Blues Travelin' With Lewis and Clark

I've come to the realization that people aren't going to change. Not by my hand, or yours. It's a conscious decision that every individual has to make. I think Freud would agree. In the organization I'm in, I do have to change though for different peoples motives, but those of who are above me. I try not to sacrifice ethics or morals in the process, but sometimes you have to cut that rope and drift away, hoping the current doesn't take you to far out to sea. The work of anti depressants such as Zoloft and Trezodone, have not been enough to help to coral the anxiety and depression of everyday life here in Iraq. But the Lone Ranger, with his silver spurs and six shooters, arrived on the scene and has rounded up the 'Wisconsin-not happy cows like those of California-cattle', and delivered it safely back to Sanity Ranch.

His name is Tonto, and he's small enough to fit into my pocket for every mission. His voice, majestic with the power to move you. He's transformed our truck from the once, Mr. Toads Wild Ride with the crew from Jackass, and Fez from That 70's Show, to: The Adventurous Expedition of Lewis and Clark, only in southeastern Baghdad, with Sacajawea played by Bob, and the crazy Doc Kreis, maniac that can barely move in his seat like Mr. Incredible from the Disney movie the Incredibles, our very own LT Dan. Back up Forrest. Leading the voyage of our new expeditionary force, noodle arm Bowman, the bat killer. Yes he killed a bat while in flight with the windshield of his humvee. Pretty cool, true story. The me in the back, with Tonto. I almost forgot to tell you what Tonto is. My harmonica.


Too Perfect

The harmonica came in a care package to my good friend Danny Gibbens. He actually received two, and gave one to me. It was played very little since I had gotten it, and had been stuffed into the bottom of my ruck sack for quite awhile. I recently ran across it, and decided I would use it as a novelty in the truck, as an aid for our good luck song. Not so much that I would play it with the song we sing for good luck, but for the antics we all do to 'warm up' to sing. Which involves yelling, scales with the word bumble bee and anything Ron Burgundy would say to warm up for his broadcast. As usual, we found ourselves sitting out in sector wasting time. I put the harmonica to my lips and began to see if I could strike some Billy Joel, or Blue Traveler out of my...mouth and gave it a blow. To my surprise, I'm actually decent at playing it. In fact, the truck doesn't tell me to shut the hell up, they actually like it. I think.



With the harmonica now adding some western flare, with the feeling of Disneyland's Adventureland, morale is on the up and up. Also with the end of our barrier removal mission in sight along with a full moon on the horizon, it couldn't come at a better time. Our truck has fun on missions regardless of the stupidity of what we do, and the bottom line is that we are doing something. The LT Dan doesn't fit in his seat and is probably going to end up like LT Dan, when his legs can't get out of the truck, and we have to cut them off to get him unstuck. Our driver is sensitive, and has noodle arms. Our gunner kicks electronics that are mission essential to off and then off. Our terp Bob, zinzizzles, and I sit in the back playin' my harmonica.


LT Dan, only difference will be the back drop of Idaho. And a UCLA bandanna





Hell, I am the Tap A Tio man! -Doc Kreis