Photos from CRC in Fort Bliss, TX

Ξ October 4th, 2006 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Middle East, PCS |

http://www.fallonz.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=44

 

Hury up and wait

Ξ October 4th, 2006 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Middle East, PCS |

Well, apparently our orders were messed up and need to be re-issued, so all of the ITT people bound for Iraq/Afghanistan get another paid vacation day (well, salry +25% instead of salry +70% that we should be getting in Afghanistan) doing nothing. here in hellishly sunny Kuwait. At least the A/C in the tent keeps things cool. Hopefully we get where were going sometime here soon.

 

Well, we thought we were going to Bagram

Ξ October 3rd, 2006 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Middle East, PCS |

Apparently Tera and I are now going to Kabul Afghanistan instead of Bagram. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but prior to hearing about our official assignment I’d heard there’s better housing at Kabul.

Found free Internet access at the library in Section 2 (near the CAC office), can’t use my laptop, but it’s fine for surfing and posting. I would post some Arifjan photos, but Tera has the camera and the CF card with everything on it.

General order #1 states no booze or porn, violate it as a contractor, and you loose your job among other things, harsh. Also it’s Ramadan (big Muslim holiday) and if your off-base, there’s no eating, drinking or any signs of public affection during daylight hours. Get caught, it’s big fines, thrown in jail until the end of Ramadan… then loose your job. Really harsh.

2 minutes of Googling yielded a couple possibly relevant links of interest:

 

Were not in Kansas anymore Toto

Ξ October 2nd, 2006 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Middle East, PCS |

Well, Tera and I finally made it to Kuwait after a great deal of traveling. I must say, Ambien really helps make the plane ride go faster and beat the jet lag. As far as Kuwait, all I can say is wow, it’s really a desert & not terribly pleasant. Ya, I know surprise surprise and no duh! I wasn’t walking into this with my eyes shut or anything, but it’s absolutely nothing like I was expecting (not that I had any supremely coherent idea of what to expect). I’ve been to the desert in eastern Oregon, California & Arizona, and this is something entirely different. For reference, cut to the random CSI (the good original one) scene in the desert, take away 70-90% of the already sparse vegetation and add in a bit more sand kind of like the beach. It’s dusty here as a result, the air looks about as nasty as it does around LA, only this is from sand not smog (I think).

The Army mess halls so far have been decent, similar or higher quality to Kwaj with a little less day to day variety. For now were in a tent, think MASH with marginally insulated desert tan walls and an A/C unit at each end. It’s actually pretty cool in here tonight and I might regret having just sheets on the bed and no blanket.

There’s always a fine line between giving out info and OpSec (a.k.a being cool & informative vs. “I could tell you but then I’d have to shoot you” or more likely Al Queda comes and shoots me or some body else because I just told them how & where). I try to error on the side of caution, because I really don’t like being shot.

Well, anyways I’m writing this just before bed and will try and post it tomorrow. There are 2 unencrypted WiFi signals here I can see in the tent, but haven’t been able to connect to either for whatever reason.

 

PCS PWC party photos

Ξ October 2nd, 2006 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Uncategorized |

Ben sent me some photos a little while back of our final jetski trip the day before I took off from Kwaj for Afghanistan. Some of the better PWC ones I think we’ve taken really.

http://www.fallonz.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=42

 

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