A day off and a friend returns

So today was my second day since arriving in Iraq that I have not gone outside the wire. It was a good day. I first went running with my Gunner, SGT McPherson. We ran a decent distance and finished it off with a massive hill. It hurt, but I needed it. Kelli has been working out like a demon to get into “trophy wife” shape, so the least I can do is not be as much of a fat slob. Then I did some paperwork and finished watching “The Inside Man.” It’s the second straight Spike Lee flick I have watched, the other being “25th Hour.” Both great flicks and both have aspects that can be related to Iraq. Next I went to the PX to buy some speakers for my laptop. The ONE complaint I have with my laptop is that even at full volume it is pretty quiet for movies. The speakers I had got dropped and one of them doesn’t work, so I figured I get some decent ones this time. Suffice to say the PX (as always) did not have any of what I go to buy, so I instead bought some air fresheners for my room, some baby wipes for emergency showers and TP, and some Kleenex. Then I went to drop off and pick up some laundry. About a month ago I turned in a pair of gloves in my laundry and they lost one. They never found it, so instead they gave me 3 other pairs. I guess I finished on the positive side, but I did love the gloves they lost. They have since instituted a “No Gloves” policy, so it’s nice to know I am helping make policies….
The best thing to happen came on my way back from the laundry. I saw SSG Tracy and SPC(P) Nelson talking outside Nelson’s room. They were talking to someone I didn’t recognize from behind. When I turned the corner and saw who it was I was ELATED. It was SPC Gucwa, who had finished his rehab from the IED that wounded him on 29 Jan. He looked great and was excited to get back outside the wire again. 1SG wants him to spend a couple weeks in HQ to evaluate how he’s doing, but knowing Gucwa he’ll be out of there and back to the PLT ASAP. Gucwa is a big guy and we joked about how it was the extra insulation that kept him from getting hurt worse. Every training exercise we’ve done, Gucwa was always a casualty for two reasons. First he was usually my gunner and as PL I tend to be in the thick of things. Also because he’s so big (fat), the people running the training couldn’t resist forcing us to carry him around. So of course we were used to carrying him around….
In addition to that things are good. War is easy. Chow is good. Weather is perfect. Internet has been touchy.
Kelli sent me a mix CD that is amazing. She clearly spent a lot of time and thought on it and it was touching. Samantha turned three a week ago and had a good birthday. Lots of pink presents. Connor is a wrestling fanatic now that football is over. My mid-tour leave is slotted for the May-June timeframe. I’ll be giving up the PLT right before that. If I come back to Iraq after that I’ll be in a staff position somewhere, though I may be on a small three man team that advises and works with the Iraqi Army. It’s EXACTLY the job I want and the other two template officers are MAJ Stephenson and CPT Poche. They just happen to be the two guys in the Army I get along with the best and I respect the heck out of both of them. It’d be an all-star team in my opinion. We’ll see.
Jenna’s class sent me some questions a month or so ago and one of them asked about lizards in Iraq. Lo and behold yesterday on patrol I spotted one, so I snapped of a few pics. Hopefully the kid who asked about them will get a kick out of them.
That about finishes up my random thoughts for the day. Maybe I’ll try and tape and post a video message using my webcam. I’ll let you know.

Adam