Kuwait: still hot, still flat, still full of sand.  And waiting.  Ft. McCoy: lines and civilian contract workers and paperwork and waiting and gestures of thanks and goodbye.  I probably won’t see many of these people ever again.  Late night, early morning, busses.  Two… Read full post »

White lights blink and go dark, replaced immediately by red ones.  Engine noises increase in pitch and volume.  The aircraft lurches forwards as it slips its breaks.  We all lean towards the back – my right – as the C-17 accelerates down the runway  We remain fixed tha… Read full post »

It’s gotten cooler here.  I guess it’s “winter.”  I hesitate to call it winter when we occasionally have air temperatures (that means the temp without the wind-chill to those of you in southern climes) in double digits below zero back at home.  I don’t mis… Read full post »

Alarm, too early, as usual.  It is truly “oh dark-thirty,” and it’s cold.  Start the coffee that I ground the night before so as not to waken my roommate.  Rub my hand over my face – I shaved late yesterday because we had the day off so I’m good for now.&n… Read full post »

She is sitting on a step that leads to a door in a wall.  Surrounded by Iraqi kids.  Her rifle, magazine in - no doubt locked and loaded - in one hand, muzzle skyward, butt on the ground.  The Vietnam-era flak jacket (yeah, we had those) riding up a little, kevlar… Read full post »

Not my usual here tonight.  Consider this a Christmas Card from Skinny.  I have lights strung up in my half of my CHU, and I am actually feeling some of that Christmas Spirit, even out here in the desert (one “s”).… Read full post »

I live in a shipping container.  Yep, good old twenty-footer.  Like the ones you see on semi trucks and stacked up in ports.  I have half of it.  It’s the back half, which is by far the preferable half – rank has its privileges, even when you don’t have that much… Read full post »

The Holidays.  Capital “T” capital “H.”  This will certainly complicate my strategy.  You see, I decided – I think sometime in July – not to celebrate any holidays this year.  Probably happened around my birthday, which I quietly withheld from f… Read full post »

The alarm goes off way too early.  But then, when does an alarm ever go off at the right time?  It’s always too early or too late.  She stirs a little, makes some cute noises.  I leave her sleeping.  She didn’t need to be up yet.  Kitchen.  Coffee starte… Read full post »

I have decided to measure my remaining time here in haircuts.  It’s really a highlight of my existence here every couple-few weeks.  I get to sit there, with a guy who doesn’t speak English very well and therefore doesn’t chat, for ten to fifteen minutes and do nothing at… Read full post »

I would like to say I was reminded by an article in the New York Times today, but the truth of it is that I have no idea what day the Japanese surrendered to end World War II.  That day is today, August 14.  64 years ago.  The article is about… Read full post »

It’s flat.  Really flat.  Like North Dakota.  I don’t know what this camp was before it was this camp.  Likely the wasted land that often surrounds airports.  I can see the planes on the runway from here.  At least I can see their tails.  That’s an… Read full post »

Stoploss.  Sounds positive, right?  You are ceasing to lose something.  Perhaps I could stoploss my finances, or stoploss my mind.  I bet some of you would love to stoploss your jobs.  It ceases to be so positive when the Army applies the term to me.  Yeah, I’m a l… Read full post »

The palace stands in stark contrast with what I have seen in the rest of Iraq.  They all do, Saddam’s palaces.   Often times they are glamorous in a cheap way – fake crystal chandeliers and golden faucets that don’t run.  But this is a truly classy joint, without… Read full post »

The simple answer is, right here.  In Iraq.  At my desk, in my hooch, staring at the computer.  Yeah, I've been out on a couple of missions, nothing too exciting really.  Mostly I have been right here, trying to come up with another post for OS.  See, this was originally supp… Read full post »

It is flat.  And hot.  And windy.  The only living thing I have seen in two weeks other than scores of Soldiers and Marines are sparrows.  And flies.  There was a tree, way out in the middle of the desert, and it had a fence around it.  One tree.  Fifteen feet… Read full post »

Spring might come along one of these days if the wind dies.  I see and hear the robins here and there, but I still need a jacket outside, and I can’t seem to kick this cough.  The smoking probably doesn’t help and I always do that more when I’m bored.  The… Read full post »

I’m on a coach bus.  Lord of War is on the little TV screens.  We’ve made our way past all the people standing on the side of the road.  Waving.  Holding flags of all sizes.  Holding signs.  Waving.  Old men in hats saluting us with tears in their eyes.&… Read full post »

March, 2004.  We all heard it.  I like to think that that one particular explosion, a few clicks off to the west, stood out in my mind.  I always tell people it did, but the reality is probably closer to the fact that in Baqubah, in the spring of 2004, there… Read full post »

Today.  Man, it sure is a good thing I took that leave of absence.  It started, officially, the Tuesday before Christmas.  Spent the week after Christmas in Michigan with the GF’s family.  It was fantastic.  A week in God’s country, and without that cursed Blackbe… Read full post »

2001, early March I think.  Me and my 1991 Geo Storm hatchback are screaming down I-35 somewhere north of DesMoines.  I loved that car.  She was my first and will always hold a special place in my heart.  Five speed, four cylinder, had some pickup when I needed it.  Reeked of… Read full post »

2008 and I am standing in the Mohave Desert with the rest of my reserve unit.  It’s pretty hot here in early June, and a drop of sweat is gaining speed on the route from my hairline, down my spine, and on to all points south.  I shift my weight and… Read full post »