Hi everyone!

I just wanted to write again to say hello and that things are still going well here. I'll be headed to a new FOB soon, so I'm not sure how well I'll be able to update this after I move, but I will try. See, I can't update it from my work computer because the internet blocks websites like this...for good reason. So, I have to wait until I'm off work to use the wireless internet in my room that I paid $65 for the month to have. It works okay, but depends on when I use it because of how many people connect to the same wireless network. Right now, it's 0400 so there aren't a lot of people up and using it. I have to say that this has been a pretty sweet deployment so far. The DFAC is only a 5 minute walk, I live about 200 feet from where I work, and the bathroom is only about 25 feet away. I have a room to myself right now, which is a nice change compared to last time when I shared a slightly smaller room with 3 other people. When I move, I will be living in a tent though, with about 20 other dudes. I'll still have an outlet for power and A/C or heat and a bed to sleep on though, so I'm not complaining. I don't have to sleep on the ground or on my vehicle or in some Iraqi house we took over like last time. Things have been amazingly better here. I have been impressed with the reports I hear about the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police units finding weapons caches and IEDs on their own and making sure they are taken care of properly without needing American or Coalition Forces help. There aren't many areas of Iraq left that haven't been handed back over to Iraqi control with only coalition in a major support role. There are still bad guys doing bad things every day, but there are less of them...much less that are succeeding. It's something that should be credited to a President who has been more criticized than any other before him. This Operation Iraqi Freedom has undoubtedly in my mind made the world, at least this part of it...a better place. My only hope is that once we withdraw the majority of our forces, the Iraqis can hold it together without some other group coming in to destabilize them. Anyhow, this is getting long and I'm really tired. Here's a picture of me in the TOC, I hope you like it!

Still here...not a whole lot new

Hi everyone,

I'm still doing my thing here in Baghdad. We get the Armed Forces Network TV shows on the TV in our HQ, so I've been keeping up a little with the rediculous election coverage. I don't know about you all, but I'm just ready for someone to win and get this over with. This seems like the least legitimate Presidential race I've ever seen. It's not a race over qualifications...it's a popularity contest and who makes the least mistakes when they're talking to the media. The media is screwing the whole thing up. They're digging for who's political advisors said what and talking about candidates like they're villains on both sides...not like they're both people that could be taking over our nation in the upcoming months as one of the most powerful leaders in the world. I think people have lost site of a sense of national pride and decency and what that means. Sure, people say they're proud to be American and they'll put a yellow ribbon on their cars saying they support the troops, but how many of them will get behind whoever wins the election just because they won through the democratic process and have become our president? Food for thought...chew on that and let me know what you think. I normally hate politics...and don't bother paying attention, but things are getting to a point where you can't avoid seeing something about it everywhere you look...even in Iraq. I get reports from news agencies around the world as part of my job tracking what's going on. It's amazing the amount the world is watching this election...Iran supports Obama because they think he will be more lenient on his policies. Al Qaida leaders have said they support McCain because they think that he'll lead us to fight them until they can kill all of us. They all have an opinion. That's how important it is and why I voted for the first time this year. I have to get to work, but hope you all have a great day today. Sorry for the political rhetoric.

Another sandy day in Iraq

Hi everyone,

I woke up a little later than the past couple weeks today because I'm changing my shift a couple hours later every day until I'm on the night shift so I can help plan for coming home. Because I was on Rear Detachment I have a lot of knowledge about getting home, and because there's not a whole lot for me to do with Artillery right now, I told them I would help out. Of course, they gladly accepted, so we'll see how that goes. On the positive side of things, it should help make it so in my off time, it lines up better with being able to talk to Robyn and P-nut, so that's cool:) I got a really nice card from Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas two days ago and need to get on writing them a reply note. It's nice to hear from people that I don't normally get to hear from. That's one of the interesting things that a couple guys and I were discussing the other night. It's just neat how sometimes the most unexpected people that you normally don't talk to at all or hear from while you're home in the states will pick up writing to you or sending you things while you're over here. It happens to almost every Soldier I've talked to. My boss' aunt is the one that sends him something almost every week or so. Just one of those things I guess. I got a package from Robyn yesterday:) It was really nice of her and had some stuff that was good to get. The hard part for her is that I really don't need anything here. The Army does a good job in making sure that I don't want for anything while I'm here. So, with that said...for those of you who would like to send me a package...instead, the next time you get the inclination, please go buy Porter a book or coloring book, or just forget about going shopping and send what you would have spent so Robyn can get him something the next time she's out from you. I just don't need anything here. I would still love to hear from you all in the form of letters or emails though, so feel free!

I know Robyn has been crazy busy back home fixing up the place and doing awesome work in the back yard:) She cleared out a whole tree and a bunch of branches and things that were cluttering up the yard and it looks a million times better! She is such a trooper and I'm so proud of her. I just miss her and Porter. She said he's getting more affectionate and that it might be because he misses me and is worried about her going somewhere too. If it weren't for the seperation surrounding deployments I wouldn't mind them at all. I have the best job satisfaction ever when I'm deployed, but the lowest personal satisfaction from not being with my family. I'm pretty sure if you asked any Soldier, that would be the case. I just feel fortunate that I have not been over here for a year already like the majority of the guys in the Regiment. I was at least able to bond with my little boy so that he'll know me when I get back and we can hopefully pick up where we left off. There were so many new babies born while I was the Rear Detachment Commander who's fathers first time seeing them was for two weeks while they were home on leave, or who will see them for the first time when they get back to Fort Hood after the deployment. The only consolation I can think of is that it will ensure that they are there for the most developmental parts of their childs life since the first few months is not much more than pooping, peeing, sleeping and eating. Anyhow, this is a lengthy brain fart, so I'll check back with you all again later. Have a great Army day!

Waking up to disappointment

Hey there,

I woke up this morning at 0630 to get ready to go out and shoot at the range. I was pretty excited about it even though I had just gotten off of work around 2330 last night after starting the previous day at 0730. Needless to say, I was pretty tired when I pulled myself out of bed this morning. Last night, I verified that they were supposed to leave to go to the range between 0700 and 0715. I was there at 0700 on the dot. Much to my surprise, no one was where we were supposed to meet. I thought maybe I was early...maybe they were inside somewhere waiting for 0715. Nope...I went inside and they said the folks left for the range about 15 minutes earlier than what I was told. So, not only did I wake up early to do this, but then I miss an opportunity to shoot some stuff which I really enjoy doing. So...I figure, since I'm up, I'll go get a haircut, take a shower and maybe catch a nap before my shift starts at 1000. I told the guys I work with that are on the night shift that I was going to get a haircut. They proceeded to tell me I would probably have to wait in a long line since everyone was just going to breakfast which is right next to the barber shop. I figured since I had the time, I would go anyways. Much to my chagrin...the barber shop doesn't open until 0900. Great...so now I'm just killing time, waiting for the barber shop to open so I can get my haircut and take a shower before going to work my 12 hour shift. (long winded sigh)...oh well, at least I'm not on Rear-D anymore.

Good run this morning

Howdy y'all,

I had another good run this morning around the scenic Baghdad International Airport. I warmed up with a half mile jog until I got to the start of the 2 mile course and then I ran my two miles in about 13 minutes. After I was done I waited about 3 minutes for the NCO I was running with to finish before we jogged back to the living quarters to stretch out. I'm in the best shape I've been in since I graduated high school and it feels great. I usually HATE to run...and I still do, but I feel much better when I can do it fast enough so that I can get done quicker. In my mind, a faster run time = less time running. I've also been working on the other two parts of the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). I am pretty sure that I'll be able to max the push-ups and sit-ups without a problem. I think the max for my age group on the run is 13:17, the max for push-ups is 76, and the max for sit-ups is 78 I think. The test is scored with 100 points in each event with a max score of 300. If you max each event, there is an extended scale that you can score more points on for good measure. For each additional 5 seconds less than the max you run, you get another point for that event. For each additional sit-up or push-up I think you get a one for one point. So, I'm shooting for a 315 on my next test. I got a 305 on the one I took in July, so I think 10 point improvement is a good goal. Plus, the guys in my section here and I have a bet on who can get the highest score. Whoever the winner is gets bought 2 drinks by each of the other 2 guys when we get back to the states. Not a huge wager, and I'm not much of a drinker, but I hate losing a bet. So anyways, I have to go track the bad guys and make sure the world is safe for democracy so we can try to stop Obama. Have a good one and vote McCain (or Chuck Norris will get you).

Hi again!

Well, I'm here still in Baghdad. I hope that you all are doing well there in the states. I'm still doing pretty well here, tracking the bad guys. It's a little more boring than the last deployment, but there's nothing wrong with that! I'm just missing my family and enjoying the change of pace that comes with it as best as I can. Only a few months and I'll be back and we'll be moving on to Oklahoma! Hopefully after that we'll be able to go somewhere a little nicer. Anyways, it's late and I'm headed to bed so I can get up early to call my lovely wife in the morning. Take Care!

Storyboard for my trip

Hi again,

I now have wireless internet in my room, so I can work on this a little more at my convenience. Here is a story board of pictures from my trip to Baghdad. I'm sure more pictures will follow as time goes on. I got to do a little webcam session with Robyn and Porter for a few minutes before she had to get ready to go to a BBQ with some of our friends, so that was nice:) Anyways, here are the pics:

...psych...it's not working and I give up cause it's midnight...we'll try again later. Take care!

First Day of my new job

Well,

I had just typed a whole long description of my day and it got wiped out by the stupid internet connection here.:( I had a great long day today...0430-2230 and I'm really tired now. I'm working with some great people and think the job will be much more satisfying than Rear-D was for me over the last 17+months. I won't be staying here in Baghdad much longer, but the move should be transparent to you all. I will just be handling the intelligence for the part of the squadron that moves to another FOB next month. I can't say much more than that due to OPSEC (Operational Security). I hope you all are doing well back there and I will talk to you all again soon! I love you Robyn! Please give Porter a hug and cheek for me:)

Finally in Iraq

Hey everyone,

Don't have a lot of time, but wanted to write and let you know I made it into Iraq alright and am doing well. I still have a little bit of settling in to do, but will update again soon.

Manic Monday in Kuwait

Hi again from the dusty paradise of Kuwait. Today has been a pretty long but nice day. After getting to bed a little late last night (0230 this morning) I got up at 0630 to go get some breakfast at the Dining Facility (DFAC). Since then I have spent the rest of the day utilizing the different Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities that they have here at Camp Beuring. I used the phones and got to call Robyn over the military phone system for free and then said hi to my folks for a minute. After that, I went and watched a kung fu movie with Jet Li and Jacque Chan in it before going to the DFAC again to grab a little snack for lunch before going back to the movie theater at 1300 to watch Disney Pixar's Wall-E. After Wall-E I went and played a little X-Box with a few other Soldiers in the MWR tent until 1600 when the movie Run Fat Boy, Run was on in the Movie Theater tent.

So, I have successfully stayed awake all day long and am very very tired from my day of accomplishing nothing. That being said, I think after this I'll be headed to dinner before returning to my tent for the evening. Hopefully after a nice shower, I'll be able to get some sleep through the night and be on track for getting my sleep schedule adjusted to the 8 hour time difference! I'm looking forward to getting to my unit in a couple days and having more of a purpose so I don't feel like I deployed just to watch movies and hang out (though it has been a relaxing vacation). That's all for now, I hope you all are doing as well as I am.

still waiting in Kuwait...

Howdy all,

I'm still chillin like a villain here in Kuwait waiting for the next flight up to my unit's FOB. I'm still trying to get adjusted to the time difference and recovered from the jet lag. It's been nice being able to get a few emails from Robyn so far and a few other folks that have said hi. I want to say thanks to our friends back in Texas who have been hanging out with Robyn and P-nut. I know she really appreciates it and it makes me feel better to know that there are folks there that she can spend some adult time with and help so she doesn't get overwhelmed with Porter sitting in the house all day. Far from it, she has been keeping pretty darned busy as usual...and that's awesome. I'm so proud of the way she rises to the occasion of me being gone. Anyhow, as I talk about adjusting to the sleep schedule I'm about to take a little mid-afternoon nap:) I hope you all are doing well and feel free to email me! If this internet gets working better hopefully, I'll be able to check it.

until the next time...

Waiting in Kuwait

Hi all,

I'm just sitting here in my tent relaxing and waiting until I get the chance to head up to join my unit in a couple days. Things are pretty good here...a little boring, but that's nothing to complain about. The chow hall is amazing! I feel fatter already:/ I'm borrowing someone else's laptop because mine won't connect to the wireless internet that they have set up here. That's a little frustrating, but I'll try to figure it out a little later. It's 2000 here now, so should be about 1200 there in Texas. My AKO email takes up a lot more bandwidth than doing this, so I haven't been able to check it so far today. I'm just trying to stay up so I can adjust to the local time and get on a regular sleep schedule as best as I can. We're supposed to be drawing the new body armor tomorrow, but I already got one from one of our injured Soldiers who was back on Rear-D with me, so I don't really have much to do tomorrow either. After that we'll have some mandatory training to go through for the day on Sunday and we should be able to join our units sometime after that depending on flights and all that jazz. Hopefully I'll be able to get my computer up and running with this internet so I can try posting some pictures and actually get into my AKO email for some things. I'm just glad that it's not nearly as hot as I thought it would be here. It's really started to cool down and has been pretty comfortable so far. I'm not sure what the actual temperatures have been, but it's just a little chilly later at night and hot enough so you don't start sweating during the day if you just stay still:) I hope everyone back there is doing well. I miss Robyn and P-nut terribly already, but watched some videos that Robyn put on my laptop of Porter and us back home and that made me feel better. He is such a little helper. Check out the videos on Robyn's blog to see him trying to help me put on the child locks in the Kitchen and you'll see what I mean:) Anyhow, I don't want to take up this guys computer for much longer, so I'll just talk to you all again a little bit later. Take care!

Layover in Hungary, Budapest

Hey everyone!

I'm here in Budapest just sitting for a couple hours before continuing on the rest of my journey to Iraq. I hope things are well with all of you back in the states. I'm doing well and have had a whole row to myself to lay out and sleep on the ride so far, so that's been nice. It's about 0315 Texas time and I think around 0900 or so here. I am just looking forward to getting through Kuwait and to my FOB so I can start getting to work and meeting the folks I'll be living and working with over the next four months. I miss Robyn and Porter already, but I know they'll be okay. Porter was really cute when he and Robyn dropped me off yesterday. It was around 0300 in the morning so he was still really tired, but he gave me hugs from his car seat and was really talkative:) I'm new to this whole blogging thing, but hope I can update it regularly. That's all for now, I'll try to write again when I have something more interesting or get somewhere new. Bye!

On my way

Heading to Baghdad...will write more in a week or so!