This is my first day off in a long time. I am a lot like a kid at Disney land I don't know what I want to do next but I want to do it all. The conundrum is that: one of the things I want to do is relax, can you really stress about relaxing.
I have been reading your blogs, myspaces, and TWS today, catching up on some digital stalking. I am happy to see you all seem to be doing well. I am amused that two of you have the same picture on your blog. It is nice to see our kids playing together.

I am also well. It is getting warm here and the pest are starting to stir. It seems the fly is the national bird of Iraq.
we are Working long hours, long weeks, time is starting to move finally. The work here is not really my cup of tea, but that is the great thing about this kind of assignment it is TEMPORARY. In the interim it is an experience with lessons ill likely not forget.

any way I'm late for doing nothing.

Circular logic

Being a prison guard would be a lot easier without prisoners.

Must.... Not....Say...."Yall"

So I have deployed half way across the globe to work along side Oklahomans. Yes, Thousands of sooner loving, Oklahomans right here in Iraq. It seems that the Oklahoma Army national guard has activated most of there units and they are working right here in Bucca. Literally every third person I see has the Thunder bird on there shoulder. I am starting to wonder if there anyone left back home at all.

I even found a guy from Ripley, Stranger still is that I did not know said guy from Ripley. So it makes for interesting conversation, many people have gone to school at OSU, or at least eaten at Eskimo Joe's. Everyone sounds like they just stepped out of the walmart back home, if I am not careful I may pick up the accent. "Must...not... say... 'yall"'

Free sand

So Whats life like here at camp Bucca? Imagine a beach. Now imagine that beach had no water. a
acuually I am fascinated by the dessert, partly because of my fascination with the Dune Universe. I Often make off hand references to Irakis, or the spice melange. Sadly, no one knows what I am talking about. I am a nerd.
Life is kinda boring here trying to get into a routine so I can numb the part of my brain that does time math. It is almost halve way thought this trip and I miss the family more than can be written. The army is doing fifteen month tours back to back, I cant imagine. The Navy presence here lightens the load a bit, in that for every sailor on sand there is a solder back home with his family that much longer. Still all patriotic, and sacrificial sentiment aside, I wont be doing this again if at all possible.

Perks of being in Bucca:
The food is great here I could get fat if I ate anything but fish. The fish is really good I eat it at least once a day most of the time twice.
I get to meet new people from other cultures, granted some of them would like to saw my head off. And free sand its everywhere.

The family is well, this is the first trip I have taken where both kids are aware of my absence, that is rough. I worry about them a lot. I miss all the little things, and the big things. and everything. If you read my wife's blog then you can see what they are up to.

Well until later
Steve.

update

1. Hello
   
   I have not updated this in quite a while. Truth is there is little time to do so now. Nut shell: Got stuck in Kuwaitt for almost a month. (fun)

I am now in Iraq and have started working the Detainee ops. Obviously I miss home and all that is there. There is not much that can be told in the time I have.

I am safe. I am well. I hope you are the same.

Steve