Jeremy and I finally got our internet connection at home again. We have been in our new house since the first of March. We both have new jobs which is good, cause we have a very new mortgage. For those of you who don't know...we are living in Sanford, NC. Sanford is halfway in between Raleigh and Pinehurst(2005 US Open golf tournament held there) I am working for First Citizens Bank in Raleigh--not working with the public anymore. Jeremy is working near Pinehurst (Vass, to be exact) for Squires Timber Company as a timber buyer. The trees aren't quite the same as they are down east. They don't grow near as big or fast. We are really enjoying living here. It's nice to be back in Raleigh. My job is about 5-10 minutes away from my old trailer-the one I lived in through school. Jeremy's dad is enjoying having Jeremy stop by nearly every day. I really think it is doing him a world of good. Probably good for Jeremy too. Danny, Jeremy's dad, is doing alright but not improving. He just feels yucky-nauseous pretty much all the time. He recently had another CT scan and was told his cancer was not spreading but surgery is still not an option. He hasn't been able to continue his chemo treatments in a couple of weeks now due to some level being elevated. I think that level is called his billyruben. (I have no idea how to spell--that's what it sounds like) It has something to do with his liver. Hopefully, he will be back on the chemo soon.
Anyway, good to be back online finally...
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Whichy whatevery
Supriiiiise! He's actually read the blogger and posting. I've connected my wireless from my roommate's computer, so now I don't have the 30 min time limit to talk to friends in ym, check email accounts, do online banking, etc. However, sometimes it's down. I figured I better take advantage of a day without a misison and while the inet's up. I've been meaning to type up something on my laptop, save it to my thumb drive and upload it at the inet cafe, but been busy/tired.
Tuesday evening we escorted 26 trucks up to Baghdad, arriving around 2am. I was still wired from Red Bull, chocolate and adrenaline. The route's been busy with IED's and small arms for a week or so, so I was pretty wired. Luckily, the trip was uneventful. We stayed up, smoking and joking until almost 6am Wed morning. I called Michelle's sister, Dianna, to tell her happy birthday. Plus, she had some kind of procedure where they were checking for throat cancer. The doctor said it looked alot better than the previous visit and she'd learn more at her next appt. Came back down here Wed night and got in early Thurs morning. Had to sit in the middle of the road while the civilians changed one of the trucks' tires, right in the area where alot of the attacks have happened in the past. Yeah, that was fun, especially when you're the gunner and popped up through the hole in roof. Oh, you've never lived until you have peed in a gatorade bottle, facing backward, doing 60 mph at midnight sticking up through a hole in the roof of a humvee..LMAO! (Laugh My A** Off)
Luckily, we just get thrown n the mix when there's a surge in convoys to go north. We've had a few days of dust storms a week or so ago, so they were playing catch up because no traffic rolls for lack of air/medevac cover. We've been out bouncing around the local villages and farms, dealing with sheiks and putting in potable water tanks and road improvement projects. Coming up in a week or so we have another "Med Cap", where soldiers from our medical company conduct a free med clinic at a school for the local village. All the villages want us to build them med clinics, but the ministry of health said they can't afford to support or staff so many clinics, so we do med caps about once a month. My platoon provides perimeter security. Luckily, I'm usually a gunner, so I don't have to deal with the "meesta meesta, gimme" kids.
The other day we went 2 1/2 hours south to Basra to pick up some money to pay the local contractors for projects. A car rolled up on us, I was rear gunner that day, ignored my hand signals for him to back off and the flare I fired at him, so I had to shoot his tire out. It was a Capris. They pulled over and both front doors opened, so I guess everyone was okay. They should've backed off.
We're less than 50 days from going home. We've sat through most of our mandatory redeployment briefs and started doing inventories. Our replacements from Minnesota aren't here yet. I have a feeling we'll be running missions up to the end. I'm so ready to get home.
Oh, I was born 27 October 73, in Norfolk General. I think it was at 10:11pm, right Mom? I don't know how big I was, but Chelley loves that I was a bald baby. I think I remember hearing that if I wasn't born then, they were gonna' induce Mom on Halloween. That's all I know; that and that Dad kissed Mom and then she had me. ~laughs~ Oh, another update. I now listen to Johnny Cash and have ripped a bunch of his music to my computer. Chelley gave me the complete set of Hee Haw DVD's for Christmas. Somebody let Granddaddy know that I watch hee haw again and listen to Johnny Cash. I think he'll get a kick out of that. But don't tell him what they do to donkeys and cows around here is worse than me riding pigs. I've seen the video feeds from our remote control planes. Everyone take care.
Chris
Tuesday evening we escorted 26 trucks up to Baghdad, arriving around 2am. I was still wired from Red Bull, chocolate and adrenaline. The route's been busy with IED's and small arms for a week or so, so I was pretty wired. Luckily, the trip was uneventful. We stayed up, smoking and joking until almost 6am Wed morning. I called Michelle's sister, Dianna, to tell her happy birthday. Plus, she had some kind of procedure where they were checking for throat cancer. The doctor said it looked alot better than the previous visit and she'd learn more at her next appt. Came back down here Wed night and got in early Thurs morning. Had to sit in the middle of the road while the civilians changed one of the trucks' tires, right in the area where alot of the attacks have happened in the past. Yeah, that was fun, especially when you're the gunner and popped up through the hole in roof. Oh, you've never lived until you have peed in a gatorade bottle, facing backward, doing 60 mph at midnight sticking up through a hole in the roof of a humvee..LMAO! (Laugh My A** Off)
Luckily, we just get thrown n the mix when there's a surge in convoys to go north. We've had a few days of dust storms a week or so ago, so they were playing catch up because no traffic rolls for lack of air/medevac cover. We've been out bouncing around the local villages and farms, dealing with sheiks and putting in potable water tanks and road improvement projects. Coming up in a week or so we have another "Med Cap", where soldiers from our medical company conduct a free med clinic at a school for the local village. All the villages want us to build them med clinics, but the ministry of health said they can't afford to support or staff so many clinics, so we do med caps about once a month. My platoon provides perimeter security. Luckily, I'm usually a gunner, so I don't have to deal with the "meesta meesta, gimme" kids.
The other day we went 2 1/2 hours south to Basra to pick up some money to pay the local contractors for projects. A car rolled up on us, I was rear gunner that day, ignored my hand signals for him to back off and the flare I fired at him, so I had to shoot his tire out. It was a Capris. They pulled over and both front doors opened, so I guess everyone was okay. They should've backed off.
We're less than 50 days from going home. We've sat through most of our mandatory redeployment briefs and started doing inventories. Our replacements from Minnesota aren't here yet. I have a feeling we'll be running missions up to the end. I'm so ready to get home.
Oh, I was born 27 October 73, in Norfolk General. I think it was at 10:11pm, right Mom? I don't know how big I was, but Chelley loves that I was a bald baby. I think I remember hearing that if I wasn't born then, they were gonna' induce Mom on Halloween. That's all I know; that and that Dad kissed Mom and then she had me. ~laughs~ Oh, another update. I now listen to Johnny Cash and have ripped a bunch of his music to my computer. Chelley gave me the complete set of Hee Haw DVD's for Christmas. Somebody let Granddaddy know that I watch hee haw again and listen to Johnny Cash. I think he'll get a kick out of that. But don't tell him what they do to donkeys and cows around here is worse than me riding pigs. I've seen the video feeds from our remote control planes. Everyone take care.
Chris
Friday, March 17, 2006
The Jones Family
It is great to hear that everyone is doing pretty good right now. I am sorry I am so slack. Who has the time???? Going back to a full time job has been quite an adjustment. Having to be somewhere at 8am was a HUGE shock (as you all know, being on time isn't one of best qualities). But after I get there, I Love It!!! I enjoy being with other adults! Jason is doing better, still not completely right.
Amber has found her calling.....OPERA!!! She & I watched the movie "Phantom of the Opera", she loved it so I burned her the soundtrack. I created a monster. She sings it in the car, in the tub, in bed, everywhere!!! And mom took her last Sunday to see "Annie" at Chrystler Hall and she got that soundtrack as well. She loves musicals and has the mature voice for it. She is doing wonderful in school!! I am so pleased with her!!
Clay is doing good too! Loves the Goose Nest & Miss "B". He's speech has improved alot in the last 6 mos. I blame some of that on his ear problems. He still loves "Thomas the Train" as much as every. He and Amber fuss alot, (especially in the car). Any words of wisdom????
Jason and I are going off for the night next Friday, the 24th. It will be our 5th yr anniver., I am so proud of us. Not always perfect but I agree with something I heard a pastor say, "Marriage is like wine, it gets better with years." I totally agree. Even I may not in 40 yrs when Jason is 4 ft tall and aggrevating me to death!!! HA HA
I do hope everyone is doing well and yes I agree with Christie, we need to get together soon!
Amber has found her calling.....OPERA!!! She & I watched the movie "Phantom of the Opera", she loved it so I burned her the soundtrack. I created a monster. She sings it in the car, in the tub, in bed, everywhere!!! And mom took her last Sunday to see "Annie" at Chrystler Hall and she got that soundtrack as well. She loves musicals and has the mature voice for it. She is doing wonderful in school!! I am so pleased with her!!
Clay is doing good too! Loves the Goose Nest & Miss "B". He's speech has improved alot in the last 6 mos. I blame some of that on his ear problems. He still loves "Thomas the Train" as much as every. He and Amber fuss alot, (especially in the car). Any words of wisdom????
Jason and I are going off for the night next Friday, the 24th. It will be our 5th yr anniver., I am so proud of us. Not always perfect but I agree with something I heard a pastor say, "Marriage is like wine, it gets better with years." I totally agree. Even I may not in 40 yrs when Jason is 4 ft tall and aggrevating me to death!!! HA HA
I do hope everyone is doing well and yes I agree with Christie, we need to get together soon!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Christie, I'm glad that the weekend was great here. I was in "sunny" California and it was freezing. I wore long sleeve underwear, turtle neck sweather, suit coat and my long winter coat to keep warm. We had to get to all of the events by buses, which ran every 20 to 30 minutes, so sometimes we waited several minutes. There were over 6,000 people from all over the world. All events were held at Universal Studios so many of us stayed miles away. We had a nice conference. I don't think I was discovered while there, or at least I haven't heard anything yet.
We are going to see Howie and Lol this weekend. We will be celebrating Kyle and Lol's birthday, even though Kyle has already had his party. Lol had called to see if we wanted to come this weekend. The Boy Scouts are having their Pinewood Derby competition this weekend. Kyle has placed the past two years, so I think the pressure is on. We leave on Thursday afternoon and come back on Sunday.
Christie, if you want the family to get together, I'll be happy to host having everyone here soon. I'd love to show off my kitchen even though there are still a few things to be done. I haven't seen anyone since Saturday before last. I think they are waiting for a drawer front and door to come in. At this point, I'm in no hurry. I still owe them over $5,000. so they can now take as long as they want.
I'll close and get to bed before too late.
We are going to see Howie and Lol this weekend. We will be celebrating Kyle and Lol's birthday, even though Kyle has already had his party. Lol had called to see if we wanted to come this weekend. The Boy Scouts are having their Pinewood Derby competition this weekend. Kyle has placed the past two years, so I think the pressure is on. We leave on Thursday afternoon and come back on Sunday.
Christie, if you want the family to get together, I'll be happy to host having everyone here soon. I'd love to show off my kitchen even though there are still a few things to be done. I haven't seen anyone since Saturday before last. I think they are waiting for a drawer front and door to come in. At this point, I'm in no hurry. I still owe them over $5,000. so they can now take as long as they want.
I'll close and get to bed before too late.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Beautiful Weekend
How about that weekend weather? Was it gorgeous or what?!?!?!?!? Did anybody do anything exciting? I'm kicking myself this morning. It was so nice outside and I spent the entire weekend inside, by choice! What was wrong with me???
Any plans for a get together soon?
Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Christie
Any plans for a get together soon?
Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Christie