Waterlogged

Hello again everyone and welcome. I hope everyone has had a good week and all is well. This week has been a down week here. Everything has left to go over and all of the training is done. Soon I'll be home for 9 days and I can't wait for that.

I did take another PT test this week and I passed it with flying colors. I did 72 push-ups and 70 sit-ups and 2-miles in 16:03. Not my best time on the run but I did better in the other two than last time. I am feeling more fit now than I can ever remember. Now if only these last 10 pounds would fall off I would be a model or something :-)

We also got to go to the pool again yesterday. We cooked out and hung out all day long. I did get a little red, even though I reapplied my sunscreen like 5 times. It was very relaxing to be by the pool, but I did get waterlogged and pruned by the end of the afternoon (I know, it must be rough for me. lol).

Well, It's time for me to go to formation and find out what is going on today. Everyone have a good weekend and my next post will be after my block leave is over because I will see most of you in that time frame.

Gettin' Ready

It's Monday and do you know where Dan is? I'm right here in Oklahoma and getting ready to be home for 9 days.

Yesterday was our battalion picnic and we also got to have beer!!! It was hot and it tasted so good. There was volleyball, swimming, a dunk tank and did I mention the beer? It was a good time had by all who attended (which was everybody - Hello still in the army here - didn't have a choice - lol). Today I started packing up my personal items in preparation for next week. I sure collected a lot of items over the past 3 months but I think I'll be able to fit it all somewhere. After I'm done with that we are going to see a movie. I think we'll see "Live free or die hard" and then have dinner at the mall for a change of pace.

Everybody have a good week and I can't wait to see all of you when I get home. It will be very busy so if I don't get to talk to everybody, do stay in contact via e-mail.

Take care all

Dan

11 Days and a Wake-Up

Hello again, its me. I hope everybodys week is going well so far and the rest of your week is just as good. Things here are winding down. I'm very excited to come home on block leave in 12 days and so is everyone else here.

We did get a fun day yesterday though. Our First Sargent reserved an outside pool for the whole company to go swimming and have a cookout. It was a beautiful day outside. about 92 degrees and a slight wind. Everyone, including myself, had a blast. It felt good to not wear my uniform for most of the day and to sit out and get some sun.

We also have been playing volleyball for PT. Its a nice change of pace from running all of the time. The solders from Hawaii are pretty good and are a challenge to play against. Go figure, they live on a beach, they have played a few times I bet(lol). On Friday we have a battalion run in the morning. This is where we form up and run in a group and have somebody call out cadence to keep us in step. It will be a short run from what I've herd so that's good because running in formation hurts my feet(too much stomping, not running). Then our whole platoon is going to the bowing ally to do some team building that night. We were going to do it tonight but we just had some people come back from the FOB and they are going to diner together to celebrate being out of the FOB like my group had a picnic.

Well, time for me to go again. Dinner is calling and you all know how I hate to miss a meal. Take it easy and I'll talk to you all again soon.

Dan

Happy 4th of July

Hello everybody and happy 4th of July to all of you.

We were given a little more freedom this past week and I have been able to do some things other than army training. On Sunday, my platoon went to Lonestar Steakhouse for, you guessed it, steaks. It was a fun evening for all. the Twins were on the TV, I ordered the T-Bone and I had an ice cold........ice tea in my hand.(Still no alcohol allowed)

On Tuesday I got to go to concert put on my Army Entertainment. Trace Atkins was the headliner and Joe Nickels opened for him. It was a good show, as country shows fair. I got to sit in the sun, listen to music, and have an ice cold.......ice tea again. It was almost like being home, just with out Sarah, my normal clothes and my car to drive me there(we took a bus).

Then today we all got to sleep in because the concert ended at 11pm. then we had a BBQ for lunch with chicken, beef, and pork ribs. It was very good and I think I ate too much. Then I went to see Transformers at the mall. I thought I was a good movie. Lots of special effects and "Guy" type of things to keep me interested.

Tomorrow it is back to the grind of Army life. It was nice to have a little more freedom to do so things that I took for granted before this deployment. Now I look forward to coming home on block leave and spending lots of time with Sarah. I need my "Sarah" time you know.

Well, it's off to bed for me. Again I thank you all for the support you all have given me so far. I look forward to talking with everybody again soon.

Dan

P.S.) Be sure to look below for new pictures from time to time.