I can’t post a blog without saying something about my favorite “Turd”!  My little girl is getting so pretty and getting so big she looks more like her mommy everyday.  When she looks at me with that “I Love you daddy” I melt!  She is forever going to stay my little 3 year old.

I was sitting in my room and realized that I am going insane looking at these four walls at night without anyone to talk to but my own shadow.  So I decided to adopt a pet while I’m out here!  His name is Rocky, my pet rock.  He likes to sit and watch T.V. all day and when he’s bored he likes to play “Let’s see who blinks first and he always wins!  He’s good!!!!  Sometimes he just sits there and stares at me for hours without saying a thing it's kinda creepy.

When I first arrived at the Airfield in Mosul, Iraq it hit me like a ton of bricks on the head.  What the hell I’m I doing back in this hell hole.  And the answer to that question was as clear as the night sky as I looked at the equipment.  The Tanks were damaged and the systems needed some work so off to work we went to get things in order.  But to be honest I really do not like to be out here! Below are some pictures of my room when I first got here and after I cleaned it up a little.

Yesterday I received a call from Mr. Campbell at 8:30 am asking me to meet with him at his office at 9:30 for a very important meeting.  Apparently a Field Service Representative that work for General Dynamics Lands Systems was relieved of his duties for a serious infraction that was 100% his fault.  I was called in for a meeting to let me know that I would be replacing him and that I had to meet up with the battalion commander and the rest of the support elements for the unit.  So yesterday was my first day as a FSR for General Dynamics which was pretty cool.  I spoke to the section leaders and ask them what they need as far as support and we worked out a plan of attack prior to them going out to the range and firing their tanks next week.    

Just enjoying the business trip to Alabama.  The people here are very friendly and I love the way they speak it's very southern!  I am sitting in my hotel room here in Anniston taking the time to update my blog since I have not done it in a while.  Today we inspected several M1A2 tanks and signed off on them to be shipped over sea's to Iraq.  The guys we are working hand in hand with are really funny they keep cutting up on each other apparently it's their favorite pastime.  I spoke to Tami a few hours ago and she was taking the kiddos to see the new Harry Potter movie.  I guess they wanted to see it at mid-night but she said unless you are getting up at 5 a.m. to get ready for work sorry kids not happening.  She is a funny lady!!

Just came back from having dinner with my wife in Temple, Texas.  We visited a New Mexican joint that we saw a few days ago and the food was "Muy Bueno!”  It's hard to believe I've been home for a month, it feels very nice to sleep in my own bed and shower in my own shower.  After diner we did some shopping and I got Tami a new comforter set for the bed and I'm sure we will have to re-decorate the bedroom to match the pillows like we did last time.  I guess that's what women do, they like to match colors and fabrics as for us men just give a corner or even a sofa and we make do.  And since I spend over $200 bucks for the new set and that’s including throw pillows we just had to have I bought myself a 14 rifle cannon gun safe.  That bad boy weighs 530 lbs empty and its sitting in the back of my tundra as we speak.

Once again I am reminded of how small the world we live in really is!  The other day I was walking out of the mess hall after eating breakfast with Chris and as we were walking over to out truck I walked past a civilian who looked familiar but I could not place the face. That night I went to take a shower after spending two hours in the gym working out and as I was walking in the same guy was there walking towards the door.  I looked straight into his eyes and I knew exactly who he was!  I asked him excuse me your last name would not happen to be DeJesus would it?  He looked at me for a second and said yes it is with a look on his face trying to figure out where he knew me.  He asked do I know you?  I said you sure do “Drill Sergeant!!”  He looked surprised and asked were you one of my soldiers?  I said sure was and then he asked “Was I mean to you? Because you look like you can kick my ass!”  I laughed and said, "Hey it was training all training no hard feelings here".  We spoke for a while and he said he just got out of the army after serving 26 years.  He started working for a company from Texas and they sent him out here to the Middle East.  He just arrived a week ago and it’s his first trip out here as a civilian and he said it’s a little odd.  I guess he keep’s looking for his weapon and then realizes that he does not have to carry one anymore.  I guess old habits are hard to break!

Here is a picture I found of my kids with their cousins from a few years back in San Diego, California.

                    So there I was just watching the news the other day and the news report was talking about congress holding up the funding for the soldiers as a pressure play for the president to start sending the troops home.  I know he will veto the bill but it still chaps my ass that congress with their new liberal speaker is holding up funding for soldiers out here.  So here are some pictures some guys posted when they heard the news.  This series is called “Military Cutbacks”……Enjoy.