Coming Home for Chirstmas!!!

I am sitting at the airport, waiting on my flight, which has been delayed. By tonight, I will be sleeping in my own bed! HAHAHA!!! AHH, this is awesome! I've never been so homesick before.

See ya in a few,

Party Like Iraq...

Party like Iraq star!

2!!!

5

Feeling Fobbish

6 days and a wakeup! Only 6 full days left!

Word has it that we will be completing our 7k road march on the 22nd. It's going to be a LOOOOOONG day. Up at 0400 or 0430, walk 4.375 miles with about 60lbs of gear, probably in the snow, up hill, both ways. Actually, our 5k march was in the snow, with a sand base. Then we'll travel to the airport, likely taking 1-2hrs, pass through security...................5hrs later, get on the plane, drive from the airport to home. Probably pretty late. But then, the next day, I'm back at my home church! Oh, it's so close, I can almost taste it!

The past few days, we've been training on patrols. We've been using blanks for training, and I'm disappointed because I haven't had anything to shoot at! I've got 400+ rounds to fire and I've only shot 3! Speaking of weaponry (sp?), I went to the range, on perhaps the worst day, weatherwise, possible. It was foggy and rainy. It was in the mid 30s to lower 40s and it rained and rained and rained. When it let up for a bit, it was still a drizzle. I couldn't see any targets past 150m, and there were targets out to 400m! I managed to hit them anyway. Just send enough bullets in the general direction and you'll hit something! But laying there in the mud and sand with cold rain falling, wow! I was soaked like I jumped in a pool. It was crazy. That was a bad day.

Supposedly, the rest of our time here is going to be crazy busy. Like, up at 0430, asleep by 2300. 4:30am and 11:00pm to you civilians. 5 and a half hours a night. Ya, I'll be getting some sleep when I get back.

Anywho, 6 days and a wakeup!

This morning, I finally got a chance to make it to chapel, and what a difference it makes. It's amazing how quickly one's prospective can get off when there's no reference point visable. There's something about fellowshiping with other believers that brings everything back into prospective. Maybe it's just the reminder that other people are going through the same thing.

I met someone today that plays drums and guitar in a worship band. We talked for a bit about churches and songs and such. They're going to the One Thing festival over new years. http://www.fotb.com/ Had I known in advance, I'd go too, but alas, that's for another year.

Less than 2 weeks!!!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Though I need a telescope and night vision to see it.

I found out the chaplin MIGHT be able to stay. He's supposed to find out today. Plus, it's only 2 weeks till I come home!!!

Temporary Blindness: The conclusion

My eye has finally nearly healed. Just slight blurryness remaining. Man, was that an ordeal! I should be back to regular training this afternoon. I've got one more appointment on monday.

I just found out that our chaplin is non-deployable due to medical issues! He was a good guy too! I'm going to miss him. It's really unfortunate because I was just starting to get to know him too. Supposedly, they're going to transfer in another chaplin. I really hope so. It's good to have that one person you know you can talk to that's right there with you.

Ok, a complete shift of topic...I just heard about my friend's art show.....best story I've heard in a long time!

The saga continues...

I just heard this story this morning. My friend was called into an administrator's office last week. They thought he might be considering shooting up the school!! For his art show he redid a well known ad, National lampoon's "If you don't buy this magazine i'll shoot your dog". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon He found the add over Thanksgiving break and redid it to say "Go to my art show or i'll shoot your dog". Overall, the show itself went really well. However, that wasn't the end of the issues. My friend's top art teacher, the students are supposed to buy their frames from his frame business, but my friend refused to spend that kind of money. Also, The student's are supposed to use the graphic place he recommends to do your art show announcements....$500 by the way for the cards. He refused. So in retaliation (sp) the teacher refused to send his's referral letter to a college in Maine! Last update, things are being straightened out. I have to say, that's one of the most rediculous things I've heard in a long time!!!

Check this out!

I've been listening to a Podcast from Crosspoint Community Church. This last Sunday, they did something amazing: A reverse offering! That's right, they gave money out to the attenders!!! The topic of the sermon was how loving and giving go hand in hand. And how can a church teach about giving when it's not willing to give itself? You can read about it below.

http://crosspointcc.blogspot.com/2007/12/gift-of-giving-cash-giveaway.html

Also, be sure to check out the accompanying podcast.

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=268842654

Temporary Blindness cont....

Day 4: My vision is returning slowly. Apperently I had early stages of pink eye at the time that I was sprayed. Plus, the pepper spray dried into small crystals. When I cleaned my eyes that night, the crystals scratched the cornea of my left eye. Between the eye trying to heal and the pink eye, my eye blurred up with discharge. I've been granted 48hrs of quarters (time off) to heal, so it's not too bad. I've been catching up on important things, like podcasts, blogs etc.

The past few days, the weather took a turn for the worse. Sunday morning, it was around 28 degrees with snow on the ground. This is the day we did a 5 mile road march, wearing 30lbs of body armour. It warmed up to the lower 40s, and that's when we got sprayed.

"In an Army training event, individuals were sprayed with 5% OC. The spray pattern was a single pass horizontally along the eyebrow with eyes closed. The initial contact causes no discomfort, but when the eyes are opened, a burning sensation is felt immediately. The spray makes it nearly impossible to open the eyes and have useful vision. This is the primary effect when first sprayed. There is no incapacitation, and the performance of physical tasks is still possible, but after approximately 15 seconds to one minute a severe burning occurs wherever the spray has come in contact with the face. The sensation is reminiscent of the after-effects of a burn from scalding water. Comparable eye pain would be putting contact lens cleaning solution into one's eye, but much more lingering and distracting. The pain persists for quite some time, about 45 minutes of intense burning. The only relief was to press the face against air conditioning vents. Washing was not possible as oil-based OC is not water soluble." -- Wikipedia

We stood there with our eyes closed and they sprayed our eyebrows. We then had to open our eyes and run through a defensive course. We had to defend ourselves using a foam baton against mock enemies. About 2 minutes after being sprayed, we got our face washed with water. Let me tell you, the water was such a shock, it literally takes your breath away. The water was so cold! When your face is on fire, it feels good, but wow. We then spent 10-15min in front of a large fan before packing up and leaving. I'm pretty sure this past Sunday was the worst experience of my life!

Fortunately, things are getting better now.

P.S. If someone threatens you with pepper spray.....just stop. It's not worth it!

What a day

I am temporarily and partially blinded in one eye. OC spray is no joke! Please note, it's ONLY temporary. Details later.