DAY 5, YEP - KUWAIT STILL

This is getting ridiculous. I sit around all day with nothing to do waiting until 5:30 PM to see if the schedulers reserved a spot for me the next day. If nothing happens tonight, I'm going to collect my gear, get a ride to the airfield, and just sit there watching each flight load up and verifying there are no open seats (the military version of "stand-by"). I would be willing to bet there have been some open seats at some point in the last 5 days.

Anyway, I decided to do what I normally do for stress relief - I went on a long run. I had had enough of the rat machine, errr treadmill. So, I grabbed a couple bottled waters, my music, and left the secure compound for a jog around the runway service road. The route I chose was approved by the wing commander, but I could tell by the look on the SP's (gate cop) face that not many people go out there running. Exactly the type of run I like.

The weather was pleasant - about 60 degrees, no wind, and a low sun. The service road was new, so the running surface was fine. There were spray painted mile markers and a few "5K turnaround" markers, so there have been at least a couple other crazies like me through this place. It turned out to be about 9 miles by the time I did a loop around the secure compound on the way back in.

IT FELT GREAT. It reminded me of all the running I did in Las Vegas, well except for the bombed out aircraft shelters and the shot-up lookout towers surrounding the base (the Iraqis stormed through this base in 1990 during the invasion of Kuwait). It was kinda' weird being passed by small pick-up trucks full of Kuwaitis staring at me. I did cross paths with some Japanese Air Force dudes out running. That reminded me of running in Hawaii.

Speaking of the Japanese, after my run I hit the weight room. There were Japanese in there lifting weights with US airman. They were laughing, high-5'ing, and generally having a good time. It was sort of surreal to me. ~70 years ago we were mortal enemies (Bataan Death March, kamikazes, Pearl Harbor, etc). Now, it's as if nothing happened. I actually think that is cool, but I couldn't help but be struck by the fact that this was occurring in Kuwait, where we are here in part because some cultures just can't get along and hold grudges for thousands of years. Anyway, it was strange.

174 days to go.