March Madness

started this email back at the end of January but never was able to finish it, partially because I was swapped with work but also because I hit a brick wall (not literally mind you). The brick wall is what is commonly referred to as the 6-month blues. I was in a funk, everything seemed mundane, boring, same old same old and when I looked back I couldn’t believe I had been here for ½ a year and missed out on so many things going on back home, but at the same time when I looked forward, and just the same I couldn’t believe I still had 6 months to go and realized all the things i am going to miss (mainly Bridget's wedding). It was a mental roadblock and very difficult to get around. So, as I do so often, I internalized it, continued mission and dealt with it on my own by reducing if not nullifying any communication with anyone back home. For anyone deployed, this is pretty normal, to get to a point, any point and realizing that you’re still here (even though its not THAT bad) and everyone back home is going about doing their own thing like nothing has changed. I’ll be honest with you all, I have been seriously considering extending (staying here longer with a different unit while my unit goes home) as it has quite a few benefits, one being an extra $1,000 per month for staying past what was required of me. Just something I have been kicking around recently. So long sob story short, I apologize for the time between emails but for a while there I needed to just be. So here is the update a few of you have been asking for and has been in the making for over a month now:

I know some of you might not think this is any big deal but it got REALLY cold here!! At the end of January and most of February it dipped to a balmy 35 degrees.....not too cold for some of you.....but thats over a 100 degree drop in temp....oh and do you all remember those Hot Boxes I talked about when I first got here?? Well, during winter months they should be called Ice Boxes....picture this; thick steam/fog pouring out of the urinal....ITS COLD!!!!

One of the big things that has happened since I last emailed was our movement to a new TOC (Tactical Operations Center). I used to operate out of a small tent, plywood walls, desks built of 2x4s…basically very ‘ghetto’ if you will. Anyway, we finally moved into our new tent and it is HUGE….no longer can I hit my head on the hanging lights of the old TOC…..my rolling chair can actually roll….basically it is a big improvement. However, my replacement also arrived a few weeks ago and I have been training him to take over….that always seems to happen, get something new/nice just as you leave a job!! So where does that place me? I STILL HAVE NO IDEA!!!! Currently I have been tasked out to coordinate and execute a week long plan for VIPs who are visiting our Battalion to recon how we operate as they will be replacing us in 3-4 months. It’s a Battalion Commander and 3 of his staff who arrived here on Monday, March 4th, and left on the 6th. I was asked to bring them around the camp, show them things, plan for where we would be going (we went to the naval base to see 2 of our 4 army vessels which was really nice to get off base and have a decent meal prepared by their cook), basically I am a glorified tour guide for them….in the end the purpose of their visit is to better understand what to expect when they get here in July so they can prepare their Soldiers and hit the ground running. I guess in the end, however this week goes is going to set the pace for not only how the transfer between their unit and our unit goes but also their entire deployment’s battle rhythm…..kind of a daunting task to think about!! But so far (this being the 3rd day) things have been going well and they have been very appreciative of everything I’ve been able to show/explain to them. As far as where I will end up going now that my counterpart has officially taken over, it has been a little frustrating. I have transitioned over to day time hours which has been a little weird since I haven’t seen the sun for this long in over 7 months but have thoroughly enjoyed it (I even got to see the beaches/water of the gulf 2 days ago, definitely a morale booster). Anyway, so now im on a 6am-6pm shift and just biding my time until it is decided where I'm heading.....between now and then, I am counting down the days until I head out to europe (at the end of the month) to hang out with Jody! We've got all of our flights booked between Spain, Germany, Italy and France as well as places to stay in each....all we got to do is show up! I'm pretty excited.....i think she might be too?