I saw it again.

As I was walking out of the station where I work, I saw one of the interpreters (terps) carrying a big toy doll, still in her box, all dressed in pink girly clothes. She was one of those little doll-babies you would see a little girl go all googly over on one of those Christmas specials.... Anyway, trailing him was another terp carrying a similar doll and a black plastic bag concealing something similar in size.

They were moving rather quickly, and seeing them scurrying past, I start to get really curious. My initial instinct is to harass them about playing with dolls, but as I suppress it, it hits me that those dolls are not for them.

I followed them out the door, as I was on my way to a meeting, and that is when I saw it: "Cloud 9." These two men had handed the toys to three little kids. I should have figured that one out, right?

They were in their last day of a traditional three day morning period following a death in the family but the smiles on their faces concealed any pain they were in at the time. There is just something about that stereo-typical baby-doll hug that is the remedy for any little girl ailment.

I think I smiled for the next 15 minutes, which would have made me look really goofy as I walked into my meeting 2 minutes later. Everyone was probably thinking, "What is wrong with that guy...."

Semper Fi,
m

Last Few days

The last few days we have started settling into a routine. We train and mentor the Iraqi's we are around and then write up a summary of the days events to pass on what we have accomplished that day.

Our Company CO and 1stSgt came out and had lunch with us a few days back. Both are great men and great leaders of Marines. They expressed a sincere interest in how we were living and how our mission was progressing forward. They keep us focused on the big picture, straighten us out and keep us all out of trouble, just like Marine leadership is known for. They are definately the right men for their jobs. After a quick lunch, they moved on to another location to check on more of their Marines.

There really isn't too much more to write about right now. Hopefully I will have a little more to pass on at the end of the day... we will see.

The show...:

OK, so I went to that dog and pony show and it was interesting to say the least. The ceremony happened; there were lots of political jabs; the ceremony ended. Yeah....

It all started out awkwardly enough...: The two American LtCols were right on with their protocol. They shook hands and went down the line, from right to left, just like they were supposed to. They took their seats in the front row and gave those arriving room to sit next to them if they chose.

As new VIP's arrived, they stood and extended their hands. Those arriving are supposed to go to the senior guy in the front and then work to their left. Those arriving never started with the American LtCols. This meant that the LtCols were one of the last people to be greeted and they always, graciously offered a seat next to them to the person they were greeting. Until the last sheik, every one of them declined. I was very surprised.

I am not sure if this was because they were trying to say no to the Americans or if they were saying yes to someone else, but either way, it didn't look so good.

In attendance at the beginning of the ceremony (and that is important here...) were the Mayor of Ramadi, the Ramadi District Police Chief (this ceremony took place at the Ramadi District headquarters and he was the highest ranking Police Officer at the ceremony, as a Colonel), more than a dozen Iraqi Police LtCols and four sheiks from the Ramadi area. Also in attendance were probably a hundred Iraqi police and military members and probably 50 Marines.

The ceremony started and a plaque was passed from the leaving American LtCol to Col Salih, the District Police Chief to the other American LtCol, signifying a change of authority in this district.

It was after that, that the real fun began.... The leaving American LtCol took the microphone and just as he began to give his remarks, a convoy of vehicles rolled up. It was the uninvited Provincial Police Chief, Major General Tariq and an uninvited Iraqi Army Brigadier General.

The American LtCol graciously stopped and allowed the General and his "party" to greet the VIP section and be seated... in HIS and the other American LtCol's chairs.

In his remarks the American LtCol talked about Col Salih and how good it was to work with him... not one word about the General. He finished up and handed the microphone off to the incoming American LtCol talked about how excited he was to work with Col Salih and make his district safer... again, not one word about the General.

In concluding his remarks, both Americans moved from in front of the ceremony and went to take seats... that were already taken. Col Salih saw this and shewed two Iraqi LtCol out of their chairs and gave them to the Americans.

Following the ceremony, food was brought out and it was then social time for those at the ceremony. The American LtCols had not approached the General.

Yoda (Fawwaz) elbowed me and pointed out that this was a bad thing. The American leaders need to go and introduce themselves to the General.

OK... I can act on that piece of intel.... I walked over to the SgtMaj and informed him of the protocol that was being missed (Gunny's don't just walk by a SgtMaj and correct his LtCol... and that is some Marine Corps protocol I KNOW would have gained some unwanted attention on my part).

I greeted the SgtMaj and expressed my concern on a potential offense that could be avoided with a simple greeting. Immediately, his brow wrinkled up and he started quietly scolding me about how he was a SgtMaj, how he knew protocol and how some little Gunny was not going to correct him or his LtCol. Noted. At that point, I knew I had done all I could do and this was in his hands.

At that point I looked at Yoda and asked him if it was acceptable to get my picture taken with the Mayor and the General. This got him all excited and he started waving his hands... um, what did I say?

Everyone started looking at us... we had just become the center of attention. This was the opportunity Yoda was looking for. We went straight up to MGen Tariq and got our picture taken with him. (The Major General Tariq is the Man right next to me. The man next to him is an Iraqi Army Brigadier General and the LtCol next to him is the LtCol next to him....)

Yoda had found a way to break the ice with the General, make him feel like an important person and get the LtCol's attention on the General. Ego... we had played to his ego and possibly prevented something ugly. (This is the me with the Mayor of Ramadi.)

Well, that started a MOB! Everyone broke out cameras and started to take pictures with people. People who thought they were important started elbowing their way into pictures with important people. The below started out as a picture with me, another Marine and the Mayor and several other VIPs had to jump in too. (OK, so there is me, SSgt W, the Mayor, a Sheik, a civic leader, another Sheik and an interpreter.

Shortly after Yoda and I had completely changed the dynamics of the gathering, the SgtMaj came up to me and asked, "who are you?"

"I'm Batman!"... no wait, wrong story... "Bond, James Bond"......

I told him who I am and what unit I am from. He contemplated that for a moment and then he apologized. I must tell you, it takes a man of a SgtMaj to apologize. SgtMaj's are supposed to be infallible and this man had the courage to admit that he wasn't.

About that time I heard my name from across the crowd of people, "SALAM! Habibi!! (brother-like friend)" What do you think I said to that: "SALAM!!!" He laughed and hugged my neck. (This is the man who gave me my nick-name. His new nick-name is Abu-Salam (father of Salam, because he gave me my name.)

Semper Fi,
m

Dog and Pony

Fawwaz told me a really cool story about a king who would pay people who would come to him and demonstrate their productive talents.

A man came before the king and had invented a new way to catch fish. The king gave him 100 gold pieces and sent him on his way.

A man came before the king and showed him a way to navigate using a magnetized needle floating using a cork. He too went away with 100 gold pieces.

One day a man came before the king with a talent he was sure would impress. He took a needle and threw it, sticking it into the marble wall. He then took another needle and threw it, sticking it into the eye of the first. Then, with another 8 needles did it again and again and again. At the end, he had thrown ten needles, sticking them into the eye of the previous with a toss.

The king had the man flogged. Not only had the man wasted the kings time, but he had wasted countless hours honing this pointless skill. It produced nothing of value.

We are having some dog and pony show today. Not really, but that is the term we have given to little ceremonies that take an inordinate amount of time and produce very few results.

There will be lots of pomp and circumstance, 30+ men standing at attention out in the Iraqi sun, at least one color guard, lots of sheiks and senior people walking around a parking lot that has been swept, mopped and squeegeed, (yes, a parking lot in dusty sandy Iraq, hosed off, mopped and squeegeed!) chairs put out under covered awnings, decorations, sodas and a spread of food, all for two men to hand a silly flag from one to the other.

At the end of the day, what does it really accomplish? Does my job get easier? Do we have to deal with fewer insurgents? Nothing, no and no. At the end of the day it is all about pride.

Enough on that. I will still get to work with the Iraqi's and mentor them in the conduct of their duties. At the end of the day, THAT will make my job easier, make it harder for the insurgents and bring me closer to eliminating the need for a replacement.... If I can eliminate the need for a replacement, that means one less Marine has to come out here, right?

Semper Fi!
m

Cloud 9

Have you ever heard someone say, "I am on Cloud 9." Kind of a weird expression that means they are just really, really happy and so much so that they can find really no other valid expression to, well, express their happiness.

I have often wondered exactly where is this proverbial "Cloud 9?"

Well, today, I found it! Today, Cloud 9 went by the name: "Mail Call!" I got two boxes and three envelopes. I really don't remember walking to the hooch... I think it was Cloud 9 that just came down, floated up under my feet and carried me to the hooch.

I sat down in the room and just stared at the boxes with this goofy grin on my face. Then I would look over at the letters and just smile.

Sgt Garrett got two boxes too and I think he was on Cloud 10. He held his hand up above his head as if measuring some tall stack of motivation and said, "Gunny, my morale is up here!"

We are out here in the city and our "world" just seems so far away sometimes. Those three letters and those two boxes just bring those we love right there into our hooch with us. It is like those we love just connected with us WAAAAY over here... I don't know how else to express the feeling except to say we were "on Cloud 9."

Thank you so much, Beautiful for the boxes and the letters from the kids!!! I am really struggling to find something in that box I am willing to share..... I will share the card-board....

Mom, I got your second letter! I really love the thought you put into it. Telling me about the apple-crisp... I could almost smell it. I actually looked down at my hands when you talked about peeling the apples, as if they hurt or I had cut them or something.

Brad and Brooke, Madeline and Jack, thank you so much for my card. You did a great job on it! I am going to hang it on my wall and will see it every day.

Please don't see this as me asking for packages, as I am honestly and truly blessed. I wholeheartedly appreciate all your support and prayers.

Semper Fi,
m

Sleep

Over the last few days, I have come to realize that for me, I need to crash when I go to sleep.

Somewhere around 9pm, my body just starts to crash. At that point, I either get to bed or I try and stay awake. If I can make it to about 10pm, I am awake until about 2am when my body takes another dive. If I can stay up until about 3am, then I am good until 6 and the cycle goes for about every 2-3 hours after that.

The problem is, if I try and get to sleep around 11pm, I am tossing and turning until about 2am, my next crash. I don't know what it is, but I now look back and notice that I was like that at home before I left too.

Here lately, I have been staying awake for one reason or another, past 10pm and then I am all messed up for the next day. I am going to hit the rack early tonight and I will let you know how it goes!

Semper Fi,
m

5 October, 08

The 5th was a kinda crazy day. We had a bunch of little things happen and not happen that were just out of the ordinary.

A big morning meeting did not happen as the main person we were to meet with decided to be elsewhere. Most of the other people showed up except him. This got the rumor mill going and the soap opera started as to the why's, where's and when's of things. Come to find out it was probably no big deal and there was simply a mis-communication.

Then there was the silliness of communicating within the shop. Seems Fawwaz and us have different cultural backgrounds (way to go Captain-Obvious, right?) and that causes a mis-communication now and again... the 5th was one of those days. We eventually got it all straightened out.

About that time an IP comes in and has lost some important documentation and was told we could help him, another mis-communication. He needed to go back to the source of the original documents before we could help him, so we got him turned back around... a process that would have taken about 2 minutes had it not been for language barriers leading to a mis-understanding or two.

Rumors started back up about our little team getting moved and not moved and moved and not moved. I just go where I'm told, you know?

Then there was me being nick-the-new-guy and needing a refresher on a process that our team across town helped us with...

It was just an awkward day all around.

On a high note, my Cincinnati Bengals lost again... I think they are going for a perfect 0-16 season.

Semper Fi,
m

Katelyn's Party

From Colleen's Perspective on, "...the party of the century at 604 Forest Grove Ave!"

We had 18 kids (includes ours) at the party, and 13 spent the night. So that was 10 extra girls in the house!

The kids did go swimming, all of them went in but two I think. It was cold. About 65 degrees air temp and 75 degrees water. They loved it.

Then we ate pizza (we ordered way too much, we thought more parents were going to stay (of those who didn’t stay the night…wrong!), are some awesome cake and ice cream, then opened presents.

There were a lot of presents when you have 18 kids that makes for a lot of presents! After all that we watched Camp Rock and made friendship bracelets.

Kim and Courtney showed up at the door ringing the door bell several hundred times and asked for Katie. Katie and all her friends went out on the porch and was serenaded by them with a fantastic rendition of Happy Birthday followed by the attack of the silly string! It was awesome, girls screaming everyone laughing. It was totally unexpected. They crashed a slumber party. It was perfect… something you would have totally done!

We all came back in, watched some more of the movie, finished the friendship bracelets, watched another Hannah Montana movie and then finally quieted down. We all finally fell asleep around 1am. It was a long fun night.

I was up and showered by around 7am, had pancake sundaes for breakfast and then had a polarbear swim in the pool. This time the water 74 degrees but the air was 50 degrees. They loved it. It was great.

I think Katie will remember this party forever. It was great, the only thing that would have made it better was for you to be home! Katie held back some great tears opening your gift, she loves the horse book, and read and reread what you wrote to her several times. The laughed and cried at her chicken webkinz, it’s called Chickadee! You made another awesome impression on her! Great job!

I took Katie back to cheerleading today, she did tons better, had a great time and now loves it. She did fantastic. Her teacher noticed her hard work and pointed it out to everyone. I think she’s gonna stick with it!

BTW: the boys acted like perfect gentlemen and had a great time too! They loved watching TV alone in my room… star wars the clone wars the animated series started last night… they too were in heaven!

Colleen is an amazing lady!!!

Katelyn's 8th Birthday Party.

All is still quiet on this end of the world, but things are crazy at my home in the states....

The 5th of October is Katelyn's 8th birthday, and her sleep-over party was the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. From what Colleen was saying, she had 13 girls (all about that age) sleeping over at the house.

At one point, Colleen had planned to throw them all in the pool, but she said the temps were down into the forties when she woke up on the 3rd. They probably came up with something else fun to do. Colleen is really good at that.

You know my 9 year old twin boys, Caleb and Seth were either in heaven or hell! From a distance they probably had the time of their lives, but up close... "EWWWW, GIRLS!!!"

I can only imagine what Colleen went through. On the other hand, our mom, from her side of the family, flew in yesterday and she is always such a huge help when she comes down. She has a calming effect on the home. Colleen is calmer. The kids are calmer. Everything just seems to relax a bit and everyone is just more productive.

What do you get an 8 year old girl anyway? As you probably read in a previous post, she rides and trains horses... not an option! She is into cheerleading... I think she has all that stuff already. Most of what she has asked for either ends in "-puter" or "phone" or ",000.00+". She's 8 for crying out loud!

What I really wanted to give her will have to wait until I get back: a really big Daddy's hug. I guess, until then, a Mommy's hug and a Gramma-Marge's hug will just have to do.

Semper Fi,
m

Routine

Everything is good here right now. We are settling into a routine and slowly, steadily advancing our students. Mentoring takes time and most of what we are doing is mentoring.

Sgt Garrett and I are doing PT about 4 times a week and really working to keep our minds active. I am starting to learn some Arabic and Sgt Garrett is working on developing some training classes for our battalion.

Both of us are interacting with those around us and learning what we can.

Yesterday a wedding party drove by our little compound. Lot of honking car horns and celebratory gun firing going on as they drove by. People were hanging out of the windows and sun-roofs videotaping each other in the procession. Cars were decorated with painted signs congratulating someone for something and flowers.

About fifteen minutes later the Governors vehicles went rolling by and they shot into the air as well.

One of these days Newton's laws of gravity will start taking effect over here and that whole gravity thing is going to catch up with them!

Until then, Semper Fi,
m