30 Apr 05

Hey All! I had such a great day yesterday. I went to the pool from 10am to 5pm with a 30 min. break for chow at noon. The sun was out, and it felt wonderful! Then last night we celebrated Jen's birthday with a blast! We ordered a bunch of pizzas and drank some beer! Plus, it was cigar night. Great night. We took a bunch of pictures. I have to see if I can get them posted on here sometime soon. Then today we had briefings all morning, and then I headed to the Community Center to play some pool which I lost. It wasn't an ON day, I guess. Now, I am going to go make some Velveeta Shells and Cheese for a couple of people since we now have a microwave in the barracks!! Woo hoo. Got to go cheer on Andrew at his Volleyball game. Have a great weekend.
-Mere

28 Apr 05

Can't say that I did too much today besides run 3 miles at 5am. Other than that, I had the day off, and I got to stay in my PTs all day long! Can't beat that! The weather was nicer than it has been for the past couple of days, but that didn't bring me outside. I spent the afternoon watching movies in the new community center here! It was pretty nice. I had good company. Now, I'm here writing this message. The game last night was less than the best. The other team played very well. Our team ended up losing 9-14. They did a pretty good job though. Chat later.
-Mere

27 Apr 05

Sorry I haven't written in a couple of days. I seem to have been busy, although, I'm not sure what with. I do know that being the stats girl for the softball team is more difficult than I thought it would be. However, I must say that I am doing a wonderful job. My job title now includes writing down where each ball is hit. That can be difficult especially when the first ball was hit, and I had to ask if it was Right Field or Left Field! I caught on quickly. The team won 22-20 last night, and even I was nervous! It was insane. Andrew played really well. Nothing else has been new lately. I hope everything at home has been good. The day today is miserable. I swear if I didn't know better I would say that I was in the jungle and not the desert. The humidity is horrible! Miss and love you all!
-Mere

I know we look attractive with cigars hanging out of our mouths, but we didn't get to do it on Friday night, so we had to do it last night. Thanks for the reminder, Kim! We look like such bad asses...or not! 

Check this out! That would be my speaker system I installed in the humvee before my convoy on Thursday! Nothing like 2 little speakers and some strong tape. Can you say Big Pimpin'! 

Me and Emmy at the game last night. The weather had finally cooled off to create the perfect weather for a softball game. 

23 Apr 05

Hello Everyone.  Thanks for the comments on the pictures.  Today is a hot one.  I think the temp is supposed to get up to around 110 degrees.  You northerners have NO idea what that feels like.  On Thursday, I had a mission to drive up to Camp Victory and pick up a connex.  Thank goodness I got to drive the Humvee and not the 40 ft. Tractor trailor.  That wouldn't have been good.  As it was, I almost went straight up a fork in the road...not my fault...I had bad directions.  The good thing is that we are all okay.  Plus, I haven't driven that fast in a lot of months!  Last night, I went to Andrew, Emmy, and Drue's softball game.  They all did really really good.  I got to keep the stats for the team, so I was the one who filled in the diamonds for all the 47 runs they made!!! The other team only got 1 run!  Can you believe that!?!  Today, I've just been taking it slow.  I watched a movie this morn
ing, and I'm going to head inside to watch Dumb and Dumber in a few minutes.  It is too hot to do anything else.  I haven't seen that movie in a long time.  I miss you guys, and I'll write more later. -Mere

This picture is one that I forgot to post with my last bunch, but it is one of my favorites. It's me, Andrew, Emmy, and Drue at the Adema concert...Oh yeah, Hauber is in the very back! 

Here is me in my new cute head scarf that I got from the Bazaar! I'm taking orders if anyone wants one. Make check or money order out to...I am in my swimming suit ready to go to the pool. Please excuse the nasty zit on my face. 

19 Apr 05

So I need to clear the air a bit. I have NOT been promoted yet, so don't get ahead of yourselves. It should probably happen sometime, but it hasn't happened yet. There is paperwork involved, and we all know how that goes with the military. I didn't do too much today besides workout at 5am. Then we had to go to the Motor Pool and perform our weekly PMCS (Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services) on all of our vehicles. (Malzey- that's another one that I will test you on later!) After that I went to chow and then we studied Battle Drills again. I swear I can recite them front ways and back ways, side ways and even upside down! STOP BEATING A DEAD HORSE!!! That's about it. I might go run on the track in a little bit, but it is still really hot outside now. I think it is at least 90 degrees at the moment. I'm not feeling to ambitious. Blog you later!
-Mere

18 Apr 05

Great news everybody!! I took my PT test this morning at 0500 and PASSED! I am quite happy. I am glad that I will soon become a Specialist for pay reasons, but other than that I enjoy being a PFC. It was my fastest 2 mile run ever! I know some of you may think it isn't that great, but I did it in 17:02. That's awesome for me. Before that, my best run was when I got out of AIT, and it was 18:28. My pushups and situps were pretty good too. I think sitting at the pool all day yesterday was just what I needed. I had a great time. Then when we got back, we sat on the internet for 3 hours chatting. Mallory and Kim got to talk to Andrew. I don't think he knows what to do with himself. It is hard enough to deal with just me besides the three of us at the same time. He had a great time though. I don't know if I have too much else going on today. I'm sure something will come up. I'm going tonight to cheer on the people who play softball. I am a better cheerleader tha
n player. It will be something to do. I hope everyone has a wonderful week. I know I started mine off right!!!
-Mere

17 Apr 05

Wow! This month is flying by relatively quickly. I can't believe it is already the 17th. Well, I am happy to say that I finally finally got to go to the pool today, and it was everything that I had missed all month. I was there from 10-4:30pm. Yeah, I got a little burned, but it was worth it!!! I had good company! The water wasn't as freezing cold as it was before either. You could actually get into the pool without your lips turning blue and suffering from hypothermia. I wanted to wear my cute new green skirt, lai, and pink head scarf that I have, but that was pushing the rules a bit. I tried it all on in the barracks before I left, and that was good enough. I looked like a ray of color (with a huge zit on my face)! IT is all I can see, and I don't even have to look at me! It is horrible. Hopefully, it goes away soon. I didn't do much else today. I'll write more later tomorrow. Have a great day.
-Mere

16 Apr 05

Praise the Lord my website works again!!! I seriously was going crazy without it. It became such a part of my daily routine that when it was taken away, I was lost. First off, about the burgers, I could ALMOST swear that the meat was USDA choice ground beef straight from the farms of SD. They were so good. Then for the spandex, it is Under Armour brand which breathes really nicely. I love them. We've still been doing a lot of Battle Drills. We'll be doing them until Thursday of next week when we get tested on them. Hopefully we all pass, or we'll have to continue to do them. Andrew was being really REALLY nice when he said that our volleyball game against each other was close...WE got ANIALATED!! It was so horrible that all I could do was laugh. I'm not too competitive when it comes to that stuff anyway. I refuse to dive for anything, and people think I am weird for it. Why would I want a sand scrape on my leg for a sand flea to burrow in and make a home...NO THANK YOU! Andrew just started his own webpage as well. It is in its very beginning stages, but if anyone would like to check it out and post comments it would be great! His address is www.feiaoif3.blogspot.com/ ......Later on.... My website wouldn't post that first part, so I will just add on to it. I was told last night at 7:30pm that I was working the night shift. Can't beat that kind of communication! It was really fun though. I just had to sit there, and sleep a little bit. I woke up yesterday at 5am and didn't go back to bed until 8:30am today. Good times. I took a 4 hour nap and now I am up for the day. I was hoping to go to the pool today, but like clock work, we have another sand storm today. I think tomorrow is supposed to be better. The sun will be out tomorrow and hopefully the breeze won't pick up the sand. I have lost my color that I once had. I'll tell you tomorrow whether I got to go or not. Have a great weekend! -Mere

13 Apr 05

Today has really been a pretty good day minus the heat (102 Degrees!!!). First off, Andrew got 2nd place in a 5K (3.1 miles) this morning. I think there were over 500 people who participated, so CONGRATULATIONS to him!!! Then I had to do some CTT training which wasn't at the top of my list of fun things to do, but we got it done. Then GOOD NEWS... the brand new PX, GYM, and recreation center all opened up today! The PX is seriously like (the devil) Wal-Mart! It was great! I bought a pair of spandex that I love! I think I might have to go get another pair. Then since it was the Grand Opening of these places, they had a Bazaar type thing with Hadji vendors all over the place. I bought a couple of head scarfs. Very cute. Also, they were grilling outside, so I got a REAL hamberger that someone had to actually smash into a patty. It was amazing. They put seasoning on it and everything. So sad when I have to blog about a good Hamberger. They had music playing really
loud on the stage with a cute Hadji DJ. Then I was so wiped out from the heat of the afternoon that I went to my barracks and took an 1 1/2 hour nap that felt absolutely amazing. I was so disoriented when I woke up. That's when you know they were beneficial! After that I had to go do another class, but it was short lived. Now I am here writing to all of you. That's about all for the day. I think I might have to play volleyball tonight, but I'm not sure. We'll see how that goes. Miss you.
-Mere

12 Apr 05

5 months from today until Malzey and my 21st Birthday!!!! I can't help but keep track. Today was a change of pace for us here in Kuwait. A group of us got to go take a tour of this port called the SPOD. Don't ask me what it stands for because I really don't know, but it was pretty cool. We weren't allowed to take any pictures of it because it is a Kuwaity port that they control. It's for security reasons. The water was so clear and blue. I wanted to jump in, but I still figured I'd come out with a nasty rash. We could see schools of big fish with yellow tails swimming and jumping around in the water. It was neat! There were HUGE vessels out in the water taking military vehicles to and from the United States. We weren't able to get onto a ship, but we could see into one from the side. Then we went to the PX in the area and bought some cool stuff. I needed another pair of PTs, and they were on sale, so I couldn't pass up the deal. This afternoon, I think I might
watch a movie. I watched Finding Neverland last night. It has Kate Winslet and Johnny Depp in it. Very good flick. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I don't like Johnny Depp, but he redeemed himself to me. The little boys did a great job as well. I'm glad that you liked the pics that I posted, but not enough of you commented on them. Your comments are what make me want to continue to post. PLEASE COMMENT!!! I don't know what the temp is right now. I swear it feels like it is 100 degrees, but I don't think it really is. I'm just dying right now. Talk to you later. Have a great day.
-Mere

11 Apr 05

Hey everyone! I got some photos posted for you all. I hope you enjoy them. It is good to see that Robyn has joined the blogging family. Congratulations to Chris for getting confirmed. I had to do some classes this morning. It wasn't too bad. The heat was a little yucky, but what can you do. It is getting warmer outside these days. The mornings are kind of muggy, which doesn't help anything. I had a few minutes this afternoon to come to the computer lab, so I took advantage of it. Miss you all.
-Mere

This is us eating pizza after the concert at the softball field. I don't know why, but for some reason it tasted so good that night. Maybe because I forgot what Pizza Hut tastes like. 

There's Charlie and his posse! He even came decked out in his own pair of DCUs. Good times. 

This is Andrew and I at the Charlie Daniel's Band Concert. We had a pretty good time. I even decided to attempt to look like a girl even though I still had to wear PTs. 

We had a 3rd Platoon party a couple of weeks ago. This is our Plt. Sgt., Martin, playing hacky sack as Andrew and Emmy look on. (We drink near beer over here.) 

Here is me, Ashley, and Jen. I swear they are out of control!!! 

You wanted to see my living area...here it is. Not much to see. I'm on the top bunk and Yurick is on the bottom. 

Here is Haley, Feia, Me, and Kremers having fun with photography Friday night. 

10 Apr 05

So this computer that I am on really sucks. The keyboard is so full of dust and dirt that I can't press down one of the 'shift' buttons. It makes typing rather difficult. Anyway, I had a really good time last night at the Charlie Daniel's Band Concert. It was almost two hours long. Pretty impressive for an old man. After that we went and got some pizza and sat out and ate it at the softball fields. I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO DIDN'T ENJOY THEMSELVES. (THIS MAKES TYPING EASIER!) TODAY, I WOKE UP AT 6AM LIKE USUAL BECAUSE I HAVE AN INABILITY TO SLEEP IN ANYMORE AND LAID THERE UNTIL ALMOST 9AM. I WAS GOING TO GO TO THE POOL (SINCE WE GOT IT BACK ON THE WEEKENDS) BUT IT WAS LIKE A NASTY DUST STORM OUTSIDE. I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE BASKING IN SAND. MOM CALLED AND MADE MY WHOLE DAY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT RAE AND EM BOUGHT CHICKS AND DUCKS AT RUNNINGS! YOU JUST WANT TO BE LIKE CHANDLER AND JOEY! YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THEM AND E-MAIL THEM TO ME. OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T SAY THAT ANYTHING TO INTERESTING IS GOING ON. I TAKE EACH DAY AS IT COMES TO ME. I MISS YOU ALL ALONG WITH CHOCOLATE CHIP TEDDY GRAHAMS, MOM'S TACOS, MOM'S CHICKEN POT PIE, MOM'S DIAGONAL CUT SANDWICHES WITH CHIPS IN THEM, AND FRUIT CUPS. I WAS THINKING OF FOOD TODAY IF YOU CAN'T TELL. HAVE A GREAT WEEK, AND I WILL TRY TO GET PICTURES POSTED THIS WEEK. I PUT THE ONES I WANT TO POST ON MY MEMORY STICK, SO WE'LL SEE. -MERE

9 Apr 05

Good Saturday morning to everyone. Nothing too interesting going on over here right now. Yesterday, I went for a run in the morning and then went and worked out again in the afternoon. They both felt really good. It's a satisfying feeling to do some good in the day. I went the second time because I slept the morning away listening to the music that Mallory put on my computer when it was home. I heart Kelly Clarkson! Then in the afternoon I cleaned out my foot lockers and wall locker. I know you are all so suprised that I got a whole garbage bag of trash when all was said and done. It was heavy too. I didn't think I had that much junk laying around. I also got a package last night from Regan! Thank you so much for the Easter present. I love it, and your "R" bear is laying on my bed. Other than that, I didn't smoke last night since it was Friday, but I did stand out there while others did, and I slept in until almost 9am. I needed it. I have guard duty in the ba
rracks at 12:30pm. I can't wait...and then it is off to the Charlie Daniel's Band Concert that is playing here tonight. Not my kind of music at all, but it is something to do. I'll take some choice shots tonight for you all. Later.
-Mere

7 Apr 05

I guess I didn't have to go to work today, although I did work all day yesterday, and I think I have to work all day tomorrow. We had classes this morning from 8-12. That was a blast. Some of the people in my squad played pool. I think we might get the pool back sometime. Thank you so much for the Package RaeJ and Malzey!!! Good thing too because I got my wonderful package from Rachel and Mallory with my cute new flip flops, terry skirt, lai (sp), and J. Simpson poster! YES!!! I tried them on today over my PTs. Super cute is all I have to say! The poster will probably get hung up tonight. I have Volleyball tonight at 2030 (8:30pm for all you civilians). Hopefully, we are able to kick some butt, but I'm not holding my breath. Not much else going on. I'll try to get some good pics taken in the next few days and get them posted on the site. I know you all get bored with words relatively easily! Talk to you soon.
-Mere

6 Apr 05

Sorry I didn't get any posts up yesterday. I was busy working ALL day long! I know, it sounds suprising, but I was. I am working again today, and I think I have to all next week too. Hopefully, it makes the time go by quickly. Last night I got suckered into going to Salsa Dancing. It was something of an experience. I'll have to show you all my moves when I get home. I did pretty good. Andrew and I weren't doing quite as well together. He has a tough time shaking his hips, but it was so cute that he tried! I wish I would have taken my camera with me because it was funny. I was dead tired when I went to bed last night. It was a good time. That's about all I have for now. I'll talk to you all later!
-Mere

4 Apr 05

Have any of you ever had to attempt to clean a weapon for like 4 hours? I didn't think so. It is not very much fun; however, when you are a creative genius like myself, you learn how to make your own fun. Andrew and I decided to have not one but TWO water chugging contests. The bottles were 1.5 liters each. In the world of US measurements, that is like a half a gallon! I won the first time and he won the second time. I felt like I was going to puke, but at least I am fully hydrated today. I only peed 5 times in 2 hours, and I mean HAD TO PEE! Good times. The things people do for entertainment. At least it wasn't really hot outside today...just pretty hot. I don't think anything else is planned for the rest of the day. I was supposed to give my class on Preventative Protective Measures in Counteracting Heat Casualties, but for some reason we never got around to it, so I am wondering if I will ever have to give it. Maybe tomorrow or something. Talk to you later!
-Mere

3 Apr 05

So I was WAY OFF on the whole temperature over here yesterday. I went to weather.com for my information, and they were a bit off on the temps. When I got off the computer yesterday after posting my last blog, I walked outside, and I couldn't breathe! It was everything and more that people have said about having a blowdryer blowing right on your face and entire body! Horrible would be a word for it. We had on our DCUs which includes t-shirt, blouse/jacket, pants, socks, boots, and a hat. The sweat evaporated from us as soon as it formed. Come to find out the temperature wasn't 93 degrees! IT WAS 109 DEGREES with a heat index of 115!!! Then to top it all off, we were outside getting ready for our formation and we had a mini sand storm. We couldn't see to the end of our building. Yuck yuck yuck! At least it cooled off for our Adema concert later that night! Personally, their music isn't really my style, but even I had a pretty good time. The lead singer was a former Marine. That's why they came to us. We all looked really hot too with our PTs and reflective belts standing at the front of the stage. It was a good time though. Andrew, Emmy, Drue, and I got a really cute picture of us taken, so I'll have to post that when I get a chance. I hope you other girls had a great time at JM concert. Gracie, good luck with the house! I got an e-mail about it with the pictures!! Have a great weekend everyone!
-Mere

2 Apr 05

OMG! It is already 84 degrees outside, and it is ONLY 10am! It is supposed to get up to 93 today! What am I going to do? I woke up warm this morning and almost threw my covers off the bed. Then I almost fell off the top bunk! Not my idea of fun. Em- You know how that feels. At least I didn't have big huge knobby pigtails in like you! The pool is still off limits to us. That's okay because I need to get to working on my class I have to teach for tomorrow. It is on how to prevent heat injuries. Right up my alley. I think that is why I got assigned it. I was happy to receive a call from Emily this morning just to chit chat. Tonight we are playing board games as a platoon, and then some of us are going to a Adema (sp) concert. I doubt that anyone has heard of them. They are alternative. It is something to do. Have a great day.
-Mere

1 Apr 05

First off, APRIL FOOLS DAY to everyone, and HAPPY B-DAY to you MOM! I hope everyone is being nice with all their trickery today. I am getting kind of angry because I have tried to write 2 other posts, and for some reason it won't let it go onto the webpage. I am getting rather upset. What can you do though! I went for a run this morning, and then had to do some CTT (Common Task Training)--lame! After that, I went back to my nicely airconditioned barracks and proceeded to watch the next 3 episodes of American Idol that mom sent. Love it. Not much else going on here besides sweating my butt off. I'm hoping that statement will become literal. It is beginning to get quite warm in the afternoons. Tonight (friday nights) is Cuban Cigar night, so I might have a couple more pictures later from that. Don't worry, Mom, I don't enjoy it so much as atmosphere with everyone. It's a good time, and it breaks up the monotony of the week. I haven't smoked a real cigarette at all (and I won't). When I do that, is when you have to worry. Have a great day, All, and I'll talk to you later.
-Mere