Communication

Communicating with Ben has been the hardest challenge for me during this deployment.  Some days we can text, most days we can email, we've talked on the phone a handful of times and facetimed 3 times.  But the ships internet has gone out twice and so has ours (which is a nightmare of a story).  There have been times he's called and we can't hear him or he can't hear us and 99% of phone calls come at inopportune times and he only has a few moments to talk.  For example, he called once while I was in the middle of the checkout line and had to talk right then.  So I was trying to have a serious conversation while putting the groceries on the conveyer belt and paying and profusely apologizing to the clerk.  So I cherish the days that we can text.  Monday was the last day we could text before Ben is out to sea for 9 days. 

Snapping a shot to send to Ben as we were leaving the Y.  Someday I would like a picture of myself not in workout clothes...

Ben sent us these pictures:

The cigar club

This group of guys meets every night and share cigars and talk.  It's been a great door opener for Ben to build relationships and a way to decompress after a long day.

The ship going through the Panama canal:

Can you see the mustache?

Alison has been emailing Ben some and it's super cute to see what she has to say.  Yesterday, she asked if she could borrow $5 or less out of his bank account to start a lemonade stand.

I know, enough pool posts, but look who I found just floating by himself in the deep end.