Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone, hope you all got your fill of yummy candy. I know I did thanks to my family back home, thanks again Mom and Nana.

I have a few interesting stories and events that have occurred the last few days. The first that jumps to mind is that I went to Church on Easter Sunday. It was interesting seeing passages being read by people wearing side arms and whose job is killing people for a living (an oxymoron that I don’t wish to get into). The service was nice, the Priest was funny and intelligent, and the message generic. And it also gave me an hour to sit down and relax with my radio off (Heck, I might no next week).

Easter Sunday on base is like any other holiday here. Everyone goes to work, but no one actually does any work, it is sort of an accepted thing. I just realize that it was the last holiday that I will experience on base; the end is near my friends.

On a somber note my buddy demobilized (went home). The management here is getting funny due to the reality our contract is winding down. They have started to make up ridiculous rules and many people are just tossing in the towel and heading home. JG is one of those people. Three and a half years here is enough and he decided to head on home to be with friends and family. He stayed long enough to pay off a house, car and to live it up for a few years (got his “bling” on, for lack of better terms).

I am already missing him. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and he taught me things that I couldn’t have learned from anyone else. He grew up in a NYC ghetto during the 70ies and got out. He couldn’t read or write well due to the fact his schooling was probably subpar at best, but his people skills were amazing. The way he received respect from these racist, bigot, Southerners still astounds me. He can walk into a group of people who make it obvious that they already hate him because he is black (and from the North) and still get his ideas and needs across. In no time at all he earned these guys respect and had them doing the work he needed them too. To add to the amazement, New York Ebonics is his first language I think.

I learned a lot of life lessons from him; everything from how to read people’s interactions to bullshitting like a professional. I could write pages of funny stories he told me about growing up in NYC, and leaving to join the military. I have already written down a few for my own records so that I don’t forget, ask me sometime and I’ll tell you one.

Other then that, I am just trying to keep my head above water. like I said before the management for my company is getting ridiculous. They are pulling every trick in the book to get people fired (it seems). One of the rules being enforced now is how to properly back you vehicle up. Everyone working for KBR has to “combat park.” Which simply means you back into parking spots, not pull in. But now you have to have your passenger jump out and guide you into the spot using hand signals which isn’t so annoying to do. However, if you are alone in the vehicle you have to:
Swing out and line up with the spot
Put on your hazard flashers
Get out of the truck
Lock the truck
Walk completely around the truck checking for hazards
Unlock the truck, and get in
Then put your seatbelt on
Honk Back the truck up slowly into the spot

Yeah, I know, a bit ridiculous. I think I have heard every curse word in every language on this base while blocking traffic to do this “back up from hell.” Anyone caught not doing that exactly as stated gets seven days off work with no pay and if you are caught a second time you are fired. Not to mention, no hat=fired, no lanyard=fired, caught taking lunch to long=fired. Also, if you truck is in a hit & run you get five days off work with no pay, how the heck are you suppose to control that? If you don’t like someone, you could kick in a headlight on there truck when no one is around and they would get penalized.

But I just have to last 70 something days, a walk in the park *knock on wood*

No elaborate decorations for Easter

They won't eat Peeps for some reasonCandy from Nana

Letter from Polish PenPal (Three months Travel time)

Me and my homeboy JG

Emergency Tank Empty Job

Krishna

Hey mom, ignore those danger signs. It's cool, It's cool.

Grrrrrrrr

AC

Well yesterday was the day I switched from Heat to Air Conditioning. The Iraqi summer heat is coming and I already hate it. It gets into the 80s during the day now and I very much miss those 35 degree mornings. On the bright side, the days have gotten long enough for me to catch the sunset on my ride home from work. I love tossing up my hammock for an hour at the end of the day before I go to the gym.


I’m down to 80 something days until I leave here and I already know I am going to miss this place. I have wanted to go home since I got here, it was weird when I realized that I am going to miss it here. I have a close group of friends that I will probably never see once I get outta here. Heck my roommate called my house when I was on R&R because it had been so long since we talked.


I have started a list of things I want to do when I get home, when I finish it I will post it up on here. But until then I want everyone to know I am looking forward to seeing each of you. I apologize for not calling or writing some of you guys back, I’ve been crazy busy here.

Happy Easter everyone!

Hey Mom, I'm thinking about a new job...

Photoionization (Fuel Sinffer)

Back in the Groove

It has been a week and a few days since I have gotten back from R&R and I think I am back in the swing of things; found my groove again, so to say. I am excited for my last R&R and returning home so I can get back to school. I am also very excited about attending Graduate School. I am looking into colleges now so I’ll be ready to apply next semester. I hope, with this job experience, that I’ll be a shoe-in for a research position or a Teaching Assistance spot. I hope to go to grad school for free; there is no reason at this point why I should have to pay to go. It would also mean a solid job for two years. I’ll check out what schools are offering in October at GSA.

I had a little pizza party for the guys to mark St. Patrick’s Day and did my best to explain to them what is was all about. In any case, they got some pizza and had an awesome lunch. Speaking of parties, I am having a grill made so I can have a cookout with my buddies and roommate one day soon. It is staying light enough to have one outside after work, and it isn’t hot yet. Now it’s just a matter of searching for things to cook. I’ll end up having to sweet talk some of the DFAC warehousemen.
I have gotten to the point where I referrer to this place as home which is kind of scary, but today actually marks 100 days until my next and final R&R! I’ll have to come back into country to pack up my stuff to send home, but in 100 days I’ll be done working.

Below are some photos I’ve taken here on base since I’ve been back. Also some photos MBH took of me while in Dubai, I had an awesome time that day, I can't wait to hang out with them again! Enjoy!

USO SHOW

They had a USO show here on base a few days ago, and it is exactly what I needed to cheer up a little. It was a really entertaining and I took lot of video and a few pictures that you’ll see below. I had never been to a show like this before and it was interesting.

They had three country stars, the Army band, some Dolphin cheerleaders, and one of my favorite comedians, Louis CK. The country music was fun for me just because the crowd loved it. They kept asking, “who loves country music?” and every time they did the crowd went wild. All and all it was a great show. I was also lucky enough to have my picture taken with Leeann Tweeden who has been on the cover of FHM, was named the hottest Hooters girl of all time and has been in Playboy. She is also one of the hosts of “The World’s Best Damn Sports Show Period” on Fox. Truthfully I didn’t really know who she was, but I do now! I also got to shake Louis CK’s hand after the show, which was pretty awesome since I love standup. I should have waited in line to do the meet and greet thing, but it was long and I’m not a solider; it would have felt kind of weird.

Tomorrow is Christmas, So Merry Christmas to all! I can’t wait to see how the DFAC is dressed up! I will have lots of pictures her as soon as I take them. I also can’t wait to open my Christmas presents. I will have to wait until Christmas night to open my gifts because I am working all Christmas day. Everyone told me to save that vacation day for some other time since no one does any real work on Christmas. They tell me it ends up being a day everyone comes into work and just hangs out, no real work gets done all day. And besides, if I didn’t come into work I wouldn’t see any of my friends on Christmas. We are also having a small Christmas party here in the office, which the safety department is setting up. KBR Environmental and the safety guys usually don’t hang out, but I hear they are going to give some of our SCW’s certificates for a good job.