The Things I Miss...

I've been in Iraq almost 6 months = "mid-tour" leave for normal soldiers. But for us 210 day worker bees it's all part of the game... no breaks! So with 4 weeks left and getting trunkier by the day, all I want to do is talk about the things I miss:

First, I miss Avery! I miss doing cool stuff together like tennis, volleyball, scooter ridin', home run derby, Maggie Moo's or Cold Stone, this list goes on and on. I called her the other day and we talked, just us! Miss you, Miss Avers!

Second, I miss my wife's honey-do lists... can't believe I said that! Don't get me wrong, it definitely pays to do chores around my house. But the idea of being told what to do always annoyed me until I joined the Army. Voila, I'm cured!

Third, I miss our pillow-top mattress because sleeping on my lumpy rack is terrible! Add to that the barracks are noisy, the hall light is always on... Ugh! Plus, I miss sleeping with Debbie...

"My life is good! Really good! I get to wake up every morning, at 7 AM, and do some dentistry on detainees! It's the best. I love it. I get to lay in a bed, all by myself, every night! That's fantastic!"

Fourth, I miss doing fun things with my family... like going to Silverwood, camping at Crow Butte, hiking Badger Mountain, playing a game of Taylor doubles, or tossing the bikes in the trailer and cycling the Columbia River, or the Hiawatha, or Silver Mountain...

Fifth, I miss not having pets around the place! A couple of cats, a dog, a turtle... it's all good. ¡Guárdese de coyotes hambrientos!

Sixth, I miss sushi! A nice plate of nigiri sushi... with generous slices of salmon, tuna, and eel... wasabi & shoyu combo... 非常においしい!

Seventh, I miss cilantro, guacamole, fresh salsa (Chevy-style) and hot-off-the-grill tortillas... ¡Muy delicioso!

Eighth, I miss the honey tofu at Dae Sung... 아주 맛있은!

Ninth and last, I miss Breyers Double Churn Fat Free Ice Cream. Tastes so good and not a drop of fat. And the protein-to-fiber ratio rocks... C'mon fiber in ice cream? Yep... check it! Confession: I have eaten a whole container of BDCFFIC in one sitting... like when I realized my refrigerator didn't have a freezer!!