Charlie's Weblog

Today marks 40 weeks here in Iraq. My wife and I are hoping that the Army lets me go before the count reaches 52. There's an ever-lengthening row of hash marks on the inside of my locker that mark the Sundays spent in Iraq.

Mary Kate was at the mall yesterday buying sugar-coated pecans to send to me (it's considered very Texan to send pecans). She was talking on the cellphone with me and explained as much to the woman at the counter. She was moved to give Kate the pecans, gratis. We joked about trying the same thing with Kate at the jewelry store but neither of us are as optimistic about the outcome.

It's a big week in west Texas. The Fandangle pre-season dinner was held last night in honor of Aunt Eska Stasney out at the Cook Ranch (where Kate and I honeymooned last summer - beautiful place: www.stasney.com). Relatives are in town for the bank stockholder's meeting but the real news was from my brother Henry. He attended the scholarship selection committee at our church and they were able to find a highly qualified applicant to carry the torch this year. She stands in good company with the awardees from two previous years who are now doing great things academically. It looks like the young people of the church have vouchsafed its future.

All the best,

Charlie