Leaving on a Jet Plane

Very soon I will be leaving for Afghanistan! I am honestly excited. I think it will be a great adventure and I'll get an opportunity to work on some really cool projects. I'm also happy that I will no longer be a member of the 5% of the Air Force who hasn't deployed. And what a deployment I'm on...running combat missions outside the wire instead of typical Air Force deployments (relaxing by a pool or going horseback riding). It's never easy being away from Scott and saying goodbye to him only gets harder (Scott has already departed). This time is different with the added stress that we'll both be in a dangerous part of the world. I know the time in country will go by fast as I'll be working a lot! The guys on my team are great and I realized today that I missed them on leave. They can make me laugh and that is a great distration! But I must admit that I am already looking forward to coming home and being with family and friends again.

Hobos, Homos and Just Plain Crazy People

Scott and I returned to Camp Atterbury yesterday after a very relaxing vacation in beautiful, sunny San Francisco. I must admit the city was a culture shock. After being in a monochromatic society 27/4 for three months, we were immediately injected into a rainbow society. It took some getting used to. Scott and I have never paid the homeless for directions before, but we did it twice in two days. They certainly know their way around the city! We also did a lot of walking. We walked from one end of the peninsula to the other and then some in just one day. The weather was perfect although I did get a nasty sunburn on my neck. We also ate our way through the city! Sourdough, sushi, $30 breakfasts and juicy steaks. At least we know how to live it up! We will have nine months to rough it.

The atrium of our hotel. I've never felt under dressed for breakfast before.

Scott and I celebrating our third wedding anniversary--together for the first time!

Here are some pictures from our bus trip around the city. We rode on the top of an open roof double decker bus across the Golden Gate Bridge.

MRX - Done!

Today is the last day of our MRX! I was on two missions, one to a shura (meeting) and one to a provincial development council (PDC). The shura is pictured below. I'm in the middle with my black head scarf. On the way to the PDC, we received an exercise inject that our driver was injured and we had to practice our down driver drill. Since I was the only person in the back seat, I got to jump into the gun turret! I was behind a 240, but I didn't get to fire any rounds. It was pretty cool.

Since we are almost done with training (three days and a wake-up!) Scott and I are getting ready for San Francisco. We have reservations for a well deserved massage and are looking forward to exploring the city. If anyone has any suggestions on where to go, let me know!

Making History

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090609/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_afghanistan

We'll be there making it happen!!