Time for Another Post

So, I lost my USB drive. This is highly unfortunate, because I now do not have a way of putting pictures online! I will be buying another one shortly, but it probably won't happen before I get back on leave. Well, you all have made it this long without pictures....what's another couple weeks?

Anywho, life here has been interesting. I'm working night shift now, 2200 - 1000. It's kinda nice because I'm able to use the computers and phones, plus, I'm up when people back home are up! The hours suck but the perks are good. I'm begining to like it because I wake up, go to supper, come back and chill with people that are getting back from work, go off to work as they're going to sleep. Get off work and get to sleep by 1100. Sleep during the hottest part of the day, and then wake up for supper. It's like the ultimate lazyman's shift! Now don't get me wrong, I've still got a lot of work to do during those hours, but like I said, the perks are nice.

Sometime, probably while traveling, I'm going to put together a slide presentation of everything I've seen to date. I'll have a lot of sorting to do because I'm up to 1500 pictures already!!! However, I can show you pictures that I can't post online due to security issues. I've even got some videos to throw in!

We had our first worship practice this past Thursday. It was a practice/planning/see what we need to make this successful meeting. We realized that we're in dire need of guitar music, as the music we have is for piano, with the guitar chords written in size 2.5 font. All of the chords are B#mb7/G9 and FmajSus11/E13 and A7b9/F and other super complicated chords when B, F and A would work just fine. I've gotta make sure I grab my music book when I come back from leave. That, and there's a shortage of picks. The PX here gives out these cardboard "coins" for 5, 10 and 25 cents that I've been cutting into pick shapes. 25 cents is about what I pay for picks back home. However, these usually last only one jam session. They sound about right though. Just a bit flimsier than I prefer but almost right. I'll also grab about 6 packs of strings. Haven't broken one yet, but then again, I don't have any more if I were to break one!

Speaking of guitar (non guitar players and especially non musical people might get lost in this paragraph), I've been playing some slide guitar. I tuned the guitar so it's a D chord without fretting the strings and used a slide to change the pitch. Now most slide players use a glass bottle top (excecpt for Blind Willie Johnson who used a pocket knife) but glass bottles are hard to come by. So I used the next best thing, a tube from my stereo! There's a picture of one at the link below. It's just about the perfect size and it's glass so it gets the same tone. Sitting outside, in the evening air, playin the blues with a non-alcoholic beer......I could almost forget where I'm at for a few minutes!

Well, I'll see ya'll soon!

JP Out

Link: http://www.vacuumtube.com/el84.jpg

Where I've Been (Sleeping)

So, it's time for a long overdue picture blog. This post will let the words do most of the talking. The topic for this picture blog is all the places I've slept since leaving home. The first three are state side. Then one on the plane ride, which took 23.5 hrs. The last 6 are overseas, including my room now, which takes two pictures to show, cause it's that awesome! Enjoy!






























*Hint, behind the two standing and talking*


























Waiting on the plane

















































*Not the same as above*

Back on the Blog

Hey everybody! Sorry I've been away on the blog for so long! I had to check to see if I was allowed to access the blog from work. Turns out I can so I'll be able to post slightly more often! Right now, I've just got time for a quick summary.

A few days after all the mud, we had a dust storm. Since then, it's been pretty clear. My typical schedule is:
Wakeup @ 0500
Leave for work @ 0530
Arrive at work @ 0600
E-mail and blog until 0630
Work on computer and radio equipment (ie setting up and maintaining the equipment) until 1630
Lunch break @ 1230-1330
After I'm off work, I either go back to my room or hang out around the chow hall until it opens at 1730
Then back to my room where I chill to some music, watch a movie, or just hang out with some army friends.
In bed @ ~ 2130
Then it starts all over again in the morning.

I work 6 days with 1 day off, which will be Thursdays.

Lastly, I've been hearing that some people don't know when I am coming back on leave. I have told my family, who has also told my church. If you want to know, please contact either of them.

O, and thank you for all the packages I've received to date! My grandma sent me a box of cookies....I offered some cookies to some of my friends and they were skeptical. I told them they were grandma cookies and they were like, "Heck Ya"! If you're reading this, grandma, I don't know what the thin wafer like stuff in the paper bag was, but they loved it!

O, with Easter coming up very soon, I need someone back home to stock up on Cadburrie Cream Eggs and Mini Eggs for me. I wouldn't mind chocolate bunny or two either. Thanks!

Ok, gotta go!
Jason

P.S. My birthday, dispite being so far from home, went very well. I'll try to post more about it in the next post.

The Answer is: Mud....mud....and more mud.

What is the question?

What you get when you have dirt everywhere you look, and it rains?

That is correct!

We are entering the rainy season here. It wouldn't be so bad if there was grass.....but no, just dirt! I can't say yet that I'll never complain about mowing the lawn again, but I do have a whole new appreciation for grass!

I'm still looking for more permanant internet. Nothing yet. Also, my supervisor is driving me nuts! Such is life, I suppose. As long as I have things to regain my sanity at the end of the night, I think I'll be ok.

Thank you for anyone who has sent packages! BTW, if you send me a phone card, I'll use the minutes to call you back! The rate is about 1/5 of a minute. (ie, a 500 min card is good for about 100 min call home.) Please use AT&T cards because that's the phone service available here.

Well, I'm running out of time so I gotta close this out.

JP Out!

P.S. I will be home for leave soon. Please check with my parents for the dates.

Hey, Mail!

For convienence, I thought I'd type up a short list of things I would like to receive in the mail.

Cookies.

Thanks!

j/k

Actually, what I really need, and is hard to get, is canned air, (for cleaning dust and sand out of things). I don't know if this can be mailed or not. I will also accept cookies! :)

I'll post more as I think of em.

JP out!

I'm Back!

It's been a really hectic few days. As the army is famous for, "Hurry up and wait!" There were many days where we waited around a few hours, then had 8hrs worth of stuff to do in the remaining 5 hrs. It's wonderful........



We've finally made it into real beds. The first time since leaving IL, I've slept in a bed in a room that had proper heat and air. I've been able to unpack for the long haul. I'll get back with pictures once I've established a regular internet connection.



So far, the worst living conditions I've experienced on this whole deployment is the FOB at Fort Dix, NJ. Even the overflow housing is better than the junk we were living in there! The food is better, the shopping is better, it really did suck back in NJ.

So anywho, I gotta go. Time is short and the days are long. (Is that a famous saying? It sounds like it should be.....hmmm)

Oh, I almost forgot, my address was changed one last time. I gave it to my parents about 2 days ago. I was given an incorrect address. So, send away! BTW, the deadline for packages to reach me before my birthday (hint, 19th) is basically today. However, I will be home for leave in early April! Ya, you read me right. So if you want to hold on to em and give em to me in person, that would be fine too. :)

Well, laters!