A much needed update. . . .

Hello everyone,

I can't believe that it has been almost a full month since I left for Louisiana. We got back last night after the long bus ride home back here to Mississippi. I never thought I would actually be relieved to be back at Camp Shelby, but it has kind of become our home away from home.

We can finally say that we have finished all of our required training in the eyes of our battalion, brigade, and the Army standards. Most of our gear is already in it's way to meet us in Iraq. Since, we don't have hardly any equipment left there is not a whole lot we can do. I know people kind of want me to elaborate on the stuff we have done over the past month, but is the same thing we have already been doing. The only thing I will mention is that my preconceived notions of the south seem to have been slightly off (it actually gets a little chilly here, like 22 degrees at about 3 am one night). Now, I understand that it is cold at home in Minnesota. but we aren't exactly wearing parkas and snow boots either, followed by working for 12 hours outside at a time. Oh crap, I forgot to mention that it has been raining for the past month also, I still haven't seen sunlight since I started the night shifts.

My moral has been higher than most people would expect, probably more than I ever anticipated for myself. Some things are getting to me, or should I say some people. I get along with almost anyone, and very rarely does anyone have a problem with me, but when you eat, sleep, piss, and work the same people every day you are bound to run into somebody you can't get along with. Top that off with the fact that these people may be your superiors and you can't exactly say, "shove it" or "I quit". I did buy 20 frosties from Wendy's for people on the bus ride home and that helped to put a smile on those lucky individuals.

Other random things: I cut myself a "faux hawk" which is pretty sweet, I am reading "On Killing" which is really good, and we have decided to have a blindfolded teatherball tournament when we get to Iraq.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!

Nicholas Robert Bope

AKA: Bope, Sgt Bope, Nick, Bopetastic, Boperah, Boppee, Bopey, or even the wild Bopealope
(I will probably have twenty more by the end of this deployment)

FYI: T minus one month approximately until beautiful sun sand beaches of Southwest Asia