Hey Yall

Hey folks,

Here are a couple of pics I have taken here in Balad. I decided to perform a little photoshop magic on these two photos.

Here you go

Unexpected Beauty

I've been thinking about the turtledove in the group of pictures Sean posted in the blog below this one. I love that Sean took that picture.

Of all birds, I love the turtledove's song the most. It's a soft, lovely sound. Slightly haunting. It's the kind of sound I just want to sit still and listen to. It clears my head of all the usual clutter, sometimes makes me meloncholy, sometimes I get goosbumps or tears. It amazes me that something with such purity can be found amidst the turmoil going on over there. An unexpected glimpse of truth and beauty in the middle of the world's chaos.

When Sean left for Iraq, we discussed how we needed to take this time apart to learn and grow and to try recognize the good in the things going on around us. Sean has always been good at spotting the little bit of beauty in the midst of craziness. Usually in the beauty of nature at an unexpected moment, in an unexpected place. . .unexpected, but also like finding something right in a whole mess of wrongs.

I love that Sean took that turtledove picture. It was a reminder to me, and hopefully to him, that no matter how bad life or this world we live in seems, goodness and beauty can be found if we only look for it.

My First Week

Hi folks,

I just thought you all might like to see some pics of my room and the sights around the base. Pay attention to the little comments underneath the thumbnail pictures (the comments will help the viewer understand what they are seeing).

Click Here For The Pics

I Made It!!!

Hey all,

Thanks for all the comments on some of the previous posts. I have been unable to make updates the last few days but I was still able to get your comments via email. Thanks.

Well I have arrived here in Balad Iraq. It has been a very interesting last few days. To many stories to try and tell over a short blog post. Suffice it to say, there has been plenty to see and do. But now for the hard part. Work.

We arrived here in Balad at about 12:30 AM on 8/17. We had a short briefing and then we picked up our things. We went over to see the new hospital. It is nice. Yay, no tents. I was also very pleased to find that the packages I mailed to myself arrived safe and sound.

They don't waste any time here. We will be replacing some folks from back home in San Antonio. They were ecstatic to see us...so happy they hugged us. Anyway we will jump right in...right in. I work tonight. I will get anywhere from 1-2 days of "orientation". Then its good luck and godspeed.

Well any way I better go get to bed. It is 7:30 AM as I type this, and I have to work tonight. My clock is still off.

Stay tuned. I will hopefully have some new pics of the digs to show you. For now I will leave you with these pics that Freddy and I took on Freddy's camera (my battery died on mine).

Enjoy
Click Here For Pics

Email from Sean

I got an unexpected email from Sean this morning! It was great to hear from him. Here is some of what he said. . .

I am in Al Udeid, which is only a short flight away from Balad. We have to wait for a couple days to get our flight into Balad.

I am very jet lagged. We spent over 20 hours flying. The flight was actually pretty good. Good food. I think we ate 5 meals on the plane. We made stops in Iceland and Budapest, Hungary. We had several in-flight movies. I was over 24 hours without sleep after I arrived here. I just woke up from a 4 hour nap, which is the only sleep I've gotten since 3:15 AM on 8/13. It is 6:15 PM on 8/14 as I type this, it is about 10:15 AM your time.

It is brutally hot here. It has been quite a while since I have sweated like this. Good times.

A Day in Norfolk/Virginia Beach

Well today was our last day to have fun in the good ol' U.S. of A before we head out, and we had fun. After I slept in till 10 AM I got up and took what may have been my last real shower, I headed over to get an early lunch with Freddy (See Picture 1). After lunch we (I and five of the folks I'm deploying with) took the bus down to the port. The five of us got to wander around and take some pictures and tour an active Coast Guard Vessel. We had a great time at lunch joking around and getting to know eachother a bit. Next stop, Virginia Beach. We took the bus down to the beach which is about 30 minutes by car or a very painful 1.5 hour bus ride. Our evening ended with some pizza we had delivered to our quarters. It was a good day (even the bus ride had its moments).

I don't know how long it will be until I will have a chance to post or email. Until then, cheers!

Sean

Click Here to see all the pics

San Antonio to Iraq - Leg 1

Hey folks,

I have arrived at my room at the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. It is 2AM as I am typing this. Talk about a long day. Our lodging is right by the docks, or so I'm told...can't see anything right now because it is O-dark-thirty. We will have the day tommorow to poke around. Check back here tommorow night, hopefully I will get a chance to shoot some pics of the base and the ships (Dan will like this).

Once again I can't thank you all enough for all your kind words and support. Even perfect strangers have been kind to me. I ate at a TGIF in the terminal at DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) and a family insisted on paying for me and my buddy's meal. I guess our haircuts gave us away. It just makes you feel good.

Click Here For Pics

Deployment Prep Pictures

Sean is all ready for Iraq. Below is a link to a picture gallery that shows his stages of preparation. The first few pictures are of Sean treating his desert uniforms with DEET (a very stinky insect repellant soaking solution). Then you'll see him going through his newly issued gear. And finally, the last stage of his preparations which took place yesterday - packing his trunk and boxes to mail ahead and organizing the items he will be carrying with him. The final pictures is Sean standing with everything he is going to take, boxes and carry items. Whew! It was a lot of work, and we're glad it's over!

Click Here To See Sean's Deployment Prep Gallery