July 1st, 2006 070106 07/01/06 20060701 07012006

[Husker4040]

I never really had any desire to stay in any of the places we lived. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy being there, but being from the midwest, I couldn't wait to get back. We lived in KS, GA, and MD stateside, then went to England for 2 years as a civilian contractor. I met people I love and keep in touch with to this day, but couldn't wait to come home! The biggest difference in all of the places we lived was the people. I'm pretty sure Deb would agree - right Deb? Other than lack of jobs, JC would have been a great place to stay. I loved the town and the people were great. I'm sure it's grown by leaps and bounds since we were there. In fact, I was looking around one night and came across their web page. I was impressed at all the changes. Of course, it has been 17 years since we have been there.

 

[ldb1030]

It's growing like crazy! And going to be even worse soon.
Next year, Ft. Riley is adding 3400 and that does not include all their familes!
Could get to be a very crazy place!!

Is there no one else on this entire ship beside me, you and Deb???????

 

[Skuba2]

My bil tried to get stationed at Fort Riley. He decided to extend his gig in Germany to allow his kids to finish the school year and the post was filled by the time they were ready to come home. He went to Utah and is now by Rolla.

I miss the midwest. Maybe it's the space issue. Maybe that is why I love cruising. Sitting on the balconey just looking out onto the blue ocean----the open ocean----the one you can just look for miles and miles and miles.

DG

 

[ldb1030]

I sure feel sorry for all the other bases that are being shut down!
I know it would be devastating to Junciton City to lose Ft. Riley! The business sure depend on them!

Ahhhhhh yes! Sitting on deck 4 in the sleepy-comfy chairs looking at the ocean for miles and miles! I think I'm going to cry now!

Is it time to go YET?

 

[Husker4040]

the one you can just look for miles and miles and miles.

DG[/QUOTE]

LOL! Just like driving I-80 across Nebraska. You can see for miles and miles and miles! It's flat, but we call it home.

I didn't know you had a BIL in the service, Deb.

 

[Skuba2]

Yep--dh's older brother has been in forever, but not in combat. I think he does teaching now--or recruiting--or training the recruits. LOL! Something specialized. He was in Tokyo I think or Hong Kong without his family, and then came home, and then went to Germany with the family for a few years and then came home. I think I was wrong with Fort Riley, I think he is at Fort Leonardwood. It is outside of Rolla. He bought his first house and his oldest is in college. Finally able to put down roots. My father was Air Force when he met my mom. Stationed in Greenland.

It may be flat--but is it uphill! LOL! I remember driving from MO to CO and the gas mileage being so much better on the way home. It is pretty bare though between. Ok--Omaha made the top list of worsening traffic. Aren't you excited to hear that.

The Groton sub-base is scheduled to be hit by a close down with that big list. The town will just disappear I think. It isn't just the base, it's the schools and support stuff associated with it also---even the museum. Oh yeah, DH's uncle was a nuclear submarine commander---one of the first ones I think. LOL!!

 

[Husker4040]

Is it time to go YET? [/QUOTE]

I sure wish it was! I am counting the days, but not very patiently! The only "vacation" I have to look forward to this year is an off road event in the middle of no where Iowa with a bunch of old military vehicles. My only saving grace is one of my favorite authors has the 11th book in her series coming out the day before we leave. How convenient is that? He wanted us to camp out there. Like that's gonna happen! I will go along and do the video taping of a bunch of idiots in mud. When I get hot, I can go back the 15 miles to the motel. Then I can walk across the highway to the other side of the motel to use the pool.

I know what you mean about Riley devastating Junction City if it closed. We lived in a brand new apartment house, and our landlord depended on the military people to fill those. He had 2 or 3 right out by us, but owned a lot more than that around town. Interestingly enough, there was only one other military couple in ours. The rest were locals. Strange how I can remember that, but can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday!

 

[ldb1030]

The houses are going up like crazy now! TRYING to get ready for all those troops coming in next year!

I do have a trip to look forward to this summer! Alexa and I are going to NYC with some other moms/daughters for a few days in June!
Very excited but I really need to put that money in my "cruise account"
Oh well!

 

[Husker4040]

I actually do get to do one fun thing this summer. On June 6th I am going to football camp! I went last year also. It's Football 101 for Women. I LOVE it. We got to learn all about the West Coast Offense before our husbands. That was the best part! It's taught by the coaches. I am in the advanced class. This year we get to learn about the defense. Last year we had 1050 women from all 50 states. Only in Nebraska!

Going to NYC sounds like fun! Like you, I should be putting this money toward our cruise, but.....it's football!

 

[ldb1030]

You are correct ONLY IN NEBRASKA!!

Our wildcat women should do that also!!

Alexa is looking forward to going away to high school dance camp!

Last day of middle school is 5/25!

We'd all better start our diets since we are the ONLY ones on this ship!

 

[Husker4040]

Dance camp sounds like fun! The girls aren't going to camp this year. They normally go to the YMCA camp, but this year, because of their age, they would have to go to Ranch Camp. That would be fine with them, but it would cost me over $1000 to send them both. Not this year. They understand, and are fine with that. They will be visiting their grandparents in CA for a week each, and probably a few days with my folks.

I've been doing the diet thing. I can deal with that, but the exercise is killing me! Deb gets to hear me complain about it all the time. I work out 6 days a week, and can't lose a pound!

Last day of school here is the 26th. They have 1/2 day. The girls are far more excited about that than I am. It's nice coming home from work and having the house quiet. I get home and work on our business for a while (after working out) then it's normally time to pick them up. Now it will be chaos when I get home.

Hey Deb - I did hear that Nebraska made the list for worsening traffic. Of course, since I have a 3-5 minute commute to work, it doesn't affect me much. There aren't too many people on my roads at 5:45 anyway. The Interstate is busy with those poor folks who drive downtown every day, but not the roads out here. The houses are expanding west, but a lot of the jobs are staying downtown. One of the stipulations for a job when I last looked was that it was within 5 miles of home. Luckily for me, that wasn't a problem.

 

[ldb1030]

I'm having such a bad day here at work all I can do is dream of the cruise!!!

The only form of exercise I enjoy is walking! My sister gave me an ipod so that REALLY makes me motivated! Try to go once a day but trying to find the time is getting harder and harder! Once school is out this week, that should change........I hope!

 

[Husker4040]

I hope your day at work got better. My day wasn't so bad. I got in the building without locking my keys in the car. That's how Friday started, and it went downhill from there. I'm also thinking about vacation!

The girls get out this week too. It's going to be a busy week. Today was the orthodontist after school, and we leave for the gym in about an hour, and won't get back until 7:30. Tomorrow night we have honors night. Wednesday night we have the gym again, and not getting home until 7:30.

I went back to walking this weekend. I walked Saturday and Sunday, and will continue to go to class on Monday and Wednesday, and switch off walking and doing Tae Bo the other 2 days. Friday is my one day off.

I better get to the gym and do some of this.
Hope your week gets better!

 

[Husker4040]

bump

 

[ldb1030]

Looks like we are STILL the only ones on this ship!?

 

[Husker4040]

More room for us to all spread out!

 

[ldb1030]

I can't believe we are less than 400 days now!!!!

 

[ldb1030]

bump!

 

[Husker4040]

392 days!!! Thank goodness I have football camp next week to help pass a couple of the days. I've had so many things come up in the last few days, I haven't had a lot of time to obsess over the trip. I won't have a lot of time to do that again until after Father's Day. I run a local computer show, and that's when we have our next show. It's always busy running up to the show. After that, I have 2 months before the next one.

Hope both you and Deb are staying dry. We have had rain almost every day this week , and storms each night. We have more headed our way now. They are hoping to get in another regional baseball game. We could have 1 of our 2 teams in the College World Series. Nebraska played and won this afternoon, and Creighton plays tonight. I'm not a baseball fan (kind of like watching paint dry) but I do like the CWS.

Have a great weekend!

 

[ldb1030]

I'm getting real sick of the rain!
I don't know how much we've gotten in the last couple of days but the street in front of my house was almost flooded yesterday! More coming today!

I will be in NYC in 2 weeks but I'm just not as excited about it as I am the cruise! I got a new LandEnd catalog today and I kept looking at things and thinking "Hmmmm, that would be so cute on the cruise"!!
This time next year I'll be a basket case!

Stay dry and safe in the storms!!