MALA KUUM SALAM~

Well, once again, I had to receive a gentle reminder from back home that it was time for an update…..   Thanks Jackie ;)

Reading back over my last update it seems that so much has happened since then.   How can that be?  Life is so redundant here…. But, yeah – a lot has happened….

Remember me telling you about my new friend Saif?   Well, I was so excited to see him again!  He was back at Camp Fallujah – they were having their Humvee worked on – so he was back for a couple days.   I really enjoyed seeing him again and talking to him.  Most of all – I was happy that I was able to tell him good bye before he left again.

Let me tell you about the baby geese….. They are NOT babies anymore!   They have gotten SO big!  They are so stinking cute too!  They are getting FAT…. That is probably because even though they posted signs that say not to feed them ~ we all do.   I usually feed them after breakfast.  I get a croissant or two and take with me.  As I walk in to the " Battle Square" where I work, the geese usually see me coming…. I walk off in to the park and they follow me.  They will actually eat out of my hand – it is so much fun to feed them.   Some of them are really greedy though, and if you do not feed them fast enough – they will go after your clothes…..

I have a new office mate.   I hate my new office mate!  He has 4 legs and two beady eyes….and I have named him Mikey – not to be confused with Mickey…  He seems to want to run past my feet when I am alone and freak me out!   I think my neighbors are getting used to hearing an occasional scream come from my office.  They have put out some "humane" mouse traps – I say forget being humane – I want him gone – dead….   The other day I tried to stomp him, but he was too darn fast!  Pity they won't let me get a cat – that would solve the problem…

The last update I told you about my upcoming trip to the FLT (Fallujah Liason team)…. It was a pretty non eventful trip.   I have to confess that I do enjoy speeding in a Humvee over the bumpy roads~ just like ridge riding…..  There were only a couple kids there, which was a bit of a bummer, but I really enjoyed getting out.   I was fed Iraqi food by some of the men who serve in the Iraqi Army.  They are always so nice when I go out there.   Most of them have to talk to me through the interpreter though.  The Marines that work out there are awesome.  They actually live here on base at Camp Fallujah – so they convoy on a daily basis.  They are not only good at what they do – but they are lots of fun too.  I enjoyed my day at the FLT.

I was also asked to come and do site visits at the ECPs (Entry Control Points) to the city of Fallujah.  I have been to one of the ECPs a few times before, but it was my first visit to two of the others.  I really enjoyed my day.   My convoy left early in the morning and we convoyed to the three different ECPs that I visited and I spent 1-2 hours at each ECP.  No bumpy roads on this convoy – we drove on highways and paved roads   to and through the city.  I think I told you before, but going out on a convoy is pretty surreal….  It is weird the way the convoy drives down the middle of the road….. all the cars pull to the side until the convoy has passed.   They lay on the horn to remind those who have not pulled over.  If the people do not pull over – they throw water bottles or other items to get their attention.   The living conditions are getting better at the ECPs.  They actually have porta potties now!  If you remember, back in November, the ECPs did not have porta potties – that is where they had pee tubes and wag bags.   It is still pretty primitive living conditions – but they are much better than they were.  They do not have the luxury of a chow hall or PX, but there is one thing that I see no matter where I go….. where ever there are Marines – there is a gym!

I am excited that they have finally opened the pool here!   It was opened a few days ago and I have not made it there yet – but I am looking forward to going and swimming some laps.  I just have to figure out what time to go when there are not many people around….

I am about to lose my work out buddy L   She is going home and getting out of the Marines.  I am happy for her, but am now searching for another work out buddy.   I have had a couple offers – but I am really hoping to find a female instead of a male to work out with…. Of course, almost everyone here will be gone by the end of the year – so I will be looking for another one again around the holidays….

We have been approved for R&R the first of August!   We have made reservations to go to Rome Italy, and then take a cruise to Naples, Italy, Mykonos, Greece, Santornini, Greece, Messina, Sicily, Italy, Cannes, France and Pisa Italy.   I am so excited to be going away!  We will be gone for two weeks this time.  Boy, I can not wait.  Of course I will post pictures of our R&R on my website and let you know how the trip goes.