Day 63

Saturday, Day 63 is here. If my math is correct, 63 divided by 7 days in a week is 9 weeks. So there you have it...9 weeks sealed and delivered. While I thought I'd spend a shorter day working, it still ended up being an 11 hour day. Luckily, I'm NOT going in until Noon tomorrow. It's the one day where the morning is mine and I'm going to use it to run...hopefully get two loops in of the base here at WDW. Normally, the wind is weak in the morning which means the dust and filth more at rest. We shall see. I'm going to use my CHU as a water stop where I've been collecting Gatorades. That'll be my fuel as well as some mini-Clif Bars.

For the first time since Day 1 (which I read today...ugh...I remember those crocodile tears), I gave a call to Dorothy's parents. I can't believe I haven't called them even once. They aren't technology-driven and don't own a computer so they've really been out of the loop...my apologies to them. We talked for about 45 minutes and I did my best to bring them up to speed. I insisted they get over to our house and see the 3 albums of photos online so they can put everything in context a bit better. It was good to talk to them and hear Tin Man and Scarecrow playing hard in the background.

Besides lots of work today looking at the BIG picture in Oz (I'm actually in a position to make a difference on a country-wide level...more to come on that later), I did get out and get another buzz cut. I behaved, though. Dorothy despises when I cut the top super short. I told the guy (whose name I cannot pronounce) high-n-tight but told him only to thin and shorten the top. He did a great job! To the skin on the sides and back but Dorothy-acceptable on top. The best cut that $5.25 can buy. Afterwards, I grabbed another one of my favorite coffees from Green Beans, courtesy of another anonymous giver. That's the 3rd person who donated a free coffee to me via their website. I am thanking each one and exchanging a few e-mails with them...cool to learn about them, where they're from, and why they feel compelled to donate. Afterwards, I started some jewelry shopping for Tin Man and Scarecrow. They both recently got their ears pierced so earrings are a must. I can tell already, though...the language barrier in the jewelry shops is going to drive me crazy. I'm going to shop until I can find someone who I can actually have a conversation about the jewelry with...and understand what they're saying.

The evening was spent working on my blog here. I wanted a change and discovered that I can create the background. With nearly 600 photos now in my database, I found this photo of Old Glory that I snapped a few weeks ago. It's symbolic to me because while it's tattered and should be replaced, it's on the outskirts of the base and leans towards the barbed wire, the mountains, and the enemy. It's a symbol of strength and fortitude...and I love it. It really sums up why I'm here so why not make it the background on here for awhile? I know it makes reading a little challenging but if you scroll, the photo stays in one spot and won't scroll...that way, you can read everything.

While writing tonight, the CMT Awards were on in the background...recorded and being replayed for us on the Armed Forces Network. While Rascal Flatts was performing "I Won't Let Go," I couldn't help but think how I'd love to hold Dorothy right now and tell her these words...courtesy of Rascal Flatts:

Cause I will stand by you

I will help you through

When you’ve done all you can do

And you can’t cope

And I will dry your eyes

I will fight your fight

I will hold you tight

And I wont let go

Oh I’m gonna hold you

And I wont let go

Wont let you go

No I won't

Goodnight, everyone.