BYE BYE CALIFORNIA!

So today was our last day in California. We had to leave the Ruiz girls, our playmates for the week.

At 12:30 am this morning Colson was throwing up. **Sigh** Every bad scenario went through my head on how today would end up. Thankfully none of them came to fruition. Because that was it...there were no other incidents and he was fine this morning. I'm assuming it's from all the ocean water he swallowed yesterday as he was surfing the waves.

We ended a fabulous week with an amazing brunch at The Del. A beautiful hotel with an awesome brunch that overlooks the ocean.

We then had a rock star tour of the USS Higgins. We were special guests aboard this ship because our tour guide was the Captain himself, Rome Ruiz (Hilary's husband). This ship is 500 feet long which is a little less then a football field and costs $1 Billion dollars. Yes I said billion with a CAPITOL B.

Rome made us follow all of the rules so in order to board the ship we had to ask "permission to aboard the ship?" and then to exit we had to ask "permission to go ashore". We were saluted around every corner and even though they were saluting our tour guide, we acted like they were saluting us. He showed us the place where the missles were stored and how they come out. He showed us all the big guns on the ship. One would shoot 4500 rounds in 1 minute. That's hard to fathom. 

He showed us his living quarters, where he eats and even the "secret" room. The place with lots of computers in the blue light where they can see the maps on big screens, monitor other ships, stay in contact with other ships, etc. We saw the red phones where they can have conversations that other people can't tap into and hear whatever information is talked about. 

We also went up top to the room where they actually steer the ship. There is even a wheel....not near as big as the wheel in movies but it is a wheel.  

Rome took over this ship about a month ago and in January Rome takes his team of 300 on deployment for 8 months. If you meet Rome and spend just a little time with him you'll notice how calm, level headed and thorough he is. He was so patient in showing us around and answering all of our questions. I imagine the leadership he brings to that ship is beyond the Navy's expectations. I am so proud to know him and am proud of what he's accomplished. You can feel safe that he's in command of the USS Higgins as it camps out in the waters outside of Iraq in January.

So it's good to be home but there were lots of memories that were made in California this week. I am so glad we were able to go and so glad that we had some playmates to show us around. I loved hanging out with Hilary too.....just like old times. That's when you know you have a good friend when you can pick up right where you left off.