18 Jan

Today was the Grand-Opening of the dining facility for the new buildings we finished signing over earlier this week. Above is a picture of our meal and the Iraqi officers at our table. I am not entirely sure what type of meat we had for lunch - I think it was lamb but I am not certain. Anyway, the rice was delicious and of course an Iraqi meal would not be complete with out some sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. Next came a delicious tray of desert. And here is where the day gets "exciting."
I have enjoyed several different after dinner treats during my weekly dinners with the head Iraqi officer here at my location. Therefore, it was no surprise when a similar tray of treats was placed on the table. As the junior officer at a table I waited until the Col's made the first move. I then reached for a treat that looked very similar to the kind I enjoyed when dining with the Iraqi Colonel except this one was about twice the size; however, even at twice the size it was only the size of a "bite" size candy bar. In two bites the treat was gone - very tasty as expected; so after a few minutes I reached for a second. While chewing the last part of my second treat the Iraqi LtCol at the table said as he pointed a piece identical to the one I was eating, "this is like vira...it give you energy" - as he makes a swirling motion on the lower part of his stomach with both hands. Oh, okay I thought - another Iraqi word that I do not understand but it sounds just like eating an energy bar except these were a glazed pastry with some type of dates and nuts in the middle. Well, the US LtCol next to me says, "what is vira?" The Iraqi LtCols answer stopped me mid-chew. The Iraqi LtCol replied, "you know..virga..for - with the women." And the conversation continues back and forth. "Your mean Viagra." "Yea..Yea...Vierga...gets the blood flooing for the wives." Oh crap...great...not have only been gone for over 45 days but now that I have taken "2" doses of "special energy" and I will surely need to see a doctor after "4" hours (listen to the warning at the end of the Viagra commercial) and I'll be damned if I am going to medic, who is a sergeant, with this problem in a war zone.
Well, I had a reaction to the "two treats" but not the type of reaction advertised on TV. At about 4:40 in the afternoon I went for a run, and at the 4.5 mile mark I felt like I had plenty of energy left for another 3 miles; it has been at least 8 months since the last time I ran more than 5 miles - maybe I need to get the recipe for those goodies. Anyway, I received an important call on the radio so my workout quickly ended but if I had the time for the extra miles I sure had the energy. Have a good day - the weekend is almost here.