Hi everyone ...
Chris is in Ooooooklahoma, where the wind is sweeping down the plain and his allergies have kicked in. Really? But not in Iraq? Gunner (who knows all about allergies) said, "Well, in Iraq there isn't anything growing." Good point. It's not the dust, it's what's in the dust.
He arrived yesterday after a 16-hour trip, during which he had a lot of trouble sleeping. He's battling jet lag today. They all get to run through their medical evaluations today. We're hoping Chris can get in for his required visit with a neurologist for clearance to come home. Then he can come home with the whole gang, if not, he'll come back later.
We still do not have an official date for the group's return, but certainly next week and maybe closer to mid-week than early in the week. Vague enough for you? Welcome to the Army!
Love to all,
Linda Sophia
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Goodbye, Sandbox
Sorry, only a few moments to write.
Today, we fly out of Kuwait International, on to Leipzig, Germany, followed by Gander International, Newfoundland, finally, Lawton, Oklahoma. Nice looooooong nap.
To borrow a line from a famous song (and a witty friend), "I'm leaving on a jet plane."
Pretty good news.
Miss you all more than you'll ever know.
Love,
C-M/P/3
Today, we fly out of Kuwait International, on to Leipzig, Germany, followed by Gander International, Newfoundland, finally, Lawton, Oklahoma. Nice looooooong nap.
To borrow a line from a famous song (and a witty friend), "I'm leaving on a jet plane."
Pretty good news.
Miss you all more than you'll ever know.
Love,
C-M/P/3
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Camp Virginia!
Dear All my Favorite People,
Yahoo...so far. Yes, I'm in Camp Virgina, Kuwait, which is just a 1/2 hour bus ride to the airport. We arrived late Saturday afternoon, unloaded our bags, received a thrilling briefing on military manners, and promptly I went to McDonalds. Though I'm really not that fond of McDonalds, it was a symbolic way to celebrate Americana. The coke was served in miniature cans with Arabic writing, but the food tasted the same. Especially the overly-salted fries. Mmm, mmm, good. Bet my blood pressure went up 20 pts.
And even better, when I logged into this blog, it was in English! So now I can add my thoughts.
We had an Awards Ceremony in the tent last night. Very informal; my company doesn't like to act military and have formations and all. I received a Safety Award for over 3000 flight hours, and 250 hours for Night Vision Goggles (almost at 500; doesn't include Night Vision Devices - Apache stuff, right Pat?), and an Air Medal for not breaking anything or getting shot down flying combat missions. For a while I was feeling disappointed because I thought being grounded would negate the Air Medal, but my favorite Lieutenant took care of me anyway. I'd hate to be left out of all the chest thumping!
One of our "characters," Badroad who looks like a big, chunky Hawaiian (though he's from Hawaii but has Indian and Norwegian blood), had his birthday yesterday. We all sang Happy Birthday like a bunch of boisterous pirates, someone produced a small bottle of milk with a cake (smuggled out of the chow hall), and a special birthday gift - a pineapple! I'm sure one of the food displays at the chow hall is missing its centerpiece!
Pretty funny picture last night, actually. Everyone curled up on cots, eyes glued to laptops with movies and shooting games going on. People didn't wake up until 10:00 am this morning. Today, which, of course, will be like tomorrow, eat, sleep, read, eat, sleep, read, sleep. Oh,yea. Shower. Still the traditional shower trailers. The bathrooms are litle port-a-johns, usually 4 lashed together to prevent them blowing away during dust storms. Very quaint. Smells great, too.
The excitement is building, but the sand and heat sucks it right back out of me. So, I'll reserve real excitement until I'm on an air conditioned airliner flying back to the States. We've been told, we depart late on the 22nd (Wed), through Germany, Newfoundland, then Oklahoma. Get reindoctrinated to how to act politely in civil society for 4-5 days, then maybe, could be, might be, we'll get to Arizona early the next week. Make a chain, Linda. Just be ready to amend as necessary, courtesy of the U.S. Army.
Love you all very much. (I look forward to hot pizza and cold beer).
C-M/P/3
(Christopher-Michael / Poppy / CW3 Pedersen)
Yahoo...so far. Yes, I'm in Camp Virgina, Kuwait, which is just a 1/2 hour bus ride to the airport. We arrived late Saturday afternoon, unloaded our bags, received a thrilling briefing on military manners, and promptly I went to McDonalds. Though I'm really not that fond of McDonalds, it was a symbolic way to celebrate Americana. The coke was served in miniature cans with Arabic writing, but the food tasted the same. Especially the overly-salted fries. Mmm, mmm, good. Bet my blood pressure went up 20 pts.
And even better, when I logged into this blog, it was in English! So now I can add my thoughts.
We had an Awards Ceremony in the tent last night. Very informal; my company doesn't like to act military and have formations and all. I received a Safety Award for over 3000 flight hours, and 250 hours for Night Vision Goggles (almost at 500; doesn't include Night Vision Devices - Apache stuff, right Pat?), and an Air Medal for not breaking anything or getting shot down flying combat missions. For a while I was feeling disappointed because I thought being grounded would negate the Air Medal, but my favorite Lieutenant took care of me anyway. I'd hate to be left out of all the chest thumping!
One of our "characters," Badroad who looks like a big, chunky Hawaiian (though he's from Hawaii but has Indian and Norwegian blood), had his birthday yesterday. We all sang Happy Birthday like a bunch of boisterous pirates, someone produced a small bottle of milk with a cake (smuggled out of the chow hall), and a special birthday gift - a pineapple! I'm sure one of the food displays at the chow hall is missing its centerpiece!
Pretty funny picture last night, actually. Everyone curled up on cots, eyes glued to laptops with movies and shooting games going on. People didn't wake up until 10:00 am this morning. Today, which, of course, will be like tomorrow, eat, sleep, read, eat, sleep, read, sleep. Oh,yea. Shower. Still the traditional shower trailers. The bathrooms are litle port-a-johns, usually 4 lashed together to prevent them blowing away during dust storms. Very quaint. Smells great, too.
The excitement is building, but the sand and heat sucks it right back out of me. So, I'll reserve real excitement until I'm on an air conditioned airliner flying back to the States. We've been told, we depart late on the 22nd (Wed), through Germany, Newfoundland, then Oklahoma. Get reindoctrinated to how to act politely in civil society for 4-5 days, then maybe, could be, might be, we'll get to Arizona early the next week. Make a chain, Linda. Just be ready to amend as necessary, courtesy of the U.S. Army.
Love you all very much. (I look forward to hot pizza and cold beer).
C-M/P/3
(Christopher-Michael / Poppy / CW3 Pedersen)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
One stop closer to home
Chris called this morning to let us know that his unit is now in Camp Virginia in Kuwait. It's a 20-minute bus ride to Kuwait International Airport. That's all that stands between him and a plane to the U.S. - a bus with the windows covered by curtains, and, I'm guessing, a whole bunch of U.S. military-sized red tape.
He said Camp Virginia is very nice - phones and computers are free there and they have a McDonald's. It certainly sounds better than the last base they were at. They will probably be there until mid-week. He says he won't really feel like he's coming home until he's on the plane, but he sounds pretty happy already.
If we had known an actual return date, we would have hung one of those paper chains we used to count down to Christmas with, but just check back here. I'll let you know when they're on their way. Woo hoo!
love to all,
Linda Sophia
He said Camp Virginia is very nice - phones and computers are free there and they have a McDonald's. It certainly sounds better than the last base they were at. They will probably be there until mid-week. He says he won't really feel like he's coming home until he's on the plane, but he sounds pretty happy already.
If we had known an actual return date, we would have hung one of those paper chains we used to count down to Christmas with, but just check back here. I'll let you know when they're on their way. Woo hoo!
love to all,
Linda Sophia
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Ku-wait!
Chris is in Kuwait now and will be there until the helicopters are clean of dust (about a week). Get out your Qtips everyone. Actually, I don't think this is the kind of detailing he likes.
He's living in a tent that holds about 50 of his closest friends. When they first arrived, he volunteered to watch all the gear while everyone went to a meeting, and since it lasted a long time, he got to claim his space first - corner! Score. It is super hot there, but the tent has good air conditioning.
We will keep you posted as he moves closer to home. His next stop will be another base in Kuwait, then a long flight to Germany, Maine and then finally to Oklahoma. They will hang out there for about four days. So sometime in the last week of September or possibly into the first few days of October, Chris will be home. Finally. Thank God.
love to all,
Linda Sophia
He's living in a tent that holds about 50 of his closest friends. When they first arrived, he volunteered to watch all the gear while everyone went to a meeting, and since it lasted a long time, he got to claim his space first - corner! Score. It is super hot there, but the tent has good air conditioning.
We will keep you posted as he moves closer to home. His next stop will be another base in Kuwait, then a long flight to Germany, Maine and then finally to Oklahoma. They will hang out there for about four days. So sometime in the last week of September or possibly into the first few days of October, Chris will be home. Finally. Thank God.
love to all,
Linda Sophia
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Our freshmen!
Our dear family and friends,
Lauren is all moved into her dorm at ASU - with all the other freshmen in the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts. Her roommate (Roxie) and a friend walked around the floor today and declared that they have the cleanest room on the floor. It's likely to stay that way, too!
She went to her first class today - drawing studio. What a great way to start her college career. She thinks she will really like the instructor and the class. There are only about 19 people in her class. Tomorrow she has her English and math classes. Next week she'll start her color studio class and one other mini-class that ASU requires of all incoming students.
Move in was all it should be in August in Phoenix - miserably hot and humid all day with a giant thunderstorm that night. Her room is situated in the boy's end of the floor, and that could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. The floor assistant and the two peer mentors have their rooms right around her so she feels pretty protected from wild animals. We're all adjusting to life without each other but I'm so proud of how well she's taking on all the challenges so far. We'll have some pictures soon.
Our other freshman, Mr. Gunner, started high school at Veritas two weeks ago. We were a little concerned because four of his six teachers were new to Veritas. I met them all at the Dessert Social before school actually started and was pretty impressed. His classes are geometry, Latin III, humane letters (American history and literature), biology, poetry and choral music.
His choral instructor is the same one that took Lauren's choir to New York last spring. She was out all last week for family reasons, so the first day she taught his class was this Tuesday. She had them all singing right away. After a bit, she split the class in two and had only one half sing. Then cut it down to just two rows. Then she pointed her finger at Gunner and said, "It's you, you're the one with the deep voice. I knew it. At least you're in tune." He said he blushed all the way behind his ears. (She's very pretty and Lauren says that all the boys fall in love with her.) Today, she asked him to try to sing a little higher. Maybe there's such a thing as too low?
Chris has moved everything into the shipping containers and is now living sparsely with his two duffle bags (mostly heavy gear) and a backpack. We all know what this means...he really is coming home soon!! We'll keep you posted.
Love you all,
Linda Sophia
Lauren is all moved into her dorm at ASU - with all the other freshmen in the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts. Her roommate (Roxie) and a friend walked around the floor today and declared that they have the cleanest room on the floor. It's likely to stay that way, too!
She went to her first class today - drawing studio. What a great way to start her college career. She thinks she will really like the instructor and the class. There are only about 19 people in her class. Tomorrow she has her English and math classes. Next week she'll start her color studio class and one other mini-class that ASU requires of all incoming students.
Move in was all it should be in August in Phoenix - miserably hot and humid all day with a giant thunderstorm that night. Her room is situated in the boy's end of the floor, and that could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. The floor assistant and the two peer mentors have their rooms right around her so she feels pretty protected from wild animals. We're all adjusting to life without each other but I'm so proud of how well she's taking on all the challenges so far. We'll have some pictures soon.
Our other freshman, Mr. Gunner, started high school at Veritas two weeks ago. We were a little concerned because four of his six teachers were new to Veritas. I met them all at the Dessert Social before school actually started and was pretty impressed. His classes are geometry, Latin III, humane letters (American history and literature), biology, poetry and choral music.
His choral instructor is the same one that took Lauren's choir to New York last spring. She was out all last week for family reasons, so the first day she taught his class was this Tuesday. She had them all singing right away. After a bit, she split the class in two and had only one half sing. Then cut it down to just two rows. Then she pointed her finger at Gunner and said, "It's you, you're the one with the deep voice. I knew it. At least you're in tune." He said he blushed all the way behind his ears. (She's very pretty and Lauren says that all the boys fall in love with her.) Today, she asked him to try to sing a little higher. Maybe there's such a thing as too low?
Chris has moved everything into the shipping containers and is now living sparsely with his two duffle bags (mostly heavy gear) and a backpack. We all know what this means...he really is coming home soon!! We'll keep you posted.
Love you all,
Linda Sophia
Friday, July 30, 2010
Visiting the Doctors
Dear Diary...sorry, wrong thing...Dear Blog,
For the last two months I've been grounded, restricted from flight duties. Just because of a little problem with vertigo. Seems my inner ear wasn't agreeing with the rest of my senses. So, my flight surgeon grounded me from flying duties until I got better. But today, there's some resolution. With a referral from my flight surgeon, I flew up to another base, Balad, and visited 2 doctors, an Audiologist and an Ear-Nose-and Throat specialist. Both couldn't find anything going on in my head...uh, make that "anything wrong" going on in my head. So I'm sending the flight surgeon their findings and hoping he'll put me back on flight status. We'll see.
So someone asked me, how did I travel up to visit these doctors in Iraq. Okay, it went like this. Since I now work in the battalion "Future Planning Cell" and know most of the flight times and routes, I scheduled to be on a flight from Taji up to Balad. I got on a helicopter at the flight line in Taji with my company. Simple enough. I know where they work.
Then, they flew me 20 minutes northeast and dropped me off at a terminal, known by the amusing name of "Catfish Hotel."
From there, I went outside, sat at a bus stop with a nice wooden, shaded bench, tried to understand the various route maps stapled on the posts, did a slow bake in the 120-degree heat, and finally a 20-passenger Kia bus pulled up. They're driven by either Indian's, Pakistani's, Fillipino's, etc., all contractors. We only stay on base, unless you count the three times that the drivers at another base tried to hijack the solitary soldier onboard. Each time, the soldier drew their weapon, and in no uncertain terms persuaded the driver that they appeared to be going the wrong way. The drivers became quickly convinced and turned around. Of course, these were native Iraqi drivers. We don't use those anymore. Must be their sense of direction which terminated them. No, the buses are safe, most of the time air conditioned, but the drivers don't speak English very well. No matter how many times I asked, "Are you going by the hospital?", different drivers would only shake their heads, no. Even though according to the maps, their route went right by it. Sheeeeeeeeeesh. That's what wore me out the day of my arrival. Lugging a backpack, body armor, and a helmet bag, standing in the heat, completely draining my 1 liter of bottled water, and riding a bus to no where...just like the Beatles song - "He's a real nowhere man, living in a nowhere land, making all his nowhere plans for nobody." Dum, dum, de dum, DUMB.
The weather visibility in our part of Iraq has been so poor that helicopter flights are on "Weather Hold." Thus, I'm on vacation. So for past 3 days, I've been living in a basement room (read that, dungeon) shared with the messiest LTC in Iraq, and 7 other empty bunks. I've got a nice lower bunk in a corner complete with a pink sheet hanging from the end to give me a sense of privacy. Who uses pink sheets in Iraq? Only the Army, I guess. Here at the hospital, I get 3 square meals a day, my own room (not really), free bus rides to the big PX (if you can find the right bus stop and route), a nice exercise room with a big screen TV, and an indoor shower. Who could ask for anything more? ...Don't answer that.
Well, I hope you're enjoying your summer. Mine's been memorable. Take lots of pictures. Sorry, I haven't figured out how to read all the Arabic script my blogsite opens up to. Maybe I can send them to Linda, and she can post them.
Much love to you all,
C-M/P/3
For the last two months I've been grounded, restricted from flight duties. Just because of a little problem with vertigo. Seems my inner ear wasn't agreeing with the rest of my senses. So, my flight surgeon grounded me from flying duties until I got better. But today, there's some resolution. With a referral from my flight surgeon, I flew up to another base, Balad, and visited 2 doctors, an Audiologist and an Ear-Nose-and Throat specialist. Both couldn't find anything going on in my head...uh, make that "anything wrong" going on in my head. So I'm sending the flight surgeon their findings and hoping he'll put me back on flight status. We'll see.
So someone asked me, how did I travel up to visit these doctors in Iraq. Okay, it went like this. Since I now work in the battalion "Future Planning Cell" and know most of the flight times and routes, I scheduled to be on a flight from Taji up to Balad. I got on a helicopter at the flight line in Taji with my company. Simple enough. I know where they work.
Then, they flew me 20 minutes northeast and dropped me off at a terminal, known by the amusing name of "Catfish Hotel."
From there, I went outside, sat at a bus stop with a nice wooden, shaded bench, tried to understand the various route maps stapled on the posts, did a slow bake in the 120-degree heat, and finally a 20-passenger Kia bus pulled up. They're driven by either Indian's, Pakistani's, Fillipino's, etc., all contractors. We only stay on base, unless you count the three times that the drivers at another base tried to hijack the solitary soldier onboard. Each time, the soldier drew their weapon, and in no uncertain terms persuaded the driver that they appeared to be going the wrong way. The drivers became quickly convinced and turned around. Of course, these were native Iraqi drivers. We don't use those anymore. Must be their sense of direction which terminated them. No, the buses are safe, most of the time air conditioned, but the drivers don't speak English very well. No matter how many times I asked, "Are you going by the hospital?", different drivers would only shake their heads, no. Even though according to the maps, their route went right by it. Sheeeeeeeeeesh. That's what wore me out the day of my arrival. Lugging a backpack, body armor, and a helmet bag, standing in the heat, completely draining my 1 liter of bottled water, and riding a bus to no where...just like the Beatles song - "He's a real nowhere man, living in a nowhere land, making all his nowhere plans for nobody." Dum, dum, de dum, DUMB.
The weather visibility in our part of Iraq has been so poor that helicopter flights are on "Weather Hold." Thus, I'm on vacation. So for past 3 days, I've been living in a basement room (read that, dungeon) shared with the messiest LTC in Iraq, and 7 other empty bunks. I've got a nice lower bunk in a corner complete with a pink sheet hanging from the end to give me a sense of privacy. Who uses pink sheets in Iraq? Only the Army, I guess. Here at the hospital, I get 3 square meals a day, my own room (not really), free bus rides to the big PX (if you can find the right bus stop and route), a nice exercise room with a big screen TV, and an indoor shower. Who could ask for anything more? ...Don't answer that.
Well, I hope you're enjoying your summer. Mine's been memorable. Take lots of pictures. Sorry, I haven't figured out how to read all the Arabic script my blogsite opens up to. Maybe I can send them to Linda, and she can post them.
Much love to you all,
C-M/P/3
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Catching up on summer - while it's still here!
We've gotten very lax about keeping up on the blog. We could say, in our whiniest voices, "It's soooo hot here," but, Chris would have us beat at 124 degrees and he doesn't even talk about it.
He's working in the mission planning office with some veeeery appreciative folks - until he joined them, they hadn't had a day off in months. Of course they don't want him to leave, and who can blame them! He's in the office from noon to midnight almost every day so he hasn't had much time for blogging or taking pictures. Rest assured, the faithful Trigger and his beloved refrigerator made the trip from FOB Delta to Taji just fine.
Okay, here are some photos taken with Lauren's camera in the past two months.
Gunner's penny bones. I'm not really sure how this happened, but, hey, it's summer and, well, that's when you have time to line pennies up on your arm, right?
And Pat and Suzy Dodds combined some old home movies of us into a YouTube video. It includes the time that Chris and I (before L&G) dressed up as pirates to help out at a Dodd's pirate birthday party - apparently we were most helpful with the tug-o'-war. Arr! It also includes some classic footage from Gunner's baptism and a very shy Lauren celebrating her third birthday with Pat, Suzy and Zach. Thank you Dodd's!
He's working in the mission planning office with some veeeery appreciative folks - until he joined them, they hadn't had a day off in months. Of course they don't want him to leave, and who can blame them! He's in the office from noon to midnight almost every day so he hasn't had much time for blogging or taking pictures. Rest assured, the faithful Trigger and his beloved refrigerator made the trip from FOB Delta to Taji just fine.
Okay, here are some photos taken with Lauren's camera in the past two months.
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Gunner and his Learning Rx trainer Kelly Kimbrell at Gunner's graduation from the program. Way to go!! (I think Gunner was smaller than Kelly when they started.) |
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Veritas alumni hike with Mr. Sullivan in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. |
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Did you know tie racks are all the rage in men's neckwear? |
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| Cookies for Poppy! |
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| Grandma Pedersen with cousins Lauren, Gunner, Elizabeth, Emily and Christine. |
Click here to watch Some Pedersen Moments.
Gunner is at Camp St. Nicholas for the week, and Lauren is heading off to California for some beach time with friends this weekend.
Love to all, Linda Sophia
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Chris is in Taji
Chris moved safely to Taji and we have his new address:
CW3 Chris Pedersen
A Co, 2-285th Assault Helicopter Bn
Camp Taji
APO AE 09378
I know the second line wraps to a third line over there in the Chris' address section of the blog's left margin, but it's supposed to look like this. We're all used to just writing AHB - I'll check with him to see if we can keep abbreviating it.
He's sharing a room with another pilot in temporary quarters until they can move into CHUs. He said he could throw a rock over the guard fence near their building and hit an Iraqi freeway/highway. He hasn't, he's just giving us an idea of how close he is to the ouside world. That's very different from COB Delta. And he says this base feels very old compared to COB Delta. But he still has food and showers, so that's a good thing.
Gunner finished summer school (woo hoo!) and Lauren's getting ready for classes at ASU. They're both working hard at relaxing.
Love to all, Linda
CW3 Chris Pedersen
A Co, 2-285th Assault Helicopter Bn
Camp Taji
APO AE 09378
I know the second line wraps to a third line over there in the Chris' address section of the blog's left margin, but it's supposed to look like this. We're all used to just writing AHB - I'll check with him to see if we can keep abbreviating it.
He's sharing a room with another pilot in temporary quarters until they can move into CHUs. He said he could throw a rock over the guard fence near their building and hit an Iraqi freeway/highway. He hasn't, he's just giving us an idea of how close he is to the ouside world. That's very different from COB Delta. And he says this base feels very old compared to COB Delta. But he still has food and showers, so that's a good thing.
Gunner finished summer school (woo hoo!) and Lauren's getting ready for classes at ASU. They're both working hard at relaxing.
Love to all, Linda
Monday, June 14, 2010
Graduates!!!
I took waaay too long to get to this post. We have two new graduates in the family. Gunner graduated from 8th grade on Friday, May 28th and Lauren graduated from high school on Saturday, May 29th. Both attend Veritas Preparatory Academy - and we are very proud of their achievements.
Gunner - the new high school freshman. Woo hoo!!
Gunner with Gommie and PaLo. Nice blue coordination going on there!
Gunner and his friend Geneva - and I don't think they planned to match because Gunner's wearing a brand new shirt. Just worked out that way. Geneva's off to India for 2 months to help at an orphanage. Be well, Geneva!
Lauren and Tara just before graduation. You two made it!!!
The new graduate with Laura Sergent, Matthew and Molly Workman...
...and with the fathers: Poppy, Fr. John Bethancourt and Fr. James Coles.
We are especially grateful to our extended family for making this weekend so special: Mom and PaLo (Happy Birthday, Mom!) from Albuquerque, Fr. John from Santa Fe, and the Workmans, the Sergents, the Coles, the Dodds, and Ann Carroll from Phoenix. And for everyone who's been praying for us.
Chris is back in the Middle East. We're just waiting to hear that he's safely back in his CHU with Trigger. That must be one lonely bike!
Gunner - the new high school freshman. Woo hoo!!
Gunner with Gommie and PaLo. Nice blue coordination going on there!
Gunner and his friend Geneva - and I don't think they planned to match because Gunner's wearing a brand new shirt. Just worked out that way. Geneva's off to India for 2 months to help at an orphanage. Be well, Geneva!
Lauren and Tara just before graduation. You two made it!!!
...and with the fathers: Poppy, Fr. John Bethancourt and Fr. James Coles.
We are especially grateful to our extended family for making this weekend so special: Mom and PaLo (Happy Birthday, Mom!) from Albuquerque, Fr. John from Santa Fe, and the Workmans, the Sergents, the Coles, the Dodds, and Ann Carroll from Phoenix. And for everyone who's been praying for us.
Chris is back in the Middle East. We're just waiting to hear that he's safely back in his CHU with Trigger. That must be one lonely bike!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Poppy's Home!
It's amazing to be all together again.
Next week is finals and graduations and a visit from Gommie and PaLo. No rest for the weary warrior...well, maybe a little. Chris will be here until June 6. It seems like a ways away but we know it will go very quickly.
Thank you everyone for your prayers.
Love to all, Linda Sophia
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Some of A Company Personnel
Tappety, tap, tap, tappety, tap, tap...
Trigger, the Super Reporter signing in.
I felt it's about time to show some of the personnel in A Company, better known as the Kyotes. An undisclosed source, (Why am I always "undisclosed"?) who spoke on the condition of anonymity (And why always "anonymous"?)...Could you keep it down, I'm trying to work here, but this should answer your question... because he was not authorized to say anything! (I'm not?)...at all...stay out of this Poppy...I'm trying to work some magic here.
Here are some of the personnel in action.
CW3 Aidan Anderson served as the poster model for the 12th CAB welcoming everyone into Kuwait. When he's not defending the world against terrorists, Jhadists, Al Qaida, and people with a bad attitude, he serves as an AH-64D Longbow pilot down at the WAATS north of Tucson. He must have really said the wrong thing to somebody important in order to be invited along on this deployment.
CW2 Tyler Fricke prior to practicing Roll-over Training in an MRAP simulator. Tyler generally has that crazy disposition when he gets behind the wheel of anything. Must be something he gets in those care packages from Natalie. He probably knows my brother Tex, the Chandler Policeman. Seems when he was a teenager he got to meet quite a few of them.
On the C-130 out of Kuwait heading for FOB Delta, from L-R: CW4 Paul Duff (full-time Instructor Pilot at Papago), SGT Dustin Jakes (door gunner, constuction foreman, and weight lifting guru), CW2 Aidrian Manuel (recording artist and self-proclaimed uniform model...but he has fun), and CW2 Chuck Hoelzel (2nd deployment, body builder and AH-64D Longbow pilot as well).
The other side of the C-130 out of Kuwait, from L-R: CW3 Emmit Williams (electronics wizard and Tucson police officer), CW3 Aidan Anderson (who you've already met), CW3 Josh DeLand (crazy man, 2nd deployment), SGT Casper Bierman (former car salesman and aspiring fixed-wing pilot), 1SG Enrique Hernandez (2nd deployment, the only sane person in the company...note the helmet), SGT Matt Ferguson (crew-chief, door gunner, and all-around nice guy), and CW2 Glenn Whiting (always smiling, must be happy).
CW2 Jonathan Rover (accountant, sail plane pilot, fixed wing pilot, seaplane pilot, UH-60 pilot...I think he genuinely enjoys flying) and CW3 Chris Pedersen (Oh yea, you already know him).
1LT Caleb Grandy (Military contractor to Boeing Helicopters, Mechanical Engineer, inventor of a high-speed electric-motored skateboard). One of the brightest young officers I've ever met. Recently got transferred out to serve at the Battalion Level. Our loss.
1LT Jason Kumle (serves as a Border Patrol agent when he's not flying with us). Sharp young officer, too. Recently got transferred out, too.
CW4 Marla McFarland (WAATS Instructor Pilot in OH-58 Kiowas) as she shows us how to relax when she calls her hubby who is a retired, former Instructor Pilot. Too smart. Nicknamed "Cougar".
Relaxation by Annihilation - the X-box games. From L-R: CW2 Rovey, SGT Peter Leslie (pre-law student), 1LT Grandy, and CW3 Josh DeLand. Josh always wins. Always. He's highly competitive.
CPT Eric Salisbury discusses how Safety Goggles can save your eyesight. The CPT has a sharp wit and a great sense of humor. He is cursed to be totally misunderstood by his higher ups but unanimously loved and respected by his troops. Exceptional leader.
But why would anyone put on a pair of glasses and intentionally look so dorky...
...Well, guess we have an answer for that. Winner! CW3 Pedersen models Special helmet with simulator lenses during pre-deployment training at Ft Rucker. He hated that simulator, but ended up getting the most flight time of anyone in the company in the black box. His green skin color matched his uniform after too many hours in the box.
So there you have a sampling of the personalities in Kyote Company.
...Okay, Mr. Poppy, no more need for your "anonymous source" information. You're dismissed...
And that's the way I see Southern Iraq. This has been Trigger, the Super Reporter, signing off.
Trigger, the Super Reporter signing in.
I felt it's about time to show some of the personnel in A Company, better known as the Kyotes. An undisclosed source, (Why am I always "undisclosed"?) who spoke on the condition of anonymity (And why always "anonymous"?)...Could you keep it down, I'm trying to work here, but this should answer your question... because he was not authorized to say anything! (I'm not?)...at all...stay out of this Poppy...I'm trying to work some magic here.
Here are some of the personnel in action.
CPT Eric Salisbury discusses how Safety Goggles can save your eyesight. The CPT has a sharp wit and a great sense of humor. He is cursed to be totally misunderstood by his higher ups but unanimously loved and respected by his troops. Exceptional leader.
But why would anyone put on a pair of glasses and intentionally look so dorky...
So there you have a sampling of the personalities in Kyote Company.
...Okay, Mr. Poppy, no more need for your "anonymous source" information. You're dismissed...
And that's the way I see Southern Iraq. This has been Trigger, the Super Reporter, signing off.
Monday, May 17, 2010
A Day at the Office
My desktop. Okay, it's really the left side, but somebody has to be flying this thing.
One of our "backseat driver's", the left side door gunner doing some practice at the range. Pretty noisey, but very comforting for some reason.
Chalk One as we pulled up for a photo opportunity.
Chalk One landing for fuel at one of the the FARP's (Forward Arming and Refueling Point).
AH-64D Longbow at an unnamed northern base. (Yes, Pat. The CAV, see the Yellow Shield, is still at his old stomping grounds.)
CH-47 Chinook unloads while we get gas up and load passengers. Lots and lots of passengers and a tremendous amount of cargo space. What a workhorse. Great helicopter.
A Medevac UH-60 Blackhawk prepares to depart.
Following Chalk One (see the red circle) into an LZ. The LZ is also a Motor Pool. Lots of gravel. Dust wasn't too bad. Nice and cozy. 
You never know who you'll get to sling gravel at. A Mercedes sedan. Sorry but you parked there buddy.
Mission accomplished. From left-right - CPT Tim Woods (Pilot-in-Command), SGT James Finney (Right side crewchief/door gunner), me (Pilot), and SGT Jamuel Ruiz (Left side door gunner).It's a small desk, but a big workspace.
Love you all,
C-M/P/3
(Christopher-Michael/Poppy/CW3 Pedersen)
Trigger Reporting - Knee Problem Resolved
Tappety, tap, tap, tappety, tap, tap.
Good evening again, folks. Trigger, the Super Reporter on the scene today with Medical News direct from the front lines of Iraq.
Over the past two weeks, Mr. Poppy, aka "The Old Man of the Company", has been hobbling around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimoto. Though it seems Mr. Poppy's hump had settled on his right knee. ("Hump? What hump?" You really should see the Mel Brook's version of the movie. It's a riot!)
After being grounded by the Flight Surgeon, CPT O'Nan, something had to be done.
So here it is. We have photographic proof so when Mr. Poppy goes the VA Hospital, the lowest-bidder-contract-doctor might have a chance at accepting this as proof. Maybe. (Doubtfully)
Avert your eyes if you need to. I know Mr. Poppy did!
Not to worry. Dr. O'Nan moonlights on the civilian side as a Cardiac Specialist. (Huh? Wait a minute...Can we get a 2nd opinion here?) He creates a sterile field. (In Iraq? Hardly.) "Relax. You're too tense." (So his perfectly rigid body wasn't relaxed enough?)
The highly trained heart doctor takes aim... "Right knee? Yea, okay. They both look pretty bad. I've got plenty of needles. We can do both if you'd like?" (Always willing to give and give and give...) "Now, we numb the site with a small needle. Unless you'd rather go without it and try for a Purple Heart?" (Mr. Poppy thought about screaming like a little girl right about now.).
"Then, we wait a little bit...Okay, that's long enough. (Wait! 1 minute! That's long enough?) Can you feel anything? (My heart is racing. Does that count?) Now a little bigger needle, you might feel some pressure (Mr. Poppy came to a hover 2 inches off the gurney at that point), and we drain off a little red stuff that's causing all that swelling. Not much juice. Are you holding out on me, Mr. Pedersen? Come on, relax..."
"Now we'll insert a little Lydocaine/Steroid cocktail. That should numb it and keep the swelling down. Are you doing okay? I told you to relax." (Breath in, breath out. I think I learned that at Linda's childbirth class. Yea, said that at Lauren's and Gunner's both. Boy, was I a big help!)
"Finally. That should do it. Well, Mr. Pedersen, how're you feeling? Any questions?" (Nope...thanks very much...Sorry, Doc...gotta' run....I think I hear my mother calling me...COMING MOMMY!!!)
Good evening again, folks. Trigger, the Super Reporter on the scene today with Medical News direct from the front lines of Iraq.
Over the past two weeks, Mr. Poppy, aka "The Old Man of the Company", has been hobbling around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimoto. Though it seems Mr. Poppy's hump had settled on his right knee. ("Hump? What hump?" You really should see the Mel Brook's version of the movie. It's a riot!)
After being grounded by the Flight Surgeon, CPT O'Nan, something had to be done.
So here it is. We have photographic proof so when Mr. Poppy goes the VA Hospital, the lowest-bidder-contract-doctor might have a chance at accepting this as proof. Maybe. (Doubtfully)
Avert your eyes if you need to. I know Mr. Poppy did!
So that's our brave warrior in in-action.
This has been a Medical News update from Trigger, your on-the-spot super reporter, signing off.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Mr. Poppy's Bird List
Tappety, tap, tap, tap...
Good evening, folks. Trigger, your roaming reporter here, bringing you Entertainment News.
2. Collared Dove (See Fr's. John and James, that collar-thing can catch on in the Middle East.)
3. Rock Dove (No, it's not a pigeon. It's a rock dove, Cite - "Birds of the Middle East" fieldguide.)
4. House Sparrow (Attracted to Mr. Poppy's personal birdseed mix - sunflower seeds, tortilla chips, and Ritz crackers. Exquisite. Keep those packages coming.)
5. Barn Owl (Which lives in the Iraqi Air Force hangar, which just so happens to not have any aircraft in it. Must be an analogy there somewhere.)
6. Barn Swallow (Second "Barn"-type. And we don't even have barns here!)
7. White Wagtail (Pretty bird with a twitchy butt. Fun to watch.)
8. Egyptian Nightjar (One of the pilots said one swooped down on him one night. "It was the biggest bat I've ever seen!" Knucklehead.)
9. Parakeet (Ataklef at the laundry. Yes, we sent him a photo for his scrapbook. We keep up on International relations.)
Good evening, folks. Trigger, your roaming reporter here, bringing you Entertainment News.
Mr. Poppy has received fascinating e-mails from a source in Albuqerque who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she is not authorized to disclose classified information. (Don't you just love how reporters always use that phrase?) Her Bird List is diverse, extensive, and factual; the last point being somewhat questionable.
So Mr. Poppy, in an effort to stay competitve, has offered to provide an update on his extensive "Birds of Iraq" list.
Here goes:
1. Black-winged stilt (Yea, a water bird in the desert. Go figure.)2. Collared Dove (See Fr's. John and James, that collar-thing can catch on in the Middle East.)
3. Rock Dove (No, it's not a pigeon. It's a rock dove, Cite - "Birds of the Middle East" fieldguide.)
4. House Sparrow (Attracted to Mr. Poppy's personal birdseed mix - sunflower seeds, tortilla chips, and Ritz crackers. Exquisite. Keep those packages coming.)
5. Barn Owl (Which lives in the Iraqi Air Force hangar, which just so happens to not have any aircraft in it. Must be an analogy there somewhere.)
6. Barn Swallow (Second "Barn"-type. And we don't even have barns here!)
7. White Wagtail (Pretty bird with a twitchy butt. Fun to watch.)
8. Egyptian Nightjar (One of the pilots said one swooped down on him one night. "It was the biggest bat I've ever seen!" Knucklehead.)
9. Parakeet (Ataklef at the laundry. Yes, we sent him a photo for his scrapbook. We keep up on International relations.)
10. Finally, a LITTLE BIRD (Special Forces OH-6. Hard to locate in the fieldguide. Might need to be added and classified a Raptor!)
So, remember Barbara (oops, I think I just gave away the identity of the anonymous Albuquerque source; Oh, well. You know how reporters are.), just because you're SLIGHTLY ahead of Mr. Poppy on your bird list, 4,968 to 10, it's not about "Quantity," it's about "Quality".
And that's the way I see it (as well as a bicycle can see anyway).
From beautiful, sunny, hot, dusty, hazy Al Kut, Iraq, this has been Trigger, your roaming reporter, signing off.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Change of address
The Army has done the unthinkable - sent soldiers' mail and packages back because the FOB turned into a COB. If you sent a package to Chris within the past few weeks, it might come back. There have been many e-mails from the support groups trying to figure out the problem. Some say it's fixed, then it isn't, then it is. There are many very unhappy soldiers at FOB/COB Delta, let me tell you. I fear for the person who decided to send all the mail back.
Editor's note: See Chris' comment - he received two packages yesterday!
Here is a workaround address for now:
CW3 Chris Pedersen
HHC 2-285th AHB
COB Delta
APO AE 09331 (09317)
Chris says he will be moving to a different base in June or early July. So stay tuned and check back here if you want to mail anything. I'll keep the address in the left margin up to date.
Thank you to everyone who sends him notes and packages. It completely makes the day.
Love to all,
Linda Sophia
Editor's note: See Chris' comment - he received two packages yesterday!
Here is a workaround address for now:
CW3 Chris Pedersen
HHC 2-285th AHB
COB Delta
APO AE 09331 (09317)
Chris says he will be moving to a different base in June or early July. So stay tuned and check back here if you want to mail anything. I'll keep the address in the left margin up to date.
Thank you to everyone who sends him notes and packages. It completely makes the day.
Love to all,
Linda Sophia
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Chris outdid himself!
So, I get an e-mail from Chris that includes a car ad from Craigslist. He's already contacted the seller ("Hi. I'm calling from Iraq about the car you have for sale...) and the mechanic to inspect it. I just needed to get the ball rolling. If you've known us for a while, you know that Chris is the car enthusiast and I love that cars run and take us places. Other than that, I really am not that into cars. And the only thing I ever really use the word "hate" about is...buying and selling cars. Aaaaaa. But, Chris had found the perfect car for Lauren, after many not-perfect possibilities that she would've been happy with but just didn't meet Chris' standards. It passed the inspection and, voila (well, okay, there's no such thing as voila in buying a car), Lauren had her own car.
Thanks to Grandma, and to Matt Workman who helped with all the transporting, the car was waiting for Lauren when she got home from school last Friday. Surprise!! The windows shook from the excited screaming when she found a set of keys on a little pillow in the center of her bed. Here she is with her car the next day:
It's a 1986 BMW 5-series, automatic, with 109,000 miles on it for $4,000. It's the oldest car in the family and has the least number of miles. In one year, she can get historic vehicle plates for it. It's so her.
The interior is in great shape. No cracks in the seats-it looks amazing. We all love the car phone/brick in the console! Of course it needs a few things tweaked and fixed but that's to be expected in a 24-year-old car. She loves it.
Chris has a theory that you have to nab the good deals within three hours of when they're posted. He nailed this one, and he can't wait to get his hands on it. We'll warm up the buffer for him. Way to go, Poppy!
(No, Gunner, sorry, not yet. Fair happens later. Love you, though.)
Love to all, Linda
Thanks to Grandma, and to Matt Workman who helped with all the transporting, the car was waiting for Lauren when she got home from school last Friday. Surprise!! The windows shook from the excited screaming when she found a set of keys on a little pillow in the center of her bed. Here she is with her car the next day:
It's a 1986 BMW 5-series, automatic, with 109,000 miles on it for $4,000. It's the oldest car in the family and has the least number of miles. In one year, she can get historic vehicle plates for it. It's so her.
The interior is in great shape. No cracks in the seats-it looks amazing. We all love the car phone/brick in the console! Of course it needs a few things tweaked and fixed but that's to be expected in a 24-year-old car. She loves it.
Chris has a theory that you have to nab the good deals within three hours of when they're posted. He nailed this one, and he can't wait to get his hands on it. We'll warm up the buffer for him. Way to go, Poppy!
(No, Gunner, sorry, not yet. Fair happens later. Love you, though.)
Love to all, Linda
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Yes, two out of three cameras are working...
We're catching up a bit on the MUCH REQUESTED PHOTOS!! :-)
Here are some shots from Lauren's trip to Washington, D.C.
Lauren, Sarah, Tara and Mary Claire in front of the White House.
Lauren inside her favorite place of the trip: The Library of Congress.
She took a lot of pictures like these:
And a few more from New York City...
A view from the top of the Empire State Building.
A view from Fifth Avenue:
Lauren and Tara in Times Square.
Lauren loved the Metropolitan Museum of Art...
A few shots before the performance...
The arrow is pointing to the Stage Door.
And, for those very few who haven't seen Lauren's prom dress pictures yet (because you are in Iraq or out of town and haven't been subjected to having photos and cameras thrust into your face by the momma), here are a few:
Lauren and Tara
the requisite Charlie's Angels shot ...
...and the attitude/silly shot.
See, Gunner does exist!!
An action shot. (Mary Claire, Lauren, David, Lucy, Andrea and Tara)
That's all for now. Come back again soon. Chris promises more pictures from Iraq. Love you all, Linda
Here are some shots from Lauren's trip to Washington, D.C.
Lauren, Sarah, Tara and Mary Claire in front of the White House.
Lauren inside her favorite place of the trip: The Library of Congress.
She took a lot of pictures like these:
Silly classmates in a bread line at the FDR Memorial:
And a few more from New York City...
A view from the top of the Empire State Building.
A view from Fifth Avenue:
Lauren and Tara in Times Square.
Lauren loved the Metropolitan Museum of Art...
A few shots before the performance...
The arrow is pointing to the Stage Door.
And, for those very few who haven't seen Lauren's prom dress pictures yet (because you are in Iraq or out of town and haven't been subjected to having photos and cameras thrust into your face by the momma), here are a few:
Lauren and Tara
the requisite Charlie's Angels shot ...
...and the attitude/silly shot.
See, Gunner does exist!!
An action shot. (Mary Claire, Lauren, David, Lucy, Andrea and Tara)
That's all for now. Come back again soon. Chris promises more pictures from Iraq. Love you all, Linda
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