Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really...Back In Action
Posted by Erik Rupard on April 2nd, 2008
Thanks to Lorri for braving the WordPress interface and putting out that last blog entry. Well done!
I did indeed lose my internet access over the past three days. I initially did not know whether this was in any way related some other notable lacks around here. We have had little or no fresh foods for the past week, and certain packaged things disappeared from the DFAC as well (Gatorade, which is an Army staple—fortunately, I have a few squirreled away in my canister); the mail service has also been “out” for a couple of days (Monday and Tuesday). This may be (and probably is) all coincidence, but sometimes at work when we have a few free moments we have nothing better to do than speculate as to why things are not going exactly the way they “always” do. At any rate, mail delivery resumed today (two boxes from Lorri, woo-hoo!, plus a Wall Street Journal!), and they tell me the mess hall had good, plentiful, fresh chow. (I did not get to mess hall today—had a sick patient show up right before lunch, and we treated her through lunch break.) Internet is back up now (obviously), though I still don’t have an explanation for that one.
Some random thoughts for you. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I really like the numbers thingie, like this:
- When military people speak, the word “Sergeant” is never fully pronounced (as is is in the movies, like “sar-gent”), except by those who are not “in the know” (i.e., newly-deployed medical corps types—fortunately, I figured this one out years ago). Instead, it is pronounced “Sar-int” or even just “Sarnt.” Efficient, as it cuts out a syllable.
- The braintrust at Al Asad (not Army folks) have deemed it illegal to go anywhere outside of one’s container, unless one is wearing either the P.T. uniform (issued Army t-shirt and regulation shorts), or else the ACU (the new, digital all-terrain fatigues). This rule works much better for the Marines, who do not have a prescribed P.T. uniform, and just wear some greenish stuff. But for the Army people, it is annoying, and for those few of us who are LDS, it really creates a problem, because a certain part of our day-to-day clothing simply does not jive well with the Army PT uniform. So, I have had three options: 1) wear my big, bulky ACU uniform (with boots) everywhere I go (not practical, for many reasons; 2) wear my PT uniform without the LDS-specific clothing; or 3) break the rules. Option #3 has worked well for me so far, since I outrank everyone within a reasonable distance of me (except LTC Bullock, who is not exactly a stickler). I end up wearing other (non-issue) shorts, and an Army t-shirt when I am just putzing around the cans, and I put on my ACUs when I go anywhere.
- In addition, we can’t go to the mess hall in the P.T. uniform which means that I can’t go from work to home, change my clothes and go the gym (about 1/2 mile from my can), and then go across the street to the mess hall after the gym. You might think that this avoids having sweaty gym-goers in the mess hall, but this is sadly not the case. The Marines actually wear their ACUs to the gym (boots and all) and then drag their pit-stained bodies over to eat afterwards. You can keep the sweaty guy out of the mess, but you can’t keep the…aww nevermind, that’s not working.
- If you, like me, don’t feel that you are in your best possible shape, then it may be really depressing for you (as it is for me) being out here surrounded by a bunch of 20-somethings and a few highly-motivated 30-somethings. I have done nothing but run, bike (14 miles on Saturday!), treadmill, do the elliptical, lift weights, etcetera since I got here, but 90% of people are still in better shape than I am. Far better. The other 10%? They’re called “civilians.”
- Presiding Bishop Richard Edgeley recent gave a talk at BYU on the prophet Joseph Smith, in which he announced that the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints has moved into fourth place in American religions with regard to the number of members. This is amazing to me, but all the more amazing when I realize how very little the people here with me know about the church. Even the guy from Arizona doesn’t seem to know anything about us. Strange.
- Someday, SOMEDAY, I will get the nerve up to tell you about the toilets here. That has been a real education for me. Nothing the Army taught us had prepared any of us for the psychological trauma we would go through here, just trying to find a place to answer nature’s call.
- I am very glad to hear that Lisa, Adam and family made it out of the Maui airport alive. Unbelievable luck, heading to Hawaii on Aloha the very week that Aloha declares bankruptcy. (It leaves me wondering if the Aloha people all stood up in the airport at once and yelled out “WE……DECLARE……BANKRUPTCY!”)
- (WARNING: No Iraq content.) My mom wrote in one of the comments about a salty fish that Grandpa Johnston used to eat. My curiosity got the best of me (being a fan of gross, salty things) and I looked it up and found that “Blind Robin” is a chemically-altered dried herring snack. One of the sites claimed that it is dried “on a dashboard,” which sounds just perfect to me. This made me understand a little more why grandpa had that triple bypass, and also made me glad that I wasn’t raised in the midwest, where such things are allowed to exist. Then, while scrolling down the page, looking at regional foods, I came across this wonderful example of good old fashioned southern cuisine, available at your local Piggly:
Makes me proud to be a Southerner. Love the “serving suggestion” there (eggs ‘n’ brains), and the fact that they advertise the “milk gravy,” as if that is a great selling point. Of note: contains just 1,350% recommended daily allowance of cholesterol (not making that up). Grab the can opener, Lurlene!
Finally, my prayers go out to my friends and brothers-in-arms in Baghdad who are being shelled daily, Jeff Passey and Bob Vigersky among them. I have met a number of people here who have close relatives—including brothers, sisters, husbands—over there, and have yet to hear from them. Tough times, and my heart goes out to each of you.
That’s it for tonight; got some interesting medical cases to tell you about soon, and thoughts on our unique water supply at Al Asad.
Godspeed, and thanks for worrying about me,
Erik
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Nice to see you’re back online. I’m excited to hear about your “interesting medical cases”. Have enjoyed following your blog thus far.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Yes, the only thing missing is the medical stuff. I would love to hear about it.
Yes, we are out of the Hawaii airport….remember, being stuck in the airport, with no chairs, three kids, our bags, and no exit strategy, is NOT like staying in the resort in Hawaii. They told us we couldn’t get out unil the 9th or 10th. So, we are glad to be home. Yeah, it could have been worse but I am still wondering what state our luggage is in!
Good to see you back, Erik.
What do you need in the next package?
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Dad! I loved this blog, so many little snippets made me laugh out loud (which is oddly enough very satisfying when noone knows what you’re laughing at.) Anyways, I got your package and I LOVE IT! Thanks so much for the Al Asad sweater, it is so warm, and Im so proud to have it! (It also doubles as a nice blanket as well.) Thanks for the wierd arabic chip flavors. I especially liked the original lays “french cheese” flavor. That’s a little wierd, but I’m excited to taste it! Also, I’m excited to “bask in the coolness” of my arabic sodas; in fact, I will bring them to seminary and show them to bro. criswell. he’ll like that. I appreciate the chocolate too, although I must admit, much of it was schruted during the shipment. Overall, It was a great birthday present!
Just in case you want a little update on my life…(Don’t mind if I copy the list thingie too, do ya?)
1.Beth got a 2150 on the SAT; darn it! Oh well, I’m glad she got a good score, she deserves it.
2.Me and mom went shopping today. Promptly after she declared bankruptcy in the store. Just kidding! It was actually quite inexpensive. I bought some things from the clearance aisle.
3.We’re doing “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” Blake Clendenin and Hansen are directing. It makes me think of you and how you played Charlie Brown in your school musical. I want to try out for Lucy. Or Sally. Or Snoopy. Which one do you think?
4.We played DDR today in Young Womens. It was fun, but I really suck at it.
5.Me and Drew pulled an amazing April Fools Prank on mom. I hope she’s told you all about it.
6.In AP Lang we are reading Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Have you read it? Did you like it if you did? Personally I don’t. I think its pretty annoying.
7.In four months I will be a senior! AUGHHHH!!
8.I’ve listened to “Alfie” about 100 hundred times since you left!
Anyways dad, I hope your canister is treating you well. Tell turt I said hi. Okay? Goodnight.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Maddles,
1. Your 2000 score on the SAT is outstanding, nothing to sniff at I say. (Even if you are a dog and your score is coated in raw beef juices. [Or, if you are a Georgian and it is covered in canned pork brains in milk sauce, with some scrambled eggs on the side.])
2. I’ll check the credit card transactions later today…
3. Indeed I was Chuck in YAGMCB, though I really wanted Linus initially. I looked cute in that yellow shirt with the wavy design on it. Cute in a “Woody Allen sort of way” that is.
4. I think that you meant you really STINK at it.
5. Mom told me about the April Fools joke. You are both grounded for the next five years. (By the way: you have a good lawyer—got your sentence reduced from twenty.)
6. I loved Invisible Man. LOVED it. In fact I brought the audiobook here with me. I especially like the “Battle Royal” scene.
7. In four months I will be one month away from coming home. Woo-hoo!
8. That little Alien guy from the TV show? Does anyone else hear him, or just you?
Love ya, kiddo. Drink those sodas. I love the “pull tabs” on them—illegal in America now (ask your mom, she’ll know why).
Daddio
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:17 am
You might be spatially confused E. Maddy’s too young to remember Sherri’s favorite show
“Alf” since it aired from 1986 until its last airing in 1990. “Sorry” (tone of Simon Cowell),I know my crud. Indeed I just showed them the link to the sitcom and they were actually quite disturbed by it. They visibly shuddered. See I’ve had to compress more useless dates in my brain like…uh…(googles)1812 and um(takes a stab)1776? to make room in my memory for imperative chronology like this.
For those who’d like to reminisce, here’s the link to that charming show (granted it’s not the most flattering pic of Alf).
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/alf.html
Did you read the story I sent? Maddy’s been asking for Lorrie Moore every night before bed and that one was hysterical. We laughed, we cried. (I read one a few days ago in which she references “Alfie” and Maddy thought that was fetching cool.) It’s not late night reading however and with our habits….well, let’s just say I have to keep pretty alert to edit some of the expletives out. If I’m too tired, it’s no good and I fake swear all wrong kind of like a mom with my nouns and verbs all mixed up.
Behave Space Cowboy.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 am
Not being as well versed in the witty repartee as you are I’ll make this brief…
I am enjoying your blogs. Never having served myself, but living by my Father’s wishes, I am in the odd position of being envious of your deprivations.
Thanks for the humorous insight into what must be a very hard situation for you. It is a blessing to the rest of us to see how your strength in the gospel keeps your light bright while enduring the separation from your family and the trials of Army life.
Thanks for your service!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Voldemort is reading your blog?
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
I try to stay current
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Hi, Erik,
Glad you’re back. We mailed a pkg for the clinic yesterday. Let us know what you would like. Do you have plenty of those little powder packets that you empty into a water bottle to get Crystal Light, etc.? What, no omega 3 in blind robins! Dad always drank a beer with them (he was not a member) so perhaps that helps. All is well in Old Lyme except for the 29 degree weather. Big day, Dad let me drive the new car. Rather complicated. We are heading to BNR JR. tomorrow to help him with his income tax. Also rather complicated. Thank you again for your blog entries. It helps. Love, Mom
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Lorri is quite mistaken, as “Alf” was absolutely NOT my favorite show, but I must confess that I did tune into it a time or two as a much needed study break. Glad to hear that things are getting back to “normal” over there, and that you are able to continue the blog. I think of you, Lorri, and the girls daily. Take care of yourself, and keep the entertainment coming.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Voldemort/He who must not be named; That was quite witty.
Welcome to the blog.