THE BUS "UNLOADED"

To all my friends in the ER that often comment or joke about the bus "unloading," I actually saw it happen. In fact, on Okinawa the US Air Force actually HAS such a bus (an "abulance bus") and really sent it to our ER carrying patients. We took a picture just to prove it! I almost fell down laughing as I went outside to see it for myself and we just HAD to take a picture! St. Patrick's Day was fun on island and they actually have an Irish pub that we went to that night to celebrate with a Guinness and some green beer! Although my friend Mike (a GMO who works in the ER with us and is planning on doing an ER residency when he finishes his 4 years as a GMO in payback for medical school) had a great Irish rugby shirt, the closest I could come was a black shirt with "slightly greenISH" colors on a design on the front of it (that people have told me looks like a marijuana plant!). We did have a good time, though (and after seeing some of the really drunk people I understand better just how we get many of them as patients). I missed a party last weekend (SOMEONE has to work nights) at another ER doc's apartment that was celebrating her return from Iraq and making care packages for those still deployed. I had to send a snack, though, and what better than "SPUSHI" and "SPASHIMI???" (They love SPAM here, and even make sushi out of it so I figured I would try my hand at a local dish:)! I am still doing well despite missing everyone back home a lot. I try to keep busy by working out and working (a ton) which keeps my mind off family, friends, and home. I only have a wee bit over 6 months to go, although I really am enjoying the Navy and working in the ER here. I just finished reading "With the Old Breed" by EB Sledge, which is about the battle for Okinawa and Peleliu in the Pacific during WWII. It is a great book and made me very excited about seeing the Speilberg epic "The Pacific" currently playing on HBO. Although I don't have HBO, I highly recommend the series for everyone who does. It is partially based on EB Sledge and two other Marines in the Pacific during WWII. I am, however, still able to follow LOST on Hulu and occasionally on AFN (the military channel here). Until I blog again.......... LCDR Butler

HAWAII

I just got back from a fabulous trip to see Steph, Ben, and Morgan in Hawaii for Spring Break! I had not seen them for over 10 weeks. It was awesome! Although I did not get the opportunity to utilize Space-A military flights over and back (read: FREE), it was a great trip. Steph and I had not been there for 20 years since our honeymoon and it was the first time for Ben and Morgan.

The first picture is me experiencing my "Navy roots" at the USS Arizona Memorial. It is always a moving experience, all the more so now that I joined the Navy. I also got to tour a submarine and a battleship before boarding the cruise ship. Our family "reunion" poolside was fantastic! The perfect rainbow in the picture really typifies the whole trip!

On Maui, we went up Haleakala Crater and rode down on bikes! What a fun time going 30 mph downhill on a bicycle with a van behind you so you don't have to worry about cars. The next day we snorkeled on Maui and saw some whales. We are sporting our UofA colors on the boat, as usual.

On the Big Island of Hawaii, we rode bikes through Volcano National Park one day and went snorkeling and touring the Kona coast on a Zodiac boat the next. Both were outstanding tours. At night, we all got involved in the cruise entertainment with Ben and Steph getting dragged up on stage to hula dance and I got picked one night to assist (read: "guinea pig") for a magic trick. The magician was even from Phoenix. Another night the comedian worked Ben and Morgan both into his act the whole night.

On Kauai, we got to take a helicopter ride, went to a luau, and hiked a little ways along the Na' Pali Coast which is beautiful as you can see from the picture of us. Overall, a fantastic trip but very hard to say goodbye again at the end........ :(

LCDR Butler