Monday, June 22, 2009
Father's Day & Moving
Yesterday was Father's Day. It started by talking to Gayla on Skype. We talked at 6 am (Sunday) my time and 8 pm Saturday her time. She called early so I was just getting ready to jump in the shower so I declined her call. It was good to hear from all my kids on Father's Day.
I was able to go to chruch on base yesterday at 4:30 pm. Sacrament meeting last about 50 minutes (1 speaker) and then a 10 minute break and Sunday School lasted 1 hour. There were 23 in attendance -- 19 men and 4 women. After church we all went to dinner together at the DFAC (Dining Facility) on post.
Just got the word this morning that I am being transfered to Kabul, Afghanistan (Camp Eggers), which is in downtown Kabul.
The weather there should be better (80-50s) vs. 1120-90s). It is close to some mountains.
I was able to go to chruch on base yesterday at 4:30 pm. Sacrament meeting last about 50 minutes (1 speaker) and then a 10 minute break and Sunday School lasted 1 hour. There were 23 in attendance -- 19 men and 4 women. After church we all went to dinner together at the DFAC (Dining Facility) on post.
Just got the word this morning that I am being transfered to Kabul, Afghanistan (Camp Eggers), which is in downtown Kabul.
The weather there should be better (80-50s) vs. 1120-90s). It is close to some mountains.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Dust storm hits Kuwait oil exports, air traffic
KUWAIT CITY, Jun 16, 2009 (AFP) - A blinding dust storm hit Kuwait on Tuesday, forcing a halt in oil exports and closure of the Gulf emirate's three ports as well as disrupting air traffic, officials said.
Winds of up to 80 kilometres an hour (50 mph) reduced visibility to less than 150 metres (yards) at Kuwait airport and to almost zero at ports.
A spokesman for Kuwait National Petroleum Co (KNPC) said oil exports were completely halted and would resume when weather conditions improve.
OPEC's fourth-largest producer pumps around 2.2 million barrels of crude oil daily through KNPC export facilities in oil-rich southern Kuwait.
Issam al-Zamel, head of operations at the civil aviation authority, told the official KUNA news agency that a number of aircraft scheduled to land in Kuwait were being diverted to neighbouring Gulf countries.
Kuwait has had virtually no rain for the third winter in a row, making the desert sand loose and easily carried aloft by strong northwesterly winds.
Dust storms are rare in winter but common in summer when the temperature hits 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).
Winds of up to 80 kilometres an hour (50 mph) reduced visibility to less than 150 metres (yards) at Kuwait airport and to almost zero at ports.
A spokesman for Kuwait National Petroleum Co (KNPC) said oil exports were completely halted and would resume when weather conditions improve.
OPEC's fourth-largest producer pumps around 2.2 million barrels of crude oil daily through KNPC export facilities in oil-rich southern Kuwait.
Issam al-Zamel, head of operations at the civil aviation authority, told the official KUNA news agency that a number of aircraft scheduled to land in Kuwait were being diverted to neighbouring Gulf countries.
Kuwait has had virtually no rain for the third winter in a row, making the desert sand loose and easily carried aloft by strong northwesterly winds.
Dust storms are rare in winter but common in summer when the temperature hits 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).
Map of Area/Apartment
This should give you an idea of where I live and work. (Click on the picture to make it bigger)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Kuwait Report 6/13/09
My time in Kuwait has been going along quickly. On 15 June 2009 I will have been gone for 1 month. Three weeks in Kuwait. Despite working 10 hour days -- 6 days a week it hasn't been that bad.
The food has been real good. Every day I eat in the DFAC (Dining Facility) for lunch. We have had things like Cornish game hens, Roast Beef, Prime Rib, Bar-B-Que ribs, Steak and Lobster and Shrimp. Not too bad -- I like the deserts too. They have pecan and cherry pie every day. I usually try to eat a big lunch and a light breakfast and dinner.
Sunday's -- my only day off -- we go to the DFAC for a brunch. You can get eggs and way you want them, biscuits and gravy and any other breakfast food you can imagine. Needless to say I don't eat anything else the rest of the day. They don't have pork here in Kuwait so if you want it you have to get it at the DFAC.
I found a place that I can get a pedicure (spa on base), so I have been saved. I got a pedicure and hair cut today. So I am set for another month. I was worried I would have to go a year without a pedicure.
Gayla is sending me a care package with things I can't get over here. It takes about a week to get mail Sometimes less.
My CALIBRE employer took everyone out to dinner on Wednesday evening. He took us to Jonny Carlinos. A nice Italian restaurant. I was stuffed when I left. They took our maids too and they were very appreciative for the gesture. They couldn't get over how much the meal cost. They all got steaks and took 2/3 of it home to eat the next day.
Who knows there may be an opportunity to work for one of the companies that I am employed with after the year is up. The pay is great and the working conditions aren't that bad -- other than the heat (112-115 daily). Needless to say I don't go out much.
I would like to take some pictures and post them on my blog but the new camera I got -- the cable to the computer doesn't match my computer so I need to find a different cable.
The food has been real good. Every day I eat in the DFAC (Dining Facility) for lunch. We have had things like Cornish game hens, Roast Beef, Prime Rib, Bar-B-Que ribs, Steak and Lobster and Shrimp. Not too bad -- I like the deserts too. They have pecan and cherry pie every day. I usually try to eat a big lunch and a light breakfast and dinner.
Sunday's -- my only day off -- we go to the DFAC for a brunch. You can get eggs and way you want them, biscuits and gravy and any other breakfast food you can imagine. Needless to say I don't eat anything else the rest of the day. They don't have pork here in Kuwait so if you want it you have to get it at the DFAC.
I found a place that I can get a pedicure (spa on base), so I have been saved. I got a pedicure and hair cut today. So I am set for another month. I was worried I would have to go a year without a pedicure.
Gayla is sending me a care package with things I can't get over here. It takes about a week to get mail Sometimes less.
My CALIBRE employer took everyone out to dinner on Wednesday evening. He took us to Jonny Carlinos. A nice Italian restaurant. I was stuffed when I left. They took our maids too and they were very appreciative for the gesture. They couldn't get over how much the meal cost. They all got steaks and took 2/3 of it home to eat the next day.
Who knows there may be an opportunity to work for one of the companies that I am employed with after the year is up. The pay is great and the working conditions aren't that bad -- other than the heat (112-115 daily). Needless to say I don't go out much.
I would like to take some pictures and post them on my blog but the new camera I got -- the cable to the computer doesn't match my computer so I need to find a different cable.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
I'm Back! (online that is)
I have tried to update my blog but found all the buttons to update it are in Arabic, so I am asking Stephanie to update it for me from an email to her.
The weather here is HOT!!!!!!! It gets up to 115 degrees every day and only drops to the mid-80s at night. They say it isn't hot here until it's still triple digits at night too.
Work days are long -- usually 10-12 hours long but seems to go quickly. My commute takes about 30 minutes and it takes about 30 minutes to get through security on post.
I work behind a barbed wire fence with razor wire. There is added security there as well.
I like what I am doing and will aid in reducing the cost of the war. I will be working on the costs for the LOGCAP contract that people hear a lot about.
The apartment I live in is nice. The maid keeps everything real nice and clean and my clothes are laundered daily. I've never had my jeans pressed before. They are Filipino women that are working as our maids.
The Vice-President of CALIBRE Corp. The prime contractor I work for flew in yesterday and he is taking the entire group of Contractors/Sub-Contractors out to dinner tomorrow.
I usually go out to dinner a few times a week and eat in my apartment the other nights. There is a furnished kitchen in our apartment.
I am really grateful that I was not sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. That is where I was originally supposed to go. I have been out among the Kuwaitis and feel safe here. I took a shopping trip with some other guys the other day and bought a cell phone that works over here -- has a SIM card.
The drivers are nuts over here. There are accidents every day. We count our selves lucky if we get home without getting in an accident.
My room mate has a Filipino girl friend. He is not married. I understand other people have not been able to live with him. He is kind of set in his ways. I'll see how it works out.
I may need to ask Gayla to send me a care package to send me things they don't have over here. The PX has a few things and the grocery stores here are a little expensive. Plus they are in Arabic/English so it's hard to read some things. May have to learn Arabic before I leave.
The weather here is HOT!!!!!!! It gets up to 115 degrees every day and only drops to the mid-80s at night. They say it isn't hot here until it's still triple digits at night too.
Work days are long -- usually 10-12 hours long but seems to go quickly. My commute takes about 30 minutes and it takes about 30 minutes to get through security on post.
I work behind a barbed wire fence with razor wire. There is added security there as well.
I like what I am doing and will aid in reducing the cost of the war. I will be working on the costs for the LOGCAP contract that people hear a lot about.
The apartment I live in is nice. The maid keeps everything real nice and clean and my clothes are laundered daily. I've never had my jeans pressed before. They are Filipino women that are working as our maids.
The Vice-President of CALIBRE Corp. The prime contractor I work for flew in yesterday and he is taking the entire group of Contractors/Sub-Contractors out to dinner tomorrow.
I usually go out to dinner a few times a week and eat in my apartment the other nights. There is a furnished kitchen in our apartment.
I am really grateful that I was not sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. That is where I was originally supposed to go. I have been out among the Kuwaitis and feel safe here. I took a shopping trip with some other guys the other day and bought a cell phone that works over here -- has a SIM card.
The drivers are nuts over here. There are accidents every day. We count our selves lucky if we get home without getting in an accident.
My room mate has a Filipino girl friend. He is not married. I understand other people have not been able to live with him. He is kind of set in his ways. I'll see how it works out.
I may need to ask Gayla to send me a care package to send me things they don't have over here. The PX has a few things and the grocery stores here are a little expensive. Plus they are in Arabic/English so it's hard to read some things. May have to learn Arabic before I leave.
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