When the Wind Blows

When the wing blows in Iraq, it's like trying to breathe with a hair dryer on high blowing right into your face.

Keep on Truckin'

So, a few folks have asked me about the vehicle I'm driving to and fro (yes, "fro") work. I've actually enjoyed the images they've presented me. Anything from a dinky little pick-up, to a Humvee, and to what I think amounted to a semi-truck. Well, none of them are completely accurate. Especially because I've had a variety of conveyances. And like so many things in Iraq, only the pictures do them justice.


Here's my first whip, The Digger. I don't know how it picked up that moniker - I have a few guesses, but would rather not submit them for the world to see.


It was a smooth ride - good transmission, but little to no a/c. The folks in the front seat got their fair share, but only room for 2. Any more than that and you had to crawl into the back. There was a bench that ran the length of the truck, but its cushions never made up for the heat in the back...


After a few weeks, I was allowed to upgrade to the Turtle. Now, this nickname I get. And I hope it's not too hard for you...


Do not ask me why it was painted like that. She performed well - decent a/c but not too trustworthy of a transmission. So, they gave me another upgrade, and another wacky paint job. I give you the Cow (and no, this isn't just the same truck with a different color scheme - they actually had two trucks painted like this). Can you tell how proud of her I was?



The cow was a mix of the first two trucks - it had neither good a/c nor a good transmission. She got me where I needed to go, but she handled like a bovine and put out about as much methane. I was happy to have her, but I was happier when I heard I was going to get upgraded with a "professional" paint job. I guess the boss's boss wasn't too impressed with his troops driving around in a cow and asked Motor Pool to give it a less embarassing paint job. I was told it was going to be blue (I think in honor of Air Force), but one of the painters must have been colorblind and I'm now driving a purple grape around town. Not regal purple, more Barney purple. I'm told that when a new shipment of paint comes in, they'll give me that professional paint job I'm waiting for - until then I'm the operator of happiest bus in the world

(this is how I imagine people see my truck when I drive by...)

All Gummed Up

My friends -

Thanks to each and every one of you who has sent me a package. I can't tell you how exciting it is to receive a new surprise in the mail. I tear at the box and relish everything that is sent to me!

I'm never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and I'm certainly NOT complaining, but I thought y'all would appreciate my gum collection. I have many goals while I'm over here. 1) Don't go crazy. 2) Fix the legal process for the entire country. And my newest, and maybe most daunting goal: 3) Enjoy every piece of gum that I've received so far.

Sorry, jaws...

Speaking of packages, we had our first failure a couple of weeks ago. A well intended glass jar of salsa broke and its contents spilled out onto the rest of the package - there's a disagreement as to the "how." One argues that it was due to the heat while the other contends that it was probably due to the rough handling in transit. No matter how it happened, the salsa got to cook in the heat for a fair amount of time. It's too bad the smell can't be captured in the pictures...