Just to Forestall the Inevitable

Yes, some Marines have died in the Baghdad area.

Yes, some of them died in our immediate vicinity.

No, they were not from my unit.

No, I don't know them, though I may have seen them recently.

No, they were not doing the job that I do, or could have been doing.

As far as all that goes, that's as much as I know. How they died (other than doing their job, not mine), who killed them, and such other matters are ones that I have no, say again, no idea about. I've heard rumors, but like heck am I going to pass those on.

I am safe, and I work hard every day to make sure I, and those around me, stay that way. I know it's fruitless to say "Don't worry," especially to certain types, but that's the assurance I want to make. I know my own situation fairly well, and you'll have to trust me.

Love you all.

On The Lighter Side

Funny is seeing a San Francisco 49ers cap with the NBA logo on the back. Counterfeit you say? Surely you jest!

This is a great article about Steve Yzerman. You should read it.

There's an Iraqi guy who comes up every day who wears a Detroit Tigers 1984 World Champions t-shirt. If only I had the barest hope that he even knew where Detroit was, much less that he reveled in the coolness of the 84 Tigers.

I started reading an Isaac Asimov and one of the first immediately-post-Ian-Fleming's-death James Bond novels yesterday. So far, Asimov is maintaining my interest to the greater degree, though the Bond novel is awfully thin. We'll see which one I finish first.

Monday was the first day in a while that I got mail, but no package. I'd say "You people are slacking" but I've been so blessed with an abundance so far that I dare not actually say anything like that, even in jest. This sort of explanatory comment is about as much as I dare say. If anybody *does* feel really moved to send packages, Lcpl P Mintz (same address as mine, otherwise) hasn't gotten a package in a while, if at all. Personally, I think his girlfriend is slacking, but hey. I'm just throwing it out there.

And my time's up.