Hello All:

Today is abit of a hard day. In Michigan, today is opening day of Deer season. My memories and thoughts are about looking forward to having good enough grades to get opening week off. Packing the car, with all the "men" and traveling up north. If I were there right now, I would have my stand out, all my clothes ready, We'd be up about 4 am, and make a hot meal, and then the drive in the dark out to the woods. And then we get there, My dad, my grandfathers, my uncles. In the darkness we load our rifles, the sound of shells clicking into magazines, of a bolt racking in the cool night. You can see your breath, every sound seems a violation, of the absolute silence. The leaves are crisp and crunch with the step... soon, we break up...each going to their chosen hunting area. climbing into the stand. And then...nothing, just the smell of the woods, fresh.....a tree creaks...a blue Jay screams in the distance, a crow caws. and then....The sun bursts over the horizon, a mist clings to the ground. Chickadee and nuthatches come out, they land on your hat, on the barrel of your rifle. If your very very lucky, you see a fox, or a Coyote. Last year a Partridge walked right past me close enough I could touch, the Cock moving slowly cautiously. I don't need to even SEE a deer (and many years I do not) this is God's beauty. What we don't see as we sit in our houses with our furnace and our TV and computer. Just outside, there is a Drama going on. Animal seeking food for the day, seeking their own kind in their own way. Every day, a life and death struggle. And it is Horrible and Beautiful at the same time. And if I am very lucky, out of the mist, like ghost, a pair of antlers appear, a monarch of the forest. He pauses and looks, his ears move, his tail flicks, his nose twitches as he moves forward, each individual step placed cautiously.

At the end of the day, we return to our world. We cook a hot meal...A football game may be on, we play Eucher, the fire place crackles, and outside a moon rises and bathes that forest scene in a pale silver white. and when you stand out by the lake, it is absolute calm, there is not the hum of a rubber tire, nor the roar of a generator, or the rumble of an engine. and you understand why animals hearing is so acute.

You look out at all the trees and woods, and you see all the family, and people, Indians and settlers, came before you, and are there, looking back and just for a moment, YOU are the eagle or the owl, looking out on the world and all the possibilities as the stars come out . And with a smile, you realize...it will all be here again tomorrow.

I miss my father, I was the youngest when I started the Hunting camp, my Grandfather was the oldest. And...........we are the last.

There is an empty space for one Grandfather at the table, the Uncles, have their own families now, And my Father... The woods are the only place I hear him now. there are not enough to play Euchre but we don't mind. and when He goes... I will still come, there will be new friends, and if I am truly blessed, one day a family of my own.

This is only the 2nd Deer season I will have missed in my life time, the first one I was in Iraq too....When I see the corruption here, the way even powerful leaders of the country, will savagely and in petty fashion, pass up great wealth that comes with cooperation, in order to grab a few dollars now, or impose their will for the moment. When I look at my own country, which seems to also be dividing itself ad nauseum, each individual wanting their "rights" and seeming no one interested in making it good for EVERYONE (Mao Se Dong often wrote of a way to control people..divide them..never let them unite as one) When I look at this, for all the wonder that Deer season is for me, I realize how worthy the cause is, for me to give that up.

We talk about what a soldier sacrifices for his country. My grandfather is 86 Years old. This year very possibly COULD be the last year We could have gone hunting together. And yet....for all my experience and knowledge all my SACRIFICE.... when most people in power (Police chief;s Fire Chiefs Public servants etc) have to do MORE then say "thank you for your service......" they Balk. We hire police officers by a test, and by the Chief's "I like him" and turn a blind eye to experience This is an odd world we live in, an odd country. It's kinda like selecting a Dr. and saying "well yea Doc, you have performed this procedure 87 times perfectly....but you know..you were ONE push up short..so were going with this young guy out of school...

So today is a very...hard day. But with my friends, I will get thru it.

Hello All:

Thought I'd tell people a GOOD story for a change (WARNING Religion involved :) ) When we deployed, our chaplains got together to try and think of a way, to humbly say thank you for all the prayers we get from everyone, and we came up with a pretty neat way.

We have a Quilt with Pockets on it, where anyone who has a friend/loved one/what have you, in distress.  It gets the whole brigade all praying for someone who really needs it. no need to mention WHICH religion, we all ask for intersession in our own way. (and I ask all of you to Do the same in return, Pray for the friend I will tell you of next, and a prayer of thanks)

I have a friend, I have never met, Shantae Howard, we e-mail.  On his Blog he told us the following story


He asked for prayers, as his Elderly grandmother (87 comes to memory) was in the hospital.  they found some Cancer, in the intestine. She had always been a very strong woman.  Well they removed the cancer, and thought things were fine, as it turned out her bowel had twisted, so they had to go back in to fix that (part of it died)  but in doing so they found some cancer that they missed, so she had to undergo surgery a 3rd time. and she looked so Frail...

Well I dropped a Prayer slip on his butt, and the next posting said, she had slipped into a coma, and the doctors said there was no brain activity, and they would be meeting to discuss "pulling the plug"  So I dropped another slip..and well..before they pulled the plug...she woke up and is talking!

So I ask you all to say a quicky prayer, for his Grandmother, and for thanks....and a quick Prayer for another friend, who lost his father to Pancreatic Cancer (the fathers name is Hank Dombrowski)  When I get a gift I like to say thank you///

Well Talk to you all soon

hello All:

My internet has been absolutely horrid, this is the first chance I have had to get on.  O.k. for this update, I have had a lot of people asking me to write what I feel about  revoking the "Don't ask Don't tell" by our beloved Commander and Chief.

Well that's more than an easy answer, first let me say, it is my opinion that Americans as a whole are WAY to worried about the whole sexuality thing.  In many parts of the world, men and women shower and change together with absolutely NO problem.  and I think that the answer in America is to HOLD the Sick Bastard responsible who BREAKS a law, not hold the REST of us captive with repetitive "avoiding Sexual harassment" and "Equal opportunity " classes till were ready to vomit at the "Are you smarter then a 5th Grader" level of "education" to help the other 99% of us who have no problem to ensure we have no problem

Now THAT said,

let me pose a question, why do you think that the U.S. Military does not have Co-ed Showers?

You know how much MONEY we would save not having to build a separate buildings for females (or males depending on yer out look) to sleep in, a common facility for showers, like it was back in the days of WWII before Women were in the Military?

Now call me chauvanistic, but I DARE say the MAIN reason that we do not have co-ed showers, is WOMEN (really that's most of who would have issue with it) would not want to be nude in the shower with guys looking at her like a piece of meat.

Now that makes perfect sense doesn't it?

now WAIT just a derned min. here.  if this is EQUAL... and we have to make special allowance so guys do not oogle women, because women would find that offensive.... why is it UNREASONABLE for GUYS to be in a shower or room (Barracks) with ANOTHER guy who;s gonna oogle ME like a piece of meat?

What is that you say?  Suck it up.. if I didn't know the guy was gay, I wouldn't even notice it...well then HEY Gals...SUCK it up..99% of us know how to behave,  CO ED showers for EVERYONE.

Now come on guys... do you see the issues here? where does it end? when do we GROW up and stop making a big mystique about the same human body we ALL have and at our age have ALL seen. When do we punish a guy who sexually harasses ANYONE (male or female) and stop making the rest of us suffer just so others can say "well we told you so"

So forget "Don't ask Don't tell" and lets go with "Behave...OR ELSE

I figured I would tell you about an annoying game we play in Iraq.  You see I live near a Boulevard, so basically we have 2 lanes running one way, a median and 2 lanes running the other, and considering the size of the base, it's fairly busy.

Now before I continue keep in mind that the army Regs say pedestrians do NOT have the right of way.

Now when you cross the street you have to try and sneak, you see everyone is so BUSY being polite it is almost annoying.  For you see as you approach the street, there may be only 1 car coming several blocks away on YOUR side...and on the other lane (beyond the Median) there are 4 or 5 cars and a break, just right so if you cross now  by the time you get to the median, you can finish crossing, except if the 4 or 5 cars on the OTHER side SEE you.... they will stop and hold up traffic.... to wait for you, which while very kind, is very annoying if yer a car behind and in a hurry, so you either have to pick up to jog across (and return the favor) or...you SNEAK..walking at an angle so you LOOK like ...hey I don't wanna cross I was just coming to the median.  if you LOOK like your gonna ignore their kindness and walk behind them..then they go...but if they catch on...well then they wait or the guy BEHIND waits..and yer back in the same boat.

Well Now that I have taken a few deep breaths I remember what I was doing today.  Leave it to the Army, to bring God into our Ranks.  There is a tradition here at mass, where when the mass starts (and ends)  Father steps up to the Altar and declares "God is Great!"  and the attendees reply "all the Time!" then Father says "All the Time?" and we respond "God is great!"  Hooah!

I am becoming convinced that whatever happens, there is someone comes along that just finds delight in raining on other's parades.  I am in the Chow hall today, and this Army Captain comes up out of no where, because HE did not see me wash my hands....AND decides to make a POINT of it in the middle of the chow hall. I swear, were in iraq, people are going out on convoys, and working 12 and 18 hour days and this guy has just TOO much time on his hands.

Whatever.  It put me in a sour mood.

I haven't had a day off since I got here, some will say thats my fault I suppose, but I need to take care of things.  The internet seems to have new software so it seems to be connecting better.

I had planned to write more but right now...I am just rather despondent, the whole thing just struck me wrong. Perhaps tomorrow

*sigh* Well hello all. It's take me over a week to get connection, you see GOVERNMENT computers are for OFFICIAL use only, so Livejournal is blocked.  and When I called Tech support about my Internet (we have wireless) they said SOMEONE had a "Spambot" that infected the whole network, so it has been sending out huge amounts of messages (unknown to the user) making it impossible to connect.


O.k. So I come back from the work Day, I am a bit down because I can't get online..So I turn on TV. My choices are CSI Miami, nope I am not in a mood for any more analyzing, I can watch the Army's "I love exercise" channel...nope....I could watch the movie "Along came a Spider" nope..not a real happy one there.  Next channel...the News...definately not, so I was reduced to (Dare I say it) Sponge Bob Square Pants

I know I complain a LOT about how the army Treats soldiers like small children. But you know they seem to go out of their way to take any joy out of tasks.  What I mean is, much as I dislike it..I have to run, I PREFER to run OUTSIDE....however because we soldiers are no where near capable of determining our own safe places...By army policy ALL earphones outside are BANNED.. they have little squad car police to go around writing tickets and confiscating head phones...yep..I can order an attack on an enemy position..but do NOT get caught outside with yer headphones on..THAT is DANGEROUS!


Things are going well over all.  Except for the internet thing.  Got my Bike....so I get around easier.  I love hearing from people I'll keep this short so it posts before my net crashes  take care all

Wow:

I have a connection 3 days in a row, the Internet gods must be happy with me :)

Well I served my first mass today as Minster of the Eucharist and of course there is a Story.  Now we really LIKE  our Air Force breathern, But they Do have a different mind set.  I arrived early to help set up, a bit nervous  because I had not done it before.  Walking into the Sacristy I asked where the Wine was and how I could help. Now remember were in Church,  Father looked up and said "oh..we have to open a new bottle, the Air Force guy is looking for a knife" this was followed by the sound of about 30 Knives, bayonets, "Multi tools" and assorted jack knives being opened by the army soldiers.  

Most were setting down their rifles to do so.

Yep were a different sort.

Not all the day was Stellar.  The army if FULL of Idiot stuff.  With my NEW BIKE, and a slower day, I needed to go get new body armor....you see they gave ME the wrong size...at Fort Hood they did not HAVE my Size (large long) what is odd was, they had 2 other units AT Fort  Hood, who were leaving MONTHS AFTER *I did, but they all got THEIR size. anyways, I went in, and get what this REAL AMERICAN contractor said "oh...we don't have any PROOF you have a different SIZE...we'd get in TROUBLE if we just CHANGED it.... I put the thing on and showed them how it looked like I was squeezed into a sardine can "nope sorry unless you go to Baghdad, or get some paper that says something...CAN'T do it..."  So i ask "hmm so you WON'T get in trouble if I get SHOT and someone  tells the News "hey...you HAD a larger size...you COULD have protected him..but because he was lacking a scrap of paper...now mind you while there, feet were up watching TV safe in their cement BUILDING, they felt no need to HELP me or even DIRECT me.... Don't worry Folks, I am finding out WHO this contractor is and will do my level best to get that contract canceled.

Now another paradox, I wanted to get a hair cut, so I put my back pack on and rode my bike (remember were Army, we wanna ENCOURAGE staying in shape RIGHT?" I get to the PX....oh sorry you can't bring a BAG in...you might have a bomb..please leave it outside but keep your loaded gun....and any extra rounds you have....same thing at the Gym.. Bomb Bad..gun GOOD!

Well today was another Good day.  I was able to purchase a decent bike for $40 (a mountian bike, with helmut, head light and tail light) and my Microwage.  I share a refridge, wich only cools a little so if I can find a Fridge now for myself that does well...I shouldn't need another thing. I popped my first pop corn just now...and soon I hope to get some microwavable soups :)

Something has always struck me about the Military.  That is, among other things, an armed conflict is as much about making smart "intelligent" decisions as it is about shooting, maybe more so.  Yet in regards to it's own soldiers, it appears the military thinks it;s soldiers are too dim to realize thinly veiled efforts to cover  the higher ups collective behinds.  I told you about our wonderful "Clearing Barrel' ideas. Well the other day we had "Warrior Resiliance an Thriving" training.  This is a mandatory 1.5 hour class.  You in the public, aught to be careful HOW you speak to your political representative.  The latest "BUZZ" in the military, is "Preventing SUICIDE" *collective gasp* 

Now I am for doing absolutely ANYTHING to try and save a human life, but come on folks, I am an intelligence officer,I STUDY the enemy, and this class..I think, if you look at it, sounds a WHOLE lot like an old soviet political education course.  We spent 1.5 hours being told "you know..BAD events make you STRONGER (Da Comrad...we are all one happy commune working for each other!) and you know NO one can make you angry, only YOU can make YERSELF angry...and it's all in how YOU look at it..turn it into something POSITIVE (um..EXCUSE me?)

I cannot tell you the number of people who said "um..if you want me to thrive..give me 1.5 hours off to CHILL..... But remember it's public opinion that now drives our initatives,  what the people want is what keeps the congress re-elected and they dictate the priorities of the military.

So if you excuse me, i am gonna step away and try to turn stuff into something positive :)

Well, it seems that we really are "roughing it".  I got a vehicle today (a real car) and man I thought I had this figured out. you see there are so many people here, our internet is REALLY slow.  However We have a USO here, that has the FASTEST Internet on base.  So..my plan was set, after work, I DROVE back to my CHU (Contanerized Housing Unit) and took a nice HOT shower...then I  DROVE to the DFAC (Dining Facility) and ate....then it was on to the USO...a 30 min Moral phone call..and I was all set, I had left my laptop in the car when I ate (you can't bring in packages to the DFAC, could be a bomb) I rushed over, and plugged in, and got the laptop going and..... they BLOCK instant messengers and chat rooms because it 'slows them down"  ah well at least the ride back to my Chu was faster


I find it is a bit sad. Some jobs here would greatly reduce the violence, yet in everything, we do not employ AMERICANS, nor do we employ Iraqi's in their own country, no the people who serve our food, and wash our clothes, are Indians, and Pakistani's (for the cheap labor no doubt)  few speak any English (may I have some mashed potatoes please...no no..the white stuff)

and our SECURITY, well I don't wanna complain there, the people ARMED on this base, are Ugandans. Yep Ugandan Army has contributed troops to the cause, so I applaud that....and for the most part they seem nice, if a bit quiet

Well, today’s post will be an interesting one, as I can already feel myself stepping up to my Soap box J but it will have something really good too.  O.k. First some good, I think my Commander is getting used to my “firefighter” personality.  I like to have fun, and well I TRY to have a quick wit in the vein of George Burns.  Well this morning at the staff meeting, I guess I got off some rather good ones.  I know this because first our Chaplain mentioned to me that I am the Staff George Burns (which I take as the highest of compliments)  But then, later, while I was delivering some papers to the CDR,  He surprised by admitting that “I really Crack him up” sometimes.  The chaplain let me in on it because when I say something, I usually get the all business Commander look, but it only takes a few moments before the commander’s facade cracks and a smile is tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Ahhhh o.k. that said, I get to gripe a bit.  Things are going well, although I found out that apparently one of our people for whom work outs are a Hobby, has found an easy way to get a great pat on the back on his evaluation, were gonna do a FOR RECORD  Physical Fitness Test, while IN a war zone.  Now to give the devil his due, many people have said “oh A LOT of other units are doing that” (Speaking as yer mother might, if everyone jumped off a cliff...would you do it too?)  now as a PERSONAL opinion, I find this idea just about as good as the idea to call titanic unsinkable, setting aside the fact that I have had everyone from a 3 star general down admit the test is one of the POOREST measures of a person’s fitness (it is 3 events, pushup’s sit ups, and a 2 mile run,  it is weighted, and you must get a score of at LEAST 240, however you can get a 259 and fail because you need at least 60 points in EACH event, or you fail)

Now this test, I have seen Non Commissioned Officers and officers alike disregard regulations to “get the job done” but it’s a good thing I am in the Middle East because the Army physical Fitness test (APFT) is the MECCA of being a soldier.  They are gonna DO this, in fact my LAST instruction was SO detailed it stated “while doing a pushup you may let your chest touch the ground but you may not BOUNCE” (um…people BOUNCE? Usually when that happens there’s a trip to an emergency room or a morgue involved).   Not even the MARINES, who’s PT test I have taken (and passed) are this anal retentive.  Picture being George S. Patton, Douglas Macarthur, and Dwight D. Eisenhower ALL rolled into one, the greatest tactician and leader since Alexander the Great….but if you are short a push up…well no we won’t throw you out of the army (unless it’s peace time then it’s hit the bricks 2 strikes yer out) but once it’s on yer record you won’t get promoted…..

O.k. griping done on to the main point here.  Today was the first day I had a chance to go out running (if you can’t tell I honestly hate running) At least I get to go at my own pace.  Now I do not have a Car, in fact one of our Col’s asked me about that, frankly I am much too busy to get into any kind of ….  Search for a vehicle, would I like one…hmmm yea…..but honestly, if my soldiers can walk...and use a bus, so can I.

Now while OUT running, I had such a wonderful experience,  I was in my Running shorts and shirt for the first time where the soldiers would see me, they are used to seeing me in uniform.  From a DISTANCE I had junior soldiers, who KNEW me.  They waved, and they greeted me, some saluted me even though they could have walked by because I was not wearing my rank. And they smiled happy to see me.  And the more I was greeted, the less I thought about the fact I was running.  Many of you do not understand that “Band of Brothers” bond, but to me this was a shining example.  There are many command styles, and no one style is right, what works for one, may not work for another.  In general I have found that, except in very rare circumstance, yelling and threats only work so long, and never work when there is a danger that is greater than the punishment I can give out.  But I realized, in all my meeting when I was despondent, or frustrated or just plain tired, I have always drawn strength from the soldiers.  I walked out just the other day, frustrated, tired, and even insulted.  And when the Worker “Private Snuffy” or the Motivator “Master Sgt Barks” seem me, and smiled and say “Hi sir” and pop a salute, and ask me how my day went.  I can’t help but smile (sometimes granted it is forced) and chat a second, after all my day is not their fault. And it’s like the old “Underdog” cartoon, where Underdog had a “super energy pill” It gets me through.  What’s more, it seems that somehow (undeserving as I feel I am) I gain their true respect, they are not just saluting my rank, they are counting on me, and willing to take my word as their order.  Whenever possible I try to portray that they can come TO me, and while they may be in trouble, I can’t guarantee the outcome but  I will walk with them and see whatever it is through to the end, and the whole thing is like a narcotic to me. 

At a Fair some years ago I spoke with a young corporal, and when he saw my uniform he smiled, (he was in Civvies) and when I asked him about his service, he said “on Sir I am JUST a Corporal” to which my instant reply came to my mind “JUST a Corporal… did you know without privates and corporals, I am JUST an Lt Col?  And that WITH them, I can be a Battalion Commander, or a Brigade commander or MORE?

Now I have had Army personnel here, walk up to me and tell me they “found” my blog, and most say they really like it (I am flattered thank you) and some may say I wrote this just to puff my own balloon to them, but  I figure this blog is about me, how *I* feel,  And those of you at home who read, want to understand.  Well I do not understand the world, but I do understand how I feel, and right now that’s how I feel.

 

Till next time keep the comments coming! J

Well I got up this morning at 0400 so i could be with my Midnight Shift Sgt, so i could see what he does, and assist him with the shift work, and it is now 2230 (10:30 pm) And seeing as SOME of my Brigade knows of my Blog, SOME may not take this in the humor and spirit of which it is intended but I am groggy enough now, i do not care this is just TOO good not to pass on.


Well first off we did NOT have our 5pm staff meeting on the weekend, so THAT felt like a holiday all in itself, but led to the inevitable extra long meeting on mondy to catch up. And what pressing military matter did we discuss? TP!  Yep toilet paper.  OK to give the devil his due, There were some very real supply problems, not just TP but office supplies to cleaning, but as I sat there, the delicious humor did not escape me that what got focused on as an example was...TP!

For roughly 20 we discussed a lot of things, about how we should HAVE TP, and we should GET TP, and even about anticipating the NEED for TP.... I do not rightly remember if we actually solved GETTING TP.... but we gout a lot of things out in the open :) 

O.k. Enough Bathroom Humor.  So far my section seems to be doing well, and I am so extreamly proud of the soldiers working for me.  I was walking from our USO tonight and had a awe inspiring expirence, the first real actual COOL breeze since June.  it was so nice, to walk back across the base with that,

Things are settling in, I am in my room with a Hot cup of tea, heated by the pot Mom got me, munching snacks from the Package sent by my Cuban Mother and Girlfriend (yep you heard that right) so I am relaxing some now... Thats the update for tonight.  Hopefully my posts will be more frequent

I am so tired.  This deployment is shaping up to be the worst of my 4.  While I am safe and secure on a FOB, the endless tedium is hard to deal with. 

I am so proud of the soldiers I have working for me.  They are doing SO well.  I look good because of them.  There are issues here, and that's what is hard. it is not in my nature to retreat, but when you work on a staff, for a boss you respect,  You can not go running to him like somone who is gonna mediate a squabble.  And so you must endure.

We have no days off here,  I found myself thinking that it had been so long since I had a day off, and then I realized it's only been 6 days.  My internet is up and down, I wanted to get on earlier to write in this blog, but it was down.  Days run into one another,  Meals are just that, meals.  I don't particularly look forward to them, except to fill my tummy, and move on.  I have to walk about a half mile to the chow hall each day, wich means after there is a half mile walk back.

We have vehicles here, but I don't like to compete to get one, when my soldiers are walking or taking a bus.

My day is pretty structured,  we have to update the commander first thing in the morning, so thats a time I MUST be there, once there I stay all day, and then there is a meeting last thing, so no matter how hard I try to budget my time, I am stuck.

The good Lord has a very odd sense of humor, the other day i was feeling kinda down, maybe a bit home sick.  I came in and turned on AFN, and what is on the movies but...Castaway, nothing gets yer mind off of being far away from home, like a movie about a guy stranded alone on an island.

So i turned to my DVD's I bought the Disney movie "UP"  YEA nothing like Disney to cheer ya up right Ol Yeller?"  yep the movie starts out with a fast forward summary of an old man's life, where he marries his childhood sweetheart, and dream of having a place, and quickly covers how they lost their child at birth, couldn't have another, never got the place of their dreams, and just to keep things happy, when he buys a special ticket to take her to that place, while going up a hill for a surprise picknic lunch, she collapses, goes into the hospital and dies.

Well that picked me up almost as much as fast forwarding to the present where they are trying to take the ol guy's house to build a sky scraper.  Well it's Disney so he blows up a bunch of baloons, and floats the house toward their "Dream place"  Lo an behold once there, the BAD guy shows up..hunting a very lovable Giant bird, who turns out to be a mom, and the bad guy nets and drags her away from her family.

o.k. in the end the bird is saved, but while getting there I kept eyeing my plastic butter knife considering Hari Kari :)

Ah well.. I do not know where this train is going, but I know after 4 deployments this staff is still concerned with themselves, not with helping us ALL suceed. Perhaps i should include myself in that....but I don't know, I just see a train wreck commin, I got my seatbelt on and I'll do my level bestto set everyon up for success

I got mail.  5 packages so far.  I have been considring getting a Dilbert desk calander, the kind that you know you tear off each day? because during our evening staff meetings, i can't get that cartoon out of my head.  One in particular comes to mind where the guy confesses that they have 56 project managers, 23 Quality assurance supervisors, and 32 assistant supervisors, and thats not bad for a company of 18 employees :)

Ahh well Like a Kidney Stone this too shall pass. 

You know what I miss most? the sound of children laughing.  Here were all adults in stuffed shirts, doing all the serious stuff.  My creativity is at an all time low....Yep..Wanna hear some children laugh

Thats all for now...Stay tuned

Well I likely should not write, as I am in a pretty sour mood right now.  I got up this morn at 0400 to help my troopers with their training, knowing my shift started at 0900 (A time I HAVE to be there) then at noon, one of the Higher ups, just DECIDES we need a MEETING (of which I sayd about 2 sentences at) at 1700 AFTER the work day.  Officers always preach Time management, but seem to think nothing of just walking up and saying "well i didn't think of this before..but hey, I'm in charge so YOU pay for my lack of foresight)

O.k. that said,  now that I have vented.  I had some interesting conversations.  the first was one our Operations officer came up, and confided in me, that my "Blog" had been found, and concerned that I had Violated OPSEC.

Now first off, OPSEC means Operational Security, and what it means is.  A lot of terrorists get information on WHEN to attack, from sources such as blogs, news papers, and yes E-Mails!. When Zarquawi (SP?) was killed, his laptop had over 80,000 e-mails from soldiers to home with things like "honey..we leave in the morning I'm coming HOME (Followed by an IED (Improvized Explosive Device..a LRGE bomb) outside the gate to kill them as they left for home.

I am really pleased that it has her thinking OPSEC, but, unless someone is giving exact times between point A to point B,  then talking about yer unit movement AFTER the move, isn't really sensitive. But it had me wondering if I should end my Blog, Well the Lord Work in Mysterious ways, because right on teh heels of that, ANOTHERofficer came up smiling and said "NORM..My WIFE saw yer BLOG she REALLY loves it" So, while it was never really a doubt, the Blog stays :)

Anyone wishing to send anything electrical, must check to see if there is dual voltage..everything here is 240 volt,  America runs 110 :)

Things are slowly cooling here, the lows are now in the upper 70's We are still working with the unit we are replacing, in charge, and our office space is not yet built, once it is things, i hope will get a bit more normal.  We hear gunfire from time to time, but it is far off.  A lot of what is going on here now is criminal, not insurgent, they just call themselves insurgents to get the money their parent group offers. 

Mostly I think they want the land were on both for an airport and, being so close to the river, it's fertile for planting

Norm

Oh, i got it..office supplies.  Wood pencils, A pencil sharpener, stapler, maybe a desk blotter,  paperwork trays, a cup to hold pencils and pens, all things office.  Paperclips, hmmm what else....

:)

Settling in now, my Baggage made it, so I have clean clothes again.  We have a Free laundry Service, 3 day turn around.  and I will have a microwave and a fridge,  In fact the PX has flash frozen beef so when I am ready if I want i can get a BBQ Grill and make my own meal.

I need to get something to heat water with to make my tea.  i could also use some 1 serving size packets of Drink mix.  I like Nestea Iced tea (the pre-sweetened with lemon and sugar) Bot sure if they make it individual.  Tang is also good, I was never much of a one for "Sugar-free" so i prefer to stay away from things like Crystal lite.  I can also use some measuring spoons and maybe a measuring cup.

My Address is now (I think)

LTC Norman M. Fabian
90th Sustainment bde
JBB- Iraq
APO  AE    09391

So far internet is working so that is good, looks like we may be able to get away with 8 hour days, but no days off... 7 days a week have to see yet.

Norm

Monday, August 31, 2009

 

Hello All:

 

Well it has been a long and, for me difficult spell, but I am now finally at my final Destination and I can tell you all.  I am at Joint base Balad, Iraq, about 80 miles northwest of Baghdad.

One of my other friends made the VERY tongue in cheek e-mail comment to me that they were unsure if they could listen to a year of soldier complaints.  I assure you the comment was made in jest and was well taken, however it did make me think, about explaining what you’re thanking a soldier FOR, the next time you thank a soldier.  Those veterans among you will give a knowing nod as I Describe this.

So allow me to take you, with Odysseus, on my own Odyssey. 

O.k. We spent a really SPECIAL week at Camp Beuhring, Kuwait, where we did…well not a whole lot.  Despite my rank, I shared a 50 person tent with, well about 50 other guys, in 125 degree weather.  The tent had air-conditioning but that was its own problem, unable to keep up during the day, making it sweltering, and at night, till we found the thermostat, it would get to 65 degrees, making us shiver.  Needless to say, together with all the dust, I got a wicked cold (and so did everyone else in the tent)

Then came the wonderful Day, heading to our MAIN base,  I was told there would be 3 flights, leaving out of a Kuwait base on an Air Force Plane.  I was supposed to be on the FIRST flight… We left, after loading all our duffles into a Semi. When we got there we put them all on a pallet locked it all down, and then the plane was broke.

That was at noon, at 11:30 PM I got told I was going to be put on the LAST plane.  However all my bags are still on the FIRST.  I got to my new room at 3am this morn (Local time). 

The Room I have is MUCH better then in Kuwait, I share an indoor Bathroom and shower with a Dentist, My room is private.  I have Armed Forces Network (AFN) for a TV in my room, and about 12 channels.  The AC is good, The internet is spotty, $60.00 a month, but real slow.  I worry that at peak hours it will become unusable L I wanna get my OWN but the service is expensive, I was going to go in with 8 of “my guys” but were all spread out on housing so far, we cannot all connect.  I will wait, perhaps someone leaving will wanna sell their dish and we can do it that way, same with a microwave, I will be getting one, along with something to heat water for tea.

I am really unsettled right now, I have only the clothes I arrived with, till at least Tuesday night, and It’s a new area, no place… makes me feel unsettled…. But this is where I am so far, please e-mail and comment, it helps it really does

Apparently it is just the net aroudn here, it may have something to do with Windows vista not waiting long enough to connect, where windows XP doesn't time out but apparently my puter is fine it's just the net here...Thanks all