John's Next Step

Same and different It has been 27 days since deployment and I have 26 days remaining in this phase of the training on St. Lucia.  I’m glad to have a chance to reflect and share how things are going so far.  I have about 8 more weeks of training and I don’t expect to be able to post weekly until after I get sworn in, but I’ll post when I can.  (As you will see in the pictures below it is not all work work work.  I'm trying to adjust to living on a beautiful island.) Going away party Samantha, Daniel, and I (and Sam's mother-in-law photo bombing) at the end of the going away party - great send off Samantha planned a nice going away party the day before departure and gave me a going away gift (she has an Etsy story for such things https://www.etsy.com/shop/SleepyPandaPieces  – just saying). My key chain with the name "24601" - bonus points for the reference     Staging and departure We had staging in Miami.  A day of tr...

Everything packed.  49 lbs in the big bag and 47.5 lbs in my backpack.  Extra room in both all bags. I’ve finished packing and wanted to share my method of packing, rather than a detailed list of every item I’m taking.   I’m taking two large bags to be checked along with a small backpack, and a computer bag as carry on.  My small backpack should be sufficient for staging and the first few days of training on the island.  The rest of the stuff I think I might need during the few months of training is in one of the bags.  The second large bag, my backpack, is reserved for site and I should not need items from that bag during training. Small backpack I’ll be flying to Miami on Sunday afternoon.  Monday will be meetings and paperwork before final departure for St. Lucia Tuesday morning.  All I need for the first week is a few shirts, a pair of slacks, and such.  Not pictured in my shaving kit.  I also have a wallet and coin purs...

My visit to Belgium, France, and Holland was made great by the hospitality of some dear friends. My friend Gilbert picked me up in Brussels and took me to his home and family in Mons.  He drove me all around Belgium and into France.  I stayed several days longer than I had originally planned because of their amazing hospitality. Gilbert and his family Gilbert and me in his background A brass guardhouse monkey in the Mons on the Grand Place.  Rubbing with left hand for good luck. There is beer in Belgium.  My surprise was when we visited family and friends I would be served beer in the appropriate glass designed for the beer. Bar in Mons made from old copper brewing equipment Selection of some beers available There are also waffles in Belgium. Different options for waffles This picture does not give justice to the shale hill that my friend and I climbed in his attempt to kill me or something on my first full ...