March 1

I can't believe that they are running out of certain things at the D-Fac. first it was Soy milk, they never seems to have that long, usuallly I'll get the chocolate. Now they ran out of chocolate, I can't eat cereal now. for those who do not know, I quit drinking milk in 1995, I read some bad stuff about it that grossed me out. don't get me wrong, I still love cheese, cream cheese, and will eat ice cream on occasion, but to drink milk in its pure form, no thanks. Now they are out of all energy bars, half the cereal and most fruit. they are down to apples and not-ripe nectarines. That's our world, being totally dependent to have food shipped to us. I wonder if problems in egypt have slowed down us getting food with the suez canal and all. Nothing else really going on, except that morale is a little down. I think the place is getting on everyones nerves at the moment, I'm just trying to keep everyone from choking eacher other!
Oh ya, I could talk about Charlie Sheen. He is facinating, the guys is very entertaining. I have been reading up on a lot of his stuff lately, his denial is off the radar. I do remember he was sober for a real long time and then I guess he just said, I'm tired of fighting it. Doesn't doing all those drugs just wreck his body? shoot he's 45, he's gotta feel it. I do agree with some things he says, he's entitled to do whatever he wants as long as he isn't hurting anyone. I just think though, how much good he could've been to humanity if he only would've given money blown on drugs and women to charity. He probably would still be married if it wasn't for the drugs. The funny thing is he's making all these media companies money yet isn't making a dime off of it.

The Dreaded Clickers!"

Another day off, same ole stuff but this time I have clicker duty. Sounds stupid? It is! We have to sacrifice 3 hrs of our life we will never get back, sitting at the front counter of the D-Fac, clicking if they are active duty and taking a running tab of other groups like DoD Contracters, department of state, collation forces. Basically, how many are eating, who, and at what time. I couldn't believe how many people eat in there for dinner, probably 900 in 3 hours It’s no-brainer stuff but the shift is 1700-2000, which stinks because, “when do I sleep?” I have to be at work at 2330. I try to take a nap before at 1pm and I only can sleep a half hour. The shift ends and my relief hasn’t shown up. The kitchen guy calls the coordinator, who is no help at all. I won’t get into the details but someone screwed up with the schedule. I call the Day shift NCOIC and tell her I’m currently stuck and if I have to pull a double shift I will not be coming in till much later. She says they have two flights going on simataneously but she will send someone down to relieve me in 10 m. By the time the relief comes I’ve almost been there an hour over. I got about 3.5 hrs sleep, enough to allow me to function. Am I annoyed? Of course, but when I was in the Navy, stuff like this happened all the time. What ticked me off was when I get to work Christian says the day NCOIC says out loud, “It wasn’t that big of a deal, he had the day off.” So what! That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in awhile. My day off is sat. 2400-1200, how does that help me get sleep for the next night shift on Sunday? I like the fact that Christian told me what she said, my crew is watching my back for people talking about me behind my back. I’ll remember that comment she made when it comes to future trust factor.
I was burned out bad by the end of the shift. I brief the day NCOIC and she says something about, “you had the day off.” I do at least give her credit for mentioning that to me in person, so when I explained to her what I explained to you, she says something like that’s true or I see. Touche! I decide to go right to bed after I pick up laundry, instantly fall asleep for 6 hrs, I wake up, I know I need to work out but want to sleep. I then proceed to toss n turn for 3 more hours. I can’t believe how that dreaded clicker duty messed my sleep schedule up, plus I missed a workout day. Today is our 1 month anniversary, big woop!! Seems like 3 months, someone in cargo actually had the nerve to say it was flying by, he probably has grown up kids and a wife he calls once a week. I have 45 days of freedom until the dreaded “clickers” start calling for me again!

Day of Rage?

We have not one flight on the schedule today. Why? The proposed "day of rage" that is suppossed to be an anti-government demonstration by the people of Iraq. They are following the example of what Egypt, Libyia and Bahrain have done recently. they say it shouldn't get that bad because the Iraqi President volunteered to cut his salary for the last month and give it to charity, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. I don't know if there will be retaliation on the base, It's a different clientelle, I think, not radical muslim in nature, but more of the poor, mainstream population that thinks their government is corrupt. i don't know, say a prayer for us over here today. One of my sergeants put it in perspective saying them hitting us at whatever exact location we are in is like throwing a grain of sand at something in an empty room and hitting dead-on

Hookah Mania?

The weather has dramatically improved in the last two weeks. The days are now almost up to 80 and the nights you pretty much do not need a jacket. It sure beats the junk that we were dealing with, the crazy rain, wind, and cold. It’ll be interesting once it gets hot, I’m use to that, but they have humidity here. I’ve been to Georgia in June but it still never got above 102, here it gets to be 120.
The young guys here are crazy characters. SRA Christian is constant entertainment. He does dispatch a lot he’s about 6’5, black but likes death-metal more than rap. Since my office is next to his, I hear the screaming for hours on end. He was raised an Army brat so he travelled a lot, he has some wild philosophies on life and a psychedelic past if you know what I mean. He, like the rest of most of the young crew, is obsessed with smoking Hookah, a middle-eastern form of flavored tobacco. I had never even heard of it until a year ago when one of my cousins mentioned it on facebook, I actually asked if it was marijuana. Hahaha They love to smoke it, they got the fancy pipe-thingey. I have no desire, maybe I’m scared I might get hooked on it. Christian invited me to the bazaar next to the main exchange, I initially wanted to turn it down, wanting to stick with my workout schedule, but I thought, “why not, it’s also a chance to hang out with these guys outside of work.”
We take the 16pax bus, we took a different route then when we went on the cultural tour. I swear, Christian, Foley, and Graham are an insane combo, it should be illegal to have them in the same vehicle. They are alternating between blaring death metal and southern Rap, Christian is driving with one hand, fist pumping with the other, Graham and Foley are talking about X-rated topics. I’m just rolling my eyes, smiling, shaking my head. It’s a good 20 minute drive, we have to drive around the airport, plus the roads are garbage, you’re lucky to go 20 mph. I’m listening to them and it brings me back to my Navy days, thinking back 22 yrs ago me, Siebert, Anderson, Porter, Hodder, Blair, and Cook (ya, crowded car) driving down PCH on our rare weekends off from the Duncan. Blaring music, and talking about X-rated stuff. Even back then, I was more of the low-key guy, just listening and smiling. It’s just funny, 22 years and not much has changed, except these guys have more technology at their disposal. Scary part is, I’m old enough to be all their dads, hey, I feel honored they even invited me to go, they never would’ve asked Sergeant May, sad to say.
Knowing from experience, it is a unique period in all their lives. The sad part with the military is, it’s easy to slip into a way of thinking that, in my opinion, is polluted. You end up cussing like there is no tomorrow, and think way too many dirty thoughts, and for some, the dirty thoughts turn into actions. With a place like this, however, most of these guys don’t get to act out anything, thank god. Even when I was in the moment way back in the Navy, I knew that lifestyle was wrong, but it is easy to kind-of get sucked into it. My theory on why guys get corrupted in the military and especially this group is the need to cling to something to bond with. They are young, away from family, and they got nothing but each other. You know, like me, I have my family back home so I feel grounded and secure. When you are in this type of situation, you have an incredibly strong desire to be accepted. I don’t think they know it yet, but this connection they have, it will never be stronger then it is now. You never forget things, but I talk to some of those old navy guys I mentioned, you never really get it back. Life now just gets too much in the way. For example, the other day I’m talking to my navy bud Darrel “Papa” Hatchett, and we’re laughing about the old times, then I hear a female voice in the background and he has to go. That's what happens when time moves on, You have a family, you grow a career or business, and the bond just never is the same. Most of my old navy buddies now just have me as a friend on facebook with very little interaction, it's sad but better then no contact at all. But I look at these clowns in this bus and realize the closeness of their friendships are getting them through this period of their lives, I can relate to it for sure.
We go to the bazaar, and of course, I forget my video camera and leave my camera chip in the downloader so now, once again, I can’t record anything. They had some real cool stuff, a lot of jewelry, ornaments, rugs, leather goods, house decoration stuff. They also had a lot of stuff you would find at a garage sale, reflected by a dusty tint. It is overpriced, but you are expected to barter, man I hate bartering, I always had to do that nonsense when I was in Korea. I didn’t buy anything, but I’ll come back to get a few things. The guys bought their Hookah stuff, I guess the tobacco stuff is $2 a shot while it is $5 in the states. I asked if the stuff gives you a rush and one of them said a little, probably from the lack of oxygen getting to their lungs.
We go back, same routine with the crazy music, the head-banging, and now their conversation has turned to XXX rated. Man, get me outta here, enough is enough! We get back, I eat a powerbar, do my Plyo workout, and then get hungry in the middle of it and have to quit the workout. It made me realize how much I have my routine down to exact times. Anyways it was good to get out and see that stuff, I just feel bad for their lungs to have to endure the Hookah sensation. Feel free to write a comment if the stuff is really that good or high over-rated.

Feb. 22

Pretty good work day today, tension between the shifts is easing, I want to make it work and by their actions it seems they do as well. We still got a ways to go but any progress is good. I got my first care package today, it was awsome! Everything i've been needing....except the flippin camera cord! Gina put the wrong one in, but they are easy to confuse, I will have to show her on the videophone what the connection looks like. I got 3 months supply of sprees, chocolate truffles, tapitio sauce, and protein powder, plus some great cards from my wife and kids! I might need to buy a camera, even though I've taken pictures of just about everything here, which isn't a lot. It was good to work the dispatch even if it wasn't that busy. Coordinating flight schedules, answering phone, computer data input, some stuff I already knew some I didn't. We usually have just two people that know dispatch so even though i'm their supervisor, I'm not very competent at it. It's like at an auto shop where the cashier probably doesn't know a lot about cars. It's not that hard, fake it till you make it.
I'm taking a break from working out, part of the P90 plan, but I have gone two weeks straight so my knees are thanking me. I'm starting to notice changes, it's exciting but I want it to go quicker. Only lost about 5 lbs but I'm gaining muscle. It's a sad reality but after 35 men really do lose muscle mass. When I was in my 20's I use to have tree trunks for legs, now they're branches! hahaha Everything is getting better, strength, cardio, and flexibility. The gut is so slow to lose, that's what I get for quitting beer at 40 and not 30. But it's very exciting because I now know that i will never stop working out while I'm here, that would be suicide. Mentally and emotionally I need it like I need food.
There is not much that amuses me here but I have been able to conjure up two things. When i was younger I would think of random things and trip out or look at people and bemuse to my friends my interpretation of their reality, it would make for some good laughs. Do it much less as I've gotten older, but just to try to break up the monotony of this blog, here it goes:


Laundry Guy: This is a complex process that if you don't do it right you may not get your laundry back, I may or may not be joking. But the laundry service guy at the front counter is Haji and he looks just like the soup Nazi except he has shorter hair. Same scowl, except he doesn't yell, but he does take his job to a very intense level. if you never saw the soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld, just skip this blog, it won't be funny. There is a precise way you have to get to the counter, fill out one form, sign one, sign out the other, fill another form, it's laughable but i understand because there is no computers. He just has that scowl, and says, "sign here", "sign here", "no wrong space, here" i just want to laugh, I still haven't gotten the routine right. I just think, "no soup fo you.....next!"

Sergeant H: As I have previously mentioned, the terminal has many different agencies: Navy, Contractors, United nations, DOD, and Army. Army's got it made, they work 8 hr shifts, and they always say we're the wimps! Well there is one of the LNO's (liason officer)I'll just call her sergeant H. she's late 30's, Puerto Rican with the accent and all, and mean to the Army personnel that come to see her to get their 4 day pass and get out of this hell-hole for a few. She barks orders at them, herds them like cattle, they put up with it because they want to get on the plane. She's very nice to us, but she has one of the worst wondering eye disorders I have ever seen. It's like serious 45% angle. I'm not trying to make fun of her, but it is the biggest challenge to not focus on her eye when talking to her. It takes every ounce of effort to look at the eye looking straight at you and not the other one. i almost dread having to talk to her because i know what is going to transpire. I'm thinking, "don't look, don't look, she's going to think you're rude." It drives me crazy , does that sound mean? i'm sure people look at my thinning hairline and think the same thing, and i don't even notice it! hahaha

Day Off II

Slept in, so awsome, I love sleep over her, it makes time go by faster. Talked to My wife and my mom. I feel real sad about my 4 yr old daughter Jenna, my wife says she is really acting up, defiant, not concentrating, just acting out of control. she thinks she is acting this way due to being gone. Then she says that with my two brother in laws Matt and Beto, and nephew in law Brendon, she's really clingy with them, just wants to be around them all the time. Obviously she is looking for that father figure since I am gone. It makes me want to cry, that I can't be there for her. But I need to put it in the back of my mind and continue to focus forward. I tell you, I'm going to have her near me every single second when I am back, making up for lost time. She just has to hang in there and so do I, Thank god she has such a great mom!
I also talked to Hatchett, my old Navy buddy, aka "Papa." We talked about the old navy days, usually he's so busy and always has to go fairly quick, but we talked a good half hour. We talked about some old navy buds but he had me in tears when we brought up some old things we had to do on the ship, tears because i was laughing so flipping hard. You wouldn't get it unless you served, so i'm not even going to explain. The navy had all these stupid procedures of etiquette that you had to do, traditions, some were so goofy, they probably had more of that stuff then any of the branches of service combined. It was good to laugh like that, it has been too long.

I'm on my way to breakfast and I hear the big voice say, "all clear!" That's not good at all, that can only mean we've been attacked. why didn't I hear anything before? I eat and noone is acting like we have been attacked, then I go to the terminal to get some pics from Mohr and I see a black haze on the horizon, I'm thinking "was there an accident on the flightline?" I see Nelson and he said we had gotten attacked, our C-ram took out one of them but there was one that hit close to something important, WOW!!! I'd say what, but I don't need to give the jack-butts any tactical advantage, yes the enemy does use cyberspace as a battle-ground. Noone was hurt, the area was empty , but that was too flippin close!!! Honeymoon is over, three weeks without an attack well thats history. I just have to tell myself over and over that god is protecting me, that no matter what happens around me, I will be safe.

Feb. 18

Today was a good day but stressfull at the end. good because it was my Friday and bad because I had to deal with some confrontation. I guess anything gets better with experience. When it comes to dealing with teenagers I teach and adults, i'm very different. With kids I'm strict, I'm consistent and fair with discipline, and I refuse to allow disrespect, does that mean I get angry, frustrated, and annoyed on occasion with kids? Of course! My patience level is still better then 90% of all americans. Adults, however, I'm still trying to feel it out. Adults are much more sensitive then kids and they will hold a grudge longer. My assistant NCOIC was telling me a certain story of when they first got here, and he was doing a shift brief, a crew member (part of our reserve unit), was talking when he was, he corrected her, and word has it this crew member was bitter for a long time. So when I talk to adults I try to be very calm, respectfull. do I let a few things slide that I see that i probably should correct on the spot,yes, it's something I need to keep getting better at, sometimes a let a few things slide to try to keep the peace, unlike as a teacher, i rarely let things go. But this personality of mine, I feel segeant "right" interprets it as me being soft, a pushover. It's funny though, SRA Christain said to the group last night after shift brief, "It's amazing but ever since you got here, everybody has been showing up to shift brief on time." Best compliment i have had so far on the tour.
Today was our NCO meeting where all the leaders of the groups go over things. I knew i would have to address dayshift taking my one of my only two dispatchers. i felt bad because i told her that if the command section took her troop, sergeant Delaporta,to be their network IT guy, that it would be hard to fight her over losing our dispatcher. I guess it sounds like i was agreeing but over 24 hrs of thinking and conferring with a few senior NCO's who "heard wind" (by the way, rumors spread quickly here and mostly everyone talks about mostly everyone behind their back) I decided to change my mind so i was going to bring it up with our top enlisted guy at the meeting to get the decision changed. I was nervous, thinking he/she would be angry and think I was a backstabber but can't a person change their mind? I felt I was backed into a corner and i didn't like it one bit. I had to write notes down, I had to have valid facts and statistics to back my point. Well, to make a long story short, we kept our dispatcher. I could say more but I better not, I'm just glad it's over and it was a good learning experience, I'm proud I stood my ground, I just hate learning the hard way. I think the tension between the shifts will increase, i just have to ride it out and sometimes take the high road. I know one thing that makes me feel good, that morale in our shift is very good, people are joking, smiling but there will probably be the worsening situation where the dispatcher and counter sup have not gotten along. I just need to try to keep them separated as much as possible. Anyway, I'm going to enjoy my day off, read, goof around with the computer, hey I may even watch a movie, haven't done that yet, work out and of course sleep a ton. I really hope i don't have to write about any more drama but I doubt it. Don't get me wrong, in general me and sergeant "right" get along fine back in reserves, we have known each other a long time, we just have different styles, different flaws, and different agendas. Somehow though, we need to make it work