Day 106

If you recall from yesterday, I had but a few goals today...be out of the office by Noon, get an afternoon nap in, and possibly get a haircut. I'm happy to report I achieved all 3...even watched a movie. So I went in at normal time and had the office to myself. The boss is out of "town," too so that helps. I did some house cleaning, got some work done, helped out a medical officer who has been tasked with doing supply stuff (that's the Army for ya!), and as lunch approached, I got the heck out of Dodge.

Today is also my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. I still haven't spoken to them as I type this because the last time I was by a phone, it was 2am, east coast time. I may try to call them (and end up waking them up) when I head in on Monday morning (their late Sunday evening). Had I been home, I would've planned something big and had lots of folks come into town but Uncle Sam called instead. I know it's a big milestone and just hope they enjoy their day! I'm sure ice cream will be involved as they own an ice cream shop.

On the way back to my room, I stopped by the Afghan video shop near the main gate. The guy in there sells new movies for $2 a piece. Yea, they're burned copies and often recorded within a movie theater. I grabbed a few and watched Paul Giamatti's new flick, "Win Win." I think it was only in the artsy theaters but I'm a big fan of his movies so I was glad to see it...very good! I also picked up Battle: LA, and the new Transformers. Those wouldn't play on my laptop so we'll wait and see if they'll play on my new MacBook Pro. :-) My DVD player in my room is cooked, too, so no-go on that. I also headed out in the heat of the day and thought I'd try the perimeter again. Unfortunately, I find it difficult to go 8 short miles midday. It was 92F and under 10% humidity. One might think that is perfect but at 5000' up (very intense sun), and such low humidity, rapid dehydration is an understatement. I suffer pretty bad in these conditions and just can't keep up with it. I ended up with 5 miles and totally cooked. The cool thing? At the exact same time, Dorothy and two good friends of hers were cranking out 5 early morning miles of their own! After the run and a shower, I crawled into bed and took a 2 1/2 hour nap...falling asleep to Brahms that I downloaded last night...I just love that album...fine, fine choice! Around 8pm, I headed back over to the barber from two weeks ago tonight. If you recall, they understand enough English to do it right and not screw it up. I got the same lady again and she did pretty good. Afterwards, I grabbed some dinner (baked chicken breast and a salad) and headed on back to my room.

Well, it's Sunday and by now, you know it's the day I crawl into my head a bit too much. Missing home and wanting to go there usually dominate my thoughts. One thing I realized today which has always been obvious but I never owned as reality is that not one person in this country really gives a crap about me. Sounds harsh and I'm sure caused a few rolling eyes when I typed it but it's true. The majority of deployed troops here come to this country as a team...a big group. They've trained together and know each other well. For me, I'm an "IA"...an individual augmentee. No one is with me and there never will be. I have people I work with but we're all in the same boat. One thing my immediate superior has said more than once is that he doesn't care about relationships and getting along with others because after this tour, he'll never see them again. Nice way to live, eh?! Looking out for #1 and no one else. When I know that's how someone views me, and others for that matter...and no one else really else gives a hoot...it's easy to veer towards crawling into a shell. It also creates an interesting office dynamic which just plain stinks. It also doesn't help that rank matters WAY too much. I'm an officer, but not a senior officer and there is a huge divide. In the Navy and in my particular community, it's not like that. Senior officers are very mentor-like to the junior officers. Not so, here...and it's crystal-clear. Even though I KNOW what I'm talking about and have way more skills to offer, they want nothing to do with any of it and prefer I just keep my mouth shut. It doesn't help that I'm in the Navy, either. I belong on a ship, right? Well yea, but I'm not ON a ship, now am I? I didn't think so. I'm wearing an Army uniform, for cryin' out loud.

So I focused more on what matters: Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow. I wrote my girls a few e-mails this morning and hope they'll write me back. They have another busy week coming up with a first...horseback riding camp. I hope they enjoy it. Recently, they mailed paper hearts to me which I've placed below this paragraph. They are hanging from the light fixture in my room. They serve as my constant reminder while I'm in my room since I have the bear to do that when I'm on the move. The "LUMU" means "Love You, Miss You." I came up with that a few months ago and it stuck. It's our "thing" and we never finish a letter or phone conversation without saying it. "LUMU!!!" So with that...Day 106 comes to a close and another week and the end of July beckons.

Goodnight, everyone.