Rare Cigar Post

Ok, it has been quite awhile since I posted any cigar reviews. I used to run a now-defunct blog called "JavaSmokes", which consisted of my opinions on cigars I had smoked and coffee I had drunk.

Anyway, I recently smoked a Baccarat Cigar for the first time. I had heard it was mild. No kidding. Most of the time I couldn't even taste it. It burned unevenly and, even though it was mild in flavor, it was at times somewhat harsh. It seemed to be fairly loosely rolled and burned quite hot. So I am not a Baccarat fan.

The only thing less flavorful I have smoked is a Fonseca cigarello. That was like smoking paper.

If you like to taste your cigars without having to suck the filler out, hesitate before purchasing Baccarat.

Just Checking In

Howdy, all.

Finally had another decent strenght dust storm today. Always a joy.

We've pretty much ironed out the worst of the connectivity issues we were having at the camp. There are some lingering things to address but what we were having to do several times an hour to kind of reset things, we are only doing 5-10 times in a 24-hour period.

I got my Fathers' Day package and voltage regulator on the 22nd. Hopefully I won't fry any more 220-110 transformers. In addition to some great cards, a t-shirt and some useful things, I got a lot of drawings from my daughter!

Went to the local market today (Thu) and bought some movies and a 4-drawer setup for my folding clothes (3 drawers) and loose junk (1 drawer).

I am still attending Thursday night Bible study since I haven't made Sunday church yet. We are currently about mid-way through Hebrews.

That's about it for now. I need to get ready for my Bible study.

Yes! Goodies and useful stuff from my family! We have two pairs of boots, dry-wipe board, toiletries, recarded TV shows, cigars, etc. I also get drawings from my daughter! Great stuff every time. 

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot!

As I walked to the dining hall today, I noted an unusual and unfamiliar sensation. My hands and fingers were tingling, but not like they were "asleep". As I thought about it I realized it was more of a "Hello, Andy? Yeah, skin here. Just thought you might want to know your hands are burning. Later." I found out a little later it was 125 degrees as I walked about in my short sleeved shirt and shorts.

Along with the whole hands issue I noted I was sweating. Even though I had no binding clothing and it was all cotton. I have never really sweated, as in the drops pouring down your face type, since I have been here unless I was engaged in some physical work outside. Just walking around didn't do it. Today, I was sweating like it was June in Houston.

I don't care if you had some sort of magic negative humidity. At 125 you'll still sweat. And keep your hands in your pocket. My understanding is that we'll top out around 135. Golly! I can't wait to see what 10 more degrees of heat will feel like.

During June-August, be sure and pray for the health of all the soldiers in Iraq, and not just the Americans. Just think how the Poles feel. I saw some in the dining hall today. I have to believe that once it gets over about 110 here some part of their brain just shuts down. It would be like taking some Iraqis and dropping them off in Greenland during January.

A Day In The Life

And now, by popular demand!!
er...uhh...
And now, by...demand.
Ok, by request, I present: An Average Day For Me.

All stated time close but approximate. Might fluctuate +/- 10 minutes

1000 Hours: Wake Up
1010 Hours: Head to Showers, Take Shower
1030 Hours: Back to tent to get dressed
1100 Hours: All dressed
1120 Hours: Completed bible devotional for the day.
1140 Hours: Arrive at Dining Hall
1210 Hours: Leave Dining Hall
1215-1330 Hours: Open time. Could be on computer, running errands, etc.
1340 Hours: Get ready for Work

1355 Hours: Arrive at ITT Trailer
1400-1830 Hours: Work
1830 Hours: Go to Dinner
1900 Hours: Return to ITT Trailer
1900-0000 Hours: Work and Call My Wife
0015 Hours: Back to tent
0020 Hours: To Latrine Trailer to brush teeth and...other things.
0040 Hours: Back to tent
0100-1015ish Hours: To sleep, perchance to dream.

And that about covers it. On Thursdays I'm off. I keep my sleeping and shower/teeth brushing schedules on that day. Other than that I'm on my own to do whatever.

Feel free to print this out and post on your refrigerator, send it to your local newspaper, commit it to memory, or whatever else reading it inspires you to do...

Navy Seal Boots: RIP. Apparently the Navy never figured on walking around in the desert on egg-sized gravel. Go figure. Now my New Balance shoes have held up very well. I think if I can get some regular hiking boots with the tough soles I won't have to bury them as well. 

Mid-Week Update

It has been very dusty and windy the last couple of days. It looks like a heavy fog, but since we are nowhere near anything approximating water, I know better. At least it holds the temps down to "only" 107-110. JOY!


I lost my 240-120 transformer. I went to bed, it worked. I woke up, it didn't. I bought another like it from the local PX but for some reason it didn't work either. Other 220/240v items I have worked fine on all the outlets I plugged the transformer into. So I bought a heavier duty 220/240-110/120 transformer that handles up to 750 watts and regulates the voltage so that attached devices get the right amount. Useful here since apparently our power is fairly 'dirty' and fluctuates quite a bit.

Also got a nice 220/240 volt power strip/surge protector.

Not much else going on right now.

Peeking through my blankets into my "space". Most of it is to the left. 

The Valley of Lost Bedframes. This is where I got the cool frames with the spring/slat construction. I guess we'll see how cool it is when I sleep on it tonight. 

My new tent. It looks alot different than the other one, doesn't it? Note the dismantled bed frame in front. That's the one welded like crap. At least we have a little more protection from incoming...stuff. I'm in the back left. 

All Moved In

Well, I got up at 0900 and by 1200 was all moved into the new tent B58.

The bed frame I was going to use in the new tent was welded quite badly and the parts on the end pieces that support the horizontal frame snapped off. So out went that mees to be picked up later, and off I went to the valley of lost bed frames. I have provided a picture in another posting.

I actually lucked out because in the 'valley' there were two of the new frames that have springs and slats. Much nicer than the bar-based frame of the bed I just left.
I got all of that situated and finally settled on the basic arrangement of my stuff.

One of the "downsides" of getting 50% more space is that my wall setup didn't work anymore. Too much area to cover. My blanket and pancho didn't reach. Fortunately one of the ITT guys had a spare blanket and gave it to me. It is the blue in the pictures.

The other "downside" was no network connection. This tent is now signed for by ITT but was previously signed out to some military folks. So our cabling guys made me a cable and I ran it from the nearest network connection. It worked great so I now have internet access in my tent once again.

In addition to the two ITTers that moved in, there is an interpreter who just moved in. He leaves in August so after that I'm not sure who all will be in there.

Well, that's about it for now. Enjoy the pictures.

Moving Day

Is Thursday.

No, not to another camp but to another tent. ITT signed for a 4th tent so Duane and I will be moving in with Gus, an interpreter. The good part is that we'll each have 1/4 of the tent instead of the current 1/6th. Gus leaves in August so I guess after that its me and Duane.

Initially I'll have no internet in that tent but I'll have that rectified in a few days.

Not much else. I got some letter from my folks, which was nice. Along with an article about an author who lives in a nearby town in the states that apparently is well known in Star Wars book fiction circles.

Shortly I'll have some move pictures up.

Weekly Update

Well, I think I'm just about recovered from changing my work shift. The last couple of nights I have slept better. Now I just need to get used to my new mattress. Quite firm as mattresses go. I wake up tighter than a drum.

I ordered and recently received a Logitech Marble Mouse. I bought it from Amazon, refurbed. For 5$. I am beginning to realize that a refurbed Marble Mouse is not a happy Marble Mouse. Mine keeps hanging for up to 10 seconds. Meanwhile the laptop trackpad works fine. This has gotten worse over time so I assume I got what I paid for. Next time I'll either get mine sent from the states or pay the $20 they normally go for.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I was introduced to the joy of filling and lugging sandbags. Mmmmmm, fun! We recently installed 2 diesel generators to run the 2 ITT buildings from. Apparently there is already a fuel leak so we put down to haevy plastic and put sandbags 2-high under the outer edge of the plastice and then another row on top of the plastic and the other bags to hold it all in place. This forces the rim of the plastic up by almost a foot to help hold back fuel spillage. The plastic sheet was something like 20'x40'. Lots of bags to lay.

For Memorial Day, our Chow Hall really went all out. Lots of different things to eat and they had Peach Cobbler and Pumpkin Pie for dessert. Very well seasoned and quite tasty!

Recently saw a movie called "Ong-Bak". I believe it is Thai. It is kind of a fight movie, ala Bloodsport, where a buddha status is stolen from a village and one of the young men, who just happens to be mind-bogglignly astounding at doing astoundingly mind-boggling things, has to go and bring it back. Its kind of like mixing 40% Jackie Chan, 40% Jet Li and 20% Van Damm. But I only use them as reference. This guy fights with some style where elbows and knees get used a lot. Really trippy and amazing. The lead actor is Phanom Yeeram. Check it out if you like this type of movie.

That's about all for now. I'll send up some more pictures in the next few days.

364 days to contract completion! About 354 before I begin leaving Iraq.

And here are the other changes: thicker, firmer mattress, 4x4 wood blocks lifting the bed frame (not shown) and all of my infrequently used stuff under the bed. Yes, in true white trash form, I have my bed up on blocks. 

The first addition to my "new" room is the wonderful handcrafted oak and mahogany personal electronics support structure. Oh, ok, its a crudely made table I found in the Camp's wood scrap heap. Hey, it does the trick!