Atrociously late update

Adam has been back nearly a month, and I am finally posting an update on his return. Pathetic, I know.

The demobilization ceremony April 22 was lovely and intimate because it related only to Alpha Battery and Golf Company of 2/218th Field Artillery. The ceremony was in Forest Grove, Ore., also the location of the battalion's headquarters. Gov. Ted Kulongoski spoke, and though he might have provided empty promises, he brought a tear to my eye. I do believe he supports the troops, but some things are out of his control. Patricia played family coordinator, greeting attendees, and later got to sit int he VIP section. Adam's aunt Joyce Ann also attended. (For more photos of the ceremony, see my Flickr page.)

The day after the ceremony, Adam and I left for a weekend trip at the beach. We went to Seaside, Ore., and chilled mostly, hanging out, eating sushi, walking on the beach. We shopped as well, of course. :) I found a mug that says "Stud Puffin," and that is Adam's designated mug at my house. After leaving Seaside, we planned to go to the Tillamook cheese factory, then head home. Upon arrival, we found that Adam's truck was leaking transmission fluid. One more night at the beach it is. The truck couldn't be fixed immediately, so we rented a car and went home, and Adam returned later in the week to retrieve his truck.

That weekend, Adam's parents threw him a homecoming party, and many family members attended, including some from Canada. Adam did a slide show of photos from Iraq and explained his work there. It was great that so many of his family members showed up, showing their love and support.

For the past couple of weeks, Adam has been setting up his apartment. He got a place in Clackamas, Ore., near Target, Petco and the mall -- perfect for me! He bought a giant TV, a leather couch set and a king-size bed -- maybe he will no longer sleep diagonally, though I'm not banking on it. I find it ironic that before he left, I lived in Clackamas and he in Milwaukie, Ore., and now we're switched.

That about sums it up. He won't be returning to work until mid-June, probably after our Las Vegas trip. He will be gone about three weeks during the summer for a military class. Everything is slowly becoming normal again.

Correction: I lied. He won't return to work until August because he has a military class in July that lasts three weeks, so it seems pointless to return to work for two weeks, then leave again for nearly a month.