God Cares About All Things

This should have been blogged months ago.  No excuse for it taking so long.  It shows God cares about even the things we don't think he would care about.

I had arrived here in Kuwait and was going through what we call RIP (Relief in Place) / TOA (Transition of Authority).  It is the process that units go through when handing off the mission to another unit.

The mission here is such that I have Soldiers in my brigade that are scattered through out Kuwait and through out the region.  As part of the process of handing off the mission to me and my unit the outgoing brigade chaplain had the battalion chaplains take me on a tour of their AO.  This required traveling around Kuwait.

On one of the travels I was taken up to the Iraq / Kuwait border where I have a unit that process convoys through the boarder.  It was 6 years prior that I had gone through the boarder.  It was kind of an interesting feeling.

When we were getting ready to leave that evening I had taken my Blackberry out of its holster and was using it.  Just before climbing in the car I set it up on top of the car.  Finished preparing to climb in the car and then did so, not realizing I had left my phone on the roof of the car.  We then proceded to turn around and drive off.

We drove over speed bumps through the gate and then sped down the road.  About five minutes into the trip I realize I do not have my Blackberry and then realized I left it on the roof of the car.  So we whip around and speed back to the boarder, hitting a huge pot hole along the way.  Over more speed bumps and we arrive back to where I climbed in the car.  I was praying and hoping that I would find my phone on the ground unhurt but at that point I just wanted to find it.  It has all my contact info and I did not want someone, to get a hold of that info.

As I climb out of the car and begin to look on the ground where the car had been parked one of the Chaplain Assistants climbs out of the car on the other side and yells across the car to me and says, "It is still on the car!"  I said, "What?"  She repeated herself.  I said, "No way!"  I turn around and there it sits on the car.

I rejoiced and gave God the glory.  I have a saying, "God protects fools and children, and I am not getting any younger."  God cared enough to protect the information on my phone along with knowing how much of a life line it is because of Yahoo Messenger that I have on it.  It was amazing that it held on and there was no ledge or anything to prevent it from falling off.  I believe that simply the hand of God held it in place.

Qatar

Being in the unit I am in and deployed to the Middle East means that I have Soldiers and units scattered across the region. My responsibility as the brigade chaplain is to ensure religious coverage for all my Soldiers. I achieve that through various ways. One way is what I call a site visit. It is where I go and visit another camp then the one that I live on. A recent site visit took me to the country of Qatar. It is a small country off of Saudi Arabia south of Kuwait.
It was one that I fought against going. No just kidding this was a trip that I could not wait to go on. In fact I fought to go for the fact that one of my beautiful daughters is stationed down there. Cherish is deployed with a medical logistic unit to Qatar. I can't tell you the pride that I have in my girls. They all serve or served in one way or another. Either as a Soldier or a spouse of a Soldier. I am indeed blessed.
I spent the days down in Qatar visiting my units and since my daughter works nights I would go to her office area and spend the evenings visiting with her. It caused me to recall the times I worked or served with my Dad. It has been such a highlight of my time here knowing that Cherish was deployed with me. Though seperated a bit and we don't get to see each other all the time it has been still a special time.

On my last day there Cherish and I took an MWR trip in to Doha. Qatar was and somewhat still is known for its Qatari pearls. So in the top picture you see Cherish and I standing in front of a giant pearl on the water front of Qatar.

The gold market or Gold Souk was amazing. It was literally streest lined with gold. The gold here is typically very pure and is sold by the ounce not by the piece. The gold sold here tends to be 18 to 22 carat. Beautiful hand made intricate pieces. The price is quite high because of the purity and selling the gold by the ounce.

I did find some beautiful pearls sets. I think De'Dee will look beautiful in the set I got for her. Shhh it is her Christmas present. LOL No she already knows. She likes knowing what her gifts are. I have never understood that part. It has something to do with the excitment of knowing instead of faking.

We then went from the Gold Souk to the Old Souk or Old Market. At the Old Souk there was about anything you wanted. To include restuarants and various shops.

One of these shops was the hunting Falcon shop. They still use Falcons to help in their hunting. What they hunt I am not sure but they were amazing birds to see.

As we were leaving the Old Souk to head to a dinner at a local resturant I snapped the next picture of Cherish in the market. The lit tower behind her is actually the top part of a three story building. The bottom part of the building has a bank. I cannot remember what was on the second floor but the third and final floor which you see a part of with the tower is a mosque.

The local food was very good. Cherish was not impressed that I was attempting to take her picture while she was eating. Obvious by the look she is giving me. Kind of Dad, knock it off and let me eat.

It was nice to see something other then what is inside the wire of Camp Arifjan but in many ways it was just another middle eastern country.

The trip there was made worth while in the fact of getting to spend time with Cherish. The memories that were made being a father and a daughter are ones that last a life time.

Life Truths

Got this in an e-mail. Most I delete but this one had me rolling pretty good. It is just the facts of life. Truths we all live by.

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a 'sarcasm' font.

5. How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection.again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Blessed To Be In Love

24 Years of Marriage and Counting

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McDonald's In The Desert.

When you are in the military and end up being stationed or deployed to various places around the world you look for those things that remind you of home. For me McDonalds reminds me of home.

It at times drives De'Dee crazy and I take some harrassment and good nature ribbing from family and friends but it has become a tradition that whatever country I am in that has a McDonalds I stop in and have something to eat.

I have had McDonalds in Germany, France, Monacco, Italy, Austria, Canada, Korea, Czech, and now Kuwait. It may seem odd but it brings a little bit of home to where I am at.

What I found interesting is what it said on the McFlurry I got with my Big Mac. As you can see on the last picture it was 100% halal. Halal for Muslims is like Kosher is for Jewish people.

So here is to a little bit of home in Kuwait, McDonalds in the desert.

Can You See Me Now

Remember that commercial where the guy walks all over with the cell phone to his ear and says, "Can you hear me now?"

I have decided to start asking during the appropriate time of day, "Can you see me now." I will explain in a minute why.

I came into the Army in 1984. Yes I am old. I have 26 years of service and have seen many changes. Through all these changes one thing has always remain constant the words cover and concealment. Those words now have new meaning in my life in the Army now. As you see the title to my blog site is, "Life In This Multi-Color Leisure suit. Well the Army has decided to add a new color or in some cases multi new colors to this leisure suit. I will explain shortly bear with me as I digress into this.

You see the U.S. Army has spent millions of dollars attempting to figure out through various tests to determine what is the best way to camouflage our fighting men and women. (Okay those laughing now can stop I am not talking about the ACUs, that seems only best used to camouflage a Soldier sleeping on a sofa with various flowers.)

Much effort and time over the years has been put in to design of clothing and teaching this art of cover and concealment so the enemy can't see you. Now the Army is spending more money for us to cover and conceal our camouflage uniform with what is known in most places as a reflective belt we in the Army refer to it as a PT Belt or Physical Training belt. No it does nothing to enhance our physical abilities although that would be nice it is meant to keep us safe from being hit while doing PT. I have seen everything from yellow to orange to pink pt belts worn around here in Camp Arifjan Kuwait.

It seems that the same people who gave us warnings on cups to tell us it was hot and many other idiot warnings have creeped into the Army. For now we have to walk around, after dark, on post here in Kuwait, along with some in Iraq and Afghanistan with reflector belts around their waists or across their body.

You know someone somewhere got hit by a vehicle so now we must glow in the dark to be seen. It is like having thousand points of light to focus rounds on. Now unless the person that got hit was hit by someone driving on a walking area did someone ever think to consider making sure Soldiers did not walk down the middle of the driving area or him to stay alert and stay alive. NOOOO we now have to walk around with PT Belts.

So in the morning as I get dressed I put my PT Belt on under my shirt so I can have easy access where ever I am at for God forbid I not have my PT Belt on when it gets dark.

So can you see me now? How about now? OH wait let me get my PT belt on. How about now?

In The Beginning....

So many things to be able to blog about. I have stared creating a list. Decided that I should start in the beginning, and no the rest of the story does not go ....God created.... This in the beginning is about by arriving in Kuwait.

What happened was. There I was traveling to Kuwait everything was going great. Then we arrived and I begin to think about duffles that were locked and trunks that were locked so I reached to my side where my keys normally hang on my belt loop (which either makes me a geek or a rebel because I am violating some regulation for wearing them there).

Mean while back at the ranch. So I reach to ensure that my keys are in place and what do I feel NOTHING!!!!! Panic, flash backs to 6 years ago to when I left my 700.00 video camera on the bus in Kuwait and realizing it after I get on the plane back to Iraq after R&R. I HATE Kuwait (I know hate is a four letter word. When you hear the words I hear all day you would consider that mild). Lost a camera here now no keys arghh.

So thus as the picture above reveals I had to use the giant master key in order to get to my stuff. It seems just about the time you get all proud of yourself God has a way of humbling you. Nothing more humbling then being a Major and the Brigade Chaplain asking for bolt cutters because you are not responsible enough to maintain a set of keys to your own locks.

If you think this is great, tune in next time when you here me saying, "Nope don't have it we have to turn around!"

Life in the Army... or Navy... or Army

Sorry no pictures with this blog today. The place I went has some tight OPSEC or Operational Security rules.

This week as I continue through the transition with the unit we are replacing my counter part has set up with the battalion chaplains that I will be taking over as their brigade chaplain to take me on tours of their area of operations (AO). My first tour this week was with the 164th Transportation Battalion out of Massachusetts. CH Durkee not only has large trucks in her unit but she is also the chaplain for four boat companies. This simply means she is responsible for the chaplain coverage of four boats.

Now these are not small boats they are a decent size. The thing to understand is these are not Navy personnel that operate these boats. They are Army personnel. So for a short time I was a Squid (don't tell my Navy buddies they will never let me live it down). I am told that the Army has more boats then the Navy.

I have to admit it was kind of cool to be on the boats. They are used to transport various equipment around the theater. They have offered that if I want to bring some Soldiers over they will take us out in the gulf and we can do some fishing and BBQ. Hmmm maybe I should stay on shore. That may be considered a cruise and since it has been De'Dee's dream for 23 plus years may not be a good idea.

While there the thought went through my head of the recruit at the Army recruiting station who has just made a decision to join the Army and as he signs the contract suddenly realizing that the job the recruiter talked him into was going to have him not spend his life in the Army but he might as well be in the Navy. Kind of like the Air Force forward observer who helps call in the air support for the Army. He joins the Air Force to spend the rest of his career in the Army.

The conversation home to their family has to be funny. Spent my day on the boat. Boat I thought you were in the Army. I am. But it was a boat the Navy has boats are you sure you joined the Army. Well I think so. My uniforms say so Army, but now I am not sure. LOL

On their own boat they can have an Army / Navy game between them. Must cause many to have split personality.

None the less it was a good visit and the first time in 26 years of service that I was on a boat the was not owned by the Navy.

Doom, Despair, and Agony on me.

These are the pictures you don't always want people to see. The terrible living conditions and struggles the Soldier must endure.

When people see such horrible living conditions they run screaching in anger as they realize that not all Soldiers are still living in the mud and taking showers only once a week.

I have deployed to what is officially known as Arifjan and what we affectionately call Arifjail. This is my home for the next year. Well actually these pictures show my temporary residence since my permenant temporary home is still being occupied by the out going unit.

Now before you begin to think that there is going to be much improvement there won't. Showers are almost a football field away fortuantely the latrine (Bathroom, restroom, head, and for my Air Force buddies the powder room) is out my front door of my building. Which when I move will be that much further away.

Now that I have lost all pity let me see if I can gain some back. I the chow hall is at least a quarter mile down the road. Oh the pain and agony. Hmmm no tears or comforting sorrow. Did I say it was hot and to live in these conditions I have to endure going from the heat outside that is going to just get hotter and endure sub-freezing tempertures inside. It is such a hard price.

Picture 1: The outside of my area. We have taken a couple of blankets to make a curtain with 550 cord and gives us some privacy.

Picture 2: Looking down the building to my "room".

Picture 3: Entering my "room".

Picture 4: My space. Recently got the trunks out of the connex that was shipped over ahead and so have not put away my sleeping bag from when I first got here.

Pre-Deployment

I have come to the realization that pre-deployment is not about the train up or the prep for deployment. It is about making you so desperate to deploy you don't care where you go as long as you get.

The last time I felt this way was when I was with 2-2 INF, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. We were sitting in Kuwait at a place known as Camp New York. Spent three weeks there standing in longer lines then anyone should have. When you are at the end of the chow line and you can just make out the mess hall you know it is a long line. Okay maybe a bit of exaggeration but not by much. Within a week or so of being there I was so ready to get up north into Iraq and combat. I did not think that there was anything that could get me to desire combat but Camp New York did that for me and so many more of us.

Don't get me wrong it I don't want to be away from my bride for a year but this pre-deployment, good idea fairies is going to drive me nuts.

The sad part of all this is I simply am trading one garrison enviroment for another. Which brings me to another thing about deploying. If I have to be away from my bride for a year give me a reason for her not to be there. Don't send me to a garrison in Kuwait.