Elated Exhaustion

I guess it's time for an update. As I sit here, I am officially tired. I haven't quite figured out if I'm supposed to be asleep right now or not. I don't think I am, but tell that to my body, haha. The past few weeks have been an absolute blur/flurry of activity/I have no idea where the time has gone. At the same time, I feel I've been extremely productive concerning my mission here, so there's a sense of joy along with my exhaustion.

In the past few weeks:

I have been moved to day shift (hence why I'm tired) and have not quite figured out a legitimate sleeping pattern. I guess it's somewhere along the lines of: sleep when tired unless unable because I'm at work. I must say to step-pappy, though, I finally understand going to bed at 2000.

We had the September 11th Prayer Luncheon. I collected photos off the internet, the Chaplain had them blown up, and I mounted and put the finishing touches on the blown up pix. I can't say I was fully awake for the luncheon since it was noonish and I was still on night shift then, but it went well and I received my first coin from the Chaplain that I assisted, which really touched me.

I have been asked by the Chaplain to basically do the same thing for Veteran's Day that I did for September 11th, so I've been working on that as well.

I now do the hospital visits. I went with Jerry the first week and he showed me around. The next week, aka the first week I had to go by myself, I had myself pretty worked up about having to go by myself - nervous about how I would handle anyone that I came into contact with that had severe physical trauma or severe mental wounds that needed to talk. Thus far I have encountered neither. The more I ponder it, the more I think it will be similar to the first suicide prevention case I ever did - Thanksgiving Day 2007. I handled it, finished my shift, went back to my CHU, and bawled my eyes out. At least, I hope I can hold out that long. What I have encountered on the hospital visits I was so dreading are people bored out of their minds who really appreciate my being there and really want to chat because of said boredom. The first time I was there I was late picking up Steve for his shift because my watch is no longer working and I got carried away talking for over 2 hours (I know, I know... say it isn't so, right, haha).

We have worked the waterpoint for... I believe... 3 runs thus far, with 2 more on the way!

We're trying to coordinate for Halloween activities...including dressing up and working at a haunted house, having a drive-in movie double feature, and... ok, I think there's something else, but I can't remember right now (sleep deprived, remember).

We have begun experimenting with bread. We made peach bread the other night and have some ideas for improvement. I believe banana bread is next on the experimental bread list.

Something happened to the water some of the men have been drinking. It has made them bold, and I wish they'd stop.

I have realized I don't really mention the people I interact with on a day to day basis, which is mostly because I'm pretty sure I'll leave some out who should absolutely be added. There are some people that are or were (or should be) regulars in our office, so shout-out to Ardel, D, Dave, Elena, Gilbert, Holko, Jay, Jess, Lopez, and SSG Pashia... who am I kidding, just add almost all of SF! I'm sure there are people I'm leaving out, so sorry! These guys (and girls) are in to chat a lot, and I love hanging out with them! While I'm doing shout-outs, we have an amazing chapter that supports us by sending supplies for our canteen just about every week. Thanks!

In follow up to my last update, that week of weather was insane. We had white dust storms, yellow dust storms, red dust storms, black dust storms, orange dust storms, walls of dust attacking the COB, rain, mud, hot temps, and cold temps (and by cold I mean nearing 80). The weather here is never predictable and is rarely pleasant too many days in a row, but that was a truly bad week weather-wise.

I also realize that I haven't really networked here... if anyone is looking to donate something, troop donations are an excellent idea (or I think so, at least). Phone cards are an amazing morale booster. If you want to send some over, or want to get your school, church etc involved somehow, just leave a message here and I can get you our address here so we can pass them out. For ordering information, you can go to aafes.com as well. If there's something else that you'd like to donate, again, message me and we'll chat. Thanks everyone!

Acronym Finder
SF- Security Forces - the cops 'round these here parts
SSG - Army Staff Sergeant, E6 type