From the comfort and safety of my home computer

Hi, y'all!

Mower needs fixin', yard needs mowin', pets can't get enough attention, roof needs replacing, and next semester's reading list already weighs heavily upon me, but...home sweet home!

I had so much fun with this blog that I've decided to create a place I can rant and muse about various things in my life as the spirit moves me. Since "Welcome to Balad" has a very specific theme and served (and still serves) a very specific purpose, I'll relegate it to the background when I start up the new blog.

I've thought about removing some of the more depressed moments of that blog, but choose not to. They are, first and foremost, part of the experience. I would be misleading those who are Balad-bound (or anywhere in the AOR) if I made it sound as though everything was annoying but still funny. It just isn't like that. I know this depends upon the person undergoing and relating any given experience, which is why I'll leave the personal information, as well.

In my opinion, the point of a personal blog is to share what it's like to "be me" in any given situation. That's part of what makes them so engaging. It's reality internet, from my mind's eye.

For better and for worse, this blog has captured my experience in the AOR. Even the periods of silence say something about me and what was happening around me. And the commentary from the peanut gallery fills out the picture.

For those of you who are headed in-country, I wish you the best. Apply yourself and help your team--they'll need all the morale you can spare. Stay low, don't get complacent, and good luck.

This entry was posted by diana and filed under military intelligence.

9 comments

Comment from: Barbara Black

Diana, thanks for keeping us posted. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog (and the comments) and have started a notebook of your entries. (Still don’t have all of them copied, so glad you are keeping them where I can find them, still!)

Also, glad you are home, safe and sound—-well, as sound as you ever were! (That’s a joke, for anyone who doesn’t know.) Hope to see you soon? Would love to have you visit over the holidays—or any time you are up to coming this way!

Love you!

12/23/04 @ 07:18

Comment from: swamprat

Loved the writing even when I had been through the same thing on the same day with you. You have a real gift and I always enjoy what you have to say.

Long-distance hugs,

Jeff

12/27/04 @ 00:48

Comment from: Roger D

Well, well, well. She made it home - and all in one piece. You told a great story over the past 4 months. It entertained me in at least four countries. (I am currently in south Argentina - where if not the end of the world, you can certainly see it from here). Any way, welcome home and if I breeze through ‘bama, I will certainly give you a shout.
Love,
Rog

12/29/04 @ 02:47

Comment from: jackie Reeves

I am a civilian and my son-Stephen J Christian is in Balad-Air Force with 823rd. Please take care of my son and his fellow troops. Good luck to you all.

12/29/04 @ 17:46

Comment from:

Hi, Rog! I was thinking about you yesterday, as I ran to an ongoing account on NPR about Indonesia and environs and their earthquake/tsunami victims. Call me selfish, but I’m much relieved to hear you’re on some other chunk of the globe at the moment.

Definitely give me a shout if you find yourself within driving distance of Montgomery, Babe.

12/29/04 @ 22:00

Comment from: James

Yay! Welcome to the mundane world.

Let us know where your blog is, you’re addictive.

And go back in to martial arts, I would love more of your views on that…

01/03/05 @ 17:50

Comment from:

Thanks, James. :)

The mundane blog is at pdblack.twistedpair.net. I thought people were being linked there from the old blog, but they seem to just be linking to the Balad blog and not being transferred to the Smorgasbord. I’d fix it so it would stop directing them to the Balad one, but I’m too blog-stupid to figure out how.

01/05/05 @ 03:31

Comment from: Son Of Balad City

I need to know, did you see City of Balad, and if So, What do you think

SBC

05/14/05 @ 02:51

Comment from:

Sorry to disappoint, SBC, but I didn’t see the city.

I am, of course, curious as to why you want to know. You’re from there? Want to know what Americans think of it? Want to know what’s still standing?

Where are you now? Germany?

05/16/05 @ 10:29

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