What Will Be Your Resolution?

Personally, I am not all that big on new years resolutions. I do however plan on focusing on time management! Sometimes things get hectic at work over here and its difficult to prioritize. I want to start planning my day and managing time better. It seems like there is always so much to do that I just try to tackle whatever possible, whenever possible.

There really aren't enough hours in the day, even a 12+ hour one! I think that with better planning and actually setting aside time for the things that I need to be doing, Ergo: reading up on policies, procedures, planning out jobs fully and personal study work improvement, things should be able to be accomplished more smoothly.

Having more order in the day should also help with getting out of the office and away from work on time. This would result in more time to organize and accomplish my personal ambitions, like getting to the gym and improving my sparse Russian. Who knows? It may even give me some time to relax and catch some extra, but much needed, rest!

Maybe this resolution will work out. I sure could use more hours in the day though! I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and remember the Soldiers and those over here supporting them in the New Year!

Camo-Net Christmas -Taji Iraq

Taji Xmas Tree

We did our best to celebrate Christmas here in Al Taji this year! This was our Camo-Net Christmas Tree! "When in Iraq -Improvise!" and improvise we did. Best wishes to all those back home and around the world! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

UPDATE: A BIG MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MRS GREYHAWK @ THE MUDVILLE GAZETTE FOR THE LINK!!!

Explosive Ordnance Disposal -Taji Iraq

Ordnance Disposal

by Staff Sgt. Kevin Bromley

December 21, 2005

Explosive ordnance disposal technicians detonated the last seven, 1,000 pound bombs in Taji, Dec. 16. 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division was tasked with management of the Taji Ammo Dump, known as Area Echo, and worked with Iraqi contractors and explosive ordnance disposal teams to clear the compound of all munitions. Nearly 20,000 tons of weapons and munitions were destroyed in Area Echo and the removal of these munitions was a significant task that added to the safety of Coalition forces and the Iraqi people.

One Fine Day

Fine day in Egypt

This week has been a "Ground Hog Day" to the extent that I have been so wrapped up in work day in and day out that it seems the week will never end. The days have changed but each day of work has repeated itself over and over.

I was taking a moment this evening to look back at 6 weeks ago when I was on vacation. I found this photo that I decided to post because it reminds me that in another 6-8 weeks I will be free again. Free of the confines of living and working on a military instillation in the middle of a war ridden country where every day is work, eat, sleep, with what seems like no end.

Today was a fine day, (tongue in cheek!) as if things couldn't be better, it rained! Most people would expect for rain to be a good thing in the desert, but IT'S NOT! The dust and dirt here becomes extremely sticky and the next thing you know its everywhere! I really wanted to get some photos of the new rainfall, but my little Canon Digital Elph isn't quite set up for super high speed/wet environment shots! Instead, I decided to think about places I would like to be...

I have no clue why another desert popped into my head! Maybe it was just a cleaner, dryer place than here at the moment. My thoughts should really be on my next vacation. This will be the end of year 2 coming up and I have 3+ weeks to plan for. I just hope it begins to warm up in February. I do like the cold, but if its going to be cold it might as well snow. The slush and ice back home in Houston are not fun to deal with!

OVER THERE

Over There

I was recently introduced to a new TV show that was on this past season. The series is called OVER*THERE. It's about the life of soldiers in Iraq. The series follows a platoon in 3rd ID short for Third Infantry Division. 3rd ID is currently deployed in Iraq as I speak and have been here since the Stryker Brigade rotated out this past year. -(As far as I know)

I have been in several parts of Iraq in the past 2 years and to my knowledge I have seen the 101st Airborne Division rotate out as they were replaced by Stryker and then they were replaced by 3rd ID who is now rotating out. I'm no expert on what groups/divisions etc are or have been here, but this is what I have seen.

In my honest opinion this show is the most accurate depiction of what soldiers go through day to day while they are deployed to Iraq. I have been here, I have seen some of what they have seen and plenty of pictures and video that the public has never seen. I hear the stories and see some of them unfold before my very eyes. I can honestly say that I don't believe the events depicted in OVER*THERE to be far from the truth!

I haven't seen such a true depiction since Gunner Palace! I was informed just as I learned about the series OVER*THERE that it has been cancelled. I heard that "they" said it was to controversial. Well, I have news for "they"! Since when do we censor or television like China? We can air the beheading of civilian Americans on National TV, but we can't run a show that happens to of hit the nail on the head when it comes to what our men and women are going through over here daily!

I back this series 100%. I don't know what another season could bring, maybe they would stray from the current path, but maybe they wont! Either way I think the show deserves a chance! I have heard of a petition to get the show back on, but I haven't had the time to do any online research yet. If anyone does know about this, please leave comments with links/addresses and I will update the information here for other readers. I will post whatever I may find out as well.

Weapons of the Past

Blue Sky Dirty Tank

It's always interesting here to see things that many could only catch a glimpse of at a old war museum. Here in Iraq the weapons of forgotten wars find their resting place. Many are even cannibalized for the repair and maintenance of the aged Iraqi forces still operational armaments. I don't know the history of these military vehicles that well, but from what I hear most of this stuff came out of Russia from the second World War! Talk about a time warp!