The Bear

Many years ago seminary teacher told us the story of a friend of his that had been attacked by a bear and had nearly lost his life. After the incident the friend was so effected that he sold his house and moved into a small one room apartment, never turned on the lights, and only left his home for groceries and to work.

I do not recall the point that my teacher was trying to make with the story, but as I think of it now it reminds me of the opposite of what I want to do with my life. Looking back on the significant event I was involved in here in Afghanistan makes me want to get out and meet people, get to know them and establish meaningful relationships. I want to see and do and experience what this mortal life has to offer me and not only know what is going on around me, but take part in it and make a positive influence.

I do not want to fall by the wayside in the forest as the bear saunters away. I want to come out of the woods more alive than ever.

Packing Up

It is already time to pack up our shipping containers! This week I will be packing up all of my used gear and leave behind just enough to get me through while all the rest gets packed to get out of here. That is a sign that the end is in sight. School is going well, and that helps to take up some of my night and makes for a better measurement of progress than just counting down the days until my plane ride home.

And now a word from me...

It's been a while since either one of us posted, but here's what's happening in our lives. Cory is working the night shift at the TOC and is really enjoying it, he's able to get his work done and accomplish some schoolwork as well. We are also able to Instant Message back and forth occasionally which is so much fun and very important. I feel very blessed that we are able to communicate so rapidly, it's a blessing we didn't have the first half of the deployment or the last time.
These are the headbands that my adorable sister has been making and is selling now. The girls are called Boo and Bear so that's where the name comes from. She's willing to ship them wherever people are interesting in buying. They are a strip of fabric that ties at the bottom so it's adjustable for any head size (so not just for the girls, we wear them just as much as they do!) and it's super comfortable because there isn't a hard headband digging into your head driving you crazy. If you want to help a young mom who's trying something new, let me know! They are adorable!!

Here's what I've been into lately, Crocheting! My mom taught me the last time I was here and I've practiced on a few scarves and finally attempted a hat. Not so bad if you ask me! I am attempting a sweater right now and when that's finished I'll let you all know.
We're still in Utah, every morning we wake up and check the weather report and see if we can leave the next day. It's been kind of hard living every day with the expectation that it might be our last one here. I know we've probably disappointed people not being able to see them all the time, but I haven't expected to be here this long. I think I can make it home this week on I70 so we will be back to our Colorado home soon! Which is good, I miss it!

Out Taking Photos

I have been reading so much about photography lately that I have forgotten to get out and take some actual photos. The last rainy night left us with good cloud cover the next morning which provided some great even lighting.

School is going well. I have plenty of time each shift to check into class and get the daily assignments done. I am encouraging one of my soldiers to get into school now and take advantage of this time. While he is on leave I hope he will turn it over in his mind.

I was able to talk with Tricia on the phone a few days ago. Instant messenger chat is good, but it has not yet take the place of a phone call.

Stinky Feet!

Jeffrey is all boy. How else could he be playing out in the front yard of Sugar and Po's house and find the one puddle of stinky water with his shoes and socks on. We tried to use wipes to get the stink off, but it was just too stinky! So he got a foot bath in the sink. All the kids thought it was hilarious. He's all boy and he's all mine!

Shelley School Winterfeis

Today was the first ever Shelley School Winterfeis in Kearns. It was fun to go, I knew I wouldn't place because I just can't breathe dang it! But I had Paige take a video on the down-low and I can see the things that I would like to improve, but it was fun to visit with the other dancers, (Utah dancers were super friendly and chatty, it was great!) and it was fun to see the girls I used to dance with when I was at the Shelley school. Good times! I feel like we improved upon the poof of only a few weeks ago...Bumpit, you have saved my poof!!

A trip to the Science Fair

Quincy's 5th grade science fair was this week. Since I happened to be in town we went up to see.
His project was on the insulating properties of cups. We made him give us a demonstration of it after school since we missed the original judging. He was so funny, he is a funny kiddo and makes me smile so much. I love him!
While we waited for the cranky teacher to let us in, we waited out in the foyer, Elyse found this and wanted to give everyone a demonstration of the proper way to jump down the stairs.
Out for lunch after, Jeffrey loves him some chocolate milk. Or Chwockwate milk.
Here's Claire. She is the most gorgeous little girl, she has these amazingly blue eyes and is so shy, unless I'm offering her fries and then we can be friends.

After the Rain

This is how the mountains look after a good rain. It is usually so dust that you cannot clearly see them.

The fire light of these burning docuements was too interesting to pass up.

Images of My Day

A logo I made for a coworkers email.

A desk in the office.

Gear and football.

Early morning guard.

A snack before bed.

More Winterfeis

So here I am dancing during my hardshoe round of Winterfeis. My dress has a few improvements from the last time, extra fluff in the skirt and I love it. It's still got a little ways to go, but it's getting closer. Eventually the lace collar that we will have in the front is one that used to be my grams.

Breakfast

Photo by SPC T.

I get some type of egg to eat every morning. It is just like being at a restaraunt.

Colorado Winterfeis

Today was the Colorado Winterfeis in Castle Rock. It was fun! I didn't dance my best, still have something wrong with my lungs and breathing and whatnot, but these are the girls from my school, the red head in the middle is one of our teachers!

A Visit from President Uctdorf

President Uctdorf made a visit to the Air Force Academy to speak with the cadets there. I was invited to attend the meeting at the Cadet Chapel last night, he spoke about their choice to serve their country and how to obtain peace. Afterward he held a special meeting in the basement of the chapel with a small group of soldiers and their families from Fort Carson. It was an amazing experience, it was just what I needed and I am so glad I was able to go. It's something I won't be able to forget.

Examples of How I Can Use My Logo

Rather than just slapping a DO NOT COPY across my photo displayed on the web, I can cleverly add it to the photo to make it into a self promotion as well. Shameless, but it works.

Cory MacNeil Photography

Get ready world, I will be busting into the photography business soon. I have been plotting and planning a website, blog, advertising, business cards, a logo, and a model for photos campaign to get me started with some word of mouth advertising.

The Best Camera

I just finished a photo book by Chase Jarvis title The Best Camera is the One You Have With You. It is a collection of photos he took and retouched all on his iPhone. Chase is a well known photographer with an idea to help him get back to the basics and test his creativity. Since he has his iPhone with him everywhere, he used its built in 2 megapixel camera to take photos of his travels around the world. Looking over the pages made me realize that compelling images do not have to come from the latest gear and most expensive glass. I appreciate what my little Canon point and shoot camera can do for me while I am out here in Afghanistan.

Nights in the TOC are going quickly and I have been able to keep up with sending Jeffrey a chapter of Treasure Island to listen to nearly every day.

Posted for Cory who couldn't post this online...

Tricia and I are planning to take a trip to Yellowstone National Park in August, 2010 and we are inviting anyone who would like to join with us to meet us there. We have not yet picked dates, but we could be there as long as a week. There is no expectation that anyone who would like to come need stay with us for the entire duration nor follow along exactly with what sites we see or activities we engage in.

We always try to make our vacations as economical as possible, so do not worry about us going extravagant on any aspect of the trip. I have posted below a few internet sites that have good information about what there is to see and do while in the national park.

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/yellowstone-national-park/

http://www.yellowstonepark.com/




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Another Day

I fished reading The Two Towers in Spanish and am now waiting for Tricia to send me the next book. On night shift, even with projects given to me, I still have plenty of time to take a little break and do something for myself. Reading a good book is always a good use of time. I have picked out a few more photography books from Amazon which should arrive soon.

I took this photo sitting on my bunk just before heading off to bed.

Drop Cory a Line

So the Army has started this new initiative where they have started a service where we can get online and type a letter online similar to an email and they will print it off in a secure envelope and send an actual letter to Cory. We just tested it and it took about a week, but that was just waiting for the mail delivery to come. I know he really likes to get real mail. So here's the website. Click on that link and set up a new account. It will ask you for your information and then step 5 will ask you for the location, pick FOB KHOGYANI - ACo, 4b..... Then it will ask for Cory's information. It's a pretty simple process and makes it really nice and easy and FREE to send letters to Cory. So enjoy that, I know Cory will.

Jack Hammer Diagram

Reflections

So I was talking to someone about things that have happened in my life and they asked me what the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my life was. When I thought about it I really had to say that it was the phone call I got early on the 6th of September from Cory. It was the one point in my life where I was honestly shaken to my very core and terrified. They were surprised and said they would have thought that I would have said childbirth. But honestly I can't say how I honestly felt when Cory called me that morning. It was a very life-changing point for me. It was overwhelming and I think I'm still struggling to deal with everything. But at the same time Cory is fine now, he's totally recovered and back to work. It was pretty surprising to me to realize how big of a deal it really was to me.

I have turned my hut into a self portrait studio complete with flourecent lighting, interesting back drops, a a large wardrobe to select an outfit from.

This FOB does not stop inproving. Every single day from sun up to sun down our equipment section in working to fortify, remodel, expand and make more comfortable our living conditions.

Eating Peanut Butter and Playing the Blues

This morning's snack was an orange and cheese and peanut butter toast. To accompany snacktime Jeffrey whipped out his harmonica and played for us.
Enjoy!

*Hums Pomp and Circumstance*

So click on the video below while you read, this is a big blog entry and deserves it's own soundtrack.

Two years ago in April 2007, Cory enrolled in the University of Phoenix deciding it was time to further his education and let Uncle Sam pick up the bill. He decided on an Associate Degree in Information Technology and Visual Communication. He started with two nine-week classes at first, but when we decided it was too much to handle with 14-16 hour days and a newborn son. So he switched to one class at a time and diligently put in the work to make his grades. The only real hiccup came when he had to take math. Thankfully Cory married a girl who is pretty good at math and didn't mind being a tutor. So I'll just add a post-it note to the diploma with my name on it. ;) He finished his last class on his birthday this year, turning 30 and graduating with an Associates degree all on the same day.

Congrats Cory, this represents a LOT of hard work and sacrifice on your part and I'm very proud of you. Love you! Sorry you weren't here to open your own diploma but I thought a nice blog entry with it's own soundtrack might help make up for it.

Getting Used to Nights

I am getting used to the night schedule quite quickly. Since there are no windows in the TOC, it is easy to forget that it is night time. I always do my best to get a full eight hours of sleep, even if that means laying in bed for a while before I fall asleep listening to a story on my iPod. At least it is some rest that will help me get through the night without dozing.

I try and make the best of the time for myself and SPC D. This is a great opportunity to study with him, train and all around take advantage of any time that we are not involved in a task. I have been able to squeeze in an hour of scripture study each night and stay on track with the Sunday School lessons.

I am back to shooting with my Canon PowerShot. I am going to squeeze in a photo a day of myself or of something I am involved in to test my creative skills and to ensure that Jeffrey gets plenty of fresh photos of his daddy.