Updates!

Ok, we have been really busy this past week with Justin's graduation and I just haven't had time to get on here and let you all know what has been happening. But we are on the road now and I am back!

First off, we are the proud parents of a graduate of Navy Boot Camp! I guess his title at this point is Seaman Recruit. He is starting Pre-BUDs this Wednesday and when he completes that he will go to Coronado,CA for SEAL training. It is amazing what a difference two months away from home can do. He is turning into quite the young man and we are so very proud of him.

We got a load into Geneva,IL and it delivered last Tuesday. We were able to spend the night at the receivers (we got in around 2200) and then got up the next morning and did some running around. Went to eat, went to Walmart, took Smokey to the vet to have a bump under his chin looked at and decided to go ahead and have him snipped while we were there. We figured that was a good time since we would be out of the truck a few days and he would have time to heal that wasn't in this bumpy truck. Then we checked into the hotel a day early. Luckily they weren't booked up. The hotel was on the same road as the Naval Training Academy so it was a straight shot back and forth.

Thursday morning we got up and got ready and had to head to the airport to pick up Stephanie, Justin's girlfriend and we had to pick up the rental car. We took a cab to the airport because we weren't sure of the clearances and didn't want to take the chance bobtailing down there. Come to find out, there weren't any issues with clearances and we could have taken the truck. I wish we had because the damn cab ride cost us $80 and the guy almost fell asleep on the way. J had to holler at him and wake him up. It wasn't a pleasant ride at all! Ok, we have her take a shuttle to the car rental and meet us there and we are off. First stop is at DD Dive shop in Glenview,IL so I could pick up a book we need for our Open Water scuba certification. Decided to buy a wetsuit also. Next stop was McDonald's (totally fell off the diet while we were there but we are back on it now) and as we were headed back to the hotel we get a call from Jessica stating that they were at their hotel and to come save her from her mom and step-dad and brother. LOL So off we go to pick her up. Meet with her mom and step-dad in the hotel lobby and make plans for them to meet us at our hotel the next morning. They drove up from Texas in an extended cab Chevy and they only issue one gate pass for the graduation per family. That is why I rented a minivan so we could all fit. Well, it fits 7 and with Justin that made 8 but Joanie (the kids mom) said she didn't have a problem sitting on the floor by the door so we were good to go.

Next stop is a tattoo place because Jessica was wanting an industrial piercing in her ear and you can't really get those at Claire's at the mall. We lucked out and there was a place across the street and a block down from the hotel. We go in to get that done and of course J and I decided we wanted another one. Then Stephanie decided she wanted one. I get mine done, Jessica gets her ear done, Stephanie gets hers done and by this point it is 2200. We have to wait until tomorrow for J to get his because we gotta get up early the next day. (I will post pics of them when I get a chance.)

Got up at 0500 Friday morning to get ready for graduation. They met us at the hotel at 0630 and off we go to the base. The line was LONG to get in because they were checking vehicles (government property, homeland security stuff). We get all the way up and are about to turn in the gate and the girls said they didn't bring their ID's with them. AiYiYi!! So I boot J, Mark, Joanie and Derrick (little brother) out and head back to the hotel with the girls to get their ID's. Turn around and head back and wait in line yet again to get in the gate. FINALLY make it onto property, find J who is waiting on us and we head to the hall where they are having the graduation. It was a very nice ceremony, although a little long. They had 730 recruits graduating, all signed up for different jobs. When is was over we were finally able to see Justin! We grabbed him as fast as we could and headed off base. Per Justin we were to go straight to get REAL food. He wanted a steak but Outback was closed until 1600 so we settled for Golden Corral. After eating we headed back to our hotel and sat in the lobby and divided up pictures that he had taken between the families. Then we all piled into the minivan and went and found a beach because that is what Justin was wanting to do. I got my feet weat and was surprised that the water was actually fairly warm. From there we went back to the hotel and Mark, Joanie and Derrick headed back to their hotel. We drove by the tattoo place and the guy was able to get J right in so we dropped him off and me, Justin, Stephanie and Jessica headed back to the hotel to chill for a bit before we had to take Justin back. We later headed to McDonald's to feed Justin, dropped him back off at 2030 hours and then picked J up and headed back to the hotel. It was a really long day.

Saturday morning we wake up around 0830, picked Justing up first thing, back to the hotel to get rounded up, grab donuts for breakfast, get my nails done, then head to Mark and Joanie's hotel to pick them up and we are off for a day of sight seeing! We went to the Navy Pier and to Shedd Aquarium. It was a lot of fun but another long day. OH! When we got to the aquarium there was a hotdog vendor selling authentic Chicago hotdogs so we had to have lunch there! Later after all of that we finally found an Outback and Justin was able to get his steak. We had to wait forever on our food and I know that J broke several traffic laws getting Justin back on time, but we don't want him to be the one to get everyone in trouble! Back to the hotel and crash. This vacation stuff is tiring!

Sunday is checkout day at the hotel and Justin isn't allowed off base until noon because he has watch. The plan was for me to take the rental back and for J to take Stephanie with him in the truck and pick Justin up and meet me at the airport. Truck started about 1000 hrs but when he started it about 1150 it wouldn't start. Sheesh! Ok, plan B and time to haul ass so the rental isn't late. Throw Stephanie's stuff in the car, drive like a maniac to pick Justin up (Thank God he was ready and waiting at the curb) and then break additional traffic laws to get the rental car back on time. I pulled into the lot at exactly 1300 hrs which is when it was due. Although there is an additional charge on my receipt for $40 stating 1 hour. I say that if the lady would have been getting to the cars faster to check me in then it would have shown I was on time. Oh well, pick your battles. The 3 of us wait for J to get there because Stephanie is flying out and she was just going to take the shuttle to the terminal from the car return so Justin and Stephanie had to say goodbye there. It was sad! I about started crying. J called and said he was pulling up so I had to drag them apart. Ahhh young love.....

Now J, Justin and myself are cruising around in the big truck. Justin wanted to go see a movie so that is what we did. We went and saw Death Race. I wanted to see Wanted, but it wasn't showing. It was a decent movie if you like the shoot 'em up blood and gore movies. When that was done we headed to a grocery store to replenish our supplies and it was time to take Justin back to the base for the last time. His Liberty was up and he had to go back. It was hard saying bye to him, but it makes it easier since we are on the road and have to tell the kids bye each time we head out. I think it was just the fact that he isn't at home anymore and is an adult with his own life. And that we are just so damn proud. But I think I have mentioned that already huh? :)

Next stop we head to Jimmy's Charhouse to meet Buckshot and his lovely wife. We had a wonderful time there and definitely want to meet up with them again whenever possible. They are making the leap to become OTR drivers and I know they will do just fine!

After that we decided we would just spend the night in that parking lot since we were just bobtailing. They left about 2230 and I laid down about 2300. Well, about 2330 the Qualcomm goes off and they have a load for us. WTF! We figured we wouldn't get a load until 0700-0800 when our FM came in. Our own fault for not getting to bed sooner. We told them we weren't available until 0300 and they said fine, pick the load up then. So I got 3 hours sleep, got up and picked that load up and headed out. By 0900 I had to have J take over because I just couldn't handle any more. J gets that load dropped (only about 100 miles left, it was a short load) and then he gets the next one picked up. A hazmat load going to Phoenix,AZ. We go scale it, get fuel, slide the tandems, re-scale it and then park for the night. It was about 1700 by this time. We had plenty of time to deliver so we stopped for the night and I took off this morning. We don't have to deliver until Thursday morning so we are in good shape.

And that my friends is what has been going on with us. I will get the pictures loaded when I get a chance and get them on here!