Crunch Time

It is closer to time to leave. It is REAL close to that time. Mom and Dad are coming here tonight to spend what of the weekend I am here, with me (that should be a hint that I will not be here on Monday morning). I am pretty excited because that they are coming here, but I was supposed to have more cleaning done than I have. I did get most of the heavy stuff out of here, but I was not getting rid of the bed. I was not sleeping the couch for a week, and I was not getting rid of the couch and sitting in the floor for a week.

Although Mom and Dad are coming tonight, it is our last night out. I am meeting up with a bunch friends that are going with us tonight and we are going to make the most of it, and try to stay out of trouble. I have been laying on the couch most of the day trying to get some rest because I now that tonight will be a VERY late night. I also know that Mom will have me up very early in the morning making me get this place cleaned up and packed the rest of the way. That means I will not be worth a crap at the end of the day tomorrow. Small price to pay for little bit of fun.

I have packed over and over again to make sure I have everything that I need, and I know that I will forget something. There is no doubt in my mind. I have made so many lists, that I can't keep up with which one is the current one. I am truly ready to get out of here. I am ready to get this deployment started and over with. I just want to be able to go home on the weekends and see Courtney again. Being that far away, it is not that easy to do that.


CPT Woodruff, my commander in the 721st in Oak Ridge, TN when I was in the reserves was asking me if I still had the Ranger that I have had for years. The answer is yes. I still have that piece of crap. It has close to 200,000 miles on it and it still runs pretty good. I was getting worried that the transmission getting ready to go out and I bought a new car in December. It was my Christmas to myself. I plan on keeping the truck. Actually, it is in storage on post so that I have something as soon as I get home. This car is going to stay Mom and Dad's house. I decided on a Dodge only because of the lifetime warranty. I wanted a Charger, but could not afford fully loaded with leather, GPS, Satelite radio, and all that crap, but I could afford this one like that. I love this car. I have put over 8,000 miles on it since December. That should tell you have much I love it.

It is looking like this will be my last post for a few weeks. I will be getting on a plane this weekend and do not plan on having the time post on here again. I will post again once I have internet, or I will email Mom or Johnny and have them do the post for me. I really hope that you all check back here often and leave comments or send an email. I told you the email address for Jeremy and I in the first post when I started this. Please look at the bottom and add the addresses to your address book (Fiore, post this on the bulletin board at work).

I want to thank every one for the support and the emails that I have been getting. It means more than you know. Well, I am off for now. The next you hear from me, I should be on the other side of the world.

Oh, can't forget, Courtney, I love you more than anything in the world. I know that you do not talk on the phone to me long enough, but I really miss you and will miss you more than you know. I hope that your mommy will read this to you and let you know that I am doing this for you and everyone else we know. My friends will be with me in the mountains and they help keep me safe. They will help make sure that I get to come home from my long trip to see you again. One day when you are older, I really hope that you will understand why I am doing this. Courtney, this is hard for me do with you in my life, but it is something that has to be done to keep the world a better place for you and all your little friends. Mommy is going to give you a big hug and kiss from me everyday. I miss you sweetheart and can't wait to see you again.

To all my "Computer Geek" friends at EBDA and Sparta (if you have to ask, you don't want to know), thank you for all the fun and keep the games going. I will be back soon enough to kick your butts.

To everyone else, thank you again!!!!!!






SGT John L Strader
jlstrader@gmail.com

(ADDRESS MUST BE EXACTLY LIKE BELOW)

Strader, John

CJTF-101, G1
APO AE 09354


SGT Jeremy Strader
jeremy.strader@us.army.mil

Still no address for him