Dreaming of Okinawa

I'm days away from my trip to go see Nathan and I am so excited, I'm having a hard time sleeping.  I've been googling/binging for information on Okinawa and I've come across some amazing photos of the island we're going to be calling home come fall.

So, I thought that I'd brag a little...

Anyone wana come visit?  

Oyasumi nasi (good night)!

So Proud Of My Husband!

I'm so proud of my husband!  Another graduation!

I think he's pretty excited too

Nathan Got His Orders!

I guess you know what this is about since the title kinda gives it away, but NATHAN GOT HIS ORDERS!  He made me guess where were were going and I eventually got it.

Its not in the states.  I'm so glad I didn't get stuck in the middle of no where Montana for three years.

It's not in Europe.  I was hoping we'd go there so I could see my bother who's in England, but I guess I will just have to visit.

It's in freaken JAPAN!  This was one of the top places we wanted to go.  We are so happy that we got it!

Come November, we will be stationed, for the next three years, at the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Japan!

I'm googling and wiki-ing and thinking of the travel books I should buy and deciding how to best start learning Japanese!

I'm am so excited!  And I'm impressed that I was able to stop dancing long enough to type all this!

Bah!  I need to update my passport!

Keesler Air Force Base and A Weekend with Nathan

I loved having a long weekend with my husband, but it was not long enough.  It was so nice to be able to wake up in the morning and to have his face be the first thing I saw.  I love my beautiful husband more than anything, he is the world to me.  And it was nice to see him in person to remind myself that he really is that wonderful and that I'm not making it all up inside my head.

We had such a good time reconnecting and just being able to be husband and wife.  He also was able to be in civilian clothes, so I could hold his hand all weekend.   That made me extra happy.

Biloxi is on the coast of Mississippi and it was more hot and humid than I could wrap my brain around.   Every time we walked outside, the heat and humidity shocked me. I felt like we were swimming instead of walking around base the air was so thick.  I did not like it.  Once we got to where ever we were going the sweat and humidity that had collected on our skin while walking would begin to drip and run down my face, legs... you name it.  I had a puddle around the base of my chair after walking to church on Sunday.  Sorry, too much information?  It was seriously gross.

Mississippi is pretty though.  It is incredibly flat and that made it really hard to remember how to get around.  I didn't realize how much I rely on the mountains on the West coast to tell which direction I need to go.

We stayed in the Air Force hotel on base.  They aren't the fanciest rooms.  We even had a note telling us not to drink the water from the building because it could make us sick.  But the rooms were clean and air conditioned and super cheap compared to everything else in town.  So, we were happy.

We had to walk everywhere we went... meaning, we didn't go very far.  Base is still fun though.  Everything is still very new to me.  Like all the signs....

There were left overs from hurricane Katrina all over the place.  There were piles of sand and sea shells all over base.

I hadn't met anyone who had been effected by the hurricanes until this visit.  They have done a really good job at rebuilding everything though.  The city looks great.

There were water towers all over the place too.  I still don't understand what the purpose of a water tower is.  When I was little my dad would answer my serious questions with non serious answers... I dunno why, maybe it was funny, or a way to shut me up for a little bit... anyway, I thought that they were places for people to take showers when they ran out of water.  Not true.

My dad never gave me any reason to doubt him and I believed all the tall tale stories he told me.  My favorite fake story that my dad told me was about the emergency knob in his Volkswagen bug.  He told me that when you pulled it, it let people know that you were in trouble by spinning the car around in circles.  I believed him.  I dunno how that helps someone in trouble, but I believed my dad and I guess it did made a curious kid keep her hands to herself in the car.  Maybe that was the point.  I've asked my dad why he told me stories and he smiles and avoids the answer.  I still don't know why he decided to lie to me about these things... made for one confused kid as I got a little older.  No worries, I've figured out the truth to most of the stories by now.  At least I hope I have.

There are airplanes all over the place on base.  Even in street medians.

I love the BX (Base Exchange).  It's like a little mall with stores that sell things at slightly discounted rates for military families.  The Commissary is the grocery store on base that is also discounted.  Nathan and I explored both.

Being away from Nathan, I have found that I love sunsets more than sunrises.  As the sun sets, I can remind myself that I have made it through another day, and that I'm one day closer to being able to live with my husband again.

This is the first sunset of many that count down the days until we can see each other again.  It's been a good weekend.

Thinking About My Airman

I don't know who to give credit for this photo, but props!

My new favorite thing to do is facebook stalk Nathan.  This photo has been floating around and I must say... it's impressive.  He's on the far right and the scary guy in front is his TI (training instructor).

Planing a Trip to Biloxi

As soon as I got home from Texas I was online looking at plane tickets to Mississippi, which is where Nathan in now stationed.  He is in the phase called "Tech School" where he learns about his job that he will be doing for the next few years.  He will be working in Client Systems, which basically means, he will be the "Geek Squad" for the Air Force.

So far, I am a much bigger fan of Tech School then I am of Boot Camp.  I get to talk to him everyday and we've even been able to skype a few times!  We are making plans for me to come out and visit next month to celebrate our birthdays.  And I am so gosh darn excited to see him!

When my grandpa found out that Nathan was going to be in Mississippi, he told me that the ship he served on in the Navy, has the superstructure (mast looking thingy) in a park in Biloxi, Mississippi.

How fun would that be to see part of the ship that my grandpa serve on?  I decided that would have to be a must see when I go out there to visit next month.

I did some internet searching and found a tons of information on his ship, the USS Biloxi.  She was a light cruiser that was nicknamed, "The Busy Bee."

She earned nine battle stars during her service from January 1944 to May 1945 and completed one of the longest continuos tours of combat by any U.S. warship.

She never missed a major operation in the Pacific.

Her superstructure is now in Guice Park and the ship's bell is in the lobby of the Biloxi City Hall.

Photo Credit

So now, not only am I excited to see my wonderful husband, but I can see a part of my family history too!  I don't think I ever would have know about this without Nathan being stationed there.  Very cool.

A Weekend with My Favorite Guy

We got to spend an enter weekend together and honestly, I don't have very many pictures from the rest of the trip, because we didn't do much other than talk to each other.  Saturday he was allowed to leave base.  We did the touristy things one has to do in San Antonio, Texas. 

We went to the Alamo.

It didn't take Nathan long to revert back to his silly self....

We had a good time wandering around with his parents.  It was a beautiful day.

We went to the river walk as well.

Sunday I got to go to church with him and then we wandered around base until we came to the library and we just sat there for hours talking in the quite, air-conditioned room.  We had fun catching up.

And then I had to leave for California as he left for his Technical training in Missississippi.

I miss my Airman already.

Graduation Ceremony Parade

So Friday of graduation weekend is is the Graduation Parade.   The Airmen march out on this big field...

Do some fancy drills

Some fancy marching

And parade in front of the friends and family in the stands.

Can you see him yet?  I couldn't.  I knew that this was his flight though, so I took a picture and hoped he was in it.  He is.  But it's mostly just his hat.

Surprisingly I found him in this crowd much easier.

Here.... I'll get a little closer....

Still doesn't help.... no worries.  I'z still gots more zoom on my camera.... There he is, just left of the center!

Then I got to go tap him out again!  That means that I'm allowed to give him a hug and a kiss!  Public displays of affection are only allowed during times of reunion or celebration while in uniform.  I was definitely disappointed when I learned about that rule.  But it's been around since forever and it's important to respect the uniform.  It was really hard to not hold his hand all weekend!  I had to keep putting my hands in my pockets so that I wouldn't get him in trouble.

His flight took one last photo together.  This is everyone lining up from tallest to shortest.  Nathan's the only on not messing around.

He's so serious in these photos.

His flight TRS 320/ FLT 300

Then we got to go to his dorm where he has been staying these past 8 weeks.

This was on his bed when we got there.

I can't believe that this is how he makes the bed everyday!  He's always been a stickler about making our bed.  He likes to have all the covers nice and neat.  I could care less about my sheets being perfectly placed, so he's definitely made the bed a few times with me still in it, refusing to move from my warm covers.  Compromise, that is what marriage is all about right?  He gets to make the bed and I get my warm spot.  It's the best of both worlds.

I don't want to stay in bed if he's gonna make the bed like that though.  I may have to change my tactics.

This is some art that was on the wall of his squadron.  It might make more sense now why I drew him a sign with a gator on it... it's the mascot of the 320 training squadron.  Their art looks much more manly then mine.

Nathan showed off his military organization and folding skills too.  His attention to detail is amazing!

One side of his locker....

And the other....

Look at how orderly that drawer is!

And drum roll please..... this is a sock!  Knee high sock!  C-R-A-Z-Y!

I think I know where to look the next time I need a door stop.  His dad was impressed too.

Even though the sock was frowning at him.

This is a shirt....

And here's Nathan's masterpiece.  A towel.

All the edges perfectly aligned.  He was so good at folding towels that he did it for everyone else too.

Betcha wish you knew someone who would fold all your laundry for you with such perfection.  I'm excited that one day I get to take him home and put him to work!