Elation and Frustration

It's Monday everyone, which means that's one more week I don't have to be here. When I measure my time left here in weeks it doesn't seem that bad. Only about 27 weeks until we leave this desolate country. One more Halloween, Thanksgiving, a birthday, Christmas, and New Years. Not that bad huh?

Of course it was NFL Sunday yesterday which is the highlight of my week here now. The Vikings were on at 9pm here which worked out just fine because lucky for me I had the day off. We had quite a few people over watching the game and it was a lot of fun, right until the ending of the game. I don't know what happened there but I am pretty dissapointed in the play calling. They ended up losing 19-16 to the Bears. So while it was exciting to see the game it was frustrating to see them lose. Thank God for football though because it's keeping me going week to week.

I have the day off today which is quite a relief with our busy schedule. Honestly I don't know what to do with myself, I feel lazy but I'm not too worried about it. Go to the Gym, study, take a nap, read a book; it's going to be a busy day.

Have a wonderful kick start to the week everyone,

Nick

A Chilly Wednesday Morning

I woke up this morning to a cool 68 degrees and it was by all accounts, refreshing. It will still be 110 when the sun gets all the way up and then it won't be all that refreshing.

If you didn't notice I said, "I woke up this morning" which means that I have finally switched over to the day shift 3-4 days ago. We have a rotating schedule every ten days so my body will never get used to what is day or night here.

Sometimes life over here is not so bad. The other day we set out in our trucks as the sun was rising and the brilliant light was begining to shine over the mud huts and plastered walls of the local villages. We went as we normally do business donned with armored vests, helmets, and weapons loaded, prepared for the worse as always, yet there was a sense of calm. The Johnny Cash tune crackling over our headset from our ipod, the locals preparing their goods, the hum of the truck, and the bumpy ride down the back trails made the morning feel quite gemutlich, pleasant and easygoing. A friendly wave to the goat herder, a honk at a stray donkey in the road, and the gentle flow of the Euphrates off to our side; I couldn't help but take it all in with a smile on my face. Maybe it was because of the four hours of sleep I had the night before watching the Vikings win in overtime via the play-by-play on the internet, but it was a great day nonetheless.

Until next time,

Nick

Enough already

Okay, so the posts lately have been a little shall I say "sappy" or "gushy" to quote comments to me. I admit that recent times have brought about more introspection about life and less information that people would like to know about my time over here. I also realize that many people are quite disheartened when I show a lack of enthusiasm and humor that I once had. Make no mistake, I have retained my sense of humor and I am doing just fine.

So I have a funny story. . .

Nick wakes up one humid evening in his sleeping quarters and rolls over to his side. He can't fall back asleep and realizes it is because of this humming sound that seems to be coming from outside, almost like someone power washing the side of his metal can. He goes outside to see what all the fuss is about, but to his suprise the sound disappears when he looks out there. "That's funny", he says to himself. When he enters his room and closes the door, the sound comes back. He is confused but doesn't have time to worry about it because he has to go to the gym.

Two hours later he returns to his room where his roommate Jake is rolling around in his bed trying to sleep. He can't sleep though because something had changed. Things just don't feel right.

"Bope. . .Why is it so hot in here?", he moans. Nick listens for the gentle hum and rattle of the air conditioning unit but can't hear it. He fumbles for the unit and instantly realizes he and his roommate were in for a treat.

The lights come on and they could see the destruction. The A/C unit had basically given it's last breath of air and in one last failed attempt to keep itself going had thrown everything in it's filter all over Nick's side of the room. "Son of a. . .[beach]", Nick's voice reverberates off of the metal walls.

Now Nick, being the responsible one, goes to billeting to make sure someone gets out to their room pronto. He leaves Jake in the room with the window and door open so that he might catch a breeze and a little bit of sleep. At billeting they assure him that a team will be out shortly to fix the problem.

Six hours and one midnight meal later. . . the team has arrived to fix the A/C. Jake is awake from the commotion and is scratching at the numerous bug bites he has received from sleeping in the open air. Nick just laughs and takes pictures because it really is just a scene that you don't want to forget. Now, the A/C unit has been "fixed" and is back in the wall, but they are still waiting for the next time it decides to puke it's filtrated particles out from it's black lungs and kick the can on them.

Have a wonderful week everyone,

~Nick~

My life to live

Still perplexed on how my life led me this route I contemplate. . .

What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever think you would be where you are today? Did you ever think that you would be the person that you are today?

I am a lucky man. Not lucky in the sense that "luck is on my side" or that I win the lottery every time I play, but lucky in a different sense.

Although my ideal life plan has not gone as planned, I wonder, what is the ideal? Is ideal what you see in the movies and call a happy ending? Idealistically, life would be easy street and everything would go as you want it, but what fun would life be if everything went as planned? Sure, I am a man of routine and habit. I buy the same pair of shoes every year since my freshman year of high school. I use the same stall in the bathroom every time. I buy the same toothpaste every time. In class I sit in the front every time and when I go to the gym I do exercises in the same order every time. It's just comforting when you have a plan and it goes your way, but let's not be foolish, that is not how life goes.

No matter how much control you have over your life there is a lot that you have to take without a hand in the matter. You learn as you get older that there are things you can control and things you can't. Really, all that matters is how you handle the things you can control.

Like I said, I have been blessed in my life and for that I credit the wonderful people that I have had the opportunity to be with. My parents raised me the best that they knew how and gave me unconditional love no matter what . My friends along the way have helped me to find out who I am and what kind of a person I want to be. Relationships helped me see a lot of what I want in life and what I expect from it.

So, would I trade my life for any other? No. Everything that has happened in my life has made me who I am and that's what makes people unique. This is my life and it is something that can't ever be reproduced.

Ever so sentimental,
Nick