Catching up

It seems as though I have been at full throttle for two months preparing for all the change and then getting settled, training etc. After waiting an extra couple of weeks for an examiner to get here from the states, a coworker and I finally were certified to work alone in the tower.

Now I seem to have a little spare time (as well as adequate computer access) to sit down and review the blogs. I cannot tell you how good it is to hear from all of you and to find out what you all have been doing. Kudos to Julia for being the best at putting folks to sleep. I was thrilled to read about your "Oscar". Sandy, you should get an Oscar for taking all the challenges that life throws at you in stride and never forgetting to smile! Russ, you old curmudgeon, you never post any news but it trickles through the grapevine. Maybe getting a massage is more healthful than absorbing electrons in front of a computer screen.

Of course it is always a treat to hear from the "kids". Their busy lives may not allow much time to post on blogs but we hear often via email and phone.

Cathy and I crossed over to the Leeward side of the base yesterday, on my day off, on the 6:30 am ferry and spent the morning exploring the beaches there (photo is of Chapman Beach). They were all deserted. For a brief moment we thought it was like having an island to ourselves. The sunscreen did the trick and we started home at about 10:45 am. First we ate at the chow hall which opened at 11 am serving a special meal of crab legs, salmon and T-bone steaks with all the trimmings for $3.85 per. We often feel very isolated here ( no news papers for instance except the base paper which is just Navy propaganda) but the fringe benefits out weigh the isolation. Especially when I have Cathy by my side.