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!