So we got our nice weather back!!  It was very dusty yesterday with rain on its way causing little mud droplets on our ACU’s and black AMC hats as we walked out to our vehilces after work.  It is very strange the first time it actually happens, but then it is just annoying.  So the first thing I look for when I go outside my CHU (Containerized Housing Unit) in the morning is to see what color the sky is.  Will it be a beautiful Iraqi morning blue?  Or will it be a ugly Iraqi, “dust” brown?  I have to look up when I go outside my CHU because surrounding my CHU, (and matter of fact, every building over here) are the giant concrete T-Walls. As unvisually stimulateing that might be to some who love a great view in the morning, these concrete T-Walls are what keep us safe from incoming Rockets and/or Mortars.  And that is only if those two such items make it through our first base defense…

So this morning, I awoke to the beautiful Iraqi blue sky!!  It had rained pretty heavy last night so the dust was all gone and the air was back to normal breathing conditions, so I knew it was going to be a nice day to run.  After walking through some muddy spots to the bus stop, I was paying extra attention to the sidewalks (my running routes) on my bus ride to work.  Some area’s were muddy, but with the nice weather finally here, hopefully that would dry.  Although one thing I have noticed here is how long it does take for the water to dry in some areas.  A lot of my friends back home think I work in a desert, and I have to explain to them that most of the sand I have seen was down in Kuwait, I work on a base that has a hard, clay like mud that does not absorb the water when it rains.  So can take up to a month or longer, for some of the bigger “rain made” ponds that develop in certain areas over here due to the poor drainage.  I will try and post some of these pics later on tomorrow.

Well, I wanted to get a good 7 miler in today at lunch because yesterday was a no running day due to the dust.  I was glad to hear that I was not the only one hurting from the Biathlon on Sunday.  “Make it happen Capt.” Sara also said she was hurting in her quads.  She ended up winning over all for the females on Sunday.  That race was a great stepping stone for her Triathlon training.  She will be competing in her first Triathlon while on R and R and I know she will do awesome!

Well, it is almost time to call it a day here in good old JBB.  Until next time…

Run Happy,

Sherrod out J