MacDill Air Force Base - Tampa, FL

April 10th - Friday - 88 Degrees - Sunny with a slight breeze

Today is a much nicer day than yesterday was, it was 93 degrees yesterday and not enjoyable to be outside.  Today we have enjoyed getting outside a little.  In fact, we drove to Camping World to pick up a few supplies and then to Plant City hoping to get a flat of strawberries, only to find that we were too late, there were no strawberries to be had!!

I wanted to tell you a little about MacDill Air Force Base, a little that I know, it is over 70 years old and Major General H.S. "Hap" Arnold was the first chief of the Army Air Force to serve here.  From what I have heard the area was know for the rattlesnakes when Southwest Field was built.  It was opened to become a training  facility for a new bomber the B-26 Marauder.  It was initially slightly underpowered and introduced a new saying:  "One a day in Tampa Bay," as young pilots struggled to master their craft of flying and more than a few ended up in the "drink".

The base was named for Lt. Col. Leslie MacDill, who died in a plane crash outside of Washington, DC in 1938..

Today MacDill has become the nation's most important facilities.  Not only is it the home of an air refueling wing, Central Command (CENTCOM) AND Special Operations Command (SOCOM) are headquartered here.  It is not unusual to see troops from many other countries in their native uniforms when we go out to eat here on base.  We recently ate beside on troops from France and Romania.

One of the tracking planes.

CENTCOM Bldg.

Large Office Bldg.

Memorial in Ybor City

Statues of horses placed on the boulevard along Bay Shore Drive.

Huge statue of a flower  down town Tampa, you drive around it.

A view of the horses from the rear window of the car.

Skyline of Tampa.

I thought the tall building was pretty.

After we got back today, I gave Maci a bath and started putting some things away, as we have to start thinking about leaving here.  I always have mixed feeling of leaving, I hate the terrible hot weather, but I love  being here.  Krista was at out house today and took lots of pictures, and our flowers are all coming up and spring certainly is on the way, so that makes me ready to venture home.  Hopefully, Maci will remember what home is!!

Happy Easter

Easter Sunday - Christ Arose!!    84 degrees - Full Moon this AM and Bright Sunshine this PM

Lou and I set the alarm clock for 5:00 this morning so we could attend the Sunrise Services at MacDill Air Force Base.  It was held on the beach and it was a balmy 70 degrees at 6:00 when we arrived.  There was a very heavy dew and thankfully, I remembered the last time we attended and I took along a blanket to sit on and a quilt to put over our legs, as I knew there would be a breeze coming in from the bay and there certainly was.

The Service was well attended by all ages and all nationalities; young and old.  Two different chaplains took part in the service,  Chaplain Johnson did everything with the exception of the message and Chaplain McIntosh delivered the inspiring message based on the scripture from John.The praise and worship music was lead by Joe Carrender, he sang Sea of Crimson and Overcome, both were done very well.  The sound system was wonderful and every word could be understood and heard well.  Lou said that he had trouble with the wind whistling in his hearing aid.
The final hymn or praise song was a favorite of mine, one of Bill and Gloria Gaither's, Because He Lives, which I always feel  is very appropriate for Easter or any time of the year for a Christian.

Chaplain McIntosh

Joe Carrender.

After the service everyone was invited back to the chapel for breakfast that was prepared by the Base staff which we felt was very generous for them to do for everyone.

After we returned home, I quickly changed my clothes and took Maci for a walk, she didn't know what to think when we woke her up so early this morning and took her out while it was still dark, so I thought I owed her a nice long walk; however, she pooped out on me and I had to carry her home.  She has problems with the heat and likes the A/C!!

When we got home Kris called and told me that they had snow, but the best thing was when they awoke this morning a live rabbit was sitting at their back door, so they quickly awoke Matthew and told him that the Easter Bunny was there, and you talk about an excited little boy......  This will be an Easter for him to remember, with real bunny tracks.  I can remember making tracks for the kids oh so many years ago.......

We have enjoyed doing FaceTime with them today and I was able to show them the green grass and trees here and they showed us the snow at home!!  She has a big dinner planned for today and I think she said 15 people coming, so will be a busy day for them.  I was glad to hear the plans for Michelle's graduation, we are so proud of her.

This is going to be a busy week, have many things planned, seems like we wait for the last minute to accomplish the last things.  We want to get to Plant City for berries, Camping World, Beach, visit some friends, Maci  back to the doctor, get our taxes done along with the regular things that need to be done.

We are going out for dinner late this afternoon, will use one of our gift cards that we received for Christmas.

Sunday Blessing

At MacDill Air Force Base - Tampa, FL

April 4th - Saturday - 84 degrees - Sunny

We arrived here last Friday and it has been lovely, we were able to get a site and it is a great site, we are close to Sea Scapes Beach House, and we love to go up there to eat, or pick up food to eat at home.  We can sit on the deck and watch the ship come and go on Tampa Bay.  The first night, Lou walked up and picked up their Friday night special which was Crab legs and shrimp and we had a feast.

This is one order and we split it.

When we got here, it was cool for several days, and I actually wore jeans and a sweater for two days and it was a wonderful break, but now the weather is back to being hot again, I try to get my walk in during the morning and stay in during the afternoon and enjoy reading.  Lou enjoys the heat of the afternoon, but Maci and I just can't take it.

Maci has been having problems with diarrhea off and on since we got her and our vet at home suggested that we have her checked for parasites so we did that here on base and she tested negative for  that; however, the vet did  put her on Flagyl for ten days and a good probiotic and a bland diet after a day of no food or water.  It was interesting the base vet found that she has two microchips and suggested that I report that to the Yorkie Rescue, which I did and they were very glad that I did that and they recorded the additional number.

We have been catching up on some things that we have put off until we could get here.  We have an appointment to have our taxes filled out on Monday.  We have been shopping at the commissary twice, as it is a large and well stocked one here.  We purchased an iPad Air at the BX, I had been looking at them for some time, and Sue convinced me that I would be able to work it.  She helped me with the Facetime and I think I am going to like it.  Going to need some help with the e-mail portion of it when I get home, but think Michelle can help me with that.  Want to get my blog posting set up on it as I can see that will be much easier on it.  Love the camera.

Lou grilling our dinner of sausages and peppers.

Can you see the Manatee?

Double crested Cormorant.