An updated Army Installation

You know, a lot has changed since Jorge was stationed in El Paso, back in 2000.  Unbelievable!  Here are some facts for you:

• Ft Bliss will triple in size by 2012, growing to over 35,000 troops.
• 2/3 of the Army's budget for improvements to bases is allocated to Ft. Bliss, this equals $3 billion!
• El Paso is the second safest city in the U.S. (per capita).
• El Paso is the 6th fastest growing city in the U.S.
• Last year, Ft. Bliss had $1 million of construction each day!
• Ft. Bliss is the only installation that has the space to allow for firing of long-range missiles, such as Patriot, etc.

I'm amazed by how much the installation has grown.  It's absolutely incredible and I haven't even seen the biggest part of it.

If you get a chance, check out the PX on post.  It's called "Freedom Crossing."  It's the only one of its kind throughout the military.
http://www.freedomcrossingatfortbliss.com/

I found an apartment on Monday.  It will be more than big enough to suit my needs.  There are 2 pools on the property and you can see the mountains in Mexico from my living room window.  I think it will be a nice place to live.  I move in on Friday.  I can't wait.  I also found a new bed.  That will be delivered on Friday, so I can sleep on a decent mattress for the first time since I left Wisconsin.  My back will definitely appreciate that.

The mattress in my hotel is so bad, I actually slept in the recliner on Saturday night into Sunday morning.  Happy Mother's Day, right?  Every morning, I wake up and walk to the bathroom hunched over from the pain in my back.  The great thing about the new mattress is that there is a 90-day guarantee on it.  If my back doesn't like it, I can switch it out with a different model.  That's a really good peace of mind.

Not too much else going on down here.  It's just day after day of briefings.  Boring!  I will finally be done with in-processing on the 17th of May.  Can you believe that it takes that long?  I still don't know when I'll be able to come back to Wisconsin, but I'm hoping it will be towards the end of next week.  Time will tell.  I can't wait to see Jorge and Shadow! 

Jorge puts Shadow on the phone with me, nearly every night.  I can hear her panting.  He tells me that she's been sleeping in the suitcase he brought down to San Antonio.  How cute is that?  (-:

I hope you are all doing well.  I'll send an e-mail when I finally have a phone number and address.

Love to everyone!

--DV