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
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