Blogs from Iraq, Middle East - page 5

Independence Day in Kuwait. Not my first choice. I have a flight scheduled for tomorrow so I checked into the temporary billeting in Kuwait to get some much needed rest. I slept almost 8 hours catching up for the last 4 days. The base in Kuwait is much safer so it is a more relaxed environment. I put on my PT uniform and got out to explore what Independence Day activities that were being offered. Vanilla at best but one thing caught my eye. A hot dog eating contest. I had to go check this out. Hot dog gluttony in 120 degree heat. There were 10 contestants who ate about 6 dogs a piece -the winner took home a trophy with 8 and one half hotdogs. I felt a little queasy watching. Americans will bring their ... read more

Today I was supposed to fly back to Al Asad. When I emerged from my tent I was greeted with a sandstorm. I went to the military passenger terminal and learned that my confirmed flight had been cancelled and now I would need to try to get a standby flight when I weather cleared. I chose to hope on the bus system and explore Baghdad, sandy or not. I rode over to Camp Slayer to see Saddam’s Perfume Palace. Saddam had palaces built all over Iraq. In Baghdad he built the Perfume Palace for his concubines. I really could not find much else about it but it is pretty spectacular. The whole Slayer compound is filled with Iraqi construction and bombed out buildings. It is cool to see a palace that had a JDAM dropped into ... read more

Today I left for my trip to Baghdad. The way you travel in theater is quite different than you will travel in the way you would travel in the US. It is a long ever-changing process. You cannot make travel reservations more than 4 days before your intended trip, but not less than 3 days before you plan to leave. Then in order to catch your flight you have to arrive at the airport three hours before your flight. I like to be early but there is nothing to see or do in a military passenger terminal - you would think you would at least have a Starbucks. I waited my requisite three hours and got on a C130 to head to Baghdad. A C130 is a 4 engine propeller plane that holds about 75 soldiers. ... read more

My Dad’s care package arrived today. Because of the sandstorm all of our mail was delayed so today there was a huge pile in the mailroom. I goy some really cool stuff. Lots of food and snacks to include my favorites; pistashios, wasabi almonds,splenda, and M&Ms. I couldn’t eat it all before returnng from deployment. I shared with Mark and my staff. The folks I work with were quite excited to see the snacks we had a miniparty. Thanks Dad - everyone sends thir thanks. I my package was a Grundig shortwave radio. I grew up watching my Dad use his Grundig. Now I have one too. I layed in my bed scouring the airwaves trying to get as many stations as possible. I found AFN (Armed Forces Radio) immediately - they brocast out of several ... read more

Today my first care package arrived. I was so excited - like a kid at Christmas. Kristen sent me a package with my Army Times (weekly newspaper for the Army), some things I left at home, and Lizzie sent me a Mickey Mouse fan, and Cinderella Postcard. I am sure that my friends think I am a little weird, newspapers and a Cinderella postcard. It made me happy. Everyone who has read my blog knows that I have complained about the poor coffee and lack of sugar in the PX. We had several bags of coffee beans that the other CSH (Combat Support Hospital) left behind but no grinder. I figured that Coffee beans would last longer coming from the states so I ordered a grinder from Amazon.com. It arrived in about 6 days - really ... read more