Sunday Steak and Lobster

19 March 2006, Camp Lemonier, Djibouti - Horn of Africa

Sunday morning started out with a rush of air into my lungs and a burst of adrenaline knowing full well that I had over slept. Looking at a clock that read, "6:55" (not remembering it runs 10 minutes fast) and realizing that I had to be at work by 7:00, I jumped out of the bed and into my uniform in such a short time that even a Broadway costume handler would have been proud.

It's probably the fastest I've moved since arriving here at the Horn of Africa. Come to think of it, not much of anything moves particularly fast here except the rise in the thermometer mercury come noon time.

Okay, so you're probably wondering why I would have to be at work at 7:00 on a day when the base runs on a half-day schedule and usually does not begin to function until well after 1 PM? Well, such is the pitfall of my position and the position of my fellow Marines. When entrusted with the job we have been tasked with, like Las Vegas and rust, we never sleep.

I made it to work on time, by the way...

With a definite lag in the amount of bodies being seen for sick call, the abundance of my day was spent reading, studying and catching up with my web email. Nothing of consequence other than a few choice emails from my wife, parents, and friends.

A particularly interesting email excerpt was forwarded to me from one of my Naval Reserve colleagues, who cut and pasted an part of a web posting from one of my "juniors" who was called to active duty and sent into the "jaws of the beast" in Iraq with 1st MARDIV. The email itself was rather scary in one respect and perfectly normal in another. I remember telling him all about Iraq when he was "gun-ho to-go" not more than 8 months ago - showing him the pictures I had - trying to explain what facing death meant. From the look of his writing, I'd say he now knows EXACTLY what I was talking about...

Sunday night here at the encampment and that means Steak and Lobster. No, seriously - steak and lobster, folks! Real Dreyers ice cream. Chow hall open 24/7. Gym open 24/7. First-run movies at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation tent, telephone access, Internet access, laundry services - all that and loaded weapons that really work!

I got to hand it to KBR and the DOD - this is probably the best food, services and facilities I've ever had access to or experienced in a so-called "Maximum Security" facility...

Originally published 19 March 2006 on the blog "Totum dependeat (Let it all hang out!)"