Day 43: Some Catching Up

Dear Family- Our fabulous internet service has been down for some time so I am behind on some posts. Today I am doing a picture post of me. Exciting isn't it?



This is a picture of me after getting off work. I kind of like the whole casual work environment again after being in a tie for so long. Twelve hour days wear you out a little so I do not look my best, but hey, its me.


Love you!

Day 40: Dinner Anyone?

Dear Family-

Today I get to tell you about my first cooking adventure in Wonderland. Courtesy of the wonderful supplies sent by you all, today's task was to make a batch of spaghetti sauce to have pre-made food readily available for my days off and stuff. I was able to find several one pound blocks of frozen ground beef in the PX. Each pack was priced at $3.35. I thawed them overnight and started cooking the next morning. I was light on seasonings, but I was able to cook the meat in salt, pepper, and garlic powder.


It was weird cook on the small electric stove, but I got the hang of it. I had to add a lot more seasoning by the time it was done cooking. Once I had the meat cooked and seasoned, I added the sauce and let it all simmer together for a while.

I took the pot off of the stove and let it cool for a while and then started packing it away in serving size bags that I could freeze.

By the time I was done, I had ten serving size bags to put in the freezer. Pretty cool, huh?

Love you!

Day 39: Dust rag anyone?

Dear Family-

This morning I was introduced to a new weather condition - the sand storm. Before I begin with this, let me back up. On our way to work several days ago, we ran through huge fog banks. Being right on the Persian Gulf, we apparently get some really heavy fog from time to time. This fog was by far the thickest I have ever seen and we literally went down to visibility in feet. That is pretty hairy let me tell you. Now about the sand storm; this was just as bad or not worse. As you drove in to the beginning of it, you were not sure of was it was fog or not because it was just felt different. The other people in the car had seen one before so they knew what it was. We kept the car buttoned up and drove on. As it was still dark when we got to work, I really could not get a good look. By the time we went to breakfast, you could finally see it. Dirt was hanging on everything-you could feel it and taste it.

This picture was taken the next day. As you can see, the air is still filled with dirt. This view is normally clear for BLOCKS. You can barely see the building in the next block. Luckily everything is closed up in my apartment, but I will have to venture forth later today. Dust rag anyone?

Love you!

Indestructable Rock

We wanted to see what was inside this rock so we thought we would hit it once it once or twice and it would break open...nope. SMASH WHACK WHAM BANG, and still we could not break it, and then crack a piece breaks off and then we hit it again and again and again and again and again and again and again and finally with two cut knuckles I gave up trying for today. So maybe tomorrow it will explode, maybe not.

Day 36: Photo of me!

Dear Family-

I am going to try and get in the habit of posting one picture of me doing something each week. I haven't had my camera out a lot recently, so I am going to reach back and pull up a photo that was taken at Fort Benning. This photo was taken right before we boarded the flight out.



The place is called Freedom Hall and it is absolutely huge. My guess is that it is roughly the size of a football field or bigger. The large flag I am in front of is there to welcome troops home as well as send troops off. Even though there were close to 300 people in there, it felt empty.

Love you!

November 19, 2010 - Daeji Bulgogi Edition

...or the "Aren't you envious?" Edition!

Payday was yesterday, so after we did our "To Kill a Mockingbird" group discussion, I took the kids out to Kim's Kitchen for some Korean food! Mmmm...it was so good. We got there early enough to take advantage of lunch prices and she recognized the kids as belonging to you: "I know your Dad!"


Daeji Bulgogi all around, complete with kimchi (yes, even the cucumber salad). It was really good. (We're scared to tell Mr. R that we went without him. Think he'll get over it?)

Day 35: New Dining Option!

Dear Family-

I know that it is no big secret that one of my biggest challenges so far has been finding ways to eat good, healthy food. You guys have helped a lot by sending me some supplies and now the Army is helping out as well. While I was at one of the Dining Facilities, I found a refrigerator containing prepared salads.


I had one the other night and it was fabulous. My goal is to eat these as often as possible preferably before 4 PM.

Love you!