Weekend Roundup

Start with some stunning pictures of Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.

I went to the massive "Nation's Gun Show" twice over the weekend. It was an absolute madhouse on Saturday afternoon. The contrast from Friday afternoon was substantial. Tables that had been piled high and deep with guns for sale on Friday were looking thin and bare on Saturday. I wish I could have gone back on Sunday for the final data point. Only a few vendors were demanding what I consider outrageous prices for a few items. I was more surprised to see that some of the "outrageous" items had been sold on Saturday.

The biggest disappointment of every gun show is not buying anything. With our finances still recovering from Orick and the subsequent unpaid leave, buying anything that was not a tremendously good deal would not have been responsible. I did, however, pick up a few "PALIN * 2012" bumperstickers, fun stuff.

Next week is a quick "visit" to Iraq. The schedule has me in theater for about 2 1/2 weeks and home in time for Christmas. Nothing ever goes to plan, but I have some confidence about the "home in time for Christmas" part. Next up on the agenda is Afghanistan, hopefully in February. I really like Afghanistan, it's just the travel to and from Afghanistan that is such a royal pain.

If any person had attempted to predict that I would soon be jet setting back and forth to war zones on a regular basis even 5 years ago, I probably would have laughed at them. After a few trips though, I'm in danger of starting to enjoy it.