The end of APO problems?

Well, our "games with the postal service" may be finally coming to an end. Jaira (my adopted Oregon mother) decided to end the frustration once and for all by calling Fort Drum, where they confirmed that the address that I just posted is in fact CORRECT! BUT the zip code has not yet been registered at all post offices quite yet. Someone out there is completely stupid, and I hope that they go a month without mail sometime.

Lindsey is actually on a first name basis with the people in her local post office. They even know MY name. She's been there every day for over a week. Thank you US ARMY and thank you US Postal Service.

This morning we had the distinct pleasure of escorting a garbage truck to the dump. There is no dignity in escorting garbage trucks, and even less if we earn purple hearts while doing so. What would the citation say? "...was shot while heroically defending a heap of garbage..."? What insurgent would even attack an Iraqi trash truck driven by and Iraqi driver? This place is nuts.

I know what else you can send in packages, if anyone is interested. Individually wrapped candy and small cheap flashlights, the ones that you pinch to turn them on that cost like 50 cents or so. The kids here LOVE flashlights, and will take any candy we give them! They always ask for chocolate, but in this weather, there's no way it would be anything but a bar of mush!

I posted a picture of myself in the turret of my HMMWV on my other website. It's over there because I need a specific piece of software to post pictures here, and I can't install it on these computers. I'll try to get a few more pictures up in the next few days. Meanwhile, a digital camera is on it's way so soon there will be plenty of photos.

More later
Trey