Today was pretty boring out here. I finally fell asleep after 8:00 a.m. this morning after I talked to Jeremy. He was surprised that I was "up that early" until I explained to him that I had not been to bed yet. I slept until about 4 p.m. when he called me again. This week they have a little more down time because the don't go out into the field until next week. He was exhausted though!! He said its so hot and very sandy. You know how annoying it is when you go to the beach or something and you get sand everywhere? Picture that only with boots, thick socks, layers of long pants,long sleeve tops, Goggles, Hat, and Very Heavy Equipment in 100 Degree Weather. He said its really dry(its the desert so that makes sense). Anyway, they had unloaded a big truck full of stuff and he was so worn out.He was waiting on the sun to go down so that he could go take a hopefully cool shower. The water they take showers in is in huge metal drums that sit out in the sun all day. I feel bad for him because he was so tired and sandy, he didn't even have the energy to take a shower really.
After I got off the phone with Jeremy I went to the commisary and Starbucks. I never had to have Starbucks until I moved out here. Now they built one at the PX and its so easy to get to! I'm staying away as much as possible though because I got a post on MySpace that really made me mad!! Here it is:

Recently Marines in Iraq wrote to Starbucks because they wanted to
> let them know how much they liked their coffees and to request that
> they send some of it to the troops there.
>
> Starbucks replied, telling the Marines thank you for their support
> of their business, but that Starbucks does not support the war, nor
> anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops their brand
> of coffee.
>
> So as not to offend Starbucks, maybe we should not support them by
> buying any of their products! I feel we should get this out in the
> open. I know this war might not be very popular with some folks,
> but that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground
> fighting street-to-street and house-to-house.
>
> If you feel the same as I do then pass this along, or you can
> discard it and no one will never know.
>
> Thanks very much for your support. I know you'll all be there again
> when I deploy once more.
> Semper Fidelis."
> Sgt. Howard C. Wright
> 1st Force Recon Co
> 1st Plt PLT
>
> PLEASE DON'T DELETE THIS ... ALLOW IT TO BE PASSED TO ALL IN MEMORY OF
> ALL THE TROOPS WHO HAVE DIED SO THAT WE MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO
> CHOOSE TO
> SUPPORT THEM OR NOT!!!

So if this is true, I really don't want to support Starbucks!!

After Starbucks and the commisary I came home and had a huge caesar salad and started some laundry and thats about it! I am proud because I finally got started on the scrapbook(at 4 this morning). I got one page done.



Tonight I'm going to attempt another one. I'll let you know how it goes! Oh and I wanted to post some pictures of the huge brush fire we had this past week on the North Shore. It was so huge it even made it on post. It was sad to see all the pretty scenery go up in flames. Helicopters were everywhere and they finally put it out after 6 days. Luckily it rained on that 6th day. You can still see the smoke from a smaller controlled part of the fire.



Then there is also a strange attitude out here on post today because everyone is pretty worried. I don't know if you saw the news but this is what we know so far:

HONOLULU (AP) - The Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed today in northern Iraq, killing all 14 soldiers aboard, was assigned to Hawaii.

Colonel Timothy Ryan is rear detachment commander of the 25th Infantry Division. He says 10 of those killed were based at Schofield Barracks.

The military isn't releasing identities until they notify relatives.

According to a defense official, the aircraft was from the 25th Infantry Division's combat aviation brigade based at Schofield.

The four crew members and ten passengers aboard were assigned to Task Force Lightning.

The military says initial indications showed the helicopter had a mechanical problem and was not brought down by hostile fire, but the cause of the crash is under investigation.