Cutting Back

Another busy day and nothing to say. (I'm a poet and I didn't even know it. :-p)

It looks like I may cut down the blogging a bit. I don't want anyone to worry about me if you don't see a new blog up. Okay...good.

You can always leave me comments though! :-)

Dust in the Wind

Above is a picture of the dust that slowly builds up over the city of Mosul on a daily basis. It builds up quickly too. This picture was taken about 11:30 am. The dust is also mixed with pollution. In the Middle East their primary pollutant is propane. You don't notice the dust until you take a broader look.

It is rarely windy here. In my 4 months I remember maybe three or four days where the wind was gusting. I am still hoping to get my souvenir "dust storm" picture though.

I have also been waiting for a clear day to take some pictures of the mountains. I've seen the first mountain range, but there is a second range beyond that one you can see once in a blue moon. (Mmm, beer) I heard they are beautiful if you lucky enough to catch them.

I have 52 days left to see both mountain ranges. What do you think?

Morning View

Boom! Bang! No this isn't my homage to the 60s Batman television series. This is my standard morning soundtrack. Some refer to it as an Iraqi wake-up call.

Last week an IED explosion was close enough I was able to get a good picture of the smoke plume. It is on the other side of the wall, but it gives you an idea how close the wall is. This one rattled the windows and doors.

You can actually hear the difference between a mortar and an IED (improvised explosive device). IEDs are a lot louder. It is a skill I never imagined I would acquire.

Does anyone know Turkish?

I think I won something. Today at lunch when I opened my potato chips a small cardboard piece fell out. I kept the bag and went to a website they had listed. It definitely looks like I found something. I have the yellow piece.

It brings up an interesting question. Where does the food for the military come from? I know now that the chips are from Turkey. The chow hall has soda cans in English and Arabic. It makes you wonder where everything comes from.

I finally win something and you probably have to be Turkish to redeem the prize. Even if it is only 0,35 (what does that even mean?). Maybe you have to earn points, who knows. What do you guys think?

Air Force Day

Yesterday I had a very Air Force day. I was escorting a Air Force master sergeant (first shirt), from headquarters, from about 7:30 am till 3:30 pm.

It was a morale visit with the purpose of checking on how the Army was treating their Airmen. I can't complain, I really have a great situation being located with a civilian organization (thank God). I had to give the dog and pony show. It was a beautiful day, sunny and 66 degrees. I drove places I've never been yet. It was fun exploring, as long as I didn't end up on the other side of the fence. :-) Of course I didn't bring my camera, so I took mental notes of some great picturesque settings. Now I just need some time off. Zero deep...ugh!

It was nice to get out of the office, however the worked stacked up. By 4:00 pm I was fried, but I did manage to get some work done.

At about 9:15 pm, just when I was going to call it a day, I receive a call to pick up the sergeant from the air field because the flight was cancelled. The day just wouldn't end, thus no blog entry. Did you like my "bee back" statement? I crack myself up!

It is nice to know that the Air Force hadn't forgot about us "in the trenches". Let's hope they don't forget come 24 March.

Busy

I'll Bee back tomorrow.

I'm a Cookie Monster! Grrr

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a cookie connoisseur. If I was in the jungle with Martinez I could survive on cookies alone. I wouldn't even need milk. Oscar, on the other hand, might need a Dr. Pepper fountain drink.

So a couple of weeks ago my mom sent me all of the left over Christmas cookies. 12 varieties. There were so many cookies, my CHU looked like a cookie factory. I've been stocking the office for weeks and we are just about finished. The overall consensus is they are D-E-licious!

I saved this last sugar cookie for a special occasion.

Who am I kidding, I ate it right after I took the picture! Who thought such a small box could bring so much joy? My mom did, thanks Mom! :-)

Killing the Runner

I've been extremely busy. The Air Force is definitely getting their money's worth. I did manage to get a workout in this afternoon. Any day you can manage to squeeze in a run is a bonus.

Running is meditative for me. I never have time to think about anything other than work for 13 hours a day. Running gives me time to unwind and think about family and my favorite running partner, Casie! The blog also serves this purpose.

This afternoon I just surpassed my 75th running mile in Iraq. Back in the states I would have run that much in a month. Originally, I had the goal of running 300 miles here, but that dream quickly died. What once were 8:00 minute miles are now 8:45 minute miles.

It is unfortunate that the treadmills are slowly killing the runner in me. :-(

Tommy Boy

This morning Tom left for Baghdad. It is the first of many stops on his way back to the states. Tom was more than a co-worker, he became a close friend. I am terrible at describing my friends, but this will give you an idea of who Tom is. Tom is 6' 7", likes women, fried chicken, women, pralines 'n cream ice cream, guns (specifically ones he doesn't have), photography, women, television, movies, and did I mention women? ;-)

It is only fitting to post a few photos from today since Tom was quite the photo aficionado. Below is the last group photo with Tom, taken today.

UPDATE: In case you were wondering, in the front row is: Harold (new), Fred, Stephanie (new), Bill, Rodney, Roland. In the back row is: Me, Tom, Nasrat, Pen, Mr. Norm, and Julie.

As we said our goodbyes I remember being an insecure lieutenant back in October. Tom reminded me at times I'm an officer and people will listen to what I have to say. Like the best NCOs do, he made me a confident officer. This is me presenting Tom a little token of my appreciation for all his hard work these past four months.

When I arrived I never imagined working with a US Navy sailor, but now it will seems strange working with anybody else. Safe travels and the best of luck Tom!

Me, Myself, and I

Today was it! The last day with a co-worker for next two weeks, maybe three. The blogging may be the thing that gives, but I will try (if only to keep my sanity).

Tomorrow will be a sad day. Tom will be the sixth person I will have to say goodbye to in my four short months over here. First is was Chuck, then Joe, Khalil, John, and Steve. I will not only lose a great worker, but a better friend.

Every time someone leaves it gets you thinking about your time. 60 days seems close, but so far away at the same time. There is always the possibility of being extended, even for 30 days (an eternity after 180 days).

I could look at the next 2-3 weeks as having two more workers other than myself, Me and I. [Insert Jim's face from The Office]

Every Fortnight

In the states I pay $6.30 ($8.00 with tip) on base for a haircut that takes 8-10 minutes. It is a wham-bam-thank-you-type thing. It may not be the best haircut, but it does the job. Plus it is only two weeks before my next one.

Getting a haircut overseas is an experience. It typically takes 15-20 minutes. Looking in the mirror at them work is like watching a sculptor. They look at you from every possible angle , making sure every hair is cut. At the end they even give you a short head, shoulder, and back massage. When they are done, there are no stray hairs and you are relaxed. It's cheap too, only $3.00 ($5.00 with tip). I get the feeling this is what a haircut use to be like in the 50s and 60s before efficiency became more important than quality in the United States.

It is a little strange the first time you receive the massage, but you get over it quickly. It is just what I needed after the week I've had. I may start getting my haircut weekly. :-)

If I Were a M&M

This is how I feel today (if I were a M&M chocolate candy).

I am tired, blue, and cranky (not crispy!). A normal day is 8. Yesterday was 24 and today was 17. Bigger isn't always better. To top it off, the outlook past Tuesday doesn't look promising. I will be a one man show. :-(

Hope you are having a better Saturday than me.

If you were a M&M, how would you look?

Up, Up, and Away

I'm back! Thanks for all the comments while I was gone. It's nice to hear how much you miss my daily adventures.

Now for the reason I was gone, I saw a shooting star and needed time to reflect. How cool is that? (Okay, okay I know I'm a dork)

The real reason I took a leave of absence is because I was in Tikrit, Iraq for some business. I took a Blackhawk helicopter Wednesday night and returned yesterday evening. It was my first chopper ride and it rocked! It was about an hour flight each way. It was surprisingly smoother than I expected. It was cold though. My feet and butt was frozen. The reason it was so cold is because two gunners hang out the windows.

I landed in Tikrit at about 2200 where I met Kevin Eggers and MSgt Miller at the air field. Kevin came in earlier that day from Kirkuk. Mike Sheets arrived later that night from Baqubah (0130). Scott Olson is station in Tikrit. Kevin, Mike and Scott were my close friends during Combat Skills Training (CST) at Camp Shelby before this deployment. I didn't think I was going to see these guys until the end of our deployment. It was great to catch up on what each other's experiences have been like.

Thursday was mostly business, but I did get to see some of COB Speicher. I have to say, other than having a Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Burger King, I prefer Mosul any day. (More on that later this week.)

My return flight was interesting. I waited for 'Space Availability' which is sorta like whistling for a taxi (except replace the whistling with signing a paper). By luck I managed to get the first flight out. About 20 minutes into the flight the two gunners fired their weapons. It lasted for only about 10 seconds, but I have no idea if we got shot at or if it was just precautionary (exciting none the less).

I was hoping to take pictures, but there isn't much to see at night. You'd see more lights if you looked up at the stars. However I did get a picture of myself with IBA, Kevlar, 9M, and Ballistic Eye Protection before my flight Wednesday. It may look tactical, but I don't feel any more tactical.

There's no place like "home". I would never have thought I'd call Mosul "home". After the short change in scenery and seeing some old friends I feel re-energized. Maybe I can survive another two months. Oh, and a ride in a Blackhawk didn't hurt either.

I'll Be Back

I am taking a break from blogging today and the next, but I will have a cool story for you when I return.

You can still leave comments though. :-)

I Want My MTV!

I'm having new music withdrawal. I want my MTV (when it use to play videos)! I loaded all 40Gb of my photo iPod before I left, but I am starting to feel dated. I've always prided myself on my musical knowledge of all the current hits. <flashback: Default...Live a Lie. Casie and Beck know what I am talking about.>

With Casie as my personal Best Buy shopper, I have still been purchasing new music, but it is waiting for me at home. I have made a few music purchases over here, like Jet - Shine On, The Killers - Sam's Town, and Rocky Balboa: Best of the Rocky Series to curb some of my musical appetite.

What should my 'Operation Iraqi Freedom Soundtrack' be? Leave me a comment about three newer tunes you're loving right now. My health depends on it.

'Save Ben's Superman Stuff'

There is rumor that when military members deploy, their significant others purge the member's less desirable belongings. This may be a leg lamp (like the one in A Christmas Story) or that framed picture hanging in the living room of Dogs Playing Poker. In my case, this includes my Superman collection (in the living room). I am 99% sure Casie wouldn't touch anything, but she has made some light hearted threats.

It's not in any danger of being thrown out (I think). It is in danger of being put in a box where no one will ever see it (think Toy Story 2). My current justification; every time she looks at it, and 'it' is everywhere, she will think of me. :-) That's a good reason, right?

Join the "Save Ben's Superman Stuff" campaign. Leave a comment.

Help!

"Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round."
- The Beatles

I think I've hit "the wall" (a runner's term) or what writers refer to as writer's block. I couldn't possibly have ran out of topics to write about in Iraq. I mean, it is a whole 'nother country. I haven't been able to focus on reading any books either. A bored soldier's worst nightmare!

I am sure more topics will eventually come to mind, but in the mean time, while I take the day off from blog-writing, if you are interested in something leave me a comment. I'd be happy to write about it. Anything to take my mind off work.

For your downloading pleasure: The Beatles - Help! (right click to save as)

Color of the Week...Grey

This week can be summed up in one color, grey (or is it "gray"). Life in Iraq would be a little bit more bearable if it weren't grey all the time. I haven't seen the sun in days. A desert is suppose to be sunny right? Oh well, it fits my mood at least. I miss home.

Casie's uncle sent this cool link to help relieve stress. (Click your left mouse button to change the color.) It's addictive and added some color to my week. Check out my masterpiece.

It's been a rough week.

Kit Kat Please

I need a break! I haven't slept-in past 0630 since the end of September. It didn't bother me at first, but it is starting to wear on me. The more I think about it, I don't think it is a rest issue. I get plenty of rest, but it would be nice to take a few days off and clear my head. The problem is there is nobody to pick up the slack and the work would be waiting for my return. If I did have a day off, I would probably be thinking of all the catching-up I'd have to do when I returned. It's a no win situation.

April can't come soon enough!
The Postal Service - Sleeping-In (right-click to save music file)

PS Please DO NOT send me a Kit Kat. I have so much food, I won't finish what I have by the time I leave.

Runaway Train

It is very odd to have railroad tracks running through any military installation, but you have to deal with what your dealt in a foreign country. The animals I mentioned yesterday could walk onto post, if they chose. You can't have a gate because the coordination would be too great to plan for it to be open during a specific time. The city of Mosul can't just abandon it's rail system.

The tracks weren't in great shape. There was so much dirt and mud covering them you had to strain your eyes to see them. You wondered how a train managed to use them, but we have a witness. A co-worker, John, mentioned his disbelief the first time he saw a train in action. With the knowledge of how bad the tracks were he thought he was seeing things. I thought I was seeing things when I took the picture below.

The railroad tracks finally gave way. It looks like I will never see the train in use. The train has been sitting like that ever since and the installation has put razor-wire over the tracks. I guess Mosul's rail system has been officially retired.

So I guess the city of Mosul can abandon it's rail system.

Moo-ve Over

Where's Elsie Glue? Elmer's wife. Can you spot her?

Strange but true, we have a active railroad that goes directly thru FOB (more on the railroad tomorrow). Even stranger, a month back there were different animals grazing near the tracks each day. The first day was a few sheep and the next was a cow. I call them "animal hobos", but they could have been taking their senior portraits. :-) (you know what I'm talking about, all of you)

Who lets their animals roam the streets of Mosul? You don't see that back in the states, even in the suburbs.

By the way, click the word Elsie, for your fun fact of the day. After the webpage loads, scroll to the bottom.

Monster Truck Rally

I've been reminded of a good point. You take pictures so you can show others. I started this blog to share my Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) experience. Being away for so long you forget that family and friends back in the states don't see the things I see on a daily basis.

This is the Big Foot of military "Monster Trucks". We were headed to lunch, way back when I was a lieutenant, and found this Monster Truck outside our building. Who knows why it was parked there, but Tom saw it as an opportunity for a good picture. There was someone inside, but after we took the picture it drove off (doesn't like pictures I guess).

And you thought parking a pick-up truck was hard.

Navy + Air Force = Army

I've been meaning to write this entry for a while. As many of you know, I am deployed supporting an Army Intelligence mission. With that in mind, I thought I would be working with soldiers. To my surprise, I discover my co-worker, IS2 Tom Pilson, is a navy petty officer (enlisted sailor). There is not one Army intelligence soldier supporting this Army mission. The US Army must be hard up for people in the Intelligence career field.

Here is an older picture of Tom and I, Army Tactical DOCEX. In case your wondering, Tom is 6' 7" and I'm 6' 0". :-)

I never would have thought I would be working with an Army soldier or a Navy sailor, but here I am. Navy + Air Force = Army Intel, makes sense (being sarcastic) ;-)

A Tripod No More

The tripod I refer to is Steve Morris, IS2 Tom Pilson, and myself, the three legs. Steve, the strongest leg of the tripod, has left to return his family in the states after a six month tour of duty. We were each other's battle buddies. We would eat, go to the PX, pick up and drop off laundry, tell stories, and miss home together.

Steve was a great mentor and friend. He was the first person to greet me in Mosul. He helped my linguist and I with our bags and get settled into our rooms. He provided me with a better mattress when he found out what I was originally sleeping on a mattress 2 feet wide and 4 inches thick. Steve also taught me how to drive a manual transmission, so I could utilize the vehicles available to me.

To others, Steve was always lending his camera because it had the most mega pixels. In most group photos he is missing because he was the man behind the camera. When Tom envied his M4 rifle, he let Tom borrow it for a month. He didn't have to do most of the things he did, but he always went above and beyond to make you feel comfortable. That is hard to do in a war zone.

One of the hardest parts of being in the military is saying goodbye to the friends you make along the way. His work and dedication will be missed, but his company is what will be missed the most. Mosul just won't be the same. Below is a picture of us returning from the PX awhile ago (notice the LT rank). Steve is in the red hat.

We look pretty "bad ass", don't we?

Flat On My Face...Again

102 days in country and I have fallen on my face for the second time. This time it wasn't a flashlight operator error. I was headed to my CHU for the night, on my normal route, and some camo netting reached out and, as Forrest Gump would say, "bit me". The netting is usually rolled up, but somehow unrolled into my path a little. I thought I cleared it, but my heel got caught and the next thing I knew I was on the soggy ground (it was raining).

Of course a civilian linguist saw me and ran to my aide (there's never anyone walking around). I am sure they thought I was shot by a sniper I fell so hard. I was extremely embarrassed and jump up as fast as I went down. It hurt, A LOT...again! I limped away with no blood, just bruises. My left knee is still sore. Just when the scars from my previous fall were beginning to go away I decide to trip again. Oh how I miss concrete sidewalks.

By the way, this is my 50th post from Iraq!

Looking for Spiderman

I haven't mentioned the bugs yet because I really haven't see many. Maybe it is too cold for them. I was kind of interested in seeing the famous Iraqi Camel spider, not so much living with them, but seeing them once (far away from my CHU). In my research, preparing just in case we ever meet, I ran across this short informative video about other spiders.

I guess the Camel spiders are too busy spinning and laying in their hammocks. Check out the picture below (not for the faint of heart). It looks like it could have been working out at the gym.

Goodnight, sleep tight!

Mom 2 maybe you should light another candle for me at church.

War Can Get Messy

There are two sides to every war, theirs and ours. There are also two sides to every soldier, deployed and stateside. I've heard people revert to their primal instincts during war turning them into "animals". I used to think this meant the soldiers lost respect for human life, killing every living thing in their path.

I can tell you, from my Iraqi Freedom experience, it carries over to the way you live "over here" as well. Many young, impressionable minds pick up many bad habits. I have seen this with young troops' respect for property.

The picture above was here for over a week before my troop, Tom, and I cleaned it up. Tom has taken this garbage out so much he should get paid a garbage man's salary. I am not going to be busting my head open tripping on garbage running to the bunker in the middle of the night.

A day after cleaning up there was more garbage and urine bottles from people too lazy to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night because its cold outside. Boo-hoo, as Martinez would say, "This is war, it's suppose to be rough!" At the very least dispose of your waste properly.

We have it good with a hard roof over our head and a hot meal every meal. We could be in tents, eating MREs (Meals-Ready-to-Eat) three times a day. Instead we get people complaining there isn't a certain flavor Gatorade or people throwing their trash everywhere expecting others to pick up after them. War is messy enough with the enemy, we can at least try and live like civilized human beings inside the fence.

Oh What A Night

Mosul entertainment at its best! It started when my work day ended, after 13 hours. As I walked to my CHU the sky lit up orange. It was a flare in the direction of the air field. Next, tracer rounds filled the night sky choreographed to the soundtrack of machine gun fire.

All you can do is take cover and wait for guidance. I tried to watch How I Met Your Mother (the one with Barney's gay brother) inside my CHU, but every time I pressed play the machine gun fire would drown out the sound. I would pause to hear how close it was. It sounded like it could have been right outside my CHU.

After 45 minutes it was over and my heart rate returned to normal. This morning nobody knows anything. I've heard stories that a guard tower was taking fire and I also heard it was celebratory fire (yeah right, not for that long and heavy).

It was the longest fire fight since Day 2 in Mosul. Just when you start to get into a comfort zone, you are reminded this is still a combat zone.

Food Network

Being deployed to a different country is much like being in the United States. You don't experience the culture, contrary to what you think. An Army post is set up to make you feel more comfortable, mimic life in the United States.

There are rare occasions were I get a taste of Iraqi life. When I mention taste I am talking about their food. I work with a Iraqi-born, US citizens on a daily basis and through them I have met many new Iraqi friends. They definitely take care of us "soldiers". About once a week, I don't know how they do it, they provide my office a plate of Iraqi food from off outside the wire, like the one below.

This plate contained something called Iraqi Pizza (on the right side of plate), lamb meat, bread, and toppings of tomatoes and onions with basil. I never had lamb meat and it is actually quite good. The "Pizza" is kind of like a quesadilla, but without cheese. It contains lamb meat and a creamy sauce. You can eat it as is or you can wrap it around some "toppings" and eat kind of like a taco. The lamb meat can be eaten as is or put into the bread. The bread is awesome. It is always fresh and is very filling.

My once-a-week Iraqi meal is just enough to break the monotony of the chow hall. Thank goodness for my food network.

2007!

Happy New Year! 2006 didn't end, nor did 2007 begin, with a bang. That is a good thing in Iraq. No mortars or gun fire, I am thankful for that. It has actually been quiet following Saddam Hussein's execution Saturday morning. I have no doubt that your prayers for me are being answered.

There was a New Year's Eve party, but I did not attend because I had work today. An officer's job is never done. I did grab a complimentary Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Grape Juice bottle from the chow hall during dinner (everything is complimentary, by the way). I had no intention of staying up till midnight, but I thought I would "drink to the new year" at 0800, Casie's midnight back home. I forgot about it and missed that midnight too. Oh Well.

So a new year is upon us, full of possibilities. In 2007 I have lots to look forward to; my deployment will end this spring, Detroit Pistons and Red Wing playoff runs, a summer filled with Tiger baseball, the App-lak wedding (Applin/Wolak wedding) and a PCS this fall! 2007 will bring exciting and unfamiliar territory, but Casie and I will be doing it together. By year's end we will be newlyweds starting our lives together in a new location.

I can't wait to see what 2007 will bring. This time last year, a deployment to Iraq was the farthest thing from my mind. That's what makes life exciting. May 2007 bring you good health, friends, and prosperity.

2007 arrived while I slept, but what did you do? Post a comment.