Created sometime in April 2002

Depending on when you’ve caught up with me, any number of things could have happened. But I’ll start simple. Being as this is the maiden voyage of my all new and improved, ultra hip, high speed, low drag website, I’ll cover the generals.

As it stands I was sorely mistaken about how little duty we actually stood. I spoke too soon. In late February we lost two more Marines, bringing us to three short of our normal operating force. Needless to say we’ve been working like dogs for quite some time at a frenzied pace of seven days on and one day off. Reliefs are in the distant future but I’ve already resigned myself to another month, at least, of this existence we call hell. If nothing else it’s kept me focused at the real reason why I’m out here. Not for the liberty, not for the cheap merchandise, not for the girls. Hard to believe, huh?

We recently survived a command visit from our Company Commanding Officer and First Sergeant but that wasn’t near as bad as anticipated. Inconvenient yes, but relatively painless. Company headquarters is right here in Pretoria anyways so the three day visit was a mere drop in the bucket compared to how often we deal with the higher-ups from day to day. I also prepared an outstanding PowerPoint presentation, my first, of my collateral duty, REACT NCO, complete with sound clips and pictures from Full Metal Jacket. It was brilliant and Spielberg should be calling as soon as he gets wind of it.

As far as riding and racing goes, there’s a new bike in our little family that we’re busy breaking in as this is published. The races are going well despite the feeling of impending death from effort in every kilometer. I’m officially part of “the scene” now and am largely accepted in many riding circles. But then again, mountain bikers have never been known to be picky about their company so who really knows?

On a semi-related and rather sad note, the calm serenity that I’ve been experiencing since my arrival was suddenly shattered recently when a group ride I was with got hijacked by three armed assailants. To make a long story short, it was a horrific battle worthy of any war documentary and we diffused the situation with minimal injuries to members of my party (myself included) and serious injuries to the opposing force. When someone says it’s not a battle zone out there, don’t believe them. Maintain your situational awareness, know your available routes of escape, carry some sort of individual protective equipment with you at all times, and always be on the alert wherever you go. If it can happen to four trained Marines, it can happen to you…

Here’s the full length, official Department of State “for the record” version of my statement on the matter.

If you are obsessed with proper paragraph structure I’d advise to NOT read this statement. It reads well but paragraphs have never been my strong point…

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