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I have been pretty busy, which isn't a bad thing. It is definitely making the time go by faster. The only thing I don't like is sitting on Guard Duty for 4-5 hours a day. They are building us a new hangar for our airplanes - I'll take a picture of the progress tomorrow while I am out there, guarding the builders. It's just a temporary structure, a big open bay with no offices. That means I will be working out of a trailer next to it, which is fine with me. I bet it will have heat!

It's almost time to start decorating for Christmas! When I first came out here in May, I brought a stocking and a stuffed animal bear that holds candy canes with me. I don't want to go overboard, maybe just a wreath on my office door. A few people have tiny Christmas trees in their offices. The last time we were here, I shared with office with my Platoon Sergeant, who insisted on putting up a tree, stringing lights everywhere, and playing Christmas music 24/7. Good times :)

Batter Up!

As of yesterday, I am the Battalion Softball team's newest cheerleader / scorekeeper / stats person. My supervisor talked me into doing it. It should be interesting; I'll get to get out of my office (read: cave in the hangar with no ceiling or heat) once in a while and possibly meet some new people. I only wish I would've known about it sooner, because I might've joined the team to play.

My Platoon Sergeant told me yesterday that he was probably going to send me to the Promotion Board before we leave Iraq! Promotions in the Army are based on a points system. You get points for doing well at the firing range, having college credits, military education, awards, etc. Each job in the Army have points that you have to reach; the number of points you have to get in order to get promoted in that job depends on how many people they need. If a bunch of Sergeants with supply jobs get out of the Army and more are needed to fill those empty slots, the Army will lower the points for the Supply jobs so that people will get promoted. Does that make sense? The points will be anywhere from 350-798 and it is pretty hard to get 798. In my case, I am a Sergeant, looking to get promoted to Staff Sergeant. My points are at 798 and have been there for quite a while. The only thing the Promotion Board does is recommend you to get promoted; you have to do the work yourself to get the points. Still, I am pretty excited about even getting recommended! =D

Battalion Fun Day!

Yesterday, the Battalion had an "Organizational Day", which is better known around here as a Mandatory Fun-Day. We got together at the MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) building, played volleyball, and ate platters of crudite that came from the DFAC. It was a nice break from Groundhogs Day!

What I am Thankful For

Today, I am thankful for people like the guy that sold me my Math textbook on Amazon.com this week. He emailed me this morning and told me that he was sending me a refund as his thank-you for my serving our country.

I am thankful that I have God in my life. I know that He will not give me more than I can handle and He will take care of me when I need support.

I am thankful for my Chaplain, who reminds me to think of what I have instead of what I don't have this holiday season.

I am thankful for my family, who send me care packages constantly and haven't forgotten that I am out here, even though the novelty of it has worn off.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cool Pic

Here is an interesting picture from a nearby explosion. The smoke turned into a smoke ring and kept its shape as it floated away. Even when the rest of the smoke dissipated, the ring remained until it rose so high, we couldn't see it anymore.

I've been feeling under the weather lately. I haven't had much of an appetite and it is impossible to keep anything down. Tomorrow is my day off, so hopefully the rest will do me some good. It is probably best that I skip volunteering at the hospital this week. When I tried to donate platelets last week, I was turned away because my iron was too low. I hate being sick >:(

5 months left and counting!

So Busy

I've been really busy lately. Somehow, I ended up on every Guard Duty roster there is, so I barely have time to do my own job anymore. This would have never happened if I wouldn't have switched from the night shift!!!! I am exhausted, but DS moved out of the barracks today, so at least I will get to sleep at night now. She tore her ACL and went home to have surgery :(

I am in a book club now, started by our Chaplain. I am my group's leader (I don't know how that happened). We are reading "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"....it's pretty interesting so far; I just wish I had more time to sit down and read it more often than I do. My group is getting together this afternoon at the DFAC to discuss the first 62 pages of it. There are 4 of us, including Mark.

Gotta get back to work! This is the first time in 2 days I have had the chance to sit at my desk for more than an hour of my 12-hour shift!

Veteran's Day

Hanging a flag from the ceiling of our hangar in honor of Veteran's Day

Iraqis love Oprah?

I was talking to a local Iraqi the other day. His name is Akmed and he is 24 like me! Anyhoo, he was telling me that he has a satellite for his TV and he watches OPRAH and Dr. Phil! Craziness! He also said he likes the movie "Save the Last Dance."

I also just finished the 2nd season of Grey's Anatomy! I am so addicted to that show; I spent my whole day off yesterday, watching the DVDs. The only time I left the barracks was to go to chow for breakfast and dinner!

What is GOING on?

Right now, it is HAILING here...

Boring...

I have been looking at apartments in the States lately, getting myself prepared for our return home. I gave up my apartment when I deployed, sticking all of my personal belongings in storage. My roommate here and I have decided to get an apartment together when we get back, to save money on rent. She is going to buy most of the common area furniture, since I will probably be getting orders (hopefully not to Korea!) soon after we get back.

It is starting to really cool down over here. I actually wore my winter PT uniform instead of the usual Army shorts and t-shirt. The rain has let up, too. It is time for me to start stocking up on my hot chocolate supply again!

I've decided one of the first places I want to eat at when I get back to the States is a steakhouse, preferably The Outback. I love their Aussie Cheese Fries!

What To Do....What To Do....

I always find it so hard to write what is happening over here. It is the same thing everyday, like Groundhog's Day. I try to come up with different projects to work on to make the time go by faster. The whole marathon thing didn't pan out, so now I have to think of something else.

Shouldn't I Be Worried About This?!?!?

Okay, so I walked into my office this morning, after a nice day off, and immediately see ANOTHER dead mouse laying on my floor. I am getting concerned here; whatever is killing these mice is the same thing I am breathing in 12 hours a day.

I went to the hospital again yesterday. There is a three-year old Iraqi boy there who is SO cute. The people here are very malnourished, so he doesn't talk and he is about the size of a one-year old. He has been there for a few weeks for burns on 30% of his body. I don't know what happened to him. He was running a fever and very uncomfortable, so I was fanning him with a piece of paper. He was just staring at me the whole time I was doing it and would cry everytime I stopped to rest my arm. It is sad when I see little children there...