365 day Beach Vacation

Still Alive!

2007-04-16T16:23:00.000+04:00

Still in Iraq but going home sooooooon! This site was blocked on my government computer for awhile but, apparently, I can access it again, so I'll catch everyone up.
Here what has happened since I last posted, in no particular order:

Joe, that civilian contractor, ended up getting FIRED....I called that one, didn't I?

I went to another NCO of the Quarter Board and won! I get a 4-day pass, a coin (it's an Army thing), and a Certificate of Achievement (worth 5 promotion points).

I went to the Promotion Board for Staff Sergeant! No thanks to my lazy Platoon Sergeant, by the way. I talked to the First Sergeant myself and convinced him that I was ready. I was recommended for promotion with a score of 150 out of 150.

The new hangar that was being built is done and we have moved into trailers next door to it. I have a window AND an air conditioner. I haven't seen any mice yet.

I have moved out of my nice barracks and into the transitional barracks, since our replacement unit has arrived. It is made entirely of plywood and the bathroom and showers are about 100 feet away. Not too bad! There are a family of mice living there, though...

I will not comment on the deployment extensions the Army is implementing because I do not know how it is affecting my unit yet.

I do miss writing this blog. It has helped me vent about people in my unit and the stupid things I have had to deal with out here. Thanks to everyone that reads it, and I am sorry it took me so long to update. Take care!

Megan

Siccccckkkk

2007-01-25T08:39:00.000+04:00

I am getting over an illness that lasted about 3 days. Some guy I had Guard Duty with last week gave it to me, I think. They let me leave work a few hours early yesterday, which was pretty nice. Tuesday was my day off and I couldn't even get out of bed to walk to the DFAC. I only get sick about once a year and, when I do, I am the biggest baby around. But I am feeling much better now!

There is a new batch of Air Force females living in our barracks and they are OUT OF CONTROL. The hallway and bathrooms are nasty, there is NEVER any hot water because they each take 30 minute showers, and one was caught sneaking around in my room the other day. She said she was "looking for a bed"....they are assigned rooms when they first get here and ours was NOT it (they don't mix the Army with the Air Force for a few different reasons).

My roommate is getting promoted to Sergeant next week. She wants me to pin her rank on her in the ceremony (well, I guess it's not really pinning anymore, because we have velcro with the new Army uniforms)...I will post some pictures if I can get my hands on some! I should be getting some accolades myself that day for getting that 2nd place in the Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter Board last month. I will be very interested to see if the unit actually lets me take the 3-day pass that is one of my prizes.

Rainy Days

2007-01-19T20:17:00.000+04:00

This is what happens in Iraq when it rains:

The average annual rainfall for this country is only around 4-7 inches. The ground over here is weird though; a lot of the rain just sits on top of it and causes huge puddles everywhere. There is a lake outside the hangar that used to be a parking lot. Below WAS a road made of rocks...you can't really see it anymore, though.

Movie Night!

2007-01-12T19:22:00.000+04:00

No PT tonight! My roommate and I are watching Talladeja Nights and pigging out on Pizza Hut! It is still raining pretty hard and I volunteered to get the pizza tonight. Riding a mile, each way, on my bike in the pouring rain - not the smartest thing I have done out here!

I am leaving work right now to head back to the Barracks and put all my wet-weather gear on...

Yuck

2007-01-12T15:12:00.000+04:00

It's been raining out all day and the hangar is leaking water everywhere :(

I am also pretty sure there is a dead mouse in my office somewhere. I smell "death" again.

Follow-Up

2007-01-11T10:13:00.000+04:00

So, remember what I said yesterday about getting into an argument with that civilian contractor? Well, immediately following the altercation, I went and reported it to his boss. She had me write a sworn statement, which even SOUNDS serious. I guess she is going to report it to HER boss. I don't think anything is going to happen to him; I don't really care. My commander asked me if I wanted him to try to get Joe fired, and I said no. With his attitude and work ethic, he doesn't need anyone else bringing him down, he is doing that all on his own. His boss told me that she directed him to apologize to me yesterday, which never happened. I don't even want an apology. I just want him to do his job, that's it!

Just a little background about this weirdo: I don't know if he does anymore, but he was very interested in me before we came out here. EVERYTIME he got drunk, he would talk non-stop to our mutual friends about how the guy I was dating wasn't right for me and that I was being stupid. He piggybacked on a weekend road trip to Florida with a group of my friends, then proceeded to act like a psycho the whole time, which is a long, strange tale I won't get into. Almost a month after the Florida debacle, he called me, hammered, and apologized for his behavior because he was looking at me like a "girlfriend" instead of a friend. I never gave this guy any inclination that I was interested in him and, on several occasions, went out of my WAY to show him I was not.

So, I pretty much think now that he has been waiting for something like this to happen so he could flip out on me and get out his anger because I "rejected" him back in the day. Oh well, I hope he got it out of his system, because I already have enough to deal with out here.

I Heart Civilian Contractors

2007-01-10T10:12:00.000+04:00

The only thing I hate about my job is that I have to depend ALOT on other people to do THEIR jobs. One of the things I do is send back unserviceable parts to the Depot. Each part has a tag attached to it (by the person that took it off the UAV) saying what is wrong with it and all that. If they don't fill out the tag, I have no idea what is wrong with the thing and can't do MY paperwork to get it out of here. In the past week, I have had problems with that on THREE different occasions with the same guy. His name is Joe*. Twice, I have had to search around the hangar to find the part I was trying to send back, and the other time, he took 5 days to fill out the tag. *Side note: it takes literally SECONDS to fill out a green tag* I run a tight ship in my section and, usually, the bad part is sent out the same day it goes bad.

Well, to make a long story short, I confronted him about it this morning and an argument ensued, to include him cursing at me more than once. That makes me so mad; why are you going to get mad at me because YOU didn't do YOUR job and I called you out on it? Especially since he is a civilian. He makes over 3x as much money as I do for being over here and most of the time I have to interrupt him as he is playing a computer game to get stuff done. Not to mention the utter lack of respect and professionalism. Do you really need to scream the F-word to get your point across?

Wheewwwww. Okay, I feel better now :)

*Names have NOT been changed to protect the lazy.

My Space

2007-01-05T19:02:00.000+04:00

I was bored with my camera the other day, so I took some snapshots of my work area. Here is one of the ceiling of my office...whadja think I was exaggerating when I complained? The plywood ceiling (yes, I know I am spoiled) doesn't extend the whole office because that *wall* is actually a very large, tall, door. I don't use it anymore, though. It was starting to sway everytime I opened it and it was scaring me. That is a tarp that I installed to try and retain some of the heat my space heater is barely putting out. Oh, speaking of which, I have taken to storing that thing under my desk - it keeps my legs nice and toasty. I really doubt that it is hot enough to light my desk on fire or anything (I hope), but I turn it off when I'm not in there (if I remember). Anyway, if my office goes up in flames, it is just less UAV parts to pack up when we leave...Just kidding, taxpayers :-D I think it is about time for me to take that Christmas stocking off my door.

P.S. I lost the NCOQ competition - came in a close 2nd place. Boo!

Uh Oh

2007-01-03T11:41:00.000+04:00

Today is the NCOQ Board! OMG, it's in like 3 hours. I should have studied more!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am freaking out.

In other news, how awesome is my Far Side daily calendar? =P

Time is FLYING!

2006-12-31T08:22:00.000+04:00

I am definitely going through a period where time is flying (something like 120 days left!). It seems like it was just Christmas Day, and now it is New Year's Eve. I hope this continues for a while. I don't have much to say about Saddam's hanging except that, so far, it really hasn't changed anything about our daily lives - there have been no more and no less attacks on our FOB...business as usual.

Just when I thought I was almost done pulling Guard Duty, I went to a class yesterday to get briefed on pulling MORE Guard Duty. This time, we are pulling security at one of the gates surrounding our hangar. It has been closed since we got here because we didn't have enough people to guard it (and we still don't - trust me). The DFAC is almost right next door to the hangar, but the gate to get into our compound is ALLLLLLL the way around the other side. This gate opens up practically right in front of the DFAC and I guess the weather was getting too cold for the officers to keep walking that far way.

I am going to the Non-Commisioned Officer of the Quarter Board on Wednesday. This is where you go into a room, sit in a chair that is facing a table-full of senior NCOs, and they fire Army-based questions at you. It is pretty nerve wracking, especially since I have BARELY STUDIED any of the material yet. Yikes! If I win, I will get a Battalion Coin (the military is big on coins), a Certificate of Achievement from the Battalion Commander (not as impressive as it sounds), and a 4-day pass. The last time someone won the 4-day pass, they went to Qatar for the weekend. I guess they have a little base there with stuff to do. It would be a nice break!

Oh yeah, so tonight is New Years Eve? Means nothing to me out here; I will have already been sleeping for quite a few hours by midnight! I'll make up for it next year!

4 months left!

2006-12-28T10:36:00.000+04:00

I checked the weather report this morning and it is 37 degrees in Baghdad. That is Fahrenheit, people! At least it hasn't been raining too much; just a sprinkle here and there.

Not too much else going on over here. The Battalion has been flooded with Christmas candies, snacks, and toiletries from nice people in the States. I don't think I'll need to buy gum for the rest of my life! I have still been donating platelets every week and have been able to recruit a few people from my unit to go down there, as well. I don't think I will volunteer at the hospital for a while; I feel bad, but it is getting too hard.

4 months left!

Christmas in Iraq

2006-12-27T09:03:00.000+04:00

Christmas wasn't too bad. They tried to make it really nice for us here - the Chaplain had tons of boxes and stockings for everyone, courtesy of a school and church. The DFAC also decorated and, in Army tradition, the Officers served lunch behind the buffet.

My family also sent me Christmas presents, so I would have something to open on Christmas Day (thanks family!).

2006-12-25T12:33:00.000+04:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Whoa

2006-12-21T09:00:00.000+04:00

I had dinner with the Command Sergeant Major of the Army last night.....that's huge. Here he is, talking to us about the future of the Army:

In other news, it is cold enough this morning that I can't feel my fingers as I am typing and I can see my breath when I exhale...did I mention I am sitting in my OFFICE?!!? I need heat :(

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2006-12-17T09:19:00.000+04:00

How many Christmas trees can one Battalion fit in a building? This is the hallway inside the hangar, where all the cool people work (I'm not bitter...just because they all have heated offices and I am rubbing my hands together over a space heater in my "office"). There are only two in the picture (there is a little one WAYYY at the end of the hall), but there is another one behind me that didn't get in the shot.

The last time we were here, they told us to pack up our stuff and wait for our convoy escorts to arrive. It was about this time 3 years ago, actually. I remember that everyone was very excited, and even though the trucks were a couple of days late, our spirits were still high. A couple of days became a couple of weeks and, with all of our equipment packed up, we didn't have phones or Internet to call our families on Christmas Day. I think that was the hardest part of the whole deployment for me, ya know, besides people trying to kill us all the time.

Last night was the Carrie Underwood concert. I didn't get to go, but my soldier did, and she had a good time. I guess the performers told the soldiers that they experienced their first "combat landing" coming into our FOB. Hee Hee. Combat landings are fun, especially watching people in the plane that have never been through one before. When an airplane lands in a combat zone, they fly the plane erratically so it is harder to shoot down. Lots of sudden dips and turns and if you didn't know better, you'd think the plane was about to crash. My first combat landing happened when I was a Private, coming to Iraq the first time. It was in one of those planes that only fit like 4 or 5 people in it (I came out a little while after the Battalion did, so I had to fly from Savannah to Iraq by myself...like I wasn't nervous enough!). I was sitting directly behind the pilot and could clearly see out the big front window. It took about an hour to fly from Kuwait to my FOB back then, and after 3 days of traveling across several times zones, I was exhausted. I remember waking up and feeling like my head was about to explode (you know how you sometimes need to pop your ears when you fly? I was sleeping, so they stayed "un-popped"). I looked out the front window of the plane and all I saw was the ground coming straight for us! They were tail-spinning the plane to get closer to the ground faster, so they wouldn't get shot down. It scared the hell out of me.

American Idol Mor-tour

2006-12-10T14:28:00.000+04:00

Ha ha, get it? Mor-tour, Mortar? Where do I come with up this stuff?!!? Um...k So I guess Carrie Underwood is coming here next week to sing for the troops. That's cool. I don't know what kind of music she sings, but I know she was on American Idol, hence my HILARIOUS pun. Chuck Norris was in country a couple of months ago, but I don't think he stopped by our FOB. Good old Donald Rumsfeld was here yesterday and actually walked through the female barracks to see how we were living. Unfortunately for me, I was at work (as usual) so I missed him. In fact, of all the celebrities that have come here while I was in country (Arnold Swarzeneggerjdhfs, Drew Carey, some cheerleaders, some country singers), I have not been able to see a single of of them. :(

The person who I realllllly want to see out here is the comedienne, Kathy Griffin. She is hysterical. I read CNN transcripts when I am bored; she was on Larry King the other day and just reading the transcript made me laugh. She is always over here, too - I just have missed her so far. I am definitely going to see her act when I get back to the States.

Something to Look Forward to

2006-12-09T18:09:00.000+04:00

this is going to be me after I get back to the States and eat everything in sight

2006-12-08T18:44:00.000+04:00

Here is a picture of our new hangar - it is going to be huge, considering the size of our planes. It is supposed to be done by the end of the month. I can't wait! That will also mean the end of guard duty! YAY

I am expecting 2 care packages from home - I hope there are bagels inside. That is my big thing out here - I eat at least one bagel everyday. Mark eats just as many as I do, so they go pretty fast. I bought a toaster over here with the European plugs and I get the little Philadelphia Cream Cheese packets from the DFAC (P.S. I like Thomas' New York Style Plain bagels, in case anyone wants to send me some).

If there is one constant theme in my thoughts, it is food. That is the main thing I miss from the States - I have been dreaming of Aussie Cheese Fries from the Outback Steakhouse for months now. I also miss cooking and baking, even though I am definitely still a beginner with the cooking. I can make some mean cupcakes, though! :)

Blah

2006-11-30T17:41:00.000+04:00

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!

2006-11-26T08:46:00.000+04:00

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!

2006-11-25T12:56:00.000+04:00

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

2006-11-23T08:25:00.000+04:00

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

2006-11-20T11:18:00.001+04:00

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

2006-11-16T10:49:00.000+04:00

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

2006-11-12T13:49:00.000+04:00

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

Iraqis love Oprah?

2006-11-08T11:10:00.000+04:00

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?

2006-11-05T19:30:00.000+04:00

Right now, it is HAILING here...

Boring...

2006-11-05T12:02:00.000+04:00

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....

2006-11-03T11:39:00.000+04:00

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?!?!?

2006-11-01T09:37:00.000+04:00

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...

Sigh

2006-10-30T09:20:00.000+04:00

I am only 1.5 episodes into Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy and I am already have a huge crush on Dr. Derek Shepherd.

My AWESOME New Bike

2006-10-28T09:13:00.000+04:00

Well...it's new to me. My supervisor acquired this for me and I am supposed to share it with one other person. My sister is going to send me a basket, blinking safety lights (for nighttime), and a lock. People keep telling me that that bike totally fits me, which is the same thing they said when I wanted to get one of those new VW Beetles.....I don't know what that means.

Double Rainbow

2006-10-25T18:04:00.000+04:00

My New Thing

2006-10-23T18:24:00.000+04:00

Recently, I made a Very Big Decision to start training for a marathon in March. I don't know if the Command is going to let us go; it is in Fallujah, which is just west of Baghdad. I went to a website made by a marathon expert where I got a week by week training guide to follow so I can prepare for this thing. I have never run more than 5 miles at a time, so we'll see how I will do with 26.2 miles! It wasn't even a month ago, I was making fun of my roommate for running a 10-mile "fun run" out here! What is wrong with me!?

This is in no way going to interfere with my mission here. That will always remain on the top of my priority list and in the front of my mind. I do all of my PT in my off-time now, and that will stay the same. I look at it like this: even if the Command decides that flying to Fallujah for a marathon is stupid and won't let us go, I will end up getting in the best shape of my life training for it. So, it's a win-win situation. I also bought a watch that tells me my heart rate while I am running, so I can make sure I am not overworking my heart. I expect something like this will change a person's whole lifestyle. I am obviously going to have to change my diet a bit...ofcourse being away from Chik-Fil-A and Wendy's helps (Chik-Fil-A is a really good fast food place in the South, they have the best waffle fries EVER....yummm).

So, here is a link to my training routine. I start training next week. Wish me luck!

UPDATE: I just found out that the marathon was cancelled. I am pretty disappointed, but I think I might just follow the training schedule and run the 26 miles on my own, just to do it.

ANOTHER ONE?!!?

2006-10-22T10:25:00.000+04:00

I may or may not be hallucinating, but I could have sworn I just saw a little mouse scamper behind my box of airplane propellers...

The Departed

2006-10-22T08:29:00.000+04:00

After work last night, my roommate and I (not the door slammer) went to see "The Departed" at the movie theater here. It had a pretty interesting story, but there was too much violence in it for me. Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio are in it. I don't know how long it has been out in the States, but I think movies come out here a week or two after they do over there. This was the third time I have been to the theater since we got in country; the other times, I went with Mark to see "Cars" and "Superman".

And just because I feel like it, here is a picture of some of the living accomodations from 2003, the last time I was here. I didn't think things were too bad for us at the time, because that is all we knew, but I don't think I could go back to that. Especially after living how we live now. Look how close the cots are to each other! The showers here are almost as good as they are in the States these days, so there is absolutely NO reason why people should smell bad...yet some still do. That is something I learned when I joined the Army: some people are just gross.

And you thought YOU were having a bad day...

2006-10-20T15:42:00.000+04:00

Sunglasses

2006-10-19T08:40:00.000+04:00

I got a package from my Dad yesterday. It had lots of great stuff in it, including some Hawaiian candies that look pretty good. And Twinkies! It is weird, though. While I was at the hospital on Tuesday, I lost my sunglasses and I was unhappy because it is so BRIGHT out here. I got my Dad's package the next day, and there was a new pair of sunglasses in it. So, that worked out pretty well. Thanks Dad!

Here is a picture taken during one of our "downpours." You can see the rain falling in the picture, but it only last for 5-10 minutes at a time, usually.

What's New

2006-10-18T08:17:00.000+04:00

So, remember that post a while back where I talked about how my First Sergeant has a countdown on his office wall of how many days we have left? The other day, he held a formation for the company. He told us that we had 199 days left and to celebrate, he burned the "2" from the 200's. I thought that was pretty cool. In a couple of weeks, I'll be halfway done! It already feels like I have been here for a whole year!!

Yesterday was my day off. I relaxed for the most part, volunteered for a couple of hours at the hospital, and watched a movie on my laptop (CopyCat). Mark is going home for R&R in 2 days(!). I'll miss him, but I am really happy that he is getting the chance to go home.

We are getting into the beginning of the "rainy" season here in Iraq. The average yearly rainfall is like 5 inches or something, but the soil over here is weird. So when it does rain, the water just sits there. I heard we can get flooded pretty quickly. It is also cooling off a bit more, which is a good thing, but also means there will be more bugs coming out. Someone in my unit has already gotten leishmaniasis from a sandfly bite. I have been noticing a lot more mosquitos around here, as well.

Tired Today

2006-10-13T14:19:00.000+04:00

I am so tired today! This morning, I woke up early to take my PT test (my scores were decent). Before I was told the date of the PT test, I made an appointment to donate platelets. Since I didn't want to cancel at the last minute, I ended up doing both....and now I feel like crap. They have a stack of DVDs over at the Aspheresis Center because it takes so long for one donation. Today, I watched about 3/4 of Deep Impact, that movie about the asteroid hitting the Earth.

I need to stop buying stuff on the computer. It has become my new hobby. I spent $150 at drugstore.com yesterday!?!?!? Amazon.com is the other one. For my own sake, hopefully the Army will block this website and I won't be able to go to it anymore, like they did with www.perezhilton.com (celebrity gossip).

Rain!

2006-10-12T08:32:00.000+04:00

With me freaking out about the mouse yesterday, I didn't even mention something interesting that also happened: it rained for about 5 minutes. It hasn't rained here since the first day I was here, almost 6 months ago. The sky is always blue; there are never even any clouds. So, when I walked outside to go to work yesterday, I felt the need to take pictures of all the clouds in the sky. I think it looks cool how you can see the rays from the sun through the clouds. Anyway, that is about all that is going on over here.

Gross

2006-10-11T13:06:00.000+04:00

I got to work this morning, nice and rested from my day off yesterday. I was sitting in my office, talking to someone, as I opened up one of the wall lockers. I leaned in, took a DEEP breath, and said, "Whoa, it smells really bad in here." The only thing I keep in there are files and paperwork, nothing that could have gone rotten, so that should have been my first clue that something was wrong. I looked down, and there was a DEAD MOUSE on the bottom shelf of the cabinet. As soon as my brain registered what it was, I RAN out of the office and stayed there, until the mouse was disposed of. My office still smells like death, even after taking everything out of that cabinet and spraying it with Lysol.

UPDATE: I've been thinking about it and I am pretty sure that dead mouse was the same one I've seen running around the office (I wrote a post about it a little while back). I think I may have closed the wall locker door, not realizing it was in there one night, and trapped it. I was wondering, just the other day, why I hadn't seen the little thing in a few days....it was probably already trapped at that point. ::shudder::

UPDATE: I was probably wrong. This place is INFESTED with mice. I have seen 2 more in my office since then!

Whats Happening Lately

2006-10-08T08:30:00.000+04:00

Yesterday, I got really into counting parts (LOL) and ended up staying at work 6 hours past my shift. Okay, so the last hour was unpacking the three care packages that I got (thanks, Mom!!!). It usually takes me around 2 weeks to do a complete inventory, because I am constantly getting called away to do other things, but out here people basically leave me to my own devices. I ended up taking care of half of my drawers, which I was very happy about.

This morning, my crazy roommate is running in the "Army 10-miler" they are doing here. First of all, who runs 10 miles in the heat of the desert?!? I want to go to the stadium, where they finish, so I can cheer her on, but I am at work now...plus I have never ran that much at one time, and I would have no idea how long it would even take people to do such a thing. Both of us are at our wits' end with the third roommate (the door slammer). I guess Gabriella was woken up last night several times by the D.S. and wasn't too happy about not getting a good night's sleep for the run. The tables have turned now that I get off work after D.S. goes to sleep, but I am too nice to slam the door like she does. Oh yeah, I work from 0700-1900 again. It was me that changed the shift this time, and I might stick with it, for a while anyway.

P.S. I have a PT test this weekend.

Bean Counting

2006-10-06T03:19:00.000+04:00

This week, I am starting a 100% inventory of all my UAV parts. It takes me about 2 weeks to do, since it is just me in my section, and because I have so many parts. Just to give an idea of how many, I added up the quantities in my Excel spreadsheet and it was over 22,000. BUT, I would guess that about 20,000 of them are little things like screws, nuts, washers, etc. I still have to count them all, though! Some of them are in my office, but most of them are in this trailer, called my S280. Whenever we travel, it hooks up to the back of a 5-ton truck. The S280 has 3 large cabinets inside, where I keep all the parts.

Even Funnier!

2006-10-05T05:31:00.000+04:00

I don't know how I missed this one when I was looking at the kids' signs. This has to be about 10x funnier than the one I posted the other day!

It says:
"Dear Soliders
Thank you for sving awer tawn I Love you"

Loosely translated, I think that means:
Dear Soldiers,
Thank you for saving our town. I love you.

I am just dying to know what area of the U.S. this guy lives in that the ARMY had to come in and save his town. That cracks me up!

And here are all the rest of them. I am sure there are a few more funny ones in the bunch, but more of them are very cute. You can click on the picture to make it bigger if you want to read them all. I like the one in the bottom right hand corner, with the yellow ribbon. I wonder if all these children are the same age, because that is one is really nice.

Time is Flying

2006-10-04T23:40:00.000+04:00

Someone asked me today how long I have been here and I surprised myself when I realized it has been 5 months already. I have been back from R&R for over a month!!! That went by very quickly. I have purposely not been keeping track of the days and as soon as someone mentions how much time we have left, I immediately try to tune them out. I will start my own little count-down when we're close to the end, maybe the last month.

Last night, I had off and got to sleep in. It was really nice. I got up in time to hang out with Mark after he got out of work, which was also nice. We went to the new MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) building and sat and chatted. There is a television in the day room of our housing area and I watched tv for the first time since I've been here. We only get a couple of channels, but they played shows like Will and Grace and King of Queens.

I'm really tired.

Picture of my new room

2006-10-03T02:22:00.000+04:00

I moved into a new room a few weeks ago, and I haven't posted any pictures yet, so here are some. They basically look exactly the same as my pictures of the other room I was in. I have 3 roommates in this new room, instead of 4, so that's good. I get along with one of them really well, her name is Gabrielle. The other one works completely opposite of me, so I hardly ever see her. She slams the door whenever she comes and goes, though, so I am very aware of her presence. The third roommate, Alexis, hasn't moved in yet, but I already know her...she's nice.

This first picture is a view from the opening of my area. I have a shower curtain that is usually pulled shut for privacy. I bought the blanket here, it is very soft and warm. Although it is still hot outside, the air conditioner makes the room really cold sometimes, so that blanket is the best. You can click on all these pictures to make them bigger.

This picture is just a different view. That little shelf was in the room when I moved in...much better than the table I had made out of spare wood. Oh, and there is my trusty M16!

The last picture is my view from my bed, when the shower curtain is open. I already know I am going to an email about this picture. Yes, that is your Yankees sweatshirt Shannon and no, I don't have any plan to give it back.

Cute

2006-10-02T01:18:00.000+04:00

In the main hall of the hangar, someone has posted letters from children wishing us well. They are all pretty cute, but this one is my favorite:

"Dearr Soldiers,

I hope you win . And try not to get killed. And thanks for fighting to keep our country free.

Sincerly
Mikey"

AHAHAHAHA

I'm FREE

2006-10-01T08:27:00.000+04:00

This morning, I was talking to one of our civilian contractors about finances and decided to pay off my car loan. I have been just making the monthly payments because I am trying to build my credit, but now I'm done! I wish I was in the States so I can do a victory lap in my car, but knowing me and my past driving record, I would probably total it and have to start all over!

My Life is Very Boring

2006-09-30T22:12:00.000+04:00

The days have been moving along quickly and without much excitement. Our canal has been fixed, but we are still on "restrictive measures". What does that mean? We still have to take "combat" showers and there is still a limit on how much laundry you can wash. But, on the bright side, the pool has reopened. Something just doesn't sound right about that. I don't know about other people, but I would rather be clean in fresh clothes than frolic around in my bathing suit at the pool.

What else has been going on lately? ... I donated platelets again yesterday... My mom is sending me some care packages, so I am very excited about that! ... Besides work and sleep, I don't do much, and since I can't talk about work, this blog isn't very interesting. Sorry! I got a brochure from the University of Maryland Online, so I am going down to the Education Center to sign up for Tuition's Assistance.

Yeah...that's about it.

Water Shortage

2006-09-26T01:01:00.000+04:00

In a previous post, I mentioned a water shortage. Well, my bad. I shouldn't have blamed the Air Force. Turns out, there is something wrong with the pump in the nearby canal we get our bathing and drinking water from (after it is filtered, of course). I hear it should be fixed in about a month, but until then we are going to be hurting. They are cutting off the water in all the toilets, forcing everyone to use port-a-potties. There are time restrictions on the showers and in some other buildings, they have shut them off completely. There is a new rule about how often you can wash your laundry. The pool is closed of course, but who cares about that? After being spoiled on this FOB for 5 months, it will be quite a downgrade from what I am used to, but I'll deal. As long as they don't run out of drinking water, we'll be okay.

I have off work tomorrow!

2006-09-23T02:10:00.000+04:00

I just saw a mouse in my office. Now, I know I am a soldier, in the Army, in Iraq, but...EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! **I hope it doesn't get into the wall locker I keep my snacks in**

Day Off YAY

2006-09-21T02:31:00.000+04:00

Yesterday I had off and made my way down to the hospital to donate some platelets. Here is one of the pictures that the Air Force MSgt that works in there emailed me. It is just a little trailer off the main tent of the hospital, with sandbags stacked around it.

The whole process took about 2 hours. It was really uncomfortable when the machine was putting my blood back in me, I was cold and my lips were very tingly. The Air Force medics gave me Tums to suck on while I was doing it, something about the calcium in them helping the tingling sensation. I like that place. The whole time, the people that work in there make it seem like your some big hero for donating, probably so you'll overlook the discomfort of it and come back. On my way out of the hospital, I got disoriented and almost walked into an operating room, while there was some kind of procedure happening in there! A Staff Sergeant saw me heading in that direction and steered me towards the exit. There wasn't even a door or anything. It's really confusing in there, but I guess I will get used to it.

The large amount of new Air Force people that just came in are starting to affect my life. There is now a water shortage on the post, and they won't even let us wash our hands before we eat in the DFAC. We have to use that hand sanitizer stuff, which is sure to work wonders on my eczema. This afternoon, there was no water in the living areas. Thankfully, I had already taken a shower, plus I brush my teeth with bottled water anyway, so that wasn't too bad. They say the water is safe to brush your teeth with, but the last time I was here, there was fecal matter in the water that came out of the sinks, so I think I will stick with the bottled water. :)

Shower

2006-09-16T01:11:00.000+04:00

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the shower that we had the last time we were here and the ones we have now. I am disgusted =D I guess I shouldn't complain too much about being here, because it could be worse, but I still will.

Moving Day

2006-09-15T19:48:00.000+04:00

Yesterday, after work, I moved down the hall to a new room. I think this room is a lot better than my old one, twice as much space, not as many roommates. My former roommates were very catty with each other. I didn't have to deal with it because I was always working, but their arguing woke me up a few times, and that's never a good thing (IYsleep). Plus, one of them works at the DFAC, so she always smells like whatever they cooked that day.

Ramadan

2006-09-14T21:18:00.000+04:00

Next week starts the month-long Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse are not allowed between dawn and sunset. During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry and sarcastic retorts, and gossip. I guess that is not the case with the extremists that live around our base: the *fireworks* have already started increasing. We now have to wear all of our body armor (pictured on right) while we are outside of the hangar or our sleeping quarters. At least it isn't 100 million degrees anymore, so it's bearable.

I got my first look at my evaluation this evening. It is called an NCOER (Non-Commissioned Officer Evaluation Report) and it is a two-page report that my supervisor fills out, stating how I am doing, what I need to improve on, and what my potential is. It was actually really good. Kinda scary, my supervisor thinks they need to move me out of my section and put me in charge of an entire warehouse. It's flattering that he thinks I'll do a good job, but I've been in charge of my own section for the past 3 years and I am pretty comfortable here. I work in my own office and everything is set up the way I made it and like it. When things go wrong, there is no wrong to blame but me, but when I do a good job, there is also no one to share the credit with. I like that. I am a glory hog.

My First Trip to the Hospital

2006-09-13T23:10:00.000+04:00

I made it down to the hospital this morning for my platelet pre-screening. I filled out the proper paperwork and then they took some sample from me to make sure my body was healthy enough to donate. I have been turned away a couple of times in the past at the Red Cross in Savannah, once to a low-grade fever and twice to low iron levels. While my iron was on the low side, the medic said I would be okay to donate. He got very excited about the results of my platelet count. From what he told me, the average count is around 250 and I had "300-something." The rest of the tests they are doing on my blood take a few days. They're going to send me an email when the results come in, so I can make an appoinment to donate.

While I was there, I also met with an Air Force Captain about my interest in volunteer work. He gave me a tour, which didn't take very long; the hospital is not much more than several connecting tents. The TV show MASH is slightly before my time, and I've never seen it, but I imagine it looks something like that. It was slightly jarring to see all the casualties there. I saw someone that had gotten his legs blown off, probably by an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) and while I was there, a helicopter came in with some more casualties. Most of the injured people I saw there were local Iraqis, actually. I know this sounds bad, but it made it easier to be there. If I saw dying American soldiers, I think it would be harder to handle. It would remind me too much of people in my own unit. But, we'll see how it goes; I only have one day off a week, so I don't know how much good I'll be.

Other than that, things have been business as usual. Work is work, and every day that passes is one closer to the day I can leave this country. Next month is Mark's birthday, so I am looking on the Internet for things to order for him. He has decided to take R&R afterall, and he will actually get to be home for his birthday.

This picture is one that I took on our flight line, just as the sun was coming up. The strange looking planes you see are called Sherpas. We share our hangar with quite a few different type of aircrafts.

2006-09-11T08:15:00.000+04:00

Same Shift, Different Day

2006-09-09T08:25:00.000+04:00

I changed my mind about my shift hours. It's not too bad after all. By the time I walk to work, the sun is about to set, so it isn't too hot anymore and by the time I get off work, it is just starting to heat up. The temperature is getting a lot milder, too. Once I have my outdoor thermometer set up, I will know exactly how much cooler it has gotten.

I also now have the opportunity to do PT (exercise) with my soldier on a daily basis. I am getting her ready to go to the Promotion Board to get promoted to Sergeant. They grow up so fast! I am going to smoke the hell out of her and get her in the best shape of her life. I made a PT schedule this morning that included lots of 2 and 4 mile runs, abdominal, and upper body workouts. I've lost my extra fat and now it is time to tone it up. I am going to come home looking like some kind of body builder. It is going to be disgusting. :-)

I am going to go down to the hospital next week to donate my plasma. If it isn't too traumatizing to see all the war victims, I think I might volunteer down there on my days off. Starting today, my day off is Tuesday! I am trying to become a better person while I am out here, inside and out. I am waiting for information from a college to take online classes, too. Right in the middle of my shift, around 2-4 am, there is usually absolutely nothing happening, so I figure I could get a few college credits taken care of. It will make the day go by faster anyway.

The picture on the right is our 1SG's way of being funny. I try not to look at it, because the number is so high, it's depressing. That picture was taken before I went home on R&R, so it's actually not that high anymore. I still don't want to know what the number is.

If You Have Time To Read This Blog, You Have Time To Do This

2006-09-08T21:45:00.000+04:00

I discovered this today: www.thehungersite.com if you go to this website, and click on the "Help Feed the Hungry" link in the center of the page, the company that runs it will donate 1.1 cups of staple food to the needy. You can go to the site and click the link every day; there is no limit! It takes about 3 seconds to click on it, so what are you waiting for?

Back in Iraq

2006-09-04T20:12:00.000+04:00

I got back from R&R the other day. It was such a tease and only made me want to be home for good even more!! I did enjoy the break though, and I got to see basically my entire family and all of my friends. I had a lot of fun, as well. The traveling back was exhausting and now, two days later, I am still recovering from it.

It is nice to see most of the people in my unit again. I did miss them, even if I didn't miss this place. It is still as hot as ever. In a couple of months, it should be cooling down considerably, so I am counting the days until then. When it gets cold, I will complain about how freezing I am! But I am prepared for it: I already have a heater stowed away in my office and am starting my hot chocolate stash.

I am slightly irritated with my Platoon Sergeant, again about the shift hours. I won the last argument and was happily working 0100-1300 (1am-1pm). I found out about an hour after I got back to our base that my shift is now 1900-0700 (7pm-7am). I feel like they waited until I left so I couldn't say anything about it. I have already started another campaign to switch my shift. It is a little trickier this time, as I now have an "assistant" who will be doing my job for the 12 hours I am off, and I need to accomodate her too. We'll see what happens.

Miss you guys already. See you next summer!!!

These Crazy American Laws!

2006-08-18T20:25:00.000+04:00

Note to self: in the United States, they have things called traffic lights and when the red light pops up, you need to STOP.

A Hop, Skip, and a Jump Later...

2006-08-16T00:28:00.000+04:00

After 4 bus rides, 4 flights, two trips through Customs, 5 buses, and one train ride later, I am home! Time for a nap :)

Time to Go....Almost

2006-08-11T04:40:00.000+04:00

Between Pro-Hezbollah ralleys in Downtown Kuwait and the terrorists getting caught at Heathrow, I am sure there will be some delays with my flights home. I wonder how long it is going to take to get through customs now! I heard on the news they were going to stop letting people bring liquids in their carry-on bags because of what happened in London.

I get 15 days altogether and they don't start the clock until I land in NY. I am very excited, but worried about walking through LaGuardia Airport in my uniform. If I have to take the train home from Penn Station, I will definitely be changing into civilian clothes!

I am definitely ready to get out of here!!!!!
See you soon :)

How are you spending YOUR summer? Blah

2006-08-06T01:15:00.000+04:00

Things have been going pretty well lately. I am still training my replacement on the ins-and-outs of my job. I am supposed to leave in 7 days, but I have heard of people getting stuck in Ali Al Salem (Kuwait) for a few days waiting for a flight. I bet there is no delay getting us back over here though!

Other than that, nothing crazy has been going on. I haven't been working out as much on this shift, since it is usually 115 degrees when I get off work. Our "gym" is in a tent surrounded by concrete barriers, and it is not air conditioned. The first time I ran on the treadmill in there, I thought I was going to DIE. :) I run for 30 minutes and it usually ends up around 3 1/2 miles. My goal is to be able to run 4 miles in 30 minutes. I think I will be there by end of the summer. Here is a picture of the outside of the gym.........

Fun in the Sun

2006-08-03T03:31:00.000+04:00

Things has been extra busy over here lately. I am training my replacement on how to do my job while I am in the States. I leave in 10 days! It's going by pretty quickly. On one hand I want to stay here and continue working, because I know what I am doing, what my UNIT is doing, is very important. On the other hand, I need a BREAK!!! Seeing the same people and having the same schedule every day can get trying. I have barely thought about what I want to do while I am home. Well, I know I want to sleep and go to the beach! But I want to make sure this soldier knows how to do my job. I will be really mad if I have to come back here and fix a few weeks worth of mistakes!

I got a chance to go to the outdoor pool on post the other day. I've been there 3 or 4 times so far, on my days off from work. It's nice to be there, surrounded by people NOT wearing military uniforms. I played water volleyball with some people I met there, and I almost forgot where I was for a while...until an Apache helicopter flew right over the pool. Well, here is a picture. You can see me in the lower right hand corner (click on the picture to enlarge it), talking to some other people in my unit. Thanks for the bathing suit and sunglasses, Katie. As you can see, they are already being put to good use!

A Whole Post About Toilets

2006-07-28T07:15:00.000+04:00

Compared to the last time I was here, this place really is like heaven. To the left is a side-by-side comparison I made: the toilet that was used by my unit in 2003 and the ones we use today (bathroom is the one inside my barracks). Yes, that is a chair with a toilet seat tied to it, positioned over a hole (note the camouflage netting for privacy). Pretty disgusting, but people will get used to mostly anything if they have to. The hole in the ground was eventually replaced with port-a-potties that were cleaned out about once a week. When 50+ people are using the same 3 port-a-potties for a week, it will get funky pretty quickly. Trust me. Don't get me wrong, I still have to use a port-a-potty at work, but they are cleaned twice a day; they are decidedly cleaner that most people would expect.

I am loving the fact that the bathroom and shower room are situated inside the barracks. It gets very old to have to carry all your shower supplies, plus fresh uniforms, all the way to the outside showers. If I can find a picture of the shower we used to shower in, yes that was singular..ONE shower, I will post it next to our present day facilities. Now, THAT was disgusting. Besides the traces of fecal matter in the water, the walls were covered with a slimy substance that could not be gotten rid of. I wouldn't have DREAMED of stepping foot in their without my flip flops on, but even those were almost futile, since the drain was always clogged and there was at least 2 inches of standing water on the floor at any given time. I feel dirty just thinking about it.

I am very excited because, in two weeks, I will be flying to New York to visit my family and friends! My "R & R" is two weeks long; everyone in the unit gets to go home at one point during the deployment. I have only been here for 3 months, so it is going to suck to come back and have to stay for 9 more, but I am not complaining! Mark's R & R was scheduled for July (they picked names in a lottery for who got what month), but he turned his down because he didn't want to leave the fight so early.

P.S. I received 2 care packages yesterday, thanks Mom! Lots of good stuff in this one!!

Things That Go Bump in the ... Day

2006-07-23T01:30:00.000+04:00

Sorry I felt like this post was a little too informative, so I had to delete it!

SOOOOOO Tired!

2006-07-17T08:41:00.000+04:00

Today is the first day of my new shift. I need to get used to my new sleeping schedule, it has done a total 180, but I think I will enjoy working 1am-1pm. It's nice and quiet for the first few hours. I had the chance to start my Rosetta Stone Language Course (Spanish). I set up a cot in my office, in case I got tired, but I have managed to pull through so far.

I tried to sleep the day away yesterday, but was kept awake by my 4 roommates. I didn't take them into consideration when all this started and now I wonder if we're going to have "issues." I don't know when they work, because they always seem to be in the room. We each have our own bunkbed and have partitioned the room using wall lockers and shower curtains to ensure maximum privacy. That doesn't stop sounds and smells, unfortunately. Last night, I walked in my room and it smelled like potatoes. I have NO idea what that was about. Maybe one of the girls brought home a plate of food from the DFAC....I hope.

Home Is Where the Heat Is

2006-07-15T17:18:00.000+04:00

GAH! It is hot out today. July is the hottest month in Iraq, with August following closely as the second hottest. If you stand outside, there is a little wind, but I am not exaggerating in the least when I write that the wind feels like a blowdryer is pointed at you. Unfortunately, I don't have air conditioning in my office, but the room next to me does, so I keep my door open and steal some of the cold air. It works pretty well. :)

Well, today I found out that I am switching shifts with the rest of the company (no thanks to my Platoon Sergeant, by the way)!! I hear the Omelette Station at the DFAC calling my name! I get to eat breakfast. This is what my life has come to, being excited that I get to work during breakfast hours at the Dining Facility. My new shift is 1am-1pm (5pm-5am NY time). I will no longer have the same day off as Mark, but we're on the same shift, so we will still be able to walk home from work together every afternoon. Right now, I work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. My day off falls on the 8th day, i.e. last week, my day off was Tuesday, this week it was Wednesday, next week Thursday, etc.

P.S. I tried to find a picture of a egg frying on a sidewalk, since I talked about both the heat and eggs, but I am not as internet-savvy as I'd thought....so here is a picture of my room.

Avoid Fruits and Nuts: You Are What You Eat!

2006-07-14T16:07:00.001+04:00

I can't really complain about the food here. It's not great...it's not terrible...it IS free. Well, the food at the DFAC is anyway. I don't eat too much of the Burger King, Pizza Hut, or Subway they have here on the base. But, the food is always better at home. Here is a list of foods (in no particular order) that I am going to eat when I go home:

1. Slice of Pizza, Plain - Alitalia's Pizza - West Babylon, NY
2. BLT w/Cheese on a Hero Roll and Yoo-Hoo - Jessen's Deli - West Babylon, NY
3. Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich and a Large Iced Tea - Jessen's Deli - West Babylon, NY
4. A Still Warm Plain Bagel w/Cream Cheese - Bagel Factory - West Babylon, NY
5. 5-pc. Chicken Nuggets w/Honey Mustard Sauce and Biggie Fries - Wendy's - Anywhere

I have lost 20 pounds in the 2 months I have been out here, and as you can see from my list, I will be gaining it all back within a week of me getting to the U.S.

P.S. This picture was taken the last time I was here, in 2003. I don't have any pictures of me out here yet. I will have someone take some soon!

Another Day, Another Tax-Free Dollar

2006-07-14T00:02:00.000+04:00

Today was just another day at work for me (see schedule below). I am still fighting for the right to change shifts with the rest of my company. I will be working 1am-1pm instead of 1pm-1am. I sent a very detailed email to my Platoon Sergeant, telling him all the reasons he should switch me. I haven't seen him since then. I bet it pissed him off, and he'll probably say no just because I wrote him that email!

Both of my sisters are sending me care packages! I am excited. The mail room is on the way to my office, so I check the list for my name everyday on my way to work. It's always exciting when I see my name, like getting a letter at summer camp or something.

I had a day off yesterday. I read the remaining chapters of "The Shining" and had dinner with Mark at the DFAC (it was his day off, too!). Then we went to the makeshift movie theater they have here, where "JFK" was playing. That was my day off. Fun stuff.

P.S. I took the above picture a couple of weeks ago. It is one of our UAVs taking off.

Why I am Here

2006-07-11T18:00:00.000+04:00

I was sitting in the mission office last night, watching a live feed from our UAV camera on a big television screen. At the time, we were watching some guy sitting in his backyard. A small child appeared and the man picked him up and hugged him. It made me realize that the people here are ACTUALLY PEOPLE. It makes me feel better about being here. The military really is helping the people of Iraq. I was here back in 2003 and the improvements since then have been enormous. Maybe we started off being here for the wrong reasons, but we are making a difference here. it makes me angry to see people in the States, protesting with signs, hunger strikes, yelling for the troops to come home. Sure, it would be nice to come back to the States, but Iraq is not strong enough yet. If we leave now, what will happen to Iraq's people? What did the 2500+ soldiers die for? As soldiers, we are doing our jobs. We have been trained for this. None of us had a gun put to our heads when we agreed to join the Military. When we came to Iraq, we knew full well that we may not come back alive. I don't know. Those stupid protestors just piss me off, especially the celebrity ones. Just shut up and make movies!

P.S. The "small child" I saw may have been a dog. I'm no expert :)

Cabin Fever

2006-07-09T18:12:00.000+04:00

I think I am beginning to feel the effects of my monotonous schedule. Not to bore you, but here is my daily schedule:

1100 hrs (11:00am): Alarm clock goes off (I press snooze)
1200 hrs (12:00pm): I wake up and get dressed for the day.
1245 hrs (12:45pm): I arrive at my office and get my brief of last night's activities.
1300-1800 hrs (1pm-6pm): I sit in my office, returning emails, filing paperwork, ordering parts. Occasionally, people will pop their heads in to say hello and see how I am doing.
1800-1900 hrs (6pm-7pm): I walk to the Dining Facility (DFAC), which is conveniently located next door.
1900-0100 hrs (7pm-1am): Back to my desk, where I return more emails. My friends and family are at work now in the States, so we exchange emails too. The company that I order my parts from are also at work in the States now, so we exchange emails, as well.
0100 hrs (1am): I brief the incoming soldier about my day's activities and I walk home.
0200-0300 hrs (2:00-3:00am): I work out at the gym
0330 hrs (3:30am): Shower
0345 hrs (3:45am): Bed

That's it. EVERY. DAY. FOR. ONE. WHOLE. YEAR. Sometimes something will happen to mix it up. I will volunteer to be on the crew for the launch of our aircraft...We'll get mortared (always exciting!)...I'll sneak away to the shopette to pick up personal hygiene items...

We are getting ready to swap shifts next week. There is a debate on whether or now they will switch me, but I am fighting for it. The main appeal for this shift to me is that breakfast is served at the DFAC during it, and I will be able to have a made-to-order omelette every day. Yum!