The Colors of Spring

Among the brown that makes up most of Iraq, color can be found. I am not sure if these are weeds or wild flowers. I found yellow,

purple,

red (wildflower: Shaqaik Al-Nu'man),

and an ugly duckling.

It is nice to see color again, it reminds me of home. I miss you all.

7-Eleven

This is the Diamondback 7-Eleven I've mentioned in previous entries. It is owned by a local outside the post. They sell phone cards, candy, soda, and the $3 haji movies that have been keeping me entertained. No Slurpees though.

Inside there is a picture of the 7-11 they own in the states. For whatever reason, they came back here to see that their family stays safe and to support the troops. Pretty cool, considering the danger they put themselves in to leave post every night.

Roll Me Away

Day three of my ankle sprain. The picture doesn't do it justice, but you can see the outside of the ankle is swollen.

I injured it playing basketball Sunday. Of course I injured it the first game going in for a underneath-scoop layup. After about 5 minutes I was able to walk it off. I limped around for another 3 games before Pen had a hamstring injury. It didn't swell up instantly. However, it did over the course of the afternoon.

By the evening, when I walked from my CHU to the bathroom, I was practically in tears. Yesterday it felt better, but the ankle was still swollen and weak. In fact I fell again, that's number four. I may have fell regardless because I was videotaping the monastery tour and walked into a hole. You'll see the tape when I get home.

So now it's day three. The ankle is a little stronger, but still big. I ice it once a day, about mid-afternoon. It gives me my second wind to move around the rest of the day.

I made the layup, by the way! :-)

Nevada Lights

Every night is Vegas Night! I have a little piece of everyone from the many care packages I've received the duration of my deployment. I thought I'd share the piece my Aunt, Uncle, and Jenny (my sister) sent from Las Vegas.

It's a miniature "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. If I turn off all my lights, like the above picture, it makes me forget I'm in the Middle East.

It is nice to be able to turn off the fluorescent lights in the evening. It definitely changes the mood and makes my CHU feel more like home.

I'm not the gambler-type, so I never thought I'd say, "Vegas lights feel like home!"

Gone But Not Forgotten

I mentioned this monument in my "Everywhere" post, but have failed to blog about it. I think the pictures will speak for themselves.

On the 21st of December there was a moment of silence at 12:07 p.m., the time incident occurred. They also had a very touching ceremony in front of the monument directly afterwards. It is hard to believe that where I eat everday something like this could have ever occurred.

Everywhere

I should be the official tour guide to FOB Diamondback and FOB Marez. The colonel's visit gave me yet another opportunity to give a tour of the post.

Tour highlights:
- airport mosque
- monastery
- both chow halls
- Marez DFAC Monument
- highest point on Marez
- picture point of mountains
- 7-11 Shop
- Haji Shops
- The Batcave

I think I have this tour guide thing down pat. Can I go home yet?

By the way, today marks my 179th day in the AOR (area of responsibility). I would have started my trip back to the states today, if I weren't extended.

There

My guest and his operations officer's departure was as notable their arrival. The colonel and captain finally got out of Mosul (AKA the Iraqi black hole) yesterday night after several attempts.

Originally scheduled to leave Wednesday night on space-A (available). I had them all ready to go, their names were called, they were in line to board the aircraft, I left, but an hour later I get a call they were bumped off the flight.

Yesterday they were manifested on a 1900 flight (a sure thing), but maintenance problems caused that flight to be canceled.

Luckily we stopped by the airfield one last time for the night and found a replacement flight inbound. Third time's the charm, I guess.

After this flight fiasco, I am really not looking forward to traveling back to the states.

Here

I'm here! The boss was visiting.

He was suppose to arrive at 1130 on Tuesday. I was at the airfield from 1100 until 1400, no colonel. I went back to the office to call around and nobody was tracking his flights. Went back to the airfield at 1800 to learn the flight has been canceled, but, there is always a but, it may come in at 2100 or midnight, if at all.

Showed up at 2100, no incoming flights. Go to my CHU at 2145 and receive a knock on my door at 2215, the colonel needs to be picked up. I hop back into my uniform and proceed to pick them up.

Long story short, he was hungry, so we stayed up for midnight chow and I got to bed by 0030. (More tomorrow)

Rainbow Connection

This deployment has thrown all my Iraqi weather stereotypes out the window. In my six months here I've seen 100 degrees days, rain, snow, sleet, hail, and now I've seen a rainbow!

In Iraq, instead of a pot of gold, a detention facility.

You can see a very faint double rainbow in this picture.

And for nostalgic purposes, one of my favorite songs of all time!

BONUS VIDEO: "Rainbow Connection" by Kermit the Frog

Hail, Hail

More weather I never thought I'd see in Iraq.

It's not Texas-sized hail, but hail nonetheless. I wish I could have gotten a better shot, but it was coming down pretty fast and furious. This shot was taken under the cover of my CHU (after running to get my camera).

In fact, it has hailed in Mosul twice the past two days. I can't remember the last time it hailed two consecutive days. How does that saying go? "In like a lion, out like a lamb."

Madness

I have been watching the Rambo trilogy, for the first time in my life, the past few nights in my CHU. 80s entertainment at its best. Just when I was about to run out of Rambo movies to watch, March Madness begins! Another reason to watch television again, but it won't even feel like a tournament without Duke (they lost their first game). My bracket below:

One more thing, Happy Birthday Dad! I can't wait to play some catch with you when I get back.

Lizard Love

You don't see these in Ohio. When I took this photo, I actually only saw one. I guess it is spring, seems like every living thing has a partner. Makes me miss Casie even more.

Save This Date

September 29th, 2007

Mark your calendars, the Applak wedding is coming!

I know Casie has been extremely busy trying keep maintain an apartment, bills, do taxes, and plan a wedding in my hometown all by herself. I thought I would try and use the little resources I have, my blog, to spread the word to our family and friends. We will get something out more formal in the coming months. In case you were wondering Applak is a combination of her last name, "Applin" and mine, "Wolak".

I try to keep this blog focused on my Operation Iraqi Freedom experience, but my heart is in Ohio.

Hang in there Casie, I am almost home (24 days...again)

'Bout the Other Night

I mentioned yesterday about the knock on my door the middle of the night. Now I will fill you in.

About 12:15 am on Saturday night (Sunday morning) I heard a loud knock on my door. Of course, you don't just open your door in a combat zone. I loudly asked, "Who is it?", but received no reply. I waited a minute and then my curiosity told me to open the door. A middle aged women was walking away. I asked if she had knocked. She nodded and apologized, she mistakenly knocked on the wrong door.

It was just enough to wake you up and get your heart pumping.

And that's the rest of the story.