Happy New Year!

The new year is starting with some great news! For months there have been rumors that Scott's battalion might be coming home earlier than initially expected. Not wanted to get my hopes up too high, I've kind of blown it off, but now a few adminstrative changes [not to be confused with administration changes :-) ] give a bit more credibility to the rumors. For instance, yesterday Scott was told that his battalion will not be getting mail delivery past February 1st. This does not mean he'll be back by then as they stop mail service a few weeks before the end of the deployment, but it is likely he'll be home in the spring instead of the summer!

Any mail sent after the third full week in January will not be delivered which means he will not get any mail for the last few weeks. Next week I plan to send a few letters marked with instructions not to open until Ground Hog's Day, Valentine's Day, Mardis Gras, etc.

Thanks for all the cards, letters, and packages you've sent so far. Scott told me today that the person who handles the mail for his battalion singled him out and told him to make sure his "fan club" knew that the mail service was ending. Apparently Scott and two other guys get more mail than the rest of the battalion combined. Keep it up; we're on the home stretch!

Christmas Camel

Scott sent this camel--complete with uniform boonie cover and dog tags--to Gianna for Christmas.

Chrismas Messages

I know how hard it was to not have Scott with us over the holidays so I can only imagine how difficult it was for Scott to be without all of us. In an effort to bring us all a bit closer, I compiled a video of Christams messages for Scott. A DVD of the complete video was sent to Scott just before Christmas. Here are just a few clips. (I tried to load the entire video but it was too long.)

The Bob Salm Family

Oshkosh Friends

Gianna Ramsay

Happy Birthday, Gianna!

Gianna got a birthday phone call from Daddy this morning. While we were on the phone, Gianna opened her present from Daddy--the book Green Eggs & Ham and a DVD of Scott reading it to her.

(Screen capture from the video.)

After we hung up, we put in the DVD. Gianna went up to the TV and stood cheek to cheek with her daddy for the entire video (almost five minutes!). She watched it at least a dozen times before I was able to coax her away with the promise of swimming. We went to the Y and then to Chuck E. Cheese. She went to sleep on the way home and is still napping!

Christmas Happenings

We've been traveling, so I haven't had mush time to post. Here are the highlights from the week:

Scott's Christmas party was a success. It was last Saturday. I had sent a Santa suit and some decorations. Our friends Tracy and Chris had sent hundreds of holiday plates and napkins. (Thanks again, you two!) Friends and family of the other guys at the same rank as Scott sent a variety of party supplies, too. They had a great time and even had to do a beer run--near beer that is--half way through the evening. One of the chiefs was going to wear the Santa suit but the $30 felt costume I found didn't quite fit his 6 foot steelworker frame, so Scott was going to wear it but the chaplain asked if he could do the honors. Scott didn't think much of it until later when he overheard two women complaining that they couldn't very well climb up on Santa's lap and be naughty-not-nice when he was the chaplain. Scott's not one for public attention to begin with so you can imagine how embarrassed he would have been!

At long last, Scott was pinned with his SCWs (seabee combat warfare) pin. A few weeks ago I mentioned that he had been studying for written and oral tests. He successfully passed everything and earned the certification. Getting pinned is a bit like a hazing ritual but he seemed to enjoy being part of the tradition!

Scott plans to attend Christmas eve mass. There is a midnight mass that is actually being held at midnight (out local parishes have them starting as early as 9:00) and he planned to attend with one of his running buddies. They got to reminiscing about going to midnight mass as kids and wondered if they could still stay up that late and function the next day now that they are in their 30s. While their parents were in their 30s when they took their kids to mass, they probably did so knowing the kids would pass out before the readings began and it would be the one mass all year that they'd actually get to enjoy! In the end, Scott and he decided since they were in their 30s and were not taking kids to mass, there was no reason they could not go tot he 4:00 p.m. mass and get a good night's sleep!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Blessings!

This year has been filled with blessings! Scott’s deployment to Iraq has given us opportunity anew to recognize how very blessed we truly are. Allow us to share a list of this year’s blessings:

Care packages! Thanks to all who have kept Scott supplied with jerkies, granola bars, phones cards, and most of all, your thoughts and prayers!

Hospitality! Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and Papa--whether at our place or theirs, they have gone above and beyond to help us! Countless friends have invited us to spend nights, weekends, even weeks with them to save on travel and to provide companionship.

Rome, Italy. Thanks to my parents (and lots of frequent flier miles!) we traveled with the entire Cerny family to Italy for nearly two weeks last May. Highlights were touring the excavation site under St. Peter’s Basilica, attending an audience with the Holy Father, visiting each of the four basilicas in Rome, and walking in the streets where St. Gianna worked, lived, and prayed.

Incredible colleagues! They have covered classes and writing lab hours at a moment’s notice.

Snow! Admittedly, I’m probably only thankful for a white Christmas because I have not shoveled a flake since Scott left thanks to the generosity of our amazing neighbors for whom I am incredibly grateful!

Thoughts and Prayers! Sunday school groups out east, prayer chains in Iowa, novenas and lit candles in Wisconsin, countless individual prayers. They mean more than anything, and they’re working! Know that you’re all in our prayers, too!

Marriage! My sister wed Ben in October. I was pleased to serve as the matron of honor and Gianna was the adorable flower girl at the beautiful private ceremony in a quaint chapel in central Wisconsin. We are grateful to have Ben as part of the family!

Adorable Gianna--what a blessing! She is growing up so quickly; it seems impossible she will be three this month. She is obsessed with Dora, wants to eat nothing but peanut butter, hot dogs, and the occasional serving of peas, and misses her Daddy. She has even started saying separate “daddy prayers” after our regular night time prayers.

Safety and security! We praise God that Scott and his group have remained safe. More now than ever, we are grateful for the hundreds of thousands of troops and their families who regardless of politics or position have volunteered to do their part to help provide peace on earth.

CHRISTMAS!
The birth of our savior--the greatest blessing of all!
We pray you and your families have a wonderful Christmas and

are blessed in the new year!

School's Out!

Scott and I both finished school yesterday. I submitted semester grades and Scott had his last oral board for the SCWs pin. He has been in class after class and taken test after test. After a three-hour oral defense, he was finished. Surprisingly, three hours is relatively short. A guy he spent time with in Mississippi spent 8 hours in his and had to go back the next day for three more. Hopefully now that this hurdle's been jumped, he'll have a bit more time for sleep!

Steel Stories

Scott's back in steelwork and since he has no fear of heights, he was volunteered to do some work 26+ feet up in the air. So, he headed up the ladder only to discover the ladder stopped about five feet short of the piece of steel he needed to mount. After analyzing the situation, he begrudgingly made his was back down the ladder. Another Seabee was volunteered. He too made his way up--and down. There was no lone left to be talked into volunteering, so Scott decided to give it another go. He climbed up the ladder and reconsidered the possibilities. His chief called him down, told him to forget about it. Did he not realize that was as good as a double dog dare??? Scott yanked himself into a partial chin-up and swung his body onto the beam before finally being able to tie-off for safety. (There's a reason steelwork is the second most dangerous job.) I'm sure he was quite pleased with himself, that is until a chief ten years his senior walked onto the job site, strutted over to an I-beam that was straight up in air, and managed to shimmy up the thing in no time. Granted, the chief is a journeyman steelworker, but I'm sure it was a bit deflating. In any event, it made for an interesting first day back in steelwork and a great story that is sure to get greater with time. By the time he gets home, I bet the steel beam will have been at least 40 feet in the air!

No Peeking!

Scott received many packages in the last few days. He decided to wait until Christmas morning to open everything so that the day is marked in a special way. He asked that if anyone wants him to open a package early, he or she should email him at ramzeeola90@yahoo.com.

SW1 Ramsay

He has has office jobs, driving jobs, and miscellaneous other jobs, but for the first time since he mobilized back in June, Scott was assigned to do steelwork--what the SW stands for!

It may not last, however. Scott's roommate was on a construction project in which many Turkish civilian contractors were involved. Apparently the communication gap was making progress impossible until Scott's roommate told a higher-up that Scott knows some Turkish. Scott was called off of his work site to translate and while his working vocabulary has diminished a bit over the past 15 years, he was able to get the two groups on the same page and the project up and running. Afterwards, he was grilled on his language skills. Given the number of Turks and Azeris on base and in the area, translation may become another job to add to the list.

The Fewer. The Prouder. The Seabees!

A group of Marines who had gotten themselves in a bit of troubled were sentenced to a day of hard manual labor. Their punishment? To work with Scott's company for the day. What Scott's group does day in and day out is what the Marines consider punishment!

Go Navy! Beat Army!

The Midshipmen pulled out a huge victory--the first shut-out in 30+ years! Scott was able to watch the game. The command was projecting up on a huge cement wall. It meant a late night for the sailors but I'm sure it was well worth it especially since they were the winners. I'm sure the soldiers on base will be dragging tomorrow!

Unfortunately, the shout-out Scott was a part of was not aired. I've got feelers out to see if I can get a copy of his Badger shout out. I'll post it if I track one down.

There's Still Time!

Believe it or not, the Christmas presents I mailed on Monday, November 24 arrived today--in just 10 days!

I had written on the sides, "Do not open until Christmas day!" I even gave him strict orders that when he saw that message on a box, he was not allowed to read the customs slip! I didn't know if he would follow my rule though, so I devised a test. When he told me it arrived I said, "wow, already? What date did it say it shipped?" If he answered, I'd know he cheated. Luckily, he said he didn't know because he didn't look at the label. So either he wants to be surprised or he wants me to think he wants to be surprised.

In any event, if you haven't yet sent a card off to your favorite sailor, you have time to get it there by the big day!

SCOTT THOMAS RAMSAY
NMCB-27
DETACHMENT 4, CHARLIE COMPANY
FPO, AA 34099-2204

Testing, Testing, Testing

No, I'm not checking my mic. Scott is in the process of earning his Seabee Combat Warfare pin--a three-test process. He had a written test this morning which he passed with a solid score. He has two more tests to come: a preliminary oral board and the final oral board. Scott tests and presents well but this is a pretty big deal so let's pray that he is able to demonstrate his knowledge and strength during the tests to come.

Gobble, Gobble!

A few days before Thanksgiving, Scott reported that the mess hall (cafeteria) was advertising a "Hawaiian Thanksgiving"--not a turkey, giblet, or cranberry on the menu! When it came time to head to lunch, he and his roommate decided they just couldn't replace cranberries with pineapple and gravy with poi. They started a pilgrimage, if you will, for a more traditional dinner.

There are five mess halls on base and each serves their own menu from day to day, meal to meal. They decided to walk from hall to hall until they found one staffed by people who knew what Thanksgiving is about. They eventually found it complete with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, even green beans with almonds! But, alas, there was no cranberry relish. Thus became the quest for their evening meal! I never heard if they found it.

Just in case, I had sent a Thanksgiving-in-a-box:
Turkey Jerky
Sweet Potato Chips
Craisins
Pumpkin Muffins

It wasn't really anything like the real deal but I figured if he had been in the field, it would have been better than a Swiss steak MRE!

We hope your Thanksgiving was blessed. We have much to be thankful for including your love, support, and most of all, your prayers! Thanks!

Holiday Greetings and Reflections from Iraq

Scott sent a letter in four parts: an opening salutation, a description of his work, a reflection on his disposition, and an indication of the future. Each part is posted below as a distinct entry. I hope you find his insights as engaging, sobering, compelling, and enriching as I do.

Greeting (Part 1 of 4)

Feast of Christ the King, 2008
Al Asad, Iraq

“I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.” (III John 1:13-14)

“At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.” (Philemon 1:22)

By some miracle of God I got a day off today. It is my second day off since getting here a couple months ago. I decided to spend it writing a letter to all the people who have written me or prayed for me while I’ve been here. I feel terrible that I am unable to return your mail and well-wishes individually at this time, but I feel blessed for the kindness all of you have shown me! You are wonderful relatives and friends! My plan is that when/if I get another day off, I will phone all those who have written me here.

This is a three-part letter. The first section is a general portrait of my work here within the boundaries of rules and security limitations. The second section is my frame of mind. The third section is the future. Please do not feel like you have to read the whole thing. Skim it or discard it if you want! We can catch up in person in the spring when I’m back home! That would be infinitely more entertaining, I’m sure!

Happy holidays! – In Christ Jesus, Scott Ramsay

Reality: Iraq is Hard Duty (part 2 of 4)

“Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless. I will make men more rare than fine gold and mankind than the gold of Ophir.

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. It will never be inhabited or dwelt in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there. But wild beasts will lie down there, and it houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there satyrs will dance. Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.” (Isaiah 13:9-12, 19-22)
Exhaustion. Mind-numbing exhaustion. Up for thirty hours or more of loading and unloading trucks, driving truck, and that most quintessential of military activities: “standing by.” Sentence fragments. But then the zoned-out mind thinks in sentence fragments. Prowords, comm, truncated thoughts ala Orwell’s 1984. Wired awake, road hypnosis, mesmerized. The thought occurs to me that you could get almost anyone to do almost anything if you deny a basic need long enough – rest, freedom from pain, bathroom privileges, water, food, you-name-it. Just dangle that carrot in front of the donkey. But I don’t think on this long – thinking hurts. Being. Pure being.

My mind drifts on to what I put in my combat pack. I almost packed a stuffed ladybug that my daughter had sent me in an Operation Homefront box. It was either the ladybug or all my ammunition. The thought to leave some ammo at “home” and pack the animal was almost a rational one at the time; tired people don’t think straight. In the end every round I have squeezed its way into my pack. (As corny as it sounds, I had made a promise to a guy I don’t even know at Don Sommermeyer’s birthday party that I would never get an “I don’t give a care” attitude over here, and that was the tipping point for the ammo over the ladybug.) I bid the stuffed ladybug adieu and left it standing sentry over my gear at Camp Cupcake.

Stay awake. Have to stay awake. Yawns. Micro-tremor in the eyeballs. Pale skin. Bags under the eyes. The temperature never seems right when you’re at the brink of collapse. Twenty hours awake and on duty. Thirty hours awake and on duty. Forty hours awake and on duty. (Of course there are rules against all this but they can be waived in wartime.) Finally the head bob.
I know all the tricks. Keep pumping caffeine into your system. The military has this energy drink called Rip It. They also give you this espresso stuff called Shock – it comes in Mocha or Latte cans that look like automotive fluid containers. When this quits working you get your a-driver (assistant driver) to talk to you. Keep shifting in the seat. Keep moving your head around. Then you blast the air conditioning until you’re frozen (the windows don’t open on most tactical vehicles). Then you try pain, which is actually pretty effective – everything from pressing on nailbeds, rubbing my sternum, pinching myself hard, et cetera. After that you make up some bologna excuse for why the convoy has to stop – convoy commanders are loath to stop in “Indian Country” – and you get out and walk around the vehicle checking your cargo straps for ten minutes while Al Qaeda is supposedly zeroing in on you and your position. The remedy of last resort for head bobbing is this nasty chewing gum called “Stay Alert.” I cannot convey in words how disgusting this stuff is; it is absolutely enough to make a maggot retch. The longer you chew it, the more bitter it gets. It comes with a cheerful endorsement: PROVEN EFFECTIVE AND SAFE BY WALTER REED ARMY INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH. Great. The same people who brought us the anthrax vaccine are now in the gum business. I would have hated to be taking care of the monkeys the day they fed them this awful/offal stuff – thousands of hyper-energized, ticked-off lab primates simultaneously shoving their fingers down their throats. I must confess that when I’ve chewed Stay Alert my first instinct is always to look for a dead camel on the side of the road, hoping that if I could just chew on its moribund mohair fur and some desert lice, I could just possibly get the taste out of my mouth.

At some point in these marathon work stretches, my mind always wanders to a cousin of whom I have no memory: Allen Adams. I haven’t heard anyone speak his name in years – you know how it is with the names of those long dead, it is almost taboo/eerie to speak their names even when one is alone. Anyway, he tried driving from Nebraska to Wisconsin or some such thing and fell asleep at the wheel a few miles from home. He thought he could drive a few more miles but he died instead. I bet he was a good guy; I bet he THOUGHT he could make it. And I bet I’m no less human than he was. A big thing touted around here is that last month there were more non-combat deaths than combat-related deaths in Iraq. Awesome. The U.S. pushes people beyond human limits more often than the enemy kills us. Strange thing to brag about.

At last the outpost. Usually some forlorn spot in the desert although one time I did drive to one of Saddam’s old palaces. The opulence of the palace, contrasted with the squalor and poverty of the nearby cities (I am not allowed to name them but they are some of the most notorious names on the planet), makes one boil with righteous indignation. And then again the thought occurs to me that if most of the world walked through most of America they’d probably be indignant. In a philosophical tone I tell myself, “The despot is dead. Tried and executed. Why begrudge him this monument to his megalomania?”

But today it’s an outpost of the plywood and canvas variety. Time to bed down for the day like a vampire or some creature nocturnal anyway. There always seems to be a rodent-infested tent set aside for travelers to make up food at any hour. None of it really appeals but I force something down to accompany that mashed-up protein bar I squirreled away in a pocket. Rodents. I don’t like rodents. Besides being vectors of disease they attract snakes. Iraq has forty or so venomous snakes – asps, adders, cobras, who-knows-what’s. Supposedly two of the asps are so deadly that they won’t even send a Medevac if one of them bites you. (You’re already dead so why risk a helicopter crew’s lives?) I think in reality somebody would call for a helicopter anyway – no one out here has a PhD in zoology and reptile identification. I find a GWOT cot. Good. I hate the Vietnam ones that are still floating around – they have this metal bar that goes across the small of my back. I put my rifle beside me and then: Collapse – utter, total surrender to physiological reality.

You always seem to wake up a few hours later; you never seem to be able to get back to sleep. The reasons vary – air ops, heat, cold, millions of flies, tentmates, residual caffeine, a full bladder, a cough, who-knows-what. Today I wake up sweating to death and my sleeping bag sticking to me. The power’s been off for a couple hours and there is no air conditioning. I stare at the ceiling of the tent and all its holes letting the daylight in. Most of the holes are taped; the age and type of the tape makes for different colored holes. The effect is that of a planetarium. The red hole is Mars. The next is Betelgeuse. The one over there is the Morning Star. A landing helicopter swoops in so low and loud it feels as if it will land in the tent itself. My planetarium shakes violently to and fro. At last the Day of the Lord, when the firmament will shake and pass away with violent intensity and heat. Isaiah, Zephaniah, the rest of the prophets – they were right, I knew it! Well maybe not, the helicopter passes and “the heavens” return to their previous serenity.

Dust everywhere and in everything. Moon dust. Dust like talcum powder six inches deep. Dust midway up the boot or higher generates suction to the ground. And merely walking around generates a cloud up to one’s waist. Dust even has a smell to which I have still not quite accustomed myself. They call it the Sandbox for a reason. We are naturally filthy. Water is in short supply. Some outposts have showers. This one does not so I make do with some baby wipes and a liter of bottled water. I offload my truck.

Now I have to do the pre-trip checks on my Oshkosh truck. My truck is my life out here. The fluids and everything had better be right. Get some fuel. I walk past a pile of unexploded ordnance – IED materials. This stuff’s the real deal. No one hauls that stuff very far or keeps it for very long. A guy I knew from my squad at the Green Bay reserve center got killed by an IED over here – Chuck Kiser from Cleveland, Wisconsin. He was in the Naval Reserve with me and then joined the Wisconsin National Guard. It makes you think. A recent Navy Times had an article stating that two years ago they were finding/exploding 2600 IED’s a month in Iraq and that now they’re finding around 550 a month and they tend to be less lethal. How comforting. I generally spend my last several minutes of freedom on the hood of my vehicle reading the Bible. I’ve been into Saint Paul’s letters lately.

A couple last checks of my gear and it’s time to put on my “battle rattle.” The whole get-up must weigh fifty pounds. Groin protector. Bulletproof vest. Kevlar helmet. Flameproof flight suit and gloves. Ballistic glasses that look like something Robin wore on the ‘60’s TV series “Batman and Robin.” Sometimes a wire hanging out of my ear, sometimes not. Oh well, there’s no one here to witness how patently ridiculous I look except for a desert fox and her kits. And those bats. And that scorpion.

Back out into the desert night. A patch of earth lighter than the other terrain – I don’t like that. Natural calcium deposit? That ubiquitous greenish clay stuff? Nighttime mirage? Freshly disturbed earth concealing an improvised explosive device? Green cheese? The Sea of Tranquility lies just beyond the horizon you know, or so the landscape suggests.
At last Camp Cupcake, my home away from home. Fuel up. Check in. Go home for some sleep and be back later the same day for more loading and unloading trucks and cargo.
The typical workday is about 13 or 14 hours long at Camp Cupcake, longer when I’m away from here. I have not written one note/letter since getting here. I apologize to all who have written me and “heard” silence in return. I just have no time at the end of any of my days here. I have been in Iraq for more than two months and I have had two days off… and they weren’t “really” days off. I truly love all of you and appreciate the time and effort it takes for you to write me. I will try to call everyone who has sent me anything at some point. Lord-willing, I will return to you in the spring and we will celebrate together. Thank you.

In the meantime, meditate on these words of beloved Saint Paul, “I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts of the Apostles 20:33-35)

Reality: Iraq is What You Make of It (part 3 of 4)

“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you; therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 30:15a, 18)

I go to church every chance I get over here. Catholic church. Protestant church. An empty church. It doesn’t matter. I read a short section from _My Utmost for His Highest_ and get on with my day.

I like the camaraderie and rapport among me, my brothers-in-arms, and my sisters-in-arms. The Navy isn’t as “serious” as the Marine Corps, for which I am grateful! We joke, we tease, we involve ourselves in each other’s cares and home lives. I have a good laugh several times a day. No matter how sleep-deprived we are, we take time to celebrate birthdays. Most of us use first names.

I run three times a week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5 AM. I really don’t have time to lift weights.

I try to call my wife everyday when/where there are phones. It is good to connect with her, America, and my chattering daughter. Internet service is very spotty and slow but better than nothing.

The money for being here is good. The money is not worth it, but the money is good. We have an exchange at which to buy mundane items. There is an AT&T phone center five minutes from my room and I can call America for 19 cents a minute. My longest call – forty minutes – was still less than $8. Calling people is money well-spent. $100 a month buys a lot of sanity.
I have been gone for more than five months now. I should be home in three and a half months (early March?). Time does indeed pass….

They do have some cookouts and other diversions here – “mandatory fun,” as it’s known. At the end of one work project, I chipped in $20 to buy a goat. The goat cost $100 total. Courtesy of our interpreter and his knife skills, that goat went from drinking water to being killed, skinned, and gutted in under two minutes. By the time I got back to the tent from working that day everyone had eaten the goat! I didn’t even get a bite, but the junior troops had fun and that’s what was important.

I did an individual “shout-out” for the Wisconsin Badgers and a group shout-out for the Army-Navy football game. I am guessing the U of Wisconsin put me on a 3 AM women’s field hockey re-run since no one saw it – either that or the football season was so dismal that the Cheese State has collectively quit watching Badger games. The Army-Navy one says that the midshipmen will show “them” how it’s done on the field and the Seabees will show them how it’s done in the dirt. There are a bunch of trucks and about sixty guys in it. The usual: “Go Navy, beat Army!” I should be toward the front on the right of the TV screen. I am wearing a flight suit and a hard hat. Of course, neither one may ever get played. But it was something to do other than work! We had a Halloween party and we will have a Hawaiian Thanksgiving – whatever that is! Counterintuitively most of us are looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Valentine’s – we’ve known for months that they’re benchmarks on the calendar that will bring us closer to coming home….

As for the inherent dangers of this place, I was in a place where there was daily gunfire for a week and a half. I don’t think any of it was actually aimed at us – at least it wasn’t very accurate. It was very close only twice. We all hit the deck and took cover. Everyone in my group remained very loose and very focused – exactly what you want in a situation like that. A couple of the guys half-my-age were busting my chops that the Iraqi children were lying flat on the ground for a few full seconds before I was. I told them they’re a lot younger than I am, they’re not wearing all the gear I am, and they’re a lot closer to the ground. Within a half hour of both incidents, we were all laughing and working hard again. One of the convoys I was on had a near miss with a small IED also. I have nothing but praise for the Iraqi army – they’ve been great. My roommate’s also worked with them extensively on a different project and he thinks a lot of them too. Both interpreters I’ve dealt with have been some of the most idealistic and hardest working people I’ve ever met.

Camp Cupcake has two Subway’s and a coffee shop (the Green Bean). Neither of the Subway’s have any vegetables – ever. Meat, cheese, black olives, salad dressing, and bread. That’ll be $9, please.

There was a dreadful Pizza Hut and a nauseating Burger King but they both closed. I predict a spike in the local varmint population. One night I stopped by the Burger King, waited a half hour for my camel burger and fries, and then I asked for some mustard. I always eat mustard with my French fries. Burger King’s slogan is, “Have it your way.” Well this Burger King crew was the same one from when Saddam Hussein and sons ran this base. I’m guessing that back then it was known as Burger Dictator. The employee had one of those yellow squeeze mustard bottles two feet from him but he wouldn’t give me any mustard. Finally he told me he was going to Pizza Hut to get my mustard and stormed off. I waited for fifteen minutes wondering how Pizza Hut would have any mustard. He finally emerged with one of those clear plastic Solo cups from Pizza Hut, squeezed some mustard into it, and sent me on my way. Why he didn’t just put it on my fries or on a napkin or something, I will never know. My food was in the backroom, not under a heat lamp, and ice cold by the time I got it. The meat tasted like it had been frozen and thawed a dozen times – so nasty I didn’t even finish it. All that and a pop for $11. But the fries and the mustard were divine!

There’s kind of a b-list of celebrities that make their way here once a month or so. The former lead singer from Creed was supposed to come here and put on a concert at the soccer stadium on base (supposedly the same soccer stadium where Uday Hussein had his Olympic soccer team executed for losing a match). He got cancelled because of a sandstorm. The American Gladiators were here too (some TV show), but I had to work. They had put on a pugil stick demonstration at one of the other bases in the region but one of the Marines beat up a gladiator so bad that they decided against doing anything more than autographs and pictures. It seems to me that somebody else came here as well but I cannot remember.

I love hiking and the outdoors. The desert and its creatures have their own austere beauty. One scene indelibly etched into my mind is the Euphrates at dusk. Strip of blue desert river, strip of green fertility, and then khaki cliffs. Orange full moon coming up over the horizon. The Muslim call to prayer from so many mosques in the distance. Feral dogs baying to the mysterious tones of Islam….

I love the Navy. Of course I have days when I hate the Navy. I have done some very cool stuff over the years, including on this deployment. Hopefully someday I will be able to give you more details…. In any event I am in good spirits and dealing well with it all, I think. In three and a half months I will be home. In five and a half years I will retire from the Reserves. Keep paying your taxes everyone because I am going to collect a reservist pension someday for going through all this!

Reality: An Uncertain America is Better Than the Sandbox (part 4 of 4)

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)

“Christ is the light
Which illuminates our existence.
Before this light
The darkness of evil and war and sin
Will not prevail.
Even death is defeated
For God’s love is eternal.
He desires Communion with us
And makes us enter
Beyond death
Into His eternal life.”
(A Carthusian prayer; my favorite prayer, in fact)

My mind wanders to America from time to time. I dream about holding Gianna and Amy. I dream about lighting the Advent wreath together. I think about the Mississippi River and its ghostly silhouettes in the snow and in the fog. I think about gun season and family gatherings. I miss my neighbors talking in the street. I’d like to go camping. I’d like a day off. I can smell my garden and my lawn….

I received a well-meant suggestion that I should stay here for another tour because the economy is so bad at home. All I can say is I am definitely coming home when they say I can go home!

Thanks again and God bless, Scott Ramsay

Up On The Rooftop...

Scott and the other E6's (other guys at the same rank) are planning a surprise Christmas party for the junior troops. He called and asked me to send a Santa Suit. Apparently, the tradition that started at the Salm Family Christmas parties when he needed no extra padding will continue in Iraq, but much extra padding is now required! And while he wont likely find any chimneys to slide down, he is likely to be up on the rooftops quite literally. He officially finished his "project" today and thought he would be reassigned to the truck driving position he was in. Instead, he has been assigned to a steel worker position not unlike the one he had in Greece (during the Kosovo deployment). So he will likely be up on the roof tops--or at least the steel frames supporting them--in the very near future.

Moonrise Over the Euphrates

Scott isn't able to report much about the events of last week, but he did write a description of his surroundings one evening.

I watched the moonrise at dusk over the Euphrates. Desolate cliffs in the backdrop and a thin, green strip of life in the middle. Jackasses brayed in the distance. Feral dogs bayed to hypnotic tones of the Muslim call to prayer from so many mosques.

Scott returned to base around 1:00 a.m. and made a quick call to say hello. He hadn't had running water or a bed in a week, so our conversation was brief. He sounded tired but good. He plans to call tomorrow and I'll presumably have more to post then.

Incommunicado

From the generic nature of my less frequent posts over the past week or so, you may have guessed by now that Scott is incommunicado currently. As soon as I hear or read, I'll post. In the mean time, I find learning more about his command through the Ombudsmen (basically liaisons between the command and the families), the family grams, web searches, etc. helps me feel connected to Scott, so I'll keep posting related interesting tidbits as I come across them.

Workin' Hard

Scott's battalion sends out a family gram every six weeks or so. It contains letters from the commanding officer and from the heads of each company. It usually also has a few photos. The latest gram included this picture of Scott.

More Seabees in the News

One of the guys Scott spent a bit of time with when they were still in Gulfport is making state news in Vermont.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct19/0,4670,DeployedAuditor,00.html

NMCB-27 On-line

I just stumbled upon the website for the battalion with which Scott deployed.
https://www.seabee.navy.mil/index.cfm/47920

15 Seconds of Fame

Scott and his follow truck drivers just filmed a commercial that is set to air during the Army/Navy game on December 5th. The game will be broadcast on CBS and kick-off is at noon.

Look for an ad with troops in front of a fleet of trucks. Scott will be in the lower right-hand corner wearing a flight suit and a hard hat.

GO NAVY MIDSHIPMEN!

Scott was in the chow hall when he a conversation caught his attention not because of what they spoke about but because of the language they spoke in: Turkish. Apparently there is a small contingent of Turkish forces on base. Scott introduced himself and explained that he had studied in Turkey. They quickly realized that Scott had been to many of the places they were from. He was surprised at how easily he was able to slip back into the language and really enjoyed the conversation.

For the first time in weeks, Scott had a couple of "free" hours today and planned to use that time to finally respond to so many of you who have sent letters, emails, packages, etc. Unfortunately (fortunately?) he ended up sleeping 14 hours last night which meant two things: he didn't get to write his letters but he got some much needed sleep and feels as if his cold has finally broken.

Please know that your thoughts, prayers, letters, emails, etc. do not go unappreciated. Both Scott and I are constantly uplifted by your generousness of heart! We keep you in prayer and pray you may be blessed as you have blessed us!

Happy Halloween!

Gianna and Daddy discussed costumes and trick-or-treating for a couple of minutes this afternoon. I can't wait for him to see these pictures of his little angel!

Bring on the NyQuil

He's sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy-head-ing, fever-ing! (The lack of parallelism in that slogan always drove the English teacher in me crazy!) Between wading in waist deep water for hours during the marathon (read post below) and the rain that has continued pretty much ever since, Scott's got one heckofa cold going on. Today the safety team stopped his project. Apparently climbing on slippery surfaces 30 feet off the ground during a rain storm isn't too safe! At least there is one benefit to the weather, a few extra minutes of down-time; they got off 30 minutes early today!

D-A-D-D-Y

Scott has been working 15+ hours per day doing pretty demanding work. I was telling Gianna that Daddy worked very hard today and she broke into a song we learned for our trip to Gulfport. I asked her to sing it again but I cut off the beginning and couldn't get her to sit still enough a third time.

D-A-D-D-Y
Daddy, he's our guy
He works so hard
All day long
D-A-D-D-Y

Desert Flood

Yesterday was the national Marine Corps marathon and since there are many marines on base, they set aside a couple hours in the morning so anyone who wanted to run the marathon could. Scott was assigned to man a Gatorade station at the end of the route. His description of the event is below:

The marathon turned into the world's biggest fiasco... I got out the door at 4:40 AM. It was about 60 degrees and it started to drizzle, which should have been great marathon weather. I went back in my room and got my gor-tex jacket. Our ride showed up at 5:15 finally. We took our post on a corner at the edge of the oasis. The oasis sits in a wadi (kind of like a mini-valley that deserts have). The drizzle turned into pouring rain that lasted two hours.

All of a sudden we were in the world's biggest flash flood. The oasis disappeared; only the tops of the highest palm trees could be seen in a roiling sea of brown current. Hayes, myself, and some others were waist deep in current that was almost knocking us over. We were helping runners through the "river." They were all trying to hug the barricades around our corner, but the current was strongest there. All of a sudden it got to be way too much. Tree limbs were crashing into us. Three Ugandans from the security forces got stranded on a concrete barricade. Their car literally started floating away. We got out of there and the Ugandans got rescued. They tried to re-route our part of the Marine Corps Marathon but after another ten minutes they cancelled the whole thing.

I went to my workplace and was put on stand-by in a huge truck in case we were needed for rescues. Finally they cut me loose but told me to be back by 1 PM.

Hello from the Sandbox!

Generally Scott has the ability to check email once a week but usually doesn't have time to respond. This morning, however, I was excited to see his name in my inbox. Here are a few excerpts:

Bad weather today -- thunderstorms and torrents of rain. So here I sit in the computer room. I hope they don't have me doing anything too mindless this afternoon. It's the first real rain of the rainy season. I am wondering if it will bring the desert to life.

There was no World Series game on in the chow hall this morning and I cannot get into preseason NBA. The news has been a broken record the last few weeks. The economy, the stock market, the housing market, and the election. It seems so distant from here.

Feel free to email Scott at his yahoo address (ramzeeola90@yahoo.com). He would love to get updates from you. Just realize you will not likely hear back.

Good Times with Gourds

We carved pumpkins tonight. Gianna thought the squishy part was "yuuuuu-keeeee!" She was very adamant that she did not want a mad, or sleepy, or scary, or silly, or happy pumpkin. She wanted a sad pumpkin. (Can you tell we've been working on feelings?)

Seabees in the News

Here is a link to a news story about Scott's battalion. He is not with the guys who went to Tripoli, bit it is interesting nevertheless.
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=25360

Pump 3, You're Ready

For those of you who are not surrounded by Kwik Trips, the title of this post is the standard greeting that emanates from the magical land of the Kwikery when you prepare to put fuel in your car. Until the mighty and powerful Kwik Trip associate readies your pump, you're out of luck--not a drop leaves the hose. If only the Kwik Trip associate's powers extended to the middle of the desert. Somehow, a gasket on a fuel tank failed and Scott was doused in fuel. While he has a minor (first degree) chemical burn on his legs and some related swelling, he shouldn't have any problems beyond some discomfort for a few days. His uniform will have to be replaced which means breaking in a new pair of boots. I think he was more concerned about the impending blisters from that process than the burn. In any case, please say a quick prayer for his comfort and healing.

Lookin' Good

A friend of Scott's just sent these photos. I must admit at first the weapons and bunkers in the photos really unsettled me so I wasn't going to post them. Then I realized that this is his reality. The only time he doesn't carry that weapon is when he is showering and sleeping. He is not just on vacation or at boy scout camp. So, here is our little dose of reality...

The More Things Change...

Scott called this afternoon after another long day of driving. In fact, it was around 2:00 a.m. when he got back to his living area. The phones were down for the last day or so and the computers have been really slow and finicky (probably due to an increase in use during the phone down-age). We didn't talk very long but it was great to touch base and since I was home, he was able to talk to Gianna for a minute or two. She had been playing with a barnyard Spin-and-Say and spent most of the conversation sharing animal sounds.

There is a chance Scott's job will change again. There is talk of a building project similar to the type he worked on in Greece (during his Kosovo recall). While I know he would prefer to just get a job and stay in it, at least the work would be somewhat familiar. Who knows when or if that change will happen or how long it would last. The only thing certain is uncertainty.

More Birthday Wishes

We couldn't let Scott's birthday pass without recognizing it in some little way on this end. So on Thursday, when Gianna and I joined the Cernys and Webers (Sarah's new in-laws) for dinner, we took dessert--a birthday cake for Scott. We sang "Happy Birthday" and Gianna blew out the candle for Daddy.

Even though Daddy doesn't really like cake, I didn't see the need to subject the rest of us to Scott's favorite, mincemeat pie. I did, however, send him individual pie crusts and a jar of mincemeat pie filling which he shared with a friend on Thursday night. I'm sure it was nothing like the one I usually make, especially since I thought I better get the booze-free version. Hopefully it was still reminiscent of the real thing.

The Reward for a Job Well Done...

The reward for a job well done is more work! Scott's one-time driving project has turned into his full-time job. He has already driven over four-hundred miles in the past week which is quite something if you consider the timing of travel and the terrain. The good news is he enjoys driving and is using a skill he has grown quite comfortable with in the civilian world. Granted, the equipment is subtly different than the trucks he is used to driving (although I bet they are about the same age which doesn't say much for Amerigas or the military!) but he seems to be adjusting well.

Like Father, Like Daughter

Most of you know Scott has quite a dislike of fish, so I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised by tonight's mealtime escapade. For several weeks, I've been trying to sneak as much protein as possible into Gianna's food. I've had quite a bit of success with shredded chicken in pasta and rice dishes so tonight I attempted tuna casserole. I called Gianna to the table purposefully a bit late to ensure a good appetite. She climbed up and appeared excited so I tried to build enthusiasm by touting how good it looked. She exclaimed, "Yeah!" and could barely finish praying before she grasped the spoon and shoved a mound of gooey noodles into her mouth. A barely perceptible pause was followed by facial contortions and spitting that seemed to be involuntary reflexes! She did manage to eat--or rather, tearfully gag down--two bites of "just the peas, Mommy" before I broke down and made a peanut butter sandwich. I guess an aversion to anything aquatic must be genetic.

Happy (early) Birthday!

Since I don't know if Scott will be able to check his email or this blog on Thursday, I thought I'd post a special message from Gianna now.

The Wheels on the Truck...

Yes, I know--another illusion to a toddler song. This time, however, it is one Scott actually sang to my voice mail. Apparently even though he is still changing jobs, he was tasked for a different project over the weekend and got to put to use his CDL and Amerigas experience. No details to report but I'm guessing he didn't need to know that the wipers go woosh woosh woosh as the weather has been 90s all week.

Christian Community

With the exception of the week in Kuwait, Scott has been able to participate in Holy Mass during his entire deployment--Praise God! What's more, he can access the chapel throughout the day (nonworking hours of course) and a bible study is even starting up tonight. He was unable to attend due to the new job today (see post below) and the distance, but it sounds like in future weeks the study will be held closer to the lodging area so he won't have to go back and forth the three to five miles in the evening. In any case, there are opportunities to connect with other Catholics and fellow Christians for which he is quite grateful.

From Work to Work and More Work

It had been a couple of weeks and Scott was beginning to settle in at the new job. He was gaining comfort with his new coworkers and the tasks of the job. Even though he wished he could have crossed-rate to a medical position, this position was certainly a better fit than some of the tasks he could have been assigned. Yet nearly as soon as he settled in, he's shipping out, so to speak. Apparently another seabee got injured in an on-base work accident and has been reassigned from construction work to Scott's area. Since they had enough people in Scott's area, Scott has been reassigned and will have a new job effective immediately.

Speaking of work... I took out the garden today and Gianna insisted on helping. We were both covered in dirt, seeds, and tomatoes within minutes. A neighbor was kind enough to throw our plant waste in the back of his pickup and haul it to the town compost heap. Believe it or not, because of our kind and generous neighbors, this is the first yard work I've had to do since Scott left.

A Tired Boy...

...is a good boy, as Grandpa Salm would say. Apparently the Navy is really interested in having good boys since they've been working 12 to 14 hour days all week. Yesterday, after 14 hours of work, the officials decided to reward the group with pizza. So instead of going back to his can, showering, and relaxing a few minutes, he spent yet another hour or so with his coworkers. I'm assuming the pizza was better than the Burger King burger he described as likely being monkey meat!

On the whole, despite being tired, he sounds good. He was interested in the latest rounds of debates and was very grateful for the cards and packages he's received this month. He hopes to send personal notes of thanks as time allows but know that your thoughtfulness and generosity are appreciated. I too appreciate anything you send his way. It is reassuring to know that he knows he is thought of, loved, and missed.

Boots on Ground

I just recieved this photo of Scott's battalion

landing in the Middle East.

Good to the Last Drop

Apparently coffee-making equipment is hard to come by and Scott had been without caffeine for quite some time (a shock to his several-cup-a-day habit!). He sent an email with a brief celebration of the arrival of a coffee maker to the detachment:

My brothers-in-arms and I hovered over the coffee machine as we made our first pot. We briefly considered staying “un-hooked” on caffeine but then rejected this idea for the sheer madness and lunacy it was.

The Phone, The Phone is Ringing...

I apologize to those of you who don't have toddlers who are obsessed with The Wonder Pets. The title of today's post is part of the theme song to one of Gianna's favorite PBS programs and is what we sang as we went to the phone this morning to answer Scott's call. I guess the phone system on base was down for a day or so and was still only available in a limited way. As a result, we only had a very few minutes to chat. Basically, he reported that he has had a couple of good days at work. Starting any new job is stressful; I can't imagine starting a new job under those circumstances! During the other minute or two I told him a bit about our Octoberfest parade adventures. (I'll post more about them when I get pictures!)

It's Planting Time

While Mom, Sarah, and I were having our fun, fabulous weekend (see post from 9/21) Gianna and Papa were busy planting fruit trees!

He Called, and Called, and Called...

After several hours and three failed attempts, Scott gave up on Skype today. Actually, Skype would probably work fine, but his built-in mic picks up too much noise and apparently the external mic he borrowed is not compatible with Microsoft Vista. We had hoped that the cost (it is only 2 cents a minute) and convenience of talking in his "can" would allow us to talk more than a few minutes at a time but at least we still have calling cards!

Routine in the Making

Scott is officially in his position now. He isn't able to share many details but it sounds like it is office work. Of course, when building projects come up, he'll be tasked for them.

Between the travel, the chow halls, and his schedule, he had been off his diet and exercise regimen for a couple of weeks. Now that his work schedule should be a bit more structured, he started back up. He ran three miles this morning with two of his brothers-in-arms and they plan on doing it every other morning. On the other mornings, he walks three to five miles to work. He is also going back to using protein bars and jerkies as his primary source of protein (sure beats Swiss steak in the chow hall!).

The other benefit that comes with a more structured work schedule is he has been able to call home almost daily. Usually, we talk for less than fifteen minutes but it has been nice to touch base.

Keepin' Touch

You may or may not have known that you can comment on posts by clicking the comment link at the bottom of each post. Plus, now you can leave messages for Scott or Gianna and me right on our blog! I've added a tag board in the right column. Simply enter your name, email address, and message and then click the tag button.

Wisconsin Native Misses Cheese

Scott went for a pizza with some of the guys after work today. Was he disappointed? Absolutely. Was he surprised? Absolutely not. In fact, he tried to talk the guys out of pizza knowing it wouldn't be pizza as they knew it. My favorite part of Scott's description was something like, "there was just something not quite right about that cheese!"

(But given the other options, I'm betting he'll go for pizza again next week!)

The Heat Broke

That's right, the heat broke. Now it is only 95 degrees! Believe it or not, that feels like quite a relief after over a week at 110+.

Scott started work yesterday and as with any new job, the first few days have been pretty chaotic as job duties change hands.

Transportation around base is basically a bus system. I use the term "bus" loosely; it sounds like a vehicle that's a cross between a minibus and a SUV gets loaded well beyond capacity and rides from one camp to another throughout the day. In fact, when Scott went to pick up the packages he had mailed himself from Gulfport, there wasn't enough room on the bus for his packages so he had to wait for a vehicle in his area to become "available for borrowing"--a euphemism for something I'm sure.

We were able to talk for a few minutes this morning and plan to do so as often as our schedules allow. We plan on taking more time with our conversations on Sundays, but it is nice to at least be able to touch base more frequently now that he is on base.

He's Been Canned!

Before you get too excited and think that the Navy fired Scott and sent him home, let me explain!

Scott arrived in Iraq today and has been assigned his living quarters: a 10x16 metal box that is generally nicknamed a "can". His new roommate is Bob, a guy he worked with and spent some time with while in Gulfport. Scott thinks it's a pretty good match. Their can is in a section of the Al Assad Air Base named Camp Gettysburg.

Today he'll spend his time free time cleaning and unpacking. It looks like he'll have two jobs. When there is steel work to be done, he'll be assigned to a project. Otherwise, he'll be assigned office work.

He is hoping to have his internet account up and running in the next few days. Until then, you're stuck with my updates!

Fabulous Fun-Filled Weekend

We started with a sleep-over at the Ackerman's. Gianna's friends Lilly and Chloe were having their birthday party (3rd and 1st respectively) on Friday so we started the party early. (Kool and the Gang helped us to get things rocking and are now Gianna's favorite band!)

Friday afternoon we headed to Nana and Papa's house where I started organizing baskets and boxes of bachelorette and shower supplies while Papa and Gianna headed to "Lake Arnold" to fish. Although they successfully caught three nice blue gills, our fish-fry dinner was Canadian Pike; the blue gills were released. (I'm not sure at what point Gianna will realize the cute fishies swimming on her pole are the same yummy nuggets she dips in kethcup.)

Saturday morning came a bit too early but I headed out to pick up Sarah for what proved to be an excellent weekend. We started by meeting the girls at the Garden Party Cafe for an early lunch. It was a beautifully warm September day and we enjoyed window shopping in downtown Baraboo before heading to our wine and chocolate class:

Chocolate Espresso Beans. Sparkling Rose. Chocolate Walnut Cookies. Riesling. Chocolate Rum Mousse. More Riesling. Pinot Noir. Chocolate Zucchini Cake. (That pretty much says it all.)

We headed to the Hilton where we relaxed while Sarah was alternately amused and honored (and somehow not embarrassed) as she received her gifts. Then we were off to a fabulous dinner at Ginza, a hibachi restaurant. We ended the evening with drinks and the thought of ordering pizza...but alas, none was to be delivered!

Sunday's focus was the shower in Madison. The seasons theme ended up working splendidly and the gifts and games seemed a hit. The food and service at The Cool Bean were excellent.

In all, it was a fabulous, fun-filled weekend!

Sandy Days and Sundays

Scott is still waiting to make the last leg of his deployment trip. He was scheduled to go to his regular base over the weekend but due to terrible sand storms, his flight was cancelled. Since he had a bit more time in the area, he was able to visit a local bazaar/market. It was much more subdued than he expected, but the Muslims are currently observing Ramadan and fast from sun-up to sun-down which inevitably effects their energy level. He did have one other middle-eastern encounter worth noting. On Saturday he stuck his foot in his shoe for a morning workout and was surprised by what he thought was a small rock. He took of his shoe, shook it out, but found nothing. Returning from his workout, he removed his shoe and sock only to find a spider bite which he was told resembled that of a camel spider. Camel spiders are really not spiders at all; they are solifugae. Thus, they have no venom and the only threat from a bite is infection. From everything I've read online, it seems they are really not a threat, but I really don't recommend googling the things. They are quite ghastly looking and are the main characters of some really horrible myths/legends. I'm quite sure I'll have nightmares when I finish this post and go to bed. Yikes!

Many of you have asked for lists of things to send Scott in general or as birthday or Christmas gifts, so here is a list compiled from a couple of different sources and with Scott’s tastes taken into consideration. Once he has been in Iraq for a few weeks, he’ll have a better sense of his needs. Don’t fret too much about what to write or send. Just as important as what’s written or sent is that you thought enough to send something, and that connection to home and to you is priceless.

COMMUNICATION

• Letters of support (from you, children, schools, or other organizations)
• Stamps (regular, first-class rate)
• AT&T Global Pre-Paid Military Calling Cards (Other cards work but work out to about 55 cents per minute. The Military cards are 19 cents per minute.) The military cards can be purchased through the military exchange (click here to purchase).
• News or Sports Magazine (send him yours when you’ve finish reading!)

FOOD

• Home-baked goods. (Put a piece of bread in the bag to help keep the item fresh.)
• Snacks and non-perishable food items like beef jerky, protein bars, granola bars, fruit and nut bars, canned fruit, dried fruit, nuts and other healthy snacks. (Food items shipped with toiletry items will taste like soap, deodorant, etc.To avoid this, please deliver all food items packaged separately from all toiletry items.)
• Seasonings (unique hot sauces, seasoning mixes, Mrs. Dash, etc.)
  

CLOTHING

• Work Gloves (L)
• Under Armour undershirts, underwear, and socks
• Cotton Undershirts (L), Cotton boot socks (brown, tan, or green) (foot size 10)
• 72" Bootlaces (brown or tan)

TOILETRIES

• Pocket packs of Kleenex
• Travel Packs of Toilet Paper
• Shaving Lotion (not gel or foam in a can)
• Mach 3 Razor Cartridges
  
  
  

Gianna's Dress

I just ordered Gianna's flower girl dress for Aunt Sarah's wedding. I'm hoping it will arrive in time for the shower this weekend so Sarah can see it and we can see if it will match the shrug Kathy found (in case it is a cool October wedding day).

Family Pictures

Before Scott left, we had some family pictures taken by our friend Megan. They can be viewed at
http://www.digitalcreationsbymegan.com/ . Click the viewing button at the bottom of the page. Then Click on the Ramsay link at the bottom of the next page. Finally, enter the password: family.

Checking In

It was 1:30 in the morning when Scott called to say goodnight. He has been able to call three times (two conversations, one message) for a combined total of about 15 minutes, yet thanks to international units, we completely diminished a 120 "minute" phone card. Nevertheless, I was able to glean a few details about his current situation:

• He is at an air base less than fifty miles from Iraq.
• The air base is austere, mostly tent and basic wood structures.
• His lodging is in a plywood building with ten bunks.
• He has been assigned several days of classes.

Although tired--he has had about threee hours of sleep--he traveled well and was in good spirits. The call was ended as he asked me to say hi to everyone! So, "HI!"

It's Hot. It's Dusty.

Scott just left a message saying he arrived at his Middle East stopping point. It was around 7 p.m. local time on Monday night. His only comment about his location: "It's hot. It's dusty." That doesn't narrow things down much. He didn't say much else, but at least we know the ancient aircraft made the trip!

New Address

Scott has another new address. If you've sent something recenlty, don't worry. The old address still works. This new address will just get things there a bit faster.

Scott Thomas Ramsay
NMCB-27
Detachment 4, Charlie Company
FPO, AA 34099-2204

He's Leaving on a (really, really old) jet plane!

I heard from Scott last night on his last stop before leaving the U.S. I wish I had tape recorded his description of the plane he was on; it was hilarious. Apparently, funding for new aircraft is not high on the priority list -- the plane had ashtrays in each seat! I'm not sure when the no-smoking regulation went into effect but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to drive a car from that year, much less fly in a plane from that year! In any event, he is on his way which means he is one day closer to being on his way back!

Messages to Scott

I know several of you left messages on his cell voice mail on Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, he was unable to take his cell phone and needed to mail his phone home on Friday morning. He he is using pay phones with calling cards as they are available. I have, however, transcribed your messages and sent them in an email so when he finally gets set up on base, he'll get your messages.

Missing Mississippi

In August, Gianna and I took a trip to visit Scott in Gulfport. While Scott had to work and train most days, we still found lots of time to go to the beach, take drives along the coast, and just hang out. On our anniversary we took an excursion to ship island. We took an hour or so boat ride to the island; rented beach chairs and umbrellas; and even spotted dolphins, stingrays, jellyfish, and crabs.

raison d'être

You want to know about Scott. Scott wants to know about you. Over the past two months of mobilization we've received much--often contradictory-- information about what communication Scott will and will not have with life back home. While he will have his laptop, he may or may not have email access. He will not have a cell phone and while there are calling-card-ready phones, his access to them may be limited. So, this is my attempt to facilitate communication regardless of the time of day, the length of lines at the phones, or the inefficiency of the mail system.

In Shape

Scott is in the best shape of his life (or at least hist post-marine-corps life!). He is well within the Navy weight range, walks/runs eight to nine miles a day, and is in the top category for numbers of sit-ups and push-ups he can do. The irony? When he was a drilling reservist, he was weighed, measured, and tested frequently. Now that he is active, his scores will never be recorded.