I am really trying not to keep having these sad posts, but I am also trying to keep it real. This morning when I logged on I had this instant message waiting for me:

I was trying to talk to Amy before I went to bed last night, and Jeremiah got on long after I had gone to sleep. Amy didn’t even know he had tried to talk to me. Poor guy; sure wish I could get back home!

I hate to complain about being in the paradise that is Qatar, but lonely is certainly a fitting word. It is really weird, I have no schedule and no worries, and I dread going back to Afghanistan; yet I find myself depressed most of the day while I am here.

There are plenty of activities and people every where I go, yet I know none of them. With no mission to accomplish, all I can think of is home and how I long to be there. Then the morbid side of me makes it worse; every time I am in a room with a bunch of people I can’t help but think of how many will never make it home again. Statistically speaking the last 100 days is nearly as dangerous as the first 100, and so many of us here are heading into those days.

The big topic of conversation around here is September and the upcoming Congressional debate. With so many cronies (n. pl. cro·nies A longtime close friend or companion.) leaving Washington and others changing sides over the last few days, many here are thinking change may finally be on the horizon.

Who knows, we may even find another Attorney General like Ashcroft; wouldn’t that be nice for a change!

This is a must read article; take the time to read it all!

I haven’t disappeared and nothing has happened to me, I’m just relaxing in my seventh different country in seven months thanks to the Army. Earlier this year I spent a week in Germany, followed by two days in Kyrgyzstan then on to Afghanistan. When I went on R&R Leave I spent three days in Kuwait, two days in Scotland and two weeks in the US.

This week I am enjoying my four day pass in Qatar. Sitting on the outskirts of Doha, this is the best Army base I have been on since Ft. Jackson! All the buildings are quality built, there is no dust, the local nationals don’t stink or do anything disgusting (they are even friendly), the bathrooms are clean, you can drink the water, and you don’t even feel nervous about people or vehicles exploding. They have a full service Chili’s on post that feels like home, and civilian clothes is the uniform of the day. Too bad it only four days

I have reached the point that I am a short timer until I get to go on my pass to Qatar. While I am tremendously excited about this, it has nothing to do with the fact I am going to Qatar. I am excited to be able to leave everything behind, sleep in and eat at the Chili’s they have on post there. While they have all of these off post activities lined up that I could participate in, I would rather just hide out for four days.

The other nice part is I won’t be moving outside the wire again at least until I get back absent exigent circumstances. Lately time actually seems to be passing quickly; I am praying these next five months will fly by!