Then I swam the English Channel...
Mood:  happy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... But not really.

The Vicenza Gym hosted an event called "Swim the English Channel," but the event is just symbolic.  It was a 21-mile swim, which is the EQUIVALENT of the English Channel, although it was to be swam in the Gym's pool, over a period of two months (July and August).

I like swimming for PT and Kimberly thought I should do it, even though we knew we'd be in the middle of a move to Canada.  So I signed up, knowing I'd have to hurry it along a bit.

It took me seven days; six days of swimming and one day where the pool was closed.  I swam 5k (100-laps) per day, Wednesday through Saturday; 7k (140-laps) Sunday and Tuesday.  Monday the pool was closed.  The the movers came on Wednesday to pack all of our household goods.

In the end, I swam 21-miles in roughly 17 hours.  -Just like the REAL English Channel, only with breaks, meals, and a wall I could push off of every 25 meters.  :)  I finished first of the 20 or so competitors, and am still the only one finished after 9 days.

Oh well, it was more PT than I would have done...And I got a "free" t-shirt.

Enjoy!  My next post will be about our move to Canada!

- Ryan

 

What to do on a Sunday morning...
Mood:  happy

 

 

Let’s see.  Four-day weekend; what to do, what to do…Wait a second, I have an idea!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was our Sunday.  Marty (the guy strapped to my back) is a friend of a friend, which was good enough for our introduction to Skydiving!  What a great time!  Kimberly and Jacoby were both excited about going but, in the end, Jacoby was too young for the jump.

Kimberly was AWESOME.  Check out her exit above!  This is her/our first freefall exit.  Amazing! 

 

One thing is for certain:  We enjoy life under the canopy!  -So, once we get to Canada, we will be signing up to get our Paragliding license.   No freefall, but lots of great views.

 

 

So, what did we do after plummeting from 14,000ft?  We ate at Taco Bell for lunch, then went to the commissary.  J  Oh, well.  Such is the “extreme” life…

 

For the full videos, here are the links:

ME:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2WXsiEJ2Y0

KIMBERLY:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9_OJz6cRVY 

 

Take care.

MSC Magnifica
Mood:  happy

 

We started planning this cruise around the time I got back from my mid-tour leave (R&R) in Afghanistan.  Several of the other soldiers went on similar cruises with the same company and had a great time, so we thought we'd look into it. We found one that went to places we'd like to see, that left at around the right time period, and was sufficiently long to fill the allotted vacation time period. 

 

The MSC Magnifica was the company and ship that we chose.  The boat is less than a year old and is beautiful. We had a nice cabin that was a little on the small side.  Our double bed dominated the room.  What little was left was taken up by Jacoby's hide-a-bed couch.  When his bed was out, you literally had to crawl over it to get to our balcony.

 

 

In addition to our room, the ship had a casino, a theater (for shows, not movies), several bar/lounges, a few restaurants, a buffet, a library, a teen club/techno dance club, two pools, several Jacuzzis, a health spa, a gym, shops, and a few other areas.  There were lots of planned activities, including "bar games", BINGO, nightly shows, themed after-dinner parties, stretching and aerobics sessions, a talent show, etc, etc.  Lots to do while on board, but they did do a short Italian Reposo, which is to say there was roughly two hours of down-time (no scheduled activities) between 1:00p and 3:00p daily.  You could always sit in the lounges and listen to the live music provided by several entertainers, go swimming, walk the decks and watch the waves, or even take a nap if you were so inclined.  There were a few VERY late nights...

 

 

But the big attraction of this cruise was the excursions!  We got on the boat in Venice.  Our excursions took us to Bari, Rhoades, Cyprus, Cairo, Jerusalem, Olympia, Dubrovnik, and Ravenna.

 

 

Bari is an Italian town on the south east coast of Italy.  While there, we visited a small village that used a special way to build their houses.  The houses were called "Trullos."  The roofs were built by stacking the local rocks up to an apex in the center.  The Apex could be removed at will, which would cause the roof to collapse entirely.  Easy to build, easy to wreck.  They did this because at the time, the law said that the locals had to pay taxes on all finished houses.  "Finished" was defined as "with a roof."  So, whenever the villagers got word that the tax man was coming, down came the roofs!  The entire village was built this way, which was interesting thing to see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rhoades is a Greek island.  BEAUTIFUL to see.  Here we saw our first site of a Wonder of the Ancient World.  Colossus used to stand here, at the entrance to their port.  Colossus was a 135m tall statue of the Greece god Helios.  The boats would sail into the harbor between his legs.  Now there are small status were each foot used to be.  We walked the streets, saw the Grand Masters Palace (from the outside), saw what was left of Aphrodite's Temple, shopped a little, and ate authentic Greek food.  Rhoades is one of the places I would happily return to and spend more time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Cyprus, we saw Apollo’s Temple and the ancient ruins surrounding it.  They also had Achilles' house, but we didn't get that far...Beautiful place, but not much there.  We saw what there was, and then moved on to Cairo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day we landed in Alexandria, Egypt, the site of our second Wonder of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse at Alexandria, which no longer stands.  We went to Cairo.  Cairo was a dirty, crowded, dishonest-pushy-vendor-filled city.  It also has the Pyramids (our third Wonder of the Ancient World), the Sphinx, the Statue of Ramses, and some really good food!  I had fun there, but again, no real need to go back.  The pyramids are right there in the city and the sphinx is just in front of the pyramids.  You can see it all in about an hour, so a stopover on a cruise was perfect!  As Kimberly said, "I wouldn't want to drive here, or have to find a hotel.  Get in, see the stuff, and get out!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We needed more time in Jerusalem.  I'd go back there in a second!  We saw all of the biblical sites, to include Via Dolorosa (stations 5 through 14 of the cross), the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, including the actual site of the crucifixion, and Jesus' tomb and resurrection. We also saw (from the outside) the Islamic Mosque, the Jewish Wailing Wall, the Mount of Olives, and the Valley of Judgment.  All of this on the original site of Abraham.  It's amazing how close together all of these sites are.  In fact, the Wailing wall (the most holy place in all of Judaism) is actually the western wall of the Islamic Mosque.  This AWESOME place was literally the birthplace of the worlds three major religions (no offense intended for the Buddhists and Hindis).  Lastly, we enjoyed a kosher buffet at a five star hotel in downtown Jerusalem, then returned to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olympia, Greece is the site of the ancient Olympics (for those that didn't know) and the current site were the Olympic flame is lit every two years using mirrors to catch the sunlight to start the fire on the exact site of the ancient fire pit.  All of the ancient temples and gymnasiums are still there, although in pieces due to centuries of earthquakes and exposure.  Our fourth Wonder of the Ancient World was the statue of Zeus, in his temple.  Also, no longer there.  Again, Kimberly said it best:  "It looks like giant legos scattered about a huge floor."  Greece is working on restoration, but it will be a very long  process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dubrovnik, Croatia was a surprise.  I didn't know what to expect of it.  We arrived, walked through the city to the Old City, and then climbed the walls and walked the whole way around.  Its a beautiful city with a fantastic view.  Once we finished the walk, we realized that was pretty much all they've got.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last stop was in Ravenna, Italy, but it was more of a "let people off" than of an actual excursion place.  We took buses into the town and walked the streets a bit, but there really isn't anything there.  San Marino is close, which is a fantastic Country/City to walk around, but it was a foggy day so the views were extremely limited.  Unfortunate, but then we've seen it!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, we met some friends on this trip.  Mick and Caroline Williams of Western Australia (with Deone and Samantha), and Andrew Lehmann and Paul Heels of Sydney.  These were our "table mates" at dinner and generally our Company at the after-dinner parties.  In addition, Jacoby met several other kids his age from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and beyond.  We were honored and thrilled to spend our vacation with such great, fun people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back from Ibiza
Mood:  happy

Block leave is for 30-days.  We knew we had the cruise to go on for the second half of the leave period, but as Sabrina is fond of pointing out, we didn’t want to wait on the cruise before we started enjoying our leave.  Kimberly did some internet work, and suddenly it was “off to Ibiza!”  We spent 12-days in a condo built on the high ground surrounding Cala Codilar (I may have spelled that correctly.  Really there’s no tellin’…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First I’ll confirm the rumors.  VERY LITTLE IS OPEN on Ibiza during the winter months.  That meant that we spent a lot of time circling the island looking for something to eat and a lot of time walking through towns looking at closed stores.  That said, crowds were minimal, parking wasn’t too much of a problem, and it’s a small Island, so driving across it to go to a restaurant is only 30-45 minutes.

 

What a fantastic time!  We took roughly 375 pictures of the trip, which obviously I can’t post here.   Nice beaches, beautiful sunsets, warmer temperatures, it was everything that we were looking for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While there we drove around the Island (repeatedly), visited the caverns, went to the aquarium but couldn’t get in (closed, but it wasn’t supposed to be), raced go karts (always a favorite with me), had some fantastic Indian/Nepali food while enjoying live music, saw some spectacular scenery, and walked along sandy beaches while barefooted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also studied a bit of calculus (not kidding here…Calculus has been an issue) and watched the Disney Channel since it was the only one in English.   Who knew there were so many “off-brand” Christmas specials!?!?? 

 

So now we are home, recovering from one trip while preparing for another.  Today is haircuts for everyone!  -Even Jacoby realizes that it is time…  -And trying to catch everyone up on events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Weekend
Mood:  happy

Well, I'm certianly not hungary!  -I'll tell you that!

Kimberly made a modest feast for three as we sat down to the table this year.  She made a turkey, but not a whole one.  It was a turkey roast which was the perfect size.  We had that, corn, purple potatoes (spelled in the Qualian style (no one will get that, but I did it for me...)), green beans, and home made apple pie.  It was fantastic!

Did I really say "purple potatos"?!?  No.  I said potatoes, but we'll move past that.  Yes, the potatos were purple.  Last weekend, we went on a last minute road trip to three of the coolest small towns ever.  First, we stopped in San Gimignano, which I wrote about originally several years ago.  It is a cool town, hundreds of years old, that still exists within it's old walls and towers.  We stopped in there simply because it's a great town and we were close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After San Gimignano, we headed out for Siena, which is the town sort-of central to Tuscany that hosts the famous horse race each year where all of the Tuscan villages bring forth their "Champion" and they race around the old town square.  You may have seen this in the last James Bond movie.  Whatever.  It's an annual event, NOT taking place while we were there, but we went to see the town anyway.  It's a neet town with some real upscale shopping opportunities...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Sienna, we drove for a little while, found a hotel, luckily found dinner, and got some sleep. 

The next morning, we found Civita de Bagnoregio.  This is an ANCIENT township, several hundred years old.  The whole town has a population of 80 people, but only 14 of them live there, year-round.  There are no cars in the town.  It is built on top of a mountain top, and connected to the nearest village by a foot bridge.  It used to be a suspension bridge, but they got a new one.  This town is completely cool!  There's nothing there, no tourist stores or souvinier shops...Just a small town.  There was one small store open, and they had pasta and purple potatos.  I don't know why their potatos are purple, but they are are.  Naturally.  -And also they taste good...:) 

We found out while there that they also have a bed and breakfast in the town, but we didn't know that before we got there.  If we ever go back, we'll stay there.  It is a neat place, about an hour outside of Rome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, a great weekend, followed by a great Thanksgiving.

Take care, everyone!

375 Days Later...
Mood:  happy

It's been almost a year since I've last wrote.  The reasoning is simple.  It was too hard to talk about life on deployment without including the details that I couldn't provide.  It's not that I was doing anything "secret squirell" or anything.  -Just normal day to day life, but everything is scrutinized and it was just easier to say nothing all.

But I am on my way home now!  I am currently sitting in a bar in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, awaiting my flight to somewhere in Europe (either Nurnberg or Aviano.  -Or maybe Venice...)  The bar is called Pete's Place, named after a fallen Firefighter here on the American Air Base.  In not sure if he was universally liked, or it he just dank a lot, but now "Pete" has a "Place" that serves beer and other ARBs (adult recreational beverages).  There's also pool, ping-pong, darts, popcorn, and loud music (sometimes live!).  War is hell, here in Manas.

It means nothing to me to be sitting here.  I don't drink.  Some of the guys I am here with are having serious issues with watching the alcohol being consumed by people that aren't them.  One of them actually said, "I'm going to sit by the bar, so at least I can smell it..."  I'd think he had a problem, but he's been dry for a year (minus R&R) so his problem can't be that pronounced...

A year in Afghanistan was certainly a challenge.  To quote another Staff Officer, also a Major, "I've never worked so hard at a jobh, day in and day out, and still felt EVERY DAY that I was on the verge of getting fired."  It was a demanding tour.  I didn't realize how tired I was until I arrived at Manas.  I slept 14-hours last night.  The guys came to get me for dinner, but apparently couldn't wake me up!

I am VERY happy to be returning home to Kimberly and Jacoby, and am looking forward to both of my next two leave periods.  The first is Block Leave, which I will take in January.  We are going on an Eastern Med. Cruise, which I'll write more about on some other post.  The second will be Kimberly and me going to Pennsylvania to watch Sabrina graduate from college.

That's about all for now.  The point behind this post is just to say that I am on the way home, that I'm no longer in Afghanistan, and that the posts should return to a somewhat normal schedule, whatever that means.

 Take care!

New Year's Day
Mood:  happy

I have received a few questions regarding how we spent our holidays in Afghanistan.  My gut reaction is to reply, “It’s just another day.”  -But that’s not entirely true.  There are differences.

Some of our regular meetings get canceled on holidays. 

We tend to “sleep in” to about 7:00am.

The DFAC serves special meals.  Christmas and Thanksgiving was as you would expect.  New Years was steak and fried shrimp.

The fact is I wasn’t even “home” for New Years.  Here’s the whole story…

SSG Howard and I were supposed to go to CAMP DUBS from the 1^st to the 3^rd of January.  The intent was to provide some communications support to help out the signal team out there.  SSG Howard would provide help with systems installation and I would do some site planning. 

Let me pause here to say this:  I love CAMP DUBS.  It’s a neat little place with comfortable living conditions, a good DFAC, and an awesome mission.  These are the guys that are “partnered” with the Afghan Army, proving daily training, mentoring, and assistance.  It’s very similar to my last “life” in the Baghdad International (“Green”) Zone.  I was looking forward to this trip, first because there was work to be done, and second, because it was CAMP DUBS!

On 31 DEC, I was standing near the Finance office when SSG Howard approached and said, “Sir, Did you hear that we are leaving in two hours?”

“Huh?”

“Roger.  There is a flight leaving in two hours for CAMP Dubs.”

Okay, so now it’s time to scramble a little bit.  The bags stay packed, so to speak, so this isn’t a problem.  I walked to the TOC and confirmed with the Aviators and the Brigade Executive Officer that yes, there is a flight today, I’m supposed to be on it, and it would come back and pick me up at 2030 (8:30p) tonight.

This is disappointing to me.  I thought I’d at least spend the night…

I spoke with the XO (Executive Officer) about how this was supposed to be a three-day trip.  His reply, “SSG Howard can stay.  You need to get back here.  If you get there and assess that you need more time, let me know.”

Okay, got it.  I’m coming back.

We scrambled a bit to get the parts and equipment SSG Howard would need in CAMP DUBS loaded onto the aircraft and got ourselves ready to go.  Then, armed with my “72-hour bag” (just in case! Never leave home without it!), we climbed aboard a couple of Blackhawks and departed for CAMP DUBS.

I got my job done in enough time to get some dinner prior to returning to the office area to gather my gear, back-brief SSG Howard on priorities of work, and head to the flight line.  The timing was about right as we had about 2-hrs prior to the aircraft arrival.  Time to go to “PZ Posture.” (PZ stands for pick-up zone.  It’s where the helicopter lands.  PZ Posture is just being in the right place ready to go…)

It’s as we were saying our good-byes that we started hearing rotary blades.  Blackhawks in-bound.  Two-hours early.  We are NOT ready.

The three of s that were going back exchanged a panicked look.  We confirmed with the CAMP DUBS personnel that they were NOT expecting any other flights.  We climbed into our gear, raced to the truck, and hurried our way through the 5-minute drive to the PZ.

…Just in time to swallow all of the dust the helicopter kicked up during takeoff.  Missed it.

We went back to the offices, called around to find out what went wrong.  Why was the flight 1hr and 40minutes early?  Why didn’t someone let us know?  Are they coming back?

All questions answered, we were told they would not be back until the next morning.  Officially, I was pretty upset.  I don’t like being left behind.  I knew the boss wanted me back.  The flight was 1hr and 40minutes early!  I knew I’d be teased for not making the flight.  Unofficially, I had finished my job on CAMP DUBS.  I now had nothing better to do but get some sleep.  Heck, I even have time to read some before I do!  Not a bad thing by any stretch!

I settled in to the office area to participate in a briefing that I was going to miss because of the flight.  Our gear was stored, our rooms for the night assigned.  After the briefing, I’d be done for the night.

Then 1SG Young’s cell phone went off.  1SG Young was one of the other two travelers with me.  It was a text message.  “Be there in 5-minutes.  Listen for blades.”

Crud!  They ARE coming back!

Again with the mad rush to secure our gear, pile into the truck and race for the PZ.  Again with the arrival just in time to see it leave.

A new text message arrived on 1SG Young’s phone.  “Need fuel.  30-minutes.”

No problem.  We’ll wait.

30-minutes later, “BINGO.  See you tomorrow.”  BINGO means they couldn’t get fuel and had to go.  We were spending the night.  Internal monologue:  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!  TWICE IN ONE NIGHT?!?!?  I’M GOING TO CRUSH SOMEONE!   Next thought:  YES!  WHERE’S MY BOOK?

We settled in for the night, being told the flight would return at 1:30p the next day.  We woke up, got our gear together, and hit PZ Posture at 10:00a.  We weren’t taking chances. 

New Year’s day found me standing in the cold at a PZ in CAMP DUBS.  I read a few chapters the night before.  I slept well.  I ate breakfast.  I was in good company with 1SG Young, CPT Mecham, and MAJ Mizell.  I won’t say that spending New Years day in this manner was fun.  I will say that it was an Honor for me to spend it in this place, with these people.

The aircraft landed at 12:30p, an hour early.  We approached the aircraft.  Over the roaring engines, the crew chief shouts in my ear, “Where are you going?”

I yelled back “SHANK!”

He shakes his head, “Not going there!”

“Where are you going?”

“AIRBORNE!”

“Good enough!  I need to go there anyway!”

We climbed on board and arrived at FOB AIRBORNE shortly thereafter.

For me, this was basically the same trip.  Stop by the Battalions’ Tactical Operation Centers (TOCs).  Find out what their issues are.  Fix what I can, take notes for what I can’t.  Come home with a better understanding of what’s going on at FOB AIRBORNE.

We were told that we would be spending the night on AIRBORNE, since nothing else was landing that day.  (CRUD!  I’VE GOT TO GET BACK!  -Another night of reading, once I get my work done. )   Outside of freezing all night (the tent was frigid and my little sleeping bag WASN’T getting the job done), it was a good stay on AIRBORNE.

We flew back to SHANK the next morning, my 5-hour trip taking 3-days to complete.

There you go.  New Year’s day in Afghanistan.

Laundry

We don’t do our own laundry.  There is a “self help” laundry facility available to us with a few machines and soap and such, but few of us have the time to go get that done.   Most of us go to one of the several contracted laundry points and drop off our dirty clothes, then return sometime later and pick it up.  It’s sort of clean, sort of dry, sort of folded (usually inside out).  Good enough for field work.  War is hell…

The laundry guy has become my buddy over the last month.  It all started when I went in the first time to drop off my bag.  I said, “It’s my first time, so I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do.”  The guy looks at me and says…..Something.  I stare at him. 

Nope.  Didn’t get it. 

He says it again.  Same result.

He says it a third time. 

I say, “Sorry.  I have no idea what you are saying.”

He says, “You don’t understand me?”

I say, “Nope.  Sorry.”

He takes a big breath and says “First time?”

Ahhhhhh!  I got it that time!  “First time!  Yes! Yes, it is.  First time.”

He smiles and says, “Welcome.”

I hand him my bag and fill out the paper.

He looks at the paper and tries to say my last 4 (SSN, it’s how the laundry is tracked…And taxes). He gets it wrong.  I correct him with a smile.  He gets it right.  Success!

He hands me the slip and I say, “How do I say this in your language?”

He says my last four in accented, but understandable English.

I say, “No, in YOUR language.”

He says it.

I say it, poorly.

He says it again.

I say it much better, but still horribly wrong.

He says it again.

I say it.  “Pa-CHA-li-may-ti-ta-lee”

He bursts out “Pa-CHA-li-may-ti-ta-lee!”

I say it again.  I’m rockin’ now.  I got it!

He smiles, hands me my slip and says “Tomorrow.  3 o’clock.”  Okay.  I’ll pick up my laundry after 3pm tomorrow.  At busy times it takes as long as three days.

This goes on for two weeks, or about four visits.  I’ve seen him in the DFAC a few times.  A few times walking around outside.  Every time I see him he gives me a big smile and says “Hello, Sir!  Pa-CHA-li-may-ta-ti-lee!”

I smile, say it back and drive on…

Last week, my first pickup, I showed up as I was told, 3pm the next day.  I sign for my bag and happen to look down the form.  I’m the only guy on the form who’s laundry is ready.  That’s odd, but okay.

I go back to my room.  Put away the clean clothes, pack up the dirty clothes and go back to drop off the load.  Now there are two soldiers ahead of me in the laundry line, finishing their paperwork.  For whatever reason, they stop and count out all of their clothes.  Re-stuff the bag, and then sign their forms.  The guy says to them “Three days.”  They acknowledge and walk away.

I hand the guy my bag.  He is noticeably “miffed”  He says “These people!  They count their things.  One sock.  Two sock.  It takes too long!  I am busy!  It’s just me here!  I wash, I dry, I fold.  I’m no thief!  Have you had any trouble?”

“Nooooooo.”

“They take too long!  -I tell them 3-days!”

He hands me back my paper and says, “Tomorrow, 3 o’clock.”

How we're living
Mood:  happy

I live in a B-hut.  I’m not entirely sure what that means.  In Kosovo, I lived in a C-hut.  It looked about the same.  I can’t help but wonder why, alphabetically speaking, I’m moving in the wrong direction.   Maybe it’s like a report card and ‘B’ is better than ‘C.’  Seriously, I have no idea.

 

I have seven roommates in my B-hut.  We each have a “room.”  “Room” is in quotes, because what it really is plywood and 2x4s nailed together to create privacy and boundaries.  It’s sort of like a cubical farm at a corporation or Government building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beside my B-hut is a portalet and a dumpster.  Behind it is a bunker.  There are other B-huts in the other two directions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The truth is that I have a really nice room, compared to several.  When they built out the cubical walls, they started in the center of the building with the best of intentions.  However, they made the center rooms too big, so they get systematically smaller towards the building ends.  I was the first here from my Brigade, so I got EXACTLY the room I wanted…the one in the center.

 

My room is the size of a double-bed, with a trunk at the foot of it.  I actually have a twin-sized bed, which is much better than a cot!  Beside the bed is a bath mat functioning as a carpet.  Then the curtain “wall” that marks by boundary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the wall, at the foot of the bed is the hanging clothes bar.  There is roughly two feet of space between the wall and the foot of the bed.  My trunk sits against the wall, under the handing clothes.  I sit on that (hunched forward) when I get dressed in the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really, it doesn’t sound like much, but we are living really well, here.  The building is adequate.  The bed is comfortable.  The room is better than most.  Things could be a lot worse.

 

Take care!

- Ryan

Let's talk about food!
Mood:  happy
The DFAC, short for Dining Facility, is a tent. Actually, it is several tents, all strung together and built over the top of a plywood/linoleum floor. It is heated. It has a main line, that serves most of your large meal items, and short order line, serving hamburgers, grilled ham and cheese, french fries, egg rolls, and onion rings. At lunch there is a wrap bar. The wrap bar has egg salad, tuna salad, BLTs, and a “main” meat that changes daily between beef, chicken, pastrami, and turkey. Beef seems to be the most common.

 

Which reminds me of something I heard the other day. It wasn't me, and I didn't verify, but I did hear it from someone and so it must be true, right? So this guy sees a picture of a goat. Under the goat was the word “Beef.” The guy asked about it, and was told that in Afghanistan, “Beef” doesn't just refer to “meat from a cow.” It is actually meat from any animal without a split hoof. Who knows what I'm eattin'?

 

They also have a salad-and-sides bar.

 

Anyway, that's how the DFAC is laid out and I have to say that I'm happy with it. I've only had one meal in three weeks that I wasn't too happy with, and that's because there was no healthy option.

 

Monday's are my “no rules” day. That's the day were I get to eat what I want without worrying about it. I chose Monday, because that's Taco Night. I look forward to Taco Night. Last Monday they also had macadamia nut cookies. It was a good night.

 

-And Fridays are Surf-and-Turf (steak and shrimp). They also have crab, but I'm scared of that. Afghanistan is land-locked, isn't it?

 

For breakfast I always have instant oatmeal, fresh fruit, and a cup of mixed nuts. They have real food like any DFAC (omelets, waffles, bacon, sausage, etc) but I don't really do that. I've had the wrap and salad every lunch so far. Dinner is sort of hit or miss, but I generally find the healthiest thing available. -Except for Mondays.

 

That's it for the food report! Enjoy your day.

 

- Ryan