April 28 18:00

Jingle truck models sold at the Bazaar. Fun!

April 23 21:20

I am very proud of my potting bench and garden starts. Sunflower, corn, tomatoes, and a flower blend started last weekend. With highs in the upper 70's low 80's the weather is perfect. I have a compost bin started in a garbage can and have been busy picking up material from the defac. When I suggested I needed egg shells, I was presented with a 60lb bag of shells, roughly 20 dozen. With the compost cooking I will spend this week finding dirt and building the raised bed for the garden. I have a partner in Carlson Sam and found a interested third party with a dirt connection. A lot of horse trading goes on to pull these things together. I have ordered rose bushes from the locals who live in Kabul and have access to a nursery, no worries about mold or black spots here. Fun!  

April 21 19:40

I now live at LSA7. This 5 acre site is home to ISI employees and DOD subcontractors. These are steel conexes built out as living quarters. Two housing units per 40' conex, there are 30 or so built so far and include a common area with laundry and rec facility.

April 17 11:30

MRAP with de-mining attachment. The Soviets left thousands upon thousands of mines prior to their departure. These kill and maim Afghan civilians every day. The expansion of US bases often requires de-mining the surrounding areas. On expanding bases, crews of Ethiopians are employed full time to do this, they work by hand in fields for the meager sum of $800/ month. We are able to observe their work through the wire.

http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/67225.html

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/03/25/the_gorge_of_many_sorrows

April 17 10:30

One of the many fuel trucks arriving on base. The drivers are paid well to deliver fuel to US and NATO bases. They travel often in convoys from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan  Fuel is a valueable commidity in the war on terror and these drivers are always at risk of attack or hijacking.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2011/02/25/in-focus-taliban-vs-tankers/2748/

April 9 2011 20:20

Greg (manager), Ronny, I and Craig. Craig and Ronny on the way to Jalabad. They are now near the Pakistan border. We became good friends in the short time we had together.

April 5 20:50

This is so beautiful and tastefully done you would never know he is hauling black water. Sunny and 70 today. I am driving around the base working on an asbuilt of the overhead grid and happened upon this beauty. Notice the blossoms on the trees, they are similar to the cherry blossom. These trees are so ancient and decrepit that you wonder how there is anything alive inside of them. Many tourist come to photograph them.
     News flash for redneck pastors: Quran burning has a very negative effect on soldiers and peacekeepers in country. Two of my co-workers are leaving for Mazir E Sharif this week and are quite anxious. Flags fly half staff here.