My tummy hurts!!!

OK.  So, I'm still kind of new to this whole "working out" thing and today I did something completely moronic.  I was visiting Camp Phoenix to drop off some mail, pick up some mail, get gas, etc. when I decided that I couldn't pass up a chance at a Snickers Blizzard - something I can't get at my home FOB, Camp Dubs. 

I should have known that God was trying to tell me something when the ice cream machine was at least five minutes from being ready but I didn't listen.  SO, I consumed my wonderfully-yummy small Blizzard and went on my merry way.

I have been working out every other day for a little over three weeks now and I wasn't going to miss it today.  I also try to do so prior to dinner so I can use that as an incentive. 

Anyway, near the end of my crunches (after already doing 90 situps and 40 inclined situps at various other points during my routine) I started getting a slight cramp.  Right now it feels like my entire gut is going to cave in and I've missed the dinner hours completely.  Ugh.

I guess it's another night of dinner a-la-sandwich bar for me.

Que cera, cera.

Where to start?!?!? Gifts in the Mail or Tampa?

OK. I will start with the totally awesome care package I received today from my office back in Alabama. Besides an assortment of food goodies specially selected to meet my tastes, my office (and I can take a good guess who specifically) decided it would only be more perfect by plastering half of the items with the face of a personal hero - David Hasslehoff. Yes, the "Hoff" made it all the way across the Atlantic and several continents to bid me a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Does it really get any better?



How about this? We had to take a detour through a portion of Kabul we rarely frequent due to serious traffic issues and lo and behold, there's KFC! That's "Kabul" Fried Chicken, in case you were wonderin'. . . .

Finally, I'll leave you with this shot. The 2008 ACC Player of the Year consoles the 2009 ACC Player of the Year on the sidelines shortly after the clock ran out. The ACC Championship Game in Tampa proved to be a lot more exciting the the SEC Championship Game and brought out the very best in both teams. Thankfully, Tech's best of 39 points was better than Clemson's best of 34 points. How about them Oranges?

Happy Thanksgiving!

           God Bless America and God Bless the American taxpayer who made sure we had an awesome Thanksgiving, 7,000 miles away from Plymouth Rock. The spread was awesome! Every table had sparkling grape juice and carved food items for decorations was all over the dining facility. We had a great time as a team enjoying this welcome slice of home in the middle of Afghanistan. For dinner I had turkey (of course), prime rib, sweet potatoes, potato salad, green beans, shrimp cocktail, Coke, water, and sparkling grape juice. It was a "kingly" fare and I am very thankful. Here are a couple pics from the festivities.

"They say it's your birthday!"

Wow. I never really expected to have such a great birthday 7,000 miles away from home and yet God provided! He provided in so many ways but more than any other, in the love that was evident in care packages, notes on FaceBook, and messages left on Skype. Rachel sent a half sheet of her freakin'-awesome cookie cake and my mom sent all the trimmings for a rockin' "Transformers" party. Thank you, everyone for making this a special day.

A "Transformers" party in my office, complete with an amazing Confetti/Angel food cake that my mom had shipped from GA! She may have forgotten forks (something that we are definitely not lacking over here) but she made sure to include icing, 32+1 candles, hats, a "Birthday Hero" ribbon, the "Happy Birthday" banner, plates, napkins, and those funny things that roll-out when you blow into the open end. This birthday was definitely more than meets the eye!

My mom also sent several presents, probably the most exciting of which was a copy of The Reagan Diaries". Reagan is quickly growing to become my favorite president and one of my favorite leaders. I can't wait for this semester to be over so I can devote a lot of time to exploring this man and specifically his devotion to God and his wife even more.

Finally, but certainly not least, I received special letters from Rachel and all three kids. I am not sure why this photo uploaded like this, but maybe that's how Hannah Joy really wanted me to view it! Anyway, along with these special letters from each of them, I received framed 5x7s of each of the kids and enough Mentos to open a 7-11!

In a strange twist on the typical birthday fare, at least three folks sent me care packages that also had two-ply toilet paper! I guess there are at least a few folks reading my blog!

In Him,

David

Disney Trip: the long and short of it

Has it really almost been a whole month???? Well, as the subject indicates, this entry is a quick down and dirty on our recent trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth" (strange, I always thought that was our home on a Sunday afternoon). Anyway, here is the BLUF (Bottom line, up front)
1. Montgomery, AL to Orlando, FL via Williamston, NC - definitely a lot of driving! Over 2000 to be more precise. 2. Met with BFF and his wife after a long time! 3. M&G with Third Day and a great concert to boot in Williamston, NC. 4. Savannah, GA for lunch on River Street at a sweet Greek dive. 5. Character breakfast followed by a morning long puke session, courtesy Andrew and a bug (Monday was a wash for the kids - they stayed with Mom and Dad while David and Rachel hit Epcot for some "alone" time) 6. D&R take on the big kid attractions sans kiddos at Hollywood Studios - The American Idol Experience rocked my world! 7. Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table turned many heads and I'm pretty sure Cinderella wants to adopt Elizabeth. 8. Mom and Dad fly home, so D&R take kids to Hollywood Studios - E loved the Playhouse Disney and A was all about the Lights, Motors, Action stunt show. 9. "Digging" for bones at Dinoland in the Animal Kingdom rounded out an already long day. 10. The Safari Jeep ride almost knocked all of us out of the truck in the Animal Kingdom. 11. Andrew wanted off Test Track at Epcot and loved Soarin' - the fact he did either was a miracle!

12. One last day in the Magic Kingdom resulted in David and Hannah getting new outfits after a "blow-out" as well as an awesome dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern.13. A chance encounter with a long-time friend and her hubby at the hotel was a great way to start a return trip home.

14. We stopped in Tampa, FL to meet with Third Day fan club extraordinaire, Debbie, to thank her for the M&Gs and to introduce her to our family.

15. Finally home, we had a great time and gained memories too numerous to list here. God bless you all!

"Popcorn"

Shown here is the last of the "popcorn" given to me by a good friend who knows how much I love homemade chocolate chip cookies. mmmmmmm. . . . . many of them were devoured while waiting in the Kansas City Intl' terminal. The rest were slowly taken these last few days by me and my teammates. They were awesome! Thank you, Colleen!

Cornbread Muffins and Buttermilk

Cornbread Muffins and Buttermilk

Now, I have finally experienced true Southern Livin'.  Only exception would be that these muffins were made from "Jiffy" and not a secret family recipe.  The muffins were just sweet enough to help me choke it all down - buttermilk et al.  You should try it sometime!

Panera Bread Co. - my beacon of hope!

10.22.07 "Free WiFi" signs remind me of when you used to see "Diner's Club" signs in the windows of business willing to feed to growing dependency on the Credit Card. Our nature of dependency hasn't really changed much, but the terms have. Tonight I spent at least 45 minutes driving around the outskirts of Knoxville, TN looking for free WiFi, as though it would be just plain wrong to support an establishment that didn't offer this service. Starbucks gave me a grande Hot Cocoa, but T-Mobile wanted my Credit Card info for the WiFi, so I pulled stakes and moved out. I got lost a couple times, but eventually (and with some aid) happened upon the coveted Panera Bread Co. My WiFi savior was waiting for me - with a "Pick Two" deal to support my more animal instinct to eat. Now, here I sit, listening to jazz and experiencing the peace of mind that was lacking up until my two e-mail accounts had finally been checked for important correspondence. My heart rate slows down and the nice hourly-wage employee with the apron takes away the remnants of my dinner snack. All is well that ends well, and this day has definitely ended well.
In other news, I am (obviously) away from home, on a business trip to Knoxville, TN. I'm hoping to catch a Vols game while I'm up here - mostly because the LSU - Auburn game last weekend proved to me that the most exciting conference is the SEC, no doubt, and the stadium at UT is only about 2 x the size of GT's homefield. I could use some good clean, college football fun one of these weekends. Wish me luck as I search for some good seats. God Bless!