Day 47

Arent those pics good? To answer some questions, yes that is eyeliner of some sort that is on their eyes. I dont enjoy explaining this to tell you the truth, but you can get the picture if you think about it. Women and little girls are treated inhumanely here. Im sure if you look on the net, you can find out what Im talking about. The red hands, are probably from playing in the red clay that is all over Afghanistan, thats my guess. But other than that, not much else going on. Get to go to the Bazaar today to get some small gifts for myself and others. Did I mention that this is a nice little location to relax? Cuz it is :) Ok Ill talk to you all soon

Day 46

Ill try to put up new pix today. But I do wanna say that this camp is BY far the best one Ive been too. The only downfall is that the food is kind of "unhealthy" for my taste. For everything else (sleeping arrangements, gym, internet, etc.) is good. I could probably stand it over here for the whole deployment thats how nice it is. Its like a SMALL Kandahar (where im stationed at now). And its nice to be in the middle of a little town! lol Okie Dokie, hope to hear from you all soon!

Ok, they new pictures are up! Fresh from ALL day yesterday. Hope you enjoy them. Talk to you all later on...I might stay up a little later on tonight to either talk to you all on messenger (they have msn messenger working here!) or I might make a few rings...we will see. tata

Day 45

Ok, I leave in an hour. Everyone be careful on the roads and out in about over there like Dyan said. You all can write as MUCH as YOU want on this blogger. Just in case I dont get on for a bit. Ill leave this (Day 45) up as the place to write your comments on for a few days if need be. If it does come to that, just leave the date you wrote your comment and you should be golden. Laterz

Yay! They have internet. Unfortunately I cant stay on long tonight but Ill be back on tomorrow. I have SOOOOOOOO many more pictures to put up! Went into the village today and got some good ones. Ill put them up tomorrow! Chow

Day 44

Well, Im heading out to the village...Like I mentioned earlier, I hope they have internet so I can keep you all updated. Still nothing on that package Dyan but Im sure I will be able to get it when I come back next friday. Lets hope so! I am anxious about it now ;) Hope everyone is doing ok over there. So far so good for me. Ive been making TREMENDOUS progress on my new yrs resolution. I know I mentioned that I was gaining more weight in a past comment because of working out but now Im starting to lose the "extra" unwanted weight (fat). I did get up to about 196 pds about 3 weeks or so ago and now Ive actually been leveling out to about 186 "healthy" pounds. What great is that I look like I weight 150pds. Probably in about a week or two, Ill have to snap a topless picture to show you what Im been happy about. Vanessa, you would be amazed! haha. Ok, hope to hear from you all soon. Take care

Day 43

Aloha! :) Just another day in the Afghan world. The boss and I will be leaving for another base tomorrow and be back next wednesday. Hopefully they have internet there but JUST in case they dont, if Im not on here, thats why. Dont worry, Ill take alot of pictures. Still havent got your box yet Dyan...kinda worried about it. Ok group, hope to hear from you all soon.

Day 42

Im finally putting some pictures up on the computer. I bought a digital camera a lil while back and finally put it to use. Dyan...you dont have to see those pix anymore! lol The pics from over here will be in there own special folder called Afghanistan Pix. No worries ;) Sorry this one is short but I might be back on later...here is the website

http://photos.yahoo.com/rcortez3865

Day 41

The days are just rolling ahead for me. Dyan, you can give me whatever you want. I will never turn away goodies ;) Actually, turn away the pringles! :) Those are bad for you! Ive been eating pretty healthy over here and my fixation on chips will mess that up hehehe. Feel free to send anything healthy though. I know YOU know healthy Dyan. Speaking of which, how is Mike doing on his Atkins Diet? I cant wait to get your package too... Vanessa, can we be brother and sister? LMAO! Cuz she is my mom now...no more Army Mom, or Vanessa's mom...she is Ricky's Mother. But dont tell my real mom that! hehehe. Speaking of Vanessa, where has she been? She better get back on here! Oh and Nicole, yeah just like Faith said, you are kinda blogger happy today huh? hehehe. I know you accidently hit the return button a few times, its ok...Dyan does it ALLLLLL the time! And Faith, I do remember what you made for me, and the sandwich was delicious 4+ yrs ago...not sure about how you cook though haha. Ok well its Monday and Im basically just working to get by day in and day out until we go back out into the F.O.B.'s (basically firebases). New update on the one that Im going too. The camp is actually centralized in a small village! So more afghan food to eat...I should lose about 65 pounds with their food. Ok Im out. Hope to hear from you soon

Day 40

Thanks for ALL the comments that I got yesterday. Makes me feel Im not doing this just for the fun of it. Before i start, gotta answer some of your ?'s :) Dyan, yes I would LOVE those tuna packets :) Feel free to send wipes as well, cant never have enough of those. Yes, please dont lose that tracking reciept just in case it doesnt come. I did get the pictures Nicole :0 They were nice. Once again Faith, we can hang out when I get back! lol Sure, you can get me dinner if you like. Nothing like free food! hehehe. Im glad you got your car. Feel the freedom on the road now! lol Ok, sorry to keep this short. Wanna go get some food then workout. If Im up to it, Ill travel a bazillion miles to come finish this blogger later on. Im so pooped from last week. Speaking of which, found out I leave again this Friday for another camp. Heard that this one is JUST like Anaconda. Oh boy...TTYL

Days 38 & 39

Sorry I couldnt make it yesterday. We got snowed in and the little power we had went out the whole day and night. But Im back in Kandahar finally. Im a little sick, but no worries. I think its just a cold right now. Anywho, I have much to say! I want to refer back to my very FIRST POST on this blogger. I mentioned that I would let everyone know what a "real" deployment is as the days progress over here. I heard alot of stories back in the rear before deploying and I put myself to the test by volunteering to come over here. And quite frankly, most of it is true from what I heard. I wont specify exactly what I was told about deployments over here in the middle east/asia but there is one thing I do know for sure. The following things that were mentioned are very true: "The most precious things"

Hot Water
Showers
Heat
halfway descent chow
Lots of blankets
Lots of socks
Baby wipes
A book or a laptop
Did I mention Heat?

I found myself rejoicing with 100+ infantrymen 2 days ago when we found out that we will be having heat on in our tents from 930pm - 730am. It hit me that the littlest things over here make us soldiers happy. Unfortunately, there weren't any showers over at Anaconda but baby wipes were a must. My feet felt like they were frostbitten the last 4 days. My feet are STILL thawing out right now. The shower I took after not having one since Monday night (its Saturday afternoon now) was the best shower in years. I will CHERISH the heat that comes out of the heater tonight when i go to sleep. It was so DAMN cold (sorry Dyan for the language) out there it wasnt even funny. I just want to let everyone know that you should cherish everything that you have over in the United States. Granted, I did when I was there but I will cherish it even more when I get back. Having been through the crap these infantrymen go through over here the last 4-5 days, I will never cry about not having a hot meal...a hot shower...being too cold in the place I sleep...etc. And no Dyan and the gang, I did NOT have any steak. HaHaHa, not even funny! :) Ok, I will let everyone go right now. I want to go back to my tent and get warm! And watch a DVD on my laptop. And believe it or not Dyan, still havent recieved your box yet. When did you send it? Ok TTYL

Day 37

I guess I must be one of the very few here that has their own laptop. Well good for me :) Like I said before Vanessa, be glad your not here. Here I was expecting to have it "kinda easy" since nothing really happens much more in Afghanistan these days but behind the curtains, they really do. Its just that Iraq has been overshadowing it with the off the wall fighting. The platoon that has been out there for the last 10 days in the snowy mountains getting Taliban are coming back today. My boss is going to hold an AAR with the 1SG about how it went. So I should know the dirty detail of what really went on out there. Unfortunately I cant tell you too much because of sensitive info, but I will tell you what I can. Oh and Rachel, Tonka was a GREAAAAAT dog. I do remember laying on the floor in the living room petting him to sleep. He was just so quiet and peaceful. Let your mom know that the feelings are felt 15,000 miles away from her about Tonka. She of course isnt alone. Dyan, a cabin cruiser huh? I see Rachel's rents have one and now its your turn. It will be great...I get to cruise on both of them! hehehe. Ok, I make funny again. Ok Im out of here. So So SO SOSO cold. Cant wait to get back into the states! Ugh. TTYL

Days 35 & 36

I have struck gold! Getting on the internet that is. They actually have an extra line for your OWN laptop. And since I have mine that I brought (thank god), I can use it! You will be amazed of what these guys are going through over here at Anaconda. I feel so bad for them. Hell, I feel bad for myself just being over here. I have to give you a description of what Im talking about. Picture this. A camp the size of maybe an average size grocery parking lot...56 infantry soldiers on base while another 40+ soldiers out retrieving and killing taliban (yes, seriously)...maybe like 10 (8) man tents...very small chow hall (we dont even get MRE's, instead "T" rations. Basically snacks from what civilians give us as a whole to deployed soldiers (a.k.a care packadge). The bathrooms...ugh god. When you need to do a #1, there are 4 metal pipes sticking out of the ground and you gotta pee through them. I guess it just goes underground somewhere. If you need to do #2, there are 4 "openings" WITHOUT privacy that is about 8-10 feet deep and you just sit or squat and there u go. On top of ALL of this, its snowing outside, 0 DEGREES during the day and -20 below zero at night. Unfortunately the only heaters that are around here is in the MWR tent and the chow hall. I basically slept in my uniform and my polypros. Vanessa, you would HATE every second of it over here. This makes me miss Kandahar for God sakes...At least theres running water there and portajohns you know? We get back this Friday and I cant wait. This base is considered a hot spot for taliban and there are firefights only within 5-10 miles from this mini-camp that is actually going on as we speak. The sooner I get back to Kandahar, the better. Please pray for these soldiers that are over here now. Im just going to endure this for 3-4 days...they have to endure this 365 days of the year...

Day 34

This morning is sooooo cold. I heard somebody mention that its -10 below zero. I mean it gets cold here in all, but this is like serious cold. Anyways, I checked out our local forecast in the SECRET room and its supposed to get to 75 degrees today. Can you imagine a day where it can be -10 to 75 in the same 24 hrs? RIDICULOUS. Anywho, found out that I will be going out again, some place called Anaconda. Doesnt sound like a vacation to me. We leave tomorrow and get back Friday. Its supposedly snowing up there so this -10 below zero without snow...might be bliss compared to Anaconda...I dunno. I guess I will find out :) In the meantime, I probably wont have a chance to hop on this blogger until we get back Friday so dont be surprised. Not like you all care! lol just kidding. You all talk to each other more than you talk to me!!! This is my blogger!!! All mine!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! lol Ok Im only joking about that, I dont mind the chit chat with the chatty chicks (alot of ch, huh?) Anywho, hopefully I can get online up there but it doesnt sound promising. If not, Ill talk to you all on Friday. Peace out cub scout!

Ok Im back. I got some word about Anaconda. And Nessa, your right. But Im more worried about...the showers! lol There are NO showers there whatsoever. Heard that the 25 ID (the ones Im attached too, all MALE Infantry BN) that are stationed out there built A SHOWER out of an old Port O Jon. Yes, an old Johnny Blue. They cut out the middle, attached a bucket above your head and you fill the bucket with well water. Yes i know! hahaha. I just might have to stick with baby wipes for these 3 days. I might have to take a picture of this "shower" to show you what Im talking about! Anywho, also heard that there are only 3 internet computers and 3 phone lines. So the chances of me getting online is very slim but I might try late at night to get on (should be in the afternoon for you all). Not sure which day Ill try it but check here anyways. Ok, gotta go. TTYL

Day 33

Aaahhhhhh, its Sunday. Once again, a day to relax, do laundry, have a half decent meal, play on my computer on my lap in my bed, CHILLIN OUT! Its almost noon over here and I havent even started the laundry yet ;) I...slept in! YeS! Wow does it feel great to get a full 8 hrs of sleep. Anyways, I better get on that laundry cuz we all know that takes 1-2 hrs to do IF I CAN GET ONE! Everyone does laundry on Sunday here. Then Ill go to the coffee place down the block and get me a vanilla latte, sip on that while I read a magazine. See, the most simple things in life is like paradise over here in Afghanistan. This deployment will make me cherish things that I wouldnt have cherished before. Ok, well I better get off and do that stuff. Oh about the email stuff Dyan, Ill try to email you all with one big forward. If I end up forgetting to do it, just remind me on here when you get this. I apologize ahead of time just in case I dont. I might be too busy....relaxin ;) Ok boys and girls, off to the laundry tent!

Ricky

Day 32

Ahhh, the first month is out of the way...Everyone is starting to get excited about leaving here (the unit Im attached too leaves in March/April). They can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I kinda get excited with them because once they jet, Im only here for like 2 months longer so why not get happy? :) Well for being here 6 months, Im allowed to take a 5 day pass to Quatar. I think its in the Saudi Arabian pennisula. Its a hot spot for vacationers in the area. I plan on taking it around my birthday in March. Thats my next milestone that lets me know that I would have finished half of my tour here in Afghanistan when that pass comes around. It will be a great feeling. Well, today is Saturday and even though I work today, its a relaxing day thank God. I might get back on here and add later. Ok, hope to hear from you all soon.

Ok, I would like to mention one thing...NO ONE NEEDS A BOOB JOB! YOU ALL HAVE GOT NICE BOOBS SO LEAVE THEM ALONE! :) THERE, THAT SHOULD KEEP YOU ALL QUIET. Haha, I make funny.

Day 31

Thank you Mike for the comments. Vanessa is right, you BOTH are funny! lol And both you and Dyan are definetely made for each other. Love you both. As for you Vanessa, didn't I tell you pretty early in our relationship that I was a way better friend than a boyfriend? Well I hold it true to this day haha. But what Im starting to realize is that being friends with women before getting serious with them end up being a better, stronger relationship than just jumping into one. And very very few of us in the world actually do that! lol Myself for example...I think I did it one time in my life. It happened from accident. Back in California, I became real good friends with a girl named Beth. At the time, I was dating Jessica (yes Vanessa, the troubled girl!) and we were not on good terms by the time I met Beth. Anywho, because I was with Jessica, I opted not to try anything with Beth. So we became real good friends. She ended up having like a 6 month relationship with one of my friends Ski. So she was with Ski, and I was with Jessica. We even all hung out a few times as couples. Then Ski ended up cheating on Beth and she found out right before the Xmas holidays rolled around. I already broke up with Jessica (the 3rd time out of 4 times) in November of that year. Ski ended up going back home for the holidays and Jess went to Colorado with her dad and step mom. We both had no idea that our ex's were out of town (I didnt know Ski left and vice versa her with Jess) and I ran into her New yrs eve. She was jus planning on going to her room crying for the rest of the night but I invited her to come downtown Monterey and hang out with me. She agreed and thats what we did...as friends. We had a blast and the new yr was about to ring out...2002. (I dont know what it is with me and New yrs eve (Faith in 2000, Beth in 2001, Rachel in 2003). We were both too young to drink at the time (she was 19, I was 20) but you'd think we were if you saw us haha. Well to end this story, we ended up doing the whole tradition new yrs *kiss* and got together. We were together for about 2 months then found out she had to leave for Japan 2 weeks after we found out. Till this day, we havent talked since cuz we knew it was gonna be hard but that was over 2 yrs ago. I heard she is deployed in Iraq through a friend of mine but dont know how to contact her. Sorry for the long lovey dovey story but that was one of the best relationships I have ever been in. Granted, all of my relationships made me who I am today but that relationship hopefully will teach me to be friends before lovers. But its so hard when you are in your mid 20's and a guy like me loves to have fun sorry! lol. Ok ladies and GENTLEMEN, im out.

Day 30

Some more good news/bad news? I put a question mark for a reason :) Well I have been staying true to my new yrs resolution but something happened. Ive definetly have been getting leaner in areas and bigger in others but...Im gained weight this whole time! lol I guess the scale at the gym has been busted up for quite some time and no one wanted to mention that to me when I asked for it now and then. I went to the clinic to visit a buddy of mine and saw they had a brand new scale. I jumped on it and instead of losing the pounds previously thought, Ive gained 15pds! At this point, I would have been upset and totally turned off of working out because I would have felt it did nothing for me. But Ive bulked up in the chest and got way leaner in the abdomen region! So, I should be happy right? I mean weighing 195 pounds seems ridiculous for me (my dad was no bigger than 155 pounds supposedly). Ive never weighed anything past 185 pounds in my life. But Ive never gotten this built before either. Sorry this blogger seems to be about myself and my new yr resolution but...wait a minute...this is my blogger thats right! Haha. I dont apologize :) Ok though, enough about that. Lets just say Im very happy and Im still with my resolution but just without the losing weight :) Oh and Nicole, I got your box. Thanks for the gifts. I JUST ran out of the Apricot scrub and seen that you got some for me! Thats grrrrreat :) You were just in time. Ok, sorry I left some people out of this one but gotta get back to work. Oh ok...Vanessa, what surgery you talking about? Faith...the story was good and still waiting for the second piece of it. And Dyan, my favorite woman of all (hahaha) just your presence on the blogger has been a blessing :) Ok talk to you all soon

Day 29

Yes Faith, I got your message from the other day. You told me not to comment on it until I get the rest of it remember? :) Thanks Nicole, once again. You are a good person. Ill let my mom know what you said...you too Faith and she still remembers of you. I mentioned your name a few weeks back when I was on the phone with her and she remembered your name and who you are because your name is unique, as you can see. Hey Vanessa, I didnt kiss any kids on the cheek but I kissed a baby on her head :) Im starting to like the thought of having kids sometime soon. Maybe in my early 30's? Not sure yet. Not a time sooner though! LOL Kandahar City was great. It was such an experience let me tell you :) After about 10 minutes on the road, I forgot the fear of being rocketed and shot at. Afghans quickly turning their heads just to check out our convoy passing them...kids giving us the "thumbs up" and hundreds of them waving just to say hi. It was awesome. I had a good feeling about being a US soldier yesterday. The food was "ok", and like people said, it ran right through me! lol But it gave me alot of energy to workout last night and this morning. Ok, enough out of me. Hope to hear from you all soon...Oh and Joey, those were some great times man...remember when we got pulled over in the ole convertible? Because the cop thought you were drinking? Kinda funny since you NEVER had a drop of alcohol in your life haha.

Day 28 "Kandahar City"

Thanks for all of your responses from yesterday. It means alot to me. Today I get to go to the villages to drop off supplies and food to the afghan people. The most dangerous but at the same time, the most rewarding convoy we take as soldiers here. So Im gonna keep this alot shorter than yesterday (sorry about that!) and you all go from here. When we get in the village, the Chaplain and I (and a few others) are actually having lunch with one of the locals in the village. Ill have to let you know what the Afghani's eat and if its any good! (I heard it goes RIGHT through ya!) lol Ok, outta here. Wish me luck

Day 27

Good afternoon everyone. Finally got some time to type to you all. This day is going to be dedicated to how I can handle the "loneliness" over here. From what Nicole was saying how its been hard to go to school 3 hrs away from her adorable family, Im gonna explain on how I am able to handle being away from my loved ones half way around the world. It all started when I left for Boot camp several yrs back. The first 3 weeks were my loneliest ones by far in my life as of today. I remember tearing up around my bunk buddy every other night telling him why I shouldnt be here and how Im not fit to do this "soldier thing". How I miss my family, my security "living at home" and missing being able to do my own thing. Well like I said, that lasted about 3 weeks or so. After a month of being at boot camp, it got a bit better and by the time I graduated, I felt like a new man, being able to do my own thing and taking care of myself. Then came AIT, bid farewell to that after 2 months and went to California. My first month over there was similar to what it was for me in the beginning of bootcamp except that I was 3,000 miles away from my family this time. The distance was the reason why I was like that this time around. I learned to cope with that by making friends fast over there. After awhile, I was getting used to being on my own and doing my own thing. I was over there till the summer of 2003 and came back to the east coast. Only an hour and a half away from my home town this time around. After being on my own for so long, I didnt visit much. Maybe once a month or so. I do regret not coming home as much but at the same time, my family now come to an understanding that I am my own person at my age. Still young, but I havent lived at home for 6 yrs. As much as they wanted to see me, they completely understood at the same time. Now Im in Afghanistan, a half a world away! lol Im not saying that it is NOT hard being away from everyone, but its alot easier since Ive been away for so long on my own. In other words, the experience of not being around is what makes me keep going over here. Im used to being on my own now and I know I can only count on myself over here. Sure their is my chain of command and even a few aquaintences that Ive met but really its just me. Another thing that keeps me going over here feeling great about myself is helping out my mother. I usually dont spill out my personal stories to strangers or even people that I know very often but I want to tell you about my mother and I. We have a unique relationship. We talk like once a week but when we talk, its like the best talk. Growing up in lower class all of my life, it was tough on my family. Single mother with 2 kids (I know you can relate Dyan). As a kid, you dont realize how good you have it when your mother gives you everything you almost wanted. Christmas gifts, birthdays, etc. She gave us everything that we could ever really want. So as a kid, you dont take into account how much WORK she had to put into us to make us happy. Even dinners. We ate pretty damn good growing up and now I realize how much work and sweat she put into my sister and I. And for that, the least I can do is thank you and even give her some money when I can. Since Ive been in Afghanistan, I set up an allotment for her $500 every two weeks. Yes, thats $1000 a month but thats about how much extra I get for being over here so it doesnt really hurt me much at all. And its definetly worth it, every cent. My mom just about freaked out when I told her my plan, she thought I was nuts. But when that first deposit came into her account, lets say she believes me now. I started that last month and plan on staying true to what I give her. Since I will not be there for her birthday in Feb and mothers day in May, I plan on taking her to Las Vegas. She isnt a big gambler, but she has mentioned that vacation since I was a teenager so Im going to surprise her with a 7 day vacation there. I was going to go there anyways, so there is no inconvenience whatsoever. Well thats some of my life story in a nutshell. Sorry for boring you with all the info! :) Hope to hear from you all soon

Day 26

Like I mentioned yesterday, Im working at our ONLY chapel. Not bad for a chapel that is in the middle of a 3rd world country. Ill be here all day and most of the afternoon. Once again, not much else going on over here. It is SOOO hard to keep busy here when there is down time. We dont get much of down time but when we do, we are so bored here. My roomate and I made sunday evening "movie night" with the rest of the guys down the hall. So its kinda cool to see our Platoon SGT chillin out watching movies with us on his down time. Anyways, thanks for coming back Dyan. You def. made your presence known this time around haha. No further comment except that I DO like to have the cartridges of Mach 3 razors. You were right about that. I talked to my sis about NipTuck season 2 the other day and she said that it hasnt came out on dvd yet so only the first season is out for now. So YAY! I do want that ;) Vanessa, chances are you are not going to end up over here in Iraq. Your best chance was probably last summer remember? I doubt they will take you over here. And believe it or not, I do miss you too. I know scary huh? lol Faith, Ill see about hanging out with you one weekend when I come back. We talked about this already! lol Ill write you an email later to explain. Nicole, Ill write you as well. Crystal...I resent that you put DYAN'S name in front on mine when you gave us shoutouts! lol This is MY blogger! AAHHH! lol J/P I believe I emailed you like a week and a half ago but you did not respond. Welcome to our posse. Just another woman to pester me haha ;) I love you gals. You make my blogger very very interesting. Keep up the good work.

Well I wanted to add on to this day because...well its still the 9th of Jan :) About to get off of work in about an hour or so. Most of you all are probably waking up right about now. Well good for you because Im very tired and Im about to go to bed in a few hrs. Enjoy your sunday off (at least for most of you) and hope to see ya on this blogger when I GET UP tomorrow morning :) Oh and Vanessa, I ended up writing you on email personally so check it out when you get the chance. Talk to you all soon.

Day 25

Good news and bad news. We ended up going to where we needed to go yesterday but was diverted half way there because of whats going on there as we speak. I wont say anything but you may guess what it is. So Im back in Kandahar ONCE again and our next convoy will be going to Kandahar city to drop off some toys/food, etc. to the afghan village. We leave in a few days. Meanwhile, thank you NICOLE for the very long post. That should give everyone very good insight on who you are and what you represent. Thank you for the shout outs in it. Vanessa, sorry that you are so strung out over work you princess you! haha They are right about ya Vanessa, you do act like a princess ;) Its ok, as long as you dont deny it, everyone will be cool with you haha. I missed Dyan this time around... :( I know she will be back soon. Faith, sorry that your sick hun. 3 weeks huh? Wow thats a long time. Hope u feel better Faith. Well thats it really for me now. I work tomorrow at the chapel. So I will be on the computer for most of the day (most of it while you all are sleeping) but hopefully I can catch a few of you on the blogger. Ok ladies, off to go work out. I have so much more energy these days...its great!

Day 24

Wow...what a response in one day! :) I've waited 1 1/2 months for an event to happen like this. I know Im not going to get it everyday so dont bother spoiling me, Ill take the moment and move on ;) Well off to the shoutouts then Ill tell you my short story (there is a reason why Im able to write you so easily today):

Vanessa:
Yeah just like Keith said, Ill watch what I say on here...Its just that almost anything I do here is kept a great deal of secrets. Trust me, there are ALOT MORE things that YOU WOULD NOT want to know about over here than you already do. I think Keith can second that. About the ladies man gig...I didnt ask for it! lol I have just met wonderful women in my life that I like to keep around as great friends. I mean seriously, who is going to know you better? A friend or an ex-girlfriend? Think about it ;) Of course when it comes to girls haha. No homo here promise. Just like I know all of you all pretty well...exception to Nicole. I have learned to know her on here pretty well. Well take care and feel free to read the rest of this blog ;) Miss you

Keith:
Ill watch what Im saying. Totally understand. But what the hell did you mean by that post you made yesterday? Im sure its good but give me a bit more understanding to it :)

Nicole:
Hey hun. Give all of us and of course me, a good run down about who you are, what you stand for, where your from, etc. on here. Some of my friends that read what I say on here but bother not to post have been inquiring about you. Cant wait to see your package :)

Faith:
I know that you will beat up whoever gets in my way over here in Afghanistan! lol But just remember, Im the one with the Flak Vest. M4 in one hand, M16 in another and an M9 strapped on my leg ;) Yes Vanessa, they actually give all of us this on convoys lol

Dyan:
How can anyone NOT love you? Seriously, you are becoming the perfect mom (sorry, my mom is perfect haha). But your easily running a close second ;) Thanks for everything. From the invincible care package...letting me date your daughter in the past...staying in your mansion (yes, I said that Dyan, everyone else, dont let Dyan fool you, she will deny it till she sleeps lol)...or from just loving me for who I am. You are very dear to me. I feel I can get very discriptive with you because you talk to me at my level all the time. Ive got many levels of course but you hit them all so well haha. Once again thanks for everything and I do love you.

As for me today, my boss and I stayed and slept at the PAX terminal all day/night because our plane had to get worked on and they just released us for a few hrs to call home/internet/eat before we leave this morning. Hopefully Ill be back on soon again though. I cant leave my "posse" for too long. You all give me life over here before and after the day is done. Thank you all for that. Yes even you Keith. You got into the mix and puzzled me with that statement you made. You know what, since Keith doesnt come on here often, Dyan can you break it down about what he meant in his message from yesterday? :) Thanks. Alrighty gang, out to the terminal to leave. Hope to hear from you all VERY SOON. Keep the post comments coming! I Loooooooove em!

Day 23

Days seem to going a little faster since Ive been traveling. Well like I said a few days back, Im traveling to Shindand in a few hrs. I should be fine but you just never know. I have to face the reality sorry. Thanks for joining us again Rachel. :) Yeah those were some good memories haha. I cant wait to see that package your going to send Dyan! Ill make sure to send you a picture with soldiers wearing your masks ;) Ill make you proud. I can charm just about anyone into wearing a mask for a picture :) Oh, there is two other products that I have thought of since you mention it. Mach 3 razor blades and Apricot face wash (medicated) (for minor acne). Thats all I can think of that I cant get anywhere else. Ok, off to Shindand everyone. I probably wont be on the net for a few days because their is only 6 computers for over 1,000 soldiers over there. But Ill see if I can get on.

Day 21 & 22

Goooooooooooooooooood morning. Today started out pretty good! :) Of course, I went to the gym and did alot more than what I usually do. On top of all of that, I have lost a total of 10 pds :) Im only 5 pds away from my goal and its only Jan 5th! lol Yeah, I started about 2 weeks too early but whos counting ;) Anywho, Im willing to stick with my new yrs resolution and as well hope you all do too. I know its tough (My roomate literally had to KICK me out of bed this morning to work out with him) but I ended up working out and felt ggggggrrrrreat afterwards. Ok, this one is gonna be short but its sweet haha. I might add on to this after work but feel free to leave comments as usual. Aight kiddo's and (Ma), Ill talk to you soon!

Day 20

Only two new things that has happened since yesterday...First one is that we MIGHT be headed straight to Shindand from Bagram early tomorrow morning or what I said earlier, leave from Kandahar to Shindand on Thursday. I dont care which, I just want to get over there and get it over with. I dont like the thought of being shot at and if I do, do what we gotta do and get out of there. Ok the funny, but very disturbing news...I got hit on by a Korean. Yeah crazy huh? Oh...did I mention it is a MALE korean? A Major in the korean army? 2nd in command at his post? Ugh...Im not homophobic or anything, I have nothing against them. But when you hit on a guy like me, STAY VERY FAR AWAY! lol Very disturbing for me. Ok, thats enough out of me today. You might not hear from me for a day or two if we leave for Shindand early in the morning...So hit me up with some comments! :) Once again Nicole, thanks for your thoughts and prayers. School will be just fine :) And Faith, my birthday is...hahaha, I cant believe you cant remember. Im dissapointed ;) Ill give you a hint, remember when I came into town back in 2001 to come see you before we broke up? The day that I got my license renewed at the DMV was the day that I was born...think about it

Day 19

Im afraid I dont know who he is Faith...and about your new yrs resolution...Out of those few you mentioned, focus on what you really want to do. The whole "do not fall in love" thing has got to go out the window. Just enjoy life everyday it comes along. Do the things that you couldnt do because you were trapped with someone for so long. Go out! Have fun! Ok, back to me :) My new yrs was ok. We actually had a few DJ's come out to the "Clamshell" up here in Bagram and we rocked the night away. Of course it wasnt as good as what Im used too, but it had to do haha. That was it for me. We go back to Kandahar on Monday and thats ok with me. This was a nice little short vacation away from Kandahar. Wasnt suppose to be but we only had to do 2 things here in the last 5 days so it was cool with me! lol Cant wait till tomorrow. Virginia Tech and Auburn play for the Sugar bowl and it outta be good. Of course I have to be up extra early to watch it (8pm central) and thats 530am in the morning here. It will be worth it. Ok, another day gone...only several left to go.

Got word that I will be heading to Shindand this coming Thursday and I also read this on yahoo a little while ago...pray for me. Never thought that I would EVER be in this predicament...


U.S. Soldier, Afghan Killed in Gunfight

29 minutes ago World - AP Asia


By STEPHEN GRAHAM, Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan - A U.S. soldier and a former Afghan militia leader were killed Sunday when American troops clashed with gunmen during a search operation in western Afghanistan (news - web sites), U.S. and Afghan officials said. The troops came under attack from "an unknown number of enemy forces" while searching a compound near Shindand Airfield in Herat province and returned fire, a U.S. military statement said.

Happy New Yrs!

Well probably by the time anyone gets to read this, it will already be January 2nd for me. So this is for you all. Since I mentioned my New Yrs resolution to you all (dropping 15 pds and looking better for the summer!), Im interested in what your New Yrs resolution was. So this post is for you all. Let me know! :) In the mean time, Im gonna go get a massage down the road. Ive been working my arse off over here dropping those pounds. I lost almost 7 pounds in 2 weeks :) But its probably gonna be drastically slowing down after that 10th pound...or as I was told. Ok, let me know!