Six Months Of Cursing Speed Bumps #@$%*

We think of speed bumps as an inconvienence back in the states. Well...I will NEVER EVER complain about them again now that I've been to Baghdad Iraq. There are several three types of speed bumps here.
Type 1: These are your garden variety and the smallest of the speed bumps here. They ususally consist of a 3inch diameter metal pole halfway buried in the pavement.
Type 2: These are your medium speed bumps, (SEE PIC TO RIGHT). They're left over bradley tracks lain across the road.
Type 3: This is your kidney re-locater kind of speed bumps. If you hit 'em, hit 'em going 30mph or 1mph anything inbetween is tail bone bruising material.
I truely wonder how the SUV's last as long as they do due to the harsh conditions and the driving we put them through. So I vow here and now...never to complain about state-side speed bumps every again.

Land of the Nasty Dust!

Hi Mom! I'm in Baghdad! This photo op is a must when visiting the Land of the Nasty Dust! These are the "Crossed Swords", "Hands of Victory", or "Swords of Qādisīyah." All in all they are monstrous swords at both the entrances to Saddam's old parade grounds. (SEE LINK ABOVE)
I'm surviving well enough...missing the family to no end. Wendy sends pics of the boys and they love talking to me on the phone. I've survived the "Iraqi Crud" which is a vicious version of the cold/flu...it's compounded by the quality of air and the finite dust that is all but escapable here. It usually lasts 1-3 weeks. I got off lucky with only 1 week.
But life is good...food is as plentiful as the dust. You could definately gain a deployment 20lbs. I've lost a couple inches off my waist and replaced fat with muscle. I go to the gym for two hours every day. I do my lifting and then hit the bicycle for 20-30 mins. You could say I'm looking quite Hulkish...Ok, maybe that was not the best analagy, but I'm in the best physical shape ever.
I'll post more soon about my experiences here.
W-

Just thought I'd post this pretty awesome photo...if you're a FAN!

A Chapter Worth Reading...Maybe!

So my last blog update was June 2008. I get it now...keep it updated for those of you who support my totaly awesome blog.
I've spent the last little while deployed to Baghdad Iraq and with a little more time left. My family is doing well and seems to be enjoying the money that comes with a deployment. Can you say DEBT FREE? I can...DEBT FREE!
My boys are missing their Papa. Alex gets sad a lot and goes and hugs his pillow that I gave him with both our pictures on it. He also got a new Nerf Football that I sent him in a package...(Alex loves packages!). Wyatt got a stuffed AF Bear that plays the AF song. He loved that! Wendy sent me little voice recorders that you can put in a Build-A-Bear, so that should be fun!
I hope to post a few pictures of me that are appropriate to put on here.
W-

The Happening(s)?

So last month we had a few visitors, Gramps and Aunt Cindy came to visit. We had tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game and it looked like rain. We were halfway there and it was called on the account of rain. We turned around and so the following day we all went to the Triple A Dayton Dragons game.
Alex lasted about two hours, a lot longer than expected, but we all had fun.
The Dragons ended up getting crushed pretty good. They had different activities for the kids imbetween each inning.
On a interesting note; at work a friend gave me a Dodgers shirt depicting it's World Series win ove the Yankees. I subsequently gave it to Gramps and he wore it to the game. Imagine that...one of the biggest Yankee fans wearing Dodger gear!!!