Arrived at the ever pleasant Mosul Airfield to go on leave. Plane landed, everyone bailed and the fire department surrounded the plane while the pilot pointed up with a concerned gaze as he drank his coke watching the fuel leaking from the wing. We boarded, I was thinking this should be fun and we made another landing in Balad for unknown reasons where I stood out on the runway achieving a perfect sunburn. We took off to only perfect possibly the worst ever landing known to mankind or at least Kuwait. I walked away shaking my head and then the hours of torture began.
Briefings every hour and then finally the light at the end of the tunnel, my next hard time, tomorrow! While everyone scarfed down the tasty "jimmy deans" I held out, the golden arches were right down the road and yes they take the eagle cash card. I ate in my tent, I didn't wear a reflective belt and I broke every rule to include sleeping and dipping during day two. Seems their threats of canceling my leave were hmmmmm, hot air at best. Still, standing out in the sun waiting for nothing get's old but we finally got the word, we are leaving.
I stood in line dreading the customs inspection for one reason. Everyone strategically packs their bags so everything interlocks and fits perfectly. This takes time and thought and to undue it and go through the whole process of someone digging through your dirty laundry is something that added to my already bad attitude. I wouldn't have vouched for everyone, but didn't see anyone who seemed to pose a threat, why endure this pain I was thinking.
I was up next, I took my bag and slowly drug it behind me like an anchor as I eyeballed the customs inspectors, dreading the unpacking of my carry on. I arrived at station 4 and stared at this poor Navy guy who was about to receive my two days worth of bad attitude. He gave me his standard brief, I didn't listen and I unzipped the top of my bag and pulled out one thing that changed the customs world and how inspections go or simply put I bribed a customs agent, ahhhh, life is looking good.
I pulled out 5 Mungadai coins, the first and only thing out of my bag. He picked them up and rifled through them and said what are these. I then explained to him that I was on a TT, what we did and how I was a cross between Rambo and a commo guy and only cool guys have their own coins. I said hey you want one, and he almost started to cry and was like yes, yes and he was just staring at his new coin that shined before him. I was like turn it over, and he did, I said read those names and he did, I said look I have your name, I will be calling in a few months and myself and these 10 other guys expect an easy go of this mess. He said no worries, give me a call when you show up, I will take care of you. He said hey by the way do you have any explosives and I said no, and off I went. I can get used to this bribery thing, it works pretty good.
Leave is great, I have no pics to post as of yet, they will follow. I will be of course finishing the Mungadai tattoo, I think 19kilojoe will appreciate what I did with the Punisher skull, it won't be the standard dork skull. Of course my dad is coming in for the bowling tournament of the century in which I hope to crush his will to live and I bought some new sneakers. Hope all is well in 28D or A or whatever building it is we live in.
