Military Challenge Coin

Are you familiar with the tradition of the Military Challenge Coin?
Here is the Wikipedia entry (easy click & read, so I won't recopy it into here).

I'm collecting coins here in Iraq (natch). Some I am purchasing.















AFTH ICU COIN














AFTH ANESTHESIA














4th AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE UNIT (From Hill AFB) when I participated in "Medics to Maintainers".


Sometimes a coin is gifted to you.














777th EAS (gift from 1st Lt Parker, who wants to be a dietitian and spent a few days in Nutritional Medicine shadowing me)



And then there is a Commanders coin which is presented (in a handshake) when you do something above & beyond. These are the best!















330th Transportation Battalion - I gave a Nutrition briefing "For the Love of Chocolate" and the Colonel must have really enjoyed it. He gave me this coin in a handshake at the end. Nice!

Less Technology?

I'm not carrying a cell phone. I find that I'm not missing it (except maybe the daytimer function).

I cannot wear my iPod headphones outside when walking or jogging. That I still miss. If I want to work out in the gym I can listen to my podcasts. But I've been jogging outside (taking advantage of the weather before it gets too hot) and when I'm on the bike or elliptical, I'm either reading my Professional Military Education homework, or an issue of Entertainment Weekly that Ray sent.

No pager or radio from the hospital. There really isn't such a thing as a Nutrition emergency. Although I've been around when 1 has come up (something about a medication nutrition therapy and specialized tube feeding that I had to think outside the box and get creative with the supplies on hand).

Just a gun. Have to wear my M9 when I walk outside in uniform (supposed to do it when wearing PT gear as well, but I just can't do it, and no one has enforced it for medical personnel).

Peep Show - Please Cast Your Votes!

Started in the ICW (Intermediate Care Ward) and open to all hospital employees. Votes are being cast today and tomorrow. Which ones are your favorites?

Black-Eyed Peep




Duck Duck Duck Peep







Peeps Porridge



National Association for the Advancement
of Colored Peeps

Bunny Ranch



Peeper Peeper Pumpkin Peeper









Peeps Gone Wild



Red Hot Chili Peepers

One Very Clean Peep



Cheese & Peeperoni Pizza

Passover Seder in Iraq, In a Tent no less.....

The Two-Minute Haggadah
A Passover service for the impatient.
By Michael Rubiner

Opening prayers:

Thanks, God, for creating wine. (Drink wine.)

Thanks for creating produce. (Eat parsley.)

Overview: Once we were slaves in Egypt. Now we're free. That's why we're doing this.

Four questions:
1. What's up with the matzoh?
2. What's the deal with horseradish?
3. What's with the dipping of the herbs?
4. What's this whole slouching at the table business?

Answers:
1. When we left Egypt, we were in a hurry. There was no time for making decent bread.
2. Life was bitter, like horseradish.
3. It's called symbolism.
4. Free people get to slouch.

A funny story: Once, these five rabbis talked all night, then it was morning. (Heat soup now.)

The four kinds of children and how to deal with them:
Wise child—explain Passover.
Simple child—explain Passover slowly.
Silent child—explain Passover loudly.
Wicked child—browbeat in front of the relatives.

Speaking of children: We hid some matzoh. Whoever finds it gets five bucks.

The story of Passover: It's a long time ago. We're slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh is a nightmare. We cry out for help. God brings plagues upon the Egyptians. We escape, bake some matzoh. God parts the Red Sea. We make it through; the Egyptians aren't so lucky. We wander 40 years in the desert, eat manna, get the Torah, wind up in Israel, get a new temple, enjoy several years without being persecuted again. (Let brisket cool now.)

The 10 Plagues: Blood, Frogs, Lice—you name it.

The singing of "Dayenu":
If God had gotten us out of Egypt and not punished our enemies, it would've been enough. If he'd punished our enemies and not parted the Red Sea, it would've been enough.

If he'd parted the Red Sea—(Remove gefilte fish from refrigerator now.)

Eat matzoh. Drink more wine. Slouch.

Thanks again, God, for everything.

SERVE MEAL.

Our seder & meal lasted 4 hours. It was full of song and learning and laughing.

Oh, did I mention the wine? Yup, we got to drink real wine here in Iraq. Don't worry, those cups were pretty small.

The Two Minute Haggadah was posted on Slate in 2006.

Kill the Flies

It's that time of year around here, the flies are multiplying. Despite fly strips and frequent reminders about closing the doors, we get lots of these visitors.

This has led to a little competition.

SSgt SM snuck into my office chasing after one of these little buggers.

332nd EMDG Morale Function: Luau

Hotdogs & Hamburgers recooked on the grill. Fresh cut up tropical fruit. Chips. Cookies. Soda. Fake beer. Costume contest. Hula show. Cigars on the roof along with frozen strawberry pina coladas.

Thank You for the Care Package

Look what arrived yesterday!



<3 Thank you Aurora.