San Francisco

Kim "Curly" San Gabriel and I met at Mission Springs' Frontier Ranch the summer of 19998. She was a counselor and I was there as a relief rancher. She and I became quick friends and have been hanging out ever since. Every time I come home we try to find time to get together. This time we went in the San Francisco to walk around the California Academy of Sciences. While we were walking through their rain forest I had a butterfly land on my head. Too bad I couldn't see it...

After walking through the museum we headed down to Fort Point just below the Golden Gate Bridge. Yet again, COLD!!! But so beautiful! There were four surfers in the water just off the Point. I can only imagine how cold that water must have been. Their rides weren't very long as the breaks were very close to the rocks but it was fun to watch.

Ooohhh! And then for dinner, some amazing tacos with a fresh Churro for dessert!!! A great day!!!

Mission Springs

Easily one of my favorite places to go. Whether on vacation to visit friends or in need of a vacation from reality, Mission Springs has been my safe place. Today I drove down to spend time with the Wright family. Terry and Susan have been friends and role models for me for the last 10 years. They have helped to guide me through some unique decicions in life and have been there to share in my successes and failures. I have been so fortunate to have gotten to know them and their amazing kids! I count myself to lucky to have gotten to grow up with their kids. Nick has moved out and is teaching in a difficult neighborhood, Anna is still local and working in town, and Zack is living at home working and volunteering a crazy amount of hours. Their youngest Jake is still at home as well. He has been a blast to watch grow up. (When he was little he proposed to me with a a compass ring which of course I still have. So cute!)

Today was spent with Terry, Susan, and Jake catching up on life and just spending time together. This is one my favorite things to do with them. Life can be full of distractions and busy work, but life always seem to slow down when I am with this family allowing me to remember what really matters, relationships. I am soooo lucky to know this family!

While there I got to give Jake another hair cut. When he was younger he used to have us give him the "Mr. T mohawk" every summer. This time it was a simple shaving of his head. He had some seriously long hair too.! Enjoy the before and after pictures!

Southern California

Finally done driving for a few days!

Plans for the next few days:

Disneyland, Deployment friends, APU friends, and some In N Out Burger!!!

Day Four of Drive

Today I took a detour up to the Grand Canyon. I had driven through Arizona before but had never stopped to see the huge hole in the ground. Absolutely freezing...I mean gorgeous! The different colors of the different layers of sediment earth. I drove along the South Rim as the North was closed for the season and saw some beautiful views of the Canyon. Thoughts are formulating about a possible camping trip at the base of the canyon...

Day Four: about 9 hours and 570 miles done

Day Three of Drive

Today was a far less eventful day, Amarillo, TX to Flagstaff, AZ. A much shorter distance to travel with a rather boring view. Interstate 40 and I became good friends. The one benefit of a shorter drive today was that I got to sleep in. Instead of being up and out by 0630 I slept till about 0800 before hitting the road at 0900.

Even the weather and direction screen on my car agreed with the route I took.

Day three: about 9 hours and 610 miles done

Day Two of Drive

So, my plans to stay south and not take I-80 to avoid any snow storms might have backfired. The Midwest got hit by a good-sized snow storm overnight. So much so that many of the radio stations were reporting that this storm was the worst they had seen in years for the amount of snow and how quickly it came. Any where from 5 to 11 inches. Needless to say, my drive started out a little slower than planned. Once out of the city itself (snow plow crews had worked all night but were still so far behind) we were down to using just one of the two lanes on the highway. A few idiots would pass on the left using the less cleared lane but the rest of us were content to drive 45 mph with the big trucks until out of the snow. We passed many a spun out car and even a big rig that had rolled in which the driver was still being extricated. It put me back about 2 hours of drive time but I made it safely to Amarillo, TX.

Day two: about 13 hours and 760 miles done

Day One of Drive

Today started my cross-country drive. The ultimate destination is Ft Lewis just south of Tacoma, WA where I will be stationed for the next few years. The plan for today's drive was to go through Pleasureville, KY where my maternal grandparents and great-grandparents are buried and my grandmother's brother still lives. I had a wonderful time visiting with Uncle Bob and Aunt Wanda. I had met them before but it had been with my entire family so it was nice to have a little one-on-one time with them.

Original plans were to stay in or near Louisville, KY for the night but with news of an incoming snow storm I decided to head a little further west in an attempt to hit as little snow as I could in the morning. I spent the night in St. Louis, MO right by the big arch thing. (Not really sure of the purpose of the arch but it sure looked beautiful though the snow with the city lights behind it). Day one: about 14 hours and 880 miles done

Goodbye Walter Reed AMC

I officially signed out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center today!!!

After four years at Walter Reed AMC, I am done! Today was spent getting the official clearance signatures allowing me to PCS (permanent change of station) or move to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (formerly Ft Lewis). I will be assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center doing the same job I was at Walter Reed.

I know that I will miss the friends I have made at Walter Reed during my four years but am grateful to be heading to a new adventure...and to be back on the West Coast!!!

Honoring the California Fallen

Army Specialist Jose A. Torre , 21, of Garden Grove, CA was assigned to Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS. SPC Torre died in Baghdad of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Army Specialist Martin J. ‘Mick’ LaMar , 43, of Sacramento, CA was assigned to 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. SPC Martin died in Mosul of wounds sustained when an Iraqi soldier from the unit with which he was training shot him with small-arms fire. Also killed was Army Sergeant Michael P. Bartley.

Why Our Best Officers Are Leaving

A interesting article as to why the Good ones get out and the "others" stay in...

Click HERE

Fort McHenry

I spent today with my cousin Allison hanging out in Baltimore. We spent our morning and mid afternoon at the Aquarium before heading over to Fort McHenry to see where the Star Spangled Banner was written. It was just as cold today as it was yesterday. We were both bundled and still freezing from the cold wind! But we had a blast!

Allison somehow managed to end up behind bars...
Fort McHenry

Honoring the California Fallen

Army Major Evan J. Mooldyk , 47, of Danville, CA was assigned to 19th Sustainment Command, 377th Theater Sustainment Command, Belle Chasse, LA. MAJ Mooldyk died in Khowst province, Afghanistan, in a noncombat-related incident.

Gettysburg

A view from Devil's Den up towards Little Round Top

The "Angle" at Pickett's Charge

The Eternal Flame

Balancing the 7 Billion

Last Shift

I am done! I finished my last shift in Walter Reed's MICU/PICU this morning. After over 4 years of...work, I am finally done! I am beyond grateful for my co-workers and the many lessons learned. To my Co-workers, thank you for your friendship and your patience with me.