Buffiniraq

Yesterday, on my way to the PDF (Postal Distribution Facility) site, I noticed some kids off to my right maybe 100 yards outide our perimeter fence around the base. They were swimming in the canal/creek/whatever they think it is...it's a very polluted stream for sure...that parallels the eastern perimeter. Sooooo, I had my gov issued digital and stopped at the nearest guard post overlooking the area. From that vantage point I was able to shoot these pics. I found myself thinking what it must be like having to raise 2 kids in that "home". The parents were in the field behind the "house" tilling the land. The kids were enjoying the swim and excited about having their pic being taken so today on my back to the site I had to slip them a few printed copies through the concertina wire and were they excited campers...probably the first time they ever saw themselves in print...what a great day this was... for me

Here is another week gone by already...see Colette, I told ya it'd fly by!!! LOL Worked on the Postal Facility this week (building with huge steel columns in background)and got some good things accomplished. Steel columns going up and masonry walls being laid in between. Still behind schedule but we're goingflat out. Another group of Turkish contractors coming on base this next week to begin working 24/7 with 1 day off every 2 weeks. Thought I'd show yall a pic to give you an idea of the magnitude of this facility. This view is from the North looking South toward Bagdhad about 40 miles down the road. The Major is the OIC in Baqubah and was visiting last Friday. This pic is for William.
Now for a domestic note: Last night my AC compressor went morte and temp was a cool 103 so I decided it would be better if I came to work (where it's cool). Soooo, about 12:30 AM I came here and kept busy catching up on reports and critical paths of construction stuff until around 6 AM when I picked up another PE at the hootches and went to breakfast. Here it is 5 PM 35 hours later and I'm still waitin for my AC to get coolin! Sgt Harris (our S-4)says it'll be done before sundown and that's good enough for me. Last pic is of the guys gettin ready to take a good friend of mine back to Baqubah after his visit. We met going thru training in Winchester and we've been friends ever since. He's our Resident Engineer (my boss) in Baqubah about 50 miles east of here and 1 fine gentle man. Been a big help to me making adjustment from civilian life back to Corps and military environment after 40 years...anyway, I was checkin out the game plan for getting him back to Baqubah safely.
Gotta run to the hootch while the cool breeze is blowin...LOL Only 122 in the sun today and room is "cooled" to 90! Lovin it, just lovin it...just make the dough, roll it and put out there on a pan...best and cheapest oven ever. You guys at Michaelangelo's would love it...LOL

Time flies when you're havin fun...LOL Seems like yesterday yall were givin me a "goin away" party under the guise of a Marriage Encounter Family picnic at St Peter's. Still can't believe yall wore those towel turbins around your heads to greet me...how politically incorrect yall are!!! LOL Anyway, some of you have asked to get an idea of what it's like from day to day so as time goes on I'll try to describe it as best I can to the extent allowable under the conditions.

Our area of operation is the Diyala Province (if you're looking at a map, it's the eastern province from Baghdad east to the Iran border up to Tikrit). For those of you into geopolitics, a province is similar to a State and within the Province there are Qadas, similar to our Counties and within a Qada there are Nahiyas, which are voting districts made up of small towns and villages. The head of a Province is the Provincial Governor. The head of Qadas are Mayors and Provincial Council Members and the towns and villages are also lead by Mayors, Shakes, and others. Many towns and villages have no running water, sewer systems, or electricity. Most homes are made out of mud brick/blocks. Although the home may not have running water, toilets, or electricity, many have small generators with a TV satellite dish sitting in there back yard! In spite of the living conditions, the Iraqi's I’ve met seem to accept their plight as they have never had it any other way. As the Corps continues to build power stations, schools, bases, roads and water supplies, their horizon line changes and you can only imagine how their smiles get broader each day...
I'm reponsible as a Project Engineer to represent the Corps in managing different construction projects underway (as I've taken over the Postal Distribution Facility about 25% complete) and others in the pipeline. All of our Construction Reps are career Corps professionals who have volunteered to come here from cushy stateside road, waterway, hurricane relief and government building projects. I'm the only "civilian" who signed on here in Anaconda, however, there are other National Guard types who pulled 6 or 12 month tours and will be going home to their regular jobs after finishing up here. There are very few of us "civilian types" I'm told in country and the Corps can use all different kinds of construction expertise from the private sector, sooooo, if anyone reading this is bored, retired or needs an excuse from watching the grass grow or is embarrased about his mushrooming handicap and needs an excuse to get away for awhile (LOL) go to the Corps of Engineer web site and see the phlethora of jobs available. There's nothing like being able to serve our country in times like these. Didn't mean to get off on a tangent...I work from 6:30 AM after a great breakfast at the Mess Hall with all the soldiers. There are 4 on base and the food and selection is like a huge Golden Coral only more of both! Anyway, I get here to the office (only 20 minutes if I walk and 5 minutes by SUV goin 20MPH MAX allowed on base!) Then, after checkin mail, I'm off to the job sites and seein what I can do to further the progress along. Records of each day are submitted to me by my Con reps (project managers)who essentially are my eyes and ears on the sites. After comin back to the office I catch up on puter things and filing and meeting with GC's etc etc. About midday I'm back to Mess hall where I can do it again (not to worry Colette, I'm bein a good boy and stayin "Fit for Life"). After that back to the jobs/office and yadda yadda yadda. That's the routine 7 days a week (except for Mass on Sunday from 11 to 12) and 12 hours a day. SOoooo, now you know why and how "the time flies when you're havin fun"...LOL Next time I'll try to load some pics and talk less. I love you babe...couldn't have done this without ya girl. Hug William for me and love to everyone

This was a hectic week in that lots more work was being done at my Postal Distribution Facility (PDF)site as well as 15 others around the base. Everyone working long hours here to get as much done as possible as soon as possible. Seems like all we have to do is our jobs so we might as well get them done. Attitudes are great and it's a pleasure working with these folks. Besides, there's not much else to do otherwise on the base for us. Occasionally, Turkish GC will have a great Turkish barbeque for his guys as well as ours but other than that it's work, hootch, shower, sleep and do it again next day. Had to be in Vest and helmut all day yesterday and today so far because of potential incoming. It's a hassle first time around wearing the body armour in these temps (~115-120ish) but I'm gettin used to it. Sad news about our marines from Ohio yesterday. Have to pray for them and their families. Our soldiers are something else here. They just keep on doin their jobs no matter what and never complain. Many have asked how things are back home and I tell them in my community of Greenville NC, there's a whole lot of folks prayin for them and lookin forward to us comin home... Try to encourage them but they're OK and just keep on doin their thing. Guess that's what our country is really about...give us the task and we'll figure a way to get it done. Only difference here is sometimes some of us are gettin shot at while we're do it...LOL It's what makes our country and its people as strong as it is...a few good people choosin to be soldiers so we can all do our thing back home in peace...what a bunch to have the honor to work with...truly is a blessing