Heading to Iraq
Jul 8th
Well, today is the big day. I am headed off to Iraq some time today (won’t say when due to opsec). Just like when I was in the Marines, this will only be a six month long deployment but it is the first deployment I will have away from my kids. So for the rest of the day, the PC’s and Laptops are getting shut down, and I am going to focus on playing with and loving on my kids and wife as much as possible. All week (and through the weekend of the fourth) we have been doing fun things and going out to fun places to eat. We went bowling and took family pictures. We went to a carnival and fun pizza places. That’s what it’s all about. Those fun little things are going to be memories I take with me and cherish for the next six months. I hope every father or mother headed overseas soon takes advantage of the time they have here and spend it wisely.
Just a few more days
Feb 4th
I know I haven’t blogged in a few days. Sorry. I was getting really busy with that e-commerce site I was building. I am done with that now, and I am focusing on my family, and getting ready to go next week. For the rest of my days here in Cali, I am going to be doing strictly cardio with very little weight training. Any lifting I do will be simply to maintain.
I don’t know if I am going to have internet access on a regular basis when I get to Ft. Sill, but I will try to give weekend updates. I want to thank my readers and commentators that have encouraged me over the past few months, and I hope you continue to follow me when I am officially a soldier. I will have much to offer soon, as some deals are in the wood works with some supplement companies. Keep tuned.
Christmas Week Update
Dec 26th
Saturday is here and I am whooped. But its not over yet. Disneyland was great and Allysa had a blast. The kids tuckered out around 8pm and we pawned them off to the grandparents so we could go ride some big kid rides. We are going to my family today to wrap up the weekend and have Aeden’s baptism on sunday morning. After that, I am going to start hitting the gym extra hard with all the tips I have been picking up from Nadia’s uncle. He showed me how to really push my limits.
My New Tattoo
Nov 18th
Upclose
After nearly five years, I have finally added to my collection. I got inked up yesterday at Anchors Away Tattoo in Lodi, CA by artist Shane Winans. We only started on the main section though, and will be finishing up after Thanksgiving. I have a pair of dogtags with my kids names and birthdates (in military format) on each, then a wedding band with the word “Complete” inscribed inside it, all on a chain that will go all the way around my neck.
The chains are just through the tags and rings for now though. Not all the way around. The ring was an addition to the design that my wife didn’t know about until I got it done. I am really fond of this tattoo and I can’t wait until it is finished. There lip around the tags are going to be that black rubber silencer that I used to have on my own tags, and Shane has some good sketches of the shading. It’s gonna be awesome.
Farther Back
Valley Springs
Oct 12th
In just a few short days, I was able to get my family moved back to Valley Springs for a while. We are going to be here until late April. February for me when I go to OK for training. Woohoo. I hear it is the coldest time of the year there. You know how much I love the cold.
Oh, as soon as I get some free time, I am going to head over to the gym and get a membership. I also hear that the local Kung Fu studio is giving free lessons to vets.
