Another week

So we actually got out this past week for a change. But I have a profound new appreciation for the term 'wild goose chase' after being in Iraq. You cannot fathom the frustration in milling through the desert for 10 hours looking and not finding 'it.' Then told hey its over here...no its actually not over there. Screw you guys we're going home.

Lately just reading a lot. I'm not saying I regret joining because I like what I do and who I work with. But a big part of me just wanted to see if I could do it and now I now I can and after I get home I'd kinda like to say thanks for the memories see you guys later but I have at least one more and right now that doesn't look to appealing. But I can also just as easily see myself signing on and doing another 3-4 or years after by initial duty is up.

But hope everyone is doing well. Keep living the dream.

Stage 16

So they sent half our guys to another base so its been pretty quiet here the past few days. There just isn't any work here right now, not there is work where they are going but its hard to justify so many guys here when we just sunbath all day.

Spending my morning watching Lance and riding the bike trainer which is a nice change from running everyday.

Did some really cool training with the AF the other night. We got paintball guns and had to defend it was a lot of fun.

Hope everyone is doing great. Take care.

The Pullout

Well as of June 30th we pulled out of the major provinces in our AO and throughout Iraq. Since then we haven't had anything to do. Twice both times in the middle of the night we had trackers go off but after rushing to get our gear on and the battle plan set we were told we were no go and went back to bed.

We were always told this pullout would go one of two ways: things were going to get really bad or things would stay calm. Overall luckily its stayed calm. There are still rumblings things could always set off soon but so far so good.

Not much else.

Podunk, Iraq

Well for the past almost two weeks I've been staying at a place that would be nice if they had running water, showers, toilets that didn't require the buckets to be burned when filled, A/C basically anything more than what was there. It was exactly my worst fear...to be honest I like what I do but I hate being dirty and for this entire time I've pretty smelled like a dirty diapers with the occasional wet-nap wipedown.

Things I learned: After 11 straight days I can grow a nice beard but other than the pics on my cam no one will ever know cause I hate facial hair; whenever you think you have no where else a bug can bite you you're wrong; its always better to ask forgiveness than permission (that story will come out at home); and finally living on a diet of MREs (food that for some reason doesn't go bad for like two years) ruins your digestion system. The sheer pain of deciding while hunkered in your sleeping bag whether to stick your head out and be bitten or to give yourself the worst dutch-oven known to man was great. Think about that tonight when you lay on your down mattresses.

But as far as what we were there for it was good and it took a few more days than expected but it was done. In transit back 'home' now where I'll sleep all day and not leave my a/c room for awhile.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Uncle Lonnie I think you'll be impressed with my beard pics.

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.