The B.T.C.

This was originally going to be a post about my stay at the Baghdad Transit Center. Part bus station, part international airport and ALL travel hell, all roads in and out of Iraq lead to the BTC. Imagine what it would be like to add bunk beds to the waiting room at the Department of Motor Vehicles, throw in 24-7 announcements on a PA, and 15 minute walk in 120 degree heat to the nearest food and you are starting to get the idea. Don't forget, however, that 50% of residents don't know where or more importantly, when, they are, because they are still experiencing major jet lag from a 17 hour transatlantic flight. There is no joy at the BTC.

After reviewing what I wrote in my journal last month during my most recent stay at the BTC, it occurred to me that the big bad enemy might be reading this and I could unwittingly be revealing some big secret about operations in Iraq. So, this is all I am going to post...but come grab a beer with me some day and Ill tell you all about it.

A Crazy Week: Work, a Brain Tumor, and Nepal.

Wow, this has been a crazy week. For starters, we have been spectacularly busy here at Diamondback. Audits, training, and inspections; the usual sort of thing, just a shit ton more of it. When I first signed on the dotted line to come over here, we all thought I would be bored stupid and we brainstormed ideas for how to stay busy. The reality turned out to be that we work, and we work, a lot. Downtime is hard to come by and normally its filled with taking care of the essentials of daily life. But, I came here to work every day for year so I could not work every day of the following year, so Im cool with this, even if it is exhausting.

Second, I find out a close friend of mine has a brain tumor…or more accurately, had a brain tumor. Its out, it not cancer, she will live. She’s a warm, thoughtful, deep soul that I care about immensely and I have no doubt that this will only impact her life in a positive way. If someone can turn brain surgery into a positive thing, she can. This news still cuts like a laser when you are 6000 miles away and treading water in a job and place that at this point is serving little purpose other than filling up the piggy bank.

Third, in 10 days I start travel to Nepal. If you have managed to cut through the news of the Times Square bomb, the hemorrhaging oil line in the Gulf, the devastation in Tennessee and some little thing happening in Greece, then you have seen that things in Nepal are well, challenged? Im going to try to not use subjective descriptors here because I really don’t have all the facts, but short story: Major Maoist strike for most of the week bringing all industry, tourism, and commerce to a stand still. No public transportation, tourists confined to their hotels, limited fuel and supplies. Their Constitution expires on May 28, while I’m there, and a new one has yet to be drafted. As of today, the strike has been lifted and I’m being reassured by my contacts in country that things are returning to something resembling normal. Whatever normal looks like in a country like Nepal.

I’ll admit, following the news out of Nepal I initially considered changing my plans. Who would have thought that going anywhere from Iraq would or could actually be more dangerous? But, after reviewing more of the facts and getting information from sources in the country, I’ve decided to see this trip now as an even greater opportunity. If there is a chance for historical tourism than this is it.

More on all of this to come, but the crazy week continues.

French Toast, Balance and Forgiveness

This week got off to a great start. I was feeling awesome, busting out two days, feeling skinny, strong, and even a little sexy. And then Wednesday happened. Ill admit, I was feeling kinda crappy by the evening on Tuesday. A wee bit spectral, spacey and generally in that low carb fog. I pushed through my work out Wednesday morning but come breakfast, I was spent. I was feeling really hypo and most of my body ached, so I figured a healthy dose of some carbs and fat would help. This was my major rationalization to plow through a plate of French Toast, 3 breakfast sausages, 5 eggs, and maybe even a donut. Plus, I figured what is one meal out of the 20 plus I would eat all week? For the record, it was great. Over the course of the morning I got some energy back, my muscles started to feel better and I was smiling again. Carbs aren’t all bad after all.

It is Saturday now and I have learned one thing over the past few days: French toast is a gateway drug, don’t let anyone tell you different. What started as a simple temporary indulgence has lead to a full on carbohydrate extravaganza complete with white bread, cream cheese filled donuts, bagels and chocolate chip cookies. Additionally, if it is edible and has any surface area whatsoever I have found a way to slather it with peanut butter including but not limited to, carrots, chicken breasts and even a bite of a chocolate donut.

This is how it typically goes for me. A few hyper disciplined days, followed by a few not so disciplined days. Sometimes it bugs me that I cant stay consistent, other times, I more forgiving of myself. As with most things for me that tricky concept of “balance” still eludes me.

Food and mood definitely go hand in hand, maybe even two-fold over here. While there is so much consistency in our day to day here, emotions tend to ride on a separate track of up, down, over, under and around. Some days, super tough workouts and strict eating make me happy, other days, lazy cardio and syrup covered breakfasts do. I’m learning not to beat myself up over either and accept that each day is its own and my best effort for that day is all I can ask for.