July 30, 2008

A hazy, hot and Humid day on the Eastern Shore. Had our three German visitors for a sit down breakfast this morning. We had Fire Dept. sausage, farm fresh eggs (ours), toast and coffee. Most mornings it's toast and coffee for them. Two more days and their three week holiday ends. Today they are off to Ocean City and the beach. Andreas loves to sit on the boardwalk observe the people and eat Thrasher's French Fries. If you like fries, you've got to try Thrasher's. Natalie and her five year old daughter Lena spend most of their time in the sand.

Typing today is a bit of a problem. I smashed my left index finger really good yesterday with a hammer. Nurse Mary says I'll lose the nail.

Today Nurse Mary is over the hump and on the downside of her 5 week, 5 days a week routine at the prison. She's been a real trooper so far and has not been difficult to live with. I don't think she's done a stretch like this since we moved here from CT in 1988.

The Captain received a formal invitation for her and Jeff to the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks, Washington, DC today. The invitation came from the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.


Needless to say, Kathy and Jeff are quite excited. Back in 1962 through early 1965 I was stationed at 8'th & I and lowered the Stars and Stripes during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. They will truly enjoy their evening as the guests of General Amos.

Well it's time to do the noon pool check at WYC. I shall sign off for now, wish all a great day and talk to you soon.

Sam's Schedule

July 30th, 2008
0430 Reveille
0430 - 0500 Hygiene
0500 - 0600 Breakfast
0600 - 0630 Transit
0630 - 1200 Morning Activities
PFT
Military Knowledge Test
Flight Drill
Flight Drill Evaluation
Haircut
Rank Issue
1200 - 1330 Formation/Lunch/Transit
1330 - 1730 Afternoon Activities
PFT
Military Knowledge Test
Flight Drill
Flight Drill Evaluation
Haircut
Rank Issue
Cadet Store
1730 - 1830 Dinner
1830 - 1930 Height and Weight Check/Study Time
1930 - 2000 Evening Brief
2000 - 2100 Hygiene
2100 TAPS

Cleaned up nice!

July 29th, 2008
0430 Reveille
0430 - 0600 Hygiene
0600 - 0700 Breakfast
0700 - 0730 Transit
0730 - 1100 Academic Briefings
1100 - 1230 Formation/Lunch/Transit
1230 - 1730 Afternoon Activities
Flight Drill Evaluation
Briefings
Cadet Store
Rank Issue
1730 - 1830 Dinner
1830 - 1930 Study Time (Military Knowledge)
1930 - 2000 Evening Brief
2000 - 2100 Hygiene
2100 TAPS

Monday July 28

Mary Agnes spent a lot of time binding her newest Quilt, and who shall be the recipient of this one? The most recent completion prior to this went to Uncle John in CT to keep him warm this winter. All in all about six hours of dedicated needle and thread time go into binding a quilt. Then of course putting one together initially takes weeks. The more intricate the pattern sometimes brings out frustration, but in the end when she figures it all out and fits the pieces together, she's a happy quilter. In the background a book on tape or NPR radio is usually playing.

On trips to CT M.A. has put the time into doing binding. This was especially true in 2006 when she did a quilt for each grandchild and had to finish up the last one prior to arrival. I remember one trip to CT when she was finishing up a Raggedy Anne or Andy. Each child in the family gets one for their first birthday. Well everything on the doll was finished except the hair. We were in bumper to bumper traffic crossing the GW bridge into NY and I can always remember a trucker looking down trying to figure out what this women was doing. Eventually the doll was held up for the trucker to see and Granny got a thumbs up.

I'd say quilting and exercise are Granny's greatest outlets. She's been seen all over Wicomico and Somerset counties walking. One such walk was a 26 mile trek from Wenona back to Allen. Now Wenona, if you check it out, is at the end of the earth right before you fall into the water. That walk was with her friend Judy, now a retired HS Art teacher living on Catalina Island, CA and working in an Environmental Educational camp.

In May of this year Mary Agnes and our daughter Sarah walked the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a 39 mile walk in Washington, DC. I got to be their ground support person.
Our other daughter Kathryn was doing her bit on defending us on a Reserve weekend at Dover. This year Kathryn has set the Marine Corps Marathon as her goal and runs an unbelievable amount of miles each week.

Shall post Sam's schedule below. I'm off to the dentist this morning then have two pools to clean and adjust Chemicals for the week. I hope everyone has a great week and I shall talk to you again soon.

Go Navy, Beat Army

July 28th, 2008
0430 Reveille
0430 - 0700 PT/Hygiene
0700 - 0800 Breakfast
0800 - 1100 Morning Activities
Flight Drill
Room Inspections
Cadet Store
Briefing
1100 - 1230 Formation/Lunch/Transit
1230 - 1730 Afternoon Activities
Flight Drill
Room Inspections
Briefings
1730 - 1830 Dinner
1830 - 1930 Study Time (Military Knowledge)
1930 - 2000 Evening Brief
2000 - 2100 Hygiene
2100 TAPS

Jacks Ends

Marching back from Jacks Valley. Nice smile Sam.

July 27th, 2008
0430 Reveille
0430 - 0700 Breakfast/Hygiene
0800 - 0830 Transit
0830 - 0930 Heritage Speaker
0930 - 1000 Transit
1000 - 1100 Flight Drill
1100 - 1230 Formation/Lunch/Transit
1230 - 1730 Afternoon Activities
Briefings
Flight Drill
Learn Parade Procedures
1730 - 1830 Dinner
1830 - 1930 Room Set-up
1930 - 2000 Briefing
2000 - 2100 Hygiene
2100 TAPS

July 26th, 2008
0430 Reveille
0430 - 0700 Formation/Breakfast/Hygiene
0700 - 0730 Transit
0745 - 0800 Valley Sweepstakes Opening Ceremonies
0800 - 1030 Valley Sweepstakes Events
1030 - 1100 Transit to Big Bad Basic
1100 - 1200 Big Bad Basic
1200 - 1230 Lunch
1230 - 1300 Complete Jacks Valley Teardown
1300 - 1500 Warrior March (Out of Jacks Valley)
1500 - 1730 Unpack from Jacks Valley
1730 - 1830 Dinner
1830 - 1930 Clothing drawer and wardrobe set-up
1930 - 2000 Evening Brief
2000 - 2100 Hygiene
2100 TAPS