God bless me but sometimes I am just not bright.  Self-incriminating evidence below.

Since Monday early evening the top of my head was hurting.  I dismissed it figuring it was either caused by wearing my helmet so much or denting my head of the inside wall of the MRAP due to the bad roads causing us to bounce around so much.

It took idiot me until Tuesday afternoon to figure out it was because my head got sunburned while at Nukhayb.  I was only in the direct sun for 5-6 hours but that was enough.

To enhance my whining I paid a guy $3 to punch me on the top of my head.   I knew a haircut was not going to feel good but I felt like a hippy as it was probably grown out to an eighth of an inch or so.  Once my head goes from feeling like sandpaper to velvet it’s either put dreadlocks in or cut shave it.

What do you get for a $3 haircut?  Just what you expect and don’t expect. 

Don’t worry about looking in the mirror as it’s already too late to fix it.

Don’t worry about the guy massaging (really its punching) the top of your head for 20 seconds or so after the barber butchers your head.

Do worry about bald barbers.

Do worry about the goofs who wish to then massage your back (freaks).

Do worry about the barber with the ‘I ♥ Ba’thist t-shirt)

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 77% [?]

Geez I can not believe that I have to leave in just a little more then 2 months.  There is so much to still help out with.

Not knowing if the Marine following me will be as ambitious to get involved, I wish there was an opportunity to stay here for a year instead of this quick 6 months.  Then again, I am sure I will feel the same way when I year is up too.

I know this bothers some back home when I talk about staying.  However, I just love being involved and basically having card-blanch to go anywhere for a chance to help the cause.

The last two days, for instance, was spent at the southwest corner of Iraq where there was only 15 Marines.  Having the opportunity to talk with the Marines to learn about their mission and their challenges to be successful and then trying to help mitigate the concerns is very rewarding.   I will tell you more about COP (Combat Outpost) Nukhayb later this week, if not tomorrow.

With so much to still do before redeploying back to the states, I have decided to forego R&R to Qatar.

Those serving in OEF or OIF in the CENTCOM AOR for a year are given an opportunity to go on leave for 2 weeks.  Those serving just 6 to 7 months have an opportunity to get 4 days of leave (really ends up being about 7) to Qatar. 

Exploring countries is always a rewarding experience but I know I would regret missing of week of Iraq vice the Guinness in Qatar.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 74% [?]