RIP 1LT Scott Milley

I lost my first classmate. It happened a few weeks ago, but I heard about it today. He wasn't an ROTC battle buddy, but he was in my platoon at BOLC II. He was always in a positive mood and would sing random Miley Cyrus songs to make us all laugh. He was a wonderful person and friend. I had lost contact with him after BOLC II, but as he went on to Ranger school I wasn't too surprised. I wish I had been able to tell him one last time how often he truly made my day. Please remember him and his family in your prayers

http://www.necn.com/12/11/10/Loved-ones-gather-to-remember-Lt-Scott-M/landing.html?blockID=371222&feedID=4206

Merry Christmas!

I have been looking forward and dreading today... Christmas in Iraq. Turns out, it's really not so bad. Didn't have to do much work (went in for only 2 hours this afternoon), slept in til noon-ish, got to talk with Mama and Ward last night and will be watching Christmas movies and napping all day... not too bad. Yes, I wish I was home and would be there in a heartbeat if I could, but if I have to be here, it's not a bad day.

Christmas is a time of year when we take a moment to count our blessings and remember everyone we are blessed to have in our lives. Thank you all for the love and support you have sent my way over the past year. From cards to care packages to facebook messages and prayers, you have all been there to support and love me from afar. Thank you. You are all the reason I'm here; we don't serve for ourselves or for the glory, but for all our loved ones back home. I love you all and am counting the days until I'm back home. Merry Christmas!

First Lieutenant

That's right, it's promotion time!! I officially made rank while I was home on leave, but they officially pinned me today. Woohoo! No more butter bar! Here are some pictures from the ceremony:

My company commander, CPT Essenberg, pinning on my new rank

When you get promoted, you swear the oath of office again. Here I am!

So that was awesome. And I got to do all of the paperwork so I can come home in March! Yes, it's a few months early, but it's the first step to going home! Step one to coming home: check

Insanity

That word describes my schedule, my soldiers, and my new work out plan. Things have been hopping and popping over here. Apparently everything I had planned prior to going home on leave went up in smoke and I have to replan everything... with changes pretty much daily... sometime hourly... it's definitely keeping me on my toes and making the time go by faster. Like today, for example. Went into work this morning tracking my platoon had 2 big things to do today and that both were planned out and going well. I got informed at 0930 that one of them was to be put on hold and changed to something else that "holy crap it has to get done now; why is it not done yet!?". So I spent the whole morning figuring out exactly what needed to get done and making sure there was a competent NCO to make it happen because I had to be involved in the other big thing the platoon was doing. Then, the CO stops me and informs me that the plans to close the bases have changed, so I have to change both of those plans. Oh, and the monthly public affairs article needs to be written. Yeah, it should have been done while I was on leave, but they forgot, so now that I'm back they want me to pull a story out of my fourth point of contact. I did myself a disservice in terms of getting more work because my last 2 articles were lauded by the brigade PAO... so good it terms of recognition, bad because now I do EVERY public affairs thing. C'est la vie. To make a long story short: a very long day.

My Soldiers have continued to keep things interesting with their personal issues. It continues to amaze me what situations they get themselves into... the best part is that they're almost always shocked at how bad things are, but the signs have been there for a while. It's my daily soap opera.

I have started working out again (I took time out of my work out plan for leave and then didn't go to the gym when I got back...). Ward got me the Insanity videos so I can work out in my room. I would go to the gym, but I can't go anywhere when it's dark and the sun doesn't rise until 645ish now and the sun sets before 1700... so I can't go to the gym before work (I have to be there at 9 and the bus takes 30 min, and I have to leave no later than 8 to get the DFAC for breakfast, which closes at 830) and I can't go after work, because I'm never done before 1800. So, I work out in my room. This new work out is killing me though. Guess I was out of shape... the whole thing is designed to be an intense workout for anyone because it's based on how hard you push yourself, but I have had difficulty moving around the past few days thanks to sore muscles. It has been interesting. It will be good in the long run, but my calves (and thighs, and shoulders...) hate me right now.

My Grandma and her friends surprised me with a bunch of packages filled with Christmas decorations. My room is much more festive now. Here are a few pictures of the decor:

My wreath and candy canes hanging on all the wires.

The ridiculously girly Christmas tree! Complete with a present from my Grandparents

As you can see, the festive decor has added some life to my room, but it's still hard to believe it's less than 2 weeks until Christmas. This place combined with the work tempo just isn't very festive. I'll go watch some Christmas movies as I fall asleep to make things better.

Getting back in the swing...

They really made me hit the ground running when I got back off of leave. The past few days have been crazy. I learned I'm closing more bases and then picking up a new mission... woohoo! I'm not worried, but that is a whole lot of planning that needs to be done. And oh yeah, keeping doing your normal stuff. K, thanks. I have definitely been sleeping well at night.

It's hard for me to realize it's almost Christmas. I thought about it today and it just doesn't feel like December. Yes, it got colder, but the Christmas spirit just isn't there. Not that I'm incredibly surprised that Iraq isn't a festive place, but I didn't think I wouldn't feel anything. I mean, I miss home and everyone there, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas, so I'm not missing Christmas... does that make sense? I'm sure on the 25th it will hit me, but right now it just seems like another day in the sandbox. The fact that I'm extremely busy and that it's a holy month for Muslims (martyrdom of Muhammad's grandson, Hussein, at Karbala) so they're in a month of penitence and pilgrimage, so that doesn't exactly liven up the spirits either. The mail I've gotten has helped a bit. Mom, thank you for sending me a stocking. I love the cowboy boot stocking!! I hung it up behind my desk; maybe someone will leave me candy or treats... And Claire, the Christmas card is fantastic. I've already added it to my wall of pictures. :-) I will probably get myself into the festive mood with some Christmas movies or something, whenever I have the time.

My new room is working out pretty well. I truly enjoy being 10 meters from the bathroom instead 100. It makes a huge difference, especially at 2 in the morning. I have officially set everything up, except all of my pictures. I have that about half done but otherwise it's a cozy little anti-army haven. Lots of color, happiness, memories, and life; my room is awesome.

I hope everything is going well on the home front. Please don't hesitate to contact me; I love hearing from all of you even if it's only a "Hey, miss you". Love you all!

Back in the Sandbox

So I’m back to the sandbox after 2 fantastic weeks at home. I honestly and truly did not want to go back. My 2 weeks of civilian life and being with family and friends has spoiled me. It won’t be long now, though. I have December (and since we’re already in it, it doesn’t really count, right?) and January. Then we start prepping to come home in February and sometime in March I’ll be back in the states. With my own place. Where I can unpack everything that has been sitting in boxes at Mom’s and Dad’s places since I graduated. I’m so excited. Still have a few months until I get there, so it’s not a celebration party yet, but you should all be thinking about vacations to Colorado… I’ll be there in a few months!!! It was so wonderful being home. I was able to see so many people (although there are a few of you I missed sadly… 2 weeks is not enough!!!), relax, sleep in, spend lots of time with family, go to Eric’s first art show, go to the theater, be girly daily, eat TexMex, and I got to do almost all of it with Ward; I was in heaven. I am so incredibly blessed to have such a fantastic family and group of friends. Below are a few pictures of my non-Army shenanigans.

My boys and me (including Eric's new dog, Syd)

Mama and me

Liann and me at a pirate exhibit after seeing Deathly Hallows

At Eric's first real art show!!!!

Me and my Ward

And now I’m back in a giant sandbox once again. The flight here was bizarre: they had 2 movies and then random TV episodes… like one of the first season of Cheers… very odd for an airline. I slept through quite a bit though and then listened to music for the rest. It’s so convenient to be small; while sitting for so long is uncomfortable, it’s nowhere near as bad for me as it is for the 6 foot plus soldiers I saw around me. Where are the short jokes now, huh? ;-) The time in Kuwait was more arduous than anything. Then, when I finally got back, I got informed I had to change rooms... so that took forever. The new room was FILTHY. I don't know how people live in a room like that. So I cleaned everything, rearranged the furniture, then moved all of my stuff 100+ meters to my new room, then unpack. I'm at the 89% solution; I'll finish the rest tomorrow. Sleep is definitely on the horizon...