Greetings all,
Lots of numbers with significance this past week or so.
This has been an untimely deployment as I have missed most of the "good" holidays and well as events of personal importance. I have been here through Labor Day, Halloween (Sarah visited NC), Veterns' Day, Marine Corps Birthday, my birthday, Chanukah, Christmas, New Year's Eve, my wedding aniversary, and Sarah's birthday.
So what does 1-2-3+1 have to do with anything. It is how I remember the what day Jodi and I got married. I originally decided on Jan 23 (1-2-3, who could screw that up?) but for some reason, that date was not was not going to work. So, we went with Jan 24th. Easy huh?
Coincidently, Sarah's birthday is 2-3-04.
Furthermore, Lincoln was killed in the Kennedy Theather while Kennedy was killed in a Lincoln. Crazy stuff for sure.
156 represents my new personal deepest dive. 156' which far surpasses my previous 136'. 20' may not sound like much unless you body is being subjected to a pressure 6x normal atmosphic pressure and you are 30' beyond PADI recommend limit for recreational diving. We didn't stay down there but a few minutes but I could feel the effects of excess nitrogen building up in my body (nitrogen narcocis). Nitrogen narcocis makes you fell slightly euphoric or mildly intoxicated.
Before my wife goes flyin' off the hinges, it should be noted that my dive partner had previously done a 180' dive (not that particular day) and the record depth for a SCUBA diver is a little over 1000'.
What else....what else?
Well, I should be leaving on 12 Feb and back in the states on the 15th. I have always said that Camp Lemonnier isn't so bad but now that I am getting close to leaving, all the little things I don't like are starting to add up. There are some things I will miss but I will save that for next week.
Mentally, I am already starting to check out and look forward to getting back to NC.
Michael
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Has it really been 3 weeks since my last post?
Hello All,
With 3 weeks having passed, you would think I would have something to write about.
Christmas and New Year's Day both fell on a Sunday this year, which is normally a day off for us, so we got Monday off as an extra day of observance. There wasn't much taking place on base other then religious services and special holiday meal at the chow hall. As you can probably imagaine, I took this opportunity to go SCUBA diving.
The week between Christmas and New Year's was fairly busy, but not from a work standpoint. Our higher headquarter in Stuttgart was largely closed which always makes for a light work week. Many of our projects on the continent had finished up before the holidays and new ones were not started until the new year which was another reason for the lull.
We had a big staff turnover with a lot of our folks leaving so we had a "Hail and Fairwell" gathering. This is a social event where we say goodbye to those departing and welcome those who are replacing them. Of course, I always play poker on Saturday but also had a cigar event to go to on Friday. Some generous manufactures sent some of their product asking for nothing in return other then some snap shoots of guys in uniform smoke the cigars they sent.
I also went to a wedding/wedding reception on that same Friday, of all things! A wedding here on camp is a first as far as I know. One of the guys deployed here (reserve unit from Kanasas) whom I also dive with married a girl who works as a dive instructor for the company we dive with. They make a great couple and are headed down to a diving resort in Honduras where they will both work as dive instructors. I wish them as much happiness as I have found in my marriage!
What is REALLY hard to believe is that I will be departing in about 6 weeks (we call it redeploying in the military). There were times when I never thought it would end but once I got into a routine, the time really went by fast. It has been a much better tour then I ever thought it would be.
As you probably recall, my last experience with Djibouti was not that great. I was here a total of 3 times covering 21 days or so. I am happy to say that my time here was enjoyable and my perception of the country and its people is very favorable.
Until next time...
Michael
With 3 weeks having passed, you would think I would have something to write about.
Christmas and New Year's Day both fell on a Sunday this year, which is normally a day off for us, so we got Monday off as an extra day of observance. There wasn't much taking place on base other then religious services and special holiday meal at the chow hall. As you can probably imagaine, I took this opportunity to go SCUBA diving.
The week between Christmas and New Year's was fairly busy, but not from a work standpoint. Our higher headquarter in Stuttgart was largely closed which always makes for a light work week. Many of our projects on the continent had finished up before the holidays and new ones were not started until the new year which was another reason for the lull.
We had a big staff turnover with a lot of our folks leaving so we had a "Hail and Fairwell" gathering. This is a social event where we say goodbye to those departing and welcome those who are replacing them. Of course, I always play poker on Saturday but also had a cigar event to go to on Friday. Some generous manufactures sent some of their product asking for nothing in return other then some snap shoots of guys in uniform smoke the cigars they sent.
I also went to a wedding/wedding reception on that same Friday, of all things! A wedding here on camp is a first as far as I know. One of the guys deployed here (reserve unit from Kanasas) whom I also dive with married a girl who works as a dive instructor for the company we dive with. They make a great couple and are headed down to a diving resort in Honduras where they will both work as dive instructors. I wish them as much happiness as I have found in my marriage!
What is REALLY hard to believe is that I will be departing in about 6 weeks (we call it redeploying in the military). There were times when I never thought it would end but once I got into a routine, the time really went by fast. It has been a much better tour then I ever thought it would be.
As you probably recall, my last experience with Djibouti was not that great. I was here a total of 3 times covering 21 days or so. I am happy to say that my time here was enjoyable and my perception of the country and its people is very favorable.
Until next time...
Michael
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