On the subject of the recent past: I am having a difficult time getting a flight down here at Bastion. It isn't as easy as it was in Kandahar. "Hey Sir, what time are yall taking off in the morning? Mind if I tag along? Cool, see you there." Here it's - "we have a combat camera guy for that", Me - "but he sucks" Ive got a few shoots in since I've been at Bastion, not as many as I would like to have had. I'm never satisfied. Things will come together though, resourcefulness and patience can only result in excellent results.
Here are a few recent photographs
On the subject of the present: Tired
On the subject of the future: Ive got 1 photo that I need to capture in the near future, if I do it will make my month. It may not be a huge deal to everyone else but it will to me and my readers when my book finally gets published. I'm attending a conference next month in California for a week and that will give me an opportunity to recharge my batteries a little. We have been sprinting ever since we got here and it takes it's toll after 3 months. A lot still has to be accomplished this deployment. The Marines over here are fighting hard everyday, living in old mud huts, showering with water bottles or not at all, and not getting the opportunity to contact their loved ones on a regular basis.
Since I will be here till April, I now rate to take leave between now and February. Which I kind of have mixed feelings about. I was wanting to save my leave for when I got back from this deployment, so that way I would have roughly a month off and travel to Mongolia. But 13 months is a long time not to have time off. I wont be coming home again. Much like my last year long deployment to Iraq, I will be traveling to a destination where Ive not yet been. Ive been pondering where I want to take this trip to. Australia would be very very fun. Rent a car, visit the Aussies, and enjoy the summer in January. Good times. Send me an email if you think it would be wise to go somewhere else during my 15 day leave period in January.
I'm very open to suggestions.
cory.smith@afg.usmc.mil
or
csmithphotography@gmail.com
Side notes: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAVANNAH CRAVEN!!! My sister turned 16 yesterday.
Why must I be surrounded by idiots?
Here is my address, just in case you want to send me something.
Cpl Smith, Cory M
MAG-40 / S-3
Unit 78368
FPO AE 09510-8368
Thanks for reading
