she’s resting quietly at my feet now.

Not that anyone wants to read about this, but I did my weekly deed this evening of picking-up Abbie’s poop in the backyard. Yea, it’s something I do each week just so it doesn’t accumulate into one huge pile. Normally I’d choose to do this task on the weekend, but I was provoked to do it today by two piles that were just a little too close to the deck for my foot work.

After the movers departed, I decided to do a few errands. I stopped off at one of those big named “have it all” stores for a few odds and ends as well as one of those big named “do it yourself” type stores. I bought a new flag pole for my flag that hangs out front as well as new numbers for my mailbox. I didn’t particularly like the style of numbers that I found, but decided they’ll have to do for now. They are 2″ silver ones with a black background. The black background is what I don’t like. I wondered later why I was even bothering with the numbers for the mail box itself when the house number is on the post that holds the mailbox. Then, I noticed that all the houses had that same concept, so on the numbers went.

As I drove out of the garage, I noticed that the moving truck had left two large and ugly oil stains on the driveway. I’m sure the stains have set by now, but I’ve got to figure out how to get them off. They really are unsightly and driving thru them will be like driving thru mud that will stick to my tires and track the oil elsewhere (like into the garage).

My friend, who will be moving while I’m deployed, called this evening and we set a time to meet for a late lunch this weekend. It will most likely be our last opportunity to hang out for a very long time, especially since she’ll be long gone once I return. It’s hard to find good friends.

Someone sent me a link to a running club’s schedule that’s not to far from here. I appreciated that. I don’t know if it’ll work for me to run one of the races before I head out, but I’m going to try.

…and so goes another day.

A Reminder of 9/11

I almost forgot that today marks the sixth anniversary of 9/11. Ironically, the packers came today to put all my belongings in cardboard boxes in preparation for storage while I’m deployed. I think that’s why I almost forgot, not out of intentional disrespect, but just because there was so much going on.

I don’t want to forget about today and what it represents six years later. I need a reason to understand my purpose as I deploy for the next 15 months. I need a reason to remember that what I choose to do isn’t being done in vain. I need a reason to remember why my life feels as if the hold button is being pushed and that when the hold button is released, nothing will ever be the same again.

Please remember that you do not necessarily have to support the war or those in political offices in order to support your soldiers.

Are We There Yet?

I remember asking, “are we there yet” on so many occasions as I traveled as a child. Now, as an adult, I’m asking myself that question before even having left. I’m at the point where I wish we were on our way. Not so much for the reason that I want and wish for a speedy return, but mostly because the longer I wait, the more thoughts I have regarding what hasn’t been done, what’s left that needs to be done, or even worse, what have I forgotten to consider and organize. If I were already gone, I wouldn’t have to have these thoughts ’cause I’d know that everything is in the correct hands. In the end, I know everything will be. Still, that makes me all the more want to go now.

I’ve got to fit three more items into my duffle bag and I’ve no idea how to do this. I think it may be a matter of having to take clothing items out of ziplock bags to ensure each piece is rolled as tightly as possible so each can be stuffed tightly into every available centimeter. I hate to do that, however, as packing clothing items in plastic bags makes for easy access, not to mention the ability to exchange clean ones for dirty ones.

I’ve spent a lot of time outside with Abbie this weekend (on top of everything else). Its been cool enough for us to spend a lot of time playing fetch. She almost caught her prized rabbit earlier in the week. Usually the rabbits take off hopping towards the back of the yard. This time, the one Abbie was chasing made its way towards the house before making its get away underneath the gate of the fence. I thought for sure the rabbit was a gonner. Abbie also discovered that she can find her way between the shed and the fence. I can do the same if I were to go sideways. I’m not sure what provoked her to learn this.

Army 14; URI 7

Army plaid against the University of Rhode Island this afternoon.

This puts Army at 1:1 so far in its 2007 season.

More Rain, Cooler Temperatures, And Medical Readiness

Cooler temperatures last night brought more rain into the early morning. I continue to be thankful for the rain as I can already see small patches of brown grass trying to turn green.

Yesterday was one of those hurry-up and wait days that I just can’t stand. In the midst of having to go through approximately 15 stations to once again ensure that all my ducks are in a row before heading out the door. It’s not that I object to the necessity of having to do this, it’s just that I really do belive that the there’s a better way to do it that would decrease the cahos and long lines at the one-stop sight where all this occurs. In the end, I walked away from this event after having been stuck in the arm with a typhoid shot as well as one for anthrax . I had avoided that dreaded anthrax shot for 18-years and now, thanks to a mandatory visit down range, I had to receive it. Okay, so my worse fears have not yet been proven correct in having a major reaction to this shot. I suppose I can really say that it really wasn’t that bad. Even after getting both shots in the same army (by choice), all the side affects that I’m currently feeling are wrapped around a very sore arm. The soreness will subside (soon, I hope) as I got stuck in my dominant arm, knowing that the more I moved my arm, the sooner the soreness would subside. I also had to be stuck by a vampire to take a bit of blood. This test apparantly centers around some liver function test to ensure there’s no issue with my taking Malaria pills at some point, should they be required.

Another test that I had to do was a computerized test regarding screening for traumatic brain disorder, should I suffer a concussion at some point where brain damage could occur. I thought this computerized test to be very strange, although I’m sure someone assumes it will serve its purpose. The test basically consisted of clicking the mouse to test reaction times and memorization skills. In the end, I walked away from the test with thoughts that someone working on their Master’s Degree or PHD had designed this test as a project and in the end, sold it to Uncle Sam for a whole lot of money.