Lots of Hangings

I've spent the last two afternoons and most of today finishing up the house as far as I can. Went through and got all my pictures framed and hung up... I think I counted fifteen little nails I had use in order to get them all up throughout the house!

So here's a walk-through:

Except for getting another bed set up in the other bedroom, finishing the master bedroom and figuring out what we're going to do for a TV someday, it's all done for now. Thank goodness! I can now calmly pack for Florida without digging through anything... and I have that lovely peace that comes when you know that everything is in its place.

Been taking it pretty easy this weekend. Got a take-home salad from Ruby Tuesdays yesterday, and had the remainder for dinner today. Last night I watched The Eagle Has Landed (1976) and tonight it was Adam's Rib (1949) - both from the library, and for the first time. I confirmed my address at the library today with my internet bill, which means I can check out more than one item at once. :) And right after I did that, I headed back to Fort Story to look at and climb the first public works project of the United States... a stone lighthouse built in 1791 at Cape Henry. It was very, very neat!

It feels so good to be comfortably set up (for the first time since joining the Navy). I miss my husband and family like you wouldn't believe, but at least I'm not living out of an ugly dorm room on base, a cubby hole in a stranger's house, or out of the back seat of my car. :) It's been quite a journey so far.

Jw

Moving In, Time With Friends

I took my sweet time after we were done with training on Thursday the 26th. Cleaning up took a while, and then I had to eat too... more salad at Ruby Tuesday's for a late lunch... then I headed out to Little Creek Rd and found a respectable auto care center for getting my oil changed. They needed it for over an hour, so I took care of a few things while I waited. Across the street was the furniture store that had the dresser I wanted. Went in and purchased it. Then I had some dinner next door at "Cagney's American Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor" with "Old Country Cook'n". Their menu is much like Cracker Barrel, but without the country store. Had chicken and dumplings, and a small scoop of strawberry ice cream. I loved their decor... they had a model train running on an elevated track around the room... and they were big into old movie posters. :) Before returning to get the car, I stopped at a couple of nearby thrift stores too. A busy evening!

The big day was Friday the 27th! I couldn't get off the ship fast enough, even though we were let out early, I was so excited! Went straight to the housing office at my branch a little early for my "pick up the key" meeting. Only had to wait a few minutes, and then I was signing the final form, getting my pool passes, getting the info packet, and walking out the door with my keys. Checked out the house with the agent, arranged for a new toilet seat and for the lawn to be mowed... and then I changed after she left in order to go to Wing King in Virginia Beach to say good-bye to Glen (STG2) who just left the ship for the last time. Hung out for about an hour, then stopped by a Walmart for a shower curtain, bathmat, and things of that nature.

Then it was time to go pick up the U-Haul truck. Deja-Vu - learning to drive on our old 1970s GMC suburban (nicknamed "Blueberry") around the year 2000. Took me a while to get used to feeling out the right place in the lane as I drove with traffic... Thankfully, I used highways instead of I-64 while I went to get the furniture. Picked up the sofa, love-seat and table/chairs (new in box) on Virginia Beach Blvd, then swung by Freedom Furniture on Little Creek Rd. for the dresser. Didn't take long at all... but the guy who said he'd help me unload the truck at my house got confused about what time I needed him... and was unavailable. I picked up a load from my self-storage, unloaded it, then managed to find neighbors to help me unload the big stuff. It was a huge relief to be done with it all (after I returned the truck on time a few minutes later); I got a little emotional as I talked to Mike that night (partly because the Internet wasn't working either), but it made me feel a whole lot better to talk to him. Took a wonderful first shower in my new home, then fell asleep for the first time on a very comfy queen mattress of my own.

Saturday was neat! Spent the morning working on getting the table and chairs assembled. Very easy to figure out, it just took time with there being 5 big pieces. Also sorted out the mess of stuff from storage, looking for dishes... to no avail. Did a lot of sweeping up, and figured out what was wrong with the Internet after I finally called Cox... I typed the code in too early, and I was missing a coaxial cable. Before heading out to stay the night with friends in the country, I picked up another load from self-storage.

Kristin was best friends with my oldest sister back in the late 90s. She got baptized at our church and even lived with us for a while. She recalled watching WENN with us even, so it was easier to tell her about how I fell in love with Mike. :) She and her husband have a beautiful house, way out in the country. Took me about 40 minutes to get there. They were having a photographer come over that evening for new pictures for their adoption profile. I was able to help out, blocking the afternoon sunshine from their faces with a lighting screen. Dinner was an excellent beef pot roast and yummy veggies... and then Kristin and I had a couple fruity drinks on the porch as we talked and watched the sunset. Came inside, had another round, as well as some ice cream as we watched the first episode of John Adams. Sweet fun! Was very tired though... even fell asleep on chat later on!

Sunday we went to their church together (great sermon about the Lord's ultimate power over evil), and then had lunch at a southwestern burrito place very similar to Chipotle, called Moe's. Then I drove home, unpacked the load I picked up the day before, figured out the Internet (because I got a cable at Walmart on the way home), and then made my way downtown for the Norfolk Tides baseball game. Gosh, only $20 tickets, $5 parking across the street... and a beautiful stadium. Much smaller, of course, but I liked the atmosphere much better then at the Majors. It certainly helped that it was a good game... they led 7-2 by the end of the 2nd inning! Final score was Tides 8, Bulls 7, in a nearly-blown save in the ninth. But what fun! I had a hotdog, some popcorn and a big lemonade in a collectible Tides cup. Oh, and it only takes me 15 minutes to get there from home too. :)

Monday afternoon and evening (last night), I worked on getting the coffee table and bookcase put together. Had to get a a screwdriver at the NEX in order to finish... and that ended up taking more time than I thought. Got stuff for washing the dishes, a couple pans for baking, and a garden hose to clean out my very dirty garbage bin sometime. The people who lived here before didn't take care of everything. Had dinner at "Firehouse Subs" at the NEX food-court, and when I got home (around 8ish) I finished up with my furniture.

Whew! This upcoming weekend, I think I'll take it easy!
Jw

Days To Say Goodbyes

Wednesday afternoon I finished up Chipotle leftovers for lunch, then headed out to Kristin and Andy's to watch The Princess Diaries and ...Part 2, for an afternoon of fun. We've watched Mary Poppins and Sound of Music a month or so ago, so this was a nice finish. It was something we talked about doing a while ago. Had juice and popcorn while we watched, then we visited a little while before we had to say goodbye. Stopped at Ricky's Restaurant one last time on the way home... It has become a favorite. Delicious chicken with rice, veggies and a couple cups of decaf. Read a chapter or two of Mere Christianity... the book I can no longer read with my young adult group in person. But I am certainly going to finish it again. :) Stopped at the library to see if they needed anything. Got sidetracked by the Friend's Book Sale... found a couple mystery books I'd like to read for 50 cents each. Helped Pam and Christine set up the community room, then confirmed I'd come back again today.

Today I've been packing up a storm. First phase, in the morning, I filled up my bags in my room... and it was difficult to navigate. Around noonish I went to Ace Hardware at Liberty Station to exchange something I bought a while ago for a needle-nose pliers... in case any disc gets stuck in my CD player again. Then I had a half-sandwich at Con Pane before dropping off the couple bags of things for Goodwill. Then I went to the library one last time. Re-shelved all the audio and VHS for a couple hours before it was time for Christine to take me out to our arranged early dinner. Aida offered to print me a Letter of Appreciation, detailing my 162 hours! that I've worked since February last year. It's a lot!

Then I hugged her and Pam goodbye, and Christine got off early to take me to Point Loma Seafoods... apparently a very famous cafe that I've somehow missed going to until now. And it was delicious! I had a scallop sandwich... that was huge! We shared a shrimp cocktail, and afterwords, she took me to her friend's confectionery, down the street on Scott St... The Elegant Truffle... where we had a couple free samples and she bought me a delicious piece of white coconut cake. We talked a lot about traveling, and our common interest in trying different foods. She drove me back to my car at the library, and we said our goodbyes.

Back at home I am nearly all packed. Cleaned off my bike... put most of the stuff in the car... and will cram the rest in sometime tomorrow. I wonder when they will let me leave.

Jw

Finished

The new place:

Today I got up about 7:30, took the shower I had no energy for late last night (because I watched "One, Two, Three" (1961, James Cagney) on Netflix). Went to Target after that for some eggs and oatmeal and other odds and ends, like a puffy mattress pad for my twin bed. Did some serious cleaning (especially behind the bed), and brought the books and movies in. Turns out they fit on the shelves just fine.

Other than that, I worked at the library for 2 and a half hours, labeling and stamping new paperbacks and reshelving audio books and dvds. Had lunch at the Pho restaurant, and especially enjoyed the rice noodle wraps with beef and fish sauce (which they called: "goi cuon bo nuong"... good thing they have an English description as well. :)

Other than that, I've fixed my room to where I really like it:














everything in there is mine, except for the two top shelves on the left above the desk. That's the World Series on TV... my Huskies are not doing well against Stanford tonight.















All I have left is to unpack my service uniform for tomorrow night's watch.

Jw

MOVED!

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

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.