TwoSpade’s Deck

So my enthusiasm for this holiday season is even higher than it usually is.  Those who know me pretty well know that I love Xmas music, movies, and decorations.  The last time I moved, there was a look of surprise among my friends who discovered how many of my boxes were labeled “Xmas Lights” and “Xmas Decorations.”  Anywhere I am working during the holidays, I always have a big collection of music that I share with the coworkers.  But this year, the season is even more exciting for me.

My time here in Iraq is finally coming to an end, and there is plenty to look forward to.

I’m one of those guys that make lists.  My lists have been growing every day.

First, afterall, it IS Xmas, so there are some new things I get to shop for.  A new laptop, (although this tough guy here has served me well for several years), a new car (which apparently EVERYONE has an opinion on, and not only an opinion but an educated one, which I would like to thank everyone for giving me, as I try and learn about it from almost square one), a nice little library of games to conquer (perhaps you’ll see my review of these games on a website that I build later…), and more than likely, a completely new wardrobe of clothing (because I’m 30 lbs. lighter than I was when I first got out here, want to get some stuff that actually fits me, and genuinely want a new look).  This doesn’t even include a couple of purchases I still plan on making in the future with regard to furniture, a new LED LCD TV, and if all goes to plan, maybe even a new house!  But, I have to spread these things out a little right?  Can’t be Xmas everyday!  (I wish!)

Being out here gave me a new attitude and perspective on things that I want to do with my freetime too.  We take that time for granted often, and now I’ve been in a position where freetime is very limited, and also the options for what I can do with it is as well.  From now on, I want to always be learning something practical, something professional, and something fun at any given time.  So I’ve made lists of practical things I want to learn either from family and friends or from actual formal classes, like car maintenance, cooking, and hunting.  I’ve made lists of professional certifications I want to earn by studying for them myself or taking classes to help me nail the tests.  And there are all kinds of things that I’ve talked myself into taking up when I get back that I otherwise would have declared “too expensive,” “too dangerous,” or in some cases, even something I was just plain afraid of.  I’ve been to a war zone now, recreational things that people do everyday safely should be cake, and I need to just get over my hang-ups about such things.  So expect to see me on the ski slopes, learning some water sports, and maybe even jumping out of a plane.  Thrills await!

Oh but don’t worry, part of that nerd you used to know still lives.  Also on these lists are getting things together like a live and online campaign of D&D 4^th Edition going with my friends, going through that library of games I have had stacking up since freetime became a limited commodity, and I’m hoping to launch a gaming review site like I used to do on FeelTheFunk.com.

Can I do it all?  I think so, and I think by putting it all out here for all my closest friends and family to see (that is assuming they actually read it!) will give me that extra push not to make a liar out of myself by declaring it all so publicly.   Keep me in check okay?  You see me start slipping?  Smack me!

My experience in Iraq had a unique effect on me that I could not have predicted.  About the only part I did predict was the financial freedom that is going to allow all of the above things to be much more possible!  But going from not really reading any books (just browsing though a tech/certification guide or players manual) to book worm, from wimp to gym-rat, and from boring nerd to adventure seeker I think has been fantastic, and I can’t wait to see everyone.

And that brings me to the most exciting part of bringing this all to a close: seeing everyone.  Not only do I have my old friends and my family to see, but I have new family members to meet, family members I haven’t seen in years, old college friends I reconnected with (thank you once again Facebook!), and just all kinds of people that I’m looking forward to seeing.

I think I have been here long enough eh?

I’ll see you all soon.  But first, some holiday cheer from Iraq!

An inflatable reindeer sent by another ISS employee to the office!

The Mighty Pajero. All ISS employees out here have driven in one. Back in the states they are called Monteros, apparently because Pajero is slang in South America for "Wanker"

In the spirit of spreading holiday cheer, I bought some Xmas lights to decorate our whiteboards with!

How can you tell I'm going home soon? My XBox is already packed!

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This entry was posted on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 2:54 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.