Hope this finds everyone doing well. The latest news from this part of the world is our upcoming vacations!!
I just finished getting all my medical stuff done for Africa. That's right, i'm going to Africa!! 4 shots and anti-malaria and my ticket all done!! I'm ready to go. I'm super excited!! Mike is going to meet me in Accra, Ghana, Africa. So I found out they have safaris and a hippo reserve, so i'm all excited!!
Mike is doing well. He's really settled into his job now and is doing great!! We talk and e-mail everyday so it's nice to have communication with him!! This deployment seems harder than normal and i'm really thinking that's from being so sick and that taking a toll on me.
As for me, i'm feeling better. The cough is about the only thing that I haven't gotten rid of yet. It's really getting old, but not sounding nearly as bad as it was. So overall, i'm feeling better with the exception of my arms being sore still from the shots.
That's it from here. I'll update when I have something new to tell everyone.
Lots of love, sunshine and coconuts,
Bonnie and Mike
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
So far this summer...
So our summer finds us on opposite parts of the world. I don't think we're spent a summer together for a long time. Anyways, Mike is in Liberia, Africa working for the United Nations as a military observer. We are lucky enough to talk everyday on the phone and e-mail. He's doing good, adapting to his new surroundings. Life if really different for him there. He's working with all sorts of different nations like Ukraine, Pakistan, Niger... that's the ones that I remember. I will send his address to anyone who would like to write to him. Mail takes a long time to get there but he loves to get it!!
I'm still doing classes. So far I'm sitting at straight A's. I'm very proud of myself!! I'm hoping to keep that going. I'm almost done with my cultural anthropology class, that will be done next week, so we'll see how things go. As for my everyday life, I'm looking forward to getting rid of this sinus infection and bronchitis, well, what's left of it, so I can do diving.
For those of you that have Facebook, I have a ton of pictures on there from diving. I'm having the time of my life and enjoying seeing all the fish and turtles so close up. I can't believe how amazing it is!! Someday I will sit down and actually put those on Snapfish. I just haven't felt like doing that yet. Takes too long!!
Hope this find everyone well!!
Lots of sun, love and coconuts,
Bonnie and Mike
I'm still doing classes. So far I'm sitting at straight A's. I'm very proud of myself!! I'm hoping to keep that going. I'm almost done with my cultural anthropology class, that will be done next week, so we'll see how things go. As for my everyday life, I'm looking forward to getting rid of this sinus infection and bronchitis, well, what's left of it, so I can do diving.
For those of you that have Facebook, I have a ton of pictures on there from diving. I'm having the time of my life and enjoying seeing all the fish and turtles so close up. I can't believe how amazing it is!! Someday I will sit down and actually put those on Snapfish. I just haven't felt like doing that yet. Takes too long!!
Hope this find everyone well!!
Lots of sun, love and coconuts,
Bonnie and Mike
Tattoo
So i've been horrible about updating, so within the last year Mike and I have both got tattoos. These are the pictures. In fact, my sister and I both have the same one, just different directions.
The one of Mike's left is a Foo dog and the one on the right is a Naga.
Lots of sun, love and coconuts,
Bonnie and Mike
Thursday, March 26, 2009
What's new...
LOTS!!
So it's been a while since I got on here and updated. Sorry for that guys. But here's what's happening.
Mike is taking scuba classes. Well, he's working on the classroom part right now and starts diving this weekend. He's getting ready to get to Africa for a billet, known as a GSA, pretty much, he will be working for the UN (United Nations) as a military peace observer. His actual duties are unknown, but he'll learn more when he goes to his school. He will be leaving here in April, around the 20th to spend some time at home with his family then to San Diego, Mississippi and then to Quantico, VA for training. He will head to Africa in May for his duty. We are currently awaiting our next set of orders, hoping for Monterrey. There's a post graduate school there that he wants to get his masters. So we're waiting to hear, hopefully we'll get it. We don't see why we would have a problem. But for now, he's here with me and finishing up his time at the command.
I'm sure most of you are asking what's going to happen with me? Well, hopefully I'll be staying here. We're just waiting to hear from housing about me staying here in the house. They are supposed to support people on GSA/IA tours. So hopefully, we'll here soon. I'm still working on school. I'm at the point not that I have to declare a major. I'm leaning towards a degree in social and behavioral sciences. So far so good with school. It's every 8 weeks that I start a new classes. Sociology is my next one. Wish me luck!!
Other than spending time with Mike, I've been able to go diving. Like today, we went to the beach here on base call Gab Gab and we found the biggest anemone that we know of on island. It was literally, 15 ft wide and 15 ft long. I didn't have a camera, but I plan on getting one. I'll go back and get pictures soon. It's just so amazing to scuba dive and be able to see what it's like to live in that environment.So soon, we'll both be able to dive.
We're planning a trip to Pohnpei, it's an island to the south east of us. There are manta ray cleaning stations that you can dive on. We're both really looking forward to diving there. Mike's big draw to this island is the ancient ruins. If you look up the island, you'll see what we're talking about. It looks incredible!! Speaking of trips, we took a weekend trip to another island called Saipan. It's north of us and has a lot of World War II sites on it. We'll post the pictures to Snapfish and post a link on here for everyone.So, in a coconut shell, that's our world. I'll let everyone know what happens with orders and the housing situation. We hope everyone is going well.
That's our life in a coconut shell!!
Love,
Bonnie and Mike
So it's been a while since I got on here and updated. Sorry for that guys. But here's what's happening.
Mike is taking scuba classes. Well, he's working on the classroom part right now and starts diving this weekend. He's getting ready to get to Africa for a billet, known as a GSA, pretty much, he will be working for the UN (United Nations) as a military peace observer. His actual duties are unknown, but he'll learn more when he goes to his school. He will be leaving here in April, around the 20th to spend some time at home with his family then to San Diego, Mississippi and then to Quantico, VA for training. He will head to Africa in May for his duty. We are currently awaiting our next set of orders, hoping for Monterrey. There's a post graduate school there that he wants to get his masters. So we're waiting to hear, hopefully we'll get it. We don't see why we would have a problem. But for now, he's here with me and finishing up his time at the command.
I'm sure most of you are asking what's going to happen with me? Well, hopefully I'll be staying here. We're just waiting to hear from housing about me staying here in the house. They are supposed to support people on GSA/IA tours. So hopefully, we'll here soon. I'm still working on school. I'm at the point not that I have to declare a major. I'm leaning towards a degree in social and behavioral sciences. So far so good with school. It's every 8 weeks that I start a new classes. Sociology is my next one. Wish me luck!!
Other than spending time with Mike, I've been able to go diving. Like today, we went to the beach here on base call Gab Gab and we found the biggest anemone that we know of on island. It was literally, 15 ft wide and 15 ft long. I didn't have a camera, but I plan on getting one. I'll go back and get pictures soon. It's just so amazing to scuba dive and be able to see what it's like to live in that environment.So soon, we'll both be able to dive.
We're planning a trip to Pohnpei, it's an island to the south east of us. There are manta ray cleaning stations that you can dive on. We're both really looking forward to diving there. Mike's big draw to this island is the ancient ruins. If you look up the island, you'll see what we're talking about. It looks incredible!! Speaking of trips, we took a weekend trip to another island called Saipan. It's north of us and has a lot of World War II sites on it. We'll post the pictures to Snapfish and post a link on here for everyone.So, in a coconut shell, that's our world. I'll let everyone know what happens with orders and the housing situation. We hope everyone is going well.
That's our life in a coconut shell!!
Love,
Bonnie and Mike
Friday, September 12, 2008
Long long overdue
So this is long overdue. Sorry about that.
Since the last blog I have taken my vacation and Mike has come home and stayed home. Well, on the island anyways.
Singapore and Malaysia was a blast!! I'm so glad I got to go!! I have tons of pictures. I'll have to set them up on Snapfish then put the link here for all to see.
Mike has been very busy since he got back. He's had a lot of training. In fact, he has training this Saturday and then he'll be in the field next week again. This will be the third time in the past month and a half that he's been in the field.
The slates are finally up. For those you that don't know the slates, that the list of open billets that they choose from. Our PRD (projected rotation date) is actually November but since he didn't get the school he wanted, he opted for the next set of slates, well, we didn't get put on those slates since they "forgot" about us. Well what we think happened was, Mike's detailer PCS'd (permanent change of station) in the middle of the slating process, so things didn't get turned over correctly. So now we're on the slates for March/April. He just put in his preferences so, hopefully we'll hear something soon.
As for me, my driving test is Oct. 15. I signed up as soon as I got back from vacation. I know I should have had an earlier test date but I went in, brought in my paperwork, and gave her my id. She then turns back like 4 pages and tells me it's going to be Oct. Since i'm not a local, and I don't have any friends at the DMV or relatives, i'm a white girl with a military ID, I get pushed around. It's how a lot of things happen here. It's stupid. But whatever. I'm ready for my test but i'm nervous about parallel parking. I've only done it twice, and I have to do it to pass my test. So wish me luck.
So that's our life here. I'll keep everyone posted once I hear about where we're going and when.
Hope all is well with everyone!!
Since the last blog I have taken my vacation and Mike has come home and stayed home. Well, on the island anyways.
Singapore and Malaysia was a blast!! I'm so glad I got to go!! I have tons of pictures. I'll have to set them up on Snapfish then put the link here for all to see.
Mike has been very busy since he got back. He's had a lot of training. In fact, he has training this Saturday and then he'll be in the field next week again. This will be the third time in the past month and a half that he's been in the field.
The slates are finally up. For those you that don't know the slates, that the list of open billets that they choose from. Our PRD (projected rotation date) is actually November but since he didn't get the school he wanted, he opted for the next set of slates, well, we didn't get put on those slates since they "forgot" about us. Well what we think happened was, Mike's detailer PCS'd (permanent change of station) in the middle of the slating process, so things didn't get turned over correctly. So now we're on the slates for March/April. He just put in his preferences so, hopefully we'll hear something soon.
As for me, my driving test is Oct. 15. I signed up as soon as I got back from vacation. I know I should have had an earlier test date but I went in, brought in my paperwork, and gave her my id. She then turns back like 4 pages and tells me it's going to be Oct. Since i'm not a local, and I don't have any friends at the DMV or relatives, i'm a white girl with a military ID, I get pushed around. It's how a lot of things happen here. It's stupid. But whatever. I'm ready for my test but i'm nervous about parallel parking. I've only done it twice, and I have to do it to pass my test. So wish me luck.
So that's our life here. I'll keep everyone posted once I hear about where we're going and when.
Hope all is well with everyone!!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Overdue Update
Hafa Adai guys!! Sorry it's been like two months since i've last updated!!
So in April, Mike came home and my sister came to visit. We had a great time!! Mike was able to take leave while Heidi was here, so we had some good family time together!! She has a ton of pictures, so if I can get a snapfish link from her, i'll post it on here for all to see. While she was here, I was in the middle of scuba diving class. I'm now officially a scuba diver and loving ever second of my dives!! It's so amazing to see the fish and swim with them. I've even seen some fish that I haven't seen in the fish books or online so now it's a search to find out what they are!! I just love being down 60 feet and looking up to the wall of water above you. I'll try to get a picture but it's just so unreal and so amazing!! Then the fun ended and Heidi left us on April 26th and then Mike left on May 2nd or 3rd.
May wasn't too busy of a month. Mike was deployed to Thailand for 42 days. He just got home on Thursday at 230am and now he's getting ready to take off again this coming Saturday for another mission.
June so far has been good. Mike got promoted. He's a LT now. Go Mike!! Big congrats to him!!
I went diving with some friends and i'm itching to go again. I love it. My ears are getting better and better everytime I dive. I now have my own BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), it's pretty much a vest that holds your tank to your back and allows you to put air in it to stay buoyant at the surface and in the water so you don't sink. So all I need now is the "octopus" it holds your regulator, your alternate regulator, SPG (submersible pressure gauge) and hose to hook up to your BCD. Having your own gear is so worth it!! I love my new BC, wouldn't trade it for anything!!
So this Sunday, June 15th is Father's Day but it's also our anniversary. We're trying to figure out what to get for each other but since Mike is getting ready to leave again and i'm getting ready to go on vacation myself, we figured we'd just put the presents money towards the trips. I'm headed to Malaysia and Singapore from June 26- July 6th. A much needed and much anticipated vacation. I can't wait!!
So June is shaping up to be a good month but a busy month. Mike is at work today, Saturday, planning his next mission. He's glad to be home even though it's for a short time.
I'm in my second class now, Intro to Marine Science. I know, perfect for me!! I got an A in my first college class, so that makes me super excited to keep going.
My driving has also advanced. I'm now driving off base. All over the place actually. I took my off base last night for dinner and drove both ways. He's mighty impressed with how my driving has advanced. I can go and sign up for my driving test on June 19th but I need to do 2 driving hours with my driving school first, so I need to find a way to get that worked in with our schedules. So once I have more info i'll keep you all posted!!
So that's our life in a coconutshell. Maybe that's what I should rename this blog to!!
Hope you guys are all doing well!!
We love and miss you all!!
So in April, Mike came home and my sister came to visit. We had a great time!! Mike was able to take leave while Heidi was here, so we had some good family time together!! She has a ton of pictures, so if I can get a snapfish link from her, i'll post it on here for all to see. While she was here, I was in the middle of scuba diving class. I'm now officially a scuba diver and loving ever second of my dives!! It's so amazing to see the fish and swim with them. I've even seen some fish that I haven't seen in the fish books or online so now it's a search to find out what they are!! I just love being down 60 feet and looking up to the wall of water above you. I'll try to get a picture but it's just so unreal and so amazing!! Then the fun ended and Heidi left us on April 26th and then Mike left on May 2nd or 3rd.
May wasn't too busy of a month. Mike was deployed to Thailand for 42 days. He just got home on Thursday at 230am and now he's getting ready to take off again this coming Saturday for another mission.
June so far has been good. Mike got promoted. He's a LT now. Go Mike!! Big congrats to him!!
I went diving with some friends and i'm itching to go again. I love it. My ears are getting better and better everytime I dive. I now have my own BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), it's pretty much a vest that holds your tank to your back and allows you to put air in it to stay buoyant at the surface and in the water so you don't sink. So all I need now is the "octopus" it holds your regulator, your alternate regulator, SPG (submersible pressure gauge) and hose to hook up to your BCD. Having your own gear is so worth it!! I love my new BC, wouldn't trade it for anything!!
So this Sunday, June 15th is Father's Day but it's also our anniversary. We're trying to figure out what to get for each other but since Mike is getting ready to leave again and i'm getting ready to go on vacation myself, we figured we'd just put the presents money towards the trips. I'm headed to Malaysia and Singapore from June 26- July 6th. A much needed and much anticipated vacation. I can't wait!!
So June is shaping up to be a good month but a busy month. Mike is at work today, Saturday, planning his next mission. He's glad to be home even though it's for a short time.
I'm in my second class now, Intro to Marine Science. I know, perfect for me!! I got an A in my first college class, so that makes me super excited to keep going.
My driving has also advanced. I'm now driving off base. All over the place actually. I took my off base last night for dinner and drove both ways. He's mighty impressed with how my driving has advanced. I can go and sign up for my driving test on June 19th but I need to do 2 driving hours with my driving school first, so I need to find a way to get that worked in with our schedules. So once I have more info i'll keep you all posted!!
So that's our life in a coconutshell. Maybe that's what I should rename this blog to!!
Hope you guys are all doing well!!
We love and miss you all!!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Our Visitor
Hafa Adai!!
Things here on Guam are good!! It's been really sunny and not much rain so it's really hot and humid!! "Winter" is almost over and summer is coming FAST!!
Mike will be home in a few weeks. He's been really busy out on the ship. He just got his FITREP, for you non-military, it's kinda like an evaluation but it's an evaluation for promotions. You can get rated 1-5, 5 being the best, Mike just got a 4!! 5 are hard to get, not impossible but hard. Mike had some on record. Anyways, the good FITREP is exciting not just because he's doing good, but because he needs a good score for future billets. He's currently looking into NPS and the better FITREP and a letter from the skipper, will help the board decide whether or not they accept him. I don't think he's going to have a problem!! So wish us luck on that!!
As for me, I'm great!! My school starts in a few weeks. So i'm preparting myself for that. I'm now up to 18lbs down!! I'm so proud of myself. Everyone else is too!! I swim at least twice a day, walk about 3-4 times a week. I'm going to start increasing that once I get a new bladder for the camel back. So things are good. I'm still working on my tan. The workers call me a Chamale. It's what they call the locals that are white/chammorro mix. So in other words, i'm blending in better!!
We are preparing for a visitor. My sister Heidi is coming to visit in a month. We're so excited and she is too!! I'm trying to find all sorts of fun things to do with her!! I do know we'll got snorkeling and i'm trying to nail down a good time to see the sea turtles. I just have to find a time that they come in but it has to be one of those times that it's quiet and not everyone is at the beach.
So we had a new visitor of a different kind. No it wasn't an alien, it was a monitor lizard!! They're all over the island. We see them up on the air strip and if you go hiking in the jungle you'll see them, but they aren't usually in housing!! This one was on my tree out my bedroom window. The cat was watching something so I ran out to see what it was. I thought it was a snake. If you have snakes, you have to call and have them caught. The brown tree snakes cause nothing but problems here!! So, I went out and saw that it was a monitor lizard. I got a few pictures but they aren't super clear, but I'll post them anyways. I forgot to wipe off the lense. It fogged up. If you want to read more about the critters here, check this page out http://www.heptune.com/Guamcrit.html
So overall things are good. I'll try to post Mike's FITREP on here too. I just need to make sure there isn't anything in there that can't be posted!!
Love~Laugh~Wish
Bonnie and Mike
Things here on Guam are good!! It's been really sunny and not much rain so it's really hot and humid!! "Winter" is almost over and summer is coming FAST!!
Mike will be home in a few weeks. He's been really busy out on the ship. He just got his FITREP, for you non-military, it's kinda like an evaluation but it's an evaluation for promotions. You can get rated 1-5, 5 being the best, Mike just got a 4!! 5 are hard to get, not impossible but hard. Mike had some on record. Anyways, the good FITREP is exciting not just because he's doing good, but because he needs a good score for future billets. He's currently looking into NPS and the better FITREP and a letter from the skipper, will help the board decide whether or not they accept him. I don't think he's going to have a problem!! So wish us luck on that!!
As for me, I'm great!! My school starts in a few weeks. So i'm preparting myself for that. I'm now up to 18lbs down!! I'm so proud of myself. Everyone else is too!! I swim at least twice a day, walk about 3-4 times a week. I'm going to start increasing that once I get a new bladder for the camel back. So things are good. I'm still working on my tan. The workers call me a Chamale. It's what they call the locals that are white/chammorro mix. So in other words, i'm blending in better!!
We are preparing for a visitor. My sister Heidi is coming to visit in a month. We're so excited and she is too!! I'm trying to find all sorts of fun things to do with her!! I do know we'll got snorkeling and i'm trying to nail down a good time to see the sea turtles. I just have to find a time that they come in but it has to be one of those times that it's quiet and not everyone is at the beach.
So we had a new visitor of a different kind. No it wasn't an alien, it was a monitor lizard!! They're all over the island. We see them up on the air strip and if you go hiking in the jungle you'll see them, but they aren't usually in housing!! This one was on my tree out my bedroom window. The cat was watching something so I ran out to see what it was. I thought it was a snake. If you have snakes, you have to call and have them caught. The brown tree snakes cause nothing but problems here!! So, I went out and saw that it was a monitor lizard. I got a few pictures but they aren't super clear, but I'll post them anyways. I forgot to wipe off the lense. It fogged up. If you want to read more about the critters here, check this page out http://www.heptune.com/Guamcrit.html
So overall things are good. I'll try to post Mike's FITREP on here too. I just need to make sure there isn't anything in there that can't be posted!!
Love~Laugh~Wish
Bonnie and Mike
Monday, March 03, 2008
Testing
Ok, so I think I have this kinda figured out. Let me know if you guys recieve this. I'm trying to see if it worked
Sunday, March 02, 2008
The Past Year
I know many of you know but some don't. We moved from Japan last March, almost to the day!! Mike went to schools in VA and CA. I met up with him a few times while he was in VA. I spent some time at home with my family and with Mike's family.
We moved to Guam the end of May. It was Memorial Day weekend when we arrived. We've been here 9 months already. Mike is detached to MSRON Det 713. He's OPS-operations officer.The easiest way to explain it, they go to places where ships will be pulling in and teach that country how to do the security for the ships, they train other military's around the world and they provide security on ships and at bases. This past year he's been to Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines-many times. I will need him to update a little more about that when he gets back.
I have lots of pictures to post!! We spent a lot of time driving around the island and snorkeling or just relaxing at the beach.
Mike is looking into NPS, Naval Postgraduate School, in Monterrey,CA. He would like to get his masters. The latest word is that he has been selected for the board. He had to go through a board to apply since he's a surface warfare officer, they only select so many a year.
I am going to start school myself soon. I applied for Coastline Community College, it's going to be online classes. I start within the next few weeks. They offer a great deal for military and their spouses. So I will be starting to get my degree. Once we get back to the states, if I want, I can transfer to a 4 year college or I can continue classes online.
Mike has been deployed a lot this year. He left shortly after the new year. Came home for a week in Feb and is out again. While he was home, he worked all day everyday. We only had a few hours to spend together, but a little time is better than no time!! He will be back in April.
April is also when my sister, Heidi will be coming to visit. We're so excited that she's coming!! She'll be here from April 16- April 26th!!
I am slowly getting a nice tan!! The locals tell me "that I'm getting a good tan and that I'll look like one of them soon." I have to problem with that!! I have been working out everyday. As of Feb, 19 I have lost 12 lbs!! I haven't weighed in for almost 2 weeks, I'm having issues with the scale. It for some reason won't work even with new batteries. But I will continue to update my progress!!
We bought a new car. It's a silver Jeep Patriot. We LOVE it. Only downfall, it's a stick. So I'm not just learning how to drive, I'm learning how to drive on a stick. Did I mention, I'm learning how to drive? I'm doing really well. I'll post my driving blog on here for everyone to read. I had a really rough start, but I'm doing so much better!!
Below is a picture of my friend Amy and I and a update picture of Mike in his cammie's!! I will add pictures of Guam on the next post!!
If you want our address;
Bonnie and Mike Ryan
42 Gilmore Ave
Santa Rita, GU 96915
Love~Laugh~Wish
Bonnie and Mike
Here We Go
Ok, I know a lot of people want to know what's going on with us. This is the best way to let everyone know what's going on. I'll do my best to leave you a weekly update,unless for some reason I feel the need to update you daily. So check back every now and then or once a week and see if there's anything.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)