Days 178-179

Wow, where do I begin...This has been one LONG journey for me. Seems to some of you, this has flown by quickly....not for me! lol Though a few parts of this journey was a little faster than others but it feels like Ive been away from the states forever though. Well, like I mentioned on the last blog, I was going to make this a long one but I decided its best to keep it short and sweet. Ive had some good times and bad times while I was over here but it was definitely a learning experience. I am going to look back and read all of these posted blogs and just laugh it off! You all have made it so much better for me by posting me the blogs that I will always cherish :) Whether its Vanessa posting a very short but very too the point blog, Dyan's beautiful spiritual "I love Ricky" blogs, (hehe) Nicole's Ocean City/babysitting/outback blogs, Faith's inuendo blogs, and Rachel/Lynn's once a month blogs. All of you reminded me that "this too shall pass" and it got me through alot of dark corners and cold sleepness nights. Once again, I appreciate everyone's participation and hopefully all of you can also look back on these blogs sometime soon and enjoy them like I will. I am no longer in Afghanistan by the way (Im staying in Tjirkistan until tuesday) and will be in the US on Tuesday. Wish me luck on my long journey back home and will see you all soon!

SGT Ricardo Cortez

Days 176-177

This is gonna be short only because Im trying to finish all of my packing tonight. I leave out of this country @ like 6am in the morning tomorrow. The blog I leave tomorrow is probably gonna be a lengthy one because it may be my last official blog. Im not quite sure but I do want to explain what I learned and discovered over here being deployed. Im kinda sad already because according to a few people I know over here, Ive touched quite a few members of our ministry team :( Well off to my little going away party and then finishing up my packing...Definitely look for me tomorrow though.

Day 175

First off, I just wanted to say that I tried on my "civilian" clothes that I brought with me over here in November. What a difference! I have to confess, I havent worked out "as much" as I did a month or so back but man o man! I have a pair of pants that are a size 32 (way tight on me back in November but I wore em cuz they looked cool) but I think its safe to say I can probably be comfortable wearing a size 30! Do you all know how remarkable that is for a guy my size? Im not saying Im big cuz I actually have a small frame but considering my height and even weight to a limit (about 165pds now) thats still kinda a small size! Thats like going from a size 8 for a girl to a size 3 or something! I was a size 35 when I got here (I know I know, its ridiculous!) Ok enough excitement over a pair of pants haha. Well, I am in the middle of packing all of my gear up to get the **** outta here. I have alot more stuff than I thought I did hehe. I seen stuff that I havent seen since last year that I got issued to me. Ok, now Im just blabbering on here...well only 2 more Afghan days left then I shoot up north to TJSTN for a few days.

Days 172-174

AAhhh.....3 more days.....I can see the light at the end of the tunnel....174 "official" days in Afghanistan....and only 3 more left....quite an accomplishment wouldn't you say?....lol Sorry, just pondering around on here. Dyan, let Mike know Ill be there soon enough to ride that jet ski! Ill definitely let you know when Ill be down. Well, sorry to cut this short but I am gonna go to bed early tonight. Oh and Dyan, I apologize but I was not able to make it out to the local village to see that little girl :( The convoy leaves out on Friday afternoon and Ill be on my way to Tjirkistan by then. Ok bloggerettes, Im outtie.

Days 170-171 *Another Afghanistan Poem*

For the veteran bloggerettes that have been with me on this blogger since the beginning, do u remember my "Christmas Poem" ? If ya dont, here it is again:

December 25th, 2004 Blog

Im not good with poems, but I figured that I know how to rhyme words a little so here it goes :)

Kandahar, Afghanistan....
Not a place for every man,
could easily get a tan;
just ask all the bearded Taliban!

Stuck here on Christmas Day;
where all the sand flies and scorpions play,
maybe holiday chow on a cardboard tray?
Must be dreaming, so slap me Ok?

Arriving back in June;
When all the blossoms are in full bloom,
Possibly singing a tune? While vacationing in Cancun?
Must be me drunk, barking at the moon.

Not very good at this writing thing;
Never could rock a beat or sing,
Doing my best to let our freedom ring;
In Afghanistan, where all American Soldiers are king :)

Well, on June 3rd, 2005 I am here again to attempt another poem...bear with me :)

For half a year its been 2005;
When I least expected it, time has flown by;
With snow in the mountains and hot desert gone dry;
Finally leaving this god forsaken place, I promise not to cry.

A week to go my friend, out of sight out of mind;
Have seen many different faces, everyone not always kind;
Been here for over 170+ days, not being able to wine and dine;
The USA is only a few steps away, so this place can kiss my freakin behind.

At the closing end of my journey, its about time for me to say good riddens;
Im done sleeping on floors, cots and a bed dirty with disgusting linens;
Has a love for Afghanistan gotten me smitten?
I hope you can answer that question for me, by reading the many blogs I've written.

How did I do? (lol) Its fun writing my mini-poems!

Day 169

I remember naming this blogger after I found out I was leaving for Afghanistan last fall/winter. As much as Ft. Meade, Md was making me go CRAZY, I needed a break..a vacation perhaps. Silly me wanted to get far far far away from everything that made me go towards the insane side of me (lol) Well Afghanistan was that place. My vacation away from Ft Meade. God knows it wasnt a vacation that every person would go on hehe, but it was away from Ft. Meade. So I ended up naming this blog "An Afghanistan Vacation (Deployment). I wanted to talk briefly about my decision making on the name of this online journal blog. I put both (vacation) and (deployment) on my title for a reason. As you can see, (and mentioned earlier in one of my blogfessions) I am "officially" done with the (deployment) part of the title of my blogger :) Now let the (vacation) begin! Between today (June 1st) and June 13th, I am basically just relaxing over here. No more meetings, no more traveling, no more work! My first thing I would like to do today on my vacation is hanging out at the MWR (Morale Welfare Recreation) and playing some Playstation 2. Then doing some laundry and I have to mail off a big box to send to my Mom's house so I wont have to pay for extra baggage on the plane towards the states. That is what my day consists of :) I believe I deserved this break from all the crap I went through Winter/Spring. I know you all feel the same way.

Days 167-168 "Good News!"

I got the final GO for departure of 14 June!!! I will leave Afghanistan probably on 10 June, be up in TJKSTN for 4 days and be in Baltimore, Md the evening of the 14th! However, I have to go back to Ft. Benning, Ga for a night or two so I can turn in my deployment gear but I should be in Maryland for good by the 16th! Hooray! Talk to you all soon!