If you’ve been following along with my pictures and stories, you’re probably aware that we don’t have it all that bad over here … certainly not compared to some troops in other parts of Iraq, and definitely those in Afghanistan. But, human nature being what it is, of course I’ve still got a few minor gripes … mainly about my access to the Internet (cue: wife Ana rolling eyes as she reads this).
In some ways, being over here is almost like a flashback to the 90s. I’m truly thankful to have Internet in my room, but I also forgot how frustrating VERY Slow Internet can be … seriously, it’s like I’ve got dial up AOL again … except thankfully without having to listen to the modem trying to connect (or worse, the dreaded busy signal).
With just a little more than a month left here, there are a couple things I am really looking forward to when i get home.
The first is obviously seeing my family. BTW, with the winter storm at Fort Hood yesterday, the kids got to play in snow for the first time ever:
The other things that I really miss, are High Speed Internet (do know how frustrating is is to try to watch a YouTube video when the download speed is like 15k?), and having an Internet enabled phone so I can check things like twitter or facebook anytime I want … even when I’m at work, and they (along with many other websites) are Blocked. This is probably something that shouldn’t be so important to me … but it is … so I gotta deal with it.
We will be going phone shopping, probably shortly after I get home. Since my t-mobile sidekick died shortly before I left to come here to Iraq, I really don’t have much of an excuse to tell Ana that we can’t dump t-mobile and switch over to Verizon or AT&T. As of right now, I’m definitely leaning towards Verizon. Part of me wouldn’t mind going down to the AT&T store and getting a shiny new iPhone. However, since reception problems are part the reason we’re switching, I’d rather not even risk dealing with AT&T.
Still trying to decide on a phone. But if I’m not getting an iPhone, I definitely want something that runs Android. (need Apps) We will probably end up going with a DROID for me, and an ERIS for Ana … especially if they still have the 2 for 1 deal going.
And on that note, I’m going to end this post, because if I keep writing about cell phones, I’m just going to end up getting frustrated that I don’t have one to play with NOW! 
p.s. disclosure: the Droid and Eris links above lead to Amazon.com (which actually has a lot of good information about the phones). But, should you purchase something as a result of clicking on those links, you should know that I will be compensated 
OMG stop being such a girl.You can survive a few months without a cell phone plus do you know how annoying it is talking to you in a restaurant with you constantly having to see what was online on your phone and doing those tweets which you know I cant stand tweeter.Plus the first thing you gonna do is get a car cuz you know that I dont do that one car deal and then Im going to take my vacation seeing that you are on yours at the moment and after all of that is done then you can get a phone;-) You are right I did roll my eyes but I did it already when I read the title
Car, Vacation for you, then phone … got it.
I Love you too
p.s … Ana wanted to make sure that nobody reading this gets the mistaken impression that she’s “mean”.
She’s not … believe me, I had a mean one the first time I was married, I know all too well what that’s like.
Ana just gives me shit because she loves me … and apparently because it’s entertaining
Todd, how are you doing along the lines of mexican / chinese / thai food, ripe papayas, or similar edible memories?
To be perfectly honest, on the days when I take a picture of my food, it means I couldn’t come with anything better … and I’m too tired to go out and use my imagination.
… which means, with 40+ days still left here, a picture of a chicken burrito or something might not be totally out of the question at some point.
Ana (& Tood)
I agree with you….I see absolutely no point in having a phone with all that internet crap on it! Plus I know how engrossed Todd gets in reading things online so I can only imagine what it is like back home where he has internet 24/7……………………….Sorry Todd, I know I may be breaking man code, but your obsession with the internet and cell phone are a bit disturbing!
Justin
lol … just remember, that “man code” thing works both ways … beware of “compromising” pictures Tagged on Facebook so they show up on your wall … which I know that Your wife looks at
“Stop being such a girl”; man, that’s funny. And I’m glad to see it so that I know I’m not the only one whose wife picks on him the same way.
It’s funny when we realize just how much we’ve started relying on stuff that, at some point in our lives, we said we never wanted in the first place. At least I never thought I was going to have a cell phone.
Hi Mitch,
That’s sort of the funny part … I don’t even care about the phone part of it (I don’t actually make many calls). I just want my mobile Internet device.