Those are the words that have been indelibly etched into my mind since (Marine) CWO5 Ed Lawson replied with them to a co-worker offering him a piece of cake from the monthly birthday cake we had at the office. At my civilian job, we would gather once a month to pay homage to the office birthdays, and everyone usually has a slice of cake, however small. Ed was apparently very health-conscious and had no desire to run more just to burn off a token slice of cake. Ooh-rah!
Imagine now over a year later, this last Thursday, I am invited by my boss to a Cinnabon run to the Camp Liberty Food Court. The couple of trailers that serve as the fast food escape for the base are located right next to the Post Exchange (military department store), and though I didn't plan on having more than coffee, I came along to pick up a sewing kit (the damage to my clothing is another post altogether ...). I discovered that a basic sewing kit is $7, and opted to just bug my friends and borrow one. I got my coffee (blended mocha) and sat down to a seat where there was half a classic Cinnabon waiting for me. Kim, the generous giver of cinnamon goodness and calories, says:
"If we're eating these things, you've got to have a bite!"
To which I replied, of course:
"Dude, that's like 6 miles ..."
Here's me eating the 6 miles
... and washing it down with another 2 miles!
Brian, with his fat pill
Will, my boss - setting the healthy example for me
Kim, the mastermind, and Tim the wheelman
OK WAIT ....
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember a certain somebody (actually a few somebodys) poking fun at me because BAF has a massage parlor and nail spa. Isn't that like the pot calling te kettle black???
What I wouldn't give for a Cinnabon right about now .....
Well the massage and the nail services were a little pricey at Cinnabon, but I wouldn't trade cinnamon buns and an iced mocha for a massage by the extremely large gentleman that was making the cinnamon buns and coffee :)
ReplyDeleteAdd Cinnabon to the list of stuff to do ...
Since I don't know if Gunner Lawson even knows about your blog, I will forward on to him. I'm sure he would tell you "good to go".
ReplyDeleteHere's wishing you both a safe trip back home!
~Katie, James' former coworker
From Shannon
ReplyDeleteWhose job is it to work at Cinnabon in Iraq? Is this a deployment or a contractor? Can't imagine those stories... Just returned from Iraq wow, that was a harsh stay working at Cinnabon...
James,
ReplyDeleteGood to Go....also good to see that the CWO is willingly admitting to his actions and knows that he will pay for them....Thanks for remebering the phrase and get those miles in.
Be safe and take care of those around you.
R/S
CWO5 Lawson
Holy cow!! The Gunner himself! Katie's prediction was right on ... thanks for reading the post.
ReplyDeleteYes, I increased my run that day by 2 miles, which doesn't make up for the whole transgression, but a couple more "run pluses" and I'll be back on track.
Best to you, Deanna, and George III!
The workers are mostly Kuwaitis, actually. They take contract jobs are bargain-basement wages, fly up here for some time, work like you would at a regular Cinnabon (if they had them on the moon), and fly home. Of course, only the contract guards are armed, and these guys have been around long enough to pick up some attitude from the mostly American coalition customers. If we're ever attacked, I guess all they can do is run ...
ReplyDeleteI can't say I would find it very fulfilling, especially not for the risk, but I guess this is all they can find as far as work. Can't ding a guy for needing to make a buck.