Back by popular demand...

Well hello! Thank you to each and every one of you that continue to keep up with my brother and I. We appreciate the support you show us by visiting our page. Thank you!

Back by popular demand...well, you're right. It has been a while since we have posted anything on here. I apologize for that. Personally, it's not because I haven't wanted to, but by the end of the day, I've been pretty exhausted lately. I'm not really sure why. I think it's because I'm mentally exhausted. At the end of the day, I usually make a call home to talk to the folks, and then head to bed. I may send an email or two to some pretty helpful people that have made this last three months or so a lot better just by chatting with them about "stuff"... Like you may know, I try not to put anything personal on here and those emails have been keeping me sane...personally. As much as I'd like to say I live a pretty low drama life... it's not the case sometimes. I'd say for the most part, my life is pretty drama-free. And to some people's scale...it is. But you know how it is...some things just get to you. I appreciate the requests for a post. Usually my mom sends an email saying "boys, the blog needs a little attention." And that usually sparks an idea or the initiative to write something.

Honestly, there's not much going on. For some reason, it usually takes a memorable event to spark the 'thinker' in me. I guess it's my way of getting out the hardships of the days over here. Lately, work has been a pain in the butt. To make things worse, it's because of the medical side of it. It's been tough lately because of the "Soldier" side of it. There's a lot more to my job than being a medic. Just like any Soldier in the Army, there's more to our job than doing our specific job. But that is neither here nor there I guess. We'll take what is thrown at us, deal with it, and keep on going. That's our job too...

Like I said, there hasn't been much going on over here. If you watch the news then you'll know that the elections are coming up over here. Any time of elections over here is always an exciting time. We'll see how it goes. Elections are on the 31st so it's getting closer.

I'm not sure if everyone knows or not, but John is back in the states. He had to have his gallbladder taken out so they sent him to Germany for surgery. Well, after consideration, they decided to send him on home for continued care. After returning home, they decided that he would not return to Afghanistan. His tour is over. He's back at home with his lovely woman and little girl. Well...he gets to see his little girl from time to time. Does anyone know a good family lawyer in East TN?? He could REALLY use a new one. But yeah, he's back in the states recovering and living the life. He's planning his wedding, he bought a house, and he seems to be doing pretty good. He did find out some unfortunate news...seeing that his tour was cut short, he may get deployed again this year with another unit. So by the end of 09 he may be back in Afghanistan...and we'll probably be able to start a new blog...or just keep this one going...that brings another thought to mind...but I think I'll leave it alone. It reminds me of my favorite scene from a movie. Black Hawk Down: One of the very last scenes, they are standing under the tent getting ammo and something to eat. The one guy tells the other he shouldn't go back, just relax, you don't have to back out...then he says, "you know, people back home ask me if I'm some kind of war junkie or something. I don't even try to explain to them, because they won't understand. They don't understand it's about the man next to you." So, I would try to explain...but you wouldn't understand. Sorry.

So, I hear that the weather back home is pretty CHILLY to say the least...I found it funny that the continental US is -30 and lower in some places, but Alaska was sitting nice at 35 above 0. Odd. IT MUST BE GLOBAL WARMING!! LOOK OUT!! Whatever... I try not to read too much into the whole "the world is coming to an end" kinda theories. It just causes unneeded stress. I've got enough going on without someone freaking me out about the glaciers in Antarctica melting and flooding California. Which, no offense, is my least favorite state in our wonderful country anyway. I know we have a lot of Cali readers, and I'm sorry if I offended you, but.... it's just not somewhere I would want to visit, live, or be stuck. I think the mountains of Colorado is as close as I care to get. I have a few reasons, but I won't get into that.... Anywho...it's been cold back home. It's not been too too bad here. Getting down to around 34 at night and around 55 in the day is what I've been enjoying. So it's a little chilly in the morning, but then the afternoons are really nice. It's cloudy right now so it's a little warmer outside...I'd guess about 40-45 maybe. I don't mind one bit that it's cold back home...that just means more and more snow for me to play in when I get home. It means that more slopes will be open and I'll have better conditions. I can't wait!! I'm excited!! That's the number one thing I'm looking forward to when I get home...well, family first, then snowboarding. I wanted to go to Colorado and snowboard...but it looks like it is going to cost a little too much for me to go out there... $800 plane ticket, $500-ish lodging for a week, food, and not to mention some refreshing beverages...oh and plus the potential $300 just to snowboard for 5-6 days... SO I'm thinking that a well planned road trip to OH to see the family, continuing to southern NY, back home through WV, and finishing back in good ol TN. A three week adventure that should be pretty fun. Now, the first two weeks will be pretty minimal spending...staying with family and all. SO...it should be fun. It'd be nice to be able to take someone with me so I'd have some company on my roadtrip...but come on...who can take off work for three weeks?? Oh well. OK so now I'm rambling. You logged on here waiting to hear some good stuff about the life in Iraq and read the words of a Soldier and all that hooah hooah crap. Sorry to disappoint. But, we're human too. AND if you have been keeping up, you've gotten the complete story. From back home in training, to going to Kuwait, to ending up in the third largest city in Iraq. You're read about the craziness and explosions when I first got here, to now where they don't even faze me. My chu just shook like something HUGE went off...oh well. I don't have any holes in me...so cool. You've gotten the chance to read about the first days when i would have crapped my pants. You've gotten to read about some of the worst things a Soldier or any person would want to deal with....and now...now you're reading the happiness and joy of a Soldier that is almost done. It's coming time to train the 'replacements'. It's a cycle. If you've read half of the 127 posts we've written, then you might have a pretty good picture of what a Soldier's life here is like. Then again...you only got the 'G' rated version. The 'R' rated version won't come out for a long time...if ever. There are times when you have to let the mind wonder and paint it's own picture to keep the respect of what happened. And also to respect those who were involved. But, one thing you may not understand is this; I have it pretty damn good over here. I have a warm, two man room to sleep in. I have internet, wall lockers, and electricity. Others...others are still living in tents. Some are sleeping in the gym due to a lack of space. But...it's the sacrafice of being a Soldier. I guess I just don't want you to think I'm trying to take credit for being a badass and all. Not the case. That brings another thought to mind. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Some people will tell stories and tales of what they did over here. They will tell you what you want to hear. They will tell you what they want to hear to make themselves feel better for what they didn't do while they were here. They'll get up and yell out in a crowded place, "yeah while i was in Iraq" or "yeah, I just got back from Iraq..." Others....others KNOW what they did over here. Others will go home with their head held high, KNOWING they impacted other Soldiers or the people of Iraq. They won't beg for your attention. You'll go all night and not even know they have a world of hurt, and memories from a world so far away. You'll never know. But they will. And as long as you can look yourself in the mirror and be happy with what you see....then you're doing pretty good. As for me...I know what I did. I know what I didn't do. And I guarantee this, when I get up in the morning, shave, and brush my teeth...the man looking back at me has nothing to be ashamed of and is proud to be an American Soldier.

Somewhere in Iraq,
sgt wormy