Hellloooo Over There!

Brian finally sent me another photo. He and some guys volunteered to help unload a plane, and they stopped for a snapshot. Unfortunately, it looks like he still has that nasty mustache.

Capt Clint - Purple Heart

I often take for granted that Brian is safe, despite the fact that he is in a combat area. He's an engineer, so he isn't out fighting people. I guess that is kind of how I deal with his deployment. It helps me not worry about things that I have absolutely no control over.

Well, our friend Clint, who was stationed here in Guam (currently in Germany), is an engineer too. Clint is also currently serving in Afghanistan. Recently, he was inspecting an electrical power plant when he was shot! He is totally fine and was able to return back to work within 24 hours of being shot, but WHEW! Shortly after being shot, Clint was awarded the Purple Heart and here is the article:

http://www.bagram.afcent.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090823-003.pdf

Shocked!

For those of you who don't know, the federal government's fiscal year ends on September 30. There is always a bunch of dollars that have to be spent at the very last minute or the money will disappear at midnight. Typically, lots of folks spend long hours on the last couple of days leading up to the 30th.

Federal employees are paid by the hour and earn overtime, and I will have to be at work, probably until midnight, on September 30. Because I will be working overtime, I have to put in an advance request for the overtime hours, and they must be approved before I can work them. Today, I put together the overtime request AND cover letter for routing. I was routing the request to my commander. When I route something to my commander, it goes through a route or chain of command including 6 different people.

This afternoon, the overtime request was returned to me, because it needs a higher approval. I found out that the overtime request needs to be approved by the base leadership. WHAT THE HECK! That means that in addition to the chain of command described above, the request will now go through at least 6 more people, and I mean IMPORTANT people. Don't you think these people probably have more pressing matters to deal with? So, not less than 12 people actually have to sign that piece of paper...

This is a ridiculous example of inefficiency. Do you really think that all 12 people need to approve those hours? No.

I have 3 words: LEAN SIX SIGMA.

Another Lunch

It seems like all I've been doing since arriving home is eating! I also met my good friend Casey and her mom for lunch with my mom.

Casey, Donna, me, my mom

Lunch with My College Roommate

I had lunch with my college roommate Laura and her girls this week.

Delainey is getting big and also getting ready for K-5 this year!

Here's Laura and Jacqueline

Happy Birthday Me-Ma!

Brian's grandmother "Me-Ma" is turning 90 years old today!!! Yesterday, her kids (Brian's mom, aunt, and uncle) hosted a drop in for her birthday. Loads of family and friends came from around the southeast to wish Me-Ma a happy birthday.

the fam

Brian's sister Brook and me

More Family Visits

I haven't seen my brother and his family in 2 years! Their oldest son, Jack, was only 3 the last time I saw him, and he has been growing a like a weed! Jack's now five and has a little brother and little sister. Ben is a little over 13 months and Kate is almost 5 weeks. Here are some photos:

my nephew Jack

my nephew Ben

my neice Kate

Visiting in Savannah

mom, dad,and me

Casey, me, and Karli

Casey and me

Liz and Karli

Karli and her new British beau Martin

Kelly, Casey, Karli, Alison, and me


I really miss these girls!

Wedding Bells

My good friend Jamie got married last night. I've actually known this guy since K-5, and we are getting pretty old...here are some photos from the reception:

me and Jamie

me, Alison, and Matt (Alison just got married 2 weeks ago
and Matt was my senior prom date!)

Megan, Alison, me

just me and Alison

Rained Out in Cinci

Last weekend, I went down to Cincinnati to hangout with Sue, an old friend from Savannah. She is in Cincinnati doing an internship. None of the pictures are in order, so I put some captions beneath them:

Cincinnati Reds Stadium

At a beer garden near the stadium before going to a Reds game

this was with an otter at an aquarium

inside the stadium it is right on the Ohio River

an old bridge next to the stadium (the supports are actually brick)

in the game

that's Sue

It started to rain just after the fourth inning, and we had parked in Kentucky across the river. Because everyone in the stadium left at the same time, there were no cabs to be had. We had to huddle under Sue's mini umbrella for about a mile walk to the car in the sideways rain. Needless to say, I was soaked and in a terrible mood after my first Reds game!