So what was it like? And the adventures of Hero Woman, Vomit Pan and Ear Ring Boy

2006-02-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

I guess I should get this blog out of the way. I've now returned back from Baghdad, Iraq Operation Iraq Freedom III (Or "OIF '04-'06" according to our former misguided 4th brigade 3rd Infantry Division) as a full fledged combat Infantry veteran of a foreign war. I was deployed for 5 months prior to entering country at Ft Bliss for the worst and most pointless training of my military career (8 years including 4 prior deployments before this one). We had entered Kuwait in later part of Jan '05 and into Baghdad into Feb '05 until Jan '06. With only a small 15 day break for leave around July 4th, Baghdad, FOB Falcon is where I called home for the year of 2005. Being blown up a few times, shot more than I can remember, and more importantly and disheartening watching my buddies having a worst time of it than me, it is something I don't think I ever forget. When everyone asks "So what was it like?" I answer "It sucked." Seems to stop most of the stupid follow on questions.

Now that I'm home and missed all the new changes around town (Sacramento) for the last 18 months (did you know we have a super uber power ball lottery now too?) I must seem like a stranger in a strange land to some people. Overall I try keep to myself while in public, listening to people's banter about how horrible or great their lives are.

Example, I'm taking my sister, who like rest of my family caught some nasty flu bug, which I'm convinced I brought back from mud hut village kid, to a local clinic. We get there early enough, before opening for me to hop in line proxy style with about 5 other people, leaving my poor sister in my new (kick-ass) SUV to stay warm with the heater.

Trying to catch on the conversation but not actually engaging in it, I find out the reason one of the male customers is there is due to a bit of bowel movement problem (although I think it might have to due to the ear ring in his left ear than his diet). All I want to say is "trying living with diarrhea aka 'Baghdad Blast' for a year buddy", which I have found out the hard way last couple of weeks how *ehm painful real dairy products could be after a year without.

But I keep to myself. By this time this another customer starts bantering about how tough she is and all the horrible things she seen since staring to work a veterinarian's office as 10 months ago and how when she sees someone in pain she just reacts without thinking about it. Of course she has Oprah-isk story about having some dude that got hit by car in front of the vet's store and how she rushed to help him. All I'm thinking is yeap some hero you are, and of course ear ring boy is going ah you poor thing bullshit. Yet to all this I keep my mouth shut, realizing this people are just clueless.

But just before the clinic opened up some woman with a vomit pan and looking like flu done her sideways comes strolling up to the door. Hero lady think now she has street cred for her little story decides to be the group spokes-man-person-woman and tells everyone vomit pan woman can cut in line in front of everyone. Granted I don't look sick, cause well I wasn't, oh that's right I'm the proxy in line for my sick sister, that also looks like flu done her sideways too. Pissed and the fact I hate lines and more importantly hate people who decide they're in charge without a fair election or a aleast a seniority ladder, but by sheer loudness of their voice, I speak in opposition to cutting of vomit pan woman. Hero woman proceeds to coddle vomit pan to the front door, clearly ignoring me. In my usual manner, pissed, I proceed to turn to get my sis, but make a point of calling Hero woman a "cunt" just loud enough for everyone to hear, but quiet enough to deny. Hushes. After getting my sis inside, I had to get a cup of joe just clam my nerves. Luckily I didn't have to see Hero woman or ear ring boy the rest of the day.

I think I like people more, when I can't understand the silly language they're speaking.

Redhatchet's Day Off

So what was it like? And the adventures of Hero Woman, Vomit Pan and Ear Ring Boy