it just amazes me sometimes the abilities that we have in this day and age-GPS, biofuels, nuclear power, wireless internet...and that some people just dont appreciate these assets. I was watching CNN today, I had no choice-dont think that I have crossed over the bounds of the smart vs the liberals--it was all that they were showing at the dental clinic, and was amazed by the efforts some countries are going to eliminate an oil dependancy and that we americans are finding more ways that we can be dependant. bolivia will be completely free of oil in 7 years...wonder why our country isnt making the same leaps and bounds??
I recieved a comment from one of my friends that I met in Berlin the other day and in response to your question-yes I still do check your blog blake, and keep up the good fight-the liberals are running scared!!
For those who have not heard, there are some more travel plans for this summer-at government expense and request-I will either be headed for a training exersize in Honduras, practicing with the OPDS (Offshore petroleum discharge system) and the IPDS (inland petroleum distribution system)-or behind door number two, I will be headed back to the desert to perform two six month convoy security operations-thankfully there will be a 2 month break between the two. I will have more details in the coming months-
A couple of requests of my readers-
-If you come across any good books that you feel are worth reading, please forward the titles to me so that I can enjoy them as well-I just finished two great books, and would like to continue with that trend-for those interested they were To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane...both are well worth the time invested.
-second, continue to pray that God will continue to protect me from those that wish me harm, his blessings continue to unfold in my life and I would like to continue to see his plan for me unfold...
that is all the time that I have for now-look for more posts later this week
Andrew Haberer for President 2016
AJ
Monday, April 24, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
well, this weekend I will enjoy some r&r and relax on my days off monday and tuesday-then I will go to work on wednesday and be off on thursday and friday and monday of next week-then Tuesday it is back to work as usual and I assure you from what is on the calendar already you all will be getting your tax dollars worth out of me....:)
I have been anything but busy since we arrived back from pakistan and things are adjusting back to normal. it is funny how two months away from this country can really mess everything up-but not to worry, everything is back in order-all ducks in respective rows.
Gas stations here in VA are running out of everything but premium-the fuel companies say that it is due to the fact that it is time for a seasonal swap to cleaner-more expensive-fuels...those petroleum companies are just trying to get a few more dollars...makes you wonder if the oil crisis of the 70's is back???
well that is all for now-feel free to comment on the entries, would love to hear from you-leave an email address and I will write you back
I have been anything but busy since we arrived back from pakistan and things are adjusting back to normal. it is funny how two months away from this country can really mess everything up-but not to worry, everything is back in order-all ducks in respective rows.
Gas stations here in VA are running out of everything but premium-the fuel companies say that it is due to the fact that it is time for a seasonal swap to cleaner-more expensive-fuels...those petroleum companies are just trying to get a few more dollars...makes you wonder if the oil crisis of the 70's is back???
well that is all for now-feel free to comment on the entries, would love to hear from you-leave an email address and I will write you back
Thursday, April 20, 2006
And the witchdoctor says....
for those of you who dont know I have been going to a psychologist for long term issues resulting from Iraq, but the head-shrinker and I have been making some progress-it all breaks down to what my drill sergeant said in basic training-put yourself in a California state of mind....warm sandy beaches is the key to not going crazy!! who knew...
I ll post more later, stay tuned...
Andrew
I ll post more later, stay tuned...
Andrew
Monday, April 17, 2006
Memoirs of a soldier losing his mind...
Its funny how the decisions that we make have lasting effects that we cannot foresee at the time the choice was made.
There are many things that I have done in the army that I would not have ever dreamed would happen when I singed up tree years ago. I have traveled to or through over thirteen countries, I have seen death, I have helped preserve life, and all of these things have happened because of a small choice to work a job.
Today is the official three year mark for me. 1095 days-26280hours-1576800 minutes-94608000 seconds. Three years is a long time, however it is measured. It flashed by. I can hardly remember any one specific moment. Maybe I will break it down by country-
FT Jackson, SC
The very first day of basic training. April 17, 2003
“Your mother lied to you-You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are a cookie from a cookie cutter. You are merely a number, you are nothing special. you no longer have a name, you are the last four digits of your social security number.” Drill sergeants have a way of making you feel loved and accepted.
FT Lee, VA
I have been performing well in AIT(Advanced Individual Training- for those of my readers who are in the national guard!)and there was a fight in the barracks-my drill sergeant had just finished cussing out the soldiers involved, and it was past bed checks-what was about to happen would either be a really good thing, or I would find myself in that one creek without a paddle. My best friend in the army-and battle buddy in training, and I had just returned from an off post pass, and purchased matching sunglasses-you know the kind that state troopers wear. Well a consensus had been reached that the two of us looked like maverick and goose off of Top Gun. Well, we couldn’t disappoint!! For those of you who have seen the movie, you will remember the part in the movie where they sing you’ve lost that loving feeling- the mood was right, and it was now or never. So a small band of we soldiers planned the attack and swarmed our drill sergeant, serenaded her with the song and disappeared into the halls to avoid the cannon blast that was sure to come, however, it never came…the drill sergeant called us back in and, although did her best to convince us not to quit our day jobs, said it made her day.
64th replacement company, Frankfurt Germany-
being the private that I was, I lost my packet of papers that would allow for a seamless transfer into Germany. I lost the orders that brought me over to the country and as a result I could not enter through customs. Not a good start to a two year tour.
Cyprus, turkey-or Greece(aren’t they still fighting over this island??)
this was a beautiful stop on the way to Iraq-although short, it was still nice to escape Germany and enjoy a little nice weather in February.
Camp New York, Kuwait
Never in my life have I felt like all I do is eat and sleep, but this was it. The dining facility was too small, and the First Infantry Division arrives in force-large enough that we took a DIVISION photo-they had to use a helicopter to get high enough to get the hwhole division in-butwe would wake up a 0430 to get in line for breakfast, eat around 0900, leave the chow hall and get right back in line for lunch at 0930, eat lunch at 1100leave the chow hall and get in line for dinner around 1130, eat dinner around 1800, and leave to get in line to make a phone call around 1830 then go to sleep at 2100. NOT FUN-Waking up and seeing herds of camels just crossing the desert-FUN
FOB Scunion (don’t ask, I don’t know…)
Never thought that having mortar rounds impact all around you would be so routine. Its like that scene in Apocalypse now, when they are surfing on the beach and fighting a war at the tree line…there is so much that I could write about Iraq and the effects of living in a combat zone that I will leave that for another entry-besides my mental health visit is later this week, I don’t want to be bored there!!
Austria-
The sound of music, beautiful hills…no wonder the Germans always vacation here---the beer is just as good, they accept Euro, and it is beautiful.
Ireland, England-heck the united kingdom
I Love the Pubs-‘nough said.
Madrid, Spain
It’s a shame that London beat Madrid for the Olympics bid, because spain is the place to be in Europe-the Euro is worth something-the women are beautiful, and there is a nap after lunch everyday-is this heaven on earth?
I hope that you have enjoyed my little walk down memory lane- I may write some other fun moments down.
In other news I intend to go into business for myself doing home remodeling, I need to come up with a name-any suggestions.
Until nextime…
There are many things that I have done in the army that I would not have ever dreamed would happen when I singed up tree years ago. I have traveled to or through over thirteen countries, I have seen death, I have helped preserve life, and all of these things have happened because of a small choice to work a job.
Today is the official three year mark for me. 1095 days-26280hours-1576800 minutes-94608000 seconds. Three years is a long time, however it is measured. It flashed by. I can hardly remember any one specific moment. Maybe I will break it down by country-
FT Jackson, SC
The very first day of basic training. April 17, 2003
“Your mother lied to you-You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are a cookie from a cookie cutter. You are merely a number, you are nothing special. you no longer have a name, you are the last four digits of your social security number.” Drill sergeants have a way of making you feel loved and accepted.
FT Lee, VA
I have been performing well in AIT(Advanced Individual Training- for those of my readers who are in the national guard!)and there was a fight in the barracks-my drill sergeant had just finished cussing out the soldiers involved, and it was past bed checks-what was about to happen would either be a really good thing, or I would find myself in that one creek without a paddle. My best friend in the army-and battle buddy in training, and I had just returned from an off post pass, and purchased matching sunglasses-you know the kind that state troopers wear. Well a consensus had been reached that the two of us looked like maverick and goose off of Top Gun. Well, we couldn’t disappoint!! For those of you who have seen the movie, you will remember the part in the movie where they sing you’ve lost that loving feeling- the mood was right, and it was now or never. So a small band of we soldiers planned the attack and swarmed our drill sergeant, serenaded her with the song and disappeared into the halls to avoid the cannon blast that was sure to come, however, it never came…the drill sergeant called us back in and, although did her best to convince us not to quit our day jobs, said it made her day.
64th replacement company, Frankfurt Germany-
being the private that I was, I lost my packet of papers that would allow for a seamless transfer into Germany. I lost the orders that brought me over to the country and as a result I could not enter through customs. Not a good start to a two year tour.
Cyprus, turkey-or Greece(aren’t they still fighting over this island??)
this was a beautiful stop on the way to Iraq-although short, it was still nice to escape Germany and enjoy a little nice weather in February.
Camp New York, Kuwait
Never in my life have I felt like all I do is eat and sleep, but this was it. The dining facility was too small, and the First Infantry Division arrives in force-large enough that we took a DIVISION photo-they had to use a helicopter to get high enough to get the hwhole division in-butwe would wake up a 0430 to get in line for breakfast, eat around 0900, leave the chow hall and get right back in line for lunch at 0930, eat lunch at 1100leave the chow hall and get in line for dinner around 1130, eat dinner around 1800, and leave to get in line to make a phone call around 1830 then go to sleep at 2100. NOT FUN-Waking up and seeing herds of camels just crossing the desert-FUN
FOB Scunion (don’t ask, I don’t know…)
Never thought that having mortar rounds impact all around you would be so routine. Its like that scene in Apocalypse now, when they are surfing on the beach and fighting a war at the tree line…there is so much that I could write about Iraq and the effects of living in a combat zone that I will leave that for another entry-besides my mental health visit is later this week, I don’t want to be bored there!!
Austria-
The sound of music, beautiful hills…no wonder the Germans always vacation here---the beer is just as good, they accept Euro, and it is beautiful.
Ireland, England-heck the united kingdom
I Love the Pubs-‘nough said.
Madrid, Spain
It’s a shame that London beat Madrid for the Olympics bid, because spain is the place to be in Europe-the Euro is worth something-the women are beautiful, and there is a nap after lunch everyday-is this heaven on earth?
I hope that you have enjoyed my little walk down memory lane- I may write some other fun moments down.
In other news I intend to go into business for myself doing home remodeling, I need to come up with a name-any suggestions.
Until nextime…
Monday, April 10, 2006
The jetlag is the worst of it all!!!
I tell you the worst part of international travel is the Jet Lag...five countries and six states in the period of two months-my passport is full!!
The good news is that i have officially returned to the United States-all military fanfare included. the jouney was complicated and included a loit of time in airports waiting on flights, or trying to get on an earlier one. the good news is that i will not be working until wednesday-and we use that term "work" very loosely.
I have so much to write down, so many stories to tell, that I will have to post in pieces, so stay tuned...
The good news is that i have officially returned to the United States-all military fanfare included. the jouney was complicated and included a loit of time in airports waiting on flights, or trying to get on an earlier one. the good news is that i will not be working until wednesday-and we use that term "work" very loosely.
I have so much to write down, so many stories to tell, that I will have to post in pieces, so stay tuned...
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