Thank you for the insights on the finances and POAs and whatnot. You guys are awesome! I have some more for ya, though.

We're trying to decide what to do with his cell phone while he's gone. We're not tied down by a contract. His phone has audio issues anyway. At first, he thought he couldn't take it with him. I'm thinking that it'll be too expensive, but we both think the cost is worth it to actually speak to each other. How are phones handled over in Iraq?

My mind just blanked on the other one I had. Be back later...:duh

My DB was going to try to keep his cell phone BUT this is his second deployment and said that he can just get an Iraqi cell phone... it's basically the same thing... So look into it because it will cost some money, but a lot less.

its my DB's first deployment and he didn't want to take his... not sure if they were TOLD not to or if it was strickly his decision...

i know a lot of guys end up buying phones over there

I honestly don't know about phones over there, but I do know that most companies over here will let you put the plan on "military status" which means it's turned off until he gets back. That way he's not paying for two phones and he will have the service for the cell phone when he gets back. We have AT&T and I did that for my DH's cell phone when he left a couple of months ago.

Good stuff! He has AT&T too. Can anyone offer something up about webcams? We got two for Christmas. Have never used them before...and I'm not too intuitive about electronics/VoIP stuff. Help?