Jeanne (Zach's mom)

I really like all of your photo's!

Jeanne - Happy Holidays to you and all your family!  Glad Zach is making the best of everything.

Jeanne - thanks for the birthday wishes!  My husband was working and so was Katy so I treated myself to Culvers.  It is has been cold here the last couple of days.  The sun feels nice (if your sitting in a car- LOL).  I am looking forward to the indian summer.  I've been buying lots of honeycrisp apples since they are in season now. 

Hopefully Zach will have a great birthday.  I'm sure he'll appreciate the 'birthday box'.  I would look into bubblewrap for the whiskey, I see Steven sometimes smokes cigars too, yuck.  My dad used to smoke a pipe and I didnt mind that.  I've only sent one package to Steven so far, it has small servings of snck type foods & he said he gave most of it away.  they do not have much room for storage & food is prohibited.  I know alot of the other sailors do store & keep it but he said he doesnt want to take a chance.  He has just asked for soft toilet paper, reading material & more gatorade singles drink mix.  I can only imagine how Zach feels right now, towards the end of schooling Steven was bummed too because lots of buddies from BC had already been out a few times.  Hopefully he'll get out soon and be able to truly experience being a sailor :)  I'm sure he'll love it once he does. From what I understand Stevens deployment will be 7 months, he'll be back to base for about 1 month & then go back out for deployment for about 6 months.  Will Zach be able to come home for either of the holidays?  I'm hoping Stven will come home between deployments.  Have you ever heard of a tiger cruise?  Apparently as the ship is coming back to base from deployment family members can actually ride back on the boat with sailors.  For the pacific based trips You'd get on the boat in either Hawaii or San Diego and you sleep, eat, sail & jsut get to be on the ship until it gets to port, like 2-3 days.  Apparently the captian decides at the last minute if they are going to have one and then they put the word out.  the only coast to you is your plane tickets.  Thats not until February but I am thinking about it.  They probably don't have them for subs but it sounds like a neat idea.  Stay warm & take care!  Talk to you again.

Kris 

cont: LOL...Last week they had a port visit to Malaysia, it sounds like he had a good time.  They went ashore 3 of 4 days & just walked around most of the time.  His liberty buddy didnt want to pay for any tours so a group of them just hung around together.  He sid they stopped at almost every street vendor to try diff foods & when they ate out they ordered diff stuff & shared meals.  He said they were accosted by everything you can imagine & it got annoying fast, it was like they show in movies.  He has a girlfriend from NY so he just ignored them (ptl) Suprisingly we have been hearing from Steven quite often- at least by computer.  He cancelled his cell phone so he just uses the phones on ship, I believe there are about 2000 of them.  He had to buy a special calling card (I guess they sell out right away)  but its expensive - like .40 a minute.  He is nearing Japan I think & is about 12 hrs ahead of us.  We set up a time to both be on the computer (he was hoping one would be open) and had a nice "converstation"  on 09/11.  He said they are allowed only so much time on the computers.  He has his laptop but doesnt have internet.  A few times the ship has shut down all communications & then you dont hear anything or get any responses.  I try to send a couple of emails a week and have been numbering them so I know what hes responding too. :)  Sorry this is so long :(

today is my birthday & i did get a call at work so that was wonderful!!