I finally arrived up here in Taji. Our trip was a smoother one that last time as there were no major traffic jams or choke points but still the number of newer grey hairs on what little hair I have left after my latest haircut surely increased two fold. Taji is where I will be working out of for the remainder of the year, though I will be commuting back and forth via helo or road to the IZ for meetings, contract reviews, spec reviews and one on ones with my boss To give you an idea on the road to Taji click on the URL below which was written by a BBC reporter and his trip to Taji.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6665759.stm
Obviously reporters like to stretch things to get your attention and I should note that it is not as bad as what is published above, but on the other hand I would rather piss and moan while sitting in my vehicle going nowhere on US 101 heading toward CA-85 at 1730 hours on a Friday then to have to drive this road everyday.
I have been wanting to get up here and start working with coalition representatives and my Iraqi counterparts, since here is where the rubber meets the road. I will be staying at the transient billets until my permanent quarters are empty.
Regarding our Iraqi counterparts last Monday at one of our meetings they announced that one of the Colonels who attended the weekly meetings had been shot to death outside a gas station in Baghdad while wairing to fill up his car. As many have you read elsewhere senior military and government officials are targeted by Al Qaeda or other militant groups because they are working with the coalition forces. It bothers me to read that the Iraq's aren't moving fast enough or that they don't care about there future, yet everyone who puts on a uniform, or is standing outside the recruiting office to join the Army or police is a hero because they are putting their lives on the line for their country. Many officers see their families every 2-3 months in remote areas of Iraq because they just can't show up in front of their house so everyone can see that they are in the military; They need to take these precautions in order to protect their families. Most senior officers will tell you they have lost brothers, children and other family members who were killed by terrorists because of their affiliation with someone who is working with the coalition forces to make Iraq a better place to live and to eradicate forever these terrorists. WE have the easy jobs here in Iraq the Iraqi Soldiers and police have the toughest jobs day in and day out, we rotate out of here after 12-15 months they live here permanantly. May COL A a true Iraqi hero rest in peace!
25 May, 2007
Time to Move North**
**Note this was written on Tuesday 22 May but due to operational security (OPSEC) this was published today since no troop movements are announced in advance, especially when you're one of the Soldiers that will be in the red zone that given day and time.
My Uncle Ken an Army Air Corps WWII Pacific Theater veteran once told me prior to me leaving for Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Desert Storm to keep my head down because somewhere out there on the battlefield there was a piece of munition with my name on it and I needed to make sure that the munition and I never met at the same place and the same time. That being said, it was definitely time for me to leave the IZ and move north to Taji where I will be managing the project for the remainder of year. Twice within a time span of less than 48 hours two rocket rounds landed within 50 yards or my hootch! Sunday morning 20 May we got hit with a couple of rocket rounds, while running towards a duck and cover when the siren went off you could hear one round flying overhead at a low altitude and then you couldn’t hear anything but branches falling off the palm tree. As luck would have it the round was a dud and didn’t explode behind the row of trailers directly behind my hootch. The EOD guys had to come and remove the round.
Last night when I got back from work I noticed some yellow crime scene tape ala CSI Vegas blocking off the last trailers on both sides of the walkway where I live and the trailers directly behind those and the shower and toilet area. I asked someone what had happened and they told me that something that would have made Sir Thomas Crapper mad, the latrine trailer AKA “The Shitter” took a direct hit from one of the two rockets that impacted in our area, the other one exploded nearby but did not hit anything. One of our Sergeants Majors was running towards the duck and cover and when the round hit was thrown on his ass and received a mild concussion besides getting his head rung pretty bad. This morning I got a glimpse of what remained of the trailer, it was a twisted piece of metal with bits of metal, tin, porcelain strewn about the area, the sandbags kept most of the debris from seriously injuring anyone since it took the impact of the shrapnel and metal from shed. Surprisingly no one was injured by the shrapnel and that could be attributed to the Army working us long hard hours spending your taxpayer money in a very prudent manner, and that many of us go to Church often to ask for some divine guidance out here! The only inconvenience was going to the latrines and taking a shower (since that trailer was also damaged), but we managed.
I packed most of my belongings and after going to work this morning headed back to the hootch picked up the stuff I was going to take with me to Taji and bid the hootch a short farewell, knowing that I would be back for a couple of days sometime soon. After taking one last look of the twisted heap I now have a new friend and that friends' name is cement, especially a building with a roof made of cement. Metal trailers may be nicer than some of the cement barracks that we live in, but after seeing what a rocket did to a metal trailer I am a true believer of a hardened shelter!
Goodbye IZ and Taji here I come!
My Uncle Ken an Army Air Corps WWII Pacific Theater veteran once told me prior to me leaving for Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Desert Storm to keep my head down because somewhere out there on the battlefield there was a piece of munition with my name on it and I needed to make sure that the munition and I never met at the same place and the same time. That being said, it was definitely time for me to leave the IZ and move north to Taji where I will be managing the project for the remainder of year. Twice within a time span of less than 48 hours two rocket rounds landed within 50 yards or my hootch! Sunday morning 20 May we got hit with a couple of rocket rounds, while running towards a duck and cover when the siren went off you could hear one round flying overhead at a low altitude and then you couldn’t hear anything but branches falling off the palm tree. As luck would have it the round was a dud and didn’t explode behind the row of trailers directly behind my hootch. The EOD guys had to come and remove the round.
Last night when I got back from work I noticed some yellow crime scene tape ala CSI Vegas blocking off the last trailers on both sides of the walkway where I live and the trailers directly behind those and the shower and toilet area. I asked someone what had happened and they told me that something that would have made Sir Thomas Crapper mad, the latrine trailer AKA “The Shitter” took a direct hit from one of the two rockets that impacted in our area, the other one exploded nearby but did not hit anything. One of our Sergeants Majors was running towards the duck and cover and when the round hit was thrown on his ass and received a mild concussion besides getting his head rung pretty bad. This morning I got a glimpse of what remained of the trailer, it was a twisted piece of metal with bits of metal, tin, porcelain strewn about the area, the sandbags kept most of the debris from seriously injuring anyone since it took the impact of the shrapnel and metal from shed. Surprisingly no one was injured by the shrapnel and that could be attributed to the Army working us long hard hours spending your taxpayer money in a very prudent manner, and that many of us go to Church often to ask for some divine guidance out here! The only inconvenience was going to the latrines and taking a shower (since that trailer was also damaged), but we managed.
I packed most of my belongings and after going to work this morning headed back to the hootch picked up the stuff I was going to take with me to Taji and bid the hootch a short farewell, knowing that I would be back for a couple of days sometime soon. After taking one last look of the twisted heap I now have a new friend and that friends' name is cement, especially a building with a roof made of cement. Metal trailers may be nicer than some of the cement barracks that we live in, but after seeing what a rocket did to a metal trailer I am a true believer of a hardened shelter!
Goodbye IZ and Taji here I come!
19 May, 2007
Good Day Today
Today was a day that had lots of good things occur. This morning we had our awards ceremony for the departing Soldiers and it was nice to see them get recognized for all their hard work they have done this past year.
I am pretty much up to speed with the project and what I have to do. Today I had to complete the request for submittal of funds to one of the groups that support us, so I filled out the forms, typed up the letter and walked it upstairs to get processed. At least now I know how to handle the PO aspect of the project. Later in the morning I headed over to the Ministry of Defense, tod drop off some correspondence for one of the departments that is managing the rampup of the Maintenance Depot. The building from the outside is a wonderful display of Arab architecture and reminds me of the buildings in Granada's Alhambra. But one you go inside it reminded me of the hospital in Cadiz. People milling around everywhere, smoking cigs, lots of bureaucrats and depending on your rank some rooms had AC and the others did not. After walking over and then climbing up 3 sets of stairs in full battle rattle and roaming the unconditione hallways I felt like I was in heaven when I stepped into the air conditioned office of the General. After taking care of the paperwork and enjoying their chai tea I didn't want to leave.
Back at work we heard that Tony Blair was in the IZ and over that way they had received some incoming rocket rounds near the English Embassy, makes you wonder who leaked the info to the bad guys about the visit and itiniary?
I am in the process now of getting furniture and office equipment for some of the buildings that the Iraq's will occupy un north. Unfortunately until I get boots on the ground and link up with the NCO who will be working on the project I have to do most of the tasks Rest assured as a taxpayer the Iraq's will not be sittng on $500 toilet seats like our Air Force compadres, nor will they be getting the nice 60" flat screen TV's that for some reason the PX sells over here but first of all where in the hell can you stick one of those in an 8X9 hootch and all I want is to buy a medium PT shirt and PT shorts, which of course are sold out!!
I missed cigar club tonite, as I had to finish some reports so tomorrow I'll probably link up with them and enjoy a nice cigar with the guys!
Before I go a quick shoutout to my son Javier who at last Saturdays club soccer game scored two goals and like his dad (in his younger soccer playing days) on the second goal cleverly used his butt to deflect the ball into the back of the net for his teams sixth goal! Great job Javi and a few more goals and they'll start calling you Pichi Javier !!
The Colonel
I am pretty much up to speed with the project and what I have to do. Today I had to complete the request for submittal of funds to one of the groups that support us, so I filled out the forms, typed up the letter and walked it upstairs to get processed. At least now I know how to handle the PO aspect of the project. Later in the morning I headed over to the Ministry of Defense, tod drop off some correspondence for one of the departments that is managing the rampup of the Maintenance Depot. The building from the outside is a wonderful display of Arab architecture and reminds me of the buildings in Granada's Alhambra. But one you go inside it reminded me of the hospital in Cadiz. People milling around everywhere, smoking cigs, lots of bureaucrats and depending on your rank some rooms had AC and the others did not. After walking over and then climbing up 3 sets of stairs in full battle rattle and roaming the unconditione hallways I felt like I was in heaven when I stepped into the air conditioned office of the General. After taking care of the paperwork and enjoying their chai tea I didn't want to leave.
Back at work we heard that Tony Blair was in the IZ and over that way they had received some incoming rocket rounds near the English Embassy, makes you wonder who leaked the info to the bad guys about the visit and itiniary?
I am in the process now of getting furniture and office equipment for some of the buildings that the Iraq's will occupy un north. Unfortunately until I get boots on the ground and link up with the NCO who will be working on the project I have to do most of the tasks Rest assured as a taxpayer the Iraq's will not be sittng on $500 toilet seats like our Air Force compadres, nor will they be getting the nice 60" flat screen TV's that for some reason the PX sells over here but first of all where in the hell can you stick one of those in an 8X9 hootch and all I want is to buy a medium PT shirt and PT shorts, which of course are sold out!!
I missed cigar club tonite, as I had to finish some reports so tomorrow I'll probably link up with them and enjoy a nice cigar with the guys!
Before I go a quick shoutout to my son Javier who at last Saturdays club soccer game scored two goals and like his dad (in his younger soccer playing days) on the second goal cleverly used his butt to deflect the ball into the back of the net for his teams sixth goal! Great job Javi and a few more goals and they'll start calling you Pichi Javier !!
The Colonel
18 May, 2007
Fat Boy Friday and Broke Dick
Well it’s a Friday and since it’s Friday I have joined in with my Aussie comrade and another one of the officers who I am working with and participated in Fat Boy Friday, which is where you can eat whatever you want and no one will say anything about what you just ingested. This was their last one before heading home so I had to partake in the event and it was fun! That being said those chicken nuggets, ton of onion rings washed down with some German non-alcoholic beer and 2 scoops of baskin robbins vanilla, cookies and cream on top of a huge slice of apple pie were a perfect way to end my Friday which really felt like Saturday since we didn’t have to be in until 1300 hrs.
I am finishing up with my Aussie counterpart Brett on the project that I am going to be managing since I will be heading north next week to get boots on the ground and start managing projects the way I like to which is management by walking around, and it’s tough to do that when your sitting in the IZ and all the work is being done somewhere else.
It was nice to sleep in today, but I had to go to sick call this morning so I woke up earlier that I wanted so I could eat breakfast and then go to sick call. While on my way to breakfast I ran into our old Division Chief of Staff Col. T who is over here for a couple months before he gets his star pinned on him and takes over a chemical Bde out east somewhere. We caught up on the latest news about our peers and coordinated a lunch later this week to have a chat in a more relaxing atmosphere! I went over to sick call and only had to wait about 40 minutes to be seen which was nice since they had some good magazines to peruse. As Carmen would say I am starting to get old or something like that. The previous week it was my back, this week on Tuesday while running I started getting a sharp pain on my left quad where it meets the knee so I stopped running, stretched and decided to take it easy and layoff running until the soreness was gone. Last night I had to climb into the front seat of the bus going back to the hootch since the bus was full and when I climbed over the console in the middle I felt a sharp pain in my left quad and knew that I had either pulled, strained or tore my quad. As luck would have it there was no ice back at the hootch, the refrigerators that have chilled water were empty and that sucked since I was planning on using the cold water bottle as an ice pack, and I was down to one last advil. So I took that went to bed and when I got up this morning my leg was tight and hurting big time. Bottom line Doc says that I tore some of the muscle tissue on my quad, gave me some anti-inflammatory medicine (10 day supply) and told me to relax, no PT and it should be much better in 10 days. If it is still sore like it is now in a couple of days to come back for further treatment. Problem is that I am climbing up a wall with all that is going on and to not be able to do any cardio, nor walking since my leg hurts like hell is really a downer.
Last night we had a hail and farewell at the pool, which in Saddams day must have had some great parties and other extra curricular activities. The pool is like those you see in Marbella or in the Caribbean where it’s huge and shaped in a weird shape that sort of wraps around. Since it is so sunny here there is a huge canopy that covers most of the pool and the spa area. The water is warm now so people actually do swim either laps or just get wet. Last night it was raining so there were only a few swimming. Right next to where we were sitting they had a Country and Western DJ playing some great tunes and had already spread the saw dust on the ground so any one two stepping could move around with out a problem. It was nice to hear some CW since Freedom Radio (Armed Forces Network) plays very little country and most of the music is stuff I don’t like or care to listen to. We had a nice BBQ and it was nice to hear about what the outgoing group accomplished this last year. You could see their excitement about going home soon and all I could think about is it will be nice next year when it’s our turn. The only irony of last night was while we were out there having a good time, the main flight approach to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH) was right over our head and at least 6 birds came in during the evening. It sort of makes you take stock and appreciate what you have and that life is pretty frail at times and at any given moment any one of us could be in one of those birds.
The other day looks like the bad guys wanted to welcome us newbies with a nice rocket barrage. They are not stupid and tend to shell the IZ (2-3 rounds) in the late afternoon when there is lots of traffic and people in the streets so after they launch their rockets or mortars they can blend in, making it that much more difficult for the coalition forces to find, follow and destroy them. So we’re hard at work inside the office and the siren comes in about an impending attack so we don our IBA’s and Kevlar helmets and wait and then you hear them, bam, bam, bam, bam a short pause and then bam, bam. That’s six that should be about it, then it’s bam, bam, bam and they are getting closer as the sound is louder and the building shudders more. Finally four more rounds impact for the total of 13 and the guys who are getting ready to go home smile and say ‘that’s a record we have never had 13 rounds launched our way for the entire year”.
A couple of nights earlier I was talking to Sun HR on an issue regarding my MLOA while I was doing the laundry when you could hear over the generator sounds the whoosh of a rocket flying over head and the boom a few seconds later. I imagine that the HR rep must have been wondering what was going on when I said “ah shit” and started running to the duck and cover bunker. I no sooner got under the cover when the second rocket exploded and the HR rep said what was that and that is when I told her I was in Iraq, and if she could help me with the issue at hand. After I hung up a couple of folks were joking saying that it is surreal that you could be on the phone talking to the states trying to resolve something and at the same time the bad guys were launching rockets and other dangerous munitions your way.
Gotta run ooops I mean walk and I feel every one of my 48 years today!
I am finishing up with my Aussie counterpart Brett on the project that I am going to be managing since I will be heading north next week to get boots on the ground and start managing projects the way I like to which is management by walking around, and it’s tough to do that when your sitting in the IZ and all the work is being done somewhere else.
It was nice to sleep in today, but I had to go to sick call this morning so I woke up earlier that I wanted so I could eat breakfast and then go to sick call. While on my way to breakfast I ran into our old Division Chief of Staff Col. T who is over here for a couple months before he gets his star pinned on him and takes over a chemical Bde out east somewhere. We caught up on the latest news about our peers and coordinated a lunch later this week to have a chat in a more relaxing atmosphere! I went over to sick call and only had to wait about 40 minutes to be seen which was nice since they had some good magazines to peruse. As Carmen would say I am starting to get old or something like that. The previous week it was my back, this week on Tuesday while running I started getting a sharp pain on my left quad where it meets the knee so I stopped running, stretched and decided to take it easy and layoff running until the soreness was gone. Last night I had to climb into the front seat of the bus going back to the hootch since the bus was full and when I climbed over the console in the middle I felt a sharp pain in my left quad and knew that I had either pulled, strained or tore my quad. As luck would have it there was no ice back at the hootch, the refrigerators that have chilled water were empty and that sucked since I was planning on using the cold water bottle as an ice pack, and I was down to one last advil. So I took that went to bed and when I got up this morning my leg was tight and hurting big time. Bottom line Doc says that I tore some of the muscle tissue on my quad, gave me some anti-inflammatory medicine (10 day supply) and told me to relax, no PT and it should be much better in 10 days. If it is still sore like it is now in a couple of days to come back for further treatment. Problem is that I am climbing up a wall with all that is going on and to not be able to do any cardio, nor walking since my leg hurts like hell is really a downer.
Last night we had a hail and farewell at the pool, which in Saddams day must have had some great parties and other extra curricular activities. The pool is like those you see in Marbella or in the Caribbean where it’s huge and shaped in a weird shape that sort of wraps around. Since it is so sunny here there is a huge canopy that covers most of the pool and the spa area. The water is warm now so people actually do swim either laps or just get wet. Last night it was raining so there were only a few swimming. Right next to where we were sitting they had a Country and Western DJ playing some great tunes and had already spread the saw dust on the ground so any one two stepping could move around with out a problem. It was nice to hear some CW since Freedom Radio (Armed Forces Network) plays very little country and most of the music is stuff I don’t like or care to listen to. We had a nice BBQ and it was nice to hear about what the outgoing group accomplished this last year. You could see their excitement about going home soon and all I could think about is it will be nice next year when it’s our turn. The only irony of last night was while we were out there having a good time, the main flight approach to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH) was right over our head and at least 6 birds came in during the evening. It sort of makes you take stock and appreciate what you have and that life is pretty frail at times and at any given moment any one of us could be in one of those birds.
The other day looks like the bad guys wanted to welcome us newbies with a nice rocket barrage. They are not stupid and tend to shell the IZ (2-3 rounds) in the late afternoon when there is lots of traffic and people in the streets so after they launch their rockets or mortars they can blend in, making it that much more difficult for the coalition forces to find, follow and destroy them. So we’re hard at work inside the office and the siren comes in about an impending attack so we don our IBA’s and Kevlar helmets and wait and then you hear them, bam, bam, bam, bam a short pause and then bam, bam. That’s six that should be about it, then it’s bam, bam, bam and they are getting closer as the sound is louder and the building shudders more. Finally four more rounds impact for the total of 13 and the guys who are getting ready to go home smile and say ‘that’s a record we have never had 13 rounds launched our way for the entire year”.
A couple of nights earlier I was talking to Sun HR on an issue regarding my MLOA while I was doing the laundry when you could hear over the generator sounds the whoosh of a rocket flying over head and the boom a few seconds later. I imagine that the HR rep must have been wondering what was going on when I said “ah shit” and started running to the duck and cover bunker. I no sooner got under the cover when the second rocket exploded and the HR rep said what was that and that is when I told her I was in Iraq, and if she could help me with the issue at hand. After I hung up a couple of folks were joking saying that it is surreal that you could be on the phone talking to the states trying to resolve something and at the same time the bad guys were launching rockets and other dangerous munitions your way.
Gotta run ooops I mean walk and I feel every one of my 48 years today!
13 May, 2007
Happy Mothers Day!!
Happy Mothers Day to all those mothers out there who are on the front lines every day taking care of their children from sunrise to sunset and even when we are grown up and out of the house they still keep tabs on us to make sure we stay out of trouble!
Here things are starting to pickup quickly as I am finally getting sucked into my new job and the water is around my waist and I am about to lose my grip on the guy I am replacing and will soon be swimming or sinking in this project. Since I hate to get my head wet while swimming that means I will be keeping my head above the water line as make my way to the shore and get the project rolling quickly!
It has been hot and humid here of late and yesterday reminded me of levante except the wind was much warmer than what hits the costa andaluza. Today at 1000 hrs we are already at 88 and are expected to go triple digits.
Yesterday we took a ride to one of the other FOB’s and hit a café that was actually pretty nice and most of us ordered frapuccinos to beat the heat and just relax in the air conditioned cafe for a bit to break up the long days here in the office.
With today being Sunday I got a couple of extra hours of shut eye since we don't start work until 1000 hrs, and as has been the norm took time out of work day to attend 1630 Sunday mass. Other than that I may try to get up north sometime next week to sign for my wet trailer (trailer with bathroom and shower) and move most everything into the trailer and set it up so when I finally make the move north the following week I can just move in and it will make the helo ride smoother with less crap to carry.
Our folks are getting sped up on their new jobs and are doing well and seem to be picking things up quickly which is good for them. Hard to believe that I have been here just over 2 weeks in the IZ, and almost 4 weeks in theater. Just finished up with the nightly cigar smoke out in the patio/break area and dad eat your heart out, had a nice Cuban cigar that you surely would have enjoyed smoking! It’s a nice way to end the work day and since there isn’t much for me to do back in the hootch I decided to stick around and shoot the breeze with some Air Force guys and trade some good military stories and jokes. We all agree the Air Force has the cushy jobs and they like to remind us Army and Marines of that all the time!
Guess I will will start running again tomorrow, have taken the last few days off since my back is killing me, first thought I must have done something to it while wearing my body armor. But then again it could be that the mattress I am sleeping on was probably used in the prisons that Saddam had set up for his political opponents and even though he’s dead it must be payback time for us infidels. But I keep reminding myself that even though the damn springs in the mattress are killing me,it still beats the hell out of sleeping on the ground or on top of the HMWWV’s like I did during Desert Storm!
Guess it’s time to call Carmen and see how she is enjoying her mothers day with Cheenie and Javi, then call mom befoe I head back to the hootch and upload the blog at the internet café and get some rest.
Just checked online the Barca-Betis score and my homeboys ended up levelling the match at 1-1 in the 88th minute which means that my brother Roy the Cule will be mad, and my brother in law Pepe and my nephews will be happy campers since Real Madrid is not level with Barca with 4 games to go!
The Colonel
Here things are starting to pickup quickly as I am finally getting sucked into my new job and the water is around my waist and I am about to lose my grip on the guy I am replacing and will soon be swimming or sinking in this project. Since I hate to get my head wet while swimming that means I will be keeping my head above the water line as make my way to the shore and get the project rolling quickly!
It has been hot and humid here of late and yesterday reminded me of levante except the wind was much warmer than what hits the costa andaluza. Today at 1000 hrs we are already at 88 and are expected to go triple digits.
Yesterday we took a ride to one of the other FOB’s and hit a café that was actually pretty nice and most of us ordered frapuccinos to beat the heat and just relax in the air conditioned cafe for a bit to break up the long days here in the office.
With today being Sunday I got a couple of extra hours of shut eye since we don't start work until 1000 hrs, and as has been the norm took time out of work day to attend 1630 Sunday mass. Other than that I may try to get up north sometime next week to sign for my wet trailer (trailer with bathroom and shower) and move most everything into the trailer and set it up so when I finally make the move north the following week I can just move in and it will make the helo ride smoother with less crap to carry.
Our folks are getting sped up on their new jobs and are doing well and seem to be picking things up quickly which is good for them. Hard to believe that I have been here just over 2 weeks in the IZ, and almost 4 weeks in theater. Just finished up with the nightly cigar smoke out in the patio/break area and dad eat your heart out, had a nice Cuban cigar that you surely would have enjoyed smoking! It’s a nice way to end the work day and since there isn’t much for me to do back in the hootch I decided to stick around and shoot the breeze with some Air Force guys and trade some good military stories and jokes. We all agree the Air Force has the cushy jobs and they like to remind us Army and Marines of that all the time!
Guess I will will start running again tomorrow, have taken the last few days off since my back is killing me, first thought I must have done something to it while wearing my body armor. But then again it could be that the mattress I am sleeping on was probably used in the prisons that Saddam had set up for his political opponents and even though he’s dead it must be payback time for us infidels. But I keep reminding myself that even though the damn springs in the mattress are killing me,it still beats the hell out of sleeping on the ground or on top of the HMWWV’s like I did during Desert Storm!
Guess it’s time to call Carmen and see how she is enjoying her mothers day with Cheenie and Javi, then call mom befoe I head back to the hootch and upload the blog at the internet café and get some rest.
Just checked online the Barca-Betis score and my homeboys ended up levelling the match at 1-1 in the 88th minute which means that my brother Roy the Cule will be mad, and my brother in law Pepe and my nephews will be happy campers since Real Madrid is not level with Barca with 4 games to go!
The Colonel
09 May, 2007
There is a Running God!!
My prayers were finally answered yesterday. After 3 plus weeks of running on a treadmill I thought I was going crazy. Those of you who know me, know that I never pass up a chance to run outside regardless if it is raining or below freezing, anything to avoid the dreaded treadmill. Goretex, polypro and mud are my best friends! Unfortunately except for those couple of days in Kuwait there was no option but running inside. So the other day I catch this marine running by the embassy and flagged him down and asked if there was a running loop or course where I am staying at. He said yes and described to me the course on the dirt in front of me. So at work I checked out the map of the IZ and there it was a 1.5 mile loop. So at 0545 I headed out of the hootch and did my 3+ loops for my 5 mile fix, on the course I ran into SGT Mike the guy I ran with at Riley, we both laughed as that was his first day on the course and he had no idea where he was going. Since then it's been a daily fix and this Sunday we're planning on doing 10+ miles, it's not like running along the bay or Rancho San Antonio but it beats the hell out of the gym and with the T-Wall it keeps out some of the sun on part of the course. For me it is Mecca!
Work is definitely picking up as I am receiving more and more info on the project from the guys who were managing it. It is nice to be working with Microsoft Project Planner again, the Enact project was awful at work. I am not done yet with all the tasks but at this point there are 350+ lines. Today we went over the budget and it is larger than anything I ever did at Sun. They are finishing up on gettimg me my quarters up north, computer and vehicle. From what it looks like I will get one of those small Nissan pickups but it will only be a 2 WD not a 4X4 and tends to get stuck in the mud in winter, I guess it beats the hell out of walking! Tomorrow I get to meet the Principal Engineers on the projects boss, she is also a Colonel and here in Iraq it is essential to do office calls or at least meet face to face with the people who you will be dealing with, just in case you need to make that 911 call and get instant help or that combat multiplier to your rescue in order to stay on track or get the job done.
Last night we briefed one of the generals regarding our status of the project, Major Reeves the Aussie who is currently handling most of project did the briefing and I got to listen in and get the generals marching orders going forward. He asked if there was anything we needed and we told him that I needed an administrative NCO to help me once I head north and voila he told me to go ahead and pick one of the Soldiers at the supply depot, that was easy since I knew all of the Soldiers at that location. Friday I finally get a cellphone, that is critical since with our folks coming into theater and getting trained by the Soldiers leaving I was kicked out for good of the desk that I was using. so now it's my laptop and find a seat anywhere there is one and make it happen. It is the ultimate flex office, except there are no online reservations and as I found out the hard way rank has no privileges! :>(
I have to say happy birthday to my dad and niece both who celebrate their birthdays today 9 May. I was able to speak with both of them today, Mae wasn't to talkative this morning but according to my sister she was excited about going to school and sharing her cupcakes with her classmates on her birthday. Dad could't hear too well on the cellphone so mom served as the spokesperson, I guess they were in Iowa somewhere heading back home to Wisconsin, where they will spend their summer before snowbirding back in California.
It's been getting hotter each day this week, I think today we got up to 104 and those damn flies are starting to rear their ugly heads and are becoming a nuisance. I am lucky to be working in an air conditioned office, the walk from there to the chow hall seems like your walking in hell, sunny , super bright, the heat off the ground getting the best of you and the sun feels like it's about one foot from your head. It's funny in the morning after working out you shower then go back to the hootch change in an air conditioned room, then put on your gear to include IBA and walk over to catch the bus to work. Arrive and walk to your office, buy then you are soaked and are glad that you have poly pro on that wicks the sweat and a decent deodorant because if not watch out, thank God the French aren't here or the whole place would stink!
That's all for now, good to see the A's in first place, Betis loing again at home and
another day checked off on the calendar, but hey whose counting!
Work is definitely picking up as I am receiving more and more info on the project from the guys who were managing it. It is nice to be working with Microsoft Project Planner again, the Enact project was awful at work. I am not done yet with all the tasks but at this point there are 350+ lines. Today we went over the budget and it is larger than anything I ever did at Sun. They are finishing up on gettimg me my quarters up north, computer and vehicle. From what it looks like I will get one of those small Nissan pickups but it will only be a 2 WD not a 4X4 and tends to get stuck in the mud in winter, I guess it beats the hell out of walking! Tomorrow I get to meet the Principal Engineers on the projects boss, she is also a Colonel and here in Iraq it is essential to do office calls or at least meet face to face with the people who you will be dealing with, just in case you need to make that 911 call and get instant help or that combat multiplier to your rescue in order to stay on track or get the job done.
Last night we briefed one of the generals regarding our status of the project, Major Reeves the Aussie who is currently handling most of project did the briefing and I got to listen in and get the generals marching orders going forward. He asked if there was anything we needed and we told him that I needed an administrative NCO to help me once I head north and voila he told me to go ahead and pick one of the Soldiers at the supply depot, that was easy since I knew all of the Soldiers at that location. Friday I finally get a cellphone, that is critical since with our folks coming into theater and getting trained by the Soldiers leaving I was kicked out for good of the desk that I was using. so now it's my laptop and find a seat anywhere there is one and make it happen. It is the ultimate flex office, except there are no online reservations and as I found out the hard way rank has no privileges! :>(
I have to say happy birthday to my dad and niece both who celebrate their birthdays today 9 May. I was able to speak with both of them today, Mae wasn't to talkative this morning but according to my sister she was excited about going to school and sharing her cupcakes with her classmates on her birthday. Dad could't hear too well on the cellphone so mom served as the spokesperson, I guess they were in Iowa somewhere heading back home to Wisconsin, where they will spend their summer before snowbirding back in California.
It's been getting hotter each day this week, I think today we got up to 104 and those damn flies are starting to rear their ugly heads and are becoming a nuisance. I am lucky to be working in an air conditioned office, the walk from there to the chow hall seems like your walking in hell, sunny , super bright, the heat off the ground getting the best of you and the sun feels like it's about one foot from your head. It's funny in the morning after working out you shower then go back to the hootch change in an air conditioned room, then put on your gear to include IBA and walk over to catch the bus to work. Arrive and walk to your office, buy then you are soaked and are glad that you have poly pro on that wicks the sweat and a decent deodorant because if not watch out, thank God the French aren't here or the whole place would stink!
That's all for now, good to see the A's in first place, Betis loing again at home and
another day checked off on the calendar, but hey whose counting!
05 May, 2007
One week in the IZ and adventures outside the IZ
Well it’s been just over a week since I have arrived here in the IZ and I am getting used to life here. Since there is not much to do in my hootch I have been utilizing some of the activities of the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) section here in the IZ. Besides the internet café which are computers that we can use for 30 minutes a pop or longer if there is no one waiting, they have some movies and various exercise classes at the gyms.
The other day I went to a spinning class and spun my ass off, it had been years since I had been riding so long in the saddle and Tony our instructor kept us spinning non-stop for 60 minutes. It was a lot of fun and I definitely burned off some of that ice cream I ate the other day.
Yesterday I headed north with some of the folks on the project to take a look at the location and walk through some of the buildings, plus meet with some of the folks that are advising on the project. We rode in up armored SUVs and in a Wolverine which is a South African armored vehicle. I had never seen the wolverines before but had heard about them, they are excellent vehicles for surviving mines and that is why they are utilized here in Iraq.
http://www.sfu.ca/casr/bg-casspir.htm
The image above is what a wolverine looks like, the ones we had were equipped with machine guns on the top turrets. We headed north and the ride was somewhat longer than expected because of some traffic jams, which are never good because you become a stationary target. On one of the traffic jams we had to cross the median and head onto oncoming traffic to get through the mess and then back onto the right side of the median. Here in Iraq the rule of the road is when a convoy of military vehicles is approaching from the rear you move over to the right and let them through much like when a fire truck or ambulance approaches from the rear back in the states.
Our walk through of the facilities and grounds was uneventful but helped me get a clearer picture of the scope of the project and what awaits me in the next 12 months. While I was up there I meet with some of the guys who we will be replacing and also got a chance to pick up one of my duffle bags to bring back with me. Since all my bags except my ruck and A Bag went north where as I am here in the IZ.
I was glad to make it back since I had on the Deltoid protectors on which cover your shoulders and deltoids, they also include armor on the sides so that made the vest about 12 pounds heavier, plus although it gives you additional protection it takes away from some of your mobility in the upper body. I felt like a penguin at times when I had to climb in and out of the vehicle or grab some stuff and tried to move inside the vehicle; and it sort of reminded me of when I was a kid and mom would dress me up nice and warm when we went sledding to the point that I could barely move with all the layers of clothes on and all it took was one fall and you’d roll down the hill like a log!
I hurriedly turned back in the deltoid protection, finished work and was glad to get back to the hootch so I could get out of my by now sweaty and stinky clothes and take a nice shower and put on my leisurely attire which is the Army PT uniform and my 9M strapped to my leg and hit the internet café and read some mail and knock this out.
That’s all for now I get to sleep in tomorrow since it’s Sunday and we don’t have to be in until 1000 hrs.
The other day I went to a spinning class and spun my ass off, it had been years since I had been riding so long in the saddle and Tony our instructor kept us spinning non-stop for 60 minutes. It was a lot of fun and I definitely burned off some of that ice cream I ate the other day.
Yesterday I headed north with some of the folks on the project to take a look at the location and walk through some of the buildings, plus meet with some of the folks that are advising on the project. We rode in up armored SUVs and in a Wolverine which is a South African armored vehicle. I had never seen the wolverines before but had heard about them, they are excellent vehicles for surviving mines and that is why they are utilized here in Iraq.
http://www.sfu.ca/casr/bg-casspir.htm
The image above is what a wolverine looks like, the ones we had were equipped with machine guns on the top turrets. We headed north and the ride was somewhat longer than expected because of some traffic jams, which are never good because you become a stationary target. On one of the traffic jams we had to cross the median and head onto oncoming traffic to get through the mess and then back onto the right side of the median. Here in Iraq the rule of the road is when a convoy of military vehicles is approaching from the rear you move over to the right and let them through much like when a fire truck or ambulance approaches from the rear back in the states.
Our walk through of the facilities and grounds was uneventful but helped me get a clearer picture of the scope of the project and what awaits me in the next 12 months. While I was up there I meet with some of the guys who we will be replacing and also got a chance to pick up one of my duffle bags to bring back with me. Since all my bags except my ruck and A Bag went north where as I am here in the IZ.
I was glad to make it back since I had on the Deltoid protectors on which cover your shoulders and deltoids, they also include armor on the sides so that made the vest about 12 pounds heavier, plus although it gives you additional protection it takes away from some of your mobility in the upper body. I felt like a penguin at times when I had to climb in and out of the vehicle or grab some stuff and tried to move inside the vehicle; and it sort of reminded me of when I was a kid and mom would dress me up nice and warm when we went sledding to the point that I could barely move with all the layers of clothes on and all it took was one fall and you’d roll down the hill like a log!
I hurriedly turned back in the deltoid protection, finished work and was glad to get back to the hootch so I could get out of my by now sweaty and stinky clothes and take a nice shower and put on my leisurely attire which is the Army PT uniform and my 9M strapped to my leg and hit the internet café and read some mail and knock this out.
That’s all for now I get to sleep in tomorrow since it’s Sunday and we don’t have to be in until 1000 hrs.
02 May, 2007
Two Weeks In Theater!!
Wednesday 2 May 2007
I am finally getting settled into a battle rhythm for my duration here in the IZ. With most of the day being spent here at work, you tend to do everything here. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are eaten at the chow hall adjacent to our office. Workout at the gym is also the norm, so the days I do one workout a day I tend to do it here at work, and for the two a days then the second workout I do early in the morning over at the gym close to where my hootch is.
I am getting spun up on the details of the project that I will be leading, having met with my Corp of Engineer counterpart and the US Army Engineer officer who will also be supporting the project. Prior to that meeting we had our weekly meeting with our Iraqi Officers that will occupy the facility once we have it completed. There were three that Iraqi officers that attended the meeting. As usual we started off the meeting with Chai tea which is definitely habit forming especially with all that sugar that stuff has. Then a formal round of pleasantries and finally down to business.
Looks like I will be heading up north for a day or two to check out the current status of the project and look at the buildings and power generators on site. This will also give me a chance to speak with some of the Army Material Command (AMC) folks that are supporting the project.
The other day there were two incidents that were stark reminders that we are in a combat zone even though sometimes in the IZ one tends to forget. While waiting for the bus you could plainly hear two explosions about 5 minutes apart. The first one was a VBIED that exploded near one of the Government Bldgs outside of the IZ, the second one was a suicide bomber who blew himself up at the scene when the first responders IE police. Fire and medical personnel arrived at the scene. The first explosion was big enough to blow out windows in nearby buildings. Then at night right after I turned off the lights and hit the sack. About 5-6 rockets exploded in the IZ and the whole billeting area where I am staying at shook big time after the sounds made their way to where I was at. No one got hurt. The sirens went off and those outside had to take cover. I was inside but when your hootch is a metal trailer with a thin roof, it sort of doesn’t give you much protection from incoming rounds. So I put on my flak vest (IBA) and went back to sleep. At about 2330 hrs I work up the sirens were off which meant it was all clear, so I took off the vest and went back to sleep.
Today is suppose to be a scorcher as temps are to hit 99 degrees, it definitely would be a nice evening to hit the pool nearby, but since I only have one duffle bag and a ruck with me my civilian items are up north so I guess for now I am out of luck. A couple of minutes ago you could hear another loud explosion from inside my office and I just grabbed some coffee from the coffee shop and to the west you could see large clouds of smoke billowing to the sky which means another one of those scumbags decided to either detonate a bomb remotely or blow himself up and kill some more innocent civilians or Iraqi Security Forces.
I am finally getting settled into a battle rhythm for my duration here in the IZ. With most of the day being spent here at work, you tend to do everything here. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are eaten at the chow hall adjacent to our office. Workout at the gym is also the norm, so the days I do one workout a day I tend to do it here at work, and for the two a days then the second workout I do early in the morning over at the gym close to where my hootch is.
I am getting spun up on the details of the project that I will be leading, having met with my Corp of Engineer counterpart and the US Army Engineer officer who will also be supporting the project. Prior to that meeting we had our weekly meeting with our Iraqi Officers that will occupy the facility once we have it completed. There were three that Iraqi officers that attended the meeting. As usual we started off the meeting with Chai tea which is definitely habit forming especially with all that sugar that stuff has. Then a formal round of pleasantries and finally down to business.
Looks like I will be heading up north for a day or two to check out the current status of the project and look at the buildings and power generators on site. This will also give me a chance to speak with some of the Army Material Command (AMC) folks that are supporting the project.
The other day there were two incidents that were stark reminders that we are in a combat zone even though sometimes in the IZ one tends to forget. While waiting for the bus you could plainly hear two explosions about 5 minutes apart. The first one was a VBIED that exploded near one of the Government Bldgs outside of the IZ, the second one was a suicide bomber who blew himself up at the scene when the first responders IE police. Fire and medical personnel arrived at the scene. The first explosion was big enough to blow out windows in nearby buildings. Then at night right after I turned off the lights and hit the sack. About 5-6 rockets exploded in the IZ and the whole billeting area where I am staying at shook big time after the sounds made their way to where I was at. No one got hurt. The sirens went off and those outside had to take cover. I was inside but when your hootch is a metal trailer with a thin roof, it sort of doesn’t give you much protection from incoming rounds. So I put on my flak vest (IBA) and went back to sleep. At about 2330 hrs I work up the sirens were off which meant it was all clear, so I took off the vest and went back to sleep.
Today is suppose to be a scorcher as temps are to hit 99 degrees, it definitely would be a nice evening to hit the pool nearby, but since I only have one duffle bag and a ruck with me my civilian items are up north so I guess for now I am out of luck. A couple of minutes ago you could hear another loud explosion from inside my office and I just grabbed some coffee from the coffee shop and to the west you could see large clouds of smoke billowing to the sky which means another one of those scumbags decided to either detonate a bomb remotely or blow himself up and kill some more innocent civilians or Iraqi Security Forces.
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