A good, good day

Today has been a good day. Today is a good day. Right now, today, is one of those moments I have had to stop and savor, for the sake of preserving it. Life is good today. It's 2011, I'm still in the office (odd) and it's a good day.

Just wanted to share that.

Lots of things happened today - a random morning explosion or two (off FOB, way off FOB actually), which was different. I had to track down a lieutenant for a signature today and 'splained him what the toughbook laptop I issued him does, in conjunction with the iris & fingerprint scanners. It's cool, and I mean really effin' cool. Not "oh, McDonald's came out with a new flavor of ice cream" cool, I'm talking track the enemy and make a difference in the war cool. We do some pretty cool shit, and capturing biometrics is one of them. Amazing stuff, really.

OK, so got some stuff in the mail this week. Dave, Cinda and Shanna - thank you TONS for the box!!! I am set on dusting wipes and swiffer dusters for a couple of months! Not to mention coffee! You guys rock...not just a little, but both hands rock ("too much rock for just one hand")!! Got a new keyboard in, as I'm tired of having to clean the damn thing out. This is it. Takes a little getting used to, but for $20, I'm happy. Got to watch out. I'm sitting here in the office half singing along to a Dave live CD set, one of the best I've heard in a LONG time. Course, it was recorded in August 2000...has a live version of Minarets that is excellent! This is too good to not mention (Kim will understand this once she sees the set list): 41, Grace is Gone, Watchtower, Minarets, Lie in our Graves, Bartender, Rapunzel. Just to mention a few. Full set list is here. For anyone looking for an excellent live CD set of DMB, get this one. Naturally, I'll be burning copies to send to Kim soon, now that I've let the proverbial cat out of the bag.

So, this week we've begun to see temperatures over 100. Oddly enough, it's not bad. Hot, but not bad. More to come, I know. I’ve found once I walk to the compound from the TOC a few times, I know what to expect and it’s tolerable. At night it cools off enough to be enjoyable. Naturally, if we’re indoors, we all have A/C, which also makes it very tolerable.

The 'beebs were busy this week - had some VBEDs this week at unexpected times. Mostly in the city. So far, they're trying to hit the more forward deployed forces. Personally I'd like to think that means the forward folks are doing good things and being effective. Time will tell, naturally.

Got a laugh out of Sunday funnies. Tell me what you all think of this one.

Kim's been asking me to figure out how to post pictures here. I'll figure that out in May. Basically, I'm trying to buy time so I can get some good pics to send. I might even try to slip one of me in there. We'll see. For now, I'll take what I can and then sort out what I can post.

Wind is pretty heavy tonight. As we have a camouflage net suspended between our cans, using, among other things, 2x4s, it means the damn lumber will rattle, squeak and rub against the can. Now, if this were a mobile home, I’d worry about a tornado. This is not that luxurious. It’s a connex that’s been outfitted with (meager) insulation, linoleum flooring, wallboard and a HVAC unit. Oh, I have a couple of windows. And a door. I like my door. Anyhow, I’ll probably have to break out the earplugs tonight.

So, besides adding some cleaning supplies to the “send ahead of me next time” list, I’ll have to add 110 to 220 and 110 to Asian plug adapters. Not a transformer, oh no. All of my stuff, without my trying to buy it this way, switches. This is cool too. The laptop switches voltage, the cell charger switches, the MP3 player charger switches, the camera charger switches. How cool is that??? I was amazed when I started to look. Anyway, the token 110 to 220 plug adapter I keep in the toilet kit is overused, so I splurged at the PX and bought a couple more. How's that for perspective? Most folks want to hear about the explosions, while I'm more interested in plug adapters.

That's it for tonight. I need to get to the can and rinse the dust off.

Enjoy!

Story Time!

You know what? It's finally happened. My intent with the blog had been to share what life is like here on the FOB (seeing as how I'm a FOBbit and all) and generally keep folks up to date on what's going on. But it's happened. I'm crossing the line into using this to disseminate, to some degree, what happens to me day to day. First, some information. I am in charge of badging. What that means is, all of the non military types who work here MUST come to my folks to get a badge. In the process of obtaining said badge, I must eventually approve it and sign off on it, literally. That's a goodly amount of responsibility, which I don't take lightly. People may or may not be assigned privileges (PX access, eating at the chow hall, etc) based on their contract. So far so good. So one of the reps gets into a pissing contest with one of my soldiers. An aside - I don't take this lightly. Normally I try not to throw the oak leaf around, but when a civilian starts to mix it up with one of my soldiers, move over. Anyhow, this guy's being a jerk and doing so in email no less (most unwise). So, my specialist sends me the email chain. I read it. I respond. Hey, I have no issue giving full access to folks to whom it's entitled, but I must have a contract, period. No contract, no privileges. Finally he comes back with the basic statement, "oh, I suppose you guys need the contract that shows this support relationship." You think??? Maybe?

It keeps life interesting.

I especially like the Iraqi Army folks. We have some pretty hard and fast guidelines on badging these folks. It's written that way. So this dude comes in for a badge renewal and I change his badge color. Another aside - most of these folks associate badge colors with a certain level of respect or influence. It's like, the "better" the color, then the more important they must be. Honestly, it's all about the regulation and the contract. Anyhow, this guy is PISSED. Not just garden variety, either. Walks off after stating, "I talk to general about this." You do that. Comes a call from the general's office this morning (fast service). Boss & I go up there. Seems they have checked with the folks in Baghdad (NB, this would be the folks I talk to daily) and they refuse to give this cat his original badge color back. I recall mentioning that yesterday, oddly enough. So we had that minor drama to contend with, which helped to break the GHDE (GroundHog Day Effect).

Sometimes I swear I'm back in my high school classroom listening to arguments about the length of prom dress hemlines.

One person demanded - demanded (this was a civilian, mind you, which implies that I am armed and he is not) - that I give him a brown badge. Went on and on about how waiting 45 minutes while he's searched going from one FOB to the other is such a burden to him. It was embarrassing. And it hit me just as I returned from a meeting or lunch or some other event that had absolutely nothing to do with his 45 minute wait.

We all get upset, this I know. Throughout this deployment I have begun to learn how to both choose to not grow angry all the time and to understand that a distinct difference exists between those things I can, ought and should change and those things, over which I truly have no control. Some complaining about the latter is to be expected. Going on a rant about it is something I have had to work at avoiding. Human nature is to pick out the traits in others which bother us the most in ourselves, and I am no exception. I know I don't like it when I go off about silly stuff, and really don't like it when others do the same.

Enjoy!

ACUs and Working out

Second post this week, I must be on a roll. Actually, I woke up late (0530), still called Kim...this is a good story...and decided to use some time to post. OK, calling. So I get internet hooked up despite habib's best efforts at poor customer service (you'd think that in dealing with a customer base that's ARMED with LIVE AMMO, they'd be more circumspect...apparently not), get yahoo phone paid (Skype didn't want to take my money), and FINALLY get a headset (yet another item to add to The List), I call my wife. Now, being that we're all sharing some form of satellite internet here, we have limited bandwidth. Oddly enough, some of the joes still think it's OK to hog it with online gaming. So, thanks to the g@m3rz, I can't call at night. Or post. Or access the internet. No worries, I can get up at 5 and call my wife. Honestly, it's a better time anyhow. And I need to get up and work out. On a good day now, I get up at 5, hit coffee, call Kim, then go hit the gym. It works for me.

Speaking of working out, instead of a treadmill, I decided to get on an elliptical trainer. It was really a matter of convenience - the BDOC "minigym" is closer to the can than the "big gym" and that's what we have in there (besides a ton of weights, which is very nice). It. Kicked. My. Butt. I can go a decent half hour on a treadmill. The elliptical was a challenge. Different muscles, different cadence, just different. Good, but tough. I know a guy who has to train on an elliptical, as his knees won't take running. I was skeptical at first, but am sold. Definitely won't do it each time, but it's a good, viable option, especially since I don't plan on doing marathon training here.

Great thing here - the Quartermaster has a sew shop. It's great! I take a set of ACUs in, tell them which velcro is worn out, show them the ripped crotches (the new ACUs were poorly made) and they fix all that. For FREE. FREE. Pretty cool. My next project involves adding MOLLE straps to the issue assault pack, so I can attach a better set of pouches to it. We'll see if these guys are up to it. Oh yeah, Dad, get this - a whole shop of men sewing. And the Army trained them to do it. Figured you'd like that one...

ACUs, the mighty ACUs. For me, this uniform is a collection of dichotomies. First, when we had the BDU, we had a ton of buttons. Folks then would sometimes remove buttons and replace them with velcro. No lie. Personally, I took two buttons off of each set of trousers - the forward cargo pocket button. Usually I would have stuff hanging down against my legs in the field and would end up with bruises thanks to stuff rubbing against the buttons. Then, the Army comes out with the ACU, and folks want buttons back. Apparently we can't make up our minds. Now, I realize the camo pattern doesn't really blend with ANY environment we operate in, but that's OK. I like not having to maintain, literally, two sets of uniforms, field gear, helmet covers, hats, etc. One set is good. I do wish the Army would figure out that we need a goretex parka with a zip in fleece liner. I know we can get all that commercially, but as an issue item, it would be nice. True, it makes sense, but the field gear I've seen recently has been leaning greatly towards common sense items. Right now, I prefer the ACUs, velcro notwithstanding. Not having to iron, starch, and sew on patch sets is a HUGE boon. And having boots that we don't have to spend time polishing, also most excellent. Keep in mind, I can do both of those things with the best of them, and folks who've known me can attest to that. Problem is, it all takes time and it all ends up with the soldier serving the uniform instead of the other way 'round. Can't have that.

So, we've had dust storms (which are most unpleasant) the last two days. As a result, enemy activity is way down. I hate to quote Paul here, but the enemy is a fair weather fighter. Fight when the weather's bad, and they have their heads down due to blowing dust and sand? Nope, can't do that, it's too uncomfortable. Oh, they're dangerous, make no mistake. But they are neither soldiers nor professionals.

Enjoy!

Buzzed on Mass or Full of the "holy spirits"

So, everything was set and I was going to Mass this morning. Then, after planning on a laundry drop off, a meeting and a small project to complete, I figured to skip it. Two other guys I know both asked me to go to Mass with them and so I went. And wouldn't you know it, Father asks me to be the Eucharistic Minister. Keep in mind, I had the audacity to be the last man in, not the only person in the church. No biggie, I'll serve (must be something about me). So, we get to the Eucharist, and Father pours the entire pitcher of wine into the chalice, figure NINE OUNCES or so. It was full. So I serve. The holy blood. After everyone had been through, there are, oh, a good seven ounces of wine in the chalice. Did I mention it had been very full? Took me three guzzles to get it down...almost tripped on the way to my seat. Yeah, I know. It's holy blood under the appearance of wine, I get it. Still and all, it was the most of anything under the appearance of wine I'd had in a month or two. Needless to say, this morning was a happy morning. I almost asked Father if I could take it back to the can and enjoy it with some MRE cheese and crackers.

We've begun to focus down on what we're supposed to be doing, I think. I know I changed my scope in terms of synchronizing the staff. Bottom line, it's all about following up and being able to do so. A staff huddle does us no good if nobody captures the issues and follows up on them. Essentially I've begun to settle into something of a routine enough to stop and look up, right and left and realize where we're going, what I need to do to help us get there.

What else this week....hmm... Random happenings, pretty much. Folks keep coming by our cell to ask us if we can renew their identification cards, which we cannot. We can help them with a post badge, but it's not the same thing. It's funny. Some folks take "we can't do that" as the equivalent of "we can do that, but we're just not going to do it for you." In fact, I might start to answer that way. I especially like the "but I need " kind of folks. This one person called, talked to my tech and said, "well, if we can't get the Iraq wide access [also totally out of my control], then just down grade the badge to this other color." I had to stop and scratch my head on that one. So I looked at the tech and said, "Cool. I'll withdraw the request, downgrade her and we're done" (which is now my standard answer). It's sad, really. I didn't know that what we did was the same thing as a McDonald's drive through.

I know I promised to post more often. Currently, if the internet in the can is down, I don't post. Speaking of which, it was down the first half of this week, and it's been up, finally, for the last three. So I'm happy, relatively speaking. Once my headset arrives I'll get to call Kim from the can instead of waiting for a line somewhere else. It's the little things that count.

The next challenges: get a dorm fridge, a normal chair (instead of this small plastic foldy one), and an air purifier (cut down on the dust in here).

Enjoy!

April's Here!

This approach to posting is new for me, so please be patient. Much has happened since my last post, and I need to be sure to cover it all. But first, why the approach is new for me. The Army, in its infinite wisdom, does not allow us to reach blogs via their network. So, in the interests of "fair play", I am writing this post on Google Documents, then will post to my blog from the CHU (aka "my can", where I sleep and have personal space) and cut and paste appropriately. This is assuming, of course, that whomever is playing Warcrack in the CHU isn't on and thus not hogging bandwidth. See, all I really need the net in the can is to talk to Kim (Yahoo Messenger will do VOIP calls now, as will Skype, couldn't get Skype to take my credit card...their loss) and post to the blog. Anything else, I do offline or here in the office. Plus this makes it look like I'm working and that's all good.

So, I'm finally here in Mosul. Life is pretty good, internet only took like three days to get hooked up, and I'm beginning to learn the tricks and tactics of FOB living, it's all good. Most folks ask Kim what life here is like, so here's my attempt at explaining. Ever see the movie Groundhog Day? I didn't either. But, I'm told that Bill Murray's character wakes up every day and relives the same day over and over again. That's life on the FOB for us. The stuff that makes it different is the folks with whom I interact. Otherwise, the weather is fair - mid 80s for a high and 50s at night, some dust storms now and then, chow is good (otherwise unremarkable, but it is good), and most folks understand we're running a marathon here. Nothing requires us to be in a hurry unless lives are in danger, otherwise we keep a steady pace. Not slow, just steady.

Another question folks have been hitting me with is, "what can we send you?" Short answer is my wife and a couple cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Unfortunately, neither of those items are authorized in theater according to GO #1B. Before I hit y'all with the list, please remember this is MY version of this. Also keep in mind, we do have a PX, and I've been to it maybe once in the last two weeks. I'm that busy. For the address, contact my wife.

• Swiffer pads. These are, in a word, a godsend. Send boxes of these.
• Swiffer duster. Again, a godsend.
• Swiffer wetjet. Tough to get, as everybody wants 'em (cue Van Halen music).
• Pledge wipes. The lemon scented ones. See a pattern here? The dust is awful.
• Wet wipes or personal wipes are OK. Not jump up and down great, as I can get them almost anywhere.
• Hand sanitizer. Big bottles, not the gallon sized. Iraq is a dirty place, and this stuff is used constantly.
• Magazines. Better than books, as they change monthly. Remember, breaking the Groundhog Day effect is good.
• Starbuck's coffee or Kempf's coffee. Either works. This falls into the "tastes of home" category.
• Toiletries. Send them if you want to do so. I'm pretty particular, but my comrades in arms tend not to be. If you are going to send generic stuff, go to www.adoptasoldier.com and use their guidelines and addresses. This is a great resource for anyone who wants to build the habit of sending stuff over here to anyone and everyone.
• Coffee mugs. I have yet to see a coffee mug for sale 'round here. I mean an honest to goodness, ceramic coffee mug.

The other question I've been hit with is, "what's going on over there?" Fighting. Rebuilding. Fighting about rebuilding. Rebuilding the fighting to rebuild and fight again. We don't get a whole lot of contact on the base itself, thank God. We can hear stuff going off, but it's not the same thing. Still and all, this is a combat zone and for some reason, some of the "natives" feel we're better off dead than rebuilding their country. It's crazy, really. The US has dumped, literally, billions of dollars into the Iraqi infrastructure (most of it was their money, but it briefs well) and the "insurgents" still want to kill us. I know, I know - it's about power and influence. Don't let the religious mumbo jumbo fool you, it's ultimately about power. Mostly we (the US) are building and getting the natives to rule themselves. Honestly, that's what's happening. I encourage any of the skeptics to pay close attention to the body counts over the last several months and tally the Iraqis killed in the news versus soldiers. My money is on more Iraqis killed. One friend emailed me, as she was having her class do a project about the war here and admitted to not being able to find good, solid information about what's going on here in the mainstream media. While this might represent the issue well. Or this. Odd thing is, for all my posting that the mainstream media is not covering this war in good faith, folks will not believe that. So where can you go? I'd try Michael Yon's blog, and the Small Wars Journal blog. Those are two very accurate sources of information on Iraq and Afghanistan.

That's all for now. I will begin to post more often, now that I'm in position.

Enjoy!