Blackhawks Rock!!

Scott Kennedy and Mike Pace come to cheer the troops in Afghanistan~

see mom, we are safe, this HERO is keeping his eye on the targets.....

Joe and I dig this ride......

Okay it is time to reveal the "Comedy Tour" part 1: Blackhawks Rock .... I did finally get to jet out of here last month and not a C-17 this time, but a Blackhawk helicopter; and I loved every minute of it. Dina said it best in an e-mail to me, "A gal can get used to that kind of travel." I like the way it just swoops down, doesn't turn off it's engine and picks us up and then sort of hovers a little and then takes off. I love watching out the window obscured only by the boys, and I do mean boys; who are trigger-ready keeping an eye on the horizon, and below for any danger. Keeping us all safe in our seats. The cold air coming straight into your face is no worry, since you are so excited you are sweating in your heavy armor and kevlar. Did I say it was thrilling? Why, yes it was. That said, here are some photos. The view from this level is perfect, you can see just enough of the horizon to not get air sick; and you can see the terrain of the land, as well as the little villages tucked inbetween the hills and mountains. I think I may have seen Poppy fields, but can't be sure what the green was below. I did see a few goats but no camels. I wanted to see at least camel tracks, but no camels. Moving from forward operating base to forward operating base was like moving from one prison to the next, with the walls of security marking the boundaries of the base. It was nice to be greeted by a team of weapon carrying security guards who escorted us safely to the interior of the base. The Comedy Shows were so well recieved, it was exciting to watch the faces of all of the young men and woman who are working so hard to do their jobs and are so dedicated to their individual missions.

Finally back to the blogging....

*back row: Dan, Ed, Anthony...front row: Xeni and Donnie

I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted anything here for my followers, first off allow me to apologize.

As I am preparing to once again head home, I am grateful to you all for your e-mails, and your continued support and pride in my mission, over here.

I am so happy to say, I finally got really busy!! :) We are prepping tours and planning flights and did I say "we"? Please allow me to correct myself, need I remind you that my co-worker, Dan, took a job back in his home (Korea) and therefore, has left me alone. They will be recruiting for his position in early November, any takers? Meanwhile, his chair is never left empty for long as the boys* from the field filter through the office and work at his desk, I am happy to have the company. The office really comes alive when all of the fitness guys get going on "their" work. I love LOUD, as you can imagine, so the energy has improved with their every joke and interjection. I only wish I could video tape some of their shenanigans.

As I said, I will be coming home for my second R&R which will be over the Thanksgiving Holiday allowing me the opportunity to go to Heppner, OR to visit with the family and eat for about 5 days straight.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, I am tempted by the DFAC meals and all of the carbohydrates they have to offer, but I am slimming back in preparation for the feeding frenzy with family.

We now have a bazaar on base too, which means I can spend some of my free time shopping again; a favorite past time as you all know. So, there goes one months salary, into the hands of the Afghan population. I am happy about it too; better them than Macy's. I don't like haggling, I like paying what they ask, this upsets the people I shop with, but I don't care. I would pay more, they are so nice, and humble and appreciate your business. They are bringing back the fast food restaurants too, so everyone can get a little grease and back home flavors once again from Dairy Queen, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and who knows what else. The active duty members are going to go nuts when this actually happens; they love fast food! So American!!

All shook up...

Earthquakes here feel a little different than back home. I was shaken out of bed at around 3 am and was happy to say, my house is still in one piece, nothing fell off my shelves, not even a mouse. It felt like someone was standing at the foot of my bed shaking it, after I got up and looked outside to see if others felt it, I really felt the floor rolling. Once back in bed, it kept going. It made me very queezy! Reported the next day that it was a 6.3 earthquake centered in the Hindu Kush mountains NE of Kabul.

9.11K Walk/Run

Remember this? Memorial Day we accepted this piece of steel from the Twin Towers site to remember why we are all here.

Early morning start, look how dark it is.

After the first full length of Disney, after the turn......

at the finish line.....we made it....Fransisco, me and Nelson.

Military working dogs line up along the road to wait for the start.

When asked if I was going to do the "9.11K" on 9-11, I didn't hesitate. I registered, and then began to train. Yes, I walk almost every night up and down Disney Blvd. But starting on the first of the month I had to get out there consistently and force myself (come dust or high winds) to walk the 2.1 mile length up and back (4.2 miles total) every night no matter how late!!!! This training will surely pay off on the 11th. Most of you know I am not much for training. I usually just take it on, and feel the pain during and after. 9.11K equates to about 5.66 miles, or so I was told. But that didn't matter. The night and morning before the event was eventful to say the least and on just three hours sleep I woke to the power going off in my room. Dressed and ready, met my walking partners and headed off to the race.

The race had interruptions of it's own that delayed the start, and changed the direction of the course, mapping the final route to about 7.4 miles! In practically a racers walk the entire way, I worked at keeping up with Fransisco; either walking, skipping, and sometimes even having to run. I did it, we all finished in less than one hour and forty-five minutes!

One day you're in, the next day your out....

Nelson and Fransisco, walked with me.

Biru, recreation center employee (dealer) always keeps me smiling!

Castor and Bryan (TASS) great friends, spades partner.

Maybe I need to catch some of you up on life over here; you need to know that people come "in" and go "out" so quickly; the PAX terminal is like a revolving door over here. Opening up to bring friends back from R&R (coming through Bagram) while others are heading out on R&R.

Here is brief synopsis of the first 4 months: First I am here alone; then comes in Michael. Yeah a friend and classate from my Camp Atterbury training. Then Ryan (classmate) came in, on his way to his final destination, and then he went out. Carl (classmate) came in on his way out for R&R. Kathryn (classmate) came in to teach a class, and then out she went. Alan (classmate) came in and Mike and I got to work with him until Michael went out. Then Matt (classmate) ran into me while in Atlanta on our way back from R&R, we returned to Bagram together, and then he went out.

Back home we refer to the mountain (Mt. Rainier) as being "out". Here we refer to friends as being "in" or "out". And that is just my camp classmates. I have plenty of soldiers and contractor friends that are going out to work other regions, or coming in from R&R with stories to share. When friends are here it is like the mountain being out, a beautiful thing!

I am excited that I have had the opportunity to see so many of my classmates over the course of these last 4 months. Especially since in class it was noted that I would be the only one assigned to Bagram.

So, the people in my life over here, are either "in" or they are "out", but they are never off my mind. As we all worry about each others safety and we keep track of the military activity and the happenings at each others forward operating bases (FOB), and the news surrounding it.

Thank you Xeni, Curlee, Bryan, Hector, Ray, Nelson, Leo, Gary, Fransisco, Castor, Levi, Biru, Jackie, Gabe, Melissa, Jan, and all of the rest of the people who have taken the time to become my friend, my walking partners and a reason to keep my head up and a smile on my face.

I hope someday you will all come to see the beautiful state of Washington, and that the mountain will be "out".

Ding dong the mouse is dead...

Well, I did it! I killed the mouse. Actually he fell to his death. I was pulling something off of shelves, that if I put one more thing on it, it would probably fall. So today I tackled the heavy shelf. When I pulled down the first bundle of mags and papers the mouse fell straight onto the "sticky trap" below. It couldn't have been more perfect. He must have been caught in slumber. (Nice to know something can sleep in here.)
I had turned when I pulled down the stuff, so I didn't witness the actual fall, but I concluded that when it hit the ground it got a concussion. It looked dead.
In my happiness, I was flustered to try to figure out how to remove it, so I grabbed my frisbee, and moved the "sticky trap" (a flat piece of cardboard with stickiness on it) onto the frisbee, so that the weight of the mouse wouldn't collapse the cardboard during movement to the outdoors.
Once I placed it (the frisbee) on my front door step the mouse started coming to. Oh no, now the squealing started. Not mine, the mouse, silly. I quickly ran back in my room and grabbed by plastic bag out of my trash can and poured the "sticky trap" with mouse into the bag and tied it off. Whew, the task is complete.
Funny thing I didn't even know I still had a mouse! I thought it had escaped!
So, I rebaited all of my traps, laid out a new "Sticky trap" and opened up my latest snare, "moth balls". Sent to me lovingly by Skip with indifference toward my need.
I have been given inside scoop that moth balls keep the cobras out of your b-hut. I have a feeling they are going to keep me out of my b-hut. Boy do they stink. I only put out about 5, is that a lot for a 6' x 10' space? I rolled them into the dark corners under my bed and behind the fridge and the clothes locker.
Skip teases that they will act like salt licks for the mice, and that snakes don't smell. But since Skip doesn't have to live here, I am listening to the locals and taking every precaution necessary to keep my b-hut rodent free.

Losing "Rainman"...10 minutes to Blackjack.....

I might be losing my spades partner, Brian "Rainman" (nickname for poker) and I "Trouble" (nickname for poker) met when we both arrived at spades without partners, anxious to play and having not played in years (30 between the two of us) we settled down to what started out really well for the both of us. We beat the best team there! Ever since that win, I meet up with Brian and his team of employees at dinner and after we work long hours we head on over to the recreation center to play BINGO, poker, and black jack. Some late nights, if or when we lose, or get knocked out early, before midnight, we go on the Disney Walk (which is about a 4 mile stretch) and get to discuss the days events. But this friendship too may come to a quick close, as Brian is leaving on R&R and may not be returning. He has a huge decision to make, will he return to Bagram, or take a promotion/different job in Iraq? I am glad I am not having to make those kinds of decisions here; I hate to see him go. But I know he has to do what is best for his family and for his career. He works for Honeywell and their company is doing a pretty big job over here and evidently in Iraq as well. Of course while he is gone, all of his team have invited me to continue to dine with them at dinner, and even Castor has offered to join me for BINGO. The only game he will play. Who knows I may just have to get some of the other guys to try poker.