Been Here Too Long...

I went on my first organized run in Iraq this week. I had to make a trip to Baghdad to do the usual pick up and drop off gear routine. When I got there a couple of the guys said they were going to the Air Force's 60th Birthday Run. I decided to join them. When we arrived there were quite a few people there. Oddly enough, there seemed to be more army people there for the Air Force run then Air Force. When I think about, it is more logical then it seems. Air force people are not well known for running and the base we were on was mainly Army. They had two running options, a 6.0K and a 6.0 mile. The 6.0 to signify the 60th birthday thing, kinda cheesy but whatever. I did the 6.0 K and came in around 32 mins. I had a killer side pain, having not drunk quite enough water before the run. Unfortunately they didn't give out t-shirts just little Air force 60th birthday pins. It was a great time and I hope to do it again.

Ramadi Sunrise

Here is a list of things that might indicate that you have been in Iraq too long:

• You start picturing your wife in traditional Arab dress
  
• You drink the water from the tap because you want to drop 20 pounds in two weeks


• You can put your body armor and helmet on in the dark in under 5 seconds
  
• When you actually get excited to get a package that contains 3 pair of socks, 12 bars of soap and a Victoria Secret Catalog
  
• You make the new guy show you his count down timer just to make you feel better about your time you have left in country
  
• You forget there are other colors than brown that can be found in places other than power point slides
  
• The temp drops down to 102 degrees and you shiver while reaching for your polar fleece.
  
• When, During the BUA, "DIV asked MNSTC-I for the FRAGO that MNC-I was supposed to publish, but couldn't because MNF-I hadn't weighed in, since they were too inundated with MOD and MOI war-gaming the JCCs within the ISF to square us away!" is a valid comment and generates no questions.
  
• When you end every phone conversation with "Out"
  
• When the weapon buyback program has become so successful that you have issued the same AK-47 to the Iraqi army 3 times
  
• When you can actually tell the difference between the sound of an exploding car and an exploding mortar
  
• When on R&R you go to Church and wonder why no one is wearing body armor or carrying an automatic weapon to the service
  
• You see an indirect fire attack take out a generator and get angry at the enemy for not hitting the one that powers your work computer
  
• You see an indirect fire attack take out an air conditioner and your vigor to fight is renewed
  
• You decide that it is a better course of action to pull your blankets over your head than put on your body armor during a mortar attack - the woobee will save you and at least you are comfortable
  
• You go to a social gathering and intermittent gun fire or explosions don't even cause a pause in the conversation


• My personal one: You have a preference for the kind of dirt you use to fill your chow entrence fee sandbags.

BBoy Bbux

The first group of Marines I worked with are gone. They were some really good people to work with and gave me a much better image of the Marine Corp. They will be missed. Somehow word got out that I had experience in the area of Break Dancing (properly known as bboying). As a result it was demanded of me that I put on a performance for the marines that were leaving. I obliged and below is the video. I pulled a muscle in my leg and one in my back during the making of the video. I will leave up to you to figure out what the look on my face at the end of the video means.

I have a new group of people to work with and to get to know. In general it is a challenge for me to be sociable. Being in Iraq doesn't help. I have my own room that I can just go hang out in all day without interacting with anyone. I really need to stretch myself in this area. I hope the new group of Marines will provide opportunities for me to do so.

The above pile of wood is my future half pipe. I have been slowly scrounging wood for a few months now. Last week I hit the jack pot and got just about all the wood I will need. All I need now is a few sheets of ply wood and I will be good to go. That and a new skateboard, being that I kinda sorta broke the first one. (Helium is not as strong as I thought it was).

People send out some random things in care packages. The item pictured above is no exception. It is a collapsible Pirates of the Caribbean container. It was sent to someone else, but they didn't want it, so I snatched it up. I knew I wanted it, I just didn't know why or what for. I finally got the idea to turn it into a laundry basket. It is both practical and highly decorative. I don't think I will turn my whole room in a Pirates theme, but it would be cool.

Four months to go. I like the sound of that.