So Christmas and New Years is finally over, and the Iraqi elections are coming up.  Who're you voting for?  Mohammad of Mohammid?  Anyways, we're making a big move again, from here in Camp Cooke,Taji, back down to Camp Liberty in the heart of Baghdad.  So once again, back to living out of a duffle bag.  I shouldn't be complaining since there're guys that bought 30" TV's and playstations and stuff.  I have considerably less to pack.  This election should be the biggest of the obstacles we'll have to face out here.  If all goes well, it should be smooth sailing for the rest of our stay.  In any case, the time is counting down.  Nine more months and I'll be back in the states.  Thanks everyone for the care packages!  They're all wonderful and appreciated!  Have a good year everyone!

   So Christmas this year sucked mud.  It was drizzling and it was my turn to take a trip out, maybe give out some stuff to the local kids.  On our way to our destination, our wrecker, a sizable truck equivalent to a 16 wheeler, slid off the road and got stuck in the slick mud.  We spent the day in the rain and mud trying to get the wrecker back on the road.  We requested help, but another convoy somewhere had a HUMVEE that slid and rolled over into a stream.  Those guys had to go for a swim to retrieve all the sensitive equipment.  I guess I shouldn’t complain since those guys had it worse.  So the help we called ended up helping those guys because they were priority.  Luckily, we were able to free the wrecker ourselves.  So we went out, played in the rain and mud, then rolled back to camp, but not before getting the wrecker stuck one more time.  The good thing is, my Christmas was not until the 26^th here.  Being 8 hour ahead, I was able to see (webcam) everyone (almost) for Christmas by waking up at 4:30 in the morning here.  Christmas was saved thanks to the wonderful world of technology. 

Here I am, posting security on Christmas day.  Notice my nonchalant “This sucks, O well, at least I’ve got a helmet” expression.

This is Sp. Banas and me in our Track.

(Notice all the mud on the door)

      I’ve gotten quite a few packages, so I’m good for a good while.  And the boxes make for good shelf material.  Thanks Johnny and Jen, especially for the eye drops, very thoughtful.  James and Ferdie, thanks for your monster supply of jerky, John and Glenda for Naruto (YEA!!), and last but not least, Caroline for your gigantic package that almost broke my back.  Thanks everyone!  I hope you guys don’t feel obligated to send me anything; a letter once in a while is fine.  I’d rather you guys donate some of those things to relief centers in the southeast, it’ll give you a warm and tingly.  I’d much rather be there helping with the relief efforts than this shit hole.  After all, one of the reasons I joined the guard was for stuff like that.  This backdoor draft sucks ass.

And Wing, I hope you’re making the best of your time home.

And Happy New Years guys!

CHEERS!!!

   Clepto because someone else had posted a similar poem on their site also.  And yes, I finally got some packages!  Thanks Jin, the stuff is great!  Just what I needed, and don't worry, you'll get your token back.  I got your package too Pat, great sentiment, wrong material, but it's great trading power because it's rare here, thanks bro.  And John's package with the anime, FINALLY!  I've been dying to catch up on my Naruto episodes.  If you guys enjoyed that poem, maybe I'll write one myself.  So the world could know what a great poet I can be!  Till next time!

Here're some more pics.

Remember that make-shift bazooka I mentioned earlier?  Here it is!  Nothing more than electric tape, two wires, plastic water pipe, and some glued on handle bars.

Here is a picture of the Bradley in front of us when we drove through the market.  That thing is a monster.  The guys inside were dismounted to serve as sercurity because the locals were all around us. 

And this is my little corner of our three man trailer.

Last but not least, I'm not the only idiot. Whohooo!!!

   About a week ago, our friend Steve got his letter.  He finally made his E6, Staff Sergeant!  Congrats to Steve.  We celebrated with non-alcholic beer, chips, and we found Nimo.

   We also found some weapons caches this past week, and I wish I can show you guys some pictures of these weapons, but its sensitive material.  We have this rocket launcher made of a plastic water tube and some wires.  That's amazing how these guys could make a bomb out of a pair of my old underwear.  Things here are as good as we've ever had it.  I finally broke 140 lbs.  Sitting behind a computer everyday, getting fat from the care packets from schools and churches.  So no worries, things are fine, everone's fine.  Happy Holidays everyone!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!!!  THIS IS LUCKY.

   Things are looking up!  We finally have the go ahead to do the 8 hr shifts like normal folks, and I'm looking at a full day off three weeks from now.  I also got my first piece of mail today, and the winner of the mail race...Glenda from Jersey!  Thanks Glenda!  Miss you all and wishing you all the best.  I'll post more pics next time.

   Thanksgiving is around the corner and we have orders to enjoy ourselves, but within their context of enjoyment.  Anyone seen Full Metal Jacket?  Remember the Christmas scene?  Anyways, this will be my first time away from home, friends, and family for the holidays.  I'll probably be sad and feeling sorry for myself, like everybody else, but I'm not just going to mope around.  I'll think of something to make this a memorable one.  I hope all you guys have a healthy and happy holiday season.  Don't forget to send me pictures.  And speaking of which, I have a new e mail address: derek.mei@gmail.com.  Start using that address from now on, I have a gig of mail space.  I would love to post some pics myself, but I don't have internet connection with my own pc, that's just not possible.  Oh, and whoever said it's not cold in Iraq, lied.  The days here are beautiful, cool, sunny and comfortable, but it gets pretty cold at night.

Happy Birthday Peter and Eva!  I hope I'll have a chance to talk to the both of you.

   I finally have a chance to catch up with some mail.  My box was full of e-mails!  The entire 2 MB!  Wow (80% were ads).  I'm in Camp Cooke, Taji, northern Baghdad now, and they still don't know if this is where we're staying, so no permenant plans can be made like setting up internet service in our trailers.  I still have to sneak off in the middle of the night where there aren't as many people to check my mail.  All we want is a place to call home, where we can put our clothing in a dresser or something instead of living out of our duffle bags.  Everyone is tired of moving around so much.  Even the marines have a place to stay for 6 months at a time.  New York State is treating us, the New York National Guard like step children.  Let everyone know that!  We get no support from our own state.  Our gear suck compared to the Louisiana guys.  Anyways, I'm doing good, I guess, and I now finally have an address:

Sgt.  Derek Mei

HHC 1/69 INF., 256 BCT (S6)

APO AE 09326

   Alright guys, help me out here, I don't like to be the only one whose name isn't read off at mail call.  Send me food, a letter, or just an empty envelope so I don't look too pathethic, or is it too late? 

   I tried to post another entry the other day, but it was blocked.  Apparently I disclosed a bit too much information or use some key words once too many times or something of the like.  The army has set up methods of blocking mail and phone calls in the interest of keeping the troops movements confidential.  I will be heading up North soon, and it might be a while before my next entry, so no worries unless it's been like a month or something since anyone has heard from me.

   Today was awesome.  The entire time we've been here, everyone has been "up-armoring" their vehicles, and we, the communications section, busy with our commo work, assumed the maintenance section would take care of our vehicles.  We were wrong.  Today, I learned to cut metal with a blow torch and weld.  I was cutting out pieces of metal and welding them onto our vehicles, of course I thought of Jon.  Yo, I made a cut-out of "BEEF" for you.  I took a pic, I'll send it to you when I get a chance to, you'll be proud.  Our vehicles are still shitty and way under armored compared to the plating the scouts and "line dogs" have; air conditioning in their hummers and 8 inch armor glass, while the rest of our vehicles look like it came straight out of the set of "Mad Max."  Anyways, things are well, my eyes along with all the others' that had lasik done are also doing well, so no worries, and although morale is at an all time low, at least I'm ok.