Happy Belated New Year, aka, Where I've Been and What I've Been Doing

Hello and hey there. Sorry to have been away but it's been busy and my schedule's been in a bit of the flux. So finding time for posting has been kinda rough (and watching BSG with Doc DeMike has also cut down on my free-time, admittedly).

So here's a quick recap, I suppose.

Dec 28 - Jan 1: New Years
SPC Gutierrez and I visit FOB Striker for some training on some fancy computer program. There are no real celebrations here - although a few small parties. At the battalion Command Post (CP), where we've been training, work goes on as per usual, soldiers answering the radios and telephones and directing information as needed. The show must go on.

Jan 1: New Year, New Rules, New Look
I returned to Patrol Base Dragon to learn that some changes are in the air. Yes, my friends, it's gone. The mustache is no longer with us. The First Sergeant decided that this was the day and so it had to go. Not really bothered by it, since I wanted to get rid of it before going on leave. Just wish I'd gotten a picture of it being shaved off. And evidently the mustache had been pissing some people off. Not really sure why. But I'm not really sure why alot of people do alot of things.

January 3: Iowa Caucuses
Iowa. Land of corn, ethanol, and really, I'm told, not much else. Frankly, I think Jenn's braver than I am for facing the Iowa winter. Me, I opted for NH all those years ago. And we at least had hot chili at the Red Arrow and pints at The Wild Rover to keep us warm and happy.

For those of you who don't know me (why are you reading this?), I'm an unabashed political junkie. I love elections. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss being involved in a primary. So I salute all those involved in whatever campaigns. Good work, folks.

Oh, and go McCain!

January 4: Barbarians at the Gate
So we're a little short-staffed lately (people going on leave and all that jazz). As a result - and because our normal radio guard hours are on the lite-side - we've been doing an extra shift of work guarding the base's front gate.

Most people find gate guard to be boring and obnoxious. There's little to look at, time passes slowly, and it's been cold out lately. Me, I like my shift a lot. It's in the middle of the day, so not too cold, and I spend a good portion of it practicing my Arabic with the Iraqi Army soldiers (Abbas speaks excellent English). Even my little Arabic is great for something like the front gate – I can get my (limited) point across, figure out what people want, and provide simple directions. And the locals seem to get a kick out my trying to learn the language, too.

January 8: The New Hampshire Primary
Good job, Granite State. Now on to Michigan!

January 11: WTF (Whisky-tango-foxtrot)?!
If it looks like it's snowing, that's because it is. And it really shouldn't be. Most things I've read say there hasn't been snow in these parts in a generation. Definitely not the happiest feeling when I walked out of my room towards work.

Today was supposed to be our Medop – we were planning on bringing in our medics, some IA doctors, and conducting medical evaluations of several hundred patients. But the weather means the helicopters that were going to fly the IA docs are grounded, the planned site is a muddy mess (we got a 113 – a small tank stuck in it), and it's ridiculously cold. I'm suddenly happy I'm on radio guard and not involved because I would've hated to have wasted several hours struggling in that mess trying to set-up just to find out that everything was postponed 24 hours.

January 12: "What the Hell was that?!"
So Bunavicz (Bunny), Abbas, and I were just minding our own business guarding the front gate on this lovely day while most of the gang was at the postponed Medop down the street (not really a street). And just as I had snapped a pic of Abbas, there was a loud crack, a whizz, and I found myself and Bunny shouting while I ducked behind the Humvee.

Evidently the shot had come about midway between Bunny, who was up sitting in the gunner's turret, and myself, and from about 150 meters to our 7 o'clock from or behind a reed-line. Can't say we were very happy about it. A patrol sent out in response was told by a LN that he'd been shooting at a dog (and that he'd forgotten that bullets continue to travel until they hit something). We were pretty skeptical but what can ya do?

The rest of the day was happily uneventful and we managed to enjoy a sunny break from the cold. The Medop went well, I'm told. And they saw about 650 patients. Good stuff.

And, yeah, this is not a normal occurrence, folks. So don't be too worried.

January 15: Michigan Morons
How anyone can buy Romney's crap about saving and restoring all of Michigan's lost automotive jobs, I don't know. Idiots. The guys a stuffed-shirt peddling feel-good lies when he knows better about business and economics. Those jobs ain't comin' back.

So, yeah, the day starts off badly. In other obnoxious news, it's inventory time, which means I have to account for all the commo equipment for which I'm signed. Oddly enough, I'm told that that totals approximately $2.5 million. G-d willing, I haven't lost anything.

January 18: Just Another Morning
Tonight's shift: 0000-0400. Followed by 0800-1300. Our feature presentation: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The FST (Fire Support Team – they handle requests for artillery support, like, in our neck of the woods, illumination missions) just finished watching Raiders when I got here. I'm liking this whole movie watching on the post-midnight shift.

It's also not terribly cold in here. Probably because the First Sergeant installed several space-heaters in here. Sure it's a fire hazard. But that's why there's now two of us working at night (that way the heaters are never, ever, ever unattended, even for a minute).