We Put Warheads on Foreheads

Okay, so I first must correct some information that I gave in a previous post. It was REALLY hot outside one day and I looked at the temperature on base and it said something like it was 83 degrees and I was freaking out because NO WAY it was 83 degrees and that HOT!! Well, turns out, it was not 83 degrees. It was 97 degrees - the temperature reflected here in base is the "wet globe" temperature, which takes into account many different factors and then compares it to the human body temperature blah blah blah. Anyway, so now I know. Today it is about 97 here, and when I walk to the chow hall and back my face gets so red and stays like that for about an hour afterwards. The high this weekend is going to be 103 (saturday). A-woo-hoo-hoo!!!

So, if a serving size of a crystal light drink mix meant for bottled water is 2/5th of a packet, why don't they just make the packets smaller? I don't get it. I always have open packets of crystal light and propel powder laying around because you have to pour some in, but not half, but not all, to get just the right taste. Why the hell are the packets so big??? Somebody research this and get back to me.

Well so far it has been another great week so far. I am sitting in my office listening to music and getting ready for the sun to set again. Life is good to me, I cannot deny. Despite the struggles that I have experienced since I have been here, they pale in comparison to the many blessings I am reminded of every day. And they also pale in comparison to the inconveniences that many of our military experience further down range than me. For instance, Marines stationed on the border of Syria go WEEKS without a shower or a hot meal, and forget about shelter. You get the picture.

So anyway, this has been an interesting week. We are starting to get busier as people start to trickle in on the new rotation, and we are enjoying the business. Well, most of it. Today I met a man who is on his way to Baghdad and stopped in here at AUAB for less than a day, only to discover that his brother has died. He was torn about whether to go home becasue by the time he is able to get back, the funeral will be long over - and so he was trying to contemplate just continuing on his tour since he knows that he will have to come back anyway. I haven't seen anyone that distrought in a long time and he didn't know which way was up. I cannot IMAGINE. I cannot imagine. I cannot.

I also saw a grown man fall to pieces a few days ago because his wife announced her infidelity and asked for a divorce, two months into his four month tour here, and he has no way to get home to deal with any of this. Just gotta keep working, keep getting up and being a good Airman, and deal with your personal issues when you get home. You can talk about it all you want and use your resources here, but you're not going home.

I met an Army man last night who was injured down range and was sent here for medical care before being sent back into battle, and who was so THANKFUL for every person who had taken care of him along the way. I can't imagine being injured like that, feeling so bad, and being so far away from everyone/thing I know.

I am planning on going down to Doha on Monday for the first time. I am excited! It will be my first trip off-base since getting here. I am going with a few people that I do not know from Adam - usually someone who is licensed to drive in the country will put out an announcement that they are going and then invite 3-4 people to go with. So who knows who I will end up with, but hopefully they will be cool. If not, who cares? I'm going to soak in the experience and have a blast. We will be spending most of the day in the city, not sure what part we'll be going to yet. I will definitely let you know how that goes!

Ok well that's it for now. Love you guys.