If you are in CA i would like to see you

yup. i said it. i made it back from virginia to the wonderful state of CA (not so wonderful when youre driving through the desert at 3 pm and youre afraid you will spontaneously catch on fire).

ill be here until the end of the month (2 weeks of monday-friday will be spent in san diego working at san diego state, but ill be in cerritos on the weekends) before i do my dissappearing act to korea (if youre in korea onsider this my 'appearing' act) for about 2 years. i'm game for whatever it is you'd like to do- hang out, eat, drink, drink some more, etc. so let me know if you can fit in a 2LT into your schedule and we'll make it happen.

the last major outbreak of smallpox was a loooooong time ago.

thanks to the soviet union misplacing a portion of their smallpox virus stock:

1. i have smallpox (the vaccine that is)

2. this vaccine wont give me smallpox but is contagious

while i stopped by, i said what the heck and got myself shot 1 (of 6) to vaccinate myself from anthrax.

the anthrax shot is making my arm sore.

im just a walking bundle of viruses today arent i.

Today i experienced once again how the Army, and life in general, can put you in unexpected places to do unexpected things.

Our class here had the unique opportunity of participating in a mission readiness exercise (where we help a unit deploying to Iraq get ready). we were told to put our interest in the exercise, as it would have us miss 2 weeks of instruction (until May 22nd) and we would be working 12 hour shifts a day, including weekends.

It just happens that I like my weekends, so I put down a 3 (1-5 scale, 5 being highest). as great of an experience this would be, I would be missing out on other things i had wanted to do here during my stay. yet once again, the army took a look at my opinion, told me to go screw myself, and picked me to do something i wasnt planning on doing (they're getting ridiculously good at this) (as others who put a 5 didnt get picked).

so here i am, part of the MRX (mission readiness exercise). portions of the exercise are classified (i actually wear a badge giving me clearance when i go to work) and its one of those environments where the use of cell phones/cameras/recorders will result in you making a involuntary donation to the united states army. i can't say what i do or when i do things, but i think with many other things in life ill be glad i had the experience when i come out the other end.

everyday is one day closer to going home, seeing family and friends, then going to korea, where i will have the opportunity to see more family and friends. take care of yourselves, there's a lieutenant here that wants to see you in person sometime in the near future.

the Army says if i have HIV i can't go to Korea.

but i dont have HIV so i am going to Korea.

boo-yah.

Bombings in Iraq leave more than 200 dead

what...the......hell.......

although the VT shootings are closer to home, there is a country called iraq (yes children, it really exists and people really die there and never come back) that is also close to my heart- not necessarily by choice but by circumstance.

on wednesday there were a series of bombings that took the lives of more than 190 people. i cant even imagine how the regular iraqi citizen who wants to leave in freedom and peace must feel...constant, even daily threats of bombings, the presence of foreign troops in your homeland (despite all the good we do there im sure just the fact that were foreigners makes our presence a slight burden) with 17,000 more to come...

lets just hope that the iraqi people dont ever give up their hope of attaining a free iraqi state that will determine its own path on the world stage.