I Need To Get Better At This....

Family,
I need to get better at updating the blog. I know I have not been keeping up with my end of the bargain. So, life here is getting somewhat better. I will say though that this country...if you can call it that, is really really crappy! I love how the bar is set so low for most of the populace here, and no matter what, it is our (the U.S. Army's) fault (in the Iraqi's mind).

So, I really appreciate all the packages over the last few weeks. Grandma Brown, I swear, you are the best. I love the pretzels and candy, but most of all the TEA!!! Last week I had a very bad upper respiratory infection and was feeling terrible. So, to make myself feel a little better, what did I drink alot of (other than water), TEA, tons and tons of TEA. Now, a week later, I feel great, back to work and working out and doing alot better than some of the other Soldiers that are still sick (and think I was weird for drinking so much tea). I really do look forward to your packages each and everyone knows when you send me a box (I grab the pretzels out and run to the fridge to put them away). I really do appreciate the boxes from everyone, but at the same time I cannot wait to be home and not need them....time is ticking away.

Now, how was every ones holidays? I missed being home for Christmas and New Years. I was a little nervous on Christmas Eve when I almost got stuck at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Hammer. It is a FOB that is still establishing itself and does not have as many amenaties that Victory Base Camp does (but it does have a Green Bean Coffee). So, had I Remained Over Night (RON) at Hammer, life would have really sucked...cause it would have been 2 days (due to a NO MOVE on Christmas). Did everyone get what they want? I know Erin didn't get her big present...she has to wait till October for that. I did get back the Hedgehog the day before Christmas for those that haven't heard yet.

Okay, I need to get some sleep. My boss is on Rest & Relaxation (R&R) and I have been doing his job and mine...so, needless to say, I have been very busy. Oh, update on what we have done. So far, we have planned over 1,300 mission, covered over 700,000 miles, delivered over 3,000 Transportation Movement Requests (TMR), and moved over 8 million gallons of fuel. The best thing is the great job my team and I are doing taking Soldiers off the road to get all this done. To date, we have taken roughly ~5,000 Soldiers off the road from the systems and methods our predecessors did. We plan and execute, they...just threw trucks and Soldiers at the problem. Alright, I really need to get some sleep. I hope you all take care, and especially take care of each other. I miss you all and cannot wait to be home. I get to come home this year! Ha ha. Erin, I love you and miss you so much, I really do have a great wife!


PAUL ADAM