Happenings in Alaska

Let's see, where to begin with Michael...

Well, yesterday, he was under the weather, today he is feeling better, his cell phone jumped down 20 feet and landed on the concrete, and he got his Associates of Applied Sciences degree in Emergency Management.
Other than that, not much is going on. He does plan on posting a picture of his graduation and cell phone sometime soon.

Sarah Describes Life in the Desert

I’m sure everyone at home is wondering what life is like for me over here in the desert. Well, here are a few pictures to give you an idea. I wake up at midnight to get to work at two. This is the pickup/drop off point. Jack’s is also a good place to go if you want some quiet to read a book or work a puzzle. Also, all the books and puzzles and games in Jack’s are free for the taking.

Beside Jack’s is the transient lodging. These tents are for the people passing through on their way to or from down range.
I get off work at noon. After a day at work, I return to the trailer park and try to remember which of the identical trailers is mine.
Actually they all have signs with building numbers, and the door to mine doesn’t close. (It’s not in this picture.) Once in my room, I change into my PT gear and either doze off or read a book or write or etc. Here’s my half of the room.
The next morning before work, I might decide to visit the WIFI hot spot. (It’s too hot at noon after work.) Of course, it’s right next to the smoke pit, and if they’re doing something, it’s not always quiet.
When this picture was taken, they were doing Karaoke. I didn’t hang around very long.

Here’s a question. Is it possible to take a self portrait and not have the camera in the picture and also not have the flash reflect in the mirror? The answer is YES, though it took me about forty tries to get it looking okay.
Unfortunately, the mirror won’t get any cleaner.I don’t have any other pictures, yet. Maybe soon. I have five more months to fill my scrapbook. ☺

Deployed Info

For those of you interested in KIT with Sarah, here is some info you should find useful.

Mailing address:
Sarah Huntington
379 ELRS/LGRDAP
APO, AE 09309

Email address:
sarah.huntington@auab.centaf.af.mil
sep2sarah@yahoo.com

If you plan on sending a care package and wonder what she would like, here is a starter list:

Craft Items
Jolly Ranchers
Brain Teasers
Science and Christian Magazines
Anything with Caramel
Good Books
Trident Gum
Puzzle Books
Tea

She did it! She really did it!

Sarah got her haircut. And I like it! She wanted to have short hair so she wouldn't have to put as much effort into taking care of it while deployed. It will also make those hot days a little more comfortable.
We celebrated Sarah's Birthday a couple of days late due to all the hustle and bustle of work schedules and base exercises. We were able to take about a week of leave to spend with her parents in Colorado.
Sarah enjoying one of her favorite hobbies prior to leaving on her deployment. (Don't ask me which one is her number one favorite; I can name about a half-dozen of the top of my head)
The Church had a farewell potluck for a family PCS'ing to Texas on Sunday. They said that it could be a sendoff for Sarah as well. We enjoyed the fellowship.
Sarah's folks outside of their home. Her parents have been living in this house while they get their own home built up enough to live in.


When we got back to work and Sarah was finishing her out-processing checklist, we found out that her departure date got moved up. Sarah boarded a plane Monday morning at 1:30 am on her way to SW Asia. By the time you read this, Sarah will be in Europe. She is expected to be in country later this weekend.

Deployment!

It is official. I am deploying again. This time, though, I'm not going to Iraq but to Qatar. I don't really want to leave Michael, but I feel that God wants me to deploy, so I'm at peace about it. I'll be leaving in just a few weeks and I'll be gone for six months. This will be my last deployment, though, because when I come back, I won't have enough time left in the Air Force to deploy again. If you're not sure where Qatar is located, here's a map.

It's going to be a major climate change for me. Right now, the weather in Alaska is around -15 with no humidity. In Qatar, it's in the seventies with over 80% humidity. Come summer, it's going to be up in the 100s. I'm not really looking forward to the heat. Oh well, I'll survive.

I'll try to keep everyone posted and the blog updated. I know when Brandon was over there, he couldn't check their blog...I may have to email Michael what I want posted and have him post it.