oh were am i going i dont know when will i get there I ain't certian

Today is the last day in fiesole, tonight we sleep at by 11 am tomorrow its down to Santa Maria NOvella (Trains Station) and off to Follonica and Orvieto and Rome and then Europe. My feet are gettin that old itch that says its time to be headin out. So i am today listening to songs about headin out. (wanderin star, I'm on my way ect.) I am sure things will be picking up after this. but to the folks at home i hope today is nice and i will see you in about a month. Peace out!



-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"

And we can see them now, 28 castles of steel steaming north under darkness with no lights the Fleet was at sea...

Three nights, Four days and it is off to Rome and beyond. We have been having a great time here in florence but as it snows (yeah i knew snow woudl find us) I am gettin the travel itch its time to saddle up board the flagship run up the colors and put to sea. I need to travel and feel the waves beneath my bows. Today is Lorenzo's birthday and we will celebrate in grand style. I hope the folks at home are doing well and i will soon be in closer contact. But for now, All hands to your stations, prepare the fleet. Soon we will begin Exercise Rhine....


-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"

Kingdom Come or 10 Day's Leave.....

We went to cinque terra for betsy's birthday this past weekend and it was awsome!! Betsy did a good job planning and Lorenzo cooked steaks which tasted delicious. We went down to the beach and lorenzo got soaked i waded in a bit and then a few of us went to a big rock like in little mermaid and just chitty chatted on it. It was a fun time. The next day we went on a hike between two of the towns and that night was Betsy's b-day party and we had a blast. The ride back was long but when we got back we had bad news the internet was down, long week until today when it came back up! so i am able to blog and check my mail myself and all. hope all is well at home peace!



-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"

T-minus Two weeks and counting....Prepare the fleet for extended operations...

So In two weeks time we are off to Rome via Veronica and Orvieto. I am excited to see the seat of roman power and the seat of papal power. yesterday was good, we went to La Lance for supper and had real pepperoni pizza. Today we were going to the Medici Palace but it was closed alas! So we went to the Chapel of the Princes and the New Sacristy in San Lorenzo. You can see the difference between the Duke's tombs which are monuments to the power of the Medici and then the simplicity of the old generation under Lorenzo the Magnificent. Then we went to see how they made stone constructed tables where they interlocked small pieces of semi precious and other stones to form seamless pictures. it was amazing!!

-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"

And From Whitehall, at the Admiralty, a message flashed, Commence Hostilites against Germany...

So today marks a few things. A new week, daylight savings for the folks at home, ours wont hit till march 29th. And there was a baptism today. and also violence in northern ireland and more lies from the italian government.As the economy goes to shit GM says its having problems, like over paid executives and a higher unemployment rate in america we need to look on the brighter side. It was beautiful out today and i wandered up to Monte Cheri and saw where davinic tried his flying machine out which was cool then i walked back down to fiesole and watched starwars on youtube. HOpe al all is well at home


-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"

Pray that its Rainin on sunday

So the last few days have been rainy. and not just a little, we had a thunderstorm and it just poured. We started eating at Etrusca all nights now because of the cigarette butt and response at la reggia. That is good and bad hopefully etrusca will serve some new types of pasta. Today we went to a palace of the 13th century and got to see the upper levels that was cool. I even saw the papal crest, there are a lot of those around. hmmmm, We are going to have most of our finals before we even hit rome which is new. Hope all is well at home




-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"

Off we go into the Wild Blue Yonder....If you'd LIve to be a grey haired wonder keep your nose out of the blue.

We left for interlaken switzerland Thursday. The bus ride was 8 hours which while long was alright It was no DC ride but sleep was hard to come by, We arrived at the Funny Farm hostel, (always knew i was destined for the funny farm. We were up at 7 30 on friday morning to go skydiving, I was 30 euro short but a friend helped out and i will pay them back soon. We got out to the field and they made us sign our life away. I already have sold my soul to the Nursing home so this was not a new thing we got our own skydiving instructions, and the comferting thought that if we fail we would be dead and would not have to worry about long hospital stays, just a dirt nap. Ashley and I went with strangers since there were two singles and when it came time for my turn i suited up in a blue jump suit and headed out to the bus to take us to the launch pad. We went by helicopter. I was on the video with this girl and she had some nice words for her family. my final words if i were to have died: SAM you are skydiving with me!!!!! Hahahahaha sam will be most unnerved, but i ended up jumping first. we got into the chopper and i had the Mash theme playing in my head the whole time, for those who do not know the lyrics:

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...
[REFRAIN]:
that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...
[REFRAIN]
The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.
[REFRAIN]
The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.
[REFRAIN]
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...
[REFRAIN]
A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'
[REFRAIN]
'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please

We had a red chopper which had aclosable door, my tandem jumper was Mike who is apparenllty a police man in his spare time. I was first out of the helicopter so we moved foward and opened the door, The most nerve wracking part was waiting for the jump into open space. Mike asks: Are you ready? I said not really but lets do it anyway and then we were in free fall. We went from 0-180mph in 45 seconds. Mike pulled the chute and the parachute opened up then we fell down to the ground spinning and enjoying the scenery. We landed on our butts and it was the most amazing experience of my life. That night we went to hooters, i had a chicken sandwich, it was pretty good, could have been spiceyer. Then thenext day we wanderd the city for a while and tried some beer pong, ( i was not very good) And sunday me and betsy went to mass in German then we left for a walk and saw a castle and a cemetary aroudn the lakes. We returned in time for some chocolate and then boarding the bus. We returned to florence at 2330 and then back to fiesole by 0100. Awsome.
-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"