Only a two week delay in my posting this time around. Email may ensure that soldiers can communicate home instantaneously, but my procrastination allows the good readers of Ephblog to experience the excruciating wait that folks back in WWII must have felt. [Of course, procrastination on paper writing is the only reason that I am posting the letter now -- so I guess it all balances out.]

Thursday, 16 September 2004

Subject: Sandstorms, Naps, and Halliburton

Hey-

Much love from scenic Kuwait. Been here about ten days now, and, oddly enough, I’m itching to get to work up North (we rarely use the “I” word).

First, the sandstorms. I guess they’re not real deal sandstorms, but they suck nonetheless. From about 9am to 6pm, the sand blows more or less sideways. Blowing sand hurts. I now understand why all those guys in those Lawrence of Arabia movies are covered head to toe in hundred-plus heat (107F yesterday).

To cope, we’ve pretty much become nocturnal, which is easy since our stated task of acclimatizing is not too rigidly scheduled. Boom hours around here are 4-8am, and 7-12pm. The rest of the day we nap. Or snooze. Or catch 40 winks. Or rest our eyes.

Amazingly, life in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert is not as harsh as you’d expect, due in large part to the efforts of the civilians who run this place. We live in tents, but not of the plastic tarp, bungee cord, and two sticks kind you’re probably picturing, but big circus tent things that fit 30, have wooden floors, and have AC. We use our sleeping bags at night, cause the thermostats are a little screwy. Other circus tents contain the game room, the gym, and the Ice factory. The computer lab, bank, Burger King, and cafeteria are in Air-conditioned trailers. For breakfast this morning I had a kiwi grown in Chile and a Mango from Malaysia, along with bowl of Frosted Flakes and a cup of coffee with Hazelnut creamer.

But, I’m still in the desert, and now thoroughly bored stiff. I’ve acclimatized (sorta like the dry heat, actually), my M16 still works, and I’m ready to get to work. Word has it we’re scheduled to fly to Mosul sometime next week, where I may end up working as the military liasion for the elections. Could be kind of cool, actually.

So, there you have it. I’m not only safe, but bored. But looking forward to some good work. I’ll make sure and post some boring pictures very soon.

Lotsa love to everyone, keep sending me nuggets from your far more interesting lives, and I’ll be in louch.

Felipe

I’ll confine my inane commentary to the extended entry. Keep on keeping on, Felipe!

1) I dunno about you, but the details of my life aren’t nearly so interesting. I ate a bowl of Kellog’s Raisin Bran from Grand Rapids, MI this morning and my laptop is still working.

2) How did Burger King get a military contract in Kuwait? I didn’t read anything in Dick Cheney’s bio about sitting on the BK board. It is hard to demonize Burger King — McDonalds seems to take all the flack for globalization, far Americans, and killing cows. Why does BK receive the easy pass? A Dick Cheney Burger link would level the fast food playing field a little. The left could bash both corporations.

3) The experience in the Iraqi tent Felipe describes bodes well for GI college plans. What better preparation could a soldier receive for college life than living in a tent with 30 other people with a game room, computer lab, wonky thermostats, and irregular sleep patterns? I guess those ads claiming that the military prepares you for your future life are true.

Note: I don’t mean to make light of the sacrifice that Felipe and other soldiers are making. 107 degree sandstorms don’t sound fun. Neither does separation from family and friends. Nor does being shot at or targeted by suicide bombers. I have nothing but respect for the people who volunteered to help re-build Iraq and fight the war in the first place. However, Felipe’s description of base camp differs markedly from the tent that Hawkeye and Frank Burns shared in M.A.S.H..