It is 2:40 am

When I got insomnia back at home I would get up and answer emails or do school work. When I get it here I either go into work to surprise my night shift or add to the BLOG. I walked to work one night about 2 am and when I got there my night shift was sitting at my desk asleep. It was fun to act insane for a little bit and scare the shit out of him. He hasn't been caught again...yet. Maybe tonight if I go in?
How do you entertain yourself at work? I entertain myself by taking pictures with soldiers from different Armies. Here I am taking a picture with the General of the Kasakhastan Army. He spoke perfect English and we traded emails so he could get a copy of the picture too. I may invite him to Texas to get some real good margaritas. Wonder what the Kasakhastan Army does when they are drunk on tequila? LOL.

Two hours until we meet for our bike ride. The group meets at the butt crack of dawn to ride. The rides aren't killing me but the start time sure is. My alarm is set to go off in about an hour.

Here she is...the new toy, Just in time to move-maybe?

Finally! I was able to get the picture uploaded. I cannot figure out why we have to pay $65/month for this crappy service. If I were home I would be with another company already. Well here is my new toy. She's dirtier now. She has a small 40plus miles on her.

Possible move for me soon. I was just advised that I may be headed to Taji Iraq. They are opening a hospital there and I may go as the clinic officer in charge (OIC). The job is definitely more suited to my rank and experience but who the hell wants to move. I have so much crap. I will have to take what I can in my hands then ship the rest, to include my new bike.

my new toy and other stuff

This week I found somthing new to do in prison...er...on deployment. I got a bike to ride. I think everyone knows I am on Victory Base Complex which essentially surrounds the Baghdad Airport. The Base is approx. 27 square miles. So there is a group of riders that have been trying to get me out with them. I love to ride my road bike (thin wheels) but here you need to ride a mountain bike (fat tires). So there is this grea tbike shop in Fredrick Maryland called Bike Works and Tom from there has been sending us bikes that we order. I just got mine this week. I will post a picture when I can. The internet here sucks so downloads or uploads time out or are really slow. Anyway, yesterday I went on my first bike ride in 5 months. It was strange getting used to knobby tires and not having to avoid pot holes and gravel. If you hit any of that on a road bike you end up crashing. On a mountain bike or MTB it is what you look for. It reminded me of why I like ridign so much. I rode all around VBC. It is pretty safe if you avoid the cars.
I also got some great mail. Thanks Tami for the books and the cigars. Thanks to my cousin Shun for the postcard that made me laugh out loud.

16 SEP and counting

So look at these photos this can't be healthy. I get to breath this in every few weeks when a sand storm blankets the area for a few days. I know I have said that before but look at the photos!! Look at the orange sky in the 1st picture. Everything gets covered in dust. All these shots are in the morning. Doesnt it look like dusk? I had to wear goggles to keep the sand out of my eyes. No running on these days.

Speaking of getting old

A pretty funny thing happened this week. I was all excited about finding a radio/CD player/IPOD player in the PX up at Camp Liberty. I was talking about it in the office and one of the Specialist that works for me said, "I didn't think they made music on CD anymore. All we do is listen to our IPODS." I started to laugh. I have an IPOD and I do use it all the time but I have these CD's too that I always want to throw in my player. I can remember playing records on my mother's record console in the downstairs hallway...dancing to Heatwave, Evelyn Champagne King, and Taste of Honey.

I decided to transfer my CD's over to my IPOD to move into the 21st Century. I just completed my last class for my MBA so I will need little projects to help pass the time. I am a big reader and I placed it all on hold to get through the reading for the MBA. So I can't wait to get back into some reading. Spanish lessons, CD to IPOD project, new bike, building a desk...I think that will help the time pass. You learn that you will do almost anything to pass time. Wish me luck.

I got some GREAT packages this week!!! Thanks to Barbara for sending my a big old roll of salami! It tastes soooo good! She was in New York and stopped by the Jewish deli from the movie when Harry Met Sally and thought of me when she saw a sign from WWII that said, "Send a Salami to your Soldier" and she thought of me. Bobbi sent me some stuff I really needed and wanted too. I also got a box of cigars this week. Thanks everyone for thinking of me. I will use it all.

September 11th

Always a tough day for me. It has been 7 years since Sept 11,2001. Can you believe there are lieutenants in the Army today that were 14 or 15 years old when it happened. I must be getting old. They don't have ceremonies for the attack on Pearl Harbor (maybe in Hawaii?). I wonder if 60 years from now there will be no more ceremonies commemorating Sept 11th? They had several here in Iraq. It was nice. I have some great friends that remembered it was a tough day for me and they emailed me. Bobbi wrote a great note to Karen on the memories website. I dont recall the link. Well I am headed to bed. Later

7 Days into September

This was a good week. I was telling my Mom, the weeks seem to fly by but the days are still long to me. I can't think in terms of months only weeks. I got some good mail and packages. Thanks Mom for the hat rack. It helped create more space for storage which is always good. I also got a chance to hear the #2 guy in the country, a 3 star general, speak Friday night. His name is Lieutenant General Austin. He is the 18th Airborne Corps Commander. For my civilian friends, he is the head guy at Fort Bragg,NC. Anyway, he spoke to the local ROCKS group here in Iraq. If you are not familiar with The Rocks ---> http://www.rocksinc.org/history.htm <---click here. It was a good speech. He said alot but the main point was always be willing to try a little harder. 212 degrees- water gets scalding hot at 211degrees. It boils at 212 degrees. 1 degree more. With 1 degree you boil water, which creates steam, which can run a train (steam engine). SO why not try just a little harder. It was pretty good. Hey, look over to the right. This is me on the driving range/pad at the palace from last week. You know I had to find a way to hit. We don't have one where I live so this was my first time making it to the range. I need to get a net where I live so I can walk out my door and work on my swing. I am going to shoot a 145 by the time I get back(smile) because I am not practicing.

Anyone with a webcam let me know. I use Skype (www.skype.com) for all my calls now. You simply look me up in Skype and we can link up with the camera too. Reception is not too bad if we call at the right time. Oh and it is free!!!

gonna run.