Pack it Up Pack in Let me Begin

My orders arrived. It is now official, I am going to Iraq. The anticipation, excitement and sadness of the past 25 days or so at leaving has culminated into me packing everything into one large duffel and a carry on (see left) This is just to start with. I will get two more at Ft. Bliss. As images splash across the screen about civil war and sectarian striffe, the hopeless part of me keeps asking "Why are you going over there? The Iraqis don't want democracy they are killing each other." The other more optimistic side is hopeful and always seems to prevail. Now more than ever, a calming force is needed to assist those who want change in Iraq to implement the rule of law and peaceful means of dissent without the use of a car bomb.

I want to thank everyone who has provided dinners and going away beers etc. I am pleasantly surprised and amazed at the amount of support and encouragement that I have recieved from each of you. It makes leaving all that more difficult yet re-enforces my reasons for going. I have the best life in the world. I am very lucky knowing that my support network is strong. There are some things you will not hear about on this site, such as job specifics and what it is really do there. If I told you, I would have to kill you. :) Operational Security or OPSEC prevents me from discussing these things not only for me and my family's safety but yours as well. No offense is meant I hope none is taken. Get ready, and here goes nothing.

PS: Oh I added another feature to my site. If you want to see what time it is in Baghdad you can click on the link that says "What time is it in Baghdad? Instead of 9 hours ahead of the U.S. I think that it is more like 11 hours. I was never good at math.

"Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways who was driven far journeys...Many they were whose cities he saw, whose minds he learned of, many the pains he suffered in his spirit on the wide sea, struggling for his own life and the homecoming of his companions."
-The Oddessy of Homer

The Distance

"Reluctantly crouched at the starting line,engines pumping and thumping in time.the green light flashes, the flags go up." These lyrics by Cake pretty much sum up my current mood as the days quickly pass until I begin my deployment. What is the most stressful about this experience so far is the hurry up and wait that is very common in the Army and the military in general. Just as the song says, on Sunday my green light will flash and the flags go up as I dart across the sky toward El Paso with a brief stop in Denver. Wow!!!

On an unrelated topic I got to thinking that it would be nice include some inforation about Iraq via the CIA website. I figure if it is good enough the Army to give it as a country brief, I can include it here. I know all of you are quite concerned that the new currency in Iraq is the new Iraqi Dinar. Anyway here is the link.http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/iz.html#Econ

If technology does not get the best of me, I hope to include this as a permanent link under the Go Utes page. Another random fact about Iraq is that Baghdad is 9 hours ahead of Seattle...... 3.5 days and counting

Sunshine at Last!!!!

Puget Sound at Sunset
Olympic Mountain Range at Sunset

Bambridge Island
Space Needle and Skyline at Dusk

I have recovered from my post Superbowl Depression. It is hard to be depressed with the weather we have had here in Seattle. Lots of people have given me advice as I get set to leave for Iraq. One of my bosses, COL F, gave me some advice that stuck with me but not for the obvious reasons. He told me "LT Barry sweat all of the little things while you are over there." After he told me that I got to thinking that I should also enjoy the little things in life. Once the clouds part and the sun comes out, Seattle is the most beautiful city in America. I had the opportunity last Friday to enjoy the little things in life and here in Seattle, that I normally take for granted. Rather than ruin my observations with lame cliches and flowery jiberish I have included pictures. It is hard to believe that I will only have 11 more days to fully enjoy this beauty.