a picture says...well you know.

I have finnaly found a minute to throw together some photos, hope everyone is well. I have been super busy and thats a good thing, the time is actually passing at a decent pace. These pics are a culmination of events over the past 4 months; missions, barracks life and a bit of humor thrown in there. I have more that should make there way on the blog soon. As we prepare to start our sixth month in the sandbox I wholeheartedly believe the combat theater breeds drama, this place is like a violent episode of days of our lives. I know, I know, its a stresful enviroment but if you heard some of the ridiculous events that occur on a daily basis you would assume they were made up. Suprisingly the missions are the only thing that keep many of us from going crazy as an outhouse rat! Oh, and as soon as we finally settle in somewhere...time to move. Many times I wonder what I will put on my resume when I eventually make my exit from the Army lifestyle. I might just take my stories on the road and see if anyone will pay me to tell them, ha ha. Just last week I was given two wet behind the ears privates fresh out of basic, the first thing I always ask "new joes" is what exactly do they think they will be doing out here. One of them told me "cooking for the troops Staff Seargent", I didn't even know what to say. To make a long story short this private was told by his recruter that he would be a cook! He is making progress but I believe he thinks it's one big conspiracy, or we are just really "high speed" cooks. Well, I will leave you with that and I will drop by again soon. Take care and don't go a changin'.

(sense of humor sold seprately)

Photobucket Album

still alive

I know it's been a bit of a stretch since my last blog, a lot of moving and a small bit of "down time", but my spirits are high and in hopes of calling this place home for a while. Before I forget my email is no longer working properly so if you want to contact me talk to Megan and she will help you out. No matter how bad it is out here I have a good outlook because of my wife and son, they are truly my happiness. I have managed to miss the summer so far (knock on wood) because I have been on what we call reverse cycle. On an average day I wake up around 5:00pm and I don't go to bed until about 10:00am so the heat has been non-existent for the most part. We are living in big bays with about 35 other guys and you can only imagine the smell of a place like that. Right now we are trying to catch a rat that lives in the bay with us, now this is no ordinary rat. Ralph, otherwise known as the rat has been perused by all of us at least once, but this rat is quick and is as big as a a small sack of cooking rice which is not that small at all. we are now going to use a pistol next time we see him but who knows when that will be. I hope all is well and that everyone is happy, take care and I will write again real soon, maybe some pics next time.
-brian

To give some background on the pictures @ the bottom of the page, they were all from the 30 day operation i went on. The first one is my company comander and I sitting on the gator "smoked" from an all night mission the first night. We air assaulted onto the objective and i was the lucky one to drive the gator off the bird not knowing what we were driving into, it all worked out. The next pic is of two chickens that we caught, I don't know how Rocky caught chickens in the movie but its not easy. When that chicken and I made eye contact she knew something was afoote and she had to outwit a hungry staff sergant. That was the worst chicken I have ever eaten, but we all acted like it was a gourmet meal, hell .... it was compaired to another MRE. The next photo was taken just after daybreak on the combat outpost providing indirect fire support for the platoon that was out. When you're as tired as I was all you can do is smile.
The last pic is me and my gun crew minus a few you can see how happy we are, this was after chasing the chicken for half an hour. Well hope you all enjoy and be safe, you know I will
-Brian

in a better place

This past week I lost a good friend to an improvised explosive device, his name was Will Newman. Will was an EOD tech(explosive ordinance disposal) a very young man who left us trying to keep the US soldiers and citizens of Iraq safe, it's because of people like Will that I still have faith in America and the cause that so many have died for. Jason De Rosa, also an EOD tech and good friend said it best " I wont let Will die for no reason, I believe in this cause and will continue to support it" it's people like Will and Jason that make me realize how much of an impact one can have in the time we have been given. Go out of your way today to do something nice for someone, do it for the men and women who have payed the ultimate price so that others may live. Do it for Will. Rest in peace buddy.

im a happy dad!

im walking on cloud 9 right now, any guesses why? Because Megan and i are the proud parents of a wonderful baby boy! Parker Gene Tidwell, the latest edition to the family. It's so funny how a child that i havent even seen in person can make me want to be a better man. While the chaos around me continues I find so much joy and peace in my wife and newborn child. It is truly a work of God. Thank you all for the love and support you have shown Megan and I, it means more than you will ever know.

isn't that ironic

I know one of the largest black market issues in America is CD and DVD "bootleg" copies. If I'm not mistaken you do just as much jail time for selling certain drugs. So can someone explain to me why I can buy every Disney movie ever made for 40 dollars...maybe 35 if I have good bargaining skills. I just find it amusing that some things are swept under the rug so to speak yet other things are blown way out of proportion. Alright, now you know the secret don't all bombard me @ once for DVDs. I've att. a pic of the elusive camel spider for your viewing pleasure. Just a quick story about another encounter i had with one back in 04', I was just standing in a wadi (a small valley, good for hiding your position) and one of my buddies pointed at something behind me, you the look someone gives you when your not sure if you should turn around or not but curiosity always gets the best of you, yeah.. that look. As I turn to acquire my target I see the little devil moving with my shadow, every time I move, it moves, so with out giving away our position I of course start running back and forth. Needless to say it never missed a beat. creepy to say the least! For the last couple of days the AC unit from 1985 has not been working (I wonder why) so we have to sleep on our sides because if we sleep on our backs sweat pools up in our eye sockets, so when we wake up our eyes are on fire! I don't know if anyone knew this but most Iraqi's sleep on their roofs, when they build their homes they put a small stairway leading to the roof. The roof keeps them about 15 to 20 degrees cooler at night. well I love you all, and to my precious wife stay positive and know I miss you more than words can describe. Until next time.