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.

It just keeps getting closer

So, we had drill this weekend.....well more like drill WEEK, since it started on Wednesday and ended today, Sunday. We had all kinds of fun briefings, some of us did CLS (Combat Lifesaver) course, and then yesterday, we had our battalion Christmas party. It was really nice, big fancy golf course, our families were there, they even had Santa for the kids. Then, the drinking started at about 8. Oooh boy was THAT lovely. Some soldiers got in trouble, one got thrown out....all in all a typical soldier Christmas party, haha. But all in all, it was a good week, and it occurs to me that these last two years have been nothing but an adventure for me and my career. This time last year, I was getting ready to go to New Mexico for Operation Jump Start, and now I'm getting ready to deploy for OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and it's just awesome. I'll tell you the one thing that does make me feel better and that's that my Sgt from OJS is coming with my unit. It's a huge comfort, because I know I can trust her with my life, because I have before.


More thoughts on the way as this exciting year winds down!

FINALLY!!!

Well, the rumors are over and the orders are officially here.....we're going to the desert!!!!! For OPSEC reasons, (operational security) I can't say when or exactly where, but it's pretty soon, and it'll be a good time!!! Can't wait!! WOO HOO