Mid-August

Work has evened out and I've found a little more balance between work & off-time.  Still not too much time off but I'm not working 14-16 hours a day, so that's excellent.

A few days ago I met the astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell & Gene Cernan.  I thought that was pretty darn cool!  We talked about it for days beforehand - I can't believe they came out here to Afghanistan on a USO tour. 

My friend Carolyn & I.

Unfortunately we didn't get to talk with them because hundreds of people we waiting to get their photo taken with them.  We did however express our gratitude that they came all the way out to Afghanistan to visit us.

On August 13th I ran in a 5K with some friends.  Carolyn, pictured above, motivated me and ran the whole way with me.  It was a lot of fun as you can tell from the goofy pictures. 

Carolyn, me & another Public Affairs Officer, Russ.

I can't believe I was smiling--by this time I was wondering why I signed up for this race in the first place.  I work with the guy behind me, DZ.  He's pretty cool.

Right after the run.  Can you see how red my face was?  I was beet red!

Me, Angie (future roomie) & Carolyn.  We all went through the 4-week Combat Skills Training together.  And since Eggers is such a small base we see each other around & hang out a good bit. 

Since I work with folks from lots of different countries I get the chance to get to know them and occasionally there are perks.  One of them is that the Italian Embassy had a party one Sunday night there was fresh pizza made right there in their wood-fired pizza oven.  It was amazingly delicious!

And stepping into the Italian Embassy made me wonder if I was in Kabul.  There was grass, trees, real buildings & sidewalks.  We had room to spread out and the entire atmosphere was different. 

Then we ate pizza, drank some cokes (the Italians drank stronger beverages but I stuck with Coke... stupid General Order #1).  Then as the night wore on there was dancing & I thought to myself (I'm never going to see these people again so I might as well have fun, make a fool of myself dancing & have a good time.  So I did.).  So I danced, I had fun; it was a nice little escape for a few hours from my deployment.  All thanks to Marco!

He was too shy to dance but some crazy Indian guy tried to salsa dance with me to Lady Gaga.  It was interesting to say the least & I was the butt of some jokes due to his bad dancing.  I'll see if I can't dig up a photo from that dance for ya'll to laugh at me too.

Anyway, I'm settling into a groove - I'm 30% done & that is nearly 50% done.  :)  YEAH!

I've lost my reading glasses, so that sucks since most of what I do is read & stare at a computer all day.  I hope to get some more here soon from the military and order another nice pair from back home.

I'm doing good and all I ask for is your prayers for me and for everybody over here.  And especially for the families and friends of the 30 servicemen who died last week in the helicopter crash in Wardak province.  Here's a toast to the host...