My time home on Leave from Iraq

9 August 2005

I was able to leave my FOB and go to Anaconda in Iraq. Yes - I was going on leave back to Minnesota. . What was crazy. is that the two days before I got to Anaconda there were sandstorms. Due to those sandstorms there was a LONG line of soldiers that were waiting to go on leave. I ended up spending 5 days at Anaconda.


Those days I spent talking to friends online, reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, reading the news, and contemplating what I would do on leave and how I wanted to get back. That and sleeping/napping. :)


I know I talked to Kim Simek, Angel DuCharme, Dave Pekarna, Weeraya , Glen Goldsby,Amy Younkin, and Jessica Fahrenkamp. It was nice having the internet near my tent those days. I do not know how I would have been without being able to chat with people online or on the phone! But thank goodness the ARMY does its best to take care of its soldiers.


I was finally able to leave Anaconda on the 13th at 1am.


I was in Kuwait for less than 24 hours - and was off to Ireland and then Dallas - then Minneapolis. . Yeah it was a LOT of flying!


I had a 4 1/2 hour conversation with another Sergeant from California on interior design, fashion and our lives - but mainly hers. Her name is Sylvia Maldonado - and I consider her to be more of an artist than anything else. It is in the way that she sees things - colors, shapes, ideas - they are all in a more artistic and visual form to her.


And when did I get back home? The 15th of August at around 5PM.


15 August 2005.


Brandy was waiting for me at the airport. :) On the phone she told me that she would not be able to be there at all - just so that she could surprise me when I got there. Josiah was being watched by her friend Lori Yakle.


SO we took the light rail from the Minneapolis Saint Paul Airport ( MSP ) and went straight to the Franklin Avenue exit and took the #2 bus. home. It felt so familiar to be home! I already felt home by taking the light-rail. I very much LOVE Minneapolis compared to other places I have seen. ( Though I like New York City - it is not green enough and too expensive to live in!)


We went home right away and yeah - we snogged a bit. ;)


Then we went to Lori's place further east on Franklin Avenue - just past the LRT station and picked up Josiah. I met both Lori and Toni there. Siah was already asleep when I got there at around 7:30PM so I gave him a hug while he was asleep.


So we just hung out there for a bit, and then took Siah home after that. He woke up when I carried him down to Lori's car. Siah remembered who I was as he woke up and gave me a big hug. On the ride home he started waking up a bit and talked a bit to me. He was very happy that I was back home.


16 August 05


I was very tired after being up for such a long time. But I believe that I woke up the next day later than I would the entire leave. I had a breakfast of Hemp Granola with soymilk - a delicacy I had not had in a long time. :) Siah had honey-nut cheerios - but an organic/natural brand.


I do know that while I have been gone Brandy has been going mainly to the Wedge and Seward Co-ops for her food. So we are big organic/healthy food fans.


I cannot exactly remember what I did specifically for each day that I was home with Josiah. I know I spent every morning with him if no one else was. We went to several different parks.


I noticed the first day how he wanted to watch the cars over the interstate bridge. He would just stop and look down at all the cars through the metal mesh gate that they have surrounding the sides of the walking bridge. He called semitrucks buses - so I corrected him. He said "Semi-truck?" and from then on called them what they actually were. But he yelled at each specific type of vehicle.


Josiah has a book about all the different types of vehicles that people use. It has been one of his favorite books since he was about a year old.


Later that day - I would say evening we went over to Lori's with Josiah. Lori was very nice in watching Josiah again while Brandy and I went out with Toni. It was a full moon night - and we ended up going to a party.


17 August 05


I cannot say I remember every exact detail of my leave from day to day. But I know that Tuesday night Toni stayed over at our place. So the next morning I made one of my specialty breakfasts - blueberry pancakes.


I know that Siah, Toni and Brandy enjoyed them. I made enough for Anne and Matt - but they were busy or just not interested.


18 August 05


Let me just go down the list of other things me and Siah did. 1) went swimming on 3 days in kiddie pools in Minneapolis parks 2) Went to the Minnesota Zoo. 3) Went on 3 picnics - one at Loring park - one at Stevens Square park and one at Minnehaha Park.


Siah and I went to Minnehaha park 3 times - it is our favorite park. I suppose because it is very spacious for running around and also has waterfalls and a creek. Siah and I also like the fact the the light-rail goes all the way there. Josiah loves trains! ( or rather any vehicle!)


19 August 05


Josiah's Birthday!
Brandy and I took him to Holy Land in North Minneapolis on Central Avenue. Josiah's favorite snack is pitas and hummus. Holy Land is the only brand we buy for those - and all made at the same location as the store. So we went there and enjoyed their lunch buffet! Siah loved it - though he was a bit hyper. ( took the #10 bus)


It was nice getting out with Brandy and Siah - though he was so much more active than I last saw him. But he even though he wasn't as quick to shape up after being punished ( usually time-outs) he gradually improved his behavior as I was home longer.


20 August 05


I do not remember exactly what night - but Toni, Brandy and I went to a party - an artists' party in one of those expensive condos just north across the Mississippi - and overlooking the river and downtown. It was on the 18th floor - and yes quite a good view.


I enjoyed a painting of hers with all these bees. Seemed to be one of her signature pieces - and I liked it very much. The bees were either smiling or weren't and had interesting eyes and were just buzzing around. Seemed like the ones in the middle who were all muddled were more often less happy than the ones towards the periphery of the group.


At the party I also met an Israeli woman who served in her nation's military as an officer. She was interested in my take on the Iraqi war and what I was doing there. She was genuinely interested in knowing a lot about it - though she had a VERY thick accent and I could not always understand her over all the noise.


We stayed out REAL late - I think 1:30 am - and then took a taxi and took Josiah home. Lori gave us all a ride. It was nice.


21 August 05


We did celebrate Josiah's birthday in our apartment's courtyard. We invited a LOT more people than actually showed up. It would have been nice to have more show up - but I do not think SIah will be too upset about it, because he had a lot of fun!


Ruth Sherman and her new boyfriend ( grrr...I cannot remember his name - twill update when I can re-remember - he's a WWOOFer. ) came - and they tended to wrestle with Josiah in the courtyard more than most.


Matt and Anne Stang were at the festivities - and presented Siah with a set of percussion instruments - including a bongo drum, kazoo,


My Grandma Loretta Dougherty ( on my Mother's side) visited staying a couple days and was at Josiah's Birthday party.


Toni was also at the party. Her ex-boyfriend decided to visit. ( his name I do not recall)


22 August


My Mom and Sue visited on a later day very briefly. They visited on another day and we went to Chipotle's in Upotown. They had never been there before and were rather impressed.



23 August


Brandy, Siah and I went to Loring Park and had a picnic with Lori. We had some of our own snacks - but picked up sandwhiches at the Wedge. And since it is only a few blocks from the park it worked out nicely.


Brandy had never been to the sculpture gardens across Interstate 94 from the park. So we went there afterwards. Josiah enjoyed running around in this area as there was a lot of open space.


Later that evening I went to Minnehaha Park with Josiah. This was more of an outdoors day with Siah.


That evening I went out with Toni and we went to the Viking Bar and were able to listen to her friend Rena Haus sing. Toni was even able to get a chance to go onstage and sing one song with her. Her friend Chaz and his band also were able to play a bit.


Toni and I even got to dance a bit - but honestly I am not big into country music dancing unless I am a bit more buzzed on alcohol. ( not that I drink a lot but I usually do when I go dancing to relax a bit - unfortunately for me I was not hit with that until AFTER we danced ;) )

No peeps - I have not become a big drinker! In fact I drank more on leave than I normally did. I still do not keep it in my home - nor plan to in the near future.




24 August 05


I know at one point Amber Stang visited. She came by on a Friday to pick up her sister Anne - who watches Josiah with Matt while Brandy goes to classes. Amber has a son named Adrian - who is a couple years older than Siah.


It is interesting that I met Amber while working as a supervisor at the Burger King in the Crossroads Mall of Saint Cloud in late 2000. I never really talked to her a whole lot, but she is an interesting chica. Currently she lives up in Sartell.


25 August 05


Angel DuCharme was able to visit - which as great because she could meet Siah for the first time! Angel has really been my longest friend in this world. Our parents all got along well for many years - until the divorce.


We went to Erbert & Gerberts on University. I suppose that would be in Dinkytown. We also chit-chatted at my apartment for quite a while. It was nice being able to see her after such a long time.



26 August 05


I know that at one point I ordered pizza from Pizza Luce - which is the best pizza place in Minneapolis! I usually get the pizza athena which has artichoke hearts and ricotta cheese.


27 August 05


I probably could have written down what I did each day I was home. Now that it is October it is rather difficult to remember every little detail of my leave. It went quickly and I was busy each and every day. I know I slept 5 hours or less a night each day. And I didn't let myself get tired - just go-go-go because I wouldn't be back home for a long time.


Yet I did take naps with Josiah at times. He and I spent a lot of time together - over half of my time was just him and me it seems. Obviously we wrestled/played a lot - but I also had to discipline him a lot for not listening or just doing things he knows is wrong.


At night Brandy and I would watch Season 27 of Doctor WHo! Compared to the audio dramas it was decent. I liked that it was a live-action television show again - but compared to the books and the CDs - it just paled in comparison to their in depth storylines. But I did not hate the series - it had some AMAZING episodes and some that were just okay. There will be a Christmas special in December - so I am looking forward to downloading that.


How did I get the new Dr. Who episodes? From a fan who belongs to the Minnesota Doctor Who Viewing Society.! A guy just offered to give me the ENTIRE season on DVD and some older episodes for FREE when I went on leave! Yeah, super awesome!


Not all the episodes worked on our brand-new Dell - but in Iraq I have used some other laptops that played them all. SO I have been sharing some of my favorite episodes with my comrades.


28 August 05


I know I met up with a Peak Oil Awareness group for a photo shoot. The Southwest Journal was going to have an article about Peak Oil. I cannot say that I have seen the article online yet. But at the same time that does not mean it did not happen. I just wish that more articles WERE posted online.


29 August 05



30 August 05


On this day we went out with our friend Ruth Sherman and her new boyfriend ( name still evades me) to Maria's Cafe. It is an awesome lil place on Franklin Avenue. Josiah was in a super hyper and non-cooperative mood - so he had one time-out while there. He did not enjoy it very much, but he had to learn to be proper in public.


A little afterwards we met up with Mary Hauser and Dean Zimmerman. They live just a couple blocks south of our apartment on Clinton Avenue. We discussed the Iraqi war and local politics. I really enjoyed the conversations and I am glad that our city has had such a leader in its ranks.


Yes, Dean is a bit idealistic. He pointed out an e-mail to me where he has a goal to have 90% of all food consumed in Minneapolis to be Certified Organic by 2020 as well as other laudable goals. IMHO these goals are amazing - but I would like them to be more attainable.


I personally already meet a lot of his goals - but the average Joe is not going to spend more on food, on electricity, and give up their car. We live in a society of greed and want - while ignoring the repurcussions. We live in a lazy society that cares not for future generations. Only when our society awakens to this will things change.


But it is unfortunate that Dean Zimmerman could have been involved in being bribed. But I highly doubt that he would do such a thing! He was a large part of the food co-operative movement in Minneapolis in the 70's. He was also a Communist. I don't think that he would take money just to do others' biddings if he didn't see any value to his constituents as a whole.




31 August 05

I had to leave my Brandy and Josiah. Preparing the night before made things only slightly better. I always feel better prepared for things. Brandy did not want to go with me when I left - and Siah did not understand that I was leaving for a very long time. Yeah, not as long as before but I told him a few months and that I loved him. He always gives hugs. :)