The Finale

So my postings have dropped off the past couple of months. Since the June 30 pullout of the major cities there just isn't much work and when there is I can't say anything about it over the internet. But we did some really good things, got lucky once, a few funny moments (watching a dude take a header out of a helo into the sand is hilarious).

I should be leaving here in a couple of days. A little R&R at another base for a couple of weeks before we come home. Should land in the states in about two weeks. A stop-over in Germany on the way home should also be fun.

But a genuine thanks to everyone for their support. When you are over here it means the world. Most of you know my girlfriend Kelly, I owe her a lot. She has been amazing during my entire deployment. I promise I will make it up to you Babe!!

My family for always being there if I needed a sounding a board. To this day my only regret about joining is being away from my Dad, Mom, Brother, and Sister. I miss you all everyday and love you very much.

Sorry for making you worry Grandma but its almost over and I'm no worse for the wear.

Special congrats to Justin and Rach, I can't wait to meet Joey. Hopefully I'll be back full-time in Minnesota to toughen him before he becomes his Dad. Chad and Sam for tying the knot, wish I could have been there. Mike and Lisa for their pregnancy...you guys are great and I'm really happy for you. To everyone else if your not mentioned by name trust me you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Be home soon.

THANK YOU!!!

Early Morning

So its 330 am here and I'm awake to watch the Vikings game on TV. Over its the little things that count and missing out on some sleep is well worth it. But we better win. Because I'm going to be up late tonight..the Twins play at midnight my time.

Not many posts lately. Mainly due to the fact we haven't done anything mission related in over a week. Which is good. I'm going home soon and quite frankly I'm ready to leave Iraq and hopefully never return. Our replacements are leaving their base sometime this week. So basically a lot of our video games and dvd players are packed up now so I'm constantly bored. Hopefully this time next week I'll be at another base nearby...they have a pool.

Anyways per usual I miss everyone. Take care and see you soon.

Team Photo

So we took our team photo this week. The actual photo posted is the one we went with but it wasn't supposed to be. The next shot was the 'big one' but we used too much explosive and consumed all of our fuel before the fire ball. The video is interesting because three of these guys run like small children after feeling the heat, so a split second after this shot they are running away patting at their heads. But you can't pick your teammates so you roll with what you got.

Other than that the week was slow. We have some local training this week planned but thats no big deal.

Big win for the Vikes. Not sure we need Farve as long as AP stays healthy. The good news from the Farve saga it made the Vikes/Browns game the game-of-the-week for AFN which meant I saw it live. Let's be honest that matchup would've had no coverage if not for the old man.

Everyone take care. Miss you.

50 days and counting

So its two weeks shy of five months and at times its felt like its gone slow but now that I'm at this point its gone by fast. I have about 5 weeks left before I leave the 'front lines'. The last week or so we spent at another base just chillaxing. Plus that base has a pool that for some reason has a 10m platform which I will be perfecting my cannonballs off of.

Another weekend of activity but overall the tempo is just about right. Not much else...I'm still in Iraq and looking forward to the States.

Oh and the Forys brothers should stop playing fantasy sports...its embarrassing.

Never Learn

I'm a person who never realizes what I have until something changes. Pretty much this whole deployment has been slow and myself and the other guys kept talking about how much we would prefer to be busy. Well we've been out every night this week and again tonight, its 0130 here and we should be out within the hour. So grabbing sleep has been in random increments throughout the day, but so far I've gotten not more than 3 hours at once. Hopefully the locals will settle down a bit again and I can go back to sleeping and watching movies. Despite the sleeplessness this past week has been fun and makes being over here not feel like a waste of time.

Heres to a quick mission and, if nothing changes, two straight days of sleep.

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I'm going to use this week to complain about the Twins. The Central is not good and yet the Twins will be lucky to stay ahead of the Indians the way things are going.

Should be getting out a few times this coming week to visit the locals. We took last week off which was cool with me. Other than that I slept wrong on my shoulder and I think I have a pinched nerve or something and early last week I pulled a calf muscle. So all in all I'm feeling old and falling apart. I blame not dipping and for the sake of my health I may start again...inner debate I'll let you know who wins.

Not much else.

P.S. The Vikes looked good. Due to that peformance I predict 14-2 and a Super Bowl win.

The Locals

Its an odd sensation to be surrounded by people who seem to idolize you yet you don't trust a single one. We've been working at training them a bit but thats like trying to teach a autistic dolphin to walk on land. Plus they spend half the time trying to touch me, I think they do it to be friendly but its creepy. Bro I have a large personal space bubble please respect that.

But they are nice and while you cannot trust them at some point you have to trust someone and hopefully they prove you wrong...I sincerely hope they do. Overall they might not be able to win a war but they are doing a good job at policing themselves. Which will hopefully get some more of our soldiers home that much sooner.

Less than 90 days left.

Good luck to the Henne's, this week should be fairly exciting for them.

So the big news for myself is I have now gone a month without chewing tobacco. I've haven't said anything preiously because over the past 12 years I've "quit" about 250 times. But since I can't buy it out here it makes it a little easier. Pretty much the only time it gets tough is when we play vids but other than that its cool. Plus I made a promise to an angry little woman in Virginia and you don't want to be on her bad side. Other than that slow week. Never left the base. But its already August so it getting the light in the tunnel is getting closer.

Peace.

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.