Today was sleepy. I got up early to go run, but the dust was VERY thick in the air, so I went back to bed and slept--I think I needed because I ended sleeping an extra three hours! I had stayed up late the night before working on a talk for a conference that is coming up this next week.
I ate steamed rice and sardines for lunch... yummy!
Luckily the dust has cut some of the heat, because it has been crazy hot here this last week, which has really cut down on the running--so tomorrow morning should be good. So, instead of working out today, I played chess tonight. It turns out that on the other side of base (you have to drive there) there is a chess tournament the last Sunday of every month... So, I went, and I won! Undefeated! Imagine that! For a prize I got what every young military man wants: a Halo 3 t-shirt... perfect for the chess master that has everything!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
irony supplement
I read a review of the new Indiana Jones movie just prior to it coming out... it mentioned that the third installment of that series ended with Indy and gang riding off into the sunset-intimating the end, a finale, no more to follow... As I left Iraq in 2005 I distinctly recall savoring the sunset my last night, secure in the knowledge that I was at the end, the finale, no more to follow... that I wouldn't return to Iraq for a long, long time, if at all...
Fast forward two years, the next movie in a series that ended over a decade ago is released, and I am watching it on a pirated DVD because I am, of all things, back in Iraq, where--despite the US government's official stance on copyright violation--locals sell pirated movies with impunity to the troops...
The only reason I am watching a movie that I didn't think would be made, on a pirated disc that I shouldn't posses, is because I am someplace I didn't expect to be... odd...
Of course, today Obama is in Iraq too... I wonder if he thought he would end up here... knowing my luck so far, he will be elected, make peace break out in Iraq, and it will be such a nice place that the "non-combat" troops--of which I am decidedly one--will stay for the next 100 years... I may have plenty of chances to come back... more movies!
Fast forward two years, the next movie in a series that ended over a decade ago is released, and I am watching it on a pirated DVD because I am, of all things, back in Iraq, where--despite the US government's official stance on copyright violation--locals sell pirated movies with impunity to the troops...
The only reason I am watching a movie that I didn't think would be made, on a pirated disc that I shouldn't posses, is because I am someplace I didn't expect to be... odd...
Of course, today Obama is in Iraq too... I wonder if he thought he would end up here... knowing my luck so far, he will be elected, make peace break out in Iraq, and it will be such a nice place that the "non-combat" troops--of which I am decidedly one--will stay for the next 100 years... I may have plenty of chances to come back... more movies!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
More Running Commentary
So, it turns out that today is Guam Liberation Day... Or, rather, Guam Liberation Celebration Day--the actual day is tomorrow. So the Island contingent here--which isn't tiny in any sense of the word; except for the one very short local Hawaiian wahine Army CPT from my unit--is putting on one heck of a BBQ complete with BBQ whole fish, Island Music, and volleyball... Hafa dai!... the Guam version of Aloha!
Today was also another long run day--more marathon preparation. I have been training well, lots of speed work and plenty of long distances--not so long as my crazy-in-a-good way buddy Dave (see previous post and comment). And, there have been lots of races too; 5 or 5K races, two 10K races including a mirror race of the Atlanta, GA, Peachtree 10K two weeks ago, and last weekend was a mirror race of the Utica, NY, Boilermaker 15K--who races 15K?? Regardless, it doesn't matter since every race here is a different distance--that's right, even all the 5Ks are different distances--even when they start from the same damn place... they move the starting posts and finishing posts somewhat randomly up and down the block! The only consistent aspect of the 5K race here is that in the first 20 and/or 100 meters there will be a 90° left turn that will bunch the start up like you read about...
But, even with all this running I am getting slower! I think (hope!) that it has to do with the fact that is has only gotten warmer while I have been here, and that once I get to San Diego, the cool ocean air will allow me to regain some semblance of running faster than a Death Valley death march...
BTW, recall that previously I mentioned that I occasionally hear gunfire while running and I optimistically believe that it is from a range somewhere in the distance? Well, turns out I was right to be optimistic. the other day I found, quite by accident the very range in question. I was out for a long run by myself, cruising down the road in a part of base that I had not visited before when all of a sudden there was a LOT of gunfire very near--right ahead... I actually stopped and though, "Frack, do I keep running towards the gunfire? Do I dive down into the ditch? do I turn around and run like hell the other way?" While I was mulling these questions over, I stood still with that deer in the headlights look--except that my wide open eyes were darting about and spied, up ahead, to the right, the tell-tale markings of a range! There were people on the range firing M-16 rifles and M-9 pistols. Good news! Except of course, that when people are practicing on a range, there are usually some yahoos out there that aren't so familiar with how to handle a weapon--I felt safe enough to run past the range (behind it you understand), but I kept a good pace!
There are other, much different sounds that one occasionally hears while running in Baghdad... There is a neighborhood on the other side of the twenty foot walls the separate some of the base from the outside city--in that neighborhood I imagine a playground... more of a dirt field actually... I haven't seen it, but I often here children playing soccer there--at least that is what it sounds like... it sounds like fun.
Then there is The Sound. If I run at the right time of day, usually very early in the morning or later in the evening, the mosque in that very same neighborhood that has children playing soccer will announce the call to prayer. Now, I know that Islam is not as old as, say, Christianity, but The Sound, the Adhan, is otherworldly... it sounds ancient... primeval... it literally grabs me by the base of my spine (try running with something grabbing your spine!) and simultaneously lifts me up (it is spiritual, awe inspiring) and pulls me down hard (I am in freaking Iraq! Again!).
Today was also another long run day--more marathon preparation. I have been training well, lots of speed work and plenty of long distances--not so long as my crazy-in-a-good way buddy Dave (see previous post and comment). And, there have been lots of races too; 5 or 5K races, two 10K races including a mirror race of the Atlanta, GA, Peachtree 10K two weeks ago, and last weekend was a mirror race of the Utica, NY, Boilermaker 15K--who races 15K?? Regardless, it doesn't matter since every race here is a different distance--that's right, even all the 5Ks are different distances--even when they start from the same damn place... they move the starting posts and finishing posts somewhat randomly up and down the block! The only consistent aspect of the 5K race here is that in the first 20 and/or 100 meters there will be a 90° left turn that will bunch the start up like you read about...
But, even with all this running I am getting slower! I think (hope!) that it has to do with the fact that is has only gotten warmer while I have been here, and that once I get to San Diego, the cool ocean air will allow me to regain some semblance of running faster than a Death Valley death march...
BTW, recall that previously I mentioned that I occasionally hear gunfire while running and I optimistically believe that it is from a range somewhere in the distance? Well, turns out I was right to be optimistic. the other day I found, quite by accident the very range in question. I was out for a long run by myself, cruising down the road in a part of base that I had not visited before when all of a sudden there was a LOT of gunfire very near--right ahead... I actually stopped and though, "Frack, do I keep running towards the gunfire? Do I dive down into the ditch? do I turn around and run like hell the other way?" While I was mulling these questions over, I stood still with that deer in the headlights look--except that my wide open eyes were darting about and spied, up ahead, to the right, the tell-tale markings of a range! There were people on the range firing M-16 rifles and M-9 pistols. Good news! Except of course, that when people are practicing on a range, there are usually some yahoos out there that aren't so familiar with how to handle a weapon--I felt safe enough to run past the range (behind it you understand), but I kept a good pace!
There are other, much different sounds that one occasionally hears while running in Baghdad... There is a neighborhood on the other side of the twenty foot walls the separate some of the base from the outside city--in that neighborhood I imagine a playground... more of a dirt field actually... I haven't seen it, but I often here children playing soccer there--at least that is what it sounds like... it sounds like fun.
Then there is The Sound. If I run at the right time of day, usually very early in the morning or later in the evening, the mosque in that very same neighborhood that has children playing soccer will announce the call to prayer. Now, I know that Islam is not as old as, say, Christianity, but The Sound, the Adhan, is otherworldly... it sounds ancient... primeval... it literally grabs me by the base of my spine (try running with something grabbing your spine!) and simultaneously lifts me up (it is spiritual, awe inspiring) and pulls me down hard (I am in freaking Iraq! Again!).
Friday, July 18, 2008
Connected
While I was deployed in 2005 and Peg was pregnant I spent some of my time, like now, reading. One of the things that I like to read is New Scientist magazine...
One article was troubling to me, it mentioned that there seems to be some benefit to father's being around during the pregnancy/before the
birth; these father's tend to bond better (however that is measured) with their babies; the theory is that the mother induces bonding receptiveness/behavior in the father via pheromones--tricky! I was a might concerned that when I got back and Izzy was born I might not have been appropriately pheromonally prepped for such a momentous occasion. Turns out, everything was just fine--Peg must have some powerful pheromones, or the article was a bunch of malarkey...
Pheromones aside, there was another article in New Scientist at the beginning of this deployment that said teen age girls have "better outcomes" (less drugs, sex, and rock n roll) when their fathers are around... I need to get home soon to keep Sid on the righteous path--just by the power of my presence!
In an attempt to maintain a bond with the baby, to keep the teen daughter on the straight and narrow, to be present, and to stay connected we have used the power of the internets...
There is significantly more connectivity on this deployment compared to last... actually, the connectivity is similar, but what I am allowed to do with it is different. Last time there was no private, personal network that I could log onto, and so there was no video chatting... video chatting makes all the difference!
At first she was happy to see me in the video chat--obvious delight.
Then, she found it boring... and spent chat time ignoring...
In the last two months she has been much more interactive; she is speaking a mile a minute and we have even played peek-a-boo through video chat; virtual tickling is better than no tickling at all.
Now when she hears the computer at home beep with an incoming request for a video chat she lets Peg know that Daddy is calling. Alas,
sometimes the technology isn't so good--or rather, the bandwidth isn't enough to support the technology and the video chat quality is poor.
That is what happened the other morning when I called to chat--there was intermittent video and the audio was bad. So, Izzy told Peg that "Daddy is broken"... Out of the mouths of babes...
Now, all of this connectedness comes with a price... Is a two year old better off without regular reminders that Daddy isn't around? This seems to make the reunion more difficult, but perhaps the separation is easier for her if she "forgets". On the other hand, I selfishly prefer that she does remember me and miss me! Occasionally she does something that breaks your heart, like standing next to my picture and crying... and answering the leading question of "do you miss daddy?" with vigorous head-nodding assent. But the beauty of a two year old is they have the attention span of a gnat--actually gnats can be pretty tenacious in trying to get in your nose, eyes and ears--so I guess the beauty of a two year old is that they have the attention span of a two year old. They can be missing you one second and then be happy as a lark the next and for the rest of the day. And, happy as can be to play via the internets... I will let you know how the reunion goes--one month!
One article was troubling to me, it mentioned that there seems to be some benefit to father's being around during the pregnancy/before the
birth; these father's tend to bond better (however that is measured) with their babies; the theory is that the mother induces bonding receptiveness/behavior in the father via pheromones--tricky! I was a might concerned that when I got back and Izzy was born I might not have been appropriately pheromonally prepped for such a momentous occasion. Turns out, everything was just fine--Peg must have some powerful pheromones, or the article was a bunch of malarkey...
Pheromones aside, there was another article in New Scientist at the beginning of this deployment that said teen age girls have "better outcomes" (less drugs, sex, and rock n roll) when their fathers are around... I need to get home soon to keep Sid on the righteous path--just by the power of my presence!
In an attempt to maintain a bond with the baby, to keep the teen daughter on the straight and narrow, to be present, and to stay connected we have used the power of the internets...
There is significantly more connectivity on this deployment compared to last... actually, the connectivity is similar, but what I am allowed to do with it is different. Last time there was no private, personal network that I could log onto, and so there was no video chatting... video chatting makes all the difference!
At first she was happy to see me in the video chat--obvious delight.
Then, she found it boring... and spent chat time ignoring...
In the last two months she has been much more interactive; she is speaking a mile a minute and we have even played peek-a-boo through video chat; virtual tickling is better than no tickling at all.
Now when she hears the computer at home beep with an incoming request for a video chat she lets Peg know that Daddy is calling. Alas,
sometimes the technology isn't so good--or rather, the bandwidth isn't enough to support the technology and the video chat quality is poor.
That is what happened the other morning when I called to chat--there was intermittent video and the audio was bad. So, Izzy told Peg that "Daddy is broken"... Out of the mouths of babes...
Now, all of this connectedness comes with a price... Is a two year old better off without regular reminders that Daddy isn't around? This seems to make the reunion more difficult, but perhaps the separation is easier for her if she "forgets". On the other hand, I selfishly prefer that she does remember me and miss me! Occasionally she does something that breaks your heart, like standing next to my picture and crying... and answering the leading question of "do you miss daddy?" with vigorous head-nodding assent. But the beauty of a two year old is they have the attention span of a gnat--actually gnats can be pretty tenacious in trying to get in your nose, eyes and ears--so I guess the beauty of a two year old is that they have the attention span of a two year old. They can be missing you one second and then be happy as a lark the next and for the rest of the day. And, happy as can be to play via the internets... I will let you know how the reunion goes--one month!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Disconnected
This morning started out as one of those mornings.... I was walking to work (BTW, that is the best part of being in Iraq is the fact that my commute consists of a 5 minute walk-not through the prettiest area in the world, and not without the danger of things falling from the sky, but a walk instead of a drive nonetheless) and thinking that I had just about a month left here and thinking about all the work that I needed (wanted may be a better word here--they should let me come home whether I get it done or not!) to get done prior to leaving. And, then, because I have been in the military too long, thinking of all the ways that getting home in a month could get changed "for the needs of the Army/Navy/DoD"... Anyway, as the Poi Dog Pondering song says, "I feel so detached today", that's how it was...
And then I get into work and the internet is down! Talk about being detached! The internet is our lifeline, our umbilical cord, source of information and succor--e-mail, news, weather, even (for some--not me though, honest!?!?) celebrity gossip. After about two hours the internet came up for everyone else on base, but my computer seemed to have taken it hard. It never came back--it was unconnectable and unusable for anything! I, who strive to keep my life digital, to do lists, projects, e-mails past and present all reside on my computer... I was truly disconnected. And, my phone is a voip phone so it was out too!
I was able to take pen to paper and make progress on a number of projects, but the progress is limited until I can type and share the things I have written.
Luckily, over the weekend Apple unleashed the new iPhone operating system and the Application store with plenty of free things, including games! I was connected over the weekend. Take a new video game on your iPhone, a computer that doesn't work, a phone that won't ring and you have yourself very non-productive day! Sure is fun though!
At least until later in the afternoon when the hordes realize that the phone across the way does work and they start calling you through that line--damn! (I don't want to tell you how many calls--and I cannot tell you how many e-mails, for obvious reasons--I got this afternoon about chicken pox--my, oh, my--people get excited about the strangest things!
Tomorrow they are going to "re-image" my computer... that doesn't give me a warm-fuzzy... I may never get un-disconnected.
And then I get into work and the internet is down! Talk about being detached! The internet is our lifeline, our umbilical cord, source of information and succor--e-mail, news, weather, even (for some--not me though, honest!?!?) celebrity gossip. After about two hours the internet came up for everyone else on base, but my computer seemed to have taken it hard. It never came back--it was unconnectable and unusable for anything! I, who strive to keep my life digital, to do lists, projects, e-mails past and present all reside on my computer... I was truly disconnected. And, my phone is a voip phone so it was out too!
I was able to take pen to paper and make progress on a number of projects, but the progress is limited until I can type and share the things I have written.
Luckily, over the weekend Apple unleashed the new iPhone operating system and the Application store with plenty of free things, including games! I was connected over the weekend. Take a new video game on your iPhone, a computer that doesn't work, a phone that won't ring and you have yourself very non-productive day! Sure is fun though!
At least until later in the afternoon when the hordes realize that the phone across the way does work and they start calling you through that line--damn! (I don't want to tell you how many calls--and I cannot tell you how many e-mails, for obvious reasons--I got this afternoon about chicken pox--my, oh, my--people get excited about the strangest things!
Tomorrow they are going to "re-image" my computer... that doesn't give me a warm-fuzzy... I may never get un-disconnected.
Monday, July 07, 2008
One of My Daily Activities...
So, in addition to sitting all day in front of a computer--connected to various, data-limited databases--answering questions like "how many cases of this disease do we have?" and "what is the rate of that disease?" and "how do I make a graph of this?" or "how do make a graph of that?" or "how do I make a graph of this AND that?", I also have a day job as a talking head for Fox News... to wit:
I tired to embed a copy of the video here, but didn't have the bandwidth to upload, and cannot figure out how to embed from where it is--so you will have to click this link... http://gallery.mac.com/dfaix#100161
Now, I wasn't at my most eloquent during this interview... In fact, I am quite sure that I said "stanima" when I meant, of course, to say "stamina", but the editors didn't make me look too foolish... another small kindness in the world...
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Uniform Issue
I finally got a new uniform! Well, I actually got it about a month and a half ago, but I have been waiting for the right time to break the news to you... Some of you may have noticed in the picture posted a couple days ago (the one in the sexy hat) that I am wearing a different uniform than in the below picture (taken in Iraq in 2005--what is it about deploying to Iraq that makes people want to give me knit hats?? I rarely get knot hats when I am NOT deployed--I wonder what that means?)
The week I arrived my adoptive Army unit placed an order for a set of ACUs--Army Combat Uniform--10 weeks later it arrived. (These are the logistics that win wars!) This is the new digital uniform that is supposed to work for either a forrest or desert environment--it has a bit of grey/brown and a bit of green in the pattern. As opposed to the Marine Corps digital uniforms where they made one for the desert and one for the foliage. Most people complain that the ACU simply works equally poorly in both environments. Regardless, the uniform is lighter weight and has way better pockets than the old fashioned DCU--desert camouflage uniform--that I am wearing currently. And, although no one has told me officially, I assume I am allowed to wear the uniform because I am assigned to an Army unit. In fact, several people in my unit have asked if I am allowed to wear it and I confidently tell them "yes, as far as you know!" and they buy it. Frankly, it is about time that the Navy went with these new fashionable digital uniforms; I mean, only the Macedonians, the El Salvadorans and the US Navy are still wearing the analogue beast of a uniform--it is so last war... so Desert Shield...
I was concerned that they might try and stick me with the Army PT (physical training) uniform too--these Army guys have a rule and a uniform for everything! But, when I opened the box of uniform supplies that arrived this week there wasn't anything resembling the Army PT uniform in there--I would hate to have to explain to people how I am authorized to wear the ACU--a better uniform than I am currently wearing--but not the Army PT uniform--definitely worse than my current civilian PT clothes! the rest of the Army guys in the unit are jealous that I get away with wearing civilian PT clothes to go running in, but really, those nasty cotton shirts and horrible shorts would not do for a long run--there have to be some benefits to being an IA.
The Army is actually allowed to wear their PT uniform to the chow hall to eat in--or even go to work! The Marines never allowed that kind of action. So, occasionally, I change from my clearly civilian PT clothes into something that resembles a PT uniform for the navy--a brown t-shirt and green or blue shorts--to get food from the chowhall in my PTs. The green shorts are for when you are with the Marines, the blue for the navy. One Marine colonel did try to yell at me--speak sharply? Heck, he was pretty nice--for wearing green (USMC) PT shorts to the chowhall because the Marines, even on this base where everyone else wears PT clothes to the chowhall, are not allowed to do so. I thought about justifying my attire by saying that this is my PT uniform (though there really isn't one) and that I am stationed with the Army so my boss says I can wear my PT uniform to the chowhall, and so on and so forth, but I thought the better of it, smiled and said "understood, sir!" and went on my merry way. Since then I have endeavored to be in the blue shorts and brown t-shirt when going to the chowhall in my PT uniform (which is rarely), but I haven't seen the guy again anyway... no worries
But, the Navy is supposed to come out with a new PT uniform this year, phased introduction and the intro for CENTCOM--where I am--was advertised as this spring, but I haven't seen it around yet. I hope I get out of here before they advertise that widely, because the shirt is bright yellow--who the heck wants to wear a bright yellow shirt around in Iraq--that is just a temptation to any would-be snipers in the area--forget that... for me, there won't be an "official" Navy PT uniform until I leave this place, and likely not even then!
The week I arrived my adoptive Army unit placed an order for a set of ACUs--Army Combat Uniform--10 weeks later it arrived. (These are the logistics that win wars!) This is the new digital uniform that is supposed to work for either a forrest or desert environment--it has a bit of grey/brown and a bit of green in the pattern. As opposed to the Marine Corps digital uniforms where they made one for the desert and one for the foliage. Most people complain that the ACU simply works equally poorly in both environments. Regardless, the uniform is lighter weight and has way better pockets than the old fashioned DCU--desert camouflage uniform--that I am wearing currently. And, although no one has told me officially, I assume I am allowed to wear the uniform because I am assigned to an Army unit. In fact, several people in my unit have asked if I am allowed to wear it and I confidently tell them "yes, as far as you know!" and they buy it. Frankly, it is about time that the Navy went with these new fashionable digital uniforms; I mean, only the Macedonians, the El Salvadorans and the US Navy are still wearing the analogue beast of a uniform--it is so last war... so Desert Shield...
I was concerned that they might try and stick me with the Army PT (physical training) uniform too--these Army guys have a rule and a uniform for everything! But, when I opened the box of uniform supplies that arrived this week there wasn't anything resembling the Army PT uniform in there--I would hate to have to explain to people how I am authorized to wear the ACU--a better uniform than I am currently wearing--but not the Army PT uniform--definitely worse than my current civilian PT clothes! the rest of the Army guys in the unit are jealous that I get away with wearing civilian PT clothes to go running in, but really, those nasty cotton shirts and horrible shorts would not do for a long run--there have to be some benefits to being an IA.
The Army is actually allowed to wear their PT uniform to the chow hall to eat in--or even go to work! The Marines never allowed that kind of action. So, occasionally, I change from my clearly civilian PT clothes into something that resembles a PT uniform for the navy--a brown t-shirt and green or blue shorts--to get food from the chowhall in my PTs. The green shorts are for when you are with the Marines, the blue for the navy. One Marine colonel did try to yell at me--speak sharply? Heck, he was pretty nice--for wearing green (USMC) PT shorts to the chowhall because the Marines, even on this base where everyone else wears PT clothes to the chowhall, are not allowed to do so. I thought about justifying my attire by saying that this is my PT uniform (though there really isn't one) and that I am stationed with the Army so my boss says I can wear my PT uniform to the chowhall, and so on and so forth, but I thought the better of it, smiled and said "understood, sir!" and went on my merry way. Since then I have endeavored to be in the blue shorts and brown t-shirt when going to the chowhall in my PT uniform (which is rarely), but I haven't seen the guy again anyway... no worries
But, the Navy is supposed to come out with a new PT uniform this year, phased introduction and the intro for CENTCOM--where I am--was advertised as this spring, but I haven't seen it around yet. I hope I get out of here before they advertise that widely, because the shirt is bright yellow--who the heck wants to wear a bright yellow shirt around in Iraq--that is just a temptation to any would-be snipers in the area--forget that... for me, there won't be an "official" Navy PT uniform until I leave this place, and likely not even then!
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