Bugling Violation

Terri,

My Lt got a speeding ticket while we were here... the only coalition member in the history of the war. It has brought him great fame throughout the Command. So, not to be left out, I have been looking for some kind of ordinace or law to violate. Then I saw a no-bugling sign and got an idea. Check out the picture.

Love,
Mario

Teenagers' Favorite Pastime...Sleeping

I can't believe I am old enough to be the mother of a teenager now. Eric celebrated his birthday with 3 friends, Friday night playing his new Teen games. We compromised and let him play Teen games 2 days early since his birthday was on Sunday this year. Tonight we are having friends from church over for dinner (pot roast), a game of Settlers, and cake.

Happy Birthday Eric! It has been a great 13 years and we look forward to many more years with you at home. (I am trying to forget that he will be going off to college in 5 years and a mission in 6.)

Friday Updates

I guess Mario is getting tired of me asking him everyday when he is coming home. He started teasing me and telling me that he is only updating me on Fridays. Fortunately he was only joking and he told me on Saturday that he is tentatively leaving for the US on August 22. Looks like we only have 2 more weeks of waiting. Here's a recent email which I found the non-negotiable terms at the end to be very entertaining (just goes to show Mario knows me all too well.)

Terri,

Okay, it's Friday. Time for your weekly update on my departure situation report.

So, yesterday I ran into a friend, an Army major who works for the Chief of Staff (CoS), and who is partly responsible for getting departure paperwork processed. It turns out, one of the NCOs that works directly for the CoS and this major, is the guy I went through the Camp Guernsey training with and who I flew here with (I told you about him crying at the passenger terminal, if you recall). Well, I mentioned to the major that I was waiting to get my paperwork signed and that I was hopeful it would be soon so I'd know if I was going to be home in time for my wife's surgery (that's you). He said he'd look into it. I wasn't too hopeful anything would happen differently than the usual last-minute processing everyone encounters, but I ran into that NCO about an hour later and he told me the major was pushing the paperwork along.

Nothing had come of it when I got to work today at about 2pm Kabul time. However, when I was walking about, I ran into the NCO again, who indicated he would just print my paperwork and put it in front of the CoS for signature. He feels emboldened since his last day is today and he leaves tomorrow.

No further information is available at this time.

Now, after 16 glorious years of marriage I've learned well that anytime I talk to you about such high-interest topics I end up with more questions than I have answers for. And, I'm willing to answer some of them, but under some nonnegotiable conditions. They are as follows:

1. You are limited to three (3) questions only (multipart questions are disallowed since that violates the intent of this stipulation).
2. Your three (3) questions must be sent to me via email to allow well-thought out replies.
3. Questions that are directive in nature (such as, "Why don't you go tell the CoS to get a move on?") will be disregarded.
4. None of your questions can be about why the NCO I came with is leaving tomorrow and I still have to wait.

Love,
Mario

Oh, No...Not Another Broken Arm

This morning Erin was putting away some vitamins and getting a cup down from the cabinet. All of a sudden she let out a loud scream. I guess she hit her arm on the tile countertop. Eric immediately thought she broke it and that I should take her to ER. Erin thought she just bruised it. I tried to call the dr and see if I could take her into the base and have it x-rayed. But they couldn't see her and told me they would have a nurse call me back. I sent Erin to school and I emailed her teacher to let her know what happened. I had a busy day scheduled with volunteer work all morning and then lunch with an old friend from Guam. Then I had to get ready for Eric's birthday party.

I had to drop everything when I got an email from Erin's teacher saying that Erin couldn't write and was in a lot of pain. I immediately took her to Urgent Care where they took x-rays. Unfortunately the dr couldn't be positive that her arm wasn't broken. He said there was a suspicious area in her growth plate and he needed to send them in for a radiologist to look at. So we will know for sure tomorrow. In the meantime, Erin has a sling and instructions for no PE for at least 2 weeks. Poor Erin. I think the orthopedic surgeon is going to laugh if I walk in with another patient from our family. Eric and I both see him and now possibly Erin.

Our Favorite Mutt by Zach

I am Special

Today Eric called me just before school started because he forgot a flash drive at home. He asked me if I could bring it to him at noon. I wondered why noon but then realized that was his lunch time. I figured that he was hoping that I would take him to lunch in addition to bringing him that all important flash drive with an important homework assignment on it. He is so lucky that I am a stay-at-home mom.

Anyway, at lunch, we discussed his "sorta" birthday party. His 13th birthday falls on a Sunday, so I told him that he could have friends over on Friday night and he would be allowed to play some Teen games a couple days early. He has been waiting for this day for a long time. He invited one friend from church that I don't know. So I am not sure what games his parents allow him to play. I asked Eric if I needed to call his mom and ask for permission for him to play the Teen games Friday night. Eric said, "Sure mom, but I don't think you have to. I am sure he is allowed." I commented that he (Eric) wasn't allowed until 13, and Eric's response was, "Yeah, mom but you're special."

I know he was referring to the fact that he is probably the only 12 year old on the planet that has to wait until he is 13 to play Teen games. But it was kind of nice being called "Special." I choose to take it as a compliment.

.

It's August!!!

Yeah, the month I have been waiting for since last November. Mario comes homes this month!

Here's an email I got from Mario this morning:

I didn't go anywhere today. Everyone that's in my departure group was very excited when they came in to work today... WE'RE IN AUGUST! We go home this month. Jeff leaves in 9 days, one of the NCOs leaves in about 12, the rest of us in 19.

August is going to be a whole month of celebrations. We are celebrating that August is finally here. Next week we get to celebrate Eric's 13th birthday and Erin's 11 birthday. Then we will celebrate Mario leaving Kabul. The ultimate celebration will be at the end of the month, when we finally get to greet him at the airport.

What an exciting month!