BACK FROM IRAQ! (Part One) The Long Awaited Entry

Wasssssuuuuuuppp! 'Hola' from sunny Puerto Vallarta everyone! Since the suite I'm currently staying in has wireless I thought I'd take a few moments to write a blog entry and tell you about my first week back - which has been nothing but madness. I've blown lots of money, bought a new car, flown through the air, moved into a new place and dealt with some serious jetlag, let me explain...

I stepped off the plane to sunny Hawaii, being unexpectedly diverted from Marine Corps Base Kaneohe to Hickam Air Force Base due to inclimate weather. This, combined with arriving a day or so early, put a damper on some of the plans that friends and family members had arranged for their returning troops - Karen Yamada, Kathy Sweeney and my mom being no exception to these folks. They planned for me to be greeted by Karen's cousin with a Meile Ceremonial Lei (pictured) and a special card that my mom sent to Karen to deliver to me. Needless to say, timing was off, BUT the thought was very much appreciated and I ended up meeting Karen's cousin shortly after landing to be leid and to receive my mom's card. Thank you to everyone that was a part of this greeting. It was very special to me.

Being greeted by a procession of individuals as we arrived in Kaneohe was an experience that I shall remember for the rest of my life. You know, there are a few moments in life that you can remember as being your proudest - moments that shall stick with you forever, moments that you think of fondly when the dark coulds of adverity gather around you. Being greeted as I came back from war was one of these moments. A band was playing, friends and families were there hugging one another, children were reunited with their fathers, and in typical Hawaiian style, each Marine was given a lei and a Hawaiian beer from a local brewery to celebrate the occasion. It was a sight to see and the Soldier's Angels were certainly a part of it.

So what was the first thing that RJ did? Well, I got a ride from a Flight Surgeon colleague of mine to my new apartment in Waikiki and got the keys from a buddy in my building. My place is really amazing guys! I really lucked out. It's on the 9th floor and has a panoramic view of Diamond Head on the left and Waikiki Beach and the ocean in front and to the right. It is newly renovated, travertine floors, Jacuzzi bathtub in the Master bedroom, 1200 square feet, pool, and ideal location! So after getting my keys, I took a moment to admire the view, and then…I took a bath in the Jacuzzi tub. I mean, I really stank after the long plane ride and what a way to relax. (And if you know me, you know I love taking tub baths).

I felt obligated to go out that first night back, so I managed to muster up enough energy to go out for “one drink”. (Right.) I saw some old friends and immediately the shots started flowing. Karen – I wish I could say that I used your coin lei for my first drink as I had intended, but I don’t think I paid for a single drink that night. Anyway, some beers, some shots, some liquor and a few hours later I stumbled home and woke up experiencing my first hang over in 8 months – an experience which was not pleasant by any stretch of the imagination. I really overdid it the night before and I got a good reality check from my liver the next day. So all day I laid on the floor of my apartment in my military sleeping bag moaning, staring up at the ceiling wishing I could be put out of my misery. I had no food, no water and could barely move! Lol. I told myself that I needed to get up and go “get some food at the chow hall”, that I needed to eat to feel better and drink some water. Just then it hit me – I can pick up my cell phone and have someone deliver food to me!!!!! So I mustered up enough energy for Chinese Takeout at a place called California Wok. It came. I ate some soup. I went back to bed, and the next thing I knew it was 4 am the next morning!

Things start to get a little blurry here because I had some wicked jetlag for the first week so I’m not sure which day was which, but I started to do everything I needed to before leaving for my vacation. I hitched a ride to the airport and rented a car. Then drove on an impulse to the Infinity Dealership and test drove the G37 Coupe. I have to say, I was not impressed! The next place I drove was to the Navy Mall at Pearl Harbor. This was about 3 pm. My intent was to go for a few groceries, like lunch meat and milk, but instead a monster emerged! 7 months of a repressed, forgotten desire to shop was unleashed when I entered that mall and by the time I left, only because it was 10 pm and they literally were closing and told me I had to go, I filled 2 shopping carts full of stuff that of course, I absolutely had to have. Among these items – a 46” Sony LCD TV which I had mounted on the wall of my living room, a Sony Blu Ray Disc Player/DVD Player, a new collection of Blu Ray DVDs, a portable BOSE IPOD player (a must for the room here in Mexico), a BOSE Surround Sound Home Theatre System for my living room (which I had wall mounted with the TV), some swimsuits, a bathroom set, stainless steel kitchen appliances and some toiletries. When I left, I forgot that I hadn’t bought ham or milk, so I stopped at a grocery store on the way home just to get them. Then I rationed to myself, since I already spent over 6 thousand dollars, what’s another hundred to treat myself to a gourmet meal at one of my favorite restaurants in Waikiki, The Yard House. I had Filet Mignon, Scallops, fresh Tuna, some wine and some Sam Adams Octoberfest! I can honestly say, I’ve never had a 6 thousand dollar day before, and it felt pretty damn good! Lol.

The next day I woke up and decided I needed some clothes for Mexico, so I did a little well needed shopping, then ate lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. I ended up seeing my former roomate who was still bartending there. We were cordial to one another and I quickly realized that there was hope for a shot at one day becoming friends again, should that be something we both want. Anyway, I digress. I had my long awaited slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake – which was FANTASTIC! Somewhere around 5ish I realized that I hadn’t even called my family or friends yet to let them know I was ok, and that with my new time change (6 hours behind the East Coast), everyone was sleeping. So it wasn’t until around day 4 that I got around to calling everyone.

The next day (Monday?) the movers came. They put a hole through my wall moving in my couch. But I decided not to get stressed about it. Then it was off to the Acura Dealer to see my TL Type S! I met Colin, the Internet Sales Rep I had been e-mailing from Iraq. He worked with me to give me a great deal – telling me things I needed and things I didn’t. I left feeling confident that I got a great deal on a spectacular car! I tell you – this car is smarter than me. It has GPS and knows when the car is facing the sun and adjusts the speed of the Air Conditioning accordingly so if the car faces the sun and is heating up, the A/C increases, when the car faces away, it decreases. Unbelievable! It has 500 voice commands all at the touch of a button on my steering wheel. I say “Call Mom Home” and it does! I say, “Play CD 5 track 2” and it does! And when I back up, it has a camera just above the license plate that shows you what you’re backing up into on a computer screen in the console. Unbelievable!

Before I knew it, it was Halloween, and out came LT Dangle from Reno 911, with package enhancer and all! Some friends and I walked down the streets of Waikiki, which were closed so that everyone dressed up in costume could walk around. It was mobbed! To my surprise, everyone recognized LT Dangle – HE WAS A HIT! I have to say, at first I was a little shy, walking solo to pick up my friends down the street and having everyone stare at me, but after a few drinks, I was stopping traffic and writing the cars tickets (which I’m glad the Honolulu PD found as amusing as everyone else). I ended the night at one of my favorite bars and even got asked out on a date by an old acquaintance. Not too shabby, huh? My friend Kelli wore a pair of Hawaii shorts, a Super Woman costume and a pair of fairy wings and she went as “The Hawaiian Super Ferry”, which was the most popular costume of the night.
The following day was spent getting a Passport for Mexico, along with a few hours of work (yes, I did go to work for a few hours). But before I knew it, I was back on a plane flying out of the country once again!

Mexico with Victor has been absolutely amazing! This resort is beautiful. Today is our 3rd day here and unlike the first two days here, which were spent lounging by the pool and having cute Mexicans bring us Margaritas and Pina Coladas, today we decided to go Zip Lining across some canyons about an hour outside the city. Attached is a pic of me flying through the air as I was going across a water formation. It was an amazing day! It’s also nice that I’m no longer “without”…alcohol that is, alcohol. After 7 months it’s nice to have finally gotten a piece of… alcohol. But the best part of my vacation has been waking up every morning to the sound of the ocean waves. Our suite is on the 9th floor and overlooks the ocean and the pool. It’s great! So far we’ve gone to see a Hypnotist, a comedian, we’ve done water sports, Zip Lining, drank a lot and got a fierce tan! Tonight we’re going downtown to the city of P.V. to take over a local club. Yay, some cute local Mexicans to practice my Spanish with! Then to Phoenix and to Los Angeles next week! This is Part One, standby for Part Two with some pictures of Victor and I in our swimsuits! What a homecoming!!!