Trip teasing Santa.
Hey. Good luck. Afghanistan is a heck of a place to be.
I have a friend who just arrived (last week or this week I think) in Kandahar as a part of the Canadian Forces newest roto. He’s in infantry. Needless to say I was a little worried when I heard about the bombing of our soldiers there this morning.
And one of my best friends spent 6 months there last year (December to… May-ish) at camp Julien in Kabul (and Camp Mirage in an “un-named middle-eastern country”… Google it and you’ll figure it out). He saw some pretty crazy stuff there, and he was in the ‘safer area’… But I won’t go in to what he saw.
Needless to say, keep it safe.
Dr. PoopiePants where do I send a dogpoo bomb just for you for posting that horrid link? and I’m not even afraid of spiders, but in this case, I will make an exception.
Well, I just got back from work—and the funny thing is, most of you are still most likely finishing your first cup ‘o’ coffee at work. If there’s one major pain in the arse, it’s the time difference. It’s not the physical jet lag thing, but more the mental thing. I’m 4 ½ hours ahead of Zulu Time (GMT for you non-military types), which is 5 hours ahead of my home East Coast time. So, if I gotta call back to CENTAF/A7, I gotta do it after 1600L. Weird.
But I figure I’ll be here until July, at which point I’ll be headed back to Montana. Hide your women, hide your beer (unless you’re a hot Doper chick with free beer).
Gus, thanks for throwing that picture up. I was scrambling for it last night, found it this morning (at work), and was waiting all day to try What Exit’s link. I’ll play with it tonight, but if I run into any problems, I’ll let you know. My Mom e-mailed me and said everyone I sent a Christmas Card to (yup, it was my official “Christmas Card Picture”) has called her. I’ll try to get some better ones in the next week or so, but the weather’s gotta clear up first.
Yeah, we got 6” of snow and slush overnight. I hate snow. And it was cold and dreary all day—not that blustery, windy cold from the Dakotas, but that wet, calm wind cold that just annoys you. I hate snow. :mad:
Um, I’m trying to think of anything interesting to tell you. I asked Punkyova to start up an “Ask the guy in Afghanistan” thread, but I kinda/sorta beat her to the punch. [sub]Sorry, I didn’t realize I would get the ‘Net so fast. . .[/sub] But I really can’t think of anything right now.
I did want to say thanks for the “Hi”s, “Howdy”s, and the “Hellos!” I don’t think there’s anything we need right now: I’ve got a plywood cubicle in a plywood hut, a warm sleeping bag, a pair of clean socks, and a laptop to play my DVDs on (of which I will say those new Cylons as of late. . . yowza!). Besides, I’ve always got my favorite kinda porn.
.
But, I’ll post some pictures ASAP.
Tripler
::sigh:: You know you’ve been deployed too long when you dream of some hot ‘Number Six’ lovin’.
Tripler, thank you. God keep you safe.
Now, where’s that photo of that hat?
Hey Tripler! Can you get me a deal on a used Burqua? I love the colors.
Stay safe.
Tripler good to hear from ya! Like everybody else has said, stay safe and thanks for being there. Most of all, come home with everything you left with. Unless you left with a camel spider. That you can leave there. 
swampbear
I still love those post script thingys in your posts the best.
Hey Tripler, need a “helmet liner” (pictures in first two links)? They’re super-easy for me to make.
All mail can be sent to the SD Chicago address, c/o Dr. Poo.
Presumably the clown school is a lower priority. 
Oh man, if you could make me one in black, that would be cool! E-mail me, and I’ll trade you!
And Cervaise, my drunken clown school was put on hold. C’mon give me some credit here. [sub]They wouldn’t waste my talent on just some regular clown school.[/sub]
Tripler
I’ve got mad contstruction skillz, yo.
Hey Tripler! Good to see you about and doing what you do best. One question: how’s the food? Do you ever get to eat local chow? We used to go to some fantastic Afghan(i?) restaurants in Baltimore and DC. I really miss that stuff. Bring back some recipes with you if you find anything worthy.
Also, while I’m on a role, do you get to work any construction in terms of civilian or infrastructure rehabilitation projects? Heard a piece on the news this morning on how there’s not near enough money out there to do what needs doing.
Mail sent!
How many helmet liners can you get for a camel spider?
Well, the first (somewhat) live pictures from Afghanistan are now available on the SDMB.
Thankfully, the weather cleared up after this morning that you could see the snow on the mountains. So, have at it. Admittedly, that last one isn’t my best, but hey–why not. And yes, that is a cigar in my mouth. I’m trying to perfect my “Curtis LeMay look”. But I promise, I’ll get the Soviet hat in there tomorrow. . .
But anyway, there ya go.
Tripler
I told ya it was pretty around here.
Great Pics, I didn’t see the “Curtis LeMay” one though.
Did I see an older Prop plane in the background?
Jim
Yeah, I had to re-upload that one. Must not have made the first cut. But what you saw was a C-130J, with the new improved props–some new funky aerodynamic blade that gives the engine another 15.4% thrust or something. The Doper formerly known as Airman Doors can tell you more about 'em.
Tripler
But in my LeMay pose, you can see a C-17.
Good shot of you.
So what I saw was a newer Prop plane. Gotcha. I didn’t realize the Air Force still used Prop planes for Cargo.
The Navy had Prop planes for Mail planes and Electronics observers that needed to stay up for a long time but did not need speed.
Did Doors change his name to Sgt Doors?
Jim
I don’t think he has, yet. Before I left, I do remember he got picked up and has a line number for Staff Sergeant, but I don’t know when he ‘sews on’.
Tripler
I’ve been out of the loop for awhile.
Wow, look at those mountains. Go skiing! Cause, well, Charlie don’t…wait.
Don’t draw latrine digging duty, and if you do, don’t go deeper than 6".