Things I Love About Staying On Base

There are several advantages to being on base. Granted, we're only here temporarily, but I can see why people would want to be here for good. You're close to everything--the BX, the commissary, the medical clinic, the car place, the golf course, there are constantly people in uniform walking around all over the place, which one can't help but think is sorta sweet and that our country is pretty awesome. But my favorite part is the National Anthem.

Everyday at 4:30 pm on the dot, the loud speakers on base play the National Anthem. You can hear it from everywhere on base -- especially when you're outside. And if you're outside, you stop everything you're doing. If you're walking to your car, you stop. If you're walking on the sidewalk, you stop. If you're driving, you stop. If you're in uniform and you can see the flag, you face it and salute. If you're in uniform and you can't see the flag, you face the music and salute. If you're like me, just a little ole civilian walking among these great men and women who serve our nation, you just stand still (and I may or may not sometimes find myself singing along a little... I can't help myself).

When I was leaving the commissary the other day and a sweet older gentleman who works there had bagged my groceries and was helping me to my car, we walked out just in time for the music. Some people think it's annoying... how frustrating to stop what you were doing... especially if you're in a hurry... or if you're standing out in the cold. When I first got to Vance and learned about this tradition, I loved it. I figured it was just because I was new to it. On this day however, I was in shorts and a fleece, having just come from the gym and it was dark and cold outside. I was trying to rush home and actually have dinner cooked before Aaron got home. And literally the very moment we walked out the door, the music began.

As I was standing there, freezing to death in the 20-something degree weather, wishing that this pre-recorded orchestra version of the National Anthem would hurry on along so that I could give this man his tip money and get into my warm car, out of the corner of my eye I could see him standing proudly--literally, his posture changed at the sound of the song--and he threw up his little arthritic hand in salute of the flag. He didn't move a muscle... and he even had a little smirk on his face. And I found myself sort of convicted... and even got a little teary...

I ended up standing beside my car chatting with him for a while--it turned out he was a WWII vet, and after having served his country for years, he was back in WA state, serving these younger military men and women and their families by packing up their groceries at the commissary and working only for tip money. After his many many years of service to our country, he still gets so proud when he hears that song and he has no problem stopping whatever it is he's doing to pay respect to that song and to the country he fought for and continues to serve. There's something very special about that song and I find myself tearing up when I hear it at the beginning of a football game or when I'd hear it at county Republican meetings when I worked for the State Party. I would always get frustrated when I'd hear people chit-chatting during that song and wonder why in the world they couldn't stop talking JUST long enough to cross their hands over their chests and sing along? And I here I was complaining about having to start dinner a minute later than I had planned because of it...

When you think about it, there really is something so neat that on a military base, when these people hear this song over and over and over and over and over again--literally everyday-- they still stop and pay respect when it plays... that it's still special... I hope I never find myself getting frustrated or annoyed again to have to stop what I'm doing to pay my respects to our nation. All things considered, that is the very least I can do...

And don't worry--I'm pretty sure that's the only "sentimental" post I'll ever make on this blog... but I had to :)

Paradise

I think in the insanity of all that's been going lately, we all forgot that Monday was MLK Day and that, among the other important meanings of that day, the boys wouldn't have to go into work. So, the usual crowd--Aaron, me, Pete and Emily-- plus our new friend Brittany decided to take a trip to Paradise, which is in Mt. Ranier National Park just about at the base of the mountain. We had no idea what to expect as far as weather except that it was supposed to be a gorgeous day (finally). Gorgeous it was... the sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky and as we got closer to the park, the snow in the fields we passed and along the side of the road got higher and higher and once we were into the park itself, it was up over the speed limit signs.

Once we got to the top and stood face-to-face with this gorgeous mountain that you can see from just about anywhere in Tacoma and Seattle, we didn't even know what to do with ourselves. There were people walking around with skis, snow pants, snow shoes, tubes, etc... And we were in long-sleeve shirts, jeans and hiking boots. Obviously, because of all of the snow they'd recently gotten, there was no hiking to be had that day. So instead, we popped open the tailgate and ate the lunch we'd packed in the parking lot.... and then left. It was about an hour and a half drive there--only to eat lunch in a parking lot, but what a beautiful parking lot it was. And it was better than sitting around in our room all day...

Standing up in the mountains with an even larger one behind us (Mt. Ranier)

Eating lunch in the parking lot...

Me, Emily and Brittany

Some weird angle of Ranier while driving up the mountains...

Almost back to Tacoma, the view of Ranier on one of those rare crystal clear days...

Sleepless In Seattle...(And by "Seattle" I mean "Tacoma")

A lot to catch you up on....Pete, Emily, Aaron and I arrived in Tacoma, got checked in on base only to find out they didn't have room for us in their hotel, so they put us up off base at the Hampton Inn (fine by me... I love Hampton Inns... and this also meant free breakfast everyday). We enjoyed their comfy cozy king sized bed, maid service, free breakfasts and vast cable channels, as well as the in-room wireless internet. And for the first time since we've been married, we finally were getting sleep---we're both pretty tall people... there's not a ton of room for the both of us on a double bed, which is what we had at Vance. Finally, at the Hampton Inn, we had room to move. We were actually getting good night's sleep for the first time in months... .

Then they ended up with room for us on base.

And now, we don't sleep again.

So that's where we are now. No king sized bed... no free breakfast... and an okay selection of television to choose from. But the worst is no wireless internet. So we use the BX for that (it's free). And that's where I am right now. Uploading pictures, editing pictures, catching up on the Drudge Report and eating some sesame chicken from Manchu Wok, all while Aaron plays the video game I got him back in our room. Tomorrow we move into TLF (temporary living facility) which means we'll have a living room (complete with a couch.. .I don't even know how long it's been since I've even sat on an actual couch), an entire kitchen WITH pots and pans (meaning we can stop eating out for every single meal) AND a bedroom--like... a bedroom that's separate from the rest of your living space. We haven't had this the entire time we've been married--which was exactly 3 months ago from today, by the way. We're waiting to close on our house which should be at least within the next month (evidently the VA is backed up a little with this stuff since it's such a great time for military folks to buy...) and I believe the BIGGEST news we have is: we've officially put a deposit on a dog. He's a Bernese Mountain Dog, he's a boy, and he'll be ready to come home with us on March 1st. We are THRILLED to be "expecting" this new bundle of joy, whom we've named Howard Moon Scogin (any of you Old Greg fans will immediately know where we pulled that name from). We'll call him Howard.

Aaron is really starting work this week, which means I'm really starting to look for work this week. I've met a lot of really nice gals who have made me feel really welcomed already and we were formally introduced to our new squadron last Thursday. It's really starting to sink in that this is really our home for the next four or so years but while we're pretty overwhelmed (and one of is maybe a little homesick from time-to-time) we're really excited to get settled. And you know, to not be living in a hotel room for the rest of our lives...

Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks:

Farva, Aaron and Tyler and I took a trip into Seattle last weekend- here they are walking down to the market place...

We ate lunch at this little lunch counter in the market that served fish sandwichies--I got the salmon sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. And we shared a cup of the best clam chowder I've ever had...

This thing terrified me- and as I was getting close enough to take this picture, it reared up and I screamed. It was dead... but it was tied to a string that the man behind the counter pulled just as I was getting close... sneaky punk....

Biggest most enormous most delicious cream-filled donut....

Yesterday was Pete's birthday so we decided to head into Seattle again for the day--but first, we went by to check out the puppies and meet our new son.

This is Maya, our surrogate mother. She's so pretty...

And all four of her little boys eating...

A little mother/son bonding...

Father and son, planning their hike up Mt. Ranier...

These two little guys fell asleep just like this... so cute...

Then we headed into town and hung out at the waterfront...



Self-portrait at the Market

We went to a wine and cheese tasting....

Then we were lurred into the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory by the delicious fumes shooting out into the street... we got a Mudslide Caramel apple....

Aaron and the apple having a staring contest....

Aaron beat the apple, so he got to eat it...

This is the look of bliss after having eaten the best "apple" I've ever had....

Living on Pacific Coast Time

Lots of pictures to share... it's probably best to break it down by day:

Monday-

We woke up early and finished packing up the car...


The finished product


We made our way out of Oklahoma and into Texas



Along the way, we must have passed about one million windmills... We thought this was neat because it was an "old fashioned" windmill in the front with the new ones behind it, seriously as far as the eye could see...


On our way through Amarillo, we made it a point to stop by The Big Texan, which if you are a fan of the Food Network's Man Vs. Food, you've heard of...



Though I didn't eat the 72 oz. steak, I did make it a point to sit in the giant rocking chair--how could I not?



We finally made our way onto New Mexico and into Albuquerque...


Stopped at the Visitor's Center for a little break...




Tuesday-

Got up bright and early to hit the road and made it to Arizona...


We could see this mountain range probably up to 150 miles away--we had no idea it was basically smackdab in the middle of Flagstaff...



Flagstaff TOTALLY shocked me- I had no idea what a precious little town it was... and it was covered in tons of snow...


After eating in Flagstaff, we hit the road for another hour or so to make it to Grand Canyon, AZ to spend the night. Of course we got there after the sunset... so we grabbed a bite to eat with Pete and Emily and then hit the sack (separate from Pete and Emily :) )

Speaking of Emily, here she is bringing up the rear of the caravan...



Wednesday-

We got up early enough to spend some time at the Grand Canyon. It was breathtaking... literally huge and made me feel dizzy (of course... I practically got motion sick just standing along the railing)


Self portrait at the Canyon...



Then we had a bit of a haul to make it to Vegas, but we pushed hard. We stopped at the Hoover Dam because it's the Hoover Dam. Had to get a little snapshot. Sweet moment happened when we had to stop at the checkpoint to go over the dam--which makes sense. Pete and Emily were behind us and as we came through the checkpoint, because we had the car filled to the rafters, they asked us to pull aside. We were both dreading having to unpack everything to assure them we didn't pose any danger and as Aaron showed them his drivers' license, the policeman noticed his military i.d. He asked to see that and through the course of conversation, discovered that Aaron's a pilot. He then proceeded to thank Aaron profusely (seriously...PROFUSELY) for what he does for our country and sent us on our way. We were SO GLAD we didn't have to unpack it all... thank goodness for that military i.d... ANYway, picture at the dam... (you might call this "a dam picture" and that behind us is "the dam road", etc, etc, etc... ha.......ha.......sigh)



This one is pretty self explanatory...


This was cool- they're building a new bridge there and it is REDICULOUSLY high and huge. There's not enough money in the world to get me to work on something like that... but that's because I'm afraid of heights. I wouldn't even want to drive over that thing...but it was neat to look at from below.


So we had been pretty excited that we'd gotten pictures of every state sign while we were driving past... then we passed the Nevada sign:

Of course now we have a picture of THIS lady... but that's okay... that was just to wet our appetite for the people we would run into in Vegas on New Year's. But that's for another post.... Happy New Year!