Daddy Dolls and Poster Board Daddy

Katy, Sera and I attended a luncheon on Tuesday for deploying members with the District Commander.  I forgot to take photos.  A representative of Operation Military Kids was there and gave out the dolls in the above photo.  One o f the members of our district who just returned from Kabul, Afghanistan also spoke to the group.  He said we should be able to talk to our families multiple times a day and have good access to e-mail.  He also talked about the bazaars on Friday afternoons.  Katy and Sera's eyes lit up and are now expecting jewelry and whatever good stuff I can find.  I could have done without that part of the presentation.  We also spent the afternoon checking out some of the things available to Katy and the kids on base while I'm deployed.

Finally found out today that I am leaving on Sunday for sure.  My passports have been found and are in holding for me when I get to Virginia.  Now we can continue getting things ready for me to leave on Sunday.  We've got some lunches and dinners planned for the week.  Saturday Sera's got a football game to cheer at, then we are going to the Hotoberfest at the Fort Jackson Fire Department and finally Gator Fest in the late afternoon.

This afternoon Sera and I made the Poster Board Daddies in the picture above.  Tomorrow we're going to laminate them so Katy can write things that I would say on them while I'm gone.  One is me kissing them good night, another is of me giving them a high-five and the last one is just a regular me.  It's the one Katy said she is going to fuss at the kids if they are acting bad.

Just a couple of other thoughts that popped into my head during the last couple of days.  1:  I've been reading a book on the Black Hills that contains stories on the gold rush days, Indian lore and interesting people.  I realized that gone are the days when the madame of a brothel can be celebrated as a pillar of the community and a philanthropist.  2:  If Katy and Sera's shopping wish list is fulfilled I could be the only person to lose money while deployed.

Less Than a Week to Go

I'm scheduled to fly out on Sunday, just waiting on my passport to come in yet.  I had a great weekend with family and friends.  Saturday morning I took Sera to her football game and watched her cheer.  That evening Katy threw me a going away party and even managed to get the AUBURN TIGERS to give me a great going away gift!  The picture on the right is me and Sera hamming it up before the party.  I'd post pictures from the party, but they would have an over 21 rating and I don't know who will be viewing this blog :)  I do appreciate everybody that came and wished be good luck.  We'll have to do it again in 6 months!

This week I'm trying to gather the last few things I need and spend some time with the kids.  We have some lunches and dinners planned so hopefully we'll have time to get everything accomplished.

Office Going Away Luncheon

We had a going away luncheon today for the people from my office that are deploying to Afghanistan.  The wierd look on my face is me squinting in the sun.  In the second picture is Patricia, she is deploying a week after me.  She has her hands thrown up in her "What did I do??!!??" pose.

Flu shot today, typhoid hopefully tomorrow.  Still waiting on my official passport.  I've got most of the items I need to survive over there:  netbook, movies on ext hard drive, Leatherman Wave, a couple of spyderco knives, Otter Box for the Iphone, pocket flashlight, head lamp, ballistic sunglasses, small camcorder, camera, backpack.  Still need to get a few other things: watch, flash light, batteries, etc. 

Got about one week to spend time with Katy and the kids.  Still need to walk Katy through the house and hopefully think of everything I need to teach her about the house.  At least I'll be in Virginia for about 4 days so I should be accessible for any questions.

Times getting short and I'm starting to miss the kids.  I'm planning to spend some individual time with them this week.  It'll probably be more beneficial for me than them.

Until next time.  Remember to sign up as a follower and send me your email if you want to get updates when a new blog posts.

2 Weeks and Counting

If my passport/visa information gets straightened out I'll be flying to Virginia on October 3rd.  While there we get to learn fun stuff like how to wear our uniforms, get paid, apply first aid, throw on our gas masks in 10 seconds, properly wear body armor and what to do if bullets start flying.  My plan is to run and hide behind something big.  One of the days I'm there I get to be treated like a human pin cushion.  I still need to get immunized against anthrax, MMR, flu, H1N1, polio, smallpox and typhoid.  On Thursday I get to enjoy a 13 1/2 hour flight to Dubai.  Once there, who knows?  All I've been told is that at that point someone else is responsible for getting me to Kabul, Afghanistan.  Should be exciting!!!  Eventually I'll end in Kabul for a week and then to FOB Shank  (map at the bottom of the page).

If you look at the right hand side of the page is my email address.  Email me if you want to get notifications when I add new posts or just want to email.  Also, I'll add links about the Corps mission in Afghanistan and anything else I find interesting.

I'll be spending the next couple of weeks trying to finish up whatever needs to be done around the house, spending time with the kids and Katy, finish up any deployment paperwork/training that may come up, and downloading books and putting movies on my computer.  It seems like I'm missing something.........Oh yeah, get as much beer in me as I can.

Hopefully I'll be posting frequently up to I leave for Dubai.  After that it may be hit and miss until I get to Shank.