HAVING FUN WITH CATHY

cathy came back to rexburg with me to meet some of the fam and to hang out with me a bit.  she had never been shooting so we decided that we would take her out and show her how.  holly let us take her truck and we went to badger point.  i took the ar's and the .40 s&w and we shot some rounds off.  we had to take some time between mags because it was so stinking cold.  it was still fun and i got some great pictures of her and a very funny couple of videos.  she is such a sweet heart and makes me laugh.  no wonder i am so crazy about her.  her trip to rexburg was short but very sweet.  mom made a great sunday dinner with lots of neighbors and friends that came over.  it was tom's birthday and so we had cake that kim made.  the are such good friends, or should i say family.  cathy had a blast with the kids as jaxon and i wrestled and mikael made her laugh.  we had a chance saturday to goto dinner with some of the mumm clan and saw tom and kim there celebrating their 23rd anniversary i think it was.  the mumms were fun and very fun to talk with again.  cathy also cut my hair.  i don't look so shaggy now.  she takes such good care of me.  i still try to figure out how i got so lucky.  she is my angel and i am very lucky to have such a sweetheart.  enjoy the pics and sorry i can't load the videos.  don't know why.

MERY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU.  I ALWAYS LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.  THERE IS SO MUCH PEACE AND CARING AND ATTENTION TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN OURSELVES.  I LOVE THE IDEA OF GIVING AND SHARING, AND PROBABLY MOST OF ALL, THE CHANCE TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY LOVED ONES.  I HOPE THAT IN THIS SPIRIT OF GIVING AND REMEMBERING, THAT WE WILL REMEMBER THE REASON WE ARE CELEBRATING THIS SEASON.  ITS BEEN SAD TO SEE THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF CHRISTMAS TO TAKE THE FOCUS OFF THE REASON AND THE SPIRIT OF ITS TRUE ORIGIN.  I HOPE THAT AS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES CELEBRATED AND ENJOYED THE DAY AND THE SEASON ITSELF, THAT YOUR WERE REMINDED ONCE AGAIN OF OUR GREATEST GIFT.  THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR IS THE ONE EVENT IN HISTORY THAT HAS BROUGHT SO MANY OF US SO MUCH JOY.  DESPITE THE NON BELIEVERS FORCING US TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT OUR FAITH, THIS IS STILL THE HOLIDAY IN WHICH WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH.  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.  I HOPE THIS SEASON FOUND YOU ALL IN PEACE AND HAPPINESS.  I LOVE YOU ALL.  MERRY CHRISTMAS.

TIME FLIES....

when you have this much fun...  so i guess i need to update in a big way.  i have had some crazy adventures in getting to this holiday season.  first the flight out of iraq which was the only way i was going to make it home on time.  the flight was a go.  then we got to the tarmac and they pulled my friend and i off the flight.  then at the last minute they told us to get out there and try to get on.  as they were closing the ramp... we threw our bags on and jumped on... they just kinda looked at us like, "you guys just made it".  so with that much behind us the journey commenced.  we weren't sure if we would have to get off in al taquedem when we got there so we crossed our fingers and made it into kuwait.  we got there just after two... by three we needed to have our passports in to get the visa stamps back later that day.  we made that leg happen.  my friend was able to get his flight out and go home that same day.  i upgraded to business class which ended up being first class.  that is the only way to fly.  only three of us up there and it almost got annoying to have the flight attendants wanting to serve us... lol.  yeah right it was annoying.  all the juice i could want and the reclining chairs that allowed me to almost completely lay down... oh yeah... loved it.  so i at least have something to look forward to on the flight back.  never use my sky miles so i traded some in.  i got to kuwait and got into a hotel with a hot shower and a very very comfortable bed.  had to splurge and do the hotel where i was feeling very beat up.  it did the job.  the next day i met up with cathy cruse who is working in kuwait now and she took me to go get sushi.  how cool is that.  i loved it and it was so good.  makes me wish i had sushi all the time.  the architecture in kuwait is amazing.  things just kinda stand there in such strange shapes and they are hotels or restaurants or other places people would actually go in.  hopefully the pics will show what is going on.  i made it back to utah where i was greeted by some of the most precious people in the world.  first cathy picked me up at the airport and took care of getting me to joe's, well very much later.  so much to catch up on and all.  at joe's i woke up the same time rachel did and we greeted each other on the stairs.  there is no better feeling than knowing you are loved.  she gave me the biggest hug and came and watched cartoons with me for a bit.  jared woke later and as he crossed the kitchen he stopped, backed up and looked down at me and came running to give me another big hug.  and last but not least, our little brock came down.  he just stood there with the biggest smile ever... that totally made my day.  yep, snuggle time and a pirate shirt and a fun time playing with him before he headed off to play with mickey.  that my friends, is what its all about.  those kids are what i live for... them and uh... well you know who else.  what do ya think about that cathy?  so now i'm almost a day away from christmas and still not ready.  how does that happen to me every year???  so i will put some more up about cathy's trip up to idaho to meet the fam.  what a fun time and what a sweet heart.  happy holidays everyone!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLLY!!!

happy birthday sis... i love ya a ton.  i can't wait to get home and celebrate the best season of all with you all.  i have a great gift on its way for you.  hope you don't mind the delay but its worth it.  vacation and christmas together... that is a first since i have been doing the contracting stuff.  wish i could celebrate with you holly.  have fun and save me a piece of cake.  see ya soon.

OUR HUMBLE ABODE...

well, after a couple of weekends and some sweat and blood and even a tear or two... dad and i have our new home away from home.  its a little different than any of the other guys rooms.  but, its our only piece of comfort outside the thoughts and dreams we have of home.  we have built a bunk bed and i am on top once again.  it started out really close to the ceiling.  every time i rolled over i hit my knees and kept kicking the air conditioning unit.  it was a bit of a nerve racking couple of nights.  i woke up and had to find my chair to sleep in the last night with it that close to the ceiling.  i think dad was enjoying his new comfort.  he inherited my other mattress.  so he must like the extra cushion.  i however have not been enjoying the hard lumpy springy mattress that has been my latest comfort.  it will all work out when i come back from my vacation.  we have put a lot of work in on our place and we both love the way it opened up our room.  we built an entertainment center that puts both of our computers, each on an end and the tv right in the middle.  it works for us as we have been able to put all of our stuff away now.  dad is very excited.  i am too and we are doing great now.  love you all.  peace!

the part of thanksgiving i think i miss the most...

so i have to just add this as a note to the thanksgiving season...  i shared the best parts of thanksgiving but what do you do after its done... what do you have to look forward to after that initial meal? well, in talking with cathy, she got me thinking about how good the leftovers from thanksgiving are.  that is probably my favorite thing about thanksgiving.  the craziness of the family together... and let me just say, its no little group of people that get together and share that part either.  the games and food and football and fun that comes with it... well, i really do have something to be grateful for on that day of thanks.  i am sorry i missed another one.  one day that won't be the issue at all.  hope you all enjoy the leftovers and have had a good time with your families and friends.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...

WELL, ITS ANOTHER HOLIDAY I'VE MISSED.  BUT THIS YEAR I DON'T MIND.  I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TURNED SOME NEW CORNERS AND FOUND A NEW AND EXCITING PATH.  THIS YEAR HAS BROUGHT ME MANY NEW TRIALS AND OBSTACLES THAT I'VE HAD TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH OR OVERCOME.  MOST OF ALL I AM GLAD I HAVE THE CHANCE TO SHARE SOME THANKSGIVING WISHES WITH YOU.  THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALWAYS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.  FAMILY, FOOD AND FOOTBALL... WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED.  I READ SARAH'S LITTLE GIFTS BLOG AND LOVED THE IDEA OF SHARING THE THINGS THAT ARE MOST MEANINGFUL TO ME.

FIRST OF ALL I'M THANKFUL FOR THE FAMILY I HAVE.  THEY ARE THE WORLD TO ME.  THAT IS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.  I AM THANKFUL FOR HEALTH AND THE ABILITY I HAVE TO WORK.  VERY THANKFUL FOR A JOB IN SUCH A SAD AND STRESSFUL TIME FOR SO MANY.  I AM THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS WHO KEEP THINGS REAL.  I'M THANKFUL FOR MY FREEDOM.  THAT IS A BIG ONE THIS YEAR.  I HAVE TAKEN SO MUCH FOR GRANTED IN LIFE AND I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO COME FROM A COUNTRY THAT ALLOWS US THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE.  THANKS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY WHO PUT IT ON THE LINE TO DEFEND THAT FREEDOM.  GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE.  WE ARE A FORTUNATE PEOPLE.  I HOPE THAT THIS TIME OF YEAR WILL BRING US ALL MEMORIES OF THOSE THINGS WE ENJOY AND LOVE.  

ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR FINDS ME HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT ALONE.  OUR LUNCH WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED AND ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT I WAS GLAD FOR.  I GET TO ENJOY AND HAVE ENJOYED THE COMPANY OF MY DAD HERE WITH ME.  MOM AND FAM, WE LOVE YOU GUYS.  WE ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY.  WE PUT IN A FULL DAYS WORK AND DAD IS NOW WORKING FOR ME.  HA HA.  I ENJOY THE TIME TOGETHER AGAIN.  WE WILL MISS THE HOME COOKED MEALS AND REALLY GOOD TURKEY, BUT I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE A FULL STOMACH AT ALL THIS YEAR.  HERE ARE A COUPLE OF PICS OF DAD AND I THIS THANKSGIVING DAY.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE.  

A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD!

THIS IS IN THE BIGGEST LETTERS AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE.  I FEEL THAT THERE IS A NEED TO TAKE A STAND ON SOMETHING THAT IS OVER RUNNING THOSE OF US WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THE SO CALLED "ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE".  I HAVE RECENTLY READ SEVERAL EMAILS AND HEARD TOO MANY THINGS ON THE NEWS CONCERNING THE SUBJECT.  SO THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE STANDS I'M TAKING ON THE ISSUE.  I HOPE THIS STIRS UP SOME OF THOSE WHO OPOSE MY VIEW.  I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.  I DO NOT AND WILL NOT SIT BY AND WATCH AS A HANDFUL OF IDIOTS, YES I CALLED YOU IDIOTS, FORCES US TO ACCEPT YOUR WAY OF LIFE.  I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE INVOLVED IN LAW SUITS OVER NOT OFFERING SAME SEX SEARCHES ON THE ONLINE DATING SCENE TO THE HORRIFIC SCENES IN L.A. AND ALL OVER CALIFORNIA FOR THE MORMON CHURCH TAKING A STAND.  TELL ME WHY I MUST ACCEPT YOU OR YOUR WAY OF LIFE AS NORMAL.  WHY MUST MY NEICE AND NEPHEWS BE FORCED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR WAY OF LIFE IN SCHOOL AND ACCEPT IT AS NORMAL?  WHY DO YOU THREATEN THOSE WHO TAKE A STAND AGAINST YOU WITH VIOLENCE WHEN IF I WERE TO DO THE SAME TO YOU I WOULD BE CONSIDERED A GAY BASHER?  WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION ABC?  WHY ARE MY RIGHTS BEING SURRENDERED TO A LIBERAL MEDIA?  I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT FEELINGS I MIGHT HURT BY ME NOT ACCEPTING YOU AS NORMAL.  HOW SHOULD I FEEL ABOUT YOU FORCING YOUR VIEWS INTO EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE, AND ME NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.  I AM SO SICK OF WATCHING AMERICA STAND BY.  I AM SICK OF SEEING OUR RIGHTS TO NOT ACCEPT YOU BE VIOLATED AND TAKEN AWAY.  YOU MAKE ME SICK.  I WISH I COULD POST THIS IN TIME SQUARE AND HAVE BANNERS FLASH ACROSS THE NEWS STATIONS THAT JAKE BRYAN DOES NOT AND WILL NOT EVER SUPPORT THE GAY OR LESBIAN AGENDA.  I WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR OPPONENT.  THE DOCUMENT "A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD" HAS NEVER BEEN SO NEEDED.  GET YOUR 15 MINUTES WHILE YOU CAN.  GOD WILL DEAL WITH YOU IN HIS OWN WAY.  THIS IS WHY I CAN'T ACCEPT OR TOLERATE YOU FORCING YOUR VIEWS ON ME OR MY FAMILY.  THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY REASON.  

WOW!!! ALMOST ON VACATION.

so i am almost on vacation.  that is the best news i have had in a while.  i can't wait till december.  i am so ready for a break.  the work is slowing down a bit but its not bad.  its good to have something to look forward to here shortly.  i am a bit disappointed in the way the election went but what do we do when good men don't run for the office?  i still think that costa rica may be a good place to ride out the storm for a bit.  i am looking forward to the time off.  maybe i will take advantage of the time at home to get myself secured and ready to accomplish a bunch of my goals.  work might be changing to home if i can get some things worked out right.  anyway, i am looking forward to seeing all of you or at least most or some of you who i can.  take care and see you soon.  december 15th i will be in salt lake city.  it will be a hurricane trip as i have a lot to do.  but there is always time for family and friends.  

CHANGING TIMES...

WELL MY FRIENDS, ITS THAT TIME AGAIN.  THE FUTURE OF AMERICA LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE ONCE AGAIN.  ITS NOW OUR DUTY TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT OUR LIVES FOR MORE THAN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.  I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE BEST CHOICES FOR CANDIDATES...  THAT IS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME.  WHICH ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER AND WHICH ONE IS THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS???  I HONESTLY DON'T LIKE EITHER ONE OF THE TWO CANDIDATES.  I DON'T AGREE WITH THE LIBERAL VIEWS... I BELIEVE IN HARD WORK AND THE RIGHT TO EXCEL AND BE SUCCESSFUL.  I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE HOW SUCCESSFUL WE CAN BE.  I DESPISE WITH ALL MY POWER THE ATROCITY OF ABORTION.  I BELIEVE IN BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS AND FOR OUR CHOICES.  ON THE OTHER HAND, I DON'T THINK JOHN MCCAIN REPRESENTS A CONSERVATIVE VIEW POINT AT ALL.  HIS TRACK RECORD IS TO SHADY FOR MY LIKING AND HE LEANS TO A LIBERAL STAND FOR A CONSERVATIVE.  I AM APPALLED AT THE GREEDINESS OF THE PEOPLE.  I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE COULD TAKE GOD OUT OF OUR LIVES THE WAY WE HAVE.  DO THE LESSONS LEARNED BY THE NEPHITES SOUND FAMILIAR AT ALL?  ITS SAD WHEN WE ARE THE STANDARD FOR THE WORLD BUT BEND AND SWAY TO SATISFY THE GODLESS AND THE EVIL.  MITT ROMNEY IN 2012!!!  MAY WE ALL SURVIVE THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.  GOD SPEED AND FOR MERCY'S SAKE, VOTE WISELY.  I GUESS ITS A GOOD THING FOR JOHN MCCAIN THAT HE HAS A WOMAN WHO STANDS FOR SOMETHING AS HIS RUNNING MATE.  

BACK TO THEY GYM...

well, its been a month and this last week was the first chance i have had to get back in after the issue with the tendonitis.  it feels good to get back and push myself.  its funny because even though i just turned 32, i know... i'm an old man, but i am feeling at the top of my game.  i honestly believe i am in the best shape of my life.  this week has been good because i have had a chance to get back to the basics in so many aspects of my life.  not only am i feeling good physically, but my spiritual and mental aspects of life are being strengthened as well.  there is a great feeling of being "whole".  there have been some serious battles in my life and now i have the chance to better myself.  i have some great friends and even greater family.  that is the true source of strength.  that and a firm belief in god.  i hope you all are feeling "strong" in all aspect of your lives.  

SHARP DRESSED MAN

SO I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED IF IT WAS TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT WOMEN LIKING A MAN IN A SUIT... SO?  DO THEY REALLY LIKE A GUY WHO IS DRESSED UP?  

ANYWAY, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE ABILITY TO FIND GREAT DEALS ON QUALITY TAILORED HANDMADE SUITS.  YEAH, MOM WILL PROBABLY FLIP THAT I GOT SOME "MORE" SUITS... BUT HEY, I WILL LOOK GOOD SITTING IN CHURCH.  HOPE YOU ARE SMILING MOM AND THAT YOU CAN APPRECIATE A WELL MADE SUIT LIKE I DO.  I AM LAUGHING AT MYSELF.  SOME OF THE GUYS TEASE ME AND SAY THAT THE SUIT WON'T FIX UGLY SO I AM STILL JUST WEARING A NICE SUIT.  I LAUGH SO I HOPE YOU CAN TOO.  ANYWAY, HERE ARE A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF THE SUITS.  ENJOY AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

LOVE YA ALL.

WELCOME TO IRAQ POPS!!!

so, the last time dad and i were in iraq, well that was in 2003.  now he has come to join me again here in this lovely dust bowl i currently call home.  he has come in and now its made me happy to see a familiar face... everyone keeps teasing me about how dad has to get me in line and whip me into shape.  its really funny cuz he just laughs.  he really does know me.  so now all you guys can rest easy and know i will take care of him.  we love you guys and i miss you.  can't wait till i get that time to come home and catch my breath.  

another day older...

so i am not feeling like i am really this old.  i should be like 25 i think.  i feel that young...  i had a very pleasing day today, even if i was alone in iraq with dust everywhere and no party to speak of... but the ones who love me knew exactly what to do and say.  i received a message in a bottle.  yeah, i thought it was really cool and it really really meant a lot to me.  there is a lot more to it than just the heart warming words, but the pic that goes with it is a dream i have on a regular basis.  my own little stretch of beach with a nice little grass hut on it.  my getaway.  a place i want to be where i will actually enjoy the sand for a change.  mom, you are the best.  you always know how to make me feel loved.  thank you for you thoughts and wishes.  they always mean the most to me.  i wish i had a family party to get to so, you guys celebrate for me.  its always the highlight of any birthday.  i feel so young and very fortunate.  love to you all. 

so needing a vacation...

i guess since its almost my birthday, i can make my birthday wish right...?  since this is my blog i get to share my wish with anyone reading.  mom that means you...  i wish i was done over here so i could get back to the ones i love and miss.  i think about that all day.  how great it would be to not have to be over here.  i wish i could just be at home.  i guess i have to look at the goals and meet my objectives so i can make that wish come true.  love you all and miss you tons...

OUCH!!!

this week has been rough...  i have had some issues with my arms the last couple weeks which needed to get looked at by the doctor.  i have tendonitis in both elbows.  that is not fun but at least i know what i need to do to treat it to keep it from coming back...  my biggest frustration with it is the fact that i had been making some great gains at the gym.  i have cut lots of the body fat to near single digits and gaining weight in all the right places a guy should.  now i need to take a month off at least to let it heal and do some recovery work.  i was given a sling and a strap that wraps tightly around the forearm to restrict the muscles from swelling.  it helped until i got to wrestling or defending myself against the work horses on my team.  still the top dog just have to take a break for a bit.  so hopefully we get a speedy recovery so i can get back to the gym and finish the work i started there.

cengiz... going away barbeque... turkish style

well, its almost here... cengiz is going home to his wife and the daughter that is on the way.  he is excited to say the least.  why wouldn't he be.  he has been working here for 5 years now and has spent the last 2 years working with GDIT.  he is a great asset and will be missed... as much as i wish he would be coming back, i can't blame him for wanting to be at home.  he has every reason in the world to want to be there.  a wife and a new baby on the way.  he is definitely going to be missed by all of us here.  i feel like him and i have gotten to be pretty close in the short amount of time that we have been working together.  hopefully we will be able to break the language barrier and keep in touch.  he is a great friend.  the pictures are from his going away party we had.  turkish food is awesome... what else can i say.  fresh veggies and barbequed lamb and chicken and some beef.  what a feast.  enjoy, i know i did.

is it dumb to post so many blogs about sand storms...?

so i know i put up a lot of posts about the sand storms... but that is as exciting as it has been lately.  this last one was probably the worst yet... right after the magnificent thunder and lightning display and the wall of sand moving in... we had two days of solid sand... so dense that you could only see five feet in front of you at times...  it truly is amazing and i wish this on no one!  still, enjoy the pics as that is all that seems to upload at this point for me...  while you look at it think of the song, desert rose by sting and that one guy... he is middle eastern so it sounds familiar to me now.

saturdays sandstorm...

well, i wanted to share as much of the experience as i could without losing my mind.  i got some video this time too so it should give you a good idea as to what the sandstorms look like.  today's was intense because we had some serious lightning with it that i could never catch but some of the thunder can be heard.  hopefully this works so you can see what i'm talking about.  that movie hidalgo really portrays it well.  enjoy.

so the video did not load right and for now i can't get it to load... hope the pictures will do for now...

a thing or two i learned about dates...

my good friend cengiz from turkey has been working with us for a bit now.  he lets me drive the back hoe and do some excavating which i love to do.  so today we were working near abrahams oasis again.  after we got done with our trenching, he wanted to get some dates.  they grow on palm trees.  that was the first thing i learned about dates.  second thing i learned was that they are harvested by two crazy people with a back hoe.  cengiz wanted me to drive while he got up there and cut the bunch down.  so i put him in the bucket of the back hoe and lifted him way up in the tree.  it was really funny.  then after cutting down two bunches, if thats even what they call them, we loaded up and took off for the shop.  that is when i found out that we aren't supposed to be picking them.  at least thats what some of the guys were saying but i think they like to look for drama.  maybe thats what adam felt like partaking of the forbidden fruit.  i do have to wonder if it made his tummy upset like it did mine.  i ate way to many and some where a bit green.  they were so good though.  so that is what i know about dates and how they get harvested.  

CO-WORKERS...

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO GIVE ME A HARD TIME... SOME OF THEM ARE THE GUYS I WORK WITH.  A COUPLE IN PARTICULAR WHO I HAVE KNOW NOW FOR A WHILE.  I GUESS I HAVE TO TAKE IT CUZ IF THEY DIDN'T TEASE ME, I WOULD HAVE TO WORRY THEY REALLY WERE MAD.  SO "J" AND "TONY" THIS ONE IS FOR YOU TWO.  THEY SEEM TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP A LEVEL OF SANITY IN SUCH A CHAOTIC ENVIRONMENT.  SO THANKS BOYZ.

a little tired of the sand...

so today was an amazing demonstration once again of how much sand can irritate the heck out of me.  all night long we had sand blowing and blowing.  this morning you almost wished it would blow just a little harder so that they would call work off.  we work outside so its no fun when the wind kicks up and brings in a literal wall hundreds of feet high that just engulfs you.  visibility is limited.  you can't see to far past the end of your nose.  it wasn't quite as bad as some i've seen but still its been a while since the last good one.  although it was still aggravating my eyes and sinus'.  i finished the day looking like i had come from the bakery where they make the dough.  flour all over only it was sand.  in my ears, nose and eyes.  a very unpleasant thing.  still makes me look at it in awe.  once i got home, i showered and cleaned up and walked out in to round two as it began settling in around us.  the wind kicked up and almost felt like a vacuum sucking the air out.  then the wall of sand coming.  amazing to watch it mop up the terrain and make it disappear.  so there is yet another sand storm i have had the horrible privilege to be a part of.

even though these are some pictures from another sand storm they give you an idea of what its like.

jake bryan- established 1976

so this is my blog.  i am creating this in hopes to share some of my experiences with the people i love and care about.  i have been fortunate to have many memorable experiences from around the world.  maybe this way i can share some of the day to day things that happen to me.  

this will just be a brief overview of what has happened to me in the first 32 years of life for this guy.  i was born in october of 1976.  i'm coming up on my 32nd birthday which will be yet another one spent alone and far from home.  i have the best parents in the world.  stewart and susan bryan.  i have every reason to be a happy person with the child hood i had.  i have always know who i am and best of all that i was loved.  i have one older brother joe, a younger sister holly, and two younger brothers jon and josh.  i couldn't be prouder of the people they are and the source of strength they are to me.  we share a closeness that is stronger than most people understand.  our family is close and we do so many things together.  it can be overwhelming at times to people who aren't used to it.  but i wouldn't change it for the world.  

i have a certain side of me that can only be satisfied by an extreme sense of excitement.  i love the water.  i love motorcycles and big trucks.  i have been broken and beaten down some in many of my thrill seeking adventures.  i am lucky to be alive.  my family has had more than one trip to the emergency room to check on me.  from wrecking a dirt bike on the sand dunes and breaking my collar bone to diving off the funny farm bridge and splitting my head open.  that one is my closest run in with the next life i believe.  i tend to put stress on my family in that respect.  they do question my choices sometimes but they love me through it all.

i have some amazing sisters-in-law.  they have made joe and jon so happy.  they have given our family additions to the super people already in it.  along with sarah and ruth, they have brought us jared, rachel, brock and jefferey.  those kids are what makes life so precious.

i have had many jobs and am currently in iraq working for the military.  i spent two years in afghanistan as a contractor and have since gone through some difficult times.  i got divorced in the early part of this year.  i have had some severe blows that have tested me and pushed me to my limits.  thanks to the love of my family i have found the ability to move on.  take each day as it comes and move forward.  everything happens for a reason.  lessons are learned and experience points gained.  i don't regret the mistakes i've made because they have made me who i am today and only strengthened my belief in god and family and that we are here to learn and make our mistakes to grow and learn from.  i know who i am and where i want to go.  this will be an eternal process.  a work in progress so to say.

enjoy the updates as they come and i hope you will find happiness with me as we travel this road together.  my prayers go out to all of you and wish you all the best, all the success you work for and all the happiness you deserve.  

jake