Moment of the Week

 Nate's Belt Presentation

Exchanging his white belt for his yellow belt

Bowing to Guru Ben

Guru Ben telling Nate why he is glad he is his student

4

Peppers

Peppers, they make you wait three long weeks.

Then one day they're up.

Moment of the Week

3

Reptile Gardens

Week 1 Plus Some

Hello everybody, I wanted to let everyone know that I made it to Afghanistan alright.  It was a hectic trip that ultimately took me over a week and 4 different countries.  I first left Teresa and Nate and flew to Norfolk Virginia.  I was stuck there for a few days waiting for my rotator flight.  From there, I met up with about 200 other military folks and started our transatlantic journey.

 We first stopped in Shannon, Ireland for about 3 hours, it looked like an amazing country from the airport.  Teresa, we should definitely plan a trip to go there.  When we landed, we were quickly notified that we were strictly forbidden to visit the fully stocked and well laid out bar.  This was a shame as I was really looking forward to a true Irish coffee.

From Ireland, we made a quick stop in Kuwait and then ended the days flight in Qatar.  This is particularly funny as most of you know, I spent six months there and also our unit is in Qatar right now.  I was able to meet up with a few of the guys from Ellsworth.  I was in Qatar for a total of 3 days before catching my final flight aboard the C-17 to take us the rest of the way to Afghanistan, My new home for the next 6 months. 

I arrived late at night, was issued my ammunition for my M-4 and was quickly briefed on the current conditions on base.  I finally made it to a bed and was given a few hours sleep before having to report into work.  Everything here happens quickly and there really is no turnover time between leaving and gaining personnel.  I had a total of 2 days to get acquainted with what the guy I replaced was doing.  From here it is all work, there really is not much to do so most of us don't take days off and we average about 12 to 14 hour days.  My plan is to make future post every week or so to let everyone know that I'm doing OK.

Below is a few pictures that I took so far from my travels here and what is like at Bagram AF.

 This is us on our plane ride on the C-17 Dreamliner from Qatar to Afghanistan.  Yes we had to get all geared up and that crap is not fun to wear.
I also was lucky enough to sit across from the blood.

Here we have a HH60 helicopter.  This is pretty much identical to the Army Blackhawk just ran by the Air Force.

 We got acquainted with the armament layout.  Above is the 7.62 mini gun or Gatling gun, and the big 50 cal machine gun.  This is probably the coolest part of my job, getting to mess with this stuff.

 Those are the Himalayas in the background, quite a nice view.  Though this part of the Himalayas is technically called the Hindu Kush.  All I know is that it was not a fun drop out of the sky in the plane to make the runway.

Minigun

 50 cal.  and no, we don't get to shoot them.  But we did ask.

Thank you everyone for your support.  And Teresa, I thank you for doing the hardest job in the world alone.  I love you and can't wait to be back home with you and Nate......and the dogs and maybe even the hamster!

Moment of the Week

No cavities

  Things are greening up.

My seed babies have started poking up.

2

This week I

took out the trash 3x

picked up dog poo 3x

played Frisbee with Bon 4x

refilled the dog water 1x

Ran the dishwasher 6x

The other day I was checking to be sure we had enough leftovers for dinner and I realized our fridge 'full' of leftovers was pretty empty.  Plus I was days away from needing to go to the grocery store.  

This is startlingly abnormal.  I had forgotten this part of Dave being gone. 

Easter

The Easter Bunny stopped by last night.

Always practical Nate now has a fresh supply of socks and undies!

We went to church, then came home to Skype with Dave.

I made an Easter dinner for two. 

We settled in the new sofa pillows to watch movies and then Nate played Minecraft for a bit. 

It was a nice day.

Eggs

Watching the tablets fizz in the vinegar.

Watching them soak.

Ready for Easter! 

Moment of the Week

1

new pillows

Started my seed babies

This week I

took the trash out 3x
plunged the toilet 1x
picked up dog poop 4x
played Frisbee with Bon 4x

refilled the dog water jug 2x

ran the dishwasher 5x

watered the grass 1x

went to the tire shop 2x

bought a tire 1x

non of these things are my jobs.

not that I'm keeping track.

 A week ago I was looking at this.  Feeling an entire spectrum of things... most of them run by my anxiety.  Dread, fear, and sadness obviously.  

Then the next day it shifted to more of a 'holy crap we just have to buck up."

 In the past week I have: plunged the toilet, picked up a lot of doggie dodo, taken out the trash, done laundry, read a lot of bedtime chapters, taken Nate to karate, hockey, church, put air in a tire,  cooked, cleaned, cried.  

Most of the crying had to do with the tire.  With a big ol screw in it.  And me driving around on a donut while a replacement came in from Wyoming, and I cried a lot.  Because I had never had to put air in a tire in my life, and shit was falling apart in record speed.  

I am praying things will even out and we can avoid anything as dramatic and stressful for a while.  To celebrate the new 200 dollar tire I am going for a car wash, and shoe shopping.  

Nate's fine by the way.  Every time I start crying, he huffs and exclaims, "Are you crying AGAIN?  WHY?" No matter my reason he shakes his head annoyed.  He's such an odd mix of Dave and I.... Dave would rather ignore the crying all together, don't bring it up....I of course want to talk about everything until it's resolved, don't let it go....

Nate's a little of both, ask about it then drop it immediately.

A Hike

I have this amazing friend that I met through my cousin Katie.  This woman has been part of my online quilting group of friends and she is a very talented quilter.  She recently started hiking the Appalachian Trail!  She keeps a trail journal and updates photos and progress on Facebook.  Dave and I love A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, and watching as she hikes it in real time has been beyond fun and inspirational!  We keep talking about doing it someday.  Of course hiking 10-15 miles a day sounds pretty impossible to me.  So talking is fun, but harmless.

My local friend has been getting out to hike with her two small boys, and invited us along .  Being as inspired as I am I thought it sounded fun.  We went yesterday as the weather was absolutely gorgeous.   

The trail was also gorgeous.  Nate and I had a really great time.  I think we might go back again very soon!  Although I had seen tree pollen alerts for our area and today I my head feels very cloudy with allergy junk.  Hopefully that will let up soon.    

Here are some shots of the hike I took with my phone.  

  

This trail is 14 miles long.... maybe if I can eventually go 7 miles, and back 7 I might move the AT up to possible.  I'd really like that.