Just a quick follow-up to everyone to let you know that Dave will be heading home very soon now. I also want you all to know that we are having a welcome home party at Granite Steak/Smokey’s Tavern on Sunday, May 18 2-4 open house, 4-7 livelier mix with entertainment. Please come to either or both and help our family welcome Dave back home to us!!!!
1st May, 2008
Almost Over by Audrey
11th Feb, 2008
Made it home for the holidays
Hi
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and Happy New Year. I was able to get home on leave for the holidays and actually arrived Christmas afternoon; a great present. Had a wonderful time and got to spend some quality time with the family. Also, got to see some friends, but unfortunately time when by much faster then I hoped and I wasn’t able to see everyone. I will make up for that when I return home from this deployment. Due to the weather it took me nine days to get back to my Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan.
The weather here is bitter cold and we have snow. I believe it is much warmer in New England. Luckily my darling wife didn’t listen to me and sent me over some flannel sheets for my rack. I sleep with five blankets and with my poly pros on (long johns) and some morning still wake up cold. One of our soldier’s toothpaste was frozen the other morning when he got up. Hopefully spring is not to far away.
I got to watch the Super Bowl Game with some fellow warriors at 3:00 AM in our mess hall. We had a bunch of finger food and snacks during the game. The game was on Armed Forces Network which means no commercial. Unfortunately the outcome of the game was not what we New England fans were hoping for, but it still was exciting to the end. I don’t think I ever saw Tom Brady get smacked around in any game like he did that night. Oh well, there is always next year and at least the Red Sox’s took the World Series.
Hope everyone is staying warm and safe.
Thank-you for your continued support.
GO Army!!
4th Feb, 2008
Only 3 months to go!!! By Audrey
Hi Everyone: It has been awhile since we have updated this site. Dave was home for his leave in late December. In fact, we picked him up at the airport on Christmas Day. That was my favorite Xmas present. Dave looked great, I thought a little thin, though he doesn’t agree. We tried to see as many of you as possible while he was home and for those that we didn’t see, we are sorry and will make it up when he returns. We have no definate date at this point though we do know that he has to be out of Afghanistan by May 16. What a party we will have when he returns.
We again want to thank all of you for your friendship and support. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to make it through this without the support of our family and many, many friends. Our love to all of you and please try and keep in touch with Dave. Audrey
17th Dec, 2007
Merry Christmas
Just a quick note to let you know that I am well and I look forward to seeing everyone soon. This time of the year the weather changes daily, one day it is very cold and the next day it could be 50 degrees.
Afghanistan’s Cost
Normal Doctor’s visit $2.00 US dollars
Dentist – tooth pulled $5.00
Transportation: Donkey $50 - $200 depending on age and bloodline
What a good year for us New England Sports Fan, hopefully the Patriots can go undefeated.
God’s Country
A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about Churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.
Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making
notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read ‘Calls: $10,000 a minute.’
Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to God.
The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to
visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and
around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.
Finally, he arrived in Massachusetts. Upon entering a church in
Boston, MA .. ………Behold - he saw the usual golden telephone.
But THIS time, the sign read “Calls: .35 cents.”
Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, “Reverend, I have been in
Cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only .35 cents a call. Why? Why?”
The pastor, smiling benignly, replied: “Son, you’re in Boston, Massachusetts now, home of the Boston Red Sox, the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Boston College!”
You’re in God’s Country, It’s a local call.
( American by Birth - A BOSTON SPORT FAN by the grace of GOD
Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
Thank-you for all your support!
7th Dec, 2007
School Building
Hi everyone
Time is gong by pretty fast and before you know it I will be home having some holiday cheer with family and friends. I’m excited to say that the new school project is completed and we had the ribbon cutting ceremony a couple of days ago. The ceremony was pretty cool and the Afghan Corp Commander and I cut the ribbon. The school looks great and the Village Leaders and The Ministry of Education are very excited to have such a wonderful place to educate their children. Also, I am very proud of this project and glad that I was a part of it. I have attached a link of an article that was published and I think it is worth reading.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48305
P.S. I have added some more pictures
Hi everyone
I like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and let you know that my family and friends are always in my thoughts and prayers. I am very thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends.
I also want to thank everyone for supporting my family while I’m deployed. I know Audrey’s job is much more difficult then mine, but because of dear friends and family, she is getting through this difficult period.
I like to share this poem that was in our First Annual Thanksgiving Celebration Invitation
When we count our many blessings;
It isn’t hard to see that life’s most valued
treasures are the treasures that are free.
For it isn’t what we own or buy
that signifies our wealth.
It is the special gifts that have no price;
our family, friends and health.
There is nothing like being home for Thanksgiving with family and friends, but the MWR committee that I’m on planned some holiday activities to lessen the impact. This morning we had a 5K Turkey Trot, followed by a thanksgiving meal. The Dining Facility staff did an excellent job with the meal and we had all the traditional food. In the afternoon we had our first Turkey Bowl Football Game, which the Enlisted won. Also we had camel rides. This evening we had some comedy skits and a movie.
Miss everyone and looking forward to see you all soon.
22nd Oct, 2007
Red Sox
Hello Red Sox Fans
A great day it is for all us Red Sox fans! Got to watch the last few innings of the game this morning on the Armed Forces Network. We are 8 ½ hours ahead of the East Coast. The last three games were great, let’s hope this is the preview for the World Series. Maybe this is the year for both the Red Sox and the Patriots. We can hope and dream.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. ~Bob Lemon, 1981
That’s baseball, and it’s my game. Y’ know, you take your worries to the game, and you leave ‘em there. You yell like crazy for your guys. It’s good for your lungs, gives you a lift, and nobody calls the cops. Pretty girls, lots of ‘em. ~Humphrey Bogart
P.S. I have my Red Sox memorabilia proudly displayed in my B-hut and I carried around my Red Sox’s water bottle today.
17th Oct, 2007
School Update
Hi everyone
Things are still going well here. The days and nights are getting cooler, which means winter is coming and I’m closer to leave. The school project is now at about 75% completion and should be done in a little over a month. I added more pictures of the school and some other pictures.
A friend sent this piece to me and I wondering if this could possibly apply to any group of girls I may know (Friday night gang). You gotta love Girls Night Out.
“GNO” Girls Night Out
The other night I was invited out for a night with “the girls.” I told my husband that I would be home by midnight. “I promise!” were my last words.
Well, the hours passed and the Margaritas went down way too easy.
Around 3:00 a.m. and a bit loaded, we piled into a cab and headed for our respective homes. Just as I got through the door, the cuckoo clock in the hall started up and cuckooed 3 times.
Realizing my husband would probably wake up, I quickly cuckooed another 9 times. I was particularly proud of myself for coming up with such a quick-witted solution to cover my tardiness. (Even when totally smashed … 3 cuckoos plus 9 cuckoos totals 12 cuckoos .. MIDNIGHT!)
The next morning my husband asked me what time I got in, and I told him midnight. He didn’t raise an eyebrow or anything and continued to read the morning paper. Whew! Got away with that one! Then he said, “I think we might need a new cuckoo clock.”
When I asked him why, he said, “Well, last night our clock cuckooed three times, then said, “Oh, shit,” cuckooed 4 more times, cleared its throat, cuckooed another 3 times, giggled, cuckooed twice more, then tripped over the coffee table and farted.
8th Oct, 2007
Another Month Down
Hi everyone
Another month down, only seven left. Fall is upon us and the temperature is dropping. The last few days we have seen daily temperatures in the 80s and nighttime in the 50s. Almost feels cold!
Been adding some stuff on the website, to include a poem that Peggy wrote back in February entitled “Our Hero and Our Friend” very heartwarming and an excellent poem. She is so creative and talented; please take a moment to read it. (P.S. she can also paint). Also, added a very short reading entitled “Wooden Bowl”. I also encourage everyone to read this, another inspirational piece. I have even updated the news section and also added some pictures in Dave’s Photo.
I am hearing and reading great things about the backpack and school supplies drive. I always knew that the citizens and the civic groups of the greater Rochester area are very caring and generous. This effort will have a tremendous impact with the children over here. The children here are so cute and if you could see then, your heart would melt (mind does every time).
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead
I am very proud of the outstanding job Audrey has been doing back home, keeping up the household, working and being involved with the school supply project. She is my hero!
I like to thank everyone for the support my family and I have been receiving. I am blessed to have such great friends and family.