Last Full Moon

One of the nicest things about this place is the sky.  We have lots of it.  No, really, lots.  We don't get clouds, and when we do they are few and far between.  I am of course not talking about the 6 weeks of the year that constitute the rainy season, those are in the winter and I'm not there yet.  I am talking about the rest of the year, when it's hot.  Then, we get lots of sky.

Nice thing about lots of sky is lots of stars.  Most neighborhoods around here get 6 hours of electricity a day.  You can pretty well bet that they aren't going to waste any of that on street lights.  What that means is that you get very little light pollution.  The sky is very dark the stars pop right out of it.

Another nice sight is the moon.  I have really been living by it.  I track when it is going to be full.  I keep an eye out for sunrises or sunset in which the moon is hanging big and full on the horizon.  I love it.  Tonight is my last full moon I will see here.  I know it seems a silly way to count down the time but there it is.  My way.  

Tonight is the last time I will see the moon full over Baghdad and it was a beautiful one too.  The moon rose just before sunset, big and orange on the horizon.  It will be up all night long and will set shortly after sunset.  Nice.

See you later old friend.  Next time I see you we will both be in a far nicer place.

Under 30 Days

Yep, that's right.  I have less than 30 days remaining here in Iraq.  I can't tell you exactly how many, but it is under 30.  I am very excited.

We are packing up.  Printers that don't really need to be used every day are going into a connex.  Rooms are being packed up and things are getting shipped home.  I have a room full of boxes that I need to take to the post office.  One nice thing about living in Germany is that to ship a box home to myself it costs nothing at all.  No, really.  It stays in the Army system so there is not charge, unless, of course, you want insurance on that item.  Then, not only do you have to pay the insurance but you also have to pay shipping.  I have camera equipment and the like that I am sending insured mail.  Ok, so I had to pay for a few packages, not too shabby considering that I am sending 5-6 large foot lockers home for free.

So, anyhow, you should all think warm thoughts for me, and us.  We will be home soon, lets home it all goes without a hitch.