Monday, November 17, 2008
Klecker 11/17/2008 - Almost home
Been here a couple of days. Made the trip in an astounding 14 hours. Gannon to Al-Asad to TQ to Camp Liberty without an overnight or even a delay. Jason did a good thing. When I got here, I emailed him and told him what a genius he is. He replied with an email telling me that Mollie sent me a package of goodies and a letter and asking me if I'd share the goodies with the guys. Of course I said "Sure." And I gave him my home address so he can forward the letter to me. I still gotta get Camp Bucca's APO so I can ask him to send me my boxes and my footlocker when it gets to me.
Tomorrow I'll pack up the stuff I won't take- my gear and kevlar and some clean clothes. I'll keep out the extra clothes I'll wear and take with me. Dana says he'll wear one set and wash one set. Good idea. The only small rub is that I'll have a towel left over. Oh well ... it'll work out.
Been talking with lots of people this trip. Everywhere I go, there's someone new, someone with a point of view, some experiences or some advice. "Don't let anyone check your bags at the stairs to the airplane" is common advice. Last night I met a good guy at the chow hall. Looking for a job with nine years in the Army. The IPAs are plentiful and inclined to be helpful. Roger, a BEA from Basrah has been most helpful, giving me a pretty good idea of what to expect. Mainly everything. There are supposed to be four BEAs there. Right now there's one, trying to keep things under temporary control. He'll be back in Basrah by December. When I get there, maybe around Christmas, I'll be alone and I'll have to figure things out for myself.
But this journal is also about what's going on inside my skull, not just the mundane nuts-and-bolts of being in Iraq. I'm two ways about being here. Make that three or four ways. I'm frustrated because the wireless is stuck on "local only" so I can't surf or check emails. I'm bored because there's not much going on; I'm not a newbie any more and I'd like to have something to do. I'm also looking forward to being with Richie and Kimmie in my own house. I hope I can get Schaffe and Pense to meet me. I've also sent Bonnie an email asking (for a fourth time) if she'd come over and spend some time with us. I'm apprehensive about going home without some assurance I'll see Schaffe and Pense. When (and if) Bonnie comes over, I'll talk about stuff that's "safe" - gas prices in California, weather in Iraq, applying for other work when this contract runs out. I can ramble a lot about Dyn, Iraq, contractors, Iraqi folks and culture, being sick and losing inches from my waist, etc. Might be better to avoid talking about money, custody, family court, etc. Well, we'll cross that bridge when Bonnie runs up against that particular wall with her hair on fire. (Just love those mangles cliches ...)
Today I went with Dana (a cop from Massachussets who is having marital troubles with his still-wife.) We went to the bazaar. I shopped and shopped, haggled and got a wee bit smaller price on some stuff. I got gifts like you can't find in California for Pense, Kimmie, Richie, Glen (Sue's hubby in Oz), Bill & Dolores, Sherry, and Bonnie, if she comes over. That leaves a small silver box with no recipient. Perhaps Sue? Perhaps Val? Or I could get one more small gift and give something to each of them. They are both terrific women, each in her own way. Sue and I have been friends since early 2000; Val and I met on the net after that though there were a few years when we didn't say much to each other. Lately, Sue and I don't talk much because of our schedules but Val is very good at sending me emails.
I am focused on getting out of here. I've got my tickets. I'm not sure what else I need, but I'll go touch base with the Dyn folks today and make sure everything's all right.
I may have misplaced my camera. I can't find it, and it's not like I have a whole house to look in, just a couple of backpacks. Well, that'll be my task for today- get checked out here and find my camera. Couple of days more at Klecker's Sheraton and I'll be on the plane.
Tomorrow I'll pack up the stuff I won't take- my gear and kevlar and some clean clothes. I'll keep out the extra clothes I'll wear and take with me. Dana says he'll wear one set and wash one set. Good idea. The only small rub is that I'll have a towel left over. Oh well ... it'll work out.
Been talking with lots of people this trip. Everywhere I go, there's someone new, someone with a point of view, some experiences or some advice. "Don't let anyone check your bags at the stairs to the airplane" is common advice. Last night I met a good guy at the chow hall. Looking for a job with nine years in the Army. The IPAs are plentiful and inclined to be helpful. Roger, a BEA from Basrah has been most helpful, giving me a pretty good idea of what to expect. Mainly everything. There are supposed to be four BEAs there. Right now there's one, trying to keep things under temporary control. He'll be back in Basrah by December. When I get there, maybe around Christmas, I'll be alone and I'll have to figure things out for myself.
But this journal is also about what's going on inside my skull, not just the mundane nuts-and-bolts of being in Iraq. I'm two ways about being here. Make that three or four ways. I'm frustrated because the wireless is stuck on "local only" so I can't surf or check emails. I'm bored because there's not much going on; I'm not a newbie any more and I'd like to have something to do. I'm also looking forward to being with Richie and Kimmie in my own house. I hope I can get Schaffe and Pense to meet me. I've also sent Bonnie an email asking (for a fourth time) if she'd come over and spend some time with us. I'm apprehensive about going home without some assurance I'll see Schaffe and Pense. When (and if) Bonnie comes over, I'll talk about stuff that's "safe" - gas prices in California, weather in Iraq, applying for other work when this contract runs out. I can ramble a lot about Dyn, Iraq, contractors, Iraqi folks and culture, being sick and losing inches from my waist, etc. Might be better to avoid talking about money, custody, family court, etc. Well, we'll cross that bridge when Bonnie runs up against that particular wall with her hair on fire. (Just love those mangles cliches ...)
Today I went with Dana (a cop from Massachussets who is having marital troubles with his still-wife.) We went to the bazaar. I shopped and shopped, haggled and got a wee bit smaller price on some stuff. I got gifts like you can't find in California for Pense, Kimmie, Richie, Glen (Sue's hubby in Oz), Bill & Dolores, Sherry, and Bonnie, if she comes over. That leaves a small silver box with no recipient. Perhaps Sue? Perhaps Val? Or I could get one more small gift and give something to each of them. They are both terrific women, each in her own way. Sue and I have been friends since early 2000; Val and I met on the net after that though there were a few years when we didn't say much to each other. Lately, Sue and I don't talk much because of our schedules but Val is very good at sending me emails.
I am focused on getting out of here. I've got my tickets. I'm not sure what else I need, but I'll go touch base with the Dyn folks today and make sure everything's all right.
I may have misplaced my camera. I can't find it, and it's not like I have a whole house to look in, just a couple of backpacks. Well, that'll be my task for today- get checked out here and find my camera. Couple of days more at Klecker's Sheraton and I'll be on the plane.
