Well, first off I going to say sorry for taking so long to post an update...Things have been pretty busy here.
Work, work, work, a bit more work. Catch some Zz'z every now and then, eat a bit of food and work out in the gym. Normally by the time I get back to my hooch, I tidy up my room and pass out. Then its the whole same thing all over again! Great fun, huh??
But wow! It's already Febuary! Hopefully this pace keeps up and next thing I know, I'll be on my way home!
Things in a war zone...Well...Deployed Garrison is almost like we are stateside still! Just a few changes, like seeing the Iraqies working and hearing their devotional songs being played in the mornings and evenings. There are mortar attacks every so often, but because Victory is so huge, they really don't hit much. We normally take em out before they even have a real chance at doing anything!
Also, LOTS AND LOTS of high ranking officers with not a darn thing on their hands to do, but chase down poor soldiers, fuss and yell at them for every silly little thing. We are suppose to be in a war zone and officers are more worried that you have your boot laces tucked in or a PT belt not being worn the "right way". What the heck is the right way, anyhow?!
The thing that really tripped me out a bit ago, when I loaded the blogpage, it popped up in arabic! What the duce!?? Even now as I type this, I see adds that are in Arabic....Crazy. Also, I finally got internet in my room! Even at $65/mo its worth it to me, because now I can type this up and be cozy on my warm bed with my mink tiger striped blanket.
How sad...It's raining again. I love rain, but not here in Iraq. Iraqie mud is awful stuff...I'll be coming home with some of it still cemented onto my boots, no doubt. It's a gooy sticky mess when wet, and doesn't come off. You have to take a stiff Brissle brush and hot water just to scrub it off. Almost all of my white PT socks are now a lovely shade of tan/yellow dirt on the toes and ankels. You know what everything looks like when it snows? beautifully covered in a layer of dusty white....Now pictures that....Only MUD. That is what everything looks like!! I'll take some pictures of the roads and post them.
Once this so called "mud" dries, it becomes a solid unremoveable hunk of rock. Unwilling, even with the most scraping and scratching, to remain attached to whatever iteam you never wanted dirty in the first place! Ahhh, Iraq....So, so beautiful!
Also, please don't send any more boxes!!! I have a tuff box full of stuff that I need to give away. Once it gets closer to being empty, I'll post to let everyone know! But for now, I have more then enough for my team and the civilians we work with!!! Thank you soo so much for everything though! It's truely a blessing that everyone cares about us over here!
Alright, well I need sleep so I can function tonight at work. I'm exhausted!
Thank you again everyone and I love you all!
Cathy
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Work
Well, it's the ending of another long day here in Iraq. It's still very cold out, but finally the mud has dried!
Work has been going well....Long days, but not horrible work. It involves a lot of sitting, but that gives me time to think about things and trying to get into the whole college online thing.
I've been thinking about investing in some property, perhaps. Just giving it a small thought, as I don't even have a clue what state or anything. So it's really just up in the air right now. If anyone has an thoughts or tips to share, I'd like to hear from you!
I've been pretty exhausted as of lately, due to a rude room mate. I'm hoping the situation gets better, we'll see if she gets moved to day shift.
Been working out a lot! I'm going to the gym in the mornings when I get off work...normally around 0500(ish), with SGT Todd. Do cardio for a good solid hour and at night before dinner, I'll lift weights with SGT Gunderson, SGT Todd and SPC Wantland. It's been nice and I should be coming home with a nice in shape, healthy body.
Well, i'm out of time...Take care everyone and I'll try and post more sooner.
Work has been going well....Long days, but not horrible work. It involves a lot of sitting, but that gives me time to think about things and trying to get into the whole college online thing.
I've been thinking about investing in some property, perhaps. Just giving it a small thought, as I don't even have a clue what state or anything. So it's really just up in the air right now. If anyone has an thoughts or tips to share, I'd like to hear from you!
I've been pretty exhausted as of lately, due to a rude room mate. I'm hoping the situation gets better, we'll see if she gets moved to day shift.
Been working out a lot! I'm going to the gym in the mornings when I get off work...normally around 0500(ish), with SGT Todd. Do cardio for a good solid hour and at night before dinner, I'll lift weights with SGT Gunderson, SGT Todd and SPC Wantland. It's been nice and I should be coming home with a nice in shape, healthy body.
Well, i'm out of time...Take care everyone and I'll try and post more sooner.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Pictures from Kuwait and Iraq
Hey everyone!
Not anything special going on here, just the normal of eating, sleeping(not as much, sadly), working out, working, working out again and the cycle just keeps looping.
Today though, was a special surprise!! We had a weigh in this morning at the gym at roughly 0530. Was in there for a good hour and when we came out, it was snowing!! Big beautiful flakes, too. To bad it has to be cold to snow...But to think! Snow in Baghdad. Crazy I tell you. The mud though...Oh Lordy! It's down right awful. You walk 5ft, and have about 2 inches of mud on your shoes/boots and its a gooey mess you can't scrape off very easy. Very very slick too, almost busted my butt countless times now!
Well here are some pictures I've picked out as a few of my favorites. The goofy looking dude is my section SGT Gunderson. Been my boss for over a year now...Great guy, just crazy.
This is in a house for a 3 star general we are wiring up. All the rooms have em and the floors are marble. Sickening.
Sunset in beautiful Baghdad.
A mosque on Camp Victory, one of many.
Chillin' in the bus waiting to go shooting at a range in Kuwait.
Camels!!!
SGT Gunderson...What a nut.
Not anything special going on here, just the normal of eating, sleeping(not as much, sadly), working out, working, working out again and the cycle just keeps looping.
Today though, was a special surprise!! We had a weigh in this morning at the gym at roughly 0530. Was in there for a good hour and when we came out, it was snowing!! Big beautiful flakes, too. To bad it has to be cold to snow...But to think! Snow in Baghdad. Crazy I tell you. The mud though...Oh Lordy! It's down right awful. You walk 5ft, and have about 2 inches of mud on your shoes/boots and its a gooey mess you can't scrape off very easy. Very very slick too, almost busted my butt countless times now!
Well here are some pictures I've picked out as a few of my favorites. The goofy looking dude is my section SGT Gunderson. Been my boss for over a year now...Great guy, just crazy.
This is in a house for a 3 star general we are wiring up. All the rooms have em and the floors are marble. Sickening.
Sunset in beautiful Baghdad.
A mosque on Camp Victory, one of many.
Chillin' in the bus waiting to go shooting at a range in Kuwait.
Camels!!!
SGT Gunderson...What a nut.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Support
Due to high demand, I have been requested to post an update with a list of things needed/wanted by myself and the guys I work with. Please don't send to much of any one thing, since I'm not sure how much or what people will send.
Here is the mailing address:
Catherine Neary
HHC 40th ESB
APO, AE 09342
Beef jerky,
sun flower seeds,
white athletic (ankle cut) socks,
OD green-black-or tan calf high socks,
hand sanitizer in little bottles,
lotion (for guys mostly...i don't need any),
body wash(smelly good),
foot powder,
personal hygiene
calling cards (at&t prepaid global seem to be the best),
coffee (whole or ground is fine, no decaf),
gummie bears/worms, life savers (gummie or hard),
any kind of powder drink mix you can add to water,
stuff to put up on the walls to make it more "homey",
anything you think would encourage the guys,
things to keep us cool in the summer,
card games,
board games
books,
Cd's,
DVDs,
health/sport/car/fitness/comic/fashion magazines,
pretty much anything you want to send, but is NOT of the following:
pornographic anything of any kind,
pork products,
weapons(knifes are okay),
ammo,
alcoholic anything of any kind,
think of it like this....is it something you wouldn't send your grandmother?
I can't really think of anything more at the time being, but if you think someone would enjoy it, then more then likely they would!
Thank you for all of your support and love,
Cat
Here is the mailing address:
Catherine Neary
HHC 40th ESB
APO, AE 09342
Beef jerky,
sun flower seeds,
white athletic (ankle cut) socks,
OD green-black-or tan calf high socks,
hand sanitizer in little bottles,
lotion (for guys mostly...i don't need any),
body wash(smelly good),
foot powder,
personal hygiene
calling cards (at&t prepaid global seem to be the best),
coffee (whole or ground is fine, no decaf),
gummie bears/worms, life savers (gummie or hard),
any kind of powder drink mix you can add to water,
stuff to put up on the walls to make it more "homey",
anything you think would encourage the guys,
things to keep us cool in the summer,
card games,
board games
books,
Cd's,
DVDs,
health/sport/car/fitness/comic/fashion magazines,
pretty much anything you want to send, but is NOT of the following:
pornographic anything of any kind,
pork products,
weapons(knifes are okay),
ammo,
alcoholic anything of any kind,
think of it like this....is it something you wouldn't send your grandmother?
I can't really think of anything more at the time being, but if you think someone would enjoy it, then more then likely they would!
Thank you for all of your support and love,
Cat
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
03 January 2008 0415AM
Good Morning and Happy belated new year from Iraq!
I finally have a chance to sit down and type, to give everyone an update on how things are going for me here in the middle east. The company I came over here with has finally settled in, as well as every one's nerves have started to calm down! For a moment there, things were pretty crazy with everyone not knowing what the heck was going on. But now I have set schedule and all is well here.
The Holidays are finally over and people's moods are starting to cheer back up it seems. It was pretty sad watching husbands, fathers, brothers, wives, sisters and mothers crying in the phone centers as they talked with their loved ones back at home. The holidays really bring the realization that they are without their families. As long as you stay busy with work and keeping your thoughts away from the things you truly miss, then you take steps farther from that slippery slope called "emotions".
At the same time though, it is the very thoughts of going home that keeps us sane during our deployments and separation from the "real world". Here... even with the amazing technology...we are still isolated.
For me, it's been easy enough. Not being married or with children, makes it easier on the heart. Though I still miss my family, I had been away from them for longer then what I'll be away during this deployment. I'll be going home on R&R in September sometime, perhaps. Only 9 months away! *smiles*
I kind of enjoy the time I get to work out at the gym, sleep and the work has been fun enough so far! I'm having a fun time with my skin though. It so dry here, no matter how much lotion I slather on my poor skin I just can't help it. Also I'm having an allergic reaction to something here! Something got on my legs and they are covered in hives, red and itchy!
Oh dear, its almost 0530....I need to go to the gym for some nice cardio with my NCO SGT Todd.
Have a great day and I'll post more later!
Cat
Good Morning and Happy belated new year from Iraq!
I finally have a chance to sit down and type, to give everyone an update on how things are going for me here in the middle east. The company I came over here with has finally settled in, as well as every one's nerves have started to calm down! For a moment there, things were pretty crazy with everyone not knowing what the heck was going on. But now I have set schedule and all is well here.
The Holidays are finally over and people's moods are starting to cheer back up it seems. It was pretty sad watching husbands, fathers, brothers, wives, sisters and mothers crying in the phone centers as they talked with their loved ones back at home. The holidays really bring the realization that they are without their families. As long as you stay busy with work and keeping your thoughts away from the things you truly miss, then you take steps farther from that slippery slope called "emotions".
At the same time though, it is the very thoughts of going home that keeps us sane during our deployments and separation from the "real world". Here... even with the amazing technology...we are still isolated.
For me, it's been easy enough. Not being married or with children, makes it easier on the heart. Though I still miss my family, I had been away from them for longer then what I'll be away during this deployment. I'll be going home on R&R in September sometime, perhaps. Only 9 months away! *smiles*
I kind of enjoy the time I get to work out at the gym, sleep and the work has been fun enough so far! I'm having a fun time with my skin though. It so dry here, no matter how much lotion I slather on my poor skin I just can't help it. Also I'm having an allergic reaction to something here! Something got on my legs and they are covered in hives, red and itchy!
Oh dear, its almost 0530....I need to go to the gym for some nice cardio with my NCO SGT Todd.
Have a great day and I'll post more later!
Cat
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