Last week

The Deployment Ceremony on Tuesday was quite exciting... I felt like the true media when Sarah Palin showed up, me and Spc Steve and all the civilian news channels running around after her trying to shove our cameras in front of the guy next to us.... very entertaining. The Gen, Col, and Palin all delivered fantastic speeches to the 3500 Paratroopers that make up our brigade and their families... all the while, me and Spc Steve scampering around getting it documented. There is something exhilarating and terrifying about having an arena full of peers and superiors watching you do your job. I managed not to embarrass myself though, and wound up getting a coin from Gen Seward, the USARPAC (Pacific region) general. Fun, fun. Here's a link to my story in the Post: http://www.usarak.army.mil/AlaskaPost/Feb06Story1.asp
The rest of the week was spent packing and trying to get everything squared away... and taking more death photos for 3-509th. Cpt decides Friday that we are going to go for a ruck march. Ahahaha. The only one Ive done since basic training was a route clearance at NTC, which was very slow. Cpt doesnt believe in the building-up-slowly process... so 7 miles later... my hamstrings and hip flexors were on strike, and I now have quarter-sized bleeding blisters on both heels. Yay. The scenery was amazingly beautiful though, the snow untouched and the sun shining across the trees and mountains. We could see all the way out to the drop zone at one point. Despite the fact that I had to jog 75% of the way to keep up (Spc Steve, Sgt, and Cpt all have long legs... not to mention Cpt is an ex-infantry commander with a ranger tab, which makes him a bad-ass) and the pain of it all, I really enjoyed it. Weird. Had to be infantry though, I mean, seriously. Sheesh. Ive spent the rest of the weekend walking around (yes, in the snow) in flip-flops as protecting my blisters seems more imperative than keeping my toes warm. One perk though... I went to the spa yesterday and the masseuse saw my blisters, which turned into an Army conversation... she was very grateful for 'my service to the country' and asked if she could give me an extra massage. So my one hour sugar scrub turned into a more-than-two-hour full body massage. :)
Ive been reading the Twilight series... Im addicted. Not quite as bad as I was with the Harry Potter craze, but almost...
I seem to have had an abundance of seafood this week. Home-cooked Alaskan crab legs, cod, halibut, salmon, tiger shrimp... mmmmm!!! Im going to miss Alaska a lot more than I thought was possible. I went to a dinner party last night and to Kodiak, a nice final outing in America.
Now I just have to finish packing, and off I go in 3 days.

Sigh

Last Sunday night I decided that I was going to wake up at 430 and go into work to get some stuff done before PT formation. When my alarm went off at 430, I sat up, wondering what the hell it was going off so early for... and in my confused half-sleep hit the 'off' button. I almost had a heart attack when I sat back up in bed 2 hours later and realized I was about to miss formation. Out-of-ranks. Counseling statement. What a way to welcome the week!
Remember the ISOprep photos I took for the Cav last week... yeah, the ones where the entire squadron had to don class-As and file through one at a time for their death/captured photos... I lost them. How it is even possible to loose 600 digital photos is beyond me, but yep, I did it. Sgt had amazing self-control and managed to keep from actually choking me out (although I did find his fingers curled menacingly around my neck several times throughout the morning, trembling under the temptation to squeeze...) After an agonizing hour of searching through every memory card, and an atrocious phone call to the squadron to inform them of my stupidity and incompetency, not to mention a teary-eyed walk down the hall after the 'get-your-shit-together' conversation... Spc Steve rolls his eyes and asks to check the memory cards. Like the true life-saver that he is, miraculously... he finds them. On a memory card that, when I checked, was completely void of any trace of photography whatsoever. Somehow the monotonous, tedious editing process of all 600 photos didnt seem as daunting as usual, and Spc Steve became the hero of my world. At least for the day.
Hump-day (traditionally, the day your week is supposed to start getting better) brought on yet another photo assignment with the General, who, as usual, managed to turn my face the shade of a rather ripe tomato in a room full of rank. I wont bore you with the details, but we seem to be creating a tradition here, eh?
And the week ended with a two hour wait in the snow, a C-17 jump (which was actually very good, minus being drug 50 feet on the ground by the chute, in a fantastic impression of a human snow-plow), and another two hours standing around in the snow. Im fairly positive I have officially joined the frost-bite club, as my toes were almost identical to the color of the snow after I took my boots off more than an hour later. Ive decided the heating-back-up process is worse than the freezing part... quite painful indeed.
All the week's annoyances quickly faded as I headed down to Girdwood Friday night where Amy and Annette were waiting patiently for me (they arrived tuesday but I had been so caught up at work I only saw them once during the week, at 3 in the morning.) Ive missed them so much, and seeing them again just pronounced it. We had a charming weekend at the Alyeska resort and finally got to catch up face to face. Much needed!! We went dog sledding through Moose Meadow, which Im certain was really a temporary escape to Narnia. The weather was perfect, the company was perfect, and the food... true to Alaskan style, was perfect. It all went by too fast, and I had to console myself outside with a cigarette while they packed. :(
I stayed in Girdwood after they left Sunday morning and had my first-ever skiing lesson. I loved it, and thought I was doing pretty good... until I noticed all the 5-year olds taking lessons that were weaving through the cones that I kept hitting. Sigh. I think I'll try again next weekend. I went to Chair 5 to enjoy a free taco bar and the Superbowl commercials, and headed home to start another week.
So it seemed to start off well for a Monday. We went to the deployment ceremony rehearsal. Leaving in 11 days... reality... check. Spc Steve and I went to Sushi for some very depressing Ohmygodwe'releaving conversation, and then to the PX to purchase some Army gear (which should, by all rights, never have to be purchased with as much useless crap as they issue us.) The day then turned disastrous. I was looking forward to a nice head massage and hair cut at the salon in preparation for the ceremony tomorrow. SHE CUT IT ALL OFF. I look like a 12 year old boy. If I wasnt in the Army... if I had a civilian job, I would call in sick with mono or chicken pox or yellow fever and excuse myself for a few weeks. Oh, the glory of my life, the ONE day that I have to be prancing around all 3500 Paratroopers in my brigade, plus their families, and freaking Governor Palin herself... playing camera girl (or, well, boy)... I had to get the most hideous haircut of all time. ARGH!!!
The trend here seems to be illustrating a need to accept the inevitable... that the last weeks/month leading to a deployment will invariably be full of the necessary stressors, as well as a plethora of unnecessary annoyances. Note taken, log that away for the next one.

Time flies!

I need to write more often, Ive had one of those crazy-busy weeks where I cant even remember as far back as Monday... time seems to be moving so fast...
Talkeetna last weekend was wonderful... such a small, tightly knit town. Lots of friendly locals to talk to and the most quaint little businesses. The General Store (the only store in town really) carried everything from fur to highlighters to Alaskan-made tea and soap. It also had a deli and bar in the back, an espresso machine, liquor store and some fantastic antiques. I stayed in a cabin with a loft overlooking the Susitna river, although I spent the majority of day one at the local pub, and day two at a bakery/bed&breakfast, once again playing scrabble by the fire and talking to the owner. She told of the Iditarod, the town pot-lucks and being a 'chairman' on the town board, along with pretty much everyone else who owned a business there... how they agree to be open certain hours so the other businesses can survive. Its a small enough place that they have to share their economical contributions to keep the place thriving. I tried to visit the cemetery but was deterred after falling into the waist-high snow covering the ground. Im hoping to make it to a few more little local Alaskan towns before heading off to Afghanistan. They are so charming, and I am definitely falling for this state!
The work week was so busy, and Im not even sure why. We are just trying to get prepared, and time is flying by!! 18 more days... crazy! I guess we'll be spending about three weeks in Kuwait first, which I am excited about... but Im also just ready to get to Afghanistan, set up my work space, and start working!
For some reason, as the deployment gets closer, this whole Army thing is seeming more and more surreal... and then I have random encounters this week like a guy in the grocery store walking up to me and asking if Im in the Army... I look down at my Army uniform that clearly marks me as a Soldier... and wonder if its all in my imagination. Ha. Another man, after seeing my Airborne wings, tries to inform me that there isnt an Airborne unit in Alaska... I beg to differ, obviously. Strangeness.
I went to a wine/hors devours party last night and hung out with a whole bunch of civilians from Anchorage. I enjoy my Army friends, but it was nice to have a night out with 'normal' people, and not talk about work or the deployment or when the ISOprep photos will be posted to the shared-drive. We played twister. We also went out dancing afterward, which I havent really done since I was in Houston in 2007. It was nice to be with a giggling group of girls for once... I spend so much of my life now surrounded by men, I almost forgot what it was like. I talked with a commercial fisherman for a while... very intriguing. He only works in the summer and makes enough that he doesnt work all winter. Ah, life in Alaska...
I went to Starbucks this evening with Spc Steve's wife... guess I have to give her a blogging name by now... lets call her Anie. Its very interesting listening to the opposite side of the deployment scenario. I really think the spouses that stay behind are stronger than the Soldiers that leave. I cant imagine. She isnt like any of my friends Ive had before, so it surprises me every time I talk to her how much I like her. Again, my favorite thing about the Army, brings us into relationships with the most unlikely people.
Two of my favorite people in the whole world are coming up from Houston to visit me this week!! YAY, cant wait!! I have to go to the range and I have a jump, a ceremony for the Gen, and some other random stuff, so unfortunately the week is looking extremely busy... but Im excited to see them even if I wont get to hang out much.
Jayvn has been selling hot chocolate at the gym, said he made $40 in a week and from what I hear, is quite the little salesman... must be the blue eyes ;) Good to hear that he has an entrepreneurial side! He also said that he likes school, 'but mama, they make me take the longest nap ever.' Mysteri is also enjoying school and gymnastics. I ordered her some little GK leotards (yes, Im living vicariously through her) and thus begins the leo-addiction. Yay! They've been gone for a month already, I feel like they just left.
Time is funny. Why is it moving so fast right now?? And why am I sure that its going to creep as soon as I get on that plane?! Sigh.

Back to work

Well we are all off of leave and into the full swing of things... I probably took 4000 photos this week... insanely busy!!!
Monday and Tuesday I spent doing death and captured photos for the Cavalry guys. A bit morbid, but they have enough one-liner jokes to keep the atmosphere light. Both days were filled with me positioning and re-positioning everyone from the privates to the LTC, squaring away uniforms, and enduring endless comments worthy of EO complaints if I was 'that girl.' Good thing I have a sense of humor...
Wednesday brought on a rise in temperature, and not only did we see positive temps, but all the way above freezing! YAY!! I always think Im whining about the cold, but apparently I have acclimated sufficiently because 33 degrees now feels like 't-shirt weather.' The only problem is, it rained. But because it was only one degree above freezing, the rain simply turned everything on the ground to ice. I literally have been driving 20 miles an hour everywhere, sliding through red lights and wondering why my car winds up sideways on the road once a day. Its impossible to walk from the car to the front door of any building, as we are all sliding around on a perpetual ice-skating rink. They actually shut down the post Weds morning because the roads were so bad... which made for a nice half-day of work (which meant I got to sleep in!)
Thursday morning the gym was still closed (no PT!) and after a round of 4 phone calls at 530 in the morning, and a trip down the road to drop off an ID, I had just collapsed back into my bed thankful for the extra few hours of sleep I was going to get, when the fire alarm in my building went off. Fan-freaking-tastic. So I found myself standing outside on a sheet of ice in the almost-freezing drizzle for an hour. And...go figure... it was a false alarm. By the time I got back in, it was time to endure the anxiety-laden drive/slide into work. First thing upon arrival, I open the bag of snickers for my candy-basket on my desk, and I pulled too hard... causing the bite-sized morsels to scatter confetti-style throughout my office. Ahhh, I love mornings that just scream "today is going to suck" at you... at least you have fair warning from the get-go! I showed up at the wrong building for the volunteer of the month ceremony, causing me to be late to the building where it was actually being held, and found myself trying to run/shuffle/skid across the ice as the Rear-D 1st Sgt stood in the doorway 'encouraging' me to hurry up. Ha. Once again, I spend an hour standing in the middle of a rank-filled room taking photos while everyone watches/analyzes. Gen L was perched inches away from me and the click-click of my shutter echoed through the deathly silent room... sigh. Then it was on to the memorial for a PFC that died over break. I really hate those, something about photographing people in the midst of their mourning is unnerving and wrong. Unfortunately it was easier for me this time than the first, and by the end... was almost feeling mundane. I dont know whats worse, the memorial, or the fact that I didnt feel the need to cry this time. I went to Sgt K's for the night to unwind, where Sgt K's wife and I endured a slaughtering in spades. But the guys made up for it the following afternoon with an enormous steak grilled to perfection. Yum!
Friday produced the PFAR Ball (The Cav says Im cheating on them, and they are not happy...) I was of course on duty, so didnt get to partake in the drinking festivities... but was quite entertained to see all the up-tight Paratroopers loosening up in their dress blues, their beautiful wives in ball gowns cheering them on. Among other things, the Army certainly knows how to throw a party! My favorite was the punch ceremony... which will take entirely too long to explain, so google it if you havent had the opportunity to experience one! The PFAR LTC thanked the PAO shop at the end, going on and on about Spc Steve's video (I was so proud!!!) and thanked me for the photos in front of the whole crowd, causing the usual awkward me standing there smiling sheepishly wondering how I can disappear. I appreciate the acknowledgement, but I just dont do well with large groups of intimidating people staring...
I ran down to Girdwood (Alyeska) today, which is an hour of an enchantingly beautiful drive along the Turnagain Arm. Spent some time in a quaint little book/coffee shop playing scrabble and then had some amazing chicken pizza and beer in one of the little cabin-esque restaurants thats been in this middle-of-nowhere town for 50 years.
Ive been trying to enjoy Alaska, as our deployment is no longer looming in the future, but has progressed to a day-count instead of months or weeks. I think Im making peace with this state, now that Im leaving... go figure. Im heading inland to Talkeetna tomorrow to go hiking and oogle at Mt McKinley up close and personal.

Photos

Finally posted my NTC photos (in the top slideshow to the right)...

Mmmm... Garlic!

I find myself now sucking on a garlic clove.
No, Im not afraid of vampires. Two weeks ago I had the stomach flu, followed by a brief stay in the hospital a few days later with a kidney infection. Now, my throat is screaming 'strep' at me, and I refuse to put any more antibiotics in my body.
*Pause for tangent* I honestly think half the reason that Americans spend so much time with silly little illnesses is our over-use of drugs to cure them. As a child, I got the flu once a year, and recuperated each and every time. There are children I know, that have parents that anti-germ them to death, wash their hands 18 times a day, and pump them full of antibiotics at every sniffle... and low and behold, they are sick once a month. Children are meant to play in the dirt, be dirty, eat dirty things... since the dawn of time, thats the way its been. But our suburban lifestyles have shoved them into these clean little existences full of anti-bacterial foam and Lysol, and then we wonder why their little immune systems never develop. They dont have a chance. So we have created a generation of sick children who will turn into sick adults, who will try to 'protect' their children even more... and the cycle continues.*
So, I have tried all the usual sore throat remedies, as well as some not as usual.
Gargling vinegar, drinking tea with honey, sipping hot lemon juice, I even tried a Russian cocktail made of horseradish, honey and cloves (which I might add was worse than the garlic.)
Im deciding that surely my ailment is bacterial instead of viral (which I figured in the first place but didnt want to admit because that means that the cure is... antibiotics, ugh.) Amazingly, I come across this old Amish remedy of sucking/chewing on a clove of garlic. After further research, I find that garlic contains allicin, a chemical that kills the same kind of bacteria that causes strep. Hmmm. I like garlic, in food... but Im not a fan of eating it plain. However, Im willing to give it a try.

Happy New Year

I spent the day after my children left drinking and laying around feeling sorry for myself. Ok, drinking is an understatement... more like drowning. For the first time, I truly understood alcoholism. Granted, Ive spent my fair share of time drinking, but I have never just sat and drank myself into a stupor, alone... nor understood those who did. Ive decided it makes it worse, not better... however, if we're all honest with ourselves, sometimes we need to spend some time in the land of depression. One day is quite enough for me though.

So, in an attempt to get out and assist my hungover self back to the real world... I learned something new. Cross country skiing, which is completely fantastic. The coastal trail here is beautiful, miles of mud flats and frozen ocean, and you can see across to Knik arm (I think that's what its called) on clear days. The mountains are off in the distance, and right now the sun never gets higher than 'sunset' so the trees, covered in ice, are washed in yellows and purples and pinks. The snow muffles everything, so its serene and quiet, peaceful.

This kind of skiing however, I would compare to running on the snow... its a better workout than jogging at least... so takes away from the serenity slightly. Its hard work! But very satisfying. The first day I went, it was -6 out. I have some good snow gear, but frankly would have been happy in shorts and a sweatshirt after about an hour. The problem is, you get all hot and sweaty, but cant stop because your sweat will freeze. So there is minimal resting. My eyelashes had crystals on the tips, and a few men that went skiing by me had frosty beards. I managed to stay on my feet the whole time, and after asking some 'professionals' for a few tips, actually got pretty good at it. There was this one hill though... had a rough time going up... but came down slope-style... thinking 'oh shit' the whole way, as there was a big curve at the bottom that if I didnt get around I would find myself sailing off the edge and into the mudflats... I was fine, but had quite the scare. Shut up, Ive never skied before.

I finally found a roomate, compliments of craigslist. I'll be staying in mid-town Anchorage, in a little condo on the third floor. My room has a fantastic view. My roomate showed up from Boston several years ago with a backpack on vacation, and said he loved the state so much he couldnt leave. I think that makes him crazy. He makes candles/incense/bath salts etc. for a living, so to say the least I will be having a very aromatic life...

Really, the past week has consisted of cooking, playing my guitar, and cuddling Spc Steve's wife's cat Jack. I did go out for New Years Eve, which was fairly uneventful, but fun... typical NYE festivities, although I must say falling down in the snow in sub-zero temps is not nearly as giggle-producing as it tends to be in warmer places... yet happens significantly more often, as heels and ice dont mix.

My children seem to be enjoying being back in Kansas with their slew of friends and family, and A certainly is glad to be back. So as long as they're happy, I can convince myself to be, or at least fake it until I am. I only have 6 weeks anyway, until life will be so drastically different it will be hard to miss anything specifically... I think 'normalcy' all just clumps together and becomes one big thing that you miss, encompassing everything else.

Im looking forward to 2009, as strange as that may seem. I am anxious for this deployment, but I want to go. So even though getting into the new year has been a bit of a heartache, and despite the assurance that the coming year will be filled with equal heartache, plus some... I know it will also be full of change, growth, discovery, adventure, trials... all the things I thrive off of. And for the first New Year of my life, I am not just hoping for an interesting year... but am guaranteed of one. I dont need a 'resolution' for how Im going to change my life, because this year, life is going to change me.

Happy New Year!