It's almost 3:30 am and I am working. I wouldn't mind so much if I worked the graveyard shift, but it really throws off my "schedule". Once a week, i have to take part in shiftwork for a 24 hour duty. It really messes things up for me and there is nothing I can do about it. This has to be the least favorite thing to do for anyone out here.
On the flip side of it. Tomorrow morning, I get to see two of my Team Leaders promoted to the rank of Sergeant. They are good junior leaders who have earned this promotion, so my hats off to them. A few other young guys will be getting promoted to the rank of Specialist. I really enjoy seeing young leaders get promoted when they earn it. It's really something to see them step up to the challenge and go beyond your expectations of them. So, at least I have the promotion to look forward to.
Amazon.com, the lifesaver for many soldiers who want/need things and can think of no other way of getting them. I too have been lured in by the Amazon world. Unfortunately, a few of the things I wanted to buy cannot be shipped to APO addresses from Amazon, so I have to send them home, and then have them shipped to me. I already kow what I want and am looking forward to getting them. I am creating an "Iraq Free" haven for myself and those who wish to escape the reality, even if for a short time.
Have taken a few pictures here and really want to post them, unfortunatly they are scattered between a few different cameras and I need to collect them up. I'll probably do that tomorrow sometime.
At this time of morning and after so little sleep, I have only these few things to write about. I do wish to end on a good note: One of the greatest people I have ever known is about to be a Father again. I am not releasing his name because I do not know if he is keeping it a suprise and don't wan to ruin it for him. He already has 2 kids and is an outstanding Dad. I hope to be there when the little one is born. Congratulations! and best wishes for a happy, healthy baby.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
A lot on my mind
As I laid in my bed last night trying not to get eaten alive by bed bugs, I imagined for a few seconds I was not in Iraq, but somewhere much nicer. I couldn't put a name to the place, so I have decided to create it myself. I do not like the fact that the only color in my room is brown. I sat up and drew out my room and decided to create the place I had envisioned. The long skinny box with the fake, tall green grass coming out of it, and 2 little fake, green bamboo shoots in their own little planters, sitting on my desk. 5 tall fake plants that you see in the stores. (6-8 feet tall). A roll of fake grass to create the imaginary lawn in my room, and a stand alone hammock for a bed (If I can beat the bedbugs, then I might not need the hammock as the bed is quite comfortable). Notice the word fake alot? Thats because this place is so hot that the cactus die here. When I step into my room, I want to step into an oasis of tropical paradise. It is my home for now, and I want it to be as comfortable as my home back in the states. The little bamboo strand curtain dividers that they sell in Ikea, paintes different shades of green and hanhing all over the ceiling. It seems like an extreme, but I thinks it will help me out here. I am going to shop around online for the prices, but do not know if they ship to APO address's. If not, I would like to have them shipped to my house and then sent to Iraq. I know you all probably think I have lost it, but if you check my latest FB test, I am perfectly normal. I mean, it's Facebook, how wrong can the test be, right? Is this what happens when you have time to think and not the resources or means to do the things you really want?
My mind is constantly racing with ideas and plans and all sorts of things. I started writing them down, but soon realized I was using more paper than I could afford to spare. I like to use the paper to hand out to small children to color with. Thats another thing........I go out on patrol and we go into these small mud-hut homes build by the people who live there. No doors or windows, maybe sheets to cover them so as to block out the wind and dust. For the most part, they are farmers, families with nothing more. They built their mud homes with their own hand and want nothing to do with war. They just want what most good natured people want. They want to see their children grow up happy away from guns and war. They don't ask for much and are extremely grateful when we give them something as simple as a bottle of water. They offer you Chai and some food, even if it means they might eat very little themselves that night. After talking to some of these people and seeing how they live, I am humbled and grateful for the things, friends and family I have. So, if anyone wants to send out crayons, coloring books, notpads of paper, pencils, candy for children, small sports balls (they don't care for American Football though), small cheap sandals or the imitation crocs, or anything you think a child might want, feel free to send them. A few of us are trying to work on a prototype for a small, easy to use and efficient windmill to help these people bring running water into their homes. This is not something the military is asking us to do, this is something that we feel as human beings we should try to do. When I joined the Army to be a soldier, I wanted to be the best soldier I could be, and in this case, it isn't about shooting, or leading soldiers in combat (that is something we already know how to do), it is about being so much more. The things we do in this small community may or may not have an impact on these people and their children, but at least I know it will make a difference in me. I will be able to walk away from the military knowing that for any and all harm I might have caused here, I tried to do some good.
My mind is constantly racing with ideas and plans and all sorts of things. I started writing them down, but soon realized I was using more paper than I could afford to spare. I like to use the paper to hand out to small children to color with. Thats another thing........I go out on patrol and we go into these small mud-hut homes build by the people who live there. No doors or windows, maybe sheets to cover them so as to block out the wind and dust. For the most part, they are farmers, families with nothing more. They built their mud homes with their own hand and want nothing to do with war. They just want what most good natured people want. They want to see their children grow up happy away from guns and war. They don't ask for much and are extremely grateful when we give them something as simple as a bottle of water. They offer you Chai and some food, even if it means they might eat very little themselves that night. After talking to some of these people and seeing how they live, I am humbled and grateful for the things, friends and family I have. So, if anyone wants to send out crayons, coloring books, notpads of paper, pencils, candy for children, small sports balls (they don't care for American Football though), small cheap sandals or the imitation crocs, or anything you think a child might want, feel free to send them. A few of us are trying to work on a prototype for a small, easy to use and efficient windmill to help these people bring running water into their homes. This is not something the military is asking us to do, this is something that we feel as human beings we should try to do. When I joined the Army to be a soldier, I wanted to be the best soldier I could be, and in this case, it isn't about shooting, or leading soldiers in combat (that is something we already know how to do), it is about being so much more. The things we do in this small community may or may not have an impact on these people and their children, but at least I know it will make a difference in me. I will be able to walk away from the military knowing that for any and all harm I might have caused here, I tried to do some good.
Friday, September 25, 2009
The post I promised
Hello All,
As I promised on Facebook, I have a Blog. Unfortunately, it will be a short first post. I am on FOB Grizzly located in Asraf, Iraq. No, this doesn't violate OPSEC, and men in black suites will not be asking you my whereabouts. This place is small, yet comfortable. I keep busy by helping soldiers with college courses, talking to them about being homesick and how to deal with it, eating, running, going to the gym, and sleeping. I know.......life of the party right? It's not much, but if I try not to think about it and completely dive into keeping myself busy, I don't notice the hours and days that seem to drift by like mollasses in the winter. The one greatful thing about the lack of constant fighting is that nobody here is getting hurt. I am very thankful for that and hope it stays that way. I hope to not have to fire a single round this entire deployment. Wouldn't that be awesome. I have many things to updat you all on, but I am short on time due to having to get something to eat before the chow hall closes. I want to thank all of my friends and family, and your friends and family for your support.
Mike
As I promised on Facebook, I have a Blog. Unfortunately, it will be a short first post. I am on FOB Grizzly located in Asraf, Iraq. No, this doesn't violate OPSEC, and men in black suites will not be asking you my whereabouts. This place is small, yet comfortable. I keep busy by helping soldiers with college courses, talking to them about being homesick and how to deal with it, eating, running, going to the gym, and sleeping. I know.......life of the party right? It's not much, but if I try not to think about it and completely dive into keeping myself busy, I don't notice the hours and days that seem to drift by like mollasses in the winter. The one greatful thing about the lack of constant fighting is that nobody here is getting hurt. I am very thankful for that and hope it stays that way. I hope to not have to fire a single round this entire deployment. Wouldn't that be awesome. I have many things to updat you all on, but I am short on time due to having to get something to eat before the chow hall closes. I want to thank all of my friends and family, and your friends and family for your support.
Mike
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