click clock, huh?!

The time thing, we operate off of Zulu/GMT/UTC time, not local time. So I am often converting from military to civilian time or vice versa, then into or from zulu, then into whatever timezone I am wondering about (CA, AZ, MN, FL, VA, etc.)...can you believe it...it never ends. For the record, my LOCAL time (to figure if it is day or night here) is:

CA+11.5 hours
AZ+11.5 hours
MN+ 9.5 hours
FL+ 8.5 hours
UTC+4.5 hours

...that is, UNTIL tomorrow at 0200 when Daylight Savings happens...now let's see, is that 0200 local, zulu, central, mountain but not AZ, or pacific????....lol...haha!

daily life...Happy Halloween!!

A lot of you are asking for photos and more updates, but my hands are tied as far as my work schedule, where I travel, what I see, what I do, etc. Only a few in the military will ever see the photos I take or know fully what I am involved with here, and that is probably best. Most of the things I see/do/document here are not very cheerful or necessarily things you want to to remember or show family.

Daily life is usually steady, there are good days and bad days. Memorial ceremony for those in the recent '47 crash was today. Attended and photographed. Trying to keep a daily journal, thanks for the idea, Mom.

Food...hmmm...there are a few dining halls to choose from, as Kandahar is very large. Even still, the food is not all that great...since it is all made by foreign contractors whom I swear have never eaten a cheeseburger. Thankfully, I still have plenty of friends (some old, many new) at CEXC who keep me fed at their occasional bbq on the rare days I am not otherwise engaged.

Also, a day last week was like "Care-package mania"...I swear I had 4 boxes full of useable goodies, 3+ months of my mail, and TONS of cards sent to me, thanks to all of you (Mom, Barb, Crista, Mel, Josh & Jeanette, etc...)

Cannot think of much else...like I said, I want to share more, but cannot. Just know that I am safe. I LOVE my job here and the people are truly remarkable humans...this role is the epitome of what a combat photographer could ask for...well...aside from being able to share my images...haha!

40 year anniversary

40 years ago today, my uncle Air Force 2LT James Wayne Herrick, Jr. went missing, along with his A-1 Skyraider aircraft, as he was conducting a recon patrol over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Laos. He would have turned 25 the following day. He and his aircraft have yet to be discovered or returned home to his family. Read his story at www.firefly33.com

Sad day here...

Sad day here.

and you thought...

...gas prices were HIGH in the 'States!

reppin' MN!...

Don't think I forgot my Vikes jersey when I packed to come here...it was a hit when we watched the Vikes take on GB at 4am in a cold tent! Gotta love AFN commercials! LOL Oh, and it is a little known fact that Thomas Jefferson invented American Baseball. See the pic for proof!

C'ville pics...

Some recent pics from my trip to Charlottesville, VA. Thanks Josh/Lynn for the hospitality...it was great to see you all! :)

DC pics...

Here are some pics from my quick trip to DC in early September! Grant/Ashley, it was great to see you both, I wish you the best with the upcoming little one and your new life in NY! ;)

Florida pics...

Here are some pics from my quick trip to FL in early September! Thanks, FL Herricks for having me! ...by the way, the last one is the shuttle launch in Florida. :)

connected...

I am well, we now have a way to update this/fb/etc so I hope to do that more often. Mail is finally starting to trickle in, so thank you!

update...

Hi, most of us are well. The physical output required sometimes here make a marathon look easy in comparison. At least I am holding my own. Also keeping my head down and watching where I step. That last part seems to be the trick here. ;)