I just finished a conference call with The US State Department in preparation of my departure to Afghanistan next Thursday evening. They informed me of some of the type of programs I can expect to be doing while I am in country. It looks like I will visit a couple of universities, some ACCESS Programs for teens and a cool Writers Group of Afghani women. I was also informed that I would be issued body armor and helmet upon arrival. This reminds me of the great Ken Mikolowski poem: "I would die for art/but art would not die for me." Onward to the front!