a quarter of the way through it

I realized today the Sailor will probably be in Florida for a total of 13 weeks, and we're only about 3.5 weeks in. Oh man. 9.5 weeks to go. This is going to take awhile.

The long haul

I miss Rob. We don't know when he'll be home for good. It's looking like early to mid-December ... but it just depends on when he can get a spot to start the classes he needs, so for now it's just day by day. He has to take three sessions - the first one is one week, the second one is two days and the third one is eight weeks. But as each session ends, you have to wait for a spot in the next session to open up. So once he starts the third session, we'll have a better idea of when he'll be done. And HOME!!! Hopefully home for awhile.

Also, if he wants to come home for Thanksgiving, we have to pay that. The military only pays to fly him there for training and fly him home when he's done. And I assume to fly him home for Christmas, since that is mandatory that he comes home. But coming home for Thanksgiving would be his decision, and thus, on his dime. Hmm. This changes some things.

Boot camp was tough because we could only talk on the phone once every couple of weeks, and through letters. But it was only 8.5 weeks. This might shape up to be 10+ weeks apart. At least we can talk on the phone and text each other. I still miss him tons though.

post-husband time

once again, it is the day after a weekend with The Sailor, and I'm feeling the post-husband blues. because of the holiday, he got to come home for four full days - Thursday night to Monday night. it was sooo nice to spend so much time with him, but I miss him being around 24/7! unfortunately (well, fortunately really) he'll be done with his classes at Great Lakes this week, and then it's off to his next station. which is much much much father away - so no Husband Weekends. but, the sooner he goes to the next station, the sooner he can be done with training, and be home again. of course, it might also mean the sooner he goes on deployment. ahh, the joys of the navy life.

Video from The Sailor's Navy Boot Camp Graduation / Pass-in-Review

Navy Pass in Review, July 17, 2009

Divisions marching in ... all 13 divisions made up of 971 sailors




Honor Grads being honored (including my sailor!)




Robert Gates, US Secretary of Defense, was the speaker




My Sailor receiving his Honor Grad certificate

Bristol Renaissance Faire

I went to the Renaissance Faire this past Sunday with some friends. The weather was truly Chicago that day. Started off hot and humid in the low 90s. Eventually clouded up, rained, cleared up, and was around 75 degrees and very pleasant. But then I drove home (about 70 miles south) and it was still in the mid-80s and incredibly humid.

Fire whip!


The reason we went on the hottest day of the summer was to see the drums and bagpipe band, Tartanic



Tartanic


Paula's friend Raychel brought her hoop


Faeries/nymphs/sprites/not sure. They only interact with children.




Like I said, the weather was interesting




the sun came out before the rain stopped


Death came calling ... but he just needed a place to sit and stay dry


Hooping during the drum jam


One last shot before getting into my car


You can see all the photos in my Flickr set.