The guy that brings all of us milbloggers together, Grayhawk, is heading out to an undisclosed location (sandbox likely) and seems to be lacking a laptop and digital camera! What's up with that? Show him some love and support for doing such a great job (that is if you have ever looked at his milblog area).
Friday, September 10, 2004
I'm about to hit 30 thousand!
I've updated some of the links on the side, some new milbloggers added, some of the folk that comment on a regular basis and some new people that I have discovered lately. Just a quick post during the lunch break. Some of the blogger's that I follow are maturing into quality writers that I'm proud to say that I was there since the beginning. You might have noticed that I try taking a balanced look at the political spectrum. It's hard to judge the big picture if you can't look at all sides of the debate. So if you're on the far left or right, don't judge me by my links, everyone on my sidebar is there for a reason. Blinding yourself to what the other half sees doesn't help your cause, just as there is not always one answer. I don't state ideology because it's fluid. I'm an independent by choice and try keeping my eyes open to everything that is out there. Thanks everyone for staying with me for this journey.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Our trip and other things of no interest.
We had a great time in Arizona, saw all the usual suspects, lot's of hugging and kissing involved. Played with all the cool toys at my uncles house and thought I hope I'm this cool when I'm an old man like him (that was for his benefit in case he reads this). Got to see my new nephew for the first time and he's already making a good impression with the family. Expect a shrine to him some day in the future on my fotopage, he's a pretty cute kid. My son had blast but he's still only a runner up for being the cutest kid at these events. I can shamelessly say that I have a good looking family so therefore think that I must be adopted. Spent Saturday in the bliss of seeing more relatives then I have of mental capacity to hold names, but held my own. That night spent the night at one of my best friends houses, Lynnae where I saw my other son, Alec (two of my best friends procreated back in the day and produced a kid that must be mine). Sunday drove up towards my mom's restaurant (which is for sale, if you want to open up a bed and breakfast, email me on the side and I'll hook you up). Saw Larry (Alec's dad, other part of the best friends thing) on the way up. Then to mom's house where we met up with her, my step dad and Won for a cookout. Doesn't seem like I had went off to war at all. Sunday was mostly loading up with goodies from the restaurant, used book shopping with Won and heading home to drop Collin off. Whew, busy weekend, would have blogged yesterday but got stuck doing slave labor for my old neighbor, she needed a hand helping move and I'm not a person to say no.
Other things of interest, made the Sunday edition of the LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-warblogs5sep05,1,2718442.story
Sorry no book reviews today, not enough time, but reading Chapterhouse: Dune and A Prayer for Owen Meany at the same time. My reading has gone way down since I've come home but it's still heavier then most. Take care everybody!
Other things of interest, made the Sunday edition of the LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-warblogs5sep05,1,2718442.story
Sorry no book reviews today, not enough time, but reading Chapterhouse: Dune and A Prayer for Owen Meany at the same time. My reading has gone way down since I've come home but it's still heavier then most. Take care everybody!
Friday, September 03, 2004
A weekend of roadtripping with my son Collin
We're heading out to Arizona for my Grandmothers 90th birthday party/family reunion, looking forward to seeing everyone that I haven't seen in a long time. So expect limited to no blogging till my return. Awesome plans, we're going to have a blast.
Also be trying out some new gear I picked up this week, a Canon Speedlite 420EX and a Canon Zoom Lens, EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 III. So expect lots of pictures sometime from the trip (after I get DSL back online) and a full review of my new toys. Take care everyone, it's time to hit the road my friend!
Also be trying out some new gear I picked up this week, a Canon Speedlite 420EX and a Canon Zoom Lens, EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 III. So expect lots of pictures sometime from the trip (after I get DSL back online) and a full review of my new toys. Take care everyone, it's time to hit the road my friend!
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Warblogging
I'm back, sort of, using dial up, sigh. Another week for DSL to get hooked up. That's not that big of a deal if I only had this blog but it makes posting pictures on the fotopage a huge time eating task. Oh well a job is never done.
I wanted to say a few words about CB from My War's blog going down following the story that NPR did on him. He had written in one of his earlier posts that he had started reading blogs just months prior to starting his own blog which translates into having not read the warbloggers that came out of OIF I. Those guys did everything possible to keep their identities secret, I knew Sean's full name from turningtables because he had left a comment on Salam Pax's fotopage. Not sure what he's doing these days though, he was my favorite warblogger out there in the early days of the war, pickings were slim, there was only a dozen or so out there at that time. Not one of the earlier milbloggers used his real name in association with is blog. Chief Wiggles had his name blurted out by the President on national TV, guess that counts as approval from the highest sources.
You could tell they were all paranoid about OPSEC. They talked about daily interactions with people, how things sucked in different ways, made fun of other bloggers camps, people in their stories were given descriptive names, pretty much a light hearted look at it all. Most of the very early milblogs were bright shinny people of somewhat higher rank then the average Joe. That gave an upbeat look at the war, mostly because they didn't have it as bad as some of the people that were directly in the front lines who didn't have an internet connection. Not that it was easy for them but they had different experiences. Enjoyable but not a full meal, you knew something was still missing.
Then Turningtables showed up, lower ranking Army Sergeant, not happy about being called away from his job and sent to war on the other side of the world (he wasn't in the front lines either). He was the disgruntled guy and people loved him, not a bad writer either, got a lot of people hooked on milblogs. We would sit around and read of his daily angst and be happy that we weren't him (note, my trip wasn't that bad at all and I think of it in a positive way). See, its easy believing someone's writing if he's miserable and has a good way with words. He was also the first milblogger to open up a comments section in Iraq. The fans from both sides of the spectrum flocked to his comments started interacting. Soon, it became a war zone which I think finally stopped him from blogging in the end. His words were raw, real and stuck. Finally I think he burned out from all the attention.
Back to CB, his writing was raw and right to the point; he barely had a censor in his own mind. He has the making of a great reporter, good eye for detail and you could visualize actually what he was going through by his words. Unlike the most of us, we're out here writing online textbooks, it's interesting but we haven't captured the soul of what's actually happening on the streets. Not that I actually experienced any interesting streets from the back of a 46. More of a different view of the battle field. My travels in Iraq were basically boring compared to his day to day life. He painted a picture that you couldn't forget but his pictures were too good and attracted more attention then any milblogger wants. I hope he pulls out of this alright and doesn't stop writing. After everything is said and done and he does sell a book, I'll be in line.
I wanted to say a few words about CB from My War's blog going down following the story that NPR did on him. He had written in one of his earlier posts that he had started reading blogs just months prior to starting his own blog which translates into having not read the warbloggers that came out of OIF I. Those guys did everything possible to keep their identities secret, I knew Sean's full name from turningtables because he had left a comment on Salam Pax's fotopage. Not sure what he's doing these days though, he was my favorite warblogger out there in the early days of the war, pickings were slim, there was only a dozen or so out there at that time. Not one of the earlier milbloggers used his real name in association with is blog. Chief Wiggles had his name blurted out by the President on national TV, guess that counts as approval from the highest sources.
You could tell they were all paranoid about OPSEC. They talked about daily interactions with people, how things sucked in different ways, made fun of other bloggers camps, people in their stories were given descriptive names, pretty much a light hearted look at it all. Most of the very early milblogs were bright shinny people of somewhat higher rank then the average Joe. That gave an upbeat look at the war, mostly because they didn't have it as bad as some of the people that were directly in the front lines who didn't have an internet connection. Not that it was easy for them but they had different experiences. Enjoyable but not a full meal, you knew something was still missing.
Then Turningtables showed up, lower ranking Army Sergeant, not happy about being called away from his job and sent to war on the other side of the world (he wasn't in the front lines either). He was the disgruntled guy and people loved him, not a bad writer either, got a lot of people hooked on milblogs. We would sit around and read of his daily angst and be happy that we weren't him (note, my trip wasn't that bad at all and I think of it in a positive way). See, its easy believing someone's writing if he's miserable and has a good way with words. He was also the first milblogger to open up a comments section in Iraq. The fans from both sides of the spectrum flocked to his comments started interacting. Soon, it became a war zone which I think finally stopped him from blogging in the end. His words were raw, real and stuck. Finally I think he burned out from all the attention.
Back to CB, his writing was raw and right to the point; he barely had a censor in his own mind. He has the making of a great reporter, good eye for detail and you could visualize actually what he was going through by his words. Unlike the most of us, we're out here writing online textbooks, it's interesting but we haven't captured the soul of what's actually happening on the streets. Not that I actually experienced any interesting streets from the back of a 46. More of a different view of the battle field. My travels in Iraq were basically boring compared to his day to day life. He painted a picture that you couldn't forget but his pictures were too good and attracted more attention then any milblogger wants. I hope he pulls out of this alright and doesn't stop writing. After everything is said and done and he does sell a book, I'll be in line.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
a week of just chilling back
Almost a week without phone or internet! Sorry everyone, I'm still alive but haven't been able to get online because our phone isn't going to be turned on till Tuesday and our DSL isn't going up for another week. Other then that everything is going alright, moved into the new place and most of our gear is stowed away where it's supposed to go. Today we're doing 10 or so loads of laundry and I'm getting ready to go back to work tomorrow. Slightly hung over from a welcome home party that I went to last night. I have turned into a cheap drunk in the last seven months which I would say is a good thing, didn't take much to knock me out.
It doesn't seem like that much has changed since I left, every time I go out of the country I expect to come back to some great sweeping change but it never happens. There was some cool electronic gear that came out while I was gone and the rent has gone up on most of the housing off base. But not much else, I missed friends and they missed me and when we got together it was like I had never left. I'm glad to be back and will return to regular posting soon.
It doesn't seem like that much has changed since I left, every time I go out of the country I expect to come back to some great sweeping change but it never happens. There was some cool electronic gear that came out while I was gone and the rent has gone up on most of the housing off base. But not much else, I missed friends and they missed me and when we got together it was like I had never left. I'm glad to be back and will return to regular posting soon.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
I made NPR
Made NPR'S Day to Day
UPDATE, due to the above show, CB's blog has been taken down, sigh! Damn it NPR, I'm a fan of you guys and you let the cat out of the bag, that sucks.
UPDATE, due to the above show, CB's blog has been taken down, sigh! Damn it NPR, I'm a fan of you guys and you let the cat out of the bag, that sucks.
Last leg home
The Next leg of the flight was pretty non eventful. The average load on a 747, movies and food that was actually good, the flight crew of United Airlines did an excellent job of taking care of us except they didn't have beer, sigh. Landed in Germany while they changed crews, I wandered around the airport for a while and answered some emails at the internet cafe. Taking off, the captain introduced himself as Scott something or other and half of the Marines automatically sang "Scotty doesn't know!" from the movie Eurotrip, probably the most watched movie by the military in Iraq. The rest of the flight, slept some and watched A Date with Todd Hamilton and Calendar Girls. Captured the Marines reactions when we landed in Mira Mar and took pictures the crowds that welcomed all the other Marines home. I'll post those as soon as my DSL gets back on line, this weekend hopefully. Some of the family members of my Marines were waiting in San Diego for their Marines so we hung out with them and they brought us our first beer back in the states, thanks!
All the families and Marines stationed there left and we waited on the taxiway for 2 hours for the C-130 that was to take us to Edwards, an hour and a half flight. We loaded up all of our gear and were air born. Slept some more on the flight and with anther cheer we were there.
The rest of the families and some local press were waiting there, found out the next day that they ran a front page story on my fotopage. Cool. Glad to be home.
Other news I found a nicer, larger apartment, should have all of my services hooked up this weekend. Plan on taking a road trip to my family reunion next weekend to Arizona. Currently just relaxing and enjoying being here. Take care everyone.
All the families and Marines stationed there left and we waited on the taxiway for 2 hours for the C-130 that was to take us to Edwards, an hour and a half flight. We loaded up all of our gear and were air born. Slept some more on the flight and with anther cheer we were there.
The rest of the families and some local press were waiting there, found out the next day that they ran a front page story on my fotopage. Cool. Glad to be home.
Other news I found a nicer, larger apartment, should have all of my services hooked up this weekend. Plan on taking a road trip to my family reunion next weekend to Arizona. Currently just relaxing and enjoying being here. Take care everyone.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Kuwait
Kuwait was 28 hours of hurry up and wait with a really really hot sun added in (it's hotter in Kuwait then Iraq, all the sand probably). Game plan for this part of our trip? Load on one bus, take it to another base that does the out processing, where they stop all the special pays, take our carry on gear through customs and load on another bus to take us to an airport.
This is actually what happened. We got off the C-130 and were bused to the base that handles the out processing debriefing, it was dark out so the bus dropped us off at a holding tent with our carryon baggage. It was 8:30 PM and across the way was a Subway and a Hardies. Mmmm… So everyone rushes out, while I am hungry because I didn't eat I had a blog entry to write plus I know how the food trip is going to go. First thing military people do after getting off a ship or getting back from a trip is to go out and get what they were missing, in this case Subway or Hardies. Of course they'll get more then they can eat and they'll be back, so I site quietly hungry and 45 minutes later people come in that had bought something crazy like 2 foot longs. They pig out for a couple of minutes and I find myself the owner of three 6 inch subs that people couldn't finish. Why not take advantage of human nature? Heh heh.
Believe me I do plan on going out but after I'm done typing, for out there is also an internet cafe just waiting for me to plug in my laptop. By the time I finish typing the first half of the trip it's 11PM and I head on over. Ended up staying for 2 and a half hours. Nice no lines but you have to pay 5 bucks per hour.
It would have been nice before we came out here to know that we would be spending the night I would have brought some shower shoes, more clothes, towel and my pillow that I left behind. If you have the huge noggin that I have, pillows take up a large part of your thoughts around bedtime, I made do with my back pack and fell right asleep.
We had a formation at 10:30 the next morning, I woke up at a comfortable 9:30, time enough to eat, turn in my ammo and clean up.
We form up out side with all the other units, it's blazing hot and we stand there till the unit that forgot to turn in their ammo that morning turns in all of their ammo, yawn. I' sure everyone doesn't want to smell my sweat on the plane.
From there we load up on the bus and sat for another ten minutes, idling with the A/C on. Some of the guys figured we would be on the buses for a while, might as well get comfortable and took off their blouses and boots. The bus started moving, went 50 yards up the street, took a left went another 300 yards and parked and we were asked to leave. Figures, glad I didn't get comfortable. We waited till everybody was dressed (to stay in the A/C longer) then followed them out.
A brief inside of a circus tent about customs and what we were and weren't allowed to take out of the country then off to customs where they take apart our carryon bags and pat us down then to a holding tent where we're planning on staying for the next 8 or so hours. We're there for an hour and a half when the generator goes out and we're back in the briefing tent where I catch a nap sitting up on a bench. I've found sleeping in uncomfortable places doesn't bother me as much as not getting to sleep in an uncomfortable place.
After 2 hours we load on a bus and are taken to the Airport where we have another 5 hours of waiting. It was well into night when they gathered us all up by rank and we started loading on the 747, lower rank to the rear highest ranks in 1st class. After 20 minutes more of delays we took off.
I remember Sean from Turningtables writing about this when he flew our, the unreality of actually leaving. Me? It was just another takeoff, nice to be going but I would be lying if I said it was a horrible deployment. Then again it wasn't my first deployment. It's all what you make of it. I had a good time most of the time I was over but I'm a dork and have a good time most places you could send me, I'm not a heavy drinker so I didn't miss alcohol, never watched much tv, so I didn't miss that much either and I read a lot and there were plenty of books. My judgment probably isn't the best.
Next stop Germany.
This is actually what happened. We got off the C-130 and were bused to the base that handles the out processing debriefing, it was dark out so the bus dropped us off at a holding tent with our carryon baggage. It was 8:30 PM and across the way was a Subway and a Hardies. Mmmm… So everyone rushes out, while I am hungry because I didn't eat I had a blog entry to write plus I know how the food trip is going to go. First thing military people do after getting off a ship or getting back from a trip is to go out and get what they were missing, in this case Subway or Hardies. Of course they'll get more then they can eat and they'll be back, so I site quietly hungry and 45 minutes later people come in that had bought something crazy like 2 foot longs. They pig out for a couple of minutes and I find myself the owner of three 6 inch subs that people couldn't finish. Why not take advantage of human nature? Heh heh.
Believe me I do plan on going out but after I'm done typing, for out there is also an internet cafe just waiting for me to plug in my laptop. By the time I finish typing the first half of the trip it's 11PM and I head on over. Ended up staying for 2 and a half hours. Nice no lines but you have to pay 5 bucks per hour.
It would have been nice before we came out here to know that we would be spending the night I would have brought some shower shoes, more clothes, towel and my pillow that I left behind. If you have the huge noggin that I have, pillows take up a large part of your thoughts around bedtime, I made do with my back pack and fell right asleep.
We had a formation at 10:30 the next morning, I woke up at a comfortable 9:30, time enough to eat, turn in my ammo and clean up.
We form up out side with all the other units, it's blazing hot and we stand there till the unit that forgot to turn in their ammo that morning turns in all of their ammo, yawn. I' sure everyone doesn't want to smell my sweat on the plane.
From there we load up on the bus and sat for another ten minutes, idling with the A/C on. Some of the guys figured we would be on the buses for a while, might as well get comfortable and took off their blouses and boots. The bus started moving, went 50 yards up the street, took a left went another 300 yards and parked and we were asked to leave. Figures, glad I didn't get comfortable. We waited till everybody was dressed (to stay in the A/C longer) then followed them out.
A brief inside of a circus tent about customs and what we were and weren't allowed to take out of the country then off to customs where they take apart our carryon bags and pat us down then to a holding tent where we're planning on staying for the next 8 or so hours. We're there for an hour and a half when the generator goes out and we're back in the briefing tent where I catch a nap sitting up on a bench. I've found sleeping in uncomfortable places doesn't bother me as much as not getting to sleep in an uncomfortable place.
After 2 hours we load on a bus and are taken to the Airport where we have another 5 hours of waiting. It was well into night when they gathered us all up by rank and we started loading on the 747, lower rank to the rear highest ranks in 1st class. After 20 minutes more of delays we took off.
I remember Sean from Turningtables writing about this when he flew our, the unreality of actually leaving. Me? It was just another takeoff, nice to be going but I would be lying if I said it was a horrible deployment. Then again it wasn't my first deployment. It's all what you make of it. I had a good time most of the time I was over but I'm a dork and have a good time most places you could send me, I'm not a heavy drinker so I didn't miss alcohol, never watched much tv, so I didn't miss that much either and I read a lot and there were plenty of books. My judgment probably isn't the best.
Next stop Germany.
better then sex
Before I do my post on the rest of my trip, I've been doing what I enjoy most in the whole wide world, more then good food, more then sex! Shopping for hi tech gadgets! I've spent the last 6 months dreaming and looking at new gear. The chains have been undone.
So far I have gone through Costco and Best Buy and about 700 dollars. If you are going to Iraq, I have a few more suggestions with prices.
First, the biggest way to save money on a trip to Iraq is to have a quality battery charger, Costco has a great deal on a Panasonic charger that comes with 6 AA and 2 AAA's for 19.99 that works at voltages from 100-240 (in non nerd terms, you need no converter to use it anywhere in the world). The other thing that's good about rechargeable batteries is that they last 3 times as long as regular batteries in electronic gear. So it's a good buy even if you don't go to Iraq.
Second is a memory stick, I also found at Costco a 512 Mb Memory stick that uses USB 2.0 for 64 bucks, a 256 was 39, lots of data for a low cost.
If you do have a laptop, check to see if it is USB 2.0 or not, USB 2.0 is 40 times faster then USB 1.2 so it does come in handy, if your laptop doesn't have 2.0 then buy a 2.0 Card that you plug in the side of your computer, they run around 30 bucks.
Don't forget a led head light (10.99 at Costco), on 3 AAA batteries mine would last 4-6 per night for 2 weeks at least before starting to go dim, compared to regular bulb that would go dead in 1 or 2 nights of heavy use, take the plunge.
So far I have gone through Costco and Best Buy and about 700 dollars. If you are going to Iraq, I have a few more suggestions with prices.
First, the biggest way to save money on a trip to Iraq is to have a quality battery charger, Costco has a great deal on a Panasonic charger that comes with 6 AA and 2 AAA's for 19.99 that works at voltages from 100-240 (in non nerd terms, you need no converter to use it anywhere in the world). The other thing that's good about rechargeable batteries is that they last 3 times as long as regular batteries in electronic gear. So it's a good buy even if you don't go to Iraq.
Second is a memory stick, I also found at Costco a 512 Mb Memory stick that uses USB 2.0 for 64 bucks, a 256 was 39, lots of data for a low cost.
If you do have a laptop, check to see if it is USB 2.0 or not, USB 2.0 is 40 times faster then USB 1.2 so it does come in handy, if your laptop doesn't have 2.0 then buy a 2.0 Card that you plug in the side of your computer, they run around 30 bucks.
Don't forget a led head light (10.99 at Costco), on 3 AAA batteries mine would last 4-6 per night for 2 weeks at least before starting to go dim, compared to regular bulb that would go dead in 1 or 2 nights of heavy use, take the plunge.
I'm home safe and sound
House hunting right now but will do a regular post soon, take care everybody!
Saturday, August 21, 2004
first leg out, see I was busy while flying about
Woke this morning to the sounds of rounds incoming, sounded like rockets not mortars (rockets are louder), but don't quote me on that. First time in for us in 3 months or so, I'm beginning to think someone has it in for me personally out here. An hour after I had arrived at this base and right after I went through the welcome aboard brief where the speaker said and I quote "we never get hit here." The base was mortared for the first time. I was out back behind one of the tents smoking with one of the MAL's guys that had been here for a while and asked him. "What was that?" He didn't reply, just took off running with a panicked look on his face, great, I had just arrived at a war zone, it's the middle of the night, somebody had just turned out all the lights and my home was a tent. I'm gonna die. Alas I didn't.
This morning by the time the last one fell, I had mustered with the duty, glanced at the window (notice I didn't say look out, refer to my duck when you hear a boom should also include don't look out windows) and went straight back to bed, I think I missed the last one or two. Told the duty to wake me if I was dead or needed to patch someone up. Yawn!
Word was passed that we needed to have our bags staged in front of the barracks by 10 so I woke up at 9:30 grabbed a quick shower and donned a clean uniform. It's 9:50 and my bags are ready to go so I take them outside.
"What the hell?"
The 7 ton that we're loading our bags on is driving away, I yell and the driver stops, he's yelling something back but I couldn't understand what he was saying so I just run over in a mad rush and toss all of my bags in the back. Whew! Everyone is laughing at me, yeah it was funny but not that funny, they tell me that the truck is coming right back, it's just running over to the barracks to pick up some bags over there. Guess what the driver said was don't worry. Oh.
1030 comes around and we board a bus that takes us to the ingoing/outgoing processing terminal, I use terminal in the loosest terms, just a collection of temporary buildings, that does customs and gives us a place to hang out until we leave. Everything is ply board and cement floors. The first thing on the agenda is off loading out baggage and going through customs. This involves finding a spot on the cement in this warehouse like building, opening our bags that we have packed so well with clean clothes and turning it upside down then spreading it out. The floor looks like it hasn't been swept since the last sandstorm. They're looking for explosives like grenades, unexploded ordnance and Iraqi small arms and porn which wouldn't be a problem if we were flying straight to the states but we're leaving out of Kuwait, which has big anti porn laws being an Islamic country. Iraq's I've met all offer money for it which I find a bit odd. They also look for the other obvious things like fruit, drugs, animals, insects, etc. Once we were done getting inspected we were told to shove everything back in our bags and load it on a pallet.
10 O'clock and our scheduled departure is 4:30, so I crash out.
Woken up at 4 to load onto the C-130, it's around 115 degrees out, we stop 200 yards away from the plane until the prior passengers are unloaded. We get waved towards the back of the plane and the exhaust trail goes back a 100 yards, inside of it ,it's like a furnace, you can almost feel it blistering your face. We run up to the plane to stop the pain and one of the crew chiefs stops the lead guy at the bottom of the ramp.
"What the *#@# "
There are 50 of us out there standing in the exhaust, it feels like the skin if being burned off our bodies and we have no clue what's happening all we know is that we're standing in hell. We were out there for 5 minutes, everybody is covering their faces. What in the hell were these numbskulls thinking? Finally we're waved back to the edge of he taxi way and after 2 minutes we're waved back into the plane. 4:26 we're in the air. Next stop Kuwait!
This morning by the time the last one fell, I had mustered with the duty, glanced at the window (notice I didn't say look out, refer to my duck when you hear a boom should also include don't look out windows) and went straight back to bed, I think I missed the last one or two. Told the duty to wake me if I was dead or needed to patch someone up. Yawn!
Word was passed that we needed to have our bags staged in front of the barracks by 10 so I woke up at 9:30 grabbed a quick shower and donned a clean uniform. It's 9:50 and my bags are ready to go so I take them outside.
"What the hell?"
The 7 ton that we're loading our bags on is driving away, I yell and the driver stops, he's yelling something back but I couldn't understand what he was saying so I just run over in a mad rush and toss all of my bags in the back. Whew! Everyone is laughing at me, yeah it was funny but not that funny, they tell me that the truck is coming right back, it's just running over to the barracks to pick up some bags over there. Guess what the driver said was don't worry. Oh.
1030 comes around and we board a bus that takes us to the ingoing/outgoing processing terminal, I use terminal in the loosest terms, just a collection of temporary buildings, that does customs and gives us a place to hang out until we leave. Everything is ply board and cement floors. The first thing on the agenda is off loading out baggage and going through customs. This involves finding a spot on the cement in this warehouse like building, opening our bags that we have packed so well with clean clothes and turning it upside down then spreading it out. The floor looks like it hasn't been swept since the last sandstorm. They're looking for explosives like grenades, unexploded ordnance and Iraqi small arms and porn which wouldn't be a problem if we were flying straight to the states but we're leaving out of Kuwait, which has big anti porn laws being an Islamic country. Iraq's I've met all offer money for it which I find a bit odd. They also look for the other obvious things like fruit, drugs, animals, insects, etc. Once we were done getting inspected we were told to shove everything back in our bags and load it on a pallet.
10 O'clock and our scheduled departure is 4:30, so I crash out.
Woken up at 4 to load onto the C-130, it's around 115 degrees out, we stop 200 yards away from the plane until the prior passengers are unloaded. We get waved towards the back of the plane and the exhaust trail goes back a 100 yards, inside of it ,it's like a furnace, you can almost feel it blistering your face. We run up to the plane to stop the pain and one of the crew chiefs stops the lead guy at the bottom of the ramp.
"What the *#@# "
There are 50 of us out there standing in the exhaust, it feels like the skin if being burned off our bodies and we have no clue what's happening all we know is that we're standing in hell. We were out there for 5 minutes, everybody is covering their faces. What in the hell were these numbskulls thinking? Finally we're waved back to the edge of he taxi way and after 2 minutes we're waved back into the plane. 4:26 we're in the air. Next stop Kuwait!
Thursday, August 19, 2004
lessons learned
Bring an external hard drive, I have a Seagate 160 gig and have backed up most of the music in the unit. Who needs to surf? Even if you don't own a computer, you probably have one at work. I now own more music then I know what to do which, 11 thousand or so songs and music videos. Not to mention some of the other cool stuff that I've copied. It's worth more then it's weight in gold.
Nothing is as important in life as a good pillow.
Write and call home often, you're afraid that people might forget you, well it might happen if you never call.
If you like writing, start a blog, like taking pictures, start a photo page, there are a lot of people that enjoy this stuff, families back home will love you.
If you get packages, share them, don't be a hog.
Be nice to everyone, remember everyone is armed, if someone wigs out and goes postal, the asshole is a better target.
Every vehicle out here has a tape player and not many English radio stations, bring a converter or some blank tapes because no one sells them.
Baby wipes can be used for anything, dusting, wiping down toilet seats, cleaning weapons, throwing at people, etc It's also a common item in care packages so don't bring more then a box or two with you.
LED headlights are the bomb, forget everything else, they last 10 times as long on the same batteries and don't burn out, you'll probably get better deals in the states then you will out here.
Always have a leatherman and a flip knife.
If you hear something go BOOM it's always best to duck and look foolish then have the second mortar take off your head.
You know you're used to the heat when it's 110 outside and you think it's a cool day.
It's always best to have more gear then too little unless you have to hump it, then it's the other way around.
If it's important to you, put it in a ziplock.
If your tents start on fire, no matter what anyone says, unless you're about to be burned to death, grab at least one uniform, your computer and weapon before leaving, most everything in a tent fire is history.
DON'T send all of your uniforms at once to the laundry mat
If you have a something wrong, get seen by medical, it's free.
This trip is as bad as you make it, whatever your situation, someone out here has it worse.
Don't shoot people that piss you off.
Clean your weapon daily.
Check the power requirements before you plug anything in, remember most of the power out here is 220 while in the states it's 110, plug something 110 into a 220 plug and it's toast. Almost all laptops, external hard drives, portable DVD players and chargers for cameras and camcorders can take both but check it first. Power converters don't work that well so it's best to buy something that can take both before coming out here.
Sleep while you can, but don't sleep when you're needed.
If you feel like you're about to wig out or really mad, give your weapon to somebody else to hold, sometimes having a loaded weapon isn't the best thing to have when you think the world is out to get you. Step back and remember the most important thing about being out here, getting home.
Sign up to some of these find support sites on my sidebar, you won't regret it unless you or someone else signs you up to all of them and you have to write back a hundred people and that takes all of your time.
That's all I can think of right now. Take care everybody, soon going back to being a regular blogger instead of a warblogger, thanks for all the support and visits. I've made some great friends doing this and look forward to meeting some of you all when I get back. Peace.
Nothing is as important in life as a good pillow.
Write and call home often, you're afraid that people might forget you, well it might happen if you never call.
If you like writing, start a blog, like taking pictures, start a photo page, there are a lot of people that enjoy this stuff, families back home will love you.
If you get packages, share them, don't be a hog.
Be nice to everyone, remember everyone is armed, if someone wigs out and goes postal, the asshole is a better target.
Every vehicle out here has a tape player and not many English radio stations, bring a converter or some blank tapes because no one sells them.
Baby wipes can be used for anything, dusting, wiping down toilet seats, cleaning weapons, throwing at people, etc It's also a common item in care packages so don't bring more then a box or two with you.
LED headlights are the bomb, forget everything else, they last 10 times as long on the same batteries and don't burn out, you'll probably get better deals in the states then you will out here.
Always have a leatherman and a flip knife.
If you hear something go BOOM it's always best to duck and look foolish then have the second mortar take off your head.
You know you're used to the heat when it's 110 outside and you think it's a cool day.
It's always best to have more gear then too little unless you have to hump it, then it's the other way around.
If it's important to you, put it in a ziplock.
If your tents start on fire, no matter what anyone says, unless you're about to be burned to death, grab at least one uniform, your computer and weapon before leaving, most everything in a tent fire is history.
DON'T send all of your uniforms at once to the laundry mat
If you have a something wrong, get seen by medical, it's free.
This trip is as bad as you make it, whatever your situation, someone out here has it worse.
Don't shoot people that piss you off.
Clean your weapon daily.
Check the power requirements before you plug anything in, remember most of the power out here is 220 while in the states it's 110, plug something 110 into a 220 plug and it's toast. Almost all laptops, external hard drives, portable DVD players and chargers for cameras and camcorders can take both but check it first. Power converters don't work that well so it's best to buy something that can take both before coming out here.
Sleep while you can, but don't sleep when you're needed.
If you feel like you're about to wig out or really mad, give your weapon to somebody else to hold, sometimes having a loaded weapon isn't the best thing to have when you think the world is out to get you. Step back and remember the most important thing about being out here, getting home.
Sign up to some of these find support sites on my sidebar, you won't regret it unless you or someone else signs you up to all of them and you have to write back a hundred people and that takes all of your time.
That's all I can think of right now. Take care everybody, soon going back to being a regular blogger instead of a warblogger, thanks for all the support and visits. I've made some great friends doing this and look forward to meeting some of you all when I get back. Peace.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
A good day
After a week of being MIA, I came to work and my laundry was waiting at my office, kick ass! I step further in and I find out that I’m still leaving on time, pure bliss! This night is starting out just fine. Now the only issues I have are waiting at home, getting my suburban out of the shop and find a new apartment, two problems down, it's a start. Now just let the rest of the stars line up and everything should be good.
After reading my comments I realized that Hitchhiker fever never really dies down, it's like a yawn, all it takes is one person to start it and it spreads around the room. Out of the blue all the memories of the subject that we haven't drudged up in years come flowing to the surface. It's a personal state of mind that only a member of the HG2G Nerd crowd knows about, to the rest of the world thinks that Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is just a novel but to the faithful its really a religious text. No matter how far you've gone on in life it's something that you can always ground out the craziness on. When did you discover the little green guy?. Reading the comments from last nights post made me happy just to know I'm in a world where there are so many people that appreciate Douglas Adams and even more happy to know that they read my blog. True believers, they have movie in the works to be released June 3rd 2005, now where am I going to be on that date? (hopefully not in Iraq)
Answer to a few questions, I have read the Dirk Gently novels but haven't read Salmon of Doubt or Last Chance to See, they're on my reading list. Since I actually have a bit of work to do tonight, I'll leave you with a few of my favorite HG2G quotes. Take care!
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
"One of the things Ford Prefect had always found hardest to understand about humans was their habit of continuously stating and repeating the very very obvious, as in It's a nice day, or You're very tall, or Oh dear you seem to have fallen down a thirty-foot well, are you all right?"
"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber and that I am therefore excused from saving universes."
"You barbarians! I'll sue the council for every penny it's got! I'l have you hung, drawn, and quartered! And whipped! And boiled...until...until...until you've had enough. And then I will do it again! And when I've finished I will take all the little bits, and I will JUMP on them! And I will carry on jumping on them until I get blisters, or I can think of anything even more unpleasant to do... "
"A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have"
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools"
"You can't dodge your responsibilities by saying they don't exist!"
After reading my comments I realized that Hitchhiker fever never really dies down, it's like a yawn, all it takes is one person to start it and it spreads around the room. Out of the blue all the memories of the subject that we haven't drudged up in years come flowing to the surface. It's a personal state of mind that only a member of the HG2G Nerd crowd knows about, to the rest of the world thinks that Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is just a novel but to the faithful its really a religious text. No matter how far you've gone on in life it's something that you can always ground out the craziness on. When did you discover the little green guy?. Reading the comments from last nights post made me happy just to know I'm in a world where there are so many people that appreciate Douglas Adams and even more happy to know that they read my blog. True believers, they have movie in the works to be released June 3rd 2005, now where am I going to be on that date? (hopefully not in Iraq)
Answer to a few questions, I have read the Dirk Gently novels but haven't read Salmon of Doubt or Last Chance to See, they're on my reading list. Since I actually have a bit of work to do tonight, I'll leave you with a few of my favorite HG2G quotes. Take care!
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
"One of the things Ford Prefect had always found hardest to understand about humans was their habit of continuously stating and repeating the very very obvious, as in It's a nice day, or You're very tall, or Oh dear you seem to have fallen down a thirty-foot well, are you all right?"
"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber and that I am therefore excused from saving universes."
"You barbarians! I'll sue the council for every penny it's got! I'l have you hung, drawn, and quartered! And whipped! And boiled...until...until...until you've had enough. And then I will do it again! And when I've finished I will take all the little bits, and I will JUMP on them! And I will carry on jumping on them until I get blisters, or I can think of anything even more unpleasant to do... "
"A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have"
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools"
"You can't dodge your responsibilities by saying they don't exist!"
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