Blistering

Hot out here today. Pushing 80 degrees, bright and sunny. We leave a little later this afternoon and head to parts unknown. Hopefully, we'll get to where we're going quickly. But...our flight could be cancelled on the runway or we could be diverted to another base. Either way, I live to serve.

A friend, Matt, observed how odd it is to be sweating profusely during the day and have to wear another layer in the evening due to the chill. I would think that Arizona is similar, but I have no first-hand experience. As you can tell, I'm typing to kill time, sitting in the coffee shop where the single air conditioner in the wall is working overtime to keep the heat out. Not sure that it is winning.

Just got a haircut. Shortest it's been since my Dad and boot camp cut it this close to the skull. But it is just too hot to have anything on top. Saw a few civilian contractors with poneytails. You know the type; forty something men with the widow's peak and long hair pulled into a pony-tail via a comb-back barely covering an almost bald pate. I wanted to ask them, "Uh, what's the point? The statement you're trying to make?" When I retire from the Reserve upon my return next summer, I'm starting a pony tail. Or maybe pig tails. Now that's a statement.

Made it to the AOR!

Whew! Been a wild couple of days. Started in Minneapolis, where I spent a week before I deployed with my family, wife Jodi and my daughters Emily and Megan. It was wonderful to be with them but sad at the same time. Sometimes it's just better to pack your bags and go than to prolong the departure. But I'm glad we spent that time together as a family. Had a great send-off dinner at Jodi's sister's house with Lisa and Ted, Erin and her kids, minus Dean who was playing drums at a gig somewhere. Too bad, whould have liked to have seen him.  Jodi's mom Loretta was there too. Always a good time.

So the next morning, Dec 5th, we said our goodbye's and I outprocessed from the 934th Airlift Wing. Caught a flight to Norfolk, VA and on to Norfolk Naval Air Station. Spent the night in lodging and on to the military passenger terminal the next morning. About 130 of us left on a chartered 757 for Germany at 10 AM. After 7.5 hours, we landed outside Berlin at midnight. Weather was about 40 degrees. Spent the next six hours haning out at the terminal and unable to sleep. Left Germany at six AM and caught the sunrise somewhere over Egypt. Then on to Al Eudid, Quatar. So we are on an island in the Persian Gulf until tomorrow.

This base is better known as Camp Cupcake, as it has a large pool, Dairy Queen, BK, Pizza Hut, three beers a day, and a coffe shop (thank heavens!). Looks like Arizona, brown everywhere, as is the sand. Yesterday was filled with in-processing (wait in line), being issued our IBA (Individual Body Armor), chemical suit, helmet and all kinds of gear to lug around. OK, my bud Miguel is here and we're headed to the chow hall for lunch. More info and pictures this afternoon!