I'm a day late, but... No big news, Pat's been really busy, dealing with lots of stresses. We still have gotten to chat a lot though which is always nice. It's looking more and more like he'll be home for good by the end of the year, and he'll still get his 2 weeks of R&R. Yay! Which means that it's all down hill from here. We've officially passed the halfway mark (if he gets home early that is...) He's still working towards his black belt. He's been too busy to practice recently. But it'll happen soon. In the meantime we've been looking for a new place in NC to move into when he comes home. Some place with a fenced backyard for the dogs, preferably a house, not an apt. If you know of anything, pass the word along! Hah, anyways... that's all for now, until next week...
29 weeks to go...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Pictures
Aquaducts - Segovia
La Alhambra - Granada
Alcazar - Segovia
Palacio Real de Madrid
Temple Bar - Dublin 
La Alhambra - Granada
Alcazar - Segovia
Palacio Real de Madrid
Temple Bar - Dublin 
España
As promised... details from my trip across the big pond...
Emily and I spent a lovely (sleepy) day in Dublin during our layover. We somehow managed to exit the airport, bypassing customs altogether. I'm not sure how, but we did. We took a cab into Temple Bar (famous district in Dublin) and went to 2 pubs. We were so tired though, I fell asleep on the cab ride back to the airport.
We arrived in Madrid late Wednesday night, and promptly headed out to meet Mo's friends. We had a great, late night. Thursday morning came very quickly as we had to be up for our private walking tour of Madrid. We met up with Mo's Spanish friends, Cesar and Pepe, and they took us all over showing us the Palace, Cathedral, Opera House, all kinds of monuments, parks, churches, train stations, museums, etc. We learned a lot about the city, and had a blast getting our first taste at the tapas bars as well.
Friday was spent at the Prado museum, and viewing Madrid from a rooftop terrace tapas bar, and a nice night hanging out in the courtyards and fountains at the Palacio Real. Saturday we were up early again, and headed to Segovia for the day. In Segovia we toured the Alcazar, the Cathedral and saw the Aquaducts. We ate lunch at a nice cafe next to the Aquaducts and did some souvenir shopping and then headed home to Madrid. As soon as we got back we headed to Mo's friend's house for an All-American BBQ in honor of her birthday! After that we hit a street festival.
Sunday morning (again, early) we left for Granada on a 5 and a half hour bus ride. We got there sometime in the afternoon, checked into our hostel, and hit the town. We walked all over, saw great views of the city, and even some flamenco! Then we had dinner in a cafe overlooking the Alhambra which was lit beautifully for the night. We returned to the hostel where we sat on the rooftop terrace, being serenaded by a Brazilian guitarist and watching fireworks for the closing night of the street festival we attended in Madrid the night before. Monday was Mo's birthday and we spent it shopping in Albyazin (the Arab district of Granada), visiting the Alhambra (last Moorish stronghold) and had a wonderful paella dinner at yet another cafe, and hit the hookah bar to celebrate. Then it was early to bed because we had yet another early bus ride back to Madrid.
Tuesday night Emily and I were on our own (Mo had to teach) so we hit the streets and markets to go grocery shopping, bound and determined to prepare a taco dinner. We were successful and had dinner ready for Mo when she got home! Mo had to teach Wednesday as well, so Emily and I went to the city center for some more museum touring (this time the Reina Sofia Museum of Modern Art). We were quite proud when we didn't get lost once. That night we went out with all of Mo's Spain friends for my last night in Spain. Thursday afternoon we all went out to lunch, and then toured the Palacio Real, and I was off to the airport. I flew to Madrid and got in around midnight, and quickly hailed a cab to the nearest hotel. Best decision I ever made. I got a great night's sleep and was so happy to not spend a 12 hour layover in the airport. I reluctantly flew home Friday afternoon, and here I am.
That was the short version... but we were very busy, and we had a lot of fun. I would go back in a heart beat! Thanks for everything Mo (and friends!) it was definitely an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.
PS: I'll post some of my favorite pictures from the trip later...
Emily and I spent a lovely (sleepy) day in Dublin during our layover. We somehow managed to exit the airport, bypassing customs altogether. I'm not sure how, but we did. We took a cab into Temple Bar (famous district in Dublin) and went to 2 pubs. We were so tired though, I fell asleep on the cab ride back to the airport.
We arrived in Madrid late Wednesday night, and promptly headed out to meet Mo's friends. We had a great, late night. Thursday morning came very quickly as we had to be up for our private walking tour of Madrid. We met up with Mo's Spanish friends, Cesar and Pepe, and they took us all over showing us the Palace, Cathedral, Opera House, all kinds of monuments, parks, churches, train stations, museums, etc. We learned a lot about the city, and had a blast getting our first taste at the tapas bars as well.
Friday was spent at the Prado museum, and viewing Madrid from a rooftop terrace tapas bar, and a nice night hanging out in the courtyards and fountains at the Palacio Real. Saturday we were up early again, and headed to Segovia for the day. In Segovia we toured the Alcazar, the Cathedral and saw the Aquaducts. We ate lunch at a nice cafe next to the Aquaducts and did some souvenir shopping and then headed home to Madrid. As soon as we got back we headed to Mo's friend's house for an All-American BBQ in honor of her birthday! After that we hit a street festival.
Sunday morning (again, early) we left for Granada on a 5 and a half hour bus ride. We got there sometime in the afternoon, checked into our hostel, and hit the town. We walked all over, saw great views of the city, and even some flamenco! Then we had dinner in a cafe overlooking the Alhambra which was lit beautifully for the night. We returned to the hostel where we sat on the rooftop terrace, being serenaded by a Brazilian guitarist and watching fireworks for the closing night of the street festival we attended in Madrid the night before. Monday was Mo's birthday and we spent it shopping in Albyazin (the Arab district of Granada), visiting the Alhambra (last Moorish stronghold) and had a wonderful paella dinner at yet another cafe, and hit the hookah bar to celebrate. Then it was early to bed because we had yet another early bus ride back to Madrid.
Tuesday night Emily and I were on our own (Mo had to teach) so we hit the streets and markets to go grocery shopping, bound and determined to prepare a taco dinner. We were successful and had dinner ready for Mo when she got home! Mo had to teach Wednesday as well, so Emily and I went to the city center for some more museum touring (this time the Reina Sofia Museum of Modern Art). We were quite proud when we didn't get lost once. That night we went out with all of Mo's Spain friends for my last night in Spain. Thursday afternoon we all went out to lunch, and then toured the Palacio Real, and I was off to the airport. I flew to Madrid and got in around midnight, and quickly hailed a cab to the nearest hotel. Best decision I ever made. I got a great night's sleep and was so happy to not spend a 12 hour layover in the airport. I reluctantly flew home Friday afternoon, and here I am.
That was the short version... but we were very busy, and we had a lot of fun. I would go back in a heart beat! Thanks for everything Mo (and friends!) it was definitely an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.
PS: I'll post some of my favorite pictures from the trip later...
Weeks 21 & 22
Well, I am home safe from Spain! I had so much fun! More to come on that later... As far as the most recent developments on Pat's deployment:
Still no exact word on if he'll be out early or not. He thinks that they'll come to a decision in the next few weeks. The bad weather (sand storms) over there have been keeping him very busy. Even though he was so busy we did get to talk a lot while I was away on vacation. I had an international cell phone, so he could still call and text me. And since we were only one time zone away (as opposed to the usual 7) it was a lot easier to talk. He has earned his brown belt now, and is working towards black! Exciting stuff, and now maybe he'll be able to beat me in a fight :)
That's about it... hopefully we'll get good news soon about him getting out of there before a whole year is up! Only 30 weeks to go...
Still no exact word on if he'll be out early or not. He thinks that they'll come to a decision in the next few weeks. The bad weather (sand storms) over there have been keeping him very busy. Even though he was so busy we did get to talk a lot while I was away on vacation. I had an international cell phone, so he could still call and text me. And since we were only one time zone away (as opposed to the usual 7) it was a lot easier to talk. He has earned his brown belt now, and is working towards black! Exciting stuff, and now maybe he'll be able to beat me in a fight :)
That's about it... hopefully we'll get good news soon about him getting out of there before a whole year is up! Only 30 weeks to go...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Euro Trip
I am leaving Tuesday the 9th at 5 pm and heading to Dublin! I will eventually arrive in Madrid around 8 pm on Wednesday the 10th. I get home sometime in the afternoon of the 19th... so if there isn't an update for a while it's because I don't have access to the internet (or money to pay for it!) Bon voyage!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Week 20
5 whole months down! Wow! So, there are rumors going around that Patrick may be home earlier then we expected! Hopefully he will be home before Winter. Thank goodness we didn't book our trip yet, because he could very well be home before he would have had leave in the first place! So keep your fingers crossed that everything works out in our favor. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much about it, it IS the military after all. And nothing is set in stone until he's actually home.
Other then that, nothing much is going on this week. Pretty boring in comparison to all the exciting news I had last week. At least for Patrick... Here at home in MD Pat's sister came to visit with the new baby! My family got to meet Mackenzie when we went out to brunch this morning. She is the sweetest! And so tiny and cute! Here she is at brunch with us:
Adorable... I know. That's about all. 32 weeks to go! (maybe less! who knows?!)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Mustache @ 3 weeks
Just some pictures Patrick sent of his mustache... this is at 3 weeks... I guess there was nothing to take a picture of til now! Haha only kidding :)
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