My Return
Well, let me see, alot of time has passed since I have really posted in this journal (excluding earlier today). So let me see if I can remember it all. I last wrote (excluding earlier today) in July sometime. Around that I was moved from working at the CSH (Combat Support Hospital) to working at the PSS Site (Personell Service Site). That was kinda crap. The internet sucked there and I was not able to get onto most sites. I suffered that hell for about three to four months until I was moved from the FOB (Forward Operating Base) that I was on to another approximately 20 to 25 minutes down the road by Convoy and about 10 minutes by bird (Helicopter). I arrived on this FOB around September and have been working at the PSS Site here, which is combined with the APO (Army Post Office). I like working here alot better than at the other FOB, mainly because here, I am on my own and my command is not here to cause problems. We get attacked more often here and they all seem to land around the APO but other than the one that hit the phone center (next door) nothing has really hit anything. Don't really react to the booms anymore like we used to. I guess you kinda get used to it, to some extent. I mean really, once the boom happens it is too late and you are either hit or not. Rarely do they send up more than one mortar or rocket at a time. I was finally able to go on R&R leave during November and actually got to spend Thanksgiving with my family. On the convoy to my flight home for R&R an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) went off right in front of my vehicle and then we had to stop the convoy because there was two more IED's made from 105mm shells that had not gone off yet. We blocked traffic on both sides of the road so that no one else would be attacked and waited until EOD (Explosive Ordanace Disposal) came to dispose of the bombs. I had a wonderful time and me and my family took a trip to Garmish, Germany and stayed at the Edielwiess Inn a new hotel for Americans there. It was really beautiful and if I ever figure out how to post pictures I might actually post them. We left the hotel right before Thanksgiving and my wife put me to work with the list of things she had for me to do before I went back to Iraq. One of the items being putting up the Christmas Tree and guess what is still waiting for me when I get home. Driving through the German Towns I kinda got uncomfortable. It just seemed that the buildings were too close and there was just too many people walking near the vehicle when my wife stopped at lights. The fact that she would stop at the lights was a little strange too, we don't stop for nothing when we are on a convoy in Iraq (except for situations like the one above where someone else would be hurt if we did not). Well I came back here to Iraq and I am really ready to return home for good (or at least until the next deployment). I should be home really soon, like withing the week or atleast by next week. I have come up on orders and I will be heading back to the states soon. It will be so good to get back to MD even if it is only to visit on my way to the next duty station. I hope it will be Crab season when I get back. Well here I am, training the new unit to do the job that I did and I am having a hard time thinking about that. All I can think about is going home to my lovely wife and kids. I should even make it back to be able to see to of my three sons play basketball. A lot has changed at home while I have been away. My middle son, Drake, who always got into all kinds of trouble at school (mostly I found the stuff totally funny, even though I know I shouldn't have), has been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder). He has to take Ridlin (sp?) but my wife says that he no longer gets into trouble in school and he has been a great at home. My youngest son, Kyle, is the best one on his Basketball team and it has swollen his head. My wife says that he doesn't ever want to pass the ball anymore and will always just try to take the ball to the basket himself, no matter where he is on the court. He pretty much makes all his shots so the coach wont say anything to him. I don't think that is how to play but the coach seems like he doesn't mind as long as he makes the shots. Kyle will literally fight for the ball, even with his own team. He won't listen to my wife because his coach is always telling him how good he is. Greg (my oldest) is doing quite well, he has even found a job, as a babysitter for friends of my wife. He was always the one who was really responsible and good in school, so I have no worries about him. I just can't wait to get home to spend more time with them. And to reaquaint myself with my wife. Well I must be going now. Before the DFAC (Dining FACility) closes. It is really good to be back.
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