Cheryl - Jan. 2009
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Baghdad Bulletin
14 June 2009
Issue 5
Happy Father's Day, Army's 234th Birthday, and Flag Day!
It's nice that these events are all being celebrated this weekend. The U.S. Army War College graduation was last weekend (June 6th - coinciding with the 65th anniversary of D-Day) in Carlisle, PA. Our march would have been played around 9am. Speaking of Carlisle, I had the great pleasure of hearing it in rehearsal this week. (See Photo 1). It was so joyful! The band members are from the State of Washington and I hope the unit will use our march from time to time in their programming. Now it's on another continent for more people to enjoy!
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Our Carlisle March made it to Baghdad!
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People I've met:
Very early on Tues morning, I ran into Becky at 645 AM at an airport (Photo 2). We were both flying back to the same base where we've both been working since April. We had not run into each other yet. Becky and I first met in England in 1994- she was an enlisted Navy Reservist and I was a DoD civilian - both deployed at the same time. She taught me how to drive there. I think of her to this day whenever I approach a roundabout! The last time we saw each other was 10 years ago at King's College Chapel for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. We had dinner together this week and had this photo taken at the Palace.
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This is a great friend I haven't seen in 10 years.
Small world stories occur often here.
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Funny story:
Combat showers. Not unlike the Navy Showers in Djibouti. Due to water shortages, the idea is to get wet, turn off the water, get soapy and rinse off. There's a sign here that says "3-5 minute showers." It's doable!
Update on the ducks - One morning, I saw a baby duckling with its mother. It was trying to eat some buttered popcorn kernals that someone had dropped earlier. I reached for the camera, but the memory was full....Now I know how to erase previous shots!
Visitors:
Several famous people have visited this Palace in recent weeks; President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and this week, the USO sponsored the Colbert Report. I'd never heard of it but there were four TV shows taped and aired. I wasn't here but the troops had a good time being in the audience.
Highlights and memorable events:
1. It reached 124 degrees at noon today.
2. I've kept working at my Power Flex class 5-6 am MWF. It's helped me heft my body armor over my head more easily! The treadmill is much easier for running - air conditioning vs outside!
3. Two months are complete in Iraq!
Here's my new address:
LTC Cheryl McAuley
INSCOM ACOR
1-7FA HHB
Camp Prosperity
APO AE 09348
Thank you for your kind notes. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep praying for the Iraqis.
Fondly,
Cheryl
