It was a glorious, restful time... I loved seeing my family and leaving the Navy far behind me in my mind.
Jw
Showing posts with label puzzles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puzzles. Show all posts
Monday, September 9, 2013
Escape to Asheville
Much of my long weekend in North Carolina with my Mom and Grandparents was spent relaxing, lingering over meals and talking, going to the production of CATS at the Playhouse downtown, and building this puzzle:
It was a glorious, restful time... I loved seeing my family and leaving the Navy far behind me in my mind.
Jw
It was a glorious, restful time... I loved seeing my family and leaving the Navy far behind me in my mind.
Jw
Friday, April 12, 2013
Sunday and Beyond
Last Sunday, I caught up on my posting, but failed to write about the day itself. In the afternoon, I picked up a friend from the ship who's getting out of the Navy soon, and together we went to the Virgina Symphony in Virginia Beach. It was a short, kid-friendly, afternoon concert called "Up, Up and Away" with space and flight-themed music. They acted as if everyone was on "Virginia Symphony Airways" flight, and the conductor even wore a captain's uniform. "Flight attendants" came out in the beginning to show us where the exits were and how to use the program. They started with Ride of the Valkyries, which caused a delay in our taking off the runway, then Flight of the Bumblebee, as the captain conducted with a fly-swatter. Suddenly, we were in space for the Star Wars Suite (Rebels, Yoda's Theme, Imperial March) then came back down to earth's atmosphere to come across E.T. on a bike, and a floating house from Up. They finished with the Suite from How to Train Your Dragon. Goodness! How fun is that?!
From the symphony, we drove directly to church, at the new one I was introduced to last week. We were very early, enjoyed just sitting and listening to the worship band's rehearsal while we talked. Kristin and Dan came and sat with us, and afterwords, they had a huge potluck for everyone... pulled pork or beef sandwiches and baked beans. It was very delicious. And the sermon was wonderful too. More on Colossians about God's will for our lives, firstly, that we belong to him, and then that we surrender every area of our lives as if everything we do for family, work, friends or society is for him; and how that compliments those areas in the end.
This week I've taken it pretty easy... finished up my last two puzzles and watched lots of movies (Jarhead... I was forever curious... now no more, Guys and Dolls... which I heartily enjoyed, and to follow it up, On the Waterfront... which has to be Karl Malden's best role ever, and to finish, Toy Story 3... which I missed in theaters because I joined the Navy - and still hadn't seen for some reason - ... who knew an animated story could be so moving. I actually cried in the end... they did a great job wrapping up that story.) Tonight I've got Virginia City (Errol Flynn, Randolph Scott, Humphrey Bogart, 1940) to try. I also managed to stop being lazy today, and actually did a workout at the gym on base to see where I'm at for next month's test. I did the best I've ever done... 132 calories in 12 minutes... which is an Excellent, I think.
Nothing too exciting in the way of food this week, except for last night when I treated myself out to the Ship's Cabin for scallops and hot bread. I got to sit outside, it has been so warm here! I loved hearing the ocean as I read more in the Caine Mutiny while I waited for the food.
Oh, and after I mowed my lawn Monday night, I found this toad trapped behind the wire under my fence and set him free... so glad I didn't hurt him with the mower!
And while driving around this week, I've listened to the first half of 1776 by David McCullough. I love it! I'll have to get John Adams on audio as well sometime.
Jw
From the symphony, we drove directly to church, at the new one I was introduced to last week. We were very early, enjoyed just sitting and listening to the worship band's rehearsal while we talked. Kristin and Dan came and sat with us, and afterwords, they had a huge potluck for everyone... pulled pork or beef sandwiches and baked beans. It was very delicious. And the sermon was wonderful too. More on Colossians about God's will for our lives, firstly, that we belong to him, and then that we surrender every area of our lives as if everything we do for family, work, friends or society is for him; and how that compliments those areas in the end.
This week I've taken it pretty easy... finished up my last two puzzles and watched lots of movies (Jarhead... I was forever curious... now no more, Guys and Dolls... which I heartily enjoyed, and to follow it up, On the Waterfront... which has to be Karl Malden's best role ever, and to finish, Toy Story 3... which I missed in theaters because I joined the Navy - and still hadn't seen for some reason - ... who knew an animated story could be so moving. I actually cried in the end... they did a great job wrapping up that story.) Tonight I've got Virginia City (Errol Flynn, Randolph Scott, Humphrey Bogart, 1940) to try. I also managed to stop being lazy today, and actually did a workout at the gym on base to see where I'm at for next month's test. I did the best I've ever done... 132 calories in 12 minutes... which is an Excellent, I think.
Nothing too exciting in the way of food this week, except for last night when I treated myself out to the Ship's Cabin for scallops and hot bread. I got to sit outside, it has been so warm here! I loved hearing the ocean as I read more in the Caine Mutiny while I waited for the food.
Oh, and after I mowed my lawn Monday night, I found this toad trapped behind the wire under my fence and set him free... so glad I didn't hurt him with the mower!
And while driving around this week, I've listened to the first half of 1776 by David McCullough. I love it! I'll have to get John Adams on audio as well sometime.
Jw
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Staying at Home
Well this week has been fun! Right after work on Monday, I came home and assembled the push-mower that had come in the mail last week. Turned out to be an excellent, sturdy model (only $60 including shipping when I bought it), being exactly what I needed. The next day at the NEX, I bought a metal rake to get rid of the clippings and a pair of gardening shears to trim the edges of the patio, and that worked out very well too.
I also started another 1000-piece puzzle that I've had sitting around for years, and finished it on Friday.
This greatly reminds me of camping on Ham lake in Minnesota... so very vivid and nostalgic. See what I mean: 2012 BWCA Photo Contest.
On our special day off from work on Thursday (after our duty day), I invited Kari home for breakfast before driving her to her own place (her car is in the shop). It's always such a pleasure to be off the ship after duty, but having an excellent breakfast to share was the tops. We had scrambled eggs with cheese, turkey sausage, orange juice and wheat toast with jelly. Yum!
On the way back from taking her home, I stopped at the library to pick up the other two Lord Peter Wimsey movies that were waiting for me (they had been in storage). While there I poked around a little, picking up a Lincoln Brewster CD Today is the Day, a book about the Civil War navy, War on the Waters (is someone going to attack Mike and I?), a couple audio books (Mansfield Park and 1776... both too long for me to sit down and read), and three other movies, besides the two Wimseys (Guys and Dolls, Jarhead, and the Adventures of Robin Hood - too look at the extras).
And what extras they had! I loved everything I looked at: the Making-Of film, the film historian-narrated behind the scenes footage, the two Loony Toons R.H. themed cartoons, the blooper reel of films of 1938, and finally, audio of a NBC radio program from 1938, advertising the film by having Basil Rathbone introduce the live orchestra playing the film's score. He would describe the scene fitting each piece and said lots of nice things about Errol Flynn and Olivia deHavilland. I listened while I worked on my puzzle, and it was so enjoyable. What memorable music! Turns out the composer Korngold came from Vienna on invitation to work on the film, just before the Nazis took over.
I don't think I've gone out to eat this whole week! That's pretty irregular for me, but I don't mind. Made tacos on Monday, strawberry shortcake on Tuesday, and Thursday night, spaghetti and sauce with Italian sausage and mushrooms mixed in. Lots of trips to the commissary and Farm Fresh, though. :) I watched both Wimsey films (1987, BBC), Strong Poison and Gaudy Night. The latter I watched yesterday and was amazed at how the crammed that long novel into merely three episodes. They condensed it pretty well, though. Must read that again soon! I did read a few more chapters of that Christian novel... not too terribly excited about it anymore. Seems like it's trying to be graphic and shocking (it's centered on the Roman gladiator games), but toned down for teenagers at the same time; there's a lot of youthful angst in it.
Anyway, I've been thoroughly enjoying my time off this week!
Jw
I also started another 1000-piece puzzle that I've had sitting around for years, and finished it on Friday.
This greatly reminds me of camping on Ham lake in Minnesota... so very vivid and nostalgic. See what I mean: 2012 BWCA Photo Contest.
On our special day off from work on Thursday (after our duty day), I invited Kari home for breakfast before driving her to her own place (her car is in the shop). It's always such a pleasure to be off the ship after duty, but having an excellent breakfast to share was the tops. We had scrambled eggs with cheese, turkey sausage, orange juice and wheat toast with jelly. Yum!
On the way back from taking her home, I stopped at the library to pick up the other two Lord Peter Wimsey movies that were waiting for me (they had been in storage). While there I poked around a little, picking up a Lincoln Brewster CD Today is the Day, a book about the Civil War navy, War on the Waters (is someone going to attack Mike and I?), a couple audio books (Mansfield Park and 1776... both too long for me to sit down and read), and three other movies, besides the two Wimseys (Guys and Dolls, Jarhead, and the Adventures of Robin Hood - too look at the extras).
And what extras they had! I loved everything I looked at: the Making-Of film, the film historian-narrated behind the scenes footage, the two Loony Toons R.H. themed cartoons, the blooper reel of films of 1938, and finally, audio of a NBC radio program from 1938, advertising the film by having Basil Rathbone introduce the live orchestra playing the film's score. He would describe the scene fitting each piece and said lots of nice things about Errol Flynn and Olivia deHavilland. I listened while I worked on my puzzle, and it was so enjoyable. What memorable music! Turns out the composer Korngold came from Vienna on invitation to work on the film, just before the Nazis took over.
I don't think I've gone out to eat this whole week! That's pretty irregular for me, but I don't mind. Made tacos on Monday, strawberry shortcake on Tuesday, and Thursday night, spaghetti and sauce with Italian sausage and mushrooms mixed in. Lots of trips to the commissary and Farm Fresh, though. :) I watched both Wimsey films (1987, BBC), Strong Poison and Gaudy Night. The latter I watched yesterday and was amazed at how the crammed that long novel into merely three episodes. They condensed it pretty well, though. Must read that again soon! I did read a few more chapters of that Christian novel... not too terribly excited about it anymore. Seems like it's trying to be graphic and shocking (it's centered on the Roman gladiator games), but toned down for teenagers at the same time; there's a lot of youthful angst in it.
Anyway, I've been thoroughly enjoying my time off this week!
Jw
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Two Long Weekends!
Well, I've somehow kept busy enough to keep away from here for over two weeks after pulling in from ten days out. So... it's been a while.
Way back on Saturday morning, the 23rd, just after 8am, I found myself back at my car after over a week at sea and a long night of standing watch. It is always such a pleasant feeling to find yourself back on land and back with familiar things. The first thing I saw in my car was a Virginia Symphony ad for a pops concert that very night in downtown... an evening with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. I had left it there so I wouldn't forget about it, I suppose. Well, the first thing I did, even before going home was to head over to my favorite diner, the Sandfiddler Cafe, for my favorite... western omelet with hash and pancakes. After resting at home for a while, I headed out to Virginia Beach for a DVD player (for my new TV) and a couple frames for a couple puzzles that I didn't feel like breaking up.
The concert ended up being very crowded at the Chrysler Center downtown. I barely made it there in time because it was so hard to find parking. Ended up leaving the car at the MacArthur Center Mall garage, then walked the block or so back to the symphony. Then when I finally got to my seat in the back row, there was someone sitting in it! She got up and mentioned that she was only sitting there to be next to her friends, so I offered to take her seat, wherever that was (the one I bought was the cheapest price in the house, so it wasn't too magnanimous of me). She gave me her special seating in the second row on the extreme right... a view to die for, right behind the piano so I could even see the fingers fly! What a trade!
As for the concert itself, gosh, did I enjoy it! They're celebrating their 20th year this year and still have all their original members... I did want to swing in the aisles, as the flier advertised I would, when I heard them play. They were very energetic, and played very light, happy, jazz, swing, big-band and Dixieland sounds. At intermission, I ran out to the foyer and bought their new album Rattle Them Bones before the table got swamped. And I've been listening it in my car ever since. I was surprised by a sweet love song half-way through the album on the way home that they didn't play at the concert... called It Only Took a Kiss. Immediately, I was swept away with it as it plainly described my own love with Michael.
Sunday the 24th I took pretty easy. I finished the Sleeping Beauty puzzle I had started before the underway... then I watched the first episode of Horatio Hornblower, made a very quick trip back to Best Buy to return the B/R player that wouldn't respond in the menu screen for a cheaper, but more reliable DVD player (saving $30). I started another puzzle (backyard birds this time), watched the extras disc of Sleeping Beauty to test out the new player, and ended up watching the entire "making of" film and found it very interesting. Interviews with the artists and actors, and lots of neat pictures and footage of what they went through to bring it all together. Actors in costumes, going through the motions for the artists. Casting selections, and inspirations for characters. Then I made a delicious dinner of shrimp, scallops and asparagus, and watched the live feed of Mike's church in Norman for service that night at 7pm, my time. I even saw him shake hands with people on screen during the meet & greet part.
Monday the 25, I turned 30 years old in the morning while working on a couple checks on the Sonar Dome at work. No one remembered, but before I came in, I had a message from my parents and husband on Facebook... what more could you want? :) And then I was let off early because of the evening class I had to attend, starting at 6:30 pm, lasting for 4 hours. So it was about noon-ish when I got groceries and gas at the commissary. Since I woke up late that morning, and had to rush to work, I made an excellent breakfast for lunch when I got home around 12:30. After that I worked on my puzzle, took a nap, and managed to stop for Burger King before making my way back to base for my class in Divisional Safety Petty Officer training. Oh, joy!
Because it was a two-day class, my supervisor (Senior Chief) let me off of work on Tuesday the 26th. Another fine birthday present, I think. I slept in, had cereal, watched Sleeping Beauty for a belated birthday movie, had Pad Thai shrimp for lunch, went to the shooting range on the Marine Corps base to shoot my own pistol for the first time (enjoyed it quite a bit although I was limited by the one clip of 15 rounds I brought with me... they were out of it at the store), then continued on directly to the laundromat in Ocean View and read more in The Caine Mutiny while I waited. More puzzling at home before the last installment of my class that night. Also got in a nice long call with my parents and sister Meg before talking with Mike.
Wednesday, I was allowed to come in late again! What a week! Slept in again! Didn't have to be in to work until 11am, so I heartily enjoyed a full breakfast. All I had time to do at work before we were let go to work out was get the divisional safety binder in order. And after the 30 minutes on the elliptical, another STG and I went to a public indoor pool in Norfolk for a wonderful half-hour's swim. I only did 600 yds, but that was because I stopped and talked with my friend more often than not. After dropping her back at her house, I returned home for a shower, then went down the street to Franco's Italian Cuisine for dinner and enjoyed spaghetti with meatballs the size of baseballs, hot bread and decaff for a treat. The next day was my duty day, so I saved half the meal for dinner on the ship (which ended up being much better than what they served!).
Friday afternoon, the beginning of my second wonderful weekend, I relaxed at home for a while, working a bunch on my puzzle and eating some pizza from the freezer for lunch. I had to stay long enough for UPS to deliver my push-mower from Amazon (which apparently required a signature - they tried to find me at home on my duty day and left a note) before I took off for Kristin and Dan's. It finally came around 6:30, so I made it over to Chesapeake around 7:15. They waited to have dinner until I got there too... so very sweet! We had pulled-pork sandwiches and coleslaw as we watched one of the TV shows they enjoy on Hulu... called "Revolutions". Then we finished the last of the John Adams series which we had started late last year.
Saturday the 30th, slept in til 8, and then we took off to have an Easter brunch with their close friends. I loved the egg & sausage casserole best... and had a good time meeting everyone. A couple notable things I enjoyed looking at at their house: not sure what type of fish this was, but the Naval Academy Press book dated from 1939! I was disappointed the Sears book did not have a toy section.
Upon returning to their house, Kristin and I watched the BBC Lord Peter Wimsey film (4 TV episodes) of Have His Carcase from 1987. This was the book I just finished reading underway, so it was great fun! It was the only L.P.W. dvd I could find at our library, but I didn't mind... liked it very much. Just like the BBC too... some scenes are pulled from the book word for word!. I think I shall see the two others with these actors before I watch the Ian Carmichael series. Then I picked up my book for a while (A Voice in the Wind - a Christian/historical fiction/romance novel that the other Lay Leader on the Truxtun lent me to read - after talking about it on watch together) before Kristin and Dan came downstairs and we watched a movie (Diamonds are Forever - forgive me) and more Hulu (New Girl) before going to bed.
Today! my brother's birthday and the day we celebrate our Lord's resurrection, the 31st, we all slept in. I was downstairs first, even after my shower, so I read some more in my book. There were leftovers from yesterday's brunch, and then I read some more and chatted with Kristin about church. While she went to go get ready for the day, I borrowed her sewing machine and sewed the crows and name tapes on a new pair of coveralls, then did more straight seams along a dark gray fleece blanket for the ship. When I finished, we broke out a puzzle on the kitchen table and nearly finished it before our Easter lunch of baked ham, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole. Mmm! Did more puzzle and then took off for an evening Easter service at the new church they're attending... Crosscurrent Church off Indian River Road in Kempsville.
What a surprise! It is so very much like the church I've been missing for ten months now... Mission Valley Christian Fellowship in San Diego. It's about the same size, also meeting in a classic, old-style chapel that is shared by another church. They only have a couple guitars and a drum set, and a very Biblical, down-to-earth, no nonsense way of teaching. I already met a couple nice young women my age who assume I'm coming to their small group too! They do communion every Sunday, and in the same manner as MVCF... everyone gets in two lines and comes to the front. Good Lord, praises for today's find! I said goodbye to Kristin and Dan in the parking lot, as we had drove separately, and we parted ways while getting on different ramps to I-64. Praise God! I am happy.
Jw
Way back on Saturday morning, the 23rd, just after 8am, I found myself back at my car after over a week at sea and a long night of standing watch. It is always such a pleasant feeling to find yourself back on land and back with familiar things. The first thing I saw in my car was a Virginia Symphony ad for a pops concert that very night in downtown... an evening with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. I had left it there so I wouldn't forget about it, I suppose. Well, the first thing I did, even before going home was to head over to my favorite diner, the Sandfiddler Cafe, for my favorite... western omelet with hash and pancakes. After resting at home for a while, I headed out to Virginia Beach for a DVD player (for my new TV) and a couple frames for a couple puzzles that I didn't feel like breaking up.The concert ended up being very crowded at the Chrysler Center downtown. I barely made it there in time because it was so hard to find parking. Ended up leaving the car at the MacArthur Center Mall garage, then walked the block or so back to the symphony. Then when I finally got to my seat in the back row, there was someone sitting in it! She got up and mentioned that she was only sitting there to be next to her friends, so I offered to take her seat, wherever that was (the one I bought was the cheapest price in the house, so it wasn't too magnanimous of me). She gave me her special seating in the second row on the extreme right... a view to die for, right behind the piano so I could even see the fingers fly! What a trade!
As for the concert itself, gosh, did I enjoy it! They're celebrating their 20th year this year and still have all their original members... I did want to swing in the aisles, as the flier advertised I would, when I heard them play. They were very energetic, and played very light, happy, jazz, swing, big-band and Dixieland sounds. At intermission, I ran out to the foyer and bought their new album Rattle Them Bones before the table got swamped. And I've been listening it in my car ever since. I was surprised by a sweet love song half-way through the album on the way home that they didn't play at the concert... called It Only Took a Kiss. Immediately, I was swept away with it as it plainly described my own love with Michael. 
Monday the 25, I turned 30 years old in the morning while working on a couple checks on the Sonar Dome at work. No one remembered, but before I came in, I had a message from my parents and husband on Facebook... what more could you want? :) And then I was let off early because of the evening class I had to attend, starting at 6:30 pm, lasting for 4 hours. So it was about noon-ish when I got groceries and gas at the commissary. Since I woke up late that morning, and had to rush to work, I made an excellent breakfast for lunch when I got home around 12:30. After that I worked on my puzzle, took a nap, and managed to stop for Burger King before making my way back to base for my class in Divisional Safety Petty Officer training. Oh, joy!Because it was a two-day class, my supervisor (Senior Chief) let me off of work on Tuesday the 26th. Another fine birthday present, I think. I slept in, had cereal, watched Sleeping Beauty for a belated birthday movie, had Pad Thai shrimp for lunch, went to the shooting range on the Marine Corps base to shoot my own pistol for the first time (enjoyed it quite a bit although I was limited by the one clip of 15 rounds I brought with me... they were out of it at the store), then continued on directly to the laundromat in Ocean View and read more in The Caine Mutiny while I waited. More puzzling at home before the last installment of my class that night. Also got in a nice long call with my parents and sister Meg before talking with Mike.
Wednesday, I was allowed to come in late again! What a week! Slept in again! Didn't have to be in to work until 11am, so I heartily enjoyed a full breakfast. All I had time to do at work before we were let go to work out was get the divisional safety binder in order. And after the 30 minutes on the elliptical, another STG and I went to a public indoor pool in Norfolk for a wonderful half-hour's swim. I only did 600 yds, but that was because I stopped and talked with my friend more often than not. After dropping her back at her house, I returned home for a shower, then went down the street to Franco's Italian Cuisine for dinner and enjoyed spaghetti with meatballs the size of baseballs, hot bread and decaff for a treat. The next day was my duty day, so I saved half the meal for dinner on the ship (which ended up being much better than what they served!).
Friday afternoon, the beginning of my second wonderful weekend, I relaxed at home for a while, working a bunch on my puzzle and eating some pizza from the freezer for lunch. I had to stay long enough for UPS to deliver my push-mower from Amazon (which apparently required a signature - they tried to find me at home on my duty day and left a note) before I took off for Kristin and Dan's. It finally came around 6:30, so I made it over to Chesapeake around 7:15. They waited to have dinner until I got there too... so very sweet! We had pulled-pork sandwiches and coleslaw as we watched one of the TV shows they enjoy on Hulu... called "Revolutions". Then we finished the last of the John Adams series which we had started late last year.
Saturday the 30th, slept in til 8, and then we took off to have an Easter brunch with their close friends. I loved the egg & sausage casserole best... and had a good time meeting everyone. A couple notable things I enjoyed looking at at their house: not sure what type of fish this was, but the Naval Academy Press book dated from 1939! I was disappointed the Sears book did not have a toy section.
Upon returning to their house, Kristin and I watched the BBC Lord Peter Wimsey film (4 TV episodes) of Have His Carcase from 1987. This was the book I just finished reading underway, so it was great fun! It was the only L.P.W. dvd I could find at our library, but I didn't mind... liked it very much. Just like the BBC too... some scenes are pulled from the book word for word!. I think I shall see the two others with these actors before I watch the Ian Carmichael series. Then I picked up my book for a while (A Voice in the Wind - a Christian/historical fiction/romance novel that the other Lay Leader on the Truxtun lent me to read - after talking about it on watch together) before Kristin and Dan came downstairs and we watched a movie (Diamonds are Forever - forgive me) and more Hulu (New Girl) before going to bed.
Today! my brother's birthday and the day we celebrate our Lord's resurrection, the 31st, we all slept in. I was downstairs first, even after my shower, so I read some more in my book. There were leftovers from yesterday's brunch, and then I read some more and chatted with Kristin about church. While she went to go get ready for the day, I borrowed her sewing machine and sewed the crows and name tapes on a new pair of coveralls, then did more straight seams along a dark gray fleece blanket for the ship. When I finished, we broke out a puzzle on the kitchen table and nearly finished it before our Easter lunch of baked ham, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole. Mmm! Did more puzzle and then took off for an evening Easter service at the new church they're attending... Crosscurrent Church off Indian River Road in Kempsville.
What a surprise! It is so very much like the church I've been missing for ten months now... Mission Valley Christian Fellowship in San Diego. It's about the same size, also meeting in a classic, old-style chapel that is shared by another church. They only have a couple guitars and a drum set, and a very Biblical, down-to-earth, no nonsense way of teaching. I already met a couple nice young women my age who assume I'm coming to their small group too! They do communion every Sunday, and in the same manner as MVCF... everyone gets in two lines and comes to the front. Good Lord, praises for today's find! I said goodbye to Kristin and Dan in the parking lot, as we had drove separately, and we parted ways while getting on different ramps to I-64. Praise God! I am happy. Jw
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Big Indulgence
(Doing my laundry in Ocean View... and reading the Caine Mutiny as I did.)
Friday, we were let go just after 1100. I went straight to the NEX and commissary to buy new covers and pick up food for the next day. It wasn't too long after I got home that my replacement posters (from a lost order from January) arrived. While waiting for them, I broke out my Sleeping Beauty wood puzzle (a gift from a long time ago). I also planned out what all I wanted to do before the command party that night...
Stopped by Chipotle for a quick late lunch, then went to Bob's Gun Shop with the intention of just looking around. I've been considering buying an M9 Beretta (the pistol the Navy uses), and they had a used one there on sale, and only lightly used. I decided, in the interests of getting used to handling the weapon I often have to carry, and having a weapon handy in the house (although not much for firepower), and being able to use it at any range I please, that it would be a good purchase.
From there it was just time to head over to the Norfolk Waterside Marriott to help with the command's holiday party, a couple months rescheduled. As part of the MWR team, I was assigned to give out the one free drink ticket to each attendee. The food was quite good too... a buffet with ham, steak, and flounder with crab on top. I enjoyed a glass of white wine, and danced a few times with fellow sonar techs. I had a copy of The Caine Mutiny with me at the table as I was waiting for people to check in. The Supply Officer, the Weapons Officer and the Commanding Officer all made comments... SUPPO said it was banned in the wardroom, WEPS told me to tell him first if I ever thought of mutinying, and the CO directed me to not get any ideas. LOL :)
Today I got a few errands done in Hampton... ammunition, frames for posters, and a few things at the grocery store. Since getting back I made myself some marvelous tacos for lunch, worked on the puzzle, put the posters up, and picked up a little. For the rest of the day I plan on doing my laundry, having an amazing seafood dinner at home, then going out to the symphony for the first time in Virginia. Can't wait!
Jw
It was swell! Held at Regent University in VB.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Napping and Puzzling
As for today after work... I found my Christmas present (framed cross-stitch of 1 Cor. 13) on my doorstep when I pulled up. In perfect condition, as promised, and sitting comfortably upstairs in my bedroom. :)
First order of business was getting something to eat! I was starved! Ate up the remaining salmon steak that I had cooked the night before, grilled some zucchini and yellow squash, had a marvelous salad, and finished later on with some bread and a bowl of chicken noodle.
I worked a lot more on my puzzle, getting it pretty close to being done. Between working on it, I shut my eyes and leaned back on the couch for a pleasant little nap. Got up the gumption to take care of a few phone calls, and felt better when I did.
Jw
First order of business was getting something to eat! I was starved! Ate up the remaining salmon steak that I had cooked the night before, grilled some zucchini and yellow squash, had a marvelous salad, and finished later on with some bread and a bowl of chicken noodle.
I worked a lot more on my puzzle, getting it pretty close to being done. Between working on it, I shut my eyes and leaned back on the couch for a pleasant little nap. Got up the gumption to take care of a few phone calls, and felt better when I did.
Jw
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
One-and-a-Half Day Weekend
Friday afternoon I spent pretty leisurely. I got my "compact" puzzle out... a lake-side sunset theme (that I bought in Florida). Turns out although it's 500 pieces, it's only 8" by 10" in size. So each piece is a little smaller than a dime! A little challenging when piecing together, but that makes it fun. I cleaned up a bit around the house, then had mac'n cheese for dinner as I watched two episodes of Tintin, and then a present from Linda, The House Without a Christmas Tree, which I enjoyed very much (thank you!). On the way home from work, I picked up my dry-cleaned dress blues, and also a lasagna dinner from Mike's next door (I successfully kept the lasagna off the blues) which I brought home to eat. :) This felt like the first day I didn't have to do something to take care of, or set up the house... only live in it... and suddenly I was very lonely. Talking to Mike really made me feel better.
Saturday I slept in way too long for my plan from the night before of heading to Richmond for a day trip. So I took it easy instead, had a nice breakfast, then took a shorter trip to the Virginia War Museum in Huntington Park, Newport News, on the east side of the James River. Been curious about it for a while, and I'm very glad I made the effort. Not only did they have a wonderful collection of things from every American war (including an original G. Washington letter and Capt. Harry S. Truman's WWI helmet), but they also had a very unique display of things from Germany, Japan and Italy during WWII.
After two hours in the museum, I stuck around outside and watched the sun set over the James River bridge from a park bench. I opened up Andrew Nelson's new book Fight for Grace for the first time, and really enjoyed that too. He was my small group leader in San Diego, so it's really neat to read his stuff! Stopped by Food Lion on the way home for hamburger and things, and made an amazing dinner while I watched Bing Crosby in Going My Way. Before stopping by chat, I got into searching for a particular Navy poster on allposters.com, and after looking through nearly 2,000 posters, I found it! It's the "Enlist and Help Him" one that I have on my Navy Times. Also picked up the "For Liberty's Sake" one while I was at it. :)
After Sunday's duty day, I was excited to be let off early on Monday. Unfortunately, I locked my keys in my car and had to wait a good long while for AAA and the Navy Police (escort required on base). The sonar tech I was driving home took me out to eat at Burger King, then I returned to the base to take a shower and do all my laundry. Had to break a $20 at McDonalds (coffee & cookie) so I could use quarters for the laundry. :) When I got home, I watched My Favorite Wife (Cary Grant), had Hamburger Helper for dinner, and had another nice long talk with my darling.
This afternoon I did a lot more on my puzzle (which is comfortably sitting out on the coffee table, as I intended it to be used for), ate some freshly cooked shrimp, salmon steak (that I picked up at the commissary on the way home), and brussel sprouts from the fridge, as I watched Hitch (Will Smith, 2005).
Jw
Saturday I slept in way too long for my plan from the night before of heading to Richmond for a day trip. So I took it easy instead, had a nice breakfast, then took a shorter trip to the Virginia War Museum in Huntington Park, Newport News, on the east side of the James River. Been curious about it for a while, and I'm very glad I made the effort. Not only did they have a wonderful collection of things from every American war (including an original G. Washington letter and Capt. Harry S. Truman's WWI helmet), but they also had a very unique display of things from Germany, Japan and Italy during WWII.
After two hours in the museum, I stuck around outside and watched the sun set over the James River bridge from a park bench. I opened up Andrew Nelson's new book Fight for Grace for the first time, and really enjoyed that too. He was my small group leader in San Diego, so it's really neat to read his stuff! Stopped by Food Lion on the way home for hamburger and things, and made an amazing dinner while I watched Bing Crosby in Going My Way. Before stopping by chat, I got into searching for a particular Navy poster on allposters.com, and after looking through nearly 2,000 posters, I found it! It's the "Enlist and Help Him" one that I have on my Navy Times. Also picked up the "For Liberty's Sake" one while I was at it. :)
After Sunday's duty day, I was excited to be let off early on Monday. Unfortunately, I locked my keys in my car and had to wait a good long while for AAA and the Navy Police (escort required on base). The sonar tech I was driving home took me out to eat at Burger King, then I returned to the base to take a shower and do all my laundry. Had to break a $20 at McDonalds (coffee & cookie) so I could use quarters for the laundry. :) When I got home, I watched My Favorite Wife (Cary Grant), had Hamburger Helper for dinner, and had another nice long talk with my darling.
This afternoon I did a lot more on my puzzle (which is comfortably sitting out on the coffee table, as I intended it to be used for), ate some freshly cooked shrimp, salmon steak (that I picked up at the commissary on the way home), and brussel sprouts from the fridge, as I watched Hitch (Will Smith, 2005).
Jw
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Weekend in Western North Carolina
Well, I'm back! My sister and I had a lovely time with our grandparents!
Both there and back, we flew from Seattle to Chicago/O'Hare, and from there to Charlotte, NC, finally arriving in Asheville, NC. Strangely enough, somebody I knew was on the plane to Chicago, so that was unexpected! We had Quizno's in Chicago, and since the flight from Charlotte to Asheville was so short, they were charging 2 dollars for any drink whatsoever! Crazy times! I remember flying as a kid, and back then on long flights they'd give everyone little food trays. Not now! Holy Cow!
Even though we were really tired when we got to our grandparents house, my sister and I stayed up for at least three hours in our room, talking and laughing. It had been a long time since we've had a sleepover, and smothering my mouth was all I could do stop from making too much noise! Oh, we had a great time! Our first day we worked a lot on a "12 Days of Christmas" quilt puzzle, that was very challenging. But a good part of the day was spent at the "Epic" movie theater, seeing Disney's "Bolt" in 3D. Oh My Goodness! I was crying from the very first scene, it was so cute! Bolt had stand-up ears, just like my blue heeler, Spiffy. And when he pounced on that squeaky carrot... I just lost it. (Linda, I haven't seen that episode of Lassie you mentioned, but there were violins in this one too... along with some soaring French horns. :) My goodness, gracious, I'm going to invest in this one! Very nice indeed! I had lots of tear stains on my face! Was this thing Pixar? I didn't see their name on it anywhere.
My aunt and uncle also live around the same area of Asheville, and they were on a little vacation for most of the time we were there, so we took care of their black lab "Gus". He's a tall and slender black lab, who had legs made out of rubber! He bounces four feet in the air when you come to get him out of his pen! He's so funny! The house they own is on a very little lake, so there are ducks every night (one night there were 20!) and often there were deer on the lawn. Once we saw 5, and another time we saw a faun, still with it's spots! So we had to make lots of trips to their house to pick up or drop off the dog, but it was fun to drive around the beautiful countryside all the time. The first two days we were there, it was brilliant sunshine outside.
On Thanksgiving day itself, we finished the puzzle! I think it was 1,000 pieces, with a lot of repeated patterns as well! But of course, this day we went to the Biltmore Estate for Thanksgiving dinner at the Deerpark Restaurant on the Estate grounds. We arrived 2 o'clock and didn't leave until 4 or 4:30. The restaurant is in a converted carriage house, it's narrow halls lined with glass windows, both on the grounds, and on the small courtyard in the middle. It was buffet style, but what a buffet! I had freshly mixed Caesar salad, a cold chicken pasta salad, strawberries, pineapple, melon, grapes, fresh bread, spicy green beans, catfish cakes baked with nuts, juicy turkey and heaps of jumbo shrimp cocktail! My goodness! I was full! But then there was tea and desert... I had a delicious vanilla cheesecake and scoop of ice creme. A Thanksgiving to remember, for sure! When we got back home, after picking up Gus, we watched that Jimmy Stewart movie that we had never seen before, "The Shopworn Angel" from 1938. It was pretty different from the other ones he made, but I enjoyed it all the same.
After waking up from a nightmare (whew!) and after breakfast and after dropping off Gus, (whew!) , we went for a short drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at my request. We brought a boxed lunch of beef sausage and cheese sandwiches, along with snacks like raisins and string cheese and sliced apple. It felt like a camping lunch from Tuscarora (the resort my grandparents ran in northern Minnesota for 25 years) and I enjoyed it very much. The Blue Ridge is run by the National Parks, and a few miles up the trail from the highway, is a visitor's center and folk art center that we visited. I found a couple of patches! and in the art portion, I bought a little fish made out of decorated metal... both things that fit well in my various, strange collections. :) The parkway was closed 8 miles up from the center, but we drove all of them anyway, and I was able to take a few pictures as well. That night we picked up my aunt and uncle from the regional airport (there are 4 or 5 gates) and drove them home to the delight of their long, lost doggie.
On Saturday, (wow, that was just yesterday!) my aunt came over in the morning, and her and my grandma and my sister and I did a few crafts. We made decorative paper boxes and made Christmas bracelets and beaded winter pins. Grandpa declined. LOL After a little bit of just plain visiting, my aunt went home and then we all met for dinner at a great little (authentic) Mexican restaurant called "Papas and Beer". Now for any of you that know Spanish, that should be "Papas and Cervesa" (potatoes and beer), but to each his own, I suppose. I had shrimp enchiladas and Mexican rice and refried beans... it was a much lighter Mexican than I usually have, and it was very nice. But after that we headed off to The Flatrock Playhouse for a Christmas play called "Dear Santa". We sat in the 2nd row (just like the two other plays I've seen this year... :), and enjoyed ourselves heartily. The rest of them had seen this play a few years ago, but everyone besides my sister didn't quite remember how it ended, so we were mostly all in the same boat. The one character we all loved the most was an elf named "Bolzidar", who used lots of common phrases, but got them messed up. "She's a stone's throw away." "What?" "She's a castaway." Or... "I'm playing the Devil's Avocado." Or... "I'll bet your bottom." (dollar- LOL) and on and on! I should have written them all down! But the whopper at the end... Santa's assistant had described Santa earlier on to this guy as "The Great Wheel" and "The big cheese". So when Santa was leaving, the elf told him in hilarious earnestness, "Goodbye you great big wheel of cheese!" It was a great, feel-good holiday play that taught us about the Christmas spirit and making and being friends and understanding parent's scolding, among other things. Very cute and very well done! Some of my favorite regulars were in it, Michael Edwards (who played Ben Franklin in 1776) played Santa Claus and Scott Treadway (from various plays, like Leading Ladies) played a great character (a sleigh salesman from Detroit) named Lou Flapdoodle. What a hoot!
In the past, I've seen 1776 there, Leading Ladies (and I Love You... on the same trip), along with a few others that don't have photo albums, like "Beauty and the Beast", "There Goes the Bride" and a few others.
This morning we left really early (like 5:40 Eastern - yikes!), and had a long layover in Charlotte where we had bagels and watched most of "The Emperor's Club". I saw my first snow of the year in that tottlin' town, where they sprayed the wings with some defroster. I slept quite a bit on the plane, but also did a little fanfiction writing. Grace and Victor! Whoowho! We'll see how it goes - I love the story, but I hope I do it justice.
Jp
Both there and back, we flew from Seattle to Chicago/O'Hare, and from there to Charlotte, NC, finally arriving in Asheville, NC. Strangely enough, somebody I knew was on the plane to Chicago, so that was unexpected! We had Quizno's in Chicago, and since the flight from Charlotte to Asheville was so short, they were charging 2 dollars for any drink whatsoever! Crazy times! I remember flying as a kid, and back then on long flights they'd give everyone little food trays. Not now! Holy Cow!
Even though we were really tired when we got to our grandparents house, my sister and I stayed up for at least three hours in our room, talking and laughing. It had been a long time since we've had a sleepover, and smothering my mouth was all I could do stop from making too much noise! Oh, we had a great time! Our first day we worked a lot on a "12 Days of Christmas" quilt puzzle, that was very challenging. But a good part of the day was spent at the "Epic" movie theater, seeing Disney's "Bolt" in 3D. Oh My Goodness! I was crying from the very first scene, it was so cute! Bolt had stand-up ears, just like my blue heeler, Spiffy. And when he pounced on that squeaky carrot... I just lost it. (Linda, I haven't seen that episode of Lassie you mentioned, but there were violins in this one too... along with some soaring French horns. :) My goodness, gracious, I'm going to invest in this one! Very nice indeed! I had lots of tear stains on my face! Was this thing Pixar? I didn't see their name on it anywhere.
My aunt and uncle also live around the same area of Asheville, and they were on a little vacation for most of the time we were there, so we took care of their black lab "Gus". He's a tall and slender black lab, who had legs made out of rubber! He bounces four feet in the air when you come to get him out of his pen! He's so funny! The house they own is on a very little lake, so there are ducks every night (one night there were 20!) and often there were deer on the lawn. Once we saw 5, and another time we saw a faun, still with it's spots! So we had to make lots of trips to their house to pick up or drop off the dog, but it was fun to drive around the beautiful countryside all the time. The first two days we were there, it was brilliant sunshine outside.
On Thanksgiving day itself, we finished the puzzle! I think it was 1,000 pieces, with a lot of repeated patterns as well! But of course, this day we went to the Biltmore Estate for Thanksgiving dinner at the Deerpark Restaurant on the Estate grounds. We arrived 2 o'clock and didn't leave until 4 or 4:30. The restaurant is in a converted carriage house, it's narrow halls lined with glass windows, both on the grounds, and on the small courtyard in the middle. It was buffet style, but what a buffet! I had freshly mixed Caesar salad, a cold chicken pasta salad, strawberries, pineapple, melon, grapes, fresh bread, spicy green beans, catfish cakes baked with nuts, juicy turkey and heaps of jumbo shrimp cocktail! My goodness! I was full! But then there was tea and desert... I had a delicious vanilla cheesecake and scoop of ice creme. A Thanksgiving to remember, for sure! When we got back home, after picking up Gus, we watched that Jimmy Stewart movie that we had never seen before, "The Shopworn Angel" from 1938. It was pretty different from the other ones he made, but I enjoyed it all the same.
After waking up from a nightmare (whew!) and after breakfast and after dropping off Gus, (whew!) , we went for a short drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at my request. We brought a boxed lunch of beef sausage and cheese sandwiches, along with snacks like raisins and string cheese and sliced apple. It felt like a camping lunch from Tuscarora (the resort my grandparents ran in northern Minnesota for 25 years) and I enjoyed it very much. The Blue Ridge is run by the National Parks, and a few miles up the trail from the highway, is a visitor's center and folk art center that we visited. I found a couple of patches! and in the art portion, I bought a little fish made out of decorated metal... both things that fit well in my various, strange collections. :) The parkway was closed 8 miles up from the center, but we drove all of them anyway, and I was able to take a few pictures as well. That night we picked up my aunt and uncle from the regional airport (there are 4 or 5 gates) and drove them home to the delight of their long, lost doggie.
On Saturday, (wow, that was just yesterday!) my aunt came over in the morning, and her and my grandma and my sister and I did a few crafts. We made decorative paper boxes and made Christmas bracelets and beaded winter pins. Grandpa declined. LOL After a little bit of just plain visiting, my aunt went home and then we all met for dinner at a great little (authentic) Mexican restaurant called "Papas and Beer". Now for any of you that know Spanish, that should be "Papas and Cervesa" (potatoes and beer), but to each his own, I suppose. I had shrimp enchiladas and Mexican rice and refried beans... it was a much lighter Mexican than I usually have, and it was very nice. But after that we headed off to The Flatrock Playhouse for a Christmas play called "Dear Santa". We sat in the 2nd row (just like the two other plays I've seen this year... :), and enjoyed ourselves heartily. The rest of them had seen this play a few years ago, but everyone besides my sister didn't quite remember how it ended, so we were mostly all in the same boat. The one character we all loved the most was an elf named "Bolzidar", who used lots of common phrases, but got them messed up. "She's a stone's throw away." "What?" "She's a castaway." Or... "I'm playing the Devil's Avocado." Or... "I'll bet your bottom." (dollar- LOL) and on and on! I should have written them all down! But the whopper at the end... Santa's assistant had described Santa earlier on to this guy as "The Great Wheel" and "The big cheese". So when Santa was leaving, the elf told him in hilarious earnestness, "Goodbye you great big wheel of cheese!" It was a great, feel-good holiday play that taught us about the Christmas spirit and making and being friends and understanding parent's scolding, among other things. Very cute and very well done! Some of my favorite regulars were in it, Michael Edwards (who played Ben Franklin in 1776) played Santa Claus and Scott Treadway (from various plays, like Leading Ladies) played a great character (a sleigh salesman from Detroit) named Lou Flapdoodle. What a hoot!
In the past, I've seen 1776 there, Leading Ladies (and I Love You... on the same trip), along with a few others that don't have photo albums, like "Beauty and the Beast", "There Goes the Bride" and a few others.
This morning we left really early (like 5:40 Eastern - yikes!), and had a long layover in Charlotte where we had bagels and watched most of "The Emperor's Club". I saw my first snow of the year in that tottlin' town, where they sprayed the wings with some defroster. I slept quite a bit on the plane, but also did a little fanfiction writing. Grace and Victor! Whoowho! We'll see how it goes - I love the story, but I hope I do it justice.
Jp
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