Here's my bike. I look like an armed Pee-Wee Herman riding it, but it gets me from Point A to Point B.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
My Ride!!!
Hi Everyone,
Here's my bike. I look like an armed Pee-Wee Herman riding it, but it gets me from Point A to Point B.
Here's my bike. I look like an armed Pee-Wee Herman riding it, but it gets me from Point A to Point B.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Mmmmmm... Giant Coffee
This is the MOAC (Mother of All Coffees) - 4 shots of espresso with the remaining 20oz being tasty brewed coffee. Starbucks be damned.....
Wednesday 26 August 2009
Had a good day today. Normal morning routine & then attended a few meetings. Did some work on a few files. Am going to a late meeting at 8:30pm - we'll see how long that takes....
OK, by popular demand, here's a picture:
I was too shy to ask someone to take a picture of me, so you'll have to live with this self-portrait, taken with the little timer on my camera. That's me in my office - I share it with my boss, a LCol, here in the HQ. Between us we have 6 computers and 7 phones - crazy stuff!!! We are working 12+ hours a day, which is fine 'cause there ain't much else to do otherwise!!!
OK, time for something gross. As you can imagine, there are a lot of people on this base - a whole lot. They all sleep, eat - and poop. Now, this being Afghanistan, there isn't a whole lot of infrastructure like sewers and waste treatment stations. The poop has to go somewhere and the place of choice here is a sunny little spot called "The Poo Pond". I haven't had the opportunity to see this wonderous sight yet, but I sure have gotten a whiff of it. It's enough to make your eyes water if the wind is blowing in the right direction...
On that note, I'll finish this post. More to follow tomorrow!!!
OK, by popular demand, here's a picture:
I was too shy to ask someone to take a picture of me, so you'll have to live with this self-portrait, taken with the little timer on my camera. That's me in my office - I share it with my boss, a LCol, here in the HQ. Between us we have 6 computers and 7 phones - crazy stuff!!! We are working 12+ hours a day, which is fine 'cause there ain't much else to do otherwise!!!
OK, time for something gross. As you can imagine, there are a lot of people on this base - a whole lot. They all sleep, eat - and poop. Now, this being Afghanistan, there isn't a whole lot of infrastructure like sewers and waste treatment stations. The poop has to go somewhere and the place of choice here is a sunny little spot called "The Poo Pond". I haven't had the opportunity to see this wonderous sight yet, but I sure have gotten a whiff of it. It's enough to make your eyes water if the wind is blowing in the right direction...
On that note, I'll finish this post. More to follow tomorrow!!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday 25 August 2009
Hi All,
Good day today. Got a run in on the treadmill this morning - watched the Jays get their butts handed to them by the Red Sox. Ate a good breakfast, drank a giant coffee, did a bit of work - my normal routine now. You should have seen the look a Brit gave me when I walked out of the coffee shop with my 24oz caffeine jolt - he couldn't believe that I would drink it all!!
I have settled into my room fairly well now. It is meant for two people, but I'm by myself for now. It's got two sets of bunkbeds, a small closet and a couple of nightstands with lamps (and an air conditioner!!). We have a washroom and a shower room right on our floor (it's a two-storey building) and there is a refrigerator with bottles of water in it all of the time. Comfortable enough for me (better than a tent or a trench!!)
Watched a little bit of TV in the office this morning. Michael Jackson was murdered, eh? Who would've guessed? Kim is on CJOH tonight - I'm going to try and watch it in the morning on the internet. According to Carolyn Waldo (the lady who interviewed Kim), the final product is really good. Yay!!
It's been confirmed that Drama get snipped on Thursday. He stays overnight at the vet and Kim will get him home on Friday. She is under orders to baby him something fierce!!! Poor dude!!!
Anyway, got to run. Take care!!!
Good day today. Got a run in on the treadmill this morning - watched the Jays get their butts handed to them by the Red Sox. Ate a good breakfast, drank a giant coffee, did a bit of work - my normal routine now. You should have seen the look a Brit gave me when I walked out of the coffee shop with my 24oz caffeine jolt - he couldn't believe that I would drink it all!!
I have settled into my room fairly well now. It is meant for two people, but I'm by myself for now. It's got two sets of bunkbeds, a small closet and a couple of nightstands with lamps (and an air conditioner!!). We have a washroom and a shower room right on our floor (it's a two-storey building) and there is a refrigerator with bottles of water in it all of the time. Comfortable enough for me (better than a tent or a trench!!)
Watched a little bit of TV in the office this morning. Michael Jackson was murdered, eh? Who would've guessed? Kim is on CJOH tonight - I'm going to try and watch it in the morning on the internet. According to Carolyn Waldo (the lady who interviewed Kim), the final product is really good. Yay!!
It's been confirmed that Drama get snipped on Thursday. He stays overnight at the vet and Kim will get him home on Friday. She is under orders to baby him something fierce!!! Poor dude!!!
Anyway, got to run. Take care!!!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday 24 August 09
Hi everyone!!
Sorry for the lack of posting - I've had some technology problems, combined with a busy Afghan election period. Hopefully, I'll be able to post more regularly in the future.
I understand that there have been some requests for photos (hi Curtis Sr Citizen!!). I'll do my best to post a few tomorrow. Not allowed to take pictures of some stuff, but I'll try a get a few good shots.
I am adjusting to the heat fairly well. It is topping out at about 45C during the day, and the smart people just stay inside. At night it gets down to 24C - that seems pretty cool after it being so hot during the day. Ottawa is going to be freakin' freezing when I get back!!
My workouts in the morning at going well. It's kind of nice that my 5am gym time coincides with the 8pm starts for the Blue Jays games on TSN. Yes, we have television (a lot of it actually). There are three flat screens on the walls of the gym, along with separate English and French TV rooms in Canada House, our recreation complex. Most people seem to have either brought or bought one of the little DVD players with them, and purchase bootleg DVDs from the market that runs next to the camp on Saturdays. These are true bootlegs - some little dude in a theatre with a video camera. You can see members of the audience getting up to go to the bathroom and everything - funny... I haven't went to the market yet, but will try this Saturday.
I hear that Drama (our new kitten) is going in for the big snip this week. Poor guy!!! I'll be the only guy in the house again after that!! He's been a little crazy lately (according to Kim), so hopefully this will settle him down. Got to speak to Kim today at work - she seems to be doing well. Hi Kim!!
Well, that's it for now. Write more tomorrow!!
Sorry for the lack of posting - I've had some technology problems, combined with a busy Afghan election period. Hopefully, I'll be able to post more regularly in the future.
I understand that there have been some requests for photos (hi Curtis Sr Citizen!!). I'll do my best to post a few tomorrow. Not allowed to take pictures of some stuff, but I'll try a get a few good shots.
I am adjusting to the heat fairly well. It is topping out at about 45C during the day, and the smart people just stay inside. At night it gets down to 24C - that seems pretty cool after it being so hot during the day. Ottawa is going to be freakin' freezing when I get back!!
My workouts in the morning at going well. It's kind of nice that my 5am gym time coincides with the 8pm starts for the Blue Jays games on TSN. Yes, we have television (a lot of it actually). There are three flat screens on the walls of the gym, along with separate English and French TV rooms in Canada House, our recreation complex. Most people seem to have either brought or bought one of the little DVD players with them, and purchase bootleg DVDs from the market that runs next to the camp on Saturdays. These are true bootlegs - some little dude in a theatre with a video camera. You can see members of the audience getting up to go to the bathroom and everything - funny... I haven't went to the market yet, but will try this Saturday.
I hear that Drama (our new kitten) is going in for the big snip this week. Poor guy!!! I'll be the only guy in the house again after that!! He's been a little crazy lately (according to Kim), so hopefully this will settle him down. Got to speak to Kim today at work - she seems to be doing well. Hi Kim!!
Well, that's it for now. Write more tomorrow!!
Monday, August 17, 2009
First Couple of Days
Hi everyone,
Been a pretty good first couple of days here at KAF. Arrived mid-morning on Thursday - first Hercules ride I have had in 16 years!!! Was met at the terminal by my new boss and the woman I am replacing. They brought me and my kit to my temporary room and let me vegetate for a while. After that, they brought me over to our offices in the Headquarters. Thankfully, all of the rooms and offices are air-conditioned. I have heard that the temperatures go up to 60+C, but I have only seen 44C so far...
Food is pretty good. There are three kitchens here, all serving similar stuff. There is a hot food line, a short order line and a couple of salad/sandwich bars. I haven't had any desserts yet and plan on keeping it that way!!
The shopping area here is called the Boardwalk. It is a big square, surrounded by a wooden walkway, with stores along the outside edges. The centre of the square is filled with gravel and sand and is used as volleyball courts and rugby/football fields. There is also the Canadian hockey rink - no ice, but nets and boards!!! I haven't been in many of the stores yet, but there is one for sportswear, a tailor, a small CANEX and a bunch of little restaurants (Subway, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Tim Hortons and, my favourite, a coffee shop called Green Beans). I am drinking an awesome coffee right now called a MOAC (Mother Of All Coffees). It's four shots of espresso followed by 24oz of yummy brewed coffee. Needless to say, I'm down to one coffee a day, but it's a big one!!!
Been a pretty good first couple of days here at KAF. Arrived mid-morning on Thursday - first Hercules ride I have had in 16 years!!! Was met at the terminal by my new boss and the woman I am replacing. They brought me and my kit to my temporary room and let me vegetate for a while. After that, they brought me over to our offices in the Headquarters. Thankfully, all of the rooms and offices are air-conditioned. I have heard that the temperatures go up to 60+C, but I have only seen 44C so far...
Food is pretty good. There are three kitchens here, all serving similar stuff. There is a hot food line, a short order line and a couple of salad/sandwich bars. I haven't had any desserts yet and plan on keeping it that way!!
The shopping area here is called the Boardwalk. It is a big square, surrounded by a wooden walkway, with stores along the outside edges. The centre of the square is filled with gravel and sand and is used as volleyball courts and rugby/football fields. There is also the Canadian hockey rink - no ice, but nets and boards!!! I haven't been in many of the stores yet, but there is one for sportswear, a tailor, a small CANEX and a bunch of little restaurants (Subway, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Tim Hortons and, my favourite, a coffee shop called Green Beans). I am drinking an awesome coffee right now called a MOAC (Mother Of All Coffees). It's four shots of espresso followed by 24oz of yummy brewed coffee. Needless to say, I'm down to one coffee a day, but it's a big one!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Good First Full Day
Hi All!
Not a bad first full day away from home. I am still all messed up timezone-wise - woke up at 0230 hrs my time this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Heat is still bad, but drinking lots of water helps. Very quiet here at night - air conditioning is the only sound you can hear.
Went into Dubai today - very cool. Spent time in some nice shopping centres and went to a movie (mostly for the air conditioning!!) Of course, I found the Dubai equivalent of Chapters and spent some time in there - even found a Starbucks!!! Saw what must have been a camel farm of some sort - "Camalicious". Nice easy day with relatively little stress.
Heading over to the sandbox tomorrow. Not looking forward to the Herc ride, but I'll get through it. Got all of my required gear - heavy. Don't see how the troops on the ground hack it.
Anyway, got to go and pack some stuff up. Will write more once I hit the ground.
Not a bad first full day away from home. I am still all messed up timezone-wise - woke up at 0230 hrs my time this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Heat is still bad, but drinking lots of water helps. Very quiet here at night - air conditioning is the only sound you can hear.
Went into Dubai today - very cool. Spent time in some nice shopping centres and went to a movie (mostly for the air conditioning!!) Of course, I found the Dubai equivalent of Chapters and spent some time in there - even found a Starbucks!!! Saw what must have been a camel farm of some sort - "Camalicious". Nice easy day with relatively little stress.
Heading over to the sandbox tomorrow. Not looking forward to the Herc ride, but I'll get through it. Got all of my required gear - heavy. Don't see how the troops on the ground hack it.
Anyway, got to go and pack some stuff up. Will write more once I hit the ground.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Curtis Has Landed
Hi guys,
Got here about an hour ago. Took a while to get out of airport and to find sleeping quarters, internet cafe, etc. Very friggin' hot and humid. Will do clearances tomorrow and probably fly out on Thursday morning (my time). Flight was uneventful - very nice airplane. Got bumped up to Business Class, so I was well taken care of. Didn't sleep much on the plane, though.
Got to go - need to drink some water and get some sleep!!!
Curtis
Got here about an hour ago. Took a while to get out of airport and to find sleeping quarters, internet cafe, etc. Very friggin' hot and humid. Will do clearances tomorrow and probably fly out on Thursday morning (my time). Flight was uneventful - very nice airplane. Got bumped up to Business Class, so I was well taken care of. Didn't sleep much on the plane, though.
Got to go - need to drink some water and get some sleep!!!
Curtis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)