I just wanted to let everyone know that the pool is open for business. I will give you this warning: the water is a little chilly. At last check it was 66 degrees. I would suggest a wetsuit but that is your call.

Editors note: The pool is up to 72 degrees.

Dear Jeet-
I send my Birthday greetings from across the the big pond! I hope that you have a very HAPPY 21st Birthday and I wish that I could be there to celebrate with you. Have a great day, Jeet! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Jackie

For those of you that don’t know, I have been tortured by a groundhog ever since we moved into the house. It started with a little hole near the cement around the pool, then a second hole showed up, and the next thing I know he has made an intricate system of underground tunnels that would make the Vietcong jealous. He was a bold one that little a-hole. Several times I would see him walking around the backyard eating grass.

I tried many things to get rid of him. I tried to put out poison pellets but those didn’t work. They disappeared but he did not (not as many cats in the neighborhood though…just kidding). I tried to flood his hole with water…didn’t work.

Well, I am pleased to report the #2 man in Al-Qaeda and #1 on my list has met his match. He slipped up. He was out eating dandelions in the backyard the other day while the neighbor was out mowing his grass. I went into my sniper perch and grabbed the ole .22. I opened the window (this is usually when he would run away but could not hear it due to the mower running), got him in my cross hairs…and pulled the trigger. It was a feeling like nothing else. He had eluded me for almost two years but now I have had my revenge. Bush had Hussein…Ahab had Moby Dick…and I had this groundhog.

He was a worthy opponent. And for that I gave him a proper burial as you can see by the photos. I even gave him a headstone. But let the lesson not be lost…don’t mess with a man who’s wife is deployed and has little more to do than constantly look out a window looking for you. I will get my man…or groundhog.

Thats right, its Friday, or as we refer to it (and every other day) here in Kosovo, Groundhog’s Day! My leave is fast approaching and I am extremely thankful for that. We have all been keeping very busy here over the last few weeks. We are in the middle of an inspection right now which seems to be going pretty well and we are hitting the 6 month point also. I really cannot believe it has already been that long but looking back, we have all been through a lot.

We have had 5 9-line missions so far and we have trained over 600 American and Multi-National soldiers on MEDEVAC procedures. Every training mission is different and a great learning experience. The pictures are of some Italian soldiers that we trained last week. And as always, some pictures of me being silly.

I hope that you are all doing well and I look forward to hearing from all of you. I love you and miss you all. Take care and keep in touch.