One thing left to say....

Suprisingly my time here in the 'Stan has gone by quite quickly.... 15 months, and honestly it feels a bit as if I had just arrived yesterday.


All in all I've learned a few things while I've been here. Kandahar will always be dusty and will smell from the waste-water plant the ingenious Corp of Engineers put UPWIND of the base... Kabul is actually a very nice city at certain parts of the year and doesn't look half as depressing covered in snow... and real men can wear Superman PJ's, or at least our local Afghani guards can. I think everyone would have laughed if I could have gotten a picture of that one.


I can't say I'll really miss this place, though I would like to visit in say, 15 years once the reconstruction is done.... but I will say that I'll miss some of the people. I followed a couple of great friends whom I've worked with for 5+ years here... and gained new ones along the way.

It is said that all things must come to and end.... And I have one thing left to say:

21/Twenty One/XXI

It's not often we really take a look at numbers in general, but I want to share with you a special number. 21. So, why 21? Well let my list tell you the ways..

• Blackjack (aka 21) - The point of the game is to get or get close to 21 without going over and beat the dealer
• 21 Gun Salute - ceremonial military honor performed when 21 rounds are fired from a battery of artillery pieces
• 21 - the number of spots on a standard cubical die (1+2+3+4+5+6)
• Port 21 - Standard TCP/IP port for FTP connection
• Pier 21 - (not to be confused w/ the Port) the "Gateway to Canada" for immigration
• 21....Jump Street. Good ol' Johnny Depp.
• 21 - NASCAR driver Bill Elliot
• 21 - The atomic number of Scandium (rare earth mineral)
• 21st President - Chester A Arthur
• 21st Amendment - repealed the 18th Amednment (prohibition)
• 21 - Age to legally drink in the US
• 21 - Age to legally gamble in the US
• 21 - a drinking game.... a fun one at that.
• Twentyone - a TV quiz show in the 50's.... got busted for being rigged. heh.
• 21, the movie - "They proved the Vegas Blackjack System was beatable...by beating the hell out of it."
• Centry 21 Exposition - another name for the Seattle World's Fair on April 21, 1962

But, most importantly

• 21 days until I'm back home.....

Bleh

Well.

I'm back here in the 'Stan again. You wouldn't believe how difficult it was for me to get on the plane to head back this way. Leaving Sarah, the puppies, the house, the new bike...... high speed internet..... Gah it's a lot to give up. This time I think we both handled it a bit better, knowing that it was the last time we have to do this.... Next time Sarah sees me, it'll be me being home for good. Speaking of which, we've got right at 3 months before I'm out of this place and starting to work my way home. It's not too bad, it's the shortest of our spans of being apart which also makes it a bit easier to deal with.

The reason for the "Bleh" title is well, I'm feeling quite bleh. I called in today because I just wasn't feeling well at all. I took a couple of Nyquil and that knocked me out pretty good. Head's still stuffy but hopefully I should be good for work tomorrow.

Had a bit of a tough time with the license people in Huntsville... They sent a letter to the house stating that they had to have the bike down there to inspect it... Well, that's a bit difficult to do as I'm out here, Sarah doesn't have a license, and well, it's up on stands at the moment waiting for me to come home. So I called the license bureau, started describing my issue, then was put on hold for 25 minutes. I could hear the people joking and cutting up in the background... Needless to say that didn't make me a happy camper. So after 25 minutes of paying for the call on my own dime, being put on hold, and listening to the banter in the background, I called back. I did my best to be nice, but I made it clear that I was not to be put on hold a second time. A lady named Janice tried to help, and said that she made some notes on the file that the motorcycle would not be needed, all that would be needed is some documentation for Sarah to bring down (including the Power of Attorney) so that she could sign for me.

Sarah sent me some pictures of the pups! God they're getting so big... I can't wait to see them again. Apollo's weighing in at 14 pounds and Venus at 17. Sarah took them to the vet this past Friday for their follow-up puppy shots. They'll both be right at 5 1/2 months old when I get to see them next... Hope they remember me!

If you haven't read Sarah's blog, we've changed the venue of the wedding from Nashville to the Bellagio. This is going to make it much easier for us to deal with since everything is included in the package there... we don't worry about floral, photography, music... nothing. We show up and they take care of it all. It's a big stress relief. We've mentioned it to several folks and the responses we've got from our friends are all positive. "Great idea." "Oh, that makes it so easy!" "That's the right way to do it." Guess it's a good idea, what do you think? :)

Anyways, that's it for now.

Followed me home....

Yesterday was a pretty event-filled day, for a Saturday. It started off with picking up a few things around the house, taking the puppies out and having left over pizza for breakfast. Sarah and I had been talking about getting her fitted for a helmet for the past few days and decided to make a trip to KC Powersports (great showroom, sales personnel and atmosphere btw).
So we go out and about yesterday afternoon and make our way to KC's... We start off in the showroom and she immediately asks for me to show her a Hayabusa.... they don't have any in stock.... But I do show her a nice Katana 600 and she seems quite impressed by it and started to imagine herself on such a bike.... Before we get carried away we head into the accessories section and start looking for lids..... She spies a few, thinks the modular ones are cool, and starts trying a few on (while I hold her purse in as man-ly a way possible). I think that's when the bug bit....
After we tried on a few more helmets for her to get an idea of the size she was and which lids fit her best, we walked back into the showroom and stood beside the Katanas again.... One of the sales reps came over, we talked price, MSF, and other random stuff... but ended up walking out the door (quickly to turn around as I had left my sunglasses on one of the helmet racks :yikes: )
So on our way to the shop and from we've seen bikes left and right, it was a beautiful sunny day out and everyone was enjoying the weather..... I asked what she thought of the helmets, the bikes, and the experience... She said she enjoyed it......... a few minutes later....

"Why don't we just go get that bike?" Which one?"The one you were looking at..."....Don't tempt me....."No....seriously.".....Woman you better not be playing.... Cause I know they have the one I want in a crate in the back...."No.... let's do it."

And it started.... I made a quick call to the shop in Fayetteville, yes, they still had it in stock... no penalty for early payoff of financing.... and then I said those words.... " Get her ready for me...... I'll be there in about an hour."

We dropped by the house, grabbed my helmet and let the puppies out in the yard for a few, and I was already getting butterflies...... I was about to finally have the bike I've been dreaming about since I first started riding..... With the necessary prep done (and puppies put away!) we started the trip to Fayetteville.
We showed up just before 4PM and they were working like mad to get her built out from the crate. The battery was on the charger and the bike still had foam on the exhaust, plastic on the seat when I first saw her..... and I got felt a tingle roll down my spine. There she was..... and I got a remark of approval from Sarah (and one of the dealership reps who hadn't seen the black/grey in person).
While we were there waiting on the bike to finish up and paperwork be drawn up and prepped, Sarah tried on a few more helmets and found one similar to that she was liking at KC's..... So we grabbed that and a tank protector.... I looked at the mesh jackets they had, but of course, nothing in size "HUGE!" for me..... luckily I did have my leather jacket in the car!

After a few more minutes of talking with the staff... asking about break in, PM cycle, and a few other basics.... it was time to get down to the paperwork..... Surprisingly there was less paperwork than I expected.... I signed for a lot more when I bought my truck! Frank (my sales rep) came in while I was finishing up and actually handed me the keys and informed me that it was ready and out front for me.
The butterflies immediately returned. Was this a dream? Was I just given the keys to my own dream machine? If it was, I definately didn't want to wake up. Sarah watched, listened, and waited while I finished the documentation.... then asked to see the keys...which she quickly turned and placed in her purse... she said I had been fidgiting with them too much... okay, fair enough... I was nervous.
Finally... it all came down to one last dotted line.... DONE! and DONE! The bike was now mine..... A walk out to the car to get my lid and jacket, then a walk over to the bike where Frank and the guy who built her out were there watching... a quick warning on how slick the tires are, a handshake, and a "Goodluck and come back to see us again!" and that was it.... Sarah was in her car leading and got ready to pull out of hte parking lot while I got the feel for the clutch, throttle, and breaks....and then we were off....

I was a bit nervous, it'd been a bit since I'd riden, but it all came back to me quickly. I took her very gently onto the pavement and then accellerated... .My GOD it felt good..... and I was shocked at how quickly the power came..... every bit I ever wanted, right there when ever I wanted it.... I got settled into position and just started crusing, Sarah in front of me. I had so missed being on two wheels...... but within about a mile I knew there was trouble. The sun was setting and guess who didn't have any gloves.... yeah... yours truely.
What was a beautiful day began to turn cold quickly..... But I was still fine, it wasn't TOO cold, yet. We made our way back home from Fayetteville, cruising along and when I felt a bit bolder (ie-no vehicles/LEO's around) I would sprint her up a bit.... I hit 90 without thinking about it.... Yes. she's that quick.
The trip home was mostly uneventful, other than the cold.... but we made it in decent time. When we pulled into the drive, Sarah got out of the car and came to me, just about as giddy as I was..... we talked about how the bike was acting, how she was surprised how quickly I had passed her (then I told her I was pushing 90), and let her feel how cold my hands were (and that's why you wear gear folks!). So with that done, I began backing the Hayabusa into the garage where she is sitting now.... 31 miles from the dealership home (32 on the bike!). All in all, I only have one complaint so far about the Hayabusa....

The speedometer is a bit difficult to read sometimes.... course I guess you'd expect that when they have to fit so many numbers in such a small space.

Almost There....

Well it's been a little bit since I last updated.

Sarah's moved into the house. We bought a HUGE TV, bedroom set, coffee table and end tables.... We're waiting on the couch and love seat till I get in....

Speaking of which. I'll be home in only a couple more days! I can't wait... it's been a long 6+ months and I can't wait to be home and see Sarah. Flying from here down to Dubai, meeting up with a co-worker who will be there at the same time with his girlfriend from the Philippines and probably having dinner with them before calling an early night. Waking up probably around 3:30 AM to then head to the airport to catch my flight home! It'll take me thru Amsterdam, then to Houston, then finally my last little jump, I'm considering the last a small jump considering the rest are intercontinental flights, to Huntsville, Alabama.

I've settled on Papa Johns pizza as my first meal back... followed the next day (after my optometrist appointment) on having Sonic. I've sure missed Sonic and their burgers, tatter-tots and fantastic drinks.... Can't wait. After that, Sarah and I have our first "date" together again on Saturday night. We're thinking Italian food (new restaurant she knows) and then a movie... I'm really looking forward to being able to spend time with her again.

We've been talking about the prospects of getting a puppy! We're pretty sure we want a yellow lab (okay, she wants a poodle, aint happening) and now we're just working on names..... that in and of itself is TOUGH! But we'll figure it out.

Sarah's been having a great time and been enjoying the new house, broadband internet (god I can't wait!) and digital HD TV. I'm really looking forward to being home and seeing our new home!!! I just don't know.... can I carry her over the threshold now or do I gotta wait till November???