My plans for the future!

Bea and I have been talking about what I am going to do when I get home. Weather to go to college or work as a recruiter and we have come up with a plan. We have decided that I will fill out my app. to be a recruiter and I will take online college through the military to get 30 credits and then I am going to go to OCS(Officer Canadit School) to be an Officer. I have always wanted to be an Officer and if I get some college credits I can then go to school to be an Officer. And then after that I will either get a full-time job with the ANRG or the regular Army we have not yet decided that but that is in like 2 years or more after I get back to worry about that now. I love my wife and am very glade she is around to be able to help me out with decision like this. I am truely blessed with a wounderful and smart wife. I also am blessed with a child who has the same qualities as her mother and I know ahe will do very well in school as it will be coming up very soon for her. I miss you girls so much and can not wait to see you around Christmas time.

Who Let the Dogs Out!

I have not blogged in a while but I have much to tell. The other day one of our RTOs (Radio Transmit Operator) had simpoms of a heart attack so he go Life flighted to BAF and then to Germany. Now we as the TAC have to do 2 days each as an RTO to fill in for him while he is gone. But I think it will be till the end of our tour because I think he is not coming back. Anyway I had to do it for the last 2 days and the second day the TAC had a mission with the Military dog. I did not know that they used dogs in the military but guess what they do. And the dog is trained to find bombs and protect his handler. I did not get to go on that mission but I heard there will be more like it in the future because the dog will be staying here till the end of the tour. I found out the dog is very nice but was told not to run toward the handler or the dog will attack. Anyway it is so hot over here now that the dog can only work for 15 to 20 min at a time and then have to brake for like 30 min. so the missions will be long but theyare good. I have been very blessed to be where I am at because the other areas more south of here are very bad and lots of lives are being lost every day. I only spent 2 days in the TOC and the net was non stop in those areas for IEDs and fire fights. I would like to thank all the people who are praying for me and keep up the good work because God is keeping me safe. I miss home and can not wait till I get to see Bea and Katelyn again I bet she has grown so much since I last saw her. I on the other hand have shrank since she last saw me and I hope she still will know who I am when she see's me. I have been doing alot of writing and reading laterly and finding myself enjoying it but that will probably only last till I get home. I am not usualy one to like to read but since I have some time I have been. I also get to call home alot and e-mail to when I have time to do so. I was talking to bea yesterday and she is sick these are the times I wish I were home to be able to take care of her and Katelyn. Also Tonya and Joey are moving to Ralston I hope that it is a good move for them. Bea helpped with the move even though she is sick now that is a true friend and some one who put others before themself. I am truely proud of my wife and hope that she get better soon so that she is not so miserable and can relax.

My truck!

The Balls that our truck has!
The SKULL yes our truck is Awsome!

I was thinking to myself about what to wirte next on here. Then we had a Blackout. Which is not a good thing at all. It means that someone has died and they shut the phones and internet down till the family is notified. But in that time it gave me some thoughts to write about on here. About a month ago my TC/ platoon Sgt. found a skull while we were out on a mission. So we stopped and he picked it up. Now it is on our truck in the front on the grill. And just the other day he got a set of swinging tusk balls to put on the back. It is to funny to see the reactions from all the people as we drive by. We also had to put a blanket over the eyes and nose of the skull which is a donkey skull by the way. The locals get upset if they see the eyes and nose of the dead so if they are covered then it is not dead to them. He also got a little set of blue balls which he hung up in the front drivers pit in the mirror. I love driving in our truck my platoon Sgt. is the coolest. I will post up pictures of this as soon as i get the chance to. And to geen my brother this truck outs a tonka truck to shame I will get a picture of it to show you. Today I also sent out like 15 letters because I finally had time to write everyone who has written me. I love you all.

Slow days of summer

The days have slowed down here for most of us. We were really busy until the last week it has been slow. I think from here on out it will stay pretty slow because we have done a while lot already. I got time to write people back that wrote me that was very nice. I got to run and lift today which is a rear occasion. I also got to visit with my friends down in the inturpretors tents talking and drinking Chi which I have fallen in love with sorry honey. I also have more time to write here and call my wife which is always nice to do. I have been having trouble sleeping lately so if it continues I might go see the Doc for some sleep aide. Not much else to blog about today although it was like the hottest day today and will only get hotter. I hope that with the slowing down the days do not drag on.

It's Like Christmas!

I have been having trouble lately getting to sleep. Last night I layed in bed from 130 till 3am tring to fall asleep. I have no idea what time I finally fell asleep but this is like the third day in a row that it has happened. Anyway I got woken up at 9am and handed mail. Oh how I love mail letters, packages, anything is nice to get when the choppers come in. Which has been like twice a week lately. But for a while there it was like coming every 2 weeks if we were lucky. The moral of this story is that even with the lack of sleep a soldier will get energized when he knows people still remember him and care. Also if you haven't been doing it and know someone over seas send them a letter or a care package it does wounders for there spirits. I know that it does because I have a loving wife that sends me letters and packages on almost every chopper I have one or two pieces of mail. I love you babe!

Night Life Can Be Fun!

Today we did not do much but I did get to hit the gym for my daily workout. That is always a plus and I got to relax alittle too. I am part of what is called the TAC which is a squade of guys made up to do tactical missions and sometimes we are a taxi service too. Later in the evening we went out and did a TCP with the ANP(Tactical Control Piont and the Afghan National Police) at one of there check points. A TCP is like a DUI check point except we are looking for shady people that have weapons and stuff to make bombs and things of that nature. Anyway it was done at night so we had to use our NOD's(Night Optical Devices) or night vision for those not in the military. As the gunner I had front security and that is very important because I might have to shoot if the vehical does not stop luckily I have not had to do that yet. At the end of our TCP the major of the ANP invited us for Chi so some of us including me sat for some Chi and sweets. This is an honor to do with a high ranking offical and he was very nice and is always very nice to us. I hope to continue to work with these guys as we are not allowed to search the locals so they do it all as we pull security and watch them. Anyway all in all we had a great night and all is well. On the way back our lead vehical wanted to take a different way back he drives a humvee and I am a gunner in an M-RAP. Which is like way larger than a humvee. Anyway all the road back to the base are dirt and bumpy and narrow sometimes. We went down a hill and the truck leand pretty far I got down in the gunners hatch just incase of a rollover but we didn't. I am back at the base and have survived one more day in Afghanistan. And also so if any of you do not already know I am 8 and 1/2 hours ahead of the East coast. So I am going to bed now till tomarrow then see you all later.

Army Life!

This is my first time blogging but I thought I would start since alot of people I know are doing the same thing. I might be able to get more responce from this than e-mails too. My own wife blogs here and does it more often than e-mails. Well as most of you know I am in Afghanistan and the weather here is around 140+ and it is not even the hottest summer months here. I have been busy up until now and the time seemed to go by fast. My job is a gunner on what we call an M-RAP which looks like a monster truck. But I love to stand up in the gunners hatch and see all the beeautiful sights in Afghanistan. The people are for the most part nice around here and I have been safe thus far. I also have been working out alot on my time off and have lost over 40lbs. I am very proud of that and hope to come home a new man and keep up the fitness. I will post pictures on here at a later date. Thr=ere is alot of things to do here on my time off. The MWR is for the soldiers to go and play games. They have 2 pool tables, ^ big screen tvs with playstation 2s and xobox 360s. They also have a computer and phone room the internet is free but the phones you have to buy a card forwhich cvomes out to 4 cents a min. We also have a basketball court and a volleyball court and on the ANA(Afgan National Army)side they play soccer which I play too. The chow here is good and all the snacks you could ever want 24 hours a day and it is free for us. I miss my wife and daughtervery much and can not wat till I start home around Thanksgiving time and home in time for Christmas. Well I hope to keep this updated daily but you never know what could happen over here. Love to all my family and friends that supported me and even the ones how don't I still love you too. I miss you all and will retun in a few months.