Hello everyone,

It feels like it has been a very long time since I last sent out an email.  Much has been happening here.  Where to start...

I have actually been busy with work for the past week.  I still don't have a work computer of my own, I'm sharing one, but at least the program I need is now up and running on this computer so I have something to do.

Things here have been hectic and somber.  We lost another soldier in another accident (a vehicle rollover).  There were some rockets found just outside our base by one of our patrols about a week and a half ago.  Our folks think the insurgents planned on coming back and trying to fire them at the base, but our personnel found them before that happened.  Even so, that caused our alert status to go up a level so now at night we have no outdoor lights or activities.  We also have to have our body armor and kevlar helmets within arms reach of us during the evenings.  Then three nights ago we had air raid sirens going off for about an hour.  Turns out one of the foreign bases just outside our gate was hit by a mortar attack.  Nothing hit our base, but of course our alert level remains higher than usual.  Then we had our first Texas National Guard soldier from this brigade KIA (Killed in Action) just two days ago.  This happened south of where I am and because of this skirmish, the border with Kuwait was temporarily closed.  Another one of our soldiers was wounded in the same fight and we are not sure if he will pull through.  So, as I said, things here have been hectic and somber.

As for me, I'm keeping busy with work and not doing much else.  I am hoping that the UT/Missouri game will be televised here tonight.  My roomie is going out today on a convoy to Kuwait for a conference and won't be back until the seventh, so I have the trailer to myself.

Oh, I want to take a moment to thank people for the boxes I've received:

Malia: Thanks for the books!! I have read all of them - and really enjoyed the series!  Thanks so much.

Des - the popsicle maker kit was very popular in the office.  Of course everyone wanted to know where the liquor was!!  I substituted Sprite instead and used my imagination...

Manon and Amy - The Red Sox hat is hanging in my room to offset my roomie's NY Yankee junk!

Robyn - The UT Tower poster is wonderful and is hanging in my room.

Debbie - The UT stop sign is hanging in my room and the UT interstate sign is in my office.

Ellen - The curry dishes are delicious!  I shared some with my roomie and she is in agreement with me, Trader Joe's rocks!

Maria - Got the UT UHS calendar back in my room.  Interesting facts, huh!?!

Thank you all for your support, I truly appreciate it.

I am attaching a few pictures of my work area and my room at the request of Amanda.

I have also found out that I will be returning with the Advance Party to Texas.  This means I will be back in November as opposed to December.  Since the dates are fluid and keep changing, I don't have a specific departure date yet, but I'll do my best to let y'all know when I find out.

I guess I should get back to work now - after all, I finally do have something to do!

Take Care everyone and I'll be seeing you soon - Lotta