May 10th and all is going pretty well. Time is flying by, but that happens when you're busy. Thanks to all who sent packages, I'm actually trying to send out paper thank yous but it's going slow. Please don't be offended, I am grateful and for the time being please accept this blanket thanks.

Climate: It's about 100 degrees every day now. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. We're getting used to it, and it is a dry heat. We've had a lot of sandstorms so far. It's pretty nasty when it happens. I don't know if I've mentioned them before, but they're like a blizzard with sand instead of snow. Can't wait for the respiratory complications later in life.

Cat: The tabby was too quick. Even my best ambushes failed to catch the kitty. Even with night vision and the help of several people it was an exercise in futility. It's probably survived this long by not getting caught. So we're looking to catch a lizard. Not as cuddly as a cat but much slower.

Insects: Any budding young entomologists out there? If so Iraq is the place for you. It's chock full of all manner of nasty creepy crawlies. For those of you who don't know I'm petrified of bugs. Just ask Theresa. At least I haven't run into any camel spiders yet.

That's all for now. PC time is up. Please email, and a special request.... please send pictures.

Love you and miss you all,

Robert


If you'd like to email Robert with your message of support or ask any questions, you can reach him at rsego@hotmail.com. You can also send mail or care packages to him and his unit at this address...

CPL Sego, Robert
TF 1/293d IN TM Foxtrot
OIF 08-10
APO-AE 09391



Here's the latest email from Robert...
Dear friends and family,

It is June 7, 2008 and it’s been a little bit since I’ve written.  Things are going well here. As well as they can 6000 some miles away from home, I suppose.  I really can’t believe it’s already June.  Time is flying by. I just got my new issue of Outside magazine that Theresa sent me in a package. There’s an article in it that talks about how short summer is, 13 weekends to be exact, and how to best spend those summer weekends.  Myself and a couple of guys here are taking that to heart, and planning our own summer activities for the weekends. It won’t be as fun as let’s say, fly fishing in Montana or white water rafting down the Colorado river, but we believe it will help pass the time. Somehow 13 weekends seems like an easier pill to swallow than 3 and a half months. Well some of you really liked the breakdown into sections so I’ll stick with that format. Here we go…

Weather: This will probably be tops on the list all of the time. It sucks. Since mid-May it’s been above 100 degrees every day. Actually, if it’s only 100, that’s what passes for a cool front around here. Most days we stick around the 120 mark. Nights aren’t too much of a relief either. It drops into the high eighties but it seems to get real muggy at night. The Iraqis say this is still mild. The real heat is yet to come. Oh boy I can’t wait…

Travels:  My convoy protection missions have taken me all over central Iraq. I’ve been through Mosul, Tikrit, Samarra, Baghdad, Baqubah and hundreds of other little towns here.  All of our missions start at night. Lately we’ve been coming back during daylight hours, because we’ve had to pull roundtrips a lot. Towns and infrastructure are pretty banged up. And then there’s the trash. It’s everywhere. And there is a lot of it.

Fitness: Daily physical training is required, even if it just means some pushups and situps in your room. More often than not you’re at the gym. Everyone lifts weights, even the female soldiers and airmen. Everyone also takes supplements. My personal choice is a mix of protein, creatine, nitric oxide, and glucosamine. It really helps your body recover from the workout and the daily stresses that you physically endure.  My favorite supplement though is Ibuprofen. I think I’ve become addicted to it. I take my motrin fix twice daily, and I’m up to 800 mg per serving. It’s good stuff. I’ll probably have to go to a detox program when I get back to wean myself off of it.

Mini – marathon:  I ran a mini the other day. 1 hour 51 minutes. Not too bad considering it was a last minute thing. The guy I ran with left me at the start.  He’s a big time junior high track coach. I caught him at mile 9 and dropped him the last half mile or so. He seemed pretty angry, especially since I’m 13 years older and I’ve still got a bit of a gut. It especially angered him when I immediately lit a celebratory Marlboro red.  He says he’ll get me next time, and judging by his running training I’m guessing he will.  He asked why I’m not following a stricter running schedule so I can cut my time. I told him I’d switch to Marlboro Lights for a few weeks before the next race.

Mail:  I mentioned the package that Theresa sent me earlier. Among other things, that package contained Albanese Gummi Bears. I love those things. If you’re in NW Indiana and you like Gummi bears you have to try them. Anyway I was so looking forward to them.  I got my package, quickly took it back to my room, and rummaged for the Gummis. I pulled out the package, and tragedy, I had a bag of gummi goo. The bears weren’t hearty enough for the trip to Iraq. I put them in the fridge and they solidified. When I get home I’m going to try and market the Gummi- blob but I don’t know if it will work.

Got to go,

Love and miss you all,

Robert