So here I am again after several months of neglecting this website, uploading a bunch of pictures at once and wondering what to say about them. It’s been a very busy summer, and we have so much going on in our lives right now it’s hard to decide where to start. So I think I’ll just type and see what happens.

Whiteman held an air show back in June. They didn’t do one last year, and with the economy in the crapper the way it has been coupled with free entrance, the turn out was .. large. It took me and the boys at least two hours to get from our house to the flight line on base where the air show was being held. We met up with Grandma and Grandpa LeBaige once we were at the show. It was fun, although I have to say I think I’ve been to enough air shows at this point that I’m losing interest. The boys were mostly bored with the whole ordeal too after an hour or so. Lesson learned for next time!

We had a nice 4th of July party with a ton of borderline legal fire works. I had no idea you could even buy explosives this powerful without a license. I wish I had taken some pictures now that I look back at it, but at the time I was too busy blowing things up and cooking food to think about it. I smoked a pork roast that that was about two hours over done. It was a bit .. chewy. I also made some red beans and rice and sweetened green beans that turned out well. We had some folks from work over and the turn our was decent. I think next year I’m going to be scaling the 4th of July plans down a bit though The clean up just isn’t worth it anymore!

Logan and Conner both went to boy scout camps with Erika in early July. I really need to go to one of these next year, they always look like a lot of fun. Personally I’d rather just take the boys camping myself but realistically we don’t have any other families up here we could really invite to go with us. And that’s half the fun of camping. Then again I seem to recall entertaining myself just fine when I was a kid no matter who was there. I’m considering a camping trip this September. Whether it happens or not depends on a few things that I’m working right now falling into place. It would certainly be a nice to just escape off into the woods for awhile.

I turned 32 in August. I suppose it’s somewhat obvious to say I’ve never felt older but it’s the truth. I’ve let my fitness routine slip and it’s starting to show. On the bright side I have quit smoking again. Chantix is a hell of a drug. You take it and you don’t want to smoke any more. There’s certainly a lot of bad press out there surrounding this medication, and I suppose there could be some merit to it. But for me all it did was make me not want to smoke. I’m going to try to refocus myself going forward and get back into some version of a better shape, before that shape becomes round. Exercise really is an amazing thing, and now that my lungs are going back to normal I’m looking forward to being able to use them properly again.

After years of harassment, the boys finally broke me down and I adopted a dog. His name is Jim. He is a mutt of some sort. I think he is at least partially Beauceron, a French herding dog. He probably also has some German Sheppard or something similar in him. He’s an amazingly well behaved dog, especially considering we found him in a shelter. He’s completely house broken, never barks, isn’t aggressive at all (even to the cats) and in general is just about the perfect temperament for us. Unfortunately he has been diagnosed with Heart Worms AND some tick born disease who’s name I can’t recall. We’re having him treated and it’s costing us a small fortunte but it’s worth it. The boys love him, I love him, and he loves us. What more could you ask for?

The long days of summer are just about over for us at this point. Logan and Conner go back to school in a week. So do I actually. We’ve got some big changes coming in other areas which I don’t really want to go into right now; suffice to say it’s a big year for the whole LeBaige clan. I’m looking forward to the future, but I’m apprehensive about it as well. Life doesn’t pull any punches, that’s for sure. More to come soon!

We had a nice Christmas at my parents place. The usual cast of characters was there, i.e. immediate family and associated hanger-on-ers. Sadly, Riki left her camera at work and mine decided to go belly up after a picture or two, so I don’t have anything to show for it. Just look at the pictures from last year and imagine us all slightly older. It’s always nice to get together with everyone. It can get a bit .. crowded .. at times, but it’s worth it.

With New Years rapidly approach it’s time for the customary unrealistic goal setting. Personally I need to refocus my workout regiment which has gone down hill a bit in the last few months. I also need, NEED, to make Tech Sergent this year, and I’m starting classes this spring at the college here in town. I think that’s more than enough to keep me busy for awhile. Logan and Conner have resolved to grow older and bigger, a task which I’m sure they’ll be able to pull off yet again without a hitch. Riki, well, she has a list of goals a mile long; a fact which should come as no surprise to anybody who knows her. All in all it’s shaping up to be a busy 2008.

I read an article awhile back that time literally passes faster for you as you age. I guess your internal clock changes it’s rate, slows down. They supported this theory by asking young people and old people to count out a minute and compared the results. Young people consistently over counted the minute, and old under counted it. I can believe it. It seems like I just got here, yet I’ve been back in Missouri for a year already. Where did the months go? We seriously need to get out of the house this year and do something different. I’m really starting to miss being within spitting distance of the Ozarks.

Happy holidays to all my dedicated readers (i.e. Mom). We’ll see you next year!

I updated a bit of software on the site the other day. As usual you won’t see most of the changes. However one of the new features is the ability to use “flash video”, kind of like youtube or google video or whatever. I’m not sure if it’s worth the trouble yet. Please let me know if you have any problems or find this method works better.

We had a nice Easter weekend with the family. There were the usual egg hunts and baskets and stuff, coupled with crazy kids running around everywhere. Little Mathew is getting quite mobile and is a lot of fun, the sounds and faces he makes are priceless. I will say as much fun as little kids are I’m glad mine aren’t so little anymore. They’re great in small doses!

Today is our ninth wedding anniversary. I guess compared to some that’s not much but it sure does seem like a long time to me looking back. Couple that with me turning thirty this year and I’m starting to feel positively not young anymore. It’s ok though because one of the guys at work is having a big going away party this weekend, which is always a great opportunity to feel adolescent and stupid again!

I have a bunch of photo’s I’ll be uploading at some point here soon, I’ve been pretty slack this year. This new version of the software I loaded has a neat feature that makes a folder showing all the new items in the gallery, but I haven’t figured out how to turn it on yet. Once I do it should make seeing what has been added a lot easier.

We’re looking forward to heading back down to Arkansas in May for Erika’s graduation. I’m still not sure of the exact date but I’d imagine it will be some time near the middle to end of the month. Time sure has passed quickly since we left, it should be fun. Maybe the weather will cooperate and we can sneak in a night camping or something.

The flight back was uneventful. I wasn’t able to sleep for more than an hour or so on the plane, and I only had a couple hours of rest the night before leaving as I just couldn’t fall asleep, so I was pretty beat by the time I reached Arkansas.

My master plan to surprise Riki and the boys almost didn’t work out as they were snowed in up in Missouri. Riki had gone up there earlier in the week for a job interview. They finally came home around 7pm or so. Riki was in a massive rush, trying to get back out the door in time to make it to the 314 MXS Christmas Party pictured in the album to the left. None of them had any idea I was home, and I was able to hide in the hallway and ambush them. It worked out pretty well, and was a very nice homecoming if I do say so myself.

I’m still adjusting at this point but it’s nice to be back. I’d say “back for good” but of course it’s really not for good since we’re moving again in a few weeks. I cannot wait to just get somewhere and settle down for awhile. That being said, I have my first official kid induced headache since returning right now so I’m going to leave this entry at that. Ah, back to life as usual.

I uploaded some pictures Riki took of the boys trip to “Boo at the Zoo” down in Little Rock just before Halloween. I’ve never actually been to this for one reason or another but it certainly does look like a lot of fun. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of these pictures .. my boys certainly do know how to ham it up.

It’s getting positively cold over here now, which is a good thing as it means it’s almost time to go. We’re going to be playing war games again over here soon. I guess Korea had to get in it’s last parting shot on me before I escape. I think I’m going to go Christmas shopping next weekend if I’m able. We’re supposed to be having a Thanksgiving dinner thing a couple weeks from now, which should be nice. I’ve also been having “going away” parties every weekend, which is really just another excuse to go languish away in the bars down town. But hey, I can do that. I’ve got to enjoy my little alternate reality I have here while I still can!

In any case I hope everyone has a good time. Personally I spent the night watching some television and reading a book and I’m perfectly happy that way. Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever really done much of anything on New Years. Holidays in the middle of winter just don’t inspire me to party. 2005 was an interesting year, I’m not quite sure how to categorize it but it will definitely be a memorable one. Presidential elections, hurricanes, pregnant sisters, Mardi Gras, high school reunions, Korea .. it was certainly a busy 365 days. Here’s to the future, may it be as every bit as interesting as the past.

I uploaded a few pictures I took around base so far. Unfortunately I’ve just been too busy and it’s just been too cold to get out and get any shots of Korea itself. They’re coming, oh yes, but not just yet. I have lots of plans to go out and see the country, there are all sorts of tours and what not, and a great train system that goes just about everywhere for very little money. Realistically though that’s going to have to wait until January at least. For now my main concern is not freezing to death.

Initial thoughts .. Osan AB is much like any Air Force base in the world. You have the exact same stuff you find everywhere else, right down to the Popeye’s and the Burger King. At the same time, it’s very much different. The vast majority of the folks stationed here are not allowed to own a car, so everyone walks or bikes everywhere. That gives the whole place a very college campus sort of feeling to it. The second odd thing is everyone lives in dorms. Everyone. Enlisted, officers, everyone. Even the “Family Housing” looks like dorms, they’re huge multi-level apartment complexes. Of course, some people live outside the gates, but they’re in apartments. Actually, I’ve yet to see an actual house in this entire country other than a few from the air as I was flying in.

I’ve wandered around Songtan a few times. I don’t really know how to describe it other than it really does look like something out of a film. Supposedly there are a hundred and five bars in the few blocks directly outside the Osan main gate. There’s probably twice as many little shops and vendors. Everything is built vertically, everything is small, everything is colorful, and nothing is easy to find. Many places are nothing more than a little sign and a staircase going up or down. Streets don’t really seem to have any particular organization, they just kind of meander around wherever they want to go. Drivers here take a similar approach, it’s very Darwinian. The worst of the bunch are the guys driving these little moped things around .. you get out of their way, or you get hit, simple as that. There are little creepy looking alley ways everywhere. I’m assured by just about everyone here that Songtan is exceedingly safe. It has it’s seedy side of course, and you have to watch out for drunk Americans at night, but other than that you can walk around relatively comfortably without fear of being mugged or worse. The best way to sum the city up in one word would be “busy”.

I can’t say I’m particularly enjoying myself so far, but that’s to be expected. There’s alot of culture shock you run into when you first get here. Hopefully it will fade once I get a bit more comfortable. I will say one thing for Osan, it’s like one huge support group. Everyone here is in some stage of coming or going, you’re definitely not alone. There’s a palpable sense of camaraderie I’ve not felt at any of the other bases I’ve been to so far. Everyone is coping with separation and loneliness here. You can almost feel it in the air. It’s reassuring in a way .. no matter how down you get about your own situation, you only have to look as far as the person next to you to find someone else going through the same thing. As a result, everyone is very friendly and willing to just stop and talk, help you out, etc. Don’t get me wrong, given a choice I’d be getting on a plane back to the States right now, but all things considered it could be worse.

That’s it for now I suppose. Hopefully future updates will be a bit more interesting as I start to get out and about. Oh yes, I also uploaded some pictures of the boys from the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony back at Little Rock that I took before I left, check them out if you’d like.

It’s often said that Thanksgiving has become little more in our country than a warm up for Christmas. Now, I can’t really comment on that with any authority. However, I can say that we went ahead and took the next step this year at the LeBaige household.

As most anyone reading this page probably knows, I’m leaving for a year long tour at Osan AB, South Korea here in a few days. Because of this, we decided to do an early Christmas over the Thanksgiving weekend. The kids certainly didn’t complain, especially considering they’re going to be getting a second Christmas here shortly anyway. We had a great time, and it was nice seeing everyone before I leave for this trip. The pictures pretty much tell the story, check them out.

In other news, some folks in the family have expressed interest in being able to upload pictures to the website and post on the news page and stuff. That’s perfectly doable! But you have to register first. Click on the little “Register” link over there on the right. Also, if you want, put your email address in the “Email Updates” box over on the right down at the bottom. You’ll get a handy little email every time a news post is made.

Making posts is fairly easy, but will probably require a bit of explanation on my part for the less computer savvy out there. I’ll try to make a little “How To” at some point here in the future when I get some time. In the mean time, if you can’t figure it out, just email me and ask. The website is still a bit rough around the edges.

This is likely my last post from the states. I’m going to be very busy I’d imagine in the first few weeks after I get to Korea, so don’t expect to hear much. Until next time ..