Day 179

8 hours of sleep will do a body good...especially after a bit of food poisoning. After that, all was well today and no lingering effects. First thing after I did wake up, I skimmed quickly through all of the Apple news conference notes to find out all of the announcements that many in the Apple cult of followers were waiting for then headed on in for the day. I was happy to hear about everything but surprised that no iPhone 5 was announced. Still, all great news. Happy to hear, too, that the entry level iPod Touch was lowered in price by 30 bucks since that's atop Scarecrow's Christmas list.

The morning was fairly quiet and a little bit ahead of lunch, I made my way through the Afghan bazaar (found nothing interesting) then found a soldiers' lounge and hung out to read for awhile. Before I did, I found a comfy lounge chair, closed my eyes, and listened to a free download off of iTunes...Miles Davis Quintet: Live in Europe from 1967. I played the trumpet for years and really enjoy instrumental/jazz stuff like his. The free track I downloaded was 14min long and I imagined walking the streets of New York City...hand in hand with Dorothy...just after nightfall atop a wet sidewalk. The sounds of Miles Davis were in the distance as a street side trumpeter was playing some of Miles' music with an accompanying CD playing on his old boom box. We stopped and listened for awhile then tossed some coins and cash in his trumpet case and moved on. Lights flickered above us, taxis flew by, and romance just filled the air. It was just perfect...nothing else in the world but us...and that was all that mattered. Eyes open...

Back to my book...I put Miles on again and on the repeat mode and got reading Dave Ramsey's new book. I got a chapter read then headed on over for some lunch then back to the office. As the afternoon wore on, I had an Army unit who ordered material contact me with trouble finding their stuff that I know landed here about 3 days ago. I ran a trace again and sure enough, it did get here and WAS here. I asked her if she had a vehicle and time which she did so I said "Let's go!" I love a treasure hunt and lately, I'm batting 1000. It's sad that it's so difficult to figure out the system here on base but it is. We started where it should be then went backwards in the process. She had no clue where even to start (which is totally normal) but I did so eventually, we ended up at the airfield and sure enough, found someone who knew what we were talking about. When the words were spoken "Do you want to see this stuff?", of course, I took them up on the offer. And there it was...on the flight line after not moving for 3 days...and no intention to for some reason. Ironically, I found more material that I was tracking and didn't know was lost so in the end, two problems were solved when only one was known of. Back in the office, I shared some photos with the team Stateside and how some procedures weren't followed...again, and insisted they do what they are supposed to do. I am sure...there is one person there who cannot wait for me to leave. Another e-mailed me and told me they've never had someone do so much in this position and will really miss me when I leave. Unfortunately, none of them have ever left their cubicle and simply don't "get it" when it comes to supply logistics in a war zone. I do and I have done my best to communicate how best to serve the warfighter during my tenure. I will certainly leave this country knowing I have made a difference.

Tonight, just more downtime, ab workouts, and downloading. Yep...that Miles Davis freebie hooked me and as I type, I'm downloading 10 of his greats from 1967. Here's his website about this release. This download is only the "best of" a multi-album + DVD set that was released last month. I can't wait to crank this stuff up when I get back in my car and am driving to work again someday back in Kansas. Man, I miss my car! Well, folks...that's a wrap. Day ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY beckons. 180...6 months...too long since I've held my girls.

Goodnight, everyone.