the sandbox

a picture says...well you know.

2007-09-07T00:46:00.000-07:00

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)

2007-09-07T00:41:00.001-07:00

Photobucket Album

still alive

2007-07-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-06-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

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.

could be a TV show

2007-05-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

I am totally sold on the idea of MTV or VH1 making a reality TV show on the trials and tribulations of the everyday soldier. Now I know what your thinking, the government would never allow the public to really see what a normal day is like for me, both here and back in the states. But on the flip side of that i guarantee it would solve the enlistment problem within 6 months! Even if i begin to tell you some of the everyday occurrences here you would either not believe it or would say "well, i guess you had to be there". If laughter really is the best medicine I'm going to live forever!! That is unless i get bitten by a camel spider, when God made this creature he had to be mad at someone. I would rather run naked through a corn field backwards than mess with one. Go figure, I have no problem with going to war, but the thought of that "thing" near me makes me want to shoot it. Another luxury we go without is a laundry room, we are able to drop it off to be picked up and washed and then brought back in a matter of days. So of course the wheels are a spinnin' I'm going to attempt to put the most random items in my laundry and see if they come back. Oh, the things that amuse us here. Well I'm getting sleepy so i bid you adue, so "until next time stay classy America"

twilight zone

2007-05-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to half the places I want to go, or experienced things I've been told stories
about, but what I have done is play volleyball with Iraqi’s. If I have to put a number on it
I would say it ranks right up there with seeing the pope or walking the great wall of China.
I'm beginning to get into my "twilight zone" here (which is a good thing), where you slowly
let go of your grip on the outside world, your habits and comfort items. Last time it took
much longer and for some it never leaves the thought process of everyday life here. Now don't
think that means I cut ties with all friends and family, in fact it couldn't be farther from
that, it allows me a chance to except my surroundings and come to peace with my position for
the time being. I think the one thing that gets under my skin right now would have to be the
fact we want to improve the lifestyle and wellbeing more than the people here, and that's not
everyone but enough to put a ripple in things; You know, One bad apple.. I think the "black &
white question that no one wants to propose is, Can you fight guerrilla warfare with conventional
techniques? And the answer is yes... if you want to loose countless lives of American soldiers
and spend years possibly decades in a country that knows nothing but bloodshed and oppression.
War is not a normal day at the office no matter how much you think it is and you cant put a
suit and a new pair of shoes on it to fool the American public. I think I'm just tired of
losing brothers and sisters in arms, and all because were bringing knives to a gunfight. I
love my country, and I will do what is asked of me until I haven’t a breath left in my lungs
because that is what makes our country great. And if you ask me it's the only thing that holds
it together.

old memories

2007-05-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

I have finally arived at my "home" for the next ??? months, so it's time to hit the ground and make some contacts. Many people believe that and infantry man has one skill and one skill only to offer the "outside world" but I have to disagree, you see I unlike many in the military have to scrounge for what I need whether it be a bike to travel from place to place on the fob, or making a friend in the construction yard in case I need a table or chairs. I think the point I'm trying to make is I will sell a ketchup popcicle to a woman in white gloves every day of the week just to keep my men supplied and happy, and truth be told after a while it's not work any longer, it's a hobby. I was walking to drop off my laundry today (which is give or take 2 miles) a it hit me... I was here in the first deployment, and things started to piece themselves together, not much has changed though. I want to describe the smell of certain things but I'm not sure it's possible, maybe Brad can explain it, he can recall the scent... I promise!! But I'm finally settling in and things are falling into routine so now I can start thinking of other issues to write about. I hope all is well and this finds you in good spirits...yeah some spirits sound good .

game face

2007-04-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

I'm playing in a Texas hold'em tourney tonight so wish me luck (don't worry babe, its not for money ha ha!) My men and I entered a dodge ball tourney but did not win, some of the people on this post must not do much work because I didn't know you could be that good @ dodge ball! Well lets all keep our fingers crossed in hope that the next location has Internet so I can keep the blogs rollin'. Please send me your email adds. so I can start my add. book, I forgot to do that before I left. tiddy.tidwell@us.army.mil . The weather is right around 90-95 during the middle of the day, I made the mistake of shaving my head... yes my head looks like an apple but it will grow out. Interesting fact: We were @ a rifle range off post and someone accidentally sot a camel (it was down range, no one was shooting aimlessly!) and it ran off, but the heard owner came over to us shouting in Arabic and of course we had no idea what he was ranting about when we arrived back on post we were informed that you shoot and kill a camel here that you have to pay for that camel and seven yes SEVEN generations of its offspring! When you add that up your looking at about 35,000 dollars, no thanks. well I hope I can write again before we go wheels up, but if not dot go changin' on me!

Brian

The little things

2007-04-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Boy what I wouldn't give for a shower that i didn't have to turn the water on and off just to conserve my "15 gallons of water" a day. The chow hall is about a 1 mile walk from my tent but it feels like 10 after PT (physical training) in the morning. I have come to the realization that the dust in this country knows no bounds and will get everywhere you don't want it no matter how many times you sweep or clean. I must have let it slip my mind on all the things I took for granted back home, for example I would love to have a washer and dryer, the laundry service that they provide here makes your clothes smell like they could spontaneously combust at any moment, I think it's kerosene but who knows. Well,all ya'll back home drink a beer, wash some clothes, take a long shower and walk to the kitchen and get something to eat for me will ya. I hope all is well and this finds everyone in good spirits.

until next time, Brian

new light

2007-04-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

I am starting to realize what a joy it must be to be a parent, my wife and I are expecting our first child on or around June 1st and I can't wait. The respect I have for the many men and women who are called to leave there families to serve this great country has had a new light shed upon it, this has to be one of the hardest things someone can be asked to do. I hope everyone back home is doing well and this finds you in good spirits, and to my wife I love and miss you greatly, be strong and hold on to the day we will see each other again.

2007-04-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to wonder what the next "bandwagon" for this country will be. Will we just turn a blind eye to the ranting extremists in Iran wanting to bring this country to its knees, or can we even afford another "war" so to speak. Maybe we should stay in Iraq for a while longer but what if we pull the troops out, what will happen to the newly formed democracy. I think the point I'm trying to get across is that in the chapter in history we are currently writing there are no black and white, yes or no answers, just possible scenarios or avenues of approach. When I enlisted it was not when I feel like it I will support the constitution, or because he(she) is doing it I guess I will. I stand behind MY Government and the leadership appointed to make command decisions, whether I share the same political views or not is beside the point. The United States of America is the greatest country in the world, and for good reason as long as the citizens support the system. You don't see Islamic terrorists chanting "death to France" or death to Germany", and some will say because those countries are not on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan... well I think otherwise. Just make sure all you left wing liberal pu$$!es sleep well tonight because we keep on fighting and dying for a country that has become uninformed, lazy and let's not forget selfish because we know it's the right thing to do and still hold on to a set of standards and morals...oh and for all you folks out in Hollywood when you come out of your fairy tale lifestyle and have to worry about real problems like paying "legitimate" bills and how to make ends meet or come over and throw on a helmet and vest pick up a weapon then your opinion may hold some weight until then stop acting like your the voice of the "people" just because you have a larger, well funded soapbox to stand on! Well I want to know if I'm alone on this write and let me know. God Bless, Brian G.

2007-03-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

The time is drawing near to remember just how many things that i take for granted. I hope I can keep the posts rolling but you know how things go. Dont you go a changin' on me while I'm gone!