Jameson Update II

Sorry for the delay in sending info on Jameson. I have been working a ton of hours and just have not had time to write. I've spoken with him each Sunday evening for 5 min (they are very strict on the time allotment). Each of his calls have been very positive, with a similar theme: it's REALLY hard, but I'm gonna do it!

He has been promoted to Supply Sergeant for his Platoon, which means he handles all the paperwork (ordering/records/requests) and supply needs for his platoon. He is very proud of being chosen for this job. He is also doing well in academics with all A's (100%) at this time. He is writing to us regularly, as well as responding to those who have written him. I will try to tell him he can send us mail for family in Europe, as he can not send mail there (only basic mail stamps), and we will scan it and email it to you.

2 weeks ago, he wrote a very expressive letter about how frustrated he was over a physical exam (the Army Physical Fitness test) He did 90 consecutive push-ups (way over the max), 72 sit-ups (1 over max), and had to run 2 miles in under 13 min (He came in 3rd). After all of that, someone had messed up the records or timing and they had to do it over!! He was sooo frustrated! "But, no biggy, I can do it again. I'll just do more, better. It's not enough to make me want to quit."

In his last letter he mentioned that his Platoon was awarded Honor Platoon, which means as of this Sunday, he will have 10 min on the phone!! Yeah! But he is actually disappointed cause he was hoping to have a personal promotion to Phase II which would give him 5 extra min (total 15 min) each week. He has been recommended for leadership roles and other merits, doing community service and working hard in school. He expressed how down he was that he did not receive the promotion and referred to having to brown nose to get promoted...I'm sure there is a story there that I will hear about on Sunday.

I want to thank everyone who has been writing him...THANKS!! He really appreciates it! They had us send 20 stamped envelopes (with his name in corner) for him to send mail home weekly (minimal requirement). Jamie requested more envelopes last week...he has already sent out his 20. Know how much he dislikes writing, I am very proud of his effort. I know I have not sent as many this last week or two and I think he hasn't received many. The tone of his last letter was very down, and in his letters to Auri he begged her to write him TONS. So, please keep up the mail!!

Jackson, WY trip

Just got back from a quick trip to Jackson Hole, Wy to meet up with Max and Jill for a few days. Nice trip. I enjoyed myself. 420 miles from home to jackson, and 420 miles back. One day hiking. 3 days total. On the motorcycle. I'm pretty tired. Pictures here.

Truck pictures

Here's the new tires and a better view of the truck. I like it a lot better.



Previously here.

It's hard to see the difference to the previous pictures, I suppose. The difference is that there used to be a black piece of rubber between the front bumper and the lights, which is now gone, and the space between the black step under the doors and the doors themselves was much bigger (which is hard to see based on the angle of the previous picture).

New tires

Jamie is going to love them, i think. We also took out the bodykit which lowered the truck 3 inches

Jameson Update

I received a call last Thurs that Jameson had gone AWOL at 1030pm (with another candidate) and the program had called police to look for him. He returned at 1215, on his own, at which point they notified the police who came and gave him a citation for being out after curfew. Of course, he also has consequences within the program including having to get up 1.5 hrs early and workout until after everyone else finishes breakfast. Then he can go in and get breakfast (which is cold and soggy at this point). Needless to say, it was a rough night for me :)

On Sunday night, I received the first call from Jameson. Though only 5 min long, it was great to hear his voice. He sounds very strong and determined. He is in the 3rd Platoon and will be calling weekly on Sundays. He has received our mail and requested news of the outside world.

He said he left because he was so angry!! "you just don't understand how hard it is" When I asked why he went back he said "because of you guys" (meaning Jan and I). I told him I was sooo proud of his choice and the hard work he is doing. And reminded him that he will be so far ahead of his peers when he returns; it is hard, but worth it!

They are currently working on team building exercises: when one person messes up, they all get the consequences. An important lesson, but hard to swallow. He is looking forward to starting classes this week as it will take up 8 hrs of the day and so be easier :) I guess that's one way to make a kid happy to study :)

He sends his love to everyone and I sent yours on to him. It was short and sweet, but he is doing well!

MYCP

Black cat fire chute

This was ALL black last year around this time. It's still black today, but things are starting to grow on the ground.

Bella

New girlfriend

Sypreme's anyway. Meet sara's new horse, though I don't know her name yet. Her name was Bell or Belle (not sure) and I think sara has decided to call her Bella instead. I'm sure sara will post more details soon.

Rescued hummingbird

We saw this hummingbird on our feeder yesterday and he had a HUGE ant on his beak. I started wondering if hummingbirds ate ants, and really didn't know, and after a while he really didn't look all that comfortable.

Sara caught him EASILY (he wasn't moving a whole lot. All puffed up and stressed-looking), and we thought we could just scrape the ant off of him. But scraping wasn't doing the job, so I just grabbed the ant and yanked it off of him. It was on there TIGHT. We had a little bit of blood on the rag, and the hummingbird didn't seem too happy (before or after). But he drank some more from the feeder, and eventually flew away.

Kind of a bizarre occurrence.

Bad tires

These are the tires on tyson's rental car! Thankfully he got new ones put on yesterday before heading back out today

Our neighbor's new horse

Cute baby horse

Done

I'm sure I won't be able to move tomorrow...

What is 1 hour?

That is.

Just walked by this tree and it smelled good!

Chickens by the coop

We spent the weekend working around the house and yard and one of the things we did was get a more spacious place for the ever-growing chickens. We fixed up the old shed (previously used as a coop, we think) and now the chicks have more room and even an attached garden. We still need to build a portable coop, so we can move them around, but this will do for now.

Auri gets serenaded

Chance's sister had a graduation party, and we went for a little while. Chance decided to sing a song, and friend put Auri on a chair in front of him, so she could get serenaded. Ain't they cute...

Interior decorating

First coat of primer covering up jamie's graffiti

Runt in a box

Turns out Runt is sick, but I didn't know that when I took this picture. He spent the night at the vet's, getting fluid and food, etc. He'd been throwing up for a few days now, and we finally decided something was seriously wrong when ... well... nevermind. Don't want to gross anyone out :)

He's doing better today, and I HOPE to get him from the vet's tonight or tomorrow.

Update: Runt was at the vet's from thursday night until Sunday. He's doing fine now. We don't know exactly what happened, but a bunch of IV fluids and food and antibiotics and he seemed to be fine again.

Lawn mowers