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.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, April 12, 2010
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
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
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Iraq-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack
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
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
Sunday, February 21, 2010
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.
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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