Murphy's April Fools

I somehow survived yet another April Fool's day in our mad race around the sun. April Fool's day is intended to be a day of pranks, joking and good humor, mostly. This year there was not a joke or prank to be had, just Murphy in full form. I spent the day racing between crises of down systems and communications failures of epic proportions. Our vehicle was almost towed, but in a moment of kindness my co-worker was bestowed with a warning instead of the dreaded ticket. I'm not sure I could even put some of the communications failures into words.

Chain of command takes on whole new levels of meaning when dealing with NATO bureaucracy. In a few more days, I'm sure there will be a few things we can laugh at. In the end we can take thanks in that no harm was done and no lives were lost or damaged.

After almost four years in Iraq and Afghanistan, probably the strangest thing is that from this near perspective, yesterday feels almost like just another day at the office. It's another insight into the common expressions out here of "living the dream" and "just another day in paradise." You just have to smile and soldier on.