Long Overdue

I know that an update has been long overdue on here and I finally here to provide one. I am currently sitting at FOB Connolly doing the wonderful paperwork that comes with my job. I hopped a 20 minute flight over here to get some work done.
Well, there is not really much to share right now. I am sure that you heard on the news or read in the news that there was a base that was attacked here. Well, there was. It is the one that I go to on regular basis and is only a mile or so from where I stay. We have been pretty lucky that all the mortar rounds are going over us and not landing on the FOB. Makes for interesting nights when it does happen.
I have posted on my Facebook that I have lost some weight, and I have. I have been very excited about it as well. I have been working pretty hard to lose the weight and to get in shape. That means that I have been a lot pain the last month or so. My leg has not stopped hurting for several weeks, and I am not going to let it slow me down. I have fought hard to lose the 20lbs I have lost so far and plan on losing at least 30 more before I come home on leave in Nov.
I have gotten outstanding support from my family since I have been gone. They are checking on the house for me and they send me anything that I ask for. Speaking of getting what I ask for, OPERATION TROOP APPRECIATION is a great group of people that are doing a lot for Soldiers. They were pointed out to me by another unit that is on the FOB with me and they are sending some wonderful things for my Soldiers. I will not discuss what exactly they are sending right now, but I will tell you that they will take very good care you and your Soldiers. I owe them more thanks than I could ever possibly imagine. I can’t wait for the first box to arrive so that I can surprise my Soldiers.
There are really not many other things to discuss. For the most part it has been quiet on my FOB and we like it that way. Actually, yesterday, my NCOIC let us have the afternoon off so that we could relax and take care of personal things. It was nice to have that time because I was able to get a lot of things done that I needed too. To include a nice long nap.
Unfortunately my unit has lost two Soldiers, but we are still driving on. I have held off for a while mentioning that because I wanted to give the family time. It was a sad loss for us and we pray that there are no more losses for us while we are here.
Well, I know that this did not really tell you much, but I had to at least let you know that I am still out here and sweating to death. It is staying about 115-120 during the day here. It gets to a point that you are used to it, but it is still hot and hard to deal with at times. A couple weeks while I was out, I drank over two gallons of water in about 8 hours and still never peed. I know that you wanted to know that I did not pee, but that should give you an idea of how hot it is and how much I was sweating. It also makes it easier to lose some weight. I have been drinking more water than I ever imagined I would here. I am doing PT twice a day here and evening running on a treadmill or elliptical trainer, I am still soaking wet in less than 20 minutes.
I am not sure how many people out there are still reading this, or coming across it in searches, but I encourage everyone that reads to leave some kind of comment so that we know who is following us.
I know that I am all over the place today, but it gives something to do while I am sitting here. I guess I am going to close this for now and hope that my day remains quiet and easy going. Thanks to everyone out there for the support.
A special thanks to mom, dad, Jeremy, and Leslie. You guys have really been behind me all the way and Jeremy, when I get home on leave, we will fish. I don’t care if the lake is frozen over. We WILL fish and we WILL ride bikes. I miss you all and can’t wait to see you again!!!