A Vacation Gone Too Quick...

Back in the Lovley month of February here in Kuwait is was starting to get a little warmer. It was raising from the mid fifties to the mid sixties during the days and the winds - and in turn the sand storms - were becoming more frequent.

But luckly I got a two week break from it all and got to go home (back to Germany). On the Morning of the 8th - an early 6:30 am - I finally was found in the Frankfurt Airport by Nasch. And not much of a suprise, it was snowing. I think that out of all my time living in "snow" country; seeing that snow fall was one of the most beautiful sights I've seen in a long time. Well the snow didn't last long. For the rest of the time that I was home it rained. I think that it dusted over a little onw night but it was soon gone by the warmth (I believe) that i brought with me from Kuwait...

During my vacation we didn't do a whole lot but at the same time we got (at least I think...) a lot done. We got a whole new bedroom; Bed, 2 night stands, a dresser, a chest for the end of the bed and two Armoirs... All for under450 dollars! That was about the first few days. We didn't jump on the first thing that we saw that we liked we shopped around a little bit.

Later on during the first week we went to the "wonderful" city of Cologne, Germany. Don't get me wrong the city it beautiful, but like I said '...it rained the whole time I was home...' It wasn't as bad when we got to Cologne but it drizzled all day long. We were going to stay the night in a hotel but on the way to find that hotel we decided that we would just head back home, sleep in our oen bed. That was the best decision of the day. The next day it rained buckets!

Montgomery Gomery

On the 8th of March the country band "Montgomery Gentry" came over here to Camp Buehring, Kuwait to play for about an hour and a half. The concert was great with songs like, "My Town," "Hell Yeah,".... Well those are the only two that I can remember the names for.....

Granted they aren't my favortie country band or even the second. But one thing's for sure, I will listen to them a little more now that I've seen them in concert.

Being that I have a guitar here at the moment I figured that I would bring it along if by chance they were giving sutographs. After the concert there was a HUGE cluster-fuck for pictures. They announced that there were not going to be any autographs. After I got my pic taken with the two front men I walked away in disapointment with no autograph. As I was walking back to my room I saw a guy with an autograph......

As I looked back towards the picture taking area, I noticed that in fact they were doing autographs. So me boing me I walked my happy little ass to the back of the line and inbetween the second picture I turned around with my guitar and they signed it no questions asked!

So now I have no instument to play out here but that's okay. I have a signed guitar that in the future someone might pay big bucks for (I can make back what I paid for the guitar AND buy one to replace it)!

New Tattoo!

Well I've inked myself again. I wanted to get a guitar tat for a while but either didn't have the funds or wanted to buy something a little more practical. This time I got a tat of a half acoustic, half electric guitar on my left calf. I looked for a few days online and couldn't get any type of insperation to draw or even a picture of a guitar that I liked.

Then one day sitting in our living room I came accross and album cover with a guitar and I liked it a lot. Even Nasch liked it. It was the only picture of a guitar that we both liked. The pic is from the back of Edwin McCain's "Scream and Whisper" lyrics booklet.

At this point I now have 7 tattoos. And I think - but can't promise - that I've come to the end of inking. There are tattoos that will need to be touched up or detail added. But other than that I don't see myself getting anymore ink done.

Sunsets From Far Away

As I've been here in Kuwait for almost two months now there's only one thing here that I have come to like. The Sunsets. Almost every one that I have seen has been magnificent! The colors, the textures of the clouds...

Ranging from deep orange, firey red, translucent purples. Not one has been the same. I now that no sunsets is the same but over here it's different. There are some places that the colors never change only the clouds. And some that always weem to look the same only in a different hue. Over here in the "Sands of Time" not one has resembled another in any way.

Quote(s) Of The Month

"Eagles mya soar, but weasles don't get sucked into jet engines."

"Change is inevitable... ...except from vending machines."

"When everything is coming your way, you're in the wring lane!"

"Hard work pays off in the future but... ...Laziness pays off right NOW!"

Quote Of The Month

Depressoin is anger without enthusiasm!

8,000 Miles No Match For Brotherly Love!

Two brothers joining the Army at the same time, different jobs, diferent duty stations, and about 8,000 miles between the two. I had seen Sam last October after both he and I were done with our Basic and AIT training, for about a week and then again this past April for his wedding back home in Wyoming. Now both of us are in Camp Buehring, Kuwait. And what better timing than the holiday season. It's funny that Sam and I could have all of that time and distance between us then spend so much time together during the xams season in Kuwait.

A Little Fun in the Sand

Yesterday as Cpt. Turner, SFC Carter and I arrived at the Indirect Fire range, we noticed that Task Force 1-6INF Fist was having a little combatives tournament. Myself, being a FISTer, had to partake in the festivities. Here in my fourth round championship, I come face to face with PFC Aranda. We both had our strong and weak points in the round that ended up in a dual head-lock choke-out. We both didn't have the greatest of positions whcich ended in a "who's stronger" final seconds... ...I, PFC Niziolek, Ryan J, came out on top! Winning the pool of ten dollars.

Just a little fun out in the sand during some down time. In the mean time I hold down the spot of Hand-to-Hand Middle Weight Champion for the FIST.

6 Months Ago...

Not so long ago yet seeming like years I married Natascha Bianca Koch of Nohfelden, Germany. 6 months and counting now and there's nothing more I could've ask for than her. Between my lazieness and the Army's...eh hem... schieze...her love is growing more and more every day reminding me how lucky of a man I am.

Natascha's First...

Our vacation to dad's new house in Oregon was Natascha's first time to the states, her first time flying, and her first time carving a pumpkin! I did help a little. I did all of the dirty work - gutting the pumpkin! Other than the small corners of the mouth and the eyebrows, Natascha carved the whole pumpkin.

Natascha loved the ocean. She could've spent hours just sitting there watching the waves. This pic was on the beach in South-Western Washington just outside of Ilwaco. We sepent most of our beach time in Seaside because it was close. This was Nasch's "first time" to the ocean (the other was when whe was real young), and my first time to the Pacific.

One Day In Heidelberg

Natascha and I decided to see more of Germany the last month or so before I came to Kuwait, after living there for almost a year.

This shot was taken of one of the towers at the Heidelberg Castle in Germany. The sun was just starting to go down and I thought it was the perfect time for a shot.

The Castle was so huge! From the parking garage it was an agonizing 167 steps (all of them labeled), or a long up hill walk of , what we didn't know, a quarter mile. After we got up to the castle we took the non-crowded walk around the north and east side, then around the back to the enterance. Suprisingly it wasn't too expensive to get in to the courtyard then another fee for the tour. I think we could've done with out the tour - long and boaring - but we paid a small price to see the inside of the castle.

The next weekend we went to the Kusel Castle which was a little closer to home. Again a place we never went to in the first 11 months I lived in Germany even though it's a mere 20 min. away.

All's well that ends well I guess. Natascha and I saw more of Germany in the last two weeks, than the rest of the time I was there.