From Mom, November 6, 2009

I found this photo a year later, it's your graduation day from boot camp, you look so alone.

November 6, 2009

Dear Jeremiah,

Well it's been a couple of days since I last wrote. Been steadily busy here at work, so I'm not getting the time like I usually do. Soon I will have lots of time cause we didn't have as many move outs this month. Don't know what I'm gonna do with my self, most likely I'll just follow Joseph around. He's going on vacation later this month so I'll be covering for him during that time. I'm going to have time off too from Thanksgiving till the end of the month. It's about 5 days. Time off when you will be here. =) I hate being back on standard time. I want to go home every day at four and it's dark when I get off work. I'm going to take the littles and go see Shirley tomorrow. I may get to see Wyatt. I'm gonna take those 2 crates to her and some empty egg cartons and I'm thinking Fritz and Gretchen. They need to go have some fun. Dutch and Hiedi got stuck a couple nights ago. I'm hoping they do it again tonight. Sadie is looking good with her purple toe nails. Her ears are so much better, I was getting worried that the ear drum would burst. I think the cause of the flare up was that she was in heat and also because Fritz and Dutch were both going at her ears. Dutch is slobbery. Next week will be Emma's turn. Hope Dutch gets his technique down by then, cause Emma is such a little spitfire that he's gonna need to hold on tight. HAHA. I can't believe that I'm going to be seeing you soon. I bet your changed, a little, you probably won't think so. I don't know if I will even recognize you when the littles and I pick you up. Some stranger is gonna be trying to open the car door while I'm trying to spot you out of the crowd. Give Quincy a hug for me and tell him I said thanks for being such a nice guy. I hope you two stay in touch.

Love mom.

From Aunt Tammy, November 5, 09

November 5

Dear Jerm,

One more letter, huh? I guess I better make it a good one. Of course, the quandry is that I might say too much and then have nothing left to say if I get to see you when you come home. What then? I guess we'll have to figure that out when we come to it.

I'm hoping that at the point you are now, you are feeling pretty good about everything you've accomplished and that you will fit wherever they may place you. Michael always says he's proud of you with every letter of your that we get, I always was, but you have given him lots to be impressed with. You never said if you got our postcards. I hope so, I was hoping you would have them as more pictures for your locker.

I know you probably have gotten letters from your Mom, so you have heard most of any news I have for you. Let's see: Michael came home from Minnesota with the cold bug that his daughter had, so after he was home for a day or so, he was bedridden. He didn't want me to get it so he stayed away, almost as if he was still gone there for a few more days. We had planned to go to the movies and see the latest Harry Potter, as it's playing at the cheap place, but the showtimes were odd and we didn't go. That was OK too, I borrowed movies from the library, Mike Myers' LOVE GURU, stupid stupid, and CHILDREN OF MEN, was OK. Michael had a difficult time following it. Such a downer movie, though, everybody gets shot dead and all kinds of malicious factions posing as the good guys.

On Monday, Your brother Michael was home for a little bit so he and Nicole came over for spaghetti dinner and brought the boys to play with. I hope that gave your mom a repreive but probably not enough. Theo is pretty smart, he sits on the kitchen floor and counts 1, 2, 3, GO! with his little car. Grandma says he actually counts to 5 at her house, spreads out the coasters on the coffee table and puts them away again. Anyway, last year I had made him a sweater with a hood that had pull strings and toggles on it, but I didn't see them for a long time so here it sat and I thought it probably wouldn't fit him. Well, when they were here, I was showing Michael that I was working on a red one with yarn that Grandma gave me a couple weeks ago, and I got out the other thinking maybe for Eli, but on Theo it was just a hair short on the arms, it fit fine. I had knit it out of camouflage yarn for a joke, Michael did think it was funny. Theo went home in it, probably too hot. Anyway, before they left, we got the call that Levi's son, Wyatt was born. Your mom sent me a pic, you may have gotten it too. I had a message from Levi on myspace about it, and I sent one to Dillon asking how he liked the whole uncle thing, to which he replied he was fine as long as he didn't have to change diapers. Funny boy.

I think I'm still trying to get used to the time change, but it really sucks for the dogs. It's dark at 5 when I close the office now, so we have not taken them to their park in the evening like we usually do, (my) Michael thinks Dori's having a pout about it. I took them both this morning on my walk before I open the office as it looks like that was the last of the decent weather. Usually, I just take Dori, can't motivate Maggie to go more than maybe twice a week. Monday, they didn't either one of them go. We thought they were pretty worn out from going to a park near here that they had not been to yet, we found it a couple weeks back on our way home from the dog park over in Wilsonville. This new one is actually closed, but we parked in front of the entrance, walked the girls along the river on trails that nobody had been through since the leaves had fallen. Dori didn't seem too bothered by the crunchy leaves' noise. It was a really nice day, I wish I hadn't forgotten my camera. The sky was that thick bright blue that it gets in autumn and with all the colors on the trees, just absolutely breathtaking.

We survived the first of the month chaos, again. I don't know why that surprises me to get to say it, but things are pretty bad right now. I'm down to a solid 80% occupancy. That probably doesn't say much to you, but here's the scoop. Most of this year I have been at 84 or 85%, all of last year maintaining 95% was not a problem. I have about thirty 10 X 30 units, half of which have vacated in the last few weeks, so that was the worst of it. I have gone so far as to post ads on craigslist.com to try and market my facility a little, as the company is not doing any advertising. There's not much more I can do except to actually get out there and pound the pavement. For quite a while, everytime somebody calls or stops by to check on prices, I feel sort of disperete and I hate that. I don't like having to push sales. But, I try, because at least at this job, we have a roof over our heads.

So, have you had to do anything like skydiving? Jumping out of helicopters or airplanes or anything? The reason I ask is because yesterday on Oprah, they took 5 women out to do things they wouldn't normally do (called it living outside of the box) and one of the things was to go skydiving. One of the women was so freaked out, she cried and had to hold somebody's hand during the training, then they each got suited up and attached to a teacher and assigned each a camera man, then at 10K feet she passed out, when she woke up at 12K feet, she puked, and in the end DIDN'T JUMP! I was so mad at her, I thought, what a wasted opportunity, wasted adventure, in the safest environment to do something like that. I mean, Oprah wasn't going to risk anything really dangerous sending them out there, and they were doing it as a group, so there was almost no danger involved. I would have. In a heartbeat. But, it made me wonder if you'd done that yet. You probably will.

Well, I think I'm going to close this for now, I'm hoping I will have something to say when and IF we get to visit when you are on leave. If not, then the first letter after you get placed will be REALLY long, how's that? I love you, and I hope to talk to you soon.

Love, ~auntie Tammy

To Aunt Tammy, 27 Oct 09

27 Oct 09

Dear Tammy,

I know how you feel. Sometimes I feel like my mood gets affected by the weather also. Like when it rains, I feel kinda just gloomy. Which sucks because it rains alot in Washington. I rained in here today pretty good and we all just got soaked. Good think is tho that I am almost done with all of this. Like 23 days left pretty much. Im excited. Im really tired of being here and I have been tired of alot of people in here since day 1. That and I want some real food. Tired of this (scratched out) food they serve here at the dining facility. But yes time is almost to an end, it feels like parole date to me I guess. But so soon that I'm gonna have to ask that your next letter be the last. Plus I get my phone back ain a bit like a week or so. I hope Michael had fun in Minnesota. I heard you had car problems or something after dropping him off at the airport. I hope everthing is okay now. Mom said it might have just been some car trouble. Im hoping that when I get back the weather will be fine enough so that I can take the dogs to the dog park and give them a good exercise. I miss my mom's dogs alot. I can't wait to play with them again. They were always so fun. I especially miss Fritz too. I also heard about Gamma's cold, luckily she has Superman there to take good car of her. (smiley face) My head had has been especially cold lately too. Especially since I am always cutting it and such so short. I miss my beanie. Ya remember the beanie I wore at the beach trip for the 4th. Well I guess technically it was a ski mask. I need me one of those right now. Haha. Well, Im gonna go to sleep now but I will talk to ya later. I miss ya lots.

Love ya
Jeremiah

From Mom, November 3, 2009

November 3, 2009

Hi Jeremiah,

I am just sending you a quick note today. The apartment that I was working in had a ton of replacements to get done so I didn't get a chance to write. I'm sending you a picture of Levi and his very brand new son, Wyatt. He was born last night about 8:45pm by c-section. He weigh 7lbs 15oz and is 20" long. Shirley says that he has strawberry blonde hair. The family, her family, didn't let Levi in for a long time. At one point they said no totally. That was pretty hard on Levi, not knowing what was happening. All they could do was sit in the hallway and wait. Finally after a couple hours they let Levi and Shirley in to see the baby and Rachelle. I think Shirley got home after midnight. I don't know Wyatt's full name yet. I think that Rachelle's family was pushing her to change the original name and not have Levi's middle name. But anyways, they are doing well and I thought you would like to know that you have a new cousin. Though you and your cousins are all close enough that you could say your an Uncle. Like how we say that Nollie is Bear and Booboo's Auntie. I love you and miss you. Hope your taking care of yourself and that your having a good week.

Love Mom.

From Mom, November 2, 2009

November 2, 2009

Dear Jeremiah,

I know you said not to write but I figured that I would keep writing until the 15th or so. After that I don't know if letters will reach you before you leave FT. Benning. We are trying out a homemade remedy for Sadie's ears. She was doing really well for a long time, then when she went into heat her ears got really bad again and smell bad also. So right now Wes is making up this formula for this stuff called Blue Ear Powder. I don't know why the powder part because it is a liquid. Basically it is 3 ingredients, rubbing alcohol, boric acid, and this purple stuff called gentic purple. The alcohol will dry out the ear canal, the boric acid is supposed to soothe the ear and the purple stuff is an antifungal, antibiotic. The article says that there is a 90% to 99% success rate. I'll keep you updated on how it works. She is going to have blue ear holes. =) Wes is warming the solution up right now. His hands are stained purple. I told him he should wear gloves. Mike is in town. They had a delivery to Fedex, Portland and their truck needs some work done on it. So I (and the littles) picked him up yesterday and met G&G at Fatty Patty's for breakfast. Then after that Ann says she wants to stop by and see the boys cause she's on her way to Woodland. I think that she was trying to see Mike. She needs to get off the train tracks she's on and get on some new ones. What an idiot, she keeps saying she wants to get back with Mike Bah bah bah. Mike is done with that stuff. So anyways he disappears and goes to see this girl he thinks he likes now. I'm pretty sure that you know her since I guess she was a girl friend of your friend Zach. Her name is Chel, which must be short for Michelle or Rachel. Live in Battle Ground. Wes is putting the stuff in Sadie's ears, she is whining a bit. Poor sweet heart. Because she scratched at her ears the alcohol stings. I can't tell you how much I hope this works. The stuff I was using didn't do anything. I have three in heat now. Sadie should be drying up now that she's been bred. Hiedi needs to be bred tonight and tomorrow night. Emma has been in heat since Saturday. Fritz told me. So she needs to be bred next Mon & Tues at the very least. Dutch is a lucky dog. Not Fritz, though he did manage to get Sadie twice. The first time 4 days too early, the second 4 days too late. But who knows? Have to be more careful with Hiedi and Emma. Fritz is fast, so we can't let him out around them at all. I finally met up with that lady who was selling the crates so I got them. There's 3. I'm keeping one, the other two are going to Shirley cause they are smaller than I can use. The one I'm keeping is for Dutch. I was very surprised at it's size. I thought it would be the same as Emma's crate. It's 48" long! Bigger than all of them. So pretty glad about that plus they all still had the pans. and she went down from $25 to $20 because one is missing the rod. But Shirley can replace the rod with one from HD. So I'm planning on going up there next weekend to give them to her. She needs more crates now that she has pg moms and puppies. She said that she was rearranging her bedroom to make room. I stacked the crates again. It is just so much more easier to take care of the puppies when they are off the floor. I had to make room for Dutch's monster crate anyways and I still have room for a puppy pen. I'm going to go to HD and get a piece of vinyl to lay on the floor in the puppy play area. I won't glue it down but it should protect the floor better than nothing. By January I will have almost 30 puppies! Lulu had puppies Sat. 6, 4 boys, 2 girls, bk and choc. I love you and miss you. Love Mom

From Mom, October 29, 2009

October 29, 2009

Dearest Favorite,

So Yeah I finally got those letters in the mail, I'm lame I know. I got your letter last night that Quincy wrote on. We got a kick out of that. Tell Quincy that I think he has very nice hand writing. HAHA. Well I'm still coughing up my lungs, it's in the upper area that I'm having problems with, same as Grandma. So we had quite a scare last night. Mike was texting me, (he's somewhere in Kansas right now) about how Ann keeps bugging him to get back together and stuff. He's like I don't know what to tell her. So I start texting him all the reasons why they shouldn't be together, some weren't very nice, and he pretty much resent them to Ann. Word for word. Ann gets all pissed and angry at Mike and sends me a text, saying she's gonna come and get the boys and all their stuff around 2pm, the next day. I texted her back asking why? and she sends me the text from Mike that I sent to him. So I'm like crap. How just like Mike to do that from so far away. So I start sending Ann texts asking her if she's giving up on all her plans, like getting her driver's license, GED, going to school, gaining her own independence, and all that kind of stuff that she and I talked about when she made plans to move to Eugene for her "fresh start". This was about midnight last night. Wes was all upset and wanting to run and hide with the boys so she couldn't take them. I'm like "she the one with the custody of them it would be kidnapping." So at about 12:30am Ann says that she's gonna go to bed and we end our conversation. I'm all depressed and sad and hoping that she will change her mind in the morning or after a couple of days. So then of course I can't sleep, so I'm watching Nick@Nike, Rosanna is on and it's about Roseanne's sister Jackie getting the crap beat out of her by her boyfriend. So it makes me cry and about 3 in the morning I fall asleep. I know that she was just doing this to get back at Mike for telling her that he didn't want to get back with her. So get this, Ann is still in town, she never left for Eugene. It was 5,5 days before I found out that she was still in town. No calls or text messages from her the whole time asking about her babies. I'm just floored. It don't seem natural for a mom with kids this young not to be the least bit curious about their well being. Ann knows Mike loves these boys so much that towards the end of the relationship he would only return to her to make sure they were getting cared for. Teddy Bear nevers asks for Ann, never. He asks for Mike, he even says it is his sleep when he wakes up a little. If he's in a sad mood Bear even calls me Mike. So to me that means Mike was the one taking care of Bear, changing diapers, giving baths, playing. Mike's the one he goes to when he need something. This morning around 11:30am, I sent Ann a text and asked her if she was still mad and upset. She replied back saying that she was gonna stick to the orginal plan. I can't remember if I wrote to you about this but on Friday. Ann told Mike that she was going to give him custody then later when she was visiting the boys, she told me the same thing, that she's giving Mike custody. So I told her once again that we have no problem working with her so she could get the boys for visits (that's when she was going to Eugene). So I told her the same thing again this morning, that we would make sure that she would be able to see the boys regular like. G&G had the same reaction as Wes, take the boys and run. But of course that wouldn't help the situation to panick. I told you the story about CPS being called on Ann when she lived at Prarrie View? So anyways it's another cold wet day here. I wish it was Friday, well I wish for sleep. haha. I love you so much. Say hey to Quincy for me. Stay out of trouble. love Mom. Tomorrow's Payday Yeah! Gotta buy diapers again.

22 Oct 09 & 23 Oct 09

22 Oct 09

Dear Mom-

Another day almost done. I could pretty much say that is every letter because whenever I write you, the day is almost done. Today we did battle team techniques or BTT which we have done before. Its mainly advancing toward the enemy in a two man team while maintenance fire superiority. The main big thing that was new and different was that we used live rounds today. People were scared they were gonna get shot by their battle buddy. Naturally, I chose Quincy and we rocked that shit. Flawless, I took out the long distance targets of course. But yeah. That was today and we just got back from dinner chow. I just got some turkey noodle stuff. I dk. And I think somebady said that there is going to be mail tonight.

23 Oct 09

Well I got mail last night but I didn't have anymore time to write this letter but to make up for it, I just got off the phone and stuff. It was real nice being able to talk to you. And then I called Andy and cought back up with him and all. He also said that if you need anymore help with the boys, he'd be willing to babysit for you and Mike. haha. You'd have to call and talk to him about it if you were interested. I just gave you his number for you to look for job openings but its ............. Well damn I'm hungry. Chow was pretty good. I had cantonese spare ribs. Well I can't really think of anything to write since I talked to you for a bit today. So I am cutting this short because I'm gonna go wax and buff the kill zone. Tell Scotty I buff floors now. haha. I miss you.

Love ya
Jeremiah
Your Fav

From Mom, October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009

Dear Jeremiah,

Sorry I didn't write to you yesterday. I stayed home sick from work. Not only that. I forgot on Monday to take home the letter I wrote on Monday and the letter I forgot Friday that I wrote Friday. So by the time you get these letters you maybe thinking that they are holding your mail from you. But it's really my fault. I just had a sore throat and some aches. I could've gone to work but by staying home, I feel so much better today. October is almost over, in just a few weeks you'll be coming home on leave. Remember in July it seemed like such a long time to when you were finished with training? Your almost done. I so knew you could do it and get it done with ease. The last couple of weeks are going to go by so fast, but drag on forever at the same time. =) Time is a constant thing, you can't make it go by any faster than you can slow it down. I'm sitting in a square of sunshine. There is no warmth to the sun. So it does me little good. Well I guess Ann is still in town. Her friend's kid in Eugene has the pig flu. She never left town. Never told me, it's Wednesday, she hasn't asked about her kids in almost a week. Mike says that he don't feel like its right for her to get the boys back. She texted me today, say's she is gonna apply for a 1 bedroom apt in Vancouver said it cost 525 a month. I don't know how she plans to pay for it. I told Mike to not give her any money or even write on a piece of paper that he does give her money or I'll kick his ass. That girl needs to grow up and get out of the fantasy land where everyone pays her way. Talked to Sheri and I guess Darren may finally get full custody of sweet baby girl Ava. Her momma threw a fit in court in front of the Judge and he's gonna change Ava's parenting plan. Sheri got another min pin, a male. She may breed them. JD's laid off again. Well I'm keeping this letter short so I can put all the letters together in one envelope. I'll write more tomorrow. I love you and miss you.

Love Mom

From Mom, October 26, 2009

October 26, 2009

Dear Jeremiah,

My world is a wet soggy mess. =) Oh will I ever be dry again? Saturday was such a nice day, All sunny, no clouds, nice temps. Bear and I trimmed the lavender in the parking stripe and raked up all the leaves along there and from Christina's tree also. The leaves went into the compost pile. Booboo sat in his swing listening to classical music. It plays music, kinda cool. What a difference from the windup swing I had for you two. Dogs stayed in their kennel the whole time with no complaints even from Hiedi. Sunday we got up around 9, it was all cloudy again and lightly raining. So we stayed in bed for a while watching tv. I went over to Safeway to meet the lady about the crates with Bear. She wasn't there. So back home. I called Tammy and told her I was ready to go to the dog park. I gave Bear his lunch, then put them down for a nap. I took Emma with me. She is a good choice. Not only because she's my smallest dog, but because she has a great personality. She's friendly to everyone and calm at the same time. It took Tammy an hour to get to Ross park from her place. It's weird that it would seem like she lives closer that Shirley but it's the same travel time to either. Maggie did real good, wasn't bothered by the other dogs doing their greeting sniffs. Dori pretty much avoided contact with others and just plain out wanted to go back home. Tammy let her off the leash once and she headed right up the hill towards the upper parking area that they entered from. Tammy had to leave me behind on the hill. (I'm slow going up cause it affects my ability to breath freely) Tammy found Dori halfway out the fence! Needless to say, Dori ended up staying on the leash the rest of the visit. Dori has pent up anxiety form whatever happened to her. She gets the quivers. Well I don't know if she would actually remember what happened to her. I think she just doesn't know how to behave like a dog and interact with humans and other dogs. Most likely she was in a situation with little positive experience with either. Doesn't know how to play. Doesn't know how to be period. I'm pretty sure that she has made a lot of change in the right direction from where she has been before. Good thing she is with Tammy and Michael. If she had gone to a family with kids, she could have ended up being a snapper. I wonder if massage type therapy would work with her and calm down the quivers. You know, let her reach a point where she relaxes enough to release the anxiety. Like letting out a deep breath of relief. Maybe just an hour a day starting at the base of her neck, slow deep massage and work down to her tail. If it feels good to humans, it should feel good to dogs. Especially dogs with long backs and short legs like Dori. Dutch follow Sadie around all weekend trying out his manly skills on her. Last night our little boy became a man. Him and Sadie tied the knot so to speak. After I returned home from the dog park, I gave everyone baths, including the boys. Hiedi was last. I found her to be in heat also. Once again trailing a week behind Sadie. So I'm actually glad that Dutch and Sadie had their moment because I really have to have Dutch able to breed with Hiedi this time. Since these puppies will arrive in the winter having the lighter shades will help sell them better. Still nothing from Jolly and Gretel. At least Shirley has other females producing puppies. We will see what happens. I may have to borrow money around the beginning of the year. If I can't get people to put down deposits. Raining buckets today. Mike was in Tennessee when I talked to him this morning. I love and miss you every hour of everyday.

Love Mom.

From Mom, October 23, 2009

October 23, 2009

Dear Jeremiah,

I'm writing this at the same time you have your phone. lol. Sorry this page is water marked. It has been raining heavy all morning. Not very fun. I got wet loading the boys in the car. Been nice and damp since. Right now I'm sitting on the floor in front of the heater in DD201, hoping to warm up a bit. The temperature isn't really that bad, just feel cold. Joseph put garage door openers in the two garages we park our carts in. He removed them from 2 that had become vacant recently. This will make it very nice not to have to stand in the small area covered by the roof to avoid big fat drops of rain on the neck. I'm talking to you right now! Awesome and totally unexpected to get your text this morning. I'm still grinning even though your talking to Andy now. I forgot to ask you if you needed anything like writing stuff? I sent you more stamps 2 letters ago. Hope you get them okay. That's pretty odd about getting that one letter so late after getting others that were newer. Was the address correct? Anyways I think it's weird. Now I'm talking on the phone to Shirley. She is spreading gravel on her driveway, not the whole driveway. The truck was able to do most of it. She is just doing the bottom, top by the pile of siding and near the green house. She's on her black berrie. Rochelle is due in about a week or so. Her due date keeps changing it seems. I still don't know why Levi broke up with her. I like her a whole lot better than Ann. Ann is supposed to be leaving for Eugene tomorrow sometime. I wonder if she's gonna want to see them (the littles) before she goes. Hard to say. Well so I gotta get some work done. Sorry the letter is so short, but remember I did talk to you today. I love and miss you.

Love Mom.

19 Oct 09

19 Oct 09

Dear Mom,

Today was pretty nice. We had the second to the last PT test and I passed it. Improved some to. Mainly like I did a 15 min 2 mile. That's probaly the biggest but I'm not going to worry about it cuz I know I can do better but yeah. And then we were all supposed to get a flu shot but then I got stuck on Ranger Detail. That was kinda lame but mainly reminded me of being home because I was doing landscaping. We laid 18 pallets of sawd and then picked up some mulch and stuff. Just made me wish I was at your house. Still no mail today. Thats about 4 or 5 days that I haven't gotten any mail. But I might still have a chance to get some because I heard that other platoons are getting mail at the moment. Well I just got 5 letters from you starting from the 9th and one from G&G. Well anywho my teddy bear is up in the barn in a gift bag. If you feel like crawling up there and getting it then be my guest. The boys are more than welcome to fight to the death for it. I'm glad you like my shirts I sent. I hope it fits. I need to talk to Mike tho like brother to brother type thing because he needs some helps. I might be able to help him a bit or at least threaten him with an ARMY ass whooping. So yeah. Been hearing some news about 101st but don't really know what to belive of anything. 32 days left mama. I'm glad Ann is going away and stuff. Because I don't want a bad mamma around my nephews. I'm gonna be their uncle and their Godfather if need be. Hopefully Mike can figure things out or hold off for 3 years till I get around to help. I'm gonna try and get into an apartment or something when I get done and start going to college. Don't quite know if I'm going to get a job tho. Hopefully not but maybe a fair paying part time job. Maybe I'll just call Scott and tell him to hire me part time to make work easier on his old ass. haha. But the Army will be giving me an E-6. Bah, that's married so I might not need it at all. I wish I could be there to help out the family. Seems like everyone could use some help if not my help with things. I feel bad for leaving everyone really I dk. I'm just gonna try and make these next 3 years pass by. I'm gonna move my TSP to 60% here pretty soon I think. Due to some reasoning that I want to break to you in person. I hope there is snow on the ground when I get back. Well it's getting damn cold here. During PT well at the time you were going to sleep but it was 36*. Wonder how its going over there. Boston says that there is snow in Boston. I'm starting to get more depressed to be honest. I have been mildly depressed for a lil bit but now it's starting to increase. Just all the bullshit and the realization that I'm still fucking here. I'd rather be washing dishes at Fatty Pattys for 3 years non stop sometimes. The worst part is I don't have anything really to cheer me up. A few pictures yes but they have already been inprinted in my eyes. I dk. I'm gonna get through this and not nothing or no-one is going to stop me. I miss you and home (well what home I had) Lots and lots.

Love ya.
Jeremiah,
Your Fav.

From Mom, October 22, 2009

October 22, 2009

Dear Jeremiah,

Well this week is almost over. I got another letter from you yesterday. I don’t know why your not getting any letters. I’m still sending them like I usually do, they must be holding them for whatever reason. Tammy’s Michael just called me. He flew back to visit his daughter and grandkids and tried calling Tammy at home and got a message that the office is closed cause she is broken down. G&G aren’t at home either and I sent Nollie a text and am waiting for a reply. Tammy dropped Michael off at the airport @ 8am. He called at 1pm. So 5 hours since she was driving him. Hopefully one of those three call me or Michael and let us know what’s going on. Yesterday I had the worst Reuben sandwich of my life. It was so bad that I had an upset stomach after. The meat was thick slices with so much fat that I removed them from the sandwich. Gross. I’m never going back there again. It was that diner place called Linda’s Home plate across from Duck’s. I went there because it was close to work and I thought that since it was a breakfast/lunch place that they would be decent. Cost too much too. Tammy called but we only talked long enough for her to tell me that she's okay. She has to call Michael and talk to him. I just happened to catch her as she went in the house. Mike is in Dallas TX. They are at a Swift terminal. I know there are several terminals, Portland, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas that I know of. They have been there since yesterday afternoon after they dropped their last load off. They are getting new steering tires, the Front tires, lube job and a light on the top of the truck replaced. They probably will be there a second night since Mike just told me that their truck just went in, it's about 4:30pm their time. They didn't know their next trip yet. There's a whole area there so they can get cleaned up, shower, shave, ect. And a place to watch TV. Probably a food source also. Mike didn't say. He was watching NCIS in a room with 8 or 9 lazy boy type chairs. Shirley just sent me a text. I think she likes her phone and she sends me long messages. She got it mainly so she could check her emails with it and reply to them. Still no news back from Tammy about what happened. Shirley has 10 puppies right now. 2 went home last weekend and 3 more are sold. I'm still surprised that Sadie got stuck so soon. I wonder if Dutch will try too. Someone just called me about labradoodles. they may want to be put on my waiting list. We'll see. I still have a few people that inquired about certain colors with certain sex, I will be sending them emails when Hiedi goes into heat finally. Well I just finished up in the apartment I was working in and it's time to get stuff put away for the night. I'll be writing more tomorrow. I love you and miss you. Say Hey to Quincy for me. Love Mom.

17 Oct 09

17 Oct 09

Dear mom.

Well its the start of week 10 for us. This morning for PT we had a combatives competion in our platoon. I placed 3rd. Well it might have been 2nd cuz I made it all the way to the end to face the champ who has 6 yrs wrestling experience and I have nothing. But needless to say I made it up there. I even had to face the tallest dude who looks like a country inbred hick with retard strength but I beat him in under 20 sec. Well anyways my arm is a little tweaked now and I'm a bit worried and stuff cuz I have a pt test on monday. I should be fine. Tomorrow is kinda a relax day. So again I haven't gotten a letter from anyone that kinda worried me and all. I'm sure the DS's are just being lazy and don't want to give it to us. How is everything going for ya? Are all the dogs doing good? Do ya still have pony? I can't wait to see the dogs again. Pretty much I can't wait to see anyone again back in Washington. I hope I will be able to use the truck a lot. Like maybe Wes can schedule some of his stuff outside of that time. I wonder if its snowing there yet. there had better be snow on the ground when i get there damn it. I specifically remember there being snow on the ground when I was at a Thanksgiving dinner last year. I'm planning on going to that same friends house too. Her family really likes me, haha. Then again, whose don't? haha. Just kidding. But transportation is going to be very important for me. I need to know about that other wise I might just rent a car. I'd rather use the truck tho. I miss driving that truck. Besides I got a surprise for that truck if I can use it because it involves me using it. We will just have to figure things out. Idk if I am going to be able to come by during christmas break cuz this is going to probably take all my leave time. I know I get a 4 day pass but thats not really enough to travel that far. Who knows. Gah I'm hungry. I hope dinner chow is soon. Today we did more urban ops stuff. That was fun. I got that down to. It's really just the basics because when I get to the company and platoon, it's gonna be their own specific way. But that be too hard for me to learn. So I figure that by the time I'm out I will be at least a corporal but its possible I could even be a sergant. Well I'm gonna go to chow but I will write ya tomorrow.

Love Ya
Jeremiah
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16 Oct 09

16 Oct 09

Dear Mom,

Well good news. Move then likely I have leave from the 20th of November to the 2nd of December. So that's nice. I didn't get hometown recruiting tho. One more recruiter lie. If I did get it I would have 26 days of leave instead of 13. I'm planning on sticking to arriving Sunday morning pretty early so yeah. I believe that sunday will be the 22nd. Then my friend Blanchard that I'm driving with also has the same amount of leave. So I think we are planning to leave on the 30th. So that last Sunday of the month we can do something together again if you want. Or we could just spend it doing nothing. I dk. I might just stay that night over with him so we can get a good start on the drive the next day. So that could mean a trip to Salem or Newport or something. We will figure it out. Other then that, that's mainly the only good news I have. I didn't get a letter from you today. I think that's about 3 days without mail from anyone. I really can't wait to get back to WA tho. Another cool thing is that its been way cooler here. Not suppose to get above 50 for a while. I love that. I have always been a winter kind of guy. I think you already knew that tho. I'm glad you shared that bit of information with me about what you did wit Ron and all. I have always thought I got my independence from you. Any yet we both got lonely. I never really have had a real relationship. Nothing offical. Just these girls and a lot of them used me. One was crazy haha. But for some years I have felt lonely. I figured that something will find me when I'm not looking and now I'm not. I can't wait to have kids of my own tho. Hopefully in the best way but if something happens, I want the kids. If nothing, I think I may adopt. But kids for me are way down the road if according to plan. Maybe 7 years. I dk. Well I'm tired and I have combatives for PT, for some reason more urban ops. We started that today. How to stack and then enter a room in a 4 man team. Tomorrow we might kick down a door. I love and miss you bunches.

Love Ya
Jeremiah.
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From Mom, October 21, 2009

October 21, 2009

Dearest Jeremiah,

How are you? We are fine. Today or rather this morning I had to get up a littler earlier so I could take the littles to G&G. Wes had a class this morning. So I get up take the dogs down stairs let them out while I grab their food bowls. I feed them in the kennel and go upstairs to get the littles up and dressed. I get them downstairs and make up their bottles. I heard someone yip outside was fairly sure it was Sadie cause her ear was bothering her again last night. Pack up the diaper bag, strap Booboo into his car seat. I go outside to put the dogs back in the crates. ( I don’t leave them outside anymore when no one is home.) Wes had Hiedi with him. So I open the kennel gate and only Gretchen, Dutch and Emma come running out. So I go into the kennel and don’t see either Fritz or Sadie. I peek in the dog house and there they are standing side by side. I’m thinking it’s too early for them to be stuck. Sure enough they are stuck, Great. I leave them there because by that time Bear was getting tires of doggie kisses, and I take the three loose dogs upstairs and put them in their crates. Go back down to the kennel and start Fritz and Sadie walking into the house. Get to the stairs and they both don’t want to go up. So I grab both of their collars and pull them up. I bet it must have looked funny, I have one hand on the railing, the other pulling on 100 pounds of stiff legged dogs that were trying to pull in the opposite direction. I put them in my room. I left them out of a crate. I didn’t think I could talk them into going into one anyways. I figured that when they were finished that Sadie would just go into their crate and Fritz would hop on my bed or stretch out on the floor near Sadie. Wes said that when he got home one of them, I think Fritz got into the trash can. Diapers. All over my room. Yuck. I completely forgot about the diapers. It’s about 4 days too early for them to be stuck. I think. I didn’t notice any change earlier than last Friday. So I wasn’t expecting them to get stuck before next Monday. Dogs! I guess we have to be more careful when Hiedi goes into heat or Fritz will be planting puppies in her too. Dutch had better act fast. =). Shirley and I are still waiting for Jolly and Gretel to go into heat. I took Dutch up there with us last time so he could sniff at the girls and Patty was in heat so Shirley let Patty out into the yard for Dutch to sniff too. It pretty much looks like he will know what to he when his turn comes. Sadie should have puppies Christmas Day. I’m not going to try to prevent Dutch from getting stuck with her so we will see what comes out. Mike was in Kentucky yesterday and today he’s in Texas. I haven’t heard of where they are getting sent yet. I think he said that today is suppose to be a short day for him. Can only drive for 4.5 hours or something like that. Ann came over to see the boys last night and only stayed for an hour. She had her friend with her, I can’t remember her name right now. But she was there in the hospital when Ann had Bear. And some guy named Steve. Kind of a stupid looking guy, though he could have just been uncomfortable coming into a strange house to see babies he don’t know. I think Ann went out with him last week. The night I picked up the boys and she was all made up. She is leaving Saturday, but says she is coming back for Halloween. When you come home on leave you should hold Booboo when he drinks his bottle. I can’t explain the feeling, but it sure is some kind of wonderful. At night when its all quiet and I’m holding him close he just stares at me and gets all warm and relaxed. Pretty soon his eyes roll around and he falls asleep. You got to try it. Well I better get finished with my work. I love you and miss you everyday. Love mom.

PS Shirley got a black berry phone. So she’s been texting me.

15 Oct 09

15 Oct 09

Dear Mom,

Well it's payday today, I kinda wonder how much I got paid and whether some of my money was put into the TSP or not. I hope it started going in there. I gotta set up my online banking here pretty soon. You are gonna have to help me with that maybe. Did you ever do that phone contract transfer thing? Well today was the last day of land navigation I hope. I'm still doing pretty damn good at it but we got rained out like a mofo. It was bad. I think we have a detail day coming up on Monday after my PT test that I have to pass. No mail from you tonight. Oh well maybe I will have one from you tomorrow. I'm hoping that we get to have our cell phones back on Sunday since we will be in AIT and officially be soldiers. I don't know why but that just seems pretty damn awesome. As major Payne would say we are no longer turds. HAHA. I can't wait to watch movies with you again like Forrest Gump and Stuff. Quincy is doing good and he says HI. His two little girls were just adorable. So funny thing happened. Last night I had to help the prior service SGT, (he used to be a 88m which is basically a truck driver) break into the DS room and since Ima pro like that I got him in. Pretty soon or maybe tomorrow we start doing urban ops and stuff like clearing buildings and kicking down doors and operating a vehicle checkpoint. Just infantry stuff. Well sorry this is a short letter but I got to get to bed. We seriously got back from land Nav about 30 mins ago and it's almost lights out and I'm way tired. I miss ya bunches.

Love Jeremiah,
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