DAY 154: 28 JUN 08

Well today’s going away was short and sweet for me. The chili made by the reservist I mentioned was good from what I hear. I could not eat it because it had jalapenos in it. None the less I was there maybe 1.5 hours and then came back and slept for 4 hours.

I got up early today to shoot some videos for the Pittsburgh Pirates. We did game intros for the jumbo-tron using Air Force members form the 911th Airlift Reserve Wing there in Pittsburgh. It was awesome to be able to speak some Pittsburghese and hear similar mentalities. Boy are Pittsburghers very much alike. It’s very crazy to think about.

Anyway I am sad to see the first part of my crew go. With the exception of the 2 Marines who overlap the AF crews half way between, I am the only one staying back for the last 3 weeks from the news office. We are getting a bunch of Pizza and snacks tonight, cleaning the station and maybe watching a movie. I look for it to be some real fun and will take pictures of the event.

I am officially in operation Stealth Mode. Monday I start the morning show which means I will be into work around 5:30AM or 9 PM EST. I will probably head to the gym each day around 1 or 2 PM and then call it a day. The least I have to do with the new crew the better. Its nothing against them but the sooner they get use to not having me the easier it will be once I am gone. The girl replacing me is a Public Affairs airman, which means she is a writer and will stay in the print office and work on the magazine.

I have to work on some paperwork tomorrow and hand in on Monday to get my flight arrangements out of here. Even once I know when I am leaving I cannot post it here. I will try to be as general about it, but either way I should be back to Germany the third week of July.

For whatever reason the Pentagon Channel did not post our newscast from yesterday. It has been real windy here so maybe the feed was not good enough. I should know something on that by Monday.

Last but not least I want to publicly say that I will not longer be taking sides between my Mother and Father. While I do lean one way or another in certain areas, it is time for me to rid myself of the situation. Hopefully Robin can get better and take Emma to see my Dad more often. Being in Afghanistan (or Germany for that matter) I can do nothing to help any of the stuff they complain about so I am done with it. The funny part is that both Darryl and Shelly tell them to not say certain things to me, and yet it continues. Never did I think the day would come that those two would really be the ones I side with, but there it is. I love you both but have no need to be in between anymore. Either some type of adult, simplistic relationship will forge itself allowing certain things to be worked out, or your thoughts and feelings about each other will fester and bounce around in your own minds. Either way I am done.

Well I got to head to work so everyone continue to enjoy their weekend. Michelle leaves today for Germany so I will be anxious to call her at our place in Germany once she hopefully arrives safe sometime tomorrow. Good day.