5 weeks on Facebook

I didn't post much on the blog in June, but I did post on Facebook almost daily. Facebook is a new addiction of mine, and it's pretty quick since I only have to post a few words or a sentence at a time! For those of you who have not seen the Facebook posts, I have pasted them below so you can see what June was all about for me. NOTE: there are some posts below which refer to a Facebook quiz I took, such as "What do your eyes say about you?" or "Which time era are you from?" I have included both the quiz results and my comments about the quiz.

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Autumn Richards is thinking about just how lucky I am to be stationed at a relatively large, relatively safe base in Afghanistan. Other soldiers are far less fortunate - they make do with minimal amenities and maximal safety risk. They are truly amazing and are the heroes of this war.
June 1 at 9:39pm

*Editorial comment: I wrote this during my first day at Fire Base Lilley, after I had snooped around enough to understand the differences between Bagram and Lilley.

Autumn Richards is thinking about the flight medics here in Afghanistan and how difficult a job they have at the point of injury, en route, and during offload. Today I have gained a different perspective of the challenges of their job.
June 2 at 7:38pm

*Editorial comment: I wrote this the day I cared for a patient blown up by an IED. In a moment my perspective had changed.

Autumn Richards is thinking about a favorite Bon Jovi song: “It's my life/ It's now or never/ I ain't gonna live forever/ I just want to live while I'm alive”
June 2 at 10:34pm

Autumn Richards is wondering how a long hard night of Rock Band resulted in a blood blister on her right thumb ....
June 5 at 12:07am

Autumn Richards is listening to Sting from a delta's computer ....
June 7 at 10:30am

Autumn Richards is (for a change) NOT sad about NOT getting off the ground today!
June 7 at 3:26pm

*Editorial comment: Our planned return to Bagram was delayed by one day - usually I would complain about NOT getting to fly!

Autumn Richards has a tummy full of king crab legs and na'an bread! Planning to have a banana split and play some Rock Band later ... hopefully with less "non-battle injury" than last time!
June 7 at 8:54pm

*Editorial comment: I was quite fortunate to enjoy the crab legs and na'an as a result of the canceled flight....

Autumn Richards can't get Madonna's "Like a Prayer" out of my mind....
June 7 at 10:46pm

Autumn Richards is back at Bagram after an 8-day trip to Fire Base Lilley, 4 miles from the Pakistan border in southeast Afghanistan. The trip was the highlight of my deployment so far!
June 8 at 1:36pm

*Editorial comment: This was my first announcement that I had been somewhere other than Bagram. The FaceBook community thought I was kidding!

Autumn Richards is trying to unpack in complete silence and near darkness .... and is getting frustrated.
June 8 at 6:01pm

Autumn Richards is ready for a nap after chasing PTT values all night in a patient on a heparin drip.
June 10 at 8:19am

Autumn Richards is still tired after sleeping for several hours this morning. Perhaps another nap is in order ......
June 10 at 2:43pm

Autumn Richards can't breathe.
June 10 at 7:33pm

*Editorial comment: I wrote this after finding out that one of my best friends at Bagram had been hand-picked to join the General's staff at ISAF headquarters in Kabul. I felt like the bottom had dropped out of my world.

Autumn Richards feels somewhat better after a decent night's sleep.
June 11 at 5:57am

Autumn Richards just returned from a 2-hour coffee date with a friend .... it was almost like home!
June 11 at 7:58pm

*Editorial comment: We talked about everything from home remodeling to weekend activities while sitting in the coffee shop. I felt like a regular person for a few hours.

Autumn Richards is reminded of the old adage that "people you deploy with are your friends forever." Here's to forever!
June 12 at 1:30am

*Editorial comment: Around this time, I began to realize that this deployment will create memories and friends that last a lifetime.

Autumn Richards is working on getting some much-needed supplies and books down to the medics who protected me last week.
June 12 at 10:06am

*Editorial comment: I have pretty much made it my life's mission to send supplies downrange to the medics at Lilley. They deserve only the best.

Autumn Richards is pretty excited to have a local cell phone! (For those of you in theater, the number is Roshan 079-353-1511 ... call me!)
June 12 at 1:33pm

Autumn Richards is quite annoyed that the Department of Defense hired the lowest bidder to provide mattresses and bed frames to deployed troops.
June 13 at 8:46am

Autumn Richards just took the most luxurious combat shower ever using Origins gingersnap body cleanser. :-)
June 13 at 5:54pm

*Editorial comment: The body cleanser was a gift from some dear old friends in the DC area. I actually felt feminine afterwards!

Autumn Richards is addicted to coffee in Bagram....
June 14 at 12:21am

Autumn Richards was introduced to deep-fried french toast at the North DFAC today. :) I have been avoiding it for 16 weeks .... but now it will have to become a weekly routine!
June 14 at 9:33am

Autumn Richards hates hates HATES the act of putting clean sheet on her bed, but loves loves LOVES the way they feel!
June 14 at 4:35pm

Autumn Richards: On the one hand, yes I have worked hard to get where I am today. On the other hand, I am so fortunate to have a fabulous family, safe deployment, indoor plumbing, and awesome friends! So no, maybe I'm not spoiled in the traditional material sense, but there is very little in my life that I would change.

Autumn has taken the Are you spoiled? quiz.

According to quiz analysis, Autumn is 11% spoiled!

You are definitely not spoiled. You've worked hard for what you have.

Down to earth and grounded, you don't need a lot to make you happy.

June 14 at 4:51pm

Autumn Richards can't wait for her massage this evening.
June 15 at 2:39pm

Autumn Richards is going to be super sore tomorrow thanks to yoga this evening......
June 16 at 10:13pm

*Editorial comment: My first yoga experience was somewhat painful, but since then it has been pure bliss.

Autumn Richards nearly forgot that she needed to put on a "real" uniform this morning.
June 17 at 6:55am

Autumn Richards needs a few moments to cool off after being accused of "not being able to handle" clinic. If I had access to alcohol, now would be the time to chug it .....
June 17 at 6:45pm

*Editorial comment: One of the LtCol's in clinic was appalled when a patient was waiting to be seen at 5 pm. Little did she know that two patients checked in just before we closed and hadn't been waiting all day!

Autumn Richards is annoyed that her entire drugstore.com shopping cart has somehow been lost in cyberspace.
June 17 at 8:32pm

Autumn Richards has decided that the MRAP must be the most awesome vehicle known to man! Bulletproof, mineproof, soundproof, light disciplined and very heavy, it's almost impossible to be killed in one!
June 18 at 2:19am

*Editorial comment: I wrote this post after taking a night ride in an MRAP with music blaring (inside) and night vision turned on!

Autumn Richards should really go to bed.
June 20 at 1:41am

Autumn Richards is very proud of all the medical graduates out there. To those graduating from residency and fellowship: congratulations!
June 20 at 1:42am

Autumn Richards is putting on mega sunscreen. The sun at 5000 feet can be a killer!
June 20 at 10:51am

Autumn Richards probably shouldn't be awake.
June 21 at 4:22am

*Editorial comment: This was the night of the mortar attacks which killed 2 soldiers at Bagram. It was a very long night for all of us. See the full post here.

Autumn Richards had forgotten how nice it is to work out early in the mornings!
June 22 at 6:56am

Autumn Richards found grass today. In Bagram, Afghanistan. About 20 square feet of it. My feet were very happy and are requesting that I return tonight.
June 23 at 3:04pm

*Editorial comment: I enjoyed coffee on our "lawn" with a friend this evening .... almost like I would in the states.

Autumn Richards must get to bed for her early-morning workout tomorrow.....
June 24 at 10:56pm

Autumn Richards is wondering why suddenly there are many, many new Air Force duffel bags stacked in her already-squished dorm room. More importantly, she wondering how they ended up on her desk, her armoire, and her chair ..... six to a room is NOT going to be fun, even for a few days.
June 25 at 5:09pm

Autumn Richards is now happy to return to her room really late and find 4 sleeping roommates and a relatively clean 5 x 10 living area!
June 25 at 11:16pm

Autumn Richards is going to avoid the hospital LIKE THE PLAGUE over the next few days while the new airmen move in and the old ones redeploy. It's such a disaster to have twice the number of people fighting for the showers and the dining hall, plus teaching all the newbies the ins and outs of BAF life. Please save me!
June 27 at 12:22am

*Editorial comment: see the full post here.

Autumn Richards has enjoyed checking out the Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale.
June 27 at 2:27am

Autumn Richards is pretty concerned about Matt's recent speech eval. Trying to manage developmental delay from Iraq and Afghanistan is nearly impossible. :(
June 27 at 11:47am

Autumn Richards spent a day at the Bagram spa getting a mani, pedi, and massage.
June 27 at 4:48pm

Autumn Richards slept through breakfast this morning. Instead, she enjoyed omelettes and french toast at midnight chow!
June 28 at 1:23am

*Editorial comment: I slept through breakfast because I had the day off. Really! It was my second day off here at Bagram, and it made me feel like a real person again.

Autumn Richards just got involved in a massive clinic waterfight. We started with syringes, then progressed to water balloons and, finally, 20 oz water bottles. I can't say that I won the fight ..... but I can say that it was quite fun! :)
June 28 at 12:37pm

Autumn Richards: Remember this one? "A whole new world/A new fantastic point of view/No one to tell us no/Or where to go/Or say we're only dreaming....." It applies.
June 28 at 9:36pm

Autumn Richards is going to sleep early tonight.
June 29 at 10:17pm

Autumn Richards apparently looks like a "naughty librarian" (according to her yoga instructor). Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. Please comment.
June 30 at 10:19pm

*Editorial comment: The general consensus from the Facebook crowd is that I was being hit on!

Autumn Richards: Check out this video ... I think everyone's seen the story, but I just encountered the video for the first time!

US docs save burned girl, 8, victim of Afghan war
Source: www3.signonsandiego.com

Autumn Richards was having a "skinny" day until her company commander pissed her off and the cookies and milk came a callin'.....
July 1 at 9:50pm

*Editorial comment: My CO just can't understand that certain medical conditions - combined with the 5000-foot altitude - just don't mix with Army physical training. I wept several tears this night and was very, very angry.

Autumn Richards can't wait to try the new clothes that arrived in the mail from Victoria Secret today .....
July 2 at 10:47pm

Autumn Richards definitely shouldn't be awake at 2 am Bagram time. But Matthew is worth it!
July 3 at 2:30am

*Editorial comment: I got up at 2 am Bagram time in order to participate in the social services evaluation for Matt's speech therapy. Although it was the middle of my night, I was so glad I did it!

Autumn Richards is headed to the gym then to cover the ward for the afternoon. The new call schedule is quite confusing. I can't say that I'm all that excited about taking care of inpatient big people!
July 3 at 9:52am

Autumn Richards had the best workout in a month or more!
July 3 at 12:20pm

Autumn Richards: This is not exactly what I was expecting. At some times of my life, I have been exactly the OPPOSITE of Mod New York: homely, nerdy, reserved, careful, and risk-averse. There have also been (relatively few) moments in which I have fit this era well: OBC ('nuf said), Ft. Benning for the rugby national finals, San Diego with Philla for the kidney conference, the past few weeks here in Bagram .... I think maybe I need to find a happy medium between the homely, sweet, innocent, intelligent pediatrician and the rambunctious, rule-breaking, energetic, adrenaline-junkie wild child!

Autumn took the What Era Should You Time Travel To? quiz and the result is Mid-Century Mod New York

You like things simple and fun. Bold and daring, you don't hide how you feel, so you're a natural born leader. You love music and good times with your friends, especially nights out on the town! You want a no-fuss life style that is also totally chic. Going wild is your specialty and you love to be the center of attention, so why not go to the center of fashion and good-times: New York City! Better yet, slip in with the hip crowd, play it up in the latest pop fashions, and savor the British Invasion! It's artsy, suave, sexy, and totally you, baby! Boys, bring on the Beatles and ladies wiggle into your Twiggy mini dresses because Mid-Century Mod NYC is calling!

July 3 at 10:08 pm

Autumn Richards: Now that's more like it!

Autumn took the What do Your Eyes Say About You? quiz and the result is: Boldness.

When people look into your eyes, they can see that you're an energetic, happy, and cheerful person. You're outgoing and fun, and love to make new friends. You're not afraid to speak your mind, and you never stop laughing! People realize that you're a bouncy, loud person, that can sometimes be obnoxious, just by looking into your eyes. They can see that you're a unique, stylish, and one-of-a-kind individual. You're independent, and you don't let anybody get in your way.

July 3 at 9:55 pm

Autumn Richards is planning to nap today and admit patients all night. We had somewhere around 25-30 admissions yesterday .... and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon thanks to the continued surge in Southern Afghanistan. :(
July 5 at 10:05 am