It's finally the last night of Rick's time in CC.  He leaves tomorrow on a 5:30am flight. I went to drop off some pictures of last night (we all went to Katz 21) to his apartment and it was even more empty than the last time I was there.  I know he can't take pictures with him to Iraq but I thought it was important for him to see the pictures before he left; leave with some nice visuals.  Because he had dropped my camera a week earlier and rendered it broken, I had purchased a disposable camera before going out last night (since no one else had a camera with them).  This press-the-flash-wind-look-through-the-lens dinosaur camera had become completely foreign to me. 

Before I went over I was at church.  During mass I prayed for Rick, visualizing him and a bunch of other guys in their camos flying over the ocean to land in Iraq.  I saw him biting his fingernails out of boredom like he does, eyes squinting and his forehead slightly crinkled, as if he was thinking about something when in reality he's not.  I started to cry.

After showing Rick the pictures, Edwin and Sergio showed up to help load the last of Rick's boxes into Edwin's truck.  Rick was going to store some of his things at Winnie's apartment.  I watched the guys put some of the boxes into the truck as I waited so I could give Rick a hug goodbye.  He pushed a large box into the back of the Tundra and said to me "come give me a hug."  "That's what I'm waiting for," I said.  I gave him a tight hug, like anyone gives when they know they won't see their best friend for a very long time - if ever again.  I was surprised he didn't squeeze me as tight I hugged him, but Rick and I have never been huggy with each other, unlike me with my other friends.  I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised.  I smiled and said bye and he thanked me for the pictures again.  I yelled "bye" to the other guys as I walked to my car.  On the drive home, I thought I might cry, even though I didn't feel like crying.  Surprised at my lack of sadness, I realized I wasn't fully convinced my best friend was off to be a soldier in this highly controversial Iraq war.  I think it might hit me in about two or three weeks when I go to pick up the phone and see if wants to have dinner randomly like we always do, only to tell myself "he's not here."   

Work was insane, but God heard my prayers!  He has comforted me with friends, family visits, and PRAISE from the boss man and even from his boss!!  No joke!  I know!  I can't believe it either!  Hopefully, I can keep this momentum going.  I'm submitting a vacation request.

I can't edit this thing the way I want to.  How can I make this picture smaller?  annoys the piss out of me...

Sorry, folks, I've been MIA.  This is due to several reasons: 1. Super Busy   2.  Super Lazy   3. Super sick.

I was so sick this past week I could only go to work one day!  I'm much better now and hope I will do fine without the prescrips.  If not, that could mean trouble for not only myself, but for those that must share a restroom.  For now I am okay and expect to be in full swing tomorrow.  Let's pray for it.