12/23/2008

Hey!
Finally had the chance to use the computer again. I got to our new home, only to be told that I was supposed to be on KV for our annual retraining event. So, the next morning I caught the convoy headed back down south. The training was actually a lot of fun, and I had a good time (except standing out in the freezing cold with none of my cold weather gear!) While I was there, we started talking about the upcoming events for 3rd ID and what it may mean for some of us. It looks like there is a lot coming up for us once we get back (starting in early 2009 for the "possible events"), and it got some of us talking about reenlistment. Some of the NCO's started talking to me about what I wanted to do, and some of them said that I really need to reenlist and go to a different unit as there are a lot of opportunities out there that we should be taking advantage of. Don't worry...I haven't signed anything yet!!! But, I've got the reenlistment NCO looking at a couple of things for me. I've pretty much decided that I won't reenlist unless they can get me Ft. Carson , Colorado and a slot in the flight medic school. I figure being a flight medic out there would be a LOT of fun, plus its a much easier drive than Georgia !!! And being right down the road from Brekinridge isn't a bad thing, either. We'll see...I still have to get him some stuff (like a copy of my paramedic card) before he can see what he can do. But I'll make sure to keep you guys in the loop before I do anything. It'd really only push me back about a year, plus it would get me to a base that I would love, doing a waaay cool job! I think it would probably help me get into med school and with those plans, too, as I would have more freetime to take classes and maybe even finish my degree before I get out of the army. Med school is still me end goal...not gonna change that one. I got to talk to our doc out here this weekend, too. Yeah...he just got me all the more pumped up about going to med school, and all the opportunities and residencies and how the scholarship program works. Sounds like a SWEET deal!

I got the first box today; its the one that had the salty jerky in it...not too bad, but definitely saltier than anything else you've made. It also had Da Turdy Point Buck, which I'm going to listen to after dinner. I may watch one of the Jeff Dunham DVD's tonight, too...depends on how tired I am. Its been a hectic weekend!
So our new home isn't too bad; we're living in a train station, much like the firmbase across the street from where we lived back in Hit. Its ok, but it means that we have to go outside to get to anything: bathroom, shower, chow hall, you name it. But, we're tough...we've survived this far, and a little cold isn't going to knock us down now! I haven't gotten my thermometer up and running yet, but I'll let you know what the temps are like when I do. I'm sure they're nothing like what you've got, though; too bad it doesn't measure wind chill! Most of us are still running around in just our uniform...the same thing we wore when it was 150 degrees outside...about 120 degrees warmer than it is now!!! But, I've got some cold weather gear in my bags that will probably be making more of an appearance here shortly.
The town is small, and we're pretty isolated, so there really isn't much going on out here. Its safer than where we moved from, so I'm sure you're happy about that. Of course, this place has its own unique "fragrance." This time we get to add sulfur to the usual aroma of feces. MMmmm...eau de Iraq ; I don't think it'd be much of a hit, though.
I just got back up here from KV this afternoon, and haven't done much unpacking. I've got 4, yes 4 giant boxes of coffee...and no coffee maker. But one of the guys has a coffee press, and I'm pretty sure I can get a water heater out in town, so we should be sitting pretty.
Other than that, there's not a whole lot going on. Tell everybody hi for me, and that I love them. Hope you guys have a great Christmas!!!

I'll try to call in the next day or two if I get the chance.
Love you guys!!!
Troy