Nikki Got Arrested by an Ice Axe

Nikki is completing some mountaineering courses in preparation for climbing Mt. St. Helens in April of this year.

Our second course is "Ice Axe Arrest" Here we learned some mountain climbing steps with the assistance of an Ice Axe, and how to stop ourselves from falling by using our Ice Axe. We had tons of fun even though Nikki lost her camera and some fantastic pictures and videos along with it. Below are pics that Terese Toennies took of the trip:

Feeling Good. Except I need pants that aren't three sizes too big.

Terese and her bargain-bin "claw" gloves. We all thought they must be like that for a reason, but never found one.

Expressing my rage at being left behind while my husband travels the world without me.


Our group for the day, about half of the whole group doing the Mt. St. Helens summit in April.

U.S.S. Eisenhower: The Mediterranean and Suez Canal

The U.S.S. Eisenhower spent a few days at port in Marseille, France before pulling out into the Mediterranean again to make some photo appearances with the French navy and performing an "air power demo" for some VIP foreign dignitaries.

Below: An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the “Pukin’ Dogs” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143 refuels mid-flight with an EA-6B Prowler assigned to the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 during an air power demonstration. (Photo: MC2(SW) Jesse Dick) If you'd like to read the article about it: http://www.eisenhower.navy.mil/Papers/2009/March/Mar%2012Issue%2015.pdf

The U.S.S. Eisenhower made it's way to the Suez Canal.

Below: An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 is parked on the flight deck as IKE passes under the Mubarak Peace Bridge while transiting the Suez Canal. If you'd like to read the article about it: http://www.eisenhower.navy.mil/Papers/2009/March/16Mar.pdf Photo Credit: MC2(SW) Rafael Figueroa Medina

On a personal note. None of the care packages or letters Nikki has sent (the earliest 24 days ago) have arrived on the U.S.S. Eisenhower. However, the Girl Scouts somehow managed to get 15,000 boxes (yes, 15,000 boxes) of Girl Scout cookies on board. Lucky little snots.

Below: Boxes and boxes of cookies....and a few airplanes. (Photo Credit: MCSN Shonna Cunningham)

The Answer is....

The pictures from our most recent post (below) are of Spain and Morocco as the U.S.S. Eisenhower travelled through the Strait of Gibraltar. (The picture with the container ship in it is Spain, the other is Morocco.)

Check back next week for pictures of Michael and the U.S.S. Eisenhower's time in Europe!

2009 Deployment Update: Michael's (lack of) Picture Taking Talent

It's a running joke among some of our friends how BAD Michael is at taking pictures. It appears that a couple of weeks on an aircraft carrier have not improved his abilities.

Here are his latest from the U.S.S. Eisenhower. Feel free to leave me your guesses as to which countries the pictures are of, and check back in a few days for the answers.

(Hint: They are of two different countries, both taken from the flight deck at the same time.)