Merry Christmas Update!

Hello All,

Had a nice Christmas Eve chat with Brad -- and he sends his Merry Christmas best wishes to all of you!

He woke up Christmas Eve to 12 packages!  He had had mail only once, and it had been a couple of weeks -- so this was a great Christmas surprise.  Hats (warm and the santa-variety), long underwear, LOTS of snacks and sweets, and even a few things that he says he can barter for guard duty shifts!  Thanks to all of you who have sent things his way.  

He had light duty for Christmas, which was nice, and was anticipating a Christmas dinner that was to include some locally captured ducks -- very interested to hear how that was! Will include an update on that in my next post if I hear anything.

Weather update

ouch!  looks cold! hope the hat comes soon!

Update - with picture!

Had 2 quick chats with Brad -- one yesterday morning and one this morning. 

Finally learned how to take a screen shot on Skype!

He sounded good.  There is a lot he can't tell us about what he is doing, but I did hear a little more about what its like for him there. 

In the middle of our chat this morning he said, "Don't freak out -- you are about to hear something kind of loud."  Then came the rat-a-tat of gunfire.  He assured me that was just guys firing at the range.  Only practice -- but I take it that's a sound he hears a lot.

I asked about exercise.  In their compound they have a pretty well-equipped gym!  He says there are a couple of elliptical machines, pull up bars, free weights, a bench press... I would have guessed that if he were at a real base, but was surprised that there would be a lot of equipment where he is. 

I was also surprised to hear that there are also some dogs and cats running around the compound.  Yesterday he was holding a really cute puppy, belonging to the interpreter.  I think the cats are more strays/wild.  I think its kind of cool that there is something so normal there.

More later.  Let me know if you have questions you want me to ask him.  You can add a comment here, or send me an email.  My email address for those who don't have it handy is piper.beveridge@gmail.com.  Also, if you subscribe to this blog by email, you will get an email every day that there is a post the previous day -- so you don't have to remember to come here and check for new posts.  Feel free to forward this to others who might be interested.

Piper

December 4th Update

Hello all!  Had a good Skype chat with Brad Monday evening.  It had been a while (since the last posting) since we were able to connect.  It was 5:30 a.m. his time – he was about to go on a 3-hour guard duty stint.  He came back online briefly after his shift in time to IM a little during the last few minutes of the Redskins/Giants game – he was VERY excited to hear the blow-by-blow of our victory from Mike!

He is doing well, though he looked cold!  By the way – I love technology!  I feel VERY lucky to be able to get a glimpse of his face from so far away!  I will try to capture a screen shot next time and post it. 

No more real snow there (other than a dusting), and I think he has been doing more carpentry than he anticipated.  He has worked on a few more roofs and done other work to shore up his living area for winter.  He says the food is pretty good –better than expected.  They have a cook.  To date, he has not spent a lot of time in the village, and my sense is that they spend all of their free time in their fenced in “compound”.  I hope to ask more about his daily routine (or what he can share of it) the next time we talk. 

He reports no mail yet, but I know he will be thrilled when the things you have sent or are packaging up start to arrive.  A number of you have asked what he would like sent his way.  He says he doesn’t NEED anything specific.  In terms of things he would like, treats and things to pass the time would be welcome and appreciated.  He has internet, but the connection is VERY slow, so its not possible to download a movie or watch a streaming TV show.  He would love physical movies – and I know a few are on the way in Xmas packages being prepared right now.  He has his computer that plays DVDs – not sure it will play Blu-Ray… so until confirmed stick to the regular DVD format.  Magazines and Su-do-ku or other puzzles would also be good ideas.  I know he would also like snacks and sweets.  He loves Pringles – regular and sour cream & onion are his favs.  He likes chocolate – but not nuts.  Chocolate is also tricky b/c though it’s cold where he is, it’s possible that packages can sit in a hot place, and M&Ms can withstand the heat, but other chocolate could melt.  Beef Jerky, gum, Swedish fish, other chips/pretzels, drink mixes, would all be great.  There are some prohibitions – no pork products, no alcohol, no “lewd” materials (so even the Feb Sports Illustrated might be a problem I have heard…).  For you online shoppers, you can ship directly to an APO address from Amazon.com – and they have a category of items called “add-on items” that they won’t sell alone, but will sell if “added on” to another shipment.  I sent a 12-pack of gum with a hat – and if you have Amazon Prime, the shipping is free and they do the customs form.  I don’t know if they have Pringles as an add-on item – but they might!

Brad asked that I send his love to everyone.  More later!