Thankful

Today was a very good day. Started mellow and low key and continued on that way till now.
Several of us were able to go to the Embassy for "lunch", a ridiculous spread of pretty good food (everything from turkey, ham, mashed potatoes to lobster tail and sirloin). There was even a large turkey carved out of butter. (The decorations were a little over the top, bordering on... well ridiculous).

Then I enjoyed several cigars with some other folks out at the "mall" (the local shops) to include a Havanna Cohiba. (well that is what the package says).

Came back to the building and unbeknownst to me, there was another large dinner made. It was really really good and now I am fuuulllll... More turkey, more cranberry, more mashed potatoes, but this time had "traditional" bulger wheat, hummus, tibouli, na'an like flat bread, to include bahklava for dessert...

I even explored some of the building today... snuck down to the basement (which had been left unlocked). It was truly creepy. I was told it used to be a prison. It felt like that could be true. I got some pics, but again, those wont be going on here for a while.

Now back to the office, last check for the night, and then tomorrow off to the "range" to get some good trigger time in... gotta stay current.

Hope you all had a wonderful time with friends and loved ones.

Tryptophan kicking in...

Leg one, portion one... complete

I have made it to Doha. Safe and sound and on base. It is strange how quickly it was all familiar again. The airport seemed a little different, I swear I came in a different door last time or something. I find it odd that there is no customs form to fill out at Doha.
Once we were on the road and heading to the base, it became familiar again. The crazy traffic circles, the crazy speeds, and then the dark stretch of road where the Third Country Nationals (TCNs) live. There are no street lights, cars driving by at very very quick speeds, and these poor TCNs running across the road to get from their housing to the shops they shop at. Apparently, accidents happen often. And its not the drivers who get hurt.

Otherwise, I have the "tent" to myself and may be on the road (in the air?) again very soon...

More to follow.

Be well, hydrate, and don't forget to breathe deeply.

I

One more time...

Here we go again... another winter in the sandbox.

Just packing up the carry on bag and getting the persoanl "box of goods" ready for mailing tomorrow. Flight out of Dulles at 9:40pm, 12.5 hours later landing at 6:30pm Doha time.

I will see about posting more soon, nothing much to say now other than hug your loved ones, eat your vegetables and god bless all our service men and women.

Stay well,

I