A cheery hello from Grandma B.

Hi Paul,

Sent another box today of mostly miscellany. Post your own post of goodies you are now in need of and please tell me if the liquid soap I sent was satisfactory. Probably smells much better than Tannie's offering. The darn customs declarations are such a nuisance - know they are necessary, but there is so little room for packing contents. But today is the first time I have to ever read what is listed front and back. Since I have been alone I spend much time reading, or trying to read, the legallese (wrong spelling I think) on forms. Much of it repetitive nonsense to discourage reading and understanding. Sending by way of flat rate boxes does save money and especially finding the proper size boxes. When "old boy" was in Korea I had to scramble to find boxes and packing was a real headache. But, that was when he actually began to use hot sauce. He said the K rations they had in the field were so dull after a few meals the hot sauce made eating at the very least interesting. Yuk. Something he never got over either.

The "ladies" are back from Chicago and by all accounts had a fine time. Back and forth through the city and environs. It is a wonderful city and I do miss the lakefront. Chicago is certainly unique in the water. Indy is a nice compact city, not too difficult to get around in except for me. I still can't tell south from north most of the time. I wrote I bought a new RAV-4 and it has no compass in the car. My old van had one and I am so used to it pointing the directions. I have tried two portable compasses and neither would work properly. I am getting a bit upset. The only time I know which way I am heading is when I go west to the interstate, and east to the library. South and north are a real problem here. Mr. Pete was going to look through the internet to find something useful, but haven't heard from him lately. Some of the mapping sites in the "net" are okay, most are not. Just to see how accurate a site was I asked for directions to the old house in Crete and their directions added several extra miles. Oh dear, I guess it's too late to get map savy at my age. All my children have internal map logic built into their genes from their Dad. He's another one who never got lost (unusual for a man).

Guess I will finish. Have to make halloween cookies for Mady. She usually comes Saturday and if it rains tomorrow she will be inside. Frosting cookies seems to please her. Especially coloring the frosting. Some of her color offerings are plain disgusting to look at, but thankfully, they taste good. She and the two neighbor children come up with the oddest color combinations. And they make a royal mess of the floor with the sprinkles. But sprinkles they must have. Just cleaning the floor after they leave is nasty.

Love to you and share what you don't want. I usually pick up oddments on sale here and there and might as well send them to you. Surely someone in your command will appreciate your discards. Take care - Grandma B.

Homecoming

First and most importantly Paul is back at Camp Liberty. He called last night around 5:15pm and had made it back. Tonight he is working over night to cover for someone else.

I went to my highschool's homecoming last night and was able to meet up with a friend of mine that I haven't seen since highschool. She was on drill team with me.

Things have changed, as they always do. I was a little disappointed because they added music on to the beginning of the fight song, so the drill team had to add to the beginning of the "Strut" (the entrance routine). Also, at the end of the Strut, we use to do the jump splits and then do a bow while in the splits. They don't do that anymore. :(
They have changed the uniforms also. They don't wear gloves anymore. When I was there we had to wear our hair up in a hair net under out hats. Now they wear their hair down. It looks pretty, but it just isn't what I am use to.

Mom and I have been packing up her apartment to move into a house that she will be renting. She has A LOT of stuff! We haven't even made a dent.

I am anxiously awaiting my trip to Chicago. Only two days of school this week!

Love to all!
Erin

Paul... As always, I love you so much. Thank you for the package!

Event at Camp Victory

Hi everyone,
Some of you may have seen on the news that something happened at Camp Victory. Paul is normally at Camp Liberty, which is pretty much one in the same with Camp Victory. I wanted to let everyone know that Paul is ok and safe. He was not at Camp Liberty/Victory when this happened. Also, everyone in his unit is safe and unharmed. I talked to him this morning and he was pretty shaken up, but he is ok. I will let you know when he is back at Camp Liberty. Right now he is doing a mission that he will never be able to talk about. Not even 50 years from now! Top Secret stuff I guess.

Happy Birthday to Sarah (my cousin)! She has entered the teenage years!

This weekend I am going home to watch my high school football homecoming game and to help mom pack. She is moving at the end of October.

Then I get to go have a girld weekend in Chicago with Paul's family! I am very excited for that!

I will post pictures after next weekend for all to see.

Love you all,
~Erin

PS. Paul I miss you greatly and love you so much. I will give your family lots of hugs for you!

Michigan Update

Well, tons of stuff happening around here. First, getting ready for girls trip to
Chicago! Can't wait to see Erin (as I am sure you feel the same!). We will be having a good/relaxing time. Just a few cocktails to be had!! We have Bob, our DD - YEAH FOR BOB!!

We had a scary event happen, while making a tackle on Friday, September 28th vs. East Lansing (and homecoming Paul) Todd had some temporary paralysis to his left side. He was in the hospital for the weekend and we came home on Sunday afternoon. He still has weakness on the left side but is in PT for this. He will be seeing the Neurosurgeon at the end of October and will continue to follow with Dr. Dodds for awhile. He claims that he will be playing football next year! (GOD HELP ME!!)

So then, Tuesday of this week, I got a new car and on Wednesday I was rear ended.

I have asked Andy to take his bad luck back!! (tee hee) Andy and I have decided that since we are about 1 year from diagnosis (October 22nd was actual diagnosis date or when the hammer came down on our lives) that we are almost through our year of bad luck and that things will be looking up!!

Other than that, things in Michigan are going well. Fall is rearing its colors. Andy and Diana were able to get a few things from the house on Jenne. The people cleaning it out (after Diana spoke to the owner) left the pictures and things such as that on the porch for pick up! (Sooo kind of them)

I will be watching Joey and Harmony all day tommorow as Andy is having some outpatient surgery. Hopefully all will be fine! I will post once we know he is ok.

Take care all,
I love you Paul and Erin!
Tanya

P.S. Erin, I will see you on Wednesday. WE will meet you outside of baggage claim.