Hobby: PIX in Iraq

Well, a lot has changed, but mostly a lot has stayed the same. You know the movie with Bill Murray, "Groundhog Day." This place is the ultimate Ground Hog Day. Same thing day in and day out. So I have taken up photography as a hobby.

I've been posting quite a few PIX, and I'll copy the link here for you.

Here are some bonus shots for $hits.



MRAP



Sunrise Over CHU City


Sunrise CHU City



Broken Bridge Canal Morning Upstream

Let me know what you think of the PIX.

You Think You Have Had A Bad Day?

Day 15 in Iraq. I'm adjusted to the time change, the schedule, job, living conditions and all the rest. Things are already set into a routine, and I'm staying as busy as I can. The days are passing fast.

Today started off like every other day. I haven't heard a shot fired in anger. My roommate moved out and I had the room to myself, and arranged this morning for my coworker to move in with me, and out of the bad situation he was in with his roommate. After we get our work done, we get his stuff put in here.

Then it is time to run some errands. Drop off some laundry, get fuel for the vehicle, look for some woodworking tools at the Hadji-Mart. I'm driving toward the DFAC and laundry facility on the same dirt road I've been on three times a day. In the middle of the road there is a chunk of metal. The roads are real rough, and stuff gets bounced out of vehicles all the time. No big deal. I pull up and stop right next to it so I can chuck it off the road so nobody gets a flat. Hey, I'm a good guy, right?
It is the right thing to do. I'm on base, so no big deal.

I open the door right above the garbage. The roads are still really muddy from the rain two days ago, so I don't want to walk far in the muck. Right below me I now see clearly what the object is. A box duct taped to a hand held radio. Back home, just trash. In Iraq, it is an IED. Improvised Explosive Devise, a roadside bomb two feet from my face!

I've been through the training, I do anti-IED work. There is no mistaking this thing. It is a bomb and I'm way to damn close to it! Close the door, drive fast 100 meters. See soldiers, tell soldiers, that turned out to be Air Force Airmen, set up a cordon at each intersection, don't use your cell phones or radios! Call EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) now! Stand at entrance to the Engineers barracks and block traffic. Officer shows up, brief him on the situation. He verifies with binoculars that yes, it is an IED in the road, right here on post. EOD arrives with their up armored vehicle, clear the area and get out their robot.

Now I've got time to think. My job is done and the experts are in control. I'm now in a bunker and I've already chain smoked every cigarette in my pack and a soldier gives me his entire pack and I'm chain smoking those. I think about my kids, my wife, and how I almost made 5 orphans and a widow. My heart is trying to pound its way out of my chest. I'm not frantic, or hysterical, but I am unnerved. I know how close I came to meeting my maker. Doing 150 mph on my motorcycle doesn't even compare to the pucker factor I'm now experiencing.

The EOD robot destroys the IED. EOD and the military equivalent to CSI move in to what remains of the IED. It is a fake, a training aid used to familiarize soldiers with what to look for outside the wire. I instantly go from upset to anger. Somebody fucked up, big time. I want to kick some ass.

We go back to the hooch and I lay down in bed reciting, or trying to recite the Serenity Prayer over and over. But I can't remember the words. Now I know that I know the words to the Serenity Prayer by heart. I've said it a million times over. But I'm just a little freaked out right now. Eventually I calm down enough that the words come to me and I repeat them over and over and over. Somehow I manage to fall asleep for a little while. My new roommate/coworker/friend wakes me to ensure that I am OK. I go out, use the head, and have a smoke. My boss shows up I explain that I'm OK, just needed a little time to calm down and get right.

How was your day?

Getting Settled In Iraq

It has been a week and a half that I've been in Iraq now. I'm getting settled into my room, aka Hooch or CHU - Civilian Housing Unit. There are wet CHU's - with a bathroom, and dry CHU's - walk 100 feet or so to use the head, aka latrine, or shower.

I haven't been too many places around the base yet. The Dining Facility or DFAC is a daily stop. There are several around, but the closest is 1/2 mile away. I've been to the PX, Post Exchange for all the little things you need but can't bring with you.

So far I've had to buy, in no particular order:

• 2 sets of sheets and pillow cases
• Blanket
• Comforter
• 2 small carpets
• Dustbuster
• 4 pairs of pants online
• 2 laundry bags
• Assorted toiletries
• pocket sized notebook
• wet wipes
• Kleenex
• Snack food that I have yet to open
• Gold bond powder for my feet
• Cell Phone
• Calling Card
• Swiffer sweeper and hand duster
• A carton of Smokes

The job is going well, in fact it is really easy and quite boring. I am at work from 8 am until 5 pm, but most of that time is spent looking for something to do. We might average 2 hours a day of actual work! Boring!

So I have started little projects, like taking Duct Tape and packing foam and making a secure storage area for my laptop in my Bug Out Gear Bag. Or making step to have for the door of my Hooch. I have to share the room, and right now my roommate is cool, but he leaves Thursday for Mosul in Northern Iraq.

I've also started on making some shelves using some of the plywood used to ship equipment here. So I am doing more in my off time than at work.

Time to post up some pictures.

Made It to Iraq

After weeks of travel, training, and preparation I have finally made it to Iraq. More specifically, Camp Victory in Baghdad. I'm tired, sore from carrying 150lbs of luggage, but ok. I already miss everyone, but I can't stop thinking about how my family is doing. My wife is the best person I know, my best friend, and the best part of me. It is going to be a long year. I am totally exhausted, but all I can think about is talking to Yvette.

More soon on my adventures, but for now, it is time to crash.

It Is Getting Short & Airline Food

"I'm so short, I can taste airline food."

Petty Officer William "Willy" Keech U.S.N. commenting on how little time he had left before transferring to his next duty station or "P.C.S.ing".

I just emailed some friends and mentioned to them I have 3 available days left to have dinner with them before I go to Iraq. Reality check. Good to go, and ready to launch.

Spent last week on testing some stuff, and some OJT. This week I'm in N.J., next week N.H., then my parents come out to visit, then I take the FJR down to Tom, then a week in IN, then a week in GA, then a day home, then off to Iraq. And, yes, it feels like a run on sentence.

How Was The King Crimson Show - My Response

It was absolutely incredible! I have to back up a give a little history to set this up. I first heard King Crimson when Discipline came out my freshman year of high school. It was also the first time I heard a Stick thanks to Tony Levin. (He is also the reason I have a Stick today.) I have wanted to see King Crimson ever since then, but something always was in the way. ( Money, Oceans, and Women )

I've seen Tony Levin with Peter Gabriel twice, Adrian Belew with the kids from Rock School in Falls Church, and Bill Bruford with Yes seven times. This was the last band that I just HAD TO SEE before I die!!! I've seen 300-400 concerts, and King Crimson was always the one that got away.

So this time there was no stopping me, come hell or high water I was going to see KC in concert. I even told the man I interviewed with for a job that I would have to take that day off to travel to Philly during my interview. (I got the job!)

So Tuesday morning my wife and friend leave at ten am for the 4 hour ride to Philly. I wasn't going to let traffic catch me off guard. A lady in a BMW cut me off about 30 minutes from home and then slams on her brakes. My van, that happens to be the size of a zeppelin and stops just as fast, slammed into her and we had an hour delay. No injuries, just another insurance fraud case.

We get to the Keswick theater about 4-5 hours early and just hang out, window shopping and such. At 5:30 we decide to eat at the little Chinese restaurant two doors down from the theater. As we walk in and are seated I noticed the ONLY other patron was Adrian Belew. Right about now I am as giddy as a school girl on prom night. After he finished his meal I approached him. We had a very pleasant, but brief conversation. He signed all four tickets and was a most amiable man. No rock star BS here.

Before the show we met up with Tim, a true gentleman as well. My buddy Dj and Tim hit it off talking music, but I went into my own little world. (Tim, if I came off rude I apologize!) Finally the show. Adjectives fail me. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. My dreams aren’t this good!!! I moved back and forth from grinning like a Cheshire cat to many moments of trying to hold back tears of joy, sometimes not so successfully. It could not have been better. The set list seemed like they read my mind and played for me only. The music, of course, was incredible. Tight to the original versions with added tangents. I initially had concerns about the dual drummer lineup but they were erased in seconds. I walked out of the two hour show knowing that this would be one of the highlights of my life. I remember thinking to myself, ok now I can die a happy man. I’m a chain smoker, real bad. I can’t make it through a movie without going for a smoke. Not once during the show did I even think about smoking! (If you knew me you would be amazed!)

After the show we parted ways with Tim and headed back to the same Chinese restaurant. Guess who was there again? Right, Adrian Belew. This time he was there with a friend. (The father of two young men from Rock School that Adrian will be touring with soon.) Adrian asked me how I liked the show and I told him about the tears. We sat at the table behind him, and not wanting to be rude kept to ourselves. A man walked in, and while waiting for his to go order, asked Adrian Belew if he was at the King Crimson concert next door. Adrian replied that in fact he was and left it at that. Then this man starts going on and on about how King Crimson was good in the 80s and 90s, but now sucks. Adrian never gave away his identity and just listened politely. My wife, DJ, and I were giggling quietly, not wanting to blow Adrian’s cover, and his dinner guest said nothing. The booths were rather high, and we couldn’t see Adrian at that point but we could see the stranger. I would’ve loved to see the expression on Adrian’s face! As soon as the stranger left with his order there was a round of laughter at my table. After finishing my meal I went outside for my cigarette. Adrian and his guest left, and as he walked by he shook my hand and thanked me for coming to the show. I was dumfounded again.

Sorry if this is too long, but you did ask how it was!

Great Weekend

Just finished a glorious five day weekend that included one motorcycle wreck (not mine), one car wreck, (not my fault and no damage to my van), going to Philadelphia for a King Crimson concert, meeting Adrian Belew before and after the show at the Chinese restaurant next to the Keswick (forgive me Adrian for acting like a giddy school girl), sleeping in the van after the show, seeing Independence Hall, starting a blog, and getting ready to start a new job. You know, just a humdrum run on sentence standard.