We all have our price

I picked up new rank insignia valid for a uniform I will only wear for a few more months, at best. I am such a cheap skate. As I was leaving the Exchange, I saw one of the contractor-cool table pilots there, standing off to the side, then he offered it up like street smack: "You want another pilot joke?" I guiltily slinked in his direction.

Q. How do you know you are on a date with a pilot?
A. In the middle of the date he'll say "Enough about flying, let's talk about me."

30-ish more days

I was talking to my Navy brother Bill, (a LT who, though only a few years older than me, insists on calling me 'young lady'), about my departure from this fair land. My demobilization orders have me arriving to the US in May, however, my replacement arrives in March. I am really hoping I can leave in late March, but it may early April. Hope is dangerous.

The mountains in the distance have been dusted by snow and the rain has stopped. The air is clean. It rained last night and I slept instead of working out. Sometimes sleep is more worthwhile.

I have been reading a C.S. Lewis book called Mere Christianity, which is quite good. 30-ish more days. I hope.

One more pilot joke

Q. What's the difference between God and a pilot?
A. God doesn't think He's a pilot.

Jack, a pilot from Florida told me that this afternoon.

Pilot jokes

Q. What do you call a basement filled with pilots?
A. A whine cellar.

Q. How do you know you have a fighter pilot at your party?
A. He'll tell you.

These are the jokes a pilot at the cool table said I had to know for my future orders with an airwing.

Another PQP session

Last night the PQS-certified LTJG guided me through the Doctrine section. My answers were limited compared to his. It was helpful for him breathe life into this topic. Then I asked the LCDR to sign off on a few questions. Just two more questions on that section to go. Next weekend I should be getting the PQP board guidance from my reserve unit, so I can start studying for the board.

It takes a village...

to write a FITREP (Fitness Report, an officer evaluation). I ran my FITREP by my wisest active duty LCDR here. FITREPs need to stand out for a board somewhere in the future. He is a fan of the opening impact statement, a break (gap) then bulletized attributes that are preceded by that bullet's characteristic in ALL CAPS. The final bulleted point ends with another break and a closing impact statement. Other parties supported the paragraph format in order to maximize the allotted space of 19 lines. The LCDR's point is that the board needs signposts when they get to the point of briefing you to the group, or in the case of splitting hairs on a promotion decision. As always, the FITREP is a distinctly memorable Navy process. You know you are "getting short" when you submit your FITREP.

Happy Birthday to me

When it turned midnight local time at midrats last night, I toasted my birthday with a near beer. 6 more weeks, roughly.

Spc. S

I lunched with a few soldiers today. One was recently blinded in his left eye by a .50 caliber shell from a test fire while patroling the Konar Valley. Not wearing his eye pro(tection) at the time. The doctor's are telling him it is psychological. Who knows.

I have much respect for those who venture outside the wire on a daily basis.

Snow

It finally snowed here. A very wet snow-- the largest snowflakes I have ever seen. It was wonderful. It seemed so bright out when I turned in last night, around 0430 local time, I had a freshly toasted strawberry Pop-Tart wrapped in a napkin to keep my hands warm. I enjoyed the quiet of the snow. Back in the workspace, the fanatics stayed to watch the Super Bowl.

And so it happened that someone I knew in Balad has died. He moved on to Stuttgart and died while working out at the gym. He leaves a wife and son. He was a good man, a friend and a mentor. I remember him as a decent man in an inhospitable environment. Peace to you, sir.

Memories of Fort Jackson, SC

Otha forwarded me this photo from the Ft. Jackson experience. That seems like such a long time ago.

The Big Chewoff

In honor of the Tumor of Tobacco (LT M) leaving, I stepped up in fellowship to have some chaw. Beechnut, imbued with molasses. No, I did not get sick. It was alright. Interesting that my torso started sweating. I think it was my body's way of trying to protect me from doing something stupid. Then there was the mouth tingle. Top was disgusted that my spittle was only a light brown, not dark. I am a mere interloper. I still maintain that it is a disgusting habit.