Moore Time in Italy: August 2008

I am sure everyone is wondering where in the world is a new post?

Well, unfortunately, we haven't done much that is newsworthy.

The girls have been swimming and playing with neighbors and I have been trying to stay as cool as possible. The weather has finally gotten to the "stinking hot" time. Air conditioning is not a norm here in Italy. We do have it in our house, the landlord just installed it for us last month. We normally don't use it during the day, but we turn our units on in our bedrooms at night. I can't imagine being without now.

Tom's job is at a standstill. Let me fill everyone in on what's going on here. The powers that be have decided to downsize the base here in Gaeta. So, the small base that we have (one large building) is going to close and move down to the pier where the flag ship for 6th Fleet is. No one understands why. We live in paradise, but someone decided that having everything down in Naples is a better idea. If anyone doesn't know, Naples is a corrupt nasty city. I am sure everyone has seen the trash issues they have been having. That is just one thing. There are a plethora of other issues. Anyway, there was not room for the clinic at the pier. They are having to move trailers in for some of the departments as it is. The naval hospital in Naples has negotiated with one of the private clinics here in town to let us lease a space from which to see patients. There is a bunch of red tape that needs to be sorted out before Tom can move the clinic over there. It is much smaller than the space he is in now, so for the last 2 months, they have been getting rid of everything they don't need. That job is now finished, so he is doing a lot of thumb twiddling. Our population is relatively healthy and add on the fact that it is not cold/flu season and that people are off on vacation, Tom is definitely not overworked at the moment. Most people would say, "Aw, poor baby. I really feel for you." But, Tom actually has a work ethic and doesn't like to not be productive. We shall see how this all works out. We are as unsure as everybody else. That includes the people who are supposed to be making the decisions.

I am including a few more pictures of the girls' trip back to the states. Hope you enjoy, and hopefully, something exciting will happen in the next little while for us to tell everyone.

Happy Birthday Pop-Pop!!!! Tom's dad had a birthday while he was here last month. I made him a "Birthday Pie" since that is what he prefers. Of course the girls helped blow out the candles.

We dog-sat our friend's dog, Missy Lou, while they went back to the states. She is very sweet and easy going and was a joy to have. I am begging them to go out of town again so we can watch her. Here she is with Anabelle taking a little rest.

Anabelle is serving tea to our cousin Joe on my mother's porch. She is such a good hostess!!!

This is Victoria, Anabelle, my mother, Marlene with our cousin Edie during her and her son Joe's visit to my parent's house.

Just a day at the beach with Aunt Stacy and cousin James. I just don't understand how Victoria can stand all that sand all over her!!!!

My mom took the girls to the aquarium in Charleston with my sister, Stacy and my nephew James. You can tell who is the animal lover in the family.

Another picture of Victoria and Anabelle at the beach by Jim and Dixie's house. They are with our friend Kelly's daughter, Sophia.

Uncle Jim and Granddaddy took the girls out in the kayak on Lake Marion where Jim and Stacy have a house.

Here are some pictures of the girls with my mom and nephew at my friend Amy's boyfriend Peter's farm. Peter is on the 4-wheeler with the kids. They had an awesome time!!