How do you make Iraq miserable?

Everybody knows that being in Iraq sucks. But how do you make Iraq miserable? Just add water! Check this out... Take a 5 pound bag of flour and mix in a gallon of water. Pour it on your driveway. Now walk in it. Welcome to Iraq when it rains. What doesn't stick to your boots in large quantities is thin enough to splash, but thick enough to stick to what it hits. It's horrible! Oh well. Not a whole lot longer now.

For some reason the BSFM decided to waive the run today. Not sure why, but I'm scared to see what happens next. Should be loads of fun!

There are a few terms in the military that I personally love. You won't find them in webster's. They just exist because some people in the military like to use big words and don't know any, so they make some up. Here are a few of my all time favorites...

Electronical- Any item that requires electricity to operate. "Make sure that all electronical components have been removed from the device.

Orientate- To position something in a desired position. "Orientate the weapon downrange."

Come on people. Don't just add a letter or a syllable to a word, go all-out. If you're gonna create a word, CREATE a word. Like...

Craberolish- What happens when you give an EOD tech an expensive piece of equipment and tell him it can't be broken. "DUDE!!! What happened to the robot? Well, I was poking at a device with the gripper. Next thing I know I hear boom. The IED is gone, the robot is all craberolished, and there's chunks of robot and some small animal all over the street. And uh... There are no explosive hazards left down range at this time. *holds hand out* Cookie please!

Today was a helluva day though. Nobody tried to blow us up, but we had a metric shit-ton of evidence come across the table. Oh well, At least I'm not sitting in my CHU biting my nails and tapping my feet waiting for my darling girlfriend to open her pretty little eyes.

A little message to all those with deployed loved ones. Times get rough. Combat can be intense and take a lot out of a man (or woman). But worse than that is having too much downtime. I watched a guy go through a breakdown today, simply because his girl didn't understand why he was being so testy when all he did was work in a lab. Combat stress is hell, I've been there. But idle hands and groundhog days (doing the same thing day in and day out) are sometimes just as bad if not worse. How many times have you said or heard someone say that they are tired of doing the same thing everyday in their job? Well, imagine not being able to come home and vent that to that one you love. That shit builds up. My girl can tell you better than anybody probably. I can really get in some moods from time to time. Now I know that it's hard for you as well, but the little things get to the deployed half and start to build. Having to put on shoes and leave your room just to go pee in the middle of the night, Having to wait for a particular time to eat, Not being able to step outside for some air without making sure somebody knows where you are so if anything happens they can find you. Be patient. If they are bitching about something that seems insignificant to you, well chances are it's a huge deal for them. Oh and personal space? Non-existant!

Per usual a message to my sponsor... I'm probably still in my funk and have missed you oh my god so badly today. Actually considered getting on the white line and calling and waking you up just to hear your voice. I'm terribly sorry about last night, just let my imagination get to me. I love you baby. I can't wait to get back and talk to you tonight!