Paul

Hello everyone,

Paul is currently unavailable. He is doing a mission in which he is not able to communicate very well. He said he would call me as soon as he can though.

I went up to the school yeasterday to see if I could get into my classroom to start getting ready for school, which starts two weeks from tomorrow! There were a few teachers up there working, however, I am in the portable. It was locked with a sign on the door that said "Wet Wax, Do Not Enter." So I found one of the guys who works with the custodians over the summer, and he said they would be done waxing on Wendesday, but it takes three days to dry. I can't get into my room until next week! This guys appearently is a high school teacher but helps the custodians during the summer. He went on to start bashing elementary teachers because we always want to get started in our rooms two weeks out, and they aren't done with their work. I tried to explain to him that high school teachers don't do as much in their rooms as elementary teachers. We have to have all those cute bulletin boards, and name tags, and all that good stuff! I don't think he understood. My theory is that they should do the elementary school first then go to the middle and high school. Makes sense to me!

My friend Sarah and I signed up for a membership to a gym here in Lawton, as well as a personal trainer! We start tomorrow. The trainer said they recommend going 3 days in a row to shock your body, then taking a day off and going roughly every other day to the trainer. We are pretty much expecting to be REALLY sore. I was telling her what I want to work on, and she said, "OH you are going to hate me! You ask and I will do it!" I might hate her after a week or so, but I will love her in the long run! She said that a lot of women come in wanting a personal trainer while their husbands are deployed and then when their husbands come back they want to see what it was like with a personal trainer. The FEMALE trainer with work them out just as hard, and the husband usually is saying, MAN you got a GOOD workout with that trainer! We are very excited!

Ok, this is getting long so I will stop now! Hope everyone is doing well. Love to all!

Paul, I love you and miss you. Hope you are safe! Call me as soon as you can.

~Erin

Hey Paul,

Good to know the trip from Kuwait wasn't too bad for you. Looks like you and "Hedgie" are hanging tough and staying busy. In the pictures you posted, it also looked like you might have a sunburn - go figure. Do you need any good sunscreen? Be glad to send some your way.

We all miss you and appreciate the job you and your soldiers are doing for us.

If anyone there with you needs a note from home every now and then, let me know, some friends have offered to "adopt" a soldier and stay in touch so they have mail from home to help with the time they are away.

Miss you,
Take care,

Merry

Pictures From Iraq

Inspecting my rounds before loading my magazines

Loading Rounds with Hedgie
On the C-130 Right After Landing in BIAP

Iraq

Well, I am here. The ride in wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Internet will be a pain for a while, but I will update everyone as much as possible. I will also be able to call, and I have a new number to use that will allow my minutes to be 1 for 1 not 5 for 1 that it charged me in Kuwait. I have some new pictures that I will send later. Love you all and miss you all!

Erin, I love you and miss you baby! You are the best I could ever wish for!!!

CPT Brown

Yes to Tanya's question. Only 63 weeks left!
Erin

Hi everyone!

Just to let you know... you may now start sending stuff to Paul at the address I e-mailed everyone. If you did not get the address just e-mail me and I will send it to you.

Also, I talked to him this morning and he said the internet might be difficult to get a hold of at first. He said he has almost gone through the 500 minutes calling card we bought him before he left. I sent him 2 more today. If you want to send him any calling cards just make sure they are the global ones.

I have been getting things for my classroom this past week and going through my stuff from last year. I forget how expensive it can be. I'm going to have to make myself stop though. I think I have enough. Once I get into my classroom and get set up I will be able to see if I am missing anything.

Hope everyone is doing alright, and I will talk to you soon!

Paul, I love you and miss you tons... Call me whenever you can.

Erin

Does that mean he is in Baghdad?

Love,
Tanya

Diana's Birthday

Hi Paul,

Well today was Diana's 25th birthday so Andy had a surprise party.
The guys grilled burgers, dogs amd fish. It was a nice party.

Miss Harmony is just a doll. She is smiling and babbling all the time. Joey was
full tilt as his friend Seth was there. He was in full entertainment.

Todd has attended his first football practice and plans to begin playing.

Keep safe and we love you,
Mike & Tanya

family letter from g'ma

Hello Paul - ha, Capt. Paul,

My, my, we are "up" in the world. Haven't emailed yet because I am not too email or computer literate. Had to get my guru (Mr. Mike) to assist to make sure I was posting properly.

Indy is quiet, as usual. The "girls", Mady, Beth, Bob and Gail are off on a Disney Cruise for their annual "girls" weekend. So far they have taken Mady to interesting places and (just like a kid), the best remembered weekend consisted of bus rides in Chicago. Everything else was okay, but the bus was special. She loves buses and wouldn't you know, she now

lives within walking distance to her new school. Ah, the crushing problems of childhood. But, one of the goodies Beth included in her new home was an inground swimming pool. Now you recall how little I like pools, lakes, oceans, etc. I have to admit this pool is a beauty. And good old Auntie Gail bought her a big pink metal fish with the classiest metal eye lashes. I don't take pictures very well, but I will ask Gail to take one and have her post it. It's a hoot. And since they live right across from the newest model home, there is plenty of comment about the fish.

See what happens when I try to email. I press keys and something happens. I erase, scramble and just make a mess. I will have to ask Jessica for lessons on how to do this.

But, other than that. Keep your head down. That was old boys favorite line. He never told many "war" stories. Just told about the terrain and especially how the local Korean peasants lived. Pretty primitive. And I suppose some of what you see will be like that.

I have been through some of the internet sites about mailing to soldiers and I find, much to my dismay, that baked goods are verboten. Nasty. But, if you will give a list, I'm sure we can put a box or two together for you and your men. If some of the boys don't have much mail, perhaps sharing love in a box from home will assist.

Love little Hedgie. He seems to be taking training in stride. But, then, he was always in control. Have to remember him in my emails. He doesn't look a bit frazzled by the heat and dust either. Good trooper, he.

The basic excitement here is the awful mess with the local taxes and Harry Potter. All the stores that had books to sell were swamped. I bought Gail one before their trip and I peeked at the ending. So, I know how the tale finishes. Pretty prosaic, but satisfying after all. I only read the first book end to end and the others only in parts. Gail promised me this one after she finishes and I will be in on the ending. I always enjoyed the movies more for the scenery and sets than the actual story. I have been reading about the Knights Templars and some of their contemporaries during the crusades. Talk about gruesome. Ugh.

I think I have babbled enough for this email. Will email again soon. I know you don't mind babbling too much. Or, at least you are polite enough not to say so.

Much love to you and hugs to your men and Hedgie. Grandma Brown

Hey Paul!

We had a blast with Erin this weekend. All the pool time was great and Erin and Natalie got to bond! You're dog is a trip! She was so hesitant to get in the water but kept trying. She was body slamming Rudy and Zoe, the wall, chairs, plants. You name it and she body slammed it. She and Erin came over here on Monday. Trotski and Max became fast friends and loved chasing each other around the living room. I tried to get Erin to take Max home with her but she wouldn't do it. I wonder why!! :) Erin and I did the sister pedicure thing and bought our copies of Harry Potter. It was a great weekend. I wish you could have been here too but know that you are doing what you were born to do and loving it. Be safe and we love you! No more blood okay??

Jess, Nate, and Natalie

Here's some recent pictures of Natalie...

Natalie on her 2 month birthday

Natalie ready to go see her Great Grammy

ECP & HEAT Training

Here are some of the new pictures from training in Kuwait.

Hedgie with guard tower in background

SPC Hall drivig with Hedgie on the radio

Me getting ready to be flipped in HEAT training

Me after being flipped and kicked in the face!

All ready to go again (I was woozy for 6 hours after it, the medic figured about 2 quarts of blood was lost)

Almost Done In Kuwait

Howdy,
Life is fun in Kuwait. The training is winding down and just getting ready for that plane ride north. I must say, I have an extremely supportive family and I appreciate it more than any of you will ever know. I love having this blog, because something new is always on it. Some of my Soldiers are having a hard time with support from back home and I am glad that I do not have that problem (I do help out my Soldiers and boost their moral with the goofy pictures of Trotsky and Hedgie).
So, a couple of notes that I can now release. Two days ago I ran a Entry Control Point Training Range which was very easy. And it was unlike any other I have ever ran from an Officer In Charge perspective. No Range Control BS, just let the Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers do the training. But, on the way back from training, my convoy was stopped at the gate for nearly two hours. The reason for this was an IED (small pipe-bomb with cell-phone) was found on our base. The EOD (bomb squad) found it and controlled detonated it. No-one was hurt, just a loud boom and are raised level of alertness. Yesterday, I went through HEAT (HMMWV Egress Assistance Training) with my Soldiers. Basically, it is a HMMWV that is on a gear-box and hydraulics that spins it 360 degrees for training if you are involved in a roll-over. Well, I was in the front passenger seat (Troop Commander Seat) and my gunner (whose leg I hold while we flip so he isn't ejected), kicked me in the face. So, you guessed it, my nose was bleeding...bleeding ALOT! We were the group that they did with the lights off (pitch-black) and flipped 3 times. By the end, blood was everywhere. I am fine, it hurt, but the blood was more going down my throat and chocking me that causing a problem. Again, I am fine, but it was a trip to see everyone that had to go after me get scared.

Okay, enough for now! I love you all and miss you all greatly. Thanks again for the support. I love you Erin and I will be home sooner than you know it!

CPT Brown

Hi Everyone,
I went home this weekend and thought I would share some pictures from our day in the pool. These were taken in my Dad and Merry's backyard.

Here is Papa John and Natalie (my dad and Jess and Nathan's daughter)

Trotsky did not like the water and wanted out as fast as possible.

I tried to make Trotsky relax on the raft, but she did not like it!
Trotsky, Nathan, and Natalie. Natalie didn't like the water at first.
Me and Natalie, Rudy is in the corner.
Me and Natalie again

Rudy (George and Linnea's dog) loved the water. He would walk right on to the raft and even walk from raft to raft.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend.

Paul, I love you and miss you. Keep being safe and doing what you have to do. I am so proud of you!

~Erin

Erin's visit

It was great having Erin with us this past weekend. Got some good pool time in on Saturday and hot tub on Sunday. Did hot links on the grill Saturday night, saved one for you. Trotsky got a little wet, too! Your wife is such a trooper. I can't get over what good spirits she's in but that's Erin isn't it? She does miss you terribly though. Its great to see pictures, gives us a sense of what you're experiencing.

Take care... Dad L

It was great to talk with you!!

Hey Paul!

It was great to get to talk with you yesterday. Please, like we told you, call anytime. I will miss a few hours sleep to talk with you and be able to hear about the things you are doing and the elements is wonderful. It is so hard to understand what you are going through but yet I know you love what you are doing for your country and freedom.

I was telling someone yesterday about you and how proud we are of you. The interesting thing is that since you were umm... 5ish you have dreamed of going to the middle east to war. I can remember you with your Army men fighting in the Middle East. As hard as it can be for us to cope with the danger you are potentially in - we all know it is what you have dreamed of as long as I can remember.

I love you and am very proud of you! Stay safe and be careful.

Tanya

Thanks to technology!

Hi Paul! How great is it that we are able to do this and feel we are a part of what you are doing for our country? We are very proud of you and will keep our prayers with you.

I was by John's yesterday - missed seeing Erin, but visited with Trotsky(?) a bit. She was running around the pool with Zoe and Rudy - pretty comical...

Take care of yourself!

Linnea

Happy Sunday!!!

Hey Paul,

How's everything going? I love all the pics of Hedgie! Oh and of you tooo....:) Just want to let you know that I've kept my promise to you even though he's made quite a few attempts to contact me!!! YEA FOR ME!!!

Keep cool, be safe!!! I have you in my prayers.

Love you!!

Mom...aka Donna

Hedgie Pictures

1SG Malone with Hedgie Heading Out to the Range

Hedgie on my Sapping Plate

Pictures

Me Getting Ready for the Range

MAJ Sanders & I Heading Out for the Range
Firing Range in Kuwait
Me Checking on Training
Sign Post in the Middle of Camp Buehring

Kuwait

Howdy All,
Well, I was able to get enough time to make a post. Life is interesting here. I am adjusting well to the climate, but it is still extremely HOT! The training here is very good. The location I am at is Camp Buehring (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Buehring) , it is a pretty nice location considering it is in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert. The other day we had a great class on IEDs, in which a British Officer had shown a video that is now on my MySpace. We all were laughing, but, it proved a point that they are out there and just might as well accept it. I had another class, but it CLASSIFIED! Haha. Life is fun when you have a clearance and can’t discuses stuff.

The last three days I have been off the net due to a “training field problem” in the desert. I know, as if I have not spent enough time in the field prior to leaving. But, it was exciting, enjoyable, and a taxing three days. A main portion of the training was a counter-IED lane, which put everyone to the test. It was hard; however, the SPO team worked it out and did a great job. One of my Staff Sergeants led the convoy and did an excellent job. Other than that, life is good. Oh, a side note, the IBA (Interceptor Body Armor) we wear is ~65lbs when your as big and tall as me, so that was fun to have on when its 125 degrees out and no wind!

Alright, time to hit the rack. I love you all and will drop another message later. I love this blog and thank you again Jessica, and all of you for putting comments and posts on it. Oh, Hedgie is doing fine and I will get more pictures this week. Love you all and miss you all a ton! Erin, I can’t wait to come home and give you a kiss, I love you….Goof!

Paul's Address

I am going to send out an e-mail to everyone with Paul's mailing address. Don't send anything yet as he is not there yet. I will let you know when you can start sending stuff. It takes aroung 9-10 days to get there, and 11-12 to get back if he sends something. He is going to let me know when we can start sending stuff.

Also, I talked to him last night and he is doing well. He just keeps talking about how hot it is. He was able to get onto the blog, but their computer time is limited while they are training so he was not able to post anything. So far all their training has gone well.

Those of you in the Plano area, I am about to be on my way there for the weekend. Hope to see you there!

Love,
Erin

And...

Kyle is Traci's son, Merry's grandson

Its good to finally get to know all y'all (that's the plural of y'all for you northerners)

John E... but I'll probably go by just Dad L

Who's Who

Hi all,

I believe the reason Paul has not been on here is because he has been doing a lot of training in which he is not able to get to a computer or even a phone. I have not heard from him since Sunday the 15th. Just keep in mind that no news is good news. He will contact us as soon as he can. Also, we don't know if he will be able to access this website from his work computer due to firewalls. If that is the case, while he is in training, I will have him send me what he wants to post on here and I will post it for him, as well as send him what everyone has posted!

I just got back from going to a Teacher Retreat in Tahlequah, OK. That is in the NE corner of OK. It was a lot of fun and I was able to get to know almost all of the teachers I will be working with next year. We learned a lot that will really help me to be a better teacher.

I also wanted to put on here a Who's Who of the Brown/Lundborg family, just in case you don't know everyone.

On the Brown Side:
Paul Andrew is Paul's dad, who we recently lost to cancer and is greatly missed. But we all know he is watching over Paul and keeping him safe.
Tanya is Paul's sister. Her husband is Mike. They have 3 kids, Sara (19), Todd (17), and Rachael (11).
Andy (Robert) is Paul's brother. His wife is Diana. They have 2 kids, Joey (3), and Harmony(4 months).
Gail, Deb, Beth, and Pete are Paul's Dad's Siblings.
Deb's husband is Mike.
Beth's husband is Chad. They have 1 child, Madison (6?).
Ma Brown (Ruth) is Paul's Grandma.

On the Lundborg side:
John E. is Erin's Dad. His wife is Merry, Erin's step-mom.
Merry has 2 kids who are all grown up, Traci and Kelly.
Donna is Erin's Mom.
Jess is Erin's sister. Her husband is Nathan. They have 1 child, Natalie (2 months).
Harold and Elfrida are Erin's grandparents on her mom's side.
John A. and Pat are Erin's grandparents on her dad's side.
Leslie and Linnea are Erin's aunts on her dad's side.
Linnea's husband is George. They have 3 kids, David (14), Sarah (12), and Rachel (6).
Kathy, Norm, and Jim are Erin's aunt and uncles on her mom's side.

I think that is everyone. I am so sorry if I forgot anyone! I thought this might help when you are reading other people's posts so be able to tell who they are to Paul.

Paul,
I love you and miss you. Talk to you soon!

Love to all,
Erin

hey

hi uncle paul, just wanted to say hi and give you an update i amgoing swimming today while mom plays golf with a friend . todd is doing jr acadamy at thecounty club and who knows what sara is doing . the dogs got groomed yesterday and look pretty .( p.s erin - how is trotsky ?) well any way i hope youre having as much fun as possible . love always <3>

hi paul just wanted to say that i love ya, and miss you!! hope all is well there on your end. all is good here. i am enjoying my summer off from school!! gettin ready to start another year at lcc!!fun-fun-fun. keep your head high uncle paul.everyone here is thinking about you. hope to hear back from ya soon! p.s. nice pictures with Hedgie! love always, sara

What's on the Agenda Today?

Paul,

Just a note to see how you are adjusting to the timezone, weather, etc. Hope this finds you enjoying some of the newness of the land and doing well. Be sure to stay in touch with messages coming this way...we all want to hear how you are doing - often!

Take Care,
Merry

Hows it going?

Just wondering how everything is goin uncle paul? Had tourment yesterday took 2nd so that was pretty good. Hope all is well. Love Todd

hey

hi this is rachael just wated to see how everyone is doing!

wassup

hey uncle paul hows it going ? i hope not too bad . its pretty good here every few days i get to babysit with sara . love you always rachael --------p.s. hi from the fam <3

Doc,

His name is Hedgie - he also has a myspace it is:

www.myspace.com/mrhedgehogman

We have the big one to use for our trips and photos. Well, he can't fit in my suitcase but I am sure we can ship him - ha!
Love,
Tanya

Paul,

It's the roaming knome. I think the world traveled hedgehog is better, hey what's his name? All is well in hoosier land. I'm up to the usual stupidity of the ER and will send word of candidates for Darwin awards as they appear .

BE SAFE.
Gail

Family and Friends.....

Paul,

Glad to see that you took something really important with you, besides all the love we have for you and Erin, and that would be your sense of humor! Hopefully, that and the friends you have and will make during this period in your life, will serve you well.

I hope this blog works well not only to keep you in the family & friends loop as much as possible but also to help your extended family get to know each other a little better as well.

You are in our hearts our minds and our prayers.
Take care of business and come home - safe and sound.

Merry

Hedgehog

For those of you who don't know - the hedgehog in the photos is a famiily joke. It was one of the few things that we got for dad from the house. Well, we unbeknowst to Andy & Pauls (lol) mom took it from the porch. It has now become a traveling nome (sp...) and has made its way to Kuwait with Paul. Too funny!!

Paul, I hope all is going well and you are keeping cool. Please let us know your mailing address over there asap for care packages and anything you would like included. You know, I am sure Grandma would do some baking for her Paul Bear!!

I love you.
Tanya

Gotta know...

What's up with the little green creature? Paul, know that we think of you every day and pray for your safe return... Dad L.

Careful what you Volunteer for!

Paul,

You know I spent many years working in the Federal government, including time at DARPA (for the rest of you that is the Department of Defense Research Agency, Defense Advance Research Projects Agency). Recently with the change of Congress my friends have been telling me of some strange adaptation of weapon systems, pictures follow. They also warn me that the biggest problem they have been having is getting volunteer's to try out the new weapons! So be careful! When some officer comes around looking for volunteers ask a few questions!

Be safe, keep cool, let us know if there is anything we can send (sorry, but I know we can't send Erin) to help make life a bit easier.

Pete

First, who needs heavy armor?



Gattling Guns on Aircraft? Who needs 'em?




Now this next one could work well for us Brown's. Being used
as a bomb requires a could thick head.




Finally a tribute to Paul Sr. who as you know was in the Navy.
Now this little boat would probably move out pretty nicely,
Backwards!



Hope these add a little humor to your day.

Welcome!

Welcome to Paul's Family's Blog! Feel free to post whenever and whatever you want here. This will be Paul's resource for receiving news from home, viewing pictures of what's going on with his family and also his resource for posting his news and photos to one place. I know I speak for all when I say "Paul, we love you and can't wait for your safe return." Here's the photos that Paul sent from his trip to the Middle East.

~Jess Allen

Strapped In

At Starbuck's in Kuwait

Moreland and Paul in Kuwait
Shannon Ireland

All Items Must Fit in an Overhead Bin or directly under the seat in front of you
Brooklyn Brewery
Equipment
IBA in Kuwait
Leipzig Germany