dates and plates

Well, I’ve finally got my promotion…four months late but the back pay will be good. I think I’m going to buy a new guitar, a Taylor this time. Because sometimes a guy’s just got to buy a new guitar.
I’ve been covered up lately with work and today I was finally worn down and tired. I could tell it was coming. The allocation of hard armored vehicles has been the thorn in my side this week but unfortunately I took it out on a Captain who stopped by for a special billeting request. I think I got my point across that his flippant special request turned me into a bad guy, either by telling the billeting people to ignore the rules they are supposed to work by or for me denying his request for a special roommate. I’m not a big fan of special requests.
Today MSgt M, Angie, and I went to the National Restaurant in the Al-Rasheed for lunch. It was pretty nice…I kept my road rage on the way over to a minimum. I had the mixed grill but was too tired to be hungry. Angie had the curry chicken which was good but bland for curry. Afterwards I had a cup of coffee and the waiter brought out a plate of the crunchy, only partially rotten yellow dates. They were sooo sweet. MSgt M had this milk and yogurt mixture to dip the dates in but it tasted more like old milk from the back of the refrigerator than anything else. It reminded me of Iceland where traditionally meats were preserved in sour milk.
My grandfather used to hide money under people’s dinner plates when they’d have people over for dinner. I guess that’s why I picked up my plate and turned it over and saw that the plates were all made in Sweden and had Al-Rasheed stamped on them. Angie took one and stuffed it in her shirt for a souvenir. She was going to take an ashtray but the plate was better. When we got the $54 tab I figured we deserved something to take with us.
Bone tired I sat through two meetings this afternoon. I find meetings helpful when working with KBR and the State Department…it’s the only way to corner them and find out what they’re doing.
I put on the rank Friday…that will be good.