30 March 2005 1904z
Oh, and I can't forget about how I spent the last 5 hours. Apparently, the First Lady left some press behind when she left; and I got a call about having some media ride along with some of our patrols. Great opportunity, I thought to myself. When I finally linked up with them, I realized that two were from the Pentagon and two from ABC News. Not bad, huh? I talked to one of my patrol leaders to make sure things would be alright with some added company, and it seemed alright. So time goes by and the base is locked down and then it is unlocked. I link up with the reporters and bring them over to a link-up point a few hours later than scheduled. Then I try to get my patrol on comms...something I hadn't been able to do for hours but figured my odds might somehow improve now that we had camera rolling. Nothing. I call again and again and again. Still nothing. We ended up sitting for almost two hours before we regained comms with the patrol who I then proceed to order to return to base in order to pick up the reporters. Of course, the patrol leader is pissed at me for making him pull his patrol back; and when he finally gets back, he's not afraid to show it in front of our guests. I tried to table the issue as soon as possible so as to not make it out like we were completely dysfunctional; and after a little bit of embarrassment, the patrol went back out. There is a huge opportunity for our guys to get some good press and a bit of a morale boost here, but there is also a big chance that we'll blow it. We'll find out soon, I think. I do have some crushing to do in the morning though. I don't usually take joy in stuff like that, but tomorrow may be different.
Oh, and to top it off...when I get back to the TOC, our commo officer says to me, "your blog sucks." Hehe...I know he was joking. And I'm sure I'll be in a better mood after taking a nap, but man...it's been a long two days. I hope we don't get any more VIP visits while we're here.
29 March 2005 1707z
Anyway, that's all I've got for now. I'm really tired and am ready for a nap.
29 March 2005 0030z
Anyway, all of this planning and all of these changes came down really quickly. I actually gave an order to 300+ people (some not even mine) a day before I received my own orders in an attempt to help my guys and everyone else plan ahead. That was pretty challenging, and I took a bit of a gamble there. You see, in the Army, there's a big thing about the one-thirds/two-thirds rule where you as a leader take one third of the time to plan your part and leave your subordinate leaders two-thirds of the time. The hard part is when you don't get the same from your higher. So knowing I wasn't going to get the time I needed, I went out on a limb and put out an order so that my guys would get the time that they needed. After all, it's always easier to adjust your mission than to build one from scratch.
So as a result, everyone complains. Being in charge, I guess I should understand that. If I had waited until I received the order before I gave mine, then they would have complained because they didn't have enough time. So instead, I take the hit and look like a big jerkhole. I guess that comes with the territory when you're in charge. In a small organization, it's a lot easier to build that followership because I think everyone realizes that you're on their side and that everyone is on the same team. As the organization gets larger, though, platoons and teams and individuals become so far removed that they all get the feeling that someone is trying to screw them. So a lot of my sergeants now...instead of saying, "yes, sir" and carrying out the mission, start off with a bunch of questions and sometimes complaints before they determine that the job is worthy of their service. I know they're only trying to protect themselves and their guys from getting screwed; but that's actually my job. And the more battles that I have to fight with them, the fewer battles I get to fight for them. That's a common thing around here, and a practice that needs to be changed. It's similar to being at school and having a student constantly ask, "why do we have to learn this?" Well, dear, you're doing it because it's your job.
28 March 2005 1755z
Anyway, today was a pretty productive day. I spent a lot of time writing a big operations order today, and then I was sitting in my chair proofreading it when my unconscious decided it wanted to play games with me. So I'm sitting here in my chair and *flash* all the papers on the ground. I pick them up and start reading paragraph three again. Then it happens again. The papers are on the ground. I pick them up again and start again on paragraph three. Then I drop two pages again and I only have one page in my hand. The pages are getting a little dustier each time. So I give it one more shot. I've been proofreading the same paragraph for maybe five minutes now. Again, the pages fall to the ground. You see, this whole time, I'm falling asleep over and over again. It's microsleep...doesn't last more than a split second. Half the time, I realize it while it happens and try to catch the pages before they hit the ground. But I'm tired. Eventually, I have to make a conscious decision to stay awake for long enough to get it all wrapped up. Then I print the pages out and distribute them before heading to my hooch for an hour. After that, I was good to go for a while longer. It kinda reminds me of home.
27 March 2005 1900z
Anyway, that was the number one highlight for the day. Number two would probably be my return to the gym. I finally decided to head back there this morning and did a decent upper body workout before working the elliptical machine. It was nice. Unfortunately, though, I had to rush back to camp afterwards because I had to brief a full-bird colonel and two sergeants major. I'd stayed up a lot of the night working on the brief and that went well. I'd just never done something like that before, so I was a little nervous.
Then this afternoon, we had our ODP and then I stayed up late to finish writing a pretty big order and wrote some feedback for some Captain over at BDOC. All in all, this was probably my most productive Easter ever. There was someone - I'm not sure who - who ended up scattering plastic eggs all around the camp. I think it was the Easter Bunny, but I can't be sure. Anyway, the cheesiness of it all reminded me of the Easter Egg hunt that I had at my house two years ago. We had a whole bunch of people over and had prizes and everything. I can't wait to have another one next year...though that seems so far away right now.
Oh well...I wouldn't have updated today, but they kept the MWR for one more day because of Easter. In about five hours from now, they'll shut it down for a week, and then it'll hopefully return back to normal. Until then...
26 March 2005 1502z
The other thing I was looking at was BlogBinders, which is a company that will take your blog and print it in book format for whatever reason you might want something like that. It seems like a neat idea and it doesn't cost much...like 20 dollars or so, depending on how fancy you want it.
That's pretty much it for now. The only other thing to note is that our MWR will probably be down for a little bit. We're facing some internal discipline issues right now. Mainly, a lot of our soldiers don't have any...that and the soldiers with discipline aren't influencing the other ones enough. We posted somewhere around a million signs in the MWR regarding graffiti and the consequences of drawing on the tables and desks. Well, Joe will be Joe...and in this case, Joe decided to act like one of my high school students back home and now the phones are off limits to everyone. I don't know how long this'll last, but if that's what it takes to instill some discipline in these guys...then that's what it'll take. I'll sign off here until the privileges are restored, but I will continue to update on my computer. When this thing is over (hopefully sooner than later), I'll upload everything and you can catch up with the goings ons.
26 March 2005 0506z
In other news, my First Sergeant returned from leave yesterday morning. That's a good thing. I actually feel myself more energized already - and I'm smiling more too. There are a few people around here that have that kind of effect on me. There's him, one of my platoon sergeants, and one of my other NCOs. There were a few guys in my old platoon too. It's hard to explain it, but there's just so much positive energy exuding from these people, that you can't help but be influenced by them. I'd like to believe that I affect others the same way, but who knows. You can only try, right? Anyway, because of all of that energy, I was able to accomplish quite a lot last night. I've started brainstorming a lot too...just random things. Some of it has to do with making things better here, some of it has to do with CSS, some with money, and some with teaching. I don't know why I bother bringing that up, but I just thought I'd throw that out. Don't be surprised if I start coming up with some off-the-wall ideas. I'm just playing around a lot these days...playing with ideas, that is. That's probably the best thing you can give a kid to play with, now that I think of it. I think I'll use that some time down the line. Can you tell I'm in a good mood? A little excited, a little random...
I think I'll stop before I embarrass myself though. Today is meeting day, so I need to wrap up all of my slides and reports early. The evening should be relatively relaxing heading into Sunday though.
24 March 2005 2015z
Anyway, I was sitting around the office yesterday and I started thinking to myself, "what smells so good?" And then I realized it was me. For some reason, I decided to put on some deodorant that morning and voila. Now, know what you're thinking. This whole showering deal and the deodorant...I must seem like some sort of socially challenged person. I assure you, though, that personal hygiene has definitely been one of my strengths whether here or back home. I just take a different approach these days.
Yesterday, I was heading out to eat dinner with my commander again and he had to stop to use the latrine before our meal. So I waited for him and then we walked over to the DFAC together. On my way there, I brought up this problem I'd been facing for a few months now...well, not so much of a problem as a social question. You see, they have these handwashing stations right at the entrance of the DFAC, and everyone is supposed to wash their hands. But often times, before people go to the DFAC, they go to the latrine...and they wash their hands there. So the walk from the latrine to the DFAC takes maybe a minute...tops. But now you have this choice. Do you wash your hands again just to satisfy "the man" or do you go straight in knowing full well that your hands are clean? It's a tough call. On one hand, you know your hands are clean. But on the other hand, no one else does. So do you just walk in knowing that someone may end up calling you out as a non-hand washer? And then do you explain to them that you just went to the bathroom and washed your hands there? I know, a tough choice indeed. I posed the question to my commander, since he was now in this predicament. He washed his hands again...which is the choice that I usually make. Sometimes, if no one is in the latrine when I go, I skip the handwashing knowing that I will have to wash them again in approximately one minute.
I tell ya...life doesn't get much harder than this.
23 March 2005 1650z
But today's been a good day. I finally got over all of my CSS hang-ups and got back to doing some real work. I think last night was the turning point. I was sitting in my office and the BICC comes in and sits down. He's waiting patiently to use my computer. I know it. I realize how spoiled I am to have the opportunity to go online whenever I want. He used to let me use his line all the time when I was down South, so it's understandable. It's just nice to be able to keep in touch with home. Anyway, he sits for a while and we chat, and then we swap places. He's at my computer, and I'm just sitting across the desk from him. It was nice to catch up. We talked about leave again. I'm getting more and more excited at the opportunity to visit Europe.
Soon enough, I start to get restless. So I look around and decide that it's time for a haircut. So we continue talking and he's looking up some Baltimore Harbor Properties online while I'm cutting my hair. I think I'm getting much better at it myself. It took me maybe five minutes and I don't think I missed any spots. I had him spot-check for me and it passed. So I put that up and we chatted some more before I went to bed. I slept for almost three hours last night and woke up pretty refreshed, just in time to make the early morning guard mount.
The rest of the day went just as well. I think the biggest different was the human interaction. I found myself in that same rut when I was teaching. There'd be periods when I would just hole myself up in my room and just concentrate on work. I got stuff done, but I don't think it was healthy for me. I had a conversation with the Commander during dinner tonight. He talked about reading people and then went on to say that he didn't think I liked talking to people. I mean, given that fact that I'm a teacher, you wouldn't think that'd be possible. But it's true. It's like that little riddle I used to tell about engineers. Do you know how you can tell that you're talking to an extroverted engineer? Well, he looks at your shoes during your whole conversation.
I don't know...over the years, I'd like to think that I've grown better at this skill of talking to people; but a lot of it has to do with confidence. I'm really good at talking to my class or to friends and family. But when I'm unfamiliar with people, I feel this sort of anxiety. It's hard to explain. Oh, and with girls...yeah, I'm horrible with that. But I'm working on it. I started bringing in my platoon leaders in to talk to me every few days just to sit down and talk through issues. That should help.
The Commander also brought up the whole conflict-avoidance too. I admit, I'm a lover, not a fighter. I mean, I can do the fighting if I have to. But if there's a way to resolve an issue without conflict, I usually choose that path. And I can usually find that, I think. But it takes a lot of effort...and sometimes, there are just people that won't respond to anything but force. So anyway, my homework assignment is to just flat out tell someone that he screwed up. Don't try to sugar-coat it or anything. Just say, "alright, you screwed up" and then work it out afterwards. I guess that's the military thing to do, so I'll give it a shot. And who knows, maybe it'll help me out with the ladies.
22 March 2005 1900z
Speaking of slacking, I talked with one of my fellow LTs about leave today, and I started to get a little excited. He was talking France and Italy...and then I thought about it for a while. Hmm...a free trip on top of three weeks away from Afghanistan. Considering the fact that we only have 3+ months left, that doesn't sound too bad, does it? I don't know. I won't get my hopes up too high, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel here.
Anyway, I apologize for the lack of topics over the last few weeks. I think the only people who truly enjoy reading about my sleep cycles and other nerd adventures are probably my family. I'll do some exciting stuff tomorrow and maybe even take some pictures. Who knows. I'm feeling like a new me.
21 March 2005 2355z
My buddy, the BICC, came up from Ghazni the other day to go out on leave, and the first thing he said to me when he walked into my office were, "Sonny, you look like $#!+." He'd heard about my sleep schedule through the rumor mill and thought I was crazy. I don't know. I took out the mirror in my desk drawer just to confirm his observations. I did have some pretty huge bags under my eyes. I think they've always been there though. *smile* I don't know...yesterday, when I was sitting at my desk, learning, and doing the closest thing I've come to programming in maybe a decade, it really made me miss my high school days in FFX working with Dan and Ben on our thinkquest project. I wonder if that is still up online somewhere. Oh well.
Good times, though. Things are rolling along here, but it's been quiet and calm for a while as we've hit our stride. Part of me wants to just ride it out like most of our guys are content on doing, but part of me knows that we can still make things better here; so it's up to me to convince these guys to rock the boat a little. We'll see how it goes. Oh, and I know I'm a day late here, but happy birthday, Buddy. I won't say your name because everyone else will be jealous. You know you're special though...even though you never write me any more.
20 March 2005 2338z
Other than that, I've decided to stay off of AIM until I got back into the swing of things. I found my conversations rather disjointed because of my lack of concentration during that night block. I may have to use that time more to visit towers and whatnot...something that gives me a little more energy. Anyway, I've got a little more work to do before daybreak, so I'm off.
20 March 2005 1115z
Anyway, with it being Sunday, it was pretty easy to accomodate the new napping schedule. I took my S2 about an hour early and my S3 was right on time. I'm hoping that the extra half hour squeezed in there along with the regular intervals will help. Plus, there's the fact that I never have to be awake for longer than four hours at any one time. That part definitely has its benefits. But yeah, in my four-hour work blocks so far today, I've gotten a lot of little things taken care of. I've had a chance to review a lot of notes too and delegate a lot of small things to my staff to follow up on for me. That's the one thing I'm most proud of myself for. I'm so used to having to do everything myself and not letting go. Some of the things aren't getting done quite as quickly as I would like, but it's all part of training them too. I'm sure they'll get faster with time.
That's it for now though. Today's Sunday, so we have ODP in about 45 minutes here. I'm hoping the rain will let up enough so I don't get too wet on my way there.
20 March 2005 0228z
S1: 0200-0230
S2: 0600-0630
S3: 1000-1030
S4: 1400-1430
S5: 1800-1830
S6: 2200-2230
Those times are all zulu, or GMT. For local time, you have to add 4.5 hours. I didn't think it was possible to work around all of my meetings and guard mounts, but I think this one'll do it. Anway, I'll try this one out for a little while and I'll hopefully have it down by the time National Workplace Napping Day comes around. I've always wanted to celebrate that one...you know, if always = for the last two weeks.
19 March 2005 2346z
19 March 2005 2012z
19 March 2005 1515z
But I'm determined to fall asleep. I set my alarm clock and drape my hat over my face, blocking out the glow of the fluorescent light overhead. I try to sleep. No luck. I try to sleep. No luck. SGT Simmons, one of my equipment NCOs ends up coming in. I didn't even notice the door open. He's got two dogs with him. One of them is in his pants. The other is under his blouse. It seems strange, but I don't say anything. Then he starts playing with the boy dog in his pants and the girl dog under his blouse. I'm a little curious, so I take a closer look. Before I know it, the boy dog and the girl dog are copulating. What?! Right in the middle of my office! I want to make them stop, but I am just amazed that they can conduct this while still under SGT Simmons's uniform, and I just stare in disbelief. I hope that they can keep my office clean.
I blink for a second and then SGT Simmons is gone. I pull the hat from over my eyes only to realize that I'd been dreaming for the last ten minutes. Don't ask...don't tell.
19 March 2005 1355z
Other than that, I've got a lot of small tasks that I'll catch up on tonight. I feel like I've let a few small things slip here and there over the last few days. But after my S4 tonight, I'll sit down with my to-do list and take care of all of them. It's already too late for S3 today. Other than that, it's the weekend!!! ...which means absolutely nothing. I'll write more when I find something interesting to talk about.
19 March 2005 0650z
Anyway, I took a few minutes to sort my sleep experiments in chronological order so that you don't have to read them in the memento-type sequence that is typical with weblogs. Enjoy.
19 March 2005 0345z
19 March 2005 0015z
18 March 2005 1559z
I don't know...I think I'll just read more. I went wandering on the net today and found a couple more weblogs. There was one that was written by a special forces guy here in Afghanistan. I was pleasantly surprised by his multi-thousand word entries. It made me feel good about what I was doing knowing that even special forces guys don't get out much in this theater. Good stuff though...I've really come to appreciate military weblogs, and I might start to branch out to reading others if I can't find anything else to do with my extra wowwers.
Anyway, for those of you still following along with sleep, my S3 went well today. I started it 15 minutes early so that I could wake up with about 10 minutes to spare for the leader meeting. And now I've got two more half-hour naps to go before morning and the 10K. I'll probably stop with the sleep updates in a few days. I think some of you are probably starting to get tired of me talking about it. I think I'll set aside a small section of the page for people interested in transitioning to a polyphasic sleep schedule. Maybe I'll work on that tonight. It's not like I have anything else to do, right?
18 March 2005 0930z
Anyway, I've gotta stay awake for another three hours or so before I get to take another nap. Can't wait.
18 March 2005 0720z
Other than that, I'm slowly chugging along today. I got to talk to some of my NCOs today just to get some more feedback on how we can train differently now and when we get back to the states. I also cleaned up around my office today. My desk was starting to get messy, almost resembling my classroom if you can believe that. Other than that, it looks to be a nice, slow day with ample opportunity to catch up on a lot of things. Tomorrow, we'll be back to the crazy meetings and a 10K run to start off the day...definitely looking to see how well I hold up with that. The only downer is that it has been pouring all day, which means the run route will probably be full of puddles come morning. Oh well. I guess it could be worse. I'll get a free t-shirt at least. That's what really matters.
18 March 2005 0105z
I know it sounds funny...maybe a little arrogant, but I've taken it as my personal mission to save the Virginia Army National Guard, starting first with this battalion. It's taken me about two months to feel my way around here, and I think I'm finally getting to the root of a lot of the issues. Anyway, with that said, I will work it more tomorrow. For now, I am going to bed because I already missed my S3 and S5 yesterday. And after a solid half hour of rest...maybe then, I can change the world.