Another Great Thing about The Ipad, and being in the Army!

So I got an IPAD maybe a month and a half a go or so and I love it!  There are so many things that I can do with it both work and for fun.  I enjoy being able to take notes on it, being able to read on it, play games on it.  There are all kinds of things I can do, I know this is not an advertisement for the Ipad but I am really enjoying and I am glad that I had the ability to get it and get it shipped here thanks to my sis.  I have really had a great time with it.  

But the other day I found a new and great way to enjoy my ipad.  I was traveling last week I was off my base for about 10 days working on a couple cases.  I was coming back the other day but the weather turned a little bad so we were on a weather hold waiting to get out.  I was with The paralegal from my office and there were about 200 french Soldiers waiting to get out as well.  We were in a small area, at least small for that number of people and it was hot, we also didn’t know when we would be getting out or how long we would be there.  So as the afternoon came around, I found a seat and pulled out my IPad.

I had put a couple movies on the Ipad and thought I might watch one, I started it up and the french guy beside me, leaned back and said something in French (I am assuming it was something about watching a movie to his friends).  However, the volume in the size room and number of people was not hearable.  So he brushed it off and I ended up turning it off, I wasn’t going to be able to hear it.   Well I decided to go ahead and play a game then I thought why not see if he wanted to play too.  He too was board just like me, stuck with nothing to do.  So I showed him what I was doing and offered to let him play.  He did.  By the end I had played Jenga with three of four french Soldier none of which understood hardly anything I said and I didn’t understand anything they were saying.  After several games it got a little old so I decided to see what other games I had, and I had Monopoly.  So I offered to allow them to play that with me as well.  So myself and two French Soldiers sat for about 2 hours and played Monopoly on the Ipad.  We played until I got word that my flight was going to be leaving soon.

I started thinking to my self, how cool, what other job could I have that I can meet and sit with Soldier from another country and play Monopoly.  It didn’t matter that we didn’t understand much if anything that we were saying to each other, we were having fun and passing the time.  It was a very cool experience and one that I am glad I can have here.  I am honestly a pretty lucky person and very blessed.

Moments I miss my family (and extended family i.e. friends)

Over the last couple of days and experiences I have really missed my family, I think mostly because it is getting into summer and I’m reaching the four month mark and I have been busier so our schedules haven’t linked up like normal so we have talked less.  With all that, plus the near death experience, and the emotions from that I have missed them.  I can tell you it means the world to me when I get a letter from them or an email.  It reminds me that they are thinking of me about as much as I am thinking of them.  It is not always easy being here alone with a million people around.  I am an outgoing person and I can make friends or at least talk to people pretty easily, even non english speaking people (more on that in a later post) but that doesn’t make it any easier when all you really want is to talk to someone who knows you about “normal” life.   

I miss seeing my nephews playing their video games or talking non stop about what is going on with them and what toys they are playing with.  I miss asking them who their favorite aunt is and hearing them say “Aunt Stacee”  I miss seeing my niece and seeing how much she is improving.  I miss talking to my parents about everything that is going on in their lives, mom talking about what is going on and fussing over if I need anything, and dad talking to me about life in general.  I miss my sisters even our bickering and arguing because no matter why or what it is about, it is short lived and we move on and grow closer and stronger.  I miss our big family get togethers, where it doesn’t matter how long it has been since we’ve seen each other we can pick right up like it was only yesterday.  And I miss my friends hanging out playing games, talking on the phone getting a drink and, playing pool (although not very well), playing softball, or rock band.  Sometimes a person just needs to get away and unwind with people who know them.  

Don’t get me wrong I have made several friends here and I have things to do and I can talk to people everywhere I go.  I do talk to people everywhere I go, but sometimes you just want what is comfortable, what is easy, and what is relaxing.  And sometime you just want to see your family!  I love you all!

A Near Death Experience

Although this is true feel free to have a bit of a chuckle about it because honestly I have laughed at it as well...

A couple weeks ago a monday, I was going out with a movement team to go to a range with my paralegal.  He is a Specialist and still getting involved in things.  He often asks me, “how do you know so many people,”  all I can say is that I can pretty much talk to anybody so I do, then we usually just become friends.  He has been asking more about it lately so I decided to talk with a couple of the friends I have made to get him involved in some different things, at least to get him exposed to them so that he can attempt to step out some if he chooses to do so.  I can make friends for him I can only show him opportunities.  So when my friend told me that there was a range and I knew he needed to qualify, she asked if we wanted to go with a group they were taking out there and I said absolutely.

Anyway we were going out to the range, a very short drive from where we are located.  I was riding in a vehicle called an MRAP, at least a version of an MRAP, it has a side opening back door and about 4 people can ride in it.  The door would be similar to that on a jeep liberty (at least like mine, it opens not flipping up in the air but rather like you are opening a side door.  The thing about this door is that it is a hydraulic door with 800 PSI that pushes it open or closed.  there are buttons to push open or closed located in three places; in the back on the hinge side of the door, a set up front with the driver, and a set on the outside of the door under the bumper.  I think the ones on the inside near the back door need to be placed in a different spot, after my experience you will see why.

I got in the vehicle here at camp and their was the driver and the TC (honestly I can’t remember what that stands for, but he is the look out for the driver sitting in the front passenger seat).  Then there was the gunner who stands/seats in the middle of the vehicle kind of a look out with the weapon that is on the top of the vehicle.  Then myself and one other guy who was going to help run the range, we were seating in the back in the seats in the back of the vehicle.  When we got to the range the door was open and the other guy in the back got out and the TC got out (he obviously had a door in the front).  The gunner and I were still in, I moved to get out so that the gunner could get down from her spot and get out as well.  I put my foot outside the door on the ledge (it is about a 3 foot drop to the ground).  Once my foot was on the ledge outside the vehicle the door closed all 800 pounds per square inch of pressure was pushing on my sternum.  

I had all my equipment on, whenever we leave post we have to wear our IOVT (Improved operational Tactical Vest, or the bullet proof vest) and Kevlar (the hard helmet you see worn).  I was lucky I follow the rules because it is definitely what saved my life and my bones.  The pressure of the door was pressing on me and the plates in my vest were I believe dispersing the pressure over the entire front of my body rather than all of it pushing on my ribs or sternum and cracking them all.  I was screaming, (words that were not so good)  The gunner was still in the vehicle, at this time the driver has exited.  He had hit the button with out looking back to see that both of us were still in the vehicle before he closed the door.  

The gunner, was still up in her post she was getting everything locked down and secure, so she could not see me, she first though I was just joking because, for one, who gets stuck in a door and two, I was yelling so she didn’t think I would have been able to if I had been stuck in the door.  She was yelling at me to just push it open.  Trust me this does not work.  You cannot just push open a hydraulic door.  The pressure was really starting to bare down on me, it was hurting and getting harder and harder to breath and there was nothing I could do.  I don’t know how long I was in the door, it wasn’t an extremely long time but it was probably over all a couple of minutes.  The pressure what really starting to get to me.  I could see the red open and close button (two different buttons) but I couldn’t reach them.  Half my body was on the out side of the vehicle and the other half and my head were on the inside of the vehicle.  I what kicking and hitting the door and kicking my feet trying to hit the button, but I couldn’t reach.  I was not going to be able to reach it.  All I could think of what I needed to get this door open.  

Finally, although it probably wasn’t really that long, the gunner came down and saw what was really going on and tried as well to push the door open.  She was pushing and prying and pushing me and I yelled push the door open button push the button.  The door open and I was shaking, all over, I could hardly get my legs under me after it, but I was alright, I was alive.  I was scared out of my mind and didn’t want to think about how close things were to not being alright.  I didn’t take my vest off and I continued on at the range because I didn’t want to make a big deal of things, I think now I was in shock and a bit scared to think their might be something wrong. 

Don’t worry though, we got back to the base about mid day and I went and cleaned up a bit and ate lunch and then we looked at the plates of my IOTV and found the front plate was cracked, that was all I needed to get me to go to the TMC (Troop Medical Clinic).  I went and I filled out the paper work and was seen.  needless to say they were a bit shocked as well by the events and wondered how on earth this could have happened.  The first thought of most people is that I was goofing off or not paying attention, but that was not the case, I was simply appropriately walking out the door behind the other person who had just walked out.    Anyway, they did an initial check and were surprised by the few injuries i had (a lot of bruising and that was pretty much it).  They did X-rays and looked at everything but no broken bones.  The Doctor, could not believe it, neither could I really, I had a very swollen clavicle and bruising across my check and on my shoulders and back, both my knees were bruised from kicking and my left hand from slamming it on the door trying to get someones attention or trying to push it open but that was it.  

The next day I felt like I had been hit by a bus, every part of my body hurt and I had bruises showing up everywhere, but that was about it, the pain and soreness went away  for the most part after a couple of days I was/am almost back to normal.  I still get sore when I have to carry much weight, or put on my IOTV.  The last couple of days I was on my feet a lot in a board hearing and that was trying on my back but all in all I was very lucky, By the grace of GOD!!!

Honestly, while it was going on I was just concerned about getting out of the door and getting back on the ground after wards after looking at the plates with my friend, I realized how close I had come.  How different the situation could have been, and how very blessed I am, prayers were felt that day, (and most days).  I got a little shaken up thinking about it but all in all I think, really what JAG has a real near death experience in a combat zone story, only a few and I am one of them.  So that is how I choose to look at this situation.  How lucky I am!

Calling This Place Home

So I have been in country about 4 months and I have had to travel a few times away from the base where my office is located.  I have found that I now miss “home”  the home that I have created here at Camp.  I didn’t think especially at the beginning that I would be able to make this place home, to really feel like this is anything more than a temporary environment that I had to put up with but honestly it is starting be be comfortable for me.  I found myself this last time saying, “man, I can’t wait to get home.”  I was talking about this camp not America.  Don’t get me wrong I that is still real home but it am getting comfortable here at least.

I have got my room (although it is still very small) into someplace that I can enjoy for periods of time.  I don’t want to be in there all day but I don’t hate being in there, and I don’t have a terrible time sleeping.  In fact I think I have adjusted to not having a window in my room as far as sleeping goes, I didn’t realize how early the sun rises here.   My office, well it still needs some adjustments and I am working on getting things organized in it, but it is someplace that I can go and work or talk to family on my computer and even just relax and watch T.V. or a movie.  

Finally I have a pretty decent routine as well, I am getting up, going to work, and have people to eat with, I got to the gym most weeks about 5-6 days a week and I hang out at various times on the deck in front of the PX.  We have Karaoke Saturday nights, so normally a group of us go there and hang out, the singing leave a bit to be desired most of the time but it’s not terrible, most of the time.

It has been a while since I’ve written.

I must apologize it has been a while since i’ve written because things got a little busy here and I didn’t make this a priority.  Honestly, I was out of my funk but in a different mood, thinking that honestly people don’t really want to know what is going on over here.  I realized though this isn’t really for anyone in particular, don’t get me wrong I love that people read it and seem interested, but I realized this is for me mostly, for me to remember what things I went though and how I have changed and grown.  As well as simply just a way for me to keep kind of a diary or journal of this year.

So again I am going to make a commitment to myself to make this more of a priority, I want to really remember the things I go though so that I am sure that I don’t forget this time, because this is something that will and has made me grow and change.  It has definitely made me realize how good I have it at home and how much I have.  It is amazing how little you can live on, and I still have a lot  more than just my needs.  So that being said expect in the next few days several entries over the past couple weeks because several things have happened but I was traveling and didn’t really have the time or energy to type about them and get them posted, also my internet access is kind of limited when I am traveling.