email from Rex...

Hey Family (& friends),
It’s been too long since I wrote everyone last time. I’d say sorry if I felt really bad, but I’ve been getting worked like crazy since I got here so I just feel a little bad. During previous deployments I’ve had a tough time falling asleep because I tried to get to bed early. I figured the deployment would go by quicker if I slept through more of it. This time around, I have no problem falling asleep because I’m so tired by the time I have a chance to go to bed. Other than working so much, I really love my job this time. It’s a lot of fun getting out there and interacting with the people here. I’m having fun learning and adapting to being around a different culture. My living conditions are good when I’m around my CHU, (containerized housing unit) but I’ve been moving around to different places a lot recently, so I’ve been living out of a rucksack a lot too. I really don’t even mind doing that too much either. It’s not as big of a deal when you know you’ve got a nice “home” to return to, but this country does suck. I don’t have a clue how/why the people hang around here. I guess it has something to do with not knowing anything better, traditions, family, or something. At any rate, I’ll never understand it. This place straight-up blows.
I want to tell all of you thanks for all your love, support, and prayers. Most importantly, I want to thank you for all the packages you’ve been sending. Within a couple of days, I received six packages. You guys have quickly established yourselves as the best family. You’re all very popular among my team. You’ve all set a pretty high standard early on, and I’m sure you’ll keep the goodies coming. Also along the same lines, I’ve sent Kira and a few of you some ideas for service project type things you guys can do back home. I’m in a pretty unique situation in that I have regular opportunities to interact with the people, so it’s really easy for me to hook them up with stuff. The kids here love soccer balls, candy, and small toys. And the Iraqi soldiers love any kind of pocket knives, leathermen, gerbers, etc. If any of you have ever wanted to find a way to impact how things are going over here, now’s your chance. It’s the little things that are making a difference in us winning this thing, and you guys would be surprised to see how much of a difference small things like that make. I’ve got access to interpreters if you want to send little notes or whatever to the people here, and I’d be happy to send pictures or other things your way. Please join the fun and start doing some of these things. I know all of you are thinking it’s a good idea, so you might as well get up and start doing something about it. Before you know it, I’ll be a couple of months away from coming home, and it’ll be too late to get something going. You’ve all got ten months, so let’s see how much good you can do. Contact me for more information when you want it. Anyways, thanks again for all your love and support. I miss you guys and think about you all the time. Keep on taking care of Kira and the dogs for me while I’m away and enjoy your lives in the land of the free.
Love, -Rex
P.S. I'm working on getting some more pictures out. I'll send another e-mail with a couple, and within the next week or two I plan on getting Kira a bunch of them.