January 2006

Greetings from the desert... Posted Monday, January 16, 2006, 1:02 AM, CST by Hank How's everyone doing? I'm fine--got here about a week ago and getting ready for a few interesting months working in the Command Post here as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Al Dhafra, U.A.E. This place is flat, and dry, and not too hot yet, but it will get blazing hot as the months go on. I'll try to send pictures as soon as I can, but so far, this base looks almost like a construction camp scattered with big sand-colored tents, trailers, and other buildings. The ground is light beige gravel, sand, and dust. Everything is kinda dusty. We sleep in big tents--about 8 people to each one. Each person's area is partitioned so at least we have some privacy. I've got a bed, some metal lockers, a chair, and a bookshelf that's doubling as a nightstand and a dresser. We have electricity (which is nice) and the bathrooms/showers are outside in trailers. The base has about anything I'd need. There's a 24-hour dining hall with a huge variety of pretty decent food. We have a Base Exchange that is small but stocked with plenty of stuff to buy. There's also a gym, a rec center, swimming pool and volleyball courts. I feel safe, not worried about where I'm at, and I won't have to worry about gunfire or bombs going off ever, so this is a pretty good place to be. The only thing that's missing is my family. Dawn and kids sound like they are doing ok…like me, they are just trying to get into a routine and hope 120 days go by faster than it sounds like it should. I talk on the phone to Dawn pretty regular so we both know how things are going. Most people in the Air Force have done these 120-day deployments 4 or 5 times by the time they've been in as long as I have, so I can't complain too much since it's my first one. Missing the kids though--only been a few days but it sounds like they are already trying to grow some--especially Ashlyn. She talks to me an the phone--she usually won’t do that for anyone--so that's pretty cool. Hope everyone is doing ok and I'll see ya later, Love, Hank

Our family this week Posted Thursday, January 12, 2006, 6:42 PM, CST by Dawn We are closing in on the end of week one without Hank. I can say it is getting easier every day. I have been told by other wives that it takes about 2 weeks to settle into a routine. I think that is probably pretty accurate. Even when I allow myself to be depressed, which is rare, My dear friend Debra pulls up out of my sea of sadness by my hair. She says "deal with it." This week has been fun. Aside from our regular activities like karate for Jordan and Piano and culture for Alyssa,we had kids member night at the NCO club. It was fun. They had a live band, free food, bouncy castles, a clown and prizes. Alyssa won a board game. We all had a good time. Tomorrow Jordan and Alyssa have a mock deployment. They get to do the stuff Hank did before he deployed. They get to see the type of plane he flew on and see how their dad is living. Alyssa and Jordan will even receive their own dog tags. Thats it here. Hank is fine. talk to you later.

Hank is gone Posted Sunday, January 8, 2006, 1:25 AM, CST by Dawn Hank left early this morning for his deployment. He left and came back twice because the plane broke. I got two more days with him so I see it as a blessing. What an emotional roller coaster though. I am in the middle of day one and I am a little sad. My best friend is gone. He is the center of my world and the best part of my day. I am surrounded by wives who have lived this so I know time passes and then it's done. It is odd how life keeps going. The kids have school and their extra curricular activities and we have church and friends. It is gloomier here without him and I miss him with all my heart. I pray he gets there safely.

"...and you aint got no horns boy!" Posted Saturday, January 7, 2006, 5:57 AM, CST by Hank I just got to shake hands with R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket, Apocolypse Now, etc...). He was at a book signing so I got his new book "Mail Call" from his show on the History Channel. Pretty cool! Check out the pics in the Photo Album I'll be trying to leave again abour 0300L my time...I'd be pretty shocked if we didn't go for real this time.

Still not gone! Posted Friday, January 6, 2006, 8:29 AM, CST by Hank That plane still ain't fixed yet so I'm here until Sunday morning (our time)...Crazy huh?

Plane Broke Posted Thursday, January 5, 2006, 5:40 PM, CST by Hank We'll have to try leaving again today, 'cause the plane broke yesterday, that's why. The navigation system on the plane was out-of-whack and they slipped the whole flight 24 hours. We got as far as the runway and had to go back...frustrating, but at least I get one more day with everyone.

2006! Posted Sunday, January 1, 2006, 6:10 PM, CST by Hank Uhh, like "Happy New Year" and stuff... I'm leaving on the 5th for the land of sand...nice freakin' new year! (NOT)