Good Morning

Well, Ranger began basic yesterday. He called the house but I wasn't home and Strummer answered the phone. I hope he'll call again and give us an address so we can begin writing to him. I imagine he's getting a real wake up call to the reality of becoming a US Army soldier. It's going to be quite an adjustment from his normal routine of sleeping in and playing games late into the night! I'm looking forward to seeing his transformation in a few months.
Sgt. Dad and I have been busy taking a Biology course. Three credits crammed into five weeks is a tough schedule. We have a mid-term this Tuesday so after today we'll be studying like crazy. It has been an interesting course. Fortunately, my high school biology teacher forced us all to study at the AP level (even though I didn't take the AP test and get credit). Most of the course has been like a review for me. It's somewhat more detailed but not terribly. The most surprising thing is that Strummer and Tater seem to know all the stuff too.
Today the four of us are going to attempt King Salmon fishing. The clerk who sold us our fishing licenses ($88 for two people!!) said that if you hook one it will feel like a nuclear submarine. I'm not so sure what will happen if I actually hook one. I guess I'll start screaming, "HELP" and get Sgt. Dad to reel it in. Some grilled salmon steaks sound pretty good though, don't they? The clerk also said that, on average, it takes 40 hours of fishing to get one king salmon. I might be better off going to the supermarket and buying a salmon steak and spend my day shopping instead. Just kidding- the point is to be outside spending time with the family. Actually catching a fish is just a bonus. Although I am determined that I will catch at least one fish during my time in Alaska. Even if I have to live here ten years to do it!
I have another restaurant review to post but I'll save it for tomorrow. It seems there was something else on my mind too but I don't recall at this moment.
~till the next time....

Changes

Well, Ranger made it off to Basic. He left at 6:40 pm Thursday. We spent a good part of the afternoon hanging out in the airport with him. Sgt. Dad and I had class so we didn't stay until his flight left but these days one can't go up to the gate anyway. Three other recruits from Alaska left with him. One of them is 32 years old! I was amazed! Sgt. Dad told me that a person can enlist up to the age of 39 now. I imagine that guy is going to feel very old during basic training. Although from the looks of him, he's in better physical condition than Ranger.
Ranger arrived in GA ok but hasn't begun training yet. Since it's a holiday weekend, he and all the other newly arriving recruits were just placed in barracks in Reception and won't do anything until Tuesday morning. No TV, no video games, no telephone. I'm not sure what they are doing. I sent Ranger with envelopes, stamps, paper, pens, and pencils. I am hoping he'll be bored enough to write.
It's VERY quiet here now. Tater is gone quite a bit working or out with friends and with just Strummer here, there is no bickering. I miss the noise already....
In other news, Strummer managed to fail Science and will be in Summer School. Grr! At least he failed with a high enough grade to take advantage of extended school year. That means he has to attend class for only 9 days to bring his grade to passing, instead of the entire summer school session.
Tater is scheduled for his road test in two weeks. I have to admit that it's really nice having another driver in the house, something we are missing right now with Ranger gone. Tater needs a bit more practice before his test, so I'll take him out as often as possible before then.
I took vacation time to spend the last few days with Ranger before he left. It didn't go so well though as I suffered three migraines last week. I've only ever had two in my life prior to this. I'm suspicious that my anxiety over Ranger's imminent departure had something to do with it. It was awful though, I had terrible nausea and a pounding stabbing pain going through my left temple. I had determined that if I had one more I was going to the doctor. So far so good though.
Sgt Dad and I are taking a Biology course this summer. It's one we both need in our attempts to get degrees before he retires from the Army. It's an accelerated course lasting only 5 weeks. I think in the second 5 weeks I'll register for psychology. That topic interests me so I think it will be more enjoyable than biology. Biology was probably my least favorite course in high school- even more than Math. We are also studying up for the placement test for Math and English. Sgt. Dad hasn't taken math since 1986! I took a remedial Math course in Texas in 2001. I think we'll both test high enough for 101 but we still need the brush up so we don't have to struggle in 101. I guess that's the next course we'll attempt to take together. He won't be able to take psychology with me because he has to travel this summer.
Well, that's my run-on update for now. I'm off to bed, vacation or no, I don't want to stay up too late.

Rough Week

Well, with the notable exception of Ranger completing his coursework, last week was ROUGH! Oddly enough I was in a very good mood when Monday morning came around but once I got to work things just went downhill and I couldn't get myself out of that funk all week. Several things happened that just frustrated me. It seemed everyone was having a bad week. Several other people mentioned to me that things just weren't going their way either. Maybe it's the end of the school year stress that just got to us all.
Anyway, on Wednesday the check engine light came on in the van and of course our warranty has expired. Then it was making strange sounds on the highway. The light is off now but no doubt it will return. Grr. We may have to rethink purchasing a new vehicle.
So anyway, it's Saturday now and I'm letting go all the ick from the week. Some things are out of my control so I am going to try to not let it bother me. Probably underlying all my feelings this week is the dread of Ranger's impending departure. I have a feeling until he leaves that I'm just going to feel a bit out of sorts.
Here's to a new week!

Success!!

Well, Ranger has completed his coursework and is now all set to graduate! He will pick up his diploma on May 15th. Unfortunately, he isn't walking for graduation as he'll already be in Georgia starting basic training.
I'm so relieved and pleased. I feel good that he was able to slog through the last of high school. I know he didn't enjoy it. He had his eyes set to May 22nd (the day he will leave for the Army) all this time.
Now, I just have to get through the last couple weeks, have my good cry about this change in my boy's life and our relationship and then, maybe, I can relax for a minute. Although, Tater's turn will come all too fast......

Happy Birthday Sgt. Dad

Today was Sgt Dad's birthday. He wanted to go bowling this afternoon, so we did. None if us did very well but it was still fun. We know our time together as an entire clan is short so each family outing these days has become bitter-sweet. Enjoy the photo- he doesn't care much for posing!

Aces

So, Sgt Dad called me at work about 3 oclock this afternoon to ask me if I want to go to a hockey game. To which I replied, "Yeah! Why?" He then informed me that he had been given two tickets to see the Alaska Aces playoff game for tonight. I don't know if I previously mentioned that I had been wanting to go to a hockey game but I have. So, I bailed on my gym date and met Sgt Dad for dinner and the game. It was really fun! We left with just a minute remaining with the Aces losing 5-4. On the way home, I was mentioning to Ken that maybe we shouldn't have left because remember the Bills game when the fans left thinking it was all over and they pulled off the biggest comeback in NFL history. So, I found the game on the am station and sure enough they pulled out a tie! We thought about turning around to go back and watch overtime but decided against it. As of now I don't know the result of the game but I hope they pulled out a win. As you know I'm not a big sports fan but it sure is fun to watch a game live!

Update: This just in- Aces won in overtime. Boy are we dumb for leaving early! I bet we missed alot of fun cheering!