I spent all of my free time yesterday evening packing up my bags... the sea bag, the big digital camo bag I got in GL, the garment bag, the backpacks, the knapsack, the grocery bags of food and utensils, the boxes of books and movies, the laptop bag... and a couple other little ones of odds and ends. And I washed all my dirty clothes and towels as well.
This morning I spent at least an hour packing the car full of them. Parked right alongside the barracks (with my flashers on) and unbelievably fit everything in, trip by trip. My sheets were washing and drying as I hauled load after load through the hall and past the access watch. :)
The last things I put in the car after class were a bag with my uniform from that day and a bag of all the refrigerator items; they were pretty heavy. I left the base at about 4pm, and it didn't take long to get them all inside. I met the other girl who lives here... Emily. For one of her jobs, she interns at the Navy marine mammal research station nearby! Wow! Is that cool!
I just love this Internet... it's so fast, and so fun to have in the room again! And I have so much reception on my phone... 4 bars! Don't get anything near that on base. I'm pretty much unpacked and my bed is made... just need to eat some dinner, take a shower and then relax in my new home. :)
Jw
Friday, October 21, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Important Little Side Notes
Can't believe I forgot to talk about it in detail... but Mike and I finished reading through the Psalms on Wednesday, October 5th. We'd started all the way back in March, just about a month after I arrived in SD. On the 6th, he read me one of our favorites, then on Friday the 7th we began Proverbs. It's a lovely way to spend time in the Bible. So far we've been faithful to it every day.
And in other very interesting news, I looked on Craig's List Monday evening for a room to rent nearby. I tried once, a couple days before to no avail, but this time it not only sounded right, but worked out as well. Marie lives a mile-and-a-half from base on the other side of Lib Station. She has a cat named Custer and one other renter who'll be staying through Dec. My room is right next to the bathroom, is furnished with a bed, desk, closet, TV, & shelves. It's a month-by-month basis, and the $630 rent includes utilities, wi-fi and cable. I have to move out of the barracks since they're going to give me SD housing allowance. I'm planning on moving in this Friday!
So I've gone over there the last two nights. Did some blogging at Panera the first night (and enjoyed a seasonal pumpkin muffin), then drove the mile-and-a-half to the library last night to send mom some pictures. Stopped by Chipotle for a kid's meal, since I wasn't very hungry.
And I worked out yesterday morning with Witte, doing bench press and free weights. It wasn't't a regular workout day because we had quarters that morning. I was given good marks for my shiny boots.
Jw
PS... here are the pics from the Craig's List posting... I'll have a couch/bed! The back of the couch is removable pillows. The whole wall to the right is covered in shelving, and the closet is around the corner to the left.
And in other very interesting news, I looked on Craig's List Monday evening for a room to rent nearby. I tried once, a couple days before to no avail, but this time it not only sounded right, but worked out as well. Marie lives a mile-and-a-half from base on the other side of Lib Station. She has a cat named Custer and one other renter who'll be staying through Dec. My room is right next to the bathroom, is furnished with a bed, desk, closet, TV, & shelves. It's a month-by-month basis, and the $630 rent includes utilities, wi-fi and cable. I have to move out of the barracks since they're going to give me SD housing allowance. I'm planning on moving in this Friday!
So I've gone over there the last two nights. Did some blogging at Panera the first night (and enjoyed a seasonal pumpkin muffin), then drove the mile-and-a-half to the library last night to send mom some pictures. Stopped by Chipotle for a kid's meal, since I wasn't very hungry.
And I worked out yesterday morning with Witte, doing bench press and free weights. It wasn't't a regular workout day because we had quarters that morning. I was given good marks for my shiny boots.
Jw
PS... here are the pics from the Craig's List posting... I'll have a couch/bed! The back of the couch is removable pillows. The whole wall to the right is covered in shelving, and the closet is around the corner to the left.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Weekend!
Friday! I volunteered at the library for a couple hours. When I walked in, I was immediately tasked with cutting out Hold Slips with their long-blade paper-cutter. Got a bit over half done, clipping 300 of them. (Saturday I volunteered again, finishing the remaining 225 (7 bundles of 75 in total).
Then I gave my friend Matt I ride up north to pick up his new motorcycle suit, and then he treated me out to dinner at Chipotle for taking the time (and spending the gas). Went straight to the small group at the Presbyterian church after dropping him off. Another fine night with friends.
I had picked up two films at the library that I had on order... North by Northwest and On the Town. So I stayed up really late and watched the former even after talking with my darling, Michael. What a film! I had seen it so long ago that I forgot how it all went. I knew about the crop duster and Mt. Rushmore, but I didn't know how.
Saturday morning I used the drive-through at McDonald's for some oatmeal, yogurt and an OJ. Went right to the library, and after I was done with the paper-cutting, I finished all the regular fiction. This was perfect timing... once I finished that, it was just after one, and just time to get over to the Old Globe for their afternoon performance of "Somewhere"... a semi-autobiographical play about real Puerto Ricans in NYC around the time that West Side Story came out. The father was gone and the three kids were trying to either get in the movies or keep the family running. The mother was a bit idealistic and didn't want to leave, even when a wrecking ball was swinging to make way for a cultural arts center. Good story, good play!
And then "To Catch a Thief" (Cary Grant, 1955) - for my 2nd Cary movie in two nights - was playing on the big screen in the Gaslamp district. I had some Mexican food at a place with very slow service... but that was alright since it was a couple hours away from the start time of 7pm. Boy, was it fun to watch that so large! And with lots of other people who like it too. :)
Sunday morning I went straight to church. After service was over, Andy, the youth pastor and music leader, invited me to his small group meeting that night. He had asked before at other times, and this time I finally said I'd come. Good thing too! We're reading a very interesting book (The Naked Gospel) and I met some very nice people... a couple girls and another couple besides Andy and his wife. They had bison burgers waiting for us when I got there and we had a lovely time chatting and discussing the first part of the book that we read right there.
Between service in the morning and small group at night, I stopped in Liberty Station for lunch at Con Pane and shopped at a children's book store called "The Yellow Book Road". Other than that I straightened up my closet... and that's about it.
On the way back from the small group, I stopped at Denny's for the breakfast I never had today. The waitress was again disdainful of how healthy it was. So silly... what's wrong with oatmeal? :)
God is so good to me... all the time. :)
Jw
Then I gave my friend Matt I ride up north to pick up his new motorcycle suit, and then he treated me out to dinner at Chipotle for taking the time (and spending the gas). Went straight to the small group at the Presbyterian church after dropping him off. Another fine night with friends.
I had picked up two films at the library that I had on order... North by Northwest and On the Town. So I stayed up really late and watched the former even after talking with my darling, Michael. What a film! I had seen it so long ago that I forgot how it all went. I knew about the crop duster and Mt. Rushmore, but I didn't know how.
Saturday morning I used the drive-through at McDonald's for some oatmeal, yogurt and an OJ. Went right to the library, and after I was done with the paper-cutting, I finished all the regular fiction. This was perfect timing... once I finished that, it was just after one, and just time to get over to the Old Globe for their afternoon performance of "Somewhere"... a semi-autobiographical play about real Puerto Ricans in NYC around the time that West Side Story came out. The father was gone and the three kids were trying to either get in the movies or keep the family running. The mother was a bit idealistic and didn't want to leave, even when a wrecking ball was swinging to make way for a cultural arts center. Good story, good play!
And then "To Catch a Thief" (Cary Grant, 1955) - for my 2nd Cary movie in two nights - was playing on the big screen in the Gaslamp district. I had some Mexican food at a place with very slow service... but that was alright since it was a couple hours away from the start time of 7pm. Boy, was it fun to watch that so large! And with lots of other people who like it too. :)
Sunday morning I went straight to church. After service was over, Andy, the youth pastor and music leader, invited me to his small group meeting that night. He had asked before at other times, and this time I finally said I'd come. Good thing too! We're reading a very interesting book (The Naked Gospel) and I met some very nice people... a couple girls and another couple besides Andy and his wife. They had bison burgers waiting for us when I got there and we had a lovely time chatting and discussing the first part of the book that we read right there.
Between service in the morning and small group at night, I stopped in Liberty Station for lunch at Con Pane and shopped at a children's book store called "The Yellow Book Road". Other than that I straightened up my closet... and that's about it.
On the way back from the small group, I stopped at Denny's for the breakfast I never had today. The waitress was again disdainful of how healthy it was. So silly... what's wrong with oatmeal? :)
God is so good to me... all the time. :)
Jw
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Birds and Books
So tonight after class, I decided to get off base. Getting a little fried in school. Walked across the street to Sushiaia, enjoyed a "crunchy" roll and a couple small soft-shelled spider crabs deep fried in tempura. Walked a little further along my old haunt of the Liberty Station inlet waterfront, watching the birds... godwits, a crane, and a great blue heron. The last was fishing after the minnows... I knew this because they were flipping out of the water every so often, and because I saw it catch one after plunging its head into the reflective water.
This morning after muster I had a ton of time until I had to do anything... so I read the entire part 4 of the book we're reading for small group tomorrow night.
I'm still at Lib Station as I write this... I love the shrill call of the godwits, coupled with the peach and purple sky overhead.
Jw
This morning after muster I had a ton of time until I had to do anything... so I read the entire part 4 of the book we're reading for small group tomorrow night.
I'm still at Lib Station as I write this... I love the shrill call of the godwits, coupled with the peach and purple sky overhead.
Jw
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Name Changing!
I got the chit back from Admin today! So tonight I've been printing some forms for my new SSN card and passport... got to wait for the driver's license til I go home for Christmas.
They said I need to move out of the barracks though, because I have to get the housing allowance for San Diego, not Norman. We'll see how that goes.
Did a second crazy workout with my classmate tonight... it feels so good afterwords. :)
They said I need to move out of the barracks though, because I have to get the housing allowance for San Diego, not Norman. We'll see how that goes.
Did a second crazy workout with my classmate tonight... it feels so good afterwords. :)
Monday Madness
Thanks to Christopher Columbus, I had Monday off. Slept in very late... maybe later than I'd like to admit. :) Let's just say that it was noon-ish by the time I was done with breakfast at Denny's. Had OJ at the Galley on the way out, and had yogurt and chicken sausage. Oatmeal and eggs always remain.
While at Denny's, I checked FB on my phone and saw a reply about where one of my friend's pictures was taken... the Elfin Forest Reserve outside Escondido. I thought, "Hey, I could do that today!" And I did. Got a little lost when I got near it... wandered around the parameter of the park for about an hour (through back-roads that went by Arabian horse stables and an egg farm), then finally got it on the third try.
The beautiful creek the pic was from was right near the parking lot. I explored for a while, and even saw a crawdad sunning himself until I came up... he scurried under a rock. And then there was a 1.5 mile trail up the hill, and I did that, huffing and puffing as I bounded up the switchbacks. :) There was a lovely view of a reservoir at the end of the trail in a picnic area. I made my way back to the car, and drove back to San Diego.
On the way back I vacillated between going to Coronado and running on the beach, or just going to dinner on the downtown waterfront. The latter won. :) I parked in a lot that ended up costing way more than I thought it did, but I had a lovely time at the Top of the Market Restaurant (on top of the Fish Market across from the USS Midway). Had a bowl of very good clam chowder, a small loaf of fresh bread, and a "flat-iron" steak with asparagus, an olive salsa and a twice-baked potato. I sat on their covered, open-air patio, overlooking the bay and the USS John C. Stennis, docked at the North Island Air Station. The sun set behind a bank of clouds behind Point Loma... And I'm pretty sure they arranged for the pelican to fly by my window when I looked up...everything was absolutely perfect! What a beautiful place! And the waitress was flattered when I told her I used to think Outback had the best steak. :)
I watched "Enchantment" (1948, Teresa Wright, David Niven) back in my room, then talked with my Darling again. I called him on the waterfront downtown because I had to share it with him.
Jw
While at Denny's, I checked FB on my phone and saw a reply about where one of my friend's pictures was taken... the Elfin Forest Reserve outside Escondido. I thought, "Hey, I could do that today!" And I did. Got a little lost when I got near it... wandered around the parameter of the park for about an hour (through back-roads that went by Arabian horse stables and an egg farm), then finally got it on the third try.
The beautiful creek the pic was from was right near the parking lot. I explored for a while, and even saw a crawdad sunning himself until I came up... he scurried under a rock. And then there was a 1.5 mile trail up the hill, and I did that, huffing and puffing as I bounded up the switchbacks. :) There was a lovely view of a reservoir at the end of the trail in a picnic area. I made my way back to the car, and drove back to San Diego.
On the way back I vacillated between going to Coronado and running on the beach, or just going to dinner on the downtown waterfront. The latter won. :) I parked in a lot that ended up costing way more than I thought it did, but I had a lovely time at the Top of the Market Restaurant (on top of the Fish Market across from the USS Midway). Had a bowl of very good clam chowder, a small loaf of fresh bread, and a "flat-iron" steak with asparagus, an olive salsa and a twice-baked potato. I sat on their covered, open-air patio, overlooking the bay and the USS John C. Stennis, docked at the North Island Air Station. The sun set behind a bank of clouds behind Point Loma... And I'm pretty sure they arranged for the pelican to fly by my window when I looked up...everything was absolutely perfect! What a beautiful place! And the waitress was flattered when I told her I used to think Outback had the best steak. :)
I watched "Enchantment" (1948, Teresa Wright, David Niven) back in my room, then talked with my Darling again. I called him on the waterfront downtown because I had to share it with him.
Jw
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Tidbits
After stopping at Panera Bread for a quiche, I did make it to church this morning, and I was glad. It was good; message was about courage as exemplified by Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Other than that, I watched "How to Marry a Millionaire" and did more sewing on my other cover. What a riot of a movie!
And as I was just sending a couple pics from Tuscarora to Tuscarora, as requested, I found out they have a news blog with the same style as my Navy Times. :)
Jw
PS... I finished out the evening by watching "Now, Voyager", from 1942 with Bette Davis and Paul Henried. It was a wonderful bit of drama, not asking for the moon, indeed. I loved it.
Other than that, I watched "How to Marry a Millionaire" and did more sewing on my other cover. What a riot of a movie!
And as I was just sending a couple pics from Tuscarora to Tuscarora, as requested, I found out they have a news blog with the same style as my Navy Times. :)
Jw
PS... I finished out the evening by watching "Now, Voyager", from 1942 with Bette Davis and Paul Henried. It was a wonderful bit of drama, not asking for the moon, indeed. I loved it.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Another Stunning Weekend
Friday afternoon I did an hour at the library, again with graphic novels, audio books, and odd-size video recordings... basically the stuff that gets backed up for reshelving every now and then. That was from 4:30 to 5:30, when they close. I kept going on Nimitz to the 8, where I got off at Mission Valley Mall for dinner at Chipotle (which I had thought about the night before when I decided on chicken soup at Noodles & Co. instead), and then a showing of "Dolphin Tale" at the AMC theater. The show didn't start til 7:20, so I looked around in the nearby Sports Chalet. Always enjoy sports stores... looked at the fishing stuff, bought a blue, keyring size Swiss Army Knife and a folding camping stool that only weighs 16 oz.! And then I saw the movie. Almost died of horror when watching the trailers... cough... another Sandler film... and then greatly enjoyed the feature. Although there were some sappy parts, on the whole it was very fun... especially watching the kid swim with the dolphin. I was even slightly envious, even now as an adult. :)
Saturday morning I took it very easy. Read a bit of Hebrews while I was still in bed, and ate some of my frosted mini-wheats for breakfast. Turned on the Sooners game and transferred my petty officer crows from the blouse with the holes to the new one with my new name. And I was shocked to find that it was shaping up to be a slaughter... final score, Sooners 55, Longhorns 17. Also had the laundry going, washing my comforter and all... so I was in and out during the second half.
This was all done around 1:30 or 2ish, and from there I headed out to the Cabrillo National Monument for a run on a trail I hadn't been on before. On the way I stopped at the NEX to get a crow for my other cover. The sky was extraordinarily clear, making it able to see even the distant mountains distinctly, and the fresh breeze made it even nicer. It was a mile-and-a-quarter trail; I was worn out as I tried running back up it, and did that in spurts, walking sometimes. On the way back to base, at the bottom of Canon street, I decided to try out a local deli called "Charlie's Best Bread". I envisioned a little black dog running the place, but that turned out not to be so. Had a lovely BLT with turkey, Gorgonzola cheese and avocado... mmm! Then I thought it'd be good to stock up on food items in my room. Stopped in at the shop across from the deli, then went up the hill to Stump's Market (across from the library) and picked out some treats and old regulars.
After putting everything away in my room, I headed out to my car again. But this time, I just got my bike out of the back, pumped up the tires and started out. As I stopped by the dock to take a picture with my phone, Julie called! We talked for about a half-hour as the sun was starting to set behind me... lots of gorgeous orange light everywhere. I'm glad I was a little delayed! I had lots of nice photo opportunities along the way with the light the way it was. Rode to downtown and back, returning at 6:50. Nearly ran over a rat when it scurried across the path in front of me... but that was the extent of the wildlife I saw. :) Had wanted to get on chat faster, but that's the way it goes. Changed into pants from my athletic shorts and drove over to Jack-in-the-Box and McDonalds for a very cheap dinner and fast, free wi-fi. Glad I stopped by, as Linda and Rodney both had to leave early. Uploaded my phone pics to FB after they left, and also listened to Mike's songs of the week. Returned back to base, parking alongside the waterfront for another fab talk with my Darling as Jupiter rested over the shining city across the calm bay. :) What a day!
Jw
Saturday morning I took it very easy. Read a bit of Hebrews while I was still in bed, and ate some of my frosted mini-wheats for breakfast. Turned on the Sooners game and transferred my petty officer crows from the blouse with the holes to the new one with my new name. And I was shocked to find that it was shaping up to be a slaughter... final score, Sooners 55, Longhorns 17. Also had the laundry going, washing my comforter and all... so I was in and out during the second half.
This was all done around 1:30 or 2ish, and from there I headed out to the Cabrillo National Monument for a run on a trail I hadn't been on before. On the way I stopped at the NEX to get a crow for my other cover. The sky was extraordinarily clear, making it able to see even the distant mountains distinctly, and the fresh breeze made it even nicer. It was a mile-and-a-quarter trail; I was worn out as I tried running back up it, and did that in spurts, walking sometimes. On the way back to base, at the bottom of Canon street, I decided to try out a local deli called "Charlie's Best Bread". I envisioned a little black dog running the place, but that turned out not to be so. Had a lovely BLT with turkey, Gorgonzola cheese and avocado... mmm! Then I thought it'd be good to stock up on food items in my room. Stopped in at the shop across from the deli, then went up the hill to Stump's Market (across from the library) and picked out some treats and old regulars.
After putting everything away in my room, I headed out to my car again. But this time, I just got my bike out of the back, pumped up the tires and started out. As I stopped by the dock to take a picture with my phone, Julie called! We talked for about a half-hour as the sun was starting to set behind me... lots of gorgeous orange light everywhere. I'm glad I was a little delayed! I had lots of nice photo opportunities along the way with the light the way it was. Rode to downtown and back, returning at 6:50. Nearly ran over a rat when it scurried across the path in front of me... but that was the extent of the wildlife I saw. :) Had wanted to get on chat faster, but that's the way it goes. Changed into pants from my athletic shorts and drove over to Jack-in-the-Box and McDonalds for a very cheap dinner and fast, free wi-fi. Glad I stopped by, as Linda and Rodney both had to leave early. Uploaded my phone pics to FB after they left, and also listened to Mike's songs of the week. Returned back to base, parking alongside the waterfront for another fab talk with my Darling as Jupiter rested over the shining city across the calm bay. :) What a day!
Jw
Thursday, October 6, 2011
What's Been Up
Monday, as I noted here, was very odd. I had lots of time, finally, and was able to talk to Mom and Dad in the morning, and Grampa and Gramma in the afternoon! Very good, indeed! That night I watched a very exciting Monday Night Football between two very bad teams.
Tuesday we started class at noon, and everything was pretty normal... watched the Yankees beat the Tigers to stay alive for game 5.
Wednesday morning I decided to take it easy. Got up at the last minute for breakfast, and went in my civilian clothes since I wasn't on duty for class until 9. Also pretty normal, except for the public humiliation of a few dopes on base. After dinner I watched "Along Came Jones" (Gary Cooper, 1945) to get my fried mind off the military for a moment. Also went to Panera Bread for a second dinner, because the first wasn't the best, I didn't have very much of it. Enjoyed a free hot drink from my Panera card, and some French onion soup with my sierra turkey half-sandwich. I looked at a bunch of my old FB pictures from Washington, and that made me smile. That, and talking with my Darling outside during a blustery fall night sky.
This morning I went to Denny's for breakfast... I woke up at 6am after a half-way bad dream (mostly enjoyable with elements of horror) and remained fully awake. I really didn't feel like getting the exact same thing I've had all week long, so I enjoyed my Denny's usual, this time with turkey bacon. Came back with plenty of time to lie down for another half-hour, and get to class on time.
Tuesday we started class at noon, and everything was pretty normal... watched the Yankees beat the Tigers to stay alive for game 5.
Wednesday morning I decided to take it easy. Got up at the last minute for breakfast, and went in my civilian clothes since I wasn't on duty for class until 9. Also pretty normal, except for the public humiliation of a few dopes on base. After dinner I watched "Along Came Jones" (Gary Cooper, 1945) to get my fried mind off the military for a moment. Also went to Panera Bread for a second dinner, because the first wasn't the best, I didn't have very much of it. Enjoyed a free hot drink from my Panera card, and some French onion soup with my sierra turkey half-sandwich. I looked at a bunch of my old FB pictures from Washington, and that made me smile. That, and talking with my Darling outside during a blustery fall night sky.
This morning I went to Denny's for breakfast... I woke up at 6am after a half-way bad dream (mostly enjoyable with elements of horror) and remained fully awake. I really didn't feel like getting the exact same thing I've had all week long, so I enjoyed my Denny's usual, this time with turkey bacon. Came back with plenty of time to lie down for another half-hour, and get to class on time.
Monday, October 3, 2011
What a Saturday!
I got up at colors (0800), had a shower and a wonderful breakfast at Perry's Breakfast House down by Old Town, then headed for Balboa Park. Stepped in the free art museum and free botanical garden, then wandered through the art village on the way to the zoo. Spent my time seeing the nooks and crannies I hadn't got to before. Saw the pandas being fed, saw the big cats... the giraffe baby... the bottom part of the big aviary... and a panda from the sky ride! Got myself a t-shirt and a few things, then decided it would be nice to have dinner. Wanted to keep my parking spot by the theater, so I took a bus (same price as parking downtown) and had my favorite at The Old Spaghetti Factory downtown... 1/2 spaghetti, 1/2 ravioli.
Made it back in plenty of time to The Old Globe to enjoy "The Odyssey" in a modern, musical version. The main characters were dressed as ancient Greeks, but everyone else was in modern-American attire. That threw me off at first. But once Odysseus washed up on what seemed to be a California beach, and started telling his story to 3 kids, it got very fun. It was a short play, only an hour-and-a-half, and with the simpler costumes, it was cheaper to go to... only $15 tickets.
And Sunday was a bit more relaxed. Got up really late, spent a lot of time online at Panera, finished listening to John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy, then returned it and worked at the library for a bit. Came back for dinner, then did my laundry as I watched a bit about Ansel Adams from the library. Nice long talk with my husband Mike... :) And there was another WWII discussion thrown in there too. :)
Made it back in plenty of time to The Old Globe to enjoy "The Odyssey" in a modern, musical version. The main characters were dressed as ancient Greeks, but everyone else was in modern-American attire. That threw me off at first. But once Odysseus washed up on what seemed to be a California beach, and started telling his story to 3 kids, it got very fun. It was a short play, only an hour-and-a-half, and with the simpler costumes, it was cheaper to go to... only $15 tickets.
And Sunday was a bit more relaxed. Got up really late, spent a lot of time online at Panera, finished listening to John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy, then returned it and worked at the library for a bit. Came back for dinner, then did my laundry as I watched a bit about Ansel Adams from the library. Nice long talk with my husband Mike... :) And there was another WWII discussion thrown in there too. :)
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