Devil Went Down to Ga

The devil went down to Georgia and now Ga has come to the devil. Well, this place might as well be. Anyway, that was the song that Charlie Daniels Band ended the show with tonight. Heck of a cap to a long tour, seeing Charlie Daniels play outside. We sat in plastic chairs, fold out chairs, etc. He said this was the most sober audience he had every played for; like we had a choice. ~laugh~ Anyway, tonight was AWESOME! He even sang the hymn "How Great Thou Art". It just won't be same the next time I hear it in church. The man is looking old; think he's in his 70's now. He told us he sent a letter to Sen. Ted Kennedy, inviting him to come over here with him. Of course, that letter has gone without reply.

I am now 16 days from leaving this country and about 18 days from touching US/Georiga soil again. Man, it's gonna' be great to be home again. My demobilization process should take around 6 days. Looking into either Warner Robins PD or Ga State Patrol when I get back. With any luck, I'll be demob'd in time to take the State patrol test and won't have to wait 2 more weeks. Their website says that the tests are to build a wait list, not to fill vacancies, so I may initially end up with the Macon FD until then, as originally planned. However, it is rumored that Gov. Perdue, our governor, has said if you're with the 48th brigade he will get ya a job. Will maybe have to cash in on that.

Happy Birthday, Cory! Big 16. Time for a driver's license. Sorry, Rated R movies aren't until next year.

We've been doing the same ol: going to different villages in the area, inspecting water tank projects, road improvement projects, school building and rebuilding and the occasional school supply drop to students. These of course, are followed by lunch at one of the many sheikhs' homes. I think I posted before lunch is usually a platter of rice topped with a little lamb meat on top. Our boss and whoever the senior sheikh is that day get a lamb's head on theirs, cooked of course. 2 weeks ago, I ate some "soup" that I hadn't eaten before and paid dearly 2 days later. I must've thrown up at least 20 times that day and ended up taking 2 bags of I.V. fluid in the arm to rehydrate. They gave me some antibiotics and I was fine a couple days later.

Our replacements from Minnesota are here. We've taken them out a few times, but haven't officially started training their drivers and gunners yet. I'll be glad when all that's done. We sign over our humvees and the machine guns that we mount on top to them on Tuesday, then vehicle maintenance is one less headache we have to deal with.

Michelle and the kids are doing well. Mandi is kicking butt in gymnastics and Cortlyn is playing her first season of softball. She's getting hits, but having a hard time getting to first base before the ball. She's having fun and that's what counts. They have a long season, all the way into late next month, so I should be able to make a few practices and games, depending on the job situation. Michelle's looking into doing some secretarial work for the county board of education this summer and possibly working as a parapro in the fall, when school starts up again. She's checking with the college she attended to see if she's got enough credits. Ash is doing better in school. Michelle says he'll be able to look me in the eye when I get home. I'm glad he's got her height genes. His former cubmaster invited me out for a steak and a beer when I get home to discuss getting him into Boy Scouts. His former den leader left after they crossed over and he got overlooked during the transfer of leadership. He's looking forward to getting back into scouting.

Well, it's late and I've rambled long enough. Everyone take care.

Chris