http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog MLH & Matt Holzmann are growing a family. We welcome you to follow our progress. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:41:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I'm a bit more timely this month. Here's the July issue of my Deployed Times. Thank you for taking the time and interest to keep up with me and my brothers in arms. UPDATE: I have a solare pump headed my way for the aquaponics project I want to ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/08/isaf-%e2%80%9809-deployed-times-vol-2-issue-3/ This has to be short, but hopefully y'all feel a bit more connected to what life is like out here through these pictures (Click on the image for full resolution, then right-click, save image as, to save the files.): 1. [caption id="attachment_166" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Guarding a footbridge in Nawa, Afghanistan."][/caption] 2. [caption ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/07/isaf-09-photos-from-my-first-patrol/ To everyone that's been sending email, letters, and care packages...THANK YOU! It means the world to know that folks back home think about us and care for us. That said, Vol 2, Issue 2 has been released for public comsumption: 200906 ISAF Newsletter (Click on the link to download ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/07/isaf-%e2%80%9809-deployed-times-vol-2-issue-2/ I'm in a place where we can't really talk to the outside world, but I wanted to update you all to let you kow that I am OK, and doing well. I miss being back home, and I wish I could be with my girls. http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/06/isaf-%e2%80%9809-update-from-nowhere/ It's 0500 in Kabul. I'm in Afghanistan, safe and doing well. There's an early sandstorm just waking up, as the sun begins to glow on the horizon. Last year, I created a newsletter to help folks back home keep track of my deployment, and this year I've done it ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/06/isaf-09-deployed-times-vol-2-issue-1/ On 7 May, I sadly left Maira and Sequoia back in San Diego, in order to deploy to Afghanistan. While I'm gone, I can be reached via email (matthew.holzmann@usmc.mil) or via snail mail at the address below: Sgt Holzmann, Matthew J 1/5, H&S Co., Comm Plt, Data Unit 40320 FPO AP 96610-0320 Our journey, ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/05/deployed-to-afghanistan/ So...I'm totally hooked on aquaponics - the combination of aquaculture & hydroponics.  I first learned about the concept a few weeks ago, in the business section of the local rag. Some folks in Escondido sell turnkey kits for $1200 USD. Well, with the new baby and the economy ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/01/aquaponics-my-new-thing/ In the words of Joey Russo, from Blossom, "Whoa!" Every day, I fall more in love.  Every day, she develops.  Every day, I wonder if she can wrap me any further around her finger.  And, every day, she does. Today, we received a letter from my commanding officer.  While I'm sure it's ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/01/fatherhood/ MMommy is healthy after giving birth to our daughter, Sequoia Rae. She is also healthy. She weighs in at 6 lbs 10.5 ozs & is 19.5" long. Pictured below: UPDATE: Had a great message from "Aunt Jackie", "MATT AND MMommy,  YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A  GIFT, A BEAUTIFUL BALL OF CLAY ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/01/birth-story/ Currently, I'm in the field training for forward technology solutions. But, one needs to take time out for the finer things in life, like a good shave. A while back, I was turned on to ClassicShaving.com, by Brandon Harper's review blog. Since, they have been my go to source ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2009/01/civilized-living/ Here's the heartbeat from this week's pre-natal appointment. All is still well, MMommy's belly is growing as expected, and the baby still sounds healthy. The heartbeat can be heard from the link below: 20081231_week-37-heartbeat.wav http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/12/37-weeks-and-all-is-well/ Today, MMommy and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire. If you haven't seen it, then go NOW! The story was relatively simple. The storytelling was not. Slumdog is the best told story I've watched in years. We loved the movie. I'm not going to ruin the ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/12/slumdog-millionaire/ We reconfigured our couch to make things more comfortable - read bed-like - for MMommy.  However, the configuration makes getting up MUCH more difficult for her.  Below, is a link to the video. Your browser does not support the video tag 20081221_2017-getting-mommy-off-the-couch http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/12/get-off-the-couch/ First, let me admit that I find Uggs absolutely atrocious, but functional. Second, I find them pointless in anything other than a snowy clime. With that said... What the hell are southern California women thinking when they purchase and wear Uggs, in southern Califrnia? http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/12/uggs-in-socal/ Here's the latest installment of Baby's heartbeat.  This is nothing earth shattering, but it's for the grandparents out there.  Enjoy. (I'm posting as MMommy to pad her stats.) 20081218_35-weeks-baby-heartbeat http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/12/babys-heartbeat-week35/ Finally, I have a photo gallery function on this blog. That should make it MUCH easier to share pics with all of you. To get to the gallery, simply click on the "View more photos" link in the right sidebar, in the Recent Photos section. The next trick is ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/12/photo-gallery-is-working/ Today, I started the rebuilding efforts necessary for my long neglected blog.  While I'm sure few are checking this site, I figured I'd let you know that I am slowing getting all my posts back onto the site, as the export didn't work properly on the last product I was ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/12/rebuilding/ Below, you will find an email from a friend and former carpooler from my high school days. Her response, regarding the job that we do in the military, is why I serve. It's been so nice to get your updates. Thanks for taking the time to give us such an informative ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/04/this-is-why-i-serve/ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; August 28, 1963; Washington, D.C.: I strongly urge you to take a moment to read, in its entirety, the "I have a dream" speech that follows. I keep a copy in my wallet to remind myself of the value of freedom and the price we all ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/01/have-we-fulfilled-the-promissory-note/ We have made it to Kuwait. We were just ahead of the USS Hopper and her run in with the Iranians, as we steamed through the Persian Gulf. We debarked our amphibious aircraft carrier via Land Craft Units (LCU), which are much like the boats seen in the D-Day invasion of ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/01/westpac-08-update-kuwait/ We are in Bahrain, and I don't like it. I don't understand how this City/State works. Everything appears to be new-ish, but on torn up lots. The place is a mix of dilapidation and new construction. In more chipper news, I have released the latest installment of my WestPac '08 Newsletter (Save the ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2008/01/westpac-08-update-bahrain/ Today, about 40 Marines and Sailors headed out to Paula Ubin to do a beach clean up. The island was a quick boat ride, ~15 mins, from Changi Village. We then spent a good 3 hours cleaning up the beach, before stopping for some lunch, and heading home. The island ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2007/12/westpac-08-update-singapore-2/ We're in Singapore. It's great to be off ship. I can barely type right now because my hands got totally thrashed during the obstacle course that we ran today, on the Sembawang School of Infantry base. I ran the course 7 times, which was 6 times too many. I'm now ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2007/12/westpac-08-update-singapore/ UPDATE: We are somewhere off the coast of Hawaii...I have no idea which direction or how far away we are. I thought I saw lights off in the distance last night, but when I woke this morning...we seemed to be back in the middle of nowhere. I had more written, ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2007/11/westpac-08-deployment-update/ It's been a LONG time since I've written, and since then MANY things have changed quite a bit. I'm married (to the wonderful woman I used to write about - 3 July) We've our respective in-laws I've 'sold' my Vespa to Jonathan, for safe keeping I've been to FL to visit my mother, and ... http://www.mattholzmann.com/blog/2007/08/times-they-are-a-changin/