Official Day # 2

I begin writing this from my bunk while my other cohorts sleep off a heavy-sitting lunch and as a strong, steady wind blows across the dry, dusty sand causing a layer of haze to form up all around the camp while unlucky people walking about outside are treated to the constant reminder of why they should walk around with their mouths closed lest they want to taste the grit of fine sand amongst their teeth, tongue, and gums.

I awoke this morning, after a not-so sleep-filled night, to the rustle of sleeping bags and the creaks of metal bed frames of my fellow bunkmates as they began to pile out of bed to make the trek to the head and shower hut located 30 to 40 yards away. Since my body was still on the Seattle time zone time and not yet ready for the major change it had undergone, I was wide awake at 0430 local time and in serious need of a shower and shave. As a handful of us got up to get ready for the day, a few of the others decide to stay in the 30' x 15' wooden huts that are lined with 8 bunk beds each and play catch-up with the ever-so-crafty sleep fairy eluding us.

After showering, shaving, and changing, we head over to the DFAC (our chow hall) to grab our breakfast and nourish our bodies with such goodies as (not-so-well cooked) bacon, (runny) scrambled eggs, (hardly-) hard-boiled eggs, (over-cooked) hashbrowns, and some other interestingly prepared food that even in it's well-intended edible form was still amazingly awesome tasting to the little buds on our tongues reaching out for the familiar tastes of food prepared on the other side if the world. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, as this is hardly further from the truth. I just want to give an accurate description to those of you able to sit in your little breakfast nooks and enjoy a delicious All-American breakfast.

After breakfast we head back toward the huts for morning muster and news of the day. Nothing new has developed except that we are still trying to get out of Ali Al Salem and will be unable to do so for the next 12 to 18 hours.

I head back to the hut and then off to the MWR building to try to call home but all the computers are full and the phone are all in use as well with lines to use both of them looking like they will take all day to get through. Instead of sitting around waiting there, I went back to the hut to watch a movie on my computer with the guys and to strategize a better plan for talking to my girl. After a few minutes into the movie I realized that the best time to try to get on the computer would be when everyone is isn't there and that is usually during chow! I had my plan, now to just time it right and all would work out.

The movie ended and I sat around for a few minutes before making my way over to the MWR building again and, low and behold, I was right... a lone computer with no line. I hopped on the chance and got online to my e-mail to read and reply. I only had a limited time to talk so I tried typing as fast as I could, then a box popped up in the corner if my gmail window and Lala started chatting with me! Wow! I couldn't believe my luck... 1155 in Ali Al Salem meant it was almost 1 AM in WA! What was she doing awake? She had to work the next morning... but that became a mute point as I just wanted to talk to her. We chatted it up for the next 15 minutes or so and then it was my time to get off. :-(

I was still riding the awesome high that follows being able to talk to your loved one from across the world as I walked to chow. I probably had the biggest stupid grin on my face as I walked in to the chow hall and the guys saw me.

After lunch we started the trek back to the hut and were engulfed in the swarm of dust getting kicked up from the wind. The wind had decided our skin needed a good scrub-down and we were excited to walk through the door to our bunkhouse and no longer feel that sting.

Upon entering the hut, there was an unspoken unanymous decision that an afternoon nap was needed amongst the crew.

More to follow...

Posted with LifeCast