Wintertime, Funtime! (1/26/12)

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it...enough already! This is day 3 of snow and so what I should be used to it because I'm from Michigan! Ok- I am a little. I do have a winter coat and snow boots that are water proof for the rainy season. Also, I was the only one out there pushing it off my walks. The others on this base thought I was nuts. We're in the middle of a desert. It will melt soon. And it did! It melted enough to make icy little paths all over the place today...except for in front of my little clinic- Ha! I still can't get over how beautiful snow is when it's falling, (and I get to see it again tonight- oh boy!) but the going out in it and walking in it is a drag. At least it now has a reason to be so cold in the desert. No flights out because of weather. It was a bit windy today, Four people are trying to get out to go on R&R and this is a painful reminder of how close I scheduled my own trip home. I did not use any days to get stuck here. I instead used my "stuck days" for when I'm home. We get 3 of these days and I chose to use them wisely being home and not for getting stuck anywhere. Pray that it works in my favor.

So the snow... It supposedly is a fluke to snow this far south and this much. I believe it! It was great fun watching it through others who have never seen it before. There were Kenyans and Nationals, out without their coats, sliding in it and taking so many pictures to send back home. I just wish we could've found something to sled on- no EMS sleds (backboards) here. Then the soldiers came out and started a snowball fight. I brought out my camera and got pummeled! There were a few falls but no one broke bones... so all's well.

Speaking of breaking something...I will be joining my family on a fun run when I get home. Plan on being there or be square. It's on March 11th at Corktown. www.runmichigan.com for further info. I understand our group name is "Shots in the D", so join in- it'll be fun! For me it means getting off my butt and giving up lazing around to train, but they're worth it. Thanks for motivating me! It also means breaking my smoking habit, as we all know I can't (or won't) run and smoke. Today was a huge success because I only smoked 6 cigarettes, because I'm in training and I did a mile in 20 minutes without too much huffing and puffing. I barely broke a sweat. I have just over a month to get ready- yikes! So I am training here in my bare feet (well- socks) on a treadmill because I left my running stuff at the last base, which was really stupid and a mistake I will not make again.

I'm trying hard to just take the essentials on these little hops. I have to carry all my own stuff and it's a lot of work! Let's start with the 2 lap tops that I have to carry and then my sleeping bag, pillow and blanket, sheets. Then my vest and helmet, (which weighs a ton). Then clothes and toiletries. I know exactly why some people smell! I broke down and bought an rolling army duffle and a better backpack. I'll see if it makes any difference. The bags I have all have wheels , but the rocks and gravel and sand are extremely hard on everything here. I could not even imagine dragging it through snow. We also have a weight limit of 50 lbs. It makes me laugh the stuff that I can hoard in my pockets!

So one more week on this cute little base and BIG tears when I leave. These people have been great and the best and friendliest military that I've ever met.