Quick, Go Home Before the CO Gets Back!

Yes, I left work early today because I felt I deserved it. Whether I truly deserve it or not is pretty much a mute point now. My NCOs were the only ones to discover my early out and were encouraging me to get away before someone else came up with something for me to do. I love my NCOs.

Sorry I haven't written in two weeks; things have been ridiculously busy. In addition to all my normal things, the task of accounting for everything and packing up to go home has begun. So while it's more work, I'm not that bitter about it because it's one step closer to home!! It's a lot of work, though, especially getting the soldiers to pack all of their personal belongings properly. Th next month will be interesting.

It has turned cold in this dessert as with nothing to trap heat, it freezes at night. Literally. The only exception is that there isn't any water to actually "freeze". To make things more interesting, my eater in my room decided to die ast night. Apparently it only knows how blow cold air now. Tres no bueno. Billeting said they'll fix it tomorrow; I have my fingers crossed. For now, I am bundled up in sweats and blankets and it shall do for the evening.

I am so excited to be going home soon. It's so close, yet so far away. There's so much I want to do when I get home, not the least of which is getting my own place. I'm somewhat resigned to the fact that I'll have to find something once I get there because otherwise I have no idea what the places look like or what type of area they're in. No worries: I'll chill in a hotel for a week while I find a place. :-)

I must get to sleep and hibernate through this cold evening. Love you all and counting the days!

Finding the Bright Side

Despite the insanity of the last few days and some of my Soldiers deciding they're better than the orders given to them, I have found a way to brighten things up. I was surprised too. First of all, someone from the FRG sent boxes of puzzles and we've been begun pulling them out and leaving them on the conference room table. I had forgotten how relaxing it can be to do a puzzle. And it's a great way to let people vent in a relaxed setting.

Secondly, we somehow acquired a ping pong table!!! I haven't played a good ping pong game in years, but don't worry, I have done you all proud. I have beaten everyone in the company headquarters at a round of ping pong. I would like to thank the Academy, my grandpa for teaching me the game, my little brother for schooling me at the game, my mom for owning a ping pong table...

Battlestar Galactica is awesome. Not sure if any of you have ever watched it, but I have fallen in love with the show. The episodes are extremely well done and the chance to watch one at the end of the day while I enjoy my take home DFAC dinner is awesome. For clarification, the watching of the episodes, not the DFAC dinner, is the awesome portion of the evening. Just clarifying. Anywho, the show has been a fantastic way to de-stress and relax at the end of the day.

I realized the other day that I have been here too long. I've learned all the quirks of the place. Like the fact that of the 12 identical showers, #2 is the best. And if you can't get that one, get #6 or #7. There are only 2 toilets that flush properly and a third that you can jerry rig to get it to work. That means there are only 3 stalls that you should use. In the laundry room, don't use washer #7 and dryer #5 takes forever. Also, the DFAC main course is rarely good, but you can scavenge around to compile a decent meal. Like taking a grilled chicken breast from here, pasta from there, broccoli and cheese (which you then need to microwave or it will be cold) from the veggie line, and then you suddenly have a relatively enticing meal.

Things have been hectic, but I'm getting through. I'm heading home in less than 3 months, so there is a light shining on all the crap. Oh! They passed out the information that brigade mail room will not be accepting package mail after the 1st of Feb and will stop accepting letter mail after the 15th so they can shut down operations so we can go home. That means that as much as I love receiving packages, send them now or forever hold your peace. They tend to take upwards of 2 weeks to get to me, so it's your call. Also, letters take about a week to get here. While it will suck to not get mail, it means I'm closer to home, so I won't complain.

I need to go get some sleep. I love you all!!!

Happy New Year

Woohoo! It's 2011!! That means we are that much closer to me coming home. But sadly, that's about all it means over here. We didn't have any new year's festivities, didn't take the day off, and everyone was actually surprised when I wished them a happy new year. Most people just didn't even think about it except to change the date. In the grand scheme of things it seems sad, but I truly don't feel sad. It's just another day over here; I'll celebrate everything when I get home. Which is closer, by the way.

Lately I've actually been getting apathetic. Which is not where I want to be. It's not happening at work, but when I get back to my room I don't want to work out, I don't want to be productive, and I just laze around. It's not me at all. I'm not entirely sure why I've hit this odd funk, but I'm determined to get out of it... if I could get my body to care enough to do so. I know that makes no sense, but there it is. I'll get over this thing.

The new year has definitely started off with a bang in terms of soldier issues, drama, and work. Today was a LONG one. I'm actually getting impressed with the things that develop into issues... most of them could have been resolved at the start with very simple, easy things, but now they're blown out of proportion. Or it's people doing things they know are wrong, blatantly, and thinking they won't get caught. It's silly.

If you weren't aware... I'll be home in 2 and a half months!!! It's for realz and it's going to happen. I sincerely can't wait. It's the glowing light at the end of the tunnel and it's getting brighter every single day. Start planning those trips to Colorado, people, because I want to see you all bunches during 2011!!!

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.