Rudy Giuliani can NOT be allowed to win the Republican nomination. And for that matter neither can Romney. McCain's not a whole lot better. So, who does that leave?
Thomson, Paul or Huckabee.
Thompson and Paul are the only clear choices. Pick one.
There are about 5 to 10 Iraqi owned shops on post. They sell gifts, knick-knacks, pirated DVD's/Games/Software, sunglasses, electronics, etc.
I just bought 19 movies for $8.
It's Sunday, my "day off". I'm at the office. Why? Easy, what the heck else is there to do?
The only excitement was outgoing 155's this morning around 0200hrs. No biggie.
Going shopping now.
Went to the PX to get a connector end for my coax cable...
That's when the alarm sounded. Everybody walks into a bunker and we hear, "This is a test. Ground attack." Lovely.
An hour later they let us go after the simulated "casualties" were evac'd. Friggin dumb. It's an hour of my life I won't get back.
Geez, this place is boring.
Tuesday- 30 Oct
Woke up. Went to breakfast. Went to the office. Went to lunch. Went back to the office. Went to supper. Went back to the office. Tough stuff…
Monday- 29 Oct
Carlton showed me around Camp Taji today. I was introduced to all the S-6’s (who are all leaving in a month or so). Drove by the Iraqi vehicle “bone-yard”. Whole-lots-a-“blowed”-up tanks, artillery, boats, trucks, etc. Most of which have been spray painted by our boys and girls over here. Checked out the PX (not quite as nice as the one on Liberty but, it’ll do).
Sunday- 28 Oct
Woke up, got a quick bite to eat and Beau dropped me off at the airfield. Caught a UH-60 up to Taji (about a 10 minute flight). Carlton picked me up, it was good to see him (it’s been almost a year). Dropped off my gear and got a quick tour of the compound. Not nearly as cool as Liberty but, no where near the amount of “brass” and the stupid crap that seems to come with them. Went to the office, met the guys, and later returned to the room to TRY and sleep. HA! If you can possibly imagine a weird cross of Bob Allcorn and Pop snoring in unison, you might be able to imagine what it’s like to be in the same room with Carlton. HOLEE CRAP!! I didn’t sleep at all. I seriously considered moving my bed out to the flight-line (it would have been quieter). Seriously.
Saturday- 27 Oct
Woke up early. Beverly picked me up at 0800. We drove out to Ali Al Salem and she dropped me off for my flight to BIAP (Baghdad International Air Port) also known as George Bush International Airport. After waiting an hour or so we loaded up onto 6 buses and drove out to the flight line. I wasn’t looking forward to spending an hour and a half on a C-130. As we pulled up to the flight line we parked next to a C-17. Joy of joys. Now I was excited. We got on board and sat in the sweltering heat for about 45 minutes before we took off. 45 minutes later (the C-17 is MUCH faster than the C-130) we were in Baghdad. Got off, got my gear and met up with Beau. Dropped my gear, got a quick tour, signed up for my helo flight to Taji, ate supper, went to bed.
The innarweb filter has shut down, temporarily. This has given me access to my blog so, here it goes... I AM BORED!!!!
This sucks. There's nothing to do except sit in the office all day with my thumb stuck in my 3rd point of contact. Seriously.
Anyway, I have been writing (somewhat) in a log on my laptop but didn't bring it today since we never have "real" internet access. I'll bring it tomorrow, just in case, and drop it into another post.
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.
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.
hungry
irritatedAlmost 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...
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...
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.
My son is fifteen today. Fifteen. Geez...
I had to teach him to shave the other day. Shave. Geez...
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. ;)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
