Time to move on

Well, I have decided to sell my faithful mountain bike. I originally purchased it in California in 1998. I have rode it on trails in California, Oregon, Washington, Oahu, the Big Island and Virginia. After riding last weekend with my brother, I started talking to his friend Brian and he has a Steppenwolf frame that he has put my brothers older forks on and has assembled a new bike for me. I need to come up with some more cash, so that is how I am coming to terms of selling my Giant Iguana SE. I have really enjoyed all the miles, but there are times in our lives that, sniff - sniff, we just have to move on. Can someone please hand me a tissue?

MWoW

I am going to start posting some of Madi's Words of Wisdom. Right now as a family we are trying to read scriptures every night and currently we are reading from the First Book of Nephi. We had just started Lehi's dream. Madison has become a very good reader and asked if she could read last night. One of the verses she read was the verse of how Lehi looked for Laman and Lemuel to have them come and taste the fruit of the tree. After reading we always discuss what we read and Madi asked how come they did not want to come and eat the fruit, Amber and I told her that they chose not to. Her reply was "I guess they want to be hungry!" I can not remember if those were her exact words, but it was close. We laughed so hard and she got a little embarrassed, but it was so cute!

Conspiracy Theory

I need to share a little story about our kids and the bed. Very rarely are Amber and I allowed to sleep in our bed alone. We have two little people that feel all will be better if they are in our room. They each have their own approach to getting on the bed. First I will talk about "Wookie". For him, he just walks in and says "MOM!!!!!!!!" and that is how he gets in.
As for Madi, well I think she has been watching some ninja movies. It is actually funny what she goes through just to get in our room. I have seen this a few times and it never gets dull.
Step 1: Open mom and dads door and hide in the hall
Step 2: Peak around corner
Step 3: Duck walk to end of bed (this is the funny thing, I can see the top of her head while she is moving)
Step 4: Get half way on the bed, then freeze
Step 5: After about a minute, bring up the rest of the body and freeze in a ball on the bed
Step 6: Hold position for a few minutes and slowly spread out on bed.
One time in Hawaii, I was watching this routine and waited until she was in a ball on the bed and then yelled: "Hey! What are you doing!" She freaked out, jumped off our bed and ran into her room. I think that I scared her so bad, she probably peed her pants.
Anyway, that has been our life during sleeping hours for awhile. Then the other night, Wookie came in first, then Madi. Both of them were turned in opposite directions and spread out like a starfish. I was to tired to deal with them, so I went to the comfy couch and slept there for the rest of the night. When I awoke to get ready for work, this is what I found (picture). To quote a line from the movie CHICKEN RUN "They are organized."

Did I say "Intermediate"?

Yesterday I went up to York River State Park to meet my brother; Thomas, and his two friends for a little single track riding (mountain bikes). I has asked him the difficulty level of the trail, because my bike is an older model and has some problems. His reply was "Intermediate". So I said that I was in. Of course I did not read the sign before entering "Marl Ravine Trail" which is about 5.67 miles long. After entering the one way trail, I realized that this is a little more than what I would call intermediate. If I had read the sign, I would have known what I was getting into. The sign read "For advance riders, helmets are required." I will be honest that I lagged behind quite often and had to walk a few places, but it was awesome. I think that I have the bug again for riding. There were some fast turns, logs across the trails and small jumps. It took us about one hour and forty minutes to complete, probably because of me and my out dated, run down equipment. It was just really cool and peaceful. A place that I hope to return to often. I do need to purchase some new tires and bearings; those two things alone should be able to increase my speed and cornering. Look for pictures of future riding adventures. Oh and yes brother you did say "Intermediate".

Playlist

I have added a play list. Nothing really special, but all these songs are important to me at some point in my life. You will notice a wide variety of music. Rock to Opera. It all depends on my mood to what I really want to listen to. I will up date from time to time, keep checking back.

Drum Roll Please

My thoughts were correct and I have been slated to work at Sector Atlantic Beach, NC. My report date is still up in air, but I am going to ask to leave Yorktown at the end of the July. I am working on some stuff for the 50th anniversary of the base. I would love to seen it through the end. I am attaching a link to the area. I am still trying to figure out how to use the hpyerlink set up, so if this does not work you might have to cut and paste.

http://www.atlanticbeach-nc.com/

I guess this is where I need to put in the disclaimer *I have only been SLATED for the job, but until I receive my orders nothing is totally official.

On the Road Again

Well, I heard last week from my assignment officer and we are moving on out. I requested a list of billets that she had and here is the list:

Sector Atlantic Beach, NC
Arlington, VA
Alameda, CA (3 billets)
New Orleans, LA
Honolulu, HI
Five 378 foot cutters

I gave her my preferred priority list as you see above. Basically the boats and New Orleans are out of the question; we do not want to go there. I was hoping to have word back by the middle of the week. None of us really want to move but we know we go, when they say go. The good thing is we might not be that long at our next unit. I am submitting my package for Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) and if I get picked up, we could be moving again in 18 months. I have not told JoLynne this; she is taking us moving the hardest. I have decided that she can find out when she reads her dads blog, which will probably be after we have already moved for the second time. I will announce where we are going when I find out for myself.


I am still patiently waiting to pin on my anchors and I say that it will happen on April 1st; but my CWO feels it will be March 1st. That is just a few weeks away and I am getting nervous, it is a big step to go into the Chief ranks. I will have to wait and see.

Lazy

That one word can sum up my blog ethic with the world. I am still trying to find out what is so cool about blog pages. I think that I will need to look at it as maybe a journal that others can read.

So yesterday our family volunteered to work at Needs Network in Newport News, VA. It is a program that a local man started in his garage. People donate old clothes and other usable items, and he then gives them away for free. Basically a second hand store that does not cost a dime. Both Amber and I wanted to have our children see what other circumstances people deal with. Amber folded toddler clothes while JoLynne, Madi and I sorted out shoes. It was crazy! About 5 boxes full, and we had to match the pairs together and put them on the shelves. Aspen and Joaquin took empty hangers from a box and put them on rack. Everyone did something which was cool.

So while we were on the way to Needs Network, Joaquin spotted a school bus. Remind you this kid has an eagle eye for stuff he loves. He can see a motorcycle a mile away. So anyway, after he spotted the first bus about two minutes later he sees another one and makes the comment "bus, bus." After which Madison says "There just coming out of the wood work", I wish that you could have heard her expression. It was hilarious!! I love my M&M!