Well, we finally made it! Got past all of the "decompression" time at Atterbury (which was far more stressful than the uber-planners thought it would be...idiots), all of the processing (which was decent) and all of the petty personality issues we had thanks to processing and "decompression". We got back to Evansville yesterday, and the town had turned out to meet us. We hit Tri State Aero, got on to firetrucks and rode along US 41 and the Lloyd, all lined with well wishers to the armory, where there were more well wishers and family to greet us home. It was amazing, overwhelming and truly humbling. I can complain about a lot of different things, but the manner in which Evansville received us home is definitely not one of them.
You all can imagine what we did once we got back here to the house, so I'll spare the readership all of the details. I will throw this one out there, just for Diba: Kim had an open bottle of wine, from which she had been drinking most of the week. Maybe a glassful was left in it. So she asks me what I want, I respond with a glass of wine and start looking at the rack. She tells me there's an open bottle in the kitchen, which I then grab. On the way up the stairs, she asks me if I need a glass. I looked at Kim, smiled, said, "nope" and promptly drank from the bottle. Arr!
It's good to be home. I have plenty puttering around here to keep me busy, that's for sure. It's all good, and it'll keep me going until December. That's when we've decided to start the adoption process back up and then I "get" to go back to work. Until then, I finally get to really and truly decompress. Oddly enough, "decompression" at Atterbury is an oxymoron. I could go into all sorts of complaints and such, but suffice to say, it simply doesn't work. The whole time we were thinking, "just get us the hell out of here".
On a personal level, I find me reminding myself more and more often to not snap at folks. I vacilate between that and just listening and thinking, "so what?" So, some minor things to work through but nothing that's a showstopper.
End of this week, we'll be at my parents' house for Thanksgiving. Dad and mom both just had surgery, so we need to go up there and see them. Should be a good Thanksgiving. Mom said she'd fix a beef tenderloin.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Back Home Again
Back Home Again
So, we're back. The flight, which mercifully had only one layover in Ireland, landed yesterday late morning. Since then we've been here in Indiana being subjected to an arcane process known only as "demobilization" to the cognoscenti. We managed to squeeze four hours' worth of briefings into a ten hour day today, which was special. Tomorrow should be a little easier to manage, given we're doing medical and dental processing. Then we do administrative stuff, then turn some stuff in and then we get to go home home. At least it's clean and green and quiet here. Other than that, I could complain about a whole lot of things, but won't. Complaining just doesn't change things, and it's easier to get through all this if I'm not whining all the time. The process is a necessary evil, and so we go through it thinking we'd just rather be home. Of course, cooperating and getting through all this tends to make the whole thing work more smoothly, so we're willing to deal with it all, provided we keep moving - not necessarily fast, but moving. Moving is good.
Paul met me off the plane, which was cool. I hadn't seen him in a long, long time, so it was nice. Of course, the rest of the folks in my battalion just ignored me after that. Not sure what's up with that, but there's something there.
Not including today, which is Wednesday, I see Kim in four days. We're into single digits and under five. I can live with that.
Enjoy!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Guten Tag, sehr geehrte Damen und Her...
Guten Tag, sehr geehrte Damen und Herren!
I thought that an appropriate greeting, considering I've been in Germany now for...five days? Something like that. I accompanied an officer to the hospital at Landstuhl, from which the Army moved him to Walter Reed. Nothing serious, but that was their decision. So that leaves me here in Germany, trying desperately to get back down range. It's not bad, as there's not mission, no stress and nothing to do. And it's awful, since there's no mission, no stress and not a whole lot to do. I have no civvies, so going "out" is not really an option. I left the borrowed running shoes in Landstuhl (good move Mark) and so here I am. For all that, it's not bad. There's a cafe open up next door (they serve Starbucks, and I can live with that), which is open until like, midnight. I might actually go there and pay the $10 for WiFi access today and do Warcraft for a few hours tonight. I mean, why not? Right now, I'm on one of the computers in the PHA ("Personnel Holding Area"), and am posting, so it's not totally uncivilized. The only problem, the only glaring hole in this entire setup is the arrangements to fly. See, it's all "Space A" travel, which is "space available". Nothing is guaranteed. Essentially the trip that took five hours to get here will take two to three days to get back, and that's just getting to Kuwait. Yay.
Everything notwithstanding, I have no complaints. Well, no legitimate complaints. I'm here, with others in the same situation, and as misery loves company, we're a sort of odd fraternity. It's all good. I was able to hit the gym a couple days ago, and am still at body weight on bench press. I can hit the gym here, providing I don't mind working out in boots. We'll see. This is a weekend, so doing next to nothing is acceptable now, whereas yesterday it was not.
I played the rank card yesterday, which I kind of feel bad about, but it was needed. See, they put all patients and escorts into the same housing in Landstuhl. When I went to "check out" yesterday, they said, "oh sir, you'll have to wait for your platoon sergeant." I snapped. "Hey sergeant, let's try this," I started, "how about, I'm a Major in the US Army and I'm leaving whether he's here or not? I have a commander who wants me downrange, I'm not a patient and have no intent upon staying here longer than I must. I don't wait for E7s." Strangely enough that worked like magic. They started hopping. I'll only play the game for so long, usually until the situation becomes stupid, then I snap. I didn't get upset, didn't raise my voice, so that was good.
So that's what's new in my world. Either I'll get back to Mosul, or I'll get to Kuwait and await the main body. Either way, I'll get back to the unit.
Enjoy!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Working Through
Alright folks, back for another round of blogging fun and excitement!! First, I must say this is odd, as I'm not posting from an office, rather from my can. See...apparently, in the new digs, so much bandwidth gets used up in the early evening that it's impossible to access something as basic as Google Documents. Strange, I know, but such are vagaries of the Mayor Cell. Or maybe it's Internet Explorer, which I have come to despise worse than before. Have I mentioned I don't like Internet Explorer? Just checking. So while I've been navigating to this particular site where I can FINALLY post, I've managed to watch the final episode for CSI season 4, courtesy of The Market. $40 for all eight seasons simply can't be beat.
The replacements are sort of here and we're reading in those who are. Those who aren't...well, they'll catch up. Mostly I'm not concerned too much, as one extra week won't make or break them. Also, I'm not too concerned, since my replacement and my NCO's is here. It's a childish and egocentric way to look at it, but it IS the Army.
This morning I finally was able to get in contact with Kim. Between DSN lines being goofy or busy and her cell phone being cantankerous, we finally got through to one another. It's the small things that count the most, I've found and being able to talk to Kim regularly matters a whole bunch over here.
The weather has taken a dramatic turn for different. We had thunderstorms through here over the weekend. Thunderstorms. With rain. Lots of rain. Gravel isn't too bad in rain, but sand and dust mixed with water makes mud. Marez is now a mudhole with guardtowers and a kickin' perimeter. The up side to all of this is it isn't hot any longer. Humidity has climbed to a massive 56%. A little more and this place might just begin to pass for Indiana in the spring. Maybe. If you take away all the Turks, Kurds, Iraqis, palm trees, machine guns, etc.
Not sure why I'm posting this, but it struck me as a pretty cool read, so take a look.
In the meantime, I'm watching CSI, preparing for November and training my replacement. Life is decent.
Enjoy!
The replacements are sort of here and we're reading in those who are. Those who aren't...well, they'll catch up. Mostly I'm not concerned too much, as one extra week won't make or break them. Also, I'm not too concerned, since my replacement and my NCO's is here. It's a childish and egocentric way to look at it, but it IS the Army.
This morning I finally was able to get in contact with Kim. Between DSN lines being goofy or busy and her cell phone being cantankerous, we finally got through to one another. It's the small things that count the most, I've found and being able to talk to Kim regularly matters a whole bunch over here.
The weather has taken a dramatic turn for different. We had thunderstorms through here over the weekend. Thunderstorms. With rain. Lots of rain. Gravel isn't too bad in rain, but sand and dust mixed with water makes mud. Marez is now a mudhole with guardtowers and a kickin' perimeter. The up side to all of this is it isn't hot any longer. Humidity has climbed to a massive 56%. A little more and this place might just begin to pass for Indiana in the spring. Maybe. If you take away all the Turks, Kurds, Iraqis, palm trees, machine guns, etc.
Not sure why I'm posting this, but it struck me as a pretty cool read, so take a look.
In the meantime, I'm watching CSI, preparing for November and training my replacement. Life is decent.
Enjoy!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Within A Month
Within A Month
To everyone who follows my blog ramblings, I must beg forgiveness. I know it's been a while since the last post. Several significant things have happened since then, so I will attempt to bring everyone up to speed.
First, and most significantly, Dad had a birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!!
Next, my office assignment was moved and duties added. This is a strange effect, since it's a blessing and an annoyance all rather rolled up nicely in one neat package. See, I still have to do badge stuff at the badge office. AND I get to do more stuff here at the Mayor cell half a mile away. Joy! Rapture! The essential difference here is people walk in and out. A lot. Folks wander into my office and ask questions like, "hey sir, what do you think...left boot on the left foot...?" I especially enjoy that one. In any event, now I must actively wander between the two locations. To add insult to injury, I have to deal with Internet Explorer here instead of Mozilla Firefox. Yeah, I know, life's tough all over.
Lastly, we're close to three weeks from rotating out of here. Naturally, that's not the end to this nonsense, but it's close. Then, see, we get to do another ten days of "redeployment" nonsense to make sure the Army does everything it can for us (all good) and then listen to briefings (good thing I have books on my cellphone...might need to make sure those are up to date...I hear we have way many much briefings) and THEN we get to go home. I think. "Home" being defined as that place containing my wife and wine. Honesly, I should be more tolerant. After all, I know and understand the Army, like any large institution, will have its fair share of nonsense. I knew it before I joined. Still, I don't think it's bad to point it out when it crops up.
And...we're still at a crossroads for adoption. Both Ethiopia and Russia are financially feasible, now it's a matter of where we want to go. Ethiopia is quicker, the child will be an infant, the fees are about half as much as in Russia and the visit is shorter. The agency has had no health issues with children adopted from Ethiopia at all, which is good. But we're also interested in Russia. To say we're torn would be a great understatement. Please pray for wisdom in this decision.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Back in the Saddle
Back in the Saddle
So, here I am back in Mosul, doing what I do best: dodge work. Just kidding. Mostly. I returned to find that I've been bequeathed with some additional duties, which correspond mostly to the responsibilities I'll have once we return to the Real World. Key words here are "additional duties". For those not fully acquainted with the military parlance, that simply means this is stuff I get to do on top of the list of stuff I already do. Normally I'd whine at this point and try to claim that my docket is so full I couldn't possibly get all of it done, even if we stayed another year. Unfortunately, such is not the case for me. I mean, I can't even TRY to do that, which kind of stinks.
The good news is here! Y'all need to check that link out. Basically we're at a high of 98 today and then tomorrow it drops to the mid eighties. That, in and of itself, is motivating!! I haven't seen the mid eighties as a daytime high here since we arrived, if then.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the others, who have included me in their blogs. Anjie, who contributes a lot to the comments here, included me in her blog. It's a great post and an excellent blog, so please take some time and read it. As a kid, I remember going to friends' houses and asking them to come out and play. If Anj and her husband lived closer to me, Paul and I would be showing up at their doorstep asking, "Anj, can you come out and shoot?"
Mid eighties...that's just simply outstanding!
Actually I begged off the morning briefing today and came directly to my old office here at the Badging Cell. Several reasons surround this. First and foremost, all of my archives are here and I have one last nut to crack before I can say I'm prepared to begin training my replacement (actually I have a ton of stuff to write up for him too, but I'm talking absolute minimum here). Also, because I don't have the foot traffic in this office that I do in the other one, I can actually get something done here. There's a lot to be said for that, to be quite honest. It's a yin and yang thing too - I like being around the others and the rest of the unit, but I'm more able to focus here. In any event, I'm here for the morning and plan on knocking out a plan or two. Maybe I'll get to smoke some, who knows?
Lastly, please pray for Kim and me. Over the leave, we reopened the adoption process with an agency located in Evansville. The current plan is to adopt a child from Russia. If all works out, the child will be 10 or 11 months old when we pick him or her up. Also, we have a better chance of adopting a boy, which will be a change on the grandchild front... *grin* In all seriousness, please pray. The costs seem insurmountable to me right now, and I know that if this is supposed to happen, we'll find all the resources we need. To that end, I've begun some research, but it's certainly not done. So, please pray: right direction, resources and just a sense of peace about this whole thing.
Those who would send us packages, please do not send anything! We're close enough to flowing out of here that we've been told to tell you all to not send stuff. Again, thanks to everyone who was able to send stuff, and those who wanted to do so!! Getting stuff is nice, but knowing folks are out there keeping us in their prayers and thoughts is amazing too.
Enjoy!
So, here I am back in Mosul, doing what I do best: dodge work. Just kidding. Mostly. I returned to find that I've been bequeathed with some additional duties, which correspond mostly to the responsibilities I'll have once we return to the Real World. Key words here are "additional duties". For those not fully acquainted with the military parlance, that simply means this is stuff I get to do on top of the list of stuff I already do. Normally I'd whine at this point and try to claim that my docket is so full I couldn't possibly get all of it done, even if we stayed another year. Unfortunately, such is not the case for me. I mean, I can't even TRY to do that, which kind of stinks.
The good news is here! Y'all need to check that link out. Basically we're at a high of 98 today and then tomorrow it drops to the mid eighties. That, in and of itself, is motivating!! I haven't seen the mid eighties as a daytime high here since we arrived, if then.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the others, who have included me in their blogs. Anjie, who contributes a lot to the comments here, included me in her blog. It's a great post and an excellent blog, so please take some time and read it. As a kid, I remember going to friends' houses and asking them to come out and play. If Anj and her husband lived closer to me, Paul and I would be showing up at their doorstep asking, "Anj, can you come out and shoot?"
Mid eighties...that's just simply outstanding!
Actually I begged off the morning briefing today and came directly to my old office here at the Badging Cell. Several reasons surround this. First and foremost, all of my archives are here and I have one last nut to crack before I can say I'm prepared to begin training my replacement (actually I have a ton of stuff to write up for him too, but I'm talking absolute minimum here). Also, because I don't have the foot traffic in this office that I do in the other one, I can actually get something done here. There's a lot to be said for that, to be quite honest. It's a yin and yang thing too - I like being around the others and the rest of the unit, but I'm more able to focus here. In any event, I'm here for the morning and plan on knocking out a plan or two. Maybe I'll get to smoke some, who knows?
Lastly, please pray for Kim and me. Over the leave, we reopened the adoption process with an agency located in Evansville. The current plan is to adopt a child from Russia. If all works out, the child will be 10 or 11 months old when we pick him or her up. Also, we have a better chance of adopting a boy, which will be a change on the grandchild front... *grin* In all seriousness, please pray. The costs seem insurmountable to me right now, and I know that if this is supposed to happen, we'll find all the resources we need. To that end, I've begun some research, but it's certainly not done. So, please pray: right direction, resources and just a sense of peace about this whole thing.
Those who would send us packages, please do not send anything! We're close enough to flowing out of here that we've been told to tell you all to not send stuff. Again, thanks to everyone who was able to send stuff, and those who wanted to do so!! Getting stuff is nice, but knowing folks are out there keeping us in their prayers and thoughts is amazing too.
Enjoy!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Getting Back To It All
Folks,
My sincerest apologies for the lack of posts this last couple of weeks. I've been home on leave as many of you know, and so that has been in the forefront of my mind. So, appropriately enough, this will be about the leave time and getting back. I'm still not really "back" to it all yet, as I'm stuck in Ali Al Salem, lovely Kuwait. Most folks don't like Ali, simply because it's Kuwait: way too hot, no cover, nothing but sand and buildings. Add to all that, it's a waystation for most of us, nothing more. For all that, it's not too shabby. I can get online here for a sawbuck and do stuff like this, allegedly they have a couple of gym tents and a couple MWR tents, which I might go find later (or not). In addition to the DFAC, there's a McDonalds, Pizza Hut and a Green Bean Coffee shop, so all of one's needs are cared for, almost. At this point, I'm figuring that I'll keep going on this odd body clock thing that I have, post, eat, shave, etc.
Leave was good. I didn't do everything I wanted to do, but the time was well spent. My parents came down, which was awesome! I hadn't played golf in years, so it was good to get out on the links. Plus, I don't think I'd seen them in a long, long time, so seeing and spending time with them was nice. Spent an evening with the Devines and the Kempfs, which was great (Joe - when do we do a minimarathon?)! My goddaughter came over and she, and Kim and some friends and I all went out, which was cool, and otherwise I just really enjoyed folks visiting, stopping in and just hanging out. I started 15 gallons of wine and got it all into secondary fermentation, so that's a good thing. Thanks to Kim needing practice, I got a couple massages, and we went out and played more golf. All in all, a pleasurable time home.
Most folks asked me what it's like for me, living in Iraq. I gathered a popular impression is that it's like Vietnam in the desert. It is not. Sure, it's hot, dusty, and all that. Yes, there are dangerous places there. Mostly we still enjoy most of the comforts of home to a certain degree. Some posts have more stuff than we have, some have less. We get shelled occasionally. Keep in mind, "shelling" is like one or two rockets and that's all. 90% of the time, that all hits away from where we stay and work. Outside the wire, it's more dangerous, but that is also a matter of degree. By no means is it a constant set of attacks on us, one right after the other. For all that, it's dangerous, so Soldiers keep their guards up and stay vigilant to the dangers around them. We do our part and keep the bad guys off the base, which is our job. I work most of the time, workout three or four times a week (more now that we have a PT test coming up), watch movies or play on the laptop in my off time, maybe smoke a cigar with others outside, and otherwise talk to Kim almost daily. The worst part is being away from Kim and other loved ones. The second worst part is the process of getting here and getting home. By necessity, it's complicated, which means we spend a lot of time on our tails. Usually I don't mind being here, but it's not home.
So, that's all for now while I'm in transit. I need to get some food, get cleaned up and crash for a bit
Before I sign off, I'd like to congratulate Matt & Laura on the birth of their son! You guys will be great parents!
Enjoy!
My sincerest apologies for the lack of posts this last couple of weeks. I've been home on leave as many of you know, and so that has been in the forefront of my mind. So, appropriately enough, this will be about the leave time and getting back. I'm still not really "back" to it all yet, as I'm stuck in Ali Al Salem, lovely Kuwait. Most folks don't like Ali, simply because it's Kuwait: way too hot, no cover, nothing but sand and buildings. Add to all that, it's a waystation for most of us, nothing more. For all that, it's not too shabby. I can get online here for a sawbuck and do stuff like this, allegedly they have a couple of gym tents and a couple MWR tents, which I might go find later (or not). In addition to the DFAC, there's a McDonalds, Pizza Hut and a Green Bean Coffee shop, so all of one's needs are cared for, almost. At this point, I'm figuring that I'll keep going on this odd body clock thing that I have, post, eat, shave, etc.
Leave was good. I didn't do everything I wanted to do, but the time was well spent. My parents came down, which was awesome! I hadn't played golf in years, so it was good to get out on the links. Plus, I don't think I'd seen them in a long, long time, so seeing and spending time with them was nice. Spent an evening with the Devines and the Kempfs, which was great (Joe - when do we do a minimarathon?)! My goddaughter came over and she, and Kim and some friends and I all went out, which was cool, and otherwise I just really enjoyed folks visiting, stopping in and just hanging out. I started 15 gallons of wine and got it all into secondary fermentation, so that's a good thing. Thanks to Kim needing practice, I got a couple massages, and we went out and played more golf. All in all, a pleasurable time home.
Most folks asked me what it's like for me, living in Iraq. I gathered a popular impression is that it's like Vietnam in the desert. It is not. Sure, it's hot, dusty, and all that. Yes, there are dangerous places there. Mostly we still enjoy most of the comforts of home to a certain degree. Some posts have more stuff than we have, some have less. We get shelled occasionally. Keep in mind, "shelling" is like one or two rockets and that's all. 90% of the time, that all hits away from where we stay and work. Outside the wire, it's more dangerous, but that is also a matter of degree. By no means is it a constant set of attacks on us, one right after the other. For all that, it's dangerous, so Soldiers keep their guards up and stay vigilant to the dangers around them. We do our part and keep the bad guys off the base, which is our job. I work most of the time, workout three or four times a week (more now that we have a PT test coming up), watch movies or play on the laptop in my off time, maybe smoke a cigar with others outside, and otherwise talk to Kim almost daily. The worst part is being away from Kim and other loved ones. The second worst part is the process of getting here and getting home. By necessity, it's complicated, which means we spend a lot of time on our tails. Usually I don't mind being here, but it's not home.
So, that's all for now while I'm in transit. I need to get some food, get cleaned up and crash for a bit
Before I sign off, I'd like to congratulate Matt & Laura on the birth of their son! You guys will be great parents!
Enjoy!
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