Back at last!

Hello to all,
It's been nearly a month since my last post, but rest assured, I haven't given up on the blog just yet. We recently returned back to camp after a long month of work. I managed to write a few posts (by hand, as we didn't really have access to the internet) which I will shortly be working on adding to my blog. I will post them in chronological order so as to have better documentation of the events which surround my adventures here, so make sure to look back in the forthcoming days to read about a few of my observations while away from Camp.

In a transient and very unsophisticated, and perhaps very jumbled update, I've been busy readjusting to life on south camp, where I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that I need not cook my own meals, and now can return to a normal human's sleep schedule. I have further elaborated on these points in my previous (but still unpublished) post, so gimme a few days to work it all out.

Also, upon return from our control point we were informed of Command's decision to allow us to venture off Camp during our free time, indeed a very pleasant surprise. I spent a majority of my free Saturday roaming around the local tourist hub of Naama Bay, which is another story (and another post) all in itself. Aside from all of the newfound fun, we've also gotten back to business. We have been busy, back on the training trail, doing more combat water survival training and weapons re-qualification. I managed to survive swimming in the Red Sea fully clothed, combat boots and all as part of our training on Sunday, and was equally successful in my re-qualification today with my M4 Carbine. I shot 35/40 targets ranging from 50 to 300 meters on both my familiarization and record fires. I felt very comfortable with my weapon and my sharpshooter score, which in turn is indeed very reassuring. As for the current moment, I'm scheduled to take the Army Physical Fitness Test at 0430 tomorrow, meaning I need to get my rest now.

Expect MUCH more frequent updates in the near future. Oh, and I've recently been informed that I will be taking a Duty Tour in the coming weeks to visit the little towns of Giza and Cairo... so expect pictures and posts about my trip there! Today's picture is of my roommate (PFC Rudolph... like the reindeer) and I in Naama Bay on Saturday, next to a domesticated camel (it's sitting down and measures in at about 9-10 feet when standing) and a local Egyptian, with SPC Detample, SPC Pashley, and PFC Johnson behind us. Note the KFC in the background... yes, this place is very Americanized, as I had previously acknowledged the first night we arrived in country over 2 months ago. Adding on to the list of things I was warned of prior to arriving here that I've discovered on my own is the fact that camels smell... very bad. And, no sorry, it didn't spit.

The Clouds Do Weep.

I stood with my back against the railing, on the platform of the ladder well on the observation tower, my head casually glancing around the perimeter. The snake of streetlights winding their way through the mountainous terrain glow heavily in the heavy desert night's air. Tomorrow's going to be a hot one. The warm windy breeze that flows towards the sea is a telltale sign, one that I've learned in just a few days. The drastic increase in temperature foretells our fate come the summer months. Around me every is still, aside from the constant flow of solitary cars passing every couple minutes. Merely 40 minutes into my day, and my eye lids are heavy, though coffee is on its way. The shift is long, the hours are tough, but vital to our success. Again consummated by the thickness of the air, I notice that unlike most nights in the desert, the luminous rays of moonlight that normally splash the nearby mountains are absent. Instead dark clouds invaded the peninsula, like waves of Crusaders making bountiful charges, across this same land, toward their objective. The air was most definitely different tonight, and although lacking the pre-rain smell I so vividly recall from my younger days, the change of speed and coolness of the breeze made me venture to guess that rain was on the way... but quickly refuted the assertion because, well, I was sitting in the middle of the desert. Focused on the stillness of the land I observe around me, and partially lost in thought, I hear what sounds like the march of an army poised in the distance, the crackling of drums, and the stomp of trained feet.

Certainly going crazy, dehydrated perhaps.

Then it hit me, quite literally: a solitary drop of rain on my nose. Snapping back to reality, I look at the cement walkway on our fortified outpost and notice drops of water everywhere, from out of nowhere. The pounding of rain on the aluminum roofs of our improvised living quarters provides for the army in my thoughts. Loud, quick, and hard, then suddenly... gone. As quickly as it came, it disappeared. The thirsty air of the desert appeared again instantly and dried all evidence of rain from the earth. I sat there blankly looking at the arid tundra around me, the dusty sand around me as dry as it was at mid-day. Maybe I imagined it all. Minutes later, my team leader exited the Tactical Operations Center and entered the kitchen to fetch me a cup of coffee. After pouring me a cup, he made his way up the steep ladder well below me, passing off the freshly brewed, black coffee. Finally, some caffeine to wake me up. On his way back down, he asked me if a loud truck had bellowed it's way past our location recently. The sound of the rain on the roof, my only proof. I'm not crazy after all.

Disclaimer: No, I'm not losing it. This is my true recollection of events, and is fun to write about, because it's out of the ordinary for me, in my current situation. It was just rain, and it does rain here, but very rarely. More extraordinary than the rain itself is how bewildered I was because of it. Like a kid in a candy store. I find it amazing how the human mind works, and like sharing experiences of mine like this, no matter how insignificant it actually is. The rain lasted probably 15 seconds in all, but observations as acute and meaningless as this will hopefully be helpful in future experiences... let's just hope a little rain is the most dramatic of my future experiences.

Picture today is of the Main Supply Route running past my outpost on the night it rained. Nothing too exciting else wise.

Mohawkin' It.

In a somewhat rebellious and amusing decision, we decided before arriving at the OP that now was the time; the time to have some semblance of fun on a deployment where we've yet to enjoy good old American freedom. Ignoring the Army Regulation for Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia (AR 670-1), which subsequently governs hair and grooming practices, we (the entire squad) packed hair clippers in our rucks and join the ranks of our indigenous North American warriors and native countrymen of the Eastern Iroquois League in the warrior tradition of the Mohawk. It is said that only Mohawk warriors cut their hair off, leaving solely the narrow strip in the middle just before going to war. Because hair was seen as a strong connection to their Creator, the use of the "mohawk" hairstyle provided functionality while maintaining this connection. We're using it as a tribute to them, bearing the same concept, only we're not really at war, just deployed.

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Update: We were visited by our command during our stay at the OP, where we attempted to conceal our mischievous new haircuts. With our boonie hats on, it was unnoticeable, until you turned your back and the tail end of the mohawk protruded from beneath the brim of the hat. Needless to say, we were caught red handed and ended up being ordered to take our hats off. Surprisingly, they just laughed it off and ordered us to shave our heads before returning to South Camp at the end of our mission. Woo!

Picture today is of me posing with my rifle and my new hair cut.

A New Adventure

Today marks Day 3 of our first twenty-some-odd day field mission on the Sinai. So far, things have been stressful. Am I surprised? Certainly not. Just another day in the MFO. It has now been over 3 months since our mobilization, and subsequently over 100 days, not that I'm counting. In fact, I've come to realize that while countdowns sound great, they ultimately just remind me of how far I've to go. Optimistic thinking also reminds me that I'm getting closer to coming home!
As initially inferred, the days spent out in the field here go by rather quickly, but are no easier than the slow days on South Camp. I'd much prefer solid lines of communication with back home and slow days over weeks of non-contact, but the variety sure is nice. I always welcome a change of scenery. At least now we're able to put all of our hard training to use.
I have been afforded the opportunity to select when I want to work. I picked night shift. I enjoy doing my job, even if the nights are slow and often tedious. I usually take the time during my shift to reflect on anything and everything. It's relatively peaceful, and aside from cars streaming by regularly, it's pretty quiet.
Our Observation Post, pictured above from a distance, is surrounded by a 1/4 mile security barrier consisting of sand filled blast walls and concertina wire (razor wire). Though well suited for the mission, it is surrounded by mountains, offering very little to observe, other than the Egyptian tank battalion base across the Zone A and Zone C border. We stay in Zone C, as per the Peace Treaty, and ensure they stay in Zone A, among other thing we're tasked to do while out there.

New Month, New Mission.

Ah, the beginning of month numero dos here on the lovely Sinai Peninsula.

I am very much so settled in, and preparing for the months of work ahead of me. I'm getting readjusted to daily army life. Nothing new or exciting to note right now, so I'll leave you with my thoughts on life here:

The laundry service takes three days, sure beats waiting in line for a washer and dryer.

Tipping the laundry guys will definitely guarantee faster service.

The Force Exchange (FX) is terrible at keeping stuff in stock, perhaps we're just over-eating like all other Americans.

The perimeter road on camp is exactly two miles, should make for a good workout, especially with the steep hills.

The food is, eh, just like all other Army dining facilities.

Contrary to prior belief, mail does not take nine weeks to arrive. It seems as though by weeks, they meant days. The cookies are still stale after 9 days in the hands of the USPS.

I don't think I'll spend a day here not missing her.

I need sheets, I'm tired of sleeping in my sleeping bag.

The weather is perfect right now and I enjoy living on a bluff overlooking the sea. Sure beats the weather in Washington.

I'm looking forward to going on duty tours to see the pyramids et al.

That's all the thoughts currently running through my head. Picture today: from training in the Winter at Yakima Training Center, Washington to mission in the Winter at South Sinai, Arab Republic of Egypt.

Excuses.

Good morning, day, afternoon, evening, or night, whichever it may be for you reading this right now. I apologize for falling behind in my posting, but numerous outdated posts are in the works to be published. Also, the old pictures that didn't load properly will be reloaded for your viewing enjoyment.

In testament as to why I haven't posted in nearly two weeks, I will expel an explanation. With the current mission frenzy and the chaos of a new mission looming on the horizon, I am working hard and keeping busy with all the stuff that I do here. I've also suffered numerous technological difficulties in even trying to update regarding a pending update. This blog serves as a reminder of how great and also how poor our technology can be. I'll remain optimistic, to say the least, I'm grateful I have personal access to internet of this capacity. Whether it be the network acting up, or the blogger site refusing to accept my new posts for unexplained reasons, I have been unable to keep adding new posts. I equate my current internet spectacle to that of a kinked hose; once the first kink (internet connection) is worked out other kinks (unruly web servers) find their way to prevent you from watering (updating) the flowers (readers). Hey, I thought that was a good analogy, so enough snickering. Moral of the story: good things come to those who wait, and maybe if you wait long enough I'll write enough quality posts to win a The Pulitzer Prize in Web Journalism (don't count your chickens, I can't afford an editor).

Today was my first real down time, with nothing to do, and rather than sit inside on my computer, I indulged in some beach relaxation time. It was well worth it. I'm also working on replying to some e-mails, as that's something I'm also behind on. Add in some tidying up of the my billets and give me two hours until I go back on duty and you have one busy Mr. Nace.

Again I apologize for the delay in posts, back to work I go. Mom, don't worry, I'm still doing well and enjoying life each and every day. Hang in there, I'll make sure to post the new updates ASAP. I managed to get one new one in today thus far, and I'm working on filling in the gargantuan 2 weeks span of post-less-ness (a new word perhaps) before I depart to save the world by preserving the peace.

Post appended: Last night I got my coffee pot and a bag of Wawa coffee, among other great goodies in a parcel from my Mom. Definitely perfect timing, looks like Mr. Coffee will be joining the ranks of 3rd squad for the upcoming mission. I intend on drinking unequivocal amounts of coffee and editing and revising as many posts as possible tonight before hitting the gym.

Picture today: My alternative girlfriend and I reunited thanks to the United States Parcel Service and my Mother. Thank you all.