To all at the USOC, thank you very much for the two huge boxes of shirts, hats, pants and all the other goodies included. I have now outfitted the entire team in Olympic and games gear. We kind of look like USOC-Iraq around the compound. The clothing is great and all the people on the team greatly appreciate the generosity!!!! I have included a picture of us in the some of the gear (the second box came two days later). You all are fantastic.

All is going well here. The weather is still hot, the work is consistent and the team is all doing well. I do not have any deep thoughts at this time, but I will say that the Anbar province is much more quiet than it has been in many years. I hope I didn't just jinx us, but the surge has worked in this area. Keep the faith in the troops here, we are winning, slowly, but we are winning!

More to come, hope all is well!

This picture was supposed to the below blog, so read the blog, then look back up at the picture.

I wanted to drop a line and tell everyone who sent a package, card or email for my birthday Thank you Thank you Thank you. I cannot tell you all how much I appreciate all the cards, car packages and emails that were sent. It always a huge morale booster to receive mail, but it is even greater when it happens on a birthday. So to everyone, THANK YOU!!!!!! I feel very lucky to have so many people looking out for me while I am here. Thanks especially to all of you who look out for Caroline while I am out of town. It is much easier to deal with the separation here, because I am with other separated people.

So to all of you supporting me and my team from the States, we say Thank You!