Forgot to mention

I am a double digit midget!!!!!!!! 98 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

Good pics today.

These are the officers that work for me at the clinic. There is 1 missing but I will get one of him later. From L-R = CPT Walden,LTC Velayuden, CPT Cole,MAJ Daniels, LTC Hunter, ME, MAJ Holtzclaw, 1LT Wilson, 1LT Stayner, MAJ Gonzalez, and MAJ Riley. Good looking group!

The Kids from Tender Hearts Academy in SATX sent us a box of stuff. Cookies and pictures of them making the cookies and lots of cards. I am going to write them a note to say thanks. They are all so cute making the cookies but I know there is a booger somewhere (smile).

Going outside the wire

I had a chance to go visit the Iraqi Clinic on the Iraqi Army side. It was a little scary driving outside the American wire. Here I am with the Iraq dentist who is the only doctor in place. They don't have doctors in their clinic they only have medical trained personnel (cross between nurse and physician assistant).

The really happy news for me today...I got a thick mattress for my bed. Look at it! It is normal size. I can't wait to go to sleep tonight to try out the new mattress. Can you believe it! 4 months left and I finally have a real mattress?

Facebook

This week on Facebook I was contacted by one of my dearest friends from college. In fact, she just commented on the bunny pictures. Yvonne and I go back like juice and Gin...LOL. She came to my basic training graduation with my uncle and cousins. I was PFC Amaker then and down to 185lbs. 60lbs and 23yrs. later here I am in Iraq still fooling around in the Army.

Her contacting me and the warm fuzzy I got reading her emails and finding out all about her life now reminds me once again how precious my friends are to me. I am pretty fortunate to have such close friends. Friends that will contact me over 20 years later and pick up like there was no break.

110 DAYS!!!!!!!! I have been away from home for 365 days today. Damn it seems like a long time.

3 incoming rounds

They decided to give a little booom back to us again, 3 incoming rounds. I was talking to a Major here and there are so many rounds now that you become numb to the sounds and can't tell what is coming in or going out. It is crazy what you get used to. I am still counting down the days. We have new doctors working in my clinic and we are growing fast. I will have to take a picture of everyone and post it on the site so you can all see. Keep writing I love the emails.

Easter in Iraq

Here are a couple of pictures from our mess hall on Taji. Actually there are several mess halls or dining facilities on Taji this is the one I go to.

Big clay like statues are apparently big deals over here. You all saw the Christmas dinosaur but look at this stuff they are some of the biggest Easter Bunnies around. I think if I saw these as a kid I might be alittle frightened of the bunny.

Does anyone else think the bunny looks all hopped up on roids?

It was very nice of the people that run the mess hall to take the time to show us some love.

Happy Easter everyone. Enjoy your times and fun with your families and friends.

Days are long but the weeks...

The days remain long to me. The weeks are flying by though so that is good. My clinic is growing fast. That is exciting but he headaches that come along with growing are not so much fun. Funny seeing the personalities interact or fight. We actually had some guys break out in a fight in the unit, grown men unable to be roommates. Then people still wanting to harm themselves. Can anyone help me understand that phenomenon? I just laugh at the stupidness of it all.

I signed up to run the army 10 miler in October. I love DC so that should be really fun. 10 miles is long enough that you must train for the event but not so long that at the end of the race you can't move for a week. We are busy with visitors this week. I will tell you who visited after they come so I don't screw up the OPSEC (operational security). I will try to take photos.

Presidents' visit

I was not there. It was at my old place on Victory Base.

The picture of me hitting golf balls off of Saddam's main palace is this place. Look at earlier posts. It is the AL-FAW Palace. Several of the Soldiers from the 115th at Camp Cropper got to see him. I wish I was able to meet him.

He is a rock star!

this photo is by Charles Dharapak / AP

Just took an Ambien so waiting for the voices to come to tell me to go to sleep (LOL).

Great week for packages

It has been a great week for packages. Tami I love all the treats!




Starbucks from Bobbi. I am in heaven









Big Bag from my Dad. Thx Dad.

Fiesta Package from Bobbi. Did I mention I miss Texas. Home soon. next year we're celebrating for sure.

celebrating b-days in the clinic

We surprised CPT Cole (aka Strange Love) on her day off with a cake.

CPT Hurtado was surprised too with his cake.

cannon's to the left of me

The bombs are loud and frequent tonight. They decided to get a little close last night so I spent a an hour in the bunkers last night. It does give you a reality check and remind you that not everyone is glad we are here. There have been numerous things going on at the unit to include thoughts of suicide among some of the Soldiers. The Army has gotten serious about suicide prevention. The numbers of suicide are on the rise so they are trying to stop it in its tracks. My new unit here has several people on the "watch list." I still say what could be so serious.

I had chicken nuggets and tang for dinner tonight. I have to learn to eat better.

Easter packages from home

I really love getting mail. I have passed out all the candy and Peeps I could. I am kind of big to be a Easter Bunny but it was fun. Thanks everyone.

<-----This is the pic of the package Bobbi sent me. Thanks Babe!

I got another from the folks at the West Virginia VA. It included these Oreo Cakesters that are unbelievable. As Victoria said in her note they are evil. They are damn good. I dont like sweets but those things might make me sell Maxine.

Thanks everyone and I love all the stuff. 127 days and counting so keep up the prayers. More pictures soon. My friend Mandi is running 180 miles in Morocco this week so say a little prayer for her too.