Time to Shave

Espresso 'stache

Bare lip, circa June 2013.

In 36 hours I will go from the left picture to the one on the right, sans webbing behind my back.

Before going to sleep last night, I cleaned my dorm room, preparing for one of the last few outprocessing steps I needed to do: get an NCO to verify that I did not destroy my room, leave personal effects behind or somehow pack the bunk beds into my suitcase (it's happened before).

Dettol: kills 99% of the germs, 60% of the time.

Dettol wipes are everywhere here and last night they cleaned the dusty surfaces in my room.  My inspector said he just wants to make sure my room was in order and won't perform a white glove test.  However, he was wearing white gloves when he said this, so I decided to clean like my mustache depended on it.

While here, I carried my Oakley backpack with me everywhere (you never know when you'll need ibuprofen in the shower).  Primarily I toted my notebook and my papers, business papers, but I also took it downtown, to the gym and to the DFAC.  Here's a list of the most and least useful items I carried with me.

Most useful:
- Generic leatherman: opened cans of tuna, opened packages, cut paracord, used pliers to pull metal wire out from under cabinet (no idea what it was doing there, but I have a lower risk of tetanus now)
- Camera: Found our camera we bought in December 2006 and used it to take pictures everywhere (in case you haven't noticed).
- Notebook: Pen and paper go with me everywhere.  I wrote down items to buy (leatherman), funny things I observed (Keep Off Grass sign in the desert) and anything else.

Least useful/never used:
- Holster: never issued a weapon nor had a need for one.
- Water bottle: My BPA-free steel water bottle sat in my luggage since day one since the bottles of Rayyan are everywhere

Pretty much what happens every time you open a bottle.

- Swimsuit: Pool hours and my work/sleep hours never met on a Venn diagram.  I did lose weight, so if I wanted to lose sleep I could have tested the "lost weight vs. gained mustache attractiveness index" theory that has been on my back burner since 2006.

I finished reading Stephen King's From A Buick 8 this afternoon and now am clear with the library.  After reading it, I could gather the connection to his Dark Tower series of books, but on its own, the story was flat.  The idea was good (monster car eats people!!!), but the implementation was ho-hum (...and then it died.  The end.).  If nothing else, I read 230 pages in about four hours.

So after I had my room inspected, I ate dinner with Sam and then was treated to wings and wine (sounds like a hipster happy hour thing) at the Fox.  Sam arrived at the DFAC an hour later than planned, having found out just how comfortable body pillows can be.

Don't ask about the honeymoon.

No coffee tonight, just some Earl Grey, so I am ready for bed.  Tomorrow I will hand in my keys to the Cadillac and get to the airport.   Thanks for comin' out.

Contact Combat

Imi Lichtenfeld, the creator of Krav Maga

I found my local Krav Maga gym via a groupon last fall.  I had started learning about KM in San Antonio 9 years ago, but only kept it up for a few months.  The instructor/owner is cool and let me put my membership on hold for the time I would be deployed.  In no way on track to a yellow belt, I mostly utilized the KravFit classes, which were Crossfit style sessions with some KM movements.  There are some lunchtime offerings, which were convenient since the gym is close to work and home.  That being said, I plan to cancel my membership due to the cost ($148 a month) and time (mostly evening courses).   I plan to spend more evening time with my family.  Today was my son's first day at preschool, so I imagine I'll be up late helping with homework...such as creating Rorschach tests with finger paint, creating a maximizing function for the number of train tracks to fit in the living room floor and studying the reproductive habits of red wiggler worms.

At work I finished another bottle of Sriracha that was in the drawer of assorted hot sauces and seasonings.

As of today, I've been a captain for five years.  Time flies.

December

Based on true events

Col Robin Olds

Robin Olds brought us both Mustache March and the Deployment 'Stache, so I'm actually surprised that it took me till two days away from flying out of here that he make an appearance on my blog.  Tonight at the gym I was talking to a guy wearing Vibram Fivefingers and he asked me if I was a pilot.  I chuckled and told him no.  He explained that I have a Robin Olds mustache.  That's probably the best mustache compliment I've received since June 30th.  Speaking of which, my flavor saver is 3 months old today!

Six of us made our way downtown tonight for my final foray into the local area.  My wife advised me to take lots of pictures...while in the mall.  It's surprising how westernized the local city is.  No camel for dinner this time, just your typical South African Boerewors sausage and roasted lamb.

This is not for bread.

British condiments, none of which I needed.

Sausage, sweet potato and lamb.

During dinner the guys presented me with a certificate of appreciation for my work the past 100 days.  It's very considerate of them since I wasn't truly part of the cell, but sat with them and was able to broaden their knowledge base about astronomy, basic physics and how to convert from grams to pounds.      

At that bottom there is a note that reads, "What did you do here again?"

Afterwards, some of the guys wanted smoothies and Sam and I wanted (shock) coffee.  We found a French restaurant on our way out of the mall.  Sam tried to get a cappuccino, but ended up with a chocolate milkshake look-a-like in a fancy glass.  I had a double espresso with some non-paleo treats, although creme brulee has eggs, therefore it is healthy.

La France est un pays merveilleux!

surprise café 

Knowing my days are limited on base, I hit the gym for a light workout.

Squat: 5x5x185
Deadlift: 5-245
Incline Bench: 5x5x115

...followed with eggs and sausage:

Earl Grey tea to finish the night.

Dragonfly in Amber went back to the library and From a Buick 8 is in my room now.  It's only 350 pages, so I should be able to finish that in two days.

The Fighter Pilot, the Hunter and the Earl.  There must be some deeper meaning there.  For more deeper meanings, check out this.  I think it is interesting as it forces you to look at your own mental baggage.