I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!

Well, we are still unsure of our fate here in Iraq, as a company, so I am not sure if my plans are all going to fall to pieces or not. I just want those who are expecting me home to be prepared for the unexpected. I might have to come home early, out process, and then go to Mexico to get my “330.” That’s my magical tax-benefit number…a long story if you haven’t already heard it. So, that would mean I couldn’t go right out to Virginia upon my return and would have to spend a week or so getting my business squared away, and then 1.5 weeks in Mexico, and then figure out when to go to Virginia.

Semper Gumby, people. I’ll try to keep ya’ll posted.

On a more positive note, I downloaded some new (old) White Stripes albums and two new episodes of The Office. I can’t wait to watch it. I subscribed to Season Two, and that means I’ll be able to download each new episode as it airs. Wooohooo! That show is so dang hilarious! Brilliant!

I have to drive in and out of a certain gate on Camp Slayer all the time, and all of the Global Security guys like to say "hi" to me, or talk to me, etc., because they don't see many American women (these guys are Iraqis, for the most part). They all know me by now, and I knew this, but a tiny little event made this fact more plainly evident this morning. I was doing a U-turn in the usual place, and I held out my ID as I approached, per standard operating procedures. They all waved me through hurriedly, gesturing in a sort of, "yeah, yeah, yeah; you again," sort of manner. As I drove by them slowly, with the window down, one of them said, "Yes, we know you. We all know you. Your smile is a like a beacon in the desert." I laughed, smiled, thanked them, and drove on as they halted traffic to let me through. Haha. I don't know why I am always surprised that the boys always notice the girls here. I wonder what the ratio is...It must be about several hundred to one. And civilian girls are even more rare. Gosh, I'll be glad to be back where I am a normal girl again. I feel sorry for gorgeous women.

Well, I am getting pretty short. What I mean, obviously, is that I don’t have much time left here. It’s the morning of the 27th, and I have a flight out of Iraq on the 9th. I’m flying to Kuwait, and I’ll stay there until my flight home on the 15th. I’ve decided to fly to Virginia after I out process through CRC, and that will give me a chance to hang out with my dear friends Meghan and Ellen there in Alexandria. I have a car there, and a storage facility full of gear, so I’ll pack it all up and head west, via Memphis, in early November. Dave is going to be wrapping up some training there, and he’ll join me for the drive to California. That’ll be a blast!

Lately, I have been helping my team here to prep for a possible redeployment. Our contract is still in a state of suspended animation here (I won’t supply the details), so we’re in a bit of a holding pattern. In the meantime, we are preparing for the worst-case scenario. I’ve been getting everybody’s orders and ID cards (an extension) prepared, and I’m trying to get a handle on the turnover of our equipment/property book. What a nightmare that is! (Ok, ok; it’s not soooo bad.)

I also do some logistical stuff that involves driving our folks to where they need to be, and stuff like that. When I’m working at my desk here in the headquarters building, I get to listen to the battle update briefing (BUA) a couple of times per day. It’s really interesting to hear what is going on with the troops each day. We also hear real-time information on troops in contact, requests for air support, IED attacks, etc. It’s so easy to sit here in my comfortable and safe office and forget that troops are out there facing serious dangers each and every minute of every day. I hope that you all keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

And to all those asshole politicians and liberal journalists out there, please don’t take what I just said and use it as ammunition against what we’re doing here in Iraq. The troops I just mentioned are in harm’s way, but they aren’t complaining. They’re doing their jobs, and they are doing them exceedingly well. They’re getting the job done here; so butt out.

Howdy, ya'll. Hey, I keep forgetting to tell you: The weather is getting cooler here. The highs have been around 105, and it feels positively chilly! Haha. Summer is ending, and I think people's hapiness is inversely proportional to the temp. I bought a crappy little mountain bike to get to my new workplace, and I actually felt COOL on my way in this morning. I'll probably freeze to death when I get back to California.

:)