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

Address Change

Well, I found out today that my address is changed. It will be below.

Today was another fun day in the army. I had to give a briefing on Sexual Assault today. That was a lot of fun. I bored to people to death with that one. Tomorrow I get do bore them to death with Drinking and Driving Awareness.

I talked to Jeremy again today and he did his H.E.A.T. training yesterday. That training is where you are put into a Humvee that is on a machine and they rotate it like a barrel roll. When it stops, it is upside down and you have to get out. He said it was fun. I am just glad that it went better for him than it did for me. I got stuck and my IOTV (bulletproof vest) came down on my neck and I could not breathe and they had to stop the exercise and get me out. It scared the crap out of me.

Well, I really don't have any other info to share, other than the address change and that I am finally packed and ready to go. Time is approaching FAST.

Here is the address:

Strader, John

CJTF-101, G1

APO AE 09354

Extra Time

The Aquarium


Well, I had a little extra time to head home this past weekend and see Courtney. I took her to the Rilpley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, TN. We had a great time. In the picture right here, I was taking her picture and then she noticed the large sting ray and it scared her to death. We all had a good laugh.








This is one of my favorite exhibits at the aquarium. These are spider crabs and are found on the bottom of the deepest oceans. Courtney really enjoyed these too.











Sea dragons. These are very funny to watch. I am determined to have an aquarium in my house one day with these in there.









Courtney really enjoyed the jelly fish. I took several pictures of her looking at them, but due to the low light, I did not get very many good ones. I had a hard time getting her to stand still so that she would not blur.










This is one of the first exhibits in the aquarium. There are several fish in there to include Pacu and several types of catfish.












We had a lot of fun at the aquarium. When I picked her, the first thing that she wanted to do was go there and see the "fishies". Mom took half a day off so that she would be able to spend as much time as possible with us. Mom and dad went with me to pick her up and we had a great day. I took everyone to Texas Roadhouse and we a great time there too. It was supposed to snow on Saturday and we were all hoping that it snow enough for Courtney to play in it, but it just flurried all day. Courtney was really disappointed as were the rest of us.

I know that in a previous post I told you all that mom and dad were going to come to Clarksville to see me and help me get moved this past weekend. Well, the day that I leave got changed and I was able to come home for a few days and mom and dad are waiting to next weekend to come up here and see me.

I came on Saturday night so that I could spend Sunday and Monday packing and moving my stuff to storage. On the way home from Sevierville, I got pulled over. 89 in a 70 is not a good thing. That is what I get for not paying attention to how fast I was going and being a hurry to get home.

Sunday I was able to pack, repack, and repack my bags for Afghanistan. I am worried that I will forget something. That is something that I do not want to do.

Today I had to disconnect my computer and move my dresser and computer desk to storage. I am trying to make it so that there is not much to do while mom and dad are here. I am getting down to the last days and trying to most of them here. I have been packing and cleaning so much, that I hope that I never move again. It is too much of a hassle, but I chose the life and I know that it will happen several more times in my career.

I got to spend some time with Johnny, Jitka and Lucas while I was at mom and dads. I even got to talk to Jeremy a few times. It was really great to see them all. I am glad that Johnny and Jitka are living in Jeremy's house. That way it is not sitting empty all the time. I am glad that Jeremy has great friends that he can count on.

Jeremy

In talking to Jeremy, I found out he had his MRI on his ear and it is looking good for him. He does have some hearing loss, but that should be all. But that is not all the problems he has had.

The Nose

He was doing Comabatives, training that we both to go through, and had a guy in an arm bar. The guy was trying to get out of it and slammed Jeremy and broke Jeremy's nose. Jeremy called me that night and told me about it. He said there was blood everywhere, and he was hurting pretty bad. He a very long ride to the hospital that night. He kept telling that is felt funny when he would feel it. He as laughing while he was telling me about it, so it must not have been that bad.




He called me again last night and I talked to him for quite a while. He is making some really good friends and is getting excited about going to Iraq. He told me that he got all his equipment issued. In talking to him, I told him that he was lucky that he did not issued the cold weather gear that I got issued. That crap takes up a lot of room, but I guess in the desert you do not need that stuff, unlike the mountains where I am going where it gets below zero in the winter.

I really hope that he is safe and realizes that there are a lot people worried about him, praying for him, and waiting for his safe return to Tennessee. I hope that one day we will be able to deploy together. That way we can harass each other on a daily basis. He is going to try to email me pictures and anything that he wanted posted here. I will try to keep you all posted as often as I can on him. I hoping that I will be able to continue to post here once I get overseas. This is going to be our way of keeping in contact with everyone while we are gone. We look forward to any comments that you will leave for us. All you have to do is click on the comments link under each post, and follow the directions. If my mom can figure it out, anyone can. Sorry mom.

Well it is time to get off of here and get to packing again. I am waiting on a buddy to show up so that I can move the computer desk and then I am done for now.

Time to Ride

Fort Donelson, TN




Bison Range in the Land Between the Lakes National Park


Of Course my ride for today.




I was lucky to have nice weather this weekend. I have not had many of those. Many of you know that I have been here since Oct. Since then, I have not had my bike out very much due to weather. It was always raining, I had to go to the store, had to haul gear, or something that just kept me from riding. Today was not the case. I was able to get online last night and plot out a path that I wanted to take today. The thing that I did not take into consideration was wind speeds today. I started on my trek to Land Between the Lakes National Park at about 1pm. Over 100 miles and three and a half hours later, I was back home.

The ride getting there was nice. It was mostly 2 lane highways with little traffic with the exception of several other bikes that had the same idea I did. On the way there I came across Fort Donelson, a Civil War battleground. I took the time to stop there and check a few things out. It had a short loop to ride around and stop to read and learn a little about the area. I only stopped a few times for a few minutes. The pictures above are on the river where a defense was set up for ships and boats that would come towards Fort Donelson.

I continued on after that to the National Park. The ride was really nice with a lot country to see. I came up on the Bison and had to take some pictures for my daughter. Of course I also had to take a picture of my bike with the Bison in the background.

The wind was blowing pretty hard today and it was not much of a problem until the ride back. I was on a lot of highways with open fields on either side so the wind was able to really blow me around. Once I made it to the interstate (remember I made a circle so that I did not see the same thing twice), the wind was even worse. I was worried for a little while due to the wind.

Riding for that long with no radio and only the wind blowing on you gives you a lot of time to think about the things going on in your life and gives you time to think about the future. I was able to think about missing my daughter, Christina, and mom and dad. I also got to think about Jeremy and how things are going for him.

I realized that I really need to get my rear in gear and start packing my bags and apartment. I am glad that Mom and Dad are coming for my last weekend. Not only to help me, but to also spend that last little bit of time together. I wanted to go home and see my daughter and Christina and friends, but I decided that I can't do the goodbyes again. I know that mom and dad want to come up here again. They have not been since they helped me move in Oct or Nov.

I am hoping that they give me time Friday off to spend with them. I just wish that there was time for me to go home again. I keep wanting to go home one more time, but I have came to grips with the fact that I am gone and going home and saying goodbye again would just make it hurt worse.

I did talk to Jeremy again on Friday night. I feel bad because he has some pretty bad hearing loss in one of his ears due to me. I stopped him one day while I he was trying to leave work and made him shoot my new gun. We were in a hurry and did not use hearing protection, and he is paying for it. He is hearing loss is so bad that it is causing him issues with the Army. I really hope that he is OK because this partially my fault.

Another weekend is almost over and I have not completed anything. I guess next weekend while Mom, Dad, and Johnny are here I will be working my butt off packing this place up and packing my bags. I have been making a list of things to do and things I need to go buy and it keeps getting longer and not shorter.

I ask that you all keep Jeremy and I in your prayers while we face new challenges in our life. Please also keep Mom and Dad in your prayers because both sons will be gone and in harms way. Oh, and stop asking my parents how it feels to have both sons gone. How would you feel? Think about it. She is proud, but it also not easy. She tells me all the time that people keep asking how she is. It is a no-brainer. You could email mom and dad and just let them know that you are thinking about them. Mom: acoke4me@aol.com and Dad: deryd@aol.com. This does not mean that you can add them to your junk mail list.

This is enough for now. I miss everyone.

One more thing, if you read this, please some comments for Jeremy and I. I know that he is not on here much, but that is because his internet time is so limited that he does not have time to be on here. Leave a comment and he will get it. When I talk to him, I try to update you all on everything that I know.

Heard From Jeremy

Jeremy sent me this to put up on here:

The party was awsome! We really appreciate mom and dad helping us get ready for it. LOVE YOU MOM & DAD! And i miss everyone like crazy!!! The computer and cell phone issue is still an issue. Lots of LOVE to everyone!
SGT WORMY

I really miss him. He is not going to catch up the rest of his unit until this weekend. Please keep praying for us to remain strong and face the obstacles ahead of us.

Leave

Don't mess me with me or my daddy.







Well, some you knew that I was going for a few weeks for the last time this month. I am now back in Clarksville, sitting here alone missing everyone. I am glad that I have friends that I can count on to keep each other busy so that I we are able to get our minds off of missing our families.

I had a lot of fun while I was in Sevierville the past two weeks. Unfortunately I had to come home one day early so that I could take a Physical Fitness Test that I knew I would not be able to pass anyway. I cannot run fast enough to save my life.

I got to hang out at the Roaming Gnome a little I was there and see a lot of people that I have not seen in a long time. Got to have a few beers with Johnny I was there. Glad that my brother has a friend like him that he can count on.

I got to spend some time with my daughter, Courtney, while I was there. She is growing so fast. I am worried that I will not be able to pick her up like I do now. She is also starting to act too much like her mom. I know that I love her mom and married, but that does not mean I want my daughter to act like her. I bought that little angel almost everything that she asked for while I was there. I only had 3 nights with her, but every moment was special to me. The last night I had her, she was sitting in my lap and I was telling her I loved her and I missed her. She told me that me loved too and in the middle of telling me she missed me, she passed out. I sat there for several hours just holding her knowing that it could be the last time that it could happen because she not let me do that anymore after I get back.

I started my leave out in Ohio. I left Fort Campbell on Sat and took off to Ohio to see family that I had not seen in over a year. I left Fort Campbell at 1 am and got to my grandmothers house at about 930am. I spent a few short days there and then left for Sevierville with my grandma. She had never seen Courtney and I brought her back so that she could finally see her. I was glad to have her there and see how happy she was to see Courtney. Courtney enjoyed having her around.

I got to talk to Jeremy quite a bit too in those two weeks. He is leaving for another post. He is upset that he will not have cell phone where he is going this time. He is finishing up his training so that he can get to Iraq. He also found out that he will be leaving towards the end of March and not the middle of April like he was originally told. This will put us both leaving very close to the same time seeing that my time was moved from the beginning of March to the middle of March.

I have to start packing today and tomorrow. We are having an inspection to make sure that everyone has everything. I am not looking forward to packing and will probably wait until tomorrow to do it. Had a late night last night and just looking forward to sitting around most of the day today.

I hope that you enjoy the new pix that I put up.

Here is my address after I get to Afghanistan. Do NOT add to it, do not take away from it. This is the exact address that you have to use. If you add my rank or country it will be sent back. They will not let into the country due to security issues.

John Strader

B Co, 101st DSTB

APO AE 09354

Another weekend gone

I wasted away another weekend doing nothing again. I was lucky enough to have a 3 day weekend and stayed home this time. I am missing everyone and I am not even gone yet.

I am hoping to start leave on Saturday. I plan on going home and spending as much time as I can with Courtney and Christina and Mom and Dad. I have a lot of surprises in store for the next 2 weeks. Very few know of any of them. Some of the surprises will be bigger than others, and some will just be unforgettable. I can't really give away of them here because I have giving this site out to too many people.

I have talked to Jeremy a little since here left. He told me that he is in training seven days a week 530am to about 4pm. He is learning what it is like to be on active duty again. This is not his first time, and I hope it is not his last. I said it before that I do not think he knows how proud of him I am.

I need to thank Johnny and Jitka for being there for my mom and dad. They are great friends to both my brother and myself. "Brotherhood" That is all that I say about it. I am glad that my brother has friends like them and Josh and Blake.

Josh and Blake have been there too although they can really be a pain in the ass at times. I will miss them all. It never fails that when I come to town, we all make it an interesting time not to be soon forgotten (if we remember anything).

Shandan, thank you for being the first to comment on here for us. I know that you will be missed.

Mom and dad, thank you so much for the support and help that you are giving us. I know that we are asking a lot of you two at times, but you are who we can count and it gives an excuse to talk to you and see you. I can't wait till you come back to Fort Campbell to see me off and I hope that you make it to Texas with Johnny to see Jeremy off. Rest assured that your two sons will be coming home soon.

Courtney, I promise that I will be home again soon to see you. I can't wait to see you over the next couple of weeks. The hardest part of this will be leaving you. Last time, I left a new wife and this time it is my precious little angel, Courtney. I know that she does not understand right now, but one day she will. I just hope that she misses me and wants to see me when I get home. I will be calling all that I can to hear your voices.

I will update you guys of all that I can when I know something new. Jeremy has very limited access to computers right now, so I have to tell you second hand what is going on with him as he tells me.

I am off once again. Until another day...............