As much as I want to start singing the Blue's Clues song about getting a letter, I'll refrain :)
The mailman (lady?) was nice today. Finally brought a package Dan sent me back on Jan 7th and a letter from him!
The letter was written Sunday night after I had talked to him earlier in the day. So not really much to report, but there are a few things worth mentioning.
I had mentioned on the phone to Dan that we have a countdown going. He said on the portals with all the class information is a countdown until the exact hour of graduation. There are computers in their room, but at the time not working, so he was looking forward to having them available to get more work done. He does have an e-mail address there, but is not yet allowed to use it for personal use. If anyone gets anything from OCSnew41@uscg.mil that is his e-mail there. But do NOT write to him unless you get something from him first or hear the a-ok from me. Their e-mail is monitored and would hate for anything to happen which would push back the date they'll be allowed to use it for personal reasons. There is a good chance that on Friday (tomorrow) they will be given this privilege.
He said their first big test was Monday and he was expecting it to be pretty easy. Things that the prior enlisted people should know in their sleep like rates, ranks, shipboard nomenclature, vessels, and aircraft.
Dan seems a little down about missing Logan's birthday and mentions how much he has changed over the past few months and how much more he will change by the time he seems us again. I've been trying to send him pictures to keep him up to speed on some of those things and write everyday with anything new that's happened.
Last Sunday when we talked he said he would try to call tomorrow (Fri) on Logan's birthday and if he was unable to then he was going to try to call during the party on Saturday. So hopefully if he calls on Sat he has a little bit of time and we can pass the phone around some.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Phone Call 1.25.09
I received a letter from Dan on Friday, but it was just a recap of the first 4 days and had talked to him twice since then. So there wasn't anything new to report.
Dan called this morning though! We got to talk for 20 minutes, so I'll do my best to remember what all was said. It's one of those things where you have a lot to say, then you forget when the time comes and you get off the phone and your mind sorta blanks out again.
Dan said that so far things are going well. The classwork is easy and pretty basic. He has 2 new roommates, they change every 2 weeks. They are both snorers so Dan's had some trouble getting sleep. They get woken up at 5am, workout, eat, class work, lunch, class, etc until taps at 10pm. He said once they get e-mail to the outside world (right now they have it just within the company) he'll send me his schedule and some other info. He's a little worried what is going to happen this week because apparently some of the other OCs are having trouble remembering not to talk in the Wardroom and other little things like that. They usually take away/grant privileges on Fridays so hopefully it's not too bad since they were able to keep phone priviliges. A lot of other OCs have been calling home frequently which I asked him about. He said when other shipmates need help with something he's been stepping up to help and be a team player. That's good to hear. I told him from day 1 I'd rather him take care of stuff there then worry about trying to call me for a few minutes. This class will be sailing on the Eagle (sometimes they take other ships this time of year). It looks like the beginning of March they will be flying to Norfolk to meet up with the Eagle then go from there. The cruise is usually about 2 weeks long.
Landon talked briefly to Daddy, we were just sitting down to breakfast when he called. Logan was in the background jabbering.
Dan said he'll try to call on Friday during the day since it's Logan's birthday. If he is unable to then he'll try again on Saturday during the party. Hopefully it will be like today where we had a bit of time because no one else was in line waiting to use a phone and maybe we can pass him around a little.
Next time I'll have to have a list of things to talk about and a notebook to record what he says so I can remember it all! But I think I got the big stuff this time.
Dan called this morning though! We got to talk for 20 minutes, so I'll do my best to remember what all was said. It's one of those things where you have a lot to say, then you forget when the time comes and you get off the phone and your mind sorta blanks out again.
Dan said that so far things are going well. The classwork is easy and pretty basic. He has 2 new roommates, they change every 2 weeks. They are both snorers so Dan's had some trouble getting sleep. They get woken up at 5am, workout, eat, class work, lunch, class, etc until taps at 10pm. He said once they get e-mail to the outside world (right now they have it just within the company) he'll send me his schedule and some other info. He's a little worried what is going to happen this week because apparently some of the other OCs are having trouble remembering not to talk in the Wardroom and other little things like that. They usually take away/grant privileges on Fridays so hopefully it's not too bad since they were able to keep phone priviliges. A lot of other OCs have been calling home frequently which I asked him about. He said when other shipmates need help with something he's been stepping up to help and be a team player. That's good to hear. I told him from day 1 I'd rather him take care of stuff there then worry about trying to call me for a few minutes. This class will be sailing on the Eagle (sometimes they take other ships this time of year). It looks like the beginning of March they will be flying to Norfolk to meet up with the Eagle then go from there. The cruise is usually about 2 weeks long.
Landon talked briefly to Daddy, we were just sitting down to breakfast when he called. Logan was in the background jabbering.
Dan said he'll try to call on Friday during the day since it's Logan's birthday. If he is unable to then he'll try again on Saturday during the party. Hopefully it will be like today where we had a bit of time because no one else was in line waiting to use a phone and maybe we can pass him around a little.
Next time I'll have to have a list of things to talk about and a notebook to record what he says so I can remember it all! But I think I got the big stuff this time.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Phone call 1.18.09
Dan called several time this morning, but unfortunately I missed them all. We were down in Tampa for Marshall's wedding and my cell phone was on silent (eek!). He also tried the house phone to no avail. I heard from other wives that their husband's said they should be able to call more often now and perhaps again today, so I was holding on to some home he would call again.
He just did! Yippie!
He sounded well. Tired, but but hanging in there. Indoc week is over now so they're allowed to look at their food again, have pictures up, and hopefully their room won't get tossed anymore. They haven't really been getting any mail yet. He said it's basically sitting on a desk waiting for it to be someone's duty to hand it out. Same with outgoing mail. Dan said he put a letter in the mail last Sunday and today when he put one in he saw the letter he wrote last week still sitting there. Apparently they are both assigned duties and those don't begin until tomorrow. So hopefully after tomorrow things on the mail scene will pick up and get going smoother/quicker. He said he's really homesick but hanging in there. Hopefully the pics he has up there and the ones I put in the mail can help out with that some.
It was a brief call, as I'm assuming they all will be until cell phones are earned, but was great to hear from him regardless!
He just did! Yippie!
He sounded well. Tired, but but hanging in there. Indoc week is over now so they're allowed to look at their food again, have pictures up, and hopefully their room won't get tossed anymore. They haven't really been getting any mail yet. He said it's basically sitting on a desk waiting for it to be someone's duty to hand it out. Same with outgoing mail. Dan said he put a letter in the mail last Sunday and today when he put one in he saw the letter he wrote last week still sitting there. Apparently they are both assigned duties and those don't begin until tomorrow. So hopefully after tomorrow things on the mail scene will pick up and get going smoother/quicker. He said he's really homesick but hanging in there. Hopefully the pics he has up there and the ones I put in the mail can help out with that some.
It was a brief call, as I'm assuming they all will be until cell phones are earned, but was great to hear from him regardless!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
1st phone call
Dan got to call home tonight! Originally I wasn't expecting a call for 5 weeks or so, but I've met a few other wives and 2 of them got calls last night. So I was holding out hope for tonight and just as I was putting the boys down to bed he called!
He said he is doing well. The days have been long and it's hard to believe he's only been there for 2 nights. The PT test was mostly done yesterday with the swim portion today. He missed the run by about a minute (1.5mi in 10:19), got 3 over the pull-ups, the exact number of sit-ups, and killed the swim part. So even though he missed the run since he did so well in the swimming portion it put his total score up to passing. But, because he missed the run he will have remedial PT 1 morning a week. He has 2 roommates. 1 is a civilian and 1 has been in the CG for just a short time. He has been put in charge of his room. I'm not sure what all that entails, just what he said. He said he has been very busy. Not only with gathering all the stuff he needs there, but also with reading all sorts of books they are given. Like how to fold everything in their drawers. I told him I hoped he didn't get in trouble for folding since it's not his best area! He's been writing a letter a little each day just has not had a chance to mail anything out yet. Landon talked to him briefly. I was worried he wouldn't, but he ran down the stairs when I told him Daddy was on the phone. Afterwards he was asking when Daddy was coming back to Florida. Dan said it would probably be about a month before they were allowed to call again but basically were given this chance just to let everyone know they made it ok. I told him how the boys had been and updated him on football scores. He sounded tired and a little congested but in good spirits. It was hard to tell exactly though, the connection wasn't the greatest...it sounded very far off and quiet. Dan said he's tired of standing at attention but it's only going to get worse as the real stuff should start on Monday.
That's really about all I can remember for now. It was a quick call, he'd waited in line for at least 30 min to be able to call and there was quite a few others behind him waiting.
He said he is doing well. The days have been long and it's hard to believe he's only been there for 2 nights. The PT test was mostly done yesterday with the swim portion today. He missed the run by about a minute (1.5mi in 10:19), got 3 over the pull-ups, the exact number of sit-ups, and killed the swim part. So even though he missed the run since he did so well in the swimming portion it put his total score up to passing. But, because he missed the run he will have remedial PT 1 morning a week. He has 2 roommates. 1 is a civilian and 1 has been in the CG for just a short time. He has been put in charge of his room. I'm not sure what all that entails, just what he said. He said he has been very busy. Not only with gathering all the stuff he needs there, but also with reading all sorts of books they are given. Like how to fold everything in their drawers. I told him I hoped he didn't get in trouble for folding since it's not his best area! He's been writing a letter a little each day just has not had a chance to mail anything out yet. Landon talked to him briefly. I was worried he wouldn't, but he ran down the stairs when I told him Daddy was on the phone. Afterwards he was asking when Daddy was coming back to Florida. Dan said it would probably be about a month before they were allowed to call again but basically were given this chance just to let everyone know they made it ok. I told him how the boys had been and updated him on football scores. He sounded tired and a little congested but in good spirits. It was hard to tell exactly though, the connection wasn't the greatest...it sounded very far off and quiet. Dan said he's tired of standing at attention but it's only going to get worse as the real stuff should start on Monday.
That's really about all I can remember for now. It was a quick call, he'd waited in line for at least 30 min to be able to call and there was quite a few others behind him waiting.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Dan's address
If you'd like to write Dan, this will be his address while at OCS:
OC Daniel Knauss
US Coast Guard Academy
Officer Candidate School
43 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 06320
Eventually he will be able to receive packages and goodies, I'll post when that time comes if you'd like to send him anything.
Yesterday was tough, it was time for us to say good bye. The boys and I dropped Dan off at the Tampa airport. After fighting traffic, a long check in line, and a dealyed flight things got even more interesting when the cops had to pull some people off the flight before it finally got on the way to Providence.
Today he will leave the Cape and travel over to New London. Tonight he's sharing a room with another OC from the Cape. Many of the other OC's will be meeting up for one last dinner tonight before reporting bright and early in the morning.
118 days until graduation!
OC Daniel Knauss
US Coast Guard Academy
Officer Candidate School
43 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 06320
Eventually he will be able to receive packages and goodies, I'll post when that time comes if you'd like to send him anything.
Yesterday was tough, it was time for us to say good bye. The boys and I dropped Dan off at the Tampa airport. After fighting traffic, a long check in line, and a dealyed flight things got even more interesting when the cops had to pull some people off the flight before it finally got on the way to Providence.
Today he will leave the Cape and travel over to New London. Tonight he's sharing a room with another OC from the Cape. Many of the other OC's will be meeting up for one last dinner tonight before reporting bright and early in the morning.
118 days until graduation!
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