what I did this week.

I managed to get around alittle bit this week. Here are some of the photos.

<---I was walking home again and saw some strange vehicle I have never seen before. It is sort of a tank-like, scooper thingy. See the big scooper on top? It helps dig up bombs? I found out it is an MRAP too just another model. Lots of room in this one. Maybe I can take you all for a ride?



We have a new fire alarm system in the hospital that has optical sensors. The dust from being here in Iraq managed to set it off 4 times this week. So I get to go outside in the heat and sand every time it goes off. It is a pain in the ass but you learn that anything that is a diversion from ground hog day can be fun. The firemen all have to dress in their suits and come in with axes everytime. This is a picture of me with John and Lou. We share the same trailer it is just divided into 3 sections. Not sure who was the PhD candidate that decided to buy an optical sensor in the desert but hey it amuses me.



So these next photos are kinda fun to look at. We had 2 Soldiers and 1 Officer get promoted on 1 AUG. They wanted to get promoted someplace unique. So they chose 1 of the bombed out palaces of Saddam Hussein (sp?). This palace is called the "Victory Over America" palace. He was built it before the war kicked off. He had some propaganda going saying he beat the US during Desert Storm. He built palaces and had murals of the Iraqis pushing the US back. This was one of the palaces.

This time when we invaded we bombed this one. It is still standing and apparently structurally sound enough for us to do a tour and promotion ceremony in it. It was fun to see. It was hot as hell, as it always is and dusty and we had unsure footing but what a good place to say you were promoted in. To give you an idea of how big this place is; this palace is 1 million square feet. The main lobby is the size of a football field. Literally - 100 yards long and 55 wide. Saddam definitely did things big. Okay I blew off working out this morning. Just felt like sleeping in and here I am updating the BLOG. I need to get my fat ass to the gym later today. I will use it as my excuse to leave early.