Home again...but for how long?

So I'm back home, and the more I sit in Ft Bragg, the more restless I become. I talk to guys from my unit almost daily on Facebook, and its frustrating, because here I am, getting ready to take 16 days for Christmas leave, go see my family and spend time with my brand spankin' new fiance' (YES, congratulate me later) and yet, there they are, sitting in the desert, hoping that maybe they'll get a package from their family, friends, wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, on time. I can't STAND this anymore. So I'm going back. Voluntarily. This time it'll be Afghanistan. I have the opportunity of leaving as soon at Jan 14th, and I think I may take it. Drop out of the treatment, leave my job, and just go. Because lets face it, who needs me here and what good am I sitting in Ft Bragg NC?

Baby, please, forgive me.....

War and the after effects

So I'm home after my tour in Iraq and am currently in Ft Bragg for treatment for PTSD and despression. And while I am happy to see my friends (or at least the few I've seen) and it's nice to be back in the "real world" I miss my unit and my guys terribly. Leaving them behind is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life, but I had to do what was best for me.

Interesting things happen on Ft Bragg though. Take today for instance. I had the opportunity (and I must admit, the pleasure) of meeting one Gov. Sarah Palin. Folks, let me tell you, you will never meet a more personable, kind and likeable person. Not only did she shake my hand, but gave me a great big hug and thanked me for my service. Always appreciated. I have yet to read her new book, but I just may take a look at it.

I apologize for not updating this blog as I should have and I will be happy to post more on what happened in Iraq and my views on this war and how they've changed now that I've been there (and believe me, they have changed) once I feel up to it. For now, I am tired but wanted to let you know I was alive and safe.

Blessings and peace to you my friends and until we meet again.....

Ready to go....I think

Well, the countdown is down to DAYS (15 to be exact) and I'm somewhere between excited beyond belief....and scared shitless. It's an odd road to be at. Luckily it's normal. People (well, most) have been understanding, patient, and loving. Katherine has even given me plenty of advice on stuff to do and not do. Here are my favorite entry's of Katherine's DOs and DON'Ts of surviving a deployment in Iraq:
1) NEVER smile during a sandstorm
2) Chapstick is a good thing, but make sure you wipe it off before you go to the chow hall. Otherwise, you get a mouth full of sand when you take a drink.
3) Always make sure you tie a plastic bag around your boots when you air them out. Keeps the camel spider's out


I'm sure there will be more to come....


Signing out (For now, anyway)...............

Just keeps getting closer and closer

Well, the time is ticking away until my deployment. I can't believe we're leaving in a matter of WEEKS. It's just unbelievable. So far, my biggest asset, other than my family's love and support, has been the advice of my dear friend Katherine, a former Marine who served a tour over there in '06. Her advice and love has just been UNBELIEVABLE and completely 100% appreciated not to mention invaluable.

So my sister's birthday is this coming Friday, and all weekend was spent going to her play "Wonderful Town" It was great to be able to see her in her final performance.

Well, time to go spend more time with the family. Tick tock......

Floorboard nightmares

Ugh so this house had SO much work that its unbelievable.....the joists were ROTTING the house was just ready to collapse. We had to RAISE it up at least 6 inches, we had to tear up the floor and redo everything. Pictures up soon.....hopefully we can help this woman

Biloxi Blues

We made it down to D'ibberville, MS at about 1500 (again 3:00 PM for you civilians) Larry, Ron, Justin and I went to look at the house. There's a lot of work to be done, but it's def. do-able. We start tomorrow morning and I can't wait. We already have a plan to possibly get her some permanent power (I know, I can't believe it. 4 years and Vera STILL doesn't have permanent power. WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS FEMA DOING DOWN HERE EXACTLY?) and a way to fix her un-even floors. This should be a really really awesome.

Signing off for now. More to come.....

Rocky Top, TN

Well, today was the first day of our week long mission trip. Let me tell you, its already been a hoot. We left at 0700 (7 AM for you civilians) and were on our way. It was as follows(ROLL CALL): Myself, my Mother (Robin) Larry, Betty and Bob. We picked up Liz on the way down at Tamarack. This trip so far has been filled with nothing but hysterical laughter, jokes and good fellowship. We stopped in Chattanooga, TN for the night and will be on our way to Mississippi tomorrow morning.
Well, this is all for now. Stay tuned for our continuing adventure of laughter and fellowship!

Signing off (for now.....)

Happiness and a trip

You know when you have those moments when you just FEEL like you need a pick me up? Well I got one, in the form of a friendship I thought long gone.....RESTARTED!
Courtney and I met her senior year of high school. I instantly wanted to be her friend because she made me laugh and I always find that important. But she was young and so was I. I had things that I was dealing with that I didn't even REALIZE how big of an impact they had until recently. She didn't know how to handle them. Eventually, after too many fights and Courtney and I pushing each other away, the friendship ended...and not on good terms. Hurt, confused and heartbroken, I moved on. Sort of. I thought of her often and later learned she thought of me as well. It was a chance bump in that started this whole thing. We ran into each other, promised to call one another but never did. A few months later, I was told I was deploying to Iraq. I figured she deserved to hear it from me. Next thing I know, we're hanging out, having 7 hour convos on the phone (not kidding 7 HOURS) and it was just wow.

So Mom and I are leaving to go to Mississippi in 9 short hours to help rebuild a house for a woman who lost everything during Hurricane Katrina. This should be awesome and I have been psyched for this all month. I'll be sure to blog from there and let you know what's up.

This is all for now. Signing off

Life as I know it.....wish my friends did too....

Well, I should have know this would happen....
The other day, I was talking to my friend Kate and she kept saying I don't want you to go to Iraq. On New Year's Eve, my friend Emily told me that she thought it was selfish that I was going to Iraq. Obviously, she didn't get the memo that it's not a choice.....they tell you to go, they go.

More and more of my friends have been saying similar things to the ones that Kate and Emily told me. I was so mad the first time I heard them....but then I realized that maybe it wasn't their fault. I'm a soldier. I know that going to OIF or OEF is just part of my job, and I get used to it, so that when we get the announcement it's just like oh, well OK. Shame on me for not making sure that my buddies understood this too. Guess I didn't really talk to them about it. I just assumed they knew, and that's the worst thing ANY military person can do, assume a civilian understands us. Oops. Sorry guys.

Def. still excited about going however....it's coming fast....just a few short months away.