Today was a good day in that I completed certain important training necessary for my advancement both here and back home with the US Army Corps of Engineers. I met with engineering staff and command staff today regarding ongoing construction projects. The weather outside was perfect. The trees keep local birds happy, which in turn keep me happy with their constant chirping. There are three dogs that have somehow been adopted as semi-pets; however, as much as I love all dogs, and these three dogs are very friendly dogs, I am reluctant to touch them (read: I will not ever) based on the lack of veterinary medicine available to prevent any and all diseases we take for granted as not being an issue back home.
I will routinely schedule missions outside the wire to allow for QA/QC observations of the various projects I am assigned and others for which my team needs coverage. This means donning full combat clothing and gear, without the weapon (we civilians and non-combatants and do not "need to carry weapons), and charging out with our security personnel on foot patrols or up-armored convoys (MRAPs, MATVs, Cougar MRAPs, etc.). I have had several conversations with our translators, they are nice people, and am adjusting to their accents. It is interesting to hold meetings with Afghans and listen to both them and the translators at the same time, all while maintaining the purpose of the conversation and thinking of the response and follow-up questions or statements.
One of my Air Force counterparts, a Captain, stopped by with an Army Combat Uniform (ACU) top and bottom; alas, the top fit while the bottom...well, let's just say was not my size. Dang, I hope one of the benefits from being here is a reduction in body mass, weight, and improvement of overall health for my sake, Kimberly's sake, and my son's sake. On that note, I enjoy the food here, as I have mentioned previously, and have immediately started a regimen of portion control, which alone will force certain weight loss, and combined with a workout routine will help me achieve my fitness goal.
I wish I had access to the internet through my personal netbook, as I have great photos to post, but that will not occur for some time. One cannot upload photos taken directly from a camera onto a military computer. So please be patient...
It is Friday night here in Qalat, AF, which means tomorrow is another workday, and some of the personnel assigned here will be sitting up playing cards, working out, watching a movie, etc. I plan to watch a movie in my room shortly. I need to have Kimberly buy and send me an external DVD burner for my new netbook so that I may enjoy the hundreds, if not thousands, of shared movies passing around the Forward Operating Base (FOB).
I love you, K&K. I love you family and friends, too. Happy 41st Birthday to my brother, Blake.
Good night and good day.
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