Troop draw down...

8DEC2010- I know I have been slacking with my blog...The troop drawn down is starting to close down things on base. They closed down Hero's DFAC (dinging hall). There is talks about closing down the self-service laundry and just leaving the drop-off. Good thing about drop-off is don't have to sit there and wait the two hours, bad thing it is a 48 hour turn-around. They also have stopped fixing work orders. So, if you have a problem with the latrine or your CHU they may not get to it. Supposedly they just throw out half the requests. They don't even look at it, just take half the orders and just trash them! So if you want something fixed we are suppose to be in daily requests until you get answer. Anyways, I got another carepackage from Stephen and Jeanna. Thank you! Still trying to organize my R&R next month for Qatar. And when I go home, I know I just got here but you have to set things up ahead of time. They opened a resliency center. Its basically a retreat here. It has everything, computers, telephones, foss ball, pool table, ping pong, movie room, and a deck area for parties. And these massage chairs, which are pretty awesome. And then there is work, still there and a lot of paperwork. Goodnight!

Finally a day off and fight night

28November - Finally we have day off, 13 days straight. I got to sleep in. Went to Heros DFAC for lunch. There is three dining facilites on post, Heros, Warriors, and Coialation. They are closing heros this Tuesday for some reason. Then we went to the MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) to watch a movie. Watched 39 Case, some suspense movie with Renee Zellwiger. It was pretty creepy. There is no USO here like at some other bases. We got spoiled in Kuwait. I got another package from Miss Diane. If I eat all the stuff I get, I will be morbidly obese. I will spread the goodies with my battle buddies. Then we went to Fight night. Its like ultimate fighting. It was pretty intense but people who went before said it was pretty mild. The first pic is one of the main streets on post. The second is more t-wall art. They usually paint their units patch on them or other art. Pretty cool. I think concrete wall cost like $7000 and is like 20' high, 6' wide. The last pic is something they caught on post. Pretty crazy.

Thanksgiving at Camp Adder

25November2010 - I can't believe its thanksgiving already! Well, my day started out interesting. Whenever there is an incoming attack they annouce it on these loud speakers. Well, when I was getting dressed I heard something over the loud speaker, "ATTENTION ON CAMP ADDER.." then something muffled. I think I went into tachycardia and maybe even atrial fibrillatioin or irregular heart beat. But then when they said it the second time, I heard they said "controlled detonation". Which means, somewhere they blew something up. Then I went to work and we worked a half day. At lunch they dressed up the outside, with a tepee and had people dressed up like Indians. (not like me Indian, but the ones with hatchets, corn, and bow and arrows). Food was pretty good, all the normal thanksgiving day food. There was some VIP in one room, the room was blocked off by armed guards. They had their weapons amber, meaning weapon loaded with magazine loaded. Most of time, our weapons are green, magazine and weapon seperate. Then went back to office and got another carepackage! Thanks to Emma, Chris, Jimmy, Laura, Rob, and Ang. Also, want to thank Melanie for a package last week. Made a bunch of phone calls at the Air Force MWR. All in all, good day in Iraq. Out here...

Iraqi bazzare and 10K race

21November - This morning we provided medical support for a 10K run on camp. When we got up at 5am it was 45 degrees out, coldest yet. I was stationed at the first water cooler and then moved over to the finish line. There was only one minor injury, sprained ankle. Then we went to the Iraqi Bazzarre that was on camp. We bought some local crafts but on the bottom of the box its said "Made in China". We also had some tea and desserts. They had some local food there but we did not have any. We also took some pics of the local Iraqi forces. It was cool and good to show friendly relationations with the locals. We also went to the Oasis market and bought some dvds and other stuff. Overall, good day and didn't have to go Amber.

I am switching to the Air Force

19November2010. It feels like I been here forever but really I just got here. Work is not bad so far. We have sick call in the morning and appoitments in the afternoons. But now we are doing this post deployment screenings. One unit is going home next month and we have to do this basic screening. We went over to the Air Force side of the base and its a total different world. Its clean, nicer MWR(lounge are), dust-free, swimming pools, beer.. (being a little sarcastic). There was some Air Force band who were pretty good cover band. They were stationed in Germany, I forget their name. And their MWR area was awesome, free wi-fi, big screen tvs, dvds, DSN calls home. DSN is basically, you can call a base in the US and then they transfer the call to any US number. So, basically i can call home for free, its called a morale call. Aaron Tippin is coming monday for a concert, some country dude that sings and stripes. Tomorrow we are having a BBQ and volleyball after work. And then sunday we doing the first aid for a 10K run then a Iraqi fair. Where they will have local crafts and foods. Don't ask me what Iraqi crafts are. I will report more on Sunday. Oh, yesterday for lunch we had fancy sandwiches and wednesday dinner was lobster but we had pizza hut. The first pic is on the roof of my clinic and the second is my chu, where I live.

first day off...

14November, well its been a month since I left home and about 9 days in theatre. Today is my first day off. Did some laundry, tried to go buy some bootleg dvds but the bus running to the Oasis market was not running. I will try again later this week. I weighed mysel in the gym, 181 lbs. Write that down, I will do another weigh in December 1. I figured I would go to gym 4 days a week. I need some time to recoup. Today was little warmer once the sun came up. At night it was probably in the 50s. Its weird you need AC in the day and heat at night.. pretty big temperature difference. Not much else to report. Suppose to be a busy week, there is a unit heading home and we have to see like 50 per day for the next 10 days and sickcall. Stay tuned...

Welcome to Camp Adder

11Nov2010 - Travel to Camp Adder sucked! We arrived to the airport 10 hours before showtime because the other part of our group was leaving at 7am. Our exact flight time was kept under wraps for security reasons. We then boarded a C-130 military plane. If we took a picture of the plane, they said they would cancel the flight. The plane ride itself was loud and uncomfortable, running on like 3 hours nights sleep but was 1 hour flight then 30 minute flight. We arrived to Camp Adder and we greeted by our staff at the clinic. Got a little tour and checked into our Chu's or apartment. They are trailers divided into 3 different rooms. I would says each is 10 x 10'. I hae a roommate and he is in charge of security for the base. So he knows whats happening around base. I crapped out early. The latrene and shower trailers are about 3-4 minute walk away and we are surrounded by t-walls. Which are reinforced concrete walls about 20 feet tall. Today, we reported to work around 9am and had some orientation, paperwork and meet the clinic staff. I will be working in urgent care clinic. Walk-in is in the AM and appoitments in the PM. There is one doc and one PA. We work monday to saturday, 0800 to 1600. We wear army scrub tops and regular army pants. If there is a bombing we go into these bunkers and then have to report to work, since we are first responders we then have to go to the clinic fo furhter intstructions. They do some fun stuff like saturday night poker and movie night, there is also a softball league. Oh, I can't remmeber if talked about the internet but its a rip. $88 a month for this dialup-esique speed. I took 5 minutes to upload 5 pics on facebook. I am from Ellicott City, what?!?