Kenny's little hole in the web...

So it’s been a busy few months here. Everybody is back to school, plans being made for the next year or so, etc…

Becca ended last year grading too low in honors math to continue so she is in regular math classes now. Not a problem, she is going to be her own person but she somehow got put into honors English and honors Lit! To add to her English/Lit workload she put in for an intro to journalism class. Her school this year (Elm Grove Middle School – She’s in 8th grade) has structured the class schedule and content to more closely mimic a collegiate setting. She has different classes on different day through the week. Her classes are longer but fewer during the day. She likes her classes but they are harder than she has been used to. We’re going to have to stay on her much more than last year. She no longer just has “homework,” she now has projects and must plan for them accordingly. She grew a few inches over the summer so she needs new clothes badly. She is growing her hair again for Locks of Love

Katie is back at LSMSA. She is LOVING IT! She got a taste of kid freedom last year and she's hooked now. She is taking Spanish II, American Lit, Cells and Genetics, Geometry (online), religions of Asia, Karate, and Drawing and Painting. Lydia and I are heading down this week-end to see her and cruise the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival. She is really maturing fast but the trade off is having to remember that she hasn’t had the experience of living yet to be effective at making decisions that will affect her down the road. She still has no drivers license, learners permit or otherwise. It’s one of the casualties of being an hour away and in a school that doesn’t have the same structures in place to offer traditional drivers Ed, much less time on the week-end. Plus it’s expensive.

I’m doing great! After Utah we all took two weeks and went home to California. We visited with Dad and Mom and family and friends. We had a really good time. Paul and Jonathan were there too so it was cool to have my Brother there even if the rest of his family couldn’t make it. I was actually able to drag my ass out of bed one time to go for a run! We got to go boogie-boarding and help Jonathan learn the ropes of body surfing. We flew out on Allegiant Air to Las Vegas and drove in from there. So when the time cam we went back a day early to Las Vegas to visit with friends stationed at Nellis. I think catching up with them was one of the highlights of my trip. As I was winding down the last day or two I found out I had to go to Guam for 12 days as soon as I got back. So, I had two days when I got back before I had to hop on a place to Anderson AFB, Guam. Nice trip and I got to see some cool stuff. Pictures here [X]. I’ve been having an issue with my right rotator cuff which seems to be on the mend. Knee is still a concern so I take it easy on sports where there is a lot of twisting and quick turns. I raced in the Dragon Boat Festival with “Hotei and Foo Dogs.” We won first place over all! Pictures and video are on my Facebook page. There is a video posted by a fan rooting for another team here. You can hear the crowd ramp up as we head for the finish! And listen to the disappointment from the other teams’ fans! Sweet music! That was a blast! Becca said she was almost crying when came in first. …Awesome stuff.

I sewed on Master Sergeant on September 1st and saw my first pay increase this September 15th. I’ll have Katie’s room and board and Student Fees to save for by Dec 1, about $650. Then another $650 for property taxes by Jan 1. After that, I’ll be knocking down the last of the bills from before the divorce. Then I can breathe. And finally get a bigger vehicle. Becca is too big now for the truck.

I am re-enlisted now. My new date of separation is Apr 2016. I am eligible for retirement next year when I hit 20 years but I want at least three years with Master Sergeant on before I do that and I want to have my Bachelors done too. Both should be a reality by end of year 2014 at the latest.