A Labrats Journey

Elections...

2005-01-31T14:28:00.000-08:00

Couldn't even watch much of the news last night. My thoughts were, "Oh! Now the press wants to show how thankful the Iraqi's are that we are there." I don't know how you all felt but that is how I felt. I still think they didn't get a fair election. Some places the voting staff didn't even show up, but at least they took place with minimal problems thus far. I don't see this removing troops from Iraq. The news talks about how many troops are coming home, ironically they never mention how many are deploying again, it is turnover time again, duh!! Okay okay enough of that. Things are normal here, as normal as can be expected. The corpsman rating and the dental rating are merging together on Wednesday. Coda got over his food poisoining from Tokayo Den in CC TX, so don't eat there!! Now poor thing has a nasty cold. It is rainy and cool here. Not very nice weather at all. Nwojo called this am early and spoke about his recent deployment from the lab onto a ship. He is thankful to not be in the sand, but sad that he is deployed. Still struggling after Tony got layed off to get back on our feet. Almost there. Used all of my "war Savings" to pay necessary bills, got a few "extra" things but nothing too extravigant. Still going to school almost done, one more semester and I will have a masters in healthcare administration and a masters in business administration.

Healing Well!

2005-01-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

Let me start by saying that I apologize on not writing. It has been crazy getting settled in again. Surgery went well, I can walk without pain and I am about 80% better. Looking forward to HM1 G coming back and praying for HM3 Nwojo as he just departed this month. "Doc in the Box," the blogger who taught me this is heading back to the sand box again!! Who knows what the future holds for me. They are scubbing another list for the end of FEB as we speak. It will be almost one hundred people from here AGAIN! So obviously they will be dipping into those who just came back and sending them for a second or third tour. Tony is well, he was layed off from his job the Monday after christmas. There wasn't enough work and he wasn't given any notice. That made for a bumby start here. He has since found another job and been working there one week. It is service work (he is a plumber) and he likes it. He works long days til 8 at night or so, sometimes earlier. The next paycheck won't be for another week though, so we are draining my savings from Iraq quite rapidly :( . We got moved into a condo on the island. It is a little piece of paradise. Cost me less than if I would live on base, and Dacoda doesn't have to deal with the mold. It is one year old so there isn't much respiratory issues there. Speaking of Dacoda he is a gem. Talking a mile a minute. His cousin is pregnant and when you ask him where the baby is he runs and touches her belly and says BABY! Jes (the cousin) is getting induced tonight!! So we will spend most of the weekend at the hospital with her. I am going to help her breast feed that baby! They have no lactation nurses here, crazy. Work here is very busy and I fell back into the swing of things just fine. I still jump when people clap or something falls. For all those who sent packages most of them were opened by the people still there, I don't know if they write to you or not. I got five boxes back and the contents of those I put in a box to send off to HM1 G. I am mailing it this weekend. Christmas was good here - small this year money wise, thank god because then Tony got layed off! He bought me a diamond bracelet and I bought him a hand painted Chess set with good vs evil from Germany. Coda was the true christmas. He got a tricycle and a bus that sings the people on the bus go round and round. A couple other things, cars, a race track, etc. Well I will promise to keep you posted better now that things are straightened out and back into the swing of things.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2004-11-24T13:16:00.000-08:00

So Happy to be home for a holiday!! Just an update. I finally made it back to Corpus and I am scheduled for surgery on Monday. I have a torn menisucs both medial and lateral and a torn LCL. I have a cyst behind my knee as well. Worried about those in Iraq, I still communicate with them and they are well as can be. I am hanging in there. Coda and Tony are estatic to be with me. Thanksgiving Dinner is held at Aunt Deener's house and we are all invited. I have a lot this year to be thankful for. I will let everyone know how I am shortly after my surgery. For those who mailed boxes, several have came back to me and are being sorted and resent to those who I was with. If anyone needs names of my friends over there please don't hesitate to ask. You all kept my spirits high! I enjoyed my boxes and emails from everyone. Thanks to Shar for all those long nights she chatted with me keeping me awake. Happy Thanksgiving and don't forget to be thankful this year as there are those way worse off then us on Thansgiving. Remeber their (Iraq) Thanksgiving starts shortly today for us.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2004-10-30T02:10:00.000-07:00

Well, for those of you who don't know I was MEDEVAC'd last Friday for my knee. First I went to Baghdad an army hospital. I got to see the President of Iraq there. Other than that they were pretty bad. They took my vitals and stuck me in a chair, didn't help me with my bags and left me there for 18 hours. There were other marines with me too! Most of them worse off than me. The one LCPL needed pain meds for a bad polynidial cyst, I had Mortin the good corpsman I am and some percocet to relieve his pain just a little. I ended up nurturing this LCPL all the way til yesterday! Then from Baghdad I flew on a Blackhawk (pretty neat) to Balad. Baghdad was bad, but quiet. Balad was the air force, they took really good care of us. I was given a litter on the ward, they helped me shower with my bum knee and fed me well. There was incomin rounds there too. The staff there was pretty new to Iraq and the sound of incoming scared them all to death. That is when I realized how immune I was. I just layed there watching forest gump with my new friend the LCPL. He and I giggled at them running around with flaks and Kev's on. They wanted us to get under our litter, we didn't comply, but they were to busy to notice. In Balad it was tents. In Baghdad it was a nice very nice hospital in the green zone. That night (Sun) I left Balad for a MEDEVAC flight on a C141 to Germany. We loaded up, I on a litter and the LCPL I recently adopted. It only took 45 mins for the red lights of darkness to turn to white. I feeling of relief went over us all, some even clapped at the fact that we were in the safe zone. I landed in Germany that Monday AM early. It was a long day of hospital check in and I saw another ortho doc. He agreed with my Ortho doc in Fallujah, the one in Baghdad, and the one in Balad. I have to have surgery for a lateral/medial miniscal tear. So Monday I leave for the states. First to Bethesda, then to Illinois, then to California. Yes stupid California. My CO in Corpus fought for me not to have to go there, but he called me and said he lost. So the marines want to see my face one more time, and I have to see ANOTHER ortho doc there. Geez after all these visits they better be right about my knee. I watch the news here in Germany and thank God I am not in Fallujah. I think about HM1 G everyday!! I wish I could have brought him with me. I sent him a box on my MEDEVAC, I wonder if he ever got it?? I hope so. It has been a long journey and still more to come. Eventually I will make it back though, more fortunate than others. They treat you like a hero here in Germany. They give you sweats and t-shirts. The Marines met me and that LCPL on the C141 and have helped us ever since. Unlike the other branches, coming here as really taught me about the corps and the brotherhood invloved in it. They gave me $250 and took me shopping. I got to go out once to eat too!! It is nice here. There is green grass, mountains, and changing leaves are so beautiful. The metal silverwear, unlike the plastic in Iraq was hard to get used to again. You can taste the metal. The sounds of doors slamming makes us all jump. The tornado alarm went off here giving us all a heartattack. Sounded just like the bomb alarm in Iraq. There is alot to get used to again. Crowds and loud noises are not welcome amongst any of us. The injured keep coming by the bus loads. Everyday there has been 50 or 60 patients arrive. Some are okay, but most go to the ICU and can't breathe on their own. Desert cammies separtes the heros from the zeros. That is what they say here. To all those who wrote me and sent boxes. I signed a memo to the commanding officer before I left. If the box was labeled Keystone, BFS, SOldier angels, ETC. Then it could be opened by the chaplain and passed out amongst the troops at mass. Thanks to everyone for caring about me. Leaving my compadres in Fallujah was the hardest thing I have ever done. I felt like a loser, like I let them down. It helps to be here in Germany, they remind us daily that we are somebody.

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

2004-10-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Today we learned about the Qu'ran, the bible for muslims. I don't know why we learned about it, but it was force fed into our little brains. We got to see their praying mats and learn their ritual of holiday routine for ramidan (sp wrong). Some of it was interesting, we learned about the 5 pillars to their religion. Other interesting points was that the marine corps birthday, which is in Nov., is their day that proves to them by God how the rest of the year will be. Interesting. Well, we have had incoming and outgoing, both patients and rounds. Recently we had an incoming rocket attack. Of course I was outside in the most inopportune place. The only way to get quickly into the building was to low crawl under that stupid constantina wire we had to put out only days earlier. I had just got a shower 15 minutes before that, too! Needless to say, my healing knee was far from healed and didn't agree with the crawling at high speed very well. Spoke to the ortho surgeon and he said definetly a torn lateral and medial miniscus. We are going to decide tommorrow when to do surgery, he was giving me time to soak it all in. They can't do the surgery here because the equipment necessary is to heavy to have in Iraq. So, who knows what happens next. I was so shook up from the rocket attack, as I took role, which I have to do every attack, I forgot people's names. It was like the info just jumped out of my head with the bombings. Since my last post we had a mass casualty, for those who know what that means. Yet, another image etched in my soul forever. One of the patients had shrapnel go through his eye, another lost legs, and yet another an arm. Pretty scary stuff. One of the patients brother is also out here and ran into the building, which at this point was not a pretty sight. The sand leading to the building had trails of blood, marines coming all ways, helicopter, tank, AAV, HWMMV, however, even walking left those trails in the dirt. The floors and walls were marked severly with blood from those marines that day. I felt so bad for the brother, it was so busy that by the time I noticed him, he had seen way to much. He was searching frantically throughout the building for his brother. I sat him down in another room and explained to him his brothers injuries and that he was going to have surgery shortly. I then took him to see him. They screamed and yelled, they cried together, they prayed together. While in surgery his brother gave blood for him. It was the most precious thing. The halls, even now that they are quiet, smell of blood and bleach. The smell just hits you each time you open the entrance door. One of my marines was in the bathroom (head) and so was an Iraqi Contracter, while he was leaving the Iraqi jumped him from behind and pushed him to the ground knocking him out just feet away from the clinic. I swear we are sleeping with the enemy. The mail has made its way this week pretty steadily. We received boxes from the USO to share. I also finally received two of my hubby's boxes. MP3 player from home with my home music already downloaded, beautiful pictures of Coda (he is SO big), food, and well needed flashlights! Good job honey! Thanks!

Have not written.

2004-10-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Honestly just haven't been in the mood. I am very down in the dumps. It has been crazy here. Not with patients, thank God, just with protecting ourselves. Tonight we had mass and a memorial for a marine killed in action. It was harder than even a regular funeral or memorial. His rifle and Kevlar (helmet) laid on the table with a minimal amount of pictures. Each Marine and Sailor one by one went to the table and touched his dog tags. Once again brought the reality of war to each individual's heart. Today we built fighting positions. They cleared the bottoms of all the trees and shrubs removed so no one can hide in them. Texas barriers were put around the building and we filled sand bags to fill in the spaces between, so no light shows. All the windows were taped and covered with plywood. We put constantina wire around everything!! We parked our 7 tons around the building and where we couldn't park them put spare large semi truck tires filled with sandbags....WHY you ask? Well, In light of what is going on out there in the city, the iraqis tried to drive their car through our building....Then they came barging in three days in a row--- we almost shot them....So now we have pulled out all the stops. .......There have been several attempts on a ground attack for the camp-- all were stopped less than a block down from us. So we are prepared to fight back. It was like building to play war when you were a little kid. At night it is like the fourth of July. Explosions and flashes from muzzles are heard and seen in the sky. The prominant sound of a plane always means a house is going down somewhere. Shortly after the plane flys over, the ground vibrates. You rarely hear the sound of the explosion, but the vibration is something that will never be forgotten. There has been a lot more outgoing lately, which seems to slow up the incoming mortars and rockets. Doesn't stop them though. According to the news we haven't gone into Fallujah yet, just the outskirts and we are threatening to. We will see what the future holds. Today we took a group photo, we all spelled out the words BRAVO with our bodies and an aerial shot was taken. They tend to use this for a holiday greeting card, one per family. I don't know why, you can't see our faces. My family wants to see me, not a bunch of cammies that spell BRAVO. Three semi trucks full of mail arrived today. It will be sorted out tomorrow, we will see what it has in store for us. This is the largest amount of mail yet. This may be all the mail for awhile. As things heat up supplies and mail tend to stop. The little pump that could decided it couldn't again. I did laundry today and finished in the nick of time. The pump stopped minutes afterward, my clothes were still wet on the line. The plumber flew the coup, guess he couldn't hack it anymore. So who knows when the little pump will again. Most people won't touch it, since there are leaches everywhere there is water here, even in the shower tiles! The mice population noticed the cooler weather at night and relocated to our hooch. Everyone has seen a mouse or two. Traps have been set. Last night we let a cat in the hall and locked it in there, he ran around like a fool most of the night. I was glad, cause they got a taste of what they sound like during the day when I am trying to sleep. I really thought it had cooled off, I was in sweats and a sweatshirt lastnight, when I looked up at the thermometer and it read 85 degrees!! Crazy, we all felt so cold. We are used to 130 degrees. I finally am caught up on mail, meaning I have written everyone that has written me. I got an envelope the other day with no letter, but One Green Body Armour shirt. It was perfect. I wanted one of those so bad, but they are rather costly. I was very grateful. Coda got his Halloween costume, he is going to be a Dalmation. Tony said it was the only thing that fit at the store, but he looks cute. Sent Coda a Halloween Care package. It was perfect for his age, there wasn't one thing that he couldn't use in it. Also, sent Coda a leapfrog Toad that sings and likes to be hugged. Tony says he loves it. He also said I sucked cause I did so good buying him a gift from so far away :) .

Keystone's Package

2004-10-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

Well the mail truck rolled in this time. Everyone was so happy, there were so many boxes. I am still missing packages from my family and friends. I did however recieve a wonderful package from keystone. I did not see a card in there to write a thank you so I am posting it here. It was a small box filled and placed inside a larger box, covered with roles of toilet paper, YEAH! I became real popular when I opened that box. Luckily for the goodies we were extremely busy today, I didn't even get any sleep. I went to bed at 9 and then some idiot decided last night to steal 200 phone cards out of the gunney's desk. They made us muster at 1 so they could yell us as and make us find the cards. Then again at 3, 4, and 4:30. Finally the cards appeared on a table outside, even then 40 were missing they said. Nothing I hate worse than a thief and a liar, that is great for morale. Our punishment is no Internet usage for the whole company. You see the cards were in the Commanding Officer's office, where there are four computers that the enlisted staff can use at night. Now I have to lock them up and sit on the keys until morning. Makes me feel bad and guilty that I can still email when they can't. There is another place to email but it is a long, long, walk, and at night the girls aren't allowed out after 9 (another unfair rule). They only made the enlisted folks muster, not the officers. I really didn't appreciate that since that was my sleep time. I wouldn't doubt if an officer wasn't the one who took it to begin with, ironically found on a table outside of where the OFFICERS live. Maybe it is lack of sleep talking but that seemed unfair to alot of us. At 430 we had to take a mandatory photo, I am sure to look pretty in that one! Today is Columbus day, while America is off of work and Canada is celebrating their thanksgiving, I am here! So when all was said and done, I snuk the box down to HN Val's room and we rummaged through it happily together. She and her roommate don't have nearly the items most do. We split the box up between the three of us. Everyone was so happy. There are still a few that have not recieved any mail not even a letter, but for the most part everyone was happy. Val and I received 8 letters a piece from BFS and Soldier Angels. She was so excited about the letters. She read each one aloud to me at work, I didn't tell her that some of mine were the same letters, I just let her read. Keystone's box was filled to the max: batteries, phone cardS, toilet paper, gatorade, sanitizer, food, candy, power bars, granola bars, pop tarts, CEREAL, gum, CD, beef jerkey, sunflower seeds, deoderant, chap stick, etc. Some of those items no one has sent yet. Hot items here are hand sanitizer, TP, microwavable food, phone cards, batteries AA, powder gatorade, POP tarts and CEREAL! They did awesome. I shared as usual, but only with the junior guys (shhh don't tell). Tonight she and I are running on E. We are so very tired. Still busy, but right now it is slow, THANK GOD!

Thunder or Sonic Boom?

2004-10-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

Well it has been quite eventful here the past 24 hours. We have been busier than I have seen since I got here. All is quite currently. While working there were several large explosions, which shook the whole building and the ground under my feet. Well I knew they were sonic booms, but I was so shook up I couldn't even remember what that meant. Instincts made me grab a flak and kevlar and take shelter. When a marine co-worker reminded me the laws of physics. Then while laying in my rack, I remember this noise in my sleep. Enough of the noise to finally fully awaken me. I laid there and listened intensely. It wasn't incoming. It wasn't outgoing. It was a flare or a sonic boom, just this rumbling noise. Maybe it was a truck going by over and over. No, it was...........THUNDER! How funny is that. It was thundering and lightening all evening. I went to mass tonight, and finally while at mass the rain came down and down. We all went outside to see it come down. Everyone stood in the raindrops in awe of their lost waterdroplets. The weather is changing rapidly here. The evenings and early mornings are much cooler. The days still reach green flag, but I haven't seen black flag in a week or so. This morning I recorded a video that will be played on the Jacksonville Jaguars game. I imagine it will be a commercial like scenario. The game is on Sunday, so watch if your in the area. I also recorded the Holiday greetings for the seasonal events to come, they will be showing in Jacksonville as well. As Iraq Turns

Clean up, Clean up, Everybody Clean up!

2004-10-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Business has been booming here! No punt intended :) . The sound of bowling gives a whole new theory here in Iraq, especially when it is followed by a crackle, wiz and boom. The incoming rounds continue to rattle me out of my rack, some are controlled dets, but lately not. I sleepily put on my kevlar (helmet) which is on my bed, then hobble quickly to my flack and roll out into the hall. Usually I am right, it is incoming, but once in awhile I struggled out of bed for the wrong boom. Others do that too, which makes it funny. Today we was field day, which in the rear means clean every nook and cranny, well the cranny is no way getting clean here, so we just cleaned every nook. They (those sending booms and the higher ups) weren't thinking of the daysleepers today at all! The girls have the luxury of dorming with the doctors and surgeons. Only the enlisted cleaned. That left 5 girls cleaning and me with a bum leg the senior person. We mopped the sand up of the cement floors the best we could and scrubbed everything that could be scrubbed. We worked for three long hours. I let the girls go. When the walkthrough came, the in charge guys asked, "where is everyone at?" I guess they forgot that the other buildings have way more people enlisted and we were at 5. I said I let the girls go, because I knew they did a good job. Funny the girls cleaned way better than the guys and in a much timelier manner. THEN the sand storm came, so much for the clean floors, I bet they are dirty again. Visibility is bad, everything looks so cloudy. It isn't a bad sand storm, I am sure, but noticeable to all. Nothing like grinding dirt on your teeth or in your food. Things have been busy here. I have seen more images that will scar my brain forever. I watch the young guys go out on their big tanks and trucks, manning the guns so proud. If there mother saw them she would have a heart attack. I always say a silent prayer as the chain of vehicles drives past us, heading out to the unknown. Another mail vehicles bit the dust the other day, that makes two since I have been here. It was heading HM1 G's way, unfortunately. Sorry HM1, that could be what happened to your mail. The food truck finally came. So we are eating a little bit better. Still no fruit or fresh veggies. Thanks to hubby and canned fruit. I have managed to deplete the stock he mailed me. If you ever watched the movie GroundHog Day, it is similar to here. Everyday seems like the same thing, stuck in these walls like a hamster in a cage. Every now and then someone spins the wheel too fast while your running. These Are the Days of My Journey.

Chaplain's Stories

2004-10-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Well, today was okay thus far. The medical service corps board requested my package for review, ironically. I say ironically, because on Friday the board told me no way, all billets for lab officers were going to be civilians, maybe next year I would have a chance. So, with that said, on Monday the board requested my package and only mine. So we will see, I have no idea why, to my knowledge there are no more openings this year. So keep praying, someone is listening. I was walking today and fell, it was very humerous! However, I am paying the toll now, my knee is so swollen and pain behind it is horribly uncomfortable. Hopefully, by morning it will magically get better. Today mass was moved to an old theatre. It used to be about four blocks away in an really old basement like movie theatre, that was once raided by looters. The looters took everything, marble stairs are missing, carpet, light fixtures, the place looks like a construction skeletan. It has no A/C. Well we got bumped from that place, apparently religion was not as important as whatever they want to use that area for. The new place is WAY better, so who cares, it all worked out. The new place is a theatre too! It has carpet, squishy chairs, and A/C and one bat, but we asked God to help him find the door. The word did not get passed that mass was moved, so only three people came tonight, but that was enough. The priest from Jacksonville, FL, read us excerpts from his journal since he has been here. Yesterday he went visiting the prison and other hospitals. I hope he writes a book when this is over, he is a good writer. When he was done reading we all felt like such heroes. He spoke about a marine who gave his life, he was able to talk with him before he passed. The priest knew his wife and childrens names and the marine's name. He knew he went to heaven and one day his family would join them. He spoke about communion, and how he had once offered it to a marine who later came into the clinic spilling "the blood of Jesus." His descriptions gave us goosebumps, but no one argued his writings, because they were so truthful. It is hard to realize the things that happen here, really happen, we don't have time to sit back and look at it and analyze it. The preist spoke of the children in the hospital and how we are born of good but they already had such anger taught to them. I left there feeling like my job here IS important and somehow we all play a role to being a hero.

Controlled Det Causes No Sleep

2004-10-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Today was slower than slow, it has been for two or three days now (you loose track of days here). I attempted to sleep today, but all day long was controlled detonations. A controlled det is a big explosion that we choose to happen. Usually because we found something like and IED and we want to make it go away. It also happens because Iraq is full of ordinance or bombs just laying around in fields and in the dirt, some are really old, we blow them up too. So as soon as I would fall asleep, boom then I would fall back asleep and three more booms. So forget it - I just got up! I received lots of mail again, THANK YOU everyone who is writing and sending boxes. I received 4 letters today from non-family and friends and Two boxes. One box from Books For Soldiers and One box from hubby. I enjoy reading all the mail sent to me, and I am becoming quite popular. The box from BFS I gave to my roommate who has received no mail. It was small but good. It contained all snack foods. Yesterday I gave a BFS box to the room for us to share, good choice I made, because when we opened it, it contained razors, notepads, pens, face masks, nail polish, face cleanser, popcorn, hand sanitizer, thats all I can remember. The popcorn excited them, at night they have movie nite. The hand sanitizer was great, big bottle too! At the exchange or store they sell those teeny weeny bottles like from walmart for $3, instead of 80 cents. Speaking of the store, I went there yesterday, boy do they see us coming. Prices are crazy! I bought a tuna pack for $7! In the states its like $2! I bought a pair of headphones used tactfully to block out the world :) . I also bought some Halloween cards. Today I decorated the door with our Halloween Decor from the Halloween Express box. We as a battalion have been busy preparing this place to our likes. We have organized and prepared, rearranged, and built. We are almost settled in to things our way. We admitted another one of our own for kidney stones. Poor thing she is miserable! We had a corpsman here who was injured from an IED that was a donkey cart being towed by a child, he was here for two weeks and finally left for the states. Still have no food, but thanks to hubby tonight's dinner was chef boyardi, and canned fruit with crystal lite! Thanks Tony! He also sent me a REAL pillow, which I can't wait to sleep on tomorrow. He mails packages in the pampers boxes, I can spot my mail anywhere :). I hear we are kicking but taking over the Sunni triangle. I also heard that a volcano is erupting, wow! Keep posting, I look forward to reading them everynight! I love you all and thanks for the prayers, I am praying too. I trust God will keep me safe. ....As Iraq Turns

HALLOWEEN EXPRESS

2004-10-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

So, Halloween Express, was really express. It is here and everyone is enjoying it. I went and got it from my room and brought it to the clinic. Everyone is trick or treating. We have to pass it out, I could not hold it until Halloween due to lack of space. Everyone was pleased, especially with the little notes in each one. You would have thought it was fortune cookies. You could hear the guys saying, "What did yours say, mine said come home soon?" HHAHAHAHAAHA gave them something to do different for the night. The box is here in the office until the day crew comes on and then it will be gone. I gave two away to patients, but that is okay, because some of the marines are to manly for candy :) . That box was really special and you girls spent a lot of time preparing that box, everyone is enjoying it and the pumpkin has been lit for hours. It was nice to have a little bit of home in such a far away place.................As Iraq Turns............Stay tuned for the next episode!

MAIL CALL AND NO FOOD

2004-10-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

Ironically, I have received a bunch of letters from wonderful people today. They are from all over the U.S.! I also received a box from Steph and Tracy, the box contained Halloween treats for everyone, a pumpkin that everyone loves, and decorations for our door, everyone was way excited!! I got two more pictures of my 16 month old! He is so big! In response to the last blog, for those who don't know, I applied for an officer commission and that is called a "package." So, since most positions are going to be civilianized, then it will be sitting there for a while, the package or the application. Today was interesting, I was in the shower and found the sudden urge to run, I am sure you can imagine. Needless to say, Tony please send me some flip flops, size 5 guys, because I lost one on my journey to a hard building. So we got mail, but the food truck hasn't came in four days. We are running out of food, and are resorting to MRE's. MMMM my favorite! I would rather starve. I really enjoyed reading all the mail I got, and I will try to respond to everyone. I wish those girls I lived with gave me some of my own space to hang pictures and cards. We are so crowded though I just put all my letters in an envelope and save them. My pictures are in a ziploc bag and when I am on shift I bring them with me to work and place them out and around me. I miss home bad, and I am not having a good time with this. Others are in the same boat as me. We have no electricity other than the clinic, so there goes my rice cooker and the community microwave. My son will be two when I get home and he won't even remember who I am. The school and my husband keep showing him videos and pictures. The mail helped today. I could really use some plastic bins that will hold stuff, something that will slide under the bed, like a shoe box size. We use tons of Febreeze, thank god for Frebreeze. The exchange is out of Frebreeze, more Frebreeze would be nice, too. Tuna snack packs the ones with mayo, spoon, and all the lunch kit. Hubby sent one of those to me and it was great. Well, we have had incoming patients and mortars, we have had VCIED's and IED to close to us for comfort. Things are crazy and sometimes you feel like you are really at war and sometimes just for a minute it is like you are at a bad girl scout camping experience. Thats today's verdict for These are the Days in Iraq............

Military Downsizing.

2004-10-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

Not much to write today. I am totally bummed about the military changing lab officers to civilian government employee positions. So for those who were praying, of course you can continue to pray for a miracle, but the package is just sitting there. The military is changing alot of officer postitions to government positions.

MAIL CALL

2004-09-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

So, like I said yesterday, the food at midnight was instantly eatable. With that being said today I received THREE BOXES. So we MUST have got some supplies in. So I got 5 crystal lights from hubby, the Sopranos the first season, and I have already asked for the second season to be mailed. I got dyer sheets to keep the bugs away and they also work well as room freshners for stinky boots. I received snacks, movies, face lotion, and pictures. My hubby sent one sappy card that brought a tear to more than just my eyes. My friends sent me this cool thing about the biblical history in Iraq, I shared that and everyone found it very interesting. We have been busy tonight, we sent one of our own out as a patient today. He is very sick with a migraine forever! I felt bad for him, it sucks to have a migraine and our cure is to fly you on a helo, that will help (sarcasm). Dinner tonight was mashed pot, lima beans and two chicken wings. No wonder people leave here skinny! Wings were good but only two and mashed pot was good and who eats lima beans? ....another episode of these are the days in Iraq.

SLOW BOAT TO KANSAS.

2004-09-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

I think our mail is on the slow boat to Kansas, because it isn't coming here. I was sure we would have mail, since we got food! YEAH FOOD! Tonight midrations were corndogs and mac n cheese. The news forgot about us today - so I can't tell you much. They talked about us in the news today, but it was old news to me. I can tell you that we aren't backing down for no one. I hope this whole Iraq thing works out, I hope they can model after the U.S. I don't think it will, these people are hard headed. The boys (Kamara and Nuygen) received a letter today as well as I, they were tickled pink and ran to tell me, even before they opened it. Funny how just one letter from one caring stranger can make two young guys very happy. The one kid said "Thanks HM2 for looking out for me." Well the family survived the hurricane. They might not have electricity for weeks though they reported to me. The water was really high into the yard, enough to scare them. They are using a generator and tonight and for a while sleeping outside the house, since no one has power. Tomorrow they are going to work so it can't be that bad. Tony sounded really depressed today on the computer, well I guess that wasn't sounded it was acted or typed. He is doing way to much. His job is a lot of work, he gets up with coda at 0530 and doesn't get home until 530 or 600 at night. He is really tired of hurricanes. He has to work, then take care of coda, do laundry, mow the lawn, cut trees for hurricanes, and scoop the kitty poop. The kitty was in a kitty condo, but they decided it was to expensive and the kitties could stay there. I guess I should have left them in corpus, I just didn't want him to be alone for the holidays. I feel really bad. He is really worried about me. I tell him what I can about what happens here, but maybe it should wait till I come home. Last night when I was at work my new roommates decided to rearrange and move me in without my help. Made me mad cause they put dirty cammie netting on my rack and just three my stuff in a corner. They used all the shelf space and all the hangers and I have no where for my stuff. So when they were at work today and I was home, I fixed all my stuff the way I wanted. I am sure you all know that women are quite vindictive, right! They blew up the TV, It wasn't there fault, we had a power surge and the transformer blew. But they FORGOT to tell me that happened, kind of a significant event right? After I got woken up tonight, I did the Hygiene thing and then I built a table. I made a table out of thin plywood and ammo boxes. Then I built two benches with three ammo boxes each and a sheet of thin plywood. Then I padded them with cot pads and covered them with the material from the pads, stapling them to the bottom, just like on TLC, only military field style! So when the girls came back and we had a table and benches, I redeemed myself and they barely noticed I rearranged my stuff and took things off hangers to make them a fair amount each. Well, they noticed but they got over it faster! Well these are the days in Iraq.......Stay tuned till next time

Oh So Tired!

2004-09-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Sleep whats that - who sleeps. Pure adrenaline here! Here's a taste of "THESE ARE THE DAYS OF IRAQ" ----> http://g.msn.com/0MNBUS00/2?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6095119&&CM=EmailThis&CE=1 Well we worked all night and then decided after breakfast around 0730 to move these rooms. So as we round up everyone and start to think about moving rooms, I remove my blouse and all I have on is my green T-shirt, cammy pants, and flip flops or shower shoes, when as the news says 8 am became pretty interesting here. It is similar to how it was described, but so you all know we are all okay here. All it did was make the day even longer, after we recovered and cleaned up that mess, THEN we moved rooms. I never did get to sleep and I am back at work tonight. I did get a shower, very slowly due to fatigue. Hopefully I get to sleep tomorrow, I hope they leave us alone, the more they mess with us the longer we will be here. They just don't get it, we are here to educate and remove those people like that. Change or be changed! No mail still. I received one snail mail letter from my grandma - she mailed it on the 18th, not to bad. But no packages yet! I feel so old here these kids never heard of Def Leopard! Funny though they all know YELLOW SUBMARINE, HAHAHA. So, tonight is quite and just trying to stay awake. Dinner was Crab legs and greasy egg noodles. I can't eat crab and there was no other choice, so greasy noodles and FINALLY a vegetable carrots. A very small salad of lettuce, cheese and one tomato piece. Let you know what tomorrow brings!

We've Been Busy

2004-09-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

I can't say much about what has been going on but we have been busy, However I can refer you all to this CNN link-> http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/09/25/iraq.main/index.html My pay is partially correct for Ocotber. I am going to get Imminent Danger Pay, Family sep pay, but they are still taxing me and left out International Pay. So at least we are getting somewhere with it. I guess no per diem until we get back. In the AM starts are room rearranging, pretty stupid timing. It would be smarter to move at like 4 pm so the daysleepers could sleep a LITTLE. No the way they want it is as soon as we get off we move rooms, but being Sunday and all people go to church. So this cluster junk will probably last until noon or longer, as people move in and out and rearrange, reorganize, reassemble. I guess I ain't sleeping until Monday! No rest for the weary. Still no mail for me, but today there was no mail for anyone, which made me feel better. We haven't received our mid-rations tonight so I don't know if there is meat or not. Still have some tuna but no rice, Jasmine rice is the best I've heard. One of the communication marines that works nights with me is making me a sign for my door that says "DAY SLEEPER." Maybe people will quit knocking on the door all day long like they did today. The door is only thin plywood and when knocked upon gives quite the bang. So six females in one room, all married with kids, this should be fun! Should I start the soap opera now...THESE ARE THE DAYS OF IRAQ...HAHAHAHHAHA...

One more thing Today

2004-09-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

My friend HM1 G - his webpage is ---->http://mt_ascp_8506.blogspot.com/ Please visit him and show him as much love and support that you all have shown me. He and I were and are stationed together in Corpus. Currently he is a stones throw away from me here in Iraq. Happy posting!

Room Assignments!

2004-09-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

OK, So we have our room assignments. The chic I was talking about, well lets just say we finally had a heat to heart. I told her how I really felt and she the same, however my felts weren't very good for her, if you know what I mean. I told her she is a control freak and if she would realize that we have to work together and that I don't work for her and I am not one of her children that we would get along much better. Ironically, the talking thing seemed to have helped. We later came up with a room assignment plan. The daysleeper thing is out the window, too bad, nothing makes sense in the military. I gave my four HN's rooms to themselves, two in a room, the rooms are 9' x6', similar to a jail cell. They tried to put three and four people in that room. So we started with one girl, myself, then we got one more girl an officer who doesn't talk to me, then one more HN the girl that works with me VAL, and now we are up to SIXTEEN, enlisted girls! And they currently are all in ONE room. On Sunday we are moving and spreading out. So the 'chic' and I came up with a plan. All the E-5's are going to move together in one room, now that she can get along with me - I still don't trust her. The other six are living together in one room. This should get fun. I think that the only reason the E-5's want me to live with them is because I have a TV, DVD player, and a refridgerator and they don't! I must be a good asset. I GOT SLEEP TODAY! YEAH! Slept well and watched a movie. Some Butterfly Effect movie which was sadder than shit. For a temporary few hours it almost felt as if we weren't at war, it was almost a typical Friday night with a bunch of girls watching a sad movie. Then reality hit with patients and the fact that there is no toilet paper and port o johns that are almost full to the top! I don't know what is up with supplies but we are out of everything. Dinner tonight was egg noodles and french fries, no meat again. We are out of everything and still no mail. All in all today was not a bad day. The computer was down and the phone was down for awhile, so I couldn't email Tony tonight. I love you, Tony, and Coda. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo hhhhhhhhhhhh

Another one.

2004-09-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

So another hurricane is now turning its way plummeting throught the ocean so it and its big eye can sit right on my family - Great. I thought moving them to JAx would be safer than CC, hurricane wise, boy did this year prove me wrong. It was hella crazy today and this is just purgatory. HM1 G had a rough evening tonight, but he is okay, which is good because I was worried about him. Rough day today. I tried to sleep, but we had incoming around noon, so that woke me up, then we got patients, then I was back to sleep for about ten minutes, and they woke me up to clean the hallway how stupid is that!! Wake up the night shift people! They said they got everyone who was in their room to clean. Did they ever think it was night people sleeping in their room and everyone else was dealing with patients. Then I got a shower and ate a bowl of cereal and back at work. Tonight for dinner was instant mashed potatoes and french fries we are out of meat - crazy huh. No mail today. I think their is a conspiracy against my mail. We got our new room assignments. I am supposed to be in a 9' x 6' room with two other girls, they work we me and we are all daysleepers. Sounds to good to be true. The room is small but at least I will get some sleep right -wrong! Some crazy E5 chick here decided to "make it all better" and put all the E5 's in one room, a much bigger room but that isn't the point. I think they only want to move me because I have a TV and DVD player. They said that an E5 shouldn't live with an E4 however they said it would be five E5's and one E4 in their new plan. Doesn't make any sense to me, this chick always has to have the last say. The higher ups listen to her cause she is in the in crowd. She and them speak Spanish and act like I don't understand, it is quite humorous.

Just My Opinion

2004-09-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

"For those who protect us, they get a flavor of life that the protected will never know." Don't these people realize if they want us to leave they have to quite rocketing and mortaring us. If they act like adults, we might actually leave! We are fighting one strange war. We shoot them - then we fix them. They try to bomb us, they get hurt doing it and we fix them to. Just my opinion. ......Well I have been here since Aug 23rd and still no change in pay for any of us. We contacted the Command Master Chief, he returned our email weeks later, stating that he cared, but nothing could be done to fix the glitch on our FSA. Water is up and generators our good. We have patients and are busy STILL. No rest for the weary. Still no toilet paper and the food still sucks. Didn't get much sleep today because my head is next to the washing machine from Iraq 1900's. All that is between us is a piece of plywood. Us being the washer and my head. Everyone was washing since we have water. It isn't like washing clothes at home. The washer has two parts - a wash side and a spin side. The water comes from the shower that is half ass made and into buckets. Three buckets fill the washer. While it is washing for 15 mins the other buckets are being filled, then you put the clothes one item at a time into the spinner and then back into the washer with three more 5 gallon buckets to be rinsed. So it is not a quite experience. And then stupid officers go in there and discuss the laundry and the water and how slow it is. So no sleep for me!! I finally blew up and got out of bed and screamed "You need to be quite- there are day sleepers!" She just stared at me, I am going to leave here an E-3 HAHAHAHA. "We are the Untrained, doing the Unexpected, trying the Unachievable, for the Unappreciative!"

To Get Some You Have to Give Some.

2004-09-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

Got to shower today, I guess it was just in time, ironically I usually shower in the evening, but this am I showered when I got off work, cause I was nasty. Good thing, because we have no water, While the "little pump that could" is more than willing to provide us water, his cohort the "generator that won't" is down at the moment. We have no microwave or TV either at this time. But that is okay because we are to busy to notice. We have been busy treating civilians, which is ok, because that means our marines and sailors are fine. I do miss the Lab but this job keeps me so busy I don't have much time to be lonely and the days go fast. I worked over 20 hours last night and then slept 6 and now I am back at it. 6 was alot of sleep. We got mail, but I still haven't received anything more. The food still sucks, everyone is praying for more cereal. We hoard the milk because they have ran out of milk and juice before. Sometimes all we have is water to drink. We have sodas like coke and pepsi, but they aren't the same, it is like really sryupy and flat. Pepsi and Coke must make their product based on where it is going. You would think it would all be the same. I guess tommorrow starts some holiday period for the Iraqi's here and they fast, similar to our Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter all in one.

Kids Grow Fast!

2004-09-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Holy cow! Since I left in July my son is a whole new man. I received some pictures via email and crazy enough, wow that's my kid. I am missing so much of him growing up in just three months - its going to drive me crazy for another seven! Things have been very quite here the past 48 hours, thank god for that. Still trying to get used to the night shift, however the day shift gets busy and pulls me to help, I don't get much sleep. I saw a water truck go by tonight maybe we can shower tommorrow! That would be nice. Still not much mail for anyone. Food is pretty decent right now though. Around here if you have mail the food stinks and if you have food the mail stink. You can't win them all. I got some really cool pics since I have been here to take back. They are so real it is if they aren't real.

Give a Little, Take a Little!

2004-09-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well we have no showers today. We may not have showers for awhile we have no more water, and none coming in. But on the lighter side of things we got supplies with cold milk (yes the milk is usually warm) and cinnamon toast crunch cereal. You would have thought it was christmas and we were digging in a box for money everyone was hoarding cereal as much as they could carry. The milk here is stored warm which sucks but tonight it was cold. Our turnover is complete and we are all on board and running the show. The others are safe at sound back at home. Got one box today. It was all beat up, open and the koolaid had spilled all over it and everything was sticky, but it was still nice to finally get a box, and the tears just welled up as I opened it. Tony please write me at least a little note in my boxes so I have something to read to, please don't just send a box. I love you honey...Happy first wedding aniversary, I miss you.

Who's a Labrat?

2004-09-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I am no longer a labrat. I have moved to office duty, I am still a lab tech but they need my computer skills and other things I can't mention, they are short personnell. So I am better needed here, however, we have internet YEAH! I can talk a little on the blog but it is really secured what i can say. We have been very busy with patients, incoming mortars are still an issue about every other day. I work the night shift now - which is good for me. Still praying I get a commission. Thanks everyone for caring. I still have only received one letter from home and no packages. There have been plenty of days that the mail has not been coming and lots of mail convoys have gotten blown up and mail is gone for good. So we will see what tommorrow brings. I miss all of you and thanks for everyone's support.

The internet is down

2004-09-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

We have segovia and internet, they both have been down for a week. Currently there are only 14 computers up and the wait is hours long. I only have a few mins left to type. As you all know from CNN.com or CNN international we had a really bad laborday and laborday weekend. It has slowed down this week and not much for a retallion from them to here which has been quite nice. To HM1 G, I think they are going to move me from the lab to a job in the CCSOC. We will see I hope you are okay. Please email my hubby and give him your address cause that way we can write back and forth. To everyone who is thinking about me thanks, I am fine. They said if I get commissioned I can come home that would be nice. I want mail everyone gets mail and i have only received my first anniversary card thats it. Please someone sign me up with those websites I don't have enough time we only get ten mins with the satellites being down. Have a good weekend gotta go

ATT SUCKS

2004-08-30T19:40:00.001-07:00

Well AT & T won't budge with the minute to minute thing. I have tried everything everyone has emailed me to get minute for minute on my cards. They just won't let me. I spent $35 bucks for 137 minutes when the card read 550 minutes. It sucks! If anyone has a better idea let me know. Did anyone register me with those websites to the right for care packages and books and stuff? Please use the same address and register "CRPL NYUGEN" and "HM3 KAMARA" they don't have anyone to send them packages or any family so they need it the most. Thanks guys. I came early this morning to talk to Tony on the webcam, he got frustrated with it and I guess went to bed cause he ain't been back on. Either that or he thinks he is online. He doesn't understand the boxes and how to move them around, nor does he understand how to minimize what you don't need. He hasn't signed back on and its been a half hour. Pretty bummed about that. Maybe someone can school him between now and tommorrow night and we can try again same time same place new day. Provided it is safe for me to come out and play. The past few hours it has been iffy. I will probably come by later today and check again my emails. Thanks everyone for helping and keeping in touch it makes me being gone a little bit better. love you all!

Pretty good day

2004-08-30T03:20:00.000-07:00

I t was pretty calm yesterday and not to bad today. We are getting settled in and wondering when the others are coming. The old group can't wait to leave. We are making room for all of us because for a short period of time we have to have double the people in our rooms for the turnover. Who knows when that will be and for how long. The sunrise and sunsets are very pretty from here that is about the only thing though. The laundry is taking about five days to come back instead of overnight due to some people up and quiting. All the generators are working except for the ATT phones it is still down. Last night they had lobster and steak everyone was sooo happy. Not quite my cup of tea, I ate a powerbar. I am still leary on the food here but hopefully that changes or I get lots of food in the mail. We have microwaves and can openers. I need a bowl with a lid. Got the webcam thing figured out and got to see Cody last night made me cry for hours - he has already grown to be such a big boy, his hair is longer and he has gained weight. Other than that emai ya all later. no news is good news, Right.

Wake up call

2004-08-28T04:16:00.000-07:00

They started again early this am those fu***** haji's. I swear I am going to hear this shit in my sleep whenever I get home. I hate it hear for that reason alone. After early morning today was quite both at work and around the base. They are tiling the lab floor which I think is dumb but who am I. We got the CB's builing us some shelves so we are excited about that. THe generators are up and we had hot food today. But the water pump is down and no showers maybe later. It is really hot today maybe 120 i guess. funny they waste their time hanging a black flag like we don't know it's over 100! I bought a phone card here what a rip off please send me some cards from the states. I paid $35 bucks for 137 minutes or 550 units. Well enough chitter chat. another day on the front here ...nothing new still dusty and hot. sucks! getting kinda of bummed.....

Another day here

2004-08-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

Four more of us got here early this am - they had a rough journey as well. Things have been quite on the base the past 24 hours. We have been busy though at work for those who know what that means. I have seen alot and done alot more than lab work in just the past two days. For those family members interested I am going to try to live chat on yahoo and set up a time and date this weekend. So get the Yahoo messenger and send me an email today of your nickname and probably sunday I will get with everyone at a convienant time for you both. Internet is great here. The generators have been down since I got here no hot chow, no showers, no AC - hopefully they get fixed soon. Well eya later...love and miss everyone. keep the faith!

In Iraq

2004-08-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

Well I made here to Iraq, exactly where I had said I was going to be. We were woken up early with mortars. I became quite friendly with my new sailors that I am relieving as we all huddled together. It is pretty scary here, the ammendities are the best, ironically better than Camp Pend. Internet is fast and free, phone trailors are here, stocked exchange. Twin bunks with real mattresses. Showers and real toilets if you want to walk to them. Where I work is small and cozy, the Pharmacy and lab are together. HM1 G and I will be in contact with each other in order to complete the mission for units of blood. Breakfast was good. No lunch today the generator is down, hopefully we get dinner. I miss you all very much. I had a crazy C130 ride here- holy cow! Then I flew for two hours on a C46 here. But I made it- hopefully the time goes fast. Every artillery round scares the shit out of me and everyone here laughs. They all say I will get used to it- I doubt it! I don't know what is incoming and what is outgoing- to me it is all incoming! This is just like the movies or some crazy shit like MASH :)

In Kuwait

2004-08-22T23:35:00.002-07:00

Well everyone we made it to Kuwait. I can't say where but we are all safe and sound. As you all know however the journey has just begun, We continue more today with our travels. Yes I am with the marines, stephanie. Read the last comments and take advantage of her support group guys, you'll learn alot. Like the phone cards I brought with me our all wrong. I need global ATT units not minutes. A 250 min phone card gives me 21 mins.,really not fair. I miss you guys, but know that I am well. It is hot here about 120 in the early morning. I am about 7 hours ahead of you all on the east coast. The food here is good and the showers are warm even with cold water. It is so hot out that the heat heats up the cold water :). The flight was great the staff were all volunteer and treated us like kings and queens. We got to each spend time with the captain and learn about flying the plane. Thanks for everyone praying for me. I will continue to blog as much as I can. Internet is free, however it is really slow so I can't blog alot or it won't upload. I miss you all and kiss coda for me.

In Kuwait

2004-08-22T23:35:00.001-07:00

Just another weekend

2004-08-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

The weekend went by fast as I still wait out this pergatory of a place. We ate on Friday at this Italian resturant called Vigilucci's in escondida CA. They gave us military the utmost respect and treated us as royality. If anyone goes there ask for Steve and tell him the girl going to Iraq sent you! He was good to us. We then on Saturday was treated to a free Premier Movie called "without a Paddle." It was really funny. Marines Moms put the whole thing together and gave us all treat bags with brownies and cookies and kool aid while the movie played. Sunday we went to maritime museum and walked aboard the ship HMS Surprise used in the master of commander movie. We then went to the shipyard and saw the Mercy. It was pretty interesting. Still missing my family and tired of waiting in pergatory. We got a priest from JAX, ironically, he knows me so hopefully he will help keep my spirits up!

We got an address

2004-08-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

We got an address. We still don't know when we are leaving, however. We spend a lot of time working out and doing nothing. I watched scarface and Hidalgo for the first time, movies I wouldn't normally watch but watched due to mere bordom. I have been doing school work and my officer package. Today we have to clean the barracks for hours starting at 5:30. We are all treated like little children. I don't go very many places now, the guys really ticked me off and hurt my feelings. I have chosen to stay on the base or go only by myself. That doesn' t happened to often since we share the vehicle. I miss everyone and I am timed today on the internet. So peace out. Train for war - Pray for Peace!

Hurry Up and Wait

2004-08-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

I titled this training evolution "Hurry up and Wait." Basically we are just keeping busy. We run everyday three or more miles, up mountains, and with full gear, flack jackets, boots and cammies. These people have lost their mind. I told them that if they break us (break bones, etc.) than we can't go. One guy broke his ankle and they are holding him hostage until his command gives up someone to take his place. Today we did alot of nothing again, cleaned our weapons and mustered several times. Tomorrow we are running in full gear an Indian run, that is a single file line of people running and the last person runs to the front and sets the pace, when he or she reaches the front than the last person does the same thing. Lots of people have already left, about half. My roomie left so I am pretty much alone. It is pretty rough, I hate all these MEN! I need some female companionship bad! I bought boots today finally, they are GREAT. They didn't have any size 4 boots and weren't going to issue me any so I had to buy my own-It is BullS*** I agree you would think they would provide that stuff for me. It was extra hard to say goodbye twice. I can still mentally visualize Coda blowing kisses from the airport hallway as I went through security, makes me cry. He smiled away so innocently, not knowing he wouldn't see his mommy for months or even a year from now. I am trying to hang in there but I must admit yesterday was probably the hardest since I have been here, and tomorrow is going to be worse. I have a lot of responsibility which kept me very busy today thank god. I got the computers they gave us to work finally!!! YEAH! So we have three laptops for Iraq for the WHOLE company. I miss you all very much and I am still diligently working on that officer package so keep praying. I am still doing my homework for my masters too. I just want to get there, I bet it is better there than here :)

Quick Vacation

2004-08-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I got five days to go visit my family real quick before deploying. I was one of the lucky few, or unlucky because those who leave first come home first, and I am leaving last :( . It is hot here much hotter than CA, CA is a really DRY heat in comparison to humidity. We are finishing up loose ends and getting insurance on our personal property in storage. Spending time with each other and making phone calls. The baby really misses me and doesn't let me out of his sight. Going back will be harder than before, but it was worth it! Both Tony's and I are Birthdays have came and went-this trip being our present to each other. It is hard to buy me a gift right now, what would I want or use, can't carry much of anything. I will return to the grind of preparation and training on Monday. Communication on the internet will probably be better in Iraq than they are in CA that base is so big! I just want to get there and get it over with. Thanks to everyone who reads and replys and everyone who reads and doesn't reply at least say HI so I know your reading. Some of my friends haven't replied at all, I hope they have figured this whole blog thing out......Have a good week everyone!

Yet Another Day of Preparation

2004-07-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

Again today was beautiful here, it is so sunny and dry. The nights are cool and the days are hot. There is just way to many mountains, though (no cell phone works). I spent the day reviewing the companies medical and personnel records. I am in charge of communications, we got three laptops and I am setting them up. Ironically they think I am a computer geek even thought his blog thing kicked my butt at first :) . Days are long and tiring. I am already losing weight do to the plethora of walking we do. We ran and ran this morning, it sucks but I know it could save me to stay in shape. We get to play with our weapons the next two days and I think get our plates that protect us, they are ceramic and go into our vest. We have no help though, there is not a phone in the office they gave us to use, and the computers are locked and I am working on breaking the lock, they said it would be two to three weeks before they could get a password for them-too long! Its sucks that we are all separated, I wish back in TX the command would have got us together like a going away dinner or something, cause we really don't know each other even if we are coming from TX. Today we went to a Mexican restaurant on the beach with the officers in our group, they are really nice to the enlisted folks, much better than the chief! We had fun and laughed a lot. I am so tired, today I for the first time in my whole military career slept through lunch muster and was UA. I didn't get in trouble thank god! They all just made fun of me, called me the princess! Everything is so classified I wish I could say more, we really don't know when we are leaving, we all kind of sit around and guess. We do know where we are going but I can't tell you so don't ask-thanks. The marines rules are so different than the Navy's rules. When we go to PT or workout the girls have to have there hair up as if we are in uniform, crazy huh! Well hope to email you again soon. This is timed so I have to go! Love you all and thanks everyone for the little emails back-I enjoy them and so do my friends here, we all read my website together, we have no mail at all just this - its great!

And One Day at Training....

2004-07-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

Well this is my first time able to get to a PC with internet connection, ironically it will probably be easier in Iraq to access the web than here. This base is over 200 square miles and CC just sent us to the airport with no ride from there on. It takes 20 to 30 minutes just to get from where we are staying to the gate. Well enough whining, let me tell you about my experience thus far. I am far from GI Jane but just as beat up! We have trained and learned things that I never wanted to know. I know when I am leaving and where I am going but do to security reasons it must remain a secret sorry, you'll just have to keep reading. The seven tons, yes 7 tons trucks not 5 ton trucks, are very difficult to get in and out of when you are 5'4". We are in marine corps regs which includes green everything. We got two expeditions rented that all 39 of us fight over. There is a particular chief that tries to pull rank and keep the vehicle to himself all of the time. Today is Tony's Birthday "Happy Birthday Baby, I love you." My b-day is Thurs. I live in the barracks (yuk) with a PFC (low rank for those of you who don't know). She is very young minded but nice, and clean. It is very hard here. We all are getting through it however. We were all split up into different companies. Each company will go to a different area in Iraq. Two of us lab techs are together and one of us is separated by himself. I am one of very limited amount of females, so I am trying to fit in as one of the guys. Needless to say I am bruised everywhere and my lip is split open and I don't even know how it happened! The field training was rough-we didn't sleep for about three days straight. Drill after drill. We had three REAL casualties out there. For those of you family and friends in FL stand by surprises may be in the mix for this weekend, just wait and see! I guess my son is giving the babysitters a run for there money, sorry girls, Thank you! Things I realize that I will need are SOCKS, sunblock, toiletpaper, soap and shampoo- I have already depleted my supply. I want a mouse for my laptop, I am waiting until payday. I took some pictures, hope to show them soon. Well I hope to get back on here and sorry for the brief update, but so much has happened. I went to see IROBOT it was pretty good. CA weather is beautiful but the base is drab with no car and no where to eat or anything to do.

Not to much time left

2004-07-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Last night was humble shopping. We got a jump drive for pretty cheap, diapers for the road trip, and more underwear and socks. We stayed up late opening new items, labeling, and sorting. The barracks maid should love taking out our three bags of trash today. I am not taking very much, I am weak and cannot carry much. I made three boxes for myself. I am going to want an extremely small folding chair. They have those three legged chairs with no back, they look like stools and fold up really small. Off to do more paperwork and debriefs!

Two More Days...

2004-07-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

Well, how does everyone like the new comment set up by Harposcan? I love it. The website will load much faster if the comments are held by another website. It took me a long time to make it work. Lots of frustration, it actually is really easy, but I just have never written HTML/JAVA stuff before. The list is final today at 09:30 to include one more person who didn't know they were going. We got some sunblock, foot powder, lip balm, and bug spray from the pharmacy here for free, so that was nice and should come in handy. A LT that is going to San Antonio today is taking my completed package to the recruiter, awful nice of him huh. Hopefully it makes it there safe and sound. The recruiter is going to go over it with a fine tooth comb and hopefully it is A-OK. The board meets in Sept, however I won't be able to fix anything major with this short time here. The three of us leaving are rushing things that we need to finish. It seems to have humbled us three quite a bit. We are spending as much time as we can with our families. Tony learned how to burn VCD's and he is impressed that it was so easy for him. We ate at Aunt Deeners last night it was great to have everyone together. The truck got an oil change yesterday and a new air filter, the fuel fitler was changed last time. It is ready for the jaunt to Fl. The baby is walking very well. He loves to brush his teeth.

Three more days...

2004-07-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

I told you I wasn't counting :) We are finally MOVED out of our house in base housing. Tony and his plumber helper didn't work on Monday, instead they cleaned the house in preparation for the inspection. They passed after a few adjustments. I am kind of proud of him, those inspections for those who have stood them are ruff!! We got word back from BUMED that 14 more people have to go with us. 13 are coming from CA and One from Corpus. I wouldn't want to be those guys finding out today that you are leaving on Saturday!

Four More...

2004-07-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

Not that I am counting. Long last weekend of moving. The Navy really let us down with this moving, packing and storage thing. Single parents and those deploying really got the shaft here with moving. We all are fighting over boxes at the hospital! I got lots of help from a neighbor - he was wonderful! He spent all day Saturday packing us and moving us. Then he helped us organize our storage unit. We had no power on Sunday here on the base, so not much packing/cleaning got done. Today Tony is cleaning the house for the final housing inspection. He says he can handle it by himself. I must admit I am a little worried. He has never stood an inspection in his life. We will see if he passes. I hope he does. We are both so very tired and wore out. I haven't got to spend much time with him or the baby these last few days. Thanks to the disorganized of the Navy I get to spend my last few days packing! Sorry just slightly disgruntle! The kitties are in a boarding place until Saturday. No more news on deployment yet...Keeping us in the dark. The stress is really been felt at home. We are tired, sore, and at each others throats so to speak. We are staying the barracks, which is pretty nice and convenient, however we are on the THIRD floor and there is not an elevator!! I am going to make copies of my techno CD's, hopefully they will keep me awake. I am desperate for any techno music anyone has in mp3 format-please!

Last Friday of Freedom

2004-07-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

Well the last Friday of freedom has arrived. We moved out all the big stuff yesterday and into storage. We still have some items and our attic stuff left to move. We are staying in the barracks. It's not to shabby. Actually better than base housing :). The flights to Iraq are ranging from the first week in Aug to the second week of Sept. We should know next week who goes when. We had a long night and are very tired, including everyone who helped us. The guys from work were great. It was 95 degrees yesterday and 100% humidity, felt like 110 degrees. Everyone helped though and it worked great. We still have a long weekend ahead of us. On a lighter note, Cody walked about 50 steps in a row yesterday. He took a whole tour of the barracks - walking! He holds his hands in the air when he walks for balance, looks kind of funny :) !!

Moving Day!

2004-07-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last night was long tiresome evening. I don't think we fell asleep until 2 am. JD came over and they moved a good bit of the larger items down into the living room. Some people from work are coming over this afternoon. We have the truck for four hours for free. We just have to pay miles and gas. It will be a hurried event I am sure. The computer is in the car and Tony got a brief on how to put it together. I hope nick can get him a monitor. Mine is way to big to lug all the way to FL. He claims he can get one easily. He has to have my computer to do the camcorder and make/watch Dacoda's DVD's. This weekend we are going to the Aquarium. I think Tues we are eating at Deener's. We received more word about our trip to CA. We need a lot of paperwork, copy of this copy of that. Check in is on Sunday at o dark early. Monday we go to the gas chamber. Tues, Weds, Thurs, is in the field playing war games. Friday we come back from the field. They are not providing us with meals. In the field we get three MRE's a day! yum! Sunday-Tuesday afternoon we have to find our own food. This angers me. They are supposed to provide us with meals and they aren't. They are supposed to pick us up at the airport and guess what they aren't. We have to grab a cab on our own. We are going to war for this country and no one can move us into storage, no one is giving us the proper gear and no one is going to pick us up at the airport!!!

Ten More Days...

2004-07-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

Well another day of preparing. I am glad everyone else (family and friends) are preparing, too. It makes me happy to see you all sign on and get familiar with this form of communication. Today we went to PSD and updated my "page 2" the boys officially live in FL now. All paperwork is in order. The baby goes to get an ID card tonight. He is walking quite well. He takes about twelve or more steps and stands and claps at the same time. We are still packing and the my lab shipmates are going to move the big stuff tomorrow into storage. Tony is still having a very hard time with this moving thing. He feels that the Navy should move us and is rebelling hard. I am doing all the packing and he moves things to the truck slowly and effortlessly. He hasn't accepted this whole thing yet. We leave Saturday morning on different flights for security reasons. The boys will leave Saturday morning also. Good job Annie for figuring this out. It is not easy at first - I am learning too! Maybe Annie get teach everyone else not to be anonymous. I am trying to get a better commenting section with Haloscope if that means anything to anyone. But I am having trouble getting it to run. I will keep everyone posted.

Eleven more days...

2004-07-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

As it gets closer and closer the inevitable is nearing its destination. A sadness has come over the household as we all quietly pack our belongings and decide jointly what stays here in storage and what goes to FL. As I pack my son's stuff, I feel as if I am shortening his "babyhood." Items that have to stay behind like the walker and bouncer/saucer, bumper pads that I sewn myself, and any toys he will shortly grow out of are all going to storage. It saddens me, because if I weren't deploying and there was no war he would have these items for there full use. I caught up the baby book and closed it off since he is one year now. I got a new book from www.militarywives.com . It is titled While My Mommy Was deployed. It has things about Halloween, Christmas, etc. From what he wore to what the weather was like that day. Enclosed are several postcards with a nice paragraph that say: "I don't like us being apart, but I know that you go to stand for what you believe in and to ensure my freedom and safety. When night falls and the stars fill the sky, remember that I am staring at the same stars and therefore we are together. I love you and I am proud of you. I will pray each day that God will keep you and those who serve with you safe, and you will return to me."

Happy Fourth of July!

2004-07-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July everyone. Last night we went downtown and watched the parade and fireworks display. We played with our new camcorder and videotaped yesterday. We had some 8mm tapes from our wedding and the baby's first birthday party, we practiced and made them into VCD's- it worked well. Today I am off and Tony is at work, the baby and I are home spending quality time together. When he naps I will pack. Tomorrow I will go get a storage unit, I found a place not too far that is climate controlled and will loan us a truck for free. Tony and I are going to lunch together, probably our last lunch meeting until I get back :(.......

Got the Camcorder!

2004-07-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

We got the camcorder that my grandmother sent me money for (early birthday present to Tony and I). We got a sony handycam. Our goal is to learn it quickly and make some videos before I go, that way the baby can still see me when I am gone. We were busy today looking for a climate controlled storage unit. The humidity is so bad here that everything will mold with climate control. We found one for $158. So now we start packing and getting out of the condemned base housing and into storage and a hotel for one week. Everyone has asked what to send me and everyone wants to "stock up." So here is a list of ideas for grandma, dad, Vera, Tony, step & Tracy, Ms. Debbie and Gary, and any one else who I forgot that asked me. Please if you do send packages make them small and frequent vs. Large and infrequent. Small like a shoebox will get to me much faster than a Large Box. Here are some ideas, but be creative as well: First of all the links on the left, "Military Support Network," please explore those websites. They send packages, books, phone cards, etc. If I get signed up with them, so keep that in mind. Some of them require a small donation, but I hear its worth it! Shampoo- baby shampoo unscented (bugs) Bug stuff (skin so soft with Deet would be great) Soap something unscented like ivory or oil of olay (body wash kind) Razors ( I use the mach 3 for men) Underwear (I am a Size 6) no sexy underwear please we are at war :) Socks (white and brown or green) Batteries (AA, AAA, D) Floppy discs Spices (garlic salt, ketchup/mustard/BBQ/Mayo packs from restaurants, anything that doesn't get refridgerated to make bland food taste better) Nights will get cold so those handwarmers that last 4 hours or so. Protein (tuna,salmon,beef jerkey,nuts) Fruit (dry, applesauce,etc) Remember the box will get hot so nothing that melts. Drink mixes already sweetened (kool-aid, crystal light) Shower to Shower or Powder with cornstarch (keeps sand off you)Newspaper clippings about the world/local news.Magazines, books, CD's(any kind of music-except hard rock and Rap) Pringles,Zip locks (all sizes) And LOTS of Prayer, Please send me Prayer, Hope and Happiness!!

Ombudsman

2004-07-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well last night we met with the commands ombudsman. They are two wives who dedicate and volunteer time to make all the families of the deployed communicate and pass information. We still don't know if the Navy is going to pack us up and store our goods while I am deployed. I bet they don't- so my last weekend here will be packing and putting our stuff in storage. My husband doesn't want to stay here alone with the baby and I don't blame him. Since we live in base housing we don't want to be responsible for maintaining everything here for 8 months or more if neither of us are here. Besides if I DO get commissioned while I am gone we will move anyways. I guess it is off to packing!

Good News?

2004-07-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

Right, your saying what could be good right now, but I do have good news. My "package" was signed by the CO today. For those who don't know I am applying for a commission into the Medical Service Corps as a Medical Technologist. For six months I have been working on this package and it is finally complete. The CO gave his endorsement, signed my conditional release and 1306. That means when the board meets in SEPT 04 everything will be there on time and ready to go, even with me in Iraq. Everyone pray maybe I can come back an officer! (for those who don't know I already have a degree- it is a direct commission)

More Deployment News

2004-06-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Today we received word that we are leaving for CA on July 17th. Earlier than previously scheduled. I know who we are replacing and where we are suppose to be. The hospital is still not sure if it is going to be 27 of us or 41 of us.....That is to be announced. Our orders are for 180 days or longer. Steph and Tracy that means we need babysitting towards the end of July-let me know. Sorry for the short notice but I just found out myself. We still do not have uniforms, plane tickets, credit cards or anything like that. Once again the military motto "our neglect is your emergency."

Two more weeks

2004-06-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

With the inevitable near we have been shopping. I bought my two green bath towels. Another required part of this seabag list, green bath towels. Why green? Who cares? But they are bought. I started my boxes that will be mailed to me by my husband immediately after getting an address. We went camcorder shopping and I think we are going to go with the Sony handycam. The one with the fire wire connection, not the one that makes DVD's automatically. We are going to settle for CDR's that's fine with us, they play on the APEX anyway. Does anyone know if I should take prepaid calling cards, and which one? I am game for advice. The baby cut two top teeth, that makes four total! He is trying to walk and has taken several steps, akwardly. More pay problems. Setting up allotments is more trouble than its worth! They double paid my car payment--by mistake!!

Preparing for Deployment

2004-06-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone with good advice. I have heard everything from moleskin to skin so soft for bugs. This weekend the fam and I are going to get a camcorder. This is to record moments of me so the baby will be able to watch them while I am away. We do get TWO set of desert digitals, however, my command is not providing anything else. The rest is out of pocket. Goggles, boots, boot bands, rank isignia, etc. T The seabag inspection went well. I still need a government credit card. I think that is a stupid idea, but whatever! Off to camcord shop!

To "Bill"

2004-06-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

You asked me a question and never gave me a link to answer. anyway here goes: Bill, We DO get a clothing allowance. The seabag inspection referred to was for "green side" uniforms which I have never been issued and never got money for. So no I do not frivously spend my clothing allowance. And yes I have stood many seabag inspections with no problems. THIS seabag inspection was with cammies and combat boots. A second seabag so to speak. All this was out of pocket. Why I am complaining is because Corpsman who are greenside get these issued to them already, and money for them...

Tomorrow the Journey starts

2004-06-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I talk to an attorney and do a will. I also do the paperwork and sign over a POA to my family. Basically I am not needed anymore. After that I have a meeting, after the meeting, a normal Thursday at work. Then I have a seabag inspection. This for those who don't know, is an itemized inspection of all the "gear" I will be taking to Iraq. My husband and I gathered it all up last night and this past week. It came to about $300. The military DOES NOT provide this gear to us, not any of it, a common misconception in my family. After that I have to teach the whole command about Needlestick injuries.(My Anthrax shot is killing me, my arm is swollen, hard, an itchy.) Then I can go home.....Let the Journey begin!

A Corpsman's Prayer

2004-06-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Grant me, oh Lord, for the coming events; Enough knowledge to cope and some plain common sense. Be at our side on those nightly patrols; And be merciful judging our vulnerable souls. Make my hands steady and as sure as a rock; When the others go down with a wound or in shock. Let me be close, when they bleed in the mud; With a tourniquet handy to save precious blood. Here in the jungle, the enemy near; Even the Corpsman can't offer much lightness and cheer. Just help me, oh Lord, to save lives when I can; Because even out there is merit in man. If It's Your will, make casualties light; And don't let any die in the murderous night. These are my friends I'm trying to save; They are frightened at times, but You know they are brave. Let me not fail when they need so much; But to help me serve with a compassionate touch. Lord, I'm no hero -- my job is to heal; And I want You to know just how helpless I feel. Bring us back safely to cam with dawn; For too many of us are already gone. Lord bless my friends If that's part of your plan; And go with us tonight, when we go out again. Author Unknown

A Labrats Journey To Iraq

2004-06-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

Well here I am in hot and dry, sunny Texas. I am in the nice cool lab working diligently. However it very quickly is going to change. The list to deploy to Iraq has been scrubbed, created, modified, dispursed and again dispursed to still include my name. The seabag inspection is on Thursday. We must have a multitude of items not ever issued to us. There goes all the spending money. I created this blog as a way for everyone around the world to communicate with me. I hope to use this and email in Iraq. Right now if everyone could say a little something so we can all get together and get this going, prior to my abrupt departure. There are no secrets and everyone can read everything. Keep that in mind and type nicely :)