Hello!  (This post is exactly the same as the email I just sent - so if you got that, this is the same info

I hope this finds everyone doing well.  I've had some questions about what to send Adam, and truth be told I really don't know what he needs right now.  He doesn't really need anything right now, but he will.  Stuff like new socks, t-shirts, uniforms, and gear.  The sand and the heat does a number on those kinds of things, and they need to be replaced periodically.  Well, obviously it's hard to get your hands on that kind of stuff, you don't have a Clothing Sales (okay yeah, I know you do Dave, but nobody else does!)  Also, they have little shops set up on his FOB (forward operating base) where they can buy stuff like gear, clothes, soap, deodorant, razors, snacks, and drinks, kind of like a mini-mart.  So AAFES the "Army Airforce Exchange Service", your all purpose store for the guys, has made it easy for family and friends to help by setting up Gift Cards in different amounts that you can purchase online, and have sent to him in Iraq.  That way if he wants a powerade and a pack of socks, all he has to do is take his gift card in and get them.  They have done the same thing for pre-paid phone cards.  The phone cards you can purchase for him through AAFES gives him much more talk time for the money.  The website is: www.aafes.com.  Once you get there, you go to the right hand side of the page, and click on "Gifts from the Homefront" for the gift cards, and "Help Our Troops Call Home" for the phone cards.  Please let me know if you have trouble finding it, or if you aren't sure how to make it work.   Also, I wanted to send information about the Post Office and service to Iraq for Christmas, I know it is still a couple months away but since I would recommend sending by parcel post (cheapest), the deadline to insure he gets it by Christmas is Nov. 13th!!  Here is the info I received regarding that:

The first suggested deadline of Nov. 13 is for packages going by parcel post to deployed troops and those living on overseas installations, according to the U.S. Postal Service. Parcel post may be the slowest option, but it’s the cheapest, too.

If you miss the parcel post deadline, here are your options for getting mail to an APO/FPO address by Dec. 25:

• Space Available Mail (SAM): Nov. 27.

• Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL): Dec. 1

• Priority Mail: Dec. 4

• First-class letters and cards: Dec. 4

• Express Mail Military Services: not available to 093 ZIP codes  **Not available to Adam**

I hope that helps answer some questions.  The main thing to remember when sending things is that he has to carry all his stuff with him, so space is premium.  I'm sure he'll give me more guidance on what kinds of things to send/what not to send when he has an idea.  An idea to send that doesn't cost you anything but your time - articles from the internet, newspaper, or magazines that he would like.  Now, when I say that I don't mean things about the war - he's there, he already knows.  I mean things about whitewater kayaking, adventure type things, histories of different places and things, you know the things that Adam enjoys (for those who don't know, those are some examples)  Also, things that will make him laugh - but make sure you don't just forward him stuff from the internet to his email - write it or print it so it's something he can touch and take with him.  Make what you send meaningful, it'll mean the world to him.  Also, sends things you don't mind that he throws away, remember space is premium.  So if you send pictures, make sure they are duplicates, just in case they get wrecked, or he has to throw them away.  I apologize for writing a novel, but I want to make sure you know what kinds of things are available!

I got to talk to Adam yesterday night, he is doing well, just still sandy, hot, and bored.  He'll be in Kuwait for a little while longer before moving on to Iraq.  I'm not sure how long, and I don't really want to know exactly - remember anything you write over the internet or say on the phone is easily accessed by other people.  We don't want that kind of information in the hands of bad people.  So don't be offended if Adam won't tell you specifics on where he is or what he is doing or when.  That information is classified for a reason, to keep him and his unit safe.  I know you all know that, just have to make sure I say it

Take care, and as always feel free to email or call me if you have any questions or if you just want to chat!  Also, for those who don't know - I have an email list I am sending regular updates to, please let me know if you would like to be a part of this and I'll add you to the list!

Love,
Megan