New Job

Well, I guess it's that time again! I have less than... we will say 20 days left (its less) and I'm getting moved to another job. Our replacement unit got here on the 13th of June, they are the 524th CSSB from Hawaii. I don't have a person filling in my position, as they are moving to Hawaii.. So the next few weeks I'm here will be interesting. I plan on hitting the gym A LOT.

My new job... I guess I will be working at the USO for the most part. Nothing wrong with it, I've already put in about 130 hours there, which has made me eligible for a Volunteer Service Ribbon. Kinda cool! I've met a lot of people working doing Head Count and I'm actually sad to leave. But my unit is saying there is a new requirement for Master Resiliency Training (google it) and I might have some things to do. Well all the information I brought for that, I've already sent home. I have NEVER done anything with it. Ahhh well, such is life I suppose.

I'm ready to get out of here.. Its getting hotter and hotter and the wind storms are getting worse. I've debated on posting, Do you know whats worse then being in Afghanistan, 100 degree + temp and sand storms? Me either. Maybe some day.

I dont even know if anyone reads this blog anymore... but hey, I'm almost home and don't really expect many people too. Oh USA... you are so close to my sites.

Head Count

It's that time again... I have a new job. I'm currently working at the Deli, making tally marks for all the personnel who come and eat. This is what I get paid the big bucks to do.... I have easy hours, 0900-1400, so I'm going to start volunteering at the USO to keep me busy the last month and a half that I'm here.  Its nice to not have to work 12-14 hours anymore, oh and That's right... Month and a half!!!!!! I'm so ready to blow this Popsicle stand!

I've been trying to run as many races as I can. There were two two runs in April that I did. Both 5k's. I placed 2nd in one, 3rd in the other. May doesn't have so much going on, but I signed up for a 5k on the 24th and a tough man competition on the 25th. The tough man comp. is on a team. The two other people I'm with are Spc Stoll and SFC Cox (not that any of you know them), but our team name is Rep it or Leave it... We're pretty much doing it for fun because none of us are super buff. But it will be fun.

Sometime in mid June our replacement unit should start showing up. I have already sent home two tough boxes of things and will be mailing one more and hopefully nothing else. I'm ready to pack up and like I said blow this Popsicle stand.

I dont have much else to report... I really dont even know if anyone reads these.. but i'll try and do one more! Maybe two!

Entry Control Point

So.. I haven't written in a long time... I should have looked at my last post to check. Oh well.. I will go back as far as Valentines Day... I ran the Stupid Cupid 5K and got first place for the females running a 22:25, second place came in at 22:28, so she was right behind me! On February 28th the Mayor Cell closed. So.. I have a new job!! I currently work at the ECP, Entry Control Point. This is where allll the local nationals who work on post come through. I tell you what... It's creepy. They stare.. and stare and stare. Hardly any of them speak english.. And I don't speak good Dari at all.. I can say, Hi, good morning, how are you, go away, come here, yes, no, go sit down... good night, good bye, and what did he say... Nothing much. Let me go backwards a bit... So.. what I do, is take what are called Taskeras. This is like they're identification  And I input the number into a tracking system. It tracks how many times they have been on post. Daily Labors are not allowed on post more then 4 times. Its supposed to be three, but if they have been on post 3 times, I can let them on. So if they show up with 4 times, I have to turn them away. This is incredibly annoying because I have to tell them no, and explain why. EVEN THOUGH they know why. Sometimes they act SO incredibly dumb, like oh i didn't know. Yes, yes you knew. And no, he can't come on just for today. No exceptions. I know they just want to earn money, but its not my fault there economy SUCKS. Some of them I feel so incredibly bad for. One is 20 years old. He lives with his mom, dad, brother, his brothers wife, their three daughters and his two sisters. He is the only one that has a job and is bringing in income to the family. And he sleeps on the floor. He doesn't even have a bed. THEN there are times when I dont know how to feel about them... This girl Bethany, is a 3rd grade teacher at a school and her students have been sending me cards for holidays. For St. Patricks Day they made cards and she sent them, girl scout cookies and granola bars. The Afghans we hired to do security, took all the granola bars, and 4 boxes of cookies. Two of them go fired because EVERYTHING, and I mean everything (well everything but the bathroom), has a camera. So we caught them going behind my desk and taking them. Just the other day we caught a guy stealing..... wait for it..... 90, yup thats right, 90 cases of water. I dont even want to tell you how much the government pays per bottle for water. Anyway... The only bad part are the locals stink. They come into my tent and when there are a lot... wow... I have to open the tent windows, it's awful. I really like the unit that I am attached too. They're guys from the 3rd Infantry Division. They're good guys, and they treat me like I matter and like they actually need me. Which is the exact opposite of how the 1034th have treated me since I have been here.
Anyway, St. Patricks Day... we had a race, I got 3rd. I was almost a minute slower then Valentines Day... I blame it on the wind, and the fact that there were a ton of people and it was HOT! Oh well.. I'm not sure what race will be next... but I haven't ran since Sunday. I've been lifting with the guys and I'm too tired to wake up and run. But after this week, I will get back at it. It's generally in the 70's here. So it's fairly nice. Today I have about 112 days left. I know I shouldn't be counting, but I can't wait to get out of this crap hole.  I honestly don't know why we are even in this country. We aren't gaining anything from being here.... except more debt. Oh well.. they will just take more benefits away from us instead of doing something smart like cutting congresses salary. I mean what do they do that's so important!? They can't even make decisions!!! They work less then teachers and make practically 10x's as much!!! DUMB.

Oh well.. That's all from the Stan!.