Movie stars, the Carribean, and Phoenix, oh my

Lots of updating to do (with pictures), so stay tuned...

Meanie pt. 2

Pics to and at the dealership today...obviously I did not take delivery with today's weather! lol

such a meanie!!

Ok, so it is a stock photo, not one of mine, but you get the idea...today I bought a 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak - Special Edition*. I prefer the 2007, and had to poke around to find a new one, but when I found this one here in Minnesota, I picked it up.

Oh, and I have already 'made' a fender eliminator kit:

-smoked LED taillight kit with integrated turn signals

-a driveshaft cover with license plate relocation slot

More to come...

* the 2007 SE is flat black paint, red wheels/frame, no chrome, etc.

"Summer of George..." ??

Well, maybe YOU don't remember the Seinfeld episode...but I do. Suffice it to say, 2008 has plenty of changes on the horizon.

To start, after 1.5 years, I am no longer an employee at the Nat'l Ground Intelligence Center. It just got to be too much; travelling with our training team, going to California for Reserves once a month, going to Afghanistan, travelling with the training team, back to Afghanistan, etc. Although the busiest time of my life, the experience was one of the highlights of my life so far. So what next?...

Well, I am now in MN, visiting family and friends and gathering my belongings. The first week of April, I am vacationing in St. Thomas to visit my friends Jackie/Justin at the resort they live at. Then, on or about 15 APR I will hop in a u-haul and move to AZ.

Oh, and don't forget the Reserves, I finally made it to the Combat Camera unit. I've encountered a few difficulties so far, but will keep at it and see if things smooth out. It just might shape up to be the busiest year for me, yet!...

Thankful...

We should all be very thankful to live in the United States. Seeing what can happen in foreign countries while travelling home reminded me how sweet it truly is to live in a relatively un-corrupt society, as compared to other countries around the world.

I am home, and back at work in Virginia. It was great to be among friends in Afghanistan. Here is to a speedy return, gents.

Cheers!

No SMS service...

Well, it looks like T-Mobile was not accurate, as I do not have SMS (text message) service here. As such, please be patient for me to reply, I should have it soon when I am back in the States again...only a couple more weeks. In the meantime, I am checking Yahoo! email almost daily. Cheers!!

Also, here is a picture I recently took at a Humanitarian aid event, where we handed out cold weather clothing to local Afghanistan nationals a t the Egyptian Field Hospital.

lucky 21...

I have now been to 21 countries, as I stopped in England and Albania on the way here. wahoo!

Home sweet home...??

I arrived safely late on 23JAN. I was instantly up to speed and working (a benefit of having been here for almost a full year!) immediately. It is cold, like in the teens and twenties, although everyone in MN will say that that is balmy! jk

I am glad to be back to pitch in for these thirty days, as this place does many things right.

If you have been texting me on my cell, please be patient, as I am working out with T-Mobile the details of why it isn't working yet. There is service here, I just cannot get my phone to grab on.

Thanks for the emails (sans forwards, DAD!, haha!) and I will be back before you know it!

KIA: U.S. ARMY SGT JAMES K. HEALY, 7JAN08

I had the pleasure of working with SGT Healy in AFG. He was a U.S. Army EOD operator, also assigned to CEXC. While I met him around AUG/SEP timeframe, I last saw him around OCT as he would often pass through BAF, awaiting flights to his job at JAF. We talked for sometimes hours at a time as he would have nothing to do while waiting for his flights out. Ironically, one of the few things I remember about him specifically is him commenting on how he had just re-enlisted in the most dangerous career field in the Army.

Apparently he was just home at the end of 2007 on RnR visiting his wife Shannon and celebrating the 1 year birthday of his son. He was very knowledgeable and was truly a pleasure to know.

Cheers,
John H.

Links:

http://newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2008/01/11/news/news02.txt

http://www.hesperiastar.com/onset?id=1463&template=article.html

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3299076.html

http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/8476/

Ok, so the last 60 days in the States has been a whirlwind of traveling for work, the Reserves, etc. Even so, have a wonderful, Merry Christmas, and an even better, safe, New Years Holiday! :)

Also, I will be headed back to AFG in Jan, but only for 30 days this time. Then, back here to continue work in Virginia.

Cheers!

fini in sight...

Only a week to go, this will be my last post for a few days. I will be leaving for another Middle Eastern country in about a week, to await further transportation home. I am excited, but still staying focused on what remains.

Overall, I have experienced many things...and this trip was definitely worth the experience. I am glad to have experienced the following:

• my 1st earthquake,
• many indirect attacks: motars/rockets,
• photographing thousands of pieces of evidence,
• completing a marathon at nearly mile high altitude,
• meeting and working with people from: DOD, DOJ, CIA, etc.,
• working in a joint environment, with all branches, civilians, officers and enlisted alike...
• meeting and working with people from many different countries: Poland, Norway, Romania, Germany, Finland, Egypt, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Pakistan, Turkey, etc.,
• photographing evidence, only to have piece of it (a cell phone) ring: scared as %&*#!,
• looking into the eyes of the most evil men I will likely ever encounter,
• seeing the remains of young, misdirected suicide bombers,
• photographing activities outside the wire,
• smelling death for days on end...

It was a great 8 months, and my coworkers/friends are the ones who made it bearable. Also, anyone who took the time to send a package/write/email, and ESPECIALLY those who did, and did not get upset when I didn't return the favor, THANK YOU!!

the "sexy" scoop...

If you read this article about CEXC-Iraq, you will have a much better understanding about me and what I do. While I am not in Iraq, the setup/purpose/etc. is the same, just a much different country.

"T minus fifteen..."

Almost there...only a few more weeks.

"CSI Afghanistan"...?

Often, that is how our Lab is referred to. Thankfully, there are no season-long DVD sets. jk

In these pictures, I am working the night shift. I am wearing the new Air Force ABU (Airman Battle Uniform). I am trying to kill two birds with one stone and do a few hours of Reserve duty, in addition to my normal daily hours as a DOD Contractor. It makes for some long days, but it will be worth it in the end.

Hope you are all doing well. I am "getting short"; down to about 25 days left here.

Take off, hoser! (part deux)

And another.