Happy Birthday!!!!

It was Stephanie’s birthday today. She turned 29…. We went out to eat at a little place in New Bern. A little seafood place. It was cozy and the people were very friendly. The food was pretty good to. We went to the park, fed the ducks, and swung on the swings. Guy and I made her a fudge cake with Vanilla frosting (her request). Ava really liked the frosting. She cleaned it off of the cake like a jackal on a zebra carcass. It was a good day. Everyday home is a good day.

Stephanie’s parents are coming in this weekend and staying through the week. Then Guy and I are off to Minnesota to pick up the truck and visit. We are going to spend the first weekend up at Mom’s lake and than we will be based out of Shawn and Colleen’s basement. I am really excited to see everyone. I am not sure what we have going on the second weekend. We may be going up to Grandma Kate’s house, or driving back so we can visit with Stephanie’s family for a day or two. We SHOULD be back by the 10th because Guy has football practice, violin camp, and a possible visit from Dad and Auntie Eileen.

There is a lot going on over the next couple of weeks. I can’t wait!!!

Done with Iraq.

I am home. I am really happy to be back.

The flight wasn’t too bad. We flew a 767 back and had to make a lot of stops. We stopped in Germany, Iceland, Newfoundland, and finally Cherry Point. The flight went on to Indiana. We had some soldiers on there and I am guessing that they were reservists from Indiana. I wonder if they trained with Rick. Every time we stopped the Marines would get out and drink as much beer as possible before returning to the plane. I was happy that no one acted too stupid. The Army wasn’t allowed to drink….I knew I picked the right service. I had to go to some “warrior transition classes” this week. It was kind of silly….the only thing I fought over there was boredom. I don’t think that I am at risk of post traumatic stress disorder. That is all done and now I am off until Wednesday.

Ava was scared of me for about a day. When I walked into her room she looked at me and said “Where’s Mommy?” She let me pick her up and take her to Stephanie….then she didn’t want anything to do with me. She finally warmed up to me and we are getting along fine. I can’t believe how much bigger she and Guy are. Guy looks the same…but Ava looks and acts like a different Kid. She talks a lot more and her hair is so long and curly. I am looking forward to being home with them for a while. I don’t think I will have to deploy again for about a year and a half.

I am going to be here until August. Stephanie’s parents are coming down to visit. I look forward to spending some time with them. When they go back to Indiana I am going to fly up to Minnesota with Guy to get my truck and visit. I think I will be up in Minnesota for about a week to ten days….or until Shawn throws us out of the basement which ever comes first. I am definitely going to stay a night or two at Mom’s lake in the weekend. Mom should start peeling potatoes now because I am ready to eat my weight in potato salad. Jeff should start stockpiling key limes…..since you shaved off the beard I am going to need some pie to get over the trauma.

I put some pictures up that Stephanie had on her camera.

I have my phone….the number is 252-571-1608.

Happy 4th of July!!

Wow…..the fun never stops in the cradle of civilization. I got to watch a moron scrub a wall and sweep a parking lot in a sandstorm today. One of my Marines got caught taking a piss on a wall. He got caught by the Commanding Officer……who is female. Needless to say the punishment was swift, cruel, and ridiculous. So the Marine spent a couple of hours scrubbing a wall, outside, with a toilet brush and bleach, during a sandstorm. When he was done with that he washed the rocks that he pissed on…..then he swept the parking lot. He got to do all of this and have a heart to heart about the pros and cons of indoor plumbing with……yours truly. If they would let me have a cattle prod I have been requesting, this would never have happened.

I got some great news the other day. I am coming home VERY soon. I told Stephanie and she is on her way home tomorrow from Indiana to greet me. I am really excited to see her and the kids.

It looks like I will be coming up north in August. I will be bringing Guy and I am hoping to catch the State Fair. I am guessing that I will be in Minnesota the first week of August. Is the Fair going then?

I am looking forward to seeing Jeff’s beard in person. That thing is epic.

No picture….my camera is packed.