Day 83

My first Iraqi sandstorm. Boy, are these fun. Thank goodness for wet wipes. You can't get your whole body clean, but you can wipe your face and hands and at least feel a little better. I have got to start carrying my camera with me. From the roof of our office we had a good view, of what we could see. And the wind seems to blow from every direction. I know the sand filled every crack and crevice. I was chewing sand and cleaning it out of the corners of my eyes. And it wasn't even a bad sand storm, or so they tell me. Can't wait for the big one. I updated my thoughts on a new camper. My original plan, before I took this all expense paid trip, was to retun home, trade off the PT Cruiser, use the Starcraft as a trade-in and get me a pickup and a new pull-behind camper. I like my Cruiser. I don't like my camper. So, I thought that since I only go camping 3 or 4 times a year, I might be better off if I were to purchase a van camper. It doesn't have to be new and it doesn't have to be pretty, it just needs to have a good engine and transmission, as I can't turn a wrench to save my life. As I get closer to my coming home date I'll start looking online for what I want. Makes more sense to me than getting a pickup with poor gas mileage just so I can go to the mountains every other year or so.

Day 82 - part 2

I have decided that I need another tattoo. Oh, I'm still getting Elmer Fudd on my butt. And Kate designed a really neat Concord Minuteman tattoo for me, but before I do that I need to find appropriate wording. The new tattoo I want to get will be a song. It'll start on my upper arm and wrap around towards my wrist. The only thing upon which I can't decide is what tune. I don't have a favorite song. I don't live my life by a specific tuen. I could use some input from all you all on what song you think I should use. I intend to have a five line staff with notes and chord symbols and lyrics. What tune? What tune? Oh, and by the way, I have already considered and dismissed a song from the "Wizard of Oz", "If I Only Had a Brain". But then again, I am in Iraq, so that is fairly appropriate right now.

Day 82

By the time this deployment is completed, my NCOER is going to need a continuation page. Late last week I was informed that I was going to be the range NCOIC for the Brigade. Mostly a symbolic appointment, but one that looks good when it comes time for yearly evaluations. And only yesterday I found out I got another additional duty; I am now the Fire Marshall for our building. Yep, I'm fire marshall Bill. I have to go to a class before I get my little red hat and badge, and I hear that's all of 45 minutes of training. Phew, good Army training there. Seriously, I could use a little plastic firemans hat and a fire chiefs badge. Feel free to send me more than one. Things are starting to smooth out here and late last night I remembered something that I wanted to share with all you all. (Good thing I have this forum otherwise I'd be talking to myself.) While at mobilization station we all got a four day pass. I went to my sisters place just outside of Sacramento, California and we did family stuff. Mainly I slept while she made me supper. On the day I had to return to Ft. Lewis, I knew I wouldn't need my civilian clothes, so I dressed in my Army uniform, with beret. On the drive to the airport, we pulled up to a stop light. I noticed the biker pulling up on the passanger side looked in my direction as he came to a stop, noticed how I was dressed, and then did a double-take. I nodded to him and he asked me, through my open window, if I was going to or returning from overseas. I told him I'd be leaving in a few days. He then stuck out his right hand, I did the same, and while we were shaking hands, he looked me in the eye and said "Thank you". The light turned green and we went our seperate ways. I never know what to say to people who say that. I always end up saying thank you back to them. It only seems polite. I honestly don't think this is that big of a deal. All of us in uniform today are volunteers. Just being in uniform deserves a thank you. To step up and say I'll spend some time in Iraq is, to me, not that big of a deal. I have a friend who some of you know. His name is James Coler. When we were at Guard drill back in the late 1980's, one of his sayings was, "My time is your time. I signed the contract in good faith. Just don't bore me." The Army has paid me, housed me, fed me, trained me, so why shouldn't I put all of that to use and be here for a while? It's just like a long, long, long, long Annual Training, the only difference being I don't get to see my friends or family for a long, long, long, long time.

Day 80

If I learn nothing else from this deployment, I will have learned this; the correct spelling of the word "Google" in Arabic is "Google". I obviously am still having problems with my country of origin issue and blogger. What's a guy to do? Even though the last couple of days have been 14 hour days fighting with the Active Army, I still have time for personal reflection, thoughts of introspection, and general day dreaming. On that note, I found a thing I miss; I miss buttons. On the BDU's, all of the pockets had buttons. When you wanted in, you undid a button, put in your thing, re-buttoned the button, and got on with your day. With these ACU's, velcro is kicking my ass!! You lift the flap to put something in, and if you wait more than one-tenth of a millisecond, the stupid flap falls back and the velcro reattaches itself, and you have to start the process all over again. And while you're fighting with your pocket, trying to put your hat into the cargo pocket, your notebook falls to the floor, and your rifle starts falling off of your shoulder, and the people behind you in line are getting miffed because you're blocking the isle. I miss buttons!!!

Day 76

Well, we got through the Transfer of Authority ceremony in fine form. The ceremony ended with the playing of the Army Song. When it played, everybody sang. Not the first verse, oh no, that'd be too easy. They sang the second verse. Which got me to thinking; I don't know either verse to the Army Song. I never had to learn it at Basic or AIT, and being in the Band we perform the song for others and never sing it. I had to get the words sent to me so I could learn them so I didn't look too much the fool in the formation. For those of you who don't know the words either, check it out;

First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And The Army Goes Rolling Along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army Goes Rolling Along.
Then it’s hi! hi! hey! The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong;
For where’er we go, You will always know
That The Army Goes Rolling Along.

If I hadn't been giggling so much at the others in the crowd that were as clueless as I to the correct words, it may have been an actual touching moment.
I got my first packages from home yesterday, from Dad and my sister. It's amazing how objects, and some Christmas cookies, knowing they were last handled by a loved one, can have such a greater meaning, particularily when I'm this far from home.

Day 75

It gets dark here at about the same time as it does back home; sunset at about 5 pm and sunrise at about 7 am. We're outside when it is dark and I can see the sky, but it's not the same sky with which I grew up. Oh, we have the moon; that at least looks the same, but the stars are all wrong. I've been reading the blog of a buddy of mine, and recently he posted that he was longing for a plate of pancakes. I miss cooking for myself. Open a cupboard, check the freezer to see what you can put together, and make it yourself. The food here is good, and there is plenty of it, but I still miss being able to cook a meal for me. I think I need to buy a grill, some charcoal briquetes, and grill myself a meal. That should take the edge off.

Day 74

Ok, serusly, I nead sum healp hear. Mi blogg sight thincks I liive in Iraque. Sew, mi speell checque findds prublums wisth eavery whord I tipe, becus nun of the wurds ar in arabik. Kan sumboudy pleze tell mi howe two reset mi longuige bak to englioush? I already went to "tools", internet opotions, language, and made sure it was setto englioush. What othr opotiions doo I hav? PLEEZE HULP!!!