Only in the Military!!

Only in the military can they change the day to Trick-or-Treat. It has been changed to the 30th because the main base is having their Autumn Fest and Haunted House. Here are a couple pictures of our house and one of our neighbors.

We are also getting ready for our annual Halloween Party, but this year it may be more laid back that usual. I have been having horrible sinus headaches for over a week which I have been unable to shake during the day. I will make sure I start popping the Sudefed early in the day.

We decided to skip swim team that was rescheduled for 8am on the 31st. I guess no one takes into account Mineo housing. 1) Trick-or-Treating is the night before. 2) The buses leave at 5:30 am and the next 8:30am which doesn't leave us any good time to get to practice from Mineo.

We had some good hauntings on the 30th. Especially with the many Italians coming into base to Trick-or-Treat, which is not their custom, they don't know what to expect. Most people don't expect Randy to be dressed as a "scary guy". He accidently matched the decoration around our front door and he jumped out at people shaking a noise maker. We got paid with many, many screams. Best of all a lot of them were from adults. Anne went Trick-or-Treating to a neighbors house, they had some GREAT Caltigirone wine. Perfect for a Halloween in Italy.

Soccer is OVER!

Cameron played his last soccer game last night, which they won. We have a slight break until football starts. He is still doing the swim team and now that soccer is over he will be able to practice with the "copper" level now. Hopefully we can get football practices on Tuesday and Thursdays so he can do swim team on Monday and Wednesday.

Pinky

Pinky is enjoying it here. Her next door neighbor and boyfriend is a Great Dane named Nero. He is still a puppy, but weighs well over 100 pounds to Pinky's 60. They play good together, but Pinky can be a "female dog" to him like in the video. She just puts her nose up in the air and walks away from him. How mean! She just loves to sleep on the sofa especially with Cameron. They snuggle up all the time.

The Sicilian Geep

Just outside the fence to our housing area is where they keep the Sicilian Geep. No I did not spelling it wrong, they are herds of sheep and goats, thus the name Geep. Every morning they take the Geep to the fields and every evening they take them in passing by our housing area both ways. We have a good time looking at them, but last night when it was wet and cool, the smell of Geep permeated our house. I guess it is a small price to pay for such fun.

Swim Meet

Today Cameron has his 3rd swim meet. HE DID GREAT!! He raced in 3 races and one relay race. In the 50 m backstroke, 50 m breaststroke and 50 m freestyle he had personal best in all. He was so excited and we were so proud to see what all that practice is doing for him. There are no pictures for this blog because we had to leave the house at 5:45 am and I was happy I remembered to bring Cameron. This may possibly be his last meet this season. There are no more home meets and until we get a reliable car I don't want to drive too far.

What a weekend.

Last Saturday, October 4th, we decieded to go to the far side of Etna in search of festivals. There was to be a Pistachio Festival in Bronte, which we found out was last weekend. We decieded to venture further around, there was a geocache we were interested in finding, but decieded not to because it was down in a river gorge, but the weather was cold and wet and we thought it would be best to put this one off until next summer. We spotted a walunt festive up in a town on the hill, but what is this, the battery light is on in the car.. what to do?! Just keep playing was our thought. The light wasn't bright and this is an it is an old car. We went to the walunt festival which we found out didn't start until after 7pm, so we decided to head on home. Then about 20 miles from the base and 50 miles from our home, on the AutoStrada (freeway) the car dddddddiiiiiieeeeesssss. Dead on the side of the road. Here comes the tow truck minutes later, but no english. After calling base for a translator, we get towed, while sitting in our car (see the video). The tow truck driver leaves us just off the highway in a city we have never heard of with nothing around, but the toll booths. Thank God we have already made friends here and someone came a short while later to pick us up, by that time though we walked around and found an out door bar. Randy and Anne relax while Cameron kicked a soccer ball around with some kids. I will say this was a learning experience and we paid a bit for it. Oh well, you live and learn; Its only money. The brush in the alternator was bad and our mechanic fixed it. Alls well that ends well.

Cameron's first soccer game

Cameron has been wanting to play soccer, but for the past few years it has just been impossible in our very busy lives. This year he finally got through practice and into his first game. He loves it and does very well at it. He is number 45. He is an athletic young man. Yes I said young man, he is getting so big and older, I can't call him my baby anymore.