Weather Forecasts

It's hot.  It will be hot tomorrow.  Expect extended heat with hot skies and a chance of hot next week.  High will be hot, low will be a little less hot.  That's your hot weather.

Time is going by fairly quickly.  I'm less than 3 weeks away from going home on R&R and enjoying some time with Ivey and Olivia.  I'm not sure what we will do when I get there, but I'm sure it will be more fun than this...and a little less hot.

DANCON!

Ok, so what is DanCon, and why am I both proud and embarrassed about it?

DanCon is short for Danish Contingency. The Danish Army has a tradition of doing a road march every once in awhile wherever they are deployed. The one I did took place here in Iraq. It was a thirteen mile march with a 22 pound (minimum) pack. Participants who complete the march in less than 5 hours may receive (or purchase) the DanCon Iraq Medal. Pretty cool if you ask me. I did this yesterday, and am proud to say that I completed it. The embarrassment? I was the slowest in my unit, and instead of completing it in the less than 4 hours I had targeted, I took 4 hours and 44 minutes! It was a travesty. Now, to the excuses...

I could tell right away that I had chosen the wrong boot. I should have known better. Instead of wearing the boots that I wear everyday (which is the smart thing to do and worked great in basic training) I got the bright idea to wear my super comfy Bates boots. The problem is that the reason that they are so comfortable is that they are one size too big and very cushioned. I knew before the thing started that I had chosen poorly. By the second lap, I was blistering. I had the medics tape me up, but the damage and pain were already there. The last 3 miles were the most painful, but I did it. Now I feel the need to do it again, to prove that my slow performance was a fluke. Meanwhile, I walk like a man wearing a poopy diaper.

Still, I finished 8 laps (13 miles) ahead of everyone that didn't do it. But still, it was a rather poor showing on my part, I must admit.

Better start walking around barefoot like my wife does.

Good day from Iraq, and remember, never ever quit. Never. Never ever.

Work, work, work.

I hate the fact that I've been so far behind on this blog.  We've been so busy here in the IZ that I just haven't had time to sit down and "blog."  Sorry.

Not much has happened here, but I'm pretty fortunate to have some great co-workers and students back in the states.  North Heights collected almost $700 to buy care package stuff and mail to my unit.  How awesome is that?  I can't describe the feeling I get to know that these kids were giving up their daily ice cream to buy us stuff. 

I'm also fortunate that I have an awesome family.  My wife is a pro at this, and even though I know we miss each other terribly, she's taking care of business back home. 

I'll try to keep up blogging.  But right now I have to get back to keeping Freedom Radio and AFN Iraq TV running!

cp

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Billy Joel anyone?  Moving Out? No?  Moving on...

We are here in Baghdad.  We have been here for a few days.  I must say that compared to previous deployments, this little FOB is pretty nice.  The highlight of my day seems to be sipping tea (chai, actually) outside as I wind down.  We've been learning the ropes of running AFN-Iraq, and so far I'm pretty excited about what I'm seeing from our troops.  As we get more and more settled, I will try to blog more often.  We will see.

Today, our Iraqi partners are holding elections.  It's great to see them take another step forward on the road to freedom and representative government.  The pride in these people's eyes when they hold up their purple fingers (Iraqi's dip there fingers in purple ink when they vote.  It prevents voting a second time) is quite moving.  I hope that more Americans can take that kind of pride in participatory government.

On a personal note, my old man is in the hospital with some heart issues.  If you are so inclined (as I am) please pray for him. 

Chris "Mr Parker" Parker

Every Journey Begins with One Step...and then a few more after that one...

It seems like I've been gone for a long time, yet this journey hasn't really even started yet. I'm home on a quick four-day pass right now. That means I get to come home for four days, see my family, and eat some junk food. When I head back to New Jersey, I'll be sitting there waiting for the plane ride to...Kuwait. Why not Iraq yet? Everyone goes to Kuwait first. You have to get used to the climate and do a little more training. Then we will head to Baghdad and take over AFN Iraq. We've got quite a few things in mind for the radio station, and I'm pretty confident that our TV news folks are going to get some interesting stories as elections draw near in the new republic.

A few people have requested my address...and I've given it to a few. I'll post it on this blog, but not yet. When I was running a post office on my last deployment, I hated when mail would show up for a unit that wasn't there yet. I'm going to save the address until I know exactly when we will get to our final destination.

Everyone take care.

By the way, I have the BEST wife and daughter in the history of the world.

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BUSY!!!

How busy are we here at Fort Dix? I'm making this entry on mu Blackberry, that's how busy we are. We had a long day of inprocessing and readiness checks yesterday, followed by training on the Army's MRAP family of mine resistant vehicles. This morning after a brief fire alarm (false) we are about to head to the issuing facilities to get a few bags full of new gear. The only lesson I could pass on to the students and readers back home is to learn to find the humor in every situation...it keeps you from getting too tightly wound. One more note: Fort Dix has been the best of the three mobilization stations that I have been through...will they keep it up?

The journey has officially begun. Just landed in Phillie, and now to Fort Dix. I have to meet up with the others to prepare for the rest of the unit to arrive here Saturday.

Lesson #2: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

It has always fascinated me the number of different ways there are for people to deal with change.

It really doesn't matter whether or not you are talking about school, or the Army, or life in general.  Change is certain.  Yet for some reason, we as human beings always seem so reluctant to accept that.  Yesterday, at the last minute, a minor change came to us from the good folks at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  Is that expected?  Sure it is.  Most Soldiers (yes kids, I capitalized Soldiers...I'm treating it like a proper noun) are used to that by now.  We have a saying in the 209th: "Semper Gumby."  It means "Always Flexible."  It speaks to our necessary ability to adapt and overcome changes.  One of the most valuable lessons I have learned in my service, and one that I try and teach my students and my daughter, is that change is the only constant.  A person's ability to deal with change directly reflects on their ability to succeed in their life.  So kids (and fellow adults who are reading along) always remember that change is going to come, but it is how you deal with that change that makes you who you are!

Special thanks to Natalie Simms and John Druckenmiller, and all of the folks at hometownheadlines.com for the story they posted today.  You can read it here..

http://www.hometownheadlines.com/New_Site/buzz.html 

Spring Training is coming soon, and the Cubs are opening the regular season in Atlanta this year, but I don't think I'll be making that game.  ; )