Really?

So with memorial day upon us, we find ourselves thinking about those who have died for the freedoms we enjoy. Or at least the BBQs we have the freedom tor have tomorrow right?

Anyway, today I had someone (I will not mention names to protect the ignorant) ask me a question about the war because she didn't understand it.

She basically asked why we have all the military over seas fighting. She said she thinks they should all be here, then they can fight and protect us if/when the US gets attacked again.

So I said, they are over there fighting to prevent future attacks here and protect innocent American lives.

She said she didn't understand how that was better, it didn't make sense to her. That we should just have them here and wait to be attacked. And something about that way there would be peace.

Really, that would be better? Instead of preventing future attacks, we should let them happen, THEN fight back? Can anyone remember 9/11? What do they think we are doing? So we fight back for a little bit until people forget why, then wait to be attacked again? Then what have these same ignorant people ask why WE didn't do anything to prevent it?

And we let people like this vote why? And hold public office? Seriously!

That's all I have to say about that.

So I have been in Lackland for about a week now for Hazmat training. As you know David is here too. Of course since he is in Basic training I don't really see him around. I went to church this morning an did see him there however. I took a few pictures:

Here he is inside the Chapel. The guy sitting down is in his flight with him.
This is his tired look. He said this is how he feels most of the time even if he doesn't look it.
This is how he looks when I mention Miranda's name. I call it his Miranda look.
Here he is walking out of the chapel. Random I know.
Here we are together. People kept asking if we are related. I guess we look similar or something. I will have to get a picture in uniform with him later, I just wore civi's to church.
Here we are acting like we like each other.
Here he is with his cover on.

Here he is walking away from the church.

And here he is walking back to his squadron.

He looks and sounds like he is doing really well. He enjoys getting all the letters and pictures and said keep them coming. He is officially half way and is looking forward to the last month to go by. He said time is going by a little faster now.

Tomorrow he is going in the Gas Chamber, and doing the obstacle course on Tuesday. Then later this week he gets his name tapes sown on his uniforms, so he is pretty excited about that.

If you have any questions, in case I forgot to mention anything, feel free to let me know.

Sir Yes Sir

David left for Basic Training (AKA Hell) today. And so I snapped a few pictures at the Airport. I am by no means a professional photographer. I am more a random candid kind of guy.
Lilly wanted to come with me, so I woke her up at 6am to go. This was her right after we left. She was still not quite awake.

Every time I tried to get a picture of David, he seemed to a girl attached to him. Here you go.


The happy little family....Wait, This picture must be from the future, sorry, not sure how that got in here.

It is stuff like this that can lead to the picture before this. :)


I think Lilly wasn't too concerned about all the hugging and kissing. She was happy watching the baby.




And the Hugging continues..

That's because brothers don't shake hands, Brothers gotta hug!
They say sucking on a Binky helps calm a fussy baby. I'm not sure why it doesn't work with Rebecca.
She must like dad. He is not even sucking on a binky.

Everyone saying the final goodbye as he goes through security. Well until security came and told us we couldn't stand here. I think he was afraid there was a bomb in the car seat.



They had already been apart for about 10 minutes. So naturally, they had already talked on the phone, and were in the process of texting. David may forget how to text by the time he is allowed again. It took me awhile to get use to it again.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?
Deployed. To Iraq.

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and do you intend to make any for 2010?

I did not make one for 2009. I usually don't. However I would like to lose a few pounds and get in better shape.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A few people.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Unfortunately a few people. My youngest sister Kayleigh, Then my Grandma, and my Uncle Joe and then my Grandpa.

5. What countries did you visit?
I guess that depends on your definition of visit. I spent a few months in the Iraq, and going to and from I was in Ireland, Qatar, and Romania.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you didn't have in 2009?

A summer with my family.

7. What dates will be etched into your memory from 2009 and why?
A lot.

8. What is your biggest achievement of the year?

Professionally speaking, I guess I would say when I made Airman of the Year in my Squadron.

9. What is your biggest failure?
I think the word Failure is very negative, besides if I had any "failures" I think it is none of your business and I should just focus on having more successes.

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?

No more than normal which fortunately isn't much. I did have "surgery" to remove an ingrown toenail while in Baghdad, but for me I guess that is pretty normal too.

11. What is the best thing you bought?
So many things. I am pleased with some of the things I bought in Iraq, especially the flags that after buying I flew for different people. I am also pleased with the 4Runner sitting in front of our house, and the one Christmas present I got for Marni.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Marni, because she did awesome as a single mom while I was "off playing boy hero".

13. Whose behavior made you appalled or depressed?

I have been told it is not good to talk crap about our elected leaders, so I will leave this one at that.

14. Where did most of your money go?
A good portion to savings.

15. What did you get really excited about?
Getting to deploy, and getting to come home to my beautiful wife and kids.

16. What songs will remind you of 2009 and why?
Probably anything by Lady Gaga, because she is so weird, and I actually like some of the songs, and "Poker Face" by Daughtry because it is dang good.

17. Compared to last year...
a. happier or sadder? I am always happy.
b. thinner or fatter? Probably Fatter. Ask me again next year.
c. richer or poorer? Rich in Love.

18. What do you wish you had done more of?
Money, but just so we could buy our own house.

19. What do you wish you had done less of?

Bills

20. How did you spend Christmas?

At home with my cute little family in the morning, then went to Marni's parents house, then had a third Christmas when my family came up about a week later.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Only if Deeper in love counts.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Criminal Minds, The Office, House and CSI (mostly NY, but I watch them all)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate at this time last year?

Not really, but I dislike someone even more. Again I won't talk about elected leaders right now.

24. What is the best book you read?

I have been reading books by Clive Cussler. I like them all.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Not sure.

26. What did you want and get?

My sex life is none of your business!

27. What did you want and not get?

A job on base. Maybe next time.

28. What was your favorite film this year?

Saw a lot. I am really not sure.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I got old, and opened presents with my family. I turned the big 3 2. Don't worry, if you think that is old, just wait till you get there.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not sure. sorry.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2009?

If it fits, is comfortable and my wife lets me wear it I do. That is about as far as I go with fashion.

32. What kept you sane?
PTSD Therapy. or not.

33. What celebrity did you fancy the most?

Not into Celebs too much. There are some hot ones, but I still think they are over paid.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

I think "Global Warming" is something to make rich people richer, Swine flu is a conspiracy and the "Health Care" Crap is just a step towards Socialism.

35. Who do you miss?

People who aren't here.

36. Who was the best person you met?

A lot of Awesome people I got to deploy with.

37. Valuable life lesson learned in 2009?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder is not just a cheesy line. It is true.

38. What is the one thing you said this year that you never thought you'd say?

don't think I said anything like that.

39. What was the one thing you heard that you never thought you would hear?

"In coming" When we were being attacked in Iraq.

40. What do you anticipate will be the biggest change in your life in 2010?
Education.

Snow Blower

So I know this neighborhood where many of the people own snow blowers. These people will get out their snow blowers and do THEIR driveway and the sidewalk in front of THEIR house. Meanwhile their neighbors are out shoveling away, and other neighbors are too old to get out and shovel by themselves. But still the snow blowers stop right at the edge of the property. I mean heaven forbid they spend any extra time or gas helping out a neighbor.

Well I also know a woman in this neighborhood. She is a snow shovel not a snow blower kind of person. Since it snowed a lot in this neighborhood today, and the snow blowers did only THEIR stuff. She shoveled her own sidewalks, that of the elderly, and even that of the snow blowers since it had snowed more since they got off their lazy butts and pulled out the snow blower.

I wish I lived in a neighborhood where neighbors were actually neighborly. I wish I could go out and buy a snow blower just so I could snow blow the entire block, since other people won't.

AB...See I blog sometimes!

A: Addiction: Anything with Marni, The computer, and Farmville.

B: Breakfast: Usually Coco Krispy's. Don't judge me, I am making up for a lack of such cereals as a child.

C: Chocolate or Chips: Both, but usually not at the same time.

D: Dessert or Appetizers: Both, but if I had to choose I would say Dessert.

E: Essential Items: Cell Phone...I think that about does it.

F: Favorite Color: Blue. Dark, I am not a fan of lighter blues. In fact I probably dislike light blue as much as I like dark blue.

G: Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Worms. I like how they get all slimy and then let slip in and out of my mouth without letting it fall out.

H: Hometown: Duchesne, Though I have lived in Cache Valley almost as long as I lived there.

I: Indulgence: I am really not sure.

J: January or July: July. I like the Holidays.

K: Kids: 2- Lilly and Grant.

L: Life isn't complete without: my family and the gospel. (ditto)

M: Most exciting memory: Getting married, birth of each kid, and when I came home from Iraq.

N: Number of Brothers and Sisters: 6 brothers, 5 sisters.

O: Oranges or Apples: oranges. Apples are okay sometimes, but usually I don't like them much. Not sure why.

P: Phobias or Fears: Mostly something happening to Marni or the Kids, especially if I were powerless to do anything about it. I feel like I should be able to protect my family.

Q: Quotes:
“Aqua Mole na Pedra Dura, tanto Bate ate que fura" -Portugues Proverb

"I don't know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is trying to please everyone" -Bill Cosby

R: Reading: Blogs, sometimes the newspaper, e-mail if I get it, and I like reading good books, but am always afraid to start one because if it is not good I feel like I wasted my time. I did just started reading a book called "Inca Gold" that is really good so far.

S: Summer or Spring: Probably summer, but I really like the excitement of Spring, with all the new green and colors, and the anticipation of warmer days.

T: Tag 6 people: Anyone who hasn't.

U: Unknown fact about me. If there is something you don't know about me, it is because I have managed to keep it a secret this long, why let it be known now?

V: Vacation I want to go on: Hawaii and Ireland, with my beautiful wife.

W: Walking or Running: Both, but sometimes I just feel like a good run. Chasing kids is good.

X: X-Ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasound. They seem less painful.

Y: Your favorite food: All kinds, but I really like Mexican and Chinese. And Meat!

Z: Zoo or Bowling: Bowling! It is closer and cheaper than the zoo, and I can get Marni to do it with me, plus Lilly really likes it.

Back in the USA!

I know you were probably starting to wonder if I would ever get home. Well, breathe easy, I'm here.

After being told 3 times the day and time we would be leaving Baghdad, then being told 3 times that we would not be leaving that day after all, we were starting to wonder if we would ever make it back. But like they say the 4th time is the charm right?

We were finally given the green light for Sunday(Aug 16) evening. We had to get our final stuff taken care Sunday afternoon so we could leave. While doing this were told we might not be able to leave after all. The rotator (the contract plane to take the troops to and from the States) leaves out of 2 places, Qatar and Kuwait. We were trying to get on one out of Qatar but they had us on one a few days later our of Kuwait. So unless they could get confirmation that we were on the plane out of Qatar they were not going to let us leave. But just as we were about to give up hope they got an e-mail confirming us on that flight. This was also good because that flight would be leaving just about 6 hours after we got to Qatar instead of a few days which is normal.

Here we are getting ready to go, just waiting for our plane. I know, we make body armour look good!

Sitting on the C-130 on the way to Qatar. This is my first time on a C-130! Not the best way to travel, but I recommend doing it at least once.

Once we got to Qatar, we were told that we were not scheduled for the flight we thought we would be on in a few hours, but were in fact still scheduled for the one later in the week out of Kuwait. Slight panic, but the really awesome Master Sergeant said there were some empty seats so she could get us on anyway. We got some food, hung out in a "sit on the floor or don't sit" crowded Passenger terminal, then got on our plane.

After a couple hour stop in Romania, and quite a few hours later we landed in Baltimore on Monday afternoon. We stayed that night, and got free tickets to an Orioles-Angels Baseball game, 7 rows behind the dugout.

We left pretty early out of Baltimore, had a short layover in Clevland and got to SLC about 10:30 AM. Marni is posting pictures of the homecoming, so I won't double post here.

What can I say? I'm Proud to be an American...

I am glad I had the oportunity to go to Iraq. It was an awesome experience and I learned a lot. But there really is no place like home. Nor any better way to spend my time than with my beautiful wife and 2 way cute kids!