Rain and Snow, Rain and Snow...See a Pattern?

Feb 26-Mar 1 Well greeting folks in Blog land! A lot has happened the past few days. I had to do some work getting the planes ready and fixing small problems as well. Hey I got a day off. That was great to just sleep and recharge my batteries. Oh guess what, It rained and snowed again! This place turns to mud very fast. It looks like pudding and sticks to everything. But on the other hand it drys very fast and turns into a dust bowl very fast. The dust is worse than sand. It is like baby powder and stays in the air for ever. I will be so glad when I get out of here.

OK I guess you have heard that we had an attack onthe gate. I wasn't near it but the bomb did kill some folks. That brought the whole war back to me again. The base sent 2 of them home and as they caskets passed, yes I teared up. I was standing out on the flight line watching the sunrise,it was so cold you saw every breath. You could hear a pin drop out while they were bringing those brave souls down to get on what is to be there final ride home. Each of us saluted as they passed and watched in silence as they loaded them up. We loaded up another brave soul from Korea yesterday afternoon. I hope that no more are killed, but then again as long as we are here then I'm sure we will lose more. Oh well ,enough for now. I will have some pics up later on.

Some pics....

The Air Up Here....

Well what's up out there in the real world folks? Here- I have been busy. But it makes the time go by faster. The weather has gotten better, much better in fact. But it can change at the drop of a hat. As you all know this is my first deployment away from Amanda, my girlfriend. Well, she has had it rough the past few days. Wish I could be there to help her. I got to talk to her today and she makes me smile and makes all that is upsetting go away for awhile. Oh well hi to everyone out there. Keep us troops in your prayers. Hey, John I have got you a patch and I'm working on another one. Later, guys! Take care.

PS. Amanda Smile...It makes the day better.

Somber and snowy....

Well we had some bodies come thru yesterday. We all lined up along the road and saluted as the hearse went by. Those Heros are going home the hard way and I feel for their families. It really hits home when you see that. Any way it's been snowing here off and on most of the day. I have been trying to stay dry and warm. I have posted some new pics. Just some shots around work. I will try and get some more up later. Even will put me in some...Oh boy. Hope everything is going well and Hey everyone stay out of my bed....until I get there.

Another day....

Ok we just got through watching the race. My guy didn't win, but it was good to see home. I got everything out of my trunk that I got yesterday from my awesome girlfriend. She sent me some cards and the one she wrote a note in made my day. It hasn't let up with the rain and it's getting colder so, oh boy, here comes the snow! I have put up some pics so hope you like. One is of the resturant we ate in the Azores and us having a good time in said resturant. Man I miss the cold beer and the great swordfish....Oh yea I miss my family and kids too don't forget that. One is of just a funny tree from the Azores. I will post some more later on. Later on guys.

Today....

Well it is hitting me. It's getting wet and cold and now I have a cold coming on. Mom, if you read this, I'll be fine. To everyone else- Just try and send warm thoughts this way. You should see this place. Wea re 5,000 ft up and yet the rain goes no where. our hanger has water everywere. I thougt that water ran downhill. Oh well learn stuff new everyday. We unloaded some bad guys today. Cool to see that some more were caught. Oh my trunk that my amazing girlfriend, Amanda, found and sent to me, will be here today. Hey i just found out that rain is going to stop! It is going to start snowing soon.....Oh boy. Well got to go.

Feb 14 - Feb 17

I landed (on Valentine's Day) very tired, very hungry, and very cold. Great combo! It wasn't all bad - I got to see my buddies that are here already. This place has Mountains all around it. Covered in snow. Oh my room is a converted shipping container turned into large RLBs (Relocatable Buildings). Not bad- at least it isn't a tent or a hole in the ground. My bed is right on the ground, I know I'm short but hey- not that short.

Well started work got all my gear issued to me. This M16 is driving me nuts. I have to carry it everywhere I go. But I guess it for a reason.....like to keep the bad guys away. Work isn't to bad yet. Just cold at night. Food is good (and Amanda we know about how my tummy can be!) We have a large USO building, The Pat Tillman Center, a good place to hang out. When I saw the name it kind of hit home. I'll write more later about that and otherthings.

I work with a great bunch of cools folks but not as cool as Amanda. I miss her a lot more than I thought I would. I miss my kids too, but that is a given. Ok guys where is my e-mail from you guys at work.....Sammy if you are reading this -what up? Ok I'll let you go for now. Oh this place is a very very busy base. But hey the Navy is right beside me Go Navy...Beat Army LMAO

Oh hey guys- I got Amanda flowers for Valentines Day and I was a few thousand miles away. What did you do?????LMAO I got major points!

Hi All!

This is Amanda again, just letting everyone know that Steve got to the great big mud bowl just fine and is doing well, although tired. He is going to post as soon as he can, or so he says...lol. So, everyone leave him some comments so that he can feel the love!

Well I am here in Turkey waiting to get on the grey bird for the Mud Bowl. It 03:34 and we are trying to find the Tarheel game. GO HEELS! I forgot to tell you about our day checking in. We waited around had to check in with the Turkish guys and then on to get our rooms. Tried to check in and found out that we were at the wrong place. We had to wait on another bus and go to another building. Lets just say it was a walk and a half to get to anything. Oh well I had better get use to it. So Sharon is Amanda driving nuts still. Give her some shots and then she should be fine LOL. Take care everyone and I'll try and write more later when I get there. Hey if anyone finds out the score let me know. Remember GO HEELS !!!!!!

Me Happy :)

OK Just found out that my trunk/footlocker ,that i lost on the way to the base,has been found. Hey Amanda is so great. She found it called and talked to the Chaplin and he his coming to pick it up and get on another plane on the way over. The Lord so takes care of fools. LOL This just showed be to not give up on God. Things happen in life and we will never know the real reason until it slaps us in the face. Oh well I happy and I can now just smile. Oh John I working on you some patches. No luck yet but give me time. I might have to pimp out one of folks but anything for the cause. Oh take care and I'll write more when I get in the MUD BOWL. I have another 4 or 5 hour flight and then the fun starts. Take care and if any one from work is there. Say hi for christ sakes. Angie hope things are going well take care and I'll take later. Ok Family you are on my list to call just can't get through to you........???? Well keep trying. I'm Gone

Hi Guys it is 5:30 am and I'm here getting fuel. Then it's on the way to the big mud bowl. Sammy good to hear from you dude. Tell everyone i said hi and to take care. Pass this link around if I can still get to it in a few days. It is cold and windy here but it's better than where I'm going. Man long flight and my body clock is so scrwed up....I need a beer and a steak bad. I well I have to wait. So I have to go for now. Take care and I'll write more later I hope. Got another 4 / 5 hour plane ride. Oh boy I love that.

Day 3

Well I'm getting a plane and leaving here shortly so I will update this when I land and get a chance. If not it might be a few days until the next update. So until then later and I miss you all even John in the gimp suit. Opps I let the cat out of the bag. TTYS

Well here is another day of wind and some rain. I leave this afternoon and contunie my journey on into the land of sand or mud. Nver know what you will run into over there. We had a very good dinner last night I tried to play pool. I suck and then some. Got 2 in but that was it. Oh well it was fun. I just read an email from my kids. Made me smile but makes me sad too. I have been doing this for a long time and never get use to the first few days. When I get settled in things get better for me. I guess this trip is differnt in a lot of ways. Wife left for a friend. Kids are with her. Then I meet someone who it everything that me wife wasn't. Ok so I'm falling for Amanda. There I said it. We will see were things go from here when I get back. I have to go feed my belly. Those oh you that know me know that I have to feed my belly before it takes over. That is never a good thing. Ok Guys take care and you can email me or comment here.......Oh Amanda thanks for the cookies the guys loved them.

Even more pics...

Some more pics....

After finally being able to put the tissue down, I was able to edit some more pics that Steve will want to see, so here goes nothing. And yes, I ROCK! We miss you, too! - Amanda

Hi there everyone. Thank you Amanda for the pics. Well here I am in sunny Azores. It is nice and green but a little wet. Better than when we got fuel. Cold and windy. I hope that I don't bore with these daily chats. If so let me know. Oh hey wait a minute...... Amanda you said the word girlfriend and not 313 or cool neighbor. You rock. Hey John if you are reading this have one or maybe 2 for me. I will have some wine at dinner tonight but that is about it. If any of the cul de sac "Gone Wild Film crew shows up tell them they have wait for me. I really miss all of you guys and hope to get home ASAP. To all of my friends and family. I love you and I miss you dearly. Write more later.

Oh the walk to plane was the longest walk yet. Not sure why but I'll figure it out.

Hi Everyone!

It's Amanda, Steve's girlfriend, making his first post, so to speak. But I wanted to post some pictures of him with the kids right before he left so he could see them. I have to say that I was so proud of him, watching him get on that plane, knowing what he was sacrificing to leave that way. But I also have to add that the selfish me, that little devil on the shoulder, was bartering with the Lord to please let the plane break so that I could see him again for just a few more minutes. As he turned to walk away, I felt as if I saw my heart walking away and getting on that C-130. As the propellers slowly began to turn I knew then that each rotation would take him farther and farther away from me. The hard part, I think, is sitting here waiting for him to walk through the door, just as he does most nights, beer in hand, and say "What's up?" I miss him so much already and can't wait to have him home again!