Snow Blower

So I know this neighborhood where many of the people own snow blowers. These people will get out their snow blowers and do THEIR driveway and the sidewalk in front of THEIR house. Meanwhile their neighbors are out shoveling away, and other neighbors are too old to get out and shovel by themselves. But still the snow blowers stop right at the edge of the property. I mean heaven forbid they spend any extra time or gas helping out a neighbor.

Well I also know a woman in this neighborhood. She is a snow shovel not a snow blower kind of person. Since it snowed a lot in this neighborhood today, and the snow blowers did only THEIR stuff. She shoveled her own sidewalks, that of the elderly, and even that of the snow blowers since it had snowed more since they got off their lazy butts and pulled out the snow blower.

I wish I lived in a neighborhood where neighbors were actually neighborly. I wish I could go out and buy a snow blower just so I could snow blow the entire block, since other people won't.

AB...See I blog sometimes!

A: Addiction: Anything with Marni, The computer, and Farmville.

B: Breakfast: Usually Coco Krispy's. Don't judge me, I am making up for a lack of such cereals as a child.

C: Chocolate or Chips: Both, but usually not at the same time.

D: Dessert or Appetizers: Both, but if I had to choose I would say Dessert.

E: Essential Items: Cell Phone...I think that about does it.

F: Favorite Color: Blue. Dark, I am not a fan of lighter blues. In fact I probably dislike light blue as much as I like dark blue.

G: Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Worms. I like how they get all slimy and then let slip in and out of my mouth without letting it fall out.

H: Hometown: Duchesne, Though I have lived in Cache Valley almost as long as I lived there.

I: Indulgence: I am really not sure.

J: January or July: July. I like the Holidays.

K: Kids: 2- Lilly and Grant.

L: Life isn't complete without: my family and the gospel. (ditto)

M: Most exciting memory: Getting married, birth of each kid, and when I came home from Iraq.

N: Number of Brothers and Sisters: 6 brothers, 5 sisters.

O: Oranges or Apples: oranges. Apples are okay sometimes, but usually I don't like them much. Not sure why.

P: Phobias or Fears: Mostly something happening to Marni or the Kids, especially if I were powerless to do anything about it. I feel like I should be able to protect my family.

Q: Quotes:
“Aqua Mole na Pedra Dura, tanto Bate ate que fura" -Portugues Proverb

"I don't know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is trying to please everyone" -Bill Cosby

R: Reading: Blogs, sometimes the newspaper, e-mail if I get it, and I like reading good books, but am always afraid to start one because if it is not good I feel like I wasted my time. I did just started reading a book called "Inca Gold" that is really good so far.

S: Summer or Spring: Probably summer, but I really like the excitement of Spring, with all the new green and colors, and the anticipation of warmer days.

T: Tag 6 people: Anyone who hasn't.

U: Unknown fact about me. If there is something you don't know about me, it is because I have managed to keep it a secret this long, why let it be known now?

V: Vacation I want to go on: Hawaii and Ireland, with my beautiful wife.

W: Walking or Running: Both, but sometimes I just feel like a good run. Chasing kids is good.

X: X-Ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasound. They seem less painful.

Y: Your favorite food: All kinds, but I really like Mexican and Chinese. And Meat!

Z: Zoo or Bowling: Bowling! It is closer and cheaper than the zoo, and I can get Marni to do it with me, plus Lilly really likes it.

Back in the USA!

I know you were probably starting to wonder if I would ever get home. Well, breathe easy, I'm here.

After being told 3 times the day and time we would be leaving Baghdad, then being told 3 times that we would not be leaving that day after all, we were starting to wonder if we would ever make it back. But like they say the 4th time is the charm right?

We were finally given the green light for Sunday(Aug 16) evening. We had to get our final stuff taken care Sunday afternoon so we could leave. While doing this were told we might not be able to leave after all. The rotator (the contract plane to take the troops to and from the States) leaves out of 2 places, Qatar and Kuwait. We were trying to get on one out of Qatar but they had us on one a few days later our of Kuwait. So unless they could get confirmation that we were on the plane out of Qatar they were not going to let us leave. But just as we were about to give up hope they got an e-mail confirming us on that flight. This was also good because that flight would be leaving just about 6 hours after we got to Qatar instead of a few days which is normal.

Here we are getting ready to go, just waiting for our plane. I know, we make body armour look good!

Sitting on the C-130 on the way to Qatar. This is my first time on a C-130! Not the best way to travel, but I recommend doing it at least once.

Once we got to Qatar, we were told that we were not scheduled for the flight we thought we would be on in a few hours, but were in fact still scheduled for the one later in the week out of Kuwait. Slight panic, but the really awesome Master Sergeant said there were some empty seats so she could get us on anyway. We got some food, hung out in a "sit on the floor or don't sit" crowded Passenger terminal, then got on our plane.

After a couple hour stop in Romania, and quite a few hours later we landed in Baltimore on Monday afternoon. We stayed that night, and got free tickets to an Orioles-Angels Baseball game, 7 rows behind the dugout.

We left pretty early out of Baltimore, had a short layover in Clevland and got to SLC about 10:30 AM. Marni is posting pictures of the homecoming, so I won't double post here.

What can I say? I'm Proud to be an American...

I am glad I had the oportunity to go to Iraq. It was an awesome experience and I learned a lot. But there really is no place like home. Nor any better way to spend my time than with my beautiful wife and 2 way cute kids!

Still Here!

Well they decided we didn't need the couple days of turn over after all. But they did want us to wait until our replacements got here so they wouldn't be short handed.

So we were told we would be able to fly out Saturday afternoon. (that is today, and it is now night here)

Then yesterday we were told they would be coming in around 1am tonight (or Sunday morning) so we were scheduled on a flight for about 3am. Well around 9pm local time tonight we were told they were not coming in until tomorrow afternoon, but the plane they are coming on is going from here back to Qatar so we could fly out on that plane. Now we wait to see if that actually happens.

I mentioned to one of the guys in my group today, that I wouldn't believe it until we actually take off. He said not to believe it until we are on the ground where we are going because it could always turn around and come back.

Anyway, just thought I would give you an update for anyone who was wondering.

Waiting

Sorry not pictures today. So for any of you hoping to see my signature pose I am sorry to disapoint.

For any of you wondering when I am going home, Welcome, I am a member of that club too!

Up to this point I have been told I would be leaving Iraq tomorrow, and probably be getting on a plane for the states on Monday. However...

Normally our replacements get here about 2 or 3 days before we leave so we can have a couple days to turn over anything to them they need to know etc. However, they have been having trouble getting our replacements here in a timely manner, and since I am leaving in a small group (only 5 of us) those we work with figured they would be fine until our replacements get here. So that was the plan we were going with, so we could leave on time.

But today I was informed that we may be waiting for our replacements after all, so we may not be leaving tomorrow. Unfortunatly they don't even know where our replacements are, other than the fact they have not left the states yet but should "soon". So if that is what we end up doing, there is no telling how long we will be here. We have to wait for them to get here which could be a couple days or more, then a couple days of turn over, then get on a flight home etc.

So now I guess we just wait and see...

My New Pad

I guess it is not exactly new anymore since I have been in the trailers for about a month now, but since I am just no getting around to posting this, we will call it new.

My bed. Beds I guess. They are both mine, but I only sleep on the bottom one, and use the top one as a shelf for stuff.
Here is a few from just outside the door. Mine is the left side.


Just standing on my porch. Yeah I know what your thinking. "where can I get some awesome PT gear like that?" And the answer is Basic Training, so David, now you have something to look forward to!

Another shot of me standing on the porch. This one is more to show the layout of the neighborhood.

And here is a shot from my porch of the rest of my "gated" community. I know you're jealous.

No, I am not vain. I actually felt weird posing for these pictures (which is why I waited until no one else was around, which also contributed to the delay of getting this posted). Rather than have just random pictures, I figured I would be in them, not that that makes them better. Actually it is for Marni, since she wanted pictures of me. Sorry they I am always just standing there in the pictures. Oh well.

Al Faw

So I went on the tour of another palace today. This one is called Al Faw Palace. Unlike the Victory over America Palace, this one had only minimal damage, so it was much nicer inside. I have some info on this one as well, so I will get that out of the way, then you can look at the pictures if you want. I copied this info, so it is not in my own words. Hope you don't mind. The Al Faw Palace (also known as the Water Palace) is in Baghdad approximately 5 kilometers from the Baghdad International Airport. Saddam Hussein commissioned its construction to commemorate the Iraqi forces' re-taking of the Al-Faw Peninsula during the Iran-Iraq conflict.
It is situated on a former resort complex. The complex contains numerous villas and smaller palaces and is now one of the largest US/Coalition bases in Iraq (Camp Victory/ Camp Liberty). Many of the rooms have now been converted into offices, and since 2004 the Palace has been used as the headquarters for the Multinational Force Iraq , along with the Joint Operations Center, which serves as 'Mission Control' for the Multi-National Corps Iraq and all operational aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom. There is an artificial lake surrounding the palace that has a special breed of large bass dubbed the Saddam bass, as well as large carp. Saddam formerly used the palace for duck-hunting expeditions. It was designed as a kind of corporate retreat, a relaxing playground for members of Saddam's political party who were rewarded for their loyalty and hard work with vacation time here. His sons Uday and Qusay used it — Saddam is said to have spent no more than seven or eight nights here himself — but like much of what he built, its all about him. His initials are everywhere, and opulence is the only design scheme.It's mostly intact still. American bombers hit the palace on the off chance that Saddam was here at the time, and they bombed the bridge to collapse an escape route. U.S. commanders live here now, as not to waste all this free space. Almost half a million square feet — 62 rooms and 29 bathrooms.
This is across one of the lakes from the Palace. This is also the front of the Palace where the main entrance is. I know, I look like I do in all the pictures. I will work on changing it up a little.

This is Airman Broadhead and I in the same place. Notice my weapon is pointing in the opposite direction. See how changed it up already.

This is the road heading in. You can see the main door going in. You can't see it here, but the lake I was standing in front of is to my right. There is another one full of huge fish to the left.

Another nice one of me posing in front of the front doors. Notice all the marble. You will see a lot of that.

Still in front. From left to right, Brandon De Los Reyes, Sterling Broadhead, and yours truly.

In the main room as you come in. They say the chandelier cost a million dollars. Money from the US to help out the poor and such. Also this is where the Stephen Colbert shows were filmed.

This is one of the many things around the walls along the outside edge of the big room pictured above. Not sure what it says, probably just Saddam praising himself. Seriously.

This is a throne that was a gift to Saddam, but I don't remember who from. It is also along the walls of the big room I guess it is a ballroom. Lets call it that from now on shall we.

A group shot "on" the throne. From left to right, Broadhead, Arbogast, Cody De Los Reyes, Brandon De Los Reyes (they are brothers), Pittinger, Potter, and Tucket.

Another shot of the Chandelier.

A little foyer going from the ballroom, to another good sized room. Again not sure what it says.

The second floor balcony looking out over the ballroom. Those huge pillars are all the way around the ballroom.

Third floor balcony looking out over the ballroom, with a look at the chandelier from above.

A shot from above the chandelier. You can also see the marble floors and marble pillars of the ballroom.

Broadhead, Brandon and I standing by a third floor balcony.

One of the many hallways. I just wanted to show all the detail that goes into everything, even the hallways.

This was a huge Unisex bathroom. the first Unisex bathroom I have ever been in. This was just the sink area. The sinks rap around all 4 walls of this room.

This is one of the "stalls" so I guess it was not a big deal that it was unisex since the stalls are pretty much private bathrooms.

Just an outside balcony looking over the lakes and surrounding areas.

Just another view. Same pose. :)

Chillin' with Chief Sill on the balcony. He was our guide and escort. In the background on the left side of the picture is the bridge that was blown up during the attack. It now has pipes and stuff running across, but the original bridge is gone.

The group hanging out on the balcony. You can see from these pictures that a dust storm was moving in. Pretty common around here it seems.



Just me again. You can see the pipes running across where the bridge once was.


And this is around front. In the background is the front entrance where we came in.

That's all folks!

Random

So I have not had time to blog lately, nor have I had much time to take any new pictures to speak of. However, I do have some random pictures, most of which were taken by someone else and given to me. Some are similar to pictures in a past post, but they are different. Others are just random. I will try to go somewhere cool again and get more pictures soon. Until then, this is the best I can do. :)


Here is the butt end of a C-17. We are chaining down a Helium trailer. That is me on the left holding the chain.

This is a view from above. I am getting ready to chain down a Buffalo which is an armored vehicle with a big arm they use to scoop up roadside bombs and stuff. It is the same vehicle I was standing on top of a couple posts ago. I road in it into the plane, then had to climb out the top where this picture was taken from.

This is when Chief Sill arrived on a C-130 shortly after I got here. So we went out to meet him. Can you find me?
This is at a commander's call. I am hiding again, so see if you can find me.
We are boxing up Registered Mail. That is about all.
I bet you didn't know sitting in the back of a truck could look this good huh? JK. I was on my way out to a plane to check the cargo and had the opportunity for a ride, so I hopped in and someone took a picture. This is also the most recent picture of me FYI, it was taken about 3 or 4 days ago.

And Finally, in front of the Stephen Colbert set after the show. With me is Chief Sill, Senior Tribbit, and Sgt. Streitberger (Probably spelled wrong, we just call him Street because it is easier) These are some of the guys I work with and who I went to the filming of the show with. I did not meet Stephen Colbert at the show, but I did meet him when he arrived in Bagdad. He came in on an Air Force C-17 which I was told had cargo on it. So I went out and got to meet him. We also saw him film a little skit for his show as he got off the plane. Pretty cool I guess. That can be my new clame to fame. :)

Abu Ghraib

I went on a tour of one of Sadaam's Palaces on Abu Ghraib now known as Camp Slayer, which is an Army base. In the day it was the Iraq equivalant to Camp David in the US. The palace does not look very good for a couple reasons, one it was still under construction, but mostly complete, and two because construction on it was stopped when the US dropped 2 JDAMs on it in 2003. It is known as "Victory over America" and he was building it in celebration of his "victory" over the US in the Gulf War in the 90's. I will try not to include too much history and mostly pictures. I just figured you should have some background to know what you are looking at. Also I wasn't planning on going today, I was planning to go in a week or two, which I still will, so I didn't get a lot of pictures, so I will get more when I go back. Just FYI.

You can see the damage. The cranes belong to a French construction company that was contracted to build it. The US offered to let them come get them. Instead they said we should pay for them. We didn't pay, and they didn't get them. Oh Well.

This is inside the grand ballroom, which is the size of a football field, literally. The background is where one of the JDAMs punched through. The white spots is all the dust in the air. Sorry.

I am standing on one of the balcony's outside the grand ballroom. The thing in the background is called "Flintstone Village" which I will say more about later. All the water is a man made lake. They dug out all the dirt, then used water from Baghdad's water supply to fill them, causing a drought.


I am standing on top of the palace here. You can see more of the lake and other buildings in the background. The one you can only see the top of by my elbow is his Mother-in-law's house. The big building in the background is called the Perfume Palace, and use to be a Brothel for the Ba'ath Party members.

Here is another angle from the roof. You can see more of the lakes. The building at the end of the road behind me is Sadaam's son's Uday's house, or at least was. The building behind that that looks like it is missing a corner on the left side is the Ba'ath Party House, where they had a lot of the Baath Party meetings and the such as. You can see a lot of little houses out on the lake. Those are the Ba'ath Party members "love shacks". The believed that anything done over water was not a sin. So they did things from Adultary to murder and figured it was okay. The hill of dirt in the background was one of the ones created by the dirt removed from the lakes. I think this particular one was actually built on top of a local cemetary, because Sadaam was just that nice of a guy and figured he needed to put the dirt somewhere.


Here is a picture of me at the "Flintstone house" with the palace in the background. The Flinstone house was a huge place (I guess similar to Toon town at disney land) that he had built for his grandkids after he had their dads killed. I guess the Flintsones was one of his favorite cartoons and so it is suppose to be built after that, being all stone and such. Hit has tons of rooms, bathrooms, kitchens etc, and they would basically drop the kids off there to play, leaving them with servants why they did there non sinning and such. It looks like it use to be really cool, but is some what in ruins now.

This is a self portrait inside one of the many rooms of the flintstone house. As you can see, our good Army friends have contributed to the destruction with all their lovely grafeety. Morons!

Here is another one of me inside the Flintstone house. This is one of the bigger rooms.

This is the Ba'ath House from the front. The right corner which is pretty much destroyed use to be a confrence room where they met, so we thought. They later learned (while clearing the room) that it was a Theatre room, where the meeting was actually them watching a movie. Pretty Woman, was in the projector.. The day we first attacked Iraq, this was the first thing hit. It was struck with a Tomahawk Missle curtesy of the US Air Force. At the time there was aproxamatly 200 to 250 people in the room. About 50 of the bodies were recovered after. The rest were all buried/incinerated due to the blast. They later learned that they missed Sadaam by about 15 minutes. The Army refers to this room as the Tomahawk room.

Here is a picture inside the Tomahawk room, or what is left of it. They say cadaver dogs still go crazy even now, six years later, when they take them in this room.

I know, another wonderful self portrait! The "wall" behind me is not really a wall. It use to be the ceiling in this hallway until a JDAM hit it. I guess the JDAM was meant for the actual conference room but missed. I think it had the same effect though.

And this is one of the last remaining murals of Sadaam. I don't think he was this big in real life.
Hope you enjoyed. If I get some more good/interesting ones next time I go, I will post them too.