Five Years Later

It's hard to believe that this month makes five years since I returned from Iraq.  I left Fort Hood, Texas  on March 10, 2004 and returned on March 17, 2005.  I don't think I was ever as excited as I was that day.  When I saw Mike I couldn't even keep the big grin off my face.  Of course, I had a few days to get back into the swing of things at home.  So I thought I'd share a picture show of my homecoming.

Tons of laundry dropped by the door

Of course, I had to call everyone to say I was home.  Max was glad to see me.

It was nice, warm, and sunny...too nice to stay indoors

Mike took me to a drive-thru safari..where we saw ostriches.......

and little ponies.....

Some sort of antelope thingies....

Different types of deer....

Even white deer....

....and babies.....(see us with the baby goats in the side bar!)

You can't forget Donkey....

Creatures with long tongues....

...and, of course, that camel.

We had a wonderful time that day.  Of course, there was a lightning and thunder storm rolling in that day.  You can see the dark clouds in the side bar pics.  We also took a fishing trip for bass to a lake in North Texas, and a few weeks of travel to North Carolina to see my family and Mike's sister and family, who was living near Baltimore, Maryland at the time.  I was so glad to be home.

*Note*  I know I haven't been around much this past week.  We've had end of year phyical inventory, and I prefer to call it Hell Week.  I worked from 8 a.m. Friday to 10:30 p.m. Friday, and I still had to come in for half a day on Saturday.  Of course, all my reports were due today.  So, I have just been busier than a bee in a clover field.  I got a few chicken pics over the weekend, but they weren't great.  I will try to get some posted this week.

Better Day

Today has been a bit better day.  Last night was rough, though.  I fell asleep around 9 p.m. with the tv on.  Woke back up, clicked it off and went right back to sleep.  But I woke again around midnight.  I laid in bed (with Mike and three dogs, we were baby sitting my nieghbor's dog cause he had to go somewhere).  I just couldn't go back to sleep.  It was nearly 2 a.m., so I got up and watched Animal Planet.  About 3 a.m. I went back to bed, but couldn't sleep still.  It was around 4:30 a.m. when I finally dozed off, and had to get up at 6 a.m. for work.  So I got very little sleep last night.

Got a call from SFC Cook today before lunch.  I was gonna call her if she hadn't called after lunch.  She had bad news and good news.  The bad news is that there were too many people worried about rules and regs than good soldiers.  So I am getting outprocessed from the Army Reserves.  I was considering going back to my old part time job at a local gas station.  Last time I worked there they got robbed, and one of my co-workers was shot in the back of the head point blank.  (He lived)  Plus, I'd be getting home around 1 a.m. and having to get up at 6 a.m.  I'd certainly be able to make more money, but I'd be working every week as opposed to one weekend a month.  There was good news, however.  She said that once the paper work was processed (2-4 weeks) I could take that same paperwork right down to a recruiter and get right back in, and even got back to the same unit I was in.  Of course, you know I argued the stupidity of that.  It is a complete waste of time, money, personnel, and paperwork.  But then again, we are talking about the government.  So, I probably will not be participating in March's drill, which is okay, because it is a field experience with boring classes and running another range at Fort Bragg.  I really was not looking foreward to it.

As far as my civilian job, it is quite a headache right now.  We are doing a full annual inventory this weekend, which means late night Friday and all day Saturday at work.  That should help because it means overtime.  But it also means that I have to have everything I do for the whole district, including end-of-month reports done right away, and right.  I'm finding crazy mistakes that are not necessarily ours, that date back as far as last August!  That's part of why I was cranky yesterday.  I know this will all spill into next week as well.  I just want it to hurry and get over all ready!

AND......I was excited about my hens that we raised from last spring and summer starting to lay this year.  But I got a huge disappointment this week!  Four of the five RI/Buff hens are squaring off now and trying to become fathers!  I now have four red-headed cockrels that I have no use for!  Unless I can find them new homes, they will probably end up in the freezer.  I just won't be the one to do the ugly deed.  I simply cannot kill any animal that I have been feeding and taking care of in captivity.  I'll probably give one of the chickens to a neighbor if they do the deed for me.  I want February to just be over now!!

Good Weekend, Bad Monday

We had a very nice weekend.  It was sunny and fairly warm!  Saturday, Mike made another little chicken coop.  And I spent a good part of the day cleaning out the storage shed.  It was so full that you could barely get inside the door.  I cleared out tons of junk!  There is so much space in there now! 

Our friend, Les, had gotten a few roosters from us earlier this year.  He ended up returning some.  He returned two white silkie roosters because he didn't really have room for them.  Then he returned a white mixed bantam rooster.  The white bantam (which is a pretty bird) got put in with another bantam hen that just started laying her first eggs a couple of weeks ago.  One of the silkie roosters also got put in with another bantam hen that just started laying.  I didn't know if that would work, but he's topping her (that's what I call it anyway, to be mild).  So we will see how that goes, eh?!

Then, my younger sister called to just say hi, and Mike told her to bring the kids over to spend the night.  So she did.  And it started out pleasant.  But Saturday night didn't end well.  Cheyanne is eight years old, and did quite well.  Joel, who just celebrated his sixth birthday last month, had a big problem.  First, a little history (in a nutshell).  He's got a very short attention span and was recently diagnosed with ADD.  He's now on medication that has changed him tremendously (mostly in a good way) and has also helped him in school.  But just before dinner he said that his stomach was hurting.  He ate very little dinner and only one bite of his ice cream sandwich.  Then the nastiness began.  It was diahrea all night long.  He was laying in bed with Mike watching tv and fell asleep.  When I went to move him it came from both ends.  I stripped the bed and his clothes and put him in the bath.  Clothes and bed sheets got thrown onto the porch till morning.  It happened again, and we went through the same routine.  I had no medicine for him, and his mom was not answering her cell phone.  So we trudged through the night and he woke feeling better Sunday morning.  He did throw up again late Sunday morning after jumping on the neighbor's trampoline and spent the rest of the time on the couch watching cartoons.  His mom came to pick up JJ and Cheyanne just after lunch. 

Mike and I just piddled around with odd jobs outside.  The weather was just too nice to stay indoors.  He put the wire on the breeding coop he made, and I moved around some chickens.  We've got several roosters that have been alone most of the winter.  No need to have hens getting roughed up if they're not laying.  So, I grabbed a few hens and put them in with roosters.  And Mike put an Omaha Steaks roast on the grill over some oak wood.  It turned out very delicious!  We had au jus that we dipped french fries into, and a spinach and tomato salad.

Then, I came to work this morning.  It was not pleasant.  I think I will spare those details, but I get e-mail updates that tell me about jobs that become available in the area.  Still waiting on a call from SFC Cook about the reserves.  She told me Friday that I'm probably getting the boot out the door.  She was checking so regs for some way around (I don't really believe that) but she would let me know for sure today or tomorrow.  The really stupid part is I can go see a recruiter and get right back in.  That's the U.S. Government (not) hard at work.  Whatever.  I'm in a pissy mood today, and almost didn't post.  I only did because I haven't since last Wednesday.

This and That

Being sick really sucks, don't it?  Mike got sick around the first of the year with a pretty bad cold.  He got mostly better.  He still had pressure in his head and started have bad dizzy spells.  We were reluctant to go to the doctor, Cause there's no insurance on Mike.  But we broke down and took him anyway, yesterday.  He was worrried they were gonna say brain tumor or something outrageous like that.  Of course, we both really agreed it was probably an ear infection causing fluid build-up in his ears.  So, $125.00 later, the doc says it's an infection causing fluid build-up.  How is that right?  What did I give him that money for?  A prescription?  I still had to pay for that at the pharmacy!  That was another $35 to add to it.  He prescribed an antibiotic and a steroid.  Strangely enough, my mom had given him that same antibiotic a week or so ago, and it didn't work.  Doc says it's because he needed the steroid to go with it.  We will have to see, eh?!

Thank you all for your kind words about Black Kitty.  They were greatly appreciated.  In fact, that was the most comments I have ever received on any post.  Gotta head out this afternoon.  Meeting with my career counselor for the army.  We will have to see where things go, as tomorrow is supposed to be my last day with the army reserves.  Don't wanna get out, but they gotta play the right cards, too.  Wish me luck!

Army and Weather

Not the best weekend.  One of the computer systems was down at Fort Bragg, so there was no time for scenarios.  So I only got to qualifiy with my M-16.  I got 33 out of 40, so not too bad. I would've been happier with 36+.  But a coupleI hit all of the 300 meter targets, though. It was all computerized (not like the real range we went to in November).  It was still kinda cool, but I was so exhausted Saturday night, as I haven't been sleeping well lately.  Sunday I took the PT (Physical Training) test....and failed miserably.  Well, I failed the run by a little over 2 minutes.  If I don't take it and pass by February 25th then I will be demoted, and my school appointment in New Jersey for March 4th will be cancelled. Bah!  But once I do pass it, because I have so much time in service and time in grade, I will be re-promoted immediately.  Go figure.  I'll give it a shot.  I just hate running alone.  I enjoy running, but give me a running partner.
Work has gotten a little too busy.  Things got pretty busy for a good spell there, and I have tons of paperwork to catch up on.  I'm getting there.  But our copier went kaput.  Boss says he's requisitioned a new one, but for several thousand dollars it takes approval that corp. thinks we have time for.  I did get a table top fax, scanner, copier, printer today.  It's pretty nice, too.  But I have about 1,500 pages that are awaiting copying, and I don't think a table top can handle that load.  I may have to give it a go, though.
It's cold and rainy out AGAIN!  I'm so sick of the rain!  I pass by the airport sometimes, depending on the route I take, to and from work.  Often there are several deer out grazing in the marshy area near the end of the tarmac.  But the river is so engorged that it has overflowed it's banks and that entire area is completely under water.  More rain is only making it worse.  I have a couple of small lakes in my back yard.  It's getting depressing.  And the weatherman says the cold is here to stay for a little while.  No snow.  Just cold, wind, and rain.  I might go stir crazy over it! 

Cold Rain

Well, it's 4:30 in the afternoon and the sky is dark with rain clouds.  It's quite chilly out with the tempatures in the middle to upper 30's.  Rain has been pouring down most of the day with very few breaks.  It is suspected to continue into tonight.  Our rivers are swollen to bank level and the ground is saturated.  We don't need any more of this wet stuff for a while.  The weekend is here, and once again I have drill.  We are headed to Fayetteville, NC to Fort Bragg on Saturday.  We will be using the simulators for some war games.  It should be fun, methinks.  PT (Physical Training) test on Sunday.  So busier weekend, than I'd like.  Have a great weekend all.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Mike ain't 35.  He's 36!  I missed that one.

My Orlando Pics

The Rosen Centre Hotel

The Pool from my room window

Roller Coaster @ Sea World and a 5 story parking deck @ night

Night view from my window and a huge mural painted on a building down town

Shops and a foutain down town and Wonder Works museum (upside down building)

Picture of a city through the clouds taken from the airplane window

I took the pic at night when it was dark, but the light from the red eye reducer made it look like day time.

Back to the Salt Mines

I had a great weekend in Orlando.  But it didn't start out great.  I was on the plane (small cramped type) ready for take-off when the captain announced we were delayed on the tarmac for an hour due to fog.  Fortunately, my plane out of Charlotte was delayed, as well, for the same reason.  I arrived and got checked into the hotel.  I was staying at The Rosen Centre, a very ritzy hotel on International Drive.  My room was on the 21st floor of 24 floors!  I had a great view of Orlando.  There was a lot I could have done (like visit Sea World) for free if I had known in time.  Alas, I did not, however.  Friday afternoon I went walking down I-Dr. with the intent of visiting Wonder Works. It was a museum down town.  Before going I went across the street to Pizza Hut for some lunch/dinner, and asked the staff there about Wonder Works.  They said it was a nice little place, but was really for middle aged kids.  But Bobbi, the girl who was waiting on me, suggested I go see Avatar at the IMAX theatre just behind there.  So, that's exactly what I did!  Bad Ass!!  I had been wanting to see Avatar (I enjoy those Sci-Fi types of movies) and in 3-D had to be the best way to see it.  And it was!  At one point I was swatting away bugs that were in my face.  And I was gripping to seat when the dragons were flying!  It was late evening when I got out of there, so I just walked up and down the strip looking at all the lights and touristy places.  I called it an early night, as breakfast was being served at 6:30 a.m.  I had classes on and off thru Saturday, but was fed a good lunch, as well.  I was done with classes around 4:30 p.m. and spent a good hour just chatting it up with other soldiers I met while there.  Whilst waiting around the pool area a man with a beard and a jacket with a Vietnam Veteran patch came around to everyone and invited them back that evening to free drinks on him!!  I was all over that.  I headed to the store for a couple of things, then to McDonald's for a quick dinner.  Then I changed to my bathing suit and went back to the pool.  I had a few drinks on this guy, whom I didn't even see that evening.  The bar tender said he was good for it, though.  Then had a few more as I chilled in the pool and hot tub.  Just chatted and got to meet a few other soldiers and people who were guests at the hotel.  I went to bed around 1:30 a.m. and didn't wake for breakfast on Sunday.  But I had already completed the class scheduled for that Morning.  Headed for the airport right after lunch.  I hated the idea of leaving such warm temps.  It was in the 80's while I was there!  Nice and warm!  And I received some valuable info on some of my benefits that are available as a Veteran of the War in Iraq (OIF).  It was back to work Monday morning with rain and thunder storms and highs in the upper 50's.  Ho hum.  Got a few pics, but haven't had a chance to upload them yet.  I'll try by the end of the week.

I'm Outty!

This has been an unpleasant  insane day at work.  And it's only Thursday!  Normally that would mean there is one more day to the work week, but in my case that is not the truth this week.  You see, the U.S. Army has this program called the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.  When a soldier returns from Iraq or Afghanistan he or she is supposed to attend a class on suicide prevention.  I never did, and I got out.  But, I went back into the Reserves before my original contract was up.  So my name was still in the system.  So, now I am required to attend this class.  But the campaign is really more than just a suicide prevention class.  The also have people who can give information about all sorts of Veterans Affairs benefits.  Some examples are financing to assist with school, medical information, mental wellness information, and more.  Therefore, I will be getting on a plane at 7 a.m. local time tomorrow morning to fly to beautiful, sunny Orlando, Florida!  It is supposed to be 75 degrees there tomorrow!  That's so much better than the mid-forties we have here today!  Of course, I'll just be gone for the weekend, but that's okay.  The whole trip is paid for, as well.  With that, I must say a large thank you to our American tax payers.  It is not wasted monies, as I know I will get useful information and assistance from this trip.  I also thank you all for supporting the troops.  American, British, Italian, French, Japanese, it matters not.  You may not agree with the idea behind the war or how it is being handled.  But I must say that whatever the reason, I served and am serving as a proud American who loves the FREEDOM the so many before me died for.  Thanks and God bless.  See you all next week!!

Finally, the Weekend

I am so glad it's Friday.  I am really ready for the weekend.  Nothing really major happened this week, but it has dragged out so much.  It's just after 3:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, and I am exhausted.  I wish I had a nap today.  I'm guessing an early bed time tonight.  It's gonna be a busy weekend.  I haven't had much time at home the last few weekends.  Three weeks ago was Christmas, two weeks ago was New Years.  Christmas was at my parents', and I had planned to stay home for the new year, but went to take care of gimp Dad and sick Mom.  Last weekend I had drill with the army reserves.  So this weekend will be try-to-catch-up weekend.  My nephew had a birthday last weekend I couldn't make it to because of drill.  I ahve another nephew having a birthday this weekend.  I'll be there because it will be at Pizza Inn just down the road from my house.  But the list is long of things to get done.  Mike is smoking a Boston butt roast for Saturday.  I want to drain and clean the fish tanks.  Max needs a hair cut.  I will probably (try) to move a dresser and rearrange clothes this weekend.  The list is endless.  But next weekend I will be flying to Orlando, Florida for a Yellow Ribbon Campaign for the army.  It's mainly a suicide prevention class, but they also hook up those who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with resources for benefits, school, employment assistance, etc.  If I pass this Physical Training test next month (that reminds me, I have to run tonight) I will probably be going to school in South Carolina at the end of next month.  Wow!  My plate is full! 
Mike was talking to farmer last night.  He was over visiting when I got home from work.  They were discussing the up coming planting season and (what else) chickens.  He's got Mike hyped about it all!  He wants to make some sort of business out of it all.  He wants to plant peppers for vinegar sauce, and other veggies to sell at the market.  Not to mention, breeding chickens to sell.  Oh, breathe........I need prayer!  LOL 
Well, got lots to do.  I'll try to get my camera from my mom this weekend at the party.  Everyone have a great weekend!

Update

Thanks to everyone asking about my mom.  She is much better and is back to work.  Odd thing is she was down with the flu, but she had gotten her flu shot.  Guess that flu shot isn't as great as they are saying it is.  Mike is just now getting better.  It's bad when he gets sick because it takes him forever to get better. 

I had drill this past weekend.  I really wasn't looking forward to it, as I had a PT test (Physical Training).  I had to do so many push-ups and sit-ups for two minutes each.  Then I had to run 2 miles.  I didn't do so hot on the run.  They are sending me to Orlando, Florida January 22-24 for  a Yellow Ribbon Campaign.  It's anti-suicide classes for those who have been to Iraq.  I came back four years ago.  I'd probably have done that by now if I were going to, but they say it's manditory, so off I go.  Then they are telling me that I will take another PT test next month.  This time I must pass the run.  If I pass I will be going to WLC (Warrior Leadership Course) in South Carolina to get a promotion.  If I fail the run, I get demoted.  No pressure.  A friend in my unit said he will pace me, but I have to lose at least five pounds in a month.  I'm not over weight, but I could stand to lose 15 to 20 pounds.  I've got my work cut out for me.

And something very important will be happening tomorrow night.  If you are the fan I am, they you are gearing up for American Idol!!  Yeeee-hawww! 

I was in Iraq when I picked Carrie Underwood to win.  I got home in March and voted for her like crazy.....and she won. But things will be a little different this year.  We have said good-bye to Paula Abdul.

And we are welcoming Ellen Degeneres.  I liked Paula, but she always seemed to be an emotional train wreck.  I don't know what to think of Ellen.  I'm not sure what credentials she's got that qualifies her to be a singing competition judge.  But, nonetheless, I'm curious to see how this, the 9th season, will turn out.  I understand that Ellen will not be on the first few shows (which are often the funniest as people make fools of themselves), but will show up at the judgement episodes.  Time will tell.  Let me see if I can pick the winner again!  If there are any fans out there, check it out on FOX tomorrow night.  Let me know who you think might be The Next American Idol! 

Veterans and Ida

What a week this has turned out to be.  Work has been insane and had me quite upset yesterday.  I have been spending more time on the truck than I really care for.  I applied for this position to get away from that, but I cannot seem to shake it.  I guess I just added more work.  But I still have a good job, and that I am grateful for.  I had so intended to at the least do a post yesterday for Veterans Day, but I had so much going on that I just was unable to.  But I don't see why we should reserve just one day a year to thank our veterans.  They are serving our country 365 days a year.  Can they not be thanked 365 days a year?  If you have the freedom to blog about whatever hits your heartstrings, thank a veteran today!

As for Ida, a tropical storm that hit the gulf coast earlier this week, and did nothing....thank you Becca, over at Becca's Dirt for this mess you sent us.  She lives nearly 1300 miles away, and I am being affected by the same storm she did.  However, Ida is doing more damage here on the east coast that she did down on the gulf.  We had rain for over 36 hours straight.  And I do mean down pours.  And the wind has been just screaming through the trees.  I spoke with my mom this morning, and she had trouble getting out of her home because the road she lives on was flooded.  One of our stores in Cheseapeake, VA is closed today because of the flooding.  It's nothing like the storms that hit the Phillipines by any measure, but it has been quite unpleasant weather, nasty to say the least.  My poor chickens.  I checked on them this morning, and they were dreanched.  Mike put extra tarps around the coops yesterday to help some, but the horizontal rain did whatever it felt.  I know I promised pictures this week.  I have not forgotten.  It has been one of those weeks.  But the week is not over.  I'll get them.  Again, thank you to all our heros.  May the hand of God be with those currently deployed, bring them safety, comfort, and a speedy return home!!

Really Not Worth It

Okay, this is really fast.  I just don't have time to post, but I wanna get a word in nonetheless.  The weekend wasn't horrible.  I kinda had a little fun.  And I expended over 264 rounds of ammunition at the range...shouldn't have had to, but it wasn't my fault.  I didn't get to zero my weapon, so I had to guess at my aim at the targets.  Tents had heat and bunk beds.  Had hot showers and sinks for brushing teeth and shaving.  Hot food served to us.  Good weekend overall.  Fuzzy bottoms born today!!  Mike called me at work to tell me they were hatched.  I was about to discard the eggs because it has been 26 days!  But it was her first clutch, and she got up more than she should have.  Two silkie roosters died this week.  Don't know why.  One was the daddy.  They died the same day with no real visible symptoms of any illness.  Any body have any ideas?  Anyway, that's a small nutshell.  I'll get pics up this week.  Been reading blogs today, even if I didn't comment.  See ya's later!

Still Nothing!!

I am so extremely disappointed.  I still do not have any pics.  I haven't been able to take any!!  The sun is just rising when I leave in the morning, and it is too dark when I get home!  I absolutely cannot stand Eastern Standard Time (EST).  It's just not fair!  Why should I miss out on all the sunshine just because I have to work!  I have even put a light in the coop for the chickens.  I still have to feed them when I get home, but if it's dark the cannot see the food.  Chickens eat by sight, not smell.  If they can't see the food, they can't eat it.  So I put a light for their evening feeding.  And I can't take any pics in the dark.  And this weekend just won't work, either.  I keep thinking I'll take a bunch of pics the weekend, but I can't do that.  I have drill this weekend!  We're leaving early Friday morning to go to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC to go to the M-16 range.  I'm so dreading that.  I do just fine qualifying with my weapon.  But we will be sleeping in tents, eating meal kits and MRE's, and using make-shift showers.  Not my idea of fun.  I guess I'll have to light a fire under Mike and get him to take some pics.  "Sigh!"

Drill Weekend

I had drill this past weekend.  I've only been in the Reserves for eight months now, but I guess that's long enough for the honey moon to be over.  I suppose that would be the case with any job.  After a while the coolness wears off.  But then there are weekends when w totally do cool things.  This past weekend we had little to do.  We did clean our weapons.  We are going next month to Fort Bragg for three days.  We will be staying in the field (tents and cots...eating meal kits)  and going to the firing range.  I'm not sure if I will enjoy that or not.  We were told there are make shift showers available, but I don't know if there will be any hot water.  They are still wanting me to reenlist, as my contract will be up in February.  I extended six months trying to decide.  I am a junior enlisted soldier which means I get all the lousy jobs no one really wants.  But I don't have to be.  I have all the qualifications I need to be an officer.  I am considering going to Officer Candidate School and becoming a lieutenant.  That's obviously not written in stone.  But at this point it is certainly a possibility.  I snapped this pic Sunday afternoon.  I had nothing to do.  I was sitting on a 4K fork truck and saw my reflection  in a convex mirror.  So I snapped a pic in the mirror for fun.  Most of the soldiers in my unit are pretty cool.  We get along pretty well and work well together to get the job done.  We do make a very good team, and are probably the best unit in the battalion.  My time is running out, though.  I suppose I need to make a decision, soon.

Feelin' Better

Feeling a bit better.  I'm still stuffy and have post nasal drip (Yuck!!)  But over all I'm okay.  I am going to my sister's tonight for my niece's birthday party.  She's 9 years old today, but thinks she 16 already.  I went to her soccer game last night.  She is a half back.  She didn't score, but her team won 2-0.  My nephew is a soccer player, too.  He'll be 13 in January.  Boy, they do grow up so fast.  I also have Reserve drill this weekend.  I'm dreading that.  My contract is up in February.  They better come up with a better offer than what they have so far, or I'm calling it quits.  We will have to see.  Everybody have a good weekend, and thanks for the "get well" comments.  Hope you feel better, too, Ames.  See y'all next week.

Yellow Ribbon Days

I served in the U.S. Army.  And as is their custom, they provide you with an all-expense-paid trip to any of the war zones they have become involved in.  Well, I joined the army in July of 2001 in order to get money to pay off $50,000 in college loans.  I was in Basic Training on September 11, 2001.  I had just unloaded a truck load of hand grenades with a soldier named Minoya.  I was hearing rumours to the effect of an airplane had crashed and over 10,000 people were dead.  I thought that was a bit of a stretch considering I was unaware of any plane that could carry that many people.  It was about 6 p.m. (New York time) when we were finally briefed on what had occured at the Twin Towers.  Naturally, I was horrified.  I remembered being amazed at the the sky scraping buildings as a small child visiting the Big Apple with family.  My first memories of the buildings was nearly 30 years ago when I first became a NY Giants fan.  What a heart-dropping thought of so many innocent people losing their lives over nothing less than unjustified hatred.  So one event lead to another.  Soon we were in Afghanistan.  Then Saddam was accused of having "WMD's" or Weapons of Mass Destructrion.  My brother got to spend the first year in Iraq from the end of 2002 to the end of 2003.  Then I got to follow in March of 2004.  I was serving with the 27th Main Support Battalion out of Fort Hood, Texas.  But they were restructuring the army to make Brigades deployable without the rest of the division.  So a new unit was formed just to support the 5th Brigade Combat Team (5th BCT).  I was sent to be a part of 515th Forward Support Battalion (FSB).  We deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division.  I was fortunate enough to get chosen to be part of SPO or Support Operations.  So I got an office job with air conditioning in 140 degree heat.  My job was to track parts being shipped from the U.S. and Germany and other countries for repairing our vehicles and other equipment.  As you can see in the pic, I have a head light for an M998 HMMWV Hummer on my desk.  That was my vehicle that I drove a Captain from Kuwait to Baghdad in.  It was the absolute worst year of my life.  It was the first Christmas that I spent away from my family.  Even when I lived in Texas, I traveled to North Carolina for Christmas with my family.  My work day started about 8 a.m. and I was often still at work at 10, 11, or sometimes even past midnight.  It wasn't always because of work.  Oddly enough, I was not afraid of dying or getting killed.  My biggest fears were having to kill someone else or having to die alone.  Several times a week, and at times even daily, we would get attacked with mortars, RPG's or rockets.  But I must say that God was looking out for me.  I spent an entire year over there.  But I got to come home safely to my family and the ones I care about.  And that is my prayer for those still in Iraq and Afghanistan today.  That God will bring them home safely to their families.  SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

Gotta Roll Out

Hey everybody! How has your week gone? Mine has been so very busy. I've had so much to do before I have to leave for Florida. Well, obviously that has kept me from blogging like I'd like to do. But it's all good, right? I didn't even get things done here at work that had to be done. I'm making some notes so those here can help me out. I'd hate to come back to work and be way backed up with 2 or 3 week old stuff. On top of that, I had to go to court again this morning for a ticket I got back in February. This is the fourth time I've gone to court over it!! I was trying to get it thrown out, but I've had no luck. The judge gave me one more continuance, to which the assistant district attorney objected. I guess I will just have to pay the lousy fines! But I'm digressing. I have no pics for today. I did lose another bitty. He got into a water dish and drowned. It was awful. He had one eye open and one closed. I buried it in the yard. I"m down to nine now. But I should have some new bitties by the time I get back. I leave Sunday morning for Florida, and I'll be gone for 2 weeks. But I'll get some pics while I'm down there and tell y'all all about it when I get back! Y'all behave, and I'll see you soon!!

R

Florida Bound

What an uneventful weekend. I had drill this weekend. I am in the Army Reserves. I served four years on active duty, and did a tour in Iraq. That was the worst year of my life. I decided to go back into the reserves because I can live my normal life with the exception of one weekend a month (and two weeks a year). I have been back in the reserves since February. I kinda like it. It's a totally different creature from active duty. We have had some fun weekends. We did some team building obstacles courses and land navigation tasks in the woods of central N.C. a few weeks ago. We also went to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC for some range qualifying and enemy scenarios. And we've had some boring admin weekends with classes and/or paperworks stuff. Overall, I enjoy it. We are heading to Jacksonville, FL in two weeks for training. I think that will be pretty cool. We are going to try to go to Disney World and/or Universal Studios while we are there, as well. The way work has been lately, it will certainly feel like a vacation. I know that I am so ready for it.