New Job

Hello everyone. Well today is Tuesday and it already feels like Thursday. The past two days have been rather hectic. On Monday I started my new job with the new company. I am now the senior Medical Sergeant for Bravo 'Legion' Co, 1-503rd. The Legionnaires have done good work in the past deployments and it is an honor to join them. As the senior medic, I have two Soldiers under me, one a coporal and the other, private first class. Coporals live on in the Army, 'Radar' O'Reilly has not been forgotten. I know they are good medics and am looking forward to working with them. Course no new job would be right without a hiccup within a few hours. My hiccup was the cubby hole the company gave me to work in. It looked like a Cat. 5 hurricane had blown through. I got it fixed up; all it took was 5 Soldiers and 3 hours. No worries.
Today was awesome. I got to perform Jumpmaster duties for the first time today. We had a lot of new Soldiers which made things interesting. I am definetly going to have to conduct a refresher on how to rig our equipment. Some of the rigging I saw today was, well, um, interesting. And in typical fashion we were ready to board the airplane about the time it broke. Our warning lights (red and green) wouldn't go on. We waited an hour on the tarmac waiting for our bird to get fixed or find a new one. The new one arrived an hour later. Nothing like waiting to jump with a 65lb back pack hanging upside down from your waist. Today I served as the Safety for the flight. My primary role was to make sure my Paratroopers' equipment was rigged properly and when the time came, hooked their static lines to the cable inside the plane (so their parachutes would open.) The only interesting thing from the jump was on the first pass we missed two time warnings and had only 30s to get everybody ready to get out the plane. I have never seen the Jumpmasters move so fast. My job was easy: stand there and make sure the jumpers handed off their static lines on the way out the plane. So, definetly a cool day. I can't wait till I get the chance to be a Jumpmaster again.
I know a lot of what I do is a mystery. And also, I am writing this blog after getting up at 0345. So if you have any questions, just send me a line. :) Take care and God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone. I want to wish everyone a verry Happy Thanksgiving!! Katie and I went to a friend's house for a late lunch. We had a good time, but I certainly miss spending time with the family, all 36 persons strong. I pray that your days are special and memorable. Happy Thanksgiving to all!! Take care and God speed. :)

Crazy Busy

Hello everyone. For fear of being upstaged by my darlin wife's slippers, I am updating my blog. Course after getting at 5, moving through a 12 hour day, and still remain cognizant isn't all that easy. Well here is a quick update since I nearly lost my wedding band (still attached btw) a few days ago:
1. Continue to improve my cooking prowess. Ok, so I still can use only one pot and have to strongly resist the urge to look up the minutiae concerning the lastest greatest spice that a certain recipe calls for. Final remark on cooking, 'thank God for the skillet/wok and the garlic press thingy is cool. Amen'
2. Spent a great day at home doing absolutely nothing except read the 700 page book, Eldest, by Christopher Paolin. I wonder what it would be like to be 21 and a New York Times bestseller. Hmmm?
3. Counted the gray hairs now visible, caused by the US Army. Thankfully I can come home to a beautiful woman, make popcorn and watch 'The Muppets Christmas Carol'.
4. Lastly, today I was told that I would be moved into a senior position and given my own company. This would give me an opportunity to work with younger soldiers as well as have my own medical team. I am excited about this possibililty. Will let you know how this works out.

To family and friends, thank you for humoring me. Katie does all the time. :) I wish you all well. Take care and God speed.

Back to Work, & First Husband Panic Attack

Tomorrow I have to go back to work. Thankfully this month is within the recovery phase. I only have to work Tues and Wed. Still, I have to get up at 5am and be at work at 6 for physical training. Yippee. Katie will be joining me so that she can attend PWOC at 9. She already has my woobie (poncho liner) packed for tomorrow. :)
Tonight during dinner I had my first real panic attack as a husband. We were sitting at the kitchen table when I went to start playing with ring. After 5 months of marriage fiddling with my ring has become a habit. Only tonight when I went to play with it, it wasn't there. It may be just a titanium ring, but I am old fashioned and it is a constant reminder of the promise I made to an amazing woman and one whom I love dearly. At that point, dinner was over. I immediately began to think back to where I had it last. So after about an hour turning the house and garage upside down, my ring is now safe back on finger. In fact, I have gone so far as to tie my wedding band to my ring finger using the gut from a parachute cord. Katie thinks that may have been ridiculous, but, hey, this is me we are talking about. So, with my ring securely tied to my finger, panic attack over, I am going to have a cup of coffee and help Katie with the dinner dishes.
I wish all the best, and have a pleasant evening.

Hello Bloggers, First salvo, many more to follow

Hi Everybody. This is my first blog entry. Katie and I are about to sit down and play Rummicube. We are getting back into our usual rhythm. I had to be at the Noncommisioned Officer Academy in Grafenwhoer, Germany, for 30 days and we have missed each other terribly. Five months married and a total of 2 months spent together. So tonight I made dinner: couscous paella with keilbasa and chicken in a skillet (my favorite tool in the kitchen next to the garlic press). Now we are going to sit at the kitchen table and enjoy each others company over a fun game, walnut brownies and coffee. Thank you to all who have sent Katie and I well wishes. It is much appreciated. Love to you all, best wishes and God speed.