Im posting this blog so that I can document my activities on a daily basis and you can see what I am doing. I hope to keep a short journal of thoughts and opinions blogged here and communicate with y'all better this way. (Disclaimer to Casie and my Parents: In no way will this hinder the amount of times that I call home or write e-mails, in fact, I hope that it helps me keep in touch better.) Furthermore, anyone can read what I am doing and post comments, which will generate discussion and allow me, and everyone else, a better forum for communication. I hope that in this way, the remaining 6 months that I have in Iraq will speed by and my homecoming will seem sooner than otherwise.
This forum for blogging was provided by my outstanding cousin, Jeremy Tarpley, who is a master of computers. In fact, If Al Gore hadn't preceded him, Jeremy might easily have invented the internet. Regardless, Jeremy is a Wiz and developing real-estate entrepreneur, as are his brothers, Brian, who last time I heard was looking to join the 82nd Airborne, and his other brother Stephen who guards a dog at Texas A&M.
Anyways, I just got back from my mid-tour leave and have 6 months left on this deployment at Camp Shield, a small patrol base in East Baghdad. During leave, my beautiful wife Casie and I visited San Diego where we tried to surf, visited Disneyland and Sea World, and also played golf at Torrey Pines. During my round at Torrey, I was shooting par on the first three holes. Then, just like Phil Mickelson does, I flubbed the remainder of my shots to finish well behind where I should have. However, this setback is minor when compared to the two victories I enjoyed over my father. Yes, after not playing for 6 months, my drives were in the 300's my puts were decent, and the victory was sweet. And by the way, Happy Birthday Dad!
Casie is applying for a job at Temple College and she recently interviewed for a admissions counselor position. Please pray that she gets this job - and in case anyone with influence at Temple is reading this, know that she is very smart and that I will be very upset if she doesn't get the job, which probably doesn't matter to you, but maybe my feeling do.
The trip back to Baghdad was the worst, it was horrible multiplied and compounded. There was a large, long bay that we all slept in which smelled like stanky sweaty soldiers, in which the lights never went off. A note of anvice to anyone reading this, Kuwait is the worst place in the world, hopefully you will never have to be there, ever - ever. Ive gatta go, but ill write more later. OuT.