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Icepunk's picture

Submitted by Icepunk on Sun, 2007/10/21 - 2:12pm.

Wow. So much has happened in the past year that I don't even know where to begin.

I guess I'll start with where I am and what I've been doing. I currently live in Mannheim, Germany, about 2 hours away from Frankfurt. Mannheim is the second largest city in the state of Baden-Wurttemburg and is designed in a grid system like New York city is. During WWII it was pretty much destroyed so everything's been rebuilt and is pretty modern. There's shops everywhere and an open market where farmers sell their produce and stuff. There's always concerts or festivals going on; a couple of months ago there was a huge pop concert and the streets were packed with people for blocks. I didn't get to go to Oktoberfest though because I had to work but I wanted to go.

My job is to patrol and keep the peace on 8 bases in the Mannheim/Heidelberg area as an MP. I do everything civilian cops do, except since military communities are a lot more disciplined, we don't get a lot of murders or bank robberies (not that it's never happened while I've been here). I do carry a weapon, and I've got my little MP car so I drive around all day responding to calls. On the weekend nothing really happens and most people think we're closed on Sundays so I drink a lot of energy drinks and listen to techno on the radio. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

Today is my first day off in a while. I can't rememeber the last time I didn't have to work on a Sunday. Unforunately I slept until 2pm so I didn't get to go to church with my buddy Koeplin like I was supposed to but it's all good. Then I spent the rest of the day helping my teammate move into her new room and now I'm typing this up while watching "You, Me, and Dupree." It's only like 8pm here so I'll probably go hang out with some people in a bit.

It just got really cold here all of a sudden. It was warm up until about a week ago and now it's like 30 degrees. I hear the winter is really bad here but not as bad as it is in other parts of Germany.

I'm looking forward to the MP ball next weekend! It's like prom night for MPs and I get to bring a guest.

Well, I gotta go. Ttyl!

Ice


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impressive

Lilly's picture

Submitted by Lilly on Sun, 2007/10/21 - 4:06pm.

"I drink a lot of energy drinks and listen to techno on the radio. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it."

Lol tax dollars at work eh?

Oh well. At least it sounds like your having fun :-P .

---------------

There is a heartbeat at 18 days,

And a soul from conception,

its a baby, not an it.


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Hey! Hi!

SangMing's picture

Submitted by SangMing on Sun, 2007/10/21 - 5:20pm.

Gee, it's good to hear from you, Ice. Do you work every day? How unfair! We've had some cold weather here, too, but not that cold. I guess Germany is farther north than Ohio. Ireland is, too. And I was surprised when Ais told us how cool it was there while we were having 90+ degree heat.

I hope you get to post more often. But if not, remember we're all still praying for you.

---------------

I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing. - Hillel


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Wow

Aisling's picture

Submitted by Aisling on Mon, 2007/10/22 - 10:53am.

It's still so cool and surprising to think of you as a cop, Ice. Except, you're not a cop. But you do cop-stuff. So it's cool. And you get to carry a weapon. So, sweet. Good to hear from you.

---------------

A wise man once said, "A joke untold is one not laughed at."


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Heheh

Quartz's picture

Submitted by Quartz on Mon, 2007/10/22 - 11:53am.

Aisling said:

It's still so cool and surprising to think of you as a cop, Ice. Except, you're not a cop. But you do cop-stuff.

He's an MP, which is better than being a cop! Right? :)

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Wow

Quartz's picture

Submitted by Quartz on Mon, 2007/10/22 - 11:58am.

It sounds like you're doing a good job and stickin' with it, Icepunk! Great job! XD

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Yo

Malex's picture

Submitted by Malex on Mon, 2007/10/22 - 4:00pm.

Good to hear from you Ice! I've been trying to call on and off... I actually got a webcam for Skype now, so we can stare at one another's ugly mugs the whole time! :-D

Doesn't that sound exciting?

ttyl

--Alex Markley

"Crap, I have levitation class at 25:131. Better set the alarm to 'cinnamon'."


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Ice!!Hey!!!

Slushpunk's picture

Submitted by Slushpunk on Mon, 2007/10/22 - 8:02pm.

It's always good to hear from you! I'm really proud of you, ya kno? I don't think I say it often enough.

I drink a lot of energy drinks and listen to techno on the radio.

Sounds like my kinda day!

---------------

I don't NEED an awesome siggy, my name itself has more than enough awesomeness.


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The Fatherland, the Old Country...

Roamng's picture

Submitted by Roamng on Mon, 2007/10/22 - 10:57pm.

MP Punk,

The soldiers think there is no police protection on Sundays? Ice, you wouldn't kid us now, would you?

I heard they instituted a speed limit on the autobahn. I realize that is not your jurisdiction, but what is it? I notice all of the German cars except Porsche put electronic limiters of 155 mph (roughly 260 kph?) on their cars. Is that it? Road and Track Magazine was testing the new BMW M3 and drove it past 155 and it killed the engine! Sounds like a good way to get rear-ended.

It's 25 mph on base, so how fast is the fastest people drive on base? Do you use radar or laser? I know you drove 90, but I'm talking about people who don't use lights and sirens.

We just watched "21 Hours at Munich," the true story about the Black September terrorist group that took the Israeli Olympic Team hostage in 1972, and then killed them when they were ambushed by Bavarian Police snipers. This is the kind of movie people need to see to get an idea of what terrorists are capable of.

Thank you for your service and for keeping our soldiers safe! May God bless your mission and keep you safe!

Never forget “Keep my eyes on the prize!”

Roamng


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Autobahns

Icepunk's picture

Submitted by Icepunk on Tue, 2007/10/23 - 7:54am.

... I actually got a webcam for Skype now, so we can stare at one another's ugly mugs the whole time! - Malex

I hope you weren't talkin about my mug. :-P

The soldiers think there is no police protection on Sundays? Ice, you wouldn't kid us now, would you? - Roamng

It's not just the soldiers, it's the families that live on post too. They think that MPs get weekends off just like everybody else; but what they don't know is that we're the only military occupation that works 24/7. So then on Monday everybody comes in with their cases and we get swamped!

I heard they instituted a speed limit on the autobahn. - Roamng

Actually, contrary to popular belief, most autobahns have speed limits. When there is a speed limit, it's usually 120 kph, which is about 70 mph.


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Church, Pics, and MP Ball

Migisi's picture

Submitted by Migisi on Tue, 2007/10/23 - 6:47pm.

Hey, Ice!!So great to hear from you. I'm sorry you didn't get to go to church--does the church have any services during the week? Or maybe you and some friends could have an informal Bible study together? Hope you can get someone to take some pictures at the MP Ball--some pics with you in them. Also, some pics of you in your cool MP car! Stay safe, and strong in the Lord. You, your buddies, and your mission remain in our prayers.

--"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."---Matthew 6:33


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boggle the mind

Submitted by gnome on Wed, 2007/11/07 - 2:32pm.

It boggles the mind to think the punk who partnered with the malex to bring mirth and mayhem to the universe, and who did a very good job of it, has now been assigned the task of keeping the peace...gives one a whole new level of appreciation for God's sense of humor.

Shut up, you. -Linus


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Kind of fitting

SangMing's picture

Submitted by SangMing on Fri, 2007/11/09 - 12:14pm.

Ice was really always engaged in the business of protecting the world from dumb butts. He's just doing it on a slightly smaller scale now. But somehow, it feels more important anyway.

Ice, you're the best!

---------------

I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing. - Hillel


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*lol*

Quartz's picture

Submitted by Quartz on Sat, 2007/11/10 - 3:11pm.

Without context, this comment doesn't quite seem the same. Gnome and SangMing are both referencing TUAoMaI here. :)

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Oopsy!

SangMing's picture

Submitted by SangMing on Sun, 2007/11/11 - 1:07pm.

Yes, no offense is meant by the "dumb butt" comment. 'Dumbutts' were the aliens that had invaded the earth and that Malex and Icepunk had to save us all from. (Or: ...from whom Malex and Icepunk had to save us all. -Semantic Sangming ;-) )

---------------

I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing. - Hillel


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letter arranging

Submitted by gnome on Tue, 2007/11/13 - 7:25pm.

the gnome wasn't offended by the comment, the gnome thought they were dumb utts, never met an 'utt', but understand they are dumb.

It doesn't stop being magic just because you learn how it's done.


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