Welcome Home!

Finally.....after living like a gypsy for the past six weeks, the eagle has landed!!! Previous posts have shed some of the horror stories about living out of my car and it has been a challenge. Not literally living out of the car, but storing nearly everything in it, because I had too much junk to haul it in/out and I was fearful I may have had to move -- just one last time!

Alas, apartment life will be grand! Here was my welcome home gift from the apartment complex. Yes, that is a toilet plunger!! On top of the plunger is a roll of toilet tissue (OK....it was one-ply, but still exciting!) and some liquid and bar soaps. The wine? What wasn't from the apartment complex. That was from me! But, I thought it looked great alongside the "real" welcome gift. Check out the crystal-like handle of the plunger. Obviously, the prettiest one I've ever seen.

Then, today I found this welcome site. My personal delivery man. What a great day. I got to see Ed and Chip. It will be great having them around for more than a week. We got the truck unloaded and started putting things in places.

All in all -- a good start!

Til later ~~ Mom/Candy/Chief

Here's Your Sign

You've heard the joke -- "here's your sign!"

I just hate stupid people.They should have to wear signs that just say I'm stupid.That way you wouldn't rely on them, would you?You wouldn't ask them anything. It would be like, "Excuse me...oops,never mind""I didn't see your sign."It's like before my wife and I moved from Texas to California our housewas full of boxes and there was a u-Haul truck in our driveway.My friend comes over and says, "Hey, You moving?""Nope.""We just pack our stuff up once or twice a week. Just to see how manyboxes it takes.""Here's your sign."

I felt like that today!!! Only the joke was on me. I am still somewhat living out of my car (literally!) I left San Antonio on December 23rd bound for points North then East. I have packed and unpacked my car too numerous to count. When I arrived at Fort Lee Lodging (where I'll be until the end of the month when I can finally get into the apartment!) I was told I would have to move rooms one time during my four week stay. Great!

Today was the day. I inquired at the lodging office (in another building) and asked if I'd be in the same building -- nope -- a totally different building. So last night I made at least 6 trips back and forth to the car to load the trunk and the back seat of the car. This morning I made an additional six or seven trips to get all the little totes (Laura taught me to use them :) ) to the car. It was full -- trunk, back seat, passenger seat, every nook and cranny everywhere. I could NOT see out the rear-view mirror. Thank heavens for side mirrors. I drove over to the lodging office to check out of one room, to get the new key for the new room.

Here's the good part -- the door to my new room was literally 20 steps away from the old room!!! It is a different building, they're connected with covered walk-ways. I felt like I was on Candid Camera or something. The walk to the parking lot is about 75 steps (one way!) I could not believe it.

I had to laugh and think -- "Candy, here's your sign!"

Til later ~~ Mom/Candy/Chief

P. S. I would have taken pics, but it was dark (AND COLD) by the time I got off work and had to "unpack" this evening.

Chicken Fat

When I was a little girl we used to exercise to a song in gym class. It was called gym class, because we went to the gym! My era didn't start calling it PE, until I was in Senior High. I remember a line from the song, "GO YOU CHICKEN FAT, GO!"

That's the way I feel! Go you whatever fat, go!!! So....I've decided to take better control of my health and this is the year I WILL get in shape. I joined a local fitness center last weekend and have been there every day (that's six in a row!) They have a wonderful swimming pool and those of you who know me, know I love the water. But, I have started also working out on the machines. It certainly beats sitting looking at four walls each night.

As I've been exercising, that lyric constantly plays through my head "GO YOU CHICKEN FAT, GO!" I remember it was first or second grade when we started exercising to the familiar tune at Irving Elementary. I know my brothers will remember it too.

I couldn't remember the actual name of the tune, so I Googled "chicken fat exercise". I found it -- thank heavens for the internet. I hope you too can find this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFofqe26t-4 The name of the song is CHICKEN FAT and it is sung by the one and only Robert Preston (remember him as THE MUSIC MAN)! The year was 1961 and I would have been in the first grade that year.

Ah....the memories of childhood and the ability to remember those fun times!

Til later ~~ Mom/Candy/Chief

Fort Lee, Virginia -- What an exciting time!!!

I had an exciting day. Today was the ribbon-cutting ceremony, establishing The Sustainment Center of Excellence (SCOE), which is the combined headquarters of the Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) and the three training installations under CASCOM -- the Quartermaster Center & School (which I am part of), the Ordnance Center & School, and the Transportation Center & School. The establishment of the SCOE is a BRAC (Base Realignment and Closing) project that will eventually move the Army Maintenance and Transportation schools to Fort Lee, joining the Quartermaster (supply, food service, aerial delivery, morturary, water, fuel, etc.) courses, currently taught on Fort Lee. Fort Lee will teach more MOS (military jobs) than any other military installation. It is an exciting time to be part of a new era in the Army. We will be moving across the street into the new building later this spring. The creation of the SCOE will have all the Army sustainers taught on Fort Lee under the umbrella of the Sustainment Center of Excellence (SCOE).

As for my new job -- the first week was good. Met many terrific people that I will be working with. I was able to renew some old friendships. The longer I am in the Army, the more I am convinced it is truly a very small world. Here I am in front of the Quartermaster Museum. Absolutely one of the highlights for whenever you tour Fort Lee. Amazingly, they have uniforms in the museum that I used to wear!!! That means I must be REAL old!! History lesson -- Quartermaster is the second oldest branch in the Army -- second only to the Infantry. Infantry was "born" the same day the Army was born -- June 14, 1776. Immediately, they knew they needed someone to sustain the battle, hence the Quartermaster Corps was born just two days later. I love that little tidbit!

Til later ~~ Mom/Candy/Chief

Promotion!

Wow is about all I can say after the whirlwind month it has been! I finished my Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama on the 19th of December, completing all the requirements to be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer Five! I was at home in San Antonio for four whole days (sorting and packing) before Ed and I left (in two cars!) bound for Fayetteville, AR. We spent Christmas with the Arkansas kids and then we left at noon on Christmas day (in three cars!) to travel to Sioux Falls. Somewhere in Missouri we found a Waffle House open and enjoyed Christmas Dinner! Hallelujah for Christmas Road Trips!!

My promotion ceremony was surrounded by friends and family (young and old, literally and figuratively!) BG Charles Barr, my deployment Commander, traveled to help Ed do the honors.

It was a ceremony complete with childhood friends, high school friends, some of my first battle buddies, close family, extended family, ..... Since I was between units, I thought it would be fun to celebrate something fun in the very same building where I enlisted nearly 34 years ago. It was a good day and great to share it with those who mean so very much to me. Thanks to all who came.

Although "NO GIFTS" was the request, my six-month old Grandson was not able to read the memo! So, he gave me a miniature sterling silver dog tag that now says "CHIEF GRANDMA, CW5" I wear it proudly, and am glad the little guy can't read yet! Thanks, Colt!

Here's those who mean a great deal me! Laura was on speaker phone, so she too was part of the ceremony! Erika read the order. Becky was in charge of the picture slide show/music. Sarah was camera operator. Ed and BG Barr did the pinning. Colt was in charge of being cute and Jeff managed Colt. As always, Tom was with us in spirit. It was everything and more than I hoped it would be.

Everyone is back home in their respective "spots". I am at Fort Lee, getting ready to start my new job in the morning! Ed is back home with Chip, wandering the house, looking for that next project. It was a good month and great to see everyone. Thanks to all who made the special day even more special with your presence, your emails, your phone calls, etc.

Til later ~~ CW5 Martin (oops, I mean ~~ Chief Grandma)