Tuesday, August 26, 2008

AFC Half Marathon

Bright and early on the morning of August 17, 2008 Lex and I prepared for the race ahead of us in hopes that our training would pay off.
We ran the America's Finest City Half Marathon!
Thanks to Lex for setting an awesome pace for us and allowing me to set a PR!
The sunscreen is applied and we are ready to go!
Hydrating after the race...it was grueling!
We won the gold!



The Fun Continues

Here is one of the three beautiful but weird-looking red vermillion rockfish that I caught off the San Diego coast!  I seriously thought it was a mutant when I brought it out of the water!!  Special thanks to Matt who put the bate on my hook and patiently kept getting us untangled from the seaweed and cleaned all the fish we caught!  Also, I owe my fishing skills to the great pro fisherman, Uncle Len, who gave me some valuable lessons back in the day that made me the fisherwoman I am today! 

Dan, Crystal, Me, & Danielle at the Padres game
Just the Girls

Friday, August 15, 2008

Captain Perez


CONGRATULATIONS CAPTAIN PEREZ!!!!  I'm so proud of you, baby!  Here is our new Captain getting his bars.






Nick's Latest Pasttimes


When he's not flying, him and the guys are building a chopper bike better known as the 'cholomobile'

Look at that beast!
If they are flying and start getting low on fuel, they just call a plane out and do an arial refueling...No big deal, right!
My Hero and the best husband in the world!

He loves his job!
Checking out the tank situation






Wednesday, August 13, 2008

More Summer Fun

Hanging out in L.A. 

Shopping on Rodeo Drive




Denee' being chased by a pirate in front of Mann's Chinese Theater
Me & Captain America

Flexing those muscles 
I have a connection with Spider Man...we both shoot out webs!




Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Keeping Busy

Since Nick has been deployed, I have been trying to stay busy and fill my time with fun things because time always goes by faster when you're having fun!  Here are a few of the things I've been doing over the summer...

Akumal, Mexico


McKenzie (my little sis) & I

Playing on the slip-n-slide with my nieces! 

Me & my little bro about to get on a roller coaster at the Kemah Boardwalk

Spending time with the family


Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Have We Forgotten

Letter from one 'Angry Woman'

I don't know who wrote it but they should have signed it. Some powerful words. This woman should run for president.

Written by a housewife from New Jersey and sounds like it! This is one ticked off lady.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field inPennsylvania ?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all..

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia


I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for chopping off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraqcome out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.


When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care..

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care..

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and-you guessed it-I don't care !!

And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines 

don' t have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan

I have another quote that I would like to add ...


'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: 
1. Jesus Christ 
2. The American G. I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Monday, August 4, 2008

CH-53E Super Stallion




Here are some specs on the CH-53 E Super Stallion:

Fuselage length: 73 feet
Overall length: 99 feet
Height: 28 feet
Weight: empty: 33,226 pounds for CH-53E

36,336 pounds for MH-53E
maximum loaded: 73,500 pounds
Speed: maximum at sea level: 196 mph
cruise: 173 mph
Ceiling: 18,500 feet
Range: 1,120 nautical miles
Power plant: three GE T64-GE-416 turboshaft engines

It's primary job is to move cargo and equipment but secondary is transferring troops....if necessary, it can also recover downed aircraft, sweep mined areas and tow distressed ships.


A Haboob is approaching
The Haboob has arrived
Here are some real camels that look pretty scared...they are probably thinking "Wow, I've never seen a bird that big or that loud!"

The Big Iron


Nick flew this flag while on a mission in his helicopter in honor of his Momma, Susan McCaulley.



Nick with the "Big Iron"
Fueling up

Iraq

I guess there is one beautiful thing about Iraq...their sunset!

CH-53 E 
One of the "Birds"
A 53 take-off will set off a sandstorm!
This is what they call a "Haboob" which is the name for a sandstorm in Iraq.