My Day Off

Today was my day off so I thought I would share a picture of my favorite thing to do on my days off.

I also got to see and talk to Marsha and the kids today although I couldn't hear them at least they could hear me. I also dropped off some laundry today (they do it for me for free), I also did a load of laundry (because they only do so much for free), got my haircut and ate some lunch and dinner! Tomorrow is back to work for 3 more days and then I get another day off. Here are a few pictures I have taken, I will have more soon I just keep forgetting my camera.

There is grass in Iraq. We are pretty close to the Tigris River.

Some old (I believe Russian planes) on the base.

Our locker area after work.

Mohaideen (came from Lakenheath with us) turning in his M-4.

This is where I spend most of my time when I am working.

Let's Try This Again

We flew out of Germany yesterday and made it about 30 minutes into our journey before we had to turn back. The landing gear on our C-5 would not go up so we couldn't make it to al the way to Al-Udeid AB to pick up our gear before heading to Iraq. So we checked into lodging for the night (AGAIN!) and are back today to try and fly out (AGAIN!). Today will be our third attempt to leave Germany in as many days. If we don't make it out today I will post another update. Talk to everybody soon.

Our plane on the flightline waiting for us to get on yesterday.

Malloy in the seat behind me waiting to take off . . .

SSgt Strothers and SSgt Yara . . .

and me taking a picture of myself!

My Trip So Far

It has been an adventure so far and I haven't even made it to Iraq yet! We left RAF Lakenheath on Monday morning and the normal 2 hour drive took well over 3 hours with all the traffic. After finally arriving at the airport we are told our flight at 10:40 a.m. was cancelled. We arranged another flight to leave at 4:15 p.m but that one was cancelled also. So we scheduled another flight for the next day at 10:40 a.m. and called around to get a hotel room for the night. We finally found four rooms at the Comfort Inn at Heahrow for 129.00 poundsa night or around 260.00 dollars per room. It is being paid for by the US government so thanks to all you taxpayers, myself included! We really didn't want to have to drive all the back to Lakenheath and then turn around the very next morning and drive back to London.

We woke up on Tuesday morning and called the airlines to check on the flight and were told our flight was cancelled once again. All these cancellations were due to weather so we really can't blame British Airways but it was getting ridiculous! We finally got out of London at about 3:00 p.m. after more then 24 hours of waiting in London. The wind was really bad during takeoff and weren't sure we should have taken off but we made it and landed in Franfurt, Germany around 5:15 p.m. So far the best part of the trip was finding McDonalds at the airport and they had McRibs on the menu!!!! After calling for a taxi/bus we finally left the airport at 7:30 p.m. and headed to Sembach AB in Germany to stay the night.

Waiting with my luggage at London Heathrow airport on our second day of trying to fly out.

The 3 others I am going with (from L to R - Strothers, Malloy and Yara).

MCDONALD'S!

My McRib!

We were originally scheduled to leave Ramstein AB for Iraq on Tuesday afternoon but because of the delays in London didn'tmake that flight. We are now scheduled on a flight that leaves Thursday and if nothing happens to the plane and the weather cooperates we will be leaving. Sembach AB is about 20 minutes from Ramstein AB so today we moved over to the Ramstein lodging to be a little closer to the terminal.

From my balcony in lodging at Sembach AB.

Amanda and Henry are now stationed here so I am going to dinner and hanging out with them tonight. I think Marsha is a little jealous? LOL