R&R FEBRUARY 2011

Headed home for a little rest and relaxation, which it never ends up really being. Usually more driving around the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast visiting family and friends. The highlight of the trip was up in New Hampshire with most of the family, we even got some sking/snowboarding in! It had been 15 years since I snowboarded, but it came back to me quickly and I then proceeded to bang myself up pretty good! The kids were amazing, they pick it up so easy, crazy what a lack of understanding, Newtons Universal Law of Gravity, can do for you on the slopes! Amazing! Have a look-see!

Am I really ready for this???

That's more like it!! ;)

Jocelyn and I.

Jocelyn and Rachel.

Avi the alien!! He didn't learn this year but I am sure he is due soon!

Joey is like a pro.

Mom was on the sidelines watching....with John.

and with me and my busted ass!

A "QUIET RIDE" ON CAMP ECHO 19-DEC-10

We had another band come through COS Echo, QUIET RIDE. They are a pretty straight forward rock bad, I tried to look them up online but Google returned very little info on them. Nevertheless, they sounded great and pleased the ears for a few hours on a chilly night. The Military had a nice, roaring, bonfire going which added to the feel of the evening. I was able to stay for most of the concert and take a BUNCH of pictures....surprise, surprise!

Check out...

QUIET RIDE

NO!

NOT QUIET RIOT!

That seemed to be what people were expecting, LOL!

Typical looking band.

Now, THAT'S a FIRE!!!!


Rock Star seating!


Way to keep safety in mind boys! Gotta have those reflective belts at night!!

Burn baby burn!

The band was awarded with a certificate of appreciation by the Base Commander.
Thank you.
Very much!
So, how about and encore!

Overall a good night!

THINGS STILL GO BOOM!!

Well, every once in a while it is possible to forget that you are in Iraq, things tend to get quiet and people get complacent. They a rocket whistles over your head followed by a few explosions close by make you think; "Oh yeah!". I was in dispatch on the 8th of December when just that happened, I heard one rocket fly right overhead followed by 3 loud explosions. Fortunatly those did not result in any damage on base, but later that night they hit again, and one got on base.

No one was seriously injured, and the one injury that occurred was the result of not ducking low enough to get into a bunker. Also, the rocket itself hit, quite convieniently, on the EOD (Explosive Ordinance Detection) Compound. Those are the guys that, after an attack, go in and clear the area, making sure all of the boom stuff is gone so no one gets hurt. Anyway, they lost a connex full of equipment, nothing that can't be replaced thankfully. It was late, about 1am and I didn't have my camera, these pictures were taken by our Fire Prevention Officer.

Destruction is always a good photo op!

Ouch!

Part of the rocket.

Try finding a replacement windshield in IRAQ!

This was the only injury of the night, sorry dude.

These were taken the following day after the connex was empty.