Behind the Wall of Sleep
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Rain
Rained last night and now the entire FOB is one big soupy mess (dang near busted my butt). It looks like 1072 tons of chocolate ice cream melted and God spread it nice and evenly over the entire area.
For any of yall that have a Skype account; my username is stuman17. Mom and Tab also have accounts. It works for the most part, there are interuptions and dropped calls every once in a while.
I love my wife.
Boston Legal is one of the best shows on TV. Mom and Pop were kind enough to provide seasons 1 and 2 on DVD for Christmas. I got seasson 3 over here. If I were a woman I'd want to have William Shatner's babies.
Posted by Stu
at 11:29 AM CST
Updated: Monday, 7 January 2008 11:25 AM CST
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Thursday... Or is it Friday?
Grand total of 8 hours sleep over the past 5 nights. Woohoo. Eventually I guess I'll start hallucinating (at least then I'll have something to do).
Here's a satpic of the greater Diamondback/Marez area. Mosul proper is too friggin big to squeeze it all into one picture.
Posted by Stu
at 7:43 PM CST
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
2008 Already?!?
Well, finally have 1/2way reliable innarweb. 1/2way as in it shuts down every night from 2100 till 0700 the next morning. I'm two seconds from crushing the windpipes of about three Turks (they run the ISP here).
Anyhoo... Here's your update:
I'm in Mosul. Look on a map of the Middle East, find Turkey and go South into Iraq about 70 miles. Yeah, we're waaaay up here. The Tigris River runs through the city (not that I've seen it except from the window of a C-130 but still,) that's pretty cool. Another super cool thing about Mosul is that Jonah is buried here. Yes, THE Jonah... As in Jonah and the whale. Thousands of years ago Mosul was the city of Ninevah. God was going to destroy Ninevah (much like Sodom and Gomorrah), Jonah interceded and told the people that either they straighten up or God was going to raze the city. They straightened up.
There is also a Christian Monastary here that was built in 632 AD. The Knights Templar used it during the Crusades. HOW FRIGGIN' COOL IS THAT?!?!? I walked through it a couple of weeks ago with one of the Squadron Chaplains who is somewhat of an expert on it and learned quite a bit. It was awesome.
Folks have asked, "What's a typical day like for you?" Well, I'll make it sound as exciting as I can.
0700-1200hrs- Wake up at some point. Get dressed and walk around for a bit. Visit the TOC and check the systems.
1200-1300hrs- Lunch
1300-1700hrs- Go to the PX and/or "Haji Shops", drive around, visit with friends, go to the TOC and check systems again.
1700-1800hrs- Supper
1800-0700hrs- Check once more with TOC, read, crossword puzzle, watch movies/tv, email/blog/skype (until it goes out), listen to music, on some nights we play poker, try to stay sane and at some point sleep for 3 or 4 hours and do it all over again. Everyday. Yippee!!
And every second of every day my mind remains focused on my wife who is 7000 miles away.
That's a "typical" day. Other days, well... I can't talk about them on the internet. Use your imagination.
Oh, here's my address, some of you have asked for it:
Stuart Lloyd
AMC-LSE-F
ISYSCON, ESP Inc.
LSA Diamondback
APOAE 09334
That's all for today. Laters...
Posted by Stu
at 10:27 AM CST
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Holy Shiite!!!
I finally got some innarweb in my hooch... It's on now!!
Posted by Stu
at 10:25 AM CST
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
My room
Here's a pic of my room, it ain't the Hilton but, it'll do. Since taking the picture I've moved my bed. It now sticks out with the headboard against the far wall with room on both sides.
Oh and here's a picture of a group of Iraqi Army helicopters (MI-8's, I think).
And now it looks like I may be here (Taji) until sometime in January instead of December. That still may be subject to change, of course.
Posted by Stu
at 8:14 AM CST
More reviews
Frequency- Awesome movie. An original idea to say the least. Don't cheat and look at any info on it before you watch it, though. It stars Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel.
THX-1138- While I have seen this movie before a few times it just happened to be on one of my 8 in 1's. It's still a weird movie with an even weirder ending. How George Lucas talked Robert Duvall into this role I've no idea.
The Man Who Fell to Earth- I don't even know where to begin with this one. It's based on the novel by Walter Tevis. It stars David Bowie, Candy Clark and Rip Torn. This is not a movie for the kiddos. Lots of nakedness and lots of *ahem* "other stuff". As far as adults go... Well, unless you really want to know what "Little David" and "Little Rip" look like, it's probably not for you either.
Posted by Stu
at 5:26 AM CST
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
I love this weather
66 degrees. Last night it got down in the 50's, didn't even have to turn my AC on. Awesome.
Let's see, what else? Oh, I watched a few of my "haji" movies. My reviews:
Pitch Black- Lame. Don't waste your time unless you want to watch The Chronicles of Riddick. One leads to the other.
The Chronicles of Riddick- Not quite as lame as Pitch Black, just odd.
MirrorMask- Weird. Really weird. Written by Neil Gaiman who, is a little strange himself.
Now you may be asking yourselves, "Why were you watching these movies?" Well two of the DVD's I bought have 8 movies each on them and I bought them for maybe 1 or 2 of the other movies. These 3 movies were on the DVD which had The Right Stuff (which by the way doesn't work).
And speaking of The Right Stuff... I'm in the chow hall for supper tonight and there's this arch over by the drinks with pictures of various astronauts on it and lo and behold I see "Bloomer". Michael Bloomfield and I were on KP for a week at Winter Camp back in 2004 at Camp Strake. He's a great guy. I need to send him an e-mail and let him know that I "see" him everyday now.
Posted by Stu
at 9:34 AM CST
Satellite Map
Below is a satellite map of part of the compound here. My trailer and office are in this picture; I just can't show you where. :)
Posted by Stu
at 3:41 AM CST
Updated: Tuesday, 13 November 2007 3:45 AM CST
Monday, 12 November 2007
Weather
The weather here today has been very cool and very windy. The temperature hovered in the mid 70's and the wind kicked up a heck of a lot of dust today. Visibility was only about 3 miles. It will continue to be somewhat cool for the rest of the week and mostly cloudy. Wouldn't have expected that of a desert, now would you? They tell me it snows in Mosul. Should be interesting.
Posted by Stu
at 10:51 AM CST
Where's Taji?
Has been the question for a while. It's small and hard to find on most maps (including this CIA map). Well, there it is, in case you were wondering.
The circled area is of course, Mosul. I'll be there in December and for the rest of my tour.
Posted by Stu
at 6:48 AM CST
I love my wife...
Very much.
Posted by Stu
at 4:17 AM CST
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Giuliani
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.
Posted by Stu
at 9:13 AM CST
Shopping
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.
Posted by Stu
at 8:33 AM CST
Every day is Monday
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.
Posted by Stu
at 5:11 AM CST
Updated: Sunday, 11 November 2007 8:39 AM CST
Friday, 9 November 2007
Simulation
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.
Posted by Stu
at 7:25 AM CST
Updated: Sunday, 11 November 2007 8:37 AM CST
Thursday, 8 November 2007
Last Week
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.
Posted by Stu
at 8:14 AM CST
Updated: Thursday, 8 November 2007 8:26 AM CST
Bored in Iraq
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.
Posted by Stu
at 1:42 AM CST
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
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