Blah. That is exactly how I have been feeling lately. We have passed the half-way point on this deployment and now it's pretty much all downhill from here. I'm getting ready to go on R&R and see someone who means a great deal to me and I am very excited about that. However, the day-to-day boredom is overshadowing the excitement of even that small ounce of hope for a break in the routine. Blah. I go to the pool and it's too damn hot to enjoy that. I go work-out and you are pouring sweat before you even start your work-out. It's too hot to walk anywhere. It's too hot to eat. So, the only alternative is to buy snacks in the PX and eat in your room. I'm sick of seeing AFN commercials! Oh what I wouldn't give to see just one McDonald's commercial or a Wal-Mart commercial and I LOATHE Wal-Mart! A fountain drink from a drive-thru would be totally awesome right about now. A Super-Sized one with lots of ice and a straw. Ahhh, the little things I miss about home. The care packages have slowed down. I know we are not forgotten over here, but after time people just go on with their lives and you become something to think about only every so often instead of every minute. Blah. I go to the PX in hopes that maybe something new has arrived worth giving a second glance. No luck. We did get a cell phone shop on base and I couldn't believe that myself and another female were completely disrespected because we are women. Oh hell no! Not on an AMERICAN military base. I don't give a damn if that's how they treat the women in their culture, that's NOT how we treat ours and I'll be damned if they are going to do that on my base where I'm the one supporting their paycheck! A little trip to see the manager did the trick. HA!! The look on those men's faces as they were being called out in front of their male peers by two chicks was priceless. I won't be treated like that by people that we are over here to "liberate"!
Oh well, I digress. All of this has created a nice little package of BLAH that has been wrapped up and tied with a nice little bow and presented to me ever so kindly. Thanks, but this gift you can keep 'cause I don't like your gift! Blah.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
What to do to make the time go by....
Well here I sit on the 4th of July in Balad, Iraq. I never in a million years would have thought at this time last year that one year later I would be here. Tonight, my unit is having a pool party cook-out that is not "mandatory" but you better be there. I like to call that "mandatory family fun". HAHA!!
Hey you will never guess but we had yet another dust storm! Ha! Who would have thought such a thing. Can you hear the condisention in my tone??!! Anyway....been pretty much the same crap up here. With the exception of finally working the heli pad at the hospital and taking off a wounded local with a gunshot wound to the head. I was scared to death when I heard what was coming off the helo and I had no clue what I was about to see. I was told I would be the "driver" which means I would be the one to drive the gurney out the the helo following the strong arms and the helpers. We get to the helo..at night...the wind whipping my freaking hair all over the place...the pilots wouldn't move for me to get the gurney close enough to the door. I was freaking out. I couldn't get the legs of the gurney down fast enough and before I knew it the strong arms had the stretcher out and was about to place it on the gurney and I was yelling at them to hold on so I could secure the legs. I swear it seemed like it was all going in slow motion. The patient was sitting up which threw off the center of balance, he wasn't strapped down and it was just all surreal. I finally got the legs down, we secured him to the gurney, I sinched down the locks and away he was wisked to the E.R. with the rest of my 5 man team following. Once I was off the pad, I could finally take a breath and take in what I had just went through. My other Navy volunteers said that it was really quickly executed, but I couldn't believe it. I felt like I could do 100 stretcher off-loads after I got the first one out of the way. I stood in the E.R. with my other Navy friend and we watched the perfectly executed dance that took place around that patient as he started to flat-line. The team performed expertly and were able to bring this man back from the brink of death. He was so lucky to have been brought to such an awesome place for the absolutely best in medicine this place could offer. I was proud of my team, but I was proud of myself for being able to handle my fear in such a stressful situation. I'm ready to go back and do it all again.
I finally got to do my dream the other day and that was to drive the ICV Stryker!! Oh man, what a complete rush!!! Picture if you will my little 5'4" ass behind the wheel of this beast flooring it and jumping over ruts and flying over the open space behind the PX that the Stryer team tests the broken strykers on before giving them back to the Army. Before it was my turn at the wheel, my adreneline was pumping and I started to shake at the anticipation for what I was about to do. It was fantastic!!
Well, my time is about up, so I will wrap this up. I hope everyone has a safe, fun-filled 4th of July and watch some fireworks for me. Unfortunately, the only 'fireworks' we will have over here might be a couple of controlled detonations. HA!!
Hey you will never guess but we had yet another dust storm! Ha! Who would have thought such a thing. Can you hear the condisention in my tone??!! Anyway....been pretty much the same crap up here. With the exception of finally working the heli pad at the hospital and taking off a wounded local with a gunshot wound to the head. I was scared to death when I heard what was coming off the helo and I had no clue what I was about to see. I was told I would be the "driver" which means I would be the one to drive the gurney out the the helo following the strong arms and the helpers. We get to the helo..at night...the wind whipping my freaking hair all over the place...the pilots wouldn't move for me to get the gurney close enough to the door. I was freaking out. I couldn't get the legs of the gurney down fast enough and before I knew it the strong arms had the stretcher out and was about to place it on the gurney and I was yelling at them to hold on so I could secure the legs. I swear it seemed like it was all going in slow motion. The patient was sitting up which threw off the center of balance, he wasn't strapped down and it was just all surreal. I finally got the legs down, we secured him to the gurney, I sinched down the locks and away he was wisked to the E.R. with the rest of my 5 man team following. Once I was off the pad, I could finally take a breath and take in what I had just went through. My other Navy volunteers said that it was really quickly executed, but I couldn't believe it. I felt like I could do 100 stretcher off-loads after I got the first one out of the way. I stood in the E.R. with my other Navy friend and we watched the perfectly executed dance that took place around that patient as he started to flat-line. The team performed expertly and were able to bring this man back from the brink of death. He was so lucky to have been brought to such an awesome place for the absolutely best in medicine this place could offer. I was proud of my team, but I was proud of myself for being able to handle my fear in such a stressful situation. I'm ready to go back and do it all again.
I finally got to do my dream the other day and that was to drive the ICV Stryker!! Oh man, what a complete rush!!! Picture if you will my little 5'4" ass behind the wheel of this beast flooring it and jumping over ruts and flying over the open space behind the PX that the Stryer team tests the broken strykers on before giving them back to the Army. Before it was my turn at the wheel, my adreneline was pumping and I started to shake at the anticipation for what I was about to do. It was fantastic!!
Well, my time is about up, so I will wrap this up. I hope everyone has a safe, fun-filled 4th of July and watch some fireworks for me. Unfortunately, the only 'fireworks' we will have over here might be a couple of controlled detonations. HA!!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Decisions, decisions...
As I am fast approaching the mid-point of this helacious deployment I am facing many decisions as to what I will do once this is over. I am in a very unique situation that all my crap is in storage back home, I have no bills, I have no debts, I have nothing holding me back. For the first time in my life, I have no responsibilities except to figure out where I want to land and that feels awesome!!! The past 7 years have been a prison and I was trapped, well I'm finally breaking free. I am about to embark on the greatest journey of my life and I'm ready to grab it by the horns and enjoy the ride.
I can't wait to see New York City on New Year's Eve and then maybe it will be off to the slopes in Colorado for some kick-ass skiing. Or maybe it will be sunny Southern Cali for a swim in the ocean or it could be a sourdough bread bowl with some yummy, warm clam chowder in San Fran. Decisions, decisions......
I can't wait to see New York City on New Year's Eve and then maybe it will be off to the slopes in Colorado for some kick-ass skiing. Or maybe it will be sunny Southern Cali for a swim in the ocean or it could be a sourdough bread bowl with some yummy, warm clam chowder in San Fran. Decisions, decisions......
Friday, June 6, 2008
Perspective
I know, I know, I'm a shit-bag for not posting anything sooner. Truth is....not much going on up here. I am after all stuck in prison inside these fence-lined walls. Today, we are having yet ANOTHER dust storm with 30 mph winds and blowing dust everywhere. The heat has been on the rise, I think it's been around 115-120 lately and I don't care what anyone says...the desert is NOT a dry heat!! There is nothing dry on my body after I have been out on a mission all morning in this damned heat. Nothing finer than feeling that lone sweat droplet start at the base of my neck and trace the curve of my spine all the way down and end up settling in my ass!! Nice graphic huh? Sorry, that's the joys of being deployed to this jolly sandbox!
I have started volunteering at the base hospital. I have been really apprehensive to do this, because a couple of the guys in my unit have been over several times to help on the pad. They came back one night after helping out and told the horrific tale of assisting with two of our boys that didn't fare so well that night. Kinda messed my guys up for a couple of days. I really want to do my part over here and help out in any way I can, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to be taken out of my protective bubble that I live in every day. Yes, I'm in Iraq and yes, I'm part of the war, but since I have been here nothing has really put the whole ordeal into perspective for me. I go to work in my nice air-conditioned building with my internet and dsn phones available at a moments notice. I have a POD for just my roommate and myself with cable tv, fridge, microwave and dvd player. We even have a porch light for God's sake. My shower and toilet trailers are so clean you could eat off the floor. The DFAC serves crab legs every day at lunch. What else could I possibly ask for in a deployment, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all! I just feel that I didn't volunteer to come to Iraq to just groove along up here, but to make my mark on this war. Whatever mark that may be. That's why I want to volunteer at the hospital. Why I NEED to volunteer at the hospital. These are my soldiers, OUR soldiers and we have to be there when they need us. When I was there the other night, my roommate had some toys sent from home for the kids on the ward. There was a little girl that had been playing with a UXO (unexploded ordinance) that blew up on her. She lost an eye and shattered a lot of the bones in her legs so she has rods sticking out of them to help them grow back properly. She was sooo cute and so sweet. Her dad was there with her and he allowed us to take some pictures. I don't think I will forget her. It was amazing to see her determination even after what happened to her. The interpreter said she was going to give the toys to her big sister and her little brother when she got home. She is only 3! How awesome is that. I think we can all learn a little from that little girl.
Well, the klaxon alarm just went off and I'm supposed to be hiding under the desk right now. I figure if it's my time, the desk is not going to protect me from a mortar. HA! On that note, I'm outta here before a mortar falls on my head or some shit!
I have started volunteering at the base hospital. I have been really apprehensive to do this, because a couple of the guys in my unit have been over several times to help on the pad. They came back one night after helping out and told the horrific tale of assisting with two of our boys that didn't fare so well that night. Kinda messed my guys up for a couple of days. I really want to do my part over here and help out in any way I can, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to be taken out of my protective bubble that I live in every day. Yes, I'm in Iraq and yes, I'm part of the war, but since I have been here nothing has really put the whole ordeal into perspective for me. I go to work in my nice air-conditioned building with my internet and dsn phones available at a moments notice. I have a POD for just my roommate and myself with cable tv, fridge, microwave and dvd player. We even have a porch light for God's sake. My shower and toilet trailers are so clean you could eat off the floor. The DFAC serves crab legs every day at lunch. What else could I possibly ask for in a deployment, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all! I just feel that I didn't volunteer to come to Iraq to just groove along up here, but to make my mark on this war. Whatever mark that may be. That's why I want to volunteer at the hospital. Why I NEED to volunteer at the hospital. These are my soldiers, OUR soldiers and we have to be there when they need us. When I was there the other night, my roommate had some toys sent from home for the kids on the ward. There was a little girl that had been playing with a UXO (unexploded ordinance) that blew up on her. She lost an eye and shattered a lot of the bones in her legs so she has rods sticking out of them to help them grow back properly. She was sooo cute and so sweet. Her dad was there with her and he allowed us to take some pictures. I don't think I will forget her. It was amazing to see her determination even after what happened to her. The interpreter said she was going to give the toys to her big sister and her little brother when she got home. She is only 3! How awesome is that. I think we can all learn a little from that little girl.
Well, the klaxon alarm just went off and I'm supposed to be hiding under the desk right now. I figure if it's my time, the desk is not going to protect me from a mortar. HA! On that note, I'm outta here before a mortar falls on my head or some shit!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
monotony
The monotony of it all has begun. I knew it was going to happen. I have heard the tales and read the stories, but never thought it would actually happen to me. But alas, it has. BOREDOM is setting in and taking it's sticky, gooey, hold upon my life here on this base. My days are getting longer and the time off getting shorter because we for whatever reason can't seem to find anything more productive to do but work. If I really enjoyed working that much I would have to call it a hobby instead of WORK. Even the strykers that used to elicit such oohs and ahhhs are now nothing more than an occasional 'cool a stryker'. This is not a good sign seeing as how I still have 6 months left in this God-forsaken land of Iraq. I feel like a little hamster running in that wire ball just hoping to make it to some sort of new destination. The harder I run the faster the ball goes and I still don't get anywhere but the same place I started. We process people to leave this place every day and it's getting harder and harder to be happy for them....just knowing they are leaving is making us all a little more edgy lately. Don't get me wrong, this is awesome duty up here and I'm seeing things and doing things even the rest in my battalion will never get the opportunity to do, but I'm bored of the monotony.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
sand, sand, everywhere sand!
Ok, I'm not trying to be a hater of the sand, BUT....it's getting ridiculous with all the freaking sand storms lately. AND with the sand comes more mortar attacks. This is nuts! I can feel my lungs filling up with sand. My eyelashes are coated in sand. My nose is full of sand. Did I mention I hate the sand?!
On another note....Toby Keith was on base lastnight for a USO concert and I was fortunate enough to score a front row pass! Woohoo....touched Toby's hand it was great! Now when I hear American Soldier or Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue I can be like.."Dude, I saw him sing that while I was in Iraq!" I know, I'm a retard, but it's still pretty cool.
My whole night shift got busted for sleeping on shift lastnight by my LT. Whoops. Well, not all of us were racked the hell out, just the vast majority. Have you ever gotten into trouble by your mom and you are just waiting for dad to come home because you KNOW you are in for a whoopin' but you just don't know when? That's what it feels like around work now. We are just waiting for the ass whoopin. I have a feeling we will be baby sat for the rest of the time we are on nights. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. I'm out for some much needed sleep (that I didn't get to finish lastnight on shift, HA!)
TTFN!
On another note....Toby Keith was on base lastnight for a USO concert and I was fortunate enough to score a front row pass! Woohoo....touched Toby's hand it was great! Now when I hear American Soldier or Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue I can be like.."Dude, I saw him sing that while I was in Iraq!" I know, I'm a retard, but it's still pretty cool.
My whole night shift got busted for sleeping on shift lastnight by my LT. Whoops. Well, not all of us were racked the hell out, just the vast majority. Have you ever gotten into trouble by your mom and you are just waiting for dad to come home because you KNOW you are in for a whoopin' but you just don't know when? That's what it feels like around work now. We are just waiting for the ass whoopin. I have a feeling we will be baby sat for the rest of the time we are on nights. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. I'm out for some much needed sleep (that I didn't get to finish lastnight on shift, HA!)
TTFN!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
update
Well, after two nasty sand storms, a couple of mortar attacks and a partridge in a pear tree I'm still alive. I'm starting to settle into my routine of work, eat, sleep, work-out, rinse, repeat. The time is going surprisingly fast, but I'm sure once all the newness wears off the dreaded ground hog day effect will take hold. I'm trying not to see or do all the base has to offer in the first month as to have SOMETHING to do later on since we can't leave the wire (which from what I have been hearing is not such a bad thing). The pool is nice and has VERY nice scenery (wink, wink-I'm thinking of enlisting into the Air Force-HA!). I'm already sick of the DFAC food and thank God for Taco Bell and Cinnabon! The advancement results came out today and I did not advance, but at least I did pass the damn thing so I will have a whopping 1 point to carry over to the fall cycle. Oh well, I was at least in the 60th percentile...which I don't think that is saying much. Thanks for all the well-wishes and the continued support.
NG
NG
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