Today was a great day! It was finally my turn to go home on R&R (Rest and Recreation) leave! It was a long trip home and I was very cramped - the Army doesn't make space for polar bears to go on leave, so I had to stow away in CPT Simer's luggage. It sure felt good to get out of there!

I had a big crowd of friends and family waiting to meet me when I got home....

My wife, Milkshake, introduced me to my new cub who was born after I left. Milkshake said that she named him "Blizzard," mostly because of the way he makes the house look. Hmm, if that's the case, maybe "Tornado" would have been a better name.

It was really exciting to meet him! I wonder what it will be like to be a daddy polar bear. Most male polar bears don't participate in raising their cubs, but Milkshake and I have decided to have an alternative lifestyle.

I'm going to be home for about two weeks before I go back to Iraq. It will be a good break from the war... and more importantly, from the heat! It's starting to get cold in Minnesota - just the way I like it.