Pat, Mary, and Zack

I found a good picture of Pat, Mary, Zack and their Boston Terrier, Gus. Thought I'd add that to the others. Love ya, S

Patrick Luadzers

I just wanted to let everyone know that Pat left for Iraq yesterday. He will be stationed in Tikrit and is a Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Specialist. He will be stationed at Camp Speicher. I got to go spend a few days with him after Casey and Marie's party and we had a wonderful time. I am attaching a few pictures of Pat in his uniform ~ hope you enjoy. You all take care and keep Pat in your prayers. He will be there for a year.

I also have a couple of pictures from the reception for Marie and Casey. I added those, too.

Love ya all, Sally and Randy

Greetings from Arizona

As of 1 p.m. today in Las Vegas, Casey and Marie are getting hitched. They decided to get married in Vegas with no family since Marie's parents are in Germany. We are very happy for them. She is really a nice young lady and we like her very much. She heads back to Germany around the 5th of April. Casey goes back to Germany on May 18th for a teaching job. After that, I don't think the plans have been made.

Saturday, we are having a small reception for them at our house here in Buckeye. Mom, Skip, and Sally are coming down. Kevin, Andra, & Kendall will be out here as well plus some old friends of ours here in the Phoenix area. That's all the news from this area. Love to all, Carolyn Lee

Rat camp blog

Hi Family,

I just wanted to let you know that my youngest son, Patrick, will be deployed to Tikrit, Iraq on April 10. He said he will be one of the last, if not the last, groups to go. Just asking for prayers for his safety as well as all the other men and women serving our country.

I am at work and the kids have arrived so thanks for the short cut. Love to all, Sally and Randy

A New Position in Japan

Hey, y'all. For those of you who follow the drama of our lives in Japan, the coming new school year (it starts in April) has left me wondering what I might be doing for work. For the last 12 years I've been contracted to work in this same town, Fujikawa, but in November last year our town merged with the neighboring city, Fuji. Sooooo, we've been waiting for Fuji to make up their mind about what they're going to do for foreign English teachers in the new school year.
There were so many (in Japanese, of course) 'pleases' and 'welcomes' and 'give it your best in the new year' at the board of education yesterday, with uncommonly deep bows thrown in, that it seems the board of education has chosen my company to provide foreign teachers for the city. It's not exactly clear what added work I'll have, if any, or in what other ways my work life may change (though I've been assured my salary, and beau coup vacation time, won't change). For now, I'm happy just to know this much.
That said, we're very happy that we don't have to move away from the little hamlet we have called home for 12 years now, though we'll be changing lodgings to a house about a mile from where we are now. I've heard so many stories of what troublemakers the kids can be in schools in other towns, but there is none (right, very little) of that here. It has made teaching fun, but for Louis' sake I'm very happy we can get him into schools with kids who know how to behave themselves (so it's not a 'control the animals' free-for-all for much of the class).
I've posted satellite pics of our area at http://eltonersch.blogspot.com.
I've got a little site up and running so Louis can have one-click access to the net, too, at http://louispaulersch.blogspot.com.

best wishes,

elton, kumiko and louis!

Alexander Blog

Hello Rat Camp Bloggers,

Just a quick update on the Alexander Family in Tempe, Arizona.

As I have not met many of you and know of you mostly through my Grandmother Florence Alexander and Auntie Carol. I am Kevin Leon Alexander. My dad is Ralph Leon Alexander. Most of you knew him as Leon. He passed away in 2003. His Father and my Grandfather is Luke Alexander.

My family includes my wife Andra and my 4 year old daughter Kendall Marie Alexander. And God willing we will be blessed with another one this year or I should at least say preparations are underway. We are currently living in Tempe, Arizona where I manage a small office of engineers. And no we do not operate trains J but we can design a mean water reclamation plant….

As for other Family news, my mom, Armi Alexander lives in Eagar, AZ where I grew up in the same house. She works as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the ER there at the hospital.

My younger brother Clyde Jason Alexander joined the Army in 2008 and is stationed in Vicenza, Italy. He is a parachute rigger in the 101 Airborne. His family of 4 kids and his wife Amy are moving over there at the end of the school year.

My older brother Chuck lives in Eagar, Arizona near our Mom.

My older sister Loretta McLaughlin lives in Eagar as well and is a Head Start Teacher and her husband Frank works for the City of Eagar. She has two of her daughters living here near us in Ahwatukee, AZ.

I hope this message finds everyone healthy and happy in the New Year!!

Kevin Alexander

Greetings for the New Year

Well, January is half gone and I'm wondering if any of you ever get on this blog and check it out?
I wanted to let you know that Jack is having a rough time of it because last Friday he slipped on ice and hit a hidden by snow stump and broke 4 ribs on his back. So, he's pretty well "stove" up.

Here in southern NM we are doing ok, John, Punkin and I are keeping up with things, ha.

I wanted to send you all this website to check, maybe some of you already know of it, but I just got it sent to me this morning and thought it was outstanding and wanted to share with you.
I hope some of you check this blog so you will see it. Here is the link.

Bye for now, Love, AC