6/19/16 Westerly, RI and 45th Dartmouth Reunion

Condo Deck View

 It is wonderful to be back in Rhode Island at Ashaway RV Resort.   We walked through our Champlin Woods condo where inside walls have been

roughed in but the view of Misquamicut Beach is complete!  The builder hopes to have us in by the end of the year but we are not holding our breaths.  Hard to believe that we are home as we walk along the beach and look back to see our condo on the hill.

Mascoma Lake Campground

In between John's conference at the Naval War College and Deb's picking tile, bath fixtures, lighting, etc. etc., we take the RV up to Mascoma Lake Campground near Hanover, New Hampshire, spending five days at John's 45th Dartmouth College reunion. We have a wonderful time seeing over 100 of his classmates, reigniting old friendships and making new ones. We ran ourselves ragged on planned activities including delicious meal gatherings, hiking, panel discussions, campus tours, a concert by

award winning acapella group The Dartmouth Aires, and a fascinating presentation about the Thayer School of Engineering Mobile Virtual Player  (MVP) robotic tackling dummy which is used to simulate live tackling during practices.  

Dartmouth's MVP

Since using the MVP, a significant reduction in injuries and concussions has resulted from the college's policy of NO live tackling in practices.  Last Falls team's spectacular performance highlights the benefits of having healthier players.  Other colleges and the NFL are now trying the MVP in their programs.  

Protesters Confront ROTC Students

The mood of our country toward the military was quite different in the late 60's early 70's during the Vietnam War. John's experience as a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp (NROTC) student is reflected in this photograph of the war protesters and in the photo of a NROTC Dining-In where John (third from left) was the company commander hosting the nights speaker.  Dining-In's are formal military affairs following British traditions of rules of the mess, much toasting, and after dinner cigars and port.

It was fun listening to his buddy Dick, tell stories.  "You were hard ass ROTC; made me and Knolls look bad." "You must be really smart.  You would sit in back of Thermodynamics cutting your nails while I was furiously taking notes. Did you get an A or B in that class?"  To which John meekly replies, "I got a citation in that class." (That's like a A+++++!)

6/1/2016 Virginia, Bahamas, Zoe's PhD Board, Jack in Philippines

Zoe's River Canoe Trip

Zoe passed her PhD boards (YAHOO!!!!) complaining that they didn't ask her the really hard questions she spent months preparing for ;)  Her plans are to finish writing her dissertation by next May.  In between she is puttering in her garden, hiking in the Cascades with Gabe as they continue to check out wolf research sites, and take his girls down the St. Mary's River in Idaho in their new canoe!

Campsite Neighbor

  After an overnight stop at a KOA off I-95 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, we are back in our old stomping grounds at Bull Run Regional Park in Manassas, Virginia. We love camping in the spacious wooded campsites here, being awoken every morning by numerous bird calls.  A week goes by where we catch up with friends, make some professional connections, then put the RV in storage at Settles Truck & Auto where we bought it 4 years ago.

The Beautiful Boat

John flies to the Florida Keys to help some friends crew their boat to the Bahamas.  Having had an amazing time cruising around the Bahamian Islands on two prior occasions, Deb (wisely) chooses to remain  behind this time to work on design decisions for the condo (aka - to avoid the open ocean crossing) ;) Half way across, one (of two) engines fails so they limp into Alice City on Bimini.  Finding no qualified mechanic and no success at self-repair, they cruise to 

Bimini

Fort Lauderdale whereupon they experience a water in the bilge alarm.  After many buckets of water over the side, they arrive in FL, get repaired, tested and head back to Bahamas.  After two hours of smooth sailing the engine room fire alarm goes off.  While the Captain handles the boat, John's uses his Navy emergency training and several breath holding trips down into the engine room to put out the fire.  This trip is over and they return to Fort Lauderdale.  John says the trip was GREAT especially loving the opportunity to drive the boat, stand watch and help with the challenges.  The Captain's wife, on the other hand, was traumatized by these events.......(men are from Mars!)

Deb has a blast sacking out at her cousin Bruce's and various friends homes (Marie, Marcia,

Azalea Bonsai, National Arboretum 

Susan B.) while he was gone.  Visited the beautiful National Arboretum, attended a community theater production of "My Fair Lady" where our friend Joni played Professor Higgins fabulous secretary, and continues working on floor, kitchen plumbing and appliance decisions for the condo.  

Marcia, Jane, Actress Joni, Debra

John gets back in time to celebrate our 35TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!!  We are blessed beyond words for the life we have had together and plan to continue to have in the future.  

After moving the RV back to Bull Run, we continue our marathon visiting with friends and family as we both finish up some consulting projects.  Had a great day at the Nationals Ballpark even though they lost.  Met up with Deb's Uncle Bill (drove Marine landing craft in Vietnam) on Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Day in DC at the Massachusetts Vigil Society exhibit he was manning.  The group formed in 1982 after the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial to maintain POW-MIA

Massachusetts Vigil Society Exhibit

awareness.  They recently added banners naming fallen veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.  A very emotional and humbling experience as the Washington Monument rises behind the exhibit.

Jack had some well needed downtime on a recent port call in Subic Bay, Philippines.  His ship is involved in activities described in a newspaper headline: "Deploying ships, jet fighters, and reportedly, a high-tech surveillance drone, Beijing is moving quickly to cement its claims on strategic islands, while also forcefully rebuffing America’s own military moves in the region."   He is working hard at his new position as the ships Auxiliary Officer (AUXO) while at the same time putting max effort into qualifications for his Surface Warfare Officer pin. His first Fitness Report was EXCELLENT!!!

While reviewing condo plans recently, Debra asks John, what is the size of our deck?  He says 300 sq feet.  What is the size of the RV living area?  He says 310 sq. ft. Soooo we have been living on our deck for the past two years?? Yup, that about sums it up.  

John says you know it's time to bring this Freedom Folly to a close when Deb starts complaining about him leaving his soap in her makeup space (really John, I would have complained about that under any circumstances:).  We had a real hard laugh when John then complained because she left her book in his chair space. We continue to find it absolutely amazing that we still find humor in our ability to tolerate each other in such close quarters.