We're Full of Crap!!!

Beacuse of Security Situations here in Kabul (roads closed) and the Holiday Eid (workers on vacation) -- Our septic predicament remains an issue today. Last night's emergency plan of extra septic trucks was not enough. Some areas remain full. The backed up locations are scheduled to be pumped within the next 1-2 hours. Our contingency plan of using the large underground septic tank as a reserve is not feasible since that tank is also full. We continue to monitor and work through this situation. We appreciate everyone's patience -- In other words we are full of crap!!!!

BYU Football

BYU starts its football season this Saturday, 3 September 2011. It's at 1:45pm PT . That's 1:15am AM Kabul Time, Sunday morning. They play Old Miss -- Go Cougars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleep Walking

I get up at 4:20am and get to work at 5am. After I have been here for 1/2 hour the DFAC (Dining Facility) opens (5:30am). I was headed to breakfast the other day at 5:30am and when we check in at the head count booth in front of the DFAC we have to identify ourselves as either DOD Civilian or Contractor. I was half asleep and trying to figure out if I wanted to eat scrambled eggs or oatmeal. So when I got to the head count booth I said -- scrambled eggs. The enlisted soldier looked at me and started laughing. He thought maybe I thought I was at McDonald's and I was going for take out and was ordering at the takeout booth. Needless to say I slunk away and didn't show my head again that day.

Set Apart Today as District President

Kabul Military Branch (19 Aug 2011) -- only 13 attended because everyone was locked down due to the attack on the British Council. Normally twice that attends.

L to R - President Dave Reid, 2nd Councilor in District Presidency, Allen Nelson, District President, COL Lloyd Oaks, Former District President

President Les Call (Kandahar Region) -- 1st Councilor in District Presidency

Left to Right -- President Dave Reid, 2nd Councilor in District Presidency, President Allen Nelson, District President (Not in Picture President Les Call, 1st Councilor in District Presidency - See above)

Left to Right - President Allen Nelson, District President, Kabul Afghanistan Military District, COL Lloyd Oaks, Former District President

I was sustained and set apart today as the District President of the Kabul Afghanistan Military District. President Les Call was sustained as the 1st Councilor from the Kandahar region. President Dave Reid was sustained and set apart as the 2nd Councilor.

Twin suicide blasts hit British Council offices in Kabul

Two large suicide explosions have rocked a British cultural centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on a public holiday marking Afghanistan's independence from Britain in 1919.
The explosions, claimed by the Taliban, struck at the British Council offices in Kabul and witnesses reported that heavy gunfire was ongoing inside the compound. A third blast was heard later, but its cause was unclear.
The British Council is an official organization part-funded by London that promotes cultural relations in offices around the world.
The full extent of the casualty toll was not immediately clear but Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said initial reports indicated that three or four people were wounded. Kabul police later said that three people had died, but their nationalities have not been released.
"(There were) two explosions at the British Council but at this stage, we're still gathering facts," said Major Jason Waggoner, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
He could not say whether ISAF forces were providing assistance but an AFP reporter at the scene saw two large ISAF armored vehicles arriving at the scene as gunfire intensified.
A spokesman for the British embassy in Kabul said: "I can confirm reports of an attack against the British Council compound in Kabul."
He added that the embassy was in contact with Afghan authorities at the scene but could not provide any information on casualties.
Afghan police said that suicide bombers had struck at the scene.
"There have been two suicide explosions. My boys are engaged. I will give more information later," Kabul police chief Ayub Salangi said after an AFP reporter and witnesses reported hearing blasts and gunfire.
Witnesses on the scene said that the compound was surrounded by Afghan police and intelligence officers. Heavy machine gun fire could be heard from inside and occasional explosions.
Security officials said several attackers were holed up inside.
Several wounded were dragged from the compound including at least one Gurkha guard.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the militant group leading a 10-year insurgency in Afghanistan was responsible for the attack.
"Taliban mujahedeen stormed these two compounds and heavy fighting is going on with the Afghan police," he said.
"Today is our independence day from Britain. They recognized our independence 92 years ago - today's attack was marking that day.
"Now the British have invaded our country again and they will recognize our independence day again."
Residents were evacuated from the area surrounding the offices.
"I was asleep when the sound of a heavy explosion woke me up," said Mohammad Aber, who lives over the road from the building.
"I went to the roof. I saw a car was on fire, and there was suddenly a second explosion, then the shooting started."
Britain is the second-largest provider of troops to the international military effort in Afghanistan after the United States, with around 9,500 forces mainly in the south.
Suicide attackers have stormed the British Council office in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least eight people and taking over the compound.
After a suicide car bomb destroyed the compound wall, a number of heavily armed men forced their way inside.
Gunfire can still be heard in the area, which was rocked by another explosion several hours after the attack began.
The Taliban said the attack marked the anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from the UK in 1919.
A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman later said: "We can confirm there was an attack against a British Council compound in Afghanistan.
"The embassy is co-ordinating with the Afghan authorities, who are dealing with the incident."
The eight victims of the attack were all thought to be Afghan policemen, authorities said, adding that four attackers have also died.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul reports that occupants of the British Council building may have taken refuge in a reinforced safe room in the compound, to await rescue.
Wall collapsed
It was a three-phase attack, intelligence sources told the BBC: First, a suicide attacker detonated his explosive vest at a main square in western Kabul where police were guarding a key intersection shortly after 05:30 (01:30 GMT). Ten minutes later, a suicide car bomber detonated his vehicle outside the front gate of the British Council.
This is not the first time a major attack has taken place on Afghanistan's Independence Day.
Despite increased security, the insurgents managed to get into Kabul with a lot of weapons and suicide vests.
Local shopkeepers say as many as nine heavily armed attackers stormed the British Council building.
The area was evacuated, and for the next three hours heavily armed insurgents exchanged fire with police and sporadic gunfire can still be heard in the area, residents say.
Last night, I accompanied Kabul's police chief, General Ayub Salangi, on a patrol of the city ahead of Independence Day. At around midnight, the general deployed extra security forces in several locations, as intelligence reports warned of an imminent attack.
As the area was evacuated, local shopkeepers say as many as nine suicide attackers armed with rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and AK 47s started firing as they ran towards the British Council building.
They have exchanged fire with police for hours and sporadic gunfire can still be heard in the area, residents say, with one gunman still believed be holding out.
Police sources earlier told the BBC they believed "eight or nine suicide attackers" had entered the British Council building.
"They have brought enough weapons to fight for a day," police said.
British forces arrived at the scene shortly after the attack and Afghan police were providing support, Kabul officials told the BBC.
One of the walls of the compound collapsed after the blasts, and there are fears that a number of Afghan policemen may be buried in the rubble.
The British Council is a partly government-funded agency which runs mainly cultural programs.
The Afghan authorities earlier stepped up security in the capital, amid fears an attack could be imminent on the public holiday.
However, the Taliban have recently shown that they can strike pretty much anywhere in Afghanistan, reports the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul.

Grandson Ethan's Broken Arm -- One Tough Kid!!

On July 8th Ethan was playing ball with Sean at a ward picnic and caught the ball funny. He fell to the ground and screamed his head off as he held his wrist. It didn't swell or bruise and he could still move it, so we figured it was just sprained. It bothered him when it was bumped or moved too much so we got him a wrist brace. Well, 4 weeks later it felt a lot better but still hurt sometimes when he put too much pressure on it or got bumped too hard. With football in full swing Stephanie decided to take him to the doctor to just to have him take a look and an x-ray and make sure it was okay. Well, it turns out he didn't have a sprained wrist but a broken arm! Yikes! He's been to scout camp, football camp, and football try-outs all with a broken arm! The doctor said it's been healing nicely and he was telling me about a hard cast vs. soft one when Stephanie started feeling a bit faint. She sat down and listened some more and then before she knew it she was coming to after passing out! She can't believe she passed out over a x-ray of a month old broken bone! Ugh. Later she realized it was after noon and she'd worked out in the morning and never stopped to eat, so that may have contributed to it. But she couldn't quit laughing over the fact that she passed out over an x-ray! On the way back to school Ethan asked if he could tell his friends about her passing out. It turns out that he thought that was a bit more interesting than his cast. He's still playing football, he just has to wrap it in 3/4 in of padding so as not to hurt the other players and he can't do push ups or bear crawls. He'll get the cast off at the end of August before the games begin. You go Ethan -- No pain no gain!!! Your Mom sounds like your Grandmother -- she used to pass out at the doctors a lot too! Must run in the family.

Change is Coming in Kabul Afghanistan Distirct Presidency

President Lloyd Oaks is returning home on the 22nd of August 2011. His attempt to extend was denied. That means a new Kabul Afghanistan District President will need to be called. The Presidency only lasted since 3 June 2011. I have enjoyed working with Pres. Oaks. He is the son of Apostle Dallin H. Oaks, and is the Assistant District Attorney for Pierce County in Tacoma, WA.