The Month After

I confess that I am less than great at posing new pages to this blog. I apologize. I am now safe and sound at home and have been so for the last couple of weeks. In some ways, coming home has been harder than the rest of the deployment. I was stuck in purgatory in FT Hood for several day, but as I look back I am glad I was. It gave me an opportunity to see some family that I hadn't seen in some time. I also got some cowboy boots that make me giggle with glee.

The next two posts that are going to be posted were written September of last year. They are still incomplete but show some of what was going through my mind at the time. Please enjoy

My Thoughts On Laundry

During my stay in Iraq, I have been thinking more about clean clothes. I spend more time sweating and getting dirty than I have ever been in my life. Not even camping did I every get this sweaty. I go through a lot of clothing here. But one of the benefits of being deployed is that there are contractors who do your laundry for you. The only draw back is that you lose access to your clothing for 3 days. So, if you’re like me and procrastinate to the point where you have less than two days worth of clothing… you can just see how this ends up. Me back at the PX buying more T-Shirts and socks… However, I finally have found a place where it is do it your self. Huzzah! So right now I am sitting in the laundry mat and waiting for my clothes to dry. The whole last month’s worth of dirty clothes. Actually, I think this is going to be a two-day thing for me. Mostly because I have procrastinated until late this evening to take care of it, but some because I have three bags of dirty clothes. Full bags… it pretty much amounts to about six loads… but I sure am sorting my laundry.

Its been a while...

Today was September 11. It feels like a normal day, but it isn't really. We as a nation looked back today and remembered the tears and terror of that day a decade ago. I look at the pictures from that day and i try to figure out what i felt that day. I don't remember much. I was an 11 year old sitting in my english class when my home room teacher ran into the room and, much to our surprise turned on the TV. This tall building was on fire and the news caster was talking about an explosion in a building i had never heard about, in a city i only knew from in movies and read about in books. It was so far away and we were insulated by the distance and our youth. but we could tell the teachers were upset, so we were quiet for the most part. We saw the second plane fly into the tower. The film seemed kinda grainy and didn't show much detail. There was a gray shadow and a fireball that shot out of the other tower. There was horror in the voices of the newsmen when they said that another plane had crashed into the second tower. No one really thought that someone crashed that plane into the first tower on purpose. We all thought that it was just some dumb pilot who got lost or fell asleep or just made a mistake. We found out later that it was no accident that something called a terrorist from this weird and unpronounceable organization had done this to our country. They had killed all those people just to make a point.

This is me being whiney....

If you couldn't guess form the title... I might be complaining a little bit in this one...
I miss home and all the wonderful things their... like having a flush toilet that I can get to in the middle of the night that didn't involve putting on shoes and getting a flash light. Also, it sucks if you forget your towel in your CHU and you have almost gotten all the way ready for your shower and you realize that the durn thing is still hanging on a hook in your room... along the same lines is when you walk all the way to the chow hall and get to the door only to realize that while you do have your wallet, your ID card is still in your pocket... in the pant that you left in your laundry bag... in your room... I'm just glad my head is firmly attached to my shoulders... i would be in deep trouble if it wasn't.
Ok, I'm done with complaining for now.
I also have some good things to say about this place. Now that Im used to the heat in this place it's not so bad. The food is good, and the pay is pretty nice. I love my job, and with one exception, they guys Im working with are pretty awesome. I have been learning a lot. Things like darts. Such a useful skill :D.

Thanks for all the support I'm getting from back in the states. It really dose brighten my days.

travel time...

I'm sorry this post is so late. I have been in transit for the last couple of weeks, and I haven't found the time to take care of this like I had wanted too.
SO... In the last three weeks I have visited home and been stuffed to the gill, I flew half way across the world, I was caught in my first sand storm, got my first massage, haggled over a purchase (that was kinda cool) ,and am now living in a war zone. Hows that for an adventure?!
While I was home, I saw lots of people. First I went home, after a brief stop in Rock Hill...
It was so nice being some where that the main color is green. I forgot how pretty green is when I am stuck somewhere with so little green. It was almost like I woke up in a fairy tale cottage, that first day back. I miss trees. Anywhoo... while I was at grandpas house, me and momma went for a pedicure. I didn't find out until later that that was the first time mom had done that. So it was kinda cool. I know that I enjoyed it, and I think that mom did as well. She did pick such a lovely shade of lavender. My toes are burgundy with a really pretty design. The next day, we had this massive cookout, with uncle Richard as the grill master. He did a wonderful job on the steak, and the rest of that feast was wonderful as well. The next day I went to see Dad and Sharon at the camp. I was dined to great extent once again. After lunch we went for a walk and dad showed us the lake lodge. It seems like overtime I have gone to see dad the place shows more and more progress, and more beauty. After we were done there, I went back to Rock Hill with the foxes, and we went to see green lantern. It was wonderful! So good, in fact that as soon as it comes out on itunes, I am going to get it. With great enthusiasm!!!
Then Back to Ft Hood for a few days, and then we were off to Kuwait. The flight over took us almost a whole day. Actually I think it did... especially with the time changes included. It was our commanders birth day, so we celebrated it with great irreverence and some of the guys pitched in and got him a very inappropriate bar of soap. It was hilarious! then we flew on to stop in Germany, and then on to Kuwait. The Movie selection on the plane wasn't so bad, but I think I slept through all of them. At least they didn't play Black Hawk Down like they did on the flight the last time the guys went over.
I'm just going to put this out now, Kuwait is kinda like Tatooine. Its bleak, sandy, and there are people walking around in funny(to my eyes) clothes. Right now I'm kinda like Luke, Glad Im outta there.
I apologize for this blogs length, and lateness. I will endeavor to work on that in the future
Thanks For Reading

Pirate flags and dust....

Im gonna say it now... Pirate flags are cool! I enjoy finding different flags and learning about them and the pirates that flew them. However, my favorite pirate flag is the flag that Blackbeard flew. The biggest reason I like it is because of esprit de corps. It is our flag... the thing that represents our company best. I got one the other day and we are going to be flying it as soon as we can find the parts to securely secure it to its impromptu flag pole outside the guys barracks. I cant wait to see it fly again.

Texas, or at least the part I'm in, is horrendously dusty. You ride in the back of a humvee, when you get out, you are tinted gray and your mouth is gritty. Great clouds of the stuff come up whenever there is a good gust of wind, or a helicopter takes off from the landing pads. We love it when it rains here because it keeps the dust down for a few days. I guess I will have to get over it. I just don't want to.

I do have some good news! The next post I make on this blog will be from home, because I have a four day pass. I'm looking forward to some time with my family and friends. (insert enthusiastic pirate sound)

Another long day at the great place...

The cruelest of ironies... Ft Hood is called the great place. I mean its every where you go. On the signs when you go in the gates, all over the base where they are doing construction work... I wouldn't be surprised if they figured out how to print it onto the instant mashed potatoes that they serve us in the dfac. I guess it could be worse... at least it doesn't smell like Ft Jackson... And they do have a special touch with the taters :D
Last week my unit was doing some environmental training in New Mexico. I wish we could have done some more. The accommodations were very nice... just haunted. It was kinda cool hearing the stories about that place. We had to walk every where or pay for a taxi, but I still hit some nice restaurants. There was this one called the elephant bar, and it was delicious. If I ever go back, I will eat there. I ate this Ahi tuna rice bowl, and some really good spinach artichoke dip and some strawberry lemonade. It was so stinking wonderful!!! It seems like some of the best, and worse, things about being in the army was the food. I guess you can say I'm a bit of a fan of food.
I got some kinda cool news the other day. It turns out I have a distant cousin in the army reserves, and he is coming to N. Ft Hood soon. How cool is that? Im super excited. Its always neat to find out that I have more family in the army than I thought.
In other news, I have pass in less than 16 days. I'm thrilled!
Wish me luck!