It's a Leap Year

...And amidst all the business of moving, we somehow managed to celebrate the big birthday. Double Digits!
Of course I'd be fibbing if I led you to believe I planned a great party complete with teens and Wii dancing. No - It just so happened that the youth group Dave has worked with during our time here wanted to have a goodbye for Dave. 
Instant party!

I've created a monster

.... A dusted cover all, black sock wearing, carefree kah-ro-kee singing Ana-White.com addict!

The Mountain

More than a few friends have asked, "What is this mountain you keep referring to?"

I guess I've taken for granted that most folks have seen Stargate. (Or maybe that's just my nephew and nieces that are science fiction crazed.)

The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is the official name. And just as the name says - it is one complex location!

Trying not to use MilSpeak, let me give you a very brief overview. (When you have ample time, Dave would LOVE to give you every detail.)

The design of this facility makes it one of the most unusual installations in the world. Apart from the fact that it is housed 2,000 feet (600 m) inside the granite mountain, the interior was actually designed by the US Navy. It is also notable in that it houses a bi-national United States and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America.

Highlights:

*25 ton blast doors.

*4.5 acre of excavated chambers & tunnels

*15 buildings. 12 of those buildings are 3 stories tall. All of them freestanding, without contact to the mountain itself.

How, you ask?

All of the buildings are mounted on 1,319 steel springs, each weighing approximately 1,000 pounds. The springs allow the complex to move 12 inches in any one direction.

*To make the complex self-sufficient, adequate space in the complex is devoted to support functions. A dining facility, medical facility with dental office, pharmacy and a two-bed ward; two physical fitness centers with exercise equipment and sauna; a small base exchange, chapel, and barber shop are all located within the complex.

We like to sum it up by likening it to an aircraft carrier built inside the mountain.

Time.com has a great photo tour. Giving some pretty cool glimpses into what most of us will never actually see. Click here to take a gander.

Want even better photos of inside?

Cnet had the best photo tour I could find. Don't miss their descriptions that accompany each photo on the right hand side. It's like taking a quickie engineering class for dumbies.

Seriously, go look at them!

A trip to the complex doesn't happen for Dave daily. In fact, it's rather rare. And thank goodness! The process of just getting inside to a work station is quite cumbersome.

However, we can't help be get excited at one project associated with NORAD. Tracking Santa! Having been such active participants in this tradition since the kids were just little, we're excited to be on the operating end of it this year.

To read the story of how NORAD Tracks Santa all began, click here.

*photos courtesy of norad.mil

The Poppy Campaign

Dave's been off playing War Games locked inside a mountain all week. I've barely seen him. But when I do, I can't help but notice his bright red poppy.

It was given to him by one of his Canadian Military counterparts that works alongside him in the surgeons office.

When he can't wear the poppy on his uniform, I've seen it on his work bag.

I can tell he respects this tradition and obviously what this poppy represents. So of course, I want explanations.

Not having much time for conversation lately - he summed up by telling me to google "In Flanders Fields" . . . . .

So you don't have to google yourselves, I'll share what I learned:

The use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance comes from a poem written by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor serving in the military. The poem is called In Flanders Fields and describes the poppies growing in the Flemish graveyards where soldiers were buried.

In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Each November, Poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population. Since 1921, the Poppy has stood as a symbol of Remembrance, our visual pledge to never forget all those Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations. The Poppy also stands internationally as a “symbol of collective reminiscence”, as other countries have also adopted its image to honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The official start of the Poppy Campaign is the last Friday in October and runs until November 11.

My Mother's Day Lei

I know how hard it was for Dave to find "just the right one".

But he did.

Change of Command, Pacific Fleet.

I could have put COC PACFLT - but I didn't think too many of you would understand.

Dave's command, U.S. Pacific Fleet*, held a change command during a ceremony Sept. 25 on Naval Station Pearl Harbor in view of the historic memorials of USS Arizona and USS Missouri.

The Change of Command ceremony is among the oldest traditions in the Navy.
The change-of-command ceremony, which is rich in naval tradition, is quite formal. The turnover of a Navy command is the formal passing of responsibility, authority, and accountability of command from one officer to another.

United States Navy Regulations, 1990, Department of the Navy, Office of the Secretary, Washington, D.C., 1990. Few occasions stir the emotions of people more than a formal naval ceremony. Most of these ceremonies instill a great amount of pride in our naval service for all who attend.

In your naval career you will attend many formal ceremonies. No matter what role you fill, take a moment to look around you to reflect on the traditions and customs that have been carried on for many years. These traditions and customs will make you proud to be a part of the greatest Navy in the world.

Mack, W.P., and R.W. Connell, Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions, 5th ed., Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Md., 1980. Mack, W.P., and T.D. Paulsen, The Naval 0fficer’s Guide, 9th ed., Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Md., 1983

*The Navy's largest fleet command encompasses more than 100 million square miles. Nearly 200 ships and submarines and 125-thousand sailors

I'm a FAN!

No - I (Chan) am not a fan of KISS by any stretch of the imagination. But we all know David is.

His fun crew in Guam sent him the most unique coconut postcard I could ever imagine.

Now THAT crew in Guam . . . . I'm their biggest fan!

E komo mai!

We've been here a week.
It hasn't been paradise. Yet.
But we're working on it.
Baby steps, I guess.

For now - a car to call our own.
A '95 Civic complete with blessings from a recently graduated BYU-Hawaii couple headed back to the mother ship.

In the meantime - check out our housing in the back of the photo. Good old NavyLodge on Ford Island.
We've been lodgemates with many other families in the same situation - all of us searching and waiting for good housing. On a good note - Molly has plenty of furry friends to play with each afternoon.

A sad day

Part of any packout is the accompanied "get rid of the junk" survey you do of your home. This time around David had to part with is ever-present sandles. These have been worn EVERY DAY for four plus yrs. Can't you just see the funk growing on them?

Wishing you were here . . .

So you don't feel so far away - catching up on the last few days:

Look at that water - I think a storm's brewing somewhere out there. Dadi misses us. . . . .. . . .And we miss you.

Please help Dave....

Do you want to keep this from coming to your city...?

Go here and vote for Honolulu (use zipcode 96818) so they come to ours - we move there in two short months.

The KISS ARMY will dictate the North American leg of "Alive 35"!

Yes - I know I'm a freak.

And by the way....Madison is a closet KISS fan.

Happy UnBirthday

David has issues with being a Leap Year Birthday Boy.

He always claims "There's no need to celebrate if I don't have an actual birthday."

I've learned through past experience - that he feels bad if we take him at his word.

We compromised this year with just a mellow night in Tumon.

Dinner at Hot Diggity Dog followed by Dolce Fruitti gelato right next door.

And you know what?

On the ride home he claimed it was his "Best birthday ever!"

(I hope I can take his word for it!)