BIJI'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's official!!!!!!! Biji is back from Iraq!!!! He called me on Wednesday of last week and told me he was heading home Friday - but I didn't want to jinx anything and so decided to wait until he was safely back in the U.S. before posting anything. Then, last night at about 9 the call came: he was back in Washington in one piece. YAY!

Unfortunately, he also had to go in to work today. Can you believe that? The man spent 15 months in a war zone, flew for over a day to get home, and got 1 measly day to readjust his time clock. And you thought you didn't want to go to work on a Monday! Supposedly he only has to work a 1/2-day but still... the guy can't get one day off?! Yeesh. He definitely sounded like he could use it - he just sounded exhausted and he said he felt pretty much like crap. Plus, his body has not yet acclimated to Puyallup weather so he was buried under a pile of blankets, poor guy.

He's not yet sure when he'll be in California but it shouldn't be too long now - and then he'll get a well-deserved month off. We are just so ecstatic that he's finished up his tour and is back in one piece!!! And can't wait to see him. :o)

Now I guess it's time Robert and I retired our Biji magnets... and aren't we glad we can? :o)

(A Slightly Different) Desert Update

Well, it had been quite some time since Robert or I had talked to Biji "live" - the phone set-up in Tikrit was such that his limited access to phones did not coincide with times that Robert and I would actually be at home. Imagine my surprise when, at 10:30 last night, the phone rang from a number "Out of Area." Now, you must understand that we get at least 3 calls a day from collection agencies... Apparently, two people who used to live here have some serious credit problems; we have repeatedly told the agencies that the people they're looking for no longer live here, but the calls keep coming. Anyway, my point is I never answer the "Out of Area" calls! (Though I was somewhat surprised that they'd call that late at night!) Once I heard the familiar, dulcet tones of Biji emanating from the machine, however, I knew it was safe to pick up. :o)

I was able to chat with Biji for about 20 minutes or so and am happy to report that he has entered the final stretch of his deployment. He's in Kuwait now - he arrived a couple days ago - and will be there a couple months before finally heading home!! He sends his regards to everyone, of course.

Biji is surviving all right but he definitely sounded like he is ready to be home NOW (totally understandable). He'll have about a month off when he returns from Kuwait (and after a short detour at Fort Lewis, of course) and I can't think of anyone who deserves or is in need of it more!! Needless to say, we are all really looking forward to his visit. :o)

[Unfortunately, Robert was not able to participate in the phone call - he was still at work. Yep, you read that right. Whenever an issue of Half Times goes to the printer, Robert and his colleague spend the day there doing a press check. Well, this particular issue is roughly 8 pages longer than usual... which added up to, like, 7 extra hours of work! Seriously - the man did not walk through the front door until 12:45 last night (or rather, this morning). And he's, of course, going in to work as usual today. Ah, the glamorous life of a PR guru!! Me no likey.]

Here are some old photos of Bij in happier times:

This is a an old one - from summer '06 - but it's one of Robert's favorites

Biji's favorite chair

January '07 - Claim Jumper in Puyallup

Desert Update

Yay!! Just heard from Biji and he's (currently) slated to return home from his tour this June!!! That is a lot sooner than I anticipated, so that's awesome news. He will stay a bit longer than the rest of his unit (of course) because he'll be in Kuwait helping "push out the Brigade’s equipment onto boats" but he should be home by late June or early July. Fantastic!! I am so happy he only has a few months left... he was originally slated for an 18-month tour so I'm very glad it's been downgraded to 15 months. That's certainly long enough in anyone's book!

This is a photo Biji sent along with his news:

Eighth grade Biji - is that you? Long time no see!

He actually sent this picture to me a while ago but since he sent it again, I figure that can only mean he wants me to share it with you. Blech!!!! (Sorry, Bij). This is certainly not his best look... Thank goodness he got sick of the lip warmer after about 10 days and it is now gone.