I have been back from R&R a month now. I'm still not quite sure whch end is up. I have been so swamped with work. When I got back I had been taken off Training and put in charge of the Prevention(Inspections) program for the base. Sounds easy enough until you find out that as a base with 4 stations we do 39,000 inspections a year! I have finally gotten everything figured out and running smooth. So once again things are starting to slowly get back to normal. Heather and I have began to plan my second R&R. I will fly out on February 10th to Rome, Italy! Heather will join me a couple of days later and we will get to spend Valentine's day together in Europe. We are both very excited about this trip. The details are still in the making but the plane tickets have been bought! Last but not least, after 3 years of absence from the two wheel scene...Heather finally let me buy a motorcycle! As of today, I have ordered a 2009 Harley Davidson Night Train. It will be sent to a dealership in Georgia and ready for me to pick up when I get home in May. Today is officially the start of my second half over here. Just 179 more days to go and I will be back home to see everyone and enjoy my new toy!

Back in the 'Burbs of Baghdad!

Im back in Iraq. I am finally getting back into the swing of things over here. Jet lag is a real pain in the butt. It has taken a few days more than expected this time to get used to the time difference! My vacation at home was awesome. Heather and I even got to spend a few days at Jacksonville Beach. When I got back here, I was assigned a new job. I am now in charge of inspections for the base. It is a very time consuming and frustrating job. I have to schedule all of the inspections, check all the paperwork, and make sure everything is done correctly for 39,000 inspections a year. I am even busier now than I was before on training. I started a new class on Wednesday. I am in to get my Fire Inspector II certification. It is a very boring and redundant class, but it is another certification to add to my resume'. I will be out of class tomorrow and back on the truck. When I got back our crew and station had been totally revamped. Our Heavy Rescue got moved to another one of our stations(more of the HAZMAT areas are in that stations area). The crew for that truck was also reassigned to that station. We now only have about 10 guys in this station designed to hold 24! It is much quieter and less crowded. My two good friends Cain and Whitt are both still here. We have a good time. I am just trying to focus on my job here and make it to my next R&R. Until then, it is all uphill!

Could someone restart time!!

I have tried to stay extremely busy these last few weeks, but time seems to be standing still. I have been in class for the last 5 days(Got put in Driver/Operator class at the last minute) but even with all of the assigned work it seems like Saturday is never going to get here. I guess I am just getting anxious about going home. I only have 4 more days to get through then I get to come home. We are still having fun and something is always going on here at the station. Most of us here get along really well and have a good time together. There are a few here that don't seem to have the team player mentality as they spend most of their time isolated, however with some of the things that we get into here it isn't at all suprising. Most normal people would want to crawl up in a ball and sit in a corner! What can I say, we are firefighters to begin with then put us in the middle of a war zone away from our families and this is what you get! Hope that everyone is doing well as I am doing much better. Even though I am anxious about coming home, the time spent here wasn't as hard as it used to be. Anyway, I will see some of you soon and talk to the rest of you in a few days!

I know, I know, It's been awhile!

It has been awhile since I have posted something new. But as they say...good things come to those who wait! Anyway, it has been extremely hectic around here since I last posted. I have been working 108 hours a week, trying to teach someone my job so it will get done while I'm home, and it is FINALS week!!!! I'm so busy right now I don't know which way is up! Other than that things are good here. We actually saw a little rain this week. And by a little I mean it sprinkled for about 10 minutes and was done. We all looked like idiots out standing staring up at the sky. What else, What else...? We had a pin pong tournament last week. That was a very interesting afternoon. We had a full bracket system to map out the matches. In the end, combined we played 25 matches and crowned one champion. Unfortunately...wasn't me. Some of these guys are good. Maybe next time. We made some good friends last week and acquired some new ballistic vests. Now instead of wearing ones that look like police issue from the states, we actually have military style kevlar. Hopefully, we never actually need it but it is noce to know it is there. My new attitude has been working out great for me. I haven't really had a bad day since. Days go by so much faster and easier when you have a positive outlook on things. I am really looking forward to coming home. I only have 2 weeks left! I think Heather is starting to get a little anxious for me to be home as well. We don't really have any plans, just spending time with her. The picture is a few of us acting like fools..Imagine that! It was taken at one of three fire extinguisher classes I taught to the employees at the PX, some of which were Iraqi citizens. I had a blast that day! That is about all I can think of for now...I am sure though I am leaving something out. Oh well, there is always next time. Until then, stay safe and see you soon!

It is all in perspective

I find it amazing how things can look so different when someone shows you a new way of seeing things. I was having a hard time...AGAIN...and was complaining to a couple of absolutely amazing women. After hearing what they had to say and really taking what the said to heart I have really seen things in a new light. Being here isn't as bad as I had made it out to be. So, now armed with my new outlook on my experience, here is how it is. I am finally out of dispatch. Come to find out the sun really does still exist. I am going back to the gym or a regular basis and feel so much better. I only have 37 more days until I get to come home for a break. Life is Good!! Once again I would like to thank those two fantastic ladies. You two know who you are!! See you all in just a few weeks.

On the Downhill Side!!

Only 5 more days in dispatch then back on the truck. FINALLY. My time in dispatch hasn't been bad. I have gotten alot of stuff accomplished. I have plenty of time to work on my reports here as well as keep ahead of schedule in my classes. I also have gotten to talk to Heather alot becuase I am actually up when she is. Next week when I get out of here I will be up, for the most part, while she is either asleep or at work. Oh well. I only have 45 more days until I get to go home anyway. I am really looking forward to getting back home at least for a few days. It will be hard getting back on a plane knowing exactly what I am coming back to and what I will be leaving behind AGAIN. I will cross that bridge when I get there. For now I am going to stay positive. Can't wait to get home and see some of you. Talk to you all soon!

Do you know the Muffin Man???

I have finally met the illusive Muffin Man. He lives in Baghdad. There are definitely some interesting people here and they make it a little more bearable. Last week was rough for me, but this week is looking much better. I have gotten caught up on everything and feel a little less stressed. I still would rather be home, but here is livable for now. Thanks to everyone for writing. It really helped a lot to hear from all of you back home. I plan to get around and see most everyone when I get back on my R&R. It is only 56 days away. I am really looking forward to it. I've got two more weeks in dispatch then finally back on a rig. I look forward to getting back on the truck as night dispatch here is completely ridiculous. Hardly any calls, everyone else is in bed while I am at work, then everyone is awake and loud while I try to sleep. Oh well I only have two more weeks in here then no more dispatch the rest of the time I am here. Talk to you all soon!!