Welcome to my new Blog

Posted on 12. Jan, 2009 by Jesse in Pre Deployment, Random Ramblings 14 views

Well here we are again, this is my first blog post of what will be many as I prepare for and complete my upcoming deployment. I have integrated this blog with a few social networking services that many of you may use to make it easier for everyone to stay updated and current on what I am up to. If you look up in the top of the page, you will see a little blue bird, that is the twitter bird which you can use to track my blog posts as well as little random “What am I doing” snippets. I have also set this site up with my facebook account so anyone who is my friend on there will see updates when I post new blog entries with a link to the blog post right on your facebook wall.

As I write this we just finished eating dinner, the boys are being as crazy as ever playing in their room and its getting colder and colder outside. We got a little dusting of snow today that makes that crisp creaking sound when you walk on it that you only get when its soooo cold and the snow is just right. I am sure I will look back on this post in a few months and wish I could hear that sound again.

Over the next few weeks leading up to my deployment I will be tweaking this site to get all the layout items just as I want and to make sure everything operates as expected. As those of you who know me will remember, I was deployed in 2004-2005 and wow, that doesn’t seem like it was that long ago. My enlistment had ended and due to having 3 (soon to be 4) young children at home, i decided not to renew my contract as I felt, for me personally the last deployment (18 months total) was too long to be away from home when someone has small children. Well, apparently the Army has a better understanding of whats good for me because they have called me back from the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) which they are completely entitled to do for up to 2 years after my initial 6 year contract ended. Am I bitter about this? No I am not, I will do what is asked of me to honorably serve my country and give back what I can to the world. (I will leave my political ramblings out of this first post)

I can say that I head back to Iraq with mixed emotions. I so clearly remember the day I left Iraq the last time, the last steps across the scorching sand feeling the burning sun on my neck, that last moment of looking around me and thinking “wow, I’ve been here a year and I will never set foot on this soil again” It’s a strange feeling, to look back on something I thought with such certainty and realize “oops, i was wrong about that wasn’t I.”

I do feel that I was there for a good cause, that we are doing good things there. It is a shame that you will never see it in the news media today or quite likely ever. It is shameful that the popular news media is so busy dramatizing everything for ratings that they almost always miss the bits of good that warm the soul instead of insighting riots, spreading hatred and diluting the real picture.

For those who don’t know already, I will be leaving home before the end of January, so anyone who would like to visit best get on it and get over here Also, I would like to ask anyone who can to please lend a hand when possible during Amy’s pregnancy, they aren’t typically easy on her and I won’t be around for it this time. Last time I left a baby who was a few weeks old and came home to an almost 2 year old, at least this time I will be home by the time the newest one is 6 months old. Anyhow, it’s time to get the boys settled in and ready for bed so i will cut this one off now. I will try to post regularly and with substance, thanks for taking the time to read this.