We've Been Deported!

Fresh northern almost Russian air - it breathes easy.  All of us have left one -stan for another -stan.  The latitude of our location makes for days like a crisp autumn Ohio morning.  The base is filled with birch trees and the smell of fallen leaves.  Snowy mountains surround on one side and they have side walks every where.

A covered bridge in Bagram made of a 20ft conex container open on both sides.  I can almost picture a horse crossing...

It took a major team effort to get our aircraft torn down for shipment.  All accomplished on time - nice job maintenance!

Units like to "tag" stuff with their company sticker.  This water cooler at the passenger terminal became a target.

Did I mention we can drink 2 beers in Manas?

Russian 22 ouncer's at that.

See you all soon.  Thanks for all the prayers - keep them coming as we reunite with our families.

BAFALICIOUS

I am back in Bargram, doing the task that makes me happiest - the work to get us out of this lovely country.

You would think by now the DOD would have this whole moving thing down pat - and they might - but I sure don't.  I have been using the shotgun approach - ask as many questions to as many people as possible who look like they might know something and try to piece together the answer from what I recover.

 I have had the pleasure to work with some fine gentleman in the accomplishment of these endeavors.  

I have eaten way too much pizza...

This guy is one mean mamma-jama!  Beware the stash - it has been known to hypnotize.

Please pray that out replacements have a safe and quick tour.  Please pray us back safely to the states.

Coming Home Ceremony

Some of us can count the number of flights left here in single digits!  That is a great feeling.

Every one is ready to move on.

Just an FYI, the unit has T-shirts that will be for sale at the Coming Home Ceremony.  They have the units in theater call sign "Titan" printed on the front and a chinook in a dust landing on the back.  If you  are not going to the ceremony and would still like a shirt, let me know and I can mail one to you.

Since we don't have a ton of the shirts, if you really want one, ask your soldier to buy one here in the next day or so, as I am mailing them to the Family Readiness Group in a couple days. We have a bunch of different sizes. They will sell for between $12-15 (all proceeds go to the Family Readiness Group).

Front of Shirt.  Its a picture of greek looking guy with a wolf - we were with TF Wolf Pack.

The back of the shirt.  There are wolves coming out the dust cloud - the wolves blend in a little too well though.

This is how you spell Coke Zero in Arabic.

See you soon.  Please keep the prayers of safety coming our way.

Flowers of Afghanistan

If you look you can find beautiful things.  I noticed these bright colors while walking to see my brother durring day break.  What's funny is once I started noticing the flora, I started seeing flowers all over the place.  I guess you see what you are looking for.

The wall in the back is made of Hesko barriers - they are filled with dirt and line the perimeter of all the FOBs here.  I wonder if these "sun flowers" are native to Afghanistan?  I think the barbed wire and mountains in the back add a nice touch.

Hesko barriers are like coral reefs.  They grow all types of stuff.

Its amazing what will spring from the side of a dusty road.

Couldn't resist the lone flower in rocky crag.

This is the Salerno orange orchard.  Honest.  They have orchards all over Afghanistan, and we happened to build around one.  I usually walk through here going to the chow hall.  In case you were wondering - no oranges yet.

Rose bushes.

More Hesko flowers.  These are some of my favorites - the violet sits in contrast to the dusty browns everywhere else.

Thanks for your prayers - keep them coming!

Packing Pleasure

Well friends - the end draws near.  I think before you know it, we will be home smiling at your door and ready to eat some home cooked meals.

Things here are well - no ruckus.  My brother and I are enjoying each others company.  It is my end of day routine to stop by his work and "shoot the shat" as they say.  It is fun to see what he does and gets me out of my corner of the FOB.

I finished reading Vanity Fair and am now working on the Tipping Point - a book that attempts to explain why and how certain trends occur in a population.  The author makes some interesting insights - but I have not quite bought into his theory.

Vanity Fair was a pleasure to read - a look into human pride, lust, deceivers and those who deceive themselves - not to mention gluttony, unfaithfulness, envy - it talks about the true people we humans are and the less then noble motives behind our "altruistic" actions.  Most of the characters you learn to hate, but the author always forces you to extend a little grace to the far from perfect cast - to take a look in the mirror and reflect on your own heart.

This was probably the most well written book I have ever read.  The characters show amazing development throughout the story and for the most part they remind me of "really real" people.  The author often talks directly to the reader and makes quiet a comedy of it.

You can fit 70.5 lbs of gear in this bag as I demonstrated to my platoon - this is all the stuff we will turn back into Ft Hood - good riddance!

I am not the only one packing - Mr. H and just about every one else smiles during the process.

Working on a project in my spare time - this amplifier circuit will be part of a modem some day.

I am thankful for all the rain we have had lately - this place gets awfully dry.

I am thankful that the new Task Force here is full of reasonable folks, despite some growing pains, things are well - and among our unit the mantra has become "only a couple weeks left in country".

Please pray for the safety in these last few weeks and that our replacements get here on schedule (or before schedule if you really want us back!)

The Best Day Yet

I and a small contingent of soldiers spent a little more than a week at Bagram preparing our containers for shipment.  We had the pleasure of working with our Michigan counter parts (who despite their state - are fantastic people).  It was a productive trip and a great change of scenery.

The chow at Bagram is phenomenal, with options and not mention a Pizza Hut of which I ate three times.  Many of the soldiers up there are into a "cross-fit" work out program, so I joined in doing that while I was up there, it was fun and challenging.

The wind at Bagram is amazing - constantly blowing, 35 knots is nothing to them and for month after month - unrelenting.  All I could think about was windmills, though I saw none.

In some strange and fascinating coincidence my brother flew into Bagram while I was up there and we met up (There may have been a little planning on my part as to when we needed to be at Bagram, but hey, it all worked out).  To the amazement of both of us, his company ended up sending him to a site at Salerno - so we get to hang out for a couple months before I leave.

When my brother saw me, he said I look famished and need to put on some weight before returning home - I thought that was great reason to eat an entire bag of chips and salsa that my grandparents in law had sent me (Thanks G & P!).  I also ate some choice delicacies my friend T sent me (Thanks T!), and some cookies my Mom and E sent me (Thank Ma and E!).

The day crew guys decided to build an overhang for the porch - this is them taking a pause from building for a cold NA beer.

The mostly finished overhang - I installed some mood lighting later that week.

Mr. S and Mr. M pose for a photo.

 This is on our trip up to Bagram.  Mr B on the left and Mr E on the right were great help.

 Getting containers inspected by customs to make sure we are not smuggling heroine, people or exotic monkey furs....A lot of work, but well worth it.

Mr Bro and I at Bagram.  We are sending the flag to our folks.

Please pray the month of September goes by at ludicrous speed.  Please pray that all the logistics that need to happen do so in a timely and organized manner.  Thanks for all the care packages!

See you all soon!


  

The Passage of Time Cannot be Stopped

Admittedly few substantial events have happened in recent weeks...yet I believe the most benign of human events - that is every day life - make the best fodder for en-lighting the human condition.

Being the person responsible for the movement of our units stuff, I have had the keen pleasure of arranging for our departure.  Yes, I know, much time still exists between now and then, yet procrastination - the usual accomplice to most human endeavors -  has laid to waste and I find the entire unit engaged in helping me out.  We have prepared for movement several containers of equipment toward Bagram, where it will wait till our departure from theater.

I have found a sickness in reading as of late and am unable to stop consuming every book that I find for my kindle.  I have finished Jane Eyre and am currently reading Vanity Fair along with the autobiography of Nikola Tesla.  Tesla was strange by my measure, his autobiography is available for free online from several universities websites - I recommend it.  Jane Eyre was one of the best novels I may have ever read - warn the curious reader, you will be trapped into a love story, not my cup of tea so I thought, but a brilliant book.

I recently installed a door bell for our CP.  I used some old aircraft parts, lights and such, to make it interesting.  The first few days it was used more as a  "I am coming in" bell by our unit soldiers - now that the novelty has faded, it has become more useful than annoying.

I am thankful for the passage of time, for the season change here and the semi cooler days of late summer.

On the dojo wall where we work-out, there is a Chuck Norris fitness poster, somebody wanted to move it (as written on the white board) and I found the response entertaining.

Please pray for all the families in our unit, that they could be close in-spite of the distance.