Day 43

10 hours of sleep? That's almost unbelievable but it's true. The true blessing of being told "we don't come in until Noon on Sunday" made my day. I woke up several times starting at 5:30am but forced myself back to sleep and didn't get up until 9am. I then took a shower and got back in bed and watched "We Were Soldiers." I will admit...I saw that movie through very different eyes now that I've been through Army combat training and work with overwhelmingly Army folks. It made much more sense to me. I've seen the movie twice before but it felt totally different this time around. The scenes where Mel Gibson's wife would receive telegrams of soldiers' deaths were tough, the prayer bedside with his kids right before he deployed to Vietnam felt awfully familiar. The homecoming at the end...oh yes, the homecoming. THAT, I cannot wait for.

At work, I dropped in an iced Starbucks VIA packet to a cold bottled water for my first java of the day. I still didn't make it to Green Beans for my MOAC. Perhaps tomorrow? We shall see. I have to get there early because no way am I going to take in that much espresso during the second half of the day. I do want to sleep at night. The Lieutenant Colonel (pronounced "kernel" for you non-military types) and I got together first thing to review the main spreadsheet I am using to track all "erector sets" from start to finish. I understood his vision for it and got to work. I really like working for him. We're a good match. Good thing, too, because he got here only 3 or so weeks ago which means our deployments nearly parallel each other. By 5:30pm, we were heading out, door locked behind us.

Before heading to dinner, another person in my office, an Air Force officer, said there was an area near our CHU's which gave a pretty good view of the mountains surrounding the base. Most views around the base are hindered by structures of some sort. It was a quick walk and the sun was starting to set behind the western mountainside. As it set, the breeze kicked up and it turned into a nice evening. I snapped photos ... many of them throughout our short stay out there. Amazing how gorgeous those mountains can be but at the same time, be the refuge for the insurgents who have sworn America as their enemy. One part of me wants to get outside the barbed wire and hike to the summit while the common-sense side knows I'd be shot on sight. Mr. High-n-Tight white American male doesn't exactly blend in out here. Still, they're beautiful to look at.

Some great conversation, too. Eventually, the conversation turned to money, finances, and then Dave Ramsey. Those who know my identity know my story..or might know my story with debt, our debt paydown, and becoming financially free. My peeps back in Kansas who I always talk to about this stuff aren't along for my little journey so it was good to talk money and finances again...especially with someone who gets it. Dorothy and I have ambitious goals for my deployment and we are 100% on track so far. I've always been the finance guy in the house so she had to step up and take it over while I'm gone. She's doing a fantastic job.

One thing I found I needed here was a way to protect my iPhone and carry it while I run, whether outside or on the treadmill. Amphipod, a company that a lot of runners know about that makes hydration systems also has some items for carrying things like iPhones whether on the waist or on the arm. I had one of those moments..."darn, I wish I would've thought of that before I left!" I really like taking my iPhone out on a run for a few reasons...if needed in an emergency, for photos if the opportunity presents itself, and for the MapMyRun app. Using GPS, it tracks my entire run with a laundry list of stats. I love it. So, I contacted Amphipod and they charge the same $4.95 shipping they would inside the U.S. to military members stationed ANYWHERE in the world. Plus, they give a 20% discount. No tax, either. Seriously, how can you beat that?! Plus, I love to patronize companies who support the military. Perhaps you would, too? Here what I ordered and should be arriving in about a week: ArmPod Smartview. For you local to where I live, a place with the initials "VR" carries them. :-)

Dang, I did so little today yet found a way to say so much. How does that always happen?! I thought today would be two short paragraphs and done. "Thank you, Diary, for listening to my thoughts today."

Busy week ahead! I taped months to each side of my monitor at the office today. From now on, I'm "X-ing" every day off as it passes. I want to see my "going home" date approach.

Goodnight, everyone.