Nikki Tucker and Tucking Into Steaks!

Today I'd like to introduce you to Captain Nikki Tucker, United States Air Force! Nikki is one of our nurses here at FOB Lagman. She hails from Oklahoma and uses her Oklahoma attitude to help keep us all in line! She works on a trauma team here and aside from providing outstanding care for all our patients, she has a great sense of humor and a quick wit about her. She even came up with the winning slogan for our command coin! Captain Tucker is an integral part of our team and I couldn't be happier to be able to introduce you to her!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Nikki Michelle Tucker

SSSS: Code name?

Snowflake

SSSS: Why that one?

Well, I could say it’s because I’m kinda pale with dark hair. The other reason is that the former team said some of the Army girls were going make me their girlfriend so it was like a prison name!

SSSS: Where were you born?

Oklahoma City

SSSS: Married or single?

Married

SSSS: Any kids?

A 2 year old son named Seth

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

9 years in July

SSSS: Any tattoos?

No. I think I'm one of the few people on the FOB without one!

SSSS: What’s food do you miss most being here on the FOB?

Pizza... Real pizza.... Old Chicago Pizza!

SSSS: What’s your favorite food that they serve here?

I guess the Omelets are pretty good...

SSSS: Any food that you absolutely won’t eat?

I'm very picky so I won’t eat most of it.

SSSS: Picky Nikki?

Yeah... I guess!

SSSS: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

No idea. There are so many I can’t pick one.

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Well... I read all the books so, even though I know Bella ends up with Edward and everything I still like Jacob better!

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

What’s the difference?

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Biggie

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Aries

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

Boxer-briefs!

SSSS: If you could teleport from here to anywhere in the world for 6 hours where would go?

An island in the Carribean.

SSSS: Lowenbrau, Becks, St Pauli, or O’Douls?

St. Pauli

SSSS: Are you a little bit country or a little bit rock-n-roll?

Both

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

Yeah. It’s those brother and sister group people… I forgot their names

SSSS: What’s your favorite thing you’ve gotten in a care package?

Pictures of my son.

SSSS: Is that really your favorite or just the only one you're willing to tell me about?

The only one I'm willing to tell you about!

SSSS: What message do you want to share with everyone reading?

It’s been exciting to be here! I'm glad I came but am so ready to come home!

So now that you have gotten to meet Nikki I wanted to tell you about an AMAZING lady who, along with her husband, runs a family farm in Virginia. First, the background...

Getting good, properly cooked, fresh meat out here is extremely difficult. The DFAC does the best they can but it's pretty much impossible to cook for 500 people plus and get it perfect. A few weeks ago, Christian began researching places that might ship fresh meat, packed in dry ice, to APO addresses. It turns out that very few companies are willing. Ultimately, he was able to contact Robin Rider of Rider's Backfield Farm, in Etlan, VA and, after some discussion about the logistics, she agreed to help us out!

Sunday afternoon at mail call our dreams of fresh beef came true! Two T-bones, two Porterhouse, two Ribeyes and two Sirloins in addition to 6 pounds of ground beef, four pounds of sausages, and a "goodie box" full of jams, jellies, and homemade soap arrived! The meat was all still cold and some was still frozen! Needless to say, we immediately fired up the barbecue and went to work!

The result was amazing! The grassfed beef from Rider's, rubbed with a little olive oil and seasoned with just salt and pepper came off the grill sizzling and juicy! The first bite was like heaven and the beef just melted in our mouths! We were two VERY happy surgeons by the time we put down our forks, gnawed on the bones, and licked the juice off the plates! A HUGE THANKS to Robin and her husband Jimmy there at Backfield! You are the best! Anyone looking for top quality grass fed beef please contact Jimmy and Robin at the link above. You won't be disappointed!