The Big Call

About a two and 3/4 years ago, Jasin began the process to get into the New York State Corrections Officer Academy. We knew, going into it, that it entailed 8 weeks of a boot camp style training, and then a year away at a Corrections facility. From there, you have to work your way back toward home. We knew it would be a sacrafice, but worth it in the end. The entire process took almost a year, with all the testing and interviews. Then it stalled out. We heard nothing more about it. We actually almost forgot about it! I began nursing school, and we just hoped that Jasin wouldn't be called at least till I was finished. As timing goes around here for big news... He finally recieved the Big Call this past Friday. He is to report in Albany Sept. 27 for training. He will graduate Nov. 20, and from there, go to Clinton Correctional Facility, on the other side of the state, past the Aderondacks, on the borders of Vermont and Canada. My reaction was, "NOW???!!!!!!" It's an opportunity that we just cannot pass up, but we won't see much of him for the next few years, at best. In talking about it today, we realized we have not ever been seperated in 13 years. Just what a hormonal going to school, working mom wants to think about. Panic was my first reaction. But, we can do this, and we will be okay. Right? So, because Jasin has to leave in 2 weeks, and today is the only non working day either of us had together untill he goes, we took the kids to Rock City Park for the afternoon, and took lots of pictures, and just ignored the phones and the news for awhile.... Rock City Park is this amazing place, about half an hour from here. We go there a few times a year, at least, and the kids love it. It begins way up on top of what seems like a mountain. From there, you decend down a narrow set of stairs, about 80 or so feet, as Lexi is doing below.

Once at the bottom, the rocks are huge, some towering far above, some in formations. The kids LOVE to climb all over. The trail goes for just over a mile of rough terrain. PERFECT for kids!

Joe likes it!

I absolutely love this picture of Kaila!

This picture I liked so much, I had it blown up to an 8x10 and framed it. You cannot BUY this in a studio!

I did discover that this is an exhusting place, while still recovering from a 14 hour bartending shift the night before! Below is one of many breaks! Not quite sure what Lexi is doing here...

Holding up the 100 ton rock.

Another break

A Lexi pic! That child is SO getting a camera for Christmas!

Once at the top, the view is amazing. You can see, (According to the sign), for over 100 miles. We asked someone to get a picture of us here.

This bear is stationed near the entrance. The kids climbed up, and we HAD to get this picture!

And, while we aren't sure WHY there are liquor bottles hanging in this tree, it amused the bartender in me, so I took a picture of them, too.

And, last, but not least, I drive by this sign at least once a week. You have no idea how hard I laugh, every time I see it. It's been up for a month or more, and I don't think the owners realize how this looks. Since we had the camera today, I asked Jasin to stop and get a picture. (No, NYS doesn't do take out booze.)

I will try to put up a post Wednesday, with the news of what the baby is... have a good week!