Spencer and Jazz made it in today — Mom and Dad come in Wednesday … it’s gonna be another busy 2 weeks … Hawaii Connie has been here about a month and it’s been pretty laid back since she had so much time to spend…this net couple weeks with the fam is gonna be a whirlwind of trains, boats, walking and craziness…today we already checked out a couple little sights to see–Vicopisano, a little town close by with a castle on top of the hill…and a watch tower area way up on a sheer cliff, overlooking the Tuscan countryside…both very close to the hosue and both very beautiful…now Spencer and Jazz are passed out after their long plane ride–tomorrow’s plan is for me to work all day while they go to Florence with Hawaii Connie…and after regular Air Force work I have to work at the Italian carnival that is currently set up on the base…it’s a yearly thing for the base and the locals to come together in fun and games–our main goal (us working) is to make lots of money…this food booth fund raiser project basically pays for our squadron Christmas/Holiday party…last year they made something like $24,000…so I am working all day tomorrow at real work, then working from 1700-2400 hrs at the food booth…but, that means I get Wednesday off and that’s when the parents fly in, so it worked out pretty good…the latest in the Afghanistan trip is that we are trying to figure out how/where to get tool boxes to take with us …being stationed at a small fire base is something the Air Force doesn’t usually do…we go to big bases with a flight line, a supply system, continuity, and stability…at these bases there are established vehicle maintenance shops with tools and equipment that stays at the base forever–well, at least for many many years, until we close the whole operation down and move soemwhere else…well, these little fire bases are always considered “temporary”…5 months or 5 years–it’s still temporary…with that, the Air Force doesn’t want to purchase stuff that would be permanently assigned to one location…they want us to buy a tool box at our own base, take it with us, then bring it back–that’s an extra 100lbs and an extra “bag” to carry from our home location to the north east coast, then all over Afghanistan, then back home when we leave…my guess is that this will cost more than buying new equipment, leaving it in place, and just giving it to the locals when we pull out–one tool box with all needed tools left in place- approx $10,000.00….a new tool box for each mechanic, airline fees for carrying everywhere, replacing any broken/lost tools along the way- my guess is around $50,000.00…but I’m not the finance guru of this whole operation…whatever… I guess I’ll make it happen when it gets time to go… OK… tha’ts about all for now … I gotta get some grub… love you and miss you all
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