T minus 40 hours

Hello again everyone, The time has almost come, we are 2 sleeps and a wakey or 40 hours away from boarding our plane out of the Middle East. The time cannot pass quick enough. I am just trying to kill a little more time then head off to bed, and tomorrow we have a relatively busy day ahead of us, that is a good thing for sure. Just sitting here chatting with Lana for the last 30 minutes or so, I have been reflecting on my time away. It has been valuable, not just because I have missed my family dearly, but because of the relationships I have made, most of them I have mentioned in previous blog updates. My time away has helped me understand life better, why we are here and the job we have been put here to do, now I'm not talking about a spiritual spin, but just us as human beings on earth. Maybe not making any sense, but it does to me. I have seen allot over the past six months, ten months if you count my in between time, I have definitely grown older and wiser. My only wish is that I can take what I have gained here and bring it home and use it positively, again, I'm being very vague, but it's because there is so much diversity to a trip like this to pin point a few things, there are so many. My goal is to be a much better person after this and in my opinion, I'm on my way, and I don't mind saying that!!
So, this will likely be the last from this part of the world, I will certainly post again from home with sporadic updates about the family and developments. Thank you all again for following me on my journey, and that it has been a journey not to be forgotten. Looking forward to seeing many of you upon my return to Canada. Till next time...

Continue To Support Our Troops
~M

Hi it’s me, the Wife

Well here I sit reading what might be Mark’s final blog report for this tour and thought why not make a post myself.

So I’m thinking about the past 6 months which in fact were actually 10 months in total and some of you are thinking huh?  Yes Mark was gone for 6 months, but in fact the 2 month breaks home in between for me don’t count.  During the 4 months we couldn’t get into a routine and Mark basically had to stay in the “mode.”  The first 2 months home were great, kind of like a little honeymoon if you will and the 2^nd break home was “Hell”

When Mark came home I was sick and sick of being sick.  Mark was very cranky and had a little depression happening I think.  There were so many emotions, that neither one of us could get a handle on it.

It has been very, very difficult getting used to this whole Military lifestyle. 

I have a great deal of admiration for the wives of military husbands with small children and have learned a lot.

I don’t know how they do it, I really don’t!!

I have learned to be quite self sufficient in doing the things I hate doing. I have also come to really appreciate the things Mark always does for me!

Examples you ask, well…Taking out the garbage, putting gas in my car, making supper (god I can’t wait to have a good meal again;) making my tea in the mornings, running small errands while I’m at work ETC!!

During this past 10 months we have missed a lot of things together, which were difficult for me.  We have been together 10 yrs this March (I think, Ron and Larriane help me out here lol) and this was the first time for both of us to be apart for so long.

We tried to celebrate everything during his breaks, but it wasn’t the same.

We (the girls and I) spent Christmas together with Mark on a web cam, well in 8 days we are having our family Christmas when he gets home.

Speaking of web cams; Thank god for technology!  I don’t think I could have made it all this time without the computers.  Also with a web cam I was able to feel like I was right there in the desert with Mark, except I wasn’t afraid of what might be flying over my head. Also in 8 days, I can finally relax and get good nights sleep and so can Mark.  We can finally stop worrying about each other; well we will never stop worrying.  But it will be a different kind of worry.  I Love you Mark!!

I want to thank you all for the Support and Love you sent to Mark while he was away.

OH Ya, remember what Mark posted in his blog?  You know, the part that said “my family needs me back and I need them back. I am really looking forward to being home and plowing all that snow that never seems to stop falling and give my baby a break.

You did?  Great!  Now I have proof HAHAHA don’t worry I’ll be nice to him, for a week or so!!

 

From the Military Wife to Be (hint hint Mark)

AKA Lana/Mom

Thank you

~S.O.T.~

 

PS. Please don’t stop supporting our troops, they are still over there and need it!!!!!

8 Days a week!!

Well folks, I know its been some time since my last update. Since returning from KAF to the "safe zone" our internet has been in a bad state. The only computers available here on camp have a 30 minute limit, I felt that it was important to spend that time...when I could get on them, to chat with Lana back home, all the time thinking about those of you diligently checking my blog looking for the next update!! Well, where to start, we returned from KAF to find ourselves deep into work, and relatively busy, not a bad thing, the last thing you want to do with 16 days left in the trip is too sit around and do nothing. I have had the chance to go into town and get away from the camp for a bit, saw Cedric, remember he is the fellow that has 2 young children back in the Philippines supporting them, his girlfriend and his parents. Well, Cedric finally got promoted to supervisor, he was happy to tell us and then the conversation turned to the upcoming UFC fight on TV. As we were getting ready to leave, he said if we come and see him one more time, he will be sure to send us "home" with some Cinnamon buns from the store. I may just have to make the effort, they are really tasty!!
About a week ago, Cam and I were able to find information that told us that we were eligible for a 48 hour R&R period at the camps expense. Well, my father has always taught me...if you don't A.S.K you don't G.E.T. So, we staffed the memo up and in a very short period, we were granted a 24hour R&R, we will take it, so plans were put into motion and we were of to Abu Dhabi, to a five star resort with almost everything included, the food was awesome, the rooms were great and the weather was perfect. It was everything that this crew needed to finish the remaining 11 days on tour. As you can appreciate, you live, eat, sleep, work, play with the same 10 guys for 6 months you will start to "get sick" of seeing them. It was the prefect way to rejuvenate ourselves for the home stretch and end this thing on a really good note.
So here we are with 8 days remaining, and yes that song has been stuck in my head all day, I want to say a week left, but its an 8 day week. We are going to be extremely busy and my only hope is that we don't get home and we are to tired to do anything, but I'm sure that won't be the case. My 6 months is all but done and I am feeling really good about the tour, although, I have ZERO desire to ever come back here. Been there, done it, and I even have several T-shirts to show for it...my family needs me back and I need them back. I am really looking forward to being home and plowing all that snow that never seems to stop falling and give my baby a break. I Love you Lana and you certainly have been a trooper during this time while I have been away...THANK YOU!!!
So as I sign off, with no guarantees if this will be the last one or not, all I can say is, Stay tuned...till next time!!

Support Our Troops
~M

Final Few days in KAF!!

As the days wind down here in the sandy land, there have been a few things happening, and it all seems to be focusing around media. Some of you may have already seen it, but Lana forwarded me a copy of the Napanee Guide here in Kandahar, they have a section in the newspaper called "Where in the world is the Napanee Guide" Well, it only took a little convincing for the guys to pose for a picture and then everything took off from there. The picture was Immediately printed, unlike other weeks, they usually pick the best one and then print that one, the editor told Lana that because of the efforts on both parts she felt it was best to print it right away. I was then put in contact with a reporter from the Kingston Whig Standard, Ian Elliot who was to be here covering the milestone of one of our aircraft's achieving 45,000 flying hours, he was also doing a local (Kingston) spin on the article and I was able to meet with him yesterday for about 15 minutes. The interview was very interesting and I can hardly wait for that to be printed, on a side but personal note, I really hope the picture he took makes the paper, perfect hero shot!! :) Anyway all of the "Hollywood" aside, It was really nice to see people from home here covering the things we are doing. If anyone is curious about what is being done over here in an Airforce role, I think the article will do it some justice. So we are definitely gearing down for our departure from KAF and gearing up for our remaining 17 or so days in the Middle East, like I have said before, this trip has been the easiest of the three, in all aspects, but we are all very tired, more mentally I think then anything else and I am really looking forward to a little down time and get back into my regular routine back home. Of course, I certainly cannot wait to be in my bed with my baby, I know it is going to take a little coaxing over time to get my side of the bed back but there is no real rush. ;) There is one thing I am not really looking forward to going back to the safe zone, the Internet has been drastically downgraded, only 60 people on at a time. So sit and wait your turn, not quite sure the change but I don't care, I will be home in no time!!
So, I guess I have a new nickname...Fifi, I had a chance today to go and have a real Thai Massage, $35 for 50 minutes of oil relaxation massage. WOW, I came out of there wondering where I had just visited, cause it most certainly was not in Afghanistan, I fell into a state of relaxation for 50 straight minutes and it was wonderful. I am very happy that I have experienced and yes Lana, now I know why you enjoy having massages!! So , I have now been to a tanning salon, had a massage and whats next, maybe eyebrow waxing or a pedicure....don't laugh, while I was waiting my turn for my massage, one of those big burly Marines walked in all sheepishly and asked the attendant if they "did eyebrows". He seemed quite disappointed when they said no!!
This will be my last update from KAF and in light of the Internet situation in the safe zone I will have to see how it goes there, ultimately I still have email at work. I will sign off for now and I hope all is well back home, till next time...

P.S I want to say a special Hello to my mother, who checks my blog often at the library. I'm proud of her for making the effort and learning how to use the computer! I Love you Mom and your in my thoughts, I will call you when I get home XO
Support Our Troops
~M

Half way home!!

Good morning all, as I write this entry we have just passed the half way point, at times it feels like time is going quick, but at others it feels like the time is standing still, I know from Lana's perspective, time is standing still and that I can appreciate. It's been some time since I have updated my blog, but because we have gone down to one crew here now, we have worked every day and most days I barely have enough time to chat with Lana, eat..sleep..work, then it starts again!! We have been treated with some pretty crappy weather these last 4 days, it has been raining quite heavily at times and because the ground is so hard, the rain has no where to go, it just stays in puddles and makes everything quite muddy. I suppose its would be ok if you were a pig, I think you get the picture. I woke up this morning to find my tent space completely flooded for the third time in 4 days, and to top it off, I even moved spaces after the first to what I thought was higher ground. Grrr, so today I think I will have to move tents all together, which kinda sucks, because I have put so much time into making this tent very comfortable for living in, almost like a canvass cottage!! So, I guess I will put my touch in the new tent that I move in to, oh well, it passes the time!! Update on the mail situation, and this is a very sensitive topic for me, and I am not at all happy about how it has been handled. Two days ago, I received 2 packages, one from Lana and one from Shelly, they were a welcome treat and very refreshing, the treats inside have been well received and who knew a box of clementines would have survived almost three weeks in the mail, only one showed any signs of decay!! I'm really sorry to say, that I still not have received Larraines packages yet, that has to be the most frustrating part, and my hands are absolutely tied, I ask "the bosses" every day if there is mail coming from our safe zone and I get the same answer..."don't know". There really has to be some explanation to this whole fiasco, but I'm afraid to say, someone has dropped the ball on this one. I know Lana did some legwork back home to try and find out whats has happened, and still is happening, but...there are still issues out there, I am certainly not alone in this either. I wonder...just wonder what would happen if the local media got a hold of this story...probably the most unfortunate thing to happen short of losing troops in this, Troop Moral is the next most important thing to your life when you are serving over here! So, all that being said, I still wake up every morning with a smile on my face hoping that I will receive the remainder of our mail...keep praying!!
There really has been not much else to update here, things have been exceptionally quiet, and for that I am very happy, it has made the time here in KAF quite enjoyable, except for the rain, but I guess you can't expect to go camping for three weeks and not get rained on!! I can only imagine how the guys in the field are coping! So I will sign off for now, try and scope out a new tent space and get re-settled. Till next time!!

Support Our Troops
~M

Happy New Years!!

Happy New Year to everyone from all of us here in Kandahar. Today being New Years day has been an exceptionally quiet day here on camp. Yesterday we worked briefly and then had the remainder of the day to relax. Not much happens here on camp New Years eve for the Canadians since it is a dry camp, there were a few party's around but for the most part very low key. The Dutch however...they apparently know how to throw a party. Just around supper time we were told to report to work for a "meeting" of sorts with all the Canadian brass, the curious cats were buzzing. All the party animals were hoping and expecting the annual 2 beer at New Years, as in the past the troops serving here were all treated to 2 beers. So, we show up all anxious, not me so much, I would have had one and then shared my second with someone on my crew, only to find the big "brass" give us a brief on something operational. Hmmmm, New Years Eve at around 8pm to brief the troops, I guess the work really never quits, even during this time. So, after a quick 10 minute meeting, we depart for the tent line to play some poker, only my 3rd game ever, didn't win, but I certainly didn't bail near the beginning. We were now approaching midnight here and I was getting tired, So, I decide to go to bed, much to my crewmates displeasure, I got crap from all angles about not staying up to celebrate the new year, I soon realized what I should be doing, got up and dressed and joined my team at Canada House for hand shakes and hug for the ringing in of 2009. Soon after a quick walk about greeting people around our tent line I retired to bed, waking this morning to chat with Lana and Olivia for the countdown, but what I forgot to realize was that they are 9 and a half hours behind. So I sat and waited, and boy am I ever glad I did, at 11:45pm Ontario time, Olivia asked Lana if she was going to put me on webcam for the countdown. As little as something like that, brought a tear to my eye, the sun was up here and I was surrounded at my table by American Marines..those are the tough guys, and I cheered and blew kisses and spoke as if I was in the room with them. At that moment, I did not care who was watching and listening. It was a definate high moment on this trip. A BIG Thank You to Olivia for singing the song "Cover Girls" to me. After I was done, I packed up and wished the big burley Marine dudes a Happy new Year and they returned the cheer.
So, it is now 8:18pm new years day and all my family back home are getting ready for New Years dinner at my sister Shelly's house, I hope you all enjoy and stuff your faces, Unfortunately I will be sound asleep while your eating, Otherwise I would join you!! Quick little update on our mail situation, we have heard that there is 20 bags of mail in our "safe zone" so, If you pray, say a prayer for us that we will get this mail tomorrow. Thank you all, and may you have a great 2009, I know mine will be!!

Support The Troops
~M