OK, life is really strange sometimes. Got to see my first scorpion last night, probably about 5" long. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED!!!! I hate spiders and now these damn things. UGH! Thank god my bunk is about 5 feet in the air. I would freak if I ever saw one of those in my tent. Anyhow, I get done working out after shift. A pretty good work out, I must say, but of course the tendonitis flares up again. So I figure I got some time to kill and head over to the MWR (Morale,Welfare, and Recreation) tent to see if I can catch a movie before I crash. I walk in and a former solider of mine says, "Hey, sir, did you see Vince Vaughn?" So I am looking at the big creen TV to see if he is on or not and I ask what movie is on. He says, "No right over there." Of course, like any body who is used to thousands of lines of BS, especially here, I say, " shut the ef up." And they say, "GD sir, look right over there." So there is this very tall gentleman standing there shaking hands, and I walk up, and, holy shit, Vince Vaughn of Wedding Crashers, Old School, and Dodge Ball (my favorite is an older movie, Clay Pidgeons) is 2 feet away from me. I'm like, alright I gotta be seeing things, maybe I need an IV bag. But, sure as shit, there he is. Apparently there was a line, which I didnt see, so I walked up and said hey, my name is dave, you here to run a mission with us? Vince is like, nah, Id probably get in the way. Im like well you could work the radio and he started laughing. We talked for like 5-10 minutes and then I asked if I could get my picture with him. I said I had to get my camera, so I left and came back. My camera of course didnt work, but a friend of mine had his available so I had my picture taken with him. I'll send it out here in a minute. Vince, if I can call him that, came over, unannounced and by himself and wanted to say thanks to the troops. This guy is way laid back and very personable. I talked a little bit more with him and asked him if he liked fishing and he said yes. I told him we got some monsters in northern wisconsin and he said he'd love to go. So I said, hey, Ill get word to your people and we can go when I get back. The chances of that happening are slim to none, but I wasnt gonna pass on the chance to ask someone fishing. So Mark, get them hooks sharpened for next year, we got a third when we go.

I know Hollywood has really been down on this whole deal over here, but it makes me feel good that there are certain people who in very, how would you say, public positions that are over here thanking us. It is people like yourselves who make this time away from my family very endurable. Thanks for the kind words, packages, and letters I have been getting. Its nice to hear from home evry know and again.

Dad, got the T's and another gift. There is an organization called a Knife for a Soldier. When I opened my box, there was a nice folding Ka Bar inside that had been donated from Allen and Debbie Rodgers of Birmingham, Alabama, and now its attached to my pocket for easy access. This was developed through a company in cooperation with Brigade Quartermasters. Very nice knife and alot of thoughts and prayers from Allen and Debbie. I emailed them a pic and they said they has recieved several e mails, but no pics so I am the first to give them one.

Additionally, I have been on Ted Nugents website, and there is a family from East Peoria, IL who have made me a part of theirs. Bob, Aime and Kodi Mc Mullen had placed a picture of a beagle puppy on the site to be named. I didnt know they were Irish ( faith and begorrah to them)at first, but immediately thought of the name Duffy, for a golden retriever puppy we saw in Door County. I mentioned it to them and it shot to the top of the list, and low and behold, his new name is Captain Duffy McMullen. I am thrilled!!! He is just the cutest little pup and the rabbits have been given proper notice. Also, Kodi, their daughter, scored her first "tree rat" which looked to be as large as a cat! Kodi's nickname should be Annie Oakley now, or Carlos Hathcock, the famed Marine sniper. Great shot, I think they will think twice about raiding any birdfeeders in the area. they have since said I am a part of the family and I do appreciate the "adoption"...

thats all from the desert...

Sl'ainte