"Thanks for flying Rawhide"

First picture here is just before we boarded the COD (Carrier On-Deck Delivery) for a flight out to the carrier under way in the Gulf (no, the skinny guy is not me). You face backward in a three point harness, usually with no view, and its well over 100 with no ventilation. Never been sure if it's because the pilots like flying a little crazy or if its the nature of these planes, but on approach to landing on the big deck, they bank so hard that you think you're going to roll completely over. Since you can't see what's happening outside or know when you're getting close to landing, you you learn to watch the crew in the back to see when they wave to each other - then you know you better brace yourself several times as hard as any roller coaster you've ever been on, because you have about 5 seconds as the pilot guns it to shoot into one of the on-deck arresting wires and come to a stop in less than 400 feet. "Thanks for flying Rawhide," the crew member says, referring to his squadron name. Last picture is the view of the flight deck as the rear doors open to let you bail out.

Tree of Life

Because I know everyone's been sitting on pins and needles over whether or not I ever make it here (see earlier post from May), you will be relieved to know that I finally made it to the Tree of Life where Eve took a bite out of that apple and then figured out she was naked. A friend was going out there and I hitched a ride. It's really in the middle of the desert with nothing around it but trash. There's graffiti all over it and it looks like people have tried to set it on fire before. Whatever. It's a national treasure and I can cross it off my list.

Christmas Shopping

Today I went shopping, so heads up to the family to expect cheap bootleg ripoffs of real products under the Christmas tree this December. Came out of a shop and these ninjas were following me, so I ran as fast as I could to get out of there. Probably could have taken the little one though. I was on a shwarma kick today and stopped at a few places between stores. Last was on the way home at a great place called Iskenderun, which some guys on base turned me onto. Got two more shwarmas and a drink for only 800 fils, which equates to about $2.10 US - and it was a "sitdown meal," as they say in Tennessee. My mother in law definitely would never eat at this place, by the way. They wipe sweat off their faces, then make the shwarmas with bare hands. Adds a bit of spice to the meal, but would not pass muster in the good ole US of A.

Trader Vic's

Shot this photo standing real still without a flash inside Trader Vic's after I finished my big plate of macadamia nut pasta with pesto cream sauce. This pretty much captures the atmosphere of the place: polynesian-themed with vacationing Arabs, Philipino talent, and Western military and expats. I usually just have a Red Stripe there, but ordered a mai tai for the first time because I wanted one of the little rubber Hawaiian girls on a stick that they put in their tropical drinks. Wow - best damn drink I've ever had. The bartender must have an "S" on his chest, be married to three supermodels, AND have spent the night at a Holiday Inn.

Rust at sunset

Pretty nice sunset view of KAAOT from my RHIB, but I could really could have used a cold beer or six at the moment. Makes the place look like a resort, I think. But when you look at it up close, it's an OSHA heart attack waiting to happen. The earlier Waterworld reference is accurate and this thing would just collapse but for all the rust holding it together. I'm thinking when we are done giving these guys democracy and freedom, we can make KAAOT the newest celebutard drug and alcohol rehab facility.

Al Basra Terminal

We rode out to Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT). With Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT), they both provide about 90% of Iraq's GNP and pump $11,000 worth of oil a second into tankers. Given their importance, they are central to the task force security mission. When you arrive, you are greeted by a big hand-painted sign that said, "Welcome to ABOT" with the US and Iraqi flags as well as another sign on some guys shack that welcomed us to the ABOT Marriott - a room with a view." There was a bunch of cargo containers retrofitted to be barracks. American Sailors and Iraqi Marines stay there and train together. On the door of a big green tent serving as their common area, was a sign that read, "Welcome to Little Italy, on the Outskirts of ABOT." Inside was comfortable couches, food, a/c and a 50 inch plasma tv. The American officer in charge of training reported significant progress in readiness of the Iraqi Marines.

Aussie Sailors

Aboard an Aussie frigate, I once again witnessed the friendliest bunch of sailors in the world. Many of them have very "nautical" looking beards and they're all smiling ear to ear. They probably all want to be pirates and they love Americans. The crew was celebrating Christmas (just because they can) and were wearing festive decorations on their uniforms and the females had little mistletoe crowns on their heads. The girls in the kitchen seemed to be having the best time of all, with wild colored aprons and hats, both of them tending to a huge vat of chicken curry that smelled delicious. One of the men said that if I could get a picture of one of the girls, the rule was she would have to buy a round of drinks for the whole crew next time they had liberty. She proved very adept at avoiding the camera. Their helo squadron is the "West Coast Seahawks," with the name emblazoned on a big "West Coast Choppers" type cross on side of the helo. When I grow up, I'm joining the Australian Navy.