Hello again,
The last week has gone by pretty quickly. I was really excited to get your letter and read about what has been going on at home. would you mind sending pictures of everyone? The other girls have been taping pictures into their footlockers and I think it's a very good idea. Time does go by fast, which is nice...sometimes it seems to drag though.
It was really nice to get to call mom on Thanksgiving. I feel pretty sure that we'll get another phone call on Christmas. Send me your number in case I can't get ahold of my mom. I had to try her a few different times and I called grandpa too but he didn't answer either.
I wrote a letter to SGT Gaston, but it was pretty much meant for everyone. I hope they write back, because it makes the whole day so much better to hear my name called for mail. There are still people I haven't written to, but I will definitely get to it soon.
I can tell you right now there are alot of people I am with day in and day out who I can't even begin to fathom how they got here...or why they chose the Marines. Dylan will do well in the Marines and I think the corps would be better to have him.
What will your second job be? I'm pretty sure you mentioned it before, but it's very hard to remember anything outside of the knowledge we're constantly shouting.
On saturday we went platoon vs. platoon on teh pugil sticks. It doesn't count for anything individually, but I won my little match. Super Cool. The MCMAP is the most fun thing we do. The last two weeks haven't been as busy as the the next 10 will be. There is a lot that has to be rearranged because of the holidays. Also, I'm doing well at PT, which surprises the heck out of me. I can't recall any point in time that I've ever ran two miles all at once, and the other day I did it without stopping. I was rather pleased with myself.
The DI's are hiliarious. One of them ran into a pole the other day when we were doing drill in the squad bay. One of them stutters quite a bit. The girls on my side of the squad bay (portside) have taken to imitating them on our free time. It's hiliariou, but lately it hasn't exactly been harmless, which bugs me.
Later this week we have the O course, the Confidence course, pugil sticks 2 and our 8k hike. So I'll probably have al lot more to write about next week. We had a 5k hike Saturday, and it wasn't a big deal...it was mostly just annoying that no one was sounding off and I have not voice because I am always screaming.
I mentioned the girls with the bad attitudes before....most of them are on trial training now. They're really noisy and they all happen to sleep in the rear of the squadbay on portside where I sleep. One girl refused to train. She just quit...When that happens you get dropped to another platoon and have to train here another month. Very smart move on her part. I hope nothing happens to set me back like that. I want to get home and see you guys. I hope you're all doing well. Oh, free time over.
Love Kolten
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
DECEMBER 12
There is not much to report from our big town of Grandview, other than we are supposed to be in for a doozy of a cold spell. I will take Kaui weather anythime for this!!
I am supposed to go get my health card today, it is for my new, second job. Bleyhls is opening up a new store, and I will work in the C-store part of it during the nights and weekends, for what I know anyway. Troys work has really, really been slow. He is lucky to get two days a week, and really lucky to get three. Supposedly there is suppose to be a contract signed, and so some pre-fab work will open up around the first of January. I just keep my fingers crossed.
Stephen is going to a mandatory meeting at JM Perry today, he is set to start school in less than a month. He has been keeping pretty busy with his job as well, and his hospice patients.
Dylan is still striving away and being a senior. He has a meeting with his counselors on Monday to see about getting work release a couple of periods a day. He only has three classes that he's taking that he actually needs, the others are just extra electives. So he figured why not get out early and make some money.
Stephen and Stefanie went over to grandmas the other afternoon and played Skipbo with her. From what I understand she whipped up on them pretty bad. They said that she must cheat winning the way she does, but remember who's living with her (Darrell) and I guess you learn from the best. Ha...Ha...
We finally got Patty a haircut. This is quite an ordeal at our house. For those of you who know anything about Lhasa Apso's, they have alot of dense hair. And she has a CUJO personality!! The vet in Prosser use to have a groomer there, and they would sedate her then groom her, but they don't have a groomer anymore, so we have been trying to take her to a lady in town. She has really worked with her, but she is just getting really bad. On Saturday we tried again. The vet gave us a tranquilizer pill, hoping to relax her enough to do anything. No, not Patty. She was still devil dog, so the groomer said that she had never given up on a dog, but Patty was an exception. Of course, she slept all afternoon and evening from the tranquilizer!! Anyway, we ended up buying a new blade for our clippers and it took four of us to clip her. She didn't end up with any sort of cut that you would want to enter her in a dog show for anything, but at least the mattes are gone. (oh yeah, she won't let you brush her either).
Well I guess I had better get back to work now.
Love to all
Janice
I am supposed to go get my health card today, it is for my new, second job. Bleyhls is opening up a new store, and I will work in the C-store part of it during the nights and weekends, for what I know anyway. Troys work has really, really been slow. He is lucky to get two days a week, and really lucky to get three. Supposedly there is suppose to be a contract signed, and so some pre-fab work will open up around the first of January. I just keep my fingers crossed.
Stephen is going to a mandatory meeting at JM Perry today, he is set to start school in less than a month. He has been keeping pretty busy with his job as well, and his hospice patients.
Dylan is still striving away and being a senior. He has a meeting with his counselors on Monday to see about getting work release a couple of periods a day. He only has three classes that he's taking that he actually needs, the others are just extra electives. So he figured why not get out early and make some money.
Stephen and Stefanie went over to grandmas the other afternoon and played Skipbo with her. From what I understand she whipped up on them pretty bad. They said that she must cheat winning the way she does, but remember who's living with her (Darrell) and I guess you learn from the best. Ha...Ha...
We finally got Patty a haircut. This is quite an ordeal at our house. For those of you who know anything about Lhasa Apso's, they have alot of dense hair. And she has a CUJO personality!! The vet in Prosser use to have a groomer there, and they would sedate her then groom her, but they don't have a groomer anymore, so we have been trying to take her to a lady in town. She has really worked with her, but she is just getting really bad. On Saturday we tried again. The vet gave us a tranquilizer pill, hoping to relax her enough to do anything. No, not Patty. She was still devil dog, so the groomer said that she had never given up on a dog, but Patty was an exception. Of course, she slept all afternoon and evening from the tranquilizer!! Anyway, we ended up buying a new blade for our clippers and it took four of us to clip her. She didn't end up with any sort of cut that you would want to enter her in a dog show for anything, but at least the mattes are gone. (oh yeah, she won't let you brush her either).
Well I guess I had better get back to work now.
Love to all
Janice
Monday, December 1, 2008
Letter From Kolten
We received a letter from Kolten today, and would like to share it with you.
Hello,
There's not much time to write, but I sent mom a letter with all the retardation that's been going on these past couple weeks. So you'll have to bug her for the updates this time.
I have some advice for Dylan, practice duck walking, he'll do it about 3 times a day. So far it ahs been easier than I expected...I 've been both quarterdecked (my hair fell down when I was sleeping and yeah, they don't like that...)and sent to the sandpit. It wasn't al that bad, honestly. Yesterday we did the bayonet course, and some MCMAP, It's super fun!! I think I'm pretty good at it. There are a lot of people here that just have no body control or something. My bunkie and the rack to our right (top and bottom recruits) have VERY bad attitudes. It makes things more difficult for sure. Everyone has been pretty stressed, but it hasn't really gotten to me yet. I know when I'm doing my best and when I can do better. I know that even when they're yelling about something, it's really only for the sake of creating stress. So I think I'm doing well. I passes my IST. The run time was actually 16:30 and I made it ina little over 15:00. Still a crappy time, but at least I didn't get dropped. Oh, tell Dylan to know his general orders and the rank structure beforehand. It has saved my butt more times than I can count already. He'll be standing and shouting at the top of his lungs for 1/2 hour to an hour at a time before class periods. I seriously cannot speak unless I'm screaming, my voice is about gone. I'll probably write more soon. I only have about 1/2 hour per night to get things ready for the next day and 4 hours on Sundays. I hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving.
Love Kolten
Hello,
There's not much time to write, but I sent mom a letter with all the retardation that's been going on these past couple weeks. So you'll have to bug her for the updates this time.
I have some advice for Dylan, practice duck walking, he'll do it about 3 times a day. So far it ahs been easier than I expected...I 've been both quarterdecked (my hair fell down when I was sleeping and yeah, they don't like that...)and sent to the sandpit. It wasn't al that bad, honestly. Yesterday we did the bayonet course, and some MCMAP, It's super fun!! I think I'm pretty good at it. There are a lot of people here that just have no body control or something. My bunkie and the rack to our right (top and bottom recruits) have VERY bad attitudes. It makes things more difficult for sure. Everyone has been pretty stressed, but it hasn't really gotten to me yet. I know when I'm doing my best and when I can do better. I know that even when they're yelling about something, it's really only for the sake of creating stress. So I think I'm doing well. I passes my IST. The run time was actually 16:30 and I made it ina little over 15:00. Still a crappy time, but at least I didn't get dropped. Oh, tell Dylan to know his general orders and the rank structure beforehand. It has saved my butt more times than I can count already. He'll be standing and shouting at the top of his lungs for 1/2 hour to an hour at a time before class periods. I seriously cannot speak unless I'm screaming, my voice is about gone. I'll probably write more soon. I only have about 1/2 hour per night to get things ready for the next day and 4 hours on Sundays. I hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving.
Love Kolten
Friday, November 28, 2008
POST TURKEY DAY
Happy Thanksgiving a day late to everyone.
We had a nice Thanksgiving day, Mom & Dad, Ronny and his girlfriend Kacee and her daughter Sammy, Jerry, Jaynee, Zach, Kinzi and Grandma all joined us for a feast. I think it all tasted pretty good, except for the ham. Note to self, don't use orange juice to baste your ham. Other than that it went over quite well, and I guess I have to give a little thanks to the Seahawks for losing yesterday, because of the lack of excitement it allowed Uncle Jerry to take a little snoozer.
We took a plate of food over to Debbie, who was cleaning her house. She said that Kolten had called her that day. She said that she sounded hoarse, but that she was having a "blast" in boot camp. Of course Debbie had to get past the "mam" part and the "recruit Adams" part. But she was laughing at some of the stuff that Kolten had told her, so I think that she is really coming around.
Of course Grandma didn't stay very long, just over an hour. She had about enough food to feed a small nest of robins, and than said she was so full that she wouldn't be able to eat for a year. I wonder sometimes if her stomach is actually smaller than a robins.
We are going to Mom & Dads saturday for another feast, but this one should be a little less prep work involved. The "younger" grandkids are supposed to perform a Thanksgiving skit. For some reason Stephen and Dylan didn't want to participate in the skit!!
Speaking of Dylan, Troy and him went out hunting yesterday morning, and Dylan shot his very first rooster. He has shot many quail and dove over the years but never a rooster. He was so proud of it, that he left it in the yard for everyone to see when they arrived yesterday. Well everyone walked past it without noticing it, except for Jaynee. I guess everyone else expects weird things at our house, so a dead bird was no surprise.
Well I guess that enough updating.
Love to all
Janice
We had a nice Thanksgiving day, Mom & Dad, Ronny and his girlfriend Kacee and her daughter Sammy, Jerry, Jaynee, Zach, Kinzi and Grandma all joined us for a feast. I think it all tasted pretty good, except for the ham. Note to self, don't use orange juice to baste your ham. Other than that it went over quite well, and I guess I have to give a little thanks to the Seahawks for losing yesterday, because of the lack of excitement it allowed Uncle Jerry to take a little snoozer.
We took a plate of food over to Debbie, who was cleaning her house. She said that Kolten had called her that day. She said that she sounded hoarse, but that she was having a "blast" in boot camp. Of course Debbie had to get past the "mam" part and the "recruit Adams" part. But she was laughing at some of the stuff that Kolten had told her, so I think that she is really coming around.
Of course Grandma didn't stay very long, just over an hour. She had about enough food to feed a small nest of robins, and than said she was so full that she wouldn't be able to eat for a year. I wonder sometimes if her stomach is actually smaller than a robins.
We are going to Mom & Dads saturday for another feast, but this one should be a little less prep work involved. The "younger" grandkids are supposed to perform a Thanksgiving skit. For some reason Stephen and Dylan didn't want to participate in the skit!!
Speaking of Dylan, Troy and him went out hunting yesterday morning, and Dylan shot his very first rooster. He has shot many quail and dove over the years but never a rooster. He was so proud of it, that he left it in the yard for everyone to see when they arrived yesterday. Well everyone walked past it without noticing it, except for Jaynee. I guess everyone else expects weird things at our house, so a dead bird was no surprise.
Well I guess that enough updating.
Love to all
Janice
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 17
I was able to sit down with Debbie on Saturday and talk with her about Kolten joining the military, and I think she is finally coming to terms with the idea. Her and Kolten went out to dinner that night, and they had breakfast Sunday morning before Dylan and I took her to Spokane. She was able to say goodbye to a few people, including Uncle Charles and Aunt Judy, who happened to be in town. Kolten called her mom early this morning, it seems she forgot to keep her ID with her, so needless to say, Debbie drove to Spokane today, to take her her ID.
Troy had to work an all nighter on Friday in Ellensburg, and then go back there on Saturday. I think he may have finally got caught up on his sleep now though.
Stephen and his girlfried and her brother went to Bickleton Saturday. Stephen bought Stefanie a .22 rifle for Christmas, but he couldn't wait to give it to her, so they went up there to target shoot. She seems to like it really well, but she has been looking at a pink stock to put on it!!
Dylan went to a Senior bonfire on Saturday night, he said that there were quite a few kids there. I am glad that they have the opportunity to have things like that, and it was at a chaparoned house.
Well I think that is all the exciting stuff happening in Grandview this weekend.
Love to all,
Janice
Troy had to work an all nighter on Friday in Ellensburg, and then go back there on Saturday. I think he may have finally got caught up on his sleep now though.
Stephen and his girlfried and her brother went to Bickleton Saturday. Stephen bought Stefanie a .22 rifle for Christmas, but he couldn't wait to give it to her, so they went up there to target shoot. She seems to like it really well, but she has been looking at a pink stock to put on it!!
Dylan went to a Senior bonfire on Saturday night, he said that there were quite a few kids there. I am glad that they have the opportunity to have things like that, and it was at a chaparoned house.
Well I think that is all the exciting stuff happening in Grandview this weekend.
Love to all,
Janice
Thursday, November 13, 2008
NOVEMBER 13
Kolten got back from Kansas City yesterday afternoon. Her flight came into Seattle on Tuesday, but her flight back to Yakima was cancelled, so she had to stay in Seattle until she was able to get another flight out. She said that she had a great time with her grandma, and that she took her shopping to get her essentials that she will get for boot camp (mostly generic looking underclothes). She spent most of the night last night packing up her stuff, she is going to store it at a friends house here in town, and she will be back at our house for the next (her last) three nights. I think we will be taking her to fly out, she was originally going to have to leave from Seattle, but they changed it to Spokane. Thank goodness, I have a fear of driving in Seattle. So I guess we will be off to Spokane on Sunday morning. She said that she will keep me updated as she can, and then I will be able to pass along this information on this blog. Her grandma and husband are supposed to attend her graduation in February, and her dad also said that "Come hell or high water" that he also was going to be there.
I am going to take on another part-time job, it is suppose to start in December. It will be at the new Bleyhls store. We want to attend Dylans graduatin in San Diego next summer, and we pay for everything with cash, so we will use this part-time work to pay for that trip. Unless the economy keeps up, then we may have to use it to live on!! Troys work has really slowed down, he is only working about three days a week, which is great for his bird hunting though!!
I have been sick with the flu the last couple of days, so I have not felt like doing anything other than doing the minimal. But for some reason the dogs don't seem to understand that. I got home yesterday, and Stephen had left Lily in the house. Well Lily gets bored very easily, and will stop at nothing to explore and get into anything and everything that she can. So I had quite a mess (disaster) to clean up, and I was so looking forward to just going home, taking some medicine and hitting the couch!! And I know those of you who don't have dogs, or love them as we do, don't understand why Lily wasn't strung up from a tree for these terrorist acts of hers, but she just gives me that look of hers, and I am putty in her paws!!
Well I had better get back to work now, my boss might wonder what is taking so long to get anything done. I will try and post a couple of pictures later today. Dylan went to fall formal last weekend, and I have some pretty good ones of that.
Love to all,
Janice
I am going to take on another part-time job, it is suppose to start in December. It will be at the new Bleyhls store. We want to attend Dylans graduatin in San Diego next summer, and we pay for everything with cash, so we will use this part-time work to pay for that trip. Unless the economy keeps up, then we may have to use it to live on!! Troys work has really slowed down, he is only working about three days a week, which is great for his bird hunting though!!
I have been sick with the flu the last couple of days, so I have not felt like doing anything other than doing the minimal. But for some reason the dogs don't seem to understand that. I got home yesterday, and Stephen had left Lily in the house. Well Lily gets bored very easily, and will stop at nothing to explore and get into anything and everything that she can. So I had quite a mess (disaster) to clean up, and I was so looking forward to just going home, taking some medicine and hitting the couch!! And I know those of you who don't have dogs, or love them as we do, don't understand why Lily wasn't strung up from a tree for these terrorist acts of hers, but she just gives me that look of hers, and I am putty in her paws!!
Well I had better get back to work now, my boss might wonder what is taking so long to get anything done. I will try and post a couple of pictures later today. Dylan went to fall formal last weekend, and I have some pretty good ones of that.
Love to all,
Janice
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Kelleys
I am not very good at this, so this is a trial run. The picture is of our two "spoiled babies" Lily & Patty.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
