I haven’t updated my site here in a while, but I have been busy creating other sites. Steph and I love to take photos and thought it would be fun to start our own photo blog together. We called it H2 Photo because, well because we’re not that creative. If it doesn’t make sense then I’m sorry. I have been working on it a lot this weekend and it’s finally up and running. As of now there are only my photos up there, but Steph has some on the way. Make sure you check back often.

Check it out here: H2 Photo

I’m still hanging around in Uruguay; I’ll be here for a couple more days. It’s been fairly busy, but I suppose that’s a good thing. Today I spent the morning aboard a C-17 with Uruguayan troops doing static-line jumps. It was pretty fun to be there and experience that, to see the faces on the Uruguayans; you could tell they were enjoying it. It was early day, so the morning sucked, but thankfully I was able to get my work done early and head to the town center for some shopping, which is good because I was able to pick up some goodies for a few people.

I’m looking forward to getting home. I’ve been out of it since I’ve been here. Not sick, but not healthy, just woozy and tired. Still having fun though. I thought I’d post a video because I haven’t done that in a while.

Enjoy, but don’t laugh.

This morning I arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay and will be spending this week here, leaving on Friday morning. I have to say, Uruguay looks pretty cool so far. I am staying at a hotel that overlooks the beach, although the beach, after being to Hawaii, is nothing to write home about. It’s actually fairly dirty, even the water is brown. I’m about to head out and try the food, which I’ve been told is great.

As far as Chile goes, I’m glad to be out of there. Not because of the city…the city of Santiago was amazing. It was actually much richer than I thought it would be. The buildings were all tall, and banks were everywhere. It actually reminded a bit of Istanbul. Some say it’s like New York, just to give you an idea of how “bustling” the city is. 6,000,000 people live in Santiago, so it ought to be.

Unfortunately, when I come to cities like this, I come for work. And the week spent in Chile was just a headache. I don’t want to go off about certain people or issues here for the world to see, but I will say certain people sucked the fun out it. So, I’m glad to be away from (that or those) people and here in Montevideo.

I did manage to get my hand on some Chilean wine, which I’m anxious to take home and share with my beautiful wife who, by the way, won $100 on Halloween for having the sexiest costume. And I wasn’t there…figures.

I’m back on the road, doing what I believe is the best part of my job: covering the news in foreign countries. I arrived in Chile this morning and will be here for a week covering Operation Southern Partner.

The goal of OSP, of which this is the first, is for USAF Airmen to “work alongside military members from the Air Forces of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, while accomplishing more than ten outreach and community relations projects.” I’ll be in Chile and Uruguay covering the events there. Unfortunately, I won’t make it to Argentina. I guess I’ll just have to vacation there someday.

Getting here was a little crazy. Our aircraft was delayed a day and a half (did I say delayed? I meant broke…) so we spent quite a bit of time waiting in a terminal. Once the plane found its wings we left and spent 22 hours total flying. Not a lot of fun, but worth it once you get here and experience a new place. I really can’t complain. Actually, I can. I miss Steph. I forgot my camera. And I have to share a room…BUT…at least it’s a 4star hotel.

I’ll see what I can do about posting some updates, at the very least some links of what I’m doing, while I’m here.

So, I’ve gone and done it. I’ve created a new website dedicated entirely to book reviews. I am going to be working on it with a few friends and we’ll be combining our thoughts on books. It should be a good way to get a variety of ideas on what you want to read next, or to just see what I (we) think about a book you’ve already read.

You can check out the site here: Paperback Frenzy

Hope you enjoy it!

So, big news, I am married. In case you don’t know me, or know me, but didn’t know, that might qualify as big news. If not, it’s old news. I was married almost two weeks ago and have since enjoyed a week long honeymoon in Hawaii.

I must admit, the wedding was awesome - beautiful even - but through no fault of my own of course. All I had to do was pick the music and make sure the photographer and DJ showed up. Stephanie did the rest and put all her energy into it for 9 months. At times I would pick on her about how focused and organized she was, but in the end it was definitely worth it. Keep in mind, I could be a little biased. But just to prove it, I’ll have pictures up here as soon as I get them from the photographer.

The only thing about the wedding that went a little wacky was the reception. We had planned on the food being served as our guests arrived and while we were taking photos. We wanted to show up (after every one had begun eating), enjoy our first dance (that was a bit too long) and then open the dance floor. When we got there, the guests had yet to be served. So it threw everything out of whack…but I’ve been told everybody enjoyed it and nobody cared, so I guess that’s a good thing.

The honeymoon was, how can I say this? Freaking Amazing. I was a little worried about it. I had made the plans and reservations while I was in Afghanistan and had about 8 months to worry that it wasn’t going to be good enough, that is was going to be nothing but expensive and boring. It was the complete opposite. We spent 5 nights and 6 1/2 days at the Mauna Lani Resort with a room overlooking the beach on the Kona coast of the big island of Hawaii. You can see some photos here.

One bonus was that the big resort was practically empty. When we arrived on Monday night it felt like nobody was around. We enjoyed a late dinner that evening and only one other couple was in the restaurant. Throughout the week more people arrived (there was a wedding on the day we left) but we were told the hotel was still only at 30% occupancy. It made for a very relaxing week with no worries about getting chairs on the beach, etc.

The best part to me was the snorkeling. I had never been snorkeling before, wasn’t sure if I’d be able to, but I pulled it off. We walked about ten minutes south to a different beach that we were told had great snorkeling and we weren’t disappointed. We saw about 20 different types (and colors) of fish. We enjoyed it so much we decided to get an underwater camera and go again the next day. It was just as great the following day, but the pictures didn’t turn out so great…oh well, what can you expect with a disposable underwater camera? We also enjoyed a very relaxing couple’s massage at an outdoor spa; every night was spent at a very nice restaurant where we ate and watched the sunset, except Friday night which was spent on a sailboat sailing the ocean as the sun was setting. My time on the boat was mainly spent trying not to throw up. I failed.

The worst part, of course, was leaving to go home, but all good things come to an end, and by coming home another good thing has begun. Steph has been moving into my place, which at first was a little frightening (not because I didn’t want her here, but because…well, guys will understand), but I have to admit, it’s a much better place with her here. My bedroom now looks a bit like Ben Stiller’s in Along Came Polly, which means I have about three times as many pillows as I used to have, but the bed is comfortable.

I’m not sure how much I’ll be updating this site anymore. Not that I was ever always updating it, but now I have more things to worry (and write) about than myself. I’m sure I’ll find my way here though. I’ll have some dumb thing that gets me going and I’ll feel that it’s my duty to tell the world how I feel and so I’ll write about it…unfortunately. I will keep reviewing books, in fact I am hoping that soon I will begin a new site with a couple of friends that is nothing but book reviews…we’ll see.

Until then, thank you to all who shared the wedding experience with us. It was an amazing time and the only disappointment was that it went too fast and we didn’t have time to say good bye to everybody we wanted to say good bye to. Other than that, it was a blast. So thank you.

I took a few pictures for a photo contest my apartment complex is having. The contest is called “My Life at the Springs” so I’m guessing the photos are supposed to be sort of random. I figured I’d give it a shot. The worst that can happen is an eviction notice, right?

I’ve heard if you like your job 51% of the time you’re doing pretty good. Well, for me, I like - actually love - my job about 60% of the time, so I guess that means I’m doing real good. I get to do something different every day (almost), I get to travel the world, I get to be on tv - which is something everybody secretly desires (I’ve learned this by sticking a camera in many faces), but I also have to deal with nonsense every once in a while, and that’s where the 40% comes in. Take last week for example…

I can’t remember a time in my life that I’ve sat down and actually watched a lot of the Olympics. I know I’ve seen a few events, but it has never been something I made sure I was tuned in for. I think that might change this year. Actually, I know it. I am going to watch these Olympics. As much as I can.

Perhaps it’s because I have a new HDTV and the Olympics are better when I feel like I’m in the pool or on the court with the competitors. Perhaps it’s because I sat down and watched the opening ceremonies and was blown away by the presentation and entrance of all the countries (a few of which, I had no idea existed). Or perhaps it’s because I got all excited and proud when the American team entered the stadium. I felt like cheering out loud, but didn’t want to be as rude as the family living above me.

I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to watch live - I’ll probably be able to catch a bit as I eat breakfast in the mornings - but I’ll definitely be watching them in the evenings when I can. I hope you are able to do the same.

I believe I have discovered my second love (or at the very least, my newest addiction): Pandora Radio.