tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33022685151732916072024-03-05T04:37:03.192-05:00Left of RightI am an active duty officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. All views expressed in this blog are my personal views as an individual and not those of the Marine Corps or the Department of Defense.Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-23647031755348251352012-11-29T17:27:00.000-05:002012-11-30T00:58:48.738-05:00Goodbye Blue SkyThis morning I put on the uniform for the last time - at least for a while. I thought it would feel bittersweet but I felt like I have every single morning since I got my first set of "bulletproofs" back at OCS. It's not a feeling with a name, like "proud" or "confident" or "happy" though it has elements of all those and others. If it had a name, it would be something like goodrightready. We don't usually talk about it but I think every Marine knows the feeling. <br />
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Whatever you want to call it, it was no different this morning than any other. Bittersweet came later, just a few minutes ago, when I realized I'd be taking it off for the last time (I haven't yet). I used to think I would use an old pair of woodlands - sans name tapes - to go hunting. Now I know I won't. Don't get me wrong, the uniform itself isn't some kind of sacred object and I don't put it on a pedestal. It's just that there are two types of people in the world - those who have the right to wear it and those who don't. I will always be a Marine but for now I am turning over the everyday burdens and challenges of life in the service to my brethren who remain on active duty, and so I will only wear the uniform when I too am conducting Marine business, or when ceremonially appropriate. <br />
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The uniform, of course, is a symbol - and what it symbolizes <i>is </i>sacred. There is no way I will ever do anything in my professional life that will be as gratifying or fulfilling as the last four years. So I will miss the sense of meaning. Where the Marine Corps gave me purpose I will have to give myself purpose, especially in the near future when my plans are to travel and spend time with family in Israel and volunteer but not to get a "real" job.<br />
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Aside from that, what are some other things I will miss about the Marine Corps?<br />
<ul>
<li>My friends, most of whom remain in CA for now but will soon enough scatter to the four corners. Thank goodness for Facebook (and for my love of road trips).</li>
<li>The unique opportunities, whether it's deployment or a week on the rifle range or flying around in USMC helos or watching big things go boom and turn into little things.</li>
<li>Training and leading Marines, though I won't necessarily miss all the stupid stuff they get into</li>
<li>The fact that it is perfectly normal - not even noticed - to drop a steady stream of f-bombs in even a formal briefing or presentation </li>
<li>Three-poling</li>
<li>The PRC-117 </li>
</ul>
What will I not miss?<br />
<ul>
<li>The stupid f$@#ing rules, and the idea that all rules are created equal. </li>
<li>The MST - though I will miss how its ingenuity and resourcefulness take my breath away</li>
<li>Being cold down to my marrow. The heat never bothered me as much.</li>
<li>Shaving every morning </li>
<li>Duty.</li>
<li>Juuuust a few other things that I will skip in the interest of discretion </li>
</ul>
I realize that I owe you a much broader catching up on the last few months - getting back to the states from Afghanistan, the September road trip, the Presidential Traverse and camping out in the peaks of the White Mountains, the family's experience during the recent flare-up in Israel, the process of extricating myself from the Gordian knot of military red tape. It's been busy! Hopefully I'll at least find the time to post some pictures of the last four months. But over the next six weeks I'll be seeing most of the people that I imagine ever read this blog, so we'll do our catching up in person!<br />
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Until then, Happy Holidays and...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Semper Fidelis</b></span></span></div>
Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-51298900620698699802012-11-07T14:38:00.001-05:002012-11-07T14:39:17.434-05:00Did you know? Much more unites us than divides usThis is what I posted on Facebook last night after President Obama won re-election:<br />
<ul>Congratulations to Barack Obama and his supporters on a hard-fought victory. Democrats, no gloating please. Republicans, no whining please. We need leaders with the courage to compromise to find solutions to the major economic and foreign policy challenges we face.</ul>
That is, I believe, the most important sentiment for the nation right now and its most pressing need. But I also got myself thinking. Where might such compromise be possible? Are we not a divided nation, as exemplified once again by a popular vote split almost exactly in half? <br />
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I believe we are divided, but our division is artificial. I think what divides us is parties, not positions. What I mean by that is that if you pick almost any issue you will find more of a consensus than is reflected in recent popular Presidential votes. <br />
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Consider for starters two hotly debated topics today: the role of government and gay rights. <br />
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The role of government was a – perhaps <i>the </i>– defining element of the election. It gave rise to two popular if not equivalent movements: the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street. Slim chance of a consensus on this issue, right? <br />
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Wrong. Over the last twenty years, the Gallup organization has consistently found that a solid majority of Americans think our government does too much. Those that think government should do more are actually a distinct minority.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWloCLTY278XH57P4Bo233kO4Jn5G212uGg2Mnq6YL1mk1J_7CkOqD3YNdqN1wMu8gumKvNUHJ03BEATo-SwX0ii68t1iL0StLMdg6yz86jisW4OnwGTXUJymg9jSh3DZzIs183hhvwzA/s1600/chart1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWloCLTY278XH57P4Bo233kO4Jn5G212uGg2Mnq6YL1mk1J_7CkOqD3YNdqN1wMu8gumKvNUHJ03BEATo-SwX0ii68t1iL0StLMdg6yz86jisW4OnwGTXUJymg9jSh3DZzIs183hhvwzA/s400/chart1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Americans consistently see big government as the biggest threat to the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61Nz673jXyeCORvwpN7fbmoHlSUfpVbG588LbDezquCkXYDmUAsi1BV9cfKx1OMRSFvUjUQ5LnoRQvkb_X8LdcbKAFd3dtbnEWiHOw1M7Z6Bw8xhHpU5E_fhtHAnHj1cYJumTcPYq2XI/s1600/chart2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61Nz673jXyeCORvwpN7fbmoHlSUfpVbG588LbDezquCkXYDmUAsi1BV9cfKx1OMRSFvUjUQ5LnoRQvkb_X8LdcbKAFd3dtbnEWiHOw1M7Z6Bw8xhHpU5E_fhtHAnHj1cYJumTcPYq2XI/s400/chart2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What about gay rights? Most Americans support openly gay people being allowed to serve in the military, and have since before the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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And while views on gay marriage are in fact split fairly evenly at this moment in history, to see it as a wedge issue is to wear blinders. The trajectory is clear:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZC1tWsi2TvHqBb6-i7VF6j4AvJH5HFiWRcPiVzDikIGnI5DbmJ3Y2ZuhWjNL61wGlcRS0r-oQorGPvsAM_Hm9O73YW8OcwdY7lacFqRsu69xHsqnrJYZda4Sjz42Cx_ohDrcLXSEFiA/s1600/chart4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZC1tWsi2TvHqBb6-i7VF6j4AvJH5HFiWRcPiVzDikIGnI5DbmJ3Y2ZuhWjNL61wGlcRS0r-oQorGPvsAM_Hm9O73YW8OcwdY7lacFqRsu69xHsqnrJYZda4Sjz42Cx_ohDrcLXSEFiA/s400/chart4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not convinced? Let’s look at two more supposedly controversial issues: health care and immigration. <br />
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Since the passage of Obamacare the country has been more or less evenly divided in support/opposition. But delve a little deeper into the healthcare issue and you find a startling consensus on the key elements:<br />
<ul>
<li>Should government ensure that everyone has health care? Yes, 62.3% to 34.4% on average in the years 2000-2007, before the specifics (and politics) of Obamacare came into the picture. </li>
<li>Should that health care be government-run or provided by the private sector? Even after Obamacare, private sector by a large margin: 58.5% to 36.5% over the last two years.</li>
<li>Individual mandate? Unconstitutional, 72% to 20% before the Supreme Court decision. As close observers will recall, the Court actually agreed that a mandate was unconstitutional but upheld the law by interpreting the non-compliance penalty (the mandate) as a tax instead.</li>
<li>Repeal Obamacare? 52% say yes in whole or in part, only 38% say leave it as is or expand it. </li>
</ul>
On immigration the story is even clearer: Americans seek a compassionate application of the rule of law for illegal immigrants and firmly support immigration as a whole.<br />
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More recently, after Obama decided over the summer to stop deporting illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, numerous polls found that two-thirds or more of the population supported that policy while less than a third opposed it. <br />
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Certainly there are issues where no definitive consensus exists now or in the recent past. Abortion is the obvious one that comes to mind:<br />
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But as you can see, the comforting cliché is actually empirically true: there is much more that unites us than divides us. Here are a few more issues in case you still aren’t persuaded.<br />
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Gun control: Americans oppose a handgun ban by a 73%-26% margin, though we are more evenly divided on assault weapons. By a 60%-35% margin we believe in enforcing existing laws over passing new ones. <br />
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Education: by a more than 2-1 margin we support charter schools and by a nearly 3-1 margin we want parents to be able to “petition to remove the leadership and staff at failing schools.” We oppose vouchers, though by a much closer margin. <br />
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How about the atrocious state of America’s balance sheet? This is such a broad category encompassing so many politically charged issues such as taxes, entitlement programs and defense spending that you’d hardly expect to find much consensus. Have faith.<br />
<ul>
<li>What is most responsible for the deficit problem? Too much spending: 73%; not enough tax revenue: 22%</li>
<li>How to solve it? Focus on cutting spending: 50%; focus on raising taxes: 11%; an even mix of both: 32%. Looked at another way, 69% of us favor both spending cuts and tax increases in some combination, only 24% want it fixed exclusively with one or the other. </li>
<li>Tax the wealthy more? Yes, 66%-33%.</li>
<li>What spending to cut? At first this seems to be the catch. We narrowly oppose cutting defense (47%-51%) and are even more opposed to cutting Social Security and Medicare (42%-56%). There is broad consensus to cut other programs, 66%-33%, but that’s less than meets the eye. Those first three items are 50.6% of our budget and another 9% consists of mandatory interest payments on our debt. “Other programs” seems like a cop-out that doesn’t leave much room for real reform.</li>
<li>But then comes the key: we’d rather see a compromise than have our side hold out, by a remarkable 66%-27% margin.</li>
</ul>
We. Want. Compromise.<br />
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True, we may be fickle as voters and punish those who sign on to a grand compromise because they gave in on some specific measure we care about. This why I made the observation above: we need leaders with the courage to do it anyway. What’s the worst that happens? You have to trade your government job for a higher-paying consulting gig? <br />
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The bottom line is that on issue after specific issue, there is far more consensus in America than I think most people realize. Perhaps it is drowned out by the “wing warriors” or the hyperventilating media, but I think the biggest reason we are divided in spite of our unity is because our two major parties split the issues. <br />
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Republicans, pressured by the Tea Party, are willing (or say they are willing) to take significant political risk to address our long-term insolvency. They have put forward budgets that not only touch the “third-rail” entitlement programs but wrestle them with both hands, while the Democrats for three years running have been too craven to put forward a budget at all. <br />
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On the other hand, the Democrats have been willing to take traditionally risky and unpopular positions on immigration, gay rights and other social issues while the Republicans seem determined to alienate almost everyone who isn’t white, straight and married.<br />
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Granted, these are generalizations – ones that only touch on a few of the issues voters consider when picking a candidate and a party. I haven’t even broached the subject(s) of foreign policy. And perhaps most importantly as caveats go, consensus – even broad consensus – does not automatically equate to good policy. <br />
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But as the famed writer and Pulitzer-prize winner E. B. White suggested, democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time. It is not an infallible system but it is, as Winston Churchill observed, “the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” <br />
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What I wish most for our democracy is that one of our parties, or a new one failing that, would take a step back from dogma and adopt positions more broadly reflective of the will of the people. Doing so is not pandering; it does not require abandoning one's principles. But it does require adapting them to reality. It means modernizing the party platform to accept what previously made us uncomfortable, be it the right of gay people to fall in love and marry or the fact that we are robbing our children blind to pay for our lavish entitlement state.<br />
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Whichever party realizes this first and acts accordingly will not only win but win emphatically, and find itself governing a remarkably United States.<br />
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(All graphs and numbers come from Gallup.)Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-75353903117216397252012-07-31T09:16:00.000-04:002012-07-31T09:54:23.235-04:00A hundred pics (or less)As we approached <a href="http://www.manas.afcent.af.mil/" target="_blank">Manas Transit Center</a> in Kyrgyzstan yesterday afternoon, our flight crew gave us the local time and told us it would be hot. Well ok. Everything's relative, I guess. It's certainly warmer than last time we were through here:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Manas in January</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Manas just now</b></span></div>
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On the other hand, humidity is just 23% according to weather.com but it feels like a rain forest to me.<br />
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Yesterday I was asked twice what it felt like to be out of Afghanistan. The truth is I don't feel anything in particular. If you've ever sat in the waiting room of your mechanic or car dealership, watching the second hand tick by in complete and utter boredom for hours on end in anticipation of the moment you can finally drive home, that's about all I'm feeling right now.<br />
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Last time, my mind was pretty much fried when I got back. Fourteen hours a day (or more), seven days a week for twelve months (minus 15 days of R&R), the same powdered eggs for breakfast and low-grade beef for dinner, the same rote morning routine and night routine and broken sleep...well Sebastian Junger nailed it in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/WAR-Sebastian-Junger/dp/0446556246" target="_blank"><i>War</i></a> about the <a href="http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1890204,00.html" target="_blank">Korengal Valley</a> in Afghanistan:<br />
<ul>"Forward Operating Bases are a special kind of hell, none of the excitement of real war but all the ugliness: rows of plywood bee huts and weapons everywhere and Apaches jolting you awake at all hours running the flight line ten feet off the ground."</ul>
This description is if anything even more accurate for Lashkar Gah, where helicopters literally thunder right over your head at 50 or 100 feet at all hours of the day and night. And yet I feel none of the mental fatigue of last time (though ask me again when I've been home a week). I may have had just one day off in six months but I worked only an eight-hour shift in a more relaxed (b/c British) environment and I had reliable hot showers and my own private cot space and most of all I knew it would be over in half the time of the last one. Maintaining a positive attitude and low level of stress was easy. <br />
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Consequently, I'm eager but not desperate to get back. I'm more excited about what's coming up: my road trip in September, the (partial) sequel in December and my move to Israel in January. But that said, I do have to take a quick look back at the last half-year, because I finally have an Internet connection fast enough to upload some pics and I've been promising to do so for months.<br />
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So here it is - my deployment in 100 pics or less:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3RBF4n7mc-W-hiajqXO0n81FmQgIID-JKJN5_Ha8vKhb9-LaiRYZRg7Ch0TbuafNYOQNkK8-NJOuBpAD9GAfQupNdXmYJOhDlgyfjCx1QeLRilhLFN4MGUNlYZwO2OSwf4LkQ6ceNLM/s1600/DSC01096.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3RBF4n7mc-W-hiajqXO0n81FmQgIID-JKJN5_Ha8vKhb9-LaiRYZRg7Ch0TbuafNYOQNkK8-NJOuBpAD9GAfQupNdXmYJOhDlgyfjCx1QeLRilhLFN4MGUNlYZwO2OSwf4LkQ6ceNLM/s320/DSC01096.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Weigh-in at Camp Pendleton. Think I came in at around 380 lbs or so. The max was 450. </span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDG0zKgUX2CWGT-HIjYh5YbhmErH5pFqaLyYqX3nHgXfyEUATRDBMcCmbTXvqCi-cDRTJ_l3fRuv7uwoIWyu0HJ9SxPN95YCzAsCZw83S38EP71S1k4Es_qIum5Djki6HRRfuCk2Py-o/s1600/DSC01115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDG0zKgUX2CWGT-HIjYh5YbhmErH5pFqaLyYqX3nHgXfyEUATRDBMcCmbTXvqCi-cDRTJ_l3fRuv7uwoIWyu0HJ9SxPN95YCzAsCZw83S38EP71S1k4Es_qIum5Djki6HRRfuCk2Py-o/s320/DSC01115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Marking my gear. Orange tape to indicate unit and destination.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNLxUqhUkKWWEJjTRPxLDXtt3VmFGHK8Bmvc7fDpbfbJNduXVEuqFXDOJOz2HjVPe2oMpSznwqkRMLX8kj1Jp2aLkXdM15oTHprHnB9O3DxBh-C2rn6Q6Lj3kQGNCVyptkdRJU9u1S1M/s1600/DSC01146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNLxUqhUkKWWEJjTRPxLDXtt3VmFGHK8Bmvc7fDpbfbJNduXVEuqFXDOJOz2HjVPe2oMpSznwqkRMLX8kj1Jp2aLkXdM15oTHprHnB9O3DxBh-C2rn6Q6Lj3kQGNCVyptkdRJU9u1S1M/s320/DSC01146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Loaded up and ready to go...in style.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2ffXX2ZeVmdUgJtbF-Vr19MbzXMwkONHSftjyiScA8VebtqseGm9u6DhLJdmn5qExTSMsrHxgTew3LuZcH0fc0MtjwJx4kdM0yfkSmYDuR54dlcg7ILytsK9V47w34SxABtIP3vWJSU/s1600/IMG_0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2ffXX2ZeVmdUgJtbF-Vr19MbzXMwkONHSftjyiScA8VebtqseGm9u6DhLJdmn5qExTSMsrHxgTew3LuZcH0fc0MtjwJx4kdM0yfkSmYDuR54dlcg7ILytsK9V47w34SxABtIP3vWJSU/s320/IMG_0738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Arriving at Manas: it was fuh-reezing that morning.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iFRYPNLfTYZCRQKwRVnoWSE0qzbsetZdyynZJoIE0Q7ew910egxTpx0aKlHxLyO0MT9fiyK_3JahWGHYJUnRwr19Q8UVghMuDKnjI7cOtYttbj1IfUp2JNAstEf9Uppc_v1rEiudkaE/s1600/IMG_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iFRYPNLfTYZCRQKwRVnoWSE0qzbsetZdyynZJoIE0Q7ew910egxTpx0aKlHxLyO0MT9fiyK_3JahWGHYJUnRwr19Q8UVghMuDKnjI7cOtYttbj1IfUp2JNAstEf9Uppc_v1rEiudkaE/s320/IMG_0752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chow, USAF style</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHbrEU0eN1ry2rnQSNqTcG-9LZ4k0ezUHstXRT9YVIMQ2yo8PFrjBi4zhv7rQQfa-Rl96gWW8o3Vmtwbp7xMxqF2cpyNoAtkRHM_egbeHtNDqWtNMtK3At9A7gcQhkdCaCM3QwTPDTlI/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHbrEU0eN1ry2rnQSNqTcG-9LZ4k0ezUHstXRT9YVIMQ2yo8PFrjBi4zhv7rQQfa-Rl96gWW8o3Vmtwbp7xMxqF2cpyNoAtkRHM_egbeHtNDqWtNMtK3At9A7gcQhkdCaCM3QwTPDTlI/s320/IMG_0756.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inbound Afg</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE93BoY8lPbf3VRgf_9_VraskUEYL-T4XCuJVL3tAQvBlAIoyvwUkCBqq8gipujuhi5vjLtysVfzE0Va0gagYUfmbOSS4HQjqcrrOIzn2MTNNwUY8OMMgAB6DWAGKXgOIypgf-3MQRkk/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE93BoY8lPbf3VRgf_9_VraskUEYL-T4XCuJVL3tAQvBlAIoyvwUkCBqq8gipujuhi5vjLtysVfzE0Va0gagYUfmbOSS4HQjqcrrOIzn2MTNNwUY8OMMgAB6DWAGKXgOIypgf-3MQRkk/s320/IMG_0790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>My first living space</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT83zsy3J83yZv5KuCkP-ozjf1cYZiTu7Mvv_8hoeyM6Fw5gh5-lZHXuYTRLkM74fgd5qBLzAVjt7EoT9_21PxuzGVBq1i2KjPMnecHZqe3wgHqVuIvzk3b8Ab_90afHmCI9EjhI06kPo/s1600/From+iPhone+20+April+12+306.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT83zsy3J83yZv5KuCkP-ozjf1cYZiTu7Mvv_8hoeyM6Fw5gh5-lZHXuYTRLkM74fgd5qBLzAVjt7EoT9_21PxuzGVBq1i2KjPMnecHZqe3wgHqVuIvzk3b8Ab_90afHmCI9EjhI06kPo/s320/From+iPhone+20+April+12+306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Shortly after arriving in Lash</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSQvwCPk8TFD4iciEdFYQNF0ri9syVNs6W0avpiEBhUBW0GxCwAH1QfxUkDGxMJC5c6a52aNa5Oz64tYySIaPE7tnXoAqKI7LMOT1CJ99M1AdaXeKzHgHjtEuA-rfBKOrReDpG7d9LKM/s1600/IMG_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSQvwCPk8TFD4iciEdFYQNF0ri9syVNs6W0avpiEBhUBW0GxCwAH1QfxUkDGxMJC5c6a52aNa5Oz64tYySIaPE7tnXoAqKI7LMOT1CJ99M1AdaXeKzHgHjtEuA-rfBKOrReDpG7d9LKM/s320/IMG_0797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Just inside the main gate</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZy3Dg7BAGztOu-cFg5gQ_JupaN02sU1Tu1p9ijVtpsucoa6w0zt3D8_-PoR12wurMp-smCjukS5Jt63Y4bjcMNxsh8M7OpmyF6Px7uF6AlDlCf5_eeI4GHwtFEZJxAvNVhPLydg5p6U/s1600/From+iPhone+20+April+12+304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZy3Dg7BAGztOu-cFg5gQ_JupaN02sU1Tu1p9ijVtpsucoa6w0zt3D8_-PoR12wurMp-smCjukS5Jt63Y4bjcMNxsh8M7OpmyF6Px7uF6AlDlCf5_eeI4GHwtFEZJxAvNVhPLydg5p6U/s320/From+iPhone+20+April+12+304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The famous garden at Lash</b></span></div>
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For the first two months or so we had no ability to call home and our mail was getting backed up for weeks on end. When I saw this huge pile of British mail I might have gotten a bit carried away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs5W4hXF5fmhsqkN4lOYZvRMO9W9DOyiz943Fg1mY0xBnVzYTxunXqFwEIWl1ljtO_5-fCYEUBoHStJ5NechDKbcnSdi4t-45r9ivH7Zenk-j3XyeIzUsRtpOP3m2wfK-xxuTWLse5eI/s1600/From+iPhone+20+April+12+305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs5W4hXF5fmhsqkN4lOYZvRMO9W9DOyiz943Fg1mY0xBnVzYTxunXqFwEIWl1ljtO_5-fCYEUBoHStJ5NechDKbcnSdi4t-45r9ivH7Zenk-j3XyeIzUsRtpOP3m2wfK-xxuTWLse5eI/s320/From+iPhone+20+April+12+305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After some pretty angry complaining we got the mail sorted out, and we also got a sat phone. Of course, by then it was so hot out that standing outside sweating on the phone wasn't the most appealing thing to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Talking to my brother and snapping a self-portrait.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>New digs</b></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb8kBXDxtVYqCQz_jITBHen8FLvtty-D03ik0jHpWPBiM10xFjWsMg2-jW7R5Seyh7F07bsFB90ZG1yNCdd1DHa7nbRNqdUqdCI0jjd3vmqbTlN57SMIf10lkdrcDtvW0srZ-GPerj1Y/s1600/P1000368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb8kBXDxtVYqCQz_jITBHen8FLvtty-D03ik0jHpWPBiM10xFjWsMg2-jW7R5Seyh7F07bsFB90ZG1yNCdd1DHa7nbRNqdUqdCI0jjd3vmqbTlN57SMIf10lkdrcDtvW0srZ-GPerj1Y/s320/P1000368.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm not much into visual art but when I saw this stuff laid out on my cot (it was around Passover time and I was doing some spring cleaning) it seemed like a still life worth capturing: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sj5WexxW9T3tK-R4ACB3HhvCXazX_u08KpRJTF3NnyybhrTFVyrFjRDW1JcrO6tfob_rRsbQh1w4mxKC9Sbsje9k79__qMVIYrWz4XiF_uZEJKSd6FE-WOmC6gONbHEM1nuupcydNnI/s1600/P1000414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sj5WexxW9T3tK-R4ACB3HhvCXazX_u08KpRJTF3NnyybhrTFVyrFjRDW1JcrO6tfob_rRsbQh1w4mxKC9Sbsje9k79__qMVIYrWz4XiF_uZEJKSd6FE-WOmC6gONbHEM1nuupcydNnI/s320/P1000414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Part of our job at Lash was standing Sangar Duty. I wrote all about this for my latest CDS article, which doesn't seem to be online yet. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp2x2lEz6A5YjsxGvVHGzh5JRkc340HYimEfpt4D5BnKmB0FfyJU8vh4ixB-chKIw8_t-G1ta50MwRNi9KeuI3-iayWvFDD08LTnLEjFG6WgGqjOTeawD-Qc-_9tHG-WQHIuHVmSJd3c/s1600/OEF+12-1+015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp2x2lEz6A5YjsxGvVHGzh5JRkc340HYimEfpt4D5BnKmB0FfyJU8vh4ixB-chKIw8_t-G1ta50MwRNi9KeuI3-iayWvFDD08LTnLEjFG6WgGqjOTeawD-Qc-_9tHG-WQHIuHVmSJd3c/s320/OEF+12-1+015.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>A Sangar guard tower</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztmh5V369KChM7hAln0NAXZrpYnAIB2LKKAZwg2LYZoLNN1hD71CVFc2yCCbn4d0DSkWO-tBE5xPvftMvJHp3U_qurs-g8fvmqnulZtQcTFT_6cEY3UlsG5KW10EgF54e_un8S7vOchg/s1600/P1000417v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztmh5V369KChM7hAln0NAXZrpYnAIB2LKKAZwg2LYZoLNN1hD71CVFc2yCCbn4d0DSkWO-tBE5xPvftMvJHp3U_qurs-g8fvmqnulZtQcTFT_6cEY3UlsG5KW10EgF54e_un8S7vOchg/s320/P1000417v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Manning the 240</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uJ8YqX35XXG5Ng6vlAf3kKGfnhhWK34p4G9VmiJavJWglut8s_68WkOZ2HsPpDm6Bk6WqnWa_TCCNy90Bfc1o8GagkHSh-pdY4XX0xe8Q_WTbtfxHhmYQXZo4P2stCM5SXUyqtzgUrk/s1600/On+Sangar+duty+v2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uJ8YqX35XXG5Ng6vlAf3kKGfnhhWK34p4G9VmiJavJWglut8s_68WkOZ2HsPpDm6Bk6WqnWa_TCCNy90Bfc1o8GagkHSh-pdY4XX0xe8Q_WTbtfxHhmYQXZo4P2stCM5SXUyqtzgUrk/s320/On+Sangar+duty+v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Grrr.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB5KE7cCBlCE_miCrfC2TL_ejj5qHrdDS37GgPv810g2dGPIrVR7HWlELPwc3RbFLHdmkTXgvhUtmXZ10FjdK3YVaPjvKERYU84RonvY2-B-qvUAQUaF8njlHcfjnD51aNAbxQjIH3e8/s1600/Sangar+Duty+001v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB5KE7cCBlCE_miCrfC2TL_ejj5qHrdDS37GgPv810g2dGPIrVR7HWlELPwc3RbFLHdmkTXgvhUtmXZ10FjdK3YVaPjvKERYU84RonvY2-B-qvUAQUaF8njlHcfjnD51aNAbxQjIH3e8/s320/Sangar+Duty+001v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Another still life. What can I say, I'm inspired.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12-XyFQt4eCXlR4SQUfwK4bUr9aYeAz612UYw1CL1ttQJtQdLQmutZwykrE_00ZAj3Bz9CzWZh52_9-N1kcIsC01xaj4X3u1wfzWBoRvsXnX_jUeeZFa_-BYMd3jysxbMzfIusoAp5gw/s1600/OEF+12-1+022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12-XyFQt4eCXlR4SQUfwK4bUr9aYeAz612UYw1CL1ttQJtQdLQmutZwykrE_00ZAj3Bz9CzWZh52_9-N1kcIsC01xaj4X3u1wfzWBoRvsXnX_jUeeZFa_-BYMd3jysxbMzfIusoAp5gw/s320/OEF+12-1+022.JPG" width="238" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Some kids trying to get my attention</b></span></div>
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As I've said before, Lash was pretty cush all in all. The chow hall did get monotonous but there's no denying the food was great. We had a...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2vJqD_Zarz3VMaVIMGTnPYS0fxOBzG9-re52e5TcyUzoGbK1Gpor2T8oebitNsCch9yxEZxm2WRSFSAy3ZiNFk10oK0a05Th-WqvrdSJ_3XJM1U3Sv3i_Ggg8me7Ab5qtw-YP4fkzXU/s1600/Sri+Lanka+night+food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2vJqD_Zarz3VMaVIMGTnPYS0fxOBzG9-re52e5TcyUzoGbK1Gpor2T8oebitNsCch9yxEZxm2WRSFSAy3ZiNFk10oK0a05Th-WqvrdSJ_3XJM1U3Sv3i_Ggg8me7Ab5qtw-YP4fkzXU/s320/Sri+Lanka+night+food.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Sri Lanka night</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K7ZvYdi_wmlOVQe0HWOC1Jmrx40maLHkuegJCzXN_Dgt29HN9SVzuUB7PPfMEwv8BvVEzMfGiaqrYU6krrtV-FhkpicKapO-csHej581P8vcHwHWuwHDjTzMjPR8KR-lgeWwmuMuuOQ/s1600/OEF+12-1+027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K7ZvYdi_wmlOVQe0HWOC1Jmrx40maLHkuegJCzXN_Dgt29HN9SVzuUB7PPfMEwv8BvVEzMfGiaqrYU6krrtV-FhkpicKapO-csHej581P8vcHwHWuwHDjTzMjPR8KR-lgeWwmuMuuOQ/s320/OEF+12-1+027.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>and of course the 4th of July night I <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-236th.html" target="_blank">wrote about</a> earlier.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Note where it's made</b></span></span></div>
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I got to observe some indigenous wildlife...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrogMI0Q-oOh4QfDprmBTijpaXn791OCUZNRMvdK9j83G7fiMIDBdjJL2tPWurQHHJppxVMwpWfbZvInBXCzBxyUQ5_HZW7fx8Zur8CducjyPdPOUyCQi9ZNyrcBtxvki2YgFKZE0N38/s1600/lizzard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrogMI0Q-oOh4QfDprmBTijpaXn791OCUZNRMvdK9j83G7fiMIDBdjJL2tPWurQHHJppxVMwpWfbZvInBXCzBxyUQ5_HZW7fx8Zur8CducjyPdPOUyCQi9ZNyrcBtxvki2YgFKZE0N38/s320/lizzard.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Small lizard</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Big bug</b></span></div>
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...and gain useful insights in the most unexpected places. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQaIUUe3AYW0ggcJL1-GfXX9YgdQff6BAO8Kxh19KKAmQ2nImBGy6ksk_34xm4IfAF16Xl2ymwKDx1E78ujjQRrajgP8KBN-7lByqyDEJxtpBvsdN9CKfs445O_fi8dfKHnNCBxqjiv0/s1600/From+iPhone+20+April+12+308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQaIUUe3AYW0ggcJL1-GfXX9YgdQff6BAO8Kxh19KKAmQ2nImBGy6ksk_34xm4IfAF16Xl2ymwKDx1E78ujjQRrajgP8KBN-7lByqyDEJxtpBvsdN9CKfs445O_fi8dfKHnNCBxqjiv0/s320/From+iPhone+20+April+12+308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>I especially like the wisdom in the top right corner.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiif3onHHpFNOdvpGsrm5W7mc9QY_OsFYPEaRQXXLLCVOm86swEhMwo8ca8oXSVUSFV30Zp9YdgW-OtQrcoz3k_I8RoKhXEtqHNOK7y9gZFA5KcjIEHpIWNXwJ0fG5MITzI1g8WEAFleWE/s1600/007.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiif3onHHpFNOdvpGsrm5W7mc9QY_OsFYPEaRQXXLLCVOm86swEhMwo8ca8oXSVUSFV30Zp9YdgW-OtQrcoz3k_I8RoKhXEtqHNOK7y9gZFA5KcjIEHpIWNXwJ0fG5MITzI1g8WEAFleWE/s320/007.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Port-a-john graffiti <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Flies-William-Golding/dp/0399501487" target="_blank">literary reference</a> (in Manas). Wonders never cease.</b></span></div>
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And that's what I've got for you. You may have noticed I whited-out some parts of some pics, and that there aren't a lot of wide shots either of inside or outside the base I got some good ones - Afghan sunsets are great because of all the dust in the air - but you always need to be careful not to post something online that might help the enemy learn about the layout of the base, the fields of view (and possible blind spots) from the Sangar towers, etc. So if you want to see those I'll have to show them to you in person.<br />
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At any rate, the six months flew by as I said, and before I knew it I was <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2012/07/thoughts-on-heading-home.html" target="_blank">back at Leatherneck</a>. On my last night in Afghanistan, I was walking back from Bastion when these ANA guys pulled up and through their gestures indicated they wanted my permission to take some water from a nearby pallet. I don't know what the rules are (though I have no doubt there are rules for this as for everything) but it seems to me when someone in the desert asks for water, you give it to him. So I helped them load up a bunch of cases in their truck and then we did a lot of laughing and smiling and hand-shaking since neither of us spoke a word of the others' language. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrSkl4wzDzE5quUIPrnoS0QXU3CIySJPiW_qx18IXuZLkES-eK4YKAswukbQ_jxx8ORIP82hE3ySfOGfmXEDN0Y1tJlLo_wbCQRAI1u8gq1oYwG0nuBp5eGTCseN6kExO58E83Cc44kg/s1600/005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrSkl4wzDzE5quUIPrnoS0QXU3CIySJPiW_qx18IXuZLkES-eK4YKAswukbQ_jxx8ORIP82hE3ySfOGfmXEDN0Y1tJlLo_wbCQRAI1u8gq1oYwG0nuBp5eGTCseN6kExO58E83Cc44kg/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I suppose I'll have some arrival pictures to add later, though we're expecting to get into CA in the middle of the night so that may not work out. But for now, it's dinner time...and you know the Air Force has great chow!</div>
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</div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-88433905836761145082012-07-23T03:19:00.000-04:002012-07-25T07:10:00.148-04:00Thoughts on heading homeLast night, we lifted from the Lashkar Gah LZ on an <a href="http://www.marines.com/operating-forces/equipment/aircraft/mv-22-osprey" target="_blank">MV-22 Osprey</a>. It was tough to say goodbye to people that I’ve gotten to know and admire and work with through some difficult situations and who I will in all likelihood never see again. Being in Lash these last six months was a great experience – enjoyable, enlightening and meaningful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwvOJjKc1NBSnxwIGLy8L6Zy54SZkbxo_XS2If_0Y28wShXVhLsiZNP48WMh4bIs-0Nsgxt4KVymTuKsSj3YcUQuK61BYicjvZCrPjUHIqXa3I3QynfqAXK8_bhf46O4jdmsbZrmMgYI/s1600/v22+nightb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwvOJjKc1NBSnxwIGLy8L6Zy54SZkbxo_XS2If_0Y28wShXVhLsiZNP48WMh4bIs-0Nsgxt4KVymTuKsSj3YcUQuK61BYicjvZCrPjUHIqXa3I3QynfqAXK8_bhf46O4jdmsbZrmMgYI/s320/v22+nightb.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br />At night you can often see the static electricity along the rotor tips</b></span> </div>
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This being a V-22, in nearly the blink of an eye we were transitioning back out of airplane mode and touching down at Camp Bastion/Leatherneck. Once the scramble of unloading all our gear onto the tarmac was complete and we sat down to wait for our ride, I looked around. <br />
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When I first landed here in March of 2010, <a href="http://www.afcee.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123303305" target="_blank">Bastion airfield</a> as it exists today (the new flight line) was little more than some preparatory earthwork and a bunch of blueprints. The old runway was shorter (it now serves as a taxiway), the aircraft aprons were crowded, the structures were all temporary.<br />
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I will never forget stepping off the C-17 here for the first time. I was wearing sunglasses but the wind-blown dust and the intense glare of the desert sun had me squinting anyway as I followed the pack in front of me off the tarmac. It was noisy, slightly disorienting and a bit chaotic. I was, of course, excited.<br />
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<a href="http://images.plus613.net/images/39900/www_plus613_net_c17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="188" src="http://images.plus613.net/images/39900/www_plus613_net_c17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">C-17 Globemaster</span></b></div>
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During that deployment one of my big projects was to design and oversee the security plan for the new airfield, so I became intimately familiar with its layout. Last night, though it was dark and we off-loaded at the V-22 apron instead of the rotor wing terminal, it was easy to get my bearings. <br />
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There were the rest of the V-22s, lined up in perfect parallel outside their huge hangar bay. There, across the runway, was a C-130 taxiing onto the cargo ramp. Behind me, though I couldn’t see it at night, was the eastern perimeter of the base, along which I had rocketed my old Toyota Hilux (<a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/05/picture-this.html" target="_blank">The Beast I</a> & <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-not-heat.html" target="_blank">II</a>) on rutted dirt roads at speeds I’m still a bit hesitant to admit publicly. <br />
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<a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/c130j_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/c130j_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">But not as fast as a C-130 Hercules</span></b></div>
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Shortly after we landed our ride showed up – a dilapidated micro-van with 7-inch rims into which we stuffed ourselves and all our various bags and trunks and body armor – and before long we were in the transient tents, which have AC, electricity, a fridge and a jacuzzi. I unpacked a few things, balanced my laptop on my deployment bag, plugged in the head phones, turned on an episode of <a href="http://www.topgear.com/uk/" target="_blank">Top Gear</a>, and was out cold before the end of the opening credits.<br />
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<img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKb-NDym0oOpKbY_9Wvdrh4wN-8hDOoHZoxUM9-QYC_Q-TirmKwYiShyphenhyphen3-7aN58E7VIEWWP3naymRAPKEx3e3vxQeb7Il2rPqVtxpzN1QaAwTrGipTf7kUWYJSmdeRgPYseAGMnt6nzk/s200/oef+12-1+011b.jpg" width="200" />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Micromachine</b></span></div>
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This morning I slept late: till 0630. For the past few weeks I’ve been up by 0330 or 0400 and out running by 0500. I remember this strange phenomenon from the last deployment too: as it wore on I inexplicably (and paradoxically) needed less and less sleep before I woke up, naturally, ready to start my day. I haven’t woken up to an alarm in at least a month now.<br />
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But anyway, I got up, took a shower, met two other Marines for breakfast and we went to medical where I got the paperwork started on my neck injury. Then I walked back here to the tent and started typing this. Later, I'll walk over to one of the morale buildings where there is wifi and upload it.<br />
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Landing at Bastion last night was the first time I’ve ever been happy to see this place, since it obviously is step one on the long trip home. By this morning, though, the feeling was gone. Considering this place has the amenities of a five-star resort, I have to wonder why I hate it so much – and I do.<br />
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It’s not just because I spent a long year here and was, uh, relieved when it was finally over. That’s part of it, but everyone I talk to hates this place, regardless of how long or how often they’ve been here. <br />
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It’s an annoying place, to be sure. It’s loud: I counted twenty-six industrial generators – each the size of a semi trailer – next to just one of the large chow halls. Maybe they're refrigeration units. Whatever. The base is still one huge construction zone, even with all the improvements that have already been made. It's crowded and congested and there is an unbelievable amount of traffic. It’s sprawling, so getting anywhere is a minor expedition. It's much dustier than Lash; the moon dust just accumulates inside your eyelids like snow on a window sill. And the entire base smells like poop; the only variable is how strong the smell is depending on the wind and where you’re standing. <br />
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But none of that is it either.<br />
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I think it’s because – and this is going to sound horribly cheesey and moto but bear with me – we’re Marines. The two most salient features of Camp Leatherneck are the “softness” of it – coffee shops, mattresses, paved roads, pool tables, 24-hour chow halls – and the “garrisonness” of it – the speed limits, the crosswalks, the regulations and pointless rules and uniforms and safety and just properness in every microscopic way.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Common sense? Nonsense. The signs will protect you.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqmnViKxtU5r2dv_6KBSFRfNEWtCtPPwumLkpa_NJbyfcCHdRJ6wGntPmZ3i0NDBVKFB5j6Rem5B3p7FZrcAWpc4ndTwBa4twLFWnsxdQyFiiqWBaszYkmmy5Mau6olbYLrHzt5ozbvM/s1600/oef+12-1+010b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqmnViKxtU5r2dv_6KBSFRfNEWtCtPPwumLkpa_NJbyfcCHdRJ6wGntPmZ3i0NDBVKFB5j6Rem5B3p7FZrcAWpc4ndTwBa4twLFWnsxdQyFiiqWBaszYkmmy5Mau6olbYLrHzt5ozbvM/s320/oef+12-1+010b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>What does this even mean?</b></span></div>
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What is the point of becoming a Marine and deploying to a war zone if your experience – from the food to the weekly hair cuts to the Sergeants Major yelling at you to get your hands out of your pockets when it's five degrees out to your daily routine of sleeping in a bed and working behind a desk – are indistinguishable from garrison life? As I've said a few times in the last few years: they put me on a plane and 24 hours later I got off. They tell me I’m in Afghanistan…but I can’t prove it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGuhORkayNuXA7pmZ_P9EQhHdd1C1o0KD_OJjksFBUg8ai5PmPadKj8SpnZRdRieF58thl-kEefk_lLQO5Iqwa3xP25BBQAqOvEqF45h0tq14Yz6pux0t_3gEoCWQEOvv-3IS-ZWX8x0/s1600/IMG_0903b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGuhORkayNuXA7pmZ_P9EQhHdd1C1o0KD_OJjksFBUg8ai5PmPadKj8SpnZRdRieF58thl-kEefk_lLQO5Iqwa3xP25BBQAqOvEqF45h0tq14Yz6pux0t_3gEoCWQEOvv-3IS-ZWX8x0/s320/IMG_0903b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>No loitering. No credit, no problem. No shirt, no shoes, no service. No shit.</b></span></div>
<br />
So why go to Afghanistan if it’s no different from Twentynine Palms or Yuma? <br />
<br />
In my deployment experiences, I got a little bit lucky. I never patrolled with 3/5 down the <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/07/afghanistans-insane-fight/" target="_blank">bloody streets of Sangin</a> (not that anyone would call that lucky) but at least I got to patrol some place and interact with the locals in their environment, not just the transplanted <a href="http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=1274&c=&om=1&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=34.296225,-116.160421&spn=0.02613,0.057335&t=k" target="_blank">Camp Wilson</a> that is Leatherneck. And I worked with coalition partners (not that Lash was that much more austere than Leatherneck of course) and went to a few outlying FOBs and stood post on a perimeter and talked with Afghan kids and in other ways experienced a little more of what I envisioned being a Marine to be, compared to the thousands who have been drawn into this <strike>gravitational vortex</strike> base, done their job for six months or a year and gone home, never seeing an inch of the real Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
But I did all these things, minor though they were, not by being on Camp Leatherneck but by <i>escaping </i>it. And that is why I hate being back here so much. <br />
<br />
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it as a base. Marines here are generally secure and all their needs are well met. It’s just not the real thing, if you get my meaning. It’s cushy and it’s safe and it’s regimented to the nanometer and it’s just not what Marines do – not in a war zone, anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluP8deIRbMle1ZRUe2VU0yQN3aYsxREkwEp1fz7ZHc0eNLhgxnp7jfs0vzaUblNuXafbln08ZZygpJSvI2uPqIYu7T0XxSg2LgQ7QmFJHqAfUIFtg_qh9cCirsZKhcgQgKbLWDs5zlAA/s1600/003b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluP8deIRbMle1ZRUe2VU0yQN3aYsxREkwEp1fz7ZHc0eNLhgxnp7jfs0vzaUblNuXafbln08ZZygpJSvI2uPqIYu7T0XxSg2LgQ7QmFJHqAfUIFtg_qh9cCirsZKhcgQgKbLWDs5zlAA/s320/003b.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><br />Oh come on now. Seriously. </b></span></div>
<br />
But whatever it is Marines do in a war zone, I’m almost done doing it. In about a week or so we will leave here. A few days later I’ll be back in California. A month later I’ll be on post-deployment leave and two months after I get back from that I will be complete with my active duty service.<br />
<br />
That's because I submitted a letter - actually an Administrative Action NAVMC (5216.19) 10274 Rev. 3-93 form, naturally - to the career designation board, asking not to be considered. I sent it in a few days late but if I do get offered CD I will decline it. Hence the form: why take a spot that another Marine might want and deserve.<br />
<br />
As I've said many times before, joining the Marine Corps was the best decision I have ever made. I can't even begin to describe everything I've gotten out of it: it has changed me for the better in fundamental ways. But at 32 years old, I admit that I'm feeling the itch to settle down. The house in the burbs, mowing my own yard every weekend, staying in one place for more than a few months at a time - these things are definitely beckoning.<br />
<br />
But...I'm not going to pursue them right away. First, I'm moving to Israel for a year (or so). My biggest reason for doing so is - obviously, for all who know me - to hopefully meet that special someone. Odds of meeting a nice Jewish girl in Israel: better than anywhere else (even Afghanistan!). Aside from that, I just want to relax for a bit, devote many hours a day to writing instead of just a few hours a week, do some traveling here and there and spend quality time with my Israeli family including my mom, brother and sister-in-law. <br />
<br />
So that's the plan, in a nut shell. I've already bought my ticket to Israel: I arrive on Wednesday, January 11, 2013. Can't wait to start the next chapter.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I've got a few days to kill here. I'll try to post some pics from the last six months - I know I keep promising but the Internet here is even slower than Lash. For now, though, here is one that will definitely stay with me...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdRJyxn74yjs2LGUbJbSDASBr69aN-kguwgj1yx03xDHb3QNdw8528YIdHWO001aG3IFzERNf_v7sDkE-yg_zq_DT8k-m4lGp-SrMKBABIoBVuU5qB0G4qt2uF0dTpDhiRaINM3KRqM4/s1600/oef+12-1+005b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdRJyxn74yjs2LGUbJbSDASBr69aN-kguwgj1yx03xDHb3QNdw8528YIdHWO001aG3IFzERNf_v7sDkE-yg_zq_DT8k-m4lGp-SrMKBABIoBVuU5qB0G4qt2uF0dTpDhiRaINM3KRqM4/s320/oef+12-1+005b.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-21500246314235797142012-07-04T22:29:00.002-04:002012-07-05T11:10:32.616-04:00Happy 236th!<style>
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Just a quick note, which I won’t be able to post for a while
anyway since we’re in Op Minimize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it’s the 4th of July and for the past two years I’ve posted
something on here so I thought I’d keep up the tradition.<br />
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<a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-birthday-america.html" target="_blank">Last year</a> I was sitting on my couch in comfy southern Cali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-belated-birthday-america.html" target="_blank">year before</a> I was sitting on my tuchis in
the moon dust on Camp
Leatherneck, four months
into my year-long <s>sentence</s> <s>exile</s> deployment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Tonight, I’m in my cot listening to a kid who can’t be older
than 9 years old doing the call to worship over the loudspeakers from the
nearby mosque.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be cuter if he
weren’t so tone-deaf and didn’t have such a nasally, high-pitched voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry, kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Better luck after puberty.</div>
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I just got back from the chow hall, where my resolution to
have a light dinner went out the window as soon as I saw the Independence Day
feast they’d prepared for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think
Thanksgiving, with an American flag cake for dessert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole thing was really nice and
unexpected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also ironic in a Twilight
Zone kind of way: Happy You-Kicked-Our-Butts Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ops-O (operations officer) in the JOC
actually tried to argue with me today that tactically speaking, we didn’t
really defeat them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Counter-insurgency,
I responded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a bitch.</div>
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I took a few pictures of the decorations at the chow hall
(cook house, in British terminology).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With any luck, I’ll be able to post them when we come out of Op Minimize
and this goes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, I’ll be at Camp Leatherneck
in a few weeks (on my way home) with a whole lot of nothing to do, so expect a bunch of pics then.</div>
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As far as deep thoughts, reflections on once again being
deployed on my country’s birthday, single-handedly defending truth, justice and
the Fall Classic, I don’t really have any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m glad to be here doing my little part in a good cause, and I’ll be
glad when I get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that wherever
this 4th of July finds you, it’s some place you want to be. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3ChQ69O0asPziwEhCVxpA2mlTrx8JDj3fVmfZkhz2QrIOTDK3A0QdD62v9MPTWOrdB-poteskrfPaqlT2tz-zmYtVeddEfg13f5J_KfSoTXn2YFiU8Ick2-tdvBiG_cFChuXt1frgT8/s1600/OEF+12-1+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3ChQ69O0asPziwEhCVxpA2mlTrx8JDj3fVmfZkhz2QrIOTDK3A0QdD62v9MPTWOrdB-poteskrfPaqlT2tz-zmYtVeddEfg13f5J_KfSoTXn2YFiU8Ick2-tdvBiG_cFChuXt1frgT8/s320/OEF+12-1+028.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Happy Independence Day, America!</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></span></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-89835383482161272202012-06-28T14:25:00.002-04:002012-07-02T00:51:06.291-04:00Common Sense<div class="MsoNormal">
Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamcare) “individual
mandate” is constitutional under the federal government’s power to lay and collect
taxes. </div>
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Here are <strike>seven</strike> eight related quotes that may help explain the <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/28/cnn-poll-trust-in-government-at-all-time-low/" target="_blank">general disgust</a> with government that pervades the American populace:</div>
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<b>The mandate is "absolutely not a tax increase...Nobody
considers that a tax increase." </b></div>
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<i>-President Obama, September 20, 2009</i></div>
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<i> <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2009/09/obama-mandate-is-not-a-tax/" target="_blank">Interview with George Stephanopoulos</a></i></div>
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<b>"not only is it fair to read this as an exercise of
the tax power, but this Court has got an obligation to construe it as an
exercise of the tax power"</b></div>
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<i>-</i><i>United
States Solicitor General Virrelli, March 27,
2012</i></div>
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<i> Arguing before the Supreme Court on behalf of
the Government (defending Obamacare) </i></div>
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<i> <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/03/27/149465820/transcript-supreme-court-the-health-care-law-and-the-individual-mandate" target="_blank">Day 2 of oral arguments</a></i></div>
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<b>"Congress did not intend the payment to be treated as a
'tax'"</b></div>
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<i>-U.S.
Supreme Court, June 28, 2012</i></div>
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<i> <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf" target="_blank">Syllabus</a>, page 2</i></div>
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<b>"the shared responsibility payment may for
constitutional purposes be considered a tax."</b></div>
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<i>-U.S.
Supreme Court, June 28, 2012</i></div>
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<i> <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf" target="_blank">Syllabus</a>, page 4</i></div>
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<b>"Congress’s decision to label this exaction a
“penalty”rather than a “tax” is significant because the Affordable Care Act
describes many other exactions it creates as 'taxes.'...Where Congress uses
certain language in one part of a statute and different language in another, it
is generally presumed that Congress acts intentionally."</b></div>
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<i>-Chief Justice Roberts, June 28, 2012</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf" target="_blank">Opinion of Roberts, C.J., 567 U. S. ____ (2012)</a> (page 12)</i></div>
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<b>"The Government asks us to interpret the mandate as
imposing a tax...it can be so read"</b></div>
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<i>-Chief Justice Roberts, June 28, 2012</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf" target="_blank">Opinion of Roberts, C.J., 567 U. S. ____ (2012)</a> (page 32)</i></div>
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<b>"It is of course true that the Act describes the
payment as a 'penalty,' not a 'tax.'"</b></div>
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<i>-Chief Justice Roberts, June 28, 2012</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf" target="_blank">Opinion of Roberts, C.J., 567 U. S. ____ (2012)</a> (page 33)</i><br />
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<i>Update June 29:</i><b>“It’s a penalty because you have a choice. You don’t have a choice to pay your taxes, right?”</b><br />
-White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, June 29, 2012<br />
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/06/white-house-sticks-to-individual-mandate-as-penalty-not-tax/" target="_blank">Press briefing aboard Air Force One</a></div>
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I’m no constitutional scholar but I’ve got a crazy idea for
the Court, the Congress and the country: it either IS a tax, or it ISN’T a
tax. </div>
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P.S. I’ve read Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion. I comprehend his distinction between the
Constitution and laws (specifically the Anti-Injunction Act) passed by Congress. But unlike the vast majority of my elected
and appointed leaders, it appears, I still possess some common sense.<br />
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</div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-74600377040116243802012-06-27T10:33:00.000-04:002012-06-27T11:19:36.254-04:00My bucket listRest day again today (and tomorrow; sometimes you just need to give your body a chance to recover). On deployment, as I may have mentioned once or twice before, there is not that much to do and lots of time not to do it in. A few days ago, out of the blue, I started a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bucket_List" target="_blank">bucket list</a>. Answering the age-old question, “if a thought forms and it isn’t broadcast to the known universe on a blog, does it really exist?” with a definite no, I’ll share my list with you now. <br />
<br />
First, the fine print. <br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">It’s obviously only a few days old at this point, and a work in progress. I’m open to suggestions. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">It’s for things that are at least a little out of the ordinary, or things I’ve been meaning to do for a long, long time, e.g. get a dog. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">They are in no particular order. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I put lots of things on it that I’ve already done, because why not? and also because even though this is the first time I’ve written it down, some of these things have been on my mental list for years, during which time I actually did some of them. Also some of the things I’ve done, like give a concert, I intend to do more fully, i.e. give a better concert. </span><br />
</li>
</ol>
And now the list:
<br />
<ul>
<li>Visit Stonehenge at the summer or winter solstice (reading about this is what got me thinking about my list)</li>
<li>Visit the Pyramids of Giza</li>
<li>Visit Rome</li>
<li>Learn Arabic</li>
<li>Write a best-seller</li>
<li>Visit every continent</li>
<li>Compose a piece of music (a whole piece)</li>
<li>Create and fund a scholarship </li>
<li>Throw out the first pitch at a Yanks game </li>
<li>Drive a super car</li>
<li>Attend a World Series game</li>
<li>Play all of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue</li>
<li>Go on an African safari</li>
<li>Fly a helicopter</li>
<li>Skydive, solo</li>
<li>Coach little league </li>
<li>Learn to sail</li>
<li>Own a horse</li>
<li>Start a business</li>
<li>Own a dog</li>
<li>Get a Ph.D</li>
<li>Get accepted into an Ivy League school </li>
<li>Learn to shoot a bow</li>
<li>Go to the Olympics </li>
<li>Go into outer space</li>
<li>See Old Faithful</li>
<li>See a glacier</li>
<li>Design and build my own home (and landscape my own yard)</li>
<li>Help build a <a href="http://www.habitat.org/" target="_blank">Habitat</a> home </li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18529739" target="_blank">Buy an island</a></li>
<li><strike>Climb Mt. Washington</strike></li>
<li><strike>Hike the Grand Canyon</strike></li>
<li><strike>Serve my country in uniform</strike></li>
<li><strike>Fly a plane</strike></li>
<li><strike>Climb Massada</strike></li>
<li><strike>Pray at the Western Wall </strike></li>
<li><strike>Get published</strike></li>
<li><strike>Give a concert</strike></li>
<li><strike>Learn to shoot</strike></li>
<li><strike>Learn to drive stick</strike></li>
<li><strike>Learn to ski</strike></li>
<li><strike>Study a martial art</strike></li>
<li><strike>Scuba dive</strike></li>
<li><strike>Fly in a helicopter</strike></li>
<li><strike>See Auschwitz</strike></li>
<li><strike>Visit the White House</strike></li>
<li><strike>Learn to play an instrument</strike></li>
<li><strike>Learn to ballroom dance</strike></li>
<li><strike>Teach a college-level class</strike></li>
<li><strike>Overcome my fear of semicolons </strike></li>
</ul>
<br />
What do you think? Still more things on the unchecked side of the ledger but I’ve made some good progress, no? What’s on your bucket list? What have you done already that I absolutely must try?<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://africanalchemy.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/stonehenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://africanalchemy.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/stonehenge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-11353132570616003182012-06-20T00:36:00.000-04:002012-06-20T00:36:10.019-04:00Counting days, feeling good<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It's always a good part of the deployment when you can switch from counting
down months or weeks to counting days. Since "troop movements"
are considered classified I can't share my exact count with you, but it
wouldn't matter. No plan survives first contact with <a href="http://www.stratcom.mil/" target="_blank">Stratcom</a>. But my best
guess is I’ll be back in CA by the first weekend of August - or so. <br />
<br />
So that has me feeling pretty good. Also, in the last few months I
seem to have overcome some kind of major writing hurdle or opened some
floodgate I wasn't aware of, because I've been very prolific. I've
probably written (and rewritten and rewritten) over a dozen scenes for my book in the last
month alone - and some of them are actually not terrible. Also there's my
<a href="http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/component/search/?searchword=david%20morgenstern&searchphrase=all&Itemid=9999" target="_blank">CDS column</a> and - not frequently enough, I know - this
blog.<br />
<br />
So on at least one of the <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2011/11/next-time-ill.html" target="_blank">promises</a> I made myself, I'm making good
progress.<br />
<br />
The other, faithful (i.e. bored) readers will recall, was to set new
standards for my fitness. Well, I suffered a bit of a setback. In
mid-April I started having sharp pains in my neck. I had to take a full month
off from any resistance training before they (mostly) went away, and then after
two days back in the gym they came back, a lot worse than before and running
all down my right arm now. Diagnosis (my own, with help from Dr. Dad):
pinched nerve, probably C5 or C6 for those keeping score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So basically I can't go to the gym.
This is incredibly frustrating.<br />
<br />
I've tried to make up for it by hazing the crap out of myself with cardio,
since that doesn't hurt and actually seems to help a little. I'm up to
running 50+ minutes every morning, working toward an hour. For real
runners it's not all that much, I know, but cut me some slack - I'm doing it in
90-100 degree temps. Also I hate running. But anyway, it's
working. We don't have a scale or anything here, but my cammie pants (“trousers”
in the officially-sanctioned Marine Corps lexicon) tell me I've trimmed the ol’
waist line some.<br />
<br />
So there you go. More than you ever wanted to know about my personal
fitness, but since I set out those goals publicly before I left, I figured I'd
post a progress report.<br />
<br />
Right now, I'm getting ready to go for my morning run once again. It's
0507, a bit earlier than I usually wake up but when you're up, you're up.
Earlier is certainly better for a run: I noticed on my calendar (thank you, AH)
that today is the first official day of summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ha ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The best part of being up at this hour, though, is "watching" the
Yanks game while I hydrate (I know, I hate that word too but it’s terribly
efficient). The Internet is too slow here for video or even the radio
broadcast (I would, I think, give up an entire paycheck to hear John Sterling
call a live game right now) but I can more or less follow the play-by-play with
<a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday" target="_blank">MLB GameDay</a>, where
the Yanks have just tied up the score in pursuit of their 11th straight
win. Go Bombers!<br />
<br />
In war news, things have been very busy of late, and going well for the good
guys, all in all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, I’m
talking about military stuff – the political side of things is its own story
that each person can judge for him/her/itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately even when things are going well – big picture – the price
is high, and the <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2012/05/at-3pm-today.html" target="_blank">moments of silence</a> in the JOC become more frequent as
the fighting season continues to heat up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
If there is one thing that frustrates me the most about international
affairs it is that the sacrifices we Americans make for other peoples – and I’m
not just talking about the troops but the money too – seem to get taken for
granted, like of course the U.S. will send troops and taxpayer dollars to every
crisis or natural disaster on the planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The world would basically implode into boiling shit, not to be too blunt
about it, if the U.S. overnight withdrew all its foreign aid, humanitarian
assistance, security guarantees (explicit or implied), forward-deployed forces,
contributions to the U.N. and the IMF and the WHO and various other NGOs and
IGOs and non-profits and charities and good-will causes and so on, yet it seems
everyone always has some complaint or demand or criticism that goes beyond what
any other country – big or small, rich or poor, Western or non – is asked or
expected to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I just get fed
up with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying we don’t
reap benefits from what we do and give, but we do and give far out of
proportion to others and to what we get in return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I hope the Afghans, among others, remember
for generations what the Americans – and the Brits and others but undeniably
the Americans most of all – have sacrificed for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shoved the human garbage known as the Taliban
regime out the door in well under a year, but we stuck around for over a decade
to do our best to leave something better in its place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they remember that.<br />
<br />
Well that was unexpected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess I had
something to get off my chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway
the Internet has gone away – we’re not in Op Minimize but it does that quite
often for mysterious and unknown reasons – so I’ll have to post this when it
comes back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, I’m all hydrated
up, so it’s time for a run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
See ya soon!<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> "Yankees win. Theeeeeeeeee Yankees...win!"</b></span></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-61397909676990152222012-05-28T11:48:00.000-04:002012-05-28T11:48:24.981-04:00At 3PM today...Memorial day is drawing to a close here in Afghanistan, and just getting started back home. There is a perception that to most Americans Memorial Day is an occasion for a three-day weekend and some sales, and that they don't do much reflecting on its underlying meaning. If that's true, and it may be, then I'm grateful that most of my friends seem to be the exception to the rule. I just logged into Facebook and already saw a lot of posts thanking the troops, linking to related articles, etc. As in past years I've gotten some messages and e-mails from you along the same lines. Thank you. Your support means a lot.<br />
<br />
Israelis commemorate their Memorial Day with an air raid siren that sounds at 11AM. Everyone in the whole country stops what they are doing for a moment of silence. Cars even stop in the middle of the street and drivers get out. If you've never seen it, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeozUSWdoQA&feature=fvwrel" target="_blank">you should</a>; it will give you chills. <br />
<br />
The Brits do this too. In the JOC, whenever the Brits lose one of their own, at some point we will all stop what we're doing (except for mission-critical tasks) and stand in silence to remember. <br />
<br />
In America we do this too, but most Americans probably don't know it. The military observes a moment of silence at 3PM local time in recollection of our fallen brethren and the U.S. government <a href="http://blog.usa.gov/post/23928244920/join-in-a-memorial-day-moment-of-silence-at-3-p-m" target="_blank">officially encourages</a> everyone to do the same. <br />
<br />
I do too. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, please take a moment at 3PM today to remember the <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/fair-winds-and-following-seas-sugar.html" target="_blank">brave souls</a> who willingly gave their lives in defense of their family, friends, values and country.<br />
<br />
Pass it on.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvkzEXShar9unUw8insZ7xGMyiUGoWHOzLWH_3sdFpOBzjpIsmPnyH5s5g4pHMk-3eR4iONQeNsNj4E8YWddT0dfKQz0deHG_DWPMHoTvJEv5_ZEucoodrhh-ogCfxwZNw0PSxnG2Y8w/s1600/Freedom_is_not_free-1023x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvkzEXShar9unUw8insZ7xGMyiUGoWHOzLWH_3sdFpOBzjpIsmPnyH5s5g4pHMk-3eR4iONQeNsNj4E8YWddT0dfKQz0deHG_DWPMHoTvJEv5_ZEucoodrhh-ogCfxwZNw0PSxnG2Y8w/s320/Freedom_is_not_free-1023x675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-6367039996147214932012-04-29T11:50:00.000-04:002012-04-29T11:52:50.505-04:00Getting to 50%<a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMatzo&ei=i1idT4-TMs-g8gOz_fH5Dg&usg=AFQjCNHSlNrAolGqIryogaONZy33XOCJDA" target="_blank">Matza</a>, for my non-Jewish friends who may not know, is a cracker-like substance that we eat during Passover. It’s unleavened bread, meant to remind us of our hasty escape from Egypt when we didn’t have enough time to stop and let the dough rise. It has certainly always reminded me of our dash through the Sinai, what with being as dry as the desert and tasting like baked sand. <br />
<br />
Passover ended a few weeks ago now, but I've still got some left over Matza that I'm nibbling on at the moment. I have to admit that this year the taste, unpleasant though it is compared to, well, food (Matza is technically a building material) was actually somewhat welcome. It’s such a unique flavor that it instantly transported me to the large, rowdy Seders that we held in our home when I was growing up. Last year I managed to miss both Seders on Camp Leatherneck, and this year if I’m not the only Jew for 30 miles then the others are keeping a low profile. So a little Matza, some Kedem grape juice and of course some Osem coconut cake for dessert were a nice break from the routine. Special shout out to the <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CFEQjBAwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jwv.org%2Fdonations%2Fdonation.php&ei=9VidT7DdIIW68gPT7oneDg&usg=AFQjCNGDekPB8yMnbunzD04gL3hc25SktQ" target="_blank">Jewish War Veterans</a> and <a href="http://www.projectmot.org/" target="_blank">Project MOT</a> for their unexpected but much appreciated K-for-P care packages. <br />
<br />
In other news, the <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-new-year.html" target="_blank">MST</a> is at it again, having pulled the plug on the unfettered if, uh, unhurried Internet access we briefly had in the tents. We’ve filed our appeal (haha), but for now it’s back to the computer cans for a few minutes online, usually around 11:00 AM eastern if you’re wondering. I know, I know. Cans instead of cot. War is hell.<br />
<br />
Of course this also means no more Skype. We do have a satellite phone now which I haven’t used as often as I should, so if you get a phone call from some strange-looking number don’t screen it, it’s probably me. I’m told it sometimes comes up as an 808 area code. That’s Hawaii – a place that I am, I’m pretty sure, not in.<br />
<br />
In non-me related news, the fighting pre-season is over – those few weeks in early spring when the weather warms but before the (poppy) harvest causes things to quiet down. The lull should last a few more weeks or so, and then comes the regular season, as it were. Still, we’ve had a few busy days here and there. As always I can’t get into specifics – which trust me is as frustrating for me as for you – but I will say that the diversity of crap that is happening is greater than what I remember from last time. <br />
<br />
That said, I think a lot of people view the sensationalism and the deadliness of insurgent attacks as a metric of our success (or failure). IMHO, it’s the wrong metric – or at least it’s an incomplete and often misleading one. To offer an imperfect but perhaps illustrative analogy, Hitler’s concentration camps were never so murderously industrious as in the waning months of the war, but the increasing pile of bodies was hardly an indicator of underlying German strength – just the opposite. <br />
<br />
Or to fast-forward a generation, one of the lessons I thought we learned in Vietnam was that body count isn’t how you measure success in war (though it can be a pretty direct measure of success in individual battles). It’s true for us, and it’s true for them. In counter-insurgency – or in the “transition and support” phase that we’re currently in – I think you’re winning as long as the number of secure areas, supportive civilians and capable indigenous security forces keeps growing. I guess that’s a form of body-counting too, but it’s the living bodies, not the dead ones, and that is kind of an important distinction. <br />
<br />
So, to use a prevalent phrase around here, are the positive atmospherics spreading? Are the good vibrations…vibrating? From what I see they are, albeit not without setbacks, but I’ve got a limited view. Unlike most of the chattering class I was encouraged by the remarkable success of the ANSF during the recent attacks in Kabul and a few other places. As I wrote to my family at the time:<br />
<br />
<ul>In war, people carry out attacks. In this form of war, the Taliban and their allies target civilians and diplomats, but even outside of war, what happened in Kabul and elsewhere could have happened in Washington, D.C. or New York or Moscow or Jerusalem. I'm no Dwight D (though I am a captain-select) but it seems to me that the end results of those attacks are quite encouraging militarily. If the goal is an indigenous security force capable of containing, combating and defeating such a complex, coordinated attack, the events of two days ago showed that the ANSF are much further along than most people realized. From what I can gather (and this is all public information) there were over three dozen attackers, including over 20 suicide bombers, and nearly every single one was killed or captured before he could cause casualties. ISAF provided almost no assistance because none was requested or needed. Further, out of 11 non-Taliban deaths, 8 were Afghan security forces killed in the line of duty and only three were civilians.</ul>
<br />
Now is the price we’re paying for this progress worth it? That’s something each voter back home has to decide for him or herself. In country, in uniform, it’s not my place to state my opinion on matters of policy – and you know how hard that can be for me. <br />
<br />
But will the successes stick? Will Americans enjoy greater security as a result of our investment here? There are no guarantees, but I believe we have the power to shape those answers over the next few years. I’ll leave it at that.<br />
<br />
Well it has been over a month since my last post – what else can I share? As you saw in that e-mail excerpt, I’ve been selected for promotion to Captain. There’s no telling when I’ll actually get promoted – I’m number 600-something on a list just shy of 2000 – but I’m hopeful it’ll happen before my EAS – End of Active Service – date of 1 December. <br />
<br />
That’s right, it’s been nearly four years since I took the oath (December 12, 2008 to be exact) and more than four years since I first started this journey, with those painful months of whipping myself into shape for OCS. I always suspected I’d do my four years and move on to the next thing, but I didn’t want to make the decision until I absolutely had to. Technically, that won’t be until August, assuming the “career designation” board offers me the opportunity to stay in. But having spent 15 of the last 25 months in Afghanistan and a good chunk of the other 10 months away from home for training, I’m ready to pursue other things. No doubt I’ll have more to say on that as the date approaches.<br />
<br />
I've got some pictures to post...but for whatever reason I'm being blocked from uploading them right now. I'll try again when the MST is sleeping.<br />
<br />
And lastly, in newspaper news, I think I’ve only linked here to my very first Conway Daily Sun article. I’ve had two more published since: <a href="http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/opinion/columns/88839-balancing-respect-and-suspicion" target="_blank">Respect and Suspicion</a> and <a href="http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/component/content/article/38-community/89718-1st-lt-david-morgenstern-long-day" target="_blank">Long Day</a>. They’re meh at best…the second one especially I don’t really like. It reads like a rambling transcript from a therapy session – but hey, at least it gives you a sense of life out here. The one I’ve just written, which will hopefully be published soon, is a little better and at least somewhat coherent from start to finish. It’s called “V-mail and Gmail.” <br />
<br />
Well I think that about wraps it up. My tracker thing says I'm almost 50% done with this deployment. I'll drink (some grape juice) to that. <br />
<br />
I’m pretty terrible at knowing what people back at home might want to hear more about so if there’s anything, just let me know!<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Yum</strong></span></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-67484875315151969682012-03-26T10:46:00.000-04:002012-03-26T10:46:33.509-04:00Incident at LashYou may have seen <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57404329/afghan-soldier-kills-2-u.k-troops-on-nato-base/" target="_blank">reports</a> of an incident here at MOB Lashkar Gah today. Just wanted to let you know that I'm OK. <br />
<br />
Hard to express my feelings in a blog-appropriate way. Maybe a little later.<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Last week: standing a few feet from the main gate.</b></span></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-25576107951468972872012-03-18T13:37:00.002-04:002012-03-18T14:03:16.855-04:00What (else) to bring on a deployment to AfghanistanHow do you pack for a year? <br />
<br />
Standing in the middle of my apartment with crap strewn on every surface of three rooms, this is the question I found myself asking before my last deployment. Now that I was really thinking about it, it seemed I knew a lot less about my own daily life than I realized. How long does a stick of deodorant actually last? How long before boot socks wear out? And would someone please just give me a straight answer on what I'll be able to buy in country?<br />
<br />
This time around there were still some question marks since I knew I'd be on a non-US base and one with far fewer amenities than Camp Cupcake, but overall packing was much easier. I did however answer a crudzillion questions from other Marines who had never been, and <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-to-bring-on-deployment-to.html" target="_blank">my list from last time</a> is still the most visited page on my blog according to Google.<br />
<br />
So since today is a PT rest day and I've got some time to kill, I thought I'd add some more items to that list, with the benefit of a little more experience and "field testing" of some of this gear.<br />
<ul>
<li>Drop holster. I know what I said last time about finding a holster
you're comfortable with. But I am so happy with mine that I have to
plug it: the <a href="http://www.blackhawk.com/product/STRIKE-SERPA-Holster-for-Beretta,782,1416.htm" target="_blank">Blackhawk Serpa</a>. Get the <a href="http://www.blackhawk.com/product/Serpa-Combo-Kit,84,1416.htm" target="_blank">combo kit</a>.
I've heard some grumblings about this holster, and I realize I'm not a
grunt or MP or what-have-you, but at LNK I drew and holstered the thing a
million times a day at the clearing barrel and it worked smoothly, safely and quickly every time. Isn't that the purpose of a holster?<br /> </li>
<li>External hard drive. After several crashes, there is only one brand I will ever trust: Transcend's rugged <a href="http://ec.transcendusa.com/center.asp?chtype=Portable%20HD&indexnum=5" target="_blank">Storejet M</a> series (you can find them cheaper than that link though). I own two with a third on order and they have withstood some 14 months of deployment now with no problems. Accessories: extra USB cable (they seem to go bad all the time) and lots of movies, TV shows and music.<br /> </li>
<li>Digital camera. Mentioned this one last time but I had to break two - one in Afg and one in Yuma, AZ, to realize an investment in a rugged camera was worth it. Got the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-TS3-Waterproof-Stabilized-2-7-Inch/dp/B004KKZ0J2" target="_blank">Panasonic Lumix DMC TS3</a> - waterproof, dust proof, drop proof, freeze proof, insult proof. Best specs for the money in the rugged category, at least when I bought it in I think Jan of 2012 or so. Accessories: large capacity SD card, protective case, extra battery if you can afford one. Always practice good OpSec.<br /> </li>
<li>Multi-tool: I like the one we were issued, the <a href="http://www.leatherman.com/product/Wave" target="_blank">Leatherman Wave</a>, because it's versatile, strong and relatively light.<br /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5L001-Laptop-Cooling-Pad/dp/B000NWIOM6" target="_blank">Belkin laptop fan</a> - keeps my laptop and my cojones cool and operating at maximum efficiency.<br /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kraftbrands.com%2Fmio%2F&ei=Vx9mT7z_Eemg0QXA7JCgCA&usg=AFQjCNGnyZRo6YNvqAv7Ndjg-tiOuqIS7Q" target="_blank">Mio water flavor</a>. This stuff is the best - easy to carry around and sugar free. <br /> </li>
<li>Good headphones. Mine are <a href="http://www.klipsch.com/image-s4i-black-in-ear-headset" target="_blank">Klipsch S4i</a>, and while the control buttons quickly stopped working and the ear buds have recently started zapping me with static electricity just a bit too often, the sound quality is excellent and that's all I really care about. The built in mic is nice for Skyping too. Pricey at around $100 though, and admittedly I've never tried Bose headphones. Accessories: <a href="http://www.oriongadgets.com/Curvyman-Cord-Supervisor-Black-pid-14129.html" target="_blank">this thing</a>. <br /> </li>
<li>Also good ear pro - I think the <a href="http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/shop_product_detail.jsp?skuId=457797&productId=457797&WT.mc_id=Shopping_Feed_Products_Google_Free_Listing" target="_blank">wax stuff</a> is by far the most effective.<br /> </li>
<li>A word about issued gear: don't bring it just because it's on the "required gear" list. If you brought your e-tool, stop reading right now and go haze yourself for at least 10 minutes. Use the e-tool. Some of the more useful gear for POGs like us: the sleeping bag, the drop pouch, the camelbak, the fleece (tan not digi), the poncho and poncho liner. Some of the less useful gear: the gortex bottoms, the boonie cover, the bivy sack, the goggles, the balaclava (just put on a beanie and stop whining).<br /> </li>
<li>Other stuff you may not have thought to bring but will make you money out here: extra rank insignia, bungee cords, surge strip, <a href="http://www.nextag.com/fly-ribbon/compare-html" target="_blank">fly strips</a>/fly swatter, pillow (and blanket if you have room), carabiners, cash. <br /> </li>
<li>Things from my previous list that are so good I want to plug them again: <a href="http://www.timex.com/Sport-Ironman-Products-Products/b/2223481011">Timex Ironman Triathlon</a>, <a href="http://usstandardissue.com/">USStandardIssue Oakleys</a>, <a href="http://www.magpul.com/">MagPul mags</a>, and yes my favorite toy, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fenix-P3D-Level-Performance-Flashlight/dp/B001GAOOHS">Fenix P3D Flashlight</a>. For those who have been to Yuma: I lit the desert floor with this thing from the top of <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2011/11/last-week-i-got-back-from-month-in.html" target="_blank">OP Feets</a>. It's awesome. </li>
</ul>
Well anywho there are a few more things you might want to bring on deployment or for that matter on any extended trip away from civilization. Hope it helps and let me know if you have any questions!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Seriously.</b></span> </div>
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</ul>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-17353862001648371712012-03-08T00:16:00.000-05:002012-03-08T00:16:55.320-05:00A Bit About the BritsIf memory serves, it was a year ago today – March 7 as I write this – that I left Afghanistan last time around. Now don’t get me wrong, I wanted this current deployment and I’m glad to be here. But if I try to imagine what it would have felt like to know on that day that I’d be back here on this one, my mind sputters and steams a little, then just gives me the finger and shuts down. <br />
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Or maybe it’s two fingers. One of the many things I’ve learned about the British is that our peace sign is their bird. This is a revelation, and one I plan to put to good use when I get back to the states.<br />
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Other things I’ve learned about/from the Brits:<br />
<ul>
<li>They butcher the English language as badly as we do</li>
<li>They invented the Internet (but honestly, who <em>didn’t</em> invent the Internet these days) and the Queen sent the first e-mail</li>
<li>“Cheers” is an appropriate response in absolutely any context, e.g. “Your hair is on fire.” “Cheers!” or “Who invented the Internet?” “Cheers!”</li>
<li>Mate basically means dude. Bloke means guy. </li>
<li>Brits, of course, drive on the left. Turns out they walk there, too. I’ve gotten stuck doing the mirror dance with a bloke on basically an eight-lane highway. </li>
<li>Google-challenge results are inherently suspect: Google is an American stooge</li>
<li>Calling a <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=cricket%20bowler&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBowling_(cricket)&ei=ZjpYT6DxH4aW8QOY97HPDg&usg=AFQjCNFsFc5V1JCzUpj_ph7n0_vN7ikceQ" target="_blank">bowler</a> a pitcher is sort of like calling a pitcher a thrower</li>
<li>America is either omnipotent or inept, depending on which is more convenient at the moment</li>
<li>And of course, we only won the Revolutionary War because the French helped us out, which frankly doesn’t say much for the Brits anyway. </li>
</ul>
Of course, I’ve also learned a little about how the Brits do airspace and COIN and war in general, and I think they’ve learned from us and our predecessors as well. I mention that because their senior guy in the JOC just stopped me as I was coming out of the chow hall to say that he was grateful for our close cooperation over the last 24 hours. Here’s what he was referring to:<br />
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Late yesterday evening, a British Warrior – a heavily armored APC – was blown up. Five members of the 3rd Yorkshire Batallion and one from the 1st Lancaster Batallion were killed, according to <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/six-british-soldiers-dead-after-754066" target="_blank">news reports</a>. It was one of the most serious incidents in the history of the British participation in Operation Enduring Freedom, with even Members of Parliament speaking out about it today. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>A Warrior</strong></span> </div>
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The Marine-led Regional Command Southwest, under which the British Task Force Helmand falls, has been providing continual armed aerial over watch of the incident as the remains and the vehicle are recovered. This process is still ongoing as I write, nearly 24 hours later. <br />
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That kind of air support takes a tremendous amount of coordination – even more so given the location of the incident, which I won’t go into in detail. British and American pilots have flown more sorties in support of a single mission than I have ever seen before, by far. Aircraft maintainers, refuelers and others have been working overtime to keep the air frames flying – don’t forget that the rest of the war goes on. <br />
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And our little part of it was simply to coordinate who was flying where, and when, to make sure that not for one second were the ground forces providing site security left without a strike-capable platform (or platforms) overhead. As of now there has been no follow-on attack, and I believe this is due in part to the intentionally visible (and audible) presence of those air assets. By the time you read this the mission should be complete, hopefully without further incident.<br />
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In more ways than one I never would have imagined a day like today, either a year ago or a week ago. One thing I’ll take away from it is another layer of appreciation for the special U.S.-U.K. relationship. Many Americans tend to think that we beat the Brits in the Revolutionary War and bailed them out in WWII and that’s about the extent of it. We forget that in WWII there would have been nothing left to bail out – British or otherwise – had they not held on for so long first. We definitely forget that the Brits were with us in Korea, in Kosovo, in the Persian Gulf War, and I think we sometimes forget that they have bled alongside us throughout OEF and OIF. The Brits who gave their lives last night deserve to be remembered not only by their countrymen but by ours.<br />
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</div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-81380860443716410662012-02-28T10:20:00.001-05:002012-03-02T09:42:02.220-05:00All quiet on the southern frontThis is gonna be a quick one cause I only have a minute. <br />
<ol>
<li>I am ok. I know you've heard about the demonstrations and the violence in its various forms over the last week or so, and a few of you have contacted me to make sure I'm OK. Fortunately, all protests in Helmand province have remained peaceful (at least to the best of my knowledge), a frankly astonishing sign of the success the Marines and Brits have had here in the former heartland of the Taliban. To say that all is quiet in Helmand is of course a bald-face lie, but at least on this issue things have remained remarkably non-violent.<br /> </li>
<li>There's been a slight modification to my mailing address that may expedite the mail-delivery process by a few days. Use this instead:<br /><br />1STLT Me<br />MASS-3 (ASLT) LASHKAR GAH<br />UNIT 42041<br />FPO, AP 96427-2041<br /><br />Stand by for possibly another update that will hopefully speed things up even more.<br /> </li>
<li>Speaking of mail, I've already gotten a few packages so thank you to my dad and AH and also to HHM - you're the best and I want you to know how much I appreciate our friendship.<br /> </li>
<li>EM/RM - your video had me dying laughing in my cot, trying not to wake the neighbors. WHAT is on your head. Looking forward to the next one. AM/CM - I LOVED the video of ALM smiling and I want you to send me a framed pic of him, ok?<br /> </li>
<li>One month down, five to go!</li>
</ol>
Gotta run, a decent post to follow soon I promise.Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-55569903599667120912012-02-17T02:11:00.000-05:002012-02-17T02:15:04.591-05:00A day in the Lash...Somehow, it’s the middle of February and already 1/12th of this deployment is over. Put that way, 6 months doesn’t seem that long, does it? <br />
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I’ve more or less settled into a routine here so I guess I’ll start there. I wake up around 7:30 each morning and don’t get up right away. When I do I hit the gym – currently I’m alternating one day resistance, one day cardio but as I get my strength and endurance back up (I hardly worked out at all for probably six weeks before deploying) I’ll start to work myself harder. I read a study somewhere that workouts before breakfast were found to be more effective than after, at least for fat-burning which is one of my goals. I avoid the subject all together by skipping breakfast. I know that’s supposed to be a big no-no but I find I feel great on two meals a day plus snacks. <br />
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After working out I take a shower. The British showers are one of the things I love about this place. They are hot – really hot – and actually have adequate water pressure. There’s a knob you push and you get about 15-20 seconds of water, then you have to push it again. The idea I assume is to conserve water. It works, but not because you have to push the knob. It’s because, unlike at US bases, the actual bathroom is properly heated. On Leatherneck the bathrooms are ice-boxes in the winter, so the incentive is to keep the water – even the lukewarm-at-best water – running rather than suds yourself up in the freezing cold air. Probably no one who hasn’t dealt with this directly gives a crap about it but I just had to share my philosophy on bathroom heating and associated phenomena. Moving on. <br />
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Back at my tent I go through my post-shower ritual – dry feet (shower shoes are a must), apply moisturizer to shins (they itch something unbearable from wearing boot socks all day every day, to the point that I’ve started wearing ankle socks in my boots some days to give my shins a break), don uniform, strap pistol, climb into body armor. In full flak and sapi plates I then mosey over to work, where I promptly remove said body armor and forget all about it (it’s there for emergencies). <br />
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I work in the JOC – Joint Operations Center. It’s the “nerve center” of the real-time war, at least that part being fought by the British in their AO (Area of Operations). Imagine a small room with lots of flat screen TVs and laptops showing UAV feeds, maps and Cricket games, and that’s my office. Everything being classified and such (including, apparently, the rules of Cricket) I unfortunately can’t take a picture to show you. <br />
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My piece of the puzzle is simply monitoring a series of chat windows and phones through which various requests for close air support come in from British units. Working with my British counterpart, I help manage the air over those ground units, getting them the air assets they need and integrating them with other forms of fire support such as artillery, mortars and grandiloquent British put-downs. <br />
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The British AO, known as Task Force Helmand, is a very kinetic area, so things can get fairly busy in the JOC though once the weather warms the current pace of operations will seem like a vacation by comparison. Fortunately, most of the recent ops seem to have been offensive in nature, with remarkably few medevacs in TFH in recent days (I hope I’m not jinxing it). We did have one Op Minimize a few days ago, the UK version of <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/05/place-called-river-city.html" target="_blank">River City</a>, so unfortunately we haven’t been entirely casualty free. <br />
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I leave work for a quick lunch at the chow hall, and ditto for dinner. The chow hall is for the most part tasty but not healthy. An overwhelming amount of the food is fried, and lots of it, maybe a third or more, also contains pork. Still, I have managed to find something good to eat almost every day while still limiting my fried foods. The actual French fries they serve here (with every meal!) remind me of my mother’s so that can be difficult to resist. Also dessert. <br />
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After work – I work an 8-9 hour shift – I trundle home to deposit my flak, then turn around and head to the NAAFI – PX – to see if they have anything good. They never do. I mean there’s junk food, which is useless to me, and there’s a lamp with bulbs that don’t fit it so I still live in the dark in my ten, and there are boxers but being the expert planner that I am I already brought some with me, and there is fabric softener of the kind I once described <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/04/tgif.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but there is no do-it-yourself laundry so that one remains a mystery to me as well. A few things they don’t have that I think maybe they should consider just maybe: <br />
<ul>
<li>Moisturizer, for Jesus Christ’s sake and mine. Are we living in the same Afghanistan?</li>
<li>Q-tips</li>
<li>Chapstick that doesn’t taste like sheep doodoo</li>
<li>UK-to-US power adapters</li>
<li>Hanging hooks of any kind (they do have hangars but who has a closet??)</li>
<li>Drink mix</li>
<li>Baby wipes</li>
</ul>
Here are a few more things they do carry, thankfully:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Connect Four</li>
<li>Large pillows</li>
<li>Small pillow-cases</li>
<li>Chocolate eggs</li>
<li>Chapstick that does taste like sheep doodoo</li>
<li>Car polish rags</li>
<li>Greeting cards – not a few, but a whole display of them</li>
<li>And of course: non-alcoholic beer. Not. Going. To Happen.</li>
</ul>
After a little NAAFI window shopping, I go across the dirt to the computer cans, where I check e-mail, respond to fan mail, and think up new things to ask my dad to send me.<br />
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Then it’s off to bed, or rather off to cot. I live in an eight-man tent that houses – you guessed it – six men, not that I’m complaining. I managed to snag one of the extra spots when we moved a few days ago, so now in addition to a bedroom I’ve got a living room, dining room and reflection pool. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">…and, ironically, a sort of closet…</span></strong></div>
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Once home I usually turn on a movie on my laptop, read a book, or as is the case tonight, do some writing. I’m tapping this out with a towel over my hands so I don’t annoy my neighbors with my typing, but I’ll (hopefully) post it tomorrow along with a few pictures. Till then…g’night!</div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The walls in this place are as thin as a sheet.</span></strong></div>
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ps Next day: rainy, so I'll take more pictures on a nicer day. Meantime, my <a href="http://www.conwaydailysun.com/columns/story/david-morgenstern-column-1-returning" target="_blank">first Conway Daily Sun column</a> was published!</div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-58512083422289431662012-02-07T11:30:00.000-05:002012-02-07T11:30:01.578-05:00Only 30 minutes a day on line, so apologies for the series of brief posts (I've used up 25 already today on e-mail so this is going to be messy and disjointed). <br />
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ANYway, just wanted to let you know a little about what's going on. Been at Lash for a day or two now - I really have a hard time keeping track of the days on deployment for some reason. It's a small base - helo landing zone, chow hall, living tents, a small NAAFI (PX), some computer and phone terminals, and of course a bunch of work spaces including mine. The Brits are fun, relaxed, and very hard on Americans. Now accepting witty comeback contributions.<br />
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I live in a tent with maybe a dozen other guys, each separated from each other by some hanging sheets. I sleep on a cot, so far in my sleeping bag but I'll probably get some kind of bedding here soon. Unfortunately, we're scheduled to move a few times as they upgrade some tents, so I'm trying not to get too settled in yet.<br />
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Well just like that my 30 minutes are up. More on life in Lash, and hopefully some pics, soon!Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-18429752155134664972012-02-06T03:28:00.002-05:002012-02-06T03:28:48.980-05:00In LashMade it to Lashkar Gah late last night. Getting situated. More to follow...<br />
p.s. GIANTS!!!!Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-90784808089324784722012-02-05T08:27:00.002-05:002012-02-05T08:31:19.913-05:00Delay of gameI'd hoped to be writing you from Lash(kar Gah) by now but after six hours at the rotor wing terminal last night our flight was cancelled due to weather and we schlepped our schtuff back to the can for another night aboard Camp Cupcake. No word on when we'll actually be pulling chocks. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cupcakier than ever</b></span></div>
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Backtracking, we got here on Tuesday, after a few chilly days in Manas.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Aussie or Talib - who can say? </b></span></div>
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It's interesting how all of us seem to go through the same emotional stages. On arriving at Manas we were perfectly content to stay a week or two, doing nothing but eating, sleeping and Skyping. But within 24 hours we all started feeling cooped up and unproductive, and suddenly we were ready to get moving and get to work. I've learned that I'm the type to quickly get antsy and moody when I don't have something productive to do; turns out most Marines are the same way.<br />
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(Yes, now that I write it out it seems as profound an insight as the wetness of water, but it was interesting at the time. Also I should note that I still enjoy doing absolutely nothing, the Kelvin zero of anything, from time to time (to time to time)).<br />
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Anyway, the trend continues. Yesterday I was sitting in the USO tent with a friend who like me was returning to Camp Leatherneck after too brief an absence, and he started talking about how, though he hated the very idea of it, he felt almost comfortable here, almost at home, almost like he was back where he belonged. Following about 24 hours of sheer depression, despair even, at finding myself back here in this place I'd so fervently yearned to leave, I had also begun to feel like I was back in a place that somehow, regrettably, fit. We talked about how unacceptable a feeling this really was and how we refused to think of this place as even resembling or connected to the idea of home or belonging. But...there it was, and is, at least for now.<br />
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As I write about it, I realize that in part this feeling can be explained by the circumstances of our return. With us were a number of Marines who were here for the first time. We (this other Marine and I) spent our first few days here not only wandering through familiar areas but basically giving those Marines a tour. It set us apart a little, I think, to be so familiar with what they were just discovering, and that probably emphasized the sense of meaning in our return.<br />
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I should be a shrink.<br />
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Anyway, to friends and family, rest assured that this is not home, that we (all of us, not just the returnees) have less than zero desire to be here or stay here, except to do our jobs, and that home for us is simply and completely: where you are.<br />
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Gotta run...but first,another thought-provoking thing: being an armed Jewish Marine sitting at a computer next to armed Jordanian soldiers (they're <a href="http://www.centcom.mil/en/countries/coalition/" target="_blank">members of the coalition</a> here). Not going to try for a picture right now - maybe if I get to know one of them. Makes me wonder how Jewish troops felt participating in the liberation of Iraq, a country that had up to that point attacked Israel directly four times.<br />
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Hmmm.Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-84957887534716575502012-01-29T02:59:00.003-05:002012-01-29T03:02:38.651-05:00Been here, done this...On deck at Manas. We landed at dawn, local, almost exactly 24 hours after we left Miramar. It was reportedly 10 below (Fahrenheit, but does it really matter once you get into negatives?) as we deplaned but it seems to have warmed up from arctic to merely frigid. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Best I could do from a moving bus.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Does not do this morning's sunrise justice.</b></span></div>
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Though it's not Afg yet, walking around this place again is like revisiting a familiar dream. Leatherneck should be downright surreal.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Manas, just now.</b></span></div>
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Looks like we may get out of here earlier than anticipated. Can't post specific dates/times, theoretically for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_security" target="_blank">opsec</a> but in reality because no one knows anything. More to follow...<br />
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ps EM/RM, nice place. love the video.Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-17055374815910415812012-01-28T08:46:00.003-05:002012-03-01T10:21:33.796-05:00Getting the Hell Into DodgeSomeone on the bus on the way to Miramar said something about getting the hell out of Dodge. A buddy pointed out that we’re actually getting the hell into Dodge. It seemed both funny and profound...n'est-ce pas?<br />
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That was this morning. Now we're in the air just a few minutes outside San Diego. Next stop Bangor, ME in about five hours, where I’ll post this. In all we’ll apparently be flying and stopping and flying and rinsing and repeating for about 24 hours. Fun.<br />
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First let’s get one thing out of the way. I’ve been remiss about sending out my address even though I’ve promised it to many of you. It is:<br />
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1STLT Me<br />
MASS-3 (ASLT) LASHKAR GAH<br />
UNIT 42041<br />
FPO, AP 96427-2041<br />
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As far as what you can send, I posted on this last time <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/04/ask-and-ye-shant-receive.html" target="_blank">here</a> (hard to believe that was nearly two years ago now) and more recently <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2011/11/next-time-ill.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Just think about what you’d want if you were away from family and friends and your stuff and Five Guys for a while, and you’ll be on the right track (hint: brownies in wax paper do not spoil as fast as you might think). The best part, as I’ve said before, is just getting something from home that says, out of sight but not out of mind.<br />
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Next question I get a lot is how I feel about going back. Answer: good. Really good. Yes, by the time July/August rolls around I’ll be more than ready to come back. But everything that’s bad about deployment is what makes it so good. Ok good is the wrong word. Makes it so meaningful, so different. First there’s the chance to do a job that unambiguously matters. One of my favorite quotes about the Marines is from Reagan; I’m Google-less so I’ll paraphrase: A lot of people wonder if they ever made a difference. Marines don’t have that problem. <br />
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Second, from personal security to personal cleanliness, all the things that I take for granted day in and day out get this richer, more fulfilling tinge to them when I get to re-experience them on returning. The most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten, as you may recall from last time, was the first bite of a Subway sandwich at Ali al Salem in Kuwait. I still drool at the memory. Yes, right now. Drooling.<br />
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Also, the things that make deployment so miserable make it so comfortable because we really are deprived of so very, very little compared to our brethren on the ground side who live in tiny FOBs, trek through the mud and dust for twelve hours every day in full battle rattle, eat MREs, shower never and consider themselves blessed just to come back there each night (or each morning) with all ten fingers and toes. I may complain (and I will) but I try to remember how good we have it compared to them, and how good we all have it compared to Marines of previous wars.<br />
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Somehow I managed to get my soapbox into my carry-on. <br />
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As I mentioned previously, I’ll be in Lashkar Gah this go-around. I don’t think I shared in much detail what I’ll be doing, so I’ll continue not to here. Here’s what I can say: the Brits and the Marines work closely together. The Brits have a piece of the battlefield that they own, and the Marines more or less own the rest of Helmand province and some environs. Lashkar Gah is actually inside the British area of operation (AO), and is their headquarters. <br />
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My job will be to help anticipate, coordinate and deconflict British and Marine needs in terms of air support, fire support, etc. wherever they may impact/assist one another, and get each unit what they need when they need it. It’ll be a fun job and I hope to make plenty of British friends, but it will probably not be terribly challenging and will leave me lots of free time to enjoy the innumerable diversions of the roughly 3-square-foot (about 1 centimeter, metric) base that will be home for the next half year.<br />
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In addition to this blog, I’ll also be writing a column every other week for the Conway Daily Sun in Conway, NH. I believe they have a web site and I’ll post links here when they’re published. Beyond the first one or two articles, I have no idea what I’m going to say to fill them all, so please send me ideas of things you’d want to hear about. Or better yet, just write them for me yourself and I’ll be sure to give you credit someday.<br />
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Last question I’ve heard frequently is if/how the drawdown is affecting us. It has, it is and it will. We’re taking fewer Marines than originally planned, which was a huge disappointment to those who thought they were going. I’m glad I wasn’t one of the ones cut. Once we’re there, the Marines will continue to draw down and this will impact what we do and, most likely, where we do it. Beyond that I can’t say because I don’t know, but once I get there and see how things have changed (and are changing) I’ll let you know more.<br />
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Time to wrap up…with some deep thoughts of course. Mine are less about going to Afghanistan – though I suppose it hasn’t really hit me that I’m going back yet – and more about closing another chapter. Now if any of my SD area friends read this, I haven’t said goodbye because I’ll be back in the late summer. But because I moved out of my apartment, closed the door on another place and locked my stuff up in storage again, it felt like goodbye. It’s likely my time in CA after I get back from deployment will be limited. So that bummed me out.<br />
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Some moving out pics...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>All packed up</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>I should dust more often</b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Piano. Movers love me.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>All I really need. Why did I have all that other crap?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Bye...</b></span></div>
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Well normally these posts take me a few hours to put together, so naturally now that I have time to kill that took about 20 minutes. I could keep going but there’s a movie on and even though I can’t hear it I’m far too easily distrac…oooh, shiny!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Rambostern</b></span></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-11081331289407292312012-01-07T10:25:00.001-05:002012-01-07T16:23:31.461-05:00That hit the spot, II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In a few weeks I head back to Afghanistan. Now I'm not saying anyone <i>stole</i> the last nine months from me, I'm just saying a minute ago I had them and now they're gone. I checked under the bed, between the couch cushions and in the fridge. Nada. So if you did take them, just leave them on my welcome mat and ring the doorbell. No questions asked. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLEOH1O3r2u2X13KdNsG7eHyP_Phkxzc2rKNIJF8bzIHKyrHopUxja9k9-p9i0l0fcv0yAgpRvHuNXb4dB4kRqksYleLB6KUisT43Y_wGxJLwpmumOy1DQzabwHlg47eM-j5kBgywKI0/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLEOH1O3r2u2X13KdNsG7eHyP_Phkxzc2rKNIJF8bzIHKyrHopUxja9k9-p9i0l0fcv0yAgpRvHuNXb4dB4kRqksYleLB6KUisT43Y_wGxJLwpmumOy1DQzabwHlg47eM-j5kBgywKI0/s320/224.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>If you don't, the man with the mustache will get you.</b></span></div>
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Ok I exaggerate. I did have some fun, got to do some living, met some new people. Most importantly, since my last post I've collected an additional sister and nephew. I was actually shopping for a great-aunt but some lady <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/25/us-usa-retail-violence-idUSTRE7AO15H20111125" target="_blank">pepper-sprayed</a> me in line and took the last one.<br />
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Confession: it seems I'm a lot more of a family man than I realized, especially for a single guy. Usually I'm rolling my eyes back to my brain stem as you (agonizingly slowly) flip through 2348923 pictures of your new baby niece. Turns out, it's just <i>your</i> family that's boring. Mine is adorable. So yes, I showed a picture of the newest M to some friends. <span style="font-size: large;">A</span> picture. One. That's how it's done folks: Isn't he cute? Yes. Thanks, go back to your crossword.<br />
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HOWEVER. This blog is a voluntary undertaking. If you're reading this you've <i>chosen</i> to set aside the sodoku/knitting/SVU marathon. So here I'm going to post more than one pic. A lot more than one. You've been warned.<br />
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First came the baby. His name is...redacted, like all names in my online paranoia. But his initials are ALM. The original LM was this baby's father's father's father's father, who died at Auschwitz. ALM was born on 22 Dec 2011, 7lb 11 oz, of which 2lb 8oz was hair. See for yourself:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrddFvdHHjpTuyz35ySuGLGl2cV85FHRQwYtplicI5hrJ6-SKGx374tK1Tm68zIXFymc4ocj03zVtAuCY0P2AOqIwjkpJdzDK7UMHf6YCTgY7ruTcMtsNsZJWdr31K3hKcSYycJobqsY/s1600/394688_10100562114639825_27405590_51328338_1448686309_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrddFvdHHjpTuyz35ySuGLGl2cV85FHRQwYtplicI5hrJ6-SKGx374tK1Tm68zIXFymc4ocj03zVtAuCY0P2AOqIwjkpJdzDK7UMHf6YCTgY7ruTcMtsNsZJWdr31K3hKcSYycJobqsY/s320/394688_10100562114639825_27405590_51328338_1448686309_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Seriously. Am I just biased or is he the cutest baby ever?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHZrAnUA0N3Phk5yPNqifdv4faV6nCZS1dOa-NAaoHDdmSE1XiE-lp3kWvEAVSX-RYghN0wFymiyow6hLoyYHEfuVHFGTp95wUByiEdPbsovvwFf2-kdFND8Whh-a_3at0I0WoHmASI0/s1600/394614_10100567383855275_27405590_51366322_1398265758_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHZrAnUA0N3Phk5yPNqifdv4faV6nCZS1dOa-NAaoHDdmSE1XiE-lp3kWvEAVSX-RYghN0wFymiyow6hLoyYHEfuVHFGTp95wUByiEdPbsovvwFf2-kdFND8Whh-a_3at0I0WoHmASI0/s320/394614_10100567383855275_27405590_51366322_1398265758_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Exhibit B</b><b></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb4WQNnp6L0kzEuH0xgYQWHNS0vc6PzTxkBFouPJQWchDASelomCgGJBtSVomWzYAwB8Xz-ofVl1ubn1cRdY6owvDqmF25mqrJF0o5JEDP1BbB-xaNxC4sKAwe9T2XTymZ4CRS_I9vto/s1600/394421_10100568552752795_27405590_51372295_871292317_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb4WQNnp6L0kzEuH0xgYQWHNS0vc6PzTxkBFouPJQWchDASelomCgGJBtSVomWzYAwB8Xz-ofVl1ubn1cRdY6owvDqmF25mqrJF0o5JEDP1BbB-xaNxC4sKAwe9T2XTymZ4CRS_I9vto/s320/394421_10100568552752795_27405590_51372295_871292317_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Uhh...now what.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWClVy-JDIZju1ml7Pg6qADcqS9s_oZiPoMYEql54rQU7bbHRTi3OSs14QL3BA2TuXKFBNUoiqtRZVRE4LmX9AG_iOa1homtqM2y_uQmvPXi2FJNSLRcHDdT5rKNVTmrVT1tc0GO1MLQ/s1600/378538_10100568569923385_27405590_51372469_1283163424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWClVy-JDIZju1ml7Pg6qADcqS9s_oZiPoMYEql54rQU7bbHRTi3OSs14QL3BA2TuXKFBNUoiqtRZVRE4LmX9AG_iOa1homtqM2y_uQmvPXi2FJNSLRcHDdT5rKNVTmrVT1tc0GO1MLQ/s320/378538_10100568569923385_27405590_51372469_1283163424_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>They'll love him no matter what. If he does drugs, steals purses, drinks expired milk.<br /> Just as long as he doesn't go to Auburn.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99Ub86T6hUoMqXHAI7Q0Sd_ttW_fl6SrVjdAHNioAOlaysUej1B5Jpfn73xj43sO2zKPdPwhjx_yZxCOVbLZl_zN7fRUoZycKw93dgCgZIhhJybpcjrehIXgUor6-LsH2HbdWbHP-5UM/s1600/396257_10100568572932355_27405590_51372491_1941712212_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99Ub86T6hUoMqXHAI7Q0Sd_ttW_fl6SrVjdAHNioAOlaysUej1B5Jpfn73xj43sO2zKPdPwhjx_yZxCOVbLZl_zN7fRUoZycKw93dgCgZIhhJybpcjrehIXgUor6-LsH2HbdWbHP-5UM/s320/396257_10100568572932355_27405590_51372491_1941712212_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Family's first Hanukkah</b></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAS0DSVAmTSI_h9f6Lwckrt1wyY-RJw7R3EPg2OhpEb9Wr15HLAnKV3ihNBv8T1YDOuBuPz27m11VB8Er5x7E8-kXpXDyADso7su4RNAuBjnm9fnJzT8n8Rm4v5YXG6h62Sx20WbjEMw/s1600/IMG_1108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAS0DSVAmTSI_h9f6Lwckrt1wyY-RJw7R3EPg2OhpEb9Wr15HLAnKV3ihNBv8T1YDOuBuPz27m11VB8Er5x7E8-kXpXDyADso7su4RNAuBjnm9fnJzT8n8Rm4v5YXG6h62Sx20WbjEMw/s320/IMG_1108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mamma </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl43P-Mq77SwRS413BEBPpIxo7u50o7b7dKkCSrtth5KlJRM7Iuvbn6UqD7fkHBYfOkB69NjDZ9ULZmXloTYAN-2L_XxDDHSyTRUJWjduCtf9wVOaTD-mbJuAPdfR8AXg_O9kHdQv0NPM/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl43P-Mq77SwRS413BEBPpIxo7u50o7b7dKkCSrtth5KlJRM7Iuvbn6UqD7fkHBYfOkB69NjDZ9ULZmXloTYAN-2L_XxDDHSyTRUJWjduCtf9wVOaTD-mbJuAPdfR8AXg_O9kHdQv0NPM/s320/IMG_1070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Daddy </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAK_CXFqKrFb1TwI8D0hL5qs5L4Bi_wSB92-GsqaTaa5KtWqFLS5bcV92sisUYgvkUzNLav6lcMchvqY1TonUpbnaQNoxZGZH3KFBFo7ZsiLPgEd9kGsxZfymeUFLyjdDpSFO-qGt1Or0/s1600/IMG_1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAK_CXFqKrFb1TwI8D0hL5qs5L4Bi_wSB92-GsqaTaa5KtWqFLS5bcV92sisUYgvkUzNLav6lcMchvqY1TonUpbnaQNoxZGZH3KFBFo7ZsiLPgEd9kGsxZfymeUFLyjdDpSFO-qGt1Or0/s320/IMG_1053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Saba (Grandpa) </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWwd6KzkfxtDkMSFo9LM0_IraS3Cn7VLkdQcOnJYyoxIYJk8ZTGoPiynOxcSVUu4_wH8nA84Crcj88oiPO4B_mjDgO6iTQg2VYQbWaMDHOgqM7157U8xsT87pELdL1zCXhMw30lK_W-A/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWwd6KzkfxtDkMSFo9LM0_IraS3Cn7VLkdQcOnJYyoxIYJk8ZTGoPiynOxcSVUu4_wH8nA84Crcj88oiPO4B_mjDgO6iTQg2VYQbWaMDHOgqM7157U8xsT87pELdL1zCXhMw30lK_W-A/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Family</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTsnBYAPeb3C7ZI6KmaR1sSRK-2z7U4rz_BagdI5wlkPu0TCVclb5rwZyk6rs7m9GY5wKkblXniTtp2t9sbgGaxJZrs06dyfgaDUIkH2QC8Xpou_YS2eaoyaoOq2TYvQLOLtuo3JAgck/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTsnBYAPeb3C7ZI6KmaR1sSRK-2z7U4rz_BagdI5wlkPu0TCVclb5rwZyk6rs7m9GY5wKkblXniTtp2t9sbgGaxJZrs06dyfgaDUIkH2QC8Xpou_YS2eaoyaoOq2TYvQLOLtuo3JAgck/s320/IMG_1075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More family </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFyBq7570gcc-_7P1RtAMfZ4OyRlX25-u8gnGUhdf-9g4TTphE1fphsZ76xLKYFb0K_ik5I7CN_htrmZi2dSPaUrrTYQ-Q2aXNapxG22s6JvUpkpm8PeY1mhDISAawg_JnBygzpG0Ym0/s1600/PICT1664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFyBq7570gcc-_7P1RtAMfZ4OyRlX25-u8gnGUhdf-9g4TTphE1fphsZ76xLKYFb0K_ik5I7CN_htrmZi2dSPaUrrTYQ-Q2aXNapxG22s6JvUpkpm8PeY1mhDISAawg_JnBygzpG0Ym0/s320/PICT1664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://judaism.about.com/od/lifeevents/a/britmilah.htm" target="_blank">Brit Milah</a> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQMu5LPns-BEVEYCfq8moTpaHpGmfUS9TqrUVmMLFiP5VXzF2m5M3lc-9kvEaCAFDTPkSe-tvE2gibvcumJIFxpOhhXkyIhOaGBXWt7AY0Jqc_vg-bkCEUGMxsSbt0WUUyg9GNtsdsZs/s1600/405373_10100557970010695_27405590_51303216_1490022235_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Just three days after ALM was born, E and R got married in Israel. I haven't seen all the professional pics yet but I do have some to show you (mostly stolen from NS' FB page - thanks!). First though, a little story.<br />
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After the men finish signing/witnessing/haggling over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketubah" target="_blank">ketubah</a>, we dance our way into the main hall. E greets his bride and then they go to the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=chuppah&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=2EwIT7LqIsbv0gGh-vzBBA&ved=0CEcQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=839" target="_blank">chuppah</a>. There, in a last minute decision, R follows an <a href="http://judaism.about.com/od/weddings/ss/wedding_how_5.htm" target="_blank">ancient Jewish custom </a>and circles E seven times. I hope one of the photographers captured the moment. E has his eyes closed, head down and looks like he's in the direct presence of G-d. R is slowly walking around him with her head bowed. A musician is playing a mournful Jewish tune on the oboe (even in joy Jews <a href="http://judaism.about.com/od/weddings/ss/wedding_how_9.htm" target="_blank">never forget</a> our tragedies) and my mother is bawling. It was the most beautiful moment I've ever witnessed.<br />
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Ok enough about that. Here are the pics. I told you my family is adorable. Judge for yourself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN38L86R_TwARonAhs7tmKrP1weyU8R3XdGzpbXALbv6k-bWCmopUBgSu668lM-i1BPV4pNNhrXQXQJF5xvUDJxrhuVjRx933WWMnRpoFUdmCdW7pFyNLlhD2IT1hhawBzWlwEjo0WjM/s1600/_PAZ8466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN38L86R_TwARonAhs7tmKrP1weyU8R3XdGzpbXALbv6k-bWCmopUBgSu668lM-i1BPV4pNNhrXQXQJF5xvUDJxrhuVjRx933WWMnRpoFUdmCdW7pFyNLlhD2IT1hhawBzWlwEjo0WjM/s320/_PAZ8466.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The groom</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKN5L6lr7qod_qspy7NPiSfwsaMZ_8fl8eOcrgCXbIFOlGzHAIhajzoDUUDqekJNyaVd2QwyCv7Nm-gWzsyyhyphenhyphengJbviag6rABusu7SuXB_xJF4kL_-nX7mx27cccngbSHAo8ysGWuYOY/s1600/_PAZ8553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKN5L6lr7qod_qspy7NPiSfwsaMZ_8fl8eOcrgCXbIFOlGzHAIhajzoDUUDqekJNyaVd2QwyCv7Nm-gWzsyyhyphenhyphengJbviag6rABusu7SuXB_xJF4kL_-nX7mx27cccngbSHAo8ysGWuYOY/s320/_PAZ8553.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Anyone know a good chiropractor?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF22sDrVNkzrkGgS6RK0HEkXid-Lm886IAzZX2vvuLSk3CB36pXamVX8JOAt1LPE4whnZCTMm8UvQp9jI2pfMIkMFLieNClahQilrcig4hNzmPBGocpb9IoAvjjnYH-oq1KUXz67SR98w/s1600/395066_10101095651552389_8800988_65981947_1050886700_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF22sDrVNkzrkGgS6RK0HEkXid-Lm886IAzZX2vvuLSk3CB36pXamVX8JOAt1LPE4whnZCTMm8UvQp9jI2pfMIkMFLieNClahQilrcig4hNzmPBGocpb9IoAvjjnYH-oq1KUXz67SR98w/s320/395066_10101095651552389_8800988_65981947_1050886700_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The bride and the moms</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe4lVYf5hwmGfiyDNpdw-n1AT7OiqoJMokKj2s_4Ih5DB3Icisg9OjT_tu87mzRoFLWY31J1UzQD0mJk0P4ePutFJNJJHNX5p7s60vEztl71hkHKbarn81FxysKtsLB24ewjALOZ7RSg/s1600/390327_10101095651926639_8800988_65981952_1730026093_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe4lVYf5hwmGfiyDNpdw-n1AT7OiqoJMokKj2s_4Ih5DB3Icisg9OjT_tu87mzRoFLWY31J1UzQD0mJk0P4ePutFJNJJHNX5p7s60vEztl71hkHKbarn81FxysKtsLB24ewjALOZ7RSg/s320/390327_10101095651926639_8800988_65981952_1730026093_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>No escape for the groom </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPqk27LiZmseWmksp8APnzgic13Rirgvy3SxV3Cpe12TwaTOoEpfKdLatRmZRPoNynuoWVtpjGNTwuAhfqOYXsllKlsbar7DbrsvJXQnCZzNj4ofNej_9o5pqPx7CTxCX2IL_eMv_N-Q/s1600/393416_10101095656168139_8800988_65982017_1804409401_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPqk27LiZmseWmksp8APnzgic13Rirgvy3SxV3Cpe12TwaTOoEpfKdLatRmZRPoNynuoWVtpjGNTwuAhfqOYXsllKlsbar7DbrsvJXQnCZzNj4ofNej_9o5pqPx7CTxCX2IL_eMv_N-Q/s320/393416_10101095656168139_8800988_65982017_1804409401_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Under the <i>Chuppah</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Unisex dancing. Not as bad as I expected.</b></span><br />
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Notwithstanding all the celebrations (and preparatory house work) I did also get to do some traveling. I had three main goals: spend more time in Jerusalem, visit Masada (finally), and do some hiking in the north. Went three-for-three.<br />
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We started with a trip to the <a href="http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/hp_eng.asp" target="_blank">City of David</a> - original, pre-Temple Jerusalem. They are excavating sites there that are nearly 4,000 years old, some of which we got to walk through.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rMFVNM9huTWG6DQvv9UrxommWaQ9MnV8jA4hORSpcXMgsL_Ml0u7OuXdLL1ey4BJfm-0qokmf7v9yG6fKB2RycQ_lkZBLPIBiytgs2UAV24X01bBtlhOJ7NJrRkGz1N6uOBO5dR-GhI/s1600/DSCF1330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rMFVNM9huTWG6DQvv9UrxommWaQ9MnV8jA4hORSpcXMgsL_Ml0u7OuXdLL1ey4BJfm-0qokmf7v9yG6fKB2RycQ_lkZBLPIBiytgs2UAV24X01bBtlhOJ7NJrRkGz1N6uOBO5dR-GhI/s320/DSCF1330.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">City of David, as it looked a year ago during my R&R</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAuShbC5lAVc5wp0heI9Tc2QXjZCvF0ff44jGhbyDUdrXva8vPoEDEFtpAWAOTtoEfOYjeiWxI6lF2f7tbNrByYcgTrk11qVUweSj_0xMNebhEPOPnrNmSmm-Gik1o5Qq8bHNuirvjww/s1600/P1000014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAuShbC5lAVc5wp0heI9Tc2QXjZCvF0ff44jGhbyDUdrXva8vPoEDEFtpAWAOTtoEfOYjeiWxI6lF2f7tbNrByYcgTrk11qVUweSj_0xMNebhEPOPnrNmSmm-Gik1o5Qq8bHNuirvjww/s320/P1000014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Excavating ancient ruins</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcgAaK_dIhmPyRHg9t3ppeWzn8Cfwj4gtfind1GyiMHu5z6jrasTVZmGqNlFOX51a0wbiUJbAd0VyKi03_BigvmPm1vFUbS6layJycxzinLeNshO4x3pI0g6SkjMbs92esxDouipsxBM/s1600/P1000030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcgAaK_dIhmPyRHg9t3ppeWzn8Cfwj4gtfind1GyiMHu5z6jrasTVZmGqNlFOX51a0wbiUJbAd0VyKi03_BigvmPm1vFUbS6layJycxzinLeNshO4x3pI0g6SkjMbs92esxDouipsxBM/s320/P1000030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Click on the pic and read the inscription. Fascinating.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> The view on exiting the ancient aqueduct. What you see here is the Arab neighborhood, an avalanche of litter, and in the top left the 3000 year old Jewish cemetery on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives" target="_blank">Mount of Olives</a>. Draw your own conclusions. </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDscOich5PAkrriMeG37enLiM-oIejvStuZDSRms1q5UlJEr-1Mp2QefeOToMYmS3w95IjvodG9wjOR9fAG0o4poZtLhjS1KxLv5geXt_ZuPG0Ewgkmq9HJVsK4njQPq-fqfUBlFb9YP0/s1600/zion+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDscOich5PAkrriMeG37enLiM-oIejvStuZDSRms1q5UlJEr-1Mp2QefeOToMYmS3w95IjvodG9wjOR9fAG0o4poZtLhjS1KxLv5geXt_ZuPG0Ewgkmq9HJVsK4njQPq-fqfUBlFb9YP0/s320/zion+gate.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Outside the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_Gate" target="_blank">Zion Gate</a>.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then we tooled around Jerusalem for a bit and ran some pre-wedding errands for the groom.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>I never did understand fashion...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>No really. No left turn. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWXzU5iXoQs9TnhAKPK5vvkvZ5JPIDPeAQF5eh8FosMzAqSJPEKSaKyxwvnW4X0S1Ld1tl5faa7bsvaa0WrOZNTBNsaMbKTGUQHwxUEOjdffYRRwBimxDfc7GPGoAi_x5xOSAkP1LoJU/s1600/P1000074.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWXzU5iXoQs9TnhAKPK5vvkvZ5JPIDPeAQF5eh8FosMzAqSJPEKSaKyxwvnW4X0S1Ld1tl5faa7bsvaa0WrOZNTBNsaMbKTGUQHwxUEOjdffYRRwBimxDfc7GPGoAi_x5xOSAkP1LoJU/s320/P1000074.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>No really. We're a café.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>And people seriously wonder why I was always getting lost in Jerusalem.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The ugly (imho) </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_Chords_Bridge" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank">new bridge</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> in central J'lem</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Making it look good.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Converting Shekels/Liter to $/Gallon, I think this comes to just under a grand.</b></span></div>
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A few days after Jerusalem I finally got to Masada, upon which stands an ancient fortress built by King Herod (who also expanded the Second Temple and built many of the ruins visible at Caesarea as you might remember from <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2010/09/that-hit-spot.html" target="_blank">my last visit</a>). About a century after King Herod, Jews fleeing the Romans following the sacking of Jerusalem and destruction of the Second Temple made their final stand at Masada and famously committed mass suicide rather than surrender and become slaves.<br />
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Aside: I'm currently reading a novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dovekeepers-Novel-Alice-Hoffman/dp/145161747X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325953773&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Dovekeepers</a> by Alice Hoffman, that is set in this period. I give it 3.5 stars so far, but it's fascinating to follow the main character as she describes passageways and storerooms that I stood in a only few weeks ago, 2,000 years after she would have lived. <br />
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Anyway, Masada continues to play an important role in the modern Jewish concept of self-defense. <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/masada.html" target="_blank">Here's a good article</a> if you want to read more. <br />
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The night before Masada, we camped out at a nearby campground whose name I've forgotten.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Lighting the second candle</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> My cousin's Judeo-modern art</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> My cousin</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Our camp site</b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Sunrise over the Dead Sea, from our camp site</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Negev desert. Greenhouses on both sides of the road.</b></span></div>
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We hiked up the Snake Trail, which is moderately strenuous though Israelis tend to make a much bigger deal out of it than it is.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Snake Trail</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Part-way up. Dead Sea in the distance. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The view from the top. The square near the bottom is the ruins of one of several Roman base camps, from which they laid siege to Masada in 72 CE.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Storerooms</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The raised floor used to heat the bath house</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Herod's Palace</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ramp used by the Romans to take Masada</b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ruins of the main Roman garrison</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVtwVBNi4DUB8EEGkVtZ1s9mzIQZzXDkKSHt9fWkcnZ1Qmh6n84R-8WPpBeNZw5C48Bh1NOxhANHOw5saRZlcMi1w6FCzgYsKx_lAN3YhxQOgWLEDJwiJM2re5Tmn4kIxCwfsf4btu4w/s1600/P1000241.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVtwVBNi4DUB8EEGkVtZ1s9mzIQZzXDkKSHt9fWkcnZ1Qmh6n84R-8WPpBeNZw5C48Bh1NOxhANHOw5saRZlcMi1w6FCzgYsKx_lAN3YhxQOgWLEDJwiJM2re5Tmn4kIxCwfsf4btu4w/s320/P1000241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>One of the Roman walls up close</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>In the distance, IDF CH-53Es conducting exercises. Better them than me.</b></span></div>
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I believe we did that trip on a Thursday. Sunday was my brother's wedding. On Tuesday morning we returned to Jerusalem with the newlyweds for a truly remarkable tour of the excavated tunnels at the Western Wall. Big thanks to E's father-in-law for making that happen on short notice.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Entering the tunnels</b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Looking straight down at some deeper excavation</b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Model of the Second Temple. Only about the nearest third of the Western (left-most) wall is visible (outdoors) today, but the rest still exists...</b></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys5kDsxGPkE6LIVV2Obh8qCW8tVIoK9eYqKWz3Jt9zAMnavb8czJsKiOC5UQSwS4QggRdjXhKQ9Dnqke3JCaTobeWSTjaHjndPbjd8YADLkbA7YXiHPBtAijzYzAi6Ydgk46zAZ4PR1U/s1600/IMG_3010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys5kDsxGPkE6LIVV2Obh8qCW8tVIoK9eYqKWz3Jt9zAMnavb8czJsKiOC5UQSwS4QggRdjXhKQ9Dnqke3JCaTobeWSTjaHjndPbjd8YADLkbA7YXiHPBtAijzYzAi6Ydgk46zAZ4PR1U/s320/IMG_3010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>A new family in an old place</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Original <i>Kotel </i>stones on the right. Original dad on the left.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tk5Cg_IVfEBRHsy8MQnWN879Q4M3tiN4VXMFj-BCblNSlSQ_tw6OGMUAit8Ke3gACjASAoedttqoD5XeE1lwIOQPpy4BpWaIrH4iN7QhPGOz2DCSIdVzFmdpsdny2wshXr48VX0wxMI/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tk5Cg_IVfEBRHsy8MQnWN879Q4M3tiN4VXMFj-BCblNSlSQ_tw6OGMUAit8Ke3gACjASAoedttqoD5XeE1lwIOQPpy4BpWaIrH4iN7QhPGOz2DCSIdVzFmdpsdny2wshXr48VX0wxMI/s320/IMG_3051.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ancient stone quarrying</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These ancient cisterns still trap water that drips from the limestone. <br />Here's an <a href="http://www.plumbingsupply.com/pmjerusalem.html" target="_blank">unexpectedly interesting article</a> I found on this history of Jerusalem plumbing.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Back in daylight in the Old City</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Dad at the southwest corner of the <i>Kotel</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Man on a mission<br /> </b></span></div>
Finally, the day before I left we got in a quick hike up north, at a place called...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> Prehistoric caves<br /> </b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The new bride has a new pet</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Bride and groom praying at sunset</b></span> </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Snow-capped Mt. Hermon<br /> </span></b></div>
Well that pretty much wraps up the last month or so. In the next few weeks I've got to finish (also start) packing up my whole apartment, which by the way looks like this, for those of you who have never gotten to visit: <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Living room</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Study / guest room</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Not pictured: <strike>Thermonuclear test facility</strike> Perfectly Clean and Organized Bed Room </b></span></div>
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Then at the end of the month I'm off, expected return around July/August.<br />
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I know you just loved scrolling through a million pics of my family. But as my brother and his wife said:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"Thanks for celebrating with us!"</b></span></span></div>
</div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-18684651807513921862011-11-12T01:45:00.001-05:002011-11-12T03:51:23.809-05:00Next time, I'll...As most of you know, my next deployment to Afghanistan is right around the corner - expected departure some time in January. I've been thinking about how this deployment will differ from the last, and for whatever reason I thought you might find these thoughts to be an interesting read. In fact I can think of at least one way that they directly affect you, so press on.<br />
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First, the obvious:: I'll be in Lashkar Gah at a British base, vice Camp Leatherneck, a Marine base. I expect the primary differences to be:<br />
<ul>
<li>Instead of being literally at the flag pole, I'll be far removed from it, allowing me greater freedom and independence as long as I do my job;</li>
<li>I'll have a shift job, expected to be just 8 hours a day; vice the average 14-hour days of last time;</li>
<li>I'll have less overall responsibility but a more direct role in operations in support of ground forces</li>
<li>I'll be eating a lot more curry</li>
</ul>
Additionally in the realm of the obvious, I expect to be back 6-7 months after I leave, vice a year. This, of course, is a big difference. Big.<br />
<br />
All that is self-evident. But there are a few other things I'd like to change.<br />
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First, while I PT'd hard for the first half or so, when winter came and March still seemed an eternity away, I pretty much lost my drive and my PT, when it happened, was mostly weak and unproductive. This time I intend to push myself hard the entire time and come back in - objectively - the best shape of my life. That's a pretty bold statement to make, especially in public like this, but I think I can do it.<br />
<br />
Second, as some of you know I've been working on a book, on and off, for more years than I care to admit. Again, these aren't the kinds of things I usually say in public but my aim is to finish this thing. Probably it will be terrible. That's OK. My problem has been that I've gone over and over the same ground in my writing - refining, reworking, perfecting, whittling it to the bone, and while that's yielded some quality (IMHO), it's come at the price of quantity. It's time to write out the rest of the story and then go back and improve it.<br />
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Third - and this is the one that affects you - I want my friends and family back home to be more involved in my deployment. I believe that all Americans need to be personally invested in wars fought on their behalf, yet when you asked me, as so many of you did, what you could do or send, I fell into the trap of saying "don't worry about it, we've got everything we need here" because that was easier than thinking about what you really can do for us over there.<br />
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It's true that we have everything we need over there. A person <i>needs</i> very little. But there is plenty that we would like - would love - to have and we shouldn't be afraid to share that with those who want to support us. So here: I give you a list of things you can send us or do for us - a list based on a little more experience than I had last time, and one that you can feel free to share with others.<br />
<ul>
<li>Write. This is definitely number one. Whether it's a two-page letter or a two-line e-mail, we want to hear from you. Even if it's been a year or 3 or 10 since we last spoke, this is the perfect time to renew acquaintances. Any contact with home puts a smile on our faces and helps us sleep better that night.<br /> </li>
<li>Give of your time and/or money to an organization that supports the troops (then write us to let us know you've done it). Here are a few of my personal favorites, but there are many to choose from:<br /> </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://semperfifund.org/" target="_blank">Semper Fi Fund</a> - Provides support and assistance to wounded Marines and Sailors and their families</li>
<li><a href="http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/" target="_blank">Wounded Warrior Project</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.uso.org/" target="_blank">United Service Organization (USO)</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.operationsupportjewsinthemilitary.com/" target="_blank">Project MOT</a> <br /> </li>
</ul>
<li> Make a CD or DVD. My dad sent me one a week for almost my entire deployment, with news and sports round-ups, videos of old concerts and movies, pictures of the neighborhood (the <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/" target="_blank">White Mountain National Forest</a> and environs) and a "from the producer" segment each week. I know he's planning to do that again, but you can make me other DVDs - recent episodes of shows like House, The Office, Family Guy, Tosh.0, SNL etc. etc., or "mix tapes" of whatever the kids are listening to these days (not much radio in Afg). <br /> </li>
<li>Magazines and books - but not in the mail. Yes, several of you sent me these last time and believe me, it was great to get them and I devoured them all. But it seems lots easier and cheaper to send e-books and e-mags, which you can do easily <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_357628962_15/189-4613490-2379709?ie=UTF8&node=2518188011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-1&pf_rd_r=0MF4APEQQ6YKHYPP20WE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1322653562&pf_rd_i=133141011" target="_blank">here</a>. You don't even have to buy the book - as a reading fanatic what I value most is just getting book recommendations from friends.<br /> </li>
<li>Care packages. As I've written before, what you put in them matters much less than just knowing that you took the time to put it together and send it. Let's face it - care packages are a pain in the ass to put together. But here are some ideas of things to put in them, in addition to all of the above:<br /> </li>
<ul>
<li>Home made treats</li>
<li>Beef jerky</li>
<li>Crystal Lite (any flavor but especially fruit punch) </li>
<li>Mixed nuts</li>
<li>Nerf guns - really anything nerf</li>
<li>Sugar-free gum</li>
<li>Crosswords and other puzzle books</li>
<li>Blank cards/stationary (so we can write back!) </li>
<li>Crisp hundred-dollar bills (crinkled ones may be returned)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>Those are some things I know I would use. Here are two <a href="http://www.allmilitary.com/board/viewtopic.php?id=13887" target="_blank">more</a> <a href="http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html" target="_blank">lists</a> for some additional ideas.</ul>
<ul>
<li>Get on Skype, g-chat, etc., so when we have unexpected Internet access we can talk!</li>
</ul>
So there are some ideas. If I think of more I'll add them to this post. Meanwhile, you're probably wondering when I'm gonna get around to posting my address. Well unfortunately since I'll be off on an ASLT (Air Support Liaison Team), sending mail to the main address of my unit - at Camp Leatherneck - isn't the most efficient way to go. Once I get in country and figure out the nearest Marine unit - probably one also based at Lashkar Gah - I'll post my address on this blog and send it out by e-mail.<br />
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Lastly, you should know that when it comes to care packages, the cheapest option is to use the <a href="https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10001&productId=10001233&WT.ac=P_MILI-FRB" target="_blank">USPS flat rate box for APO/FPO</a>, which you should be able to get at any post office.<br />
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OK it's been a busy day here at LeftofRight...time for bed!</div>
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</ul>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-65578231667007607192011-11-11T18:00:00.000-05:002011-11-11T18:05:39.519-05:00Happy Veteran's DayLast week I got back from a month in the desert around Yuma, AZ. Things I did during that month:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sweat</li>
<li>Sleep in a tent</li>
<li>Sweat while sleeping in a tent</li>
<li>Subsist on MREs (snacks only), <a href="http://www.dateland.com/Cafe.html" target="_blank">Date Shakes</a> and sand</li>
<li>Displace five times</li>
<li>Participate in three convoys</li>
<li>Attend an unknown number of late-night briefs</li>
<li>Experience some of the best the <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/mst_morale_suppression_team_tshirt-235057405579071540" target="_blank">MST</a> has to offer</li>
<li>Set my personal (albeit humble) record at 10 days in a row without a shower </li>
</ul>
Naturally, I had a great time. Why? Well...<br />
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If you noticed the guys on the hilltop controlling aircraft (from about the 2 minute mark on), that was at a position called OP (Observation Point) Feets, and it's where I was working for the first week of the exercise. Here are a few of my own pics and vids from there:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHb5qKxxEV89hPEshq0trJOgRKFHrpbzeq7gRj3UoBU7F7iLNj99xAoHtWmLHmRGftPkKi6J8Mluf23G62p7hKhiNdg0h0rJDpcPFBh8GlNKxcGHSMoBbmmPP_FBL6iKXBb_Ur6SVXQQ/s1600/feets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHb5qKxxEV89hPEshq0trJOgRKFHrpbzeq7gRj3UoBU7F7iLNj99xAoHtWmLHmRGftPkKi6J8Mluf23G62p7hKhiNdg0h0rJDpcPFBh8GlNKxcGHSMoBbmmPP_FBL6iKXBb_Ur6SVXQQ/s320/feets.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Controlling atop OP Feets (note the field 'stache already coming in)</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWGuB92NK35CJVOq5maWVGdeKBWnNrt5qIybJR0FUHqT4HQU0qphiEfXQDDXMup-0Zu55K6Mm6QJ9KZYSVnxFfoBVkQj9K-TErqv9oZ_7kzE5O_Q7P4oTPEA0ViQrYgoEWf14lffAyWA/s1600/DSCF3174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWGuB92NK35CJVOq5maWVGdeKBWnNrt5qIybJR0FUHqT4HQU0qphiEfXQDDXMup-0Zu55K6Mm6QJ9KZYSVnxFfoBVkQj9K-TErqv9oZ_7kzE5O_Q7P4oTPEA0ViQrYgoEWf14lffAyWA/s320/DSCF3174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Cobra inbound</span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Cobra gun run</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Cobras rockets and guns <br />(it was extremely windy on OP Feets, probably 50+ mph winds at times)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwuDl8oVmeQK0Eful2JIngv17G3DTqrZQwATYoRQH5eVsD_YSCSMtAzluhDOW8xD_7Mh5arzs3loghblMR3EMncY1Zkg6PvMGnPzDzqsg4IKyYN643f_jaFOKB_uiwd1tep2nBhtXoIQ/s1600/DSCF3109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwuDl8oVmeQK0Eful2JIngv17G3DTqrZQwATYoRQH5eVsD_YSCSMtAzluhDOW8xD_7Mh5arzs3loghblMR3EMncY1Zkg6PvMGnPzDzqsg4IKyYN643f_jaFOKB_uiwd1tep2nBhtXoIQ/s320/DSCF3109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mock-up targets</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1oWXKl9DfbHE8rrskWbYIDf6iUGFMMZX9YQEKdDSqqZe7_ydOMY-4snRNqd461yMC2hgOk3YwM6O3cC9dihsrIv7Luccn_oOY5ecve3RBadCkKZwvXZntaeWaN-4iLxZrTT8Z2YsGHc/s1600/DSCF3105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1oWXKl9DfbHE8rrskWbYIDf6iUGFMMZX9YQEKdDSqqZe7_ydOMY-4snRNqd461yMC2hgOk3YwM6O3cC9dihsrIv7Luccn_oOY5ecve3RBadCkKZwvXZntaeWaN-4iLxZrTT8Z2YsGHc/s320/DSCF3105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Sunset at Feets</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cobra attack at dusk</span></strong>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Tracers</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Rockets. Held an NVG (night vision goggle) over the lens.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">More rockets and guns in the dark</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">More NVG action</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Fixed-wing ordnance. Boom.</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8daa4exUgsL7a2givkSHq4n7nV3E5udqkQIgk5WIV41KzQEWO4KZFeRdBM0yOxfNUgqqQN6mM202Ty3cSNHGQS9WCfgFOjEej_Ws3sxzGIeEjGN2kGvXv9Crdjm9Mv1EvszlgQC38rJQ/s1600/DSCF3135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8daa4exUgsL7a2givkSHq4n7nV3E5udqkQIgk5WIV41KzQEWO4KZFeRdBM0yOxfNUgqqQN6mM202Ty3cSNHGQS9WCfgFOjEej_Ws3sxzGIeEjGN2kGvXv9Crdjm9Mv1EvszlgQC38rJQ/s320/DSCF3135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">OP Feets - not a fun climb</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0Q4tMGzJ2JmPcymzlZnQb0iebpq97XwG45tk-AeupUZq6SAczWN7g14l7DnA7eb4IOhyQUGoKbOvImucQ8qC3zGwBizChD-aMHG16ostC0qbI8p3t3iTDUAXPAvgSKueLUoJIfOhTQA/s1600/DSCF3140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0Q4tMGzJ2JmPcymzlZnQb0iebpq97XwG45tk-AeupUZq6SAczWN7g14l7DnA7eb4IOhyQUGoKbOvImucQ8qC3zGwBizChD-aMHG16ostC0qbI8p3t3iTDUAXPAvgSKueLUoJIfOhTQA/s320/DSCF3140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Resupply</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Weather inbound</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></strong></div>
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The second week we controlled from various LZs and FARPs (Forward Arming and Refeuling Points).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hQgG6E1qBGWUHusP_N1Hw73GoUPyWmGUuYslZaP3wtGUGWa0EZKfIrfhTPl8UqISPaxtG2U5mdSbJN5AdItPLR-YfduwIumEXjzkzdHNd3oRU7psdHn-SKhdvQPTISsabYLiJJ-bmWI/s1600/DSCF3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hQgG6E1qBGWUHusP_N1Hw73GoUPyWmGUuYslZaP3wtGUGWa0EZKfIrfhTPl8UqISPaxtG2U5mdSbJN5AdItPLR-YfduwIumEXjzkzdHNd3oRU7psdHn-SKhdvQPTISsabYLiJJ-bmWI/s320/DSCF3200.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">LZ Star</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAE8gimilKeuCq-fq8xN-yVrS3MUDo8pj0Q3aN0Ch5Yconw4L5M0ENilrEqCfuNg7pBRehwB9PBW_1UZFQDMUWZjoamh6k3fRo0pCi8n_KN58je2bC97QJZ_93v13JU7uPTwNZJFW9JQ0/s1600/DSCF3192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAE8gimilKeuCq-fq8xN-yVrS3MUDo8pj0Q3aN0Ch5Yconw4L5M0ENilrEqCfuNg7pBRehwB9PBW_1UZFQDMUWZjoamh6k3fRo0pCi8n_KN58je2bC97QJZ_93v13JU7uPTwNZJFW9JQ0/s320/DSCF3192.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CH-53's with some externals</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">KC-130</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CH-53E conducting mid-air refueling with the KC-130</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">KC-130 dumping extra fuel before returning to base</span></strong></div>
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At FARP Star a few days later... </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">UH-1 Huey</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Three Cobras, just after getting jumped by two Hinds</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_Mi-24" target="_blank">Hind</a></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Getting "strafed" by a Hind</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64XsjJcSK_V-04Ry95g9gNhGHW5050jv_96CkMkkmqMDcwmrzFDVeaENFuE3i6rBVhuNZoZreJd3uYic-AtXeWeJ0VQZsEAdRwnTGmz4PCZsus3bgkSr-xVN8L65IJWbdmqtgNd-6tPs/s1600/DSCF3257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64XsjJcSK_V-04Ry95g9gNhGHW5050jv_96CkMkkmqMDcwmrzFDVeaENFuE3i6rBVhuNZoZreJd3uYic-AtXeWeJ0VQZsEAdRwnTGmz4PCZsus3bgkSr-xVN8L65IJWbdmqtgNd-6tPs/s320/DSCF3257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Moonrise over the FARP</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Devastate Bravo"</span></strong></div>
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For the second two weeks, I was back with the main DASC as we displaced from one garden spot to another.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Tent living</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIqg5K0xbqjWOwVtWtYkoD-hzP6gKHhjVyPuHFNbT-xAhfK1tDk1PDYbr1t0h2lRESns31Ac_RUON0ciTEvVb-OsrzpEjFJ-BeFdpao-qrM3MJt25R1-gTe_tpmaEOQlvYYM4qiOlDDY/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIqg5K0xbqjWOwVtWtYkoD-hzP6gKHhjVyPuHFNbT-xAhfK1tDk1PDYbr1t0h2lRESns31Ac_RUON0ciTEvVb-OsrzpEjFJ-BeFdpao-qrM3MJt25R1-gTe_tpmaEOQlvYYM4qiOlDDY/s320/224.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Getting dirty</span></strong></div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd23drSXpVomAfQpIurebLlpvRZIr34sNAqju-3gxCunp-wniDjZHz8qoZrSObp3lpjY-RrFk1IuaP5390AgICpDU_kfwQGDZ7qBUJlrmISM0d8o_FcT4lyBKOA_Uag41gt9GezUbWLIM/s320/DSCF3042.JPG" width="320" /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguA4KN7O2TTBtiLUF5Q9NBf0hnCLr5qdNUiuIlQjDx9T0nUU_DsXuBQEPDvQZOlltCRT0Tkbdqwdxqn-enca8jokspo5Vk1pRYgIM5A4fmbCKA0A_zne7eQ-Ygi3wZANQyBMXeeZ0-P4/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguA4KN7O2TTBtiLUF5Q9NBf0hnCLr5qdNUiuIlQjDx9T0nUU_DsXuBQEPDvQZOlltCRT0Tkbdqwdxqn-enca8jokspo5Vk1pRYgIM5A4fmbCKA0A_zne7eQ-Ygi3wZANQyBMXeeZ0-P4/s320/226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Desert dwellers</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6Wb81KvgwgWjKKqqujnnMyIEKAySxT-nJBVjYna6MTmcGNpJz9Frr-gtbZ2aGNZyRDZlT3XYSXFtg8vENwStndQ0AtW466reR43CTwSwCENQHue3mikLytP3uQh5iOZmK_SmOf4Gplc/s1600/DSCF3296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6Wb81KvgwgWjKKqqujnnMyIEKAySxT-nJBVjYna6MTmcGNpJz9Frr-gtbZ2aGNZyRDZlT3XYSXFtg8vENwStndQ0AtW466reR43CTwSwCENQHue3mikLytP3uQh5iOZmK_SmOf4Gplc/s320/DSCF3296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On the firing line at Fire Base Burt</span></strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAcn1wzrJBd-h1JlcC-K2oMVQFBEQOCJ81pbC_TSOsi3C6tfVEYji4HMUTDHZua-wuyc8kzEFgSkTKWc8TnLlBSGVvl7M70hRnnMZBR1MotsthbJuNFPw0XEcbqrnUjPB9vEY9_5zELE/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAcn1wzrJBd-h1JlcC-K2oMVQFBEQOCJ81pbC_TSOsi3C6tfVEYji4HMUTDHZua-wuyc8kzEFgSkTKWc8TnLlBSGVvl7M70hRnnMZBR1MotsthbJuNFPw0XEcbqrnUjPB9vEY9_5zELE/s320/238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Taking a break during a convoy</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkjkPLR_eVMqGpJmo1vQSWdMh8SDTq4ZaUQScdM5wfvP5lPNoW_UTccTONbOIBAxkO_Z4XQOofMlMIZkPcgIUCNEF6hMBAMihllZLo172NkFDBNYwyuMVBnyUFDcLhSZbZ-6gfoAQovI/s1600/DSCF3001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkjkPLR_eVMqGpJmo1vQSWdMh8SDTq4ZaUQScdM5wfvP5lPNoW_UTccTONbOIBAxkO_Z4XQOofMlMIZkPcgIUCNEF6hMBAMihllZLo172NkFDBNYwyuMVBnyUFDcLhSZbZ-6gfoAQovI/s320/DSCF3001.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At least there are nice sunsets in the desert</span></strong></div>
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Well time to go enjoy the rest of my 96. Happy 236th, Marines, and Happy Vets Day to all!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf-4Wzsvv3j0VOpVwoXhIdWedQUpGMTcAFGtqSCvCRpQrPK5mBQlrDeQmgFfbolZUNxQYxe4-6GrhRKPGwfLZ-Tzt1Kxf1bM5DX-gn79emmyxHOQHbwuha1Dbon8mfgxJgnvyoIAClbA/s1600/DSCF3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf-4Wzsvv3j0VOpVwoXhIdWedQUpGMTcAFGtqSCvCRpQrPK5mBQlrDeQmgFfbolZUNxQYxe4-6GrhRKPGwfLZ-Tzt1Kxf1bM5DX-gn79emmyxHOQHbwuha1Dbon8mfgxJgnvyoIAClbA/s320/DSCF3281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-86607917410982913572011-09-23T15:36:00.000-04:002011-09-23T16:08:46.765-04:00In the summertime, when the weather is fine...I should be running right now but it's almost 9AM and still just 62 degrees out and foggy so I'm waiting for it to warm up a bit. Now I'm not complaining about the weather here, but it's late September and I should probably accept that summer is just about over.<br />
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It's been a pretty good summer over all. When I first got back in March, as you might have noticed, I was a bit of a frenzied mess mentally, inexpressibly relieved to be back but slightly disoriented by the shimmer of civilization. My brain just felt like it was overheating a bit at times. I remember trying to fill up my gas tank for the first time, getting it all wrong - trying to pump before I slid in my card, forgetting to select a grade - and wondering how something I'd done automatically for years could suddenly require such concentration.<br />
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But the initial dither of readjustment faded within a month or two (I now pump gas almost effortlessly, thank you), and since then I've just been enjoying life in S Cali, one of the world's great places to relax. In May my youngest brother (E) came to visit (as <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-birthday-america.html">previously briefed</a>), in June it was my mom, and in July the middle brother (A).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI4Va2rcjvclx1CEdMySFJch9PfyJ36kfON2SnscopWUeevDaOLjLD_gVdru9yJcLRI0QVV7Lik6UUZEhhLVJzHq9piO1xRIzr_dNMv3yAk2Dd_-3wwmCZDHsX31DqVrjyfDT8NCm_wc/s1600/DSCF1615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI4Va2rcjvclx1CEdMySFJch9PfyJ36kfON2SnscopWUeevDaOLjLD_gVdru9yJcLRI0QVV7Lik6UUZEhhLVJzHq9piO1xRIzr_dNMv3yAk2Dd_-3wwmCZDHsX31DqVrjyfDT8NCm_wc/s320/DSCF1615.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>After the big Grand Canyon trip, E and I spent a day <br />in Hollywood looking for amazing cars.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjpc-coUI5fFSn_rzMGsOp0a00gIDbmmzVokQJtNMAXai33Q34Vl3Hf2wVkNXy4-pcvbovdbWqoo7Tm5J41mngwre8oCPOqxgfgJ0Y45ngOFFdsc912QhaeSwYqxFaqYUuhGv5VHDKdI/s1600/DSCF1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjpc-coUI5fFSn_rzMGsOp0a00gIDbmmzVokQJtNMAXai33Q34Vl3Hf2wVkNXy4-pcvbovdbWqoo7Tm5J41mngwre8oCPOqxgfgJ0Y45ngOFFdsc912QhaeSwYqxFaqYUuhGv5VHDKdI/s320/DSCF1594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> We found some.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumL2G-jCHy1bxbkzQp-HIg5wEqx2pqtkxafX-6wCW0jAoJeoYOTp3LsCd98taqQUziByeGFIWSp-8dfwxJ7UhO0LZrVfpXVjVpqNXUPOLPng0treVtQbDWLGkIsIF5ifVI3Srqy6Owjc/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumL2G-jCHy1bxbkzQp-HIg5wEqx2pqtkxafX-6wCW0jAoJeoYOTp3LsCd98taqQUziByeGFIWSp-8dfwxJ7UhO0LZrVfpXVjVpqNXUPOLPng0treVtQbDWLGkIsIF5ifVI3Srqy6Owjc/s320/IMG_0168.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mom on the <a href="http://www.midway.org/">USS Midway museum</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAFdpxKzMYqLNEvTtPLk_M1Lfqbmn-AduiWlT9Lbh65jYheJGlhdQhS_XHSpao8lzupBy_AF4D_XbdfiI1DXzst751aT2gwY5jQJB1iOer_0qW4vij33Agy5AFf_oFHjywS7iyHLO4lA/s1600/DSCF1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAFdpxKzMYqLNEvTtPLk_M1Lfqbmn-AduiWlT9Lbh65jYheJGlhdQhS_XHSpao8lzupBy_AF4D_XbdfiI1DXzst751aT2gwY5jQJB1iOer_0qW4vij33Agy5AFf_oFHjywS7iyHLO4lA/s320/DSCF1619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Mom and me at the Grand Canyon (it never gets old)</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0LRjX8qx8ySMzLyY61RCziYjNkj8Mx3OnDY_6LmY9oOg9Geks7hDlstO89LQOLUfBqDrLq7xzQ3p-_XIQEH2ftwM3uTug0-W0syDjz9XnJcmksbDRpEbnKWjsveplPX3zPKw4UFxL6E/s1600/photo6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0LRjX8qx8ySMzLyY61RCziYjNkj8Mx3OnDY_6LmY9oOg9Geks7hDlstO89LQOLUfBqDrLq7xzQ3p-_XIQEH2ftwM3uTug0-W0syDjz9XnJcmksbDRpEbnKWjsveplPX3zPKw4UFxL6E/s320/photo6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Dtxbh5ZQNSAKcl11keAJE1rlftwjEtB_tyub_YOHD0LvTgHR91CRMfMeEx5LjiZQZHMdS0B_fArNAwbaE_dWYEpPUW01bDqpxg-onzrvA9J5l3U15hTpjQn9DWLMO6YjRLYzkXBj20/s1600/photo7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Dtxbh5ZQNSAKcl11keAJE1rlftwjEtB_tyub_YOHD0LvTgHR91CRMfMeEx5LjiZQZHMdS0B_fArNAwbaE_dWYEpPUW01bDqpxg-onzrvA9J5l3U15hTpjQn9DWLMO6YjRLYzkXBj20/s320/photo7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>A and I went to the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CE0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sandiegozoo.org%2F&rct=j&q=San%20diego%20zoo&ei=Q9h8TsihMqKKsQKe0bw7&usg=AFQjCNEjBRdIR_ykAM1FOsJJtv8oaalITg&cad=rja">SD zoo</a>. Love animals, hate zoos. </b></span></div>
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July-August was Scorpion Fire, a quick trip to NH, some more camping, and all kinds of other <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mishigas"><i>mishigas</i></a>. In September we sat a bunch of drills. Also I ran the CFT and I got a 300(!). First time I've aced a Marine Corps fitness test,
though I still have plenty of work to do to reach my personal goals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Sp-aPjXx_TUX2p6Tei-bNodqfiyS9iNWh44n2oKzXcsaiS9DT0M4xGk_218yVz-x6JaXxwGxgdhOyeBnMvCvEJWL7xPp8qn0z5_toM7x_cgeNiNsuMYVwTwnGM-pBbz5X4_RVFFXYIY/s1600/photo3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Sp-aPjXx_TUX2p6Tei-bNodqfiyS9iNWh44n2oKzXcsaiS9DT0M4xGk_218yVz-x6JaXxwGxgdhOyeBnMvCvEJWL7xPp8qn0z5_toM7x_cgeNiNsuMYVwTwnGM-pBbz5X4_RVFFXYIY/s320/photo3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Yuma in July is hot...</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghoGIEBDbn_essYcgR65JKs5gKPXX6xgha-snbeauYhz5bM5KcvlkexFWRSH4HqwqxCAf2QL6cxb3VxrtkiFd2FQEhHqiMcN4lup_fELCPaKeOGEYFqBeI18w_r5MLM9mgF_5VrEqMDI/s1600/photo8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghoGIEBDbn_essYcgR65JKs5gKPXX6xgha-snbeauYhz5bM5KcvlkexFWRSH4HqwqxCAf2QL6cxb3VxrtkiFd2FQEhHqiMcN4lup_fELCPaKeOGEYFqBeI18w_r5MLM9mgF_5VrEqMDI/s320/photo8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>...but at least it has an <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.awrestaurants.com%2F&rct=j&q=a%26w%20restaurant&ei=99t8TpyXF9ONsAKBz7gb&usg=AFQjCNEpGWLL06eXAwUXwBnzwNJm8FTVnw&cad=rja">A&W</a>!!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4lqDTVV5aHnwTmVrRzdaByOKQEx4sXvQxA2bokMXrXXpY4YJYE4VSUL5HpSkoJK2W0y1lWRuLU9_J2uQOud70DxGzGRa03jYSFK63uYhcC7x3tGyq4XZe-TFPXHlgurYoWjB71k6iQg/s1600/photo4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4lqDTVV5aHnwTmVrRzdaByOKQEx4sXvQxA2bokMXrXXpY4YJYE4VSUL5HpSkoJK2W0y1lWRuLU9_J2uQOud70DxGzGRa03jYSFK63uYhcC7x3tGyq4XZe-TFPXHlgurYoWjB71k6iQg/s320/photo4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>...and good sunsets. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxQPmJwHXBisY2U1wa4cydVl7NvGgFmvR9GbTxs791uK_4ZGYTGVz1Owlxo2TBWuJltbLyXk7vi27GnttEyNs5kPG9DH5c5Z5qqyh0Z9Hr4j1pG37zBK3ndpitC1yv4WaXgsDZB-P-kY/s1600/DSCF1627.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxQPmJwHXBisY2U1wa4cydVl7NvGgFmvR9GbTxs791uK_4ZGYTGVz1Owlxo2TBWuJltbLyXk7vi27GnttEyNs5kPG9DH5c5Z5qqyh0Z9Hr4j1pG37zBK3ndpitC1yv4WaXgsDZB-P-kY/s320/DSCF1627.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Me man, make photogenic fire.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ApthL9qZP00c9QT6tEIwCD_eH_9CK66eN9afOeQ2rW8t76RPejiiU9mRlrVVTZv-053HJzDq745twH_zdDEBnZw_X54P_cOe7Ia3fglOZ0-PmKczUrqqhH3c3OrupudJaizhzPaNVk/s1600/photo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ApthL9qZP00c9QT6tEIwCD_eH_9CK66eN9afOeQ2rW8t76RPejiiU9mRlrVVTZv-053HJzDq745twH_zdDEBnZw_X54P_cOe7Ia3fglOZ0-PmKczUrqqhH3c3OrupudJaizhzPaNVk/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Chasing the sun from NH to CA</b></span></div>
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I also stood duty a few Sundays ago - September 11th. Like so many of you who blogged/posted on that day, I thought about how
quickly those ten years had passed and how things have changed since -
in my life and in the world. If you had asked me on 9/11 what I'd be
doing exactly ten years later, I would never have imagined I'd be in a
Marine Corps uniform, pistol on my belt, saluting the flag, preparing
for a second deployment to Afghanistan. Globally, on 9/11 the idea of "<a href="http://www.wesjones.com/eoh.htm">The End of History</a>"
ended as we recognized another ideological challenger to Western
Democracy and entered the fight of our generation. (Unfortunately, much
of the moral clarity of that period has since been lost - a situation
for which I blame hyper-partisanship and a superficial and
sensationalist press...but that's a whole other post).<br />
<br />
Anyway, that just about brings us to today, when I'm on a five-day weekend, thanks to a 96 plus a day off for my birthday. This Thursday I'll head out to Yuma, AZ for WTI (as <a href="http://leftofrightsite.blogspot.com/2011/09/and-by-march-i-mean-january.html">previously briefed</a>), where I'll be in the field until the end of October. Somehow, that sand and heat just isn't the same as the CA coast. So I'm gonna go out and enjoy it while I can. See ya!<br />
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Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302268515173291607.post-55041274153933289702011-09-19T21:31:00.001-04:002011-09-20T00:46:45.753-04:00The Greatest Ever, Part 1: Mariano Rivera<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://baseball.dailyskew.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mariano_rivera1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://baseball.dailyskew.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mariano_rivera1.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"We don't want to face him any more. He's too good. He belongs in a higher league. He should be banned from baseball."</b></span><i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>- Former Twins Manager <br />Tom Kelly</i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In the 140+ years of professional baseball in America, and the over four decades since the emergence of the role, there has never been a greater closer than Mariano Rivera, who <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=19399101">made it official today</a> when he saved his 602<sup>nd</sup> game, setting the all-time record.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I've been a fan of Mo's since he made his big league debut in 1995. Inspired by his accomplishment and some other random neurons firing in my brain lately, I've decided to start a series of posts highlighting, IMHO, the greatest ever in a given category. Feel free to disagree and suggest your own candidates. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In the case of Mo or any athlete, some justification is required. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">First, some background. For those who aren't familiar with baseball, the closer is a pitcher whose job it is to get the final few outs in a close game, thereby securing the win and earning a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_%28baseball%29">save</a>. It's easily the most high-pressure position in baseball, and requires not only phenomenal pitching but nerves of steel. This is especially true in the playoffs, where a blown save can shift the momentum of an entire series. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In Mo's case, he's now the all-time saves record holder, but even if he had never reached that summit, he still would have been the greatest in my book. Consider some of his other records, for starters:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Post-season saves (42)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Post-season series clinching saves (9) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Post-season ERA (0.71(!!))</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Post-season scoreless innings streak (34.1)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Regular season save conversion rate (89.3%) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Though it's not an official stat, I'd venture he has the highest post-season conversion rate as well (min 20 appearances, say) at 91.3%</span></li>
</ul>
Next consider his longevity and consistency:<br />
<ul>
<li>Most pitching appearances in American League history (1038)</li>
<li>Most consecutive seasons with at least 25 saves (15) and 30 saves (9)</li>
<li>Most All-Star selections as a pitcher (12)</li>
</ul>
Other incredible accomplishments:<br />
<ul>
<li>Eight seasons with 40+ saves </li>
<li>Two seasons with 50+ saves</li>
<li>1999 World Series MVP</li>
<li>2003 ALCS MVP</li>
<li>And oh yeah, 5-time World Series Champion</li>
</ul>
But even all these numbers and records don't tell the whole story. For one thing, Rivera has accomplished all this with <i>just one pitch</i>. He throws no curve balls, no sinkers or change-ups. Every batter in the Majors knows exactly what's coming - the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutter_%28baseball%29">cutter</a> - they just can't do anything with it. Mariano simply dominates hitters.<br />
<br />
His achievements vis-à-vis other pitchers aren't bad either. Consider that second to Mo with his 42 postseason saves is Brad
Lidge, with 18. After Trevor Hoffman, whose record Rivera just broke, the next highest regular season saves
total belongs to Lee Arthur Smith with 478. Mo's 2003 post-season WHIP of .438, also a record, is over 60 points better than the next closet, .500 (Mike Scott, 1986). <br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"I get the ball, I throw the ball and then I take a shower."</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>- Mariano Rivera </i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Then there are the (much maligned) intangibles. There is no stat for consistency of delivery or pinpoint precision, but Mo is legendary in both areas. Often overlooked is how well a pitcher fields his position: Mo does so with an agility and intelligence that far surpasses most pitchers. Finally, the aptly-numbered 42 (the last player grandfathered in when Jackie Robinson's number was retired throughout baseball) might be "the most respected player in the league," as Rangers slugger Michael Young put it. His professionalism, deeply held religious values and serenity are reflected in the imperturbable calm he brings to the mound, even under the glaring spotlight of October baseball in New York.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"The most mentally tough person I've ever played with."</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>- Yankees Captain Derek Jeter </i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Though fans often forget it, the man is still human. Like any closer, he has blown saves - none bigger than Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. With a 2-1 lead in the 9th, a double by Tony Womack and a whisper-soft bloop single by Luis Gonzalez combined with some other factors to cost the Yankees their fourth straight Championship, and that in a year when the entire world was rooting for New York. <br />
<br />
But even that failure only emphasizes how unequaled Mo is at what he does. After all, the only other player who comes close is Trevor Hoffman, the previous saves record-holder with 601. And Mariano Rivera has <i>blown</i> more World Series saves (1) than Trevor Hoffman has ever converted. Sure, a few other names are sometimes thrown out there, such as Billy Wagner, Goose Gossage, Sparky Lyle or Dennis Eckersley. I'll let Eckersley respond:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"The best ever, no doubt."</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>
- First-ballot Hall-of-Famer <br />and former closer Dennis Eckersley</i> </div>
</blockquote>
<br />
There is simply no comparison. Mariano Rivera is indisputably the greatest closer in the history of baseball.<br />
<br />
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Davymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05854877774627859242noreply@blogger.com0