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Friday, October 31, 2008

LOL Cont

So last night 99er came in wearing his beret. I messaged P (my coworker) on the chat that 99er was there wearing his beret and that it was nice. He said lol or screw off or something like that. 5 minutes later he messages me that 99er came back there and says to him "nice lid", starts laughing, says that yesterdays event was actually very funny and shook his hand again. It was toooooooooooooooo funny.

Man was I tired yesterday. Good thing there is so much adrenalin pumping through me at work that it keeps me from falling asleep. It was chaos everything going on yesterday but I did a good job keeping a grip on it. Was very hectic right until 0030.

I stopped in to check my email last night at 0045 on my way home. I was trying to update my blog last night but the laptop that I was using wouldn't go to my webpage said it was blocked by dnd. So I am updating it now. So it was 0120 or so when I finally got to my tent and then I got ready for bed. Got to bed at 0140 and the last time I looked at my watch was 0300 and I was still awake. My brain is on overdrive planning stuff etc. Then I was up at 0815 so it is getting worse and worse. My insomnia that is. I love the job, I can't wait to go to work.

I forgot to post yesterday that the night before Dale (Jen's husband) was in my work area and we got to have a little chat. Was really nice to see him again. Made me really miss Jen and Nate more but was soooo awesome to chat with him. Kyle W is also here, Stew (AESOP) from greenwood, and a few other people. It is really cool working with Brian Tang. We were in the same year together at RMC. He is an AERE and he is doing a staff job in my HQ as well, learning the army lingo.

One annoying thing is that the army seems to be so jealous of the AIR FORCE that they bash us all the time. They make a joke everyday about the aurora or the UAV or something else. Was annoying me but I think it is jealousy so I am trying to not let it bother me.

I think that is all i have for now.

Robyn sent me an awesome email. I loved it.

RH

Thursday, October 30, 2008

LOL

I had another awesome day yesterday despite being very tired from little sleep. I headed to the other side at 1020 yesterday so I could make it to MIR before 1100 to check on my cold since I have been coughing up phlegm and unable to sleep. They gave me 4 T3's for sleeping and some ibuprofen for my knee and some sudafed for the day. She also did a throat swab so we will see what happens. She doesn't think I have strep throat.

So I was there way too early but that let me be able to go for lunch with Andre. He is the guy that is helping me learn the job. Normally he fills in for me when I go eat but since the other guy was on watch he could go to the mess with me. Was nice to chat about stuff and what is going on. He is a Griffon Pilot and he is retiring in June. He has been working 16 hour days helping us although yesterday he didn't go till 0930 and he left at 2000 so he is pulling back because he knows I can handle it.

The day went really well. I was a rockstar. I love this job alot. It taps into all of my special skills. I get to use 2 computers, monitor the chat program, control assets, liase with the air battalion, etc. I really like it. 12 hours goes by really fast when you love what is going on. The problem is that I keep thinking about it after I am off shift. I even had a dream about it and I was Mircing in my sleep. MIRC is the chat program that we use for comms with everyone. It has since become a verb. anyways that was what I dreampt about.

I took 2 T3's last night and I only managed to sleep from 0200-0745 again. but I got up and had a hot breakie, and then took a shower. Now I am doing my blog and email and then I will try and squeeze in a little nap before work.

It was a beautiful day here yesterday ending with a fabulous sunset. My warrant officer took pics so I will post them when I get them from him when I get home.

So there was a couple of highlights yesterday. One was that I did an "attention in the JOC" That was awesome. The JOC is where I work. So I did one to clarify things for everyone in the room since there was alot of confusion. Was awesome. I got bonus points for that from G3.

Then later the General came in to the JOC. Here is the funny part. The general went back to where my Warrant Officer works. He was wearing his desert cadpat with his patrol pack and his helmet and the flashlight on the helmet. P turns around and doesn't recognize the general. He thought it was the captain that works behind me. So he goes "Nice helmet". The general goes excuse me? He goes "Nice helmet Sir". Then he sees the nametag and realizes who it is. The General goes, What's your name and who do you work for. He goes WO.... And the General goes 'Don't you ever dismiss me like that ever again". Then P goes, I am very sorry Sir, I didn't recognize you, and shook his hand. So then the general is standing by G3 to the left of me and Paul comes out to talk to me about something. I go, there's 99er (the general) and Paul goes, I know and told me that story and I couldn't stop laughing. I was almost crying. It was so ridiculous. The general is a very very scary guy. I almost pissed myself. Then we had a rocket attack so I had to run to the other room and put on my flack jacket and helmet and come back to my station. The problem is that everytime I saw Paul after that I couldn't stop laughing hysterically. The general has no problem ripping someone a new one. So I think because I was so tired I couldn't stop laughing. I was going a little crazy. Everything was funny. But I am laughing as I type it. Kris, you probably are too. It was that funny.

So we are guessing there will be a power point presentation happening soon with pics to ensure that everyone can recognize the general.

Anyways, having a blast but missing my son terribly. Can't wait for Gill to visit him on halloween to take pics since Paul told me last night that he is way too busy to take pics for me. He says he will do it when I go to Afghanistan but I am not convinced. If he can't do it while i am away for 2 weeks then I don't know. It really pisses me off since I get no email or pics from him. All he has to do is post it on facebook for me. Or at least take 1 pic a day and leave it on the camera so I can download them when I get home. But hockey and skiing are more important. I will have to have a major discussion about this with him when I get home. I will not come back after a 6 month tour and have no pics or videos of my son for my scrapbook. I am not sure what I will do. I think I will arrange for Logan to spend some time in Manitoba with my parents because they will take pics for me. I think it is good that Paul is seeing all of the stuff I do because I don’t think he realized it before.

Another thing I am really worried about when I deploy is P spanking L. He has been spanking him since around 10 months I think. I don’t like it and I don’t know how to fix the problem. Spanking is so old school and I don’t want Logan to be afraid of his parents like I was growing up. (I am not angry that I was spanked). There was 5 kids. I am sure it was a nightmare and that was how things were then. But now there is so much research on the negative aspects of spanking. I need to figure out a really good support network for while I am gone to ensure that my son is well taken care of while I am away.

Logan was crying on the phone last night when I got to talk to P because he got into the garbage and P spanked him and he was crying. It broke my heart to hear him cry while I was away and couldn’t soothe him.

P figures that L isn’t sick anymore.

P is spending a fortune on babysitters while I am away so that is another reason why I wouldn’t mind L heading to Manitoba for a month or something. That would also let P know what it feels like to be away from your son and not see any pics or anything. He had a babysitter last thursay night, Friday night, all day Saturday, all day Sunday and last night. Hockey and skiing seem to be the priority.

Mom H, I may be in Kingston from 5 Jan to 5 Feb. I am wondering if you can talk to Aunt Maryann and see if she can keep L for that time. That way, if I can borrow a vehicle from you, then I can go visit L on the weekends and spend some time with him. I want to spend as much time with him as I can before I deploy. Can you see if that is a possibility?

Thanx.

Anyways,

That’s all for now.

Xooxxo
RH

LOL

I had another awesome day yesterday despite being very tired from little sleep. I headed to the other side at 1020 yesterday so I could make it to MIR before 1100 to check on my cold since I have been coughing up phlegm and unable to sleep. They gave me 4 T3's for sleeping and some ibuprofen for my knee and some sudafed for the day. She also did a throat swab so we will see what happens. She doesn't think I have strep throat.

So I was there way too early but that let me be able to go for lunch with Andre. He is the guy that is helping me learn the job. Normally he fills in for me when I go eat but since the other guy was on watch he could go to the mess with me. Was nice to chat about stuff and what is going on. He is a Griffon Pilot and he is retiring in June. He has been working 16 hour days helping us although yesterday he didn't go till 0930 and he left at 2000 so he is pulling back because he knows I can handle it.

The day went really well. I was a rockstar. I love this job alot. It taps into all of my special skills. 12 hours goes by really fast when you love what is going on. The problem is that I keep thinking about it after I am off shift. I even had a dream about it and I was Mircing in my sleep.

I took 2 T3's last night and I only managed to sleep from 0200-0745 again. but I got up and had a hot breakie, and then took a shower. Now I am doing my blog and email and then I will try and squeeze in a little nap before work.

It was a beautiful day here yesterday ending with a fabulous sunset. My WO took pics so I will post them when I get them from him when I get home.

So there was a couple of highlights yesterday. One was that I did an "attention in the JOC" That was awesome. So I did one to clarify things for everyone in the room since there was alot of confusion. Was awesome. I got bonus points for that from G3.

Then later the General came in to the JOC. Here is the funny part. The general went back to where my Warrant Officer works. He was wearing his desert cadpat with his patrol pack and his helmet and the flashlight on the helmet. P turns around and doesn't recognize the general. He thought it was the captain that works behind me. So he goes "Nice helmet". The general goes excuse me? He goes "Nice helmet Sir". Then he sees the nametag and realizes who it is. The General goes, What's your name and who do you work for. He says his name etc. And the General goes 'Don't you ever dismiss me like that ever again". Then P goes, I am very sorry Sir, I didn't recognize you, and shook his hand. So then the general is standing by G3 to the left of me and P comes out to talk to me about something. I go, there's 99er (the general) and P goes, I know and told me that story and I couldn't stop laughing. I was almost crying. It was so ridiculous. The general is a very very scary guy. I almost pissed myself. Then we had a rocket attack so I had to run to the other room and put on my flack jacket and helmet and come back to my station. The problem is that everytime I saw P after that I couldn't stop laughing hysterically. The general has no problem ripping someone a new one. So I think because I was so tired I couldn't stop laughing. I was going a little crazy. Everything was funny. But I am laughing as I type it. Kris, you probably are too. It was that funny.

So we are guessing there will be a power point presentation happening soon with pics to ensure that everyone can recognize the general.

Anyways, having a blast but missing my son terribly. Can't wait for Gill to visit him on halloween to take pics since P told me last night that he is way too busy to take pics for me. He says he will do it when I deploy but I am not convinced. If he can't do it while i am away for 2 weeks then I don't know. It really pisses me off since I get no email or pics from him. All he has to do is post it on facebook for me. Or at least take 1 pic a day and leave it on the camera so I can download them when I get home. But hockey and skiing are more important. I will have to have a major discussion about this with him when I get home. I will not come back after a 6 month tour and have no pics or videos of my son for my scrapbook. I am not sure what I will do. I think I will arrange for Logan to spend some time in Manitoba with my parents because they will take pics for me. I think it is good that P is seeing all of the things I do.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

awesome weather

We have been totally blessed with awesome weather here for the last 2 days and today looks like it will be just as awesome. Makes me so happy.

Had another rockstar day at work. G3 told me we did an excellent job.

My co-worker is a rockstar as well and he totally makes my job easier.

Met some more awesome people. Makes it nice to know that you will be working with cool people.

I only got 5 hours of sleep last night. It was after 0200 before I fell asleep and I woke up at 0745. I decided to go for breakfast at 0815. It was awesome. 2 sunnyside up, bacon, potatoes and toast. Then I came back and tried to sleep and couldn`t so I decided I would just get up and shower and then go to the other side early to try and make it to MIR. My knee is bothering me and I want to get my cold checked out since I am coughing up phlegm and still feel shitty and I`m losing my voice. I think it might be an infection.

That`s all for now. I am expecting a not too crazy day at work.

laterz

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

So yesterday was awesome. I was a rockstar at work. My shift was non-stop action till midnight. Then I had 30 minutes to prepare my turnover to let him know what was going on. I am doing way way better now. It felt awesome. Lots of adrenaline. My fast typing skills are a huge asset since alot of what I do is on computer. I have 2 laptops in front of me when I am working. I have to monitor 7 different chat windows along with the situation in the room, and make phone calls when necessary. Things can sure get chaotic but I was a multi-tasking machine yesterday.

I am still sick and it has gotten worse. Now I have a bad hacking cough, coughing up phlegm etc. Not fun. But other than that, my blisters are good. I will wear my running shoes till thursday and then try my boots again for the last few days. I am not sure if it is because the weather is so nice but I am on top of the world. I feel great. It was warm and sunny yesterday. Then today it will be 16. I love it. I went to bed just after 1 AM and I was up at 0900. NOt sure when I fell asleep but I am sure I did. I feel alright right now. I got up, had to pick up my laundry, dropped off my roomies laundry. Then I came back and showered, and then dropped off a new bag of dirty laundry.

NOw I am here doing my blog/checking emails etc. Then I will go back and do some other stuff. Then lunch 1130-1145. Then I walk to work which takes 15 minutes. Then I have a half hour to see what is going on before I take over.

Andre (the helo liason guy ) that I work with who is helping me learn the job thinks I am a rockstar. He loves how fast I type. Sometimes he dictates. Goes well.

I didn't get yelled at once yesterday so that was awesome as well.

I got to talk to P for 5 minutes last night. He thinks L is coming down with a cold. My poor little guy. Not sure what we will do if L is too sick for daycare. We will have to figure something out. A contingency plan.

I wish I would have been home on the weekend to take Logan to the pumpkin patch with Laurel and Gill but nope. It really sucks not getting a weekend off but what can you do. Reminds me of being at sea when you have no time off. You work around the clock. Same as with the guys in the field.

HMMM. Oh, Most of the people I work with are awesome. They are having a cheesy mustache competition right now. So funny. I didn't know that till yesterday though. I thought people thought they looked good!!!

that is all for now!

Oh yeah I thought they were going to make us tear down the mod tents when we are done but the latest I hear is that they may move us to another tent. That would suck since we are shift workers. We shall see. I am going to pop in and see if they changed my flight for me.

Monday, October 27, 2008

So I updated my blog yesterday and then was signing out and something happened with the server or something and my post didn't get posted. When I saw that I didn't have enough time to time it again since I was heading out to go eat and then go to work. Was not happy I typed up my post for nothing.

So basically saturday was retarded windy and cold. It even snowed a bit. Our tent almost blew down and there was a fire in the tent beside us. Lots of portapotties blew over. I was glad I wasn't in one when that happened and that it didn't fall over on the door so that I was stuck. It was an indication of a fire. We share the same heater (only allowed on at night and is thermostat controlled) Grass had blown into the heaterand it smelled like fire. We froze on our 15 minute walk back home at 0030. Then when I got up yesterday the showers were down so I had to have a little bird bath and go to work with crazy hair. My face looks like crap these days. I broke out just before I came here and the filthy living isn't helping anything. Sand and dirt everywhere. In my eyes, ears etc.

My cold is ongoing and is very shitty. I can't sleep very well because of all the phlegm draining down my throat. Despite that my blisters are healing. I am waiting until my 7 days though so that if they start again I only have like 4 more days here after that or something.

I really miss L. I feel bad for him since he is at daycare all day and then P had a babysitter thurs and fri night so he could work on the fence and then again all day saturday and sunday because he had training at mt. washington. I hope L isn't too upset by me not being there. I guess I won't really know until I get home. If he is really mad at me then that will be my answer.

P said L's teeth seem to be bugging him lately.

My Dad can't get over how much L has changed since July. His face has totally changed since it is so slim now where it used to be a round circle.

Things are coming along ok with the job. I am learning alot every day. I got yelled at yesterday by the army major for stuff that wasn't our fault. I stood my ground though and tried to explain to them. He appologized later for freaking out on us which was very very nice of himm.

The army is retarded to work for. The setup here isn't ideal for us either with the walking 15 minutes to work and back. They are finally letting us drink their water. Before we had to carry our own water there from our side.

It has been really cold and windy but any day I wake up and there is no snow is awesome.

The port a potties are disgusting here but what can you do. They pump them out every day but with so many people here they always run out of toilet paper.

I only get to talk to P for 2-3 minutes each day if I am able to find some time while I am on watch and he is available. Makes it hard especially since he doesn't email me or take pics of L to send to me. I hope he gets better at that when I am actually deployed.

I just learned that I have another exercise in Kingston from 5 Jan - 16 Jan. I also may have to stay there till the 5th of Feb to complete my pre-deployment training.

Sorry for the novel.

Can't wait to get out of the field and get home.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

So yesterday the winds were ridiculous. It was nuts. It was a very cold in the face wind on my 15 minute walk to my tent at 0030.

Apparently our tent almost blew down yesterday. Patti was securing it when she was supposed to be sleeping to come on watch at 0030. There was also an indication of a fire in the tent next to us. Apparently it was just grass blowing in to the heater.

I did well on my watch last night and learned alot. Those 12 hours seem to take forever and it doesn`t seem I have enough time in between watches to do anything.

Showers were down this morning so I had a little birdbath. Good thing I came prepared.

My knee seems to be bothering me but I hope it starts to feel better.

L and P are doing well although I only got to talk to P for 3 minutes last night when I went out for a bathroom break. 3 of the porta potties had blown over etc.
IMP for supper. Not so yummy.

later for now. talk to you tomorrow morning hopefully.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Field Ex

Hi everyone. I am in the field. I am trying to make the best out of it. I have huge blisters on my heals again so I am wearing my running shoes for 7 days. They are starting to feel better. I also have another raging cold so I feel like shit. My nose is all congested and I have a really sore throat and it is harder to sleep. I was job shadowing and learning since I have been there. It is nice there is internet here but I doubt I will have much time to use it with my schedule. I now work 1230 until 0030. It is really cold and windy here today. Feels like my accomodation tent is going to blow down. We have a heater that is on at night and so far I have been warm even though Lesley K told me to only bring one part of it. I haven't run in to Dale or Josh yet. Ran into a few old friends though. I hope by the end of this that I get what is going on. It is alot to absorb right now. I have a 1.5 km walk every time I have to go to work and then back after my shift. My tent is right beside the blue rockets so that is awesome. The showers are very close as well. I get 1 5 minute shower a day. The food is pretty good. I am confident that my flight home will be changed till the 4th of November since my tasking cell screwed up and sent me here a day early and is sending me home a day late. The exercise is over on the 3rd and there will be a smoker.

I got to see my Dad and my brother Rob in Edmonton when I flew out on the 21st. I had 3 hours with my Dad and an hour with Rob. Was so awesome. I treated Dad to supper and we had a really nice visit. Then I caught the IBBS at 2000, and got sent right out to the field. Finally found my tent at midnight. I was cold that night but now I am alright.

I really miss my son alot but I am coping. P seems to be really busy with L and work and the fence. L is with a sitter all weekend because he has some ski patrol stuff going on. My watch assistant is P and he is awesome. He is very funny so he makes it less shitty. I also made friends with Kris B. He is an ex aso out of Comox so we have alot in common.
No time off while I am here so unfortunately I won't be able to see Jen. We aren't allowed to leave and it is just 12 on 12 off until I leave.


Love RH

Monday, October 20, 2008




Off to the field tomorrow

I am leaving tomorrow for MG until the 5th of November. The awesome thing is that I may be able to meet up with my Dad and my brother Rob at the airport while I am waiting for the bus to Wainwright. Dad is driving Rob's truck from MB to Edmonton tomorrow. Rob flies in to
EIA tomorrow at 7 PM. I land at 1633 and my bus isn't until 2000.


I have huge blisters on my heels. I am hoping that my feet get better. I am not wearing those boots anymore. i am going back to my oldschool pair.

I managed to do 3.5 km out of a 5 km march on saturday with the dog and L and the stroller and the boots that give me blisters. My blisters hurt so bad, I had to call P to come and get us after 3.5 km.

I am still recovering.

Talk to you when I get back.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Off on exercise I go

Well, I see that I have been bad at blogging. I blogged after we got back from Ontario. Well, the last couple of weeks before I came back to work were busy with preparations. L started daycare on the 1st of October. We absolutely love her. She takes him at 0710 for us even though she only opens at 0800. He is thriving there and loves it. Sometimes he seems sad to come home. He naps well for her twice a day. Not so well for us sometimes. I went back to work on the 8th of October. I had my medicals right away and I am fit full duties again. Friday I found out that I am deploying. There are alot of positives. It will be hard being away from L and P but not as hard if L were older and "knowing" that I am gone. I hope he remembers me. I will fly P and L over to Europe when I have my HLTA and we will do our tour of Europe. Will be fun. L will still be under 2 so he will fly free. So that is the big news. I am furiously trying to get stuff ready to go and live in the field. I get my kit tomorrow. There is alot of stuff to do along with some of my Air Force quals I need to get back.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We deep-fried a turkey on Saturday night and had Barb, Gary, Shannon and Jaime over. Sunday we did one in the oven and had Laurel and the boys over. My trip to Greenwood had been pushed to mid november.

We will probably try to spend a week in Manitoba and then a week in Ontario for Christmas/New Years or in the reverse order.

That is all I have for now. I will keep you posted!

Saturday, October 4, 2008



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