:-/

Today is a very difficult day. My grandpa has passed away and it is hard to be this far from my family. I'm glad I have friends out here who love me and are more than willing to take care of me. I am going to go to HR to see if I can be signed off duty for a day or two to just have some time. I feel a bit like a zombie right now, and constantly being around my co-workers is proving to be very difficult.

I can be glad for the fact that he was not in pain and he was surrounded by people who love him very much. I am also glad that I had the opportunity to visit several times in the last year, and my last memories with him are happy ones. Going through photo albums, joking around, and watching classic movies on his brand new huge TV in his bedroom. I love him very much. And he was a caring, loving, perfect grandpa. I will miss him, but he lived a very full and happy life and now he's off to a better place. He gets to be with his youngest son again, he gets to be with his parents and his grandparents. And someday I'll get to be with him again, too.



If anyone wishes to drop a note to my grandmother I'd be happy to pass along her contact information. I am sure it would mean a lot to her.

Best Mail Day EVER!!!

OK - today was kind of a drag. It's going to be a long day - not even close to over yet. BUT... I swung by crew welfare today to talk about the possibility of performing a production show for the crew one night. While that conversation ended up being a scheduling nightmare, and has yet to be resolved, the Crew Welfare Specialist - Jerny - remembered seeing some mail for me. My heart lit up when I had not only 1 but 2!!!! packages waiting for me! SUPER exciting.

The first, not so exciting, but VERY necessary, was a shipment of undies from my momma! THANKS MOMMA!

The second, very exciting, and very necessary, and very PINK! was a care package from Terry!!!! THANKS TERRY! The collection of letters cards and pictures I have taped to my wall is slowly growing in a very homey way :) And now I am well stocked with lots of things - like knee highs, and razors, and toothpaste, and several other great things too. And finally a new pair of earrings so that I can acutally feel like a girl again even when I am stuck wearing mens clothes 24/7. Hahahaha.

Thanks to mom & future-mom-in-law!!! You guys are incredibly wonderful.

I haven't had enough time in my cabin yet today to unpack all of my gifts yet, but as soon as the second show finishes - midnight or so - it's like i get to move in all over again! AND the BEST PART is that I got new socks and new underwear on laundry day. But I forgot to pick up my laundry before the facility closed for the night, so I don't have to go commando and/or sockless sneakers tomorrow. It's like the best hi-five from fate ever.


THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Oh, and for those of you who didn't know - the onboard phone card machine was broken for over 5 weeks. I just talked to Brian for the first time since he went to Australia the day before yesterday. Only 12 minutes until our satellite reception was cut, but it was worth it! I bought 2 cards, so you can be expecting phone calls sooner than later! :D

Love!

It was the best of times...

It was the worst of times. I love my mother dearly but i think the majority of the population would agree that after five straight days of 100%, non-stop, one-on-one mom time anyone might feel the need for privacy or a change in conversation. Well i am there now. With a few days od "momotany" remaining.

I feel bad getting short with my mom over stpid things, knowing she stopped her entire life for two weeks to help me move. Not to mention how far back she is setting herself financially to give me a chance to persue my dreams.

Momotany is totally worth it.