Almost home

So maybe it wasn't really, really soon, but hey, its here. We are in the middle of a massive dust storm. I don't know if I have described these before so I will give a brief description now.
There is usually a forecast (the Air Force handles the weather forecasting) a few hours in advance. Sometimes the dust accompanies other weather and sometimes it just settles in like a fog. When it blows in there is a strong wind and if it is daylight you can sometimes see it like an approaching wall; it can be like the movies at times. Tonight it rolled in with a strong wind. We were prepared and had the aircraft moved inside before it hit. Our hanger has an open entrance with no door; this allows the outside air to flow freely through. So, if it is hot outside, it is hot inside, if it cold outside, it is cold inside, if it is dusty outside, it is dusty inside. And when I say dusty, I mean dusty, there was about 10feet of visibility. The storm hit about six hours ago and when I just looked at the aircraft, they all had a coating of dust that looked like a cutting board floured (whole wheat) up to roll out a pie crust. The dust stays suspended in the air just like fog on a humid Wisconsin morning. Often times you can look out and think, “Boy, its foggy!” then hold your hand out to an aircraft to draw a line in the moisture and be startled by the dry surface. This suspension creates a lovely breathing atmosphere. It takes all of about a minute to start coughing. Shortly after that you get short of breath and feel that heavy chest feeling you get with a persistent cold. All of this leaves after a day or so and left behind is that rolling board coating over everything. As Corey says, I am definitely going to need a good “nook and cranny” cleaning when I get home.
On the bright side, I am within counting distance of leaving here. I am scheduled out on Friday. We leave here 4 days in advance of our scheduled leave departure date so there is adequate cushion time with the unpredictable weather and only slightly more predictable Army/Kuwaiti bureaucracy. I also scheduled a couple extra days ahead of meeting Erin and family to adjust and sleep prior to our time. On my last leave, I felt hung over for the first few days home as I adjusted. We will be in Mexico for a week and then home for a little more than a week before I come back again. The good news is that by the time I get back here it will be a short two months before I go home for good. If everything works out I will be taking the last three weeks of that off as well, but that will take a small coup on my part. I am not entitled to another leave until 360 days in country, which is essentially the end of contract. So, if it does not work out Erin and I will be home in mid-July.
Well, that is all for now, I hope to write again from the comfort of a Kuwaiti “hotel.”
See you all soon,
Cliff

soon, I promise

Yes, I am still here and will try to spit out a few words in the near future. There is nothing to report but I will come up with some drivel for you soon.
Cliff