Monday Number 7

Sorry, dear readers, about missing Monday Number 6, I was out on another trip with a group of Senators who were here learning more about our military and how we can finish the job here in Iraq correctly.  More importantly, they were able to spend a fair amount of time with their constituents who are here serving.  I never get tired of seeing a Congressman or Senator interact with the young servicemen and women here.  They are truly awed by the amount of responsibility bestowed on our youth.

One of the great things about my job is never knowing exactly who you are going to bump in to at the airport!  Y'all know I am a huge golf nut, so I was giddy when these two gents sauntered off the same plane as the Senators.  Good thing I always have my camera with me!

Tom Watson has been one of my heroes for as long as I can remember.  Such grace and dignity on the course, a great gentleman and a wonderful example of how to behave as an athlete and a celebrity.  We chatted for a few moments and he looked me straight in the eye and said:  "You play golf?"  "Yes, Sir, I do..." "What do you shoot?  100s, 90s, 80s?"  "Well, Sir, I've played in the 90s for quite a while now..."  "What do you think you need to do to improve your game, Karen?"  "Well, Sir...I need to improve my putting."  He looked at me ruefully and said "So do I, Karen...so do I."  At that point, I thought is best not to bring up the British Open....

I still can NOT believe I had a face to face with Tom Watson...Corey Pavin was great, too!  Very quiet and sort of in awe of everything around him.  He graciously agreed to have his picture taken and we chatted briefly about Shinnecock Hills.  These guys have more than 10 Majors between them.  Amazing!!!

I also celebrated Thanksgiving with my new friends.  I am very lucky to work with several other O-3s who are sort of my age.  Actually, they are all about 10 years younger than me...but that's part of what makes it fun.  They are so young!!!  We ran a 5k Turkey Trot, played a little football...ate our faces off at the Chow Hall (SHOUT OUT to the Indian and Ugandan contractors who decorated everything and make absolutely DELICIOUS food for us....it was really special)...then capped off the holiday with the mandatory kick off to every Christmas season:  watching The Christmas Story.

The next few weeks will be interesting.  A lot of the staff has tried to schedule R&R during the holidays so there are a lot of people coming and going.  The Elections may or may not happen in a couple of months, and the Iraqi's (as well as the rest of the Muslim world) are finishing up with the Eid holiday.

More as it comes....