My What a Fine Trip It Was Part 1

Hi All,
22 June 2010
As most (if not all) of you know I had my first extended vacation home since I arrived in the UAE (not counting the one week in Sept. 2009 for Beer Fest).
I came home for 30 days - the limit imposed by our wonderful IRS as they really don't want to provide me with all my expat tax benefits if I spend more than that amount of time in the USA.

I'll break this trip into several blogs so as not to bring the server to it's knees when I upload it. Plus I'll be kind and try not to delve into the details unless it is warranted.

May 20, Thursday
After a fitful night's sleep I'm packed and ready to go. Taken to airport by Liz, I'm at airport at 7:45 for a 10:30 flight. I get checked in through Immigration and into the gate area by 8:15 and settle in for the wait. Decide to buy some Absolut at the Duty Free. I do that and while shopping run into Pam - from Canton, Ohio area who also works at Mafraq and is on her way home for a wedding and a 2 week respite. We have coffee and then board plane - going through three separate checks with passports and boarding passes before finally stepping onto the plane. The nearly 15 hour flight is only made better due to the fact that the seat next to me was vacant so I had space to move around. The lay over in Chicago is short so after making my way through Immigration and Customs, I run for the shuttle to the domestic terminals and make my flight with time to spare - in fact I had a beer - a carry out beer from Chili's while I waited for the flight. Home to Louisville where Christine picked me up and whisked me over to Tom and Julie's house were we went to extend my condolences to our dear friend Vickie as her husband Drew had just passed away days before my arrival. To know Drew is to know one of the kindest persons you will ever have met. He is sorely missed by all.
We depart, arrive home and we both collapse into bed as we have a full schedule ahead of us.

May 21, Friday
Up and coffee on the front porch with Christine- heavenly! Christine has been planning and prepping for the graduation for over 11 months ( house rental was the first item to be done last year) and here we are just a week away from the event. As we did the final packing and assembly of all the items we are taking to Annapolis I'm wondering how it will all fit in the car ! However we are packing for a 2 week trip and we do need everything from formal attire to T's and shorts so it all goes with us- naturally we discover that 1/2 the stuff we took we didn't use or wear ( I was just as guilty). We do some running around and then prep for a party at our house that evening as a welcoming back party and a tribute to our friend Drew with those who were closest to him. We were to have had this party at Ann and Dave's but the weather didn't cooperate with the expected heavy downpour coming in the middle of the party - We sure are glad we have that big covered front porch. Party and tribute to Drew was excellent and touching and all departed late.

May 22, Saturday
Coffee on front porch, cleaned up house, packed car and off to Pittsburgh by 10a. Arrived at my Dad's house, showered and out the door to restaurant to surprise 60th birthday party for Christine's sister Kathy. Arrived last and surprised her as all were getting their cocktails served. Had a good time seeing friends we hadn't seen in years and departed full from a fine meal and company. Returned to Dad's house, had a night cap and went to bed.

May 23, Sunday
Coffee with Dad then out the door for drive to Annapolis and our rented house for graduation week. Arrived and had lunch in Annapolis then over to the house where we met owner, got the keys and a few instructions on how to use TV and stereo. Alex quickly joined us and we got settled in. Changed into suit/tie for me and beautiful dress for Christine, uniform for Alex and headed off for The Yard for the Superintendent's Garden Party. - A little background here. Every year, the Supe ( soup) invites the graduating class to a party in his garden. Christine and I being big garden fans have been looking forward to his event. They do it by company as there'd be no way 1000 Mids and their 4 invited guests could fit in the garden. We pick up Herb and Barbara - Alex's sponsor parents - whom we just adore and who have been so helpful to Alex and us these past 4 years on the way and we arrive to find that due to the threatening weather, the party has been moved across the street to Dhalgren Hall. It's a nice big open space and well equipped to handle large groups . We were able to walk thru the garden and see what we had been missing. Well the garden was nice but most of the flowers had passed by this time and as I pointed out, even though it was only 6 companies invited to this party ( there are 30 companies and they do 1 party a night for 5 straight nights,) the crowd in Dhalgren hall would have been hard pressed to have been comfortable in the smaller garden space. ( garden is about the size of half a football field ) We had a wonderful time, saw many of Alex's friends and had our picture taken with the Supe. It was then off to dinner at an Italian restaurant we all enjoy. Reversed the order and went to bed anticipating the next day.

May 24, Monday
Ok now if you have been counting, how many beds have I slept in since arriving in the USA? The answer is 3 beds in 4 nights.
Monday was circled on our calender for 2 events. Alex was up and out early as he had to make muster at 6:30a. We wanted to see the "8th and I" the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team and Herndon Climb.
For security reasons no one without DoD stickers were permitted to park on The Yard during the whole week so you had to go to the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium and take a bus to the campus. This was a ROYAL pain in the butt as the weather was hot and sticky all week and tacked on extra time to and from ( especially from The Yard ) for all activities. Parking outside the gates is nearly impossible especially when you consider that the Herndon Climb is for all the Plebes ( freshman) and this is graduation week so all the "Firsties" or seniors families are in town.
So we dutifully take the bus and arrive to watch the Drill Team which was mightily impressive - you can see some of their routine on YouTube if you are interested - it is amazing what they do. Christine also arranged to meet a childhood friend of hers John Quinn, who I actually knew as well as their daughter? is a Plebe. Christine discovered him through Facebook. We sat together and then were to meet for the Herndon Climb. We went to lunch and met Alex there along with Manny and Louise who just happened to be strolling in the dock area when we called them. Since they had just had a large late breakfast, they joined us for iced tea while we ate lunch. ( oysters on half shell and a cold beer) We all returned to The Yard and got to Herndon in time to notice two things - 1) the obelisk was not greased and 2) the cap was not taped down on top . For those of you who do not know the tradition, each year the plebes, as a capstone event to their first year, climb the 22' greased with 200lbs of lard obelisk to remove the underclassman cap and replace it with an upperclassman's cap. This usually takes 1 1/2 - 2 hours to accomplish.
Well this year, the Supe who for some reason feels the event is dangerous - although for all who can remember the worst injury has been a broken finger and a few concussions when the poor plebe who is trying to get to the top - now on the shoulders either 3 or 4 persons tall falls and tumbles into the mass of bodies below. The Supe bans the greasing and taping of the cap to hold down on injuries ( remember this is the same Supe who came in and declared that since we were a nation at war, he was going to expect the Mids behaved in the same manner so therefore imposed strict liberty guidelines cutting all free time)
We are there for the starting cannon and up run the 1000+ strong Class of 2013. As we watch them encircle the monument, it becomes apparent that this climb is different - so much that within a minute they are 2 and then 3 high. The young man who got to the 3 high is able to now shinny up the obelisk and was sitting atop it and replace the cap- all in 2:06 ! I can tell you that the entire crowd - from spectators to participants as well that there was a huge disappointment in the air. From what was once a challenge had become a farce. The Class of 2013 felt cheated as they will now have an asterisk beside their recorded time - "ungreased". The parents felt cheated as well as the Class of 2010 who by following orders broke the tradition. This is the Supe's last year and is due for replacement very soon. Hopefully his successor will reinstate this tradition.
We had hooked up with Michael's parents at Herndon ( Michael is Alex's best friend) so we decided to return to their rented house to relax. Alex led the way with Christine and I followed in our car. We got turned around and who they thought was behind them was not me - so I got ditched ! I had forgotten my cell at home so there was no way to contact each other so I headed back to the house. Lucky thing - the two Jacks had just arrived- My Dad and Christine's Dad ( yes both named Jack). As I entered the house the phone was ringing - it was Christine looking for me. I told her to take her time, and I got the two Jacks settled in. She and Alex arrived a couple of hours later and we enjoyed a low key dinner and relaxed. ( Dad had brought a beer called "Arrogant Bastard" and it was nicely chilled) Mmmmmm good
I'll end this blog here and start anew so as not to be too long winded. ( too late right?)
Love to all
Scott