x-mas is around the corner

I just got some news from back home that I may be able to come back home for Christmas.  I really hope this comes true and I can see all of my family and friends that I have not seen in so long.  It would be really great if I could see my dog, neighbors, basketball team and family.  If I do go home I know I will have a lot of presents to be buying or bring some souvenirs back from base.  While I was gone I had two nieces and one nephew.  They have never met or seen their uncle yet so I want to get them something really special.  If you guys have any ideas or suggestions please feel free to let me know and I will do my best to buy those presents.  I was thinking about getting a stuffed animal or some sort of kids toys.  I also wanted to get them a cool t-shirt or something to show them my appreciation.

Something like this surprise would be really cool...

-Jones

Oil and Powder

0820 hours

Work was busy last night. I was walking around so much that I started chaffing in those great areas that chafe when you use your legs. My friend suggested baby oil and baby powder. Sounds wack, but you need it out here. At least, that’s what he said. Or she said.

Seriously though my friend said that.

Looks like ill be adding oil and powder to the work bag, WOO! The work made the night fly by though. I have tonight off so that I can finally be on my set schedule. It’ll be 3 and 1s from here on out.

I know I’m in crazy bad shape because I’m exhausted by the time my shift ends. I need to get past it, otherwise it’ll be hard to meet my fitness goals, not to mention dunking a basketball.

BTW Matt and Michele you will no longer be editing my posts because you suck at it. BTW means by the way if you didn’t know.

Daddy Tak

Thanksgiving for the troops

This year Thanksgiving was spent in iraq. It was a very special Thanksgiving for many reasons.  I think the main reason being that everyone here felt as if we were a big family and not a lot of us had good Thanksgivings growing up.  I think this gave us an opportunity to unite with each other and have a special bond.  Some of the things we all enjoyed and ate were Turkey, cranberry, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rice, cornbread and salad.  It was a very traditional thanksgiving but meant a lot to all of us troops here.  After dinner we all sat around a campfire and had some really good conversations about our family and friends.  All in all I can say this was a very special Thanksgiving and a unique experience that I will never forget and always cherish.

training and combat lessons

Today we had a hand on hand combat lesson and it was really cool.  I don't like weapons training to much and prefer some good old fashioned hand to hand combat to make things real interesting.  I have never been trained in karate or martial arts but do love the discipline it can teach you.  My preferred style in Brazilian Jiujitsu.  This was something that I have had a passion for all my life and always wanted to be a MMA fighter one day.  The type of training use soldiers get is not what you think it would be.  It is mainly tactical and very situational.  We are given lots of training simulations to go through and ways to attack and get out of situations that you are not comfortable being in.

 

The good times and the rough times

Today was another great day on base.  We were able to have a lot of free time and I was able to work on some of my basketball skills.  I have not been playing much hoop and all and it felt a little weird at first to get out there and get some shots up.  It is really funny because back home when I play ball I am usually one of the bigger guys on the court and I can use my strength and size to score.  Out here is a different story though, these guys are pretty big but they lack the fundamentals of the game.  It is easy to call for ball screens, hit the open man, run the fast break and finish on these guys because they are usually out of position.  I love playing basketball with these guys because they get really mad when they lose and brings out some fierce competition.

Update from the other world

Hey All, it's Chris Stewart from the base reporting to you guys live.  I just wanted to fill you in on our day today so you have an idea of what a real soldiers life is all about.  So this morning we woke up and ate breakfast with all of the other troops.  The food we have is actually not that bad.  Today it was cereal with eggs, bacon and fruit.  Somedays you can tell they totally slack off in the kitchen and will put out just about anything.  After breakfast we went for our morning job and weight training.  This is usually where all of us gather with our group of friends and work out together.  Some of the guys take this really serious while others use it as a social time.  I like to get my work out in while still having a good time and enjoying my buddies company.  More to come in a few days.

-Chris