almost like home; except without the home
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008So we got lots of winter weather today…almost looked like the kind of snow we get back in MN. If one can ignore the military trucks, the military buildings, and I suppose the fact that we’re all in military uniforms and carrying weapons, it sorta looks like home. Well that, and the houses don’t look like houses at home at all. Umm….never mind.
I guess they put out a winter weather advisory for the next couple days. The good thing is, the Army has issued us these really great boots. I mean, not only are they tan (cuz suede works swell in snow!), but the soles double as skates in cold weather. Yeah, I mean the Army PEO took time to make sure we get boots equipped with soles that get really hard when they get cold. That way we get excellent traction in snow and ice! Oh wait, clearly I’m on crack. These boots suck in winter weather.
Kinda makes me think of when we got off the plane in Norway (February, mind you), and all of us were slipping and sliding and landing on our butts. Meanwhile the Norwegian soldiers were just looking at us like ‘wtf’? ‘These guys wisely wore their desert uniforms for winter training.’ At least in that case, the Norwegians got us into decent winter gear right away, which was really good kit. I really hated to give it back when we were done! Fortunately, it looks like most of our joes are getting issued the ‘ol black winter boots, which I trust work a little better than my staff-weeny gear. I just think the black boots look pretty dumb with the ACU gear.
Anyway, I hope you’re recovering from last night’s festivities, and that you had a chance to share in merriment with friends and family. I missed having some of the bubbly, and trying to catch my wife under the mistletoe. Didn’t even see Dick Clark this year either (does he still do the countdown??), since I ended up working pretty much all night. I guess they had some kind of celebrations over at the gym, and the group Handsome Devil played some tunes. I bought their album off of iTunes a while ago so I could give ‘em a listen, but unfortunately I missed their show last night. I hear they were pretty good, and that SSG D from D Co even got up on stage with the band.
Anyway, since it is New Year’s Day, I’ll close with my ‘new year thought’. I usually greet the new year with a little bit of melancholy, as I look back at the memories of the year past, yet with a touch of optimism for the coming year and all I hope to accomplish. But this past year has been such a blur, that I don’t quite find myself saying that this time around. However, it is a milestone on the journey getting us closer to getting back home. So I’m thrilled the new year is here, and I hope it treats you well too. I wish you and yours all the best in 2008.
Happy New Year!