Lions and Coyotes and Bears, OH MY!

When we signed for our new housing, they told us that there was a black bear problem in our neighborhood.

I knew we were living in the moutains, next to a forest.......

I just never even thought of mountain lions or bears. Coyotes we have in Texas, and I never had a problem with them.

I saw a bear on my first day in Alaska while visiting my sister.

Apparently though, the bears are out there a lot.

I went over and introduced myself to my new neighbor. First thing out of her mouth was about the bear problem. She said there was a black bear out in our cul-de-sac every day. The mountain lions were attacking the deer behind our other neighbor's house yesterday. She hasn't seen any coyotes.

When we were dealing with CYS yesterday one of the employees heard where we were living, and she immediately told us about the bear problem.

I love where we live because it isn't so congested or busy, so if a few bears come our way, I can live with that!

It's a Brand New Day

I am now prescribing to my son Junior's philosophy of life. Every morning he wakes up, looks around, and shouts out "It's a brand new day!".

I searched for daycare last night. Some people recommended a nanny, but I am living in a hotel right now.

I signed up for a service my sister uses to find a sitter, but $10-$15 an hour doesn't justify me working. I have a call into a center that the on post daycare recommended. Junior is 3 though, and many daycares are maxed out in that age group, plus he isn't potty trained which elminates most preschools, Potty training is not going too well here in Casa La Quinta.

I can only try though. I left a message for the principal so hopefully he will call back and we can discuss a few options my friend Dave and I came up with last night. If it doesn't work out, then I will move on with plan B.

We are stuffed to the gills here, and are finally finding the time today to move our bikes, the trainer, my tri-gear, my school books, and all the spices that we hand carried, over to the house. Maybe the housekeeper won't faint when she comes in.

I thought we were going to be forced to do laundry today, but I found a bag of clean clothes that I grabbed from my mom's dryer the morning we left. I cringe when I think about spending a $1.25 to wash a load of clothes, and you know that they have the smallest washers possible so that what I can cram into one load at home takes 4-5 loads in a hotel!

We've tried three new restaurants in the past two days, and while they were great, I can't wait to eat at home again!

Please explain the logic to me....

Today we went to stop by to fill out the registration paperwork for the girls, and they let us do Junior while we were there. They called us last Tuesday and said that they had an opening for him. Great!

So as we are filling out the paperwork, they see that he is allergic to eggs. They asked for his paperwork, which we had a copy of the old one, and they said that wasn't good enough. We needed to get a new form filled out, saying what they can substitute for eggs (ie beans, cheese, etc.). Okay, great, so can he still start on Tuesday?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Why not you ask? Because after they get that paper back they have to send it to the Community Health Nurse, who has THIRTY DAYS to sign it and get it back. Will they save his spot? No, we get put at the bottom of the waiting list.

I was livid. But it's not his fault or mine that he is allergic to eggs. Shoot, we did all this stuff for the last daycare and they still fed him eggs. I called the daycare that he used to go to (since I love them so much) and asked them to fax over the newest dietary requirements for Junior.

Of course since he has been out over a week they have pulled the paper and hopefully filed it.

It was 3 pm on a Friday and she said she wouldn't get to it till Monday, and then she would fax it over. They changed the sheet in November, right before Thanksgiving, so I know that they have a valid one, it's just a matter of whether or not they kept it.

So now I can't get a job at all, because my son is being denied care because he has an allergy.

I really think I could have gone postal. They told me I could go off post and probably find something immediately. That's looking better and better, but I remember last time I investigated daycares at Hood that were located off post, and there were incidents at every single one.

I don't know what to do now. I guess I will just hang out and waste everything that I worked for since there is no way to get Junior in to the doctor till next week sometime (it might be two weeks since it doesn't qualify for a same day appointment) and then the nurse has 30 days to sign off on the form, which puts us after the start of school.

And I guess the icing on the cake is that we went through the whole process, TWICE, of having all of our information and forms sent to Carson by Hood, and now they don't have anything. I didn't even put down that Abs had ADHD because I am sure that would postpone things for months and months.

So even if I get offered a job, from my second interview, I won't be able to take it. Then they jumped all over me about Em and Junior being in a playroom unsupervised. I said I didn't see a problem with it since she was allowed to babysit siblings at home for up to two hours.

......As I am writing this, I got a phone call from the place where I interviewed. I let it go to voicemail and just listened to it. I got the job. Now what.....

Here We Go!

The kids went to sleep last night and Junior slept all night long. Thank goodness! I don't think that Gunner and I could have handled another sleepless night!

The interview went well, but if I got offered the position I would have to start Monday. I don't know if I could do that. Gunner was supposed to leave for school on Monday, but they had a group of them that they delayed. They decided that they needed to get their families in houses and settled before sending them off. Gunner is the schools guy now, so he can reschedule it. Whew.

The new Harry Potter came out today and Em has been all over us trying to get us to go to it.

Abs got her haircut today but won't let my mom take a picture because she wants to surprise me. I bought her a tshirt and a postcard that I need to get out to her.

Travel vouchers have been submitted. Dislocation allowance has been turned in as well. This is the part of PCSing that I love!!!!

Gunner just told me the rules of reception: No drinking. No Hiking. Cannot leave the Colorado Springs city limits. No Sexual Activity. Must wear uniform till 1700.

Sounds like good times. Wonder which rule people break the most?

Checklist

Housing is done.

Household goods will be delivered...a week after we get housing. Thank goodness for hotels!

Medical is done.

Job interview tomorrow.

Clothes for interview found.

Daycare for Junior lined up.

I know where to go register the girls for school and which schools they will be going too, just need to get all their paperwork together.

Looked inside house.

Talked to my friend Dave, and made plans for his visit.

Applied for my teacher certification in Texas. I'm glad to have the letter from my program that it was finally over and done with and I could apply!

Found out I made A's in my two classes this summer!

Still tons to do, and I am hoping we can get it all done in the next two days. I need a vacation!

It's beautiful here and we spent this evening at the pool and hot tub.

Junior did not sleep at all last night and Gunner and I are plain exhausted.

Booked Ab's ticket out to Colorado.

I'm ready for bed....

We're here!

Left this morning and just got to the hotel tonight. The kids were doing so well and we just wanted to get here. We sign for housing on Thursday on base. Yep, on base! So tired, more later...


-- Post From My iPhone

Triathlon #2

I survived! My time wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be, but I did it! My swim was better (first in my age group, woohoo!) and my transitions were faster. Focus on the positives! I hurt my ankle on the run, but nothing too serious, just a little....maybe a lot.....of pain. I'll just rest it and get ready to hit the trails in Colorado!

We are packed and loaded. Colorado or bust!

Housing plans are in the work, things seem to be working out.

Gunner is loving the weather in Colorado although he says it rains almost every evening. I can live with that.

I can't wait to see all my friends (& Gunner too!).

I'm exhausted but setting this to post in the morning when we are hopefully on our way.

Wish me luck!!!