A visit to the reptile house

 Today Daddy took me some place I have never been before. We went and visited a large collection of snakes and a few alligators. We got to see one of about every snake that lives in Florida and let me tell you, if you do not like snakes, this is not the place for you. Believe it or not, the alligators were nicer than the snakes. 

Me holding up the sign.

This is a big snake, a python of some sort.

A very mean rattle snake.

A copperhead ignoring me.

Another not too happy rattle snake.

A couple of baby snakes.

Another python, he was a lot more social.

Came right up to the window to talk.

He seemed very friendly.

Me in the snake filled hall way.

Me pointing out two snakes. I have never seen so many snakes.

Cause, outside this door is dangerous. Can we please go through the door?

A sleeping alligator.

Here alligator I have some grass for  you to eat.

The alligators will not come over so I can pet them.

 

It was really cool to see all the snake and alligators, now I know what not to play with in the back yard.



A brief stop on the way home

On the way to (Name withheld) and back to Florida I saw signs for the Biloxi National Cemetery. So I took a little detour and visited the cemetery. It was a very nice and well kept cemetery, not far from the beaches and very close to a United States Air Force Base.

 

I of course walked around the gardens and gained a real appreciation for the heat on the gulf coast. Talk about a very hot place in the summer. While walking I found a unique row of graves. It was actually a row of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. It is not common to find so many in one place. With the exception of Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC.

 It may be difficult for some to understand why I often chose to blog about the fallen, when most of our post are so happy and full of life. Really it is simple, if only for a moment they are not forgotten and that is in keeping with our nations promise to never forget those who gave their lives in the service of our nation.

 

Here are men whose graves I had a chance to visit.

Chief Petty Officer Joel Egan Baldwin, Mosul, Iraq 21 December 2004. United States Navy

 

The next two soldier died together and along with Spc. Audrey Daron Lunsford and Staff Sgt. Saburant Parker in Haswa, Iraq after being struck by an IED.

Sergeant, Daniel Ryan Varnado, Haswa, Iraq 23 May 2005. United States Army- Mississippi National Guard.

 

Specialist Bryan Edward Barron, Haswa, Iraq 23 May 2005. United States Army- Mississippi National Guard.

Major Michael Lee Green, Laghar, Afghanistan, 7 Jan 2008. United States Army

1LT Robert Charles Oneto- Sikorski, Iskandariyah, Iraq 31 October 2005. United States Army- Mississippi National Guard.

LCPL Roger W. Deeds, Ubaydi, Iraq 16 November 2005, United States Marine Corps

Sgt Lerando Junior Brown, Balad, Iraq 15 March 2008. United States Army- Mississippi National Guard.

CPL Benjamin Keith Brosh, wounded in Paliwoda, Iraq and died in Balad, Iraq 18 April 2008. D Co. 2/327th, 1BCT, 101st Airborne Division, United States Army.

Sergeant First Class Johnny Roosevelt Polk, wounded in Kirkuk, Iraq and died in Landstuhl, Germany, 25 July 2009.

 

The row of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

 

A new section in the Garden.

A look across the garden, in the far distance is a crane flying the American Flag that slowly rose while I was walking through the gardens.

 

Despite the heat I am very glad I got the opportunity to visit the Biloxi National Cemetery. If you ever find yourself on I-10, it is not that far of a detour. 



The rest of our weekend was very quiet.... followed by a long drive

I know it might seem that I am always running around with a camera, but when at home, I usually do not. And, home is where we spent the last part of Chimge's visit. It was a quiet and relaxing time and we are all better for it.

Monday morning came far to quickly and Chimge had to return to (Name withheld), but, before she departed she slipped into give Christopher a kiss good-bye.

It is a good thing he is not a light sleeper.

 

The drive back was long, but uneventful and Chimge was safely returned to the US Army for more training. She has roughly another month before she will head out on an adventure of a life time. We parted and I head back to Florida.

 Chimge back in uniform ready for another fun filled day of Army training.

 

As you can tell by the picture, it was very early in the morning or really late at night depending on how you look at it. It is an Army thing, show up as early as you can and wait.

 

As we get pictures in, we will share them with you.



Our Labor Day Weekend (Part 2b)

After the train we went to the play area where they have a water jet park and other things to play on. Our photographer was not on the spot, so I will not post those pictures. However, on the way to the car we found a "Build A Bear." Mommy thought it would be a good idea for me to have a bear that sounded like her. You know since she will be away for awhile. So we went bear shopping. I always wondered where bears came from and now I know.

 

Mommy and me with our bear skin. You have to wait in line to get your bear.

Here we are with the Bear making machine. I never knew it took so much work to make a bear!

First, we had to give the bear a voice like Mommy. So my bear is really soft and gentle and sounds like an angle. But, it is still a bear so I have to be careful.

Even though I am paying, I had to operate the machine with a foot paddle.

It was actually fun, so not a big deal.

Next I had to give the bear a heart.

You would not believe how much work goes into a bear's heart. The lady who was helping has a crazy dance we had to do first, so the bear would have special talents.

After all that, I had to wash the bear.

And of course, the last part was the paper work. You have to register your bear, lots of paper work so they can find you if your bear gets lost or eats someone.

It took so long to get the bear and the paper work, Daddy left us and we had to walk home. No just kidding, Daddy knows better than leave us or I would have my bear take care of him.

 

After the "Build A Bear" we headed home for dinner. I needed to get my new bear home to make sure he was house broken.

 

I am not sure when the next phase will begin or end, but I am enjoying the "Have fun with Mommy Phase" or what ever it is called.

Our Labor Day Weekend (Part 2a)

To keep with Daddy's "Phase" theme, we are now in the Phase 4 "Have Fun with Mommy." I really could not do Phase 1,2 & 3, since I was not there.  But, this is my favorite phase any way.

 

I took Mommy out to do the thing I like to do, especially when she is with me.

 

Here I am in line waiting on the train.

Mommy and me at the fountain at Destin Commons.  Mommy would not let me play in like Daddy does.

All aboard! Seems there is more room when Mommy rides with me.

It is a five car train. In kid terms that is very big.

Mommy and me in the deluxe coach.

The train enroute to the station.

 

This was the first part of our play time. Besides the extra room it was really nice to take Mommy on a train ride. It is my favorite thing to do and she is my favorite Mommy.

Our Labor Day Weekend (Part 1)

Here are a few more pictures of Chimge.  The good new is I got to take them, which means I got to visit with Chimge over the Labor Day Weekend. Which, I must say, was very nice for all of us.

 

Like all great military operations, our weekend was planned in phases. I am not sure how many phases, because our weekend is a work in progress. "Phase 1" was "Movement to extraction point," "Phase 2" was "Conduct Link-up" and "Phase 3" "Return to home base." If you have never been to (Name withheld) it is in the middle of nowhere.  So Phase 1 was interesting and not having my co-pilot made directions that much harder.  Phase 1 is a photo less phase, because I had no one to take pictures of....

 

Phase 2 went really well and I was able to find (Name withheld) and once there it was easy to find Chimge.  Due to movement restrictions we stayed over night at (Name withheld). While there I was able to tour Chimge's master suite and see some of (Name withheld). Here are a few pictures.

 

Chimge's door.  You know it is classy when they put your name on the door!

A distant look at the accommodations.

Chimge's bed and personal space.

Chimge has a six person room all to herself, talk about rock star treatment. One bed shy of a new bed every night for a week. (No I did not stay there over night).

Chimge's body armor used to clash with her uniform, I mentioned that in earlier post, so they immediately issued new matching body armor. So from here on out all her clothing and accessories will match. She is modeling the latest in ballistic protection.

The (Name withheld) 9-11/ soldiers memorial.

Chimge checking out the memorial.

 

Phase 3 "Return to home base" was a two part mission. First we took a few people to the airport so they could go home and see their families and then we began the (Time withheld) trip home. We carried with us one other member of the USAF who is also stationed here at Eglin AFB, so he could visit his family. It was a not a short trip, but after driving here from Utah, it really was not that long. We made it home very late and got some rest.

 

(Stay tuned for the next installment of our Labor Day Weekend)