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Our "tree house" is currently a townhouse on Lake Washington in Renton, Washington (yes, Washington STATE!) Ben received orders to transfer here to the USS Shoup (DDG 86) toward the end of the summer, 2002. So to date, we have been in the Pacific Northwest for almost five years.
Ben went Pensacola, Florida where he went to school to change jobs from CTA to CTR (cryptology administrative work to cryptology collections work.) He got there at the end of February and graduated and re-enlisted on June 9, 2006. While there, he caught up with one of our good friends from Groton, Matt Berger. Matt was instructing down there. Ben actually ran into a number of people that we have known from other commands. His first day of PT, he was confused by the other students as an instructor since afterward, he was basically swarmed by so many instructors saying hi and catching up. He got a kick out of that. We rode out our time apart (again) until we received orders to remain in the Pacific Northwest with Ben reporting to Whidbey Island the second week of July.
It has now been a little over a year since he reported there and he is currently on a deployment to Afghanistan for six months. From the e-mails, it sounds like he has had the pleasure of experiencing sand storms, desert weather and he has seen a dead (thankfully) camel spider. As is Ben's way, he has been working round the clock, sometimes 20 hours a day. He seems to be good spirits, enjoying being a part of the mission he is there for and missing being home. He sends his love to all.
See other pages for more on Whidbey, Washington and Ben's deployment...
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For our fifth wedding anniversay, Steph had a little something up her sleeve. Original plans of spending the actual date together were tossed in the air due to an accelerated deployment schedule, so plans had to come together fast... Steph made reservations for a limo for a Saturday evening. Ben kept wanting to prod Steph to get ready to go do some shopping or tooling around town, but since Steph knew the limo was arriving at 5, she stalled as much as possible. Just at 5 o'clock, Ben went to the back of the apartment and Steph met the driver outside with a bottle of champagne. A few minutes later, as Steph and Ben were walking toward their own car, Steph looked at the limo, and Ben said, "That is not for us."
Steph winked at the driver as he was polishing the door of the car and he turned and told Ben, "Happy Anniversary" as he opened the door. Ben's jaw had to be picked up off of the asphalt.
At the top of the Space Needle, even on a more overcast day, you can see all of Seattle and often into the mountain passes that you would have to cross to get into Eastern Washington.
The Space Needle was built for the World's Fair of 1962. At the aircraft warning beacon on the very top of the Needle, it is 605 feet high. The observation deck is at 520 feet. For the history of and more information about the Space Needle, visit: http://www.spaceneedle.com/about/history.asp
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This picture was taken at the 30th Anniversary party from when Steph worked at Triad. The party was held on the 75th floor of the Columbia Tower in Seattle, where the ladies room stalls all have windows with incredible views of the city. Aside from the extravagant party thrown by the company to celebrate its anniversary, the ladies' room became a main attraction, with nearly all of the wives or girlfriends bringing their significant others in to see what was thought to be legend. The tower could have really banked on that if management had thought to charge for tours.
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This is a family that we are good friends with...
Terra, Margie & Hans...
We spent a good part of last summer helping them to build a loft-office in ther house, which was fun for all. The best part was working together, having fun with it and watching it all come together. Many laughs and barbeques were had by all! In the midst of it, we managed to make a date for a pierogie party. Be sure to check out the "Pierogie Party Page" for pics of all of the fun!
Sarah and Sam
Another couple of our closest friends. Sam worked with Ben on the Shoup, and Steph became friends with Sarah planning a baby shower for another Navy wife. After one night, literally the entire night, on the phone chatting, Sarah and Steph were nearly the best of friends. Sam and Sarah are incredibly fun, kind and loving to each other and everyone around them. They are a couple of the most wonderful people anyone could hope to know.
This site, as it progresses, will be filled with pictures of the things we have seen and done as well as our family and friends. Our hope is to be able to use this as a link to keep everyone in touch and help to shorten the distance of the miles that seperate us... So please, sit back, relax, make yourself at home and browse as often as you like. We're are hoping you enjoy your stay! |
Welcome to Ben and Steph's Tree House!