Behind the Wall of Sleep
Friday, 26 October 2007
Ruby Tuesday
Mac and Carlotta took me to Ruby Tuesday for supper. This place has everything but a Denny's. They even have Church's Chicken but, they call it Texas Chicken... Three guesses why.
Kuwait City is friggin' huge. There are 2.7 million people here and none of them can drive. I was just fine until we got on the Gulf Highway. That's when my blood pressure went through the roof and my pucker factor went to 11. Hopefully these people never come to Texas... They'd be dragged from their cars and beaten. Seriously, they CANNOT drive over here.
Mac and Carlotta are doing well with their jobs as well with their ministry. Mac's congregation is very diverse. He has Americans as well as folks from Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia and a handful of other nationalities.
I hope to be heading to Baghdad tomorrow and then to Taji. So, it may be a few days before I update this or have access to the innarweb or a phone. As soon as I do though, I'll let yall know.
Posted by Stu
at 4:23 PM CDT
Kuwait II
Due to scheduling at Ali Al Salem I'm here at the apt for another night. Tomorrow morning we go back to Ali Al Salem, get my paperwork and then get manifested for my flight to Baghdad.
Because the innarweb is so slow, it'll be a while before I upload any pictures. But trust me, the view ain't bad. In the living room there is a window that stretches the entire length of the room. Looking out all you see is the blue waters of the Persian Gulf. That and the beachside park that has putt putt, go-carts, a soccer field, pavilion, outdoor giant chess, playground, walking paths, olympic size pool, a fishing pier and picnic areas.
Just got off the phone with Mac. He and Carlotta are picking me up later for supper. Mercedes is in Oman for a basketball game and then next month she goes to Jordan. She's getting to see quite a bit.
I'm going to try and sleep some now. I've had a whopping 4 hours of sleep in the last 46.
By the way, I've changed the time stamp to reflect the time here instead of Texas. That way you'll know what time it was here when I posted it.
Posted by Stu
at 4:53 AM CDT
Updated: Friday, 26 October 2007 4:58 AM CDT
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Kuwait
Mood:
hungry
I'm here. The apartment is freakin' awesome. Bigger than our house and right on the Persian Gulf. I'll send pictures later, right now I'm going to bed.
Posted by Stu
at 1:49 PM CDT
Frankfurt
I'm in Frankfurt. It's 0821hrs here, 0121hrs Texas time. I'll be here for 5 more hours before getting on the plane to Kuwait... Yippee.
Posted by Stu
at 1:30 AM CDT
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Packing
Mood:
irritated
Almost done, just waiting for some clothes to dry. Trying to cram all this crap into 2 duffel bags is a monumental pain in the @$$.
I fly tomorrow afternoon. After that my innarweb connections will be somewhat sporadic. I will try to update this Blog as often as I can. I've also decided to turn on the "post comment" feature once I'm over there, for those of you wishing to leave a quick note about that day's particular entry.
I may be home for a visit in late January, if not then I'll be home for good in late April.
Laters...
Posted by Stu
at 4:20 PM CDT
Updated: Tuesday, 23 October 2007 4:29 PM CDT
Sunday, 21 October 2007
Humble II
Sitting on the back porch. Drinking beer. Listening to Clutch. Mom is eating Sea Salt Bagel Crisps. CW is trying to juggle. Dad and Mike are watching football. Tab is on her laptop. We're staying an extra day... Cuz I can. ;)
Flying on Wednesday. Sucks. Oh well, it's gotta be done. More from Kuwait/Iraq next week.
Laters...
Posted by Stu
at 3:03 PM CDT
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Humble
Sitting here in Humble.... TRYING to listen to Clutch. Pop it seems however, has other ideas. He's weed-eating the backyard, LOUDLY.
We're home for my going away party. I fly to Iraq on Wednesday. Well, to be more exact, Kuwait. After two days there then it's a flight to Baghdad, one day there then a short UH-60 (Black Hawk) to Taji. I'll be there for a month, give or take, before the 3rd ACR shows up and I move to Mosul to be with the Regimental Headquarters.
Pop is cooking 2 briskets and a pork shoulder. Mom is cooking red beans and rice. Bet you wish you were here.
Posted by Stu
at 1:26 PM CDT
Monday, 17 September 2007
Happy Birthday
My son is fifteen today. Fifteen. Geez...
I had to teach him to shave the other day. Shave. Geez...
Posted by Stu
at 1:13 PM CDT
Friday, 7 September 2007
Doodley Squat
That's what I'm doing...
Well, now anyways. There was actually some manual labor to be done this morning. Mr G wanted some wall lockers moved from one side of the motorpool to our office on the other side. After enlisting the help of 2 of my co-workers we accomplished this herculean feat (I really hate sweating my butt off first thing in the morning).
So, now there's time to update the website and tell yall what I'm doing... With your tax money. ;)
Posted by Stu
at 10:28 AM CDT
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Mineral Wells
Monday.
We drove back from Wichita Falls and stopped in a few places including Mineral Wells. What's significant about Mineral Wells? Well, in 1944 my grandfather attended basic training at Camp Wolters, located in Mineral Wells.
The only thing left of the post is one building. The camp was turned over to the city and the state. The majority of the old camp is now Mineral Wells State Park and the one remaining building is located next to the new high school, built in 2000.
Still... It was cool to see the area. Now that I have been to Camp Wolters, I have been everywhere that Pawpaw has. France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Fort Hood, Fort Sam Houston and now, Camp Wolters.
Posted by Stu
at 12:36 AM CDT
Wichita Falls
Written yesterday, posted today... No Internet access.
Sitting here at the Harrison House B&B. It’s 11:02pm and my wife just beat me at Monopoly… I’m losing my touch.
While here is Wichita Falls we visited the following places: The World’s Smallest Skyscraper, the County Courthouse, Lucy Park, Prairie Dog Town at Kiwanis Park, Wichita Falls Winery and Vineyards and Electra, Texas.
Mom and Dad came with us on this trip as well. We’ve all had a good time checking out all the sites.
Tomorrow we head back home via Mineral Wells.
Posted by Stu
at 12:29 AM CDT
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Thursday
I got to fill up the ISYSCON pickup truck today....... Yippee.
Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.Bored. Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.Bored.
Bored.
Ummmmm...... Yeah. Bored.
Bored.
Bored.
Bored.
Posted by Stu
at 11:37 AM CDT
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Humble
Sitting here arguing the finer points of Astros baseball with Dad, Mike and Kenson. Geez...
Earlier Dad did up a brisket and some ribs. Damn. He's the only guy on the planet who can match my skillz! Good food. After we had a cigar or two along with some Llano Estacado Port. If you haven't had this port, you are missing out. Excellent. Tab and I got some while in Lubbock and now, I'm hooked.
At this point, of course, the conversation revolves around St. Arnold's beer and Astros baseball. They lost today. Again.
Sitting here on the back porch, in Houston heat and humidity, trying to stay cool... Barely. The fans help, somewhat. Kinda. I prefer Nolanville, much less humidity. That and the fact that Humble is quickly becoming Houston. I'll be glad when Dad and Mom move and I never have to come down here again.
Posted by Stu
at 10:10 PM CDT
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Three Chuckleheads in Gatesville
Took Michael, CW and Chance to Gatesville today via Fort Hood. We drove up West Range Road and exited onto Hwy 36 West bound for Gatesville.
Gatesville has a really cool courthouse. We spent about 20 minutes looking around and taking pictures. As we drove out we passed an antique car place with the biggest Yogi Bear statue I've ever seen.
Once back on North Fort Hood we took East Range Road headed back home. We stopped at Henson Creek and got out and horsed around in the water for a while. CW and Chance did their best at catching minnows (they didn't succeed).
Halfway back we found a low water crossing at one of the many creeks that criss-cross Fort Hood. The water was about a foot deep at the crossing... It's amazing how much of that water goes into the air when you hit it at 35 MPH (we soaked ourselves 4 times before we left).
The boys thought it was awesome.
Posted by Stu
at 11:02 PM CDT
Friday, 17 August 2007
My day with 2 Knuckleheads
Tab and Mike both had to go to school today in preparation for the coming new school year. Soooooooo... I had CW and Chance.
We jumped in the Jeep and drove the back roads to post. I then dropped it into 4 wheel drive and took them to the top of Liberty Hill over by Belton Lake.
After that we toured Fort Hood and saw an A-10 and visited the 1st Cav and 4th ID museums.
Posted by Stu
at 3:39 PM CDT
Updated: Friday, 17 August 2007 3:40 PM CDT
Monday, 13 August 2007
Yesterday
We got up, had breakfast and continued our East Texas journey by going to the courthouse, SFA Mast Arboretum, Oak Grove Cemetary and the Zion Hill Baptist Church. We then headed for Lufkin where we visited the Texas Forestry Museum only to find out that there is a "suggested donation" so, it was cut from the book.
Leaving Lufkin we meandered our way down to Rusk where we saw the courthouse and the "world's longest footbridge" (which I think is debatable), Palestine and Fairfield (both for the courthouses), Fort Parker State Park and Old Fort Parker, Groesbeck and Marlin (2 courthouses, 1 theater) and finally home, by way of HEB (had to get some stuff for supper). We had grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes and corn.
Tab should have the first draft done this week and to the editor by the first of next week. And just in case you didn't hear, the book will be out in early 2008 instead of this Fall.
Posted by Stu
at 12:06 PM CDT
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Nacogdoches
Too tired to write last night, that and the fact the boys wanted to watch Spiderman 3 on pay-per-view.
Ok let's see, yesterday we went to the Brookshire World of Wildlife, Marvin United Methodist Church, the Smith County Museum(all in Tyler), Durst-Taylor House, Sterne-Hoya house and the Old Nacogdoches University Building (all here in Nacogdoches).
The Brookshire World of Wildflife (and yes, Brookshire as in the grocery Brothers) was interesting in that all of the wildlife is dead. It's all trophies, from all over the world, that the Brookshires have taken on various hunts. The monkeys playing Monopoly are worth the trip.
Today we hit a few more spots here, then head home via Lufkin and a few other places.
Posted by Stu
at 10:11 AM CDT
Friday, 10 August 2007
Tyler
We're here in Tyler, the Rose Capitol of Texas. We got here by way of DFW (I freakin' hate DFW... Seriously).
We stopped by the Amon Carter Museum, Kimball Art Museum, Sid Richardson Museum (awesome collection of original Remington's), 150 Years of Fort Worth Museum, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (very cool) and lunch/supper at Humperdink's Brewpub in Arlington.
Did I mention that I hate DFW?!? FREAKIN' TRAFFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was horrid but we finally made it to Tyler where we stopped by the Camp Ford Civil War POW Prison (the largest POW camp during the war) and the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden. Tomorrow is a full plate here in Tyler then a short drive to Nacogdoches.
Posted by Stu
at 11:57 PM CDT
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Wednesday!!!
Wednesday... It's only Wednesday. As God is my witness I thought today was Thursday. Now I'm depressed, it's only Wednesday. I really need to win the lottery, quit this job, and roam the country with Tab and the boys.
It's amazing what the government (and yall as tax payers) pay me to sit and write blogs... Amazing.
Posted by Stu
at 9:20 AM CDT
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Del Rio II
Got up this morning and ate powdered eggs... Powdered eggs. At a Hilton. I haven't had powdered eggs since I was in the Army. We then drove out to Langtry, named for Judge Roy Bean's favorite actress, Lillie Langtry. That's of course if you ask the Judge. The Railroad folks will claim that they named it after a Railroad fellow.
Langtry is a speck in the middle of nowhere but it is extremely interesting. So far it's the highlight of the trip for me. We got to see Judge Roy Bean's Courthouse/Saloon, the "Jersey Lilly", also named for Ms. Langtry. It seems the man was a bit obsessed with her even calling his home the Langtry Opera House in an effort to get her to come to Langtry. It's co-located with the Courthouse. You can also see what remains of the "hanging tree" as well as a nice cactus garden all located at the JRB Visitor Center in Langtry.
Driving back to Del Rio we stopped at the Pecos River to take pictures. At this point the Pecos is a far cry from the little creek that ran through Buddy's deer lease out past Ozona. I told the boys, "Remember that river yall played in at the deer lease? The one where your Uncle Buddy was throwing cow turds into the water upstream and screaming, 'Watch out for the Turdles', yeah... That's the same river." Where we were we could see it empty into the Rio Grande. The Pecos here is huge and surrounded by a beautiful canyon.
Leaving the Pecos River we travelled to the Lake Amistad Dam. We drove out to the middle of the dam and pulled over. I told the boys to come up and stand on this line that was on the ground. I then told them, "You are in the United States of America. Now, take one step forward. You are now in Mexico." The response was, "Whoooooa." The dam is pretty cool. If you drive over it there's not a lot to see until you arrive in Ciudad Acuna.
We then drove down to Lake Amistad National Recreation Area, got our NP Passport books stamped and then took a driving tour of the Diablo East part of the Rec Area. Lots of cool terrain and the lake is huge.
By this time we were getting a little hungry, except for Mike oddly enough whose stomach had decided to revolt against him (at least I wasn't alone in my struggle now). We went to... Dramatic pause... Taco Bell. In Del Rio. 3 miles from Mexico. I ordered the Mexican Pizza Combo. I've been to Mexico 5 times now and never once have I come across a "Mexican Pizza". Weird, huh?
After our late lunch we decided to go to Ciudad Acuna, Mexico. It's just over the river from Del Rio. As we approached the checkpoint I noticed a huge sign that read, " Do not bring firearms into Mexico. Violators will go to prison, by Mexican Law." We got to the checkpoint, paid our fee and headed across to a symphony of, "Uncle Stu, are we in Mexico yet?" "Not yet." "What about now?" "Nope, not yet." "Now?" "Hey, you see that river down there?" "Yessir." When we get to the middle of that river, we'll be in Mexico. Ok?" "Cool" We got to the middle of the river and in stereo I heard, "HEY! We're in Mexcio." Thank you "Captains Obvious".
Now we had to proceed through the Mexican chekpoint. We pulled up next to the Mexican agent, rolled the window down and he asked, "Habla Espanol?" Tab responed, "Un poquito." He said something in Spanish and Tabs' response was. "Uhhhhh..." He then said in perfect English, "Open the back." I got out, opened the back, he reached in, moved a blanket, and pulled out Chances' BB gun... My pucker factor went from a 0 to about a 50 in one tenth of a second. I was going to go to prison in Mexico because my nephew had brought his BB gun, that I bought him, with him on this trip and I had left it in the Cherokee instead of taking it up to the hotel room. I felt like crying and peeing my pants at the same time. I looked at the agent, he looked at me with the BB gun in his hand, smiled, put it back and said, "Have a nice stay in Mexico." I got in and immediately began to drive into Ciudad Acuna... Quickly before he changed his mind. Tab was like, "I got a little nervous when he found the gun." "YOU GOT A LITTLE NERVOUS?!?!?!?" We drove around for about 5 minutes and I realized that Ciudad Acuna is NOTHING like Nuevo Laredo. No little shops, no little Cantinas, no little Plastic Surgery/Dentista offices. So we turned around and drove back to Del Rio, thanking God the entire time that Dad/Uncle Stu didn't go to prison.
Laters...
Posted by Stu
at 10:23 PM CDT
Updated: Thursday, 2 August 2007 10:29 PM CDT
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