Happy Birthday America...and "You're Fired"

5 Jul

You have to have a Pool Pass

Since yesterday was the 4^th of July, I was given half the day off.  Originally, it was supposed to be the full day, but we had to come in for the morning Commander’s Update, knock out a few projects with loose ends, and then since it was such a nice day, I decided to walk home, passing by the pool at Freedom Rest to gather some intel and do some Recon.  When I got home, I slept for about 2 hours, played Xbox, watched a movie and skyped with Gretchen.  In the late afternoon, I hit Freedom Rest, a “club med” for those passing through Victory Base Complex.  Folks that are in other areas can get a 4 day pass to Victory and stay at Freedom Rest.  Freedom Rest has a nice work out center, several conference rooms, a movie theater room, a game room, outdoor fishing, biking, a pool etc. Since I am military and I am stationed here, I have access as well.  I took a nice dip in the pool and hung out there for a couple of hours.  I checked out the gym and decided that I was going to make the extra effort/distance and start working out over at Freedom Rest.

There had been some rumors floating around that 4 Jul would be a high risk evening when it came to indirect fire.  There was not one “peep” throughout the night, and I am glad/thankful for that.  Although, I swear that I had dreamt that the alarms went off and we received indirect fire.  It was nice not to have “rocket’s red glare and bombs bursting in air” for once.  Happy 4^th Everyone!!

 

9 Jul

Sun setting behind the haze...

            I can’t believe that I have already been here a month.  Time is going by a lot faster here than it did in Afghanistan.  I was able to see pictures of Elise and Gretchen at Schiltterbahn, and family keeps posting videos of Elise on Facebook, so that helps out a lot with the long distance.  It sounds like everyone had a good time this past weekend, which makes me happy, because we truly live in a great country; I miss it quite a bit.  For the past 5 weeks or since I arrived here, we have had a nightly meeting with our two-star concerning transportation issues.  It reminds me a lot of the “Board Room” in the show “The Apprentice.”  All the organizations around Iraq attend through video teleconference, and we are the element that sets up the meeting, makes sure the General gets his slides, and follow up on any open issues.  I mention the Board Room, because some of the organizations have not figured out yet that the General has all the answers.  He asks questions to see how the different organizations will answer and react.  Now, there are a couple of “no-names mentioned” organizations that “Tap Dance” and get very “Flustered” when the General asks particular questions.  He reminds me a lot of “The Donald,” and with this being the 11^th hour, I am pretty sure “You’re Fired” will not be coming out of his mouth anytime soon.

"Big Brother" watching over us...

            It is no surprise and it is in the news everywhere that there are plans to get us out of Iraq by the end of 2011.  However, the “bad guys” want to be able to claim that “victory” and so they continue to “harass us” and people are still dying.  I ask that you keep them the families of those that we have lost in your hearts and prayers.  The news today said that June was the deadliest month in Iraq over the last two years.  I also want to say that we are doing good things, and the fact that “yes” people are dying is still relevant, but our strategic resolve and plan has been working over the last couple of years.  Now that we are in the 4^th quarter “the bad guys” are going to do everything they can to make it look like a “retreat” rather than a withdrawal.  I just pray that the Iraqi government can get their act together and prepare for what is to come after 2011.