Title?

I'm still alive and well, but life has been a lot more hectic the past few days. Last week we worked out a day-off plan, and it's supposed to be approved 1 FEB, so I may be able to have a day off in the near future. It'll be nice to be able to sleep in, work out longer, and try once again to go to daily mass.

On Sunday I missed my usual Church serivice because I was doing last minute preperations for a briefing I had, but I was able to make it to the Protestant Contemporary Service. I really liked the service, praising God with other Christians, and the fellowship, although I definetly missed the sacrements. When the service ended I longed to stay there and pray, but had to get back to work. Later on after my shift ended I tried to go to evening Mass, but found that that is only on Saturday and not on Sunday. The past few days I've been reading the religious service schedule all wrong and showing up on the wrong days. I think next Sunday that I'll try and attend the PCS again, but also try and make it to Mass.

My roommate arrived yesterday. It turns out we had met before back at Hood and actually gone together to the range shortly before I deployed. Having a roommate now forces me to actually get up the first time my alarm goes off instead of pushing snooze a few times. We went to the gym together this morning and I lifted weights for the first time since crew season. Up until now I've just been doing cardio, abs, and push-ups. Truth be told, I was a bit nervous and intimidated started out again on the weights because standing next to me were guys lifting ten times as much. (slight exageration). It was a short weight work-out, but still felt good. Goodness, I'm turining into one of the guys and talking all about weight-lifting.

OCF'ers

Last night I kept thinking about OCF and I really missed OCF at West Point. I met such amazing, God-fearing, people through OCF and learned and grew so much. One thing I really miss is the Christian fellowship.

This morning I finally had a chance to go to daily Mass at 11am, which is something I've been wanting to attend ever since I found out about it. When I got to the Chapel I found there wasn't anybody else there except the Chaplain and one other person up at the front of the Chapel preparing something. I assumed he was the Chaplain's assistant, but when I went up to him to ask if there was still the service today I realized that it was actually a guy named Rob who was an '04 grad, at least I think he was '04. He may have been '03. He lead the OCF praise and worship team while at West Point. Apparently he now leads the Protestant contemporary service on Sundays. Just seeing someone familar from West Point and OCF, especially someone who has such a heart for Christ, really brightened my day. I wanted to stay and talk to him, but since I hadn't really known him all that well and he looked a bit busy I didn't want to keep him from anything he was doing. We talked for a few minutes and I mentioned that Jordan was on her way out here because he knew her, although he was suprised to find out that she'd gotten married. I'm glad to know that there are people like Rob here. Charlsey is also here. She was another '04 grad who was really active in OCF at West Point. We were able to talk a bit in Kuwait, but I've only run into her occasionally in passing at the DFAC here in Iraq. I hope I run into more people like Rob and Charlsey and am able to spend more time with them.

Oh, and it turns out that on Saturdays there is no 1100 Mass. It's at 2000.

On a different note, the Test message from a couple days ago was actually me testing if a posting method actually worked. Not really that exciting, although recently I have felt a bit tested in patience and restraint.

Just Another Day

I was just looking at some posts from back in October. OBC seems like so long ago even thought it was only just a few months. I miss being able to bake and bringing in the baked goods for my class.

I don't know why, but I feel rather emotionally drained at the moment. Perhaps it is in part due to having to figure out how to start over with my analysis and going back to the old fashion map and pin method. I don't think that is the only reason, but I really am not sure what the other reason would be. Actually, now that I think about yet (yes, I'm thinking again which probably isn't that good of a thing). I've been doing more deep thinking about things in my life the past few days, and that is probably in part what is wearing me out.

One reason that I am drawn to Catholicism is because it is deeply rooted and it challenges me intellectually. Now I'm not the brightest light bulb in the room, but the more I learn about the theology the more it makes sense. Now I may not even be properly explaining what I'm trying to say, as I said, I'm not the brightest bulb, but my point is that a lot of stuff with Catholicism makes sense and I see more meaning in certain things than I did before. I certainly haven't gone indepth on my thoughts here, but that's the jist of my thoughts.

No Good, Very Bad Day

In elementary school I read a book called <i>The No Good, Very Bad Day,</i> or something akin to that title. Today was a day like that. It actually started started out okay with a light workout, but as the day progressed it went downhill. My morning prayer time was shorter than I would have liked. Well, I suppose it's that way every morning, but today it was even shorter than usual. I had small lull in work and so I pulled out the Catechism of the Catholic Church and started reading some more of it. The fact that I was reading was noticed and it was then determined that if I had enough time to read then my work load should increase. That was when my day really started to go downhill. When I went to check up on the incidents going on in the area of operations the program I use the most decided to erase all of my data and not let me load any new data. I tried installing it on another computer, and the same thing happened. When I tried unistalling it and then reinstall
ing it the program would not even open for me. I've emailed the creator of the program and am praying he is able to fix the problem, because otherwise I won't be able to do half as much analysis as quickly and effectively as I have been able to do so far. That was the big bummer of my day.

Hmm, windows media player keeps freezing on my and won't let me play my DVD. I've finished the second season of 24, but am waiting a few days before I start the third season.

Yesterday I got a package in the mail from Rachel, and today I got a card in the mail from Adam. Both things were very nice to get. The package Rachel sent me had chocolate-caramel brownies that she had baked (and they survived the trip without getting stale, although she wrapped them in serane wrap and then double bagged them), two pictures of me with some friends, a book, and fruit cups. It was a great package to get :)

Test

25 JAN

I walked to lunch with two of the people in the S2/S3 section, but in the DFAC I saw Christy and Shawna and ate with them instead. I despretly needed a break from being surrounded by guys. There are also times like today when I wish I wasn't the only girl working in the TOC. At times it's very obvious to me that I'm in the minority. I should be used to it by now after having been in the female minority for some time, but at times such as today it gets to me and I just need to get away for a bit.

I'm really looking forward to Jordan getting here. It will be really nice to actually have someone here that I didn't just meet in the past month and be able to discuss things related to God, life here, relationships, and other stuff. I really miss the conversations that I used to have both with Charlie and with Anne. I wonder if Charlie has started Ranger school yet. Anne sent me a Christmas present and I got a Christmas card in the mail from her mom. Her mom also offered to start looking for publishers for me. She is very interested in getting the Joe Bear stories published. That would be cool, but I don't think they are good enough for that. I'll let her look if she wants to though.

Internet:)

Whoohoo! I'm using internet in my room right now. I should be sleeping at the moment because I only got 2 or so hours last night, but I can't sleep at the moment.

ON HIS PLAN FOR YOUR SPOUSE

ON HIS PLAN FOR YOUR SPOUSE

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly, and exclusively.

But God, to a Christian, says,

"No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by me, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me, to having an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone, discovering that only in me is your satisfaction to be found,
will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.

You will never be suited with another until you are united with me exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things, keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. You just wait. That's all.

Don't be anxious.
Don't worry.
Don't look around at the things others have gotten or that I've given them.
Don't look at the things you think you want.
You just keep looking off and away up to me, or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And, when you're ready
I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream.
You see, until you are ready, (I am working even this moment to have both of you ready at the same time) until you are both satisfied exclusively with me
and the life I prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me, and is thus the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love.
I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me, and enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you.
Believe it and be satisfied."

Author Unknown

Just Another Day

Good news, it's a four day weekend....back in the states. Here it's work work work as usual. I average a 12.5 hour work day, not including PT. I'm slowly getting adjusted to what I am supposed to do. Usually I have long periods of sitting at a computer trying to look productive followed by frantic work on a requirement that just came up, such as getting intel on a convoy route and preparing to brief it.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me letters and packages. I haven't recieved any of them yet, but I'm told they are on their way and I'm looking forward to getting them. Jordan M. found out that she's in the same Brigade Combat Team as me, so she may end up deploying to the same camp. I really hope if she does deploy she does come here, although it's too bad that she isn't in the same BCT as her husband Zack.

I've become addicted to the show 24. Each night I usually end up watching an episode before bed. I bought the first episode before I got here, finished it up on the trip from Kuwait to Iraq, and bought the next two episodes here in Iraq at the PX.

The food here is pretty good, although it's already starting to seem like the DFAC serves the same meal every other day. I also think they try to figure out the least healthy way to prepare the food, such as frying everything.

Just said by one of the NCOs I work with, "Anybody find it ironicaly funny that there is bird flu in Turkey?"

It's over.

I think I'm inept at relationships and going to remain single for the rest of my life.

Short Update

Time for a quick update. I decided not to get internet in my trailer room because I'd rather save the money. I did decide to buy a bike off someone leaving. Having a bike here makes life so much easier. The weather has been in the low 70s during the day nad the low 40s at night. So far it hasn't rained. The DFAC (where we eat) is amazing. There is also burger king, subway, cinabon, and a few other fast food places, as well as free baskin robbins in the DFAC.

Nick and I are at the same camp, but have only seen each other twice here in Iraq due to different schedules.

I'd write more, but my time is up on the computer.