Hello From Germany

What’s up with the weather back home? How come it fluctuates between hell and winter? Hmm, must be the climate shift brought on by the nomination of Judge Roberts. Don’t ask me how they’re related, but I know of at least a couple of people who’d make that link. All I can say is if he’s good enough to get past Ted Kennedy once, he ought to be good enough to get past him again. And then of course, the weather should blow in calm and rosy.

I do miss discussing politics. I’m always right over here and it’s no fun when everyone agrees with you.

I know what I missed about Germany. It’s the bread, and the Schnitzel. There’s a German national that drives his truck right up to our gate with a mobile kitchen and he cooks on the spot. He has some of the best wurst and schnitzel on bread that I’ve had in a long time. He’s charging $3 dollars but I’d gladly pay twice that, it is the best. There’s something about German bread and their meats…unbelievably good. This is the same kind of roadside vendors they warn you away from in Jamaica, but in Germany? Awesome. Delicious.

Sorry, that was a diversion; I just got back from lunch. J Everything else has been Army food, and maybe the comparison just isn’t fair.

SO, I am back in the Army. I’m up early and work late. There’s nothing to do except the mission and I don’t even get a chance to check emails that much or post on the site. It’s been fast and laborious and lots of information to assimilate. We’ve been in acronym hell trying to keep up and have a list of over 200+ to remember. I guess it’s the same in any new business you jump into, but very challenging. I’ll be here for another couple weeks or so, looks like I’ll be home around 2 Aug.

I briefed my first General today who happens to be a woman. I’m in a field of the military where women do very well and many have risen to ranks not seen when I first got out 20+ years ago. The ethos that is inbred in the active duty component of the military is the warrior ethos, and sometimes the woman feel like they have to be Sheena of the Jungle to be effective, but she was very professional as well as personable

Lots of traveling to get here. Look up Graffenwoehr on a map, we’re 5-6 hours by bus east of Frankfurt (ride from hell) and after a long flight I was brain dead my first days here. But, we bounce back and move on.

Someone asked me about the deployment and what I feared the most…was it the hot desert or dangerous environment or something else? I really didn’t have to even think about the answer, anyone that’s ever been in the service can tell you the same thing. It’s the total loss of control you lose over your life. Someone tells you where to go and when to be there and even who you can talk to and who you can’t. Most of the time, you don’t know why but you hurry up to get there, and then you wait. It was the wait that killed me, I hated it. I couldn’t bear to even stand in a line that was moving, let alone not moving. GAH! Hated it so much I got out.

Now I get to give the orders and make people do what I want them to and tell them where to go and when to get there. Well, not really. I have to remember what it’s like to be the mushroom so that communication goes up and down and people know why they’re told to hurry up and wait. Amazingly, the system works and we keep each other safe and accounted for. The herd mentality can be a benefit at times. Moo.

I do have new admiration for Paul and all those soldiers who live in body-armor with full battle rattle. I had to wear it to qualify with my 9mm at Camp Ripley last month with 100+ degree weather and I was done after two hours, I couldn’t get it off fast enough. A whole day in that? Unbearable. 1 year? Salutes to all our service men and woman who wear that shiznit to support their country.

Hello to all my family and friends. Keep the bulletin board chatter up; I probably won’t be able to post much for the next couple of weeks until I can get into a rhythm, but its fun to go out there when I can and catch up on all the news and typos. J

Please…talk amongst yourselves…