December, 2006: A SNOWY, HIGH-ALTITUDE CHRISTMAS
My unit lost Dustin Adkins to an incident near Haditha Dam. I went to visit my buddy Chris in Colorado Springs, squeaking in and out in between fierce blizzards. We even got to go to the top of Pike's Peak before the weather worsened! Also, a snowball fight outside the Denver Art Museum.

November, 2006: GIVING THANKS AND VIEWING MY FUTURE
I stayed with my uncle and his family for a weekend in Maryland to attend the Johns Hopkins SAIS and Georgetown SFS info sessions, both of which were fascinating. I went home to Dallas for Thanksgiving and got to see my buddy Daniel, stay at the country house, and meet my bro's new girlfriend. My unit lost Daniel Winegeart to an accident in Iraq.

October, 2006: A HOTTIE AND DARTH CHENEY
I was honored to treat my Julie out to a long weekend tour of Nashville and Ft. Campbell -- we even had a picnic! Dick Cheney visited our post and we all sat in the wet cold all day for the mandatory event.

September, 2006: NOSTALGIA KICKING IN
I officially started filling out graduate school applications after schools updated their sites. I went to the local Democratic Party gathering and raised a few hundred bucks for Operation Helmet, providing better padded helmets for mainly Marines. I went on my first airborne jump since March!

August, 2006: MEETING THE PARENTS
Julie flew home to Dallas and met my parents for the first time! They got along great! I was relieved. My parents bought a new house. I became section NCOIC and took responsibility for my first two soldiers as an NCO. One went to airborne school. I completed the tattoo on my back.

July, 2006: WORK WORK WORK
This month all I did was work. My friends were out of town and everyone was on pre-deployment leave. I got to take leave at the end of the month, when I visited my parents in Dallas. I went to a Texas Rangers game with my dad.

June, 2006: TRAINING AND TATS
I trained more soldiers on crew-served weapons and helped them qualify on their personal weapons. I also helped with convoy procedures. All that time outside gave me a tan/farmer's tan! I scored a 700V/670Q/6.0W on my GRE! I got my clearance and job back! I got a back tattoo stenciling (to be filled in later) and one extending down the length of my arm.

May, 2006: FAREWELLS AND BEGINNINGS
I went to Nashville to drink with my buddies before one left to a 2 month school. I conceived this idea. I trained new soldiers on the M4A1, M240B, and .50 cal.

April, 2006: LOVE OF GUNS AND WOMEN
I took my block leave to Montreal to see Julie for two weeks, then a week in Dallas to see my parents and brother. I got trained in how to train soldiers how to use various weapons. I shot various shotguns, AKs, and H&K MP5s for the first time.

March, 2006: JUMPS & EGGS & LIFE
I finished re-deploying from Iraq. Easter marketing brought my favorite treat, the Cadbury Creme Egg! Brendan, Ryan, and I drove down to Nashville to see V for Vendetta on IMAX before we all went on leave. I visited a sexy sexy Julie in Montreal! I did an airborne jump off a C-130 ramp.