Dear Gang,
Life is good here. Not as good as when I get home very soon, but for the most part good. I called my wife up to tell her the good news and oh by the way, I mailed home a trunk full of junk from Iraq. Her response, “That’s great and we’re going to put this stuff where???” My mind is racing now, “Honey, don’t worry, I took apart the engine from an old Mig 25 that was sitting out in the junk yard.” Mind you it took six Marines on their day off, four hours in bitter cold, brute strength and a heavy duty hammer to make all this happen, so by God, I was going to get my turbine fan blades come hell or high water!! “Don’t worry, they will make awesome gifts to some of my pilot buddies” I know she is thinking…(garage sale)I’m thinking the shed in the back yard. She just doesn’t understand the importance of such a find. This could have belonged to an Iraqi jet that maybe shot down an Iranian F-14 back in the 80’s when they had their war together. Who knows what they could say if they spoke. Not that we’d understand it all since they would be speaking Russian. But really cool to think about. I have left a ton of other odds and ends here too just because it’s to much a pain in the rear to mess with. I found a foxhole where the guy just took his entire uniform off and ran away naked for all I could tell. All of his gear was there to be picked up a few years later by me.
I used the “left handed metric crescent wrench” LegHound found for me, to get a bunch of old panels off some of the derelict bombers sitting off the end of the runway. Then I had a talented Marine downstairs paint them up as going away gifts. I have one too that will be hanging on my “I love me” wall at home. When guys come over, I can proudly show off my piece of Iraq that I brought back as a war trophy. That and the 10 inch silver looking polished intake blade from the engine.
The big thing going on over here is non other then the Olympics. AFN, which stands for Air Farce News (because that’s all they show, you’d think they were the only ones out here) is hooked on Women’s curling. When you go to the chow hall, all heads are peeled to the tubes to watch these gals slide these 50 some odd pound round puck looking things at a big bulls eye. I was talking to another Marine tonight on what was so appealing about this sport and he said “Man, I don’t care about Curling, I just think those gals are smoking hot… just look at the way those two gals handle that broom going down the ice. Can you imagine what she could do with a mop in my kitchen at home?” I know why he’s still single and looking.
On another subject, I saw on the news that some Pakistani Cleric has offered a Million dollar bounty on the poor Danish cartoonist, to the first person who can do this guy harm. HHHHmmmmmmmmmmmmm a religion of peace huh?, that’s all I have to say. Talk about showing your true colors. Oh, such is life in the real world. Boy, that would be one way to “off” your worst enemy, just claim he is the one behind some cartoons and he’ll be running for his life.
You make the best of it over here which allows the six months to fly by. I will be out of pocket for a week or so, keep checking because I may be able to post something at a later date this week. With that in mind, I hope you have a great day and look forward to talking to you soon.
Semper Fi,
Taco
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The SandGram 
February 18, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Have lotsa fun with yer ‘treasures’. =D Now hurry up and get home, would ya? Hope your trip goes well. Thank You for everything.
February 18, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Taco, I figured you would scrounge some “parts” for your den’s ILM wall. No suprise that grunts want enemy weapons and pilots want plane parts! COC at 234 this weekend (2/26). Should be a fun event. I’ll keep tipping a tall one for your safe return. Semper Fi.
February 18, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Oh, the trials of a military spouse!! Fan blades, indeed 😉
Hope your travel home is safe and uneventful. We’ll keep the light on for you!
February 18, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Taco,
Have a safe trip home. Thanks so much for all the great stories these past few months. I can’t wait for the book!!!
-Neely
February 18, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Man, the trials and tribulations of wifeyhood! I’m betting she’ll forgive the junk you send (right before the garage sale) and just be happy you’re home. Thank you, thank you, thank you…..and happy trails.
February 18, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Taco,
I can’t wait for your, oh .. ohh .. err .. uhm, Mrs. Taco’s garage sale!
Get Leghound to autograph that “left handed metric crescent wrench” and auction it off for AnySoldier! Just a thought!
Take care and have a safe trip!
Sam
.
.
February 19, 2006 at 2:03 am
Godspeed, Taco!
February 19, 2006 at 2:58 am
Amazing what items men consider as mementos! Samantha, what a great thought.
Have a safe and speedy trip home. Welcome back!!
February 19, 2006 at 4:35 am
Do like my hubby, Taco, when you run out of room to store things, just build another building! Course we live on a farm so he can do that, dang it.
Thanks again for not only your service to our country, but for helping us keep informed and laughing. May God Bless you richly,
February 19, 2006 at 6:08 am
Love hearing from y’all almost as much as I imagine you love hearing from home. Thanks for keeping us “informed” about your trevails. Stay safe and a BIG HUGE thanks to you, all our military AND your families who sacrifice so much to support what you do for all of us.
February 20, 2006 at 8:29 pm
I guess I will be taking up curling, though my husband will wonder why I’m obsessed with cleaning the floor. Have a safe trip home. God bless your wife and our troops.
February 21, 2006 at 1:40 am
Well, Taco, it looks like this is gonna cost mom and dad a little extra this month! LOL!!
If you collect enough parts, maybe you can build your own plane someday!! (Just kidding Mrs. Taco!! :-/)
Seriously though, prayers for a safe trip. When you finally land on American soil, we’ll be there in spirit to welcome you home.
February 21, 2006 at 1:47 am
You rock, Taco! And your wife is a saint:-0
Enjoyed your post as always.
February 21, 2006 at 3:55 pm
I’ll bet there’s more truth to Melissa’s “kidding” than you let on here. I keep thinking of Radar O’Reilly’s plan to ship an entire Jeep home one piece at at time and that maybe a plane has made its way home in many similar boxes over the last few months. Now that would make a great “I love me” memento!
Thanks for everything (again and again) and Semper Gratus!
February 21, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Religion of peace? Didn’t take a cartoon to figure it out, not after 30 years of watching what Muslims do. Just because they didn’t blow up or burn down my house doesn’t mean their religion is peaceful.
Try reading the Koran. We had to read excerpts of it in college for a literature class. It’s a religion based on self and fleshly desire, not others and service to them. (… male selfishness, I might add …)
I’m glad not all Muslims are fundamentalists. The “liberal”, partially westernized ones are the ones who are peaceful; and they are hated by the rest of the bunch.
That’s how it looks to me.
**********
Tell Leghound to auto the wrench like Sam said, if he’s willing to let go of it.
February 22, 2006 at 7:04 pm
If I have my timing right, let me just say WELCOME HOME. *hugs*
February 23, 2006 at 4:29 am
Gods speed and have a wonderful homecoming! You deserve it Taco!
February 23, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Have a safe trip home Taco,dont forget to drop in when your over my house.
February 24, 2006 at 12:21 am
Taco, great post! Wives just don’t get the juck thing!! I guess it’s a man thing!! Keep up the fight!! Love your site!!
February 24, 2006 at 12:23 am
that should say “junk”
February 25, 2006 at 4:23 am
Have a safe return home. I’d be willing to bet your wife will be so glad to see you that she’ll let you build an entire plane in your backyard!
February 27, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Enough already- Just say “I’m safe” in these comments if you don’t have time for another post. Some of your fans are old people prone to heart failure from worry. God bless our troops!
March 3, 2006 at 5:58 am
Taco –
Welcome Home!
I remember your fondness for Catherine Bell – Enjoy!
http://www.yikers.com/video_catherine_bell_photo_shoot.html
March 3, 2006 at 3:01 pm
TACO is home–late, but home! They got stranded in Ireland, but I know he will be writing all of you soon so keep tuned! Since he saw his precious little ones yesterday for the first time, I don’t think he can put them down long enough to get to the keyboard!
Mrs. Taco and we, the proud parents, met him when he arrived at Cherry Point Air Station and what a sight to see that huge grin on his face when he spotted his lovely lady!
We are a happy family to have him home safe and sound!
Navy Wife
PS
And I got to give Leghound, Sgt. Maxie, and Sgt. Warren a BIG HUG!! You should have seen the grin on Leghound’s face when I asked if he realized what a following he had!!
March 3, 2006 at 3:44 pm
WELCOME HOME TACO!
Thank you for the update Navy Wife…give em a hug from all the fans!
Bridget
March 3, 2006 at 3:55 pm
Congrats to Navy Wife and the rest of your family!! Thank You for the update and please hug your son for me too! PS Somebody tell Leghound to start a blog…oh the fun!!!
March 3, 2006 at 3:57 pm
WELCOME HOME TACO!!!!
I’m so glad to know you are finally back home, safe and sound, with your family!!!! No more wondering.
Now that we know you are back home, all is well. Enjoy the time with your family and don’t worry about catching up with us. There will be plenty of time for that later. (Though I am interested to know how a bunch of Marines get stuck in Ireland!?!)
Thank you for the update Navy Wife. I know you must be thrilled to have your family back together again! To you, your family, Mrs. Taco, and especially Taco, a million THANK YOUS!
And, tell Leghound and the rest…WELCOME HOME!!! as well.
Semper Gratus
March 3, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Taco, Welcome home Sir!!! You guys are amazing!! I know what it is like to see my wife and kids after being gone for just a week or a couple…. But, as long as you guys have been gone and all that you guys go through!!!! I never could fathom the feelings!!! No wonder you had a huge smile on!!! Enjoy!!! And Thanks for your sacrifice, yours and your wifes!!
March 3, 2006 at 5:20 pm
THANK YOU! GOD BLESS OUR MARINES! WELCOME HOME!
Semper gratus,
Donna
March 3, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Thanks Navy Wife – now its “official”
TACO’S HOME!!!!
March 3, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Welcome home Maj Bell. Congratulations on a job well done.
And now it’s time to find another jarhead in the sandbox and support him.
Semper Fi
jim b