DOWN IN THE TEENS

25JUN08. WEDNESDAY. Was pretty busy tonight. Was able to get away for a few minutes to update the ole blog. Managed to catch Terri before things got hectic. Seems her projects are almost complete. That is, switching Car Tags from Kristen's Car to my Truck. Also managed to chat with our daughter Shannon and got caught-up a little on her activities. Seems like a pretty busy place in the hometown. My time remaining is down in the Teens, which if fine by me....Not much to report on here - just another day gone by. Doug

INTERNET FLAKY

23-24JUN08. MONDAY-TUESDAY. Internet has been down for the last few days. Therefore, I’ve been unable to update the Blog or check email. Chatted with Terri last night, seems Kristen’s car has blown a head-gasket. So, it’s out of commission for some time. The “plan” is to let Kristen operate the family van as a substitution for her car. Terri will take my truck out of storage and use this for her needs. Of course, this means disestablishing Kristen’s car from Insurance and re-establishing the Truck. In the end, the Truck will be operable upon my return. Speaking of my return home. The Strategy I’ve been toying with is “Hold the Line.” Which is to say, from a household perspective, keep what we currently have in place. This incorporates completing Tax Returns for the past year, keeping the existing home maintenance plan where it is (read no-improvements). This strategy will remain in-place even if I stay with the Navy for a few weeks (or months). The Strategy will change when I can land employment at a Company on par with HCI (or better). So, whereas the waters are murky at best. At least we have formulated a way-ahead….for now. Will update when I can. Doug

COUNTING THE DAYS....

21-22JUN08. SATURDAY-SUNDAY. Days left here are down to the Teens. Not too much time left. Taking stock of the “Open” bottles of pills, vitamins, etc that I have remaining before I leave. The Cutsoms Guys will confiscate any “opened” bottles of the aforementioned items. Dumb I know….So, it seems I have just enough to get me thorough. And, if not I’m sure it’ll all work out. Some good Army Guys I worked with will be leaving in a couple of days. We said our goodbyes today. They will be going back to Italy where they are “stationed.” Kinda funny, the majority of these guys have nicknames like Kountry, Shrek, Goggles, etc. And no, I don’t have a nickname or callsign. Well, just another day in Paradise for me. Will update when I can. Doug

THING'S I'LL MISS

20JUN08. FRIDAY. Not much going on here. Just finishing the Discovery Series of DVDs on the “Worlds Deadliest Catch.” Will probably switch to the Ghost Whisperer and/or Medium (man, I gotta get a life). I manage to squeeze about ½ hour of watching a DVD before I crash. Dumped the remainder of my Ammo (finally), giving away some paperback books, and sent home two boxes of junq which I will not require for the remainder of my stay here. Yeah!!!! Man, I’m packing light now….
Things I’ll miss about OEF: Gravel, Gravel and more Gravel. Intermittent Showers. Stinky Local Nationals. The Same Food each day, every day. Turn Over Meetings. Working Weekends, Holidays and Special Occasions. Working 12, 14, 18-Hour Days, Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue. Quickly offset by Rip-Its, Energy Bars and Gel Shots. The Hot, Cold, Wind, Sand and Rain. On-Time Arrivals, Departures, and Maintenance on the Flight Schedule. The Care-Free easy, go-lucky attitude of SOF…..At the Outstations. Each of these has a special place in my heart. Will update when I can. Doug

CERTAIN UNCERTAINTY

19JUN08. THURSDAY. In chatting with my wife, the one thing which is certain is the level of uncertainty which faces our family. Goodness knows, there is enough pressure to adjusting back to civilian life. Certain are the Re-kindling of Relationships, Taxes, and Chores around the house. A significant undercurrent which is adding some pressure is the fact I will not have a job upon my return. And, without a job, lots of Benefits are missing for our family. This includes Health, Dental, 401-K, etc. Not to mention a Paycheck. This adds up to some added stressors in the Homecoming Process. Please don’t of me as a slouch. I’m doing my best at job hunting from afar. Delving into my Social Network, Lead Generation, etc. And, I even have a couple of telephone interviews set-up. The downside, all jobs (so far) entail significant travel. Still, I’m using these evolutions to hone my Job Interview Skills, Telephone Etiquette, and Executive Qualifications. As our family realizes, Pensacola is not known as Hub for any of my areas of “expertise” which are Information Technology (read computers) or Military Intelligence. So, the one certain thing about our homecoming is the level of uncertainty. Will Update when I can. Doug

THREES COMPANY

18JUN08. WEDNESDAY. Things in our Family always occur in threes. The Fridge died, Dryer died, and today the Lawn Mower died. Well, at least we got a new mower… Now the kids are fighting over who is going to cut the grass. After chatting with my wife a little, we determined it was not self-propelled. Was probably not the best news a 50-yr old wants to hear concerning yard work…..All in all, these events are pretty humorous to me. I actually can’t wait to participate!!! Both Shannon and Ryan are bored. Nothing to do all day but sit around and mope about how boring their lives are. Welcome to Summer Vacations. For me, it’s Ground Hog Day. Only thing to change is the weather and my inching closer to departing this wonderland. Will update when I can. Doug

BUTTERFLIES

17JUN08. TUESDAY. I can’t believe I’ve got Butterflies in my stomach. I think it’s because I know I’m close to going home. All Travel Arrangements are being put in place. The Administrative Paperwork is being filled-out. And, I sent home a Footlocker filled with Junk I won’t need here anymore. So, these Butterflies are not necessarily a bad thing. These events coupled with the opportunity for a couple of telephone interviews for employment indicate to me I’m doing the right things….so far. So, I’m a little antsy and excited. Almost like the days before Christmas. Ha, Ha. Changing the subject a little. I got two wonderful letters of encouragement from the students in Dr DuPre’s leadership class. Pretty Awesome Stuff. Well, gotta get back to work. Doug

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY (POST ANALYSIS)

16JUN08. MONDAY. Well, Father’s Day has come and gone. Somehow the kids were coaxed into going to a new Church and honor all the Fathers. After which, the family got together for a Champagne Brunch in honor of…..Fathers. Sounds like a good time was had by all. Naturally, the offer was extended to me to participate next time. Hopefully, I’ll find time today to send the junk I don’t need home. We’ll see what the day holds. A Sandstorm blew thru yesterday. As always, these Sandstorms makes the place look eerie. The sun is almost blocked out (and looks like the moon), sand (and dust) gets everywhere. Not a good day to blow bubbles with your bubble gum. Well, will update when I can. Take Care for now. Doug

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

15JUN08. SUNDAY. Happy Father’s Day to all Families. The Family went to a new Church. Terri (my wife) initially wanted to try out the Church. And, the timing just seemed right. Oddly, all the kids wanted to go as well. Of course, the emphasis was on Father’s Day. Some passionate stories were shared with the congregation. Some tears were shared as well. To round-out the Occasion, the Family went to a Champagne Brunch. The kids chowed-down the Buffet, Terri soaked-up the Champagne, and everyone Toasted the Fathers. Happy Father’s Day.

BUSY AGAIN

14JUN08. SATURDAY. Feast or Famine. That’s how this Office Job goes. Tonight we are slammed with work. Will be for the next few days or so. Still, I was glad to have one night to get my act together. Hit the Post Office and mailed some Presentos to some Friends. Also was able to consolidate the gear I’ll need for the remainder of time here and in the States. The rest of the junk will be sent home. That’s about the latest and greatest news from the Sandbox. Will Update when I can. Doug

MOVIE NIGHT

13JUN08. FRIDAY. Today is a little slow. This is a welcome reprieve from the last week or so. That said, I might find time to watch a movie tonight – workload permitting. The entire movie thing got me thinking a little. Goodness knows, I like to veg-out like everybody else. I manage to watch about a ½ Segment prior to sleep. While here, I’ve watched the following Series: Deadwood, ROME, The Sopranos, 24, Reno 911, CSI Las Vegas, Miami and New York. I’m just finishing up the Season of My Name is Earl. Moreover, with the well-established underground economy Bootleg copies of new releases are available for Iron Man, Narnia, and a few others that escape me. Seems the only things missing are Dolby Surround Sound, Pop-Corn and an Air-Conditioned Theater…..Changing the subject a little, the wonderful students from UWF sent me two inspirational letters which are attached for your viewing pleasure. One letter by Rita L. invited me to stop by and share my experiences from the Spring 2007 Class. Might just do that… My sincere thanks to the Students of Dr DuPre’s class. Together, they have certainly been a source of inspiration for me. Well, gotta swap out my laundry. Will update when I can. Take Care for Now. Doug

BABY IT’S HOT

11-12JUN08. WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY. My Apologies upfront. Was swamped with work yesterday. Thus, I was unable to get to the Internet Café. The wheels are in motion for my departure and I’m in heaven. Folks are hitting me up for inputs and recommendations to make this deployment better. Additional folks are asking for their stuff back (computers, etc). And, I’m taking a mental inventory of the bare necessities required for the remainder of this deployment. All the other stuff is to be sent home. All these are indicators that I’m getting short. The weather here is hot and getting hotter. Whereas the Hootch has AC, I’m still going to sleep in a pool of sweat. Still, with barely month left, I can manage…..Kinda reminds me of sleeping after Hurricane Ivan hit our neighborhood….Well, SOSDD…But Shorter. Will Update when I can. Doug

REFLECTIONS

10JUN08. TUESDAY. As one door closes, another opens. So the saying goes. As this Chapter of my (read our family) life comes to an end, another Chapter begins. I can only think about how these many months of separation have certainly taken a toll on our family – Emotionally, Financially, and Fundamentally. So, add to the initial concerns of (re)establishing boundaries, expectations, etc. I will also need to fulfill the basic needs – Safety and Security. That is, find employment (income, insurance, 401(k), etc). I do find solace in the fact that we are very fortunate to have such a wonderful social network of family and friends. People who have stepped up and pitched-in when necessary. My Family and I thank you for your continued support and assistance.
With only about a month or so left, my mind wanders to the contributions we have made in this far away land. My measure of success is two-fold; First with the Local Nationals who lived for the last 20-years or so and a Self-Assessment. The question I posed to the Local Nationals “Is Afghanistan better today than 5-10 years ago?” The honest reply is yes. Government Corruption, Drugs, Thugs, IEDs, and the Taliban still abound. However, the local populace is simply tired of paying extortion monies, giving shelter to the Taliban, and simply, have had enough. Increasingly, the people are calling the Police or Coalition Forces for help and assistance when needed. This simple act was just not heard of a year ago. Second, I can honestly say, I can’t remember the last time I was in a Rocket Attack. Six-Eight months ago? I think? Together, these small indicators tell me we have left a significant impression on this Country. The direction is clear and the trend for Afghanistan is a positive one - I’m proud to have served along side of the nation’s premier Task Force.
In closing, I’ve attached a couple of letters from The University of West Florida Leadership Class. These simple letters do keep the big picture in perspective. Take Care. Doug

EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS

09JUN08. MONDAY. Finally received word that I can start to outprocess from here. That is, start preparations for my departure. This includes turning in any computers and stuff. It also includes filling out the paperwork required for departure to include evaluations, brag sheet and award information. It also includes getting manifested (military speak for getting a seat) on a flight to the states. Needless to say I am now manifested on flight to the states. All the other junk I’ll certainly get to in due time. So, I pretty excited at getting the nod to go home. Thou I still have some time to go, there are limited amount of seats. And, if you don’t get one…..tough luck. So, I now have the arduous task of going through my junk and sending home the stuff I can do without for a few weeks. Like all that winter gear I needed. Ha, Ha, Ha. I laugh at the cold.

PS Terri, watched The Debators yesterday as well. What a long, long, long......movie

A DAY OF REST……

8JUN08. SUNDAY. Ahhh, Sunday. A day of rest and relaxation….. Still slugging it out here. Seabees went to work on the Hootch yesterday. This simply translated into loosing power for about 4-Hours. Whereas this is not all that bad, it did turn the Hootch into a Sweat Box. Regardless, did manage to Rack out in a pool of sweat. Did have a strange dream about being along side the actor Dustin Hoffman in the Movie Pappion. To weird…. Chatted with my lovely wife last night. They are making plans for a BBQ at her brother’s house tomorrow. Sounds like a good plan. Down to my last can of Shaving Cream and tube of toothpaste. Trying to make them last until I depart. What a wonderful problem to have. Will update when I can. Doug

TYPICAL WEEKEND

6-7JUN08. FRIDAY-SATURDAY. Internet Café was not working yesterday. So, I was unable to update the BLOG. The weather here reminds me a little of Arizona. Very, very hot during the day, and cool in the evening. These conditions make for some terribly long and arduous days. Fortunately, I work nights so I actually get to avoid the brutal sun until I get off shift. Then our little Hootch gets heated up. The Seabees are slated to work on our Hootch during our sleep-cycle tomorrow. I can hardly wait. However, with some fatigue, I should be able to sleep right through the excitement. Chatted with my lovely bride tonight. The kids have their own separate lives and events. Shannon is spending her weekend with a friend at the beach tubing. Kristen is working. Afterwhich, she will probably synch-up with her friends for a sleepover. Ryan has plans to play X-Box 360 with a friend tomorrow. Terri managing all the above in stride. That’s the latest. Not much I know. Will update when I can. Doug

MIRACULOUS RECOVERY

5JUN08. THURSDAY. Checked-in to see how the girls are doing with their illness. Seems they both have undergone a miraculous recovery. Cabin Fever was starting to set-in on Kristen, so she and her friend went to the mall. And, I must add, called-in sick to work……Hmmm. Shannon is also on the road to a quick and speedy return. With only few days left of school (and half-days at that), I’m sure the kids are not really burning with desire to be there. Regardless, there are some tests which must be taken. An effort to keep the kids in place till the end. On the upside, Summer Vacation will start and the kids are not required to be back to school until mid-August. With my arrival in July, that should provide the family (read us) to get together and rekindle our relationships. Received one of the last Goodie Packages (yeah) from my sister. Contains all the things a growing boy needs, mac & cheese, twizzlers, tootsie rolls, and a newspaper. Was certainly entertaining reading the paper… Well, another day ticks by here. Will update when I can. Doug

SICK DAY

4JUN08. WEDNESDAY. Well, our newly minted High School Graduate is Sick. Spent the day at home in the rack puking here guts out. When I called the house tonight, found her in the fetal position on the couch. Here younger sister is also sick. Well, at least they will have someone to complain to while at the house feeling miserable. Funny, my wife shared that she felt good to be needed again. Seems the kids growing quickly and rarely need anything from the “parents”. We’re just in the way. Unless of course they need money for gas, movies, beach……or sickly. Then, it the parents to the rescue. Conversely, Ryan played X-Box all day. Changing the subject slightly, received a couple of letters from Dr, Du Pre’s Class at the UWF. I’ve included them for your viewing pleasure. Will update when I can. Doug

THE COUNTDOWN w/ABC's

3JUN08. TUESDAY. Well, now that it’s JUNE and I depart in JULY. There aren’t too many days left for me here in the Sandbox. I’m certainly doing my part to ensure a smooth transition home. Oddly enough this includes ensuring a seat is saved on the Aircraft under my name. You’d think this would be taken care of. Sadly, with all the personnel movement in theater, it’s easy to get lost in the sauce. Still, my intent is to send home all the junk I don’t need or is required to be turned into the government. Hopefully, this only leaves me with two footlockers to drag around… Well, this all sounds well and good. We’ll see. Will update when I can. Doug

PS Few ABC's provided.

THE PARTY’S OVER

2JUN08. MONDAY. The Graduation Party/Ceremony and subsequent Lock-in was a success. The Old Model-T Ford Hot Rod failed to start. So, Kristen had to quickly call a friend for a ride to the Ceremony. Terri was telling me the Temperature at the Stadium was pretty hot. The family actually sat on the Visitor’s side of the field. So, the sun was not in their eyes. Terri lucked out and took some videos of Kristen receiving her Diploma. Kendall (niece) was pretty good throughout the event. After the ceremony, the families were allowed onto the field. Tears of Joy were shed when Shannon (Kristen’s younger sister) ran, embraced, and congratulated Kristen “Making it”. After the Ceremony on the Football Field, Kristen and her friends went to OOPs Alley (Bowling Joint) for an All-Night Lock-in. There she messed around with here friends. I understand she made it home at 6:30am this morning. And, she was very hoarse sounding. When I called this evening, the family was sitting around the front yard reminiscing about the events of last night. Well, I’ll certainly live the moment from the stories and pictures. Here, it the SOSDD. Doug

TEARS OF JOY

1JUN08. SUNDAY. Well, the party is almost over. Called the lucky Graduate during the Chaos of a pre-graduation celebration. Kristen had just finished opening her gifts and was getting ready for the Graduation Ceremony. I’ve asked Terri to supply some pictures when she has time. And, the new Refrigerator was delivered and installed earlier in the day. Just in the nick of time….A Gift Kristen received was a Scrapbook put together by her mom. This almost brought her to the brink of Tears. Certainly, can’t do that. Sounds like everyone is there to show their love and support for Kristen. Thanks… Don (Kristen’s Grandpa) is going to drive her to the Ceremony in an old Model-T Hot Rod. I can’t wait to see the pics. Well, gotta go. Take care for now. Doug