The Kitchen

Monkey,

The kitchen, like all the rest of the rooms, is pretty small. We don't mind much, because we don't use it. We eat all of our meals (so far anyway) at the cafeteria. Remember how the cafeteria is called the D-Fac. Weird, I know.

Anyway, that's my apartment. I like it, but I will like it more when the rest of my stuff comes in the mail. I hope that's soon, but it might be a while.

Love you like crazy,
Your crazy Dad

The Living Room

Patch,

Here is the living room. It's very small. We're taking the dining table out (because we never use it) and putting in a comfy chair. I'm going to move my TV in here and then we will have a real "man cave" for watching movies and sports.

And playing PlayStation, if it ever comes in the mail.

Love,
Dad

The Bathroom

Hi Buddy,



Here's the most important room in the apartment. Ha ha ha! My roommate, David, and I try to keep this room neat too, because we are sharing. If one of us was messy, the other one might get mad.



It's a challenge for your dear old Dad.



The tub is really big, but sometimes the water is brown (like in Riga!), so I haven't taken a bath yet.



Love ya!

Dad

My Bedroom

Hi Buddy,

Even though the sound doesn't work. I wanted to take you on a video tour of my apartment.

This is my bedroom. It's sort of small so I try to keep it neat everyday. When I wake up in the morning, I make my bed. Then I do sit ups and push ups and stretches.

I try to keep my desk neat and my clothes put away.

I can't wait for my other things to come in the mail so that I have pictures of you to put up on my walls. I also thought I might buy a Star Wars poster too!

What do you think?

Love you lots,
Dad

Testing, testing, Part II

This should work, I think....

Fruits and Vegetables

Hi Monkey,

At the D-Fac (our cafeteria) they almost always have my favorite fruit (which is pineapple) and my favorite vegetable (which is broccoli). I get to eat lots and lots of it to help me stay healthy here.

If I had to guess what your favorite fruit was, I would say watermelon. As for your favorite vegetable, I'd guess tomatoes. Am I right?

Love,

Dad

A Test

Hi Bud,

Let me know if this works.

Love,

Dad

Friday is like Saturday

Hi Patrick,

Here in Iraq, the weekend starts on Friday, because most people go to church on Saturday. I had to work today anyway, but things were less busy.

I had chicken strips for dinner and thought of you. I know how much you like chicken. I had a BIG pile of broccoli with the strips though, so maybe you wouldn't have liked my dinner all that much....

Love you lots,

Dad

Where I eat.

Hi Patch,

I wanted to tell you about where I eat everyday. Everyone calls it the D-Fac, which is short for Dining Facility. It's really a big cafeteria, like the one you have at school. We get our trays and then our silverware and then we can ask for the food we want. There are LOTS of coices. I tried to eat lots of fruit and vegetables, because it would be easy to gain a lot of weight here and I want you to stop patting my stomach and saying "Big belly, big belly."

There's dessert everyday, but I haven't had any yety.

I love you,
Dad

Yay!

Skype worked! Nice game of dominoes, bud. You beat me pretty good.

Talk to you again soon.

Love,
Dad

Oh boy, is it hot!

Hi Patch,

It was 115 degrees Farenheit here today. That's HOT! But it's supposed to be even hotter tomorrow.

I hope we will Skype tonight. If not, I'll try to call you.

Love,
Dad

First Day at Work!

Hi Patch,

I can't wait to see you on Skype. We'll have to do it soon. I'll send an email to your Mom and she and I will figure out when we can do it.

Today I went to work for the first time at the Embassy. I had a good time and got some stuff done. Then I had dinner in our BIG dining hall and worked out. Now I'm really tired and going to bed.

I love you more than anything,

Your Dad

Hello Buddy!

Hi Patch!

I'm here in Baghdad. I got to ride on a HUGE army airplane. We sat on benchs and there were NO windows so we couldn't see when we got here. It is VERY hot and VERY dusty. Luckily, there is a strong breeze, so it doesn't seem too bad.

I love you very much. I'm soory that I missed your call on Friday.

I will be in my apartment soon and will call you as soon as I can.

Love,
Dad

Glad you like it.

Hi Patrick,
I'm so happy you like the digital picture frame I gave you. Hopefully, it will help you think of me when you miss me.

I updated our count down too. Now it will let us know how long until we go to the beach for Thanksgiving with all the Derkses.
And here's a picture of the house! Looks like fun!!!

Love,
Dad