Strick’s Ramblings

Greetings all...

Since I haven't replaced any computers in quite a while now, I figured it was time get the family a new computer or two. Picked the kids up an Compaq from Best buy. Ordered myself a barebones kit from Tiger direct and also my wife and I both got a netbook.

We're all running Windows 7 and love it. I'm turning my old Compaq into a file server. Currently threw linux on it and I'm serving some movies from a 1 Terabyte drive with some movies on it.

Greetings readers...

The weather here in Virginia is starting to cool down, as the Summer highway quickly comes to an end.  Fall is now upon us, with a nice cool Atlantic breeze blowing across my patio.  The sweltering summer days are finally over.   Labor Day is a matter of hours away.  The stores are already starting to sell Halloween supplies.  Shortly thereafter Thanksgiving and Christmas supplies will be in the mix as well.  Pretty much the remainder of the year is the last of the sand in an hour glass.

With the change of seasons, comes the York Counties first day of school.  Along with that comes quiet throughout the neighborhoods and throughout the house as well.  A much needed rest for my wife, I'm sure.  My oldest Daughter will start 1st grade, then Matthew will start 4th grade, then John will start 7th grade... Advanced I might add, taking 2 highschool courses.  I'm so proud.

Work... well... I think I should refrain from posting things about work at this time.

Recently I purchased a used metal detector from Craigslist.  It is notEnou a Whites detector, but a Bounty Hunter.  It's a cheaper model, probably around $100, but will do until I get my new Whites XLT or whatever model I decided.  This will happen next month, and I can't wait.

Think I close this entry up now, I'm sitting out on my back patio enjoying the cool breeze; as the sun eases across the horizon and darkness falls upon us... another day will come, and with it comes more challenges.  Approach each challenge wisely!

Finally we're starting to get settled in, here in Hampton Roads.  Yesterday our house hold goods finally arrived from Japan.  It's funny how much stuff a family accumilates over a number of years.  We still have boxes of stuff we haven't unpacked yet.  More clothes than I can count, and countless nick-nacks as well.  We only have one more shipment to arrive, and that is our Storage shipment, this is going to be like Christmas, because this is all the stuff that we haven't seen since we left florida.  Included in shipment will be my badly missed tools, air compressor, and other manly stuff.

since it's late, must go to bed...

We moved to Virginia.  From Japan, we got here on July 4th.  Finally  moved in our house, finally got CABLE & Internet.  More later... I almost forgot I even had a blog.

Greetings fellow reader(s):

I hope all everyone has  had a wonderful Christmas, regardless of what religious background you claim.  I had a great Christmas with my Family this year.  Of course, any Christmas one spends with thier family would certainly be a great Christmas.  Eventhough this Christmas didn't have the living room floor covered in presents like it did in past years.  The economy hits home here in Japan, perhaps not as hard as it has hit in the Untied States, but we certainly feel it as well.

Other than being with Family, another highlight would be the Wii the kids got for Christmas.  When the kids opened it, I couldn't wait to play it.  Of course, I was the first one playing on it.

Yet another year has passed.  The Year 2009 will certainly be a memorable year for Americans and the world.  A new President who I hope restores the way the world views the Americans.  Someone who loves to travel the world, I don't really want to be viewed as a "Bully," which is how many countries of the world views us.  When I visit certain countries, I actually tell people I'm Canadian.

Enough for now, HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!  Stay safe and take care of yourself and your Family.

Greetings all...

It has been quite a while since I've written. Since my last posting, I have been TDY to Qatar. It is late, and I'm tired, I'll have to write something more later.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all!

-James

Fellow Readers... (Whomever that may be...)

Just some updates.  July was a busy month for me.  My little baby had to have surgery, so we were flown Hawaii where Doctors at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) operated on my little girl.  The surgery went well, and we are very thankful.

It was very nice to visit Hawaii, but I was glad, as always, to get back home.  My Dad was fortunate enough to make it over to be with Audrey and I during the surgery.  This was the first time he had flown since around 1966.  Airports and aircraft have changed dramatically since then, huh?

I'm back to work now, and actually looked forward to coming to work for the first time in a long time.  The weather is raining, as usual this time in the pacific.  August is just around the corner, and school will be starting.

Sabayon Linux 3.5 was released while I was gone.  I'm downloading it now, and will install it when it's done downloading or later on this week.  Probably won't be done downloading until later on this week.  My ISP sucks over here.

As far as my website goes, I plan on redoing it once again.  It needs a new look.  I'm pretty much tired of the look.  And since I have more time now, I plan on hand coding my new site.  As soon as I come up with a color scheme, I'll get busy.

Enough for now... I'll try to post more later and include some photo's I took in Hawaii...

-ME

Another Day down, and that much closer to the baby's surgery. Audrey is scheduled for surgery on the 9^th of July. Audrey and I fly into Hawaii on the 6^th, and our appointments start the next day. Not only do I have the surgery to worry about, but I'm also concerned with the financial aspects as well. I can't really afford to send Cathy, John, Matthew & Jaymie there to be with Audrey. If the duration of stay was 1 week or less I would consider letting the kids stay here in Misawa with friends, but that is out of the question, due to the fact that we will probably be there for atleast one month. Additionally, I'm trying to buy my Dad tickets to fly from Atlanta to Hawaii so he can spend some time with the kids. He hasn't seen them in 2 years. Even though I have not promised the kids that he will be there, some reason they seem to be expecting him to be there. I keep telling them I will try, and attempted to explain to them that this is going to cost a lot of money and we have to be carefull not to spend too much.

This weekend we are planning another offroad trip to the mountains. This time there will be some new people attending. We are meeting up at the BX parking lot at 6:50 am and departing for the mountains at 7:am and meeting up with our Japanese Counterparts at 8:am at redbridge camping area. Can't wait for this, looks like it's going to be a good turnout, so we should have lots of fun.

Another thing to add... It is awesome that I don't have any school work to deal with after work! I'm taking a summer break. Depending on work, probably a fall break. I'm thinking of starting back to shool in late October.

Finals are finally done!!!  I will not be taking classes this summer.  Things are just too hectic around the house, with Audrey having surgery and all.  Now that this class is over, I’ll have time to do some things I have been putting off.  Not that I can list anything now.  But, I’ll have time to do stuff anyway.  Like wax my vehicle… uhh… work on my website… well… after I get back from Hawaii that is. 

My friend David is deploying soon, so this weekend we will be going back out to the mountains for some trail riding.  A couple of our Japanese friends from the Jimny Club will be there.  I wish all the guys from the last trip could show up, that would be awesome!  But, it will be lots of fun anyway. 

As for other updates, this is the last week of school for the kids.  Jaymie’s last day was earlier for SureStart (pre-K).  She has done Awesome and I forsee no problems in Kindergarten.  Work is the same… working long hours with no evidence of accomplishment.  Morale is… wait… what is that?  But, that’s ok.  There is light at the end of the Tunnel in August.

This was the long awaited, camp and trail ride.  I was really looking forward to this.  I got a chance to hang out with some great people and do some offroading.  Although I was not driving a Jimny, I think my Toyota Hilux Surf (4Runner),  held up rather nicely.

Everyone lining up to "Head for the Mountains... " 

 Jaymie & Omee (Spelling?)

Another Mountain Trail

"Mountain Man..." going down GOOD HIGHWAY!

Jaymie... ドキューン！　撃たれたー！　　でもかわゆいから許してあげる！

For more pictures, check out my gallery @ http://www.strickstuff.com/photo/v/may08_camp and check out the videos of this trip @ http://www.strickstuff.com/jimnyclub.php 

Also check out Taguchi-san's blog @ http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/366083/blog/ 

More later...

JAMES!!!