Dog Days of August

So, here we are in the last day of August and a month has gone by since my last post.  I am sorry about not writing more often, but I have been very busy this last month.  August is always a pretty good month for me...besides being born on August 25th.  August 2 (1950) was the wedding anniversary for my parents, August 10 (1955)  was my brother Bob's birthday, August 11 (1983) is the anniversary of my first day in the military, August 9th was my first game at Yankee Stadium (1978), my hero, Elvis died on August 16 (1977), August 22 was the first day I spent in the combat zone (2006).  August was just my month.  One year ago today, I flew to Greece to attend my friends wedding and had a tremendous week exploring one of the most beautiful parts of the world.  I don't know when I am going to die, but I hope it's in August (but not this August!).  That would complete the circle.  So this month has flown by and I got a chance to leave Kuwait and fly in a Black Hawk to Bahrain for a few days.  Bahrain was the place I was suppose to go to before I got diverted to Camp Cupcake.  It's beautiful down there.  It was good to see all the kids I trained with at Camp Shelby down there.  They all complimented me on my weight loss over the summer saying I looked great.  Since coming to Kuwait I have lost 38 pounds and counting!  On my birthday, my new friends, Chris and Ricky took me out for pizza and ice cream and it was nice.  Overall, I am feeling good about where I am.  The deployment has been physically healthy for me but the mental stress of dealing with soldiers problems as well as issues at home have made this deployment emotionally more challenging then the last time.  As far as coming home, it is looking more and more likely that I will be rejoining my unit in Bahrain at the end of next month and then perhaps home sometime in the early fall.  But you know the Army, nothing is solid right now.  I tell my fellow soldiers I want to dress up this Halloween...but I don't want to be a soldier for Halloween.  Ha ha.  So keep your fingers crossed my friends.  I miss Albany and America.  I miss my life before the Army.  I miss my job and my veterans.  Happy August...my month!