Welcome Home Party

This past Saturday Casie and I were in Michigan for a party my parents were having for my return home from Iraq, my brother's graduation from Michigan State, and my sister homecoming from Las Vegas, NV.

It was great to see my sister for the first time in over a year! There was a tent, catered food, party maids, volleyball, Frisbee bowling, soda, a keg, friends, and family.

I didn't manage to take many pictures, but here is my brother, John, my sister, Jen, and Me!

And my buddy Steve enjoying a Bass.

It was a great party, thanks Mom and Dad!

Meet the Jeep

One of my first orders of business when I returned home from Iraq was to purchase a vehicle. Just before I left for Iraq, the lease on my 2004 Jeep Liberty was up, which couldn’t have worked out better. I had no car payments or auto insurance while I was deployed. While I was on Rest and Recuperation (R&R) I made a weekend trip to Detroit, MI to pick up my “dream vehicle”, a Jeep Green 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with a HEMI engine.

I have wanted a Jeep Grand Cherokee since I was 16 years old. My dad had one back then. I love the way the body looks, but the interior always came off as old fashioned to me. Chrysler finally remodeled the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s interior in 2006. I actually purchased it instead of leasing, since it is my "dream vehicle". I got all the goodies; 4x4, sun roof, leather bucket seats, fog lights, trailer tow package, upgraded speakers, and MP3-CD changer/satellite radio.

It isn’t as bad on gas as people seem to think. It costs me about $52 to fill up the 21.1 gallon tank about every 10 days. My Jeep Liberty costs me about $38 bucks every week (when gas was $2.19/gal) to fill up a 19.5 gallon tank. I love the hum the engine makes, but Casie insists it is the HEMI gargling the gasoline. WHATEVER!

I’ve been meaning to post these pictures for a while.

Yeah, it’s got a HEMI. :-)

Back by Popular Demand!

BEN-JAM-IN Returns!

After taking a much needed break, I am back. I’ve been busy tasting wedding cake, looking at flowers, registering for gifts, and trimming guest lists. I have thought long and hard about the direction I want to take my blog. There is no way I can be as creative as my previous entries from Iraq, but I still want to keep my family and friends in-the-loop with what I am up to. Plus, I miss your comments.

You can still expect journal-type entries from me (a little less often), but I may post about less personal topics if I deem my life is too boring that day! I have some cool ideas, but you have to be patient and provide me feedback via leaving me a comment. Who knows, I may actually listen to it!

Stay tuned…