The good... The bad... The stupid...

So, as I approach the one month anniversary of my arrival to the lovely state of New Jersey I find myself counting down the days until I shall depart this place. It is not that I dislike New Jersey, but it is hard not associate this state with the stupidity that I have experienced here. When first issued my bulletproof vest and helmet my original thought was that they were to be worn to protect me from flying bullets. However, upon further review, and Navy Individual Augmentee training, I have found that I wear these items in hopes of saving myself from the stupidity flying around this place.

Honestly the training and hospitality of the Army has been outstanding and a welcome change from the day to day routine of ship life. The frustration comes from the lack of leadership coming from the Navy side of things here. I hope and pray that my time in Iraq will be spent with people and Sailors that I see eye to eye with.

And that is that.

In other news...

I have been reading quite a lot while I am out here. Most recently I have tackled the task of reading the trilogy of books by the author Brian D. McLaren. I am about halfway through the first book in the series, "A New Kind Of Christian". It is quite an interesting read. Thus far dealing with modern and postmodern Christianity and viewing Christianity from an intellectual perspective. It is quite thought provoking and one of the better books I have ever read in relation to dealing with, struggling with, modern Christianity. If you ever have the time to read these books I would highly recommend it. However, be prepared to be reading for awhile as they are a little bit slower reading than average books. Lots to absorb!

Not that I am writing this post to start some long drawn out religious or spiritual discussion, but just to let you guys know what I am up to and how I am dealing with my down time.

Speaking of down time...

I will be getting about 6 days off upon completion of my training. I was given 2 choices... 1. Stay on Fort Dix and work at the Navy offices here, or 2. Go to New York City and spend the week with my gloriously generous friends who just so happen to reside there. Need I say more? I will post some pictures of my trip to the city upon my return.

After New York that will be it for me and America for awhile. Gotta love this place! I'll miss 'er, but because I love her I must go. I am going to go do what I do where I gotta do it! Are you picking up what I am putting down? Well alright!

Okay, now I am just rambling...

Thank you to everyone who has been so kind as to send me letters, cards, and baked goods! God Bless your Monster cookies Amanda Spell! And how can I forget the chocolate chip pound cake from my Mamacita? You guys are the best!

Me love you long time!

Until next time.......

Oh! Sweet Nuthin'...

Landing at Philadelphia I, and the dozen or so people traveling with me, had the false sense that we were heading to an Army base well within the bounds of "Urban America". Oh! My dear sweet, 8 pound 7 ounce, Baby Jesus nothing could be further from the truth!

There are more groundhogs here than active duty military. Groundhogs, woodchucks, Beavercats, Woodhogs, Groundchucks... You name it and we have it! We even passed some Wild Turkey's, deer, and sheep on the way to one of our training 'evolutions'. Now I don't know if the Army guys keep the animals around to keep them "company" while they are out in the field or what...? All I do know is that there is nothing to do on this base! Damn you Fort Dix!

The upside to things is that we are training about half the time, and I am pretty much on vacation. I mean who honestly needs to train or get prepared for a deployment to Iraq, the Cradle of Life, the hottest vacation spot on the planet...? Apparently, not me.

Needless to say, things here are rocking along a little more frustrating than anticipated. Of the 39 Sailors in my training group only 9 of us are active duty sailors. The remaining 30 sailors are all reservists who do not live this military life on a regular basis. This causes mucho frustration to those of us who are used to the rigors of day to day Navy life. And of course....Leave it to the Navy to leave the part timers in charge of us all.

Oh' well! Enough about that... Negativity is not what I need to be putting out right now. Regardless of my frustrations a lot of the training I am receiving is pertinent to my deployment, I just wish that there was more of it. I have met a lot of really good people and we are all trying to make the best of our situation.

With a little less than a month left in the states all I can do is try to relax and enjoy the time that I do have in the good ol' US of A! I will try and keep you guys up to date as to what is going on here and when I will be leaving for Kuwait.

I know several of you guys have asked so I will post it out here for you guys. Below you will find my mailing address while I am here at FT DIX. Please keep in mind that I will be leaving here somewhere around the 27th of September, so if you do send me something make sure that it can get here by then. With that said... I love receiving packages...male packages..Uh, I mean...Mail packages! Yeah, that's it!

So, without further adieu...

SK2 Aaron Webb
ECRC BLDG 6038
DOUGHBOY LOOP
FT DIX, NJ 08640-9001

Well, I am off to get some rest. Thanks for listening to my little rants and raves. Know that I am doing well and missing you all. Until we meet again....

Oh' wait! One last thing...

Happy Anniversary Mrs. Stacey Webb! 2 years and counting! I love you sweet girl!

And that's that...