For those of you asking for my deployed address, here you go...
Mail can be sent to:
TSgt Katherine Garcia (USAF)
CJTF-HOA/PAO
FPO AE 09363
Mail takes about 10 days to get there, but it will take me about 10 days to get there as well. My suggestion is that no one send any mail before like... March 4th. That will give me plenty of time to get there.
As for e-mail... Rumor has it that I can Myspace from work (SWEET) and that I'll have access to my Yahoo mail. So you're all free to e-mail me at iamkati@yahoo.com or using my Myspace. But... if you want to send it through my work account, knock yourself out. That address is katherine.a.garcia@hoa.centcom.mil.
Again, I would wait to send any e-mail to that adress until either the middle of the month or until you see something from me confirming my arrival.
Lastly, here's the thing. I'm taking a slow boat via China to get there. I am literally traveling through 9 airports. I change planes no less than 4 times. And I'm pretty sure that in that trek, communication is going to be kept to a minimum. If you don't hear from me for a while, it's OKAY - I promise!
Keep the cards and letters coming folks. I love me some snail mail and I'm pretty good about writing back.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, December 17, 2007
Registering for Deployment
People register for things every day, right? Someone has a baby, it's off to Target.com to pursue their registry. Ken pops the question? Barbie pops over to Linens and Things to log in reams of flatware and place mats. But what about a deployment registry? Doesn't it make sense?
I'm headed to an Army base in the middle of the desert. They have a small base exchange (ironically run by the Navy) where they sell "necessities." Okay, necessary for WHOM? Because I'm sure that G.I. Joe and his cronies might be able to survive the surface of the sun off nothing but a bar of Dial and a stick of Mitchem for 15 months. But I'm in the Air Force for a reason. My necessities are a wee bit different. I'd love to tell you stories about how the last time I deployed I didn't mind the whole "use whatever is on hand" concept. But it's a lie. I'm spoiled. And girly. And spoiled.
When you're exactly 12,000 miles from home (as far away as you can get without heading back again...) you want nothing more than creature comforts. But Starbucks, pedicures and TiVo just aren't possible. So what's the next best thing? Care packages - big, small, edible, wrapped in newsprint... it matters not. What matters is that somewhere, someone took time from their busy day to think of you and then schlep that thought over to the post office to make sure it made its way to your eager hands.
I'm not picky and I'm not greedy. I'll be happy with an e-mail from home once a week and maybe a People magazine once a month. But... if we're gonna do this, let's do it right (church up the care packages, if you will.) Six months (36 weeks, or 179 days) is a LONG time to "make due" with the Navy's version of the Army's necessities. And anyone who knows anything about college football knows THIS rivalry is decades old. Do we even want to guess what the Navy sends the Army? I think not...
So, I have composed a list of MY necessities for the 6 months I'm gone. Again, this is a WISH list. Just things I know I'll miss and would love to have. You're free to send nothing at all. Or anything you want not on the list. But these are my "gotta have" daily use items.
Items found in any Target in America (including the one in Arkansas!!!!)
* John Frieda Sheer Blonde shampoo and conditioner in platinum to champagne. It keeps my locks from getting brassy. And with the chlorine in THAT water? Forgetaboutit...
* Neutrogena Visibly Even foaming cleanser and Visibly Even daily SPF 15 moisturizer. They don't have a "type" (dry, normal, etc.) They just are.
* Gillette Satin Care vanilla dream shave gel. 'Nuff said.
* Degree (for women) Clinical Protection antiperspirant and deodorant. I think the high there is going to be about 2,036 degrees Kelvin. I'll need to reapply about every 6 minutes.
* Gillette Venus razor blazes for the Gillette Venus razor. They're in a blue pack.
* Curel Continuous Comfort lotion - original formula. But... it's the desert, so if you find the extra dry skin one, that will work too.
Found in Bath & Body Works
* B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar creme body wash. It's the one in the tube. It's nice and easy to take to the shower.
Now, I can live without any of this, but would I want to? Uh - Noooooooo.... It's ME people. It's me.
Also, when I get there, I'm going to figure out what they have in the "snack" department. But short of a Pepperidge Farm Yard o' Beef, send anything you can think of. I'm stocked up on the Roasted Garlic Triscuits (I have my priorities) but I'm a fan of EZ Cheese (it's a cheese like product in a can) and well... anything else you can think of. And Oreos. But don't get fancy - inside out Oreos? Wrong! I'm happy with Double Stuff.
Wow - I sound need and greedy right now so I'll wrap it up.
I love you all and I'll talk to you soon!
Kati
I'm headed to an Army base in the middle of the desert. They have a small base exchange (ironically run by the Navy) where they sell "necessities." Okay, necessary for WHOM? Because I'm sure that G.I. Joe and his cronies might be able to survive the surface of the sun off nothing but a bar of Dial and a stick of Mitchem for 15 months. But I'm in the Air Force for a reason. My necessities are a wee bit different. I'd love to tell you stories about how the last time I deployed I didn't mind the whole "use whatever is on hand" concept. But it's a lie. I'm spoiled. And girly. And spoiled.
When you're exactly 12,000 miles from home (as far away as you can get without heading back again...) you want nothing more than creature comforts. But Starbucks, pedicures and TiVo just aren't possible. So what's the next best thing? Care packages - big, small, edible, wrapped in newsprint... it matters not. What matters is that somewhere, someone took time from their busy day to think of you and then schlep that thought over to the post office to make sure it made its way to your eager hands.
I'm not picky and I'm not greedy. I'll be happy with an e-mail from home once a week and maybe a People magazine once a month. But... if we're gonna do this, let's do it right (church up the care packages, if you will.) Six months (36 weeks, or 179 days) is a LONG time to "make due" with the Navy's version of the Army's necessities. And anyone who knows anything about college football knows THIS rivalry is decades old. Do we even want to guess what the Navy sends the Army? I think not...
So, I have composed a list of MY necessities for the 6 months I'm gone. Again, this is a WISH list. Just things I know I'll miss and would love to have. You're free to send nothing at all. Or anything you want not on the list. But these are my "gotta have" daily use items.
Items found in any Target in America (including the one in Arkansas!!!!)
* John Frieda Sheer Blonde shampoo and conditioner in platinum to champagne. It keeps my locks from getting brassy. And with the chlorine in THAT water? Forgetaboutit...
* Neutrogena Visibly Even foaming cleanser and Visibly Even daily SPF 15 moisturizer. They don't have a "type" (dry, normal, etc.) They just are.
* Gillette Satin Care vanilla dream shave gel. 'Nuff said.
* Degree (for women) Clinical Protection antiperspirant and deodorant. I think the high there is going to be about 2,036 degrees Kelvin. I'll need to reapply about every 6 minutes.
* Gillette Venus razor blazes for the Gillette Venus razor. They're in a blue pack.
* Curel Continuous Comfort lotion - original formula. But... it's the desert, so if you find the extra dry skin one, that will work too.
Found in Bath & Body Works
* B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar creme body wash. It's the one in the tube. It's nice and easy to take to the shower.
Now, I can live without any of this, but would I want to? Uh - Noooooooo.... It's ME people. It's me.
Also, when I get there, I'm going to figure out what they have in the "snack" department. But short of a Pepperidge Farm Yard o' Beef, send anything you can think of. I'm stocked up on the Roasted Garlic Triscuits (I have my priorities) but I'm a fan of EZ Cheese (it's a cheese like product in a can) and well... anything else you can think of. And Oreos. But don't get fancy - inside out Oreos? Wrong! I'm happy with Double Stuff.
Wow - I sound need and greedy right now so I'll wrap it up.
I love you all and I'll talk to you soon!
Kati
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Preparing for Deployment
I'm a little closer to heading to the surface of the sun than I would like to admit. To be honest, I leave in a little under...um.. 75 days?
So, I'm creating a blog space that is going to allow me to keep in touch with everyone. I plan to use this for my random musings between now and next September when I'm back on terra firma with my boys where I belong.
So, I ask that you please subscribe to my blog. You'll be able to tell when I have posted something and I'll be able to better keep everyone up to date on where I am, what I'm doing, and frankly, what I think of the entire situation.
**Legal disclaimer ** The views expressed in this blog are in no way the views of the Air Force, the United States government or anyone else who might be able to file disciplinary action against me - but damnit, they should be.
**Moral disclaimer** There WILL be times where I might (hehe) use a bad word or three in my blogs. I'll try to sensor (f*** for the f word, etc) but please, don't take offensive. I'll keep it PG-13 if you keep your sense of humor.
**Comedic disclaimer** If you're reading my blogs, please know that I will make fun of ANYONE (myself included). I do not discriminate based on race, class, gender, creed, color or religion. I make fun of stupid people equally. So... please don't feel singled out if you see something that MAY resemble you in my blog. It's almost always a generalization of stupid people. Unless, of course, YOU were the stupid person, but then, I'll be sure to call you out by name.
So enjoy the countdown and the ride, and let's get through this trip together.
Muuuaaaaah!
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