The new face of terrorism

SCARY, ISN'T IT?

Chez Flamingo

I had to cancel my trip this week because of some logistics challenges. I was bummed because I’m really looking forward to getting off this base for awhile. We’ve got the routine down well enough now that it is starting to be….well, routine. The trip is back on for next week barring anymore unexpected surprises.

I’ve made a move recently. Instead of staying up where everyone else stays, I’ve taken up residence in our compound. It puts me about a half a mile from the rest of the people, so it’s a lot quieter. I’m living in one of the Connex boxes (semi-trailer without the wheels). I’ve got air conditioning, computer access, and most of the conveniences I need. I’m in the process of building an outdoor shower, and once that is complete this place will be home.

Speaking of home, I’ve received an over abundance of packages recently from the States. Within two days I received an entire over-sized foot locker full of food (Thanks Mom, Dad, Rita, Sandy, Pat and his coworkers). Here’s the picture to prove it.

I’ve also been told to be on the lookout for at least 4 more packages that are inbound. I almost hate to say this, but if you’re planning to send something, you might want to wait a month or so. We love getting it, but at the rate it’s coming in we might have to open a store over here! We can always use some more music and movies though.

Below are pictures of our outdoor lounge that the guys made out of a huge shipping crate. It has been dubbed “Chez Flamingo”. A couple of you know where that reference comes from. Good times!

The last picture is me with a couple of the Brits taking a break from a mission to get a picture with “Flat Stanley”. Connor, I’ll get the little man back to you soon buddy.

Keep the e-mails, pictures, and letters coming. Looking forward to seeing you when I get back!

Flyer's beware!

Would you trust any of these men with your lives?
You better take a peek in the cockpit next time you get on an airliner!

Friday night?

Hi,
I'm sitting here at work, and I just realized it's Friday night. A few beers and a night out with the boys sounds just about right...ugh. Well, I guess my liver will have to wait!
I've gotten a few questions about this blog that people actually think I have the answer to. I assure you all that I am not a tech guru, but I did figure out a few things.
First, I don't know why the comments don't appear right on the blog page...but if you click on each entries title, you can read it and see your comments right below the entry when you finish. To get back you can either click on "Tommy's Blog" at the top, or chose another entry from the archive list.
Second...why don't I respond to the comments? Well, I really didn't know I could (or was supposed to) until a few days ago. A friend of mine has his own blog (way more interesting than this one...if you click his name "911DOC" that you'll find in the comments section of several of my blogs you can get to it), and I saw that he responded to just about every comment in the comments section. Oops, I guess I'm still figuring this stuff out.
Finally, I figured out how to embed videos on the sidebar so you can listen to tunes while you read. If that isn't full service, I don't know what is.
I'm missing green grass, blue water (and pretty much anything that has a color other than tan), and all of you. I'm looking forward to a trip I'll tell you all about once it's over. I've put up a few pics to give you all something to look at. If you look closely at the tire picture, you'll see a scorpion trying to hide under it. The one that looks sepia toned is what the sky has looked like for the last couple of days (talcum power sand over everything), and the one with the storm clouds was taken last week...and we all wish it would rain again soon if only to get all the sand out of the air. Hope you're all well and enjoying the spring.

T.

Click to make them bigger

Send Peanut M & Ms

A contingent of Brits we’ve been working a lot with is getting ready to head home. I’m sorry to see them go…great people. They’ve been taking some big hits over the last several months. The region I work in is the only one controlled by the British, and their convoys have lost significantly more people than ours. We’ve done the e-mail swaps, so I’m hoping to stay in touch so I’ve got some tour guides during my next stay there.

Our temperatures are averaging around 115-120 degrees during the day now, but it really isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The guys are still getting along great, and despite a need for all of them to blow off steam from time to time, we haven’t had anyone going at each others throats just yet. That’s a big concern living in close quarter, surrounded by the same personalities day after day in this heat.

The work is getting done, and despite some road blocks from time to time they are doing an awesome job with what we’ve got to work with. We all sit around talking about what we miss most about the States, and most of it is pretty obvious. Family, friends, favorites restaurants and bars, and a bunch of conveniences that we all took for granted when we were home.

One of my guys bought a house while he was over here, and another is searching for one everyday on the internet. They both have people at home that are/were able to check things out for them. With all of our income tax-free, it’s amazing what our bank balances are telling us. Who knew Uncle Sam was taking such a big bite. I’m personally buying a Harley Davidson Fatboy Softtail under a special military buying program that should allow me to drive it around for a couple of years and sell it for what I paid for it. I can’t wait!

I’m at the point where I’ve got my head far enough above water to start to consider what I’m going to do when I get back. It looks like the Navy has some jobs to offer me for about 6 months in the San Diego area, which would put me in the position to be able to have a better choice of what I want to fly when I go back to Northwest Airlines (I’m really trying to avoid the DC-9). Before any of that, I’m planning a big trip though. I’m split between the Mediterranean or Central/South America. Palma de Mellorca, Ibiza, Rio, Costa Rica…all I know is it has to have a beach…you know, sand attached to water instead of just to more sand. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I've discovered everything here works on the barter system. If we want something, we have to find something worth trading. Cookies and brownies from home seem to be the preferred commodity...so for those of you that have been asking what to send, there you have it. On a more selfish note, one of those big bags of Peanut M&Ms would make me a happy man. It's funny what you miss out here.

Well, I wish I could fill you in more on what it is we are doing over here. Let’s just say it’s making a difference, and that makes us love our job. Hope you’re all well and enjoying the spring.

T.

Camel Spider

Tonight we found a camel spider roaming around the compound. I've heard all kinds of stories about these things, but now that I've seen one I'm convinced they are all true. They say they aren't afraid of anything...and this one kept running right at us. It was pretty cool. I found the video above so you guys could see a little clip of what they are like.

Little Girl...

I keep getting a vision in my head of a little girl I saw as we drove along the convoy route the other day. She was standing on a pile of sand in a neighborhood filled with what can be best described as earthen shacks. She waved and smiled at us in bare feet and a flowered dress, and her eyes held the same innocence that all 4 year old kids seem to have. She was genuinely happy to see us, and the chaos that surrounded her had yet to diminish her excitement for life.
I tried to imagine spending day after day in this environment. The oppressive heat, with no air conditioning to retreat into, and water always in short supply. The corruption in this part of the world is wide spread, and they are almost guaranteed of maintaining whatever class level their parents were raised in.
I guess growing up in a big family has given me more exposure to seeing things from another persons perspective. It was almost a survival technique with 9 siblings whom covered the entire spectrum of personality types. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as self-centered as anyone else, but I find alternative perspectives fascinating.
The little girl on the side of the road reminded me that we all start out pretty much the same way. The major events in our lives, good and bad, define how we allow ourselves to live our lives. I venture that the difference between someone who lives courageously and someone who goes through life hiding in the shadows is often nothing more than a single life event at a crucial time. Divorce, encouragement, abuse, education, oppression, and a hundred other factors define whether we become one of the good guys or one of the bad guys.
Our enemies here are people who have decided that human life is expendable. They don’t bother themselves with the details. If one of the women they blew up in the market that day was the mother of 3 young kids whose lives will be changed forever, the bad guys can justify it away as a necessity to their cause. The heroes that the USA has over here risk their own lives everyday doing their best to protect the innocent from the bad guys. Even this far from home, and surrounded by people who have little in common with us, our guys find common ground with the locals and develop a mutual respect.
One thing about the desert…the lack of visual stimulation makes your mind find other ways to keep itself busy. We’re all becoming a bunch of philosophers out here.
The little girl had blue eyes.

T.

PS – Happy Birthday to my sister Rita. LYMI!