SHE CALLED!

Wow. I can't believe it. Just got off the phone with our girl. We got to talk about 20 minutes.

Don't know how she got through...don't know if it is repeatable....but right now I don't care. I spoke to her!

OK - to summarize.

She said her health is very good. She's had only two days in Baghdad when she didn't feel her best but said those were days she didn't get to eat.

She said she has adapted to the heat pretty well.

Mail is coming through very well. She has received packages from Cheryl, Dan & Amy, Kollen, Kyle & Kristi. (If you sent stuff and your name isn't on here...don't worry. This was off the top of her head...not meant to be a complete reckoning.)

Said the socks and underwear are greatly appreciated...saves her from having to take time she doesn't have to hand wash her clothes. Even though there is a Quartermaster Laundry and Bath unit nearby, they, like everyone else, are over extended.

She said to this point her company was doing supply convoys every day from their location to Baghdad International Airport. Over the weekend that changed...and the Main Support Battalion had begun delivering supplies to her location. Sadly, SPC Smith of the 123d Main Support Battalion who was killed on Sunday was in a convoy bringing supplies to the Gators.

I suspect that in the future they will alternate who travels in convoy.

She is staying in a 2 story dormitory that has neither electricity nor glass in the windows. But they all have mosquito nets. While we were on the phone some Iraqi workers came in to measure for new windows.

In the biggest coincidence to date she told me they have begun the process of giving the stadium back to the Iraqis. (We discussed that possibility here yesterday). As part of that the soldiers are competing with Iraqi athletes in a series of games.

Yesterday it was US Soldiers versus Iraqi Olympic swimmers. CPT Patti said she competed, but since the Iraqis had no female Olympic athletes, it was an all US women's competition. CPT Patti came in second ("I lost to a 20 year old", she said with an unusual amount of pride).

Today is a US/Iraqi soccer match. Tomorrow is basketball and Thursday will be tennis.

Says they are eating at least one hot meal per day...often times two.

She sounds good. She thanks everyone for your support. Has not had time to write thank-you notes yet but she intends to. But please accept this as thanks for the moment.

And that is pretty much what she had to say.

Oh...well there was one more thing...seems she's rather fond of me.

Back at ya babe.