[tdeane]

One month down...eleven more to go.

We're in full swing out here in the wild west, aka Al Anbar Province. In the full aspect of OPSEC, which we have had many briefings on so far, I cant go into specifics or the like.

We're doing good, getting prepared for Ramadan which comes our way in another week.

We've spent considerable time with cleaning up around our can and making it ours considering we'll be in it for the next year.

You know whats funny...the previous times being here has all been living in a tent with either no a/c or one that works only when it wants to. Now, I am in a can and its always funny to hear people bitch and moan about having to live in one. I just shake my head and thank God for such a fine living quarter compared to what I have had before. People just dont realize sometimes just how fortunate they really are.

About the living area...we've cleaned it up, placed our outside area to our liking. Nice camo netting over the corner so we can relax at any part of the day and enjoy a cigar and a Coors "near-beer". It aint much, but it's home. The nightly cigars have pulled in a small crowd of neighbors and we sit and joke and laugh and unwind after the day. Good company is had around the square table.

I did manage to get another digital camera, since Andria has kept the last one I bought over here, and soon I will get some pictures of the area (that dont give too much away) and post 'em here.

All in all, morale is good. Everyone gets their fair share of mail during mail call and with the modern day emails the folks are able to keep in touch with the family back home.

We have seen our temps decline as we prepare to move into fall. When we got here, it was 127 degrees and today it's 96 with an outlook of further decline and 92 by the end of the week.

I have rambled enough and will update again soon and hope to have a few pictures to share.

Out Here.