At last we are there 

The desert 

Different approach here. Hope it works 

Arrival at Last

Well, here I am, finally after, can I say, months of training (actually only since November, but it feels like forever) in Iraq. Will I really can't say where I am, and no operational issues will be discussed I will describe me life in the box.
I am posting some photos of Kuwait and I hope this works. I have made it like a small poster. Just click on it and it will enlarge. If it still isn't large enought to read, just right click on the photo and copy it and then use a paint program to enlarge it to read it. I will try to remember to use larger fonts next time! Let me know if it doesn't seem to be a good idea.
I really enjoy reading all the comments from friends and people I don't know. It is great to know so many people are out there praying and thinking of not only me, but all the soldiers over here. Thank you very much for your consideration.
The first thing I noticed coming over is the poverty. In the states when we convoy to annual training, the kids will run down to the road and wave and make that honk your horn sign. And we usually do and wave back and smile. Here in Iraq they stand by the road and wave towards their mouth wanting food. Or make gestures towards us that are not too nice. But some wave. But most are begging for food. We are not to throw food because the kids will run out infront of vehicles and get hit. It was hard on the heart to just drive by, but the consequence would be worse. What a contrast.
As we were driving, I was thinking that Sadam was not only a cruel leader , but a lousy one at that. People like say he was cunning and outfoxed the US. etc, etc. but looking at the condition of his country, I would say he did a vey lousy job. The roads are terrible, the houses look like the are going to fall down and it just looks dirty (a few places we went by really smelled too). And all that money on tanks and guns he wasted because when the rubber met the road it litterally went up in smoke.
The moral of this lesson? Our county may be a loud, obnoxious land, but we are a people that are really free. Free to do some strange things yes, but a land of the free. Our leaders come and go and the people keep on building. Don't knock down the ole USA, you don't know what you've got, until you don't have it.

Sand, sand and more sand

We left the cold rainy land of Indianna and arrived to the cold rainy land of Kuwait. Yes here we are in the desert and it was raining. It didn't rain very long, just couple of days and at that it wasn't very much.
The plane ride was long, but since I slept most of the way I don't remember it very much.
Until I can get photos posted, this is what I see: sand and more sand. Camels and some sheep.
It amazes me that sheep can find something to eat out here. I don't see any grass! I am definitely not in Ohio any more.
Another amazing thing is that it is cold here. All I have heard is it is hot here and now that i am here, it is cold! Not like Ohio cold, but cold. Of course, many of you are not up at 2 am or 3 am 0r 4 am doing work.
Well, we are here and I am out of time on the computer. Stay tuned for more.

It was quite a trip home for Christmas pass. The bus didn't arrive until 10:30 pm (2230 hrs) and I didn't get home until 0600 hrs!
Visited my mother in a rehabilitation center. She had had hip and knee replacement surgery and was recovering there. She is doing well.
After I returned back, the weather decided to reverse itself and change from 18 degrees to 50 some degrees! Now it is wet, muddy and the sky is cloudy all day (sound like a song?)
I spent New Year's training, but before the snow melted we had a couple of training events postponed due to bad roads and dangerous conditions. We were stuck inside for a couple of days, and as you can see by the photos, we were " busy".
As the time for us to leave gets nearer, there are things that obviously cross your mind. First would be the obvious, missing your loved ones, being gone for an entire year and not getting to see them. It gets hard.
You miss your daily routine. The simple things you do at home that you don't think about. Watching tv. whenever, going to dairy queen whenever, going to church when you want and not when the training schedule allows, good food and better tasting.
You realize that you are getting ready to do something important and you gear up for that, but in the back of your mind you think: Can I do my job? Can I take care of my people? Will I freeze at the wrong moment or forget the right thing at the wrong time?
You try not to think of the unspeakable. You brush off people and say it won't be that bad (it may not be!) and you will be ok.
Things are different now, and never will they be the same.
So I think of things of home, green grassy hills of southern Ohio, the home that my wonderful wife keeps neat as a pin, my children and how they make me feel very proud.
I try not to think of the separation that awaits us, but of the good times.
Just being there is so important and I miss that.

It is not all play when we are stuck inside. Here is a class on the Mark 19 gernade launcher.  

What do soldiers do when training is canceled due to inclimate weather? Build an "engineer castle" in the snow that is what they do!