First, Happy Thanksgiving to all!
We Skyped with Brad this morning. It was great to see his face!
I'm happy to report that he had a full Thanksgiving meal yesterday - turkey, ham (surprised about that given the prohibition on sending pork products via package), stuffing, and a table full of desserts.
He posted on facebook that he spent a lot today building roofs for the huts where he and his fellow soldiers live -- and that it snowed! Snow in the desert. Yes. When we talked he said it really just dusted where he is, but the surrounding mountains are capped with snow. He also elaborated on the need for the roof. They have flat roofs now -- but are building a slanted roof b/c there can be a lot of snow there in the winter and a flat roof would not be able to hold it.
Brad sends his love to everyone, and a special "Happy Birthday" to Nana.
More later.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Brad Reached His Village
Had literally 30 seconds of skype time with Brad today. The internet connection was not great -- but I did get to see his face. He reached his village. Hopefully I will be able to share more of an update in the next couple of days. When I talked to him a week or so ago, he thought his first two weeks in the village would be a lot of transition work with the group of soldiers that have been in place -- and after that he will get into whatever his routine will be. More later.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Brad Update - Sunday November 18th
Brad is well.
I had a chance to IM with him via Skype this morning for a good amount of time. He is 9 1/2 hours ahead of us on the east coast. The kids and I were all peppering him with questions. He doesn't have his computer yet -- so no camera or mic -- so just IM today. Hopefully we will be able to see and hear him in the near future -- but even the IM conversation was pretty cool.
Sawyer was marveling at how fast we could go back and forth from across the world.
He is not yet at his final destination, but has moved from the base to a small village where he and his unit are training with their Special Forces counterparts.
His unit has a cook with him -- so he says he is eating pretty well. We were wondering if he was on a steady diet of MREs, but he says no. Mostly stews and rice.
No running water however -- so no showers...
There are goats and donkeys wandering around everyone, and he says the really little kids all ride around on the donkeys. We asked if he thought he was eating goat and donkey stew -- he said he didn't think so... he insists the food is airlifted in.
On that point, he said that anything anyone sends will eventually be air-dropped to him -- from 35,000 feet! So pack things well!
More later. He asked that I send love to everyone.
P
I had a chance to IM with him via Skype this morning for a good amount of time. He is 9 1/2 hours ahead of us on the east coast. The kids and I were all peppering him with questions. He doesn't have his computer yet -- so no camera or mic -- so just IM today. Hopefully we will be able to see and hear him in the near future -- but even the IM conversation was pretty cool.
Sawyer was marveling at how fast we could go back and forth from across the world.
He is not yet at his final destination, but has moved from the base to a small village where he and his unit are training with their Special Forces counterparts.
His unit has a cook with him -- so he says he is eating pretty well. We were wondering if he was on a steady diet of MREs, but he says no. Mostly stews and rice.
No running water however -- so no showers...
There are goats and donkeys wandering around everyone, and he says the really little kids all ride around on the donkeys. We asked if he thought he was eating goat and donkey stew -- he said he didn't think so... he insists the food is airlifted in.
On that point, he said that anything anyone sends will eventually be air-dropped to him -- from 35,000 feet! So pack things well!
More later. He asked that I send love to everyone.
P
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Brad's Address
Heard from Brad this morning -- we had an IM chat over skype. He is in Afghanistan. He's at a FOB (Forward Operating Base) for another day or so. He is fine. He says its hot during the day and cold at night, and feeling a lot more "real".
Here is his address:
PFC JACKSON, CHARLES
FOB RIPLEY (VSP SARAW)
SOTF-SE
APO AE 09380
It will take 3-4 weeks for anything sent to him to get from the post office here to him in his village. Its my understanding that the shipping costs we pay are from our sending location to New York -- and packages are sent centrally from there overseas, then to Afghanistan, then to village. Will send additional information if I get it.
Brad has logged on to this Blog -- so if you publish a comment, he will can see it here.
Piper
Here is his address:
PFC JACKSON, CHARLES
FOB RIPLEY (VSP SARAW)
SOTF-SE
APO AE 09380
It will take 3-4 weeks for anything sent to him to get from the post office here to him in his village. Its my understanding that the shipping costs we pay are from our sending location to New York -- and packages are sent centrally from there overseas, then to Afghanistan, then to village. Will send additional information if I get it.
Brad has logged on to this Blog -- so if you publish a comment, he will can see it here.
Piper
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Brad got to his first stop uneventfully. I was able to skype with him last night. Not to Kuwait has he thought -- but he spent a couple of days at an airforce base in the region. He is heading to Afghanistan today -- and will spend a day or so at a base before going to his village. No mailing address yet -- but I will let you know when I have one.
Blog Intro
All -- not sure if this will stick -- but looking to create a place where I can post updates about Brad -- and others can post their updates and good wishes too! We'll see how it works!
Love,
Piper
Love,
Piper
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