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Recently I have had the opportunity to enjoy the movie, “Fantastic 4: extended edition” and “Rise of the Silver Surfer” I have enjoyed them on an entertainment level and loosely experienced the movies on a more personal level. I don’t think anyone will ever be able to truly understand Johnny Storm’s ability for Spontaneous Human Combustion, but I certain that I am nearing the point of combustion each day as I traverse to the latrine, the DFAC, the laundry, or the chapel. I was trying to deal with the sensation of my eyes melting in my head and pouring out like scrambled eggs, but alas, that was only the beginning.

At 130 degrees your legs feel like you are standing next to a bonfire, they are all tingly and nearly on fire! They are just the beginning, your whole body is climbing to the boiling / combustion point. The mess hall might as well serve you up in the main line because at 130 degrees, you are just slow roasting and are well done. Let’s just say, I opted not to walk 20 minutes down to the PX as a result of the local weather report. Slightly less cool was the DFAC with broken air conditioners all afternoon. I think that “the man” was trying to broil us while we sat there and ate our steaks and seafood. It was pretty much out of control! It was actually cooler outside the DFAC then it was inside Yikes!!! :-O Stay cool, and Hydrated; God bless you and protect you and strengthen you. Until next time…

1.) Holidays in Baghdad
Well, I have been lucky enough to celebrate every “holiday” on the streets of Baghdad including my birthday. Thanksgiving, Christmas, NewYears, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, 4th of July, etc. The most important holiday though is my engagement to the most beautiful young lady in the world, Miss Rachel! Thankfully I wasn’t on the streets of Baghdad that day, but rather in Rachel’s arms as she tearfully said “Yes!” over the Indy canal in front of our friends and family! I hope I get to celebrate Thanksgiving with my Fiancée and our families rather than on the streets this year…
2.) I’m 20% Puerto Rican.
I’ve been with C Co/130th EN BN of the Puerto Rican National Guard since July 23, 2006. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much time to learn to dance that well, but the food is amazing! I am definitely part of the family here and I know that I will always have a place to stay in PR. Everybody asks me if I’m going to come visit; I assure them that I will. Just so you know, that 20% was determined by my guys so it’s legit!
3.) I live in Baghdad now.
Yeah, I hope that isn’t much of a surprise to many people out there; that’s what most of my blog is about, and why I started it initially. I hope to be moving again soon, but I don’t have any idea when yet. Chaplain Duran told us the other day just before our mission, “Well, a new FRAGO came out today; we’re going home on Friday… Don’t know what Friday, but it will be one of these days.” That was so mean! I can’t wait to get back to hometown of Indianapolis though.
4.) I love to walk and bike.
Think about being on a road trip everyday for a year. I suit up in all my protective gear, climb into an up-armored truck and ride for four, eight hours, sometimes longer all over the city. Now, if I can, I walk there. I miss my bike so much. There is gravel everywhere here to help keep the dust down and neutralize the mud in the “winter time” so it is difficult to ride a bike. Riding around in a truck all the time does a number on your fitness too.  It will be nice to get in shape when I get back home.
5.) Yay! For Latin music .
I have gathered a bunch of Latin and Puerto Rican music from all my friends here. I thoroughly enjoy it. It is relaxing; it helps me to learn Spanish a little bit ; and I can learn to dance to it.
6.) I love to travel.
I’ve learned that it’s not about where you live, but about where you can go, and who you can visit. My first airplane ride that I remember came my junior year in high school from Chicago to Durango, CO; it was amazing! I’ve flown many more times since then and planes still fascinate me. Flying to places, a road trip with friends, a crazy bike hike somewhere it’s always a great adventure. That’s the great thing about the army; you get to travel to all sorts of places, meet new friends, and fight bad guys, sometimes .
7.) I love Languages.
Maybe I should have been a linguist. In my lifetime, I have studied Japanese, French, and now Spanish. It is so much fun to read other languages even though I don’t know what I’m reading. My guys say I have very good pronunciation, that’s encouraging because I just feel like I’m tying my tongue in knots . I would like to become more skilled in Spanish/Puerto Rican My fiancée studies French so I need to get better at that too. I suppose I have enough time left in life I could become tri-lingual .
8.) I love to write.
Writing used to be painful for me, but I had a break through in an English 104 class I took one time. Then I got into basic training and realized writing is one thing you can do anywhere and anytime. Keep a note pad and a pen on you at all times and you can write a little note or letter to someone whenever you want. I think that notes on little papers are cute and fun, and it helps me enjoy the time that is passing when I am writing a letter or note to someone.

After a couple of weeks of construction in the DFAC, there is now a little stage and sound system. At lunch now there is a little Kearioke show and at dinner the ensembles and bands from the 1st Cavalry Division’s Army Band have a spot to call home when they come to perform in the evenings.

On Fridays, the DFAC grills/burns steaks for dinner. Somebody had a great idea to move these giant grills designed to cook food for thousands of soldiers and civilians right at the entrance to the DFAC. Now, as if Iraq isn’t hot enough, it is hotter as you are entering the mess hall. Maybe somebody wanted to watch them cook the steaks or something.

I laugh because I hear so many people complaining about the food in the DFAC. They are like, “Man, I’m so sick of having the same stuff everyday!” . I don’t know what they are complaining about. They have food available to them four times a day everyday. They don’t have to prepare anything, just hand their plate to the server and tell them what to put on it! Life doesn’t get much better than that. Besides eating in the DFAC you can support the local fast food chains or get your own groceries from the PX and cook for yourself. To me food is food, there are just degrees of edibility. I haven’t eaten an MRE since I got here. I have mixed feelings about that, but I’m not complaining. Well, I need to get ready for work now. God bless everyone with a great Monday (mine is coming to a close). Until tomorrow, maybe…