USN Red Raider Rides Again

OK, of course I can not let Kevin have the final say. I think he feels we are still in freshman study hall and he is charge. I say not! Anyway, I promised to load pictures of the family and I did. Kathleen continues to be in disbelief that I could father such handsome boys well I guess not, uh? Seriously, my boys are so much fun they remind me a lot of ME, handsome, good-looking, funny, good-looking, smart, good-looking, I know I repeated myself but when it is the truth it is easy to say. Seriously, Anthony JR. is 6 and in the first grade. Joshua is 3 and in pre-school. They are into the same things I am sure everyone else's kids are into: basketball, swimming and soccer. Believe it or not I can actually swim now. It only took me 20 years to learn. But as for soccer, I recall Derek & Trent asked me to play intramural soccer once. But for some reason they never asked me to play again. I guess my talent exceeded their expectations. I am grateful that Anthony JR wants to do track and field which is right up my alley. My lovely wife and I would have been married for 8 years come January 6, 2009. It has been fun and definitely good for me. As for me, all is well. I work for Alion Science and Technology supporting PMS 501 LCS Program Office as the Science and Technology Manager for LCS 1 and LCS 2. It is a lot of work but really rewarding to have seen LCS 1 get underway. I am still in the Navy Reserves. I am currently the Commanding Officer for COMPHIBRON 3 DET 310. We support COMPHIBRON 3 embarked on the USS Peleliu homeported in San Diego. However, I fly to Pensacola, FL once a month for my weekend drill. I still have not been able to figure that out? I was recently selected for CDR, as was my good friend Trent, which is again truly a blessing from God for me. So there is a chance something good could come out of Lubbock. Speaking of Lubbock, since the football team is doing so well I enjoy wearing all my TTU paraphernalia. With that being said we need to consider making another trip back to Lubbock? I missed the last once because my wife once due with Joshua. It would be good to see everyone again. Alright, I'll close and say I hope & pray everyone is in good health and doing well. Write back soon,by the way have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.......Tony

From Kevin Evans:Guess everyone fell off the earth

Geesh, been a pretty quite summer on this blog. Well, my new job is a lot tougher than being XO on a FFG. I might have out grown all of the paperwork, but the mental challenge of keeping a command ship's communication systems up and running is a real pain. I guess if we had the money pot from the 80's, it would be a breeze... we live under an EXTREMELY tight budget these days. We'll just say technology isn't always the easiest thing in the world. Sailors don't get the level of training they did when I enlisted. If you want to read more about me, I have a profile on Facepage. Get the word out about the NROTC page and lets see what everyone's been up to. If anyone is in the SD area, look me up... might catch me inport. Email Kathleen, she has my email add. Don't want to post it here... I already get enough spam. Kevin

From Kevin Evans: Guess who else is a CDR

Update from Kathleen Graw

Not too much new and exciting in my world, except for a quick trip to Peru. Journal and pictures are posted at:

 www.kathleensplace.com

 

Other than that, work is keeping me out of trouble and constantly challenged.

 

Hope everyone has a fabulous summer!

 

Kathleen

 

 

 

Melissa (Martel) Short - Promotion

In case you didn't already know, my promotion ceremony is just around the corner! You are cordially invited to attend an informal ceremony on Friday, 30 May at 0900 in the Pentagon Center Courtyard (or at the Navy Annex (Rm 3630) in inclement weather). If you don't have access to the Pentagon and want to come, just let me know so I can have an escort officer arranged to meet you.

Please feel free to forward to anyone I may have inadvertently left off the list. In case you can't attend, I do want to say how much I appreciate the support and guidance from each and every one of you!

Vr/ ~Melissa

Melissa M. Short LCDR, U.S. Navy

Rick Cunningham Update

Hey Kathleen: Just a little joy ride I took last month. Rick

MS-150 Houston to Austin “The Headwinds & Hills Tour” April 12th – 13th

Day 1 Saturday started early at 5am with a last minute carb loading and checking of all the gear. Everything I needed was packed neatly in my old Navy sea-bag as we set out for Rhodes Stadium in Katy. Our neighbor drove me to the start line and I awaited the early 7am start from the organizers. It was amazing to see so many cyclists preparing for the same 150-mile trek to the State Capitol. It was estimated that nearly 9,000 people were start from Rhodes Stadium. As we mounted our pedals we were staged in groups of 500 to minimize the numbers on the road at one time. The adventure began at 7:15am as I crossed the Start line and was not to end until 31hrs later. The atmosphere and the crowds were exciting and everyone was eager to set out at their own pace. The morning was calm with a slight chill of 50deg so we all dressed in layers to shed clothes along the way. We made our first pit-stop at ~10-miles to check tire pressures and load up on more carbs and fluids. We were greeted by loud music and several Elvis impersonators which set the standard for the entire weekend.

After the rest stop around 8:30am we soon discovered what would then haunt us for the rest of our journey..…..the headwinds. We were hit by direct headwinds ranging from 15-20 mph as we left the first rest stop, and they were to never let up. Despite this everyone was in good spirits and wherever you looked all you could see were cyclists everywhere. We made our way through the crowds and stopped at a few rest-stops along the way before breaking for lunch in Belleville. Fluor had a team tent where volunteers cooked us chicken wings and burritos along with all the fluids needed to complete the ride. After about a 45-minute break we mounted up and set out for the LaGrange, still another 45 miles ahead of us. After battling the wind for the next several hours we crossed our midway point in LaGrange at 5:30pm. We stumbled into the team tent were we organized our gear and ate dinner around 7pm. Later that evening I took a bus to a local middle school where showers were available for use, and after a quick hose down it was back to base camp for a 10pm lights out cat-nap.

Day 2 Reveille was 4:30am to the sound of multiple generators firing up for lighting and cooking. It was a brisk 38deg and I wasn’t much for getting out of the sleeping bag, although the hard ground wasn’t doing me any favors either. We gathered up for breakfast and packed our gear so it could be sent to the finish line for us to retrieve later that day. Many riders started lining up at 5:30 to get ready for the 7am start. I decided to rest longer and wait until the actual start time. By 7am we were outside the team tent and waiting for the start. Because every rider was now starting from this location it took over 45-minutes to reach the starting point because we were now ~14,000 in numbers. The morning was cold and calm, and I had put on an extra layer of clothing for the morning’s ride. As we set out I quickly noticed my muscles were a little more tight than normal and I don’t want to even tell you how my backside felt. Nevertheless, we set out down Hwy 71 towards Austin. The winds started up again around 8:30 and were even stronger than the day before. This section of the journey was to consist mostly of hills and some open straight-aways through rural parts of the county. We stopped for lunch in Bastrop and everyone was excited about finishing. After a quick bite to eat I set out for Austin. The last 20-miles seemed like it took forever. We entered into Austin’s city limits around 1pm and I made one more rest stop before the final push. I kept in contact with Jay Kay at each rest stop with an estimated finish time so her and my parents could see me cross the line. As I left the rest stop we were 10 miles from finishing. We went up and down several large hills until we made a large sweeping left turn onto UT’s campus.

As I go closer I could hear and see the crowds forming ahead of me in the last 1,000yds of the ride. I made one more left hand turn and the finish line was 100yds directly in front of me. Everyone was waving and young children were reaching out their hands as to “high-five” me as I crossed the line. Although several thousand people had crossed before me and several more were to cross behind me, I felt as though I was the only rider on the road. It was amazing. My parents snapped this photo just as I crossed the line. It was an adventure I’ll never forget.

I would like to take this time to sincerely thank you for supporting me on this ride. Money raised by all the riders and sponsors is close to $14 million dollars and the MS Society is very appreciative for your donations. Please remember your donations are tax deductible as well. Thank you again, and I look forward to future adventures on the road!

By the Numbers: 15,000 - Registered Riders 14,000 - Riders that rode 155.0 - Miles ridden 15 - hours in the saddle $970.00 Raised by family and friends

THANK YOU!

---

FROM MELISSA MARTEL SHORT

Hello,

 

Kathleen, thank you for setting this up for everyone!  What a great idea and an excellent way to communicate…and the price is right.

 

Dan and I are nearing the end of our geographical separation, so we are ecstatic!  I am currently at the Navy Annex, in Washington DC, as the Head of Advanced Education.  Mostly setting policy and determining what education the officers and enlisted personnel of 2020 should have.  Dan is running his business DRS Automotive Fantomworks, www.drsfantomworks.com, down in Norfolk, VA.  He is restoring antique automobiles and loving every minute of it.  On the list is my 57 Chevy Corvette Convertible, which he has promised to restore to its original condition and red with white coves paint job.  He is also a part-time consultant (30 or more hours a week) at Fort Eustis.  There’s never a dull moment for him.  We travel each weekend to see each other.  On the one hand we are blessed to see each other every weekend; on the other hand, traveling I95 & I64 can be a curse.

 

Our four-year-old son, Zachary, is here with me in DC.  He is attending pre-school at Fort Myer, only 2 miles from our house and my office.  The commute is quite convenient, and we are blessed to have such a wonderful home (thankfully we are renting) in Arlington.  Zachary enjoys Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and Legos.  His favorite day of the school week is Friday, because that is show-and-share day.  He will start kindergarten in the fall in Norfolk.

I have orders (hard copy forthcoming) to Center for Naval Leadership, which is merging with Center for Personal and Professional Development, to form the Center for Sailor Development.  I’ll have to drive to Dam Neck everyday, so it’s ironic that I will actually have a longer commute in Norfolk than I do in DC.  Should be leaving here at the end of July, which is none too soon as far as we are concerned.

 

I will pin on Commander June first; actually, 30 May since the first falls on a weekend.  We are looking forward to that (especially the pay increase), and I’m very excited that my family is actually thinking of making the trek from TX & NM to see it.

 

If you are ever in the big city, give me a call.  Surprising how many people you run into here!

 

Take care and best wishes to you & yours,

Melissa Martel Short