Moving

Since we will be leaving Alaska finally after 3 very long years. I can say it was an experience and I will never forget the friends I made there. We are so glad to be moving away from the almost 9 month long winters. The 6 months of almost all darkness. We will miss playing in snow in our frontyard, not having to make a trip for that. I don't know anyone though who actually likes moving. Packing everything that 4 people own is a lot of work. Going through all of the boxes that are stired in the basement. Deciding what we should keep and what we should get rid of. When we get to destination we have a whole nother set of problems. Whether to rent or buy. We have already decided that we are done living on base. After 7 years, which is what it will be when we move. We are tired of shared walls and driveways. We love know the kids are safe and all the oppurtunityies that are available. We are ready for a little more privacy. To live closer to the places we shop and better schools. The school that is on base in Charleston is one of the worst schools. I feel like we got luck in Tucson and now in Alaska. Our kids have had great teachers and excellant schools. I guess I get to just keep looking at houses and hope we can get approved for a loan.

Orders!

So being within one year of my separation from the Air Force, I was able to extend my enlist by 12 months so I could apply for BOP (Base of Preference). I put in for Nellis, Luke and Charleston. Shortly after I put in for BOP the annual bonus list came out saying they were cutting the bonus for my job in half. I figured it was all said I done I wouldn't get the base I wanted and would get out of the Air Force and move back to Phoenix. I got off a night shift and was going to days the next week so I planned on getting up early. I turned my alarm off and went back to sleep. I woke up at just before 3 pm and checked my email. I had an automated email telling me I had orders. I threw on clothes told Richard I had orders I would call when I got to work and saw were to. I got to work and had orders to Charleston. I had the next day to reenlist to get the full bonus and it was 4pm at this point on a Thursday. My superintendent took me up stairs and got it setup for me to reenlist the next day. I reenlisted the next day and was able to get the full bonus. That is taxed at 25% hope I get some of that back in taxes. My pessimism was bad but, everything worked out for the better.

So What to do.

To leave Alaska as scheduled in August 2013 I have to have 12 months retain-ability. If not I have to stay in Alaska for another month and separate the end of September. I don't want to stay any longer than necessary and I think everyone knows that. It was fun it was an experience, but we are all done. So I have decided to extend 11 months so I can apply for base of preference. I apply to go to a certain base (Luke) if I get a spot there I have to reenlist. I get a bonus with the reenlistment which is a plus and it puts us in a position to buy a house. One of us has to have a job to buy a house, the loan isn't a problem since we are both veterans and have the VA loan. The bonus would make an awesome down payment. Now we just have to wait until I hit 14 months out to start the process. Yeah to the military for hurry up and wait.

AA-AGEC

I completed the last class I need for my Associates of Arts. I now have my AA and my AGEC-A Arizona General Education Curriculum Arts. I completed my degree with a 4.0 and should be receiving it in the mail any day now. This makes my 3rd associates degree after my AGS in 2005 and my CCAF in 2010. I now have 6 classes left to receive my Bachelor's degree. Then to decide what to do from there.

School

So I have 7 more classes to go on my Bachelor's degree. I start my last class at a Community College on Tuesday. It is short story writing. I don't think I have ever been descriptive enough to write stories. I need a lot of help so everyone wish me luck.
This is the only class online that I could take to complete this requirement. It also means another associates degree for me. I know I don't need 3 of them but, if I meet the requirements why not. It's only 15 dollars. This is the another reason I ended up with an Associates of General Studies back in the day. I needed Speech which I avoided like the plague. It really wasn't that bad taking it online. It was the last class I needed to complete my CCAF. Now I need the humanities requirement I also avoided back in the day. After I failed the Music humanities class I took back in 1999. So this was the last humanities class I need and the only one available online. I'm hoping to finish my degree before my enlistment is up. I am right on track so the next time in back in the lower 48 permanently everyone is invited to my graduation scheduled for December 2013 in Flagstaff.

Stress

Who really likes their job? Is that really a question? Everyone has good days and bad days recently it feels like more good than bad. I have to look at all the good to get past the bad. I feel like I am always there and let alone my normal everyday work I keep getting assigned other tasks.
I started taking classes again. Now that I finished my CCAF and 7 level (upgrading for my job). This class is totally horrible it's the worst class I have taken since Music Humanities. It is boring and the teacher is like a slave driver. He says no ones work is good enough we all need to work harder.
The kids are doing great but I don't have enough time to spend with them. We are waiting for the snow to melt so we can plant gardens. Abby's has picked out flowers and Rich picked out watermelons and squash. Let's hope they grow well.

Abby

I have been working night shifts for the past 2 weeks. On Saturday the kids were driving Richard crazy wanting to wake me up. When I woke up for work they both were all over me. Today Abby hurt her foot jumping off the couch, crazy kid. Richard brought her to me and she cuddles up with me. She looks me in the eyes and says "mommie your eyes are green" so matter of factly. She continues to stare at me and says "Daddy's, Rich's and mine are blue that is wierd'. Gotta love me baby then we took a nap together. Which is a strange occurance, In her 3 1/2 years Of life I think that is only the 3rd time she has ever done that.