Halfway through deployment

Friday marked the halfway point of this deployment. We've spent more time deployed then we have left.  It's a pretty good feeling, although it's still quite a bit of time left. By the time we're done, the NBA and NHL seasons will be halfway over, NCAA football will have crowned a national champion and the Bears will be prepping for the Super Bowl, hopefully.

So, while we've reached an important milestone, there's still a long way to go. There's still a lot of people who haven't settled in their permanent rooms. They are just getting started on additional housing units that we're supposed to occupy.  Our new post exchange (military version of Wal-Mart) won't be ready until October. The efficiencies of the Army never stop to amaze me.

Things have slowed down quite a bit since we got out of the cities. We still continue to work with the Iraqis but they've started doing a lot more missions on their own, which is good to see. They still have a long way to go, but they have to start somewhere.