Partner in crime

Meet my sister Carolyn. A.k.a Shuniqua. When we moved off base and move to Massachusetts, she was my partner in crime. Come to think of it, she was my partner in crime even on base. You see, if I wanted to go see a movie and don't want to go see it by myself I bring her along. Even if it the movie isn't her cup of tea, I resort in bribing (oh come on, like you never did this to your sibling!). Most of the time, she goes along with me. For instance.. While I was driving around the town and had Shuniqua with me. We saw that there were some supporters of a town legislater at a very popular corner (it was around election time). You know the types. They hold big white signs. The signs are usually pumping up and down according to the person's energy level. Well at this one particular occasions we happen to be driven by one of them, when we got stop at the light where they were holding their signs. Shuniqua and I agree that it would be tons of fun if we honk and waved. Especially if we acted like we knew the people out there. When we reach the light, it was red and the people who were holding the signs looked bored to death. They were cold, chattering and holding on to dear life their coffee cups (I decided that I would award 10 points if we could get anyone of them to spill their coffee). So, as soon as the light turn green, we drove off honking and waving. Would you believe that all of a sudden a burst of energy ran through those people and they started cheering! Sadly no 10 points were awarded. Apparently they had super glued their cups in their hands..or maybe it was frozen there.

to be continue..

Virginia-Part 2

My Chorus Teacher Mrs.Holland


Schools

The students are very welcoming to newcomers. So nice that even one of my peers stood up for me on the first day of school in 8th grade (middle school). From what I can remember it was a hot day Newport News. I was sweating in gym class. We were playing baseball outside and it was my turn up to bat. I hit the ball and starting running into 1st base. As I was running, I notice that another student (girl) started laughing at how I was running. I kept my feelings inside until we reach the girls locker room. I was so upset that I started to cry. Three other girls notice and asked what happen. When I told them, one of the girls walk straight up to that girl and starting demanding that she apologize. She said that it was no way to treat a new student on her first day. Needless to say, the other girl apology and I never had trouble from her or the other girls at school. I was very grateful. Let me tell you. No middle school has EVER been very welcoming to new students nor anti bulling. In fact, most of the bulling start in middle school. So, this is very rare to find a school like this.
Later on in I learn that it only got better. I learned that our high school was the only PUBLIC school that I can recall that prayed before an assembly. That is pretty amazing from a huge high school. I had 522 students just in my graduation class. That not counting all the other 9th, 11th, or 12th graders. My high school had it's own food court. Quite literally. We had to have 3 different periods (lunch times) so the school can accumulate all the students. Every day you would walk into the lunch room and pick what you would like to eat for lunch. The lunch room is set up just like a food court in a mall. You could chose to eat pizza and fries (actually there were two different section of pizza and fries..It was quite popular..I couldn't image why..), subs and chips, tacos, salad bar and of course the other choice of food that was offer daily on regular public school menus.
I started chorus again in 9th grade and make All Woman's Selection Ensemble by 10th grade. Our chorus was quite popular. We won State and Regional Championships. Came in 1st and 2nd. Our championships were held in Myrtle Beach, SC. This was my first time EVER staying 4 nights at a hotel out of state by myself (not with any family members). I did manage to sneak away with my Great Aunt and Uncle. Apparently they lived in the area and when they found out that I was coming up, they stopped by. They took me out to eat to this famous restaurant and conventionly forgot to tell me how HUGE the cheeseburgers were. I order one and it was ONE pound of beef on ONE patty. So, I order it and couldn't eat it all. I got picked one because I couldn't finish it, but was eyeing the chocolate cake on the shelf. Hey, A girl has to have her chocolate right?!?!



Let me introduce you to Laura
I meet my best friend Laura in 8th grade. Her last name was SN and our English teacher decided to put us in alphabetical order by last name. She quickly realized her mistake. You see, my friend Laura is a talker and couldn't stop us from talking. She end up moving us to opposite sides of the room. Ah, but that didn't stop us. We got a notebook. This was our top secret chatty notebook. We went through 3 notebooks. We even would spice it up with stickers. :D What made us such good friends you ask? She was in couple of my classes, rode my bus, and lived one block from my house. I learned later that she was a great loyal and trustworthy friend. She was always honest and was always there for me when I needed her.

Virginia-Baselife Part 1

Grades 8-10

I think out of all my army brat life. I LOVED living in Virginia the most. Virginia has alot to offer. The activities are endless. Movie Theater (admission was only $2), Bowling Alley, Go carting, Paint balling, Horse Riding, etc. Plus they had a various kinds of sporting fields and courts. They even had their own "beach". I was mostly involved in sports while in Virginia. I coach 3 seasons of youth soccer on post (5-7 year olds). Jedi Knights, Blue Ninjas, and Green Giants were all my soccer teams names. If you can guess the colors of my soccer teams, you will get a cookie and extra bonus points!
I was a typical 14 year old. I was into Backstreet Boys, sleepovers with my friends, and coaching soccer...ok..ok..I know the last part is not really typical, but hey..I can be different right?
When life got hectic at school, I would often walk down to the horse stables and watch the horses. I love watching them. I found them quite peaceful to look at. I tried to feed them one time. I thought that weeds from on the other side of the fence would be appetizing to them. After getting horse snot on my hands, I didn't think they liked the weeds. I think they were spoiled. At least they looked pretty. :)

Alabama-

That tigger stuff animal looking thing is actually one of those stuff animal purses. It was quite popular back then. I was in 7th grade in that picture.

6th Grade








Grades 5-8

Highlights

Having an Military ID

School

Christmas




Military ID
Having an military id was great. You see, it used to be on post that you had to show your id before you were even allow in the P.X. Usually a store employee was paid to stand there like a guard. I remember being so excited when I turn 12 because I could "sign in" any of my off post friends or sign in my sister (if she forgot her id). Not only do you get to sign in people,but you get to sign this special book that was only kept from behind the guard's station desk. It was like "top secret" notebook.
My military id was so great, I even remember telling my friends that I would refuse to marry any guy who wasn't in the military. I didn't want to give my id up when I turned 18. That would be just a sad day.


SCHOOL

Home Ec
This is where my love for baking and sewing came in to view. In 6th grade I had to take Home Economic. I got my first cookie recipe and learn how to bake. I was a little shaky at first. I remembering almost burning our cookies because we left them in too long. :( But I think in time I got better...hopefully ;)
I sew my first pillows and apron in this class. After many finger poking, I somehow manage to make a pillow that has cross stitch in it. I made it for my brother. Green and yellow with his initials on it. I wonder what happen to it..hum..

Volleyball
Volleyball was the only sport I played in school. Apparently I was a good server, but that was about it. Literally. I was afraid to hit the ball (I didn't like the sting part on my arms). I have no idea how I made it or got through it. But I have a photo to prove it.

Chorus
Here is where my love for music arose. I decided to join the chorus club my 6th grade year. I thought if my friend was had joined it and liked it, I might too. And that is exactly what happen. I love to sing. We got to sing some Christmas songs in German. I thought this was pretty neat. Later that year, we even got to sing at our local airport around Christmas time. I remember that being such a cool experience. That was one of my top experiences in being in middle school.

Cliques
Alamaba had to be the most cliquiest schools I ever been too. If you weren't in the cool crowd, you weren't consider a nobody. Even siblings that were consider cool, already was apart of the cool crowd among their peers. I never learn how they manage it. I remember my middle school having such horrible bullies. Even some of the teacher's were bullies. I begged and begged my mom to home-school me, but she kept refusing. She claimed it was too much money. :(


Christmas in Alabama

My mom apparently goes nuts at Christmas time. Like BIG time. My dad and brother DECK out the house. I'm pretty sure that they put some of the Christmas stores to shame. Not only had my mom bought TONS of lights and other lawn decorations. She even designed this a Santa workshop. It's a building that my dad and brother built. It was a mini building that had a huge see through plexi glass in the center of it. In it she had some animated figurines of Santa, Mrs.Clause, and a few of Santa's elfs. The next year she designed a winter wonderland building too. She had two children animated figurines building a snow man. They look great and we got put in our local post newspaper twice.
Also this is where we got to meet Santa and his REAL reindeer. Off post this guy set up (in his driveway) a spot where children can line up to sit on Santa's lap and pet his reindeer. He also offer hot chocolate and cookies.

Pictures coming soon.

Hawaii-Part 2

Off Base Activities

One of my favorite past times was to play pogs with my other friends in school. For those of you that have no idea what I'm talking about, pogs are thin white paper coins looking things at the top of this post (see the picture above). My mom calls them milk caps. You can stack them together and the goal is to use a master pog (an heaver pog) and see how many pogs you can flip over from the stack by flicking it. I think I still have some of mine (I'll have to look around the house for it and see if I can find my set). You can trade different pogs like baseball cards with your friends. It quite intresting. At least it kept me off the streets (kidding).
Another object I like to play with was poi balls. Alot of hawaiian use poi balls when they dance to their hawaiian songs. You swing them back and forth infront, beside, and behind of your body. However, nobody told me that your supposed to have a good grip on the balls. Why you ask? So, you don't fling them on your roof and have no access to getting them down. No wonder my mom didn't buy me more. There would have been like 20 of them on our roof. Too bad she didn't let me light them on fire when I did my hawaiian dance. That would have been cool...er..maybe not.

Poi Balls+ Fire+ Me = House on fire
ya..I think not a good combo

I use to make Hawaiian lei. My mom put a quick end to that. You see, I left the needle out front on our porch. Carolyn decided to walk on the porch to check out my Hawaiian lei. Everything was fine until I lost my needle and Carolyn quickly found it in her foot. Lucky enough she had her shoes on and the needle didn't break her skin. Just her shoe.

Another activity I enjoyed playing was our local playground. The playground was literally in our backyard. When you step out of our back yard there was a row of hedges that separated a huge field and the playground was smack in the middle of it. It was also smack down in the middle of all the military houses. So, all the military kids came and played on it daily. There was no car parking lots. Just lots of lots of grass. It was alot of fun having running room and not having to worry about cars.



Fun Facts

We had like 30 pet geckos
Pineapples grow underground
Bananas grow upside down
Coconuts are extremely hard to break

Hawaii-Part 1 Base life

Grades: 3-4

Hello all. Base life as a kid was alot of fun. There are plenty of things to do. Although there are probably alot of other adult activities. And by adult activities, I mean like Bingo and what not. But to an 3-4 Grader, those things don't count. So, with that said.
Here is Nina's Top 3 Life's Happenings of an army brat:

PX-Particularly the Toyland section
Beaches
Schools

PX

If your wondering what an PX is. Just picture a mini mall, but cooler. It has tons of items you can buy. Anywhere from cloths, laundry stuff, shoes, photos, etc. When you walk in to an PX, each one contains a food court, flower shop, barber shop, laundry shop(ie: dry cleaners), and of course the PX itself (which is like a mini Target).
There are alot of benefits to the PX...like no tax. Another added benefit is that you can get stuff way cheaper at PX then other "civilian stores". This is where we go school shoppping and get our daily household needs.
Now, this paricular PX had it's OWN Toyland. I mean..it's own HUGE WING dedicated to toys. Come on peoples. This is HUGE DEAL! Any 9 or 10 year old would agree with me here!! Not just some scrawny little section..but one HUGE wing section of the store. It put Walleyworlds lawn and garden section to shame! This my fellow Americans is any boy's and girl's living the ultimate dream. Rows and rows of toys. It would put any child in a coma just thinking about it. And this my friends, is the greatest highlight at PX.

Beaches

So, beaches aren't bad either. My parental decided that we could go every other weekend. If it was up to me, I lived there. Oh, but they don't have a toyland you might be saying?? It's ok. I'll personally moved the base's toyland to the beach. That's right. :) Ok, Ok, sand and toys probably won't mix; but hey..a girl can dream right? There is this one beach in Hawaiian called Hanauma Bay. You can stand in an foot of water and watch all fish swim around your legs. It's really neat. It also makes for great snorkeling. My favorite fish to watch for is the Hawaiian state fish. It had the most beautiful coloring of any fish I seen. The fish was called the Humuhumunukunukuapua. When our family moved to another state, I used to tease my other base friends (who parents never been station in Hawaii) that they couldn't say this name 5x fast (you can image what they were saying). Another one of my favorite beaches was called Sunset beach. What is it famous for you ask (I bet you can figured it out)? ;)

School

One of the thing that set apart from my other schools was that my elementary school was close enough for us to walk to school. This was a BIG deal. All the other schools we attended were alot further off base and would require us to take an 20-30 minute bus ride one way to go to school. Since our school was close enough, we got to ride our bikes to school. It was pretty sweet! But before we could ride our bikes to school there was a catch. Well, apparently, the base was know for high risk of thiefs of bikes (who knew right?). You had to get your bike register on base (the only base I remember having to do this). I figured that if anyone wanted my hot pink/purple bike with pom pom and a basket they can have it; but my dad wasn't too thrill with my idea. So, we registered my bike.
At school, we didn't learn about American history. I remember only taking Hawaiian. We learn how to speak, sing, and dance in hawaiian (I can even do the hula for you next time we see each other or if that is your hearts desire, maybe you would like me to sing a Hawaiian song??). We also learned the Hawaiian culture. It was pretty interesting.