Hey Everyone

Hello everyone,
Welcome to my new blog spot. I have enjoyed keeping up with the Rankin Clan that I thought I would try to start my own and see how it works out. I don't get to talk to or see any one to often with the exception of Mom and my wife Phyllis since we are the Southern clan of the Budke family. Life in Florida is going good, I was just back for a much needed and deserved 16 day R&R. I completed 6 months in Iraq and returned for Shae's graduation from Georgia Southern University with her BS in Chemistry. In August she will starting her Grad studies at the University of South Carolina. You go girl.
Christopher graduated High School last year and is struggling to find his way. While I was home he moved out from his mothers and in with Phyllis and I and we are trying to get him pointed in the right direction. He is interested in coming to work with me in Iraq and I am working on trying to get him something lined up. If not I am hoping he will consider joining the Air Force or Navy so he can gain some skills and a paycheck. Aaron is finishing his Sophomore year of high school and will turn 16 the 5th of June, so it looks like another auto purchase will be in the near future. The oldest of the clan, April, is happily plugging away at home in Covington GA raising Taylor who is turning out to be a bear of a young boy. He is playing baseball and is ready to try another sport.
Phyllis is working her behind off and looking very forward to July getting here. That is when her and Shae are flying to meet me in Rome for 8 days of vacation and sight seeing. I to am very much looking forward to that. After that is when the real fun begins. She has two rotator cuff tears in her right shoulder and will be going in for surgery sometime is August. It is gonna be rough for a while when she has to have her right arm immobilized. Her mom is planning on coming to stay for a while and help out and we have some friends that have pledged support.
Now for me. I am still working away over here in the desert. It is now rolling into June and it is about 110 every day. But it is a dry as they say. It feels about like 90 in Florida. The job is going well and I have just put in for a promotion which should give a significant pay raise should I receive it. That should hopefully shorten the time I need to stay here to accomplish all the things I want to before I go. Its all about the dollars and financial freedom. I have paid off many bills and done a couple things to the house and things are starting to turn up rosey. I spent most of my R&R spending money, running non-stop or sleeping. I did get the boat on the water. A friend took it to the shop before I came home to have it repaired and checked over and tuned up. It ran like a champ. did some work to the boat trailer while I was home as well, installing all new LED light system so now I can be seen clearly when I am on the road. Next trip home will be repacking the wheel bearing and then it should be good enough to trade in for a new one...LOL. Right after Phyllis gets her pool. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this and a few people take the time to read and maybe comment. I will post some pic of my camp and what it is like over here soon. Especially one of the dust storms we had a couple days ago. It was like return of the Mummy.... Take care and keep in touch.