Letters from Home.

Mom wrote me a letter I got last night that made me change the way I'd been thinking.

Up until now I've been tempted to just coast along, to do what was I needed to do each day, and not really enjoy life. I can't be blamed for that attitude really cause I am once again in a place that I hate being, around people so different that I have a hard time finding stuff in common.

But on the other hand I've got less then a year in the army, doing something quite a bit of people aren't brave enough and stupid enough to do. And after this year am I going to look back on this time and feel like I've accomplished something, or that I just coasted along the entire time.

Anyways, I hope to do better now. Make some friends maybe, stop avoiding people as much, plus taking this time to learn some new things. Certainly there's a lot that I could learn here and now that wouldn't be possible in the civilian world.

Besides I'm in a position here where I can make a difference to people who no-one else seems to care about, but for some reason I can't seem to get out of my mind.

I need to step up and insert myself more if I'm to do that though. So if you pray for me, pray for that..

Anyways, thanks Mom. It's weird to me how from I can still learn so much from you and your letters. Sometimes I need to be reminded of what's truly important. Thanks for that.


PS. Mom you should be getting a External DVD player I had ordered for my computer in the mail. They only shipped to the US. so i had to mail it there, so if you could mail it to me I'd appreciate it. If you open it first you could probably mail it as used and get better shipping rate.

Need rest... :)

So there I was watching over my little piece of the country side the other day, listening to Tim Mcgraw, Toby Kieth etc generally having a decent time doing my work.. When someone comes storming in and I get everyone in trouble cause I was listening to music on guard and get my music, and everyone else's electronics taken away for a few days... Phew... First time in a loooong while my music's gotten me in trouble... But I still remember the long lectures I used to get about the subject...

Anyways, We're getting phones and internet installed out the today. :) So, next week when we're out there I won't be out of contact.. It's going to be cool.. I'm hoping, (probably won't be able to though) that i'll be able to play my computer game online... I hope... It's Another one of my bad habits I've been forced to forgo these last 8 months and I've had to learn to take in moderation..

I'm glad y'all liked the picture.. Unfortunately most of the ones I've taken over here look like that one. Just the more recent ones I have less hair.. (yes I am going bald) finally.. There's been lots of Kodak moments. But at those times I just never have a camera on me... Only times I seem to have it I'm on guard and so I just end up taking pictures of myself.. and the neighbors cows... :( oh and sheep big wooly things..

Anyways, I'll write more tomorrow. But today the PX's been closed and I'm depressed because of that. I had somethings I really wanted to get.. Oh well, it's better that I save money with all the birthdays our family has coming up in November..

I'll talk to y'all later then.. Olivia and kiona, and Dad.. good to hear from you also... Keep in touch.... later mom.. and happy birthday sooon...

Chillin'

Last week was so miserable. With the weather changing like it is I didn't get much sleep for the first few days. Then when I did get to sleep I didn't wake up till I had slept for twelve hours..

Man, do I hate Autumn. To many weather changes and sleep becomes harder. And it gets so cold brrrr...

Once I get used to the changes though it'll be nice to have some cold weather..

Here is a picture from a day I was so totally bored I started goofing off with a camera while I was on guard.. Thanks Mom for posting those pictures on your blog.. It was nice to finally get some new ones.

Well, I'll c ya'll again in about a week.. Hopefully I'll b able to get online when I get back.. Love ya'll, take care...

--Tim

Major Thanks to Maya, and jealousy towards Mom

Maya thanks for looking at my profile for me and pointing out that little mistake I totally missed.. Small mistake so it probably would have stayed that way unless you pointed it out.

And MOM!!! U got pictures of Arwen I never gotal thought I've asked a Gazilion times. :( of course thanks to you I now have them :) so hence my little bit of jealousy diminished and I was happy that grandmother is so resourceful. She looks a lot like Kiona and that Sofa in the Back is the only way I knew it was Arwen and not her. It's shocking how fast she's growing up :)

Anyhow, I'm off tomorrow for my six day vacation out just sleeping reading etc.. I'm taking out my Koran so I can read some of it. I'm going to try to compare it's stories to those of the old testament trying to understand these people and they're beliefs a bit more.. As far as my language I can already talk better arabic and more of it then anyone else in the Company, which wasn't really all that hard to tell the truth.. still..

It's funny cause Iraqi kids always ask for stuff like Pens and watches.. All morning they were saying Bien bien cause they can't say pen... Even I thought they had just learned spanish somehow but it just seemed to convenient..

Of course Arabic doesn't have the letter "P" so they use "B" instead. Shop is Shob, Pepsi becomes Bibsi and "pen" obviously becomes "Bien"

Anyways, continue doing what y'all do and I'll be back in a week to haunt y'alls blogs again...

Don't miss me too much... :p

The reasons Y!!!

I've found myself sleeping more during the day then at night.. Sometime it works out a bit better that way but still it's just so much more relaxing sleeping at night then during the day or sometimes just catching a nap in the back of a Bradley or a Hmmv when you can.

I ain't complaining, but it's funny some of the things you can grow to appreciate. Something like a late wake-up, a decent schedule, not having to just do something just cause you're told to by someone you know to be Dumb.

I know the main thing I'm looking forward to is not being "on call" whenever. Basically ready to go anywhere all the time, it can make you a nervous wreck.. I suppose now I understand what it must feel like to be a parent with a baby or two :)
Next, has to be the chain of command. Which, with all the promotions around here it seems like I've made it to the bottom of. Now, I've got about 20 people always trying to give me stuff to do. I hate saying NO!! but sometimes nowadays I've been having to.
And, yes.. We can't forget LOUD NOISES.. they're distracting at best, but most of the time almost make you piss your boots.. Yeah I won't miss those...

Now, for the things I'm actually going to enjoy, that fateful day when I am free from my "obligation" to the Army. And this beautiful country some politicians seem to care so much about.
I'll enjoy being around family a lot more. The company of Women of course. (even just being around them will be so unbelievably awesome :)
Titus, from what I remember was always so good at keeping his goals in mind... He'd have a goal and the things he'd have to do to reach that goal, be they tedious, annoying, or whatever hardships came with it that goal kept him motivated to keep plugging away.. Very motivated..
I found out a long time ago I wasn't like that. This job's bored me a looong time ago and now I'm looking forward a change, to having to plot my own course, make my own mistakes, accomplishments etc. Without having them be someone else deciding what I'm going to do. I wanna relax when I want to. And when I work I wanna work.. Not all mixed together like it's been.
My life's been good, I ain't complaining, like I said before. I'm just direly ready for a change..

This it the reason I'm looking forward with great anticipation for June next year when we go home and I can start clearing out of the Army.

Mom I got the light from you a few weeks ago. Muchas Gracias. And Maya I have no clue how old Gramps is going to be... :)

Thanks y'all for listening to my Griping... (the truth comes out) Tomorrow should be my last post for the next week if our schedule goes as planned..