From Biker Bob
Allan , Please a little update on Operation Soccer balls,
We hope they brought Smiles
to the Kids , and to the men and women who gave them out . Have a safe ride home.
Keep that helmet on.
Biker Bob
Response: Biker Bob, The end result was 159 balls and over 300 pounds of school supplies and clothes. This weekend is an other outing, unfortunately I will be in Kuwait. Thanks for all of your great support, prayers and well wishes. I will see you in about 2 weeks......
From Mary
Let's set this straight - I did NOT ask to see the cheese bra. In fact, I specifically said I did not want to see the cheese bra!!!! No wonder the President didn't give you a raise - ya just can't get some things right! Stay safe and see ya soon!
Response: Oh, I thought what you said is the opposite of what you meant! I will never get that right.
But now that you have seen it, do you want me to pick one up for you. You may need it for the Superbowl.
From Mary
No way will I even ask what a "cheese" bra is. That is not a picture I want to have in my head! Counting the days til ya make it back to SWFLANT. I know you are excited! Stay safe and see ya soon!!!!!!!!!!
Response: Mary--Check the Misc January Pictures, no that is not Abbie. I really do love it here and will miss the work and the Iraqis. Today one lady brought in a cake for me. Shi'a holiday and time to celebrate, I guess. See you soon, lets plan for Broomelli Boys
From Dianne
Hey Allen:
So happy you are on the downhill slope. uess that's why they had to have a lttle snow there. We are looking forward to your safe return home. I tried emailing you a couple of times and it kept popping back to me so I'm trying this way. I really enjoy reading about your days/evenings. Very interesting to say the least. We are looking forward to the next Packer playoff game. Who knows....maybe they will make it to the Super Bowl and you'll be home to see it. I'll have to send you a cheesehead if that happens since I'm sure you are a Packer Backer!! Until later, stay safe and love to you from all of us cuzzins!!!
Dianne
Response: Hey Cuz--Great to hear from you. I was excited that both the Packer and Jaguars made it to the play offs this year. Since the Packers are still in, I am pulling for them. I will be in Wisconsin for the Super bowl; perhaps Abbie will wear her cheese bra! Thanks for the support, see you soon.
From Linda Thomas
Hi Allan, Great to hear you're on the way home soon. Safe travels and be proud of all you have done during your time in Iraq. I know the place will mean so much more to you when you're back in the comforts of home and you can empathize with all the struggles that continue to go in in that country. We had a blast on the cruise. Pami and I behaved ourselves (most of the time) but had some great laughs, great memories and great pina coladas!!! If anyone asks one more time if we are 'twins' I'm going to deck them!!! :)
Take care and see you around the 'hood!
Linda xx
Response: Linda--I am so happy you enjoyed the cruise. So did the laughs, memories and pina coladas come in that order? thanks for your continued support and best wishes for a great 2008
From Liz Taylor
I'm here catching up again, and we WOULD be enjoying the cooler weather if it was just cool...but it has gone WAY past that. Lows in the high 20's at night...Wednesday afternoon when I left work, it was a balmy 39! It's supposed to be warmer this weekend. Sure do hope they're right about that!
I know it will take you time to adjust to being back, such a different work environment and way of life, but we sure do look forward to seeing you back at SWFLANT again!
Response: Liz--I really look forward to seeing you too. I will not care if is below 0, I want to go to the beach, sit on my porch and breath dust free air. But I still have 3 weeks to enjoy Baghdad and I do love it here. The work, the people and the location are all so enjoyable that I hope time starts to slow down a little. Best wishes for 2008
From Mardis Price
Allan, I didn't realize your tour was over. Sorry I missed out on the front end; however, I'm glad I know you. You did good!. Mardis
Response: Mardis--Nice to hear from you and my tour is not quiet over yet. I do not head home until the last week in January but it will actually take me 6 days from the time I leave here until I get home! Best wishes for 2008 and thanks for your support
From Mary
Happy New Year! Wow - it is almost time for you to wind it up and return stateside. Guess time really does fly when you are having fun! Can't wait for you to get back. Will be great seeing you again. Hope your New Years celebration was as "calm" as mine was. Miss ya - stay safe.
Response: Mary -- I really look forward to seeing you too. Time is rushing by so before you blink again, I should be home. Hope you are enjoying the cooler weather, it is starting to warm up here again. Best wishes :-}
From Jean & John
Glad to hear that you are on the down slide. I know how you feel wanting to get more done and knowing you will not have the time.
Don't get crazy and let them talk you into another run. You need to be back with your family . Gods speed
Your Cus John
Response: Hey John--So nice to hear from you in NM. I hope mother nature is treating you better than those crazy yankees in the land of cheese. The down slide is feeling pretty good about now so there is not chance I will be staying for another round. Thanks for your prayers and support and pass my love to Jean.
From Margaret & Lee
Hi Allan,
Hope you had an uneventful Christmas considering the events in Pakistan. We wish you a very Happy New Year and safe return to us! I know Abbie is counting the hours!
You continue in our thoughts and prayers.
Margaret & Lee
Response: Margaret & Lee -- Thank you for your support and prayers. I have really been inspiried by following the work of Kiwanis while here and glad to know all the great things you continue to do. I did have a quiet Christmas and hopefully a quiet New Years. Thank you and best wishes and good cheer for 2008
From Edith & Sharla
Hi Allan,
We wish you a happy new year,and hope your doing fine.
We are starting with a few days off, then back to work! We are blessed business is good. Look forward to hear from you. Lots of Love Edith and Sharla.
Response: Edith & Sharla -- Best wishes to you for 2008. I hope it is a year of good health, many riches and peace.
From Liz Taylor
Hi Allan, Just spent some time catching up on your blog and checking out the pictures you have posted. I was happy to see that the school supplies, etc. we sent arrived safely, and I think there are more soccer balls on the way. I would love to see the look of excitement shining from those eyes when they receive these gifts. It was so wonderful of you to think of the project, and thank you so much for making it possible for us to be a small part of that. Have a joyous and safe Christmas and New Year's, and we look very forward to having you back with us soon.
Response: Liz - Thank you for the warm wishes. The pictures truly do not capture the joy but I hope you will be able to see it in my eyes when I tell you thank you in person. Best wishes for the best Christmas ever...
From Mary
Allan,
No news - but haven't written this week so thought I might best touch base with you. Hope you are fine and looking forward to Christmas. Lots of different traditions for you to observe this year. Always know you will be at home for Christmas - even if this year it is only in our hearts and on our minds. Miss ya and as always, stay safe.
Response: Mary -- Thank you so much for your support. I have passed the 3/4 point in my tour and now feel rushed to get things done. Luckily the hoildays don't get in the way of work, that way I have a few extra days to get things done. I do miss the festive activities but I also enjoy learning about the Iraqi culture and traditions. Yesterday at the end of an official meeting the highest ranking Iraqi wished us all a Merry Christmas....I thought that was nice.
From ralph giese
Dear Allan:
Haven't been able to write sooner. I had truble on the computer. Our neighbor came over and straightened me out. It wasn't the computer it was me.
Everything here is fine. The weather is very cold with lots of snow on the ground.
Kay and John are coming tomarrow. Looking forward to seeing them.
Abbie sent a package for Catherine to us. That was very nice of her to get the box wrapped for her.
Looking for a bright and happy Christmas. Wish we could all bee together to celebrate. Hope we can get together when you come ;home.
Happy Holidays and best and brightest Christmas to you.
More later.
Love Jeaan and Dad
Response: Jean & Dad -- Thank you so much for writing. My computer often has user error but that is why we have friend and family - to fix our computer problems. Save a little snow for me and I hope to see you in February.
From Edith & Sharla
Hi Allan,
now we are talking thank's to your Cuz Mike! You all Don't forget the LoneStar Rally in Galveston, Texas!! We make shure there is some German Beer waiting for you all, and we promise it will be ice cold!
Thank's Allan we got the information on our E-Mail and getting things together.
Greeting's from us to you and your co-workers. You all are amazing!!
Love you all and stay on the save side!
Don't forget it's .net, ha,ha.
Response: Edith & Sharla -- LoneStar rally and free beer, you better lock your doors. Thanks so much for your support.
From Steve Mallonee
Allan,
Received the T-shirt and Stars & Stripes yesterday. The shirt is GREAT! Thanks so much.
Expect some more soccer balls soon.
Thanks again,
Steve
Response: Steve--It is my pleasure to stimulate the Iraqi economy. As for the soccer balls, my hootch and office are starting to look like a gym but keep em' coming.
From Yer Cuz Mike
Hey Y'all... just spent the last hour browsing this site and it's amazing, as are you. It was 80 deg. here in Va. today so I decided to call Bob in Milwaukee to bust his chops about the Wes'Cawsun weather and we got to talking about you. We're all so very proud of you cuz and want you to know that we'll all be thinking of you on New Years Day during the Polar Bear Ride. We'd have a missing man formation but we haven't fugured out how to propell a motorcycle, riderless, down National Avenue. We WILL make sure that every one of us has a beer in your honor though!!!! In the mean time Bro, "Ride Safe" and get your butt back home soon!!!
We Love ya Bro!!!
Response: Cuz--You all are so amazing, perhaps the missing man formation is saving a bar stool for me. I can't wait to ride with you again. I will be home for Daytona Bike week and plan to take advantage of it. Anybody care to join me?
From Edith and Sharla
Hi Allan,
Howdy from Texas!
Please give us shipping instructions/information!
Texas is collecting shoes for the children.
You and the staff stay save.
May God bless you all.
Response: Edith & Sharla, So nice to hear from you again. I will send you and email about where to send stuff for children. I am working with a friend Mike to help an orphanage and widows home. Women are not always treated well here and if they lose a husband life can be cruel so anything you can do to help is very welcome. That's why I love you both!
From Laurie Hipshire
Allan,
I am just amazed by your pictures and your stories! THANK YOU for all you and your commrades are doing over there! The joy on the faces of those children....nothing is better than that!! I will be sending lots of clothes (my children have out grown but are in excellent shape!) and toys your way to hand out to the children. Are there any restrictions on what I can/cannot send or how it's sent? We miss your smiling face around the halls here at SWFLANT! Peace be with you my friend! God bless! Laurie
Response: Laurie - Thanks so much for writing. I too hope all is well with you. Thanks for your support and donations. I will send shipping direction to you.
From Mary
Allan,
Can not thank you enough for sharing your "soccer ball" pictures! It is hard for me to type right now - what with all the tears in my eyes!! Quite touching. Keep up the good work for us. The smiles on the kids faces says it all. Stay safe and hurry home.
Response: Mary -- Thanks for your continued support and helping to make a difference
From Deb Milbrath
Allan, those pictures of the kids with the soccer balls made me really tear up!!!! Gads I feel good about helping out. I shared the pix with an administrator at Ambrosi (the company I'm with right now) and she sent them out company wide. Here's a note I got from one of the main organizers of the Ambrosi drive to collect the soccer balls:
Loree wrote:
I'm speechless and so humbled to have been a part of this. Thanks for
including me Deb, and for introducing Allan. This really brings it all home.
Loree
Response: Deb--Your points are so well taken, we all know that in every war the children suffer the most and if we can put a smile on them for a moment I think we have change the world, if only for a moment. The best part is those moment get commented. They will remember the American's everytime they are playing with the balls. Thanks so much. When I get back I will put all the pictures on a CD and send to you.
From Taryl
Hi Allan,
You're making arrangements to come home - Yeah! We miss you and look forward to seeing you in person. I am so inspired by all the good you are doing. Keep it up! Take good care of yourself. Have a great Navy (NARMY) day!
Taryl
Response: Taryl--The SSP family has really inspired me to go farther and do more and I am happy to know I you think I am living up to our SSP standards. I too look forward to thanking you in person for your support and encouragement.
From Edith Leuck
Hi Allan,
all I can say is whoo!
Most of all I feel honored to know you personel. Not only as Chief of Utilities Division at USMCA Aschaffenburg-Germany, also as a friend. I always believed and I still do that there is a reason for every step we take. Well just two weeks ago Sharla and myself decided it's time now to get a computer again ! Today we received from Abbie the X-Mas Card, and here I am finally corresponding with you the fast way! Actually I'm so exited that I don't know how to express all that's going through my mind. I like your web page and will check on it every day! Great pictures! Our prayers are with you.
Response: Edith -- What a great day to hear from you. I feel so blessed for knowing you and am thrilled that you now have a computer again. Thanks for your support.
From Tom Schafer
Was surprised to hear that you recieved the package already, just mailed it last week. Like Marty this is the first Blog I've visited and have spent the past hour enjoying your adventures. Seeing all those names from the past brought back many fond memories. Thanks for sending the link I plan on passing it on to friends and family so that we can all keep track of your adventures. Betty sends her best were still in San Diego for the holiday's be home in Jan. Stay safe, Tom.
Response: Tom -- I'm glad you are now a "Blogger". I really have been having a good time passing out soccer balls and thank you again for your contribution and support.
From Deb Milbrath
Allan,
With all of the corresponding we've done THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN YOUR WEB PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT'S GREAT.
I got a wonderful gift from your mom this weekend. A Noel hanging made from beads. It looks great in our kitchen window. I will get a thank you, Allan update and her yearly holiday ornament from us out tomorrow or the next day.
Stay safe. d
ps. More SOCCER BALLS FOR PEACE on the way. Today the place I''m working is packing up a bunch that the people here contributed. Great of them to do this!!!!!
pss. I'm writing this from work---our e-mail at home is down!!!!! drat. no toons to you until it is fixed. drat again.
Response: Deb -- What a joy to hear from you and let everybody know the great stuff you have been doing for me. The Wendt clan is sure a powerful force and I love being part of it. Ginger said she mail 6 boxes of balls and gear. I will really try to get pictures of the kids playing with the balls, but it is enough to know they are going to really needy kids. I love "high 5'ing" Iraqi elementary school kids. Thanks so very very much for your support. With this much hope, peace can't be far off. At least that is a nice thought!
