Just trying to post some additional videos from my time here. We have just a few weeks left in this sandy country...
This is a Thanksgiving video I made for my hubby and family. It's months old, obviously, but it's still relevant as the music behind it, Michael Buble's "HOME" is especially meaningful because it's soon going to be a reality!
Showing posts with label Army Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Army Life. Show all posts
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Back to Blogging
I'm still truckin' along people. I've not updated because I've been so busy trying to catch up with the rest of my unit (who have been here for over four months already), figuring out what the mission is exactly, and getting used to way they do things. As I mentioned in an earlier post, ours is a logistics mission so we cover the units that fall under the command of the 316th as well as other units on LSA Anaconda. Our unit is essentially made up of two teams: a print team that writes, edits, and publishes a weekly 16 page newspaper called the Anaconda Times and a broadcast team that writes, edits, and produces a 15 minute + bi-monthly newscast called Newsreel Anaconda. We also submit our stories to Armed Forces Network Bureaus around the world as well as to The Pentagon Channel. Both of these teams are made up of just four soldiers each so the demand on each of us is pretty big. We have a lot to do with very few soldiers and that's not including our other responsibilities like early morning PT (physical training), shift change (mandatory reporting from each section of the days events), occasional guard duty, and of course maintaining our equipment, weapons, living and work areas.
All in all, it's not that bad here. They call Balad "Mortaritaville" because we get blasted a lot with mortar rounds but I haven't experienced much of that. A few come in every now and then but nothing like I experienced when I was in the Green Zone in 2004. This base is big so the mortars would have to land fairly close in order for me to hear them. Sometimes I hear what I think is thunder...then I realize it's not thunder, it's an explosion. So weird! And as odd as I know this sounds to you, on a day to day basis for us, life here feels pretty normal. I get up, go to work, do what I have to do, and I get back to my trailer - uneventful is the key as is working hard to accomplish the mission. So what is my mission exactly? Two things: (1) Tell the soldier's story and tell it well. (2) Get back to my family and friends in one piece.
Truly, the hardest part for me is missing home. I feel that a lot more severely than I did during my last deployment, which makes sense because I'm in a very different place than I was three years ago! Last weekend was very hard for me because of my brother's wedding. I was supposed to be a bridesmaid and I was sick to my stomach knowing my family was together celebrating his big day and welcoming his wife to our family! Those things, along with holidays, are very very tough on us. That is when it's most apparent to us how much we miss home and the realization that we won't get those days back. It's hard to reconcile.
Having said that, Greg and I stay in touch with occasional phone calls and a lot of emailing and IM'ing! I was able to get an internet connection in my trailer (that we are paying a ridiculous amount for) so that helps a lot! Finding time to email is pretty difficult because my day is pretty packed with work so if you emailed me and haven't heard back, I'm really sorry!
I'm finally feeling like I am comfortable and in to the groove of things here so I will be updating more often! My mom was really worried because she didn't hear from me for a couple of days so I will be sure to not let that happen very often! I've also decided I will do a PICTURE OF THE DAY post mostly every day so that you can really get a sense of what I am seeing on a daily basis. Sometimes I will have to go out on missions and won't be able to do it because I'll be off post (we call it "outside the wire")without access to the internet but I'll try to be consistent. I've taken some pics of my office and trailer so we'll start with these for now.
This is my trailer park looks like! Actually very confusing to find my trailer at first!
Our lovely abode, inside and out! I share part of this trailer with SGT Longbine. She's also in my unit. My bed is comfy, we have air conditioning, a television, and a refrigerator - no bathroom unfortunately but I'm not complaining after sleeping on that nasty cot for so long! I just can't escape the Porto potties though!
Here is where I work. It was VERY surreal when I first got here because when I was in Balad in late 2003, this is the EXACT building I lived in. At the time, it was an old Iraqi office building and we just found a room and camped out in it. Now, to see it so clean and like a real office building is so strange. My old bedroom is now my Captain's office. The smell, the air, the rooms...the memories came rushing back to me and I couldn't believe I was really here again! It seemed just like yesterday, not four years ago! But here is the building, the hallway, and the broadcasters work area. 
Like I said, I will post a pic or two a day to give you a visual of life for us here on LSA Anaconda. There are about 25,000 troops here and each one has a story. Hopefully through my stories and pictures, you won't feel so detached from what our life is like. I miss you all....
All in all, it's not that bad here. They call Balad "Mortaritaville" because we get blasted a lot with mortar rounds but I haven't experienced much of that. A few come in every now and then but nothing like I experienced when I was in the Green Zone in 2004. This base is big so the mortars would have to land fairly close in order for me to hear them. Sometimes I hear what I think is thunder...then I realize it's not thunder, it's an explosion. So weird! And as odd as I know this sounds to you, on a day to day basis for us, life here feels pretty normal. I get up, go to work, do what I have to do, and I get back to my trailer - uneventful is the key as is working hard to accomplish the mission. So what is my mission exactly? Two things: (1) Tell the soldier's story and tell it well. (2) Get back to my family and friends in one piece.
Truly, the hardest part for me is missing home. I feel that a lot more severely than I did during my last deployment, which makes sense because I'm in a very different place than I was three years ago! Last weekend was very hard for me because of my brother's wedding. I was supposed to be a bridesmaid and I was sick to my stomach knowing my family was together celebrating his big day and welcoming his wife to our family! Those things, along with holidays, are very very tough on us. That is when it's most apparent to us how much we miss home and the realization that we won't get those days back. It's hard to reconcile.
Having said that, Greg and I stay in touch with occasional phone calls and a lot of emailing and IM'ing! I was able to get an internet connection in my trailer (that we are paying a ridiculous amount for) so that helps a lot! Finding time to email is pretty difficult because my day is pretty packed with work so if you emailed me and haven't heard back, I'm really sorry!
I'm finally feeling like I am comfortable and in to the groove of things here so I will be updating more often! My mom was really worried because she didn't hear from me for a couple of days so I will be sure to not let that happen very often! I've also decided I will do a PICTURE OF THE DAY post mostly every day so that you can really get a sense of what I am seeing on a daily basis. Sometimes I will have to go out on missions and won't be able to do it because I'll be off post (we call it "outside the wire")without access to the internet but I'll try to be consistent. I've taken some pics of my office and trailer so we'll start with these for now.
This is my trailer park looks like! Actually very confusing to find my trailer at first!
Our lovely abode, inside and out! I share part of this trailer with SGT Longbine. She's also in my unit. My bed is comfy, we have air conditioning, a television, and a refrigerator - no bathroom unfortunately but I'm not complaining after sleeping on that nasty cot for so long! I just can't escape the Porto potties though!
Here is where I work. It was VERY surreal when I first got here because when I was in Balad in late 2003, this is the EXACT building I lived in. At the time, it was an old Iraqi office building and we just found a room and camped out in it. Now, to see it so clean and like a real office building is so strange. My old bedroom is now my Captain's office. The smell, the air, the rooms...the memories came rushing back to me and I couldn't believe I was really here again! It seemed just like yesterday, not four years ago! But here is the building, the hallway, and the broadcasters work area. 
Like I said, I will post a pic or two a day to give you a visual of life for us here on LSA Anaconda. There are about 25,000 troops here and each one has a story. Hopefully through my stories and pictures, you won't feel so detached from what our life is like. I miss you all....
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Kuwait...Sandy, Hot Kuwait
Hello from the Middle East, where it's HOT HOT HOT and full of SAND SAND SAND! I'm doing well actually. I've been here for about 3 days (I am very disoriented time/day-wise because the trip was so long and the time change so drastic) and I've yet to get used to having sand in nearly every crevice. I have settled in to Camp Buehring in Kuwait, the in-processing and training area all soldiers are required to go through prior to getting to Iraq. It's just another stop on a seemingly never ending trip! I truly forgot how grueling and tiresome it is just to get to where I am headed. Since I've been here, it's been fairly easy. I do not have immediate access to the internet or the phones and the lines, they are LONG! Thousands of soldiers vying for the same resources and it takes a lesson in patience to deal with it. But I'm doing just fine. Right now, I'm currently in the USO Morale Tent with my own laptop hooked up to the land line...what a luxury! I have had minimal training so far; they are trying to determine what it is I need to get to Iraq. It's different for each MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) - our job - and since I'm here as an inidividual augmentee, they aren't sure what it is I need. While I wait, I hang out in my assigned tent with no less than 25 of my closest battle buddies...so many broads it's like a hostel! You can say the accommodations are less than stellar. See Exhibit A, B, C. 
The last picture is where I sleep...inviting, isn't it? Well today the air conditioner went off in the tent and it was so hot one soldier walked in from using the bathroom and fell right to her face from the heat. Poor child has scratches and bruises all over her legs and arms from hitting the wood floor without warning. Hopefully they have that fixed because sleeping is not an option when you're pruining from lying/sleeping in your own sweat. N to the ASTY. Fo realz.
As for the rest, here's a little tour. The endless row of tents that house thousands of transient soldiers:
The trailer we shower in (only 15 gallons per soldier...aka a very cold, uncomfortable, dry shower): 
This is self explanatory...but no less disgusting in 122 degree heat: 
Bomb shelters (rarely, if ever, used in Kuwait): 
And finally, here are some pictures from our trip to the range early yesterday morning to test fire our M16's and M9's: 
The range was VERY far out in the desert but it was nice that early in the morning (we went there at 4:30am). We saw camels being herded (are camels herded??? if that sounded ignorant, I apologize): 
The more I see, the more surreal it seems! Someone commented that I need to remember all I see and do, and commit it to memory...they are so right because in spite of the pain this separation is causing me, this is truly a unique and interesting experience. I'm lucky to share it with you. I hope you are enjoying it. I miss you!
The last picture is where I sleep...inviting, isn't it? Well today the air conditioner went off in the tent and it was so hot one soldier walked in from using the bathroom and fell right to her face from the heat. Poor child has scratches and bruises all over her legs and arms from hitting the wood floor without warning. Hopefully they have that fixed because sleeping is not an option when you're pruining from lying/sleeping in your own sweat. N to the ASTY. Fo realz.As for the rest, here's a little tour. The endless row of tents that house thousands of transient soldiers:
The trailer we shower in (only 15 gallons per soldier...aka a very cold, uncomfortable, dry shower): 
This is self explanatory...but no less disgusting in 122 degree heat: 
Bomb shelters (rarely, if ever, used in Kuwait): 
And finally, here are some pictures from our trip to the range early yesterday morning to test fire our M16's and M9's: 
The range was VERY far out in the desert but it was nice that early in the morning (we went there at 4:30am). We saw camels being herded (are camels herded??? if that sounded ignorant, I apologize): 
The more I see, the more surreal it seems! Someone commented that I need to remember all I see and do, and commit it to memory...they are so right because in spite of the pain this separation is causing me, this is truly a unique and interesting experience. I'm lucky to share it with you. I hope you are enjoying it. I miss you!
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