11/23/2004 08:50:00 AM|W|P|Bradley Jones|W|P|Well, as usual it has taken me some time to write another message for you all. Time is starting to go by kind of fast. November is almost up and it feels like it just started yesterday. That is a good thing though, as our replacements are supposedly already starting to show up. We have a tentative date as to when we should be back in Germany but will not post it on an open page like this. Let me just say, my platoon is one of the last to leave out of our Battalion. Not what I wanted but unfortunately what is going to happen. Although, on a more positive note. I have accepted a job offer from a company that I met with while I was on Leave. The money is not the greatest but it is not bad by any means. I will let you all know who the company is on a more personal level, again, I don't care to post it on a public site. So that is one thing that is somewhat taken care of and I don't have to worry so much about. There is still a lot for me to do towards the job from here. The next hurdle is going to be finding a place to live. Elizabeth and I have been talking about it and it's looking like if we want a house we are going to be paying around 300 thousand for something we like. Not what I had in mind but I guess it comes with the area. Why can't the types of job's we want be in Houston!!! Although there is an office of the company that I am going to work for in Texas. Maybe there is hope of moving there later on down the road. Who knows. Weather here has gotten down right cold. The winds are blowing and it's raining pretty often. We have been getting lightning storms almost once a week. I can't wait to leave this place. The high I was told here was around 147 and that was in August, it is now November and we are around 47 at nights. A 100 degree swing in 3 months. Crazy!! Well, I'm going to go for now. My work really is increasing around here. Take care everyone. BCJ |W|P|110119016236621280|W|P|Getting out and getting a Job!|W|P|calvin3ztt@gmail.com11/23/2004 09:16:00 PM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|It's so good to hear from you again! Ich hatte mir ehrlich schon Sorgen gemacht. Es sieht aber so aus, als ob du dich langsam wieder auf ein "normales" Leben freuen und vorbereiten kannst. Ich wünsche dir alles gute und VIEL GLÜCK!
Deine Ulrike11/25/2004 09:15:00 AM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|Brad, was so good to find a posting from you. You have another package on the way. Hope that you are getting them. I mailed the last one on Tuesday. Take care and know that we continue to think of all of you and keep you in our prayers. Love C12/09/2004 01:11:00 AM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|11.23.02 you remember what that day was brad? Guess this is from chris11/01/2004 03:13:00 PM|W|P|Bradley Jones|W|P|I know I know, I haven't written anything for a while AGAIN. Sorry, things have been pretty hectic since I have been back. I arrived back in Samarra almost a week ago now. The day after I arrived back in country I was back to work. How about that.. As I was saying things have been pretty hectic. The day after returning to Samarra I was on a list to go somewhere else, again. That, fortunately that fell through and someone else is leaving. Although I am not leaving one of our coworkers is leaving and that means fewer people to get the job done. We just have to cover down and will probably have to start working 12 hour shifts, which we will be doing for a couple days soon. I also had a PT (physical training) test. That was no fun especially since I just got back from the states where I was stuffing my face with almost everything I could get my hands on and drinking. Needless to say I didn't do great on the test but I passed and didn't do that bad either. Much to my dismay the Battalion or Division has decided that it is time to make things like Garrison, meaning as if we aren't deployed, and make us do a bunch of useless training. I mean I already think that doing a PT test here in a combat zone is rediculous but to start trying to make things like a garrison environement when things still aren't that great here?? I mean taking a PT test...., we are required to wear all of our protective gear here when we walk around outside, but... I guess we are impervious to harm while doing PT or PT tests. I understand the requirement to keep ourselves physicaly fit....... I think you understand my frustration. As for just being back in this country, well, it isn't that bad. I mean I am on the downward slope right. I don't mean that I would rather be here than in the states by any means but I would rather have come back and get it over with than have it looming over my head. Let me tell a little about what I did in Baltimore. As I posted previously, my Mom and Bob came out to visit. That was really nice, it was great to see them both. We went out to eat several times, once at a place called "Capitol Hill" if I'm not mistaken, which is in the inner Harbor in Baltimore. There was a old Schooner docked out there and someone onboard decided to fire the cannon!! Needless to say I nearly jumped out of my seat. Can't help but be a little jumpy when something whistles overhead or goes boom nearby. Like I said, my Mom and Bob's trip was nice. After they left I finally got in touch with some of my contacts in the D.C. area and able to finally get in touch with some people about some jobs. I was offered one job and had a job interview with some other people, who I would rather not name over this medium, and things look good. I am still waiting on a offer from a company and hope to see something this week. I will keep you all posted of course. Elizabeth and I had a great time together and can't wait to finally be together once all of this is over. Elizabeth had a ton of homework to do the last couple days I was there and we really didn't get to spend much time together the last 24 to 48 hours of my trip because of a mid-term she had due the day I left. On my way through airport security, in uniform, I got stopped so they could search my bag. Come to find out, I must be slow or something because I wouldn't have thought this, you can't have a screwdriver in your carry-on bag. I mean god forbid a soldier tries to take a screwdriver back with him to a combat zone so he can fix the dilapidated accomodations he has. Well, they gave me the option of mailing it to myself, or giving it to someone in the terminal to mail to me, or basically throwing it away. Well, noone had come in with me to give it to, and it took me 30 minutes to get through security and I had 20 minutes to get to my gate before departure. I had to throw it away. AAAH, I was so upset. Well, I gotta get going. Caryn, I have been getting your packages, thank you so much from my whole platoon. I will write you soon. Talk to you all soon. Brad |W|P|109931300322729810|W|P|Well, I'm back in Samarra|W|P|calvin3ztt@gmail.com11/01/2004 06:30:00 PM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|Hey Son,
Finally, some word that you arrived back at post, safely. I was getting pretty worried. I can only imagine the re-adjustment to everything again, on top of jet lag and withdrawals from state life. So glad you aren't moving again - even though it isn't the best place, I sure hope you can stay put until your time is up (and I'm counting on February still). Have heard mention on the news of extending the 101st duty 2 weeks to 2 months. Not sure what that means. Come to think of it - it seems if any divison is mentioned, it is always the 101st - surely not EVERYONE can be in the 101st - aren't there any others ?
We certainly enjoyed our time with you and Elizabeth in Maryland. Good to see you so happy, healthy. Such a wonderful family you have become a part of. Miss you already though.
Hang in there son, as you said, you are on the downhill side, surely. Give a call if you ever get a chance. In the meantime, I look forward to each and every posting.
All my love,
Mom11/03/2004 07:50:00 AM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|Brad,
just checked in and found a new posting. Was delighted that you had a good visit home. We are sooooooooo looking forward to meeting you. I have a package ready to mail you. Just one question (maybe two) do you have much interaction with children there? Also what type of screwdriver do you want? Let me know and I will get it in this package. So good to hear from you. Take care and know that we are all thinking of you. Love, Caryn11/05/2004 02:04:00 AM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|Hey Jonesy
It was awesome to see you and hang out. It was nice having a friend around who can put up with all my shit. I look forward to seeing you again and hanging out with you and Elizabeth together. Tell everyone I said hello and thinking about them all. Take care and remember to take a breather for your sanity an all.
Jess11/09/2004 09:48:00 AM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|Hi Brad.
Klingt so, als hättest du tolle Ferien in den Staaten gehabt. Schön, mal wieder etwas von dir zu hören. Ich bin selbst sehr mit meiner Arbeit beschäftigt und komme kaum zu irgendetwas, aber wenigstens bietet Zürich in meiner spärlichen Freizeit sicherlich mehr Abwechslung und Spass als dein Camp.
Ganz liebe Grüsse und lass dich nicht unterkriegen,
deine Ulrike11/17/2004 07:12:00 AM|W|P| Anonymous|W|P|Brad, got you another package in the mail, and you should be getting it about now. Let me know. It has been raining here for a week, and suppose to rain into next week sometime, we are all getting web feet. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love C