5 min blog

was another cool day today.. Most of the day I had off so I could be bored and watch more movies..
Someone brought a little kitten home.. Took her from off the street.. Not really something I'd recommend what with all the diseases and whatever else an iraqi stray has.. Oh well, some people can't help it I suppose.

Hope y'all had a good day also. PS. Grandpa gline's birthday is on the 3rd make sure you say Hi 2 him...

Concerning... many things... "hobbits not one of them" :)

For those of you that don't recall "Concerning Hobbits" is the first chapter in bilbo's LOTR.. :) And the title is one of my attempts at being witty. Somehow I think I failed again.. :( oh well..

It was a most memorable six days out. I got to ride in the back of the bradley (a little tank with passenger space in the back) for a couple hours each day. (if that "thing" didn't rattle so much that I couldn't sleep I might have liked it more.) that was coupled with a nice little stroll visiting our neighbors in the area for a couple hours each day. Then I took a guard shift for two hours which I sat there and watched them all making sure they didn't get too close or do anything funny, then I got to burn all the Crap every other day.. And yes, it's just as much "Fun" as it sounds like and almost as Yucky...

Anyways, I got to read an entire book, watch movies and sleep the entire rest of the time.. It was a nice little vacation.. One night, I couldn't sleep so I read using a red light so as not to wake everyone up. Then when I stepped outside and with the moon as bright as it was it looked as bright as if the sun was up. It even looked blue... Odd..

Oh, and thankfully it's really been cooling off.. Today was a cool 95* and the nights.. Brrr.. they're now a freezing 80* After months of 110+ it's nice..

Nadia. I watched your wedding movie today.. I don't know who I got the copy from but it was cool to see Perla, Titus, Mom, Dad, and the rest of y'all even if it was just a movie.. I'd had a nightmare dream that Dad of all people joined one of the contractor companies over here and moved Mom over here so they could keep a closer eye on me.. "now why would that not SHOCK me.. It sounds a lot like something he would do, being as spontaneous as he's always been. So everyone make sure you call him and convince him to be sure he never does something like that.. And Mom, you'd better not let him do something crazy like that. I just hope it wasn't a warning of something that might have been going through his mind....

Before I left to come over here. Dad was Noble enough to offer to take my place.. Thinking back now, I think I would have liked to take him up on his offer.. But I think it's easier being over here myself then it would be to have to worry bout someone else being over here in my place..

Anyhow, I'm back for the next 4 days or so.. Just got a couple missions each day to go out on.. Nothing that'll keep me out all day though.. so, I should be writing more soon. (assuming the internet doesn't go down again)

Love y'all a bunch... check back tomorrow I'll have something less drawn out and boring as this last blog... I was AFK (away from Keyboard) for a week so I had a lot of nonsense to talk about. Tomorrow not so..

All in a days work..

I got back from my trip and right away get pulled out for 2 days.. Then for the last two days after that I've been sitting around, reading books in the back of a bradley while others take care of looking around.
Now I get to go out to a checkpoint for a week and have tons more time to myself, reading books, playing computer games, eating, and being lazy.. :)
Today I got involved in a little Mountain Dew VS. Ice water fight. Personally I think I won that battle with the mountain dew. But then it got into wrestling with a 300 lb Hercules. And suddenly the odds were against me.. I was also at a disadvantage cramped in the back of the vehicle like I was. I couldn't do all my fancy Jet Lee moves from the movies I've been watching lately..
On a good note tho. Going out to checkpoints and going out does make the time go by faster I can hardly believe September's almost over.. Time's been flying..
Thanks for all the encouragement, and support, along with your prayers you've sent my way recently. It's good to be able to keep up with everyone more lately as i've been looking at everyone's blogs faithfully...
Well, i've gotta go pack for the next week and hope i get done in time to get some sleep in..

I made it to the memorial service yesterday. At first we were quite sure that we weren't going to make it but we finally got a flight.
I spent the Afternoon talking with the other medics a lot of whom were taking it rather hard. A lot of them worked with him (Paredes) real close and knew him quite well. There was quite a bit to talk about as he was quite the Hero.
One time the only way he could treat someone who'd been shot was climbing inside the tank upside down. Someone started shooting at the vehicle, so he slid in head first and saved the guys life without even thinking that maybe that wasn't the best position to be in.
Another time he rode on the hood of a HMMV through the city treating someone there cause he didn't have any other space to do it. When he got back he didn't brag about it either. He just was concerned that the guy he worked on was ok.
Well, I'm happy I got the opportunity to say my goodbye's to him, and now I'm on my way back to continue doing my job.
I hope the opportunity never presents itself where I have to prove my medic skills. But if it does I'll be thinking about him and trying to live up to his example for sure.

Preferences:

I just got a letter from Nadia today talking about their visit to Yosemite mostly and boy does it sound like fun...
Another thing to add to my list of things to do when I get back, which is stacking up to be quite a long list.. Ouch!! Don't know how I'll keep up..
Over here I've had the last week off it seems 3 days for maintainance then another 2-3 waiting on this flight.
I hate time off over here. I prefer to be out with at least one mission a day.. Hopefully an easy one but it does help the time pass when you're doing something all the time.
I haven't worked out putting pictures up just yet on this blog.. course the only one's I have right now are ones taken over here with me carrying a gun and all. Ain't no-one wanna c those, but one day I will put a few of them up.. Just 'cause I can.. :D
I've been reading everyone's blogs, and it's good to see that y'all are doing well. 'Course I've been trying to advertise mine but I don't think anyone's checked it yet... :((

Recent events...

I was supposed to fly out to the Main FOB for 2-69 AR for a memorial service for one of our Medics PFC Paredes, Javier

I got bumped from the flight for tonight tho.. I don't know but hopefully I'll be going tomorrow..
He had a lot of heart and stuck it out. There are a lot of people when they hear they're going to Iraq try to get out of it somehow, going as far as saying their crazy or just going AWOL. He didn't though and I respect him greatly for that and doing his job to the best of his ability under great adversity at times.
A few months I heard he got a silver star for saving someone's life while he was out on a mission. S9meone is alive today because of what he did.

Paredes, I'll see you when I get to them pearly gates. But I don't want to wait till then to let you know. ,,
Thanks for your service to us (your fellow soldiers), your country, and for the sacrifice you gave. I promise you and your service will not be forgotten, by me and those who I meet.

And to his family. May God give you peace and help you through this trying time...

My Birthday

Today, even though I got birthday wishes from everybody Mom even said she wanted me to do something special on my birthday it wasn't that different/ special of a day..
Well, I did watch a couple new movies that I've never seen, called Mom. But aside from that it was about the same as any other day. Missions, time spent watching movies etc.. I didn't sleep the whole day away at least. :)
Tomorrow will be the special day it seems. We got some classes that don't really even pertain to me. (that I'll have to fight to get out of) I've gotta get some medical supplies for a new Checkpoint we're setting up, and I wanna get my aid-bag restocked etc good ol' day off..
Thanks for all the attention I got on my birthday. I haven't gotten that much recently and I've been missing not being the center of attention.. :)

I hope this is one of the best years of my life also.. It'll be the year I get home and get out of the ARMY.. Even though that's pretty cool.. more like "awesome" (a word I never use by the way)
I hope there's something else that adds to making this year a special/memorable one..

First Blog

Today I finally decided to set up my own blog.. Why not all the rest of my family has one x-cept 4 me. Currently I am in Iraq (with just under a year left)
Although time passes by slowly over here, thinking back it seems like I've only been over here a month max.
It's been a really hot summer over here about 120F during the day then 90 at night.. On average..
It's taken some getting used to but fortunately everywhere we've been since June has had AC to sleep in at least. But while we're out walking around or riding in the back of a vehicle or pulling guard we still sweat pretty badly.. It's hard sometimes, but you can get used to it as I think I have.. For the most part.
Titus and Mia just had their 2nd baby.. I'm really happy for them. And.. I'm about to turn 26.. :(
The way it looks now I'll be 27 by the time I'm done with the army. We get back in June and I've got 3 months afterwards to "adjust" to being back..