Happy Fathers Day

Okay, now that I have recovered from my calendar mistake and I am back on track, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the fathers around the world "Happy Fathers Day!!" I woke up this morning and outside my door was a flyer wishing me a good day. Every day is a good day to be a father and on this one day, we get some recognition. If I were home, I suppose that I would try to squeeze in time with the family, time for a ride on the bike and time for grilling. What a special day.

Various Celebrations and a mistake

Well, today is Sunday, 15 June and there are various events that we celebrate today. First, let me say "Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers out there. I want to give a big shout out to my kids, whom I love very much, that make me proud to be a father.

Okay, I realize that this was a mistake, although the thought still counts. As I ahve said before, I have the best kids and they always make me happy! :)

Also today is the Army's birthday. We celebrate 234 years of lineage today and I heard that over the years, there have been 30 million people that have been a part of this organization. "Happy Birthday." During dinner, the 1CD band was playing and there was this cake. I obviously get there a little late and they had already cut into it, but you should get the idea.

Finally, I had the opportunity to chat with the Division Commander (two star General) and he took me and two peers inside his office for a school lesson. We learned some Iraqi history and he even had a picture of himself with a relative of the real Lawernce of Arabia. All quite interesting.

We also had a Farewell for one of our own. My fellow Major left today 24 hours after returning from her vacation, she was sitting on a heliocopter heading north. There was some drama on the flightline as we realized that she had the keys to our truck and she was sitting in the bird. With asssitance, we ran out to the flightline, found the correct bird, found her, and then found the keys. It is always something. This is the cake we ordered for her farewell.

Well, time continues and we are now half way through June and barring something unforeseen, I will home enjoying vacation in about 60 days. Happy days.

Household 6 and the rest of the family; thank you for making me proud and thank you for everything that you do each and every day.

Graciousness, Goodness and Love

Wellif there was any doubt, let me put it to rest; I have the very best family in the world!! Father's Day is in a few days and I just got my box. There was more goodness and love in that box than I have ever received, although there was one really good one from Mom while I was in Ranger School many years ago......... back to reality.

This box had some of everything good; car magazines, motorcycle magazines, yummy jelly beans, some of the kid's homework to keep me connected and some Father's Day cards and some funky powered drink mixes. My daughter's card even had a tissue just on case I became overwhelmed with tears, not that I have ever done that.

I am very proud to have the best family in the world. Thanks for everything, you guys rock!!

Stephen Colbert

well as you may or may not have heard, we had another visitor this week. Actually he is still here. Stephen Colbert arrived here Friday and will taping his show from here. His first show was taped Sunday which will air Monday night back in the US. I had the opportunity to sit in on the Monday evening taping, which will air Tuesday night.

The show was AWESOME!!! He was very interactive and it was fun to see how they put it together. Here is a shot of the crowd waiting for the show to begin.

A shot of the set.

Me, anxiously waiting for the beginning of the festivities.

This is his desk, which is a stack of sandbags painted to look like an American flag; a very cool idea.

and the man of the hour, Stephen Colbert. I know it is a little blurry, but there was only a brief opportunity to take photos before the show while he was doing a it of a warmup and he just did not stand still.

So, since I have been here, I have seen The Gap Band, the President, Mack Brown and now Stephen Colbert. So far, the USO is doing quite well.

Happy Birthday

So, today is June 5 and I want to take thisopportunity to say "Happy Birthday" to my brother, Dean. I will not share how old he is, just that he is now much older than I am.

Happy Birthday, Dean!!!

Visitors and Gifts

Well today is 1 June and it is hard to believe time is flying by. Next month, our tour will be half over. Yippee. From time to time, US companies will send over items and some will be more useful than others. For example; a beer maker wants to send over some beer to help us celebrate July 4th. Although, it is great to see support from corporate America, I am not sure that beer is the best idea. One of the leading pizza makers will be sending some pizza for us adn that will be fun. During our memorial Day celebration, Vermont sent over some syrup to add some real yumminess to breakfast.

Today, we got a visit from some college football coaches. Now I did not go to a big school and I certainly do not favor one team over another, but it is always good to see people taking time out of their schedule and visit the troops. I am not sure who this guy was and I am not even sure I got hi name right, Mack something; Mack Black, White, some color is all I know. During all of the pictures, he was throwing some kind of gang sign and I am not sure what that was all about either.

Anyway, just another day at the office.

For those that don't know; Mack Brown from Texas.

Celebrations and more

Well today is Memorial Day and there were no parades and no celebrations, although like always, the Dining Facility out did themselves with USA colors everywhere and they are serving very American food; yummy.

I got word from Household 6 that she took the kids and the family dog to the local parade. There is nothing more American than having the family dog watching the local parade and maybe next year or for any July 4th celebration, she will get a red, white and blue bandana, which will make her even more American.

In the Army, as I am sure in the other services as well, we celebrate various ethnic groups where we learn about culture, share food and in the most recent case, shared some pagentry. One of my Soldiers is from American Somoa and this month we celebrated all things Asian-Pacific culminating in a dance festival.

There were performing groups from Fiji, Philipines and American Somoa and remember that these people are all here. The group from Fiji and the Philipines both work here and the group from American Somoa are all Soldiers. The evening was a festival of food as they cooked three pigs, one below ground and two on a spit, colorful costumes and music. My Soldier is extremely proud of her heritage, as she should be and she was the finale. It was truely an awesome show. Here is a picture of me and her taken after the Friday evening show.

This week, we will reach another milestone as it has officially gone over 110 degrees. They say it will get hotter, but right now it is like standing in front of the oven with the door open or walking around with a hairdryer blowing. Thankfully, the AC in both the room and the office are working keeping me comfortable.

Thats all for now and once again, happy Memorial Day.