Suffering from TMB

Yesterday when I put my gear on for our daily patrol I felt some back pain.
"This ain't good" I remarked aloud to myself.
An hour later when we arrived at Sadr City I got out of the vehicle. I took 3 steps and then nearly doubled over in pain. My back was spasming and I couldn't straighten it out. I managed to walk the hundred yards to the aid station where the doctor told me I was suffering from TMB...Too Many Birthdays.
I pointed out I'd actually missed the last four because of deployments or field time so I thought those didn't count. Turns out those count double.
Anyways I got some drugs and I managed to tough it out through gritted teeth the rest of the day. I am still in pain, but it's not as bad today.
Kelli and the kids seem to be doing well. Kelli bought me a new car a week ago, a 2008 Santa Fe that she and the kids love. I should be home for my vacation in almost exactly 2 months, so we're very excited about that. Connor worte me a letter inviting me to watch wrestling with him over at Grandpa Franks. While it is mainly a guy think, Samantha told Kelli. "But mommy, WE don't like wrestling, but SOMETIMES we do."
That's about Samantha to a "T"
Samantha watched Dancing with the Stars with Grandma Rita and every new woman who came out brought the comment "Now THAT'S a pretty dress I'd like to have."
Kelli typed the other day "...that's where we got Connor his scooter and I think I'll buy one for Sam this time."
All I could think of was Sam is like 16, why would he want a scooter???
Turns out it wasn't my cousin's son she was talking about, but my daughter. I have completly given up on calling her "sam", though maybe I'll hold out hope.
Most guys here tell time by sports, that is, when the NFL Playoffs come, we go home. I have a month by month "things to look forward to" to get my through the remainder of my time.
June - My 33rd Birthday and submitting my Leave paperwork
July - 4th of July at war (feels more important to me), our 10th Anniversary and beginning of Leave
August - Finishing up leave
September - getting my Promotion orders and putting in the paperwork to get my 30k bonus
October - Promotion to CPT
November - Packing up and mailing stuff home, because....
December - Return Home

A few of those things may come a month early. It's POSSIBLE to be promoted in September, though unlikely and it is also possible to come home in November, but that too is unlikely.

Kelli and I have been talking about how to spend the 30k bonus (after taxes I initially get like 25k, but will get it all back when I file taxes next year).
We'll spend like 5k on a family vacation to Florida in January
4-5k finishing the basement by adding a bedroom and a playroom for the kids (and reclaiming their current playroom as my study)
up to 10k on a motorcycle come springtime (and after I get a license...)
and a few thousand around the house and landscaping

Things over here have been getting better. My BDE crippled the insurgent's ability to launch rockets and mortars into the Green Zone and the wall we built to divide Sadr City has overnight changed the landscape (both literally and figurativly) of the bottom 1/4 of Sadr City. Behind those successes the Iraqi Army brokered a deal and now has control of the next 1/4 of Sadr City. The plan now is to drop so much money into that 1/2 of Sadr City to "Reward it" for cooperating, that the remaining half will see the tangible benefits of co-operation (like East Germany and North Korea). I am very optomistic. Everywhere I went in Baghdad EXCEPT Sadr City was flourishing and now perhaps Sadr City will as well. The allies needed 11 months to finish Germany after D-Day, though it truly was a foregone conclusion. We will need time too, but I think if Sadr City doesn't explode in the next month our chances to truly win this war are nearing certainty.

I heard a woman say "I respect your service and support the troops, but I am sorry to say I just don't believe in the war." My inital answer to her was
"ohh, it exists..."
My follow up was that she would believe in the cause if she were here.

Outside the computer center is a big sign that says "No smoking within 50 feet" Under that is a well used butt can with chairs next to it.

The Packers will get 9 wins this year.
The Bears will get 7
Lions and Vikes will get 8

Rockies will fail to make the playoffs, causing millions of sprained ankles as their ...fans....all jump off the bandwagon.

I have to take 3 science classes and 1 has to have a lab.
Health and Fitness
Personal Nutrition
and the one with the lab....
Topography and Orienteering

Yeah, that's how I roll.

Adam

Life

Things are still pretty good here, mailing address is the same, just don't write Camp Taji on it if you have the unit #.
Article on a golf course in the Green Zone, which is the safest place in Iraq when missiles from Sadr City aren't zooming in...

http://www.latimes.com/sports/custom/morningbriefing/la-sp-briefing8-2008may08,0,7897915.story

I am doing good, been listening to Liz Phair and The Flatlanders mostly, both amazing.

I took some more pictures, I'll post them when I have time. Any requests or themes?

My mid-tour Leave will be at the end of July into August. I plan on having one weekend for any and all visitors with the rest of my time locked away with the kiddos and Kelli. I'll let you guys know when, but I think it'll be the 26th and 27th with that friday and monday open season as well. We'll house we can and direct anyone else to hotels or tents in the backyard.
Jer showed me a video worth watching "Battle at Kruger." Pretty amazing example of life and death and the fine line between on a South African Wildlife Refuge.

If anyone happens to swing through Iran soon, please kill Moqtada Al Sadr for me. Thanks

Adam

New Base, New Attitude

"Everything is Better at War Eagle"

That's the motto CSM Dailey and I are telling everyone. Nearly everything is better. I have a trailer with a new bed, fridge, civilian purchased internet, and 2 roommates. This is a small base, so chow is quicker though not as extravagent. The laundry turn around is 8 hours. The majority of the base is concrete so I don't fear mud when it rains nor do I trod through deep gravel. Everything is much, much closer together which cuts down my "commute" time to and from work and also emboldens me to disappear for awhile since I am only 5 minutes away at all times.
Bad things. Porta Johns are horrible here and the showers run out of water every day, which is odd, since this place used to be a water filtration site and the Tigris is literally a stones throw away. However, new latrine and shower trailers are on the way.
Life is better.

Adam