Moving to Iraq

Well as you guessed it from the title I have moved into Iraq. It is a long process. We loaded buses at 2100 and drove to an Air Force base an hour from us. Then we hung out in a cold tent, freezing, for about two more hours. At midnight we all got together in a formation so the guys running the show could count us. After words I had to go palletize all the bags. About twenty of us moved bags from the back of a truck and throw them on metal pallets. About a hundred and fifty bags. The part is that I got warm lifting big heavy army bags. Then we senched them down with cargo nets. After that it was back to the cold tent to wait so more. Hurry up and wait is the army's unoffical slogan! We loaded the plane around 0130. So far I hadn't had any sleep but I thought I would be able to sleep on the plane. They sure like to crame soldiers in. We had on all our body army because we were flying into a combat zone and that stuff doesn't make you very skinny. Plus with carry on bags it was a horrible flight. I did manage to sleep a little but it was such wonderful sleep it probably translated into about five minutes of real sleep! The best part was a awoke with a sore thoat and a runny nose from the freezing and lack of sleep. After deboarding our luxury class airliner we moved into another tent at around 0300. It already had people in it so the more we brought in just made the party better. At lease this tent had a heater running. Being cramed into a loud tent like that was condusive of a sleeping enviroment so I sat on the floor waiting. Finally after moving lots of bags and shuffeling around we loaded busses for holding tents with cots and we were able to spread out. This was around 0600. After a much needed shower and a nice hot meal I was able to get some sleep, two wonderful hours.