February 25, 2009
for many years, where i may lay...
Zach is doing pretty well in Afghanistan. He's had some issues with his truck. But it sounds like he has a good team, and they were finally able to get some progress made, so they can get back to the field.
I was driving home from work, yesterday, at about 5 o'clock. My "day job" secludes me from reality, I thought I would catch up on the news. I listen to NPR for news. Anyway, so the first thing I heard when I get on the road, 4 U.S. soldiers killed by a roadside bomb. That was it. My heart sank. I raced inside to the computer, and found it was in Southern Afghanistan. Zach is not in Southern Afghanistan. I felt so relieved, but very sad. The DOD has not issued a news release of the casualties yet. I got a hold of him later, it was so good to hear his voice.
I am a pretty private person. But for those of you that do not know, I am married. I have been married for almost two years. Zach and I have seen each other less than three months, cumulatively, in these last two years. We have our ups and downs. I never feel the need to justify that to anyone. Because I don't think most people would be able to do it. And even though we do have ups and downs, I am very proud of us.
I had some business to take care of at Camp Lincoln today. While I was there I thought it would be neat to check out the Illinois State Military Museum. It was very much worth the trip, and to anyone interested, they have a private gate where no military id card is necessary to get in.
February 24, 2009
February 14, 2009
i did not find what i was looking for, there, tonight...
LINKS RELATED TO AFGHANISTAN:
At War (a documentary film)
Eastern Campaign, Ghosts of Alexander (blog)
4th Platoon: Afghanistan, Rafal Gerszak Photography
America At War, Afghanistan Links, Washington Post
Left of Boom, The Struggle to Defeat Roadside Bombs (IEDs), Washington Post
Troops Spread Thin in Southern Afghanistan, slide show, NYTimes
An Outpost in Afghanistan's Borderland, slide show, NYTimes
taking chance...
If you have HBO, I recommend watching this movie, Saturday Feb. 21. It's going to be OnDemand a few days after that.
HBO, Taking Chance Official Site
February 12, 2009
ive gotten lost in this building once...
lighter note, took a drive downtown tonight, and watched the lights change on the howlett building. its a beautiful sight.
once its gone, its gone...
they went back the way they came. but this time night came. and it was worse. he said they had air support. f-15s. they must have sounded like angels. more ieds, more rpgs, more shots fired. more blood.
my heart is sinking.
February 10, 2009
war feels like war...
50+ year old four leaf clover, for good luck, to zach
they had two missions, back to back. one place to another. he said as the convoy went through this one particular village, it had been unlike the rest. no one looked, waved, nodded, smiled. nothing. they braced for what they did not know. there was an ied blast, his truck only took some frag. they met small arms fire, but the treeline was just prominent enough to inhibit a clear enough shot to launch a grenade. an rpg was launched toward them. engaged. clear. another village where people smiled and waved. much better. they are safe. but they still have to get back to where they came from.
February 7, 2009
i couldnt ask for a better "winter" afternoon....
its arounf 60 degrees outside.
February 5, 2009
almost another week down...
I'm still having a bit of trouble getting/staying organized.
February 2, 2009
today was good...
got a package from zach today, all the way from afghanistan. woo! i will post more pictures later.
i also received a copy of a book i ordered last week.
mail is the best.
and i've been working on Ali's Valentines Gift. woo!!!!
gotta get ready to go to the gym.
step one...
zach wrote that to me in the summer of 2007. seems like so long ago. he may not be a good speller, but hes mine.
i worked on a bunch of cards tonight. reclaimed a screen.
and i need to work on laundry. i may have a job interview type thing in the afternoon.
