Ranger bowling

My Collection

About nine months ago, or so, I brought a small coffee pot into work. I really enjoy a nice, hot cup of coffee in the morning. Since I started doing this, I always buy Kona coffee and it has this nice brass clip to keep the coffee bag closed. I never threw away the clip because I thought it might be useful for something. I haven't found a use and I haven't thrown out a clip and now I have this nice little collection of clips going. An obsession has been born!

This isn't my first foray into obsessive collecting. You see, in my last job I removed A LOT of staples. One day I thought to myself, "I wonder just how many staples I remove in a day?" So, I kept them all in a little pile. At the end of the day, I was surprised how many there were. Which made my little mind wonder, "How many staples do I remove in a week?" So, I piled them up for a week, which led to a month, which led to the entire time I worked there. In fact, when I left, my replacement (Mom) inherited the task. I had started keeping them in an empty tissue box. By the time I left, I had about half-filled the tissue box.

Which leads back to the topic of this post. I wonder how many clips I'll collect in my time at this job? How much coffee will I have consumed? Such silly things occupy my mind........

A new paint job for my home away from home.

Explanation

I found this video which will explain way better than I have what the Javelin weapon is that Ranger has been learning:



He was the top student is his class and was able to live fire the weapon last week. He said a friend recorded the event and should email it to me or he'll post it on YouTube.
Once I have access to that, I'll post here for you too.
Here's a live fire video:

Update on "My List"

So, some time ago, I posted this list of things I wanted to do in Alaska. So far, here's my progress:

1. Go Panning for Gold
2. Go Camping & Salmon Fishing
3. Drive Through Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to Whittier, AK
4. See the Northern Lights
5. See the Start of the Iditarod
6. Go to Denali National Park
7. See Glaciers
8. See Moose, Goats, Bald Eagles
9. See the Pipeline

I guess I've got a good start but time flies. I need to start making plans to complete this list.

Are any of you coming to visit? I'd love to do some of these things with family and/or friends!

Office window with a rare sunbeam

ACUs

A Favorite

Fly By

So, I never updated you all on my trip to Georgia.
Sgt Dad and I really enjoyed flying down there and seeing Ranger graduate. It was really nice to see that he did not regret his decision. There is a calmness about him and a sense of purpose. Ranger has talked about military service since he was a very young boy. I guess somewhere deep down, I always knew that one of my boys would follow in his father's footsteps.
Ranger was offered the opportunity for another school and took it. He's been in Javelin school for the past two weeks. This is some kind of shoulder held rocket missile. Once fired the operator (my Ranger) uses a computer control on the unit to guide it to the target (usually a tank-scary!). Ranger told me that the top student in the course would get to fire the weapon upon completion of the course. They can only fire once because the missile costs over $80,000! Well, my Ranger can really do amazing things once he sets his mind to it and he is the top student and will get to fire the weapon. He was pretty excited about it. Me too! I'm really happy seeing him enjoy what he's doing and setting goals for himself and then attaining those goals. I mean, I'd love for him to choose a safer career but he's happy with what he's doing. What more could a mother ask for? He's a responsible young man on a decent career path with a sense of purpose. I'm worried about his safety but happy that he's happy.
Back on the home front, Sgt Dad has been in Thailand for some kind of planning conference. He doesn't like the food. Weird! Maybe his slight head cold has made everything taste bad. Tater misses having his own car. However, he's finally buckled down and started caring about his school work and so far is on track for honor roll. Strummer is doing pretty good this year too. He is really enjoying his guitar lessons and dreams of being a rock star. As for me, same old, same old.
I think I feel like the whole time we're here is just a holding pattern, waiting for Sgt Dad's retirement and the boys graduation. I feel like we're on the precipice of a huge change- and we are. We are only two years away from Sgt. Dad's military retirement and then ?? It is going to be such a major change. I have to admit that I'm a bit apprehensive. I'll be sad to leave Army life behind. There's a comfort to the structure.
Well, that's all the news and ramblings for tonight.....

And the Army Goes Rolling Along

Graduation

So, we're down here at Fort Benning to attend Ranger's graduation. It's been great seeing him after so long. He looks really good and seems so grounded. I think he's happy with his decision.

Yesterday was the "Turning Blue Ceremony". All the new soldiers are given their infantry badge for their uniforms and a blue cord that they wear with their dress uniform that signifies that they are infantry. The picture nice one of Ranger marching following the graduation ceremony.

You know, I think he actually has grown taller during his time here. He seems well trained and confident. He also has learned to eat anything that is put in front of him. I'm amazed. Before he left all he ever wanted was pizza, chicken wings or burgers! He gained 20 pounds but I have no idea where he put it because he looks as slim as ever. His face is slightly more filled out but he has to have put it all into muscle!

During the graduation ceremony today they put on a small simulation. It included gun fire (blanks), smoke bombs, and armoured personnel carriers. The soldiers came through the smoke as if they were approaching an enemy encampment. They played that sappy music from the Army commercials. It was really awesome. Except, as a mother, I kept thinking that very soon that will be my son, the pavement will be sand and instead of adoring families in bleachers, he'll be approaching armed enemy combatants and when they are ready to pull out in their multi-million dollar armoured vehicles that not every soldier will be unharmed. As an American, I was proud, they looked excellent, well trained, and ready. As a mother, I was worried that it might be my son who has to be carried off the battlefield. Needless to say, this has been an emotional day for me. I am proud of my son and his bravery and his choice to serve his country and protect us all. I just wish that the battle he was entering was as clear-cut as when we fought the Nazis. And most of all, I pray that it will all be over soon and ALL our boys (and girls) will be home, safe and sound.