R&R

After seven months in Afghanistan, I finally got to go leave for some well deserved R&R on May 28.  After a couple days in Kuwait and the long flight home.  I got to Cedar Rapids on June 1.  I was greeted at the airport by my mom and dad, sisters Sarah, Jill, and Hilary, and my nephews Zach and Noah.  It was really appreciated that everybody stayed up late to see me as soon as I got off the plane.



The welcome committee and me at the Eastern Iowa Airport.

On a side note, I would like to thank all the Veteran's and Welcome Home groups at the Bangor (Maine), Atlanta, and Dallas airports for their warm reception that they provide every single R&R flight that arrives at each airport (usually one per day).  Thank you for taking time out of your busy days to provide a smile and hand shake to some tired Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines during their long travels to see their loved one.  Also, thanks to the US Cellulars in Maine that provide free cell phones to the troops while they wait in the terminal for the next leg of their trip.

After arriving back Mom and Dad's house (man, it's crazy quite in Iowa...), I spent a week there being force feed my mom's awesome home cooking and rhubarb and apple pies (she's makes the best pies in the world!).  There were also some mandatory trips to my favorite restaurants such as Old Chicago, Famous Dave's, and Carlos O'Kelly's.  But then it was time to head off the Las Vegas for a long weekend with just the kids.  We were able to trim some fat from the budget by staying at a friend's time share that's a couple miles south of The Strip.  You miss some of the 'Las Vegas Experience' by staying there but we still spent most of the time on the strip anyway.  But it was nice for everybody to get to save a little cash. 


It's not a trip to Vegas without some pictures in front of the Welcome to Las Vegas sign.

The highlights of the trip, for me at least, was the dinner on Saturday at BOA Steakhouse in Caesar's Palace and then going to Blue Man Group on Sunday.  I spent a good month researching restaurants to go to while we were there and my patience paid off.  BOA is AMAZING!  From the bar's signature cocktails to dessert, everything was perfect and delicious.  It is definitely one of those places that you get the bill, swear a couple times, but then you're like, "That was worth it."

The group at BOA Steakhouse for dinner.  The only thing that kept dinner from being perfect was the waiter's photography skills (or lack there of).  Ryan was there too but all you can see is his stomach in the lower left corner.

Blue Man Group was everything everybody has ever said about it.  Hilarious, dynamic, and loud.  But PVC has never sounded so good.  I really wish I could've taken pictures to show everybody. 

Overall, Las Vegas was an incredible experience that I will never forget.  The last day we were there, I tried to come up with the best phrase to describe the trip.  All I could come up with was, "Las Vegas is retarded awesome."  At some point, though, I will have to go back and stay on the strip so I can get the whole experience. 

It's been a great R&R but everything must come to an end eventually.  Friday is when I start flying back to Afghanistan.  But the good news is that when I get there we will only have four months left in country.  Time should start going by pretty quick and before we know it, our replacements will be there and we will be on a flight back to Ft. Campbell.  I don't know when I will be taking my block leave after we redeploy.  I'm thinking of waiting until late November and just take a couple weeks at a time so that I can be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I'll keep everybody posted.

Later.