Scroll to the bottom of the page.

And you can view the new slide show I've added. I think it's easier to look at this way rather than me adding them in each post. So I've started a slide show. As Nic posts pictures on his myspace I'll steal them and load them into a slide show, which will always be at the botttom of the page. So enjoy! Also, if you'd like to email me some GI Nic pics we can do a slideshow of those as well. Happy photographing! :-)

A little note on phone cards.

Nic suggested that if we send him phone cards to send the AT&T ones. I think you can buy them at Walmart. He said they're the easiest to use and take less time dialing and getting through all the crap to just make a call. So for future reference, AT&T is best if sending phone cards.

Thanks again for all your support. It means the world to him and to us as well.

Nic posted a couple of pictures on myspace.

This is Nic and his roommate, Armanderez posing in what appears to be their barracks (not sure about that though).

Here is Nic on patrol, freezing...notice the gloves. And you thought it was always warm in the desert!

Update - Shipping and Lists

If you want to mail Nic a care package, but don't want to spend a fortune on shipping you can use the post office's Flat Rate boxes. If you get these boxes you can stuff as much stuff as you want and make it as heavy as you want without paying more than the flat rate. The box I used was $8.95 for the shipping and it fit everything I listed in another post below. It weighed 5 pounds, but still didn't cost me more than $8.95. You will only need to get the box, which is free, and fill out a customs form to send with it and then you'll be all set. It's a great deal and such an easy way to send Nic goodies. If you have any questions email me.

Also, if you send Nic books please email me and let me know so I can add it to the list. We know we can't completely avoid duplication, but if we can prevent it we will certainly try. Thanks again to everyone who has sent him anything.

New GI Nic Pic

I think any of us who ever lived in Ashland or the surrounding area can understand how serious this photo is. EUPHORIA being demonstrated!

News from Nic.

I got an email from Nic. He said he received our boxes and gave me a "mental high five" on the candy. So for future reference candy is a BIG hit. :-) He loves reese cups, but I wouldn't send him all reese cups because I'm sure he'd like some variety. The games and movies made it to him safe and sound.

He did tell me that he's being trained to drive the Stryker.

For those of you who don't know what that is I have posted a picture. He said he's not sure why he's being trained unless the current driver goes on leave or gets injured. He said it's a very sweet job...all he has to do is drive...no more dismounting. He's kind of like the getaway car driver. :-) So while I hope nothing bad happens to the current driver, I would love it if Nic got to remain safely in the armored vehicle. He's very excited about it!

So that's the latest update.

What's kickin' with Nic...

I got an email from Nic yesterday. He said he finally did some cool stuff. He said his squad snuck up on a guy's house and "stacked up" against the wall...except him because he got to kick the friggin' door in! He was really proud of himself because it only took one kick. :-) He said it was straight out of movie and that it was really awesome. He said he was really feeling great and proud until they found out the guy whose door he kicked in was innocent. He said his little girls and wife were really scared so he gave them some Fig Newtons. hehe. That's the Nic we know and love! He said it made them feel a little bit better and that they gave the soldiers some bread and that it was actually pretty good darn good bread. He said that luckily the mission wasn't a total loss because another squad caught a guy, a neighbor I think, who had all kinds of insurgent contraband.

Mom talked to him on the phone and he said that while tensions were high and guns were pointed at the innocent family they were securing the property and had to kick in a gate at the back of the house and were surprised to hear "Baaaaaaah, baaaaaah" (goat talk) upon their entry into what they lovingly called "the petting zoo". There were goats, chickens, cows and who knows what else back there. (I hope I got that right, Mom!) :-)

Anyway, he's doing really well and he seems really happy to be actually doing something now. It seems to me that he feels a lot better now that he's being productive and making a difference. While I hate that he's in harms way, I'm glad he's feeling good about what he's doing and most importantly that he hasn't forgotten that there are innocent people over there who are people, not just animals. I think that's evident since he gave the family fig newtons to make them feel better. I love that he cares about them as people...that's a true soldier in my opinion.

Okay, well that's all I know. :-) Check back for more.