Although it may rain Gold and Silver in a Foreign Land, and only Spears at home, it is better to be Home.

Happy Thanksgiving Day, Loyal Readers!! Indeed, it is good to be home - we had turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, roast potatoes, and home-made pecan pie - yumminess beyond compare! Here's hoping that you and your loved ones had a fine day, and may we all remember the things that we are truly thankful for.

Job, DONE.

My British Cockney friend in Japan liked to say "Job, done" whenever something was completed (usually something onerous). Today we finished the last of our out-processing from the Active Navy back to the Reserve side. I fly home tomorrow morning and have to report to the local NOSC (Naval Operational Support Center) to complete my transition as a Reservist once more. I will wear the ACUs one more time, and I can't wait to see you all when I return! I am still somewhat numb about the past six months - I really haven't thought about it since returning home. I am just trying to catch up on sleep, and thinking about the future. Maybe sometime I'll think about it, but not anytime soon.

ACUs

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU). It is a pixilated greyish/greenish/sandish-colored camouflaged uniform that actually is quite comfortable (everyone says that they feel like pajamas - albeit tactical pajamas). Covered with lots of pockets and Velcro, I have worn it continuously for the past six months. Pretty soon I will hang it up and return back to wearing Navy uniforms. Today, as I walked around Gulfport, I was the only Navy person wearing the ACU, and I felt kind of like a rock star (the ACU, among Navy folks, is a sign that you served with the Army and that you were out in the Sandbox). I can't say that I will miss having to wear it everyday, but it has served me well - thank you, ACU!

Demobilizing

Howdy all! Well, after one down-day (Veterans Day - awesome), we started our processing in earnest. Turns out our group is really just myself and a Navy Chief (E-7, Chief Petty Officer). The Chief is actually someone I know - he was assigned to my unit, but served at the home office in Florida (um... I guess I should use the military term - "headquarters"). Anyhow, we are moving along at a healthy clip, and we might be done by tomorrow, Friday the 13th (talk about ironic). There is the chance that we could be delayed until Monday, but it is looking like I could be out of here... tomorrow, or, more likely, Saturday (the logistics just work better).

Home!

I am back in the US - I arrived this evening after nearly an entire day on airplanes or in airports. It feels so great to see trees and clouds and rain - but it will feel even better to see you, my family and friends! I am exhausted and I badly need sleep - tomorrow is - fittingly enough - Veteran's Day, and I will start my demobilization. However, for now it is time for sleep!

Barriers (updated)

On top of the barriers listed in one of my earlier posts, we have a fourth type of mini-barrier, that we have dubbed the Rhode Island Barrier, due to its rather small size (it just seems to fit with the New Jersey/Texas/Alaska motif...). The RI Barrier is roughly two feet tall (60cm, for my Euro-centric friends out there), and approximately three feet wide (120cm). Although not very imposing (heck, we can push them over - and that is without using the Breadtruck!), they provide a sort-of-safety function by helping to delineate foot traffic paths and provide the heavy equipment (TCN Sandcrawlers, and big military people-squisher type vehicles) with some sort of guidelines to drive between (not that a house-sized container transporter or T-Rex-esque kind of heavy lifter is really going to notice if they accidentally color outside of the lines...). Anywho, the Rhode Island barriers valiantly do their collective best to limit the collateral damage around here. In the picture above, you can see Jersey Barriers on the left, and Texas Barriers on the right (and on the extreme righ, barely visble, are some Bremmer Barriers - big wire cages, with big bags inside filled with sand - designed like giant sandbags). I'll try to get a picture of our little friend, the RI Barrier, soon!

Greetings From An Undisclosed Location In Southwestern Asia!*

Howdy, Loyal Readers! Well, it is Wednesday, the 5th of November 2009, and I am still in the Sandbox. "Ushiku, what happened?" I hear you cry - no worries; seems that a few of our new people suffered some misfortune back home, and had to ship back immediately to take care of it (and our most heartfelt condolences to them and their familes). In the meantime, that left our shop critically undermanned, so we were asked to delay our homecoming for about six days. No problem - that is why we are paid the big bucks! Actually, it has been rather more difficult than I imagined - I guess, mentally, I had put a lot of cachet in today being the day to finally vamoose (its been fun, but this 24/7 rock-n-roll lifestyle can begin to wear on even the heartiest soul). I won't lie - it has been difficult to concentrate, and I can only think about next week and the flight home - which makes me feel terrible, like I am letting down the side, and that I should just gut it out and be the happy warrior (um, that is if a warrior is expected to hurl paper and staples at the enemy). Anyhow, today is hot (what else is new) and it feels like day 01 instead of day 180. We are getting crushed at work, and our new boss has promised to "Work you to death while I still have you". Crazy Awesome. Anyhow, it is only five more days, right?

[*When we refer to where we are based, we are supposed to only say that we are in "An Undisclosed Location In Southwest Asia".]