...in the red corner....
Today makes it official. It?s hot. Not just your everyday run of the mill hot, this is the kind of hot that you can feel baking right on your skin. I have been back for about a week now. Everything is about the same as when I left. Not too surprising is the fact that they did nothing to correct the issues that have been ongoing forever and a day while I was away. Well, surprise, surprise, here comes mister government auditor to rain terror down on your little parade. Ah yes, the four little words ring so loudly in the forefront of my mind?..I told you so. Does give me a little bit more work to do though. But that will taper off rather quickly. Gives me more time for other things. Eleven o?clock and I still have a lot to do. First sand storm of the summer came through earlier. It has started. No turning back now. Last night we had a boxing event. It was a lot of fun. Nothing like seeing some loudmouth get the crap knocked out of him. We even had an Iraqi police instructor in the ring. The Iraqi Army located just on the other side of the wall were all on the roof of the closest building (about 10 foot away) enjoying the fights and cheering on their fellow countryman. Our security force, which is made up entirely of Fijians had a man in the ring. All in all, it was great and everyone had a great time. Maybe some video later if I have time. I still have to upload all the pics from the first year onto the new site. Now where are those fig newtons??

Luxor, the best reason to own a wide-angle lens
Just a few more days left in Egypt. I have only three more days to see whatever I can while I am here. I did manage to spend a couple of days in Luxor. I managed to see quite a bit while I was there. I will visit Aswan the next time I visit. Did you know that the only way to get to places like Aswan and Oasis the other outlying places is either by train, if there is one, or by police convoy and there are only certain times of the day that they go. Of course you can fly also. It's almost unbelievable the massiveness of these tombs. I took lots of pictures that I will try to get on the new site as soon as I can find a computer that can handle the download. I think I will return to Alexandria before I leave to see some things that I missed the first couple of times that I went. I have heard through somewhat reliable sources back at the camp that it's really hitting the fan. Allegations of this and that are being thrown around like a midget at a Friday night mud wrestling extravaganza. I don't know why I just can't get have some relaxing time before I go home. The poor guy that they sent there to take my place while I am on vacation is crying to leave. Thought my job was easy, huh? Stupid idiot. Knowing how to do your job, putting up with constant whining, and managing to dodge, weave, leap, and otherwise avoid the political BS that comes with dealing with under qualified, know-it-all, somewhat grown women disguised as men is only a fraction of what you need to make it look as easy as I do. Oh well, just another day in beautiful Baghdad. Maybe I'll play a few mind games when I get back to keep them occupied. After all, it is still officially called Camp Rumor. I wonder what will be floating around the mill when I get back. Who knows, maybe I will become Prime Minister.

Before I forget, again. I have a new site for my pictures. The first ones are from this trip and I will add the rest when i get back because I am going to have a lot of free time, I hope...can someone hand me a rusty hatchet for Mr. "I don't give a crap about anyone but myself cause we all got to die someday" that just fired up a smoke. Did I say that out loud? I don't know what it is about people that smoke. I don't care if you do or not but don't take me with you. Have some consideration for other people why don't you. The fact that you want to take the chance and die a long slow painful death does not mean that I want too also. Jump out of a plane, yes. Illnesses and diseases I can't pronounce or spell, no. Anyway, I am through blowing off steam. The link to get to the site is noted below. There is a password. Email me if you want it and please put your name in the subject heading so i will know who you are...

http://www.snapmania.com/users/mlm2005/

changes...
With only eight days left on this trip, there is still a lot to accomplish while I am here. It's too bad they keep rescheduling meetings and putting a damper on my plans. Tomorrow instead of catching the train to Luxor I will be in a two o'clock meeting. That's okay though I will see if there is a train that leaves at night. Might as well, it's about a 16 hour trip by train. Of course it will cut my trip short by a day. Oh well. Yesterday I got a haircut. I have never seen a barber with not one, not two, but three, count them, three assistants. What the heck does barber need with three assistants? The haircut was okay but nothing to brag about. I did learn one lesson. Never take the shave if they offer. After ripping off half my face then came the aftershave. Yes folks, close your eyes and imagine, a man, in his mid-thirties, screaming out like a ten year old school girl. And I thought the three "assistants" constantly staring at me was too much. Goes to show what I know.

may i have this dance
Fun, fun, fun in Cairo. Nothing has change really to spite the constant construction that does on. Of course when you are using techniques that are hundreds of years old to do the work, it might seem to be at a stand still. While downtown I actually had a policeman direct me to not cross a certain intersection. What? Is the somewhat graceful art of crossing four to six lanes of heavy traffic coming to a end? Nah. There?s nothing quite like crossing the freeway and taking your time doing. The trick is learning how to work with the traffic instead of against it. A dance, if you will. Today, Alexandria, maybe. I?ll check the train schedule when I get there. If not, maybe I?ll check out some of the old parts of Cairo and do some shopping.

quarter pounder....super-size it
Cairo, again. It?s just the way I left it, busy, dirty, and cutthroat. Not even 5 seconds out of the airport were a swarm of taxi cab drivers, limo drivers and anyone with a vehicle used for transport were fighting gladiator style to get the sixty Egyptian pounds it takes to get to the Ramses Hilton. What I do love is the Nascar style of driving that these taxi drivers use to get you where you are going, coming inches, or less, to other cars to make its way. As scary as it may sound to some, I have never seen an accident. I have seen plenty of taxis break down, but no accidents. I am staying in much better accommodations this time. My suite is on the 18th floor over looking the Nile and through the thick haze I can see the pyramids. My first meal in cairo?McDonald?s.

another video
Now Playing: after the rain
Speaking of videos earlier, I have this one I took about a week agon right after it stopped raining. It rain for a few days which is unusual for March. I can not and will not give information over the internet as to what is on the video at this site because of obvious reasons,and i really don't want to be someones girlfriend in federal prison.

after the rain march05

full circle
I am starting to prepare myself for my second vacation which is coming up in about ten days. Nothing as really happened since the last entry. Just the same old stuff, just a different day that?s all. Not surprising is that they will have a new manager here when I return. Worse certain individuals have managed to advance into positions that they are no where near qualified for. When I first came hear this camp was in dire straits. And I think that is exactly where it will be headed under new management. So much for relaxing for the last few months of my tour. In my free time I have been trying to find a site to host my images so that I will not have to go through the task of having to input hundreds of images and all the information required to make it happen. Videos take forever to upload. I am mailing all of the winter stuff home along with all the souvenirs that I have collected. My weight is back up to where it was when I left. As the heat sneaks up on us I wonder how long I can maintain it. I imagine by the time I get back from vacation it will be pretty hot. We will see.

angels among us
For whatever reason, I feel compelled to write in an entry right this moment. I actually made my bed for the first time since we moved. I had been using it as a work table the whole time. I also packed a couple of footlockers with things I will no longer need like winter clothes. I also packed up all the souvenirs that I have collected for the past year. When I go on R & R I will go to the post office and ship them home. I might even ship three, who knows. I have done a lot in the past week, well, more than normal anyway. I am hoping with a little initiative, and a whole lot of diligence ,I can finish everything and get caught up. I really overloaded myself this month. Bring it on. Great, now I feel like doing a cheer (that?s a joke for those of you who didn?t get that). A couple of days ago I saw another star. Okay, let?s call it what it is, an angel. Yep, an angel. For you regular readers you will remember the first star I saw. I wish I wasn?t using my only brain cell for silly things like breathing. I could have taken a picture or even some video. I got confirmation that it was indeed an angel. Well, a couple of nights ago, and I do this all the time now, I went outside and looked up in the sky. I immediately affixed my eyes on one particular star. Ever feel like someone is watching you? Well, there you go. For a brief moment, no more than a few seconds, I could make out a faint pattern around this star. I don?t know how to explain what it looked like but it was a definite pattern. No, it was not the pattern of an angel. As I was looking at this I thought to myself, as if I had to ask, I wonder if that is an angel too. Just at that moment, a flash of brightness came from the star. Just that quick I got my answer. I was like someone turned a dimmer switch on a 1000w light bulb up and down real fast one time. Praise the Lord. Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy. Without it I am lost. Keep a prayer in my heart and a song of praise upon my lips. In Jesus name, amen.

add one VIP and stir briskly....
Can I please take a break now? I?ve been going at it for a few days now trying to get ready for the ?visit?. The friendly, neighborhood Defense Contract Management Agency Quality Assurance Representative has scheduled a ?visit? to our Forward Operating Base on this coming Monday. And he?s bringing the new Army Contracting Officer with him. He?ll be looking into our Area(s) of Operation. He?ll also be looking into whatever Letter?s of Technical Direction are still outstanding. Okay, enough with all the contract lingo. I will be glad when all this mess is over with. My room is a mess. My bed has become a place to place all the documents that clutter my day. I have a ton of things on my To Do List and little time to do it. Oh well, I wanted something to do and I got it.