Outbound...

(Trying out my new camera's features on the DC-to-Kuwait flight...ya gotta entertain yourself somehow in between naps, movies and the occasional meal.)

I'd like to commemorate the last civilized setting I found before departure...a cozy wine bar in Dulles Airport.  Thus making my last stateside meal one of three courses: white, red and olives.  Think you've bested me, brain that grew up on planes but now no longer likes to sleep on flights?  Think again!

Look at that...no, not the raggedly tired appearance of the author, but the journal out for my scribbles.  That only happens with regularity on the big adventures, thereby contributing to the ol' wanderlust in sort of a vicious cycle.  There is something poignant in my book about wearing a comfortable shirt -- and especially, enjoying a glass or two -- before the monastic life of deployment under General Order #1B begins anew.  The awareness that you will have a weapon strapped to your body, and heavy body armor and a kevlar helmet on, for the next half-year (at least) tends to raise the enjoyment level of life's regular comforts, so often taken for granted.  So in that spirit, I made it a point to be conscious of such moments as they occurred to me before D-Day arrived...

My last look at the ocean, from the ground anyway, was on my must-do list while on the Carolina coast.  I made it a point to hit the beach often while there...not for the sand, as I've got plenty of that around me now and still in store, but for all the sights, sounds, smells and general wonderment the edge of the ocean provides.

My last time for awhile knowing how far Dan Dong is from where I'm standing was important.  I mean, what good is it knowing there's a Korean city named after me when I don't know how many miles away it is?  And I'm a good bit closer to it now!

The only baseball game of the 2010 season at any level that I expect to see was not by accident.  I drove an hour to Kinston one evening when at Camp Lejeune in order to see the A-level Indians battle the Potomac Nationals.  Minor league ball is a great experience anyway, seeing up close these kids pitch, hit, field and hustle their asses off.  It was bittersweet knowing that there'd be no Mets, Red Sox, Rockies, anything, on my Summer calendar...but well worth it to see how ol' Grainger Stadium was holding up.

So with the goodbyes mostly said, the pre-deployment checklist checked twice, and all other conceivable preparations taken care of, it was onto the plane and off to "theater"...and into the sweet embrace of Morpheus to begin the overnight flight.  My thanks again to Dionysus for the assist.