A funny thing happened on the way to Baghdad

Greetings to all,

I am enjoying another 1/2 day. I only have 126 days left in country, but who is counting? There is not too much to report this week on the work front. The TJAG visit was good as it got me out of the office and I got to hang out with and see some of my friends who traveled with me to Iraq and who are down in the International Zone. Unfortunatley I have a COL who I call COL no fun. He put the ax on the officers getting licensed on the the humvee. Oh well we are getting a new commander in June so I will ask all over again. In all of my self loathing on not getting off Camp Victory, I was able to be present in country during a historic event, the breakthrough in forming a new government here.

As much as I poke fun at the Haji (Happy Haji Eve by the way), I must give the Iraqi people immense credit, not only in coming out in droves to vote but to live an every day life. Markets in Baghdad are bustling, people go to work, while bombs explode killing people and damaging property. Everyone is out and about, with man dresses and all. It is a true testament to the human spirit. Contrary to what CNN and other news outlets and politicians say back home, this place is not on the verge of civil war. It is quite the opposite. In less than one year Iraq is making huge strides in its transition to a peaceful democracy. It is sad that I sometimes fail to realize that when I am here. It is good to take a break and look up and realize that something unique and great is happening. I have included another sunset picture and what I call the three monkeys picture (They are my co-workers and no it is not real beer. Near beer sucks. Work with me here people we are at war after all. ) Tommorrow is another Haji Day and day less until I return home.

Movin on Up and Hotblooded, Check It and See

Hello and Happy Haji Eve to all,

I have made it to another 1/2 day off here in Baghdad. I have also moved into a deluxe double wide. Check out the picture. The best part of the trailer, besides the four walls and not having to dress in the dark, is the air conditioning. According to the newspaper, we had our first 100 plus degree day. We checked in at 102. It is now a nice and cool 88 degrees at 20:34 (that is 8:34 in civilian time. :)) This week has flown by, which is always good. My work continues to challenge me, amaze me as well as cause me to say WTF. The Army TJAG or The Judge Advocate General is flying into town. I am never overly excited about meeting the guys with one to three stars on their shirts, but it does allow me to get out of work both tommorrow and Sunday. Speaking of work stuff, unfortunately my suggestion for a ODP (Officer Professional Development) trip to Babylon was "duly noted,"laughed at and then shot down. I guess there is something about security. I am also in the process of getting a HUMVEE license this weekend as well. There is still left over mud puddles from last week's rain. This should be fun. I am also working on getting outside the wire (off post to see naughty haji upclose and personal) which I am hopeful and cautiously optimistic, will happen soon.

I experienced the Second Coming on Thursday. It was a wierd sandstorm but with thunder that produced with an Tangish sky. I took this photo at 16:00 (4pm for the civilians reading this). Rather than try to explain it, I have posted another picture. I thought that pestiance and locusts would follow. Luckily they did not, just more rain.

Have a great weekend everyone. Tommorrow is one of my greatest pleasures here, other than throwing apples at. el at fish. It is Haji Day and get Seamus liscensed on the HUMVE. Take care.

All the things That You Wish you could do as an Army Officer

Hello and Happy Easter and Haji Day to all,

I know many of you have waited for details on my much anticipated trip to the Super Haji Mart. To say I was let down is an understatement. The waiting and hoping that I could barter my way into a nicely tailored mandress never materialized. If it is DVDs and knock off rolexes and cubans (cigars not people) then that is the place to go. It reminded of a flea market back home.
The only thing that was missing were toothless people, a dilipidated drive in movie yard and a bunch of late model pickups. Intstead it was bombed out garage with the items described above. Oh well you can't have everything.

Being at Camp Victory is great in many respects, but it is also hard to believe that we are at war with all of the amenities that are offered here and the lack of action. I am very unnerved that I am not in the International Zone (.e.g Greenzone). I have only worn my battle rattle(e.g. my Kevlar, body aromor etc.) once and that is from the airport to Camp Victory. The only mortars I hear are off in the distance and the only gun fire I experience is but a faint echo. Most of you who know me already know I am a bit adventuresome. I have jumped out of completey good airplanes. Not being near the action drives me nuts. They say an idle mind is the devil's workshop. I am always thinking up new and exciting ways to pass the time here. Most of them would get me in trouble if I did them, so they only stay as ideas. I have come up with a list of fun things here at Liberty, most of which I cannot do.

1. Going "fishing" with my 9 mm or a Claimore mine (it would be very noisy, quite enjoyable and cause a ruckus)
2. Assisiting KBR in animal control (e.g. shooting the wild menacing jackls and other vermites with my 9mm as they near my tent )
3. Fishing with apples (this consists of chumming the water with crackers and getting the fish to mill about and once you are finished with your apple/bannana/ or other object you stand up on the balcony overlooking the water and pelt the fish with your apple or object of your choice) I actually participate in this activity because it is very fun.
4. Asking repeatidly to take a day tour to Babylon and or getting manifesting (being put on the "list" for a helicoptor or convoy ride there. I hear the Hanging Gardens are something to see). 5. Burning stuff (I was tasked and allowed to do it once. I think I know wny there is a reason why junior officers and fire do not mix. :))

These are only a list of some my ideas. I would like to point out that I have not yet nor will I ever use my 9mm for fishing or animal control unless of course one of the above listed animals approaches me in a menancing manner. On another note the temperature is steadily rising. We are at 95 degrees today. I wish each of you a Happy Easter. I will post more pictures soon.

Reunited At last

Ah another day another dollar,

I am enjoying my day off. There is not much to report today. I have made it through another week here in Paradise. The weather has been very nice after our monsoon on Sunday. We had a dust storm yesterday that, as always, cools stuff down considerably. I am posting a couple of pictures that were taken of my friend and fellow JAG Sean Harshey and I a few weeks ago along with some Blackhawk helicopters. I took these because they are pretty cool and most days their flight path rumbles over our office. I hope to get my ride in them soon, but as with everything here, we'll see. I am going to see Charlie Daniels on April 17th, which is tax day.
Happy Opening day to all you baseball fans. I am really going to miss getting games in real time as well as playing with my beloved Diablos. Such is life, I guess. Tommorrow is shopping, hopefully at the Super Hajimart on the other side of Camp. They only take cash for their wares over there and you can haggle. How appropriate to go to the Super Haji Mart on Haji Day. Here are my pictures. I am off to the gym. Take care.

Thunderstruck

Just a few short days I ago I found myself whistling Kansas' "Dust in the Wind." That quickly changed to ACDC's thunderstruck in light of this morning's thunderstorm. I finally had something to remind me of home, rain and more rain. I woke up to a boom and for once it was nature and not a naughty haji shooting mortars and other assorted stuff at the tent. All was quiet until about 0330 this morning. The wind picked up and so did our tent, and then a flash across the sky and then a big boom. I thought it was the start of 40 days of rain. After all , Iraq is somewhat part of the real Bible Belt. As the rain, continued my will to get up and walk to the shower was non-existant. Seeing the Iraqi translator, with a towel wrapped around his head (I know what you are thinking but I am actually not making any unpc comments.) determined to go the shower caused me to say Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (see previous post for explaination). His determination quickly turned to anger and dispair as I heard sloshing back into the tent, as he muttered something naughty in Arab as he dejectedly returned to the tent. I am also quite glad that my friend CPT St could not convince me to store my gortex. I have included a picture of what I call Lake Victory South, better known as our tent ground.

Just as the rain put back in the Seattle state of mind, I was reminded once again that I am here in Iraq. Usually rain brings out the best of smells, but not here. Iraq usually smells like a fart anyway. Add a little rain mixed with dust and then you are really reminded of it. Ah just another day in paradise.