It sounds all too familiar doesn't it??? It's the day off again. That once-a-week time to recover from the previous 6 days has arrived again! This one is not too much different, however, I'm looking at it slightly different. I am going to go have pizza at 1300 today... which is going to be fantastic! Then I'm off to the Post Office and BX after that to take care of a couple things. We're having a party at work later with burgers on the grill (and BBQ ribs I do believe as well. :P). Yet.... I still don't feel like being involved with anything having to do with work on my only day off of the week. At the same time I feel guilty about it. It's this internal battle that I go through sometimes. It's stressful, too. I just start thinking that I only have this opportunity for a day that's all mine while I'm here... yet I'm still having to give a part of it up to work... even if it is for something "fun".
What can one do about these internal battles? I've suffered more of them than I care to recount over my 38 years of life (and most of them over the course of the last 3 years.) I'm actually not complaining here, either. I know it probably comes across that way to others sometimes, but that's not how I FEEL. This is simply me expressing my feelings from deep down inside... nothing superficial and/or selfishly motivated about it. When a person works 70+ hours every week for 15 weeks... a day off is not a luxury it's a NECESSITY. Eventually the body and the mind wear down. It's a well known fact. The lack of sleep continues to add to the building sleep debt, and eventually said person will succumb to illness of some sort because the body can't fight any longer.
I do, however, hear others truly complain (at least that's what I presume it to be) rather often. Sure, it sucks to deploy during the holidays and leave all of your loved ones behind. I would be a fool to disagree. However, you knew the risk when you joined the military. Deployment is part of military life. Granted, in our job we deploy (as a unit anyway) more often than most, but it's still something that no Air Force job is exempt from. All things considered we're in a pretty decent place here in Iraq. The base offers MANY services and comforts of "home" and provides us with many opportunities to stay in touch with family and friends as much as free time will allow. Yet people still complain incessantly about things... ridiculous things in fact! So I've decided to rate them (I'm shooting for a top 10 here... but I might not get to 10) in the order of how stupid I perceive them to be. Of course, this is only my opinion, but hey, it's worth at least 2 cents! So here goes...
1. Speed of the internet here. This is one that just burns me to hear outwardly. YOU ARE LUCKY TO HAVE INTERNET AND WIFI HERE!!!! I mean, seriously, what would these people have done 10 or 15 years ago when WiFi wasn't even thought of??? I remember the days of the $1000 phone bills for one month. Maybe we can go back to that???
2. The quality of the food. Where the fuck did you think you were going??? Club Med??? This is Iraq! Honestly the food is A LOT better here than I could have possibly imagined. Yet there are those who are always complaining, "Oh this sucks... back home this is so much better... blah blah blah." YOU'RE NOT BACK HOME! Be grateful for what you have here!!! You could be eating MREs!!!
3. Having to do your job. Guess what??? You don't get paid to twiddle your thumbs! I know that's hard to believe for some, but Uncle Sam actually expects at least somewhat of an honest day's work out of you! For the most part we only sit on position for 4 out of 12 hours and have the majority of the remaining time to do whatever (while at work for the most part... or the gym). I'd say it's not a bad deal if you ask me.
4. Not getting paid enough. No shit... we don't get paid enough. We're all in that boat, but guess what? We're getting a TON of benefits that you don't get outside of the military, and while we're deployed EVERYTHING is tax free!!! Not to mention we get a number of additional pay/allowances while deployed as well. I think we're getting a ton of money right now being here!
5. If only there were alcohol.... ahhhh... yes... wouldn't it be nice??? Well... suck it up... the beers will be there when you get home in 3 months. I love my beer as much as anyone, but I sure as hell can live without it.
6. I miss my cell phone. WAAAHHHHH! This is something I probably miss less than anything else here. I love the idea that it actually takes an EFFORT to communicate with those who you care about. What a concept? Actually having conversations! I think everyone should go without their cell phone for 6 months. It might actually do them some good in their lives!
7. The weather. This one is one I am definitely guilty of sometimes as well. I complain about the weather when I'm home as well... usually when it's ridiculously hot. I hate being hot... and it makes me irritable and angry. Right now the weather is AWESOME here! I've heard several complain about the rain from last weekend. Do you realize that was the first time it rained in OVER 40 DAYS??? Enjoy it... relish it... it's a nice fresh change of pace. The cloudy skies this morning were a welcome sight, and the temperature in the mid 50s is very comfortable. So... although I can definitely relate to this one... it's been a couple months since I've said an ill word about our weather here.
8. Lack of transportation. Sure... it sucks to have to walk places... but be grateful for the vehicles we do have at work, and treat them as if they were your own or else they might be taken away. I walk everywhere BY CHOICE. Why??? It's very good exercise, and enjoying the nice cool weather is therapeutic for me.
9. Lodging accomodations. This one is one I don't here too often, but it really burns me up. I think we have it pretty good here. There was a time when a deployment like this would be lived in a tent with about 15 or 20 bunks in it. 'Nuff said.
10. Random stupid shit people say... there's a million things I could put here... which is why I saved it for #10. There are the airmen who don't want to do things like clean-up when it's their turn. Everyone was an Airman once, and they had to do their turn. I did mine a long time ago. It pisses me off when the good ones end up having to do all the work because they actually care about doing a good job.
I can only do so much to help... and I can't be in 8 places at one time. None of us can. We do our best to listen and help out whenever possible, but we still expect the simple things to be done without having to have a thumb on the ones doing it. That was just an example... but I'm sure you get the gist of it. I hate laziness... and I hate that sense of entitlement that people seem to think they deserve over here (and at home as well).
So as this 15th week comes to a close... I think about my dear wifey baby back home in NY with her family but without me there for the holidays. I do miss her dearly, and I know we'll be together soon. As quickly as the time is passing here... it will be REALLY soon. I know this to be true. We're already on the downside of December. Only 13(ish) weeks to go... and that's estimating on the high side. It could be closer to 12. That doesn't sound too bad at all now does it? :) It's time for some pizza and a Mountain Dew. Mmmmmmm!!!!! Have an awesome Saturday before Christmas everyone! :)
Peace, Love, and Poker
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