Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all had a great Turkey Day! I was lucky enough to spend the holiday with cousin Tisha at her husband's family home. Brian's family was warm and welcoming, and it was a great way to spend the day. I have to admit I fell under the spell of the turkey and passed out on the couch for a while, but I think that is allowed on Thanksgiving! Josh spent Thanksgiving underway, as you might expect. He unfortunately didn't get to celebrate with the entire wardroom; he had to go on watch and therefore ate a quieter meal with a smaller group. He sent along a photo from the meal; it is a little blurry but I think that you can tell that he is enjoying his meal and the company of his fellow officers.

Earlier this week he also sent some photos of his life underway. His ship performed an underway replenishment with a supply ship. Underway replenishments (UNREPs) are the way that ships get gas, food and all sorts of supplies. Usually the ships try to maintain a separation of about 180 feet, so it is a pretty big evolution with alot of people involved. It is also something that Josh will get to do many more times throughout his deployment. In this picture, you can see that hoses that stretch between the ships, attached to the tensioned spanwire.

My handsome husband also sent along a picture that was taken while he was up on the bridge. It is a little embarrassing because if you look carefully, you will see that he is actually wearing an outfit that is really similar to the one he wore for Thanksgiving. Oops, fashion faux pas! Oh well, we will let it slide because he looks so good!


And now for your Otto update: He is doing pretty well. The analysis of the stones they got out of him came back, and the vet recommended that we switch Otto to a vegetarian diet. After alot of research (and a couple of upset stomachs), I think we have finally found something he likes to eat that doesn't make him throw up (all over the floor and me at 5 in the morning). He has a vegetarian dry food, and I add in some vegetable broth and extra water so he stays as hydrated as I can get him. This results in a wet, orange and sticky beard, so he usually requires a post-meal face washing (warning: clicking on the picture below will result in extreme stickiness.)



Luckily, once he dries he remains as cute as ever (actually I think he is pretty cute either way!), though he does miss Mr. Josh.


That is about it from here! Hope everyone is doing well! Only 32 shopping days until Christmas...

Care Package Advisory

Hey all,
Many of you have expressed an interest in sending a care package to Josh, and I just got this important info from the Command Master Chief's wife about some thefts that have been going on with care packages to service members. Please feel free to send him a package, just keep this in mind (and if you need it, e-mail me for his address):

"Hello Ship's Families,
I wanted to pass on information to you before you sending on packages to you sailors. Unfortunately is has been brought to the attention of our commands, as well as countless others that there has been tampering with care packages. What is happening is our packages we work so hard on are being carefully slit open, our gifts are being stolen, and then the packages are being resealed and then forwarded on to our unsuspecting loved ones. Items being stolen are things like PS3 players, games, Xbox 3 Players, games, DVD players, MP3 players, various electronics, jewelry, PASSPORTS, etc...How do thieves know these items are in the boxes? We disclose these items are in the boxes, as requires by Customs. A few suggestions to make sure your packages arrive safely:

1. Insure everything you send if you have any concern if may be stolen and you would want it replaced. This is a very small fee.

2. Report all damaged packages IMMEDIATELY to the post office (if you received it) and direct your sailor to report damaged packages to the postal petty officer immediately.

3. APO, FPO AND International Mail Must have a customs form. Go to the local post office and fill out the for description portion of the POS form 2976-A Customs Form, insert the form inside before you seal the package and place the top portion of the form (which is green) on the outside of the package. This lets customs official know that the item description form is inside the package.

4. Reconsider sending "high ticket" items. If you choose to send them, INSURE THEM!"

Please let me (Tina) know if you have questions, and I will ask them to the appropriate people and get back to you ASAP. If you do want to send those big ticket items, you can send them to me and I will hold onto them until my dear husband returns home!

Here is a cute picture of Otto to tide you all over!



Thanks again for all your love and support!
Tina

Short Video from the Pier

Well, yesterday I tried to take a little video of the sights and sounds of the ship getting underway. In this clip, you can see the lines at the aft end of the ship being brought onboard, and then can hear a whistle and a female voice announcing over the public announce system, "Underway...Shift Colors," and then you can hear a blast from the ship's whistle. My guess is that Josh was probably busy up on the bridge at this point. You can also see the color detail bring in the flag (shifting colors!), and while this is not the most exciting video ever, if you have never been at a pier to see a ship get underway, maybe this will help you visualize the process!

UNDERWAY! MISS YOU ALREADY!

Well, the day we have been planning for finally came. Josh and I woke up super early (4am) and got all of his stuff together quickly. He said goodbye to Otto and we were out the door by 0430. We got to the ship soon thereafter and I helped him carry on the last of his stuff and unpack. He had a meeting to go to at 0530, plus alot of other things to do, so he walked me to the parking lot and we said goodbye. It was pretty sad, but I know he is going out to do all kinds of good things, so it is important he goes. I drove home and had breakfast, and then headed back to the ship. The parking lot was much more crowded this time around, with big groups of family and friends there to see them off (plus the ship across the pier was leaving a little later, so all of its family and friends were there too). I decided not to go on the pier so I could have a better view of the ship. Shortly before the ship started their final actions before getting underway, I got a call from Josh on my cell phone. He was waving at me from the starboard bridgewing, so I got to see him for one last time! It was great! The ship observed morning colors and the commanding officer came over the public announce system and thanked the crowd for all the support, and not too long thereafter you could here the command being given to single up all lines and take them in. Once all the lines were on the ship, they were underway and very quickly moving away from the pier, aided by two tugboats. Sailors and Marines were manning the rails, and they waved goodbye as they got further away. I waited until the ship started their turn and then walked a little further down the waterline to take some pictures of them as they headed out to sea. I don't have the fanciest camera, but I am sure those of you who know and love Josh will be happy for any pictures from this morning, so here they are!

Here is a picture of the starboard side of the ship. You can see some of the family members who had gathered on the pier.



Here is a picture of the national ensign shortly after morning colors, and you can see the Sailors and Marines lining up to man the rails.



At one point, I ventured over the the port side to see the tugs that would help them to get underway.



When Josh called me from the bridgewing, I took a picture of the figure who had been waving at me. This is it. If you click on the picture, you will get a larger version. That doesn't mean you can see him any better though.



Sorry you can't really make out any features, but if you could, I bet he would look something like this picture taken at the end of his last deployment (dashing, n'est-ce pas?) :



Finally, after I had returned home and was getting ready to mail out Josh's first care package, the doorbell rang and a very nice man delivered a BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers from my lovely husband:



Well, that is about it from here. Thanks to all of you who have called and offered me support; I think this all will take a couple of days to register. In the meantime, I am trying to keep busy, and my obsession with Otto is always good for that. And since Josh may read this soon, we miss you and are very proud of you!!!

NAVY BEATS NOTRE DAME!!!!!

Yesterday was a very exciting and nerve-racking day in our house. As we prepare for Josh's deployment, there was one activity this weekend that was set in stone - watching the Navy football team try to end the Irish's 44 year winning streak, the longest winning streak in NCAA history! Having known Josh and other Naval Academy grads for several years now, I know this is a pretty big deal and Josh had really high hopes this year. And it was definitely a nail biter too. After three overtimes and a play that gave Notre Dame a second chance to tie it up, Navy was finally able to stop the Irish from getting a two-point conversion and the midshipmen ended their losing streak. There was much celebrating in our house. I don't think I have ever been so nervous about a football game! And I think I almost squeezed Otto to death in my nervousness! Otto got pretty nervous too, and had to go and get Lucky Bear to keep him company. In order to support the Midshipmen as much as possible, Josh broke out his pewter Academy beer tankard, and we dressed Otto in the closest thing we could find to Navy Blue and Gold. Below are the pictures from the afternoon -

Otto in his Navy colors...



Otto and Lucky Bear nervously watching the game...



Otto celebrating with the midshipmen after the historic win (I promise he was excited about the game, he just doesn't like sitting on that ledge)...



After the win, Josh called every Naval Academy grad he knew to memorialize the moment (and text messaged some poor Notre Dame alums to rub it in). It was quite a proud moment for him, and he and Otto had a great time celebrating.



I was really glad that Josh was able to watch this unforgettable game here at home before he heads out on what is sure to be a stressful deployment. Otto and I are preparing ourselves to see him off tomorrow and we will keep you posted on how we survive!