The Triumphant Return of M&K

After 26 hours of traveling Matt and I are now safely back in the United States. We arrived in Spokane at 11pm. My parents met us in the baggage claim area with Bravo (and their new Schipperke puppy, Little Bit). I got a giant thrill out of seeing them waiting there for us. Mom snapped a couple pictures of us walking down from the terminal. I was a little shocked that Bravo took a few steps back from me when I approached him. There were a lot of people around and I’ve been gone for almost 6 months so I don’t really blame him for not recognizing me right away.

Our sponsor from the shop was there (and in uniform!) waiting for us as well. He took us back to base and helped us get settled into TLF. After having no interaction what-so-ever with our sponsor at Mildenhall I’ve been completely amazed at how helpful TSgt. Kelley has been. He took us on a tour of the base the next morning and even walked us, Bravo included, through the shop to meet everyone. Matt’s name was on every one’s lips. It was so cool to hear how excited they all have been for his arrival. The people at Mildenhall really talked him up.

We did all that traveling with maybe three hours of sleep on the planes and we were wide awake at 5am the next morning. Matt was told not to come in until Monday, which was really awesome of them, so we had no idea what to do. So we headed out to Starbucks for coffees and guiltily made a stop at WalMart. Grrr. After our short excursion into normal America we took Bravo back to base and played with him in the park near TLF. I’m just amazed at how much open green space there is on the base. There are trails and picnic tables and benches scattered everywhere. It’s really great.

After our tour of the base and the shop with TSgt Kelley we decided to head out to my parents’ place to hang with them for the rest of the day. On our way we stopped by the model home in Post Falls that I’d fallen in love with when I was looking last winter. Matt loved it too, but after all the talks we’ve had about our first home and our goals for this base I realized that we weren’t ready for it. It will be the perfect house for us forever, but we just need something for right now.

Matt had some fun helping my dad and one of his shop groupies install a transmission in an F-150 while I caught up with Mom at the house. When the guys were done at the shop Matt grilled up some hot dogs and hamburgers using the grill set my folks and I got for him at the Budweiser brewery in Colorado. We sat around talking until a bit after five when we decided to go surprise Matt’s family. As we pulled up to the house I could feel the tingling in my back that I’d been waiting for. The excitement had finally caught up with me. Matt beeped the horn on the Jeep and we both jumped out and I rang the doorbell like a crazy person. Matt’s brother answered the door and his reaction was absolutely priceless. First there was disbelief, then there was shock, and finally he exploded. The rest of the family was gone though. Matt’s parents hadn’t arrived back from work yet and Caitlyn was gone for the night to a concert in Spokane. We decided to wait for his parents to arrive. We put the Jeep in the garage and waited. Matt’s dad opened the garage and parked by the house without even noticing us. When he got out of the truck his reaction was really muted. He had to take a moment, but after it registered with him that we were really standing there he just said “hey guys.” As we were standing there with Matt’s dad, his mom pulled up the driveway. It wasn’t exactly how we were hoping, but she did get really excited. We got hugs all around and had to the story of how we’d been plotting this for over a month. We stayed until about nine talking with them about our plans and house hunting the following day, then we drove back to the base.

Even though we were completely wrecked by the time we got back to our room we still woke up at 5:30 this morning. For me it was partially because the fridge is really loud and partially because I’m really excited for our first day of house hunting. We’re meeting the realtor at 9:30am and looking at homes all over Spokane. Let the craziness and stress begin!

Dear England,

We have spent 4 long years together and it is now time to say good-bye. I experienced and learned so much and I have to thank you for giving me a better appreciation for my own country. I will never forget your giant, smelly pigs. I have sworn of pork forever and will think differently every time I look at a slice of bacon. I am so relieved to be rid of your MOT tests, road taxes, and narrow roads. Matt and I plan on having an American culinary adventure once we arrive, though because we are somewhat accustomed to your bland food our taste buds may quickly overload. Washington will welcome us with 90 degree weather and sunshine something we rarely experienced with you.

But I don’t just want to remind you of our disagreements. I will miss your green landscape and spring flowers. I will forever be thankful for your unique architecture, although I disliked living in the homes your Abbeys and churches always took my breath away. I had a once in a lifetime experience with you and you changed me in ways that I never would have imagined.

Until we meet again,

~Kelsey

1 ½ Days

Sometimes I really just want to throw things at people. Today it was specifically the guy on his cell phone who looked right at me but didn’t stop to let me cross at the crosswalk.

The weather for our last day on base is really nice. I feel bad for Matt having walk around base in his ABUs for his final out processing. It’s just a shame that there isn’t air conditioning in most the buildings in England. We just have a little more time wasting, and then this afternoon we’ll do laundry and pack our bags once again. In the morning we’ll take the bus to Heathrow airport and catch a taxi to our hotel where we’ll spend our final day in England. We were considering doing a bit of final sightseeing, but the weather will probably decide that for us. I was hoping that we would go to the zoo and Matt really wanted to make it to the Absolut Ice Bar before we left. If the weather stays the same as today I don’t see why we wouldn’t.

I’m getting so excited about everything that I’m having trouble sleeping. My mind just refuses to rest. I spent last night tangled up in thoughts about our new #1 house and the prospect of getting the Travel manager position at the Fairchild ITT office. There is so much to do and so much I’m looking forward to and I can’t believe that it will all be happening this week!

2 Days

The good-byes have been said and we’re ready to get outta here! We went to Tiff’s on Saturday where we BBQ’d with her and Max. The night could have been better, but it was just good to spend some time with them before we left. I got my terabyte EHD back from her. Her guy didn’t have a chance to fix it (after over a month!) but said that it shouldn’t be a problem for a professional to get the information back for us. So there is hope. I’ll have to drop it off to my parents’ computer guy after we arrive.

Our realtor e-mailed me today to let us know that the two homes we were most interested in just got offers. Matt and I have spent the afternoon going over our list again trying to find others we could be as happy with. It’s getting annoying to look at the same homes over and over, but there haven’t been too many new listings.

We have plans to meet with a friend of Matt’s family during our long layover in Denver. Wednesday is going to be exhausting, but I can’t wait!

6 Days

Everyone came to knock on our door this morning. Well, okay, it was only two people…but it was before 9am and I was asleep! First the maid came to clean around 8:30 and then a little bit later some random Senior Airman knocked on our door by mistake. It put me in a grumpy mood. But today it’s sunny and warm and I’m wearing shorts, so that is improving things a bit. Not to mention the iced vanilla latte I’m enjoying at the moment. Mmmmm. I really wish I could be fed them intravenously for the entire summer.

Matt is back in his uniform for one last day doing some final out processing. I still can’t believe that we got everything done to come overseas in only 2 weeks. It’s the sitting around doing nothing that sucks right now though. I’ve been working hard going over our finances for the home buying process this past week and yesterday while Matt was getting stood up by the flight commander I got us pre-approved for a mortgage! EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Now we just have to find a house.

12 Days – Matt scored us a vehicle today and we made trip to RAF Lakenheath to get my dental records and pick up my prescriptions.  I said my final goodbye to the base as we drove out the back gate.  We have less than two weeks now and Matt’s final day was today. I’m really interested to hear what tradition of farewell tortue his co-workers put him through.  At the end of one’s final day members of the shop will chase him down, disable him by tying him down or to something and then soak him with water.  Those that were not well liked will sometimes be covered with items other than water…mustard was once used.  I’m sure my baby will put up a good fight.

There’s not much else to update on.  I’ve been doing my best to not go insane with boredom.  I’m getting really tired of eating greasy food at the base restaraunts with the only alternative being unfilling microwave meals.  I will be so happy when we get to the States and can eat at decent restaraunts or crash dinner at one of our parents’ homes.  It will be even better when we have our own kitchen again.  My face will be so much happier then.  My skin hates me right now.

Sunburnt on Sunday, Movies on Monday

17  Days – Matt finally took me to Brunch at Middleton Hall.  The food was wonderful and I was finally able to get my breakfast fix.  The waitress found us after we made our first trip through the buffet and asked us if we’d want omlettes.  We plan on returning on the two Sundays we have left and will have to remember the omlette option.  We sat chatting for over an hour while we enjoyed coffee and mimossas.  It was a wonderful way to start the day. 

We ran into Nela at the BX afterward and ended up hanging with her for the rest of the day.  She was bored as hell because her husband (SrA Beadle) is working such a weird schedule.  We spent a bunch of time outside just chatting and I got a little sunburnt from underestimating the power of that warm yellow thing in the sky.  We’ve spent so much time under clouds over here that I almost forgot the effect it has on me.  Beadle came to join the three of us at the G-Club after he got off work and wee all played a couple games of pool.  It was a pretty chilled out day.

16 Days – On Monday I kept myself busy by doing 2 hours worth of laundry.  I’m very thankful that our TLF building has a free laundry room.  It took longer than it otherwise would have because I started my loads just before the cleaners came in.  The guy pulled all the dryers out from the wall so he could sweep and mop behind them and it took forevver for him to complete his work.  I was fine to sit there though.  I had an ok chair, my iPod and some crossword puzzles.  It was something to pass the time.  I spent a couple hours online at the Bob Hope community center in the afternoon and made it back to the room just before  a giant thunderstorm hit.  Matt was there when I got in and we had lunch and watched Paul Blart Mall Cop while it poured down outside.  The base loudspeakers issued a tornado warning.  It’s amazing how quickly the weather can change here.  Maybe an hour later the sun was back out and we walked to the BX and picked up a pizza for dinner.

I really hope that we can find some better food to eat soon.  I’ve broken out pretty bad from all the grease.  Yuck.