Sorry it has been a while since I last posted anything up.  I am blaming it on jet lag.  So far I have been in Iraq for a week and a half and these are my experiences and observations.  For starters the rides I have been on have been really incredible.  I was able to fly over from Ramstein Air Base, Germany into Balad, Iraq on a C-17 Globemaster and then hitched a two hour midnight ride into Camp Speicher on a Blackhawk helicopter.  Military travel was fast and efficient but the in-flight meal was only so-so. 

The base out here is relatively quiet, we do hear some booms every now and then but it is mostly our boys shooting down range.  As for the food, outstanding...I gained 6 pounds in the first week I was here.  So, now I weigh about as much as the gear I have to carry.  I have yet to do anything stupid enough to get my call sign for flying so as of yet I don't have one...I am hoping for Iceman though.  I have been on the lookout for camel spiders but have not been able to find any.  If you do not know what they are, look them up on the internet.  If I do happen to find one I will catch it and send it to Kelly. He said he wanted one.  Here are some of the observations and also misconceptions associated with Iraq.  Yes there is a lot of sand but if anyone tells you it’s like a beach, slap them.  A beach has sand and water.  Iraq has sand and sand.  And if anyone ever says "yeah but it’s a dry heat" when the temperature is a 110* to 120* and you just saw a bird fly by and explode, slap them as well.

Contrary to popular belief Dirka Dirka means absolutely nothing to the locals, it does however get laughs from the non-locals.  You just laughed didn’t you Rich.  As for camels, not seen one yet so I cannot give you any insightful information on them, I hear they spit though.   Oh yeah and the US media....well let’s just say they are not even in the ballpark on what’s going on over here and why we are in Iraq.  We are doing a lot of good over here and I am proud to be doing a small part.  Thanks for all the prayers and the e-mails from everyone.  It may seem like you’re not doing much by sending a quick email but it is just good to hear from people back home.  I also want to say thank you to everyone who came out before I left, it was really unexpected.  Till next time....

العراق حارّة. العراق يستلم رمل.  أنا أريد جمل

Stephen