GOOD! Two sides being looked at on this interesting ABC News article:

Senators Demand General Rescind Order on Pregnant Soldiers

While I was deployed, I didn’t have anyone in my Platoon get sent home due to pregnancy.  Thank goodness!  We needed everyone we had to get our mission complete.  My husband however had a soldier who got pregnant during a mobilization, and this soldier was in a crucial position.  What a mess and difficult situation for the soldiers that worked in that section.  These groups are getting wrapped around the fact that they are basing it on the “Pregnancy” like a woman’s in trouble for being pregnant, the problem is that person who is now pregnant might be a KEY person in a deployment and here you are 6 months into a rotation and she is going home.  Leaving her comrades.

Anyone who leaves this fight early because they made a personal choice that changed their medical status — or contributes to doing that to another — is not in keeping with a key element of our ethos, ‘I will always place the mission first,’ or three of our seven core values: loyalty, duty and selfless service,” he continued. “And I believe there should be negative consequences for making that personal choice. “

On this news article there are links to peoples opinion.  Two stood out to me and I am in agreement with both.  I’d write my own, but I really think they say it pretty well.

The first [shocking in agreement with an AF soldier]:

As an Air Force officer for more than 21 years, I’m proud to see so many Soldiers standing up in support of the General’s order. Pregancy is 100% preventable and ALL malingerers should be held accountable for detracting from unit readiness. Female soldiers who take themselves off the line are just as culpable as male soldiers who shoot themselves in the leg for an early trip home. As long as their male counterparts are held to the same standard, only a fool would complain about this order. All warriors must be treated equally without regard for gender, race, or religion.As to the idiotic liberals who will argue that “8 women out of hundreds of thousands of soldiers is hardly a major issue” , they must learn that it is about the PRINCIPLE, not the absolute numbers. Oh, but I forgot, liberals don’t understand the concept of PRINCIPLES. When we in the military say: “DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY” it really means something to us. We live by principles like COMMITMENT, RESPONSIBILITY, DEDICATION, and SERVICE BEFORE SELF. You libs will never understand. Go back to ruining all the social programs and leave the military alone!”

As a female Marine NCO, with two children and a successful combat tour, I agree with the General 100 percent! First and foremost all of our US services are VOLUNTARY! Women know what they are getting into, they know the rules and regulations. The military offers OB services to provide women birth control. If you get knocked up in country you should get charged.  Sex overseas contributes to a lack of good order and discipline. As a Marine was are trained to have self control! The fact that these women rights “advocates” are getting into this highlights the women services members even more. WE DON’T ENJOY THIS! We don’t like being the center of discussion. Let us do our job, charge us if we screw up, and treat us equally. I would fully expect that if a male were to jump off of a building to hurt himself to get sent home he would be charged as well! Highlighting this non-issue makes everything harder on the females. LET US BE!”

Tick tock, tick… TOOOOCCCKKK.  As I begin the count down to my hubby coming home, I find the clock is a constant reminder of the time and distance still between us.  I know I should just appreciate the fact that I can actually say I have a clock that is within a week of possibly ringing its alarm and ending the dreadfully slow tick to its approach.  But I am not yet at appreciating…

Instead I find myself irritated, saddened by the thought that our holidays are passing by in phone calls and missed moments.

Don’t get me wrong, for those of you that know me, you know I’m not a person to sit long in my pity party.  I guess I’m at that stage where you are – how to describe this?  I feel like I want to just for lack of a better way to describe it RIP things apart, I want to TEAR through the red tape keeping my husband where he is at, I want to KICK down any barriers in his way.  I want to just hurt anyone or anything that dare keep us apart at this moment.  I literally feel my jaw clamped together, my hands clenched.

What brings about this anger, some of you may not know.  This whole mini deployment has just been one after another events that were not expected to occur.  The Army side of me really can’t get into the details of this bungled series of events, just explaining that it is NOT what was to be will have to suffice those not in “the need to know”. Lets just say that until August 16 2009?  He was finally just going to have a 3 year job that while a heck of an operational tempo; would be non-deploying.

I am thankful that I have other women who understand this feeling, this protective surge we feel when we do the right thing and still see those we love being tossed about.  A pawn.  I have friends who are amazing at accepting the deployment of their spouse, and I stand right alongside them and support my husband.  But this time was just different.  Its only been a little over a month.  We missed Thanksgiving, and it looks very much like we will miss Christmas.  And I feel I must say this  because of the fact I have very dear friends whose husbands are doing a full year.

I am so proud to say that each and every one of the woman who have helped me through this embody:  “You cope, you stand on your two feet, you embrace your friends and you keep busy.” In fact I just chatted with Leah a moment ago ~ sometimes all I need is a reality check…

And as I near the end of this short and emotional deployment I just keep prying my jaw apart, and busily tap my fingers on the keyboard attempting to keep from banging the keys…  off to my escape pod – the GYM.

At first when I started reading this I was kind of irritated
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_female_veterans_finding_a_place

It starts out with this line, no one wants to buy women a beer. Like the purpose of a deployment is to get attention while at a restaurant or bar. In all fairness it is harder to tell if a woman is in the military just because we don’t have the GI Joe haircut and clean shaved face. Military men, look – [hold on to your hat]  MILITARY.  Big surprise huh?  A person doesn’t know if I’m military while I’m out and about unless I bring it up.  Its a little difficult for the people in the restaurant to guess at your military status when your not in uniform.

But then I read:  Genevieve Chase, 32, of Alexandria, Va., a staff sergeant in the Army Reserves, said the same guys who were her buddies in Afghanistan didn’t invite her for drinks later on because their wives or girlfriends wouldn’t approve.

“One of the hardest things that I had to deal with was, being a woman, was losing my best friends or my comrades to their families,” Chase said.

~ And that struck a chord.    So did: “Most of us, because we were women service members, are so used to not complaining and not voicing our issues, because in the military that’s considered weak. Nobody wants to hear the girl whine,” Chase said.

Of course this comes from a woman that believes that [and I mean myself when I say that, I work hard not to be T. There are the same number of woman who believe whining is their gift to the Army. [and lets face it, there are men like that as well].

I can’t help but feel that the issues that men and women feel coming back from combat are similar,  it is our point of view that clouds us from seeing that. Women feel they are not being given recognition, men (I have had my male soldiers tell me) are tired of always being recognized as military.

• BOTH men and women are sexual harassed and raped.  BOTH men and women feel a fear and shame in reporting it and don’t ask for help.
• BOTH men and women have wives and husbands who feel threatened by the bonds and shared experiences of deployment.
• BOTH men and women suffer from PTSD, and again BOTH fail to either recognize it or seek help. Either they are old school and afraid of hurting their chances of promotion because someone thinks their “Crazy” or they just feel it will work itself out.

The women in this article had a lot of issues come up that I can’t help but wonder, “when” were they deployed? Many of the first rotations of women coming back didn’t have support and services because like the article said, the edges of combat are blurred.   I just wish that reporting would be based more on a needs of military soldiers than a separation of the sexes.  Many women and men in the military nowadays have trained side by side for many years. In the midst of deployment you depend on each other not because of the gender card, but because you are a fellow soldier that you trust.

My soapbox.  I’ll step down now. =)

First off a huge thank you to all who called and sent their love and wishes to Fletch, Kay and I. Fletch is settling into his temporary “home” in the sand, and we are hoping for a speedy return. He is – a tad bored. I’m sure saying that about where he is sounds crazy, but its true. It comes in fits and starts where your busy as all get out, to hurry up and wait. The military way.

Leah, Jen, and the pooches

Our Turkey day actually began on Wednesday for us. I had my friends Leah and Kim in from Ansbach. We had ham, stuffing, potatoes and deserts for our Wednesday night.  Leah tried out this new recipe for sweet potatoes.  Wow, very tasty, and her vanilla extract she used? WOW again.  Kim made a pecan pie, I’d never had one before!  Very tasty, a mixture of sweet balancing out with the pecan.   The smells from the kitchen reminded me I had not eaten all day.  I couldn’t help but taste test my way as I boiled, chopped, sauteed and gabbed with Leah as we cooked dinner.  There was much to be had at the dinner table.  LOTS of wine, a good pajama party [the movie the "Horseman"?  SUCKED, don't bother with that one] and late night crash was had by all.

Today we woke slowly.  Kim left early as she teaches Spin class at the gym in Ansbach.  I got a lovely hour of Yahoo! Messenger chat with my husband, as I sipped a cup of coffee coming back to life.  About the time our hour was up [kind of what I would imagine a prison visitation is, you get to see each other or talk but no touching! and yes, you only get an hour] Leah wandered down from her bed with her pups.  We had a small breakfast and then took ALL the dogs for a walk.  Kayla is dog-sitting for a cute little chihuahua “Spike”.  The walk is through a bit of a wooded area, the weather was perfect for it, and sun was out!  After our walk, we headed for post – the DFAC (Dining Facility) was serving a Turkey feast. Quite tasty!

Afterward we went to Regensberg for some SHOPPING (not quite a Black Friday) and the first Weinachts Market, and the first Gluhwein of the season. Yummm.  [Mulled wine, variations of which are popular around the world, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm.]

“It is beginning to feel a lot like CHRISTMAS!”

Leah of course enjoyed her favorite candied almonds (still warm). The day went by in a flash.

After Leah and her pooches left for home, Kay and I headed over to another open home. Cindy and her husband invited us over for a “bonfire” – the only thing missing was the marshmallows.  We get to do this all again tomorrow!  Kayla is having friends over ~  her German gf has never had a traditional American Thanksgiving, so the pressure is on, deliver something that makes her say… “mmmmm….”  – No problem!

Did I mention I am really loving living in Hohenfels? All I need is my husband home and I’m thinking we have found a great place to – while not live “quite” a normal life, welllll… it IS something resembling one. We will definitely be able to give thanks that we are together for a time.

Hug your family, send a hello to a long not spoken to friend and always – be thankful that you are blessed to be among people who care and love you. Happy “Thanks”giving.  I am off to bed after a long and busy day.

PS: Kayla IS alive and well, here pictured with today’s newspaper:  [Fletch wanted PROOF of life]

Kayla's POL photo, Thanksgiving day, Hohenfels!

They tell you the day is approaching. You can feel it around the house, as things you plan become the last thing, or those household “honey-do” lists become the least of your concerns.  As many times as my husband and I have said our “Good Bye’s, See you later’s”  it just never ceases to amaze me how painful it is.  You hug, kiss… and walk away from the hangar the butterfly’s tickling your stomach, heart tightening,  eyes burning as you choke back the sob in your throat.  Eyes connecting with another wife, the tears in her eyes brimming forcing yours to the surface as you realize its okay, your not alone in your pain and you’ll be able to reach out and hug a friend who will support you through it.

The morning started out with our drive to Ansbach, I must say it was like a band-aid.  We were busy and arrived with just enough time to get him settled and his bags dropped.  A few photos, words with friends, and RIPPPP… off he goes.  We had a great weekend coming up to it, dinner at a local Greek restaurant, lazing on the couch watching movies, working on a few things around the house.  Normal.

I’m thankful that I had my daughters arms to hold me as we walked out from the hangar, and a busy afternoon to keep my mind tracking.  Leah and I had plans to meet with another friend for dinner.  We were supposed to have Sushi, to Leah’s sadness it was a night they were closed, so we ended up going to Korfu’s.  YEA Greek!  An evening of laughter and stories between friends, a quick whisper to the waiter that it was Leah’s birthday produced a really interesting drink.  Bright green with fun star shaped fruits, mango slices decorating the edges.  After dinner we wandered the Altsdadt in the rain peering in the windows and more laughter ~ made for the end of a fabulous evening.    It was like – taking a crappy morning and ensuring no surrounding oneself with the pity party blanket could happen.

Kay and I came home this morning, in my daughter I have found another friend.  She has seen me at my best, my worst, and holds my hand through it all.  We’re home today.  Just settling in to our old routines, it makes me laugh because my hubby’s last words as he hugged me and squeezed me one more time …

Don’t kill Kayla…

My child and I do love to bicker.  But I think she is safe.   Life continues on ~

So Sunday when I picked up my Hoopdy-deluxe Mazda 626, she was a bit grumpy. Decided she wasn’t in the “mood” to drive off to Lupburg and was disgruntled I’d left her alone for two days sitting in a parking lot.

The “Click-Click WHIR!” of the starter told me there was no more juice left in the battery. Luckily Fletch still had the trusty Jeep to pull along side my park spot and we quickly got the old girl fired up. After running over to the PX and parking, we angled ourselves to do a quick jump just in case, but she started right up again… No more thought to my possible problem.

I haven’t driven the hoopdy since bringing her here… no wait I lie. I did move her on Monday when Fletch needed to get his Jeep out of the driveway. But this morning? At 1000 when I needed to get Kayla to sign in for school? You got it… Click-Click WHIR!! (Did I mention its FRIGGIN getting COLD here?? 34°F! Take a look at the Lupburg Webcam)

After a quick phone call to my DH to ensure that I wouldn’t blow up my V-star if I attempted to jump a car with a motorcycle (NO there wasn’t a neighbor home to help me jump of their car, and YES I left the bike powered off) – I found that whoever had put the battery cover on the V-star must have either

A: Been Hercules or
B: Used some torch wrench from hell, because that bolt was NOT coming off.

But I had my secret arsenal ready to fight back these MAN powers that be – my trusty drill with Hex bit. ZIP! Off it came.

Easy as pie hooking up my positive to + negative to -. The hoopdy was sputtered back to life and while she wasn’t HAPPY about it, she didn’t die on me.

Unfortunately a test of the battery at the auto store told me that a new battery was required. But at least I was able to GET to the auto store.

Ladies – if you don’t know how to jump start your own car? LEARN, I’m teaching Kayla ASAP. You also have to learn how to get a tire off from that aforementioned Hercules twist of the lug nuts. (the star wrench is great to HOP on while holding on to the side of your car)… I do believe I need a few more auto classes though, and with winter approaching? Winter driving safety classes!

Happy driving!

Well the boxes are emptying. I’m finding things that I’ve been looking for, still a few things missing. But the fun part is shifting it all out and going from apartment size to spreading out and having room.  Last weekend we explored the trails around our house, took a 2 hour hike.  Beautiful butterflies, fuzzy caterpillars, and grasshoppers about.  We found an old water plant, crossed a little creek, ran out of trail and found a great trail through a little forest patch!

We have been gone a week while we finished up in Ansbach.  Coming “home” Thursday night, Fletcher caught his playoffs while I finished up my workweek.  My last day with ACS ended at noon, and I drove to Bismark to pick up my baby.  She had been sitting in the weather for the last week and it was time to dress warm and drive the 105KM to Lupburg. The weather was with me, thank goodness.  A few layers and some thermals under my jeans, and it really wasn’t until the last 30 minutes that I actually felt cold.  Plus with such amazing scenery??  The miles just rolled by.

I got home to find my husband ready to open the garage for me, we were ready for our weekend.  Starting out with me de-layering, and de-thawing.  A glass of wine and some snacks later, I rummaged through the fridge for food.  Nothing.  Soup from a can it was.

Saturday we decided to go see Velburg.  One thing we thought?  Was that it was a holiday – the towns are so quiet here on the weekends.  The stores close by noon.  As it turns out, its no holiday.  Its just the way things are here… but we did find a Post Gasthaus.  The food? Very yummy.  I was extremely happy with our find.  Guess its also a hotel a lot of the people who are TDY Temporary Duty assignment, or  (humorous backronymic expansion “Temporary Duty Yonder”) stay at.  Menu was in Deutsche AND English.  Afterward a run to the commissary to stock up on food and we were set.  Vegetating on the couch would be very successful. Fletch’s request?  Quesadilla’s.  Actually pretty tasty, I made them with ground beef sauteed with onion and spicy seasonings.  Mix in some salsa, put in the tortilla with cheese? VOILA!

Sunday we picked up Kayla from Alex’s and picked up my car.  After we got her home, she began unpacking.  And calling for help!  Fletcher was busy helping her get some things arranged as I was also arranging downstairs.  The “Man Jobs” began.  After hitting the wall on organizing what I could, I finally excepted… no more could be done.  And even though the weather was threatening rain, we decided to check out the trails once more, and find a good running loop.  Once, twice around.  Holey crap, the hills and the cold air?! :O A great run for me, Fletch will need to find longer trails.

Today has been a bit more domestic.  Waking up to the movers delivering our “TEMPORARY” ugh, military furniture (PLEASE oh please, the Virgina storage stuff gets here within 90 days).  We now have a coffee table, end tables, dining room set and dressers.   After which, we packed ourselves into the Jeep and went to IKEA in Regensberg.  I was frustrated to find the shelves I wanted out of stock, the mirror too.  We found one shelf to mount in the kitchen for Fletch’s Bier Steins.  A run over to XXXL (another furniture shop) found some pricey goods, and a really cute garden gnome that is now sitting in my front garden €2,50 – not bad.  Lunch at a yummy Italian cafe, topped off our shopping trip (Fletch drew the line at one more furniture store).  All in all? We’re getting there.  Almost settled in. I think some of it is just going to take time.  I don’t want to buy cheap furniture because I have to, I want furniture I’ll enjoy and like.  Speaking of which… Wednesday the NEW dining room set will be here and I’ll take the military one down to the basement (this wonderful place where I have storage and a laundry room!).

Guten Nacht to all… hubby is back to Ansbach.  To return on Thursday.  Kay and I are on our own – hehe. 

Pictures available on Shutterfly: http://jenostrander2008.shutterfly.com/1930

Ah we have settled in a bit, it took us one week to get from Ansbach to Lupburg. The hubby is stirring UPSTAIRS. We went from a one floor 4 room living quarters to now? 3 floors (plus a basement) 3 bedrooms, 2 1/1 baths, kitchen, living room… Take a look at some pics I put on Facebook.  It has been a good weekend, Fletcher drove in his Harley on Friday.  I was unpacking the kitchen and he scared the crap out of me by just staring through the front kitchen window waiting for me to turn around!  A$$.  After calming my heart down I gave him the grand tour of the house and showed him which room I thought we should take for our master bed.  The bed the movers told me they didn’t have to put together (They were supposed to) so Fletch being handed a cold beer, got to work.  We got the bed together (found a few scratches from the movers) and as he wiped his hands, he looked at me saying “Your turn!” ~ finding the bed linens I got the bed made and wandered down stairs to find him hooking up the DVD/TV so that we could relax and watch a movie.  I made my gourmet dinner – Salami, cheese, salads and a glass of wine and we spent our first night in our new home watching a movie.

On a side note: we are very thankful that we have fuel rations. Fletch tried to use the ESSO card and fuel up the Jeep earlier on Friday morning. Only we hadn’t put money back on the card from our motorcycle trip to Regensberg. He had to pay 99Euro for a tank of gas, $138!!! Thank GOODNESS he could take the receipt in and have it reversed out so he was able to pay only $40 for that tank. How do the Europeans afford gas here? No wonder you see little smart cars all over.

Yesterday we took a trip to Vilsek, we would need to purchase some furniture.  I have arranged to get the rest of Fletch’s furniture from Virginia delivered here, but we needed some book shelves and a cable converter for the TV.  What I found?  Was a dining room set and bakers rack (more like a wine glass and bottle display) that I fell in love with.  It will be delivered (along with the bookshelf) on the 14th.    I can’t wait, its really gorgeous.  And while Fletch did have a small dining room set, we figure we will use the table and chairs throughout the house (Kay will probably need some stuff up in her little suite).   After our return, we walked up to the house and our neighbors were out in their backyard so we stopped in to say hello and introduce ourselves.  Fun people, I think that we will have many backyard BBQ’s in the future.   Our evening was complete with a walk to Parsberg for a pizza.  Good times.

Fletcher just cooked breakfast in my completely  unpacked kitchen!  (Yes Mom was right, you have got to get that organized first.  It just makes the rest of the chaos of boxes tolerable). Going to eat then get some more boxes emptied before we check out some trails for a run.

So the weekend is ending, the house has been taken apart pretty much.  There are things to get done but for the most part we have readied ourselves to be without home.  Fletch gets the keys for BOQ on Monday.  All is going as planned.  EXCEPT of course we get another letter in the mail from our landlords attorney.  I had to use Google translate to understand from Deutsche:

wir nehmen Bezug auf unser Schreiben vom 11.09.2009 mit dem wir erhebliche Gegenanspruche geltend gemacht haben.  Neben der Miete un Garagenmiete stehen hier insbesondere noch Kosten fur due Hausreinigung offen.  Frau Karoline Zech, die insoweit als Zeugin zur Verfugung steht, hat hier im Zeitraum ab Dezember 2006 bis heute in den letzten 27 Monaten wenigstens 19 mal die groBe Hausordnung fur Sie gemacht, so im Rhythmus von sechs Wochen.  Bei jeder groBen Hausordnung brachte Sie ca. 3 stunden um alles fur Sie zu reinigen, ein Stundensatz von 10 Euro durfte angemessen sein.

Danach ergeben sich 570 zu begleichen.  Keinesfalls wird hier eine Kaution zuruck bezahlt darauf weisen wir hier mit aller Deutlichkeit hin.

To English what was being said:

We refer to our letter dated 11.09.2009 with which we have substantial counterclaim asserted. In addition to the rent and garage rental costs here are still open, in particular for house cleaning due.  Ms Caroline Zech, which so far stands as a witness for Pascal, is here in the period from December 2006 until today in the last 27 months, at least 19 times the gross house rules for you made it to the rhythm of six weeks. For each course house rules took about 3 hours to clean everything for you, an hourly rate of 10 dollars could be appropriate.

Then there are 570 to pay. Under no circumstances is this a security deposit paid back out here we have it very clear.

Ahhh, I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.  I just knew it.  On the brighter side of life, we have a 3 bedroom house that is Government leased waiting for us.

Delay in publishing my blog, your not seeing it until a week later I haven’t had internet…

Well Fletcher and I are beginning the PCS Journey. It can be a painful one. But with a little organization I think we might make it, but still… there are those MOMENTS:

And we are just moving from one town to the other here in Germany.  I looked at two houses.  It’s come down to the one in the country, it is still in a “suburb” of Parsberg.  I am very happy to report we are moving from an apartment to a HOUSE. It’s called a side by side.  One building, split down the center to form two houses, side by side.  It is 3 floors.  Well technically I guess 4.  It has a basement for the washer and dryer, and plenty of storage for all of the things that need to be accessible – just NOT all the time.  I’ll be able to set up the ironing board (I might actually USE it), a clothes line to dry those clothes that shouldn’t go in (though they HAVE been for a year), and a place for the beer jugs to sit while they ferment! YIPEE.  The “ground” level floor is the kitchen, dining room, and living room.  It’s got a walk out door to our back “yard” and patio (we can actually BBQ AGAIN!)  I haven’t actually seen the second and third floor but have floor diagrams and pics.  The second floor is two bedrooms divided with a bathroom and stairway.  We are actually going to put ourselves on that floor and give the teenager her own little penthouse suite on the third floor.  From the roof we can tell you have that A-frame duck going on where we would put the bed and the size of the bedrooms on the second floor are about the size of what we have for our room now.  It’s plenty.

It has already been an ordeal with our departure.  We got orders right after the 1^st of September with a report date of 16 October.  YUPPERS.  Fun for Frau Ostrander began.  I called housing in Katterbach to make an appointment, then contacted Hohenfels.  I didn’t get an appointment with Katterbach until the 8^th of Sept.  But I was able to get listings for two houses near our new post in Hohenfels, that are Government Leased.  Meaning no more hassle with a landlord (ours has been less than friendly with us), and we would be able to move in without a deposit. So I was really happy going into my appointment and when I got to housing on the 8^th and they told me that I would have to give a notice on the specific “END of the month” being the 30^th, I was concerned.  We have NOT had the best relationship with our landlord.  His wife, HATES me.  She thinks I’m a horrible house cleaner is what I get from translation.  But I figured they’d be thrilled the American rentors they had were finally leaving so I went with the paperwork to have them sign it and got yelled at for a bit but eventulally Herr Zecht signed.  Ahhh … relief.  I went by transportation, set up movers to pick up on the 28^th, we would clean the 29^th, clear with the Zechts the 30^th, I’d get keys the 1^st, and household goods would be delivered the 2^nd.  BAM.  DONE.  WOOHOO.  Then the next week, Fletcher brings a letter in from our local mail.  Not our military box.  Its from an attorney for the Zechts.  Claiming all sorts of FUN.  I was lucky enough to get into the German attorney we have with JAG and…. He at least had some “good news”: (These are all in response to their accusations):

1.  The Garage is included in the written agreement (this is not disputable)

why yes yes he did want to charge us for 50 Euro a month since December of 2006 because we had a “VERBAL agreement” with some Herr P something or another we don’t know and can’t speak the language with….

2.  The painting of the apartment is included in the written agreement (again, not to interpretation).

3.  The inspection has NOT been conducted so there is nothing that they can already claim as to having been damaged, if after the inspection on the 30th, more than normal wear on the apartment is found, fair market costs to fix the damage can be assessed.

4.  In the matter of the DATE of our leaving the premises.  He does concede that the wording that housing uses on its form leaves room for negotiation.  That it says “in compliance with the agreement” which in the agreement it IS 30 days, he is saying we should consent and extend payments due to the 08th of October, which would be 30 days from the date that Herr Zecht signed.  NO problem I actually figured it SHOULD be that way.

SO – here we go.  We are beginning the journey of a move.  And this is JUST from one German town to the other.  Kayla packed her stuff and headed over for Alexes.  She’ll live there through the 18^th and HOMECOMING (She’s going for homecoming QUEEN, I’m totally excited).  Fletch signs into BOQ (Basic Officer Quarters) on Monday – he’s NOT quite done here and will need to stay as I move the house and family on to the new duty station.  And while our household goods go to Hoehnfels the first week of October, the rest of us really won’t be QUITE up there till mid October.  I’ll be staying here on and off working my job until I get Kay there.  So we are thinking by the 19^th or 20^th, at least Kay and I will be in the house, Fletch will improcess with his new unit… the rest we don’t know yet.

The adventure HAS begun.  I’ll keep you up to date on the ups, the downs, and I’m sure the inevitable – DID NOT go quite as PLANNED on this fun move.