WATER!!

OK, so the first thing I don't think of when I look at a map of the Middle East is water.  I don't think it is the second thing or third or........However, it is everywhere!!!  Not naturally.  No way on that!  This place is a complete desert.  I haven't seen a cloud yet.  They only cloud was a could of smoke after a C-RAM was fired. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter_Rocket,_Artillery,_and_Mortar  This will show you what one is.  More on that in a later post.  Back to water.  So one thing they tell you in briefings before you get here is to stay hydrated.  They tell you that nothing can prepare you for walking off the plane and having 120 degree heat and even hotter wind blast you in the face.  That was all true!!  The only thing that can prepare you is being hydrated.  Here in Iraq the water is everywhere.  It is in my room piled up.  In our fridge.  In my office in at least 10 places and piled up outside.  Any building here has at least a pallet of it outside with more inside.  Usually they have a large cooler, like a convenience store, filled with it.  You go to the gym and there is a large laundry tub filled with ice and water bottles.  They are literally piled up everywhere.  In Kuwait I was using two boxes for my laptop stand and as a nightstand.  Here they are used for sources of competition, footballs, hockey pucks and flotation devices in case Hurricaine Irene decides to change course.  :)  It is nice though not to constantly fret about filling up a camelback and worrying about having enough water.  As I write this I am reaching for a drink or water.....I am grateful to have it. In all seriousness I count it a blessing.  I can't imagine what it was like marching in this heat across wastelands on missions with only the water you could carry.  I have talked to Infantry Soldiers that had harsh experiences like this.  When water was dropped in they had to decide to hydrate or bathe.  Hydrating usually won that battle.  Until next post-thanks for all your prayers and support.  We feel it over here.  And thank you to my amazing wife!  Without her support and strength I couldn't do what I do each day!!!!

As a nightstand

laptop stand

dominant feature in the company fridge