Brent’s Thoughts

While Pauline and I were watching the Colbert Report the other night he had a guest on speaking about the NothingButNets.net charity and how 10 dollars would deliver a net to people in Africa so that they could sleep without getting bitten by mosquitoes and is an effort to stop the spread of malaria.

Pauline and I decided that was a very worthwhile donation to make since they are a funded charity and all of the donation goes to getting the nets out there.  None of it is used for “administrative” costs.

We also donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital as well.  It is a hospital near here and there are often times segments on shows talking about all the great work that they do for kids who have awful illnesses.  The amazing thing is that no family at St. Jude has to pay a medical bill and that is truly amazing.

If you have a chance please think about donating something to either or both of these causes.  These charities may not have Bono or P Diddy (or whatever his name is now) talking about them, but they are perhaps better for it in my opinion.

More talking about our house payments and also about a housing project that is going to be coming up near our house.  Don’t jump unless that is what you are interested in.

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A couple of weeks ago Pauline and I headed down to Nashville for Laura and Ethan’s wedding.  Ethan had ask me to be a groomsman so we got there for the rehersal and dinner afterwards.

It was great to be there and see people from college that I hadn’t seen in a while.  It was also great to meet other people that were involved in Ethan and Laura’s life that I had never met before.  Everyone got along great and had a wonderful time at the dinner, and I think I can say that we even had a pretty good time at the rehersal too.
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I have been really lax in uploading various pictures that I have from different events. I finally got around to getting them uploaded thanks to the connection at work. It takes about 3 minutes a picture at home, but about 10 seconds at work.

There are some from the 2007 Bankson family reunion.

I uploaded some more of Julie from various points.

I also put some more up of Jim and Sabra’s daughter Amber.

So enjoy. I haven’t captioned any of them, so if you feel there are some that need it, just let me know and I will put them at the front of the list.

I occationally receive messages from a former high school friend of mine that is currently serving in IRAQ. This last message, summing up 2007, really touched my heart. He said that of the 365 days of 2007, only 48 of them was spent with his wife and family. I have put his message here to share with the other people I know lucky enough not to be in IRAQ.

As you read this, you see that he is missing important time with his smallest son, he has a sick child that he has to worry about and can’t take care of and that his wife is having to look after 3 children, 1 toddler, 1 sick child and 1 other all by herself. I also find it somewhat humbling that he closes by hoping for better things for everyone else in the coming year.

Happy New Year everyone. The one thing that is always a challenge, exciting and disappointing, about the new year is when you reflect back to what you did and what happened during the past 365 days. I have to say it was a decent year for myself, some ups but sadly alot of downs as well. The biggest thing I am happy about is I am still alive, which can be more of a challenge in this place then normal. I made some great friends over here, something that I do not think I would have accomplished if I would have been in the states. But as I said above the bad things out weigh the good by a good portion. Of the 365 days this year has I spent only 48 with my wife and children, this is probably the worst part of the year 2007. I have missed a good protion of them growing up and many first in Andrews case. The little bugger is up and running now (much to the agravation of Kara) and has grown like a weed. When you look at the guy it is hard to believe that he was a 4.5 pound baby. Mikayla seems to be doing better with her seizures. She has not had a full blown seizure for several months now, so I hope that reflects the new medicines are working for her. Xavier is getting taller and lankier and still a little goof ball. Kara has probably gained some gray hair from this experience, poor girl I will have to buy her some dye when I get home :). In closing I would like to say Happy New Year, I hope 2007 treated you well and that 2008 treats you better

I admit I am intrigued by the differences in the thinking patterns of men and women. I find it fascinating that two people can look at the same situation and see things in a completely different way.

I would like to present two scenarios for the readers to ponder. I hope to get a few opinions; I would especially like to get the male viewpoint since I am already pretty sure what most of the women would say.

Family A

Man and a woman with two children. Currently the woman is staying at home with the children, but due to monetary concerns would like to get back into the workforce. The only problem is that the money that she would earn would pretty much just go to pay for childcare. She could work a second shift job, but the husband would have to watch the kids while she was at work. He is not in favor of that option because after work he would like to have some time to just relax at home, maybe play some games or watch TV.

I believe men and women alike, anyone that has ever had a job, can relate and understand the need to relax after work.

Family B

Man and a woman with one child. Both husband and wife work full time jobs and the wife has an additional class that she attends one night a week. Wife is bothered by the fact that when she gets home late at night, husband has not provided any dinner for the child. She would like to relax once she gets home, but instead must make dinner and clean up.

Information on how he has spent his time while she was at class was not provided.

So if we apply the same reasoning as family A above, assuming no bias or double standard between the working husband in family A and the working wife from family B, the response to this situation would be

1. It is understandable that the wife would like to relax after work and class and the husband is equally responsible for caring for his child and making sure that the child is fed.
2. It is not understandable that the wife would like to relax after work and regardless of how much time the husband had to fix dinner while she was at class, she should do it.

I just thought that I would write down a few thoughts regarding my childhood and what kind of childhood I hope Julie will have. As a child, my sister and I were always going places. Some of my fondest memories are of my grandfather’s yard with all the flowers, trees, colored rocks and paths, not to mention the swing sets or the gazebo where we had many a “tea party” or played cards. We also played a lot with our neighbors Shelly and Debbie, we collected flowers or made decorations for our little “club house” (a space secluded in their yard, on two sides their was a fence on one side there was a shed of some kind and the other side was partially open only slightly blocked by a tree). It was a perfect place for a little “club”. We also had our cousins to play with, Janie and Danny. They lived on a larger piece of ground and there were a lot of interesting places to hide. We often played hide and seek or threw a ball around. Dad took us a lot of places too. We went to the pool, any fairs or parks that were within driving distance, out to play putt putt golf, out to Hubers Orchard and Winery to go on horseback rides or to the petting zoo. We also tried a little badminton in our backyard, just for a little while; we weren’t that fond of it. It seems like he was always available whenever and wherever we wanted to go. Now, as a working adult, I wonder how he had the time.

I always figured that I would do the same kinda things with my child, but I wonder about that sometimes. My grandfather was right up the road (he walked to our place on Sundays). Both sets of Julie’s grandparents live about an hour away. We don’t have any other family that is close, no cousins to play with. I don’t know of anyone in our neighborhood looking to have children anytime soon. The closest public pool is in Glasgow I guess, but even so, Brent and I will both be at work during the day during the summer. Hubers Orchard and Winery is hours away. I don’t even know where you go for putt putt golf around here. I guess there is the occasional fair once a year… I guess there is always badminton.

I have had the opportunity to correspond over email with an old high school friend who is currently serving in Iraq. Since I am interested in the conditions over there, I have asked him lots of questions. I thought that others might also be interested in getting some info so I have posted the questions and answers here

His email
I am in Iraq now, in the suburbs of B-dad. Right now it is the rainy season so there is alot of water collecting everywhere and the mud is horrid. You end up being 5 inches taller when you finally make it to y our location and it takes 10 minutes to clean the stuff off

me
Sorry that you are over in Iraq. I didn’t know they had suburbs over there. From the news you get the impression that everyone is just living in horrible squalor and that once we bring stability to the region, their lives will be sooooo much better. I really don’t know what to think of all of it. I don’t really trust the news and I definately don’t trust what the president says. I can’t imagine it being boring though???

him
Other then when getting attacked Iraq is boring, there is not alot to do here. We are in a area called Taji. You can look it up on google earth. Iraq is a dirty country but its not the shit hole alot of people think it is. The northern parts of Iraq in Kurdishstan are nice and clean but the other parts are not so nice. Southern Iraq is horrid. The live in mud huts.

me
Do they let you guys watch the news over there? they did a special the other day about how they are trying to increase the number of facilies they have dedicated to Tramatic Brain Injury (apparently from bombs) and they are supposed to be increasing funds for veteran health care and are moving any veteran disability claims to the front of the line so that they can get their needs taken care of first. what kind of entertainment do they have for you guys over there you are not looking in mud huts for osama? I know alot of entertainers supposedly go over there and put on shows for you all. Have you seen anybody interesting?

him
I can not speculate on the health benefits because I have not had a reason to try yet. We have MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recriation) areas were they have everything from movies to gyms as well as internet and libraries for the Soldiers to use. Normally I go work out, watch a movie or read a book at night. I do not get the greatest amount of free time but I still have enough time to do some things. Working 7 days a week 12 hours a day does not afford alot of time for fun stuff. The first time I came over I saw Robin Williams, John Elway, Leanne Tweeden and had a chance to see Toby Kieth and the band Adema. This time so far I saw one of the comedians from In Living Color ( name escapes me but I remember seeing him on the show).

questions and responses

do you guys form good friendships,

Well like a family there are some you like and others you can not stand. While I am frieldly with some of the people here I would only call a small few actual friends. I would guess the number around 5 or so and maybe another 5 that I could form a friendship with. When I say friends I mean like our old click in High School.

>>> is it mostly guys or are there some women over there too?

We have some female Soldiers over here with us, not as many as last time though. This FOB (Foward Operating Base) has a large number of female Soldiers on it from what I have observed.

>>>when you get to come back home do you get back together and hang out,

Some of us hang out, as I said above here are about 5 or so that I call friends and we hang out and go drink together or just go out and have fun or they come over to the house and have dinner (bringing their families if they have one).

>>>when you ship back to Iraq do you usually get to go out with pretty much the same
> group or do you have to get to know all new people?

We always get new people before we deploy but I can”t really talk number here, OPSEC (Operational Security) risk.

Do any of the Iraqs know english? do you speak to them at all? Are you part of the group that is supposed to be training the Iraq police to take over?

I know a little arabic and they know a little english so we can normally comuniate one way or another. Can’t answer the question about our mission here, once again OPSEC.

Well, Brent says that everyone keeps asking him how my pregnancy is going so I guess I will write about the experience thus far.
So far everything has been going really well. When we first decided to start trying to have a baby, I really didn’t know what to expect. I had heard alot of terrible stories about how some people try for years and can’t get pregnant and I had a cousin that once she got pregnant had alot of problems during the pregnancy. Fortunately, we had no trouble getting pregnant (I guess practice makes perfect) and so far no big pregnancy troubles. I didn’t get morning sickness really. My skin hasn’t broken out, the doctor is always happy with the weight and heart readings they take etc.
I really can’t complain. I am having trouble sleeping due to the whole laying on your side thing. I used to sleep either on my back or my stomach most of the time with my legs straight out. Laying on my side, they are usually bent and it is bothering my knees. putting a pillow between them helps. I am also having breathing trouble. I just went out tonight a bought another bra with an extention. I am hoping that will help. I just feel like I can’t really breathe deeply. I also bought another pair of pants and a few more tops. I also saw a breast pump that I think I would like to try. it is supposed to be hospital quality and has dual positions so you can do both breasts at the same time. I guess I will have 3 months maternity leave to decide on what I need before going back to work.
Pam and are talking about baby showers. We have just about decided on a date of Apr 22nd for the one that she is giving me. my cousin in indiana said that she wanted to throw one for family up there so I will have to get back with her on the date.

Well technically it is a girl, but someday I am sure that she will be a lady. J I sent everyone that I had cell phone numbers for a text message this morning when I found out. We called some other people too. Some of the less tech endowed people. J

We also got a video of the ultrasound and there is a lot of information in there that I think people might want to see. Mostly it is of the two arms, two legs variety, but it is neat to see as well. There isn’t much in terms of audio though, so I am currently working on an audio track to go with it, but for right now I am just going to post the video out here for anyone that wants to look at it. It is about 86 megs of video encoded into flash. I decided to youtube style it so that it would work for everyone.