It's Been a While

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. My excuse is that I've been busy (it happens when you work three jobs and go to grad school at the same time), and Peter's excuse is that he has unreliable internet access. So here's an update:

Peter spent about six weeks doing sustainment training in Kuwait in January. That meant he spent a lot of time sleeping in a tent and herding sheep and camels off the firing range so he could practice shooting his rifle. Since then details about his whereabouts have been pretty hazy. He is back on his ship and they are sailing somewhere, but not headed home yet. He spent a few days in Dubai, and I believe that was the last time he was on solid ground (although who knows what he isn't allowed to tell me). The bad news was that his deployment was extended by a month, so now the earliest I will see him is June. I am planning to fly back to the States to see him when the boat comes in, but that depends on my work schedule.


I have been busy working, studying, and traveling. I decided that individual tutoring in the classroom for college algebra was taking too much of my time, so I filmed my entire series of college algebra lectures and posted them online. The thought was that now I can send the videos out to students and "tutor" without leaving the comfort of my home. It was a great plan, but it was a lot of work. I am in the midst of my Masters program. I recently finished a course on curriculum and lesson planning, and now I am taking a research class - because it wouldn't be graduate work without research.


I also spent the past two weeks visiting with my parents, who came to visit me in Japan. We spent the first week hanging out here in Okinawa, where their sightseeing was slightly hampered by an order restricting Americans to the military bases. Luckily, the restrictions were lifted a couple days before they left, so they did get to see a few of the sights. We left Okinawa together to travel to mainland Japan, where we visited the cities of Nara, Himeji, and Kyoto. The photos included in this blog are some of my favorites from the trip. If I am feeling bloggingly enthusiastic, maybe I will post more soon.

Love to all,
Kristin

PS - To anyone who is interested, my brother has a blog too: sdelalla.blogspot.com. Check it out to see some of his artwork - he's pretty amazing!

Thanks... belated

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to write and say that I was finally able to look at all the Christmas videos that you all made for me. Thank you. I wish I could look at them on ship but, the connection is way too slow when I'm there. Anyways, thank you all for your support you have no idea what it means to me. I love you all.






ILY OXXX

Peter's vacation

That's right, I said it. "Vacation". I have read the paper cover to cover everyday I've been here. I have had a hot cup of coffee from a very prominent coffee chain while I read that paper. I have great food. I have hot showers and flushing toilets (that don't smell like shrimp I might add). So, all in all I have confirmed with myself that I am on vacation. There is only one thing missing of course...



ILY OXXX

Kristin's hug campaign

Hey everybody. Sorry I don't get on here more but, it's hard on ship. The reason for this post is that Kristin really needs a hug this week. If everybody who can could give her a hug from me that'd be awesome. If you're not there, please just send her an email to make her day. I really appreciate it. Semper Fi.

A Thanksgiving Post from Peter

I am Thankful for many things.

1. My family of course. They love and support me no matter what.

2. My friends. Who are merely an extension of my family.

3. The Marines. Because without them none of us would have number 4.

4. A country where I can be thankful for whatever I want… and express it freely.

Be thankful for what you want but, always remember somebody paid a price for it.

Last and most importantly…

Her. I am so thankful for her. She has helped me grow in so many ways I can’t begin to count. Her smile brightens my day. A few words in an email keep me going day in and day out. Her Love is why I choose to fight for my country. Because without Love like ours… life isn’t worth it. Semper Fidelis. ILY OXXX

Happy Thanksgiving!

When I hear the word Thanksgiving, the first thought that pops into my head is PUMPKIN PIE!! Followed by turkey, mashed potatoes, greenbean casserole, pretzel jello salad (it's heavenly and my family only serves it during the holiday season), spice cookies, corn pudding, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and....well basically as soon as the weather gets cold (or slightly "chilly" here in the tropics) and people start talking about the holidays, I start thinking about stuffing my face. It's the only time of year when I will voluntarily bake.

But eating until I puke is not the point of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is about being thankful.

There are a lot of things I am thankful for. Here are some of them:

My Amazing Family (all of whom really suck at holding still for photos):

(My perfect husband)

(The best parents ever)

(My favorite brother)


(The above two photos seem to be the only two photos I have of my favorite inlaws)

(And my favorite sisters-in-laws)

My Wonderful Friends:

(My Colorado Friends)

(Rebecca - The Bestest Pal Eva - My Almost Sister)

I'm thankful for friends who still care enough to keep in touch regularly, even though I have been gone for a decade (Megan, James, Jessica's Family, Tara).

And I'm thankful for Rachel (far right) - who had her brain bashed in by a reckless driver this summer, and is getting a second chance at life thanks to her wonderful doctors, supportive family, and her own personal miracle. I'm so glad you're still here Rach.

I'm also thankful for all my Okinawa friends, but I don't have room to post the hundreds of photos I have of you guys. It's nice to have a family away from home though.

My Neurotic Animals:

(The Fierceness)

(The Queen Bee)

(The Goofball)

(Bigfoot)

(Lover Boy)

I have a nice apartment with ocean views in a nice neighborhood on a tropical island.
I have plenty of food to eat, even when it isn't Thanksgiving.
I am not only employed - I have four jobs.
I had the opportunity to go to college.
I have the means to go to college AGAIN so I can get ANOTHER degree and ANOTHER job.
I have two cars.
I can afford to travel.

But the biggest things I am thankful for this year are Peter.

I am thankful he is mine.

I am thankful we have such a happy marriage.

I am thankful that he is on a boat right now, and not in The Sandy Place (he was supposed to be).

I am thankful that he has the means to communicate with me almost daily.

I am thankful that he had the opportunity to train extensively before he deployed, so that he will be better able to do his job.

Hopefully next year, I will be thankful that he is HOME.

Running Around Like a Chicken With My Head Cut Off

I have been very bad at keeping the blog updated lately. I have just been too busy to keep up! But before I talk about my busy life, let me give you a Peter Update.

Peter Update: Peter is on the boat now, and they shipped out a couple of weeks ago. They were near Hawaii, but he was not allowed off the boat. Peter has been sick quite a bit on the boat. For the first few days he had the flu because his flu shot made him sick. Then he was sick with diarrhea. Other than that, there isn't much to report. Things on the boat are pretty dull right now, which is fine by me!

Kristin Update: I am back in Okinawa now. When I got back, I had messages on my answering machine from students wondering why I wasn't in class. Turns out I am teaching a class of twelve students this term, and no one thought to inform me! In addition, no one told the students that I was on leave the first week of class, so they all showed up to class and I wasn't there to teach them. So I spent the first week home sorting that problem out. This class is the largest and smartest math class I have ever taught.

In addition to teaching, I also went back to school to get my teaching license. So I am studying to get my Masters in Secondary Education and a teaching license. I will figure out what state to get certified in when we get closer to PCSing. School is eating up a lot more of my time than I expected though. My first class, Communications, was three weeks long, and during that time I had three presentations, three papers, and several homework assignments due. This week I start my second course, The Art and Science of Teaching.

And I'm still subbing and tutoring (although the tutoring is minimal this term).

As if that weren't enough, I also joined the Navy Cheerleading Squad and Dance Team. I won't be on the sidelines cheering, but I WILL be the halftime entertainment during the Island Army-Navy football game. And entertainment it will be - I'll be doing HIP HOP. So if you're on island, come have a good laugh at my expense. And if you aren't on island, well I'm sure there will be Youtube videos. Dancing is fun, but the practices are eating up all my free time, and I will be relieved in two weeks when the game is over with. At the moment, I'm busy to the point where simple things like grocery shopping are stressful, just because I'm never home when the stores are open!

Fall Leaves - Which Don't Exist in Okinawa!! (This photo caused quite a stir with the Japanese ladies that developed it)