Happy Easter

After three weeks, I am back in my pre-R&R routine! I am sleeping well, finally waking up before my alarm clock and getting my workouts in. It feels really good to be back on schedule. This has been a productive week professionally and personally.

I am working a few projects and wrote my first FRAGO this week, stands for Fragmentary Order, and in the joint staff officer world it is something I should know how to do. The FRAGO is an order from headquarters that assigns tasks to get things accomplished at headquarter, division, brigade, battalion or lower level. Bottom line- if you want something done by someone else, you are going to get asked for a FRAGO. It is not that it is hard, but it requires a very standardized format and distinct wording, neither that I was familiar with. But now I am- nice check in the block and a sense of accomplishment!

I also got in planning mode for a fall trip that Adam and I will take to Belgium. Having a few things in the future to focus on is helpful here. With R&R behind me, I wanted something special to daydream about to get me through my final three months. A trip for the two of us fit the bill perfectly, and now we have a week of biking around Ghent and Bruges to look forward to. Not the exercise kind, the European strolling around town kind of biking with a stop here and a stop there- think chocolate shops and breweries! It may be months away but I am already excited.

My week ended with a really nice Saturday and Sunday. I got two packages on Saturday that were packed with Easter candy and Dunkin Donuts coffee. The unexpected and generous packages were from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbus. Adam's Commanding Officer's wife Jeanine put me on their troop care package mailing list. Pat was Adam's CO when we were stationed in Mildenhall, England. Both Pat and Jeanine took really good care of us then, so it is not a stretch, but it is so sweet that they are still 15 years later. The timing was perfect, and with so much Easter candy in hand, I decided I would make some surprise Easter baskets for my colleagues. I had to get a little creative but managed to make 12 "baskets" to distribute on Easter morning. Big thanks to the Shermans and the parishoners at St. Pauls for making it possible!

I took Saturday afternoon off and in addition to filling in for the Easter Bunny, I spent some time giving my CHU a good cleaning. We had another dust storm this week, EVERYTHING in my room had a layer of dust. That, and I was hosting movie night for my friends Jill and Jen, another good reason to tidy. Movie night was fun- it felt like a Saturday night, instead of just another night. I got to sleep in a bit and then got a run and lift in with Ann, it is kind of becoming my standard Sunday am. After my workout, I enjoyed a slow morning and then headed in to work. Mid afternoon I got to check in with Noah and Amelia who had a great Easter in Athens with Sharon and Tom. I loved getting to hear the excitement in their voices as they described the morning's activities. I wrapped up my day celebrating Easter dinner with friends at the DFAC.

Wishing everyone at home a wonderful Easter too!

Love,

Krista

Pictures: Easter basket assembly line, left to right: Jill (Army LTC), me and Jen (Navy LCDR) at the DFAC this evening

Red Zone Reflections

It is Sunday evening and I am sitting at my desk, rested and relaxed after enjoying Saturday afternoon and this morning off. My Saturday included a movie night with my friend, and shipmate,Jen. We watched Secretariat, and even though both of us were 99.9% sure Secretariat won the triple-crown, we sat at the edge of our seats until he crossed the line at Belmont. Still, it was good anxiety as far as anxiety goes, and fun to be at the racetrack rather than in Baghdad for a bit. Sunday morning started with a short run after a little more sleep than normal. It is getting hot again, just one lap around the NEC and I was starting to drip. The rest of the morning was more leisurely, ending with a much needed pedicure, particularly after a week of flip-flops in Mexico. So I start this week well rested with pretty pink toes- I'd say I'm off to a good start.

This past week included a trip into the Red Zone for a meeting. A trip into the Red Zone requires a weapon, helmut, individual body armour and a protective security detachment; you don't just drive to the Red Zone, it involves a lot of planning and coordination. The particular route we took gave me a good look at Tafir Square (currently a popular protest spot) and two downtown thoroughfares. I love the opportunity to see what living looks like across the river, outside of the International Zone.

I wish I could say that it looks good but this trip left me reflecting, wondering really, how it could still look so dilapidated after years of reconstruction. Many buildings have gaping holes and shattered windows, visible scars of the bombings and secretarian violence that have rocked Baghdad in recent years. Amongst these seemingly abandoned buildings there are signs of life- businesses that spill out of ground floor stores onto the sidewalks. Just past Tahir Square were a few blocks of shops, all seemingly devoted to hospice care. Industrial beds, wheelchairs and other items for the infirm lined the streets, block after block. It was an all too visible reminder of a war torn nation needing to tend to those worst affected by years of violence.

Saddened by what I saw, I sought out and talked to an local Iraqi colleague later that day at lunch, I wanted to know how it feels for him to have his capital in its current state. We started with the businesses and he shared that it was common for areas to specialize in shopping catagories. However, when the secretarian violence became more frequent and people became wary of travelling to the other sections of town. Neighborhood entrepreneurs began to open independent specialty stores or stores carrying a broader range of merchandise. As we talked, I realized that this had been evident as we drove through Karrada, a suburb of Baghdad.

Same rough buildings, appearing even more disheveled with electrical lines running in every direction along the buildings' facades. I don't think I can do it justice to describe. Try combining a spiderweb with what a ball of yarn would look like after a cat had an hour with it. Everytime I see it I think that can not be safe, and according to my colleague, and common sense, it is not. But beneath the haphazard power lines were a multitude of stores featuring electronics, furniture, bedding, meat, baked goods and produce. Amidst the rubble and chaos there are striking signs of order. The fruit and vegetable stands offer perfect pyramids of fresh produce- colorful and visually appealing. Nothing like the surroundings but still, they belong. This is a part of daily life too. I try hard to notice the bright spots.

We come upon children spilling out of school at noon, wearing backpacks and smiles, some holding an ice cream purchased on the way home. Seeing the kids makes me happy, it is just great to see children, and I hope for a better future for them. Just past the children, we slow and I read some political posters featuring a catchy cartoon like design and the letters U-S-A vertically placed. Next to U- Unfair, S- Sinister, and A- Americans. The hopeful, warm feeling of watching innocent youth engaged in such a normal activity as leaving school is replaced with the reality of what a complicated place this is. I want the kids to read yet I hate the idea of them reading these posters. Behind the glass, I know there is nothing I can do at that moment but hope for the best. All the money, all the effort, and all the sacrifices; you just want it to mean something, something good and something lasting.

Love,

Krista

Baghdad in Bloom

After writing how hot it was on my return, just the next day we had a duststorm and cooler weather followed. Not that it is anywhere near cold, it is beautiful. Feels like lovely spring days with a touch of summer when the sun hits your back.

As the week wore on and I recovered from my jetlag, I began to notice the little changes that had occured since I left on R&R. Most of them involved the landscape. The grass is a bright happy green, and many things are in bloom. From blossoms on cacti looking plants to azalea bushes I recognize from home- there is a lot of flowering going on. Amelia and I would only be in the planning stages of our garden at home so it is a bit of a surprise to see all the plants showing off in early April. But common sense, and a visit to the Gardeners' Almanac, would surely prove that I am in a far different gardening zone here. When tomatoes ripen in late July and August in Ohio- they would be roasting on the vine here in Baghdad. So I am enjoying the color and trying to take it all in; I remember very little "living" when I arrived in late summer. I snapped a few pictures this afternoon of the more unusual plants and a date palm without the dates. Those do come later- I remember stepping around them on the sidewalk!

Otherwise, not much is new. I have been hard at work. Easing back was not much of an option since Eric, my Embassy colleague, left on R&R a few days after my return. His Boss, who would normally cover part of his portfolio, is delayed returning from his R&R. So with both of them gone, I am chasing down things in Environment, Science, Technology, Health and Water this week. No Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning off this week, maybe next. But, on the bright side, the week flew by, I am learning some new things and meeting many new people. The only real hiccup was a twenty-four hour stomach bug on Thursday; and sadly it involved a lot more than a hiccup. Grateful to be over that!

Love,

Krista

R&R and Back

I am just a couple days away from it being a month since my last post. I started my trip home on R&R on Friday, March 11th,arrived in Columbus on Sunday the 13th, and finally made my way back to the Embassy Compound on Friday, 1 April. The travel, as anticipated, was pretty painful but worth every second at home. As much as I have photo-documented my time in Iraq, you would think I would have a picture of the reunion but some moments just have to be lived. The priority was getting those first hugs, not a picture. I know that I, in particular, am a sucker for a reunion scene at the airport but I am pretty confident that we caused a few tissues to be pulled from pockets and purses. Thanks to Skype, I have watched teeth come in, hair grow, get cut and grow again, so it was not shocking to see the kids- just wonderful! I got a second greeting and balloon bouquet from Lisa and the Jones' kids outside of security- it was a great homecoming!

I ditched the uniform as soon as I was home and enjoyed a few shopping trips and being in civilian clothes until the morning of my return. Unexpectedly, for the first few days, my feet ached as I slipped into my "normal" flats and flip-flops. It seems that my feet have grown accustomed to my very supportive combat boots. But other than that, I really settled right in at home. Admittedly, I was relieved of most domestic duties in the spirit of it being my vacation. Good thing since I struggled to find my way around the kitchen! So the "settled in" refers more to just how nice and natural it was to be at home and in the rhythm of the kids' school schedule that first week.

A particular highlight was getting to go to Amelia's Third Grade Wax Museum where she came to life as Wilbur Wright with a ring of a bell. She attacked the preparation and performance with her typical abundance of enthusiasm, I am so glad I did not miss it! For Noah, I was a day late in seeing him receive a gold and silver medal for his particular events in the Science Olympiad. That was a bummer but I got a great review and am so impressed with his accomplishments. Adam, with amazing support from his Mom and Tom, and a cast of special friends, has clearly made the best of our situation and has all well under control. I will not be volunteering to extend, but honestly, I could not be prouder or more appreciative of how well all have managed on the home front.

On Saturday the 19th we hopped on a direct flight for Cancun and enjoyed a week at our annual destination of Akumal on the Riviera Maya. Akumal is a sleepy village compared to many vacation spots around, and south of, Cancun but I love it for the long relaxing days, blue skies, fabulous fish tacos, and bit of a rough edge in the form of potholes,dusty roads and roadside food carts. Of course, all that was enjoyed from the luxury of our six bedroom villa with a dreamy pool at ocean's edge so we were certainly not roughing it. We all enjoyed time in hammocks and the kids made great use of the pool throughout the week. The kids saw a record (for us) six sea turtles when they went snorkeling in the bay on our first day. As was the case much of the week, I settled in under the shade of a palm tree, wiggled my toes in the sand and relaxed as they hit the water. Guided by Adam, I was fondly reminded of the school scene in Finding Nemo, only he returned all six of his students safely home at the end of a very successful snorkel excursion. Lots of smiles as they all reported on their sightings. The rest of the week went just as well, with the small exception of a fishing trip where no fish were caught. But Adam and I made one quick trip to the locals' fish store and we had dinner as planned!

We returned home on Saturday afternoon and I was able to enjoy a few more days at home before departing on Tuesday morning. Time with Adam, Noah, Amelia, family and friends was a wonderful reminder of all I have to look forward to in August. I am really touched and want to say thanks for all the efforts to make my welcome home special; from gatherings of friends, dinners, yellow ribbons, plates of cookies and a platter of brownies- all very sweet and appreciated. Thank you! Some visits were too quick, and conversations too short, as I tried to catch up with so many. I will be happy to settle back at home and make the most of the time I will have upon my demobilization and return to Columbus.

Of course the highlight of my R&R was my time at home but I had a special experience worth sharing on my way home and my way back. On the way home I spent one night in a "transient quarters" tent in Kuwait. After being assigned a tent number just before midnight I collapsed into my rack that Friday night. During the night I heard the woman in the rack next to mine's phone ring. She got up and took the call outside. Really it was not much of a distraction as there are frequent loudspeaker announcements, and it is common for people to come and go at all hours in transient quarters. It is not a place to expect a restful night's sleep. Anyways, in the morning we got to chatting and it turned out my tent-mate was a Navy Captain; that middle of the night call was to tell her that the official announcement had just gone out that she had selected for Flag (Rear Admiral). She is the first Naval Reserve female from the Surface Warfare Community to make Flag. I was so excited for her, and should mention, that she gernerously took her time to mentor me before letting me know what the middle of the night call was.

On the way home, I collapsed in my rack again, but this time did not make any acquaintances... my highlight was getting to sit in the flight deck of a C-130 during my final flying leg from Kuwait to Baghdad. A very hospitable flight crew from Little Rock, AR got me on a headset and amicably answered all my questions and even let me sit at the Navigator's desk for a moment. The C-130 has been a work horse for the Air Force and it was really neat to experience a flight from the cockpit. Some like to say NAVY stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself, I can not tell you how many neat things I would have missed out on if I subscribed to this theory. I paused for a second when our bus load was asked for a volunteer, but only to ensure someone junior might not be interested. When no one raised their hand, I was pretty thrilled for the opportunity and gladly piped up. It was a great way to end my trip.

So, I am back on the NEC and struggling a bit to adjust to the dramatic change in time zone. I am sure it will take a few days. Someone also turned on the heat while I was away. There is a clear difference in temperature and just the feel in the air- dry and hot. The thermometer was just below 100 when I walked into the DFAC for lunch today. It is a sign of things to come. And when it is 130, I will fondly remember 100. This whole experience has a way of reminding me, over and over, that all things are relative.

Much love,

Krista

p.s. Pictures from top to bottom: Amelia as Wilbur Wright, Noah chillin in the hammock, Amelia and Adam at our breakfast fav- Turtle Bay Bakery in Akumal, Noah's picture of me in Mexico, the kids: Amelia, Mimi, Noah, Manny, Willis and Ross, last leg to Baghdad in the C-130 at the Navigator's Desk.

Uniform Modification

One week! If all goes according to plan, I will be home ONE week from today. Just the idea of it is exhilarating. I am mentally prepared for things not to go as planned but hopeful that they will. The journey home should take almost two days, a chunk of that will be spent in Kuwait and the other big chunk is, of course, the long flight home (about 14 hours total). I recall sleeping soundly on each of the three legs over. Each time the plane got to altitude my eyelids got heavy and then, as if sprinkled with a fairy dust of sorts, I was out. I was amazed but later took it to be a sign of emotional exhaustion. So, the question I'm pondering now is will I sleep on the way back or just be too excited? If I had to put money down- I would probably say no sleep, but at the same time I know just being here takes a toll, so maybe (hopefully) I will.

My countdown to R&R was assisted by a very busy week. My colleague Jill was out of the office from Tuesday to Friday so I played Deputy to our Boss in addition to my normal duties. On top of our regular battle rhythm, a recent attack on the Bayji Oil Refinery had us scrambling to put together briefs and coordinate a visit. Forget daydreaming out my new window, the week flew by! I was happy for Jill to return yesterday morning and after a debrief of sorts I disappeared in the afternoon for my Saturday half-day. A little nap that has become part of my Saturday afternoon routine turned into a three hour slumber. It felt good and now I am ready to tackle this coming week.

In addition to work, I have two planned targets to hit these week before getting on the plane. The first is a six mile run with the girls on Tuesday night, and the second is a JPME test before heading to the airport. Both are milestones I wanted to reach before R&R, so fingers crossed they go well. The run will require almost four laps around the NEC, one more lap than my current high. And the test will mean my remaining downtime is spent studying, same as it has been for the past couple weeks. It feels good though to make progress on both goals, and I know it will be a great feeling to head home with both ticked off.

I did have one very humorous moment this past week. On Thursday afternoon a dust storm rolled in turning the blue sky orange. Not wanting to venture back and forth, I stayed a little later than usual so that I could get dinner and then just head to my CHU for the night. It was so bad by the time I was ready to leave that I decided I had to fabricate some kind of protection from the insidious dust. I was not worried about my clothing getting dirty, just my lungs! A properly prepared military member would have had their issued cover-up, but no- I did not. A dust storm was forecast for Friday, not Thursday. So I took an available bright blue wash rag, cut a little slit in two of the corners, and then my friend Dustin rigged some 550 parachute cord through the slits to create a pretty nice veil that hooked over my ears and completely covered my nose and mouth. I added my sunglasses for eye protection- I was looking good! Admittedly, not professional, but I justified it as resourceful and necessary to prevent a future trip to medical. Not only did I amuse myself, but my coworkers got some good laughs too and insisted on capturing the get-up on film. The sledgehammer, well, they just thought it fit the look. And, in case you are concerned, issued protection is now in my cargo pocket, I am ready for the next dust storm!

Love,

Krista

Anticipation

It has been an interesting week. The focus was on Friday, the scheduled "Day of Rage" for Iraq. Lots of speculation, lots of planning and an abundance of precaution for a day that ended up being relatively quiet. The "Day of Rage" was billed by organizers as an opportunity for all Iraqis to peacefully express dissatisfaction with a number of things; primarily government corruption, lack of essiential services (electricity and water), and high unemployment. As others jumped on the bandwagon, it took more of a secretarian flavor and opposition to the "occupation" got added too. The contradiction in title and intent only increased uncertainty as to what the day would bring.

Officially, we referred to it as "the day of planned protests," that sounded a bit better to me. Some fed on the uncertainty, and seemed almost optimistic about the chance for some excitement. Call me boring, but I was just hoping for a day where Iraqis could freely express disappointment and dissatisfaction in a fundamentally democratic way, without fear for their safety and without harm to the police and miltary forces assigned to keep the peace. In the end, the protests numbers were very low and although not always peaceful, in most cases the government's response seemed relatively controlled. My personal disappointment was the GOI's (Goverment of Iraq) harsh restrictions on press coverage and the leadership's encouragement for people to stay home. In the end, it is hard to say why the protests were small. Was it late calls to reschedule, some parties pulling their support for the demonstrations or ominous government warnings for citizens' safety?

Here on the NEC, everyone seemed exhausted by the end of Friday. The emotional highs and lows of anticipation and apprehension seemed to take the biggest toll. We limped into Saturday and are all ready for a new week. But, with the current state of unrest throughout the Middle East, who knows what this week will bring.

But here I am, another week closer to R&R. As I thought about it today, I realized that at this point, I might beat any mail I send home! That is a milestone of sorts- one I am happy to meet.

Love,

Krista

A Cubicle with River Views

I moved offices this past week. As is to be expected with a drawdown of such magnitude- people are shifting around. The majority of our J9 front office staff are now based and working at Victory Base. That freed up their desk space,so in an effort to consolidate, my coworkers in the Energy Services Division (Oil,Gas,Electricity and Water) and I moved down the hall and now occupy some of their desks. For me, and my coworker Jill, that meant a move to a larger cubicle with two windows, each offering a beautiful view of the Tigris River and further out, the Babylon Hotel, framed by date palms on the NEC. When the sun shines- the Tigris shimmers, it is very pretty and admittedly, a temptation for daydreaming. I am going to have to figure out how to share a picture without comprimising security.

So the upside is a very nice cubicle and cube mate, the downside is the departure of many of my Navy shipmates. I miss some workday chats, and it is a little lonely at meal time but I am trying to focus on work and personal goals. That helps, but the biggest boost comes as the days till R&R are ticking off in somewhat rapid succession. In the past when I have gone away for "Navy stuff" I feel like I compartmentalize pretty well and just get on with it without too much preoccupation with home. At some point during the process, I would start to wonder what kind of Mom I am to be so comfortable away from the kids? But then, and I have been through this many times, the day before heading home I start to get really excited. Inevitably I am wide awake at four in the morning on the day of my departure, thinking of nothing but home. So over time, I have come to accept that this is my way of dealing with separation, and for me, it works. So I am a bit taken aback by my current obsession with R&R. My thoughts are completly preoccupied with going home and seeing family and friends. I have been like this for over a week and still have just under three weeks to go before I get on a plane to begin the long journey back to Ohio. I guess I am testing my tolerance for seperation with an eight month absence. It is time to head home for R&R!

My preparation for R&R has started to include list making. I will have fifteen full days to savour and my instict is to plan each one. But heeding the advice of the required Chaplain briefing for R&R, I am resisting my urge and trying to just make a few special engagements and then just enjoy the downtime. They include dressing up for a dinner date at a favorite restaurant with Adam, a day devoted to each Noah and Amelia, where they get to plan "their" day, and a much needed haircut! I am lucky that my trip will coincide with a few special things at school too. Have I mentioned that I can't wait?
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So in the spirit of living in the present, I will tell you that I had a nice week highlighted by Valentine's Day. I took some teasing for the "Wall of Love", but it was clearly appreciated, as were all the Valentine' treats. Jill and Jen helped me put together two platters that we set out for all to enjoy. And for me personally, it was a nice day too. I am now sleeping with an adorable, pretty large, very soft puppy that Amelia sent me. Noah picked out a heart shaped box of mini reeses' cups and I got a thoughtful, kind valentine from Adam that I really appreciate. It is good to love and feel loved.

Hoping it was a good week at home too, and wishing you all the best this next week.

Love,

Krista