Well, leave is over and I had a good time. I didn't write a single post while I was gone, but then again I had other things to do. I was able to see my friends and family a bit. Kelley and I took a road trip and visited a kindergarten class who had written to me here in Iraq. We also visited Howe Caverns (and Secret Caverns, which was far cooler), and ended our little trip at Cooperstown at a nice little bed and breakfast.

But, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and I have since returned to the middle east. And I can report to you that the Army still runs the same way it did before I left.

I got into Kuwait on the 1^st, and have been sitting in Kuwait since then waiting for a plane to Baghdad. We got all the way to the air field where we fly out of (about an hours drive from Camp Doha, where we're staying) and were told an hour before our plane was scheduled to leave that the weather was bad in Baghdad and our flight was canceled. Back to Doha! WOOHOO!

So now I'm just killing time here in Kuwait. It's been warm, but nice. I haven't actually seen a thermometer, but people have told me it's been over 100 degrees. And that bit about it being a dry heat? It's true! Despite it being fairly hot, it's actually quite comfortable as long as there's a breeze. 80 in Rochester is much worse than 100 in the desert.

I'll try to drop a blog down when I finally hit Iraq. Knowing how things work, I imagine I'll spend a couple days in Baghdad as well before I finally find a ride back to An Numaniyah. Which is ok, as it gives me a chance to get through the jet lag before heading back to work.