01MAY11: MSgt Joel Weber

Guest Post courtesy of MSgt Joel Weber
MSgt/USMC, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

Ramblings of a Deployed Mind (Week 10)

ALMAR/ALFAM/ALFRDS,

Well, we are starting Week 10 here in the great, sunny, and dusty box of fun. It’s been another venturous week! Coming off the Easter holiday which was quiet, this week has been anything but. The Sabres were discontinued from the playoffs, the NBA is now dominating the sports channels, like baseball hasn’t done that already, and there have been numerous storms across the south and east United States. We have been saying our prayers over here for our family members and friends back home. Between all of that, there was a tragedy in Kabul this week, where we lost 8 Americans…we ask you to pray for their families.

MSgt Joel Weber

As the month of April came to and end yesterday, a new month is upon us and we all know what that means! Mother’s Day, my 35th birthday (holy freakin crap), my Mum’s birthday, Memorial Day, and my baby girl Kara’s birthday! Don’t forget to thank your mother for giving birth to you, lol. I can’t believe that my Kara is going to turn 11 this month…oh where, oh where has the time gone! My little girl is growing up…and I’m not sure if I like it; but I guess I have no choice in the matter. I’ve been working towards my Master’s Degree while I’ve been out here and well…I’ve been doing pretty good. I’m on my second class and I’ve knocked out all my papers with either a 99 or 100…not too shabby for working 14-18 hour days and doing my work afterwords. I’ve also tallied 88 miles this month running…and they’ve been rough. Did a half marathon a few weeks ago and knocked out another 10 a few days ago. By doing the long ones, it gives me a few days off…thank God…as it does takes it toll. I’m pretty sure at this pace, I’ll out pace my goal of 600 miles I’ve set for myself for the year. With it reaching in the triple digits this week, we’ve had to start running in the morning…that sucks, lol.

So my little brother is about on his way out here. Should be fairly interesting with him being up where he is going to be…now I have a reason to escape Camp Awesome (Leatherneck) to head up to the beloved Air Force Base up north; can’t wait! Along those lines, I’m hearing rumor that my roommate back home may be joining me…how cool is that?!?!?! Gonna be like a family get together out here. I didn’t get a whole lot of NATO time this week with our counterparts, as we’ve been a little more than busy, but maybe next week we’ll get back on track. (I just like how the Brits talk). One thing I did learn, was not to say “spunky” to the Brits…has a WHOLE different meaning than what we use it for.

Brian, the one who actually does all the work around here, will also be leaving me soon for a few weeks at the end of the month to go on his R&R leave. He and his new bride will be having their first baby at the end of the month. He will now feel a little bit of pain…they’re having a girl 🙂 As much as I don’t want him to leave, we are sending him home to spend time with his new born baby girl. If luck has it, his new daughter may end up sharing the same birthday as Kara. Chris, another Marine that works with me, has entered a bench press competition and it’s today. Let’s just say his arms are bigger than my thighs (this is NOT a joke). We’re betting the farm that he not only wins his weight class, but the overall championship…by a huge margin!!

So, as I sign off for the week, we are hoping that the rebuilding begins back in the south and in the east and we get to see on the TV, why America is so great. God bless America and see you next week. I have put my address down again, as it has changed slightly…

MSGT JOEL WEBER
II MEF FWD C6
UNIT 73920
FPO AE 09501-3920

Semper Fi,
Joel “Eeyore” Weber
MSgt/USMC, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Twitter: @Marines1994

P.S. Check out a few of my favorite sites:
www.thesucklife.com
www.semperfimomma.com
I’m sure you’ll find them motivating and amusing! I do! Here’s to starting the week off right!!