110309 Halloween, the best holiday and Lightning in the Desert

110309 Halloween, the best holiday and Lightning in the Desert

For Halloween I asked a former co-worker in the states to send some Halloween stuff for the coffee break room.  I  then decorated the break room and you can see my efforts in the pic above.  Frankly Halloween is the best Holiday.   Thanksgiving and Christmas have too much connection or association with family and loved ones.  And try as they  might, sitting at a DFAC table with coworkers for a Thanksgiving meal just isn't the same.  The DFAC does a great job  and there is (camel) steak, prime rib and even lobster but it's just not the same (it sucks and is kind of  depressing). 

Also it has started to rain here.  I don't think I've ever seen it rain in Iraq without lots of thunder and  lightning.  I remember it raining once when I was at Tallil where it was raining and lightning and thunder but it  was still so warm that what rain did make it to the ground quickly evaporated.  Dang good lightning show though.  Also there's so much lightning that it's possible to get some pics by just taking random pics.  I took about 30  pics at random times the other day to get the lightning pics above as well.  Unfortunately the pics really don't do justice to the amount of lightning there was but it does give one an idea.

R/Chris

24Oct09 The life of a Contractor is feast and famine

24Oct09  The life of a Contractor is feast and famine

As a contractor in Iraq life can be feast or famine.  I do SQL database stuff here used by another company (ITT) to monitor vehicle maintenance.  Two years ago ITT underbid the previous contract owner (L3) and just today came notice that LSI has officially lost the contract for the next two years.  What this means is that soon there will be LSI reps here that will go to each LSE shop and ask each current LSI employee here if he wants to continue in his present job as an LSI employee BUT at a reduced salary.  In this particular case, I also found out that the 'new salary' is that you work 7 days a week instead of 6 days for the approximate same pay.  So doing the numbers, one will have to work about 17% more in order to get the same pay.  We'll see how many goys out there will stick around.  From an informal survey I'd say it's about half.  But LSI is already looking for people who want to work here and I found one link and here it is.  My contract still is not signed and I find out by the end of October.  Yes, it's already almost the end of October but the US Army moves at the speed at which it wants to move.

So for a job in Iraq, see the link below.

http://jobsearch.monster.com/Search.aspx?co=xursx,xursax,xurscax,xursco1x,xurs01x,xurs02x,xurs04x,xurs06x,xurs07x,xurs08x,xurs09x,xurs10x,xurs11x,xurs12x,xurs13x,xurs14x,xurs15x,xurs19x,xurs01x,xurs03x,xurs05x,xurs16x,xurs17x,xurs18x,xurs20x,xurs21x,xurs22x,xurs23x,xurs24x,xurs25x,xurs26x,xurs27x,xurs28x,xurs29x#brd=1&q=contingent%20balad%20iraq&cy=us&lid=316&re=0&pg=1&dv=1

R/Chris

101809 KA-BOOM! Wow, that was the closest one to date!

101809 KA-BOOM! Wow, that was the closest one to date!

On Friday we I had the closest call to date.  A rocket hit the bunker next to the building where I work (and about 100 feet from where I sit) and it rattled the building pretty bad.  Lights fell down and there was dust everywhere.  For a minute we thought some part of the building was hit since it was that loud.  Instead of running to the bunker THIS time I hit the deck flat in case there was another explosion.  There was but it was farther away so we got up and ran to bunkers. Surprisingly there was still a lot of yelling going on!  Anyway, that was certainly the closest one to date.  The rocket hit the top of the bunker and blew the plywood off (in the pics above.)  In some of the other pics you can see part of the recovered casing and the shrapnel.  There was shrapnel everywhere so I gathered up a few pieces.  What the heck do I do with them though?
R/Chris

101309 Happy 234th U.S. Navy

101309 Happy 234th U.S. Navy

 

Today (the 13th of October) is the Navy birthday, so it's lobster for lunch!  I've had more damn lobster in Iraq than I've had in my entire life! (and dang it's good!)

R/Chris

101309 Work in Iraq? Are you Crazy?

101309 Work in Iraq? Are you Crazy?

Recently a co-workers job came open where I am located.  Frankly I suspect the job is already filled but the position was listed online and I took a look at what was there.  The standard stuff is listed but at the end of the job description the work environment is detailed.  Dang, what person is crazy enough to work in an environment like that?! 

 

Work Environment: Work environment is typically indoors in an office environment. However, outdoor work will be required in austere conditions (dusty, extreme temperatures). Substantial hours with minimal time off are called for – an 80-90 hour week is standard. The duty station for this position is located in Iraq. This assignment is hazardous. Employees may experience insurgent attacks on a regular basis. Certain operations may require 24 hour support. Accordingly, individuals may be assigned to work during non-routine shifts, and long hours.

 

R/Chris

101309 So you want to be a rockstar AND be in the Army? Heck, why not both! (part2)

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101309 So you want to be a rockstar AND be in the Army? Heck, why not both!

101309 So you want to be a rockstar AND be in the Army? Heck, why not both!

Most people join the Army to fight the enemy.  Well there are lots of jobs in the Army where you won't ever have to worry about breaking a nail!  The Army band is one such example. (Yes, there is also an Air Force band and Navy 'sea chanters' (urgh!)) 
Recently the Army band came and did their show here at Balad.  They did a couple of songs at the DFAC where I heard them and also about base.  Someone else posted these pics and I'm reposting. 
R/Chris

101209 Battalion Farewell Picnic...."you're saving lives." (pics part2)

R/Chris

101209 Battalion Farewell Picnic...."you're saving lives."

101209 Battalion Farewell Picnic...."you're saving lives."

 

Last night was the Battalion picnic. This is 'farewell' for the outgoing military personnel in the building.  Everyone got an award (for doing their jobs) and one guy got a 'shadow box' of 'stuff' (see the pic and expand).  Last year I did something good and instead of getting an award I got a 'bonus check for $1,000.  Since the Army (generally) can't give bonus check, they tend to hand out a lot of awards.  If you DON'T get an award, that is telling.  Everyone was invited to 'say a few words' after each received his award.  Capt. Dan went on for about 5 minutes of what Iraq has meant to him and encouraged everyone to keep doing his job since everyday "you're saving lives."  It was nice but is my managing a SQL database really saving lives???  Still, it was nice of him to say so.
R/Chris

101109 FOB Kalsu and Mendez Airfield (pics part 4)

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101109 FOB Kalsu and Mendez Airfield (pics part 3)

R/Chris

101109 FOB Kalsu and Mendez Airfield (pics 2)

R/Chris

101109 FOB Kalsu and Mendez Airfield

101109 FOB Kalsu and Mendez Airfield

I often get asked "What does it look like over there?"  First of all, every place I've ever been in Iraq pretty much looks the same. They're all flat, dry and dusty.  And when it rains, it's damn muddy!  Living in Iraq centers around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.  There are very few cites that are far away from either of these rivers or some other water source.  Thus there is very little sand here but there is plenty of dust, fine river sediment.  And the dust gets into everything and everywhere!
FOB (Forward Operating Base) Kalsu and Mendez Airfield are nearby.  The Army (and the military in general) names many things after someone of notoriety that may have died there (or elsewhere).  Camp Speicher is named after Navy LT Speicher who was shot down at the beginning of Gulf War 1 (yes, that's what it's called when the 1st Bush decided to invade Iraq).  From the pics you can read about Kalsu and Mendez.  There's gate here on camp that I have to pass through to enter into a yard where vehicles are stored.  The gate is named after a DAC that was killed during a mortar attack a few years ago.  I've wondered if I were killed here if I'd be up to the 'gate' level?
R/Chris

U.S. Army 10 Mile Race pics (part 3)

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Army 10 Mile Race Pic (part 2)

R/Chris

101009 U.S. Army 10 Mile Race

101009 U.S. Army 10 Mile Race

The Army (and the military in general) has quite a bit of history.  When I was in the Navy, October 13th was THE Navy Birthday.  A big day for the Army is October 10th.  This is THE day of the Army 10 Mile Race!  At Army installations around the world this race will be run.  Why? Because...(it's the Army way).  I've never  been in DC on 10 Oct but I understand it's a big deal there too.  Of course, all are invited to run, Army, Air Force, Civilians (pukes) 'et-cetera...'  I didn't run this year (eh, maybe next year) but the race started at 0445 prompt.  It's basically a big fun-race.  I've said many times that the Army does a GREAT job here with MWR events for all and you should really never be bored.  Anyway, here are some pics.
R/Chris