LONG TIME NO BLOG

Well it's been a long time since I last wrote. I've decided it's not worth paying $60 per month for poor internet service. Most nights, it's impossible to gain access as the system is so overloaded and the rest of the time the service just doesn't work. So here I am at lunch at the "White Elephant" MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) Center, using computers that aren't tied into the military network. The military does not take kindly to blogging and other social networks so it blocks them 24 hours/day.

So there are few things going on these days. We are packing gear and equipment up for our eventual move in a few months but it almost feels like we're going now. It's kind of wierd I must say. I am also going to loose a number of my personnel at the end of this month for another mission but they are going somewhere safe, just not home yet. So we are definitely on top of our game and ready to move out when the word comes down.

I was at the Class IV Yard today, where we keep our construction material. It is definitely getting smaller as we move material to where it is most needed (sorry for being cryptic folks). It's nice to see things getting accomplished, all due to the hard work of our Seabees.

My A/C has been on the fritz the past few nights. Apparently it freezes up! Can you imagine anything freezing up in the 100 plus degree weather? So I go to bed with a comfortable A/C setting and wake up at about 0400 feeling rather warm. Luckily we have A/C specialists here and they will probably have to replace the unit. I shouldn't complain because I'm not sure what they have in Afghanistan, other than a cot and tent!

Yesterday was Flack Friday. I attend a 3 time/week fitness class run by one of our corpsman. He is a physical fitness trainer in civilian life and very good at what he does. I have a few more training routines to add to my workout now, thanks to him. He is both creative in his routines and fun. We love to complain about how hard he works us but it's all good. So for the first time Friday, we brought our tactical body armor with front and back plates, to our workout. I figured it weighed about 25-30 lbs. He then took a deck of cards and explained that each suit and number/picture represented a routine and the number of times we had to do it. Spades represented push ups; Clubs, crunches; Diamonds, squats; and Hearts, planks. So, given there ae 52 cards in a deck, we did this 52 times of course. For example, the Ace of Spades, meant we had to do 14 push ups. He would immediately draw another card and we went into that routine. Now I know how a turtle feels on it's back! It was a fun workout though.

Yesterday was Loretta's birthday (I won't say publicly how old) but the girls took her to lunch in Roswell and she seemed to have a nice time. Loretta and Erica went to orientation at the Art Institute the day before so Erica has all the information she needs to start school Monday!! Wow, I can't believe it's here already for her. Apparently all of the 12 graduates this past year ended up in NY or abroad with jobs. It's a disciplined program and they run it very much like a business. Loretta and I think it's the right environment for her. She would probably feel lost at a larger public university and not get all of the technical training she will get at this school.

I've been told that things are tough now in the body armor industry and that all the manufacturers are having to make changes. I'm looking forward to getting back to civilian life but am not sure what the economy will be like when I return. All I know is that I can sell and look forward to getting back into the saddle (after taking some time of to be with the family).

I think tonight will be pizza night with the dentist. I try to get to Pizza Hut once a week or so. It's been two weeks. Our Battalion is having another MWR fund raiser with golfing as the theme again. Last time I paid dearly for trying to be the longest drive. They know a sucker when they see one as they asked if I'd be interested in participation in a closest to the pin contest. Of course!!

That's about it for now. I'll try to keep this blog updated once a week at least. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Take care.