Christmas/ moving/ and Cuba

I have been at Taji now for 2 weeks. I think I am going to like it. The real mission or work starts tonight when we finally open the prison. We opened the clinic 2 days ago. There wasn't a lot of fan fare just one day we are open for business. We have had customers but no waiting in line and no big emergencies. I know that is good when you run a hospital/clinic but you hope everyone comes. This week we had several people come by to check us out and inspect us. I guess we are doing stuff right since no one said "shut them down."

I finally got all my mail from Camp Cropper delivered here. I had 10 boxes of Christmas stuff from my friends and family. I appreciate all of you sending me stuff and I am getting a note out to everyone individually or calling you via SKYPE. I got a little bit of everything. Or as my Mom said when she saw all the boxes in my room, "Santa found you over there in Iraq." She is right. Even one of the kids from my neighborhood who wrote me reminded me to take off my camouflage paint so Santa could find me. <--that was pretty funny. Let's see I got movies, a bible, old SATX and New Jersey newspapers (which I love reading), so many sweets, more Christmas decorations, potato chips, board games, and t-shirts. I even got a guitar. It is a good thing I don't have any neighbors because I am strumming and playing my ass off. LOLOLOL.

It is almost 2009. I will be heading back to my old place sometime this week. I need to pack everything up and then catch a ride back up here with the "movers" with the machine gun on top of the moving van. I will fly back to Cropper which I am not thrilled about then convoy back up here which is even less thrilling. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me in the next 2 weeks or so.

Helicopters flying low over head today...rattling the building. I think the pilots are having a little fun this Sunday afternoon. <--bastards. It makes it harder for me to concentrate when I am reading and typing.

Something big did happen to me this week though. I got notified that I was selected to be on the military commission for the trials at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I assume I would have to be on the jury for all the prisoners there as they go through their trials. I want to go but I am here in lovely Iraq so I had to write them asking to be excused from the best jury duty there is (smile). These are the Nuremberg trials of my times. I also have never been to Cuba so that would have been fun to say I was there.

Merry Christmas

Hey everyone. Today is Christmas. Let me be the person farthest away to say , "Merry Chrismas." I would never have guessed last Christmas I would be in Iraq going for a run. I went on a 9 mile run here at my new post. I think it was closer to 8.5 but that is close enough for government work. It took me 1:26 minutes to get it done. I got to see the post a little better and got to know where to go to yell at the guys about my cable not working. I think it worked.

Next Christmas when I am eating turkey and opening presents I will have to remember the sound of my sneakers hitting the pavement and the Iraqis learning to fly helicopters overhead. I think when Bobbi and I run a Christmas "Jingle Bell Run" next year I will have a better view (smile) although, not a more unique one.

Thanks to everyone for all the emails. I am having my mail forwarded from my previous post so I can't wait to see what is in all the boxes. Thanks everyone for doing your part to make this deployment better for me.

Enjoy your families and friends. They are truly what is important in life.

It is working again

The BLOG is back I think??

7 MONTHS!!

Today is my 7 months in Iraq mark. I left Texas 8 months ago. 1 month of training in lovely Lousiana and then here to Iraq. I wish I could say the time has gone really fast but it hasn't really. The days are long but the weeks go quickly. <---strange thing to say, I know. The new place is bringing some new challenges. That will help past the time too. I stated the new place has nicer living areas. Can you believe I will actually have a flushing toilet? It is still outside of my room, kind of like outhouse living. I know this is not a big deal for most of you but it is a pretty big deal for me since I have been using a port-a-potty for the last 7 months. The showers are bigger and newer so that is nice and because there are not alot of people on this side of the FOB (forward operating base) the water is always hot. You have to get used to them shooting cannons. It shakes the ground like you wouldn't believe. The first time I heard them was about 2 months ago when I was here and the firing happened I thought I should grab my helmet and head to the bunker. The ground shook, things fell over in the building I was in like a mimi earthquake. The other people never moved. They explained what was going on..."outgoing fire." Since my stay this time, I have heard the cannons twice and I must admit the first day I was still a little shaken when I heard the first boom and felt the ground shake. Now it is easier to deal with having heard them several times. The key is to listen for the whistle. Incoming rounds make the whistle noise. Pics soon for you to get a good visual. For now, later. I gotta go find a good run route - treadmill running is so boring. Well, time to go shower and get my day started. Adios.

ok I was wrong

I do have internet access in my room here at TAJI. I have a ton of photos from my ride up here. I will post the pictures in about a week because I forgot to bring the cable to get pictures from my camera to the computer. You have to see the new room. It is much bigger and I get a full size bed but it is still Iraq, proven by the sheets I got. You have to see the sheets you will laugh. I can't explain how bad they are and look. I have the new mailing address too and I wil get that out soonest. So keep writing I am still here. Okay I am off to shop for a higher thread countsheets, mattress pad , and pillows. I am starting all over on the room so I get to play Martha Stewart all over again.

later

Out of touch for a bit

I am convoying (driving with a group) up to Taji today. Yeah I know, not the safest way to travel here in Iraq. I get to ride in an MRAP vehicle which is the new military vehicle that won't blow apart when roadside bombs go off( I took a picture with it in an earlier post) . It has saved so many lives. Personally, I am hoping to not to test the vehicle on my trip today.

I will be there later this morning and move into my new place. I don't know what is going on with the internet connections there so I may be w/o the internet for a week maybe? I am coming back here after a week but I hope to fly back (smile).

Well, I will write when I can until then be safe. Enjoy your families.

More packages

So after the big package parade I got 3 more this week. I will use this forum to give shouts out to "The Buzz", my cousin Twanda, and Royce. The Buzz came through in classic fashion. They decided to do a 12 days of Christmas box to me. I get to open 1 package a day until Christmas. No, I did not cheat. I am opening 1 at a time. So far two great movies and some stuff I had to throw away. The rules here are pretty restrictive and a few of their gifts violated the rules but thanks for thinking of me. I am still kicking all of your butts when I return. My cousin Twanda got me one of the Obama t-shirts so many people are wearing Stateside. Thanks cuz! I am big into t-shirts. Royce and I work together at PASBA and he sent cookies and movies. I shared some of the cookies but his wife is a chef and they are too good to give them all up. A big thanks to you all. It all helps to remember there is a better place than here.


I emailed with some friends in San Diego this week. That jet plane that crashed landed about 3 miles form their house. I just wanted to check on them. It helped to remind me you don't need to be in Iraq to be thankful for being alive. I feel bad for the 3 people that died.


I am going to take a moment to step on my soap box and say, remember to live life happy because it is too short. As the song says, "Tomorrow. Forget about tomorrow. You better live your life today, for tomorrow very well may be to late."

Goodbye for now.

my 1st flat

This one is for all my cycle friends. When I rode this weekend I got my first flat over here. For thise of you who arent cyclists. We all know it is not a matter of if you will get a flat but when. I was changing it and just looked up to see where I was and I was a few hundred yards from one of the exits into the red zone. red zone = unsafe area out side of the US control. I/we always ride our bikes and you can see the walls keeping them out and us in but actually standing there changing my tire made me think how many times have I changed my tire on those roads in Texas. I never worried about being near the unsafe zone. Except when hunting season opens up and all those people are out there in their outfits and shotguns as we ride past (smile).

You will all be happy to know it was a quick change and I was back on the road again in no time. Christmas is coming. I am happy for the season but I am happy also because it means the time is going by and I will be home before you know it.

"Sir, you should grab a dolly"

This is what the mail clerk said to me yesterday at about 3pm. We can't get mail usually until 5pm. He needed me to come early because I had overcrowded the mail room. Yesterday, I received 15 boxes in the mail! No exaggeration, 15 boxes! My friends from the cycle crew had a party a couple of Saturdays ago and part of the party was to put together packages for me. I was overwhelmed and laughing my butt off. There was so much stuff to share with the Soldiers (after I took all the stuff I wasn't willing to share (smile). I also got a package from my friend Kerri who lives in Florida. That package had a Florida feel to it. There were key lime pie treats everywhere. Thanks guys/ladies for all the good stuff and I loved being able to play Santa Claus to everyone. I kept the cigars in case you were wondering. I will share those too but only a little at a time. <---thanks Jim. The packages had a ton of Christmas decorations too! We have 1 Soldier that all she wants to do is decorate. So I will take a picture of the office once all the decorations are up. I even have some for my room.


Truth is I would rather be home. However, thanks to my friends they have made it better for me over here and for that I am truly thankful.

Christmas

I must get my Christmas shopping done!! HELP!! The weather has cooled off. I am flying up to my new place on the 15th. I will be there for about a week. I will begin moving into my new trailer. I guess I will live out of both for awhile. Wish me luck. How is everyone else's holiday season going?

The Thanksgiving Dinosaur

So when the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock deep in the cargo hull of the boat underneath the spices and salted meat they brought from Europe was the Thanksgiving dinosaur. I don't have any clue why but in the dining facility they had all these decorations to include the famous Thanksgiving Dinosaur. It was so out of place with the pictures and decorations I had to take a photo of it. A 7 foot bright green dinosaur definitely says, "Family and Friends come together to celebrate and be thankful."

Next year if I am home I am going to get one for the house. I will hang the Christmas stockings and dinosaur by the chimney with care. Welcome to Iraq!

We said goodbye to a bunch of doctors and nurses again today. These were the rest of them that get to leave after 6 months. Some of them actually cried which I found funny. I know they were crying because we all bonded but it was still funny. They should be home in about 10 days. I will miss them. I hope the new crew is as much fun. I can't wait until it is me getting on the bus.

Thanksgiving

It has been years since I haven't cooked on Thanksgiving. Usually I get to make the meat and macaroni and cheese. I also get to make the bloody mary's or pop open the beer. Not this year. I get to work the chow line today for a little bit. In the Army it is a tradition to have the senior officers and NCO's serve food to the juniors during the holidays. It is somewhat fun and who can resist their smiling faces.

We work on their spirits around this time of year. There is no proof that suicides are higher during the holidays but you become more aware during this time. Some of these guys and girls it is their first holiday away from Mom & Dad or their families. I hope they do fine. I think they will.

I hope everyone has a great holiday and remember to enjoy every moment.

Stuff

Today I went to the mailroom and I had a package from "The Buzz." Thanks ladies. The turkey centerpiece is already up in the office.


I had an attack of insomina this morning and woke up at 3am. I decided to go the office to see if I could find anyone asleep. I didnt! Everyone was awake and doing work. SO I went on a 20 mile bike ride. It was chilly and windy so I had to really push to get a decent time. Needless to say, by 2pm I was exhausted. I should be asleep now.


I am down to somewhere around 60 days before I get my mid tour break. I will go nuts for those 18 days!!! I can't wait!!!!!!!!

Goodbye to the 1st 180 day rotators.

Some of the doctors and the nurses only have to do a 6 month tour. We said goodbye to the 1st set of docs and nurses. Here are some of the people I hung out with here in lovely Iraq.

Here is Major Travis Richardson. He is a doctor stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I think his specialty is internal medicine. He was my spiritual guide. He hosted the bible studies I attended. He is a good guy to have on your side. He is level headed and funny.




LTC Irene Rosen and Major Hays Arnold. Rosen is stationed at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. Arnold is stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. They were both alot of fun and excellent doctors. I have a bet with Irene that if I stay the whole 15 months she will owe me a bottle of wine. If I leave before 15 months I owe her a bottle.


LTC's Tina Clements and Larry Leventhal. Tina is a nurse practicioner at Fort Sam and Larry is the Emergency room doctor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Larry was the bike guru over here. He is the leader of the bike crew. Tina and I worked closely because she was in charge of the medicine inside the prison. She has a great sense of humor.



I am going to miss these folks.

finally off my ass and updating the BLOG

Here I am flying up to the Taji again. Actually, I think this one is of the flight back from Taji. I got to sit up front again so I was able to get some good photos on the trip. Look at this picture. We were flying back to where I live. Look at how close the other helicopter is to ours. I think this was a great shot.

You can also see what Baghdad homes look like. It is a little hazy but you can see how they are living.

I couldn't pass by this sign when I was on Taji. I think I mentioned the new clinic they are building is on top of a dumping area. It is where all or many of the tanks that were blown up by the coalition forces. So there are piles and piles of scrap heap and crap. This sign is about 1/2 mile from my new trailer.

Do I want to move to Taji

Many of you have emailed me and asked if I am excited or do I hate moving to Taji in a few weeks or months. I have thought about how I wanted to answer that question. I went to port-a-potty this morning and now that it is a little chilly in the am the port-a-potty seats are cold. As I took a squat to drop the kids off at the pool my butt was freezing. I was thinking it would be nice to have a warm toilet seat. Then I thought about it, would I rather have a cold seat freezing my butt off or would I rather have a warm seat which usually means someone was just there taking a squat? The port-a-potty's are sucked out 2-3 times a day but still I think the damn things are nasty. Anyway, moving to Taji is like deciding between putting your ass down and freezing or having the seat be warm but knowing someone else just got off the can. They both suck because you are in a port-a-potty. Taji or where I am at now?- I am still in the port-a-potty. Does that help? Later, time to run.

another attempt

Stupid kid in our unit made an attempt to commit suicide. He was witnessed placing a gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger. Luckily, there was no firing pin. The crazy thing is he is here with his wife. I guess they are having issues and this was his way to show her that he loved her. There must have been a TV show I missed on MTV or some strange station that taught these stupid kids that suicide was cool? Did anyone see the program? A permanent solution to a temporary problem.

I am still amazed at the number of the attempts that happen here. We recently had a guy headed home the next day after 15 months and he decides to take pills. He delayed his own trip home. I wonder how bad it is at home you would rather stay in Iraq?

Well it is Wednesday at 04:45 and I am awake. I took an Ambien last night so I could sleep 7-8 hours. It worked. I feel better than I had been the last few days. I sleep like shit here. I think it is a combination of 1) the helicopters and planes landing at the airport about 2 football fields away from my trailer, 2) the twin bed they have me sleeping on, 3) the amount of water I drink all day so I have to piss all the time, 4) and the explosions that happen at all these random times. Iraq is bound to make the hottest destinations list any day now. When I am out flying around I am constantly searching for a vacation home. Anyone want to go in half? I think we can get a good deal.

Forgot to add Happy Veteran's day to everyone reading the BLOG and has served. It is a call to duty, and honor to serve, all for country. (Duty,Honor,Country)Be proud.

Missing the NBA season

I can't believe another season is here and I am missing it. I think I am such a fanatic about basketball because I wanted to play. My 15 minutes of fame are really adding up. Here is a photo of me and "the Doctor." this was at a conference San Diego. Anyone know how the Heat are doing this year? I can see the scores on the internet but I wonder how they look as a team. Busy week again as I prepare to move to Taji. It has been delayed again so it loooks like I wont be leaving until January right now. I am hopefully that it gets delayed again (smile). I have too much crap to pack up. The unit appears to be really ready to do their job I hope they aren't disappointed.

My mom sent me a package this week. It was the movie, "Happy Feet." The kids in the office were laughing but they tell me I have to see it. I will give you all the 4-1-1. The election night coverage was pretty exciting. The speech President -Elect Obama gave was incredible. I need to learn to speak like that. I know I have the gift of gab but I can't speak like that to inspire a crowd. It is a skill. I am sure he has writers but he had to speak it the right way too.

7 mile run yesterday and a 18 mile bike ride today. I had an active weekend. I will need to add in a few more miles. It is fun running again. Only two sirens this week. No big injuries this week either. So it was a good week. All the Soldiers have started their mid-tour leaves. That is a good sign because I will be getting mine soon. I only have 39 more weeks of Iraq left. Sounds good when I only say it in weeks. The great thing is I only have 14 weeks until I come home on my mid tour leave. I have been trying to decide my first meal...I think it will be sushi. Although, I am looking forward to a large shower and flushing toilets too. I can't wait.

views of Baghdad

So there I am leaning out the door firing the machine gun yelling, "Get some, get some!!" ...er, wait...that is a scene from the movie Full Metal Jacket. I was sitting in the helicopter flying to my new place called Taji. These pictures are of Baghdad. As we fly over the city the door gunner must look out to make sure no one is targeting us with a rocket or shooting at us. I thought that picture was worth 1000 words. If you look a few posts back you can see me in the helmet and vest and this door gunner is helping to protect me. I carry a 9mm on me but you really need a rifle at these distances. Needless to say, I am thankful for my door gunner.

Look at the houses or as we call them mud huts (smile) talk about zero lot lines. We land frequently, like every 10 minutes or so. On this flight when we took off a few times they let out flares. I think most of this is standard procedure but it makes you think, did they get a "blip" on their sensors that said we were being targeted? You set off the flares to divert the rockets that are typically heat seeking.

Fun thoughts so early in the am.

Ouchie!!

OUCH!! Bobbi got into a bike wreck this weekend. She is fine although my bike friends that witnessed it are still in shock. Notice the dry blood on her helmet. She left the Tour de Gruene with 3 stiches, and the lovely scars. The people who witnessed it said things like, "I thought she was dead." "We thought she did a Christopher Reeve." I am happy to say she is strong as ever and is already thinking about getting back in the saddle again. I am proud of her for having the guts to get back on it. As I always say, "You just have to come to an understanding with pain." I think Bobbi has for sure.

My new place

I forgot to post pictures of my trip to Taji. This is a picture of my new trailer. Maybe not that one in particular but one of these for sure. The good news is they are new and clean. It will be a better place to live than where I live right now. I get my own room again so that is good. The rooms are bigger so that is good too. A big improvement is I will have flush toilets. I havfe been using a port-a-potty so long I won't know what to do.


The Ugly ---this is my view. What they did was clear out a trash dump and put the new prison in the center. Here is my view. Yes that is a wonderful view. I hear they plan to bet rid of it all but that is what it looks like now.

Pictures from the lake house

There were alot of people promoted this month. For all my non- Army friends, the 1st of the month is the time you get promoted and there were alot of people I know promoted 1NOV. In my office there were 2 Soldiers promoted. Anyway, with all these promotions there are ceremonies. Like my friend Deirdra in the previous post everyone has someone put their new rank on and a formal declaration is made of the new rank. It is a big deal or at least it should be a big deal. Bobbi likes to say make each one special.
The general rule is you can get promoted anywhere you want and have the rank placed on you by anyone you want, as long as they outrank you. One of the ceremonies I went to was in the back of Saddam's palace or more accurately on the balcony in the back.

Here are some pictures from that balcony. I wonder how many times Saddam had this view? Ok not with all the military stuff (we occupy the whole area) but when it was all his?









Isn't this a good view?






They said all these little houses on the "lake front" were guest houses for his friends. Although I am thinking since he would kill you as soon as look at you so I dont think I would have been on his list. The regular folks got electricity 2 hours a day because the rest was to keep his castles up and running. That was one thing the Americans did when they arrived that paid big dividends. Creating a powergrid so people could have power anytime they needed. Especially in the rural areas.

It is still not as beautiful as the Republic of Texas.

Pics from this week

Look at these boxes from Mike and Doris. They are friends of mine from the bike crew in San Antonio, TX. I did share the boxes with the office and they were really happy. I kept most of the popcorn (smile).

My friend Deirdra got promoted to LTC yesterday. It was a good ceremony and she had a lot of people and pizza.

This is me and COL Castro flying up to Taji to go visit my new home. This is inside a BlackHawk helicopter. I am not fat I just have on my flak vest (bullet proof vest) seems the Iraqis occasionally like to shoot at the passing helicopters. I think moving is going to suck but once I am there I will suck it up and soldier on.

Memorial for Karen

Here are pictures of the benches dedicated to the victims of the attack on the Pentagon. That inluded my friend Karen. She worked in Human Resources at the Pentagon. This memorial is dedicated to all the people that died on Sept 11, 2001. You can see all the benches with the pools of water below them. When I return I plan to visit the memorial.

They named a high school after Karen in San Antonio. If you get a chance you should Google "LTC Karen Wagner" alot of people loved her. There are numerous buildings and gyms named after her and her praises are sung all over the Army still. She left quite a legacy.

Here is a bigger view. You can see all the benches (most anyway). I have to thank Chuck Daly for taking the time to take the photos and send them to his sister who sent them to me.

Good week for pictures

This is a picture of some officers here in Iraq that do what I do in the Army. From L-R, MAJ Deirdra Briggs, LTC Mike Richardson, and me. Mike just got promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. We took the opportunity to get the senior PAD officers in country in 1 photo before we went our seperate ways. In fact, Mike has already rotated back to the States. It was good working with him over here. D gets promoted soon too now they will know what it is like to be the old "colonel" in the room at the party.

The unit had some fun with a Halloween party.

Here are a bunch of pics from that event.

L-R - me, CPT Medina (ER nurse), CPT Dejoseph (S1-Human Resources), CPT Whelan (Occupational Therapist, and LTC Lou Stout (Chief Nurse).

Good pic of CPT Whelan when she came to our office. She is the party planner for the unit/young officers. She even went on Google and learned how to make balloon animals. Sad looking balloon animals but funny to watch her make them. more later...connectivity is lousy. Okay I am back. Let's try loading some more pictures.

Here are some pictures from around the room. And before you ask, yes those tattoos are real.

L-R - Command Sergeant Major Hunt (clown), MSG ?? (Hooker), COL McGrath, The Hospital Commander(clown), LTC Stout (trying to get out of the way-smile). CPT DeJoseph again.

Taji or Bust

After being delayed over a week I am supposed to fly up to Taji tomorrow to take a look at the place. They are still building the clinic I am supposed to work in so I will go up to look at the frame. In fact, they are still building the holding cells for the prisoners so I will see where they are on that too. I am not thrilled about flying here in Iraq. You see in the States a helicopter ride is fun. Here they like to shoot at things that fly, not so much fun. Luckily our ground troops and technology help us avoid many of those from being a problem. I will take pictures of the new place and post them this weekend. I still don't know how I am going to get my bike up to Taji or any of my crap really. Think I can get Mayflower Movers to come pack me up and move me? Anyone got a truck I can borrow? Later-time to go ride my bike.

Saturday was a good day

The unit decided to have a Senior NCO versus Senior Officer volleyball game. We got our butts spanked! I hate losing but I have to tell you there were so many people there to watch it. It was a good unit moral booster. I was the coach for the officers based on my number of years as a pro volleyball player... no wait that wasn't it...based on I was the only officer that played on the league team last time...no wait...based on I was the sucker who was volunteered, yeah that was it. It was fun. Yes, it would have been better to win but we didn't so time to suck it up and not be a bad sport. Let me just say, we should have put up crime tape out there because several people had all their atheletic ability stolen. It was a crime to watch them.

I had some great packages this week. I think part of the fun of the care packages for me is to see what people want to send me as they are running around town. You all have seen my friend Mandy on the BLOG. She is the one who had a bike wreck and had her husband take a after photo (worth seeing if you haven't checked it out). She sent me a Halloween themed package.

Look at the Peeps that are made like Pumpkins! Then the strange gel with body parts in it and then the movie, "Hot Fuzz" is a comedy/murder mystery. The M&Ms are going with the theme and the cookies were so good it was scary too. I am excited about reading the book she sent too. It is about a college educated man that was wrongly accused of a crime and spent 13 years in prison. DNA freed him. He is not bitter which is the amazing part. Luckily his family stuck with him to keep him strong. I would be bitter and they would have to rename the city/state I was in because I would sue their asses off. Anyway, I cant wait to read it. Thanks Mandy for the package.

The other package I got this week is from a fun group of ladies that I work with back at Fort Sam. Just to give you and idea of what their packages have been like; they call themselves, "The Buzz." They are the Buzz because they get together every month or so to have a few beers and get a buzz. It is while they are "buzzed" they decided to come up with care package ideas for me. This is their latest. They saw that I now have a bike here and they stopped at a local bike shop and purchased me a basket, name plate, and a little Disney horn for my bike! Ladies, you do realize I am coming home some day right? I am going to have to buy a Tazer gun so everytime I see you in the hallway at work I can Taze your butts...wait I am the boss, I may get in trouble for that...I can see the union complaint now, "Management routinely tazed employees as retribution for little girl bike basket." Ladies, I laughed my butt off. The Soldiers in the office laughed too. My buddies at Cigar night all want the horn and basket too. The movies are great. "O' Brother Where Are Thou" will remind me of my time at Bragg where a good friend of mine and her husband play in a Blue Grass band, well maybe it was just her husband that played?? He was really good. "Iron man" is great because if I were home Iwould have purchased it already. Never seen "Joe Dirt" but my office guys tell me it is funny. The personal care stuff is always a winner. Two of you are married, please be sure and ask your husbands if it is okay that I taze you when I get back. I am sure they will be all for it. This is one of the funniest you have sent. The other was the one with the pictures of all you eating Sushi (cruel but funny). "Buzz" - Thanks for thinking of me.

Tons of fun emails this week. Allen, Kerri, Scott (from Korea some 19 years ago) Peyton and Rhonda (<--from High School!!!), Sam, Mei, Ellen, Kait, Twanda (my cousin), Rosie... just to name a few. Thanks for keeping in touch. I miss you all and can't wait to return so we can all get together. The first round is on me at the return party.

I fly up to my new location tomorrow (Monday) to see what it looks like. I will have to see what my new trailer and living conditions will be like when I move there in 2 months.

It's the weekend baby!

Ok but I am not at all that excited but it sounded like a good subject line. Everyday is groundhog day here but you know that if you have been following along from the beginning.

Here is a picture of my staff here at the hospital. Look at their young faces. There are two Sergeants and 8 Soldiers. In this photo they had just received their awards for completing a project. For some of them it is their first award in the Army so they were feeling really proud. Hell I am proud of them too. They do a damn good job. It is 2:30 am here. I have no clue why I am up but I am so I figured I would update the BLOG.

300 days left!!

43 weeks and a wake up! I will be home for my mid tour break in about 18 weeks. I am excited about going home but I try not to think about it too much. I would probably get really homesick if I did. No need for me to do that. I mentioned a few posts ago that they might be moving me to a different post. Well it is true still. I am flying up to Taji to see the clinic they are building. I guess I will see what my new living conditions will be like. I definitely do not want to move but I will soldier on and do what is asked of me. I just hope I can move all my stuff to my new place without any problems. We will see how bad it turns out for me. Funny I end up over here in a job that is too simple and they decide to unsettle me to resolve the issue. Fun times ahead!! It is still better than alot of Soldiers have it so my complaints are stupid. I guess it will require me to have a good sense of humor. My next thing is to start training for the Austin Half Marathon. It is 15 February and I should be home on my mid tour leave during that time. I am looking forward to the training. My running is pretty good right now.

More later...

something fun

I forgot to mention that on the 3rd all my Soldiers received Army Achievement Medals (AAMs). These are awards or medals given to Soldiers for jobs they do. An AAM is the entry level award in the award system. For 7 of the 8 it was their first award. At the ceremony they all were smiling their butts off. I asked one Soldier the next day if he called his wife to tell her and he said he called everyone in his family. I listened to his story and smiled. I remember how proud I was when I got my first award. I was just as proud to watch these kids get their first. They did some really technical things for which they deserved to be rewarded. Good kids all.

OCT IS HERE !!

I had a great week in letters and packages -

Monday - Kerri and Dwayne from Florida sent a package full of so many goodies. The salt water taffy is going to be enjoyed as soon as I am done with my weigh in and physical fitness test. I have eaten almost all the cereal...I just love watching ESPN while eating cereal in the morning.

Tuesday and Thursday - I got letters from my goddaughter and my other cousin Amaya. They are headed into 6th and 7th grade so those letters are all saved and I look at them to remind me there is a different place.

Then Friday came!!!

I got a package from Joyce, one of my oldest friends from the days at Fort Jackson,S.C. I mentioned in an email to Joyce that I really like Zest bar soap and they don't sell it here. Well she sent me this package; It has 48 bars of soap!!! I think I am good for the rest of my tour (45 weeks left!!!!!!) Joyce you are crazy!!! Thanks sooo much. Maybe I could sell it out the trailer sort of like a crack dealer? Hand some out at first for free. Tell them to share it with their friends. Get them all hooked on being clean. You are the best for taking the time to throw it together.

I also got a package from Chuck who I work with at Fort Sam. It included some goodies but it also has a blow up midget doll and "Fuck Off" pills. Everyone who knows Chuck please say goodbye to him now because when I get back he is dead. Chuck the office laughed thier butts off.

The shirt from Sam's is a great reminder of some good food there in SA. The burgers are the size of your head. Tough to maintain my girlish figure with that place around. The pills are pay back because once when I was in New Orleans I got him a bag of "Wake the Fuck Up" coffee - a very popular brand. The midget love doll?? I think it is part of his personal collection. Thanks for sharing. I may blow her up and invite her to cigar night with the guys. OUT OF CONTROL!!!!!!!!!

All, thanks so much for sending me stuff. It is so good to get mail and to know people are thinking about you back at home. more later...

It is 2:40 am

When I got insomnia back at home I would get up and answer emails or do school work. When I get it here I either go into work to surprise my night shift or add to the BLOG. I walked to work one night about 2 am and when I got there my night shift was sitting at my desk asleep. It was fun to act insane for a little bit and scare the shit out of him. He hasn't been caught again...yet. Maybe tonight if I go in?
How do you entertain yourself at work? I entertain myself by taking pictures with soldiers from different Armies. Here I am taking a picture with the General of the Kasakhastan Army. He spoke perfect English and we traded emails so he could get a copy of the picture too. I may invite him to Texas to get some real good margaritas. Wonder what the Kasakhastan Army does when they are drunk on tequila? LOL.

Two hours until we meet for our bike ride. The group meets at the butt crack of dawn to ride. The rides aren't killing me but the start time sure is. My alarm is set to go off in about an hour.

Here she is...the new toy, Just in time to move-maybe?

Finally! I was able to get the picture uploaded. I cannot figure out why we have to pay $65/month for this crappy service. If I were home I would be with another company already. Well here is my new toy. She's dirtier now. She has a small 40plus miles on her.

Possible move for me soon. I was just advised that I may be headed to Taji Iraq. They are opening a hospital there and I may go as the clinic officer in charge (OIC). The job is definitely more suited to my rank and experience but who the hell wants to move. I have so much crap. I will have to take what I can in my hands then ship the rest, to include my new bike.

my new toy and other stuff

This week I found somthing new to do in prison...er...on deployment. I got a bike to ride. I think everyone knows I am on Victory Base Complex which essentially surrounds the Baghdad Airport. The Base is approx. 27 square miles. So there is a group of riders that have been trying to get me out with them. I love to ride my road bike (thin wheels) but here you need to ride a mountain bike (fat tires). So there is this grea tbike shop in Fredrick Maryland called Bike Works and Tom from there has been sending us bikes that we order. I just got mine this week. I will post a picture when I can. The internet here sucks so downloads or uploads time out or are really slow. Anyway, yesterday I went on my first bike ride in 5 months. It was strange getting used to knobby tires and not having to avoid pot holes and gravel. If you hit any of that on a road bike you end up crashing. On a mountain bike or MTB it is what you look for. It reminded me of why I like ridign so much. I rode all around VBC. It is pretty safe if you avoid the cars.
I also got some great mail. Thanks Tami for the books and the cigars. Thanks to my cousin Shun for the postcard that made me laugh out loud.

16 SEP and counting

So look at these photos this can't be healthy. I get to breath this in every few weeks when a sand storm blankets the area for a few days. I know I have said that before but look at the photos!! Look at the orange sky in the 1st picture. Everything gets covered in dust. All these shots are in the morning. Doesnt it look like dusk? I had to wear goggles to keep the sand out of my eyes. No running on these days.

Speaking of getting old

A pretty funny thing happened this week. I was all excited about finding a radio/CD player/IPOD player in the PX up at Camp Liberty. I was talking about it in the office and one of the Specialist that works for me said, "I didn't think they made music on CD anymore. All we do is listen to our IPODS." I started to laugh. I have an IPOD and I do use it all the time but I have these CD's too that I always want to throw in my player. I can remember playing records on my mother's record console in the downstairs hallway...dancing to Heatwave, Evelyn Champagne King, and Taste of Honey.

I decided to transfer my CD's over to my IPOD to move into the 21st Century. I just completed my last class for my MBA so I will need little projects to help pass the time. I am a big reader and I placed it all on hold to get through the reading for the MBA. So I can't wait to get back into some reading. Spanish lessons, CD to IPOD project, new bike, building a desk...I think that will help the time pass. You learn that you will do almost anything to pass time. Wish me luck.

I got some GREAT packages this week!!! Thanks to Barbara for sending my a big old roll of salami! It tastes soooo good! She was in New York and stopped by the Jewish deli from the movie when Harry Met Sally and thought of me when she saw a sign from WWII that said, "Send a Salami to your Soldier" and she thought of me. Bobbi sent me some stuff I really needed and wanted too. I also got a box of cigars this week. Thanks everyone for thinking of me. I will use it all.

September 11th

Always a tough day for me. It has been 7 years since Sept 11,2001. Can you believe there are lieutenants in the Army today that were 14 or 15 years old when it happened. I must be getting old. They don't have ceremonies for the attack on Pearl Harbor (maybe in Hawaii?). I wonder if 60 years from now there will be no more ceremonies commemorating Sept 11th? They had several here in Iraq. It was nice. I have some great friends that remembered it was a tough day for me and they emailed me. Bobbi wrote a great note to Karen on the memories website. I dont recall the link. Well I am headed to bed. Later

7 Days into September

This was a good week. I was telling my Mom, the weeks seem to fly by but the days are still long to me. I can't think in terms of months only weeks. I got some good mail and packages. Thanks Mom for the hat rack. It helped create more space for storage which is always good. I also got a chance to hear the #2 guy in the country, a 3 star general, speak Friday night. His name is Lieutenant General Austin. He is the 18th Airborne Corps Commander. For my civilian friends, he is the head guy at Fort Bragg,NC. Anyway, he spoke to the local ROCKS group here in Iraq. If you are not familiar with The Rocks ---> http://www.rocksinc.org/history.htm <---click here. It was a good speech. He said alot but the main point was always be willing to try a little harder. 212 degrees- water gets scalding hot at 211degrees. It boils at 212 degrees. 1 degree more. With 1 degree you boil water, which creates steam, which can run a train (steam engine). SO why not try just a little harder. It was pretty good. Hey, look over to the right. This is me on the driving range/pad at the palace from last week. You know I had to find a way to hit. We don't have one where I live so this was my first time making it to the range. I need to get a net where I live so I can walk out my door and work on my swing. I am going to shoot a 145 by the time I get back(smile) because I am not practicing.

Anyone with a webcam let me know. I use Skype (www.skype.com) for all my calls now. You simply look me up in Skype and we can link up with the camera too. Reception is not too bad if we call at the right time. Oh and it is free!!!

gonna run.

Al-Faw Palace tour

Yesterday I got to see another one of Saddam Hussein's palaces. This one is called the Al-Faw
Palace. You can read about it in the picture to the left. This was on a wall in the entrance. You can see the front of the palace below. Saddam was really into having things look good. It is now occupied by the headquarters unit that runs the troops here in Iraq. It is not the home of the 4 star General you see on TV but the #2 guy (3 Star General) is at this palace.




Here is the front entrance to the palace. It has 62 room, 26 bathrooms and is surrounded by water. The water is filled with fish. You can feed them and they go crazy.





Guarding the front of the palace are the Tongan Marines. These are Marines from the Kingdom of Tonga. You can read about it here---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga They only have 55 of them here in Iraq. Once I leave Iraq I will probably never see a Tongan Marine again. So I took a picture with one of them. It was 120 degrees / 114 degrees in the shade. There was a temperature guage near the gate that actually read those numbers.

TONGA!!

Here is the inside of the place. These are shots of the lobby

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Here I am reading my menu from Grumpy's in Saddam's Chair. I bet he never pictured I would be sitting there. Okay I never thought I would sitting here either.