Kristin,

Life is good but very hectic as we finally get to elections here.  Things have been very tense and the crews are flying some very tuff missions in support of the elections.  We were chosen to fly all the Iraqi election officials to the areas where they would actually monitor the election.  Security was very tight and of course they did not put an interpreter with the aircraft so they had 100 people on board that they could not communicate with who were suspect of the entire operation.  Things have worked out thus far but we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

The movie and game library continues to be a hit.  I am getting a far better understanding of young people by being here with them for so long.  These kids stay up all night and play these Play Station games.  They run wires from room to room and play against each other and that seems to be all they ever do.  Sometimes it’s tuff to find someone to go and have a beer with you because they won’t put those controllers down.  We joke that their only war injury will be deformed thumbs from playing those games.

We had a very good week leading up to the Pat’s – Steelers game.  There are a ton of people here from Pittsburg and it seemed that wherever I went I was running into more of them.  There was a lot of good natured ribbing going both ways and I must say that I didn’t meet a single ugly Pittsburg fan.  They were all great and we had a great time.  We’ll have a good group watching the Super Bowl so that should be fun as well. It comes on at 2:30 AM here so we’ll be setting the alarms.  I was just looking at the calendar and I have been working for 51 straight days so my plan is to take the day after the super bowl off and catch my breath.

We did send the letter off to the school and I hope we were able to convey how much we appreciate their cards and letters.  When we get home we will try to go and visit the school and give them a presentation on our tour of duty.

Keep the shiny side up as we say in the flying game and thanks again for all you have done.

Larry  

Kristin,

Your package has arrived and very well received.  Us Red Sox/Pat’s fans are outnumbered but vocal!  I know the guys look forward to sporting the colors around campus.  We have a team B-B-Q coming up on 16 Feb and we are going to award the gag t-shirts at that time so your timing is impeccable.  The Pat’s shirts I awarded to our “Top Performer” on the day shift and on the night shift.  Cards will be delivered today at meal times.  For those that have been here the entire time I can see the nerves starting to fray just a bit.  I think if we could rotate on a 60 day basis as opposed to 90 or 120 it would be great.  Of course the Army and Marine guys think we’re whimps because many of them are here for a year at a time.  Military families that can endure that deserve a medal.

We’ve got the big Valentine’s Day 10K tomorrow and I just might see if the old bones can make it around the track.  I swore off running many years ago and I have never regretted that decision but a self test once in a while doesn’t hurt.  If you don’t here form me in a while it will be because I am recuperating from the race.

I’ll get that address for you for the next rotation and thanks so much for your continued concern.

Larry