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