Good day off...

Hi everyone!

I got the day off today to have some personal time and it has been very relaxing! I got to talk to Robyn on the phone for almost an hour while she was out shopping for 'black Friday' so that was awesome. I started out sleeping in almost an hour and a half and then went and picked up my laundry from the laundry place and put it away. With some extra time, I put some fresh sheets on the bed and then had a late breakfast/lunch before they closed(1345). After that, I went to the TOC (tactical operations center) where I work and checked my email and called Robyn. Then I went and fixed the door to our tent with some extra canvas I found so that there wasn't a gap between the wooden door I made and the door frame to let light in. Since I still had some extra time and because my laptop's headphone jack doesn't work for some reason, I took my laptop back to the TOC with me and watched a movie that I had downloaded. Then I went and had a nice dinner with a few other CPTs and then went back to the tent for a quick break and to get my PT jacket on because it's getting a little chilly at night here and now, here I am, typing to you all at the MWR center. Pretty boring now that you read it all, huh?:) Well, I can't exactly go out on the town and have a good time or anything, so now that I'm done with this, I'm going to go check out Robyn's blog, and then head to the gym a little bit early tonight so that I can get a good deadlift workout in and get some sleep before heading back to work for my ground-hog day routine. On a positive note, Robyn and I discussed the possibility of trying to get stationed at Ft. Drum, NY following the CPT's career course in October next year. We still have to do a little more research to see if it's something we're really interested in, and the Army still has to make it an option, but for right now at least, we're leaning towards it. There's really just one main point that is both the positive and negative aspect of going there...family. We both want a little more interaction with our families that what we can get now, but we don't want so much that it gets overwhelming. It's something that we'll wrestle over until we actually make up our minds, I guess. I'm sure the family would like us being closer by too. The way we figure it, if we go there for 2-3 years and then I get accepted to go teach at West Point, we could be in NY for the next 7 years or so. Then, after that, we can go try to get stationed somewhere more adventurous when Porter is able to participate and remember what we do. Plus we may end up having another little one and that will be good stability and help for Robyn close by when I end up getting deployed again. So many things to think about....so much still uncertain. So, we leave it to the big guy in the sky and enjoy the ride. A lot can happen between now and then. For now, things are great and I'm very thankful for all the blessings in my life. I hope you all had a very happy thanksgiving and are getting ready for Christmas! I will talk to you again soon.

Love,

Joe

Changing shifts

Hi all,

I found out again this morning that I will be changing shifts today. So, instead of working 0700-1900, I'll be working 1200-0001. Of course, not knowing this, I woke up as usual at 0330 to get ready to go to the gym, went to work out, and found out while I was working out about the shift change today. So, needless to say, I plan on being pretty tired tonight when I get off shift after midnight...21 hours after waking up this morning. Oh well, I'm not getting shot at and still have a bed to sleep in with good food to eat. I just have to readjust my workout schedule and try to make sure I can get some sleep tonight after my shift. I also have had a workout partner the past couple days. We are going to work towards the goal of getting on the 1000 pound club wall they have in the gym. If you lift 1,000 lbs total for Bench Press, Squat, and Deadlift, you get your picture taken and put on the wall. I should be able to do it now, but the Soldier I'm working out with has never Powerlifted before, so I'm kind of coaching him to be able to do it. It's a good way to stay motivated to work out and pass the time. The only problem is, that he's on the 1600-midnight shift and has to stay up to meet me at the gym at 0400, but he didn't show up this morning, so I had to work out alone and was delayed half an hour before I started cause I was waiting for him to show up. Maybe with my new shift change, we can work something after our shift since we'll get off at the same time now. Robyn is having a Pampered Chef party tomorrow, so we should get some nice pots and pans, which is cool. Porter was sick and I guess is feeling better now too, so that makes me feel better. He had what we think was like a viral infection and a high fever for a day or two and that led to an ear infection since he's also getting two teeth in at the same time, so Robyn took him to the doctor and got him some medicine to clear it up and he's good to go now. I miss those two very much. Not too much longer though, and I'll be back to play with my son and be with my family again. I hope everyone back there is doing well and I'll talk to you all again soon!

Hi again

Another good work out this morning. Just a jog to the gym, 10 minutes on the eliptical machine and a good pace, then 4 sets of light squats followed by some sit-ups and then a 6 minute sprint workout on the treadmill as fast as it would go. I'm working 12 hour shifts right now, so I'm staying pretty occupied...I get up around 0345, wake up for about 20 minutes and then head to the gym. Then I'll get cleaned up and head to work until around 1900ish before heading back to get some sleep. Pretty basic groundhog's day routine. I like it that way though...it makes the days go by faster cause they all blend together! I have to get going so I have some time to relax and eat at the DFAC, so I'll talk to you all again soon. Oh, and by the way, I'm no longer looking at getting the Toyota Tundra...I've been researching more and I realllllly want to get the 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500. Check it out in Google and you'll understand. I think the second page down on the list is one of the car and truck rating websites that has it at #1 for good reason. I have always kind of wanted that one, but never realized that it is something I could actually afford...since they have all the incentives with the economy in the tubes, there's a good shot of me getting the perfect truck to last for the next 8-10 years:)

Hi everyone!

I was able to get onto the site at the MWR (morale welfare and recreation) place, so here I am. Anyways, I just wanted to write everyone quick to say hi and that I'm doing just fine. I feel bad for my little guy and Robyn back there fighting off a fever, but I thank God for good folks in our lives like Rachel and the dude accross the street who are willing to help out when it matters. Rachel and Avery have honestly been so supportive and wonderful to have as neighbors and friends. Porter is lucky to have such a great 'auntie RayRay' around to help Robyn out. I just feel helpless being over here and not able to help the little guy feel better. Less than 60 days now though, so not too much longer. I can't complain about the FOB...it's pretty nice, good food, not too far to walk to work and everything else. A little ways to the gym, but it's a good mile jog to warm up before I get there, so it works out alright. The MWR place is on the way back from the gym, so I will try to get up a little earlier so I can still come post on here for everyone to stay updated. I may be a little lazy sometimes, but for the most part, I should be on a schedule now that allows for it. Anyways, I'm off to go take a shower and grab a nice breakfast...I think I'll have a ham and cheeze omelette with a slice of french toast and some sliced pears and orange juice like I had yesterday! It's a great way to start the day after a good work out. I hope all of you are doing well and had a great weekend!

Sleeping Area

(Written by Robyn as Joe does not have access to his blog anymore...will send all comments to him!)

Sleeping area at my new FOB. I have the top bunk all to myself so I can put my clean clothes up there. I am in the back corner so I have more room than many.



Terrific article that really hits home. I have it easy compared to these guys. Please read if you have the time.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/11/11/acevedo.pow/index.html

Please remember our fallen on this Veteran's Day.

Blessed with love

Sappy maybe, but God has given me a wonderful life and I just wanted to share how thankful I am for it all. I have a spectacular wife and little boy at home and I don't have a want or need in the world other than their safety. I guess that's why I'm in Iraq again, huh? While many folks have forgotten that 9-11 was not a provoked attack and happened completely out of the blue by people who just wanted to kill Americans...I haven't. I would gladly come here again if it gives those types of people someone who can defend themselves to target on someone else's soil rather than have them come home to our country and try something again. I know a lot of people think that's far fetched, but for the most part the folks fighting us here, and in Afghanistan aren't from there...and if they will go there to fight us, what's to say it would be much harder for them to go to the US? I mean...there are thousands of US Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan searching for these guys, trying to stop them and they still lay IEDs and shoot mortars and rockets at innocent people and coalition forces. Would it be harder to do that on American soil where the majority of people don't think twice when they see a car that's weighed down almost riding on the axles? Here, we notice that and immediately think, "that car probably has a few hundred pounds of explosives in it!" Home, we think, "That car needs new shocks." Food for thought...the next time you drive down the main street at home...look for sandbags, or other debris along the side of the road. Each of those could be an IED if the terrorists brought it to us. I don't know why I'm being so morbid all of a sudden...sorry, not intending to scare anyone, just trying to explain why I do what I do. I think I should probably get some sleep. Have a great rest of your day! LOL.

Yay for me!

Hi everyone,

Today is a good day. I have the day off today, except for my PT test in an hour and a half, so I'm going to go get my haircut before and then hopefully do well! I was able to sleep in, so that was nice. But even better than that, Robyn and I have been in discussion about me getting a truck for some time now...the discussion mostly being me asking for one when we go to the career course and her saying we can't afford it until I'm a Major. Well, last night out of the blue she said she'd been thinking about it and that we should get one when I get back! With limitations of course on how much she'd be willing to pay for one, but we can work with that. What I really want is the '07 Toyota Tundra with the four doors. I found one http://sanmarcostoyota.com/Vehicle.aspx?v=772963 but it's a little over our price range right now. We're looking for about 18k. But, we aren't going to get it until around February '09, so hopefully the price will drop with the new year. Anyways, I'm wicked psyched about it and I'm going to go start my day! I hope you all are doing well. Check out Robyn's latest post...aren't they the best looking family ever?! I love those two.

Laters,

Joe