Day 39 - Thursday August 30th

Well this is team Baghdad, from left to right- Jack (APM), Mitch (PM), Chip (APM), Jessie (IS), Brittany (Finance), Brian O (Safety), Leo and Me.....

Oh the other one is a scorpion...first one we saw...didn't know they where around here. They have black and yelloww ones (it's black)...It was in the carpentry shop.

Nothing else exciting happening... Guess the big holiday time starts around Sept 10th and lasts 2 weeks I believe. They will be lots of problems during that period. Lock downs, etc. Should be interesting.

It's poker night and about time to eat so I will sign off for now.

Sadam's Old Personal Palace - US EMBASSY NOW

His royal highness
The POOL
Entrance - all Marble and Stone
Abraham, Leo and Me - Gold Door

Mural of 7 nukes aimed at IRAN











Visited the embassy/palace yesterday and the place was unreal - all interior doors GOLD....No wonder the country was broke.

Friday -August 24th

Seems we have a regular visitor back.....more incoming three days in a row....loud but not that close. Funny how this seems more normal than the long period of nothing.....guess it's all what one is used too. Can you really ever be used to those things?

Funny thing the other day, I called Tina and she answers out low and behold she and Ashley are in Kayhak's....go figure. Best part Tina tied off to Ashley and Alyssa and they pulled mom as she talked to me. I am in the desert, they are on a MI river.....just struck me funny. Can't wait to see those pictures, almost as good as 3 dogs in a canoe.....well two dogs and a pnoy (no offense Skylar but you are as big as a pony-but much prettier).

Hope to do some sight seeing today - waiting for Leo and Brian to get up (their day off) and we will go to the Pizza Hut and shot some pictures of the city - I hope. I get off Sunday's.....

Well just a shortie, hope I get some cool pix and if so will post later today.

Streak Has Ended

All good things must come to an end....a solitary mortar (not close) just came over. Not sure where it landed will find out later. And the routine begins again. Actually these long periods can make one careless....better to be on one's toes all the time.

Nothing much going on. I have to move out of my trailer into a dual one to make room for the new Assistan PM who just happens to be related to the person over us from the Army-ah politics, can't escape it aywhere. We have to move two others (pecking order) and have to clean and repaint the one I am going into. Also now I don't have a bed long enough....and that's not gonna work....twins are too short. So they are building me a longer one. Can't wait to see that.

Been trying to be positive about the entire organization but from what we all have seen...it's a mess. Not housekeeping (Great reviews of course) but the rest is all messed up. No organization, no corporate support, no supplies (logistically a mess), no command, etc etc. All the things I detest in an operation. Hopefully when the new PM and APM get here Sunday this will change. The last company really let the employees run the show....now we are having issues regaining control (but the current APM-old contractor from before) has no spine. So the inmates are running the asylum. Not in Leo and mine area's....we set the stage early and hard.

Anyway enough whinning for now, back to work.

More Pictures - Saturday - Day 27 PART 2

Here's a few more for today (Part 1 beow this post). Here are some parked military vehicles-it's ok to take pictures of them. That's the Court House - it's being repaired...quite beautiful building before it got EXPLODED...in the early days of the war, not recently. Most of the structures are very pretty - more pictures next week.... Ya know it's weird to park next to a Hummer with a 50 cal. - and you go in to shop.....like at a grocery store. Wonder the reaction at Busch's if you pulled up to a parked Abrahams M-1.....American's just dont realize how good we have it....these poor people live in fear everyday....

More Pictures - Saturday - Day 27 (Part 1)

Some pictures of the outside wall of the new US Embassy (largest in the world).....thats a 20' ft high wall around the entire complex. It's got to be 3 blocks long and I am not sure how wide. it's HUGH. It's supposed to open in November.... We still plan on sight seeing next Friday, so then some palaces, tomb of unknown soldier, etc. - all in IZ of course. The Iraqi's drive like crazymen...the roundabout (circle) is a free for all....no one stops.

Still been very quiet lately almost 2 weeks.....just minor stuff (don't believe what the media says) - I heard ABC ran the story of our little girl in the hospital......finely a decent story. The troops do alot of good things that never get printed.....it doesn't sell ....

Not much else happening - it's becoming routine now....will get more pictures of interesting places eventually. Like Sadam's pools and palace (old embassy now).

Bye from the wastelands.....

Celebration Part 2 -

Pix -1 Me, Pix -2 Huda and Brittany, Pix-3 Elvis B-Day card, Pix--4 Brian O, Leo and Brittany.

It was a pleasant surprise - and the cake was good too.

Celebration Time Come On-----Part 1

What a surprise - cake and all - the candle was the highlight - I got a couple to send home, neer seen anything like this one. It was a nice day - thanks to the team for making the day a little less hard, being away from home.

Miss all -

Day 21 - Sunday A Small Mile Stone

I am off today - Yea, first in 3 weeks. Movies, popcorn, music and WOW all day. Jay was the first on blog and Ashley first to call.....

The week has been very quiet till this morning....3am something happening a ways away but not sure what-so I went back to sleep. Getting used to all of this. Settling into a routine, same as back home (except not there-a big difference). We are trying to figure out how to get football games (our current cable only gets ESPN and 5 movie channels, 8 radio ones, rest in arabic- all 400 of them). Brian O has been tasked that....he reminds me of Ed McW-well except he's 6'4", but can make computers wiz.

We are slowly getting the hospital cleaned up but still haven't gotten our all supplies and equipment. No HS Buffer.....so hard to keep corridors shinning. Stuff supposed to come today-but thats what they say everyday. Anyway we get compiments all the time from the soldiers and staff-they ain't seen nothing yet.

We are still trying to sort out who goes when on vacation- I am technically last in line (last two arrive of the 4 here-Brian O, Brittany, Leo then me). Seems both B's want a crosser week at the same time (Xmas of course). We may have to have a poker hand to decide, speaking of which I was the big winner this week, finally. We are going to start having a mini-tournament next week. All put in $30 and winner take all.

We work with Chief Vick (CW2), SFC Bailey and Dennis (Civilian COR), but they rotate out in Nov and we get an entire new team (the whole unit in hospital rotates out)....they do this every 12-15 months. And our PM (Project Manager) arrives Sept 1st as well....

Now about the pictures......Name that Plant....and WIN.......and don't make up a scientific name cause I will check it out. Oh the contest is to give it a "personal"name and give the type of plant (2 parts)....winner gets a prize from here. As to the other pictures-that's me waving, and our Iraqi mom's (Vvyan& Huda) - they keep the trailers and us straight - great ladies. Again most of the people here are great inside the compound and out. It's the crazies you have to watch.

Well, that's it for now - no I am NOT 59 till 6:26pm tonight....still young (Hmm, is that right-cause I was born on EST and now I am 8 hrs ahead- wait a minute then I won't be 59 till 2:26am tomorrow- oh my gosh now I am totally confused)

Eck- 2008 Bruce is 50, Dori 30 (Ashley 17- oh my gosh) and I AM NOT....Las Vegas should be a blast with the whole family together for the first time in forever.....ya know one doesn't realize how much that means till you aren't there....

With that final bit of confusion I sign off and begin my day of laziness.....Good Luch Ashley in your final Concerts in Travers City this weekend, Jay your script is great and Dori- when do I get REAL two legged grandchilds......not the four legged variety.....

Day 15 - Monday

Did something unusual today - like escort $100K cash to the compound. Yea everything is paid in cash here, payroll,supplies, vendors, all but us of course. It was strange actually counting out the $ 100K....
Remember the baby I talked about well she is much bettter - her story is terrible. Her parents were asassinated by the terriosts, and she was tossed into a dumpster to die. Luckily our troops found her and brought her in...she is adorable and gaining weight-even smiles alittle now.
Temperature continues to be milder -realitively speaking 111-112, it was actually 86 at 6am this morning. We started putting in more bunkers and barriers at the compound. Even started building a permanent structure for sleeping quarters (not for us, the army).
I have added some pictures on this page and a second posting......
Some of the hospital and compound and staff. Enjoy. More to follow
Short story tonight - hi to all, miss all

Day 15 Continued

make sure you read the other post

DAY 14 - Sunday

Wow has it been two weeks already. Some days it flies others NOT. The weather has been not as hot only around 114 daily instead of the usual 118-119, believe it or not it seems to make a difference. Actually got down to 86 early this morning (6:10am) -

Lately boom booms at 6:10am for last three days in a row. Nothing close, but can hear them in the distance. Only when we feel the vibes is it actualy closer. Since the US said things are better, they are stepping up the attacks...it helps the Democracts and Liberal Media and they (the Bad Guys-no not John) know it. Oops did I just do a political no no.....

Only excitment today was we had to get gas in the Pajero's (Our cars - the trucks are bongo's yea thats right a Bongo - made by Kia)) but the govt station was closed on Sunday - so Brian O. knew where the Black Market gas was. Wish I had my camera - it was down a back alley - like going into the bad neighborhood in Detroit. The guy there pumped it by hand from some hidden container into 5 gallon cans then into the car. Paid $1.00 a liter for gas (that's about $4.00/gal).
Creepy place. Two guys standing around - guarding...looked like a gang in control. Brian O said it's safe cause it's all about the money. If anything bad happens then no one would come. Funny capitalism at it's prime. Saw some really run down and blown up places, from the fighting. definitely a slum - we gave a couple of dollars to some kids hanging around. Wonder if they actually got to keept it for themselves.

Can't wait till tuesday so I can get my copy of the Bourne Ultimatum....Hopefully I can get some pictures when we drive to that place....lots military vehicles-different types. It's Ok (Adam we checked) to take their pix cause they are in a depot. Just cant take pix of gates, etc for security reason. They get any info they can from were ever they can.

Well thats it for now - another day done in the neighborhood, sans the sweater of course. It's been 30 days since I left Trihealth and 18 days since I left home. 14 days in Kuwait/Iraq.
Better not count this all the time , makes it seem slower.

Feel free to comment or just a note that you read this.....
Bye all

Day 12 - Friday

Nothing unusual today, but it wasn't as hot only 114 - almost a cool front...almost. Did get to see another of the camps (Liberty)and Sadam's private pools....now the rec area for the soldiers. Didn't have my camera cause I didn't know we were stopping there. There are 2 of the largest darn things I ever saw...you will have to wait for the pix's as I can't even describe it adequately.

I will go back another time...and get pictures of the palaces if I can get to them. Sure I will eventually sometime this year.

They had a little bazaar at the chapel today. Local vendors - rugs, jewelry, movies, knives, stuff like that - too early to get stuff yet. If anyone wants something specific let me know and I can get it. Funny seems to be lots of turquoise items...kinda surprised about that. It's funny the Borne Ultimatum started today and I will have the movie by tuesday......$3....surprisingly very good quality (no heads passing across the screen so far on the others).

A little beat tonight - going to watch a movie and crash. Good Night all

Day 10 - Partial Update

Well thats the fire I was talking about yesterday. One of the workers didnt watch the fire he was burning and it got out of control.
That's one of our Iraqi security guards, we have 6 inside roaming the compound and about 8 at the front gate with their British leader. They are here 24/7 and most very nice. (except for the weapon:).)
Now you say what's with the broken car window. That was from the Iraqi people outside celebrating their victory over Saudi in Asian Cup the other day. They shoot off their weapons (not our guys) into the air....then Mr Gavity takes over and the bullets return. Yes folks one hit the car and one went thru one of the warehouse roofs (no one hurt). We did find the 9mm bullet in the back of the car.... They just don't get it - their celebrations over a soceer game killed 9 people - from shooting into the air.



Another car bomb today in Central Baghdad - not near use at all in the IZ (That's International Zone - ex Green Zone). central is in the Red Zone I believe but not IZ for sure - did I just say "fur Sure - oh my gosh"



Now yes- Dori I knew that was from "Good Morning Vietnam" - nice touch too....yea u win so far the longest relpy. Not sure what you will win though.

More choppers over head tonight (10:30pm) -lot's coming in today, must be some heavy action around here...but havent heard. You get used to the flyovers - usually heading to the hospital across the street...but sometimes the British ones are hunting the bad guys.

Well thats it for tonight - long day again. Watched a movie "Pathfinder" - Conanian thing...
Take care all - miss ya'll. Good Night and God Bless