About a month

Yes, that's right, we're finally down to the last month before the famous group we affectionately refer to as "The Replacements" arrive to free us from our sentence. The days continue to tick away at about the same pace and the weather remains about as perfect as it could be in Iraq (lows around 70 and highs around 90). And no, there hasn't been any doctoring to do, just more of the usual: reading, running, working out and amusing ourselves in any way possible.

Just after the last post, the three of us who arrived together back in May had our celebratory pizza to mark the 3/4 point. We brought ice cream and root beer to make floats and chatted about all of the little moments that have made up our time together this year. We shared some laughs and commiserated that we have five kids between the three of us, and we're all ready to see our families again.

Last weekend, our base held its official "Air Force 1/2 Marathon-Deployed Locations" race. Over 80 people showed up to run at 6AM and we had lots of good supporters at all of the aid stations/tables. With a little manipulation, the biggest loop on base is 6.6 miles, so it was just two more laps around that course which we know and love so well at this point (I have logged over 350 miles on that loop in the last five months, and others have done much more!).

(4th place=no medal)

Lest you think we're getting bored (and yes, we ARE) or predictable, Jake and I made a tee time at our local course and played 7 holes last week. How is that possible? Well, it turns out there is a dirt golf course hidden behind locked gates here at the KRAB, and we finally managed to form a friendship with one of the gate-keepers. Each tee-box is marked by number and has an AstroTurf mat. The greens are raked and swept so that only baked clay remains and there are even real cups dug into the ground that hold actual flags! The longest hole is 120 yards long and after the tee, you hit off of sand, dirt or the occasional bush. It may not be real golf, but it sure was an awesome runner-up. Notice the shoulder-fired rocket launchers that have been converted to "bags" for carrying our wedges (the Ammo guys run the course).

(Super-flat back swing...time to hit the range and work out some bad habits!)

(Natural hazard on #6...I didn't make this up)

Always in love with you, Sweetheart. See you next month!!!

Cooling off

Unintentionally, it seems I've been remiss in my blogging duties. I wasn't purposefully avoiding it, I guess I just forgot about this blog for the last few weeks. But fear not, there have been at least a few events about which I can write....naturally none of them involve the operating room, though. OK, there was one dead appendix that needed to be removed, but that's hardly a case to dwell on for a few weeks!

For starters, we made some friends in the Fire Dept and convinced them that fire engine training was an "essential" skill for general and orthopedic surgeons (kinda like automatic weapons, driving MRAP's and burning holes in things with a laser...which Jake got to do last month). To our surprise, they not only let us drive both of their biggest engines, but we fired up the lights and sirens and even drenched the road with water while driving. I'm very big on REAL-LIFE training and tend not to let an opportunity pass us by!

We've also been blessed with cooler temperatures (FINALLY) over the past few weeks. After two days of intermittent rain showers (yes, actual rain) that felt more like a muddy mist, temps have dropped into double digits and stayed that way until the last few days. Nighttime lows are even in the 60's now, and many of us are breaking out the coats to cope with these "Fall" temperatures after months of oppressive, evil heat.

And, I'm sure it'll come as quite a shock to find out that we continue with our after-hours antics around the base. After a recent false-alarm trauma activation, I decided to model the "Internal Medicine look" for our ER crew:

Note the pocket full of way more pens than anyone would ever need, the stethoscope around the neck JUST IN CASE it's needed at a moment's notice, the dual handbooks full of lots of important information (that really should have been memorized) and the look of bewildered enthusiasm on my face proving I've ALMOST grasped the big picture with a patient instead of getting lost in the minute details AGAIN. Also note the female in the background, who IS our internal medicine doc (sorry, Charlotte, had to do it)! So, in response, here is her best "Surgeon" impersonation (I think she's attempting to exude over-confidence, but I'm still not sure why).

Speaking of models, there was another monthly talent show last weekend. And, yes, we participated. This time, though, we were merely props for another guys skit. He wanted to do a spoof on "I'm too sexy for Kirkuk" with us as models, and the theme was reflectique (using our nighttime reflective belts and other reflective materials). The only catch was that we had to make our costumes out of things here on the FOB (forward operating base). As you'll see, some of us went with "evening wear" and others were REALLY creative, and REALLY revealing! The camera angle isn't the best, but it's worth a laugh. This wasn't nearly as popular as our last show and pales in comparison to our plans for the October Talent Show...more to come on that one.

I love you always my beautiful Lady! Give Bradster a big hug from Daddy!