Feeling the Love

No big adventures to report this week but one big accomplishment for me. On Friday I ran a 5K around the New Embassy Compound (2 laps); it was an MWR organized run in honor of Valentine's Day. With Embassy staff off on Fridays it was the equivalent of a Saturday morning race. We work on Friday's but my boss was kind enough to push our weekly Friday meeting back an hour so I could participate along with a few guys I work with.

I met up with my Navy LT friend Candace and a new running partner, Anne at 7:15am for a 7:30am start. It is a rough estimate, but I would say between 40-50 showed up for the run, and the free t-shirt. Our goal was to run negative splits, not too challenging since we always start slow on our runs and pick up as we go along. We met our goal and ran minutes faster than we do on our normal runs. But most importantly for me- I was pleased to discover that I still have a bit of a competitive running spirit left inside me. I was encouraged along by my Embassy Water colleague and friend, Eric, who ran in a gesture of support while nursing a knee injury and aching achilles. Feeling an old but familiar instict, I kept looking ahead and urged my running partners to keep picking off the next runner. It was fun, and having fun running is MY big accomplishment. Adam likes to refer to my high school running days as my glory days. Not to imply that he is not proud of me in other areas, and it is funny, but really, who wants their glory days to be from high school? Not me. While it is not saying much, I ended up 2nd, 12 seconds behind the first woman. I did make an effort to catch her but just didn't have it in me. Maybe a little speedwork needs to be in my future...

So while I am not quite loving running yet, love is in the air on the NEC. I received some great mail this week, including boxes full of treats and Valentines from Noah's Sixth Grade and Amelia's Third Grade Class. I spent sometime late this afternoon putting up a "wall of love" in our front office. Everyone will be feeling the love tomorrow! I enjoyed reading every single one and am grateful for the time the kids put into the project and the sentiments they so kindly expressed. My coworker Jill and I are going to put out one sweet spread tomorrow with all the edible "love" we have received. I know it will all be appreciated- thank you!

So as I start another week, Happy Valentine's Day from Baghdad.

Love,

Krista

Pictures: Eric and I after the run & breakfast, Valentine's from Amelia's class, Valentines from Noah's Sixth Grade. So sweet!

Flew the Coop!

I joined the birds and flew south this past week, escorting a State Department Officer visiting from DC; we were on a mission to learn about marsh restoration in southern Iraq. It was a short trip, down to Basrah Tuesday morning and back in Baghdad just before the sun set on Thursday. But boy was it nice to get away! The whole trip was educational and rewarding, highlighted by four helo rides, two fixed wing flights and an MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) convoy with a capable, entertaining crew. Numerous times I asked myself, "how cool is this?" I know that this and every other interesting experience here comes with a sacrifice, a sacrifice that sometimes weighs heavy in my heart, but not this time- I just felt like I might as well be on a recruiting poster and enjoyed the adventure of it all.

I woke on Tuesday to bright blue skies- it looked like a great day to fly! My first leg was a Huey flight from the NEC to the Baghdad Airport- the same airport that I landed at over 6 months ago. It was a short flight but it felt great to lift into the sky and see things from a new perspective. I sat next to the gunner, getting a super view of the city and of a road that I have travelled a few times by Rhino. Then it was a relatively quick transfer to a twin-engine turbo prop Dash 8 for the flight south. I felt an overwhelming satisfaction, and a newfound sense of freedom on that flight- it was so neat to see all that I have learned come to life. I brief about Iraq's extensive canal system but seeing it from the sky- it was eye-opening for me. There are roads here, but what was striking was the sheer number of canals- irrigation everywhere that far outnumbered roads. And where there is no irrigation- it is brown desert. Anyways...the Dash 8 is operated for the Embassy and flies a ring route a few days a week based on demand, picking up and dropping off passengers in a pretty expeditious fashion. Felt very old school, plane taxied just off the runway, dropped the door, pax got off and on, and we were on our way again. Nice way to travel. Our trip included two stops; COB Delta and then we got off in Talil followed by a 45 minute Huey ride east to COB Basrah. That ride was an unexpected surprise and gave us our first look at the marshes.

The PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team) in Basrah had built us a robust itinerary that included a meeting that first afternoon with two Iraqis, one of whom was raised in the marshes. Their perspective provided a valuable foundation for what we learned and saw the next two days. And, they brought some Iraqi dates with them that were delicious. They have historically grown dates in this area of Iraq and have a lot of pride in their quality, and variety, but are working hard to revive the industry after years of neglect. Plain, or stuffed with nuts and rolled in sesame seeds- they were really, really good (I would like to have brought some back, but the only souvenir I have from my trip is a bruise around my hip bone from where my 9mm' holster rubbed for three days). I turned into the "Basrah Hilton" which at PRT Basrah means a "wet" CONEX box (outfitted trailer with built in bathroom) early that evening to get ready for an early morning MRAP trip into town on Wednesday morning.

Wednesday morning was drizzly and particularly cold for Basrah. Good thing MRAP’s don’t care about mud. We went to a local university and visited with a team of water professionals. They were very welcoming and eager to hear from us, this was their first visit from the PRT. They also appreciated a visit by someone from the Embassy, and Washington, and took the opportunity to share a couple of briefings with us. Although the proposed topic was the marshes, we had a lively discussion on other critical water issues affecting their region as well. I know it will all help me going forward. The guys from the 329 got us there and back without incident; I have included a picture of our crew minus the truck commander. Unbeknownst to the gunner and the guys in front, their Platoon Leader passed me the headset for a bit as we waited for a prolonged period at a security gate. Let’s just say that those Soldiers gave my old Sailors a run for their money in the communications department. They were a bit mortified when they realized I was on the net and were kind enough to offer apologies when we got back. Poor guys, they were kind of ambushed. They are just weeks from heading home and I wish them all the best.

Wednesday ended with a few more meetings at the PRT and another early night. By Thursday morning, the dreary skies had been replaced with sunshine- I was pleased as Thursday was our scheduled aerial tour of the Al Hawizah Marsh. We geared up and headed to the airport to meet 2 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks. We had coordinated a flight plan with the squadron and were able to wear headsets so we could communicate with the pilots and amongst each other. I flew with Ken who has been around Basrah for years. He was able to point out a lot of detail that I might have missed otherwise. We were airborne for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The pilots kept us informed on what points we were crossing and were amenable to speeding up/down and changing altitude for us. Mostly we flew at 500 feet, giving us a great view. Although the marshes have been affected by years of drought, they were vibrant in areas, but it was clear that the indigenous marshland Iraqis that used to live in the marshes have migrated to the edges and now farm drained land as well as fish. The flight was amazing and an experience that I will treasure.

After grabbing lunch to go at a Turkish restaurant on base, we headed back to the airport to catch the Dash 8 for our return to Baghdad. Our route was not so direct this time. We had three stops, including the northern city of Erbil before heading back south to Baghdad. We did get to stretch our legs during a refueling in Kirkuk, and enjoyed a cookie courtesy of the USO. Then it was back in the air for 45 minutes. We landed and were quickly herded to rotating Hueys for our final leg back to the Embassy. The sun was starting to set, water shimmered in the distance, and everything had a pretty glow. This time I sat right behind the pilots. It was great watching them fly, and seeing their view out the front. Once again, I told myself how lucky I was. I also couldn’t help but think that helo pilots are pretty hot. Then I reminded myself that I married one- and, only 5 weeks till R&R. I can’t wait!

Love,

Krista

Pictures (top to bottom): My MRAP Crew from the 329, MRAP, UH-60 Black Hawk after disembarking, Beaming post Black Hawk trip with Ken, Out my window with a view of the Shatt Al Arab and one of the helos guns, Al Hawizah Marsh, last leg to the NEC on the Huey.

p.s. Fair winds and following seas to two of my favorite shipmates, Colin and Matt, who left the NEC Tuesday evening to begin their journey home. Both are active duty Surface Warfare Officers with promising futures. They are also my best bet for getting to cross the quarterdeck of a ship again- I look forward to it!

A Sliver of Gold

I woke this morning to the call to prayer. The wind must have been just right, it was before five am, and loud enough to wake me from a deep slumber. Once I was awake, I decided to make a visit to the female bathroom next door to my CHU. When I went outside I was greeted by the prettiest moon. It has been overcast and raining the last day and a half, but there was a perfect gap in the clouds framing the moon. It was just a sliver, a very petite moon, but in a beautiful shade of gold with a soft glow of white around the edges. It made the early morning wake-up worthwhile. I tucked myself back in bed and eventually fell back to sleep after the call to prayer ended. Sunday morning is our “sleep- in” morning, I was grateful the alarm was not set and there would be no hurry to get up.

I was up a little past eight. After spending some time reading the latest news, I decided to take a short run. I took a loop around the NEC (1.7 miles), just one lap, and then a quick lift at the gym. I did a load of laundry, tidied my CHU, took a leisurely shower, and read a bit before heading to an early lunch. It was a nice, relaxing morning.

This past week was pretty uneventful for me. But it is another week down, and now I am just 6 weeks from returning home for R&R. January has flown by! And speaking of flying, I will do a little travelling this week. It will be nice to get off the Compound. I promise to share all the details next Sunday.

Love,

Krista

p.s. The pictures are compliments of gentleman here that does IT training. They are all taken here in the IZ. I am happy to be able to share them with you.

Watch Out!

Another week down, and officially at my half way point as of today! I suppose it would be a good time to reflect on my first six months in theatre. It has been an experience. I have gone from feeling very unsettled with the start of each new phase to now feeling very rooted at the Embassy. Often I recognize, and am recognized, with a smile as I walk to and fro. It feels nice to be connected in a way, even though it is all very temporary. I have learned to take care of myself in a way that I do not always do at home. I have become a more conscious eater and exerciser and am now confident that I will go home stronger, and healthier despite the inevitable stress of separation. Even though it is outside of work, it sure feels like an achievement in itself. The finish line is going home, and although it is a most desirable end point, I mark my days, weeks and months with small milestones. I don’t want to lose sight of the special moments here, within this experience, by only focusing on my departure date. I have seen others take that path, and I can tell you that they don’t smile much.

With that philosophy in mind, I have also seized most reasonable opportunities for fun. Flag football games (player to spectator), game nights, the occasional movie night, and a new one this week- golfing on the Embassy green. On the way back from lunch on Friday, I noticed they were setting up what looked like a fairway (marked by orange construction cones) with one pin at the end. Speakers for music, a popcorn maker and a few nets for swing practice were set up alongside. Periodic glances out the window clued me in to what seemed like a start of something. It took a few walks around the office trying to recruit someone to join me, for what I wasn’t totally sure, but it looked like sanctioned fun. Jason, from our Personnel Security Detachment, joined me and we headed out. Turns out it was a contest- 5 balls, closest shot to the pin would win. Hmmm, don’t really know how to golf and generally putter out on the 12th hole of putt putt. But it was a beautiful day, and I was out of the office for a bit. Jason gave me some tips, and after about a dozen tries in the practice net, I could almost consistently hit the ball off the tee. That was progress.

We took our place in line, me with a six iron (I think) and watched as about twenty others took their turns. My goal was to hit the ball; a swing and a miss was going to be a little embarrassing. Well, I did hit the ball, all five, and pretty hard too but four hooked left and one puttered early. There were enough seasoned golfers around that the “gallery” was warned each time I struck the ball. I definitely had the potential to take someone out but fortunately did not. It wasn’t pretty, but it was fun, and I have learned that is enough here in Baghdad. It was enough to make my day, and in this case, a unique memory to mark another week down.

Love to all at home,

Krista

Another Week Down

As I sit down to write, I am reflecting on a pretty busy, effective week. With government formation complete, we are reconnecting with our Government of Iraq contacts and forging ahead with our relationship. For me, that means accelerated work on a few projects. My workload will also pick up a bit with my State Department colleague heading out of town shortly to meet his wife for a weeklong vacation. We are fortunate to have a great working relationship and in the past I have been able to provide more robust support to the Embassy in his absence. I am sure it will be the same this trip too.

As was widely reported, we had a visit by Vice President Biden this past week. He met with senior Government of Iraq officials and USF-I leadership but not on the New Embassy Compound. There was a marked increase in activity for a VP visit, and a definite buzz in the air, but no real impact for me. Joan Jett and Kellie Pickler also visited this week, but they were also at nearby Victory Base where the majority of our Baghdad troops are located. This is the norm for morale visits, which makes sense, since they are troop centric. It is ok with me- if pushed to choose, I will gladly take the paved roads, sidewalks and other amenities the NEC offers over a USO visit.

My morale has also been lifted by some regular runs with my Navy LT friend, Candace. We are slow and steady but really happy to have gotten in three runs. I feel like I am making some good progress on my previously announced goals and that is leaving me feeling rather fulfilled this week.

So, as I sign off after an uneventful, but satisfying week, I just want to end by saying thanks for all the support and encouragement!

Love,

Krista

Movie Night

Our week-ends are not traditional week-ends here but Saturday night seemed like a fitting evening for a movie, so I pre-popped some popcorn at work and brought out a large selection of movie candy my Mom sent- all in preparation for a screening of “Inception.” Once my guests were in place, we started the movie. There is not a lot of early plot development in this film; it starts off quick. It is a movie that you (hopefully, me- barely) figure out as it goes along. And although I generally choose lighter cinematic fare- I was committed to enjoying the usual escape from reality that a film typically affords. So there we were, just a few minutes in, when things start blowing up on screen. Simultaneously our duck and cover alarm sounded. There went the escape…it was all too real with the sound and vibration of two rockets impacting within a mere ten seconds or so. There are no injuries to report, but it put a damper on the evening for sure. A rude jolt back to reality, yes, we are in Iraq.

It has been quiet lately, very quiet really, but the familiar alarm and accompanying thud never fail to change the pattern of my heartbeat. With the exception of taking cover- really there is nothing you can do. It will land where it lands. And that makes those few seconds between alarm and impact almost unbearable. I should include, that it does not always land- sometimes you hear the alarm and then nothing… crickets. Perhaps it was a false track or just impacted too far away to hear. In all cases, eventually my heart rate returns to normal and I carry on.

But what is most disturbing to me is the random nature of the attacks. In the past I have generally associated the word “random” with random kindness; something I am happy to be the cause, or recipient of. This random is not kind though. It puts me off balance, and for someone that likes control- that is a pretty uncomfortable feeling. Of course, life everywhere is full of random things, good and bad. Normally I can find the bright side. It is hard to find the bright side of a rocket. Well, after a few moments of thought- one positive might be on the job training for the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) guys. Still, I am down on rockets.

My coping skills include working out (thank goodness for endorphins), laughing with coworkers (a laugh feels great), and the daily reach back to home. I think all are contributing to keeping me balanced but this place does start to take a toll. I am very excited to have my R&R in sight and that is what I am choosing to focus on.

As for the next movie night- it will probably be a chick flick!

Love,

Krista

Happy New Year!

As one who has always prized sleep over social engagements, it probably comes as no surprise that I rang in the New Year tucked away in my CHU. I enjoyed a quiet New Year’s Day too. My boss encouraged us to take the day off, and I embraced the opportunity. I slept in and then spent the day reading, tidying, watching a little TV and a movie before bed. It was a very self-indulgent day.

Part of my reading included past blog posts and I now realize there are a few things that I should update you on. One of the big ones is that I no longer have a roommate, she actually moved out just before Thanksgiving. As the USF-I drawdown continues, there is some reshuffling going on. For my directorate (J9) that included a little reorganization that sent my roommate to nearby Victory Base. It appears that I am senior enough to hold on to my solo status- a luxury I am excited about. So I have rearranged my room where, with imagination, one might consider it an Embassy Suites-like CHU. I have a seating area in the front with mini-fridge and TV and a sleeping area in the rear with my desk. I have been fortunate to acquire two low slung chairs (thanks SFC Llamas) and have the other bed fashioned as a couch. But the fanciest part of my room is a new flat screen TV, sent with complimentary shipping by Best Buy. Attracted to some great holiday offers, I sheepishly mentioned the idea to Adam and he kindly gave it a hearty endorsement. I was previously watching things on my laptop so this is quite an upgrade! My room is still a tin can but it is definitely my retreat.

The weather is cold now- nothing compared to home but chilly enough that I am rarely without my fleece. In the morning my floor is freezing so I try to slip on my crocs before stepping off my carpet. And now I throw on a super fuzzy, floor length robe that Adam and the kids sent for Christmas. It makes trips to the bathroom much more comfortable! But the heat will return in the late spring, and by the time I leave Iraq the robe will have been long tucked away. For now though- I am so happy to wrap myself up!

So with those little updates done, I will tell you that I am excited to be in 2011. My holiday “week-end” culminated this morning with a New Year’s brunch at the “home” of Karen and her husband Eric, two State Department colleagues. Their State Department supplied apartment includes a mini kitchen and man do they get the most out of it! They are striving for normalcy here by cooking their own meals as much as possible. Somehow they managed to gather the ingredients to prepare a frittata, waffles, bacon, handmade rolls and then the most lovely apple tart (from scratch, crust too). I know I am in Baghdad, and a little deprived of non-institutional food, but I have perused and sampled many Parisian’ patisseries and their apple tart surpassed any tarte tatin I have ever had. Now, I will say, they did comment that if they shared the amount of butter that went into preparing said apple tart, it might take away from the dining experience, but regardless- boy was it amazing. Karen and Eric are amazing!

So here I am with just a couple weeks over 6 months to go in my mobilization and only 10 weeks before heading home for R&R. With Adam flying, the kids joined the Day Family for a special, overdue redbox (No. FIVE) holiday-break outing that included Steak & Shake and a trip to the movie theatre to see Secretariat. Between basketball (Willis, Manny, Noah, Ross), swim team (Mimi), Science Olympiad (Noah), gymnastics (Amelia), piano (Amelia & Manny) and guitar (Noah) it has been a big challenge to get the kids all together but somehow Amy made it happen!

Hoping you all wrapped up 2010 and welcomed 2011 with family or friends. One thing I know I will take away from this experience, is to treasure time with those I love.

Love,

Krista