Much has happened since my last post.  After the elections brought a short, relative calm, I was able to take my two weeks leave back home.   We start by getting out of the city and travel to Baghdad International Airport.  After waiting around there for a day, we get to Kuwait where we wait for another day or two.  Once we get out of Kuwait we start the long flight home.  The nice thing is that none of the travel counts toward leave (it starts from the time you arrive at your home city).  Same thing on the way back. 

All in all, my two weeks leave got me out of Baghdad for about 3 weeks...  and what a nice few weeks they were!  My family and I spent the time doing as little as possible, but I did get to fix some things around the house.  The wife and kids did pretty well without me, but it wasn't fun getting back on that 20 hour flight back to Iraq! I also got the chance to see many of my coworkers back at the "Civilian" job.  It was great seeing them and I really appreciate their continued support and friendship.  I was surprised to learn just how many of them actually looked at this Blog from time to time.  I guess I'll make a concerted effort to post more often!

Of course, while I was on leave, the Golden Mosque in Samarra was bombed, which did not make for a happy return.  The Mosque in Samarra rates as one of the four most holy sites within Iraq and the bombing was done to inflame the fragile relationship between the Shia & Sunni.  A lot of work is ahead for the Iraqi Govenment, as well as for us, to try and calm things down. The political process has been moving in babysteps, but it might be time to speed it up a bit!