The Little Things...

Ok, so it's official I have become one of those people who carry their phone around with them EVERYWHERE!!! I mean I don't leave my desk at work without it in my hand, whether I'm getting a glass of water, eating lunch or even going to the bathroom, I keep it with me. I can only imagine how upset I would be if I missed a phone call, I even had my phone in arms reach when I was in the shower! (pathetic much?) But let me say, I'm sooo ok with being pathetic it doesn't bother me one bit, because the second that phone vibrates or rings with a new e-mail or call, I'm the happiest girl in the world!

Charlie e-mailed me today. He made it safe and sound to Camp Leatherneck. He said he was able to get some sleep on the plane, which I find hard to believe, between mid-air refueling, 15 smelly loud dogs, 15 anxious Marines, and turbulence, sleeping couldn't have been easy! We bought him a few books before he left and he finished The Road before even landing in Afghanistan.  Luckily we also got him the new Stephen King book and its about 4 inches thick so that should keep him busy for a few weeks!

Charlie wanted to be sure I passed on that he is doing well and he's settling in. He also wanted to pass along that "the chow here is amazing!"

I have always said that its is the little things in life that make me the happiest. When Charlie was state-side it would be random text or e-mail that would make my day, or him showing up in town at 3:00 when I thought he wasn't leaving base until 4:00, a back massage after a long drive down to San Diego. He can always find new little ways to surprise me and make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and its no surprise that he can do that from half way across the world. His e-mail tonight was the first I've received since he landed in Afghanistan, and in a short e-mail he was able to make me smile and warm my heart.

Whirl Wind...

Well it has absolutely been a whirl wind couple of weeks. I was lucky enough between vacation days, holidays, and personal time to get to spend 17 of the last 27 days with Charlie and his family! It was sooo nice to get to spend all of that time with him, it was a crazy couple of weeks but we packed it full of good memories!

Veterans day fell on a wednesday this year and the Marine Corp Ball on that friday, so naturally I took off thursday and friday and made an extra long weekend of it! During the week we got Charlie's apartment all packed up and then there was the ball on Friday. The ball was an amazing event, not as good as some in the past according to Charlie, but still so much fun. Here are a couple pictures:

Charlie and his buddy Ty

Every girl should go to a ball! I'm looking forward to next year's!

This weekend kept getting better b/c while we were getting ready to head to the ball, Charlie's brother Victor and his wife Dani came into town to spend the weekend with us! It was sooo nice of them to fly out for the weekend and we had a lot of fun. I think the most entertaining moment was the boys wrestling in the ocean after breakfast, which of course I did not get any pictures of! grrr!

Thanks for coming out guys, it was a fun weekend!!

The following weekend was just as good! We all thought it was going to be the weekend that Charlie deployed. He was scheduled to leave Sunday the 22nd and we were all busy preparing ourselves for that event! Charlie's parents and sister and family friend Mike came out to spend that last weekend with Charlie and it meant a lot to him to have his family close.

We went to the beach, had some AMAZING sushi, made one last trip to the rooster, and got Charlie all packed up and ready to go!

And packed he stayed for another week b/c deployment got pushed back to Saturday after Turkey Day which was good and not so good all at the same time! Being pushed back meant Charlie was able to spend Thanksgiving here rather than in an airport hanger, but the guys were so ready to just get on the plane and go you could tell they were disappointed to have it pushed back. Thanksgiving was extra special this year for me b/c I got to spend it with Charlie and some of my closest friends. My best friend Lisa invited us to spend Thanksgiving with them up here in Paso Robles and it was quite the event! There was so much food Charlie and I ate ourselves sick.... like really sick! But the food and the company were amazing and made our first Thanksgiving together truly something to give thanks about.

Charlie deployed yesterday. It was hard to watch, hard to go through the goodbyes, but what made it sooo much easier was how excited he is to be going. And its not just him, its the whole detachment that is going. They are a great group of guys and they are all very excited to get over there and use the training and skills that they have been working on and developing over the last couple years. Here are a couple pictures from they day they left:

Final words from the Major before the boys left, he says that there are 45 guys on the backside ready to support the families, wives, girlfriends, and loved ones so that the Marines can focus on doing their job on the front side.

Gunny checking all Marines and their issued gear prior to loading up.

Saying out last good-byes and I love yous before loading up and shipping out! I think we said "I love you" and "see you when you get back" about 4 times before they actually pulled out of the parking lot!

Two vans, to trucks, and two trailers to get 15 marines, 15 dogs and all of their gear to March AFB.

Charlie left Camp Pendleton at 9:45 Saturday morning, got to March at 11:00am and flew out of March at 5:00pm. I just got an e-mail from him this morning at 7:30. He landed in Germany, and they were getting ready to take off again. They are off to Afghanistan, and I'm looking forward to the next update from him!

Start from the beginning...

So, blogging is really not my thing... I tried to do it while I was living in Australia and I failed miserably, but I'm going to give it another shot!

The idea of blogging came when I was making a very long list of things I'm going to do over the next 7 months to keep me busy! One Marine's wife suggested blogging b/c that way everyone can read up on how Charlie is doing, what he needs, how he's feeling, without having to make 200 phone calls after a 3 minute conversation. I decided to take her advice and try it out! I will of course be making lots and lots of phone calls to friends and family over the next few months, but I figure this is great way to keep everyone in the loop! I also wanted to do this for Charlie so when he gets the chance to hop on the internet, he can check in on what's going on back home. And I also thought it would be fun for us to read through it once he gets home!

I don't know what this blog is going to morph into.... a journal? reports from the field? An open forum for family and friends? But I suppose that is the exciting thing about starting one of these!

I hope to get feedback, and comments and messages from friends and family, and I hope that you share this blog with anyone who may want to read!