Happy New Year

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year. I will be leaving soon and will do my best to enjoy 2005. I had both of my brothers and one sister and neice come visit me this week for a couple of days. We had a good time and I am so thankful I got to see them before I go. I purchased a Sony DSC-P73 camera at Best Buy today. I will be able to update my site with pictures now. Once again everyone have a good one.

Merry Christmas

Not a whole lot went on here today. I took my dogs for a couple of walks and watched football and basketball on television. It is always weird when the house is quiet during the holiday season. I am thankful I am here though. Next year I will not have a choice on where I will spend Christmas and New Year's day. I am getting restless and looking forward to going back to work. I want to get this deployment out of the way and all I am doing now is thinking about it. Once again, Merry Christmas everyone.

Two Days Until Christmas

I hope everyone who reads this will have a Merry Christmas. I am not sure what I will be doing, probably eating some turkey watching some football. The girls are in Iowa spending Christmas with other relatives. I have been spending my time going to the gym doing some cardio and weightlifting. I am trying to get into better shape for my deployment.

I would like to thank uncle Bob and aunt Suzanne for the Christmas card they sent me. I have not seen them in years and it was good to here from them. I would also like to thank my dad for donating his laptop to me. I will be taking it with me. I would also like to say Merry Christmas to the rest of my family. My younger sister is getting ready to graduate from school, my older sister has lost over 90 pounds on WeightWatchers. My mom is working hard as ever and both my brothers are being great fathers. I love you guys, have a good holiday!

Close But No Cigar

I finished my NBC class today and got third overall. I am happy with my scores, especially since there were quite a few students that were in the chemical field taking the class. Tonight at midnight leave starts. It will be nice not having to get up at 5 in the morning to do PT (physical training).

Five way tie

With two days left in my NBC class I am in a 5 way tie for the highest grade. Tomorrow is our final test. The top two students will get an Department of the Army Certificate which is worth promotion points. Everyone in the class will get 5 college credits as well.

Block leave starts friday at midnight. Next time I am at work there should be less than two weeks before we fly overseas.

QuikClot 

Needful Things

I am still saving up for some items that I would like to take with me. Some I consider necessary while others are creature comfort items to make my 12 - 18 month stay in Iraq a little more enjoyable, (if that is possible). Here are some must haves. QuikClot-$40.49, more info here. Surefire Red Beamfilter-$17.09, Surefire P60 Lamp Reflector-$21.99. I have a Surefire flashlight that requires the Red Beamfilter for use at night and P60 Lamps. Some of my non necessities are an mp3 player, either an Apple IPOD or Dell DJ, a digital camera, and a Dell 2200MP screen projector. The screen projector would be used in the three man conexes we will be living in. They are much smaller and lighter than televisions so it would be a lot easier to transport. If anyone would like to donate to my Iraq World Tour fund please click here.

Countdown to Iraq

I am making this site to keep friends and family and anybody else interested updated on my deployment to Iraq. Because of security reasons I cannot discuss specific details on when and where I am going until I am already there. I can tell you I will be gone before January 15th.
All of our equipment, tanks, trucks, etc. has been loaded on trains and will be making its way to a boat and taken overseas.

I am currently enrolled in a NBC defense Course, which is two weeks long and very intense. I have also recently finished an Iraqi culture class that was taught by two native Iraqis. The information I learned will indeed be helpful while I am over there.