Update

It has been quite awhile, so to recap:

-Permanent Change of Station from Camp Lejeune, NC to Camp Pendleton, CA

-Currently working at Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry as the Bravo Company Commanding Officer

-Had another really cute baby girl, Dallas

-Completed the Masters of Business Administration curriculum at the University of Phoenix online

-Promoted to Captain

Commandant's visit

I recently had an opportunity to have dinner with General Conway, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in Baghdad. I had a great time and really enjoyed the fellowship of talking with the two top Marines.

An old photo

A co-worker of mine just found this photo hiding in his section's website, it's me with a former Miss America reading letters sent from school children back in the states to service members over here, I still have the letter.

The Avengers

The therapy group which I lovingly refer to as the Avengers. From left to right, me, Jimmy, Gunny Escobar, 1stLt Justin Bramblett, and Master Sergeant Carlson. We all work together on the JOC floor at night and meet twice each shift to pontificate about matters that concern us. We're mostly disruptive, we make fun of each other, the other services, and work out our frustrations relating to our jobs. Avengers Assemble!

Random boredom

If life gives you lemons, then do a handstand in the Palace foyuer just for kicks!

Promotion for a buddy

I got an awesome opportunity on the 25th of May, to pin on a fellow Lieutenant. 1stLt James Munn seen here is being given the officer's oath.

Here's Gunnery Seargent Escobar reading the promotion warrant.

And here I am changing out those green 2ndLt bars for a pair of chic black 1stLt ones, we all wear subdued rank aboard the base. Left shoulder,

Right shoulder.

These other service members also were taken on stage to sing their service's songs.
These were taken during a USO concernt featuring a country cover band named Country TonightThis was shortly before the singing, me flanked by two former Miss Americas.

15K 1:08:43

It decided to rain in Baghdad for the two hours prior to the race, but once it began not a drop fell. That didn't stop the roads from washing out with mud though and this is the aftermath. You can check out all the detail on the run at -

Boredom

Marines are famous, well perhaps infamous for the trouble they can get into because of prevailing boredom, I have reached that point. Instead of trouble though I try something more constructive like running three miles in my body armor, see aftermath above.

The Insurgent Rabbit

Ok, so I am not sure he's an insurgent, nor am I sure that he is a "he", but we meet each other each morning as I am going to the bathroom each morning after my shift to shave, brush teeth, etc. and he enjoys the warm glow of the morning sun. I can get pretty close, but he's is still reluctant to my presence.

Daddy wishes his girls a Happy V-Day! This is me after a 10k, 41:15

Differences

Yours Trully

This year's ride! A 2008 Chevy Tahoe.

This excentuates the differences between last year and this year! Last year I had armored HMMWV's and a 7-Ton, this year it's a Chevy Tahoe, no armor what so ever!

Your's truly.

Deluxe accomadations!

The guest room.

The master bedroom.

The dining room.

This is my current residence on Camp Victory.... First the living room.

Here we go again!

So I am officially apart of the war on terror again, now in Baghdad and with the Army. The detail of what my job consists of are quite mundane, in fact I guess you could say that I am just a glorified paper pusher. With the exception that I rarely actually push a piece of paper. In today's information superhighway days everything is electronic and although I would love to show you my work station it highly classified. So lets start with where I work on a general scale. The Al Fawn palace, former occupant - Saddam Hussein. Most notable feature - 140 bathrooms.

Tanks! Your welcome...

I love armor, nothing warms the infantryman's heart more than watching these goliaths roll down the street.

Joe Camel

Over four months here and I finally got to see a camel, he was just a baby still so no spitting, yet...

Patrol in the market

These are some of my favorite pictures from patrolling in the city. The body of this animal soon became a delictable treat!

Sometimes, you just get tired of walking...

Back in Action

After a lengthy outtage, we are finally internet capable again! YAY!

Comb the desert

So Every so often we just have to get out of the city and see what we can find, here are some more photos from the cache sweep we executed a few days ago. And yes mom, that is the Euphrates in the background.