Happy Birthday (DAY 164)

50 years ago today in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Robert Harry Joswiak was born 2 months premature and subsequently baptized Catholic because they did not think he would make it. Well not only did he make it but he has been making his presence, beliefs, and opinions known on this earth ever since!

Happy 50th Birthday Dad!

In 2006 he was 48 and I was 24 and now for about 2 months he is 50 and I am 25. This is the last time I will be half of his age. The funny part is that when my Dad turned 26 (as I will in September) on July 8th 1984 I was almost 2 and now I have no kids yet. O well Robert Charles Joswiak will hopefully be born someday but not a soon day.

Being away for yet another one of my parents’ birthdays made me think back. I can map out where I have been since 2002 on each of their birthdays.

10 JAN 02: Just moved to PSU (Beaver Plaza on Beaver Avenue) I take that back. I believe I was home because just after getting to PSU I had to return for Mr. Gaydosz funeral and my Mom picked me up in Pittsburgh at the Greyhound terminal that night. I will also note that out of last respects to Mr. G, I had just gotten my hair cut a few days prior after going 1.5 years without getting it cut!

8 JUL 02: Cleberated my Dads birthday with he, my Mom, sister, and Russ Shellhammer in Fombell (Boy does that seem like worlds ago)


10 JAN 03: We celebrated my Moms birthday at Atrias in Wexford along with my Dad, Sis, Bob and Gram, and Jimmy (Robin’s bf at the time) I left for PSU on a snowy night in my T Bird so I could make it back to watch the Steelers lose to the Titans on a BS field goal call the next night.


8 JUL 03: I was living in California

10 JAN 04: I was at PSU (Beaver Hill)

8 JUL 04: Living in Pittsburgh

10 JAN 05: I believe I went out with my Mom in Pittsburgh somewhere since I was living in Carrick

8 JUL 05: Living with Michelle and her family in NJ.

10 JAN 06: Was at DINFOS (tech school) in Maryland.

8 JUL 06: Was back in NJ on leave for something very special!

10 JAN 07: Was in Germany.

8 JUL 07: Was in Germany.

10 JAN 08: Was back at Ft. Dix NJ for pre-deployment field training before this deployment

8 JUL 08: Here in Afghanistan typing this blog entry!

The point is while I do travel and see a ton of things, love my job, and have been culturally educated because of being away; it’s starting to wear on me as I miss my family and friends. The same applies to a much lesser extent in Germany.

So as I was typing this up I decided to incorporate a few pictures from yester year. I am reminded that while I do not think I look any older; 1. My hair line is not what it used to be 2. I miss my longer hair and being able to grow facial hair. If I do end up getting out of the military you may see a mountain man version of me as the barber and razor will be the last thing on my mind.

Well today was a run of the mill day. I did the morning show and then took our commander to the other side of the flight line along with our superintendent. I got these photos near the old Russian MIGs which I have referenced in past entries.




I slept like crap last night so I am hitting the hay early tonight. But time cannot go fast enough now. In a weird way I will miss doing my job here. This is truly what I signed up for and get paid to do. This job in Germany is luxury life as far as I am concerned. People keep asking when I am coming home to the east coast and I have no clue. I am toying with the idea of a European vacation or cruise but will not decide until I land in Deutschland.

Good night and as always thanks for reading.

Its getting HOT! (DAY 163)

Well yesterday I went and shot the dedication of a dining facility. It was renamed the SrA Jonathan Yelner DFAC as he died here in Afghanistan on April 29th. I interviewed his commander and a co worker and put together a nice little tribute that I am sure his parents will see. It was not quite what I wanted due to some technical issues, but overall not too bad of a piece. You can see it in our newscast below. Also the radio show I posted from the 4th of July does not work and I do not have the bandwidth to upload it. I guess I will have to try and do that once I get back to Germany.

Today I shot an intro to the Yankees Pirates game for Thursday. We have been doing these introductions for the Pittsburgh Pirates because we have some reservists here on Bagram from the 911th Airlift Wing in Pittsburgh. Well this Yankee one needed to be done today so I just did it since I am from Pittsburgh. It will play on the Jumbotron on Thursday night as the teams take the field. (Mom I have more to tell you about this. Check your email.)

The reason I titled this entry as getting hot is because aside from the fact that it tops out at about 110 degrees each day, things are heating up violence wise. Just today in Kabul there was a suicide car bombing that killed at least 40 people and wounded scores more. Last night was not typical here on base either but I cannot detail that. Basically the Taliban is making a push this summer as the winter extremely inhibits their efforts. Our Marines down south just got extended another month. I am telling you Afghanistan needs to be the focus and the election this fall will dictate where that becomes reality or not.

I am coming down the back stretch now and it feels great. Last night reminded me though that I am not out of the woods yet. My Dad can relate a literal story of when I was a kid and I thought I was out of the woods near hunting camp. While I did make it back, it was not without injury. I actually think we have video of that somewhere. Anyway this is my last main week of work as I am handing things off and then next week must out process in anticipation of my departure date.

I guess that’s it for today. Enjoy the newscast and ask any questions that come to mind.

WE ARE… (DAY 161)

3 July Freedom Watch Afghanistan (Our daily newscast)

Well yesterday was ok but all I did was work. I woke up and did the morning show which you can listen to below.

boomp3.com

For some reason I got a little emotional right before going on air knowing I was doing what I loved on the 4th of July but yet so far away from family and friends on a day that I typically spend with them.

Anyway I got off of the air and worked on a TV story I had to finish. About noon this guy comes in from the Washington Blues Society and wished me a happy 4th of July before giving me his spiel. I literally had to think about it being 4th of July because it did not feel like it. Anyway this guy wants to get more blues on our radio station so I talked with him about that.

I came home at about 2:30 and took a nap as I was no feeling well. I think I got dehydrated, as its been about 110 each day here. I went back and did the sports show last night and as usual had fun with it. I came back and watched Resident Evil 2 and 3 which I had been really wanting to see. They popped up on the community entertainment drive on base so I grabbed them. I am usually not a big fan of scary movies but for me that series is like the Postman plus Zombies. Plus Milla Jovovich is sexy as can be so it makes for great movies.

The new crew is almost all settled in with my old crew almost all back to their homes which is good to know. This new crew could not be any more different that the last but what can you do. I like and dislike things about each. Either way I got like _teen some days left so who cares.

Now for the announcement you have been waiting for. I got an email from Mr. Steve Sampsell who is the Director of College Relations for the College of Communications at PSU. Apparently he wants to link this blog to the College of Comm’s blog and also do something on me being here for PSU live.

So with that if you are reading this via PSU then hello. My name is Rob Joswiak and I am a broadcaster in the United States Air Force currently deployed to Bagram Air Field Afghanistan. I am from western PA and graduated from PSU in May of 2004 with a BA in Telecommunications and a minor in Economics. I attended PS Beaver for 3 semesters and University Park for 5. I am stationed in Kaiserslautern Germany where I work for the American Forces Network there as well.

Feel free to look at the pictures and videos I post and ask any questions you may have. The blog itself will give you a much better feeling for who I am and what I am like. I sincerely thank you for visiting my blog. Since I am leaving soon I have put together a little summary so you can access certain entries with ease. The links to the right are very important or of interest so be sure to check them out as well. Thanks again.


JANUARY

I only posted 6 times this month as I got here late in the month. The posts from January just summarize my settling in here.

FEBRUARY

DAY 9: 4 FEB
I talk about the Super Bowl, my living conditions, and have pictures of where I work and live along with some NFL players and cheerleaders.

Day 14: 9 FEB
I post pictures of my room which has since been rearranged but you get the idea of how small it is. I also show the buildings I live in and the mountains I see each day. There is snow on the ground which is obviously not the case now. I am not a fan of this climate to say the least.

Day 17: 12 FEB
I have pictures of Bo Bice from American Idol being here. If you like him, as many middle aged women do, then this entry is for you. I could not believe the response this blog got when the ‘crazy’ Bo Bice fans linked me to his fan sites. Kind of funny and nice at the same time.

Day 21: 17 FEB
Cool picture of me with an old Russian tank. I think I have written about this but the Russians basically left, and some even got stranded and killed here back in the late 1980s. This base was and is still somewhat a mess from all of the old vehicles, tanks, and planes that they left. That tank is here along with a few jets. We have done a decent job of cleaning up but you ought to see the country side especially down in Kabul. War and its after affects have a very eerie feeling. Maybe it is all the death that goes with it that lingers…… DO NOT MAIL ME ANYTHING AS I LISTED MY ADDRESS BACK THEN BUT AM LEAVING SOON!!!

Day 22 – 29: Late FEB
This was my first trip to Kabul and am awesome one. Tons of pictures and a pretty good entry. CHECK THIS OUT.

MARCH

Day 40: 6 MAR
Pictures of me and Peter king from Sports Illustrated and the old Queens castle that I got to explore. That was one hell of an experience.

Being built in the 1920s


Ravaged by continuous war and dilapidating in 2008


Day 46: 12 MAR
I went on a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) mission where we leave Bagram early in the morning on a convoy and visit a local village. Pictures and story are here and this is another GREAT ONE TO READ. I should note that we lost an Airman in May on one of these as they hit an IED. Makes me thank God it was not my day to leave this world.

Day 56: 22 MAR
I outline this crazy and long convoy I went on down near Pakistan as I was out on a trip to a Forward Operating Base. Pictures can be seen on the next days post.

Day 61: 27 MAR
I call Hillary Clinton a bad word.

Day 64: 30 MAR
I take it back as my staunch democrat and HUGE Hillary Clinton supporting grandmother is in a frenzy about it. (In retrospect I ended up being right because she campaigned too long, did not yield when she should have, and now got herself in to all of this debt… Pride cometh before the fall)

APRIL

Day 66: 1 APR
I talk about a ceremony that I reside over for those Air Force members getting promoted in April.

Day 76: 11 APR
IF YOU READ ONE ENTRY IT MUST BE THIS ONE. THAT DAY MY LIFE CHANGED AND THE PICTURES, VIDEO, AND ENTRY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. AMERICANS HAVE IT SO GOOD!

Day 84: 19 APR
I talk about show the stories I shot down at ISAF in Kabul where all of the international troops are based out of.

Day 86 : 21 APR
I post pictures of me interviewing (4 stars folks!) GEN McNeill. You can see the edited newscast of that by clicking here.

Day 92: 27 APR
I post about getting pissed off at work along with some other personal stuff. I do however give an address for a place you can send clothes and all. All of the information is there so if you are looking for how you can help this entry is the one with that information.

May

Day 96: 1 May
I talk about the Airman who passes away and the Afghan guy at the chow hall. I need to get my picture with him as he always says hi to me now. I think I will do that today.

Day 99: 4 May
Rainbow day. Where I come from that means God will never flood the earth again but I have personally seen it used other ways like in West LA! Anyway awesome rainbow over the base with pictures to show it.

Day 103: 8 May
My willingness to go off base comes into question as I outline the illogical part of WANTING TO GO off base. That day pissed me off and still bothers me as I rarely question my fellow service members and do not expect it from them. O well those guys are long gone so…

Day 100: 15 May
I post a video form the Ultimate Warrior who is on the comeback trail. Met him when he was at PSU in 2003 and I also note on this day that’s it’s been 4 years since I graduated college. I have been out as long as I was in. Damn does time fly.

Day 115: 20 May
Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. Good morale builder. LOL

Day 120: 25 May
Me with survivors from the hit TV show and also a preview of my trip to Qatar.

Day 124: 29 May
Trip to Qatar outlined.

JUNE

Day 128: 2 JUN
Pictures of me in Qatar. Hottest Place I have ever been and a reminder that if hell is what popular belief dictates; I will pass.

Day 129: 3 JUN
Talk about the Pens in the Stanley Cup finals and my feelings on alcohol consumption. (I am PSU grad so I think we know where I stand there.)

Day 133: 7 JUN
I meet 7’6’ former NBA star Shawn Bradley.

Day 137: 11 JUN
If you like Howard Stern and/or stories on one’s gastro intestinal issues this is for you. If not keeping on moving.

Day 140: 14 JUN
My day with Brian Williams from NBC nightly news.

Day 145: 19 JUN
Yet another run in with the chain of command issue here in the military!

The rest of June and July are recent enough that you can scan back through.

The 4th of July (DAY 160)

Just another day here and things are really starting to heat up out there. Nothing I can talk about on here but… Unfortunately this morning show routine has got me dead tired by 10PM now. I have off tomorrow and will post a long one then as you will have to wait one more day to find out what I got cooking. I recorded the first hour of my show today and will try to somehow post that as well.

Everyone have a HAPPY 4th of JULY as the only day in the July that matters to me this year is the one which I safely land in Germany. Take care.

THE RETURN (DAY 158)

Well I have not talked to my parents so that portion of my rant is still true and even that will cease for a day when I call my Dad on his 50th birthday next week. I would be a complete _______ not to call on that day.

Anyway much like Michael Jordan, The Ultimate Warrior, Mario Lemieux, and I hope eventually Guns n Roses… All great things must make a comeback. I was actually enjoying not posting anymore but got an email from someone who encouraged me to do so. He was not someone I was expecting to hear from but did anyway. He’s got a ton of people behind him as we are all a part of this crazy group.

I will post more on Friday as I want to write a nice post on the 4th of July. Stop back for all of the great details. Take care.

Mended Wings

I was not going to post anymore but then I read THIS. A Clarion county kid 19 years old got blown up here about a month ago. His Mom keeps her blog here. They are trying to raise money here. I could not help to pass this along as my life here is heaven compared to what she and her son are now going through in TX. While I am still down about the below things I know I have nothing to complain about when young soldiers like this leave Afghanistan the way they do.

BLOG Finale

Well I thought about not posting or saying anything anymore about my Mom and Dad but I am over my limits and am now going to unleash. What I am about to write and post for the world to see is my raw views, and feelings after 25 some odd years of dealing with this crap.

I sit here tonight typing maybe as depressed and down as I have been since being on this deployment. Its not because I miss Michelle, its not because I have had some health issues and stress that challenge me daily, its not because I worry about my sister and her issues, its not because every time I hear 2 or 3 jets take off I know people are going to probably die, its not because I know I will probably have to see more American covered caskets roll by knowing only may be a head or legs are in the caskets, its not because I see little Afghan kids wave at me when I drive on the other side of the base knowing they have little chance for many of the normal things many Americans take for granted, and its not because I am away from my friends and family whom I love very much; it is because I have two parents who, for whatever reason, will not move on in their lives.

I am proud to be a Joswiak and a Davies. Proud to have two parents who are extremely talented and skilled in their own ways. Proud to be from Pittsburgh where they are from and where they had me. Proud to be raised by them learning right from wrong, good from bad, love, compassion, dedication, hard work, humor, spirituality, and so on. Proud to know that the life I lead is one they can be proud of. And proud to say that I always have and will always try to honor them as it is written.

But tonight I am utterly disgusted and will not honor their hostility towards each other. The truth is that when your second marriage to each other started to fail you also lost sight of your role as parents because you were at each other’s throats so much. Fast forward 8 years later and now Robin has her issues and a little baby girl is stuck in the middle of it all. Robin has made her choices but if there are two people in this world she needs now more than ever it is you two. Let me say this one more time YOU WERE AND ARE BOTH WRONG!!!!!!!!

Mom you need to let go of your anger and bitterness. Dad you need to stop cursing people and instead pray for them. Robin needs you two and so does Emma. Your continued strife and possible legal issues solve nothing. Grow up, move on, and leave me out of it. I have exhausted talking, suggesting, caring, and trying to mediate. I am done for the time being.

I am leading my own life and doing ok I suppose. I was hoping that coming to Afghanistan would allow me to escape these issues but obviously that has not occurred. With that being said I am no longer writing in this blog because it has turned into and led to more bickering between my parents. I am also not calling either of them or corresponding electronically until I get back to Germany. Rob is taking himself out of the equation in hopes that the parents he loves will come to their senses, quit saying God this and God that for God is probably not happy with either of you . Its time for the focus to be on Robin and Emma.

I want to thank everyone for reading my posts and encourage you to email me if you need to know anything. psujozz@yahoo.com I want to take this last month to myself. Michelle will be the only one I talk with. I need to just let go of everything so that I can leave this forsaken land the same way I came to it. Thanks again everyone and take care.

Sincerely,

Robert Herbert Joswiak