Well today wasn't near as hot but that was because we a had or rather are having a pretty bad dust storm. Visability is about 200 feet and the air quality is horrid. You don't really feel the dust blowing against you as much as see it. With all of that dust in the air it tends to keep the temps down.
Today was the first day I got asked a lot of maintenance and maintenance related questions. At my level it's more about the accountability of stuff then it is me actually fixing it. I have people that do the fixing... they don't belong to me. I'm the conduit to all of the information and if I don't have it then I usually know where to go get it.
Even though I was busy today I wasn't to busy to give Micca a call this morning, this afternoon for me. I got my other phone put in my office that lets me call through the military network for nothing. It's very nice and convienient to just be able to call from office and not have to wait in lines. We got to talk about everything and nothig almost like we would do if we were together. Micca admitted she is still having a hard time and I only say that here because I'm pretty sure she would tell anyone else the same. I couldn't be prouder of her though. Every time i ask a question about stuff she's already got it done or is waiting on someone esle to do their part. I'm really a much better soldier because of her. I don't have to worry about anything she is so great.
I found out this week that my company I just left will most likely be headed to Afghanistan in October with the huge deployment from Illinois. I have mixed feelings about them going without me. The current Commander will not go since he just returned from Afghanistan. So that leaves them without a commander and I sort of wish it was me. Granted I would be one big stressed out mess when I got done, that's a lot of responsibility to take 130 soldiers... Moms dads sisters brothers sons and daughters into a combat zone. Afghanistan is the safer of the two for sure.
Well like usual I am going to post some pictures like usual and that takes awhile.
Thanks for the encouragement and support. I appreciate everyone looking out for my family.
Brent
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Hotter still
Well the heat is on, guess I should quit whining I can sit in the air condtioning most of the time.
I skipped my afternoon run today, I'm going to try and run in the morning. I played Basketball with the youngins tonight, I never thought I would be the old guy on the court. I held my own for the most part. The polish like to play as well, they are pretty physical which is fne by me but they don't like to be treated the same way so some of the younger kids were getting bent out of shape. I was just there to get off my arse for the evening. I put on my heart monitor that Micca had got for me to see my heart rate and count my calories burned. I burnt up almost 1000 in an hour I figure if I can do that everyday I should start seeing a few lbs drop off. The heat will help too lol.
For those of you that have my email I really enjoy getting mesages throughout the day. Whenever I start to get bored I go to my email and it's nice to read whatever you have to say.
Tonight for dinner we had steak and crab legs... well they claim it was steak, the crab legs were ok. I should have just had a salad the steaks were pretty sorry. I know they are trying but... well it just didn't cut it.
So I had a cookie and a shake lol
Later for now, Hopefully I will have something exciting to write about one of these days.
Brent
I skipped my afternoon run today, I'm going to try and run in the morning. I played Basketball with the youngins tonight, I never thought I would be the old guy on the court. I held my own for the most part. The polish like to play as well, they are pretty physical which is fne by me but they don't like to be treated the same way so some of the younger kids were getting bent out of shape. I was just there to get off my arse for the evening. I put on my heart monitor that Micca had got for me to see my heart rate and count my calories burned. I burnt up almost 1000 in an hour I figure if I can do that everyday I should start seeing a few lbs drop off. The heat will help too lol.
For those of you that have my email I really enjoy getting mesages throughout the day. Whenever I start to get bored I go to my email and it's nice to read whatever you have to say.
Tonight for dinner we had steak and crab legs... well they claim it was steak, the crab legs were ok. I should have just had a salad the steaks were pretty sorry. I know they are trying but... well it just didn't cut it.
So I had a cookie and a shake lol
Later for now, Hopefully I will have something exciting to write about one of these days.
Brent
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Wheww!!! It's getting warmer
Hello everyone,
Today was a little on the warm side. I don't know how hot it got but it was 104 by 1100 hrs in ths shade. My thermometer only went to 120 and it was maxed out in the sun. So to answer Dad's question yes we are headed into summer. They do have seasons here but it's more along the lines of what Florida would see for seasons. Baghdad saw snow this last winter for the first time in 60 years.
Not a whole lot... well I cant really say that but I will say not a whole happened here at Echo today. Today is the end of the 3 days of morning for Sadar's father brother?? whatever being killed last year. Soooo there has been a little more activity today then what we have seen for awhile.
I worked on getting another phone into my office. I only have the Secret type phone in my office and now I will the regular one which will allow me to call to the states for free then I can use a phone card to dial as if I was in the states, plus it will be very convienient to call from office.
Well most evenings thus far I sit in my little trailer with the door open and we will usually end up outside just talking. Tonight as I sit here with my door open I'm thinking it is pretty hot, it is still 84 at 2000.
I guess one thing to note is that I had the mongolian liason come see me to day to borrow a video projector. I'm truly the international supply guy, I also helped the Armenians find a place they could wash their trucks.
There are some other things that I do nothing to special but it's not something I should advertise on an open forum. We are constantly being reminded that we should be careful about what type of information we post on tthe internet. In fact I don't even throw envelopes in the garbage for fear that the return address will go to the bad guys. There have been cases where family members have recieved mail from the bad guys, propaganda and such.
Well now that I have scared everyone it's time for me to post some pictures.
Today was a little on the warm side. I don't know how hot it got but it was 104 by 1100 hrs in ths shade. My thermometer only went to 120 and it was maxed out in the sun. So to answer Dad's question yes we are headed into summer. They do have seasons here but it's more along the lines of what Florida would see for seasons. Baghdad saw snow this last winter for the first time in 60 years.
Not a whole lot... well I cant really say that but I will say not a whole happened here at Echo today. Today is the end of the 3 days of morning for Sadar's father brother?? whatever being killed last year. Soooo there has been a little more activity today then what we have seen for awhile.
I worked on getting another phone into my office. I only have the Secret type phone in my office and now I will the regular one which will allow me to call to the states for free then I can use a phone card to dial as if I was in the states, plus it will be very convienient to call from office.
Well most evenings thus far I sit in my little trailer with the door open and we will usually end up outside just talking. Tonight as I sit here with my door open I'm thinking it is pretty hot, it is still 84 at 2000.
I guess one thing to note is that I had the mongolian liason come see me to day to borrow a video projector. I'm truly the international supply guy, I also helped the Armenians find a place they could wash their trucks.
There are some other things that I do nothing to special but it's not something I should advertise on an open forum. We are constantly being reminded that we should be careful about what type of information we post on tthe internet. In fact I don't even throw envelopes in the garbage for fear that the return address will go to the bad guys. There have been cases where family members have recieved mail from the bad guys, propaganda and such.
Well now that I have scared everyone it's time for me to post some pictures.
Monday, April 14, 2008
102 degrees and a language barrier
Hello all,
Hopefully I haven't bored you to death by now. Today was 102 when I got done with my run at 1145. I caught another gecko, I think this one was pregnant, and when I let her go she tried to run up my shirt sleeve. I screamed like a girl that was good for a laugh.
As for my language barrier today.. I about had to beat a polish soldier to death. You see we have 3 computer systems that everyon eoperates off of. We have one that is for unclassified stuff one for secret stuff and one for secret stuff that is for our allies. We don't share all of all secret stuff. So anyways the Polish are in charge of the last one. The person I had replaced had dropped off a computer to them to get fixed, I went there and was trying to explain that. It took me about 30 minutes to get my point across only for them to tell me they don't have it. SO I am missing a computer. I might find it somewhere I am still inventorying stuff.
Short one tonight, I will see if I can post some new pictures
Hopefully I haven't bored you to death by now. Today was 102 when I got done with my run at 1145. I caught another gecko, I think this one was pregnant, and when I let her go she tried to run up my shirt sleeve. I screamed like a girl that was good for a laugh.
As for my language barrier today.. I about had to beat a polish soldier to death. You see we have 3 computer systems that everyon eoperates off of. We have one that is for unclassified stuff one for secret stuff and one for secret stuff that is for our allies. We don't share all of all secret stuff. So anyways the Polish are in charge of the last one. The person I had replaced had dropped off a computer to them to get fixed, I went there and was trying to explain that. It took me about 30 minutes to get my point across only for them to tell me they don't have it. SO I am missing a computer. I might find it somewhere I am still inventorying stuff.
Short one tonight, I will see if I can post some new pictures
Sunday, April 13, 2008
A little about me
Today was Sunday so I slept in or rather just stayed in my room trailer until 10 or so. The stupid birds here are loud in the mornings so it’s hard to sleep in. Wish I had a shotgun instead of a rifle.
Today was slow for the most part. I always have things I can do but I have learned to pace myself already. I’m still setting things up and think I should be set in the next couple of weeks.
Micca decided to write about herself .. well we decided we should write about ourselves since we have a larger audience than what we thought and I have been a little slow to do so. That’s so typical of us. She goes and gets it done and I am always lagging behind.
So for those of you who know me you can read on or fast forward.
I was born and raised in Bushnell, Dad came to Bushnell as the recreation Director and PE teacher and coach. Mom did some teaching, coaching and many other jobs as well. It’s kind of important to know what they did because it impacted me at a pretty early age. As I kid I was always around one sport or another and when I was old enough begin participating, and when I say participating that’s about all I did. Whatever athletic ability I had didn’t really show up until my freshman year in highschool. I had some limited success in Baseball before that but nothing to great. I did ok in school, if I had applied myself I probably would have gotten better grades but I had more important things to do lol.
I graduated high School with Honors…. Barely!! My senior year or rather even before my senior year I signed up into the Army’s delayed entry program. Things went well my senior year I did well in football baseball and basketball. And not even a month after I graduated I left for Ft McClellan, AL for basic training and my advanced individual training. After that I took off to Germany for my first duty station. Carrie and I got married a year later after she finished school and she came over with me. We had Drake there and then it was time for us to move and we ended up at Ft. Campbell, KY. Ashtyn was born there and It was around that time I decide I was going to get out of the Military. As I was preparing for my departure from the Army my mother told me about a job in the Illinois guard that was with a Weaponns of Mass Destruction Civil support team. This was in late 98 early 99 before the whole terrorism thing. For once the army had some foresight in what they were doing.
I applied and got a position there. The unit was located in Bartonville, IL so carrie and I picked up and moved back to IL. We ended up in Prairie City. T was so very nice to be back home and to have the kids attend a school that we both knew. After working In Bartonville I took a job in Macomb…. OOOO wait I forgot the fact that I became a military officer at some point in there. Ok back to Macomb lol, I took a full time job there and was asked to become a company commander in Rockford, IL. Carrie and I got divorced at some point in there.
Micca and I met via the internet and chatted for hours at a time before we ever met. When we finally did meet the conversations just kept going and going. She made mention of how I relate our relationship to my parents. I always remember mom and Dad staying up to the wee hours of the morning talking about whatever. I moved over to Deer Creek so we could live together, She has a residency requirement to live in Tazewell County so we picked my old Nemesis Dee-Mac to live in. During high school that was the school we played several times in the Playoffs. We won some we lost some.
We got engaged on our second cruise and got married shortly thereafter, partly because of this deployment.
Micca is such an awesome person, I truly got to marry my best friend. This deployment has been pretty difficult simply because we have always communicated almost every day all day. We both had blackberry’s which is a type of phone. We had to have them simply so we could text back and forth. One of the funniest things I remember that illustrates how we have to tell each other everything; Micca calls me at 3 A.M my first thought is uh oh what’s wrong.. normally we don’t call each other we just text a lot, I can barely understand her but the first thing she says is I am ok cause she knew I would be worried, then she proceeds to tell me how she got to taze someone, as in use her tazer.
Alright enough about me, if you wanna know more just ask.
Today was slow for the most part. I always have things I can do but I have learned to pace myself already. I’m still setting things up and think I should be set in the next couple of weeks.
Micca decided to write about herself .. well we decided we should write about ourselves since we have a larger audience than what we thought and I have been a little slow to do so. That’s so typical of us. She goes and gets it done and I am always lagging behind.
So for those of you who know me you can read on or fast forward.
I was born and raised in Bushnell, Dad came to Bushnell as the recreation Director and PE teacher and coach. Mom did some teaching, coaching and many other jobs as well. It’s kind of important to know what they did because it impacted me at a pretty early age. As I kid I was always around one sport or another and when I was old enough begin participating, and when I say participating that’s about all I did. Whatever athletic ability I had didn’t really show up until my freshman year in highschool. I had some limited success in Baseball before that but nothing to great. I did ok in school, if I had applied myself I probably would have gotten better grades but I had more important things to do lol.
I graduated high School with Honors…. Barely!! My senior year or rather even before my senior year I signed up into the Army’s delayed entry program. Things went well my senior year I did well in football baseball and basketball. And not even a month after I graduated I left for Ft McClellan, AL for basic training and my advanced individual training. After that I took off to Germany for my first duty station. Carrie and I got married a year later after she finished school and she came over with me. We had Drake there and then it was time for us to move and we ended up at Ft. Campbell, KY. Ashtyn was born there and It was around that time I decide I was going to get out of the Military. As I was preparing for my departure from the Army my mother told me about a job in the Illinois guard that was with a Weaponns of Mass Destruction Civil support team. This was in late 98 early 99 before the whole terrorism thing. For once the army had some foresight in what they were doing.
I applied and got a position there. The unit was located in Bartonville, IL so carrie and I picked up and moved back to IL. We ended up in Prairie City. T was so very nice to be back home and to have the kids attend a school that we both knew. After working In Bartonville I took a job in Macomb…. OOOO wait I forgot the fact that I became a military officer at some point in there. Ok back to Macomb lol, I took a full time job there and was asked to become a company commander in Rockford, IL. Carrie and I got divorced at some point in there.
Micca and I met via the internet and chatted for hours at a time before we ever met. When we finally did meet the conversations just kept going and going. She made mention of how I relate our relationship to my parents. I always remember mom and Dad staying up to the wee hours of the morning talking about whatever. I moved over to Deer Creek so we could live together, She has a residency requirement to live in Tazewell County so we picked my old Nemesis Dee-Mac to live in. During high school that was the school we played several times in the Playoffs. We won some we lost some.
We got engaged on our second cruise and got married shortly thereafter, partly because of this deployment.
Micca is such an awesome person, I truly got to marry my best friend. This deployment has been pretty difficult simply because we have always communicated almost every day all day. We both had blackberry’s which is a type of phone. We had to have them simply so we could text back and forth. One of the funniest things I remember that illustrates how we have to tell each other everything; Micca calls me at 3 A.M my first thought is uh oh what’s wrong.. normally we don’t call each other we just text a lot, I can barely understand her but the first thing she says is I am ok cause she knew I would be worried, then she proceeds to tell me how she got to taze someone, as in use her tazer.
Alright enough about me, if you wanna know more just ask.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
A little perspective
Looks like my random thought might have been a bit to random.
Anyways,
I had to wash my little Polaris today it was looking very dirty. They have a washrack here on the camp maned by TCNs, Third Country Nationals. I was talking to the head guy and I am sure he makes probably 120k for managing this little facilty. It is really nothing more than 2 pressure washers and some manual laborers (the TCNs)I asked him how much the TCNs got paid and said they start out at about $0.80 and hour and some are up to $1.02. But you might say hell I bet the benefits are great... well nope they aren't. The last rocket attack here hit right by the washrack one of the TCNs took some shrapnel in the thigh and stomach he was out 2 weeks and hasn't gotten paid for that. He was back at work today. Talk about a trooper. I have a lot of respect for some of these kids. They really just want a normal life where they can go to work and provide for themselves and their families. It just reinforces what I think and makes me glad we are here.
My Commander has his own interpeter who fled Iraq in 1996 when he was 16. He was from northern Iraq. Every home had a bunker in the basement, makes you think about how lucky we are in the US.
Tomorrow is Sunday for me, so I will sleep in for a bit but that's about it for a day off. It's really not that bad. If I had a day off I would probably go do some work anyways. I might work out a little longer or something but there isn't much else to to but work.
So next time you think things are going bad, just be thankful you were born where you were and have the rights that you do. I think we can afford to give a little to those people that have pretty much nothing. The US has taken the high road while others have taken the highway home. Ok enough of the soapbox I don't want to start a debate just wanted to share that I am happy I am here supporting a higher cause.
Ok one random thought that kind of goes with the kids month thing for those that have parents serving in the Military. I often have people thanking me for my service to the country... the next time you see a spouse or child of a military member you might think about thanking them as well. Without them we can't function as a soldier they are our support network. For that I say Thank You!!
Brent
Anyways,
I had to wash my little Polaris today it was looking very dirty. They have a washrack here on the camp maned by TCNs, Third Country Nationals. I was talking to the head guy and I am sure he makes probably 120k for managing this little facilty. It is really nothing more than 2 pressure washers and some manual laborers (the TCNs)I asked him how much the TCNs got paid and said they start out at about $0.80 and hour and some are up to $1.02. But you might say hell I bet the benefits are great... well nope they aren't. The last rocket attack here hit right by the washrack one of the TCNs took some shrapnel in the thigh and stomach he was out 2 weeks and hasn't gotten paid for that. He was back at work today. Talk about a trooper. I have a lot of respect for some of these kids. They really just want a normal life where they can go to work and provide for themselves and their families. It just reinforces what I think and makes me glad we are here.
My Commander has his own interpeter who fled Iraq in 1996 when he was 16. He was from northern Iraq. Every home had a bunker in the basement, makes you think about how lucky we are in the US.
Tomorrow is Sunday for me, so I will sleep in for a bit but that's about it for a day off. It's really not that bad. If I had a day off I would probably go do some work anyways. I might work out a little longer or something but there isn't much else to to but work.
So next time you think things are going bad, just be thankful you were born where you were and have the rights that you do. I think we can afford to give a little to those people that have pretty much nothing. The US has taken the high road while others have taken the highway home. Ok enough of the soapbox I don't want to start a debate just wanted to share that I am happy I am here supporting a higher cause.
Ok one random thought that kind of goes with the kids month thing for those that have parents serving in the Military. I often have people thanking me for my service to the country... the next time you see a spouse or child of a military member you might think about thanking them as well. Without them we can't function as a soldier they are our support network. For that I say Thank You!!
Brent
Friday, April 11, 2008
MILITARY KIDS MONTH
Check out the links to the right
I've touched on this topic a couple of times and it's actually an act that has been passed in Congress.
It's of small consequence that they have a month but at least they are recognized.
If you see Ashtyn, Dade or Drake let them know that they are doing just as much as their Dad. They are just as important as the soldiers in Iraq or Where ever, they are one of the many reasons that bring us home safe.
Brent
I've touched on this topic a couple of times and it's actually an act that has been passed in Congress.
It's of small consequence that they have a month but at least they are recognized.
If you see Ashtyn, Dade or Drake let them know that they are doing just as much as their Dad. They are just as important as the soldiers in Iraq or Where ever, they are one of the many reasons that bring us home safe.
Brent
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