Goodbye

Goodbyes are difficult.

I am not sure where I am going with this so bare with me.

So, as I was saying, goodbyes are difficult. There is no easy way to say it, and in every situation it always hurts a little. There's usually some idle chatter, followed by a quick joke that leads head first into an akward silence that saps all of the strength out of your neck and both people end up looking at the ground. Then, look at each other, and not say goodbye exactly, but instead say, "call me when you get there". Or, "I'll chat with you later". Or "hey man, see you soon".

There's the "telephone" goodbyes which are usually clumbsy. One person usually has to get the last word, or the other isn't quite done finishing their sentences and usually leads to one or the other hanging up on the other person.

There's the in person, "see you soon" goodbye. This is a friendly goodbye. No one is going anywhere far. They both live in the same city or close enough where you could, at any time, see the other person.

Then there's the "long distance goodbye". One person is leaving for awhile but will be back. This is a hard one but knowing that there is no real danger and they are just going on vacation or something. This normally ends with "make sure my dog gets fed 3 times a day. See you when I get back" type of deal.

The worst has to be the "I'm leaving, not sure if I'll make is back" good bye. This is also currently known as the "I am going to Iraq" goodbye. Neither of you are really sure if you are coming back. You both hope and pray you will but not sure. This is the hardest one.

Lastly, there is the, "we have become such good friends over a long period of time" goodbye. This is where the other person is leaving and there's a good chance you will never see them again. You know they are going to be safe but you wish they were closer so you can stay good friends. This can also be hard, more of a good emotional than then "I'm leaving for Iraq" goodbye.

Again, sorry about the ramble. :)

CLOSE ONE!

So the other day I was driving middle in the convoy from TND. We were heading away when I heard this, "*whooooooooooosh* Booom!" and looked to my right to see a big plume of smoke rising about 250 meters away from where I was driving.

We heard the other day some suicide bombers tried to approach Taji but they were apprehended.

Just another day in paradise.

Book 'em Danno!

Today was pretty exciting.

First of all I must give my repects to Gary Gygax. A co-creator of DnD which has pretty much spawned the roleplaying genre. Can we take a moment please?
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Now that we got that out of the way... today was exciting. I went to TND to pick up an order. That was unexciting. After that we had staged the convoy just outside the gate so we can move as one group. I was in front and all of the trucks were following behind. The second truck had just gotten into position when the MP had pulled up and said to me that he had stolen something and took him away. Well for some reason they had let him go and let him drive in the convoy. No big deal I suppose.

Then we got to CIF staged the trucks and began unloading the covoy. One truck at a time, we searched them and the driver, and waived them on their way. The third truck came by and we caught the driver trying to hide some shirts and sock in the door mold. We parked his truck just outside of the gate and took a picture of him holding his stolen goods and then called the MPs. The following two trucks that came by also tried to steal stuff. The second guy was thought it was no big deal. He tried to steal one pair of gloves.
The third guy tried to steal 3 pair of shoes. When I saw all of t hose things I was cursing. F this, and F you. What the f is this. Well, he was blowing me off and started to light a ciggarette. My Iraqi Lieutenant slapped the ciggarette out of his hand and the thief then almost punched my Lieutenant! I had one hand on my pistol stook in between them and grabbed the dude by the collar of his shirt and told him he will not fuckin' touch my lieutenant or else. He tried to fight then noticed my hand on my pistol and his eyes got all wide and big and then he sat down in the sade next to the other culprits.

Man what a day.