2 month mark

Well this past week as been by far our busiest. We had some reports a couple of weeks ago about increased activity and low behold the intel guys something right for once. There are only so many times you trust someone who keeps telling yeah hes in that town and you come to find to out no he's not.

Some crazy sandstorms the past few days. Other than that we got this zombie map for xbox and we pretty much just play that all day long so life is good. Hope everyone else is well.

Strehlo I'm not sure if you've gotten married yet but if so congrats. Sam you're a very brave woman.

Update

So this is purely to let everyone know I'm safe. However its difficult to get hurt right now due to the fact I haven't left base in a week. We've had a few things my team just wasn't up in the rotation so I get to run drills all day. Its like being in school again and being able to do nothing but practice, the coach says a big game is coming up but it never materializes.

I've been trying to keep busy building a new gate for the compund. Other than that I sleep a lot.

Take care guys. I'll do the same.

140 days left...

Memorial weekend was nice and relaxing. I was selected for promotion and we had a cool little ceremony on the base out here. I have some pics but we can't upload anything here so it might be awhile before I can show anyone.

I also recieved a package from the Henne's yesterday (great big thank you by the way). I was opening it in the team room and pulled out whay I learned later was a bird, Rach is a big knitter and knitted me a bird. I thought it was a blimp like a zepplin of something and another guy thought it was airplane. So since I now know its a bird its hanging in the team room and for 5 bucks the guys can put in a guess as to what it is, I'm going to reveal it this weekend. So far we have 6 guesses...Sorry to report Rach no bird guesses yet. But again thanks for the stuff guys.

Overall its slow. Just hanging out in the desert.

Ris if you see this I hope things in Cali are going well for you. I'm really proud of you and if things workout I should be on the west coast by the end of 2010.

This week in Iraq

Nothing. We've gone out a couple of times but nothing other than routine jobs. In other words boredom. But another week in the books so thats one more closer to go home.

Busy Week

Sorry about the lack of updates but a very busy week and lack of internet connectivity led to that. While this was the busiest week it also went the fastest so theres always a silver lining to the mayhem. I love weeks like we just had but some guys seemed to be showing their age...its pretty funny.

The killings of the army people at the other base dominated rumors over. It's hard to pass judgement anymore and I guess its hard to explain what some people go through unless you've been here. I feel bad for people who don't want to be here but while I in no think its okay I guess I can empathize with them a bit. While I'm fairly new to the military game I'm older and some these 'soliders' are kids. I can't imagine being over at 18 or 19. I think we push so hard for bodies they aren't given the whole truth. They see movies and video games and think I can do that, but they don't show the 10 times you gear up only to never leave or the other 10 times you go and find a hill of sand.

I'm safe my team is safe and we're now knee deep in buggy races. I strongly believe my vast experience at mario cart has directly led to my early success in the races...so to those young parent/soon to be parents that read this have your kids play video games but not join the army.

Kelly you'll be happy to know the only music here other than your ipod is country. Side note you never realize how many songs you hate on your ipod until you listen to it 6 hours a day. So I'm coming around on the country.

Everyone take care.

Sunday

Went out yesterday everything went well. At least when stuff happens it makes the day go by fast. Sundays are nice because we don't have morning meetings so we can sleep in. Other than that just kill time anyway possible. The guys I really feel for are the army dudes who spent 12-15 months here.

More later.

...

Not much has happened over the past few days. Spent most of the past two days getting guys on the team into soccer. We all watched the Man Utd and Barca games. Just about everyone now is just waiting for the final. On a personal note: Mike Forys your team just can't handle the Red Devils hopefully you'll have come to terms with this by the time the final is played.

Big news for me the past few days, I finally got a couple of pillow cases!!! You never realize how much you need those things. I also have come to realize if I served in WW II or Vietnam I would've died because I'm a huge pussy. We have A/C, personal rooms and baths, we don't march around or spent several days in the woods and to be honest if I had to I would prolly go insane. Our personal satellite should be here within a couple of weeks then I might be able to post some pics of the place and the team.

We held a Cinco de Mayo party which mainly consisted of burning anything that wasn't bolted down and it got a little hairy. As of now the base FD has banned our compound from having bonfires.

Other than that I just read reports and keep ready to go. We're all getting ready for the end of June until then it just training and practice. Hope everyone is well. I miss you guys.

Tough Days

I always mean to write more often but the internet here is spotty at best. You have to try everyday and even then its like a 20 minute window and two comps, so you spend the majority of the time fighting with other dudes trying to get some time.

Its been busier here lately which is good and bad. The other day we lost a great man. No details but another individual is going home because they were close. So far we've been lucky no probs and we rolled a bunch of bad dudes the other night. Keep the prayers coming everyday is a new challenge.

~Chad

Like sand in an hour glass...

Nothing really new to report, hence the lack of updates. Red Air here for the past three days which everything kind of comes to a standstill. Spend just about everyday working out, eating, and watching stolen DVDs from the locals.

No lie we have the best cafeteria on the planet. I'm trying to eat well for the coming summer but fresh baked cookies are always trying to lure me. Really dusty can't stress that enough, its EVERYWHERE. Also flies seem to spawn out of mid air and then attack.

But the Vikes got Percy so my whole deployment check is now going on the Vikes to win the Super Bowl.

Everyone stay safe and drink a beer for me (its dry here and I won't taste the sweetness until November).

"It tastes sooo good when it hits your lips!!!!"

First time

Details will always be at a minimum. I don't want anything to get out that might get me in trouble. But today we went out, the hit went well and we all came home. It was the rush of my life. Anyways these may get boring but I'm doing well. Its already 90 here but that will be the last thing about the heat its a given that this is the hottest place north of the equator.