I'M BAAACCCKKK!!! IN IRAAAQQQ!!!!!!!

Returning into the theater in Iraq was a difficult time and adjustment for me. Leaving home this time was harder than I thought it would be. The job here has become a dragon of King Authur size and may be impossible to slay. The pressure to complete inspections as fast as we can must also be balanced with the highest quality standards. There in lies the balancing act. The daily required completed inspections is all KBR cares about, the daily total met. If we don’t reach that total, we in QA have to answer as to why.

On other notes, ITS HOT!!!!! 110 degrees has been the average for the month of July and August, and there is no promise of cooling down, with the possiblility of hotter days in the near future. Sand storms can pop up any day, making everything covered in dust so fine its like talcum powder. This dust can find any crack and get in anywhere. It took me 2 days to clean up my room and get rid of some of the dust. I can’t get it all, it’s just to fine, my vacuum filter can’t collect all the dust. The food is still the same, greasy and salty, the conditions has have improved with my new room I share with a my friend John. I am now in an actual hard structure, not a tent. And in a week or so, we should be moving into double wet units, where there are 2 rooms with a common bath room. These will be like having a small suite. I can’t wait to not have to walk 200 feet in the dirt to use the bathroom or take a shower. Hopefully, these rooms will be ready by the end of the week. And that I will for sure get one. Here thing change like Ohio weather.

I have taken several photos and videos of things here, some of sand storms and helicopters flying around here. The Marines are slowly leaving and being replaced by regular Army, which is a good thing. This means the area is more and more stable and safer for us to be here. Please remember the boys who are going to Afganistan.

Well, that’s about all for now. WORK, WORK, WORK. Its all I know, long hours and reports. Movies and TV shows that I watch on my laptop is my entertainment. I keep working on my writing, however its hard to concentrate after a long day.

Dan

ps: I can no longer access my blog through KBR internet. All blogs will be posted through Ranel.

Dan's Christmas Wants!

This Marine is from Mansfield Ohio and let Dan play...


My hunk



My Hunk Again!

A Night Out At The Bar-B-Q

A Few Work Buds


Non-Alchololic Beer & Rib Eye Steaks!


A Few More Work Buds

A new mode of Transportation

A Mini-Truck!

Great News Today!!

Today, KBR travel posts this weeks schedule for who leaves for R&R when , and guess what I am scheduled to check out of here next Sunday and begin flying out Monday. WOOO HOOOO!!! I can actually see the relaxing starting to get closer. I can't wait to get home and have time with my WIFE and kids and all the grand kids. Its going to be fun and anywhere away from the sand for a while will be a great time. I look forward to humidity!! And green grass! And my shower, my bed, steak, real milk, etc. So, this week will be exciting and tough at the same time because its going to be more 14 to 16 hour days and lots of paperwork, but the reward will be AWESOME!! See everyone in a few more days. PS. the picture is the lastest in Al Asad Transportation. Fun to drive but really hot when driving through 110 degree air, like being next to a bondfire and your skin is about to melt. Drink Water!!!!

Now I know Why I'm Tired!

Note the color of the flag. This means its a Red warning flag day and the air temp is between 106 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It is actually 108.8 at 4 PM today. I think my sweat is sweating!

Our Big Day!

Isn't She Beautiful? This is one of my favorite pictures of Ranel, not because its a great picture, because she said Yes! I love her very much and this is my WIFE!!! Eat your hearts out!

19 Year Annivesary !!

My Wife of 19 years!! Wow, how time flies. We are both looking forward to me coming home in 2 short weeks. I can't wait to just be home and have no pressure this time with work. And I get to spend it with this lovely lady who still occupies my dreams and all of my soul.
"And two shall become one flesh" takes on real meaning after 19 years, I can feel my wife's pain and sadness, her joy and laughter all the way from Ohio to here in Al Asad. Loving anyone is a challenge, but being commited to my wife has always been something that I have never doubted. My parents have been married 50 + years and I intend to be as happy with Ranel as they are with each other. This woman is everything to me, so those of you close to our home wish her Happy Anniversary and give her a hug from me. I will be home soon, my Wife, I love you.

True Heroes

Here is a picture of modern day heroes that so often go unnoticed by those who are in Washington and in the news papers. Everyday they strap on their weapons and body armour, suffer through the desert heat, and follow convoys throughout the country side. These convoys are prime targets for attacks from the insurgents and road side bombs. These young men go out into danger everyday and we should remember them in our prayers. From Left to Right (home state): Martinez (CA), Miranda (CA), Hamm (CA), Johnson (CO), Marquez (VA). Fox Company 2 Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Infantry, from Camp Pendleton, CA. Double Clic on the photo for a larger view.

It is the Soldier

It is the Soldier
By Father Dennis Edward O’Brien United States Marine Corps
“It is the Soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.”

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you.
Christ Jesus and the American G.I. . . . .
One died for your Soul, the other died for your freedom.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2009

Memorial Day is normally for remembering the fallen servicemen and women who have sacrificed for this great nation we call America. However, this time I would like to remember and recognize the men and women who are in the service today, the young men and women who VOLENTEER to come to Iraq and Afghanistan, and risk their lives for the Americans at home. Sand storms, oppressive heat (its been in the 100’s this week), all insects bite and are generally poisonous, snake and spiders, scorpions and other nasty things crawl into sleeping quarters, patrols at night through dangerous neighborhoods and getting shot at or blown up are just some of the hardships these young people have to deal with. I have the advantage of working for a contractor here in Iraq and can spend time with these kids, (most of them are in there early 20’s) and get to know them. All walks of life, country boys to city boys, many married, some with children of their own, all have families at home. Their rooms are barren at first, but soon walls are soon covered in family photos, births and sonograms, wives and girlfriends, moms and dads. Some have pin up girls others don’t really have anything except a simple photograph by their bed. Dust covers everything constantly, wind blows it into the tiniest cracks, and the sweat from the days work turns the dust into mud on their hairless faces. These great young people have witnessed the world in ways you and I would never dream of; the nightly news doesn’t even come close to the atrocities witnessed on the patrols and missions throughout the country. Danger from unknown road side bombs, suicide bombers, snipers and Taliban forces are the “normal” day. You can see the stress of being here when you look into the eyes of a combat soldier, only those who know can recognize it. I personally have not been mortared or shot at, thanks to the Marines here, but I know the stress of being here and share in it. This Memorial Day is special in that I get to be here where history is made and being a part of it will always remain in my memories and these men and women I meet will always have a place in my heart. So this Memorial Day, thank a Veteran for the freedoms that you have and for the lives they have sacrificed for you and me.

Dust Tornado??

It is a 100 degrees outside and this is what the wind will do, a dust devil thatis big enough to slam open doors of vehicles or offices, and pick up dust as high as can be. The weather is sunny and HOT!! upper 80's at night and low 100's during the days. Today (18th) we had a yellow heat index, which means we could only work for 40 minutes in the sun and then get out of it for 20. The temperature at 4pm was 106. Luckily, all my inspections are inside a soldier's room, which is air conditioned, but each inspection only lasts 20 minutes then off to the next room. Every day is turning into a Monday, working 14 hours each day, they all run together and with no days off there is no sense of days of the week. Being so hot here I drink anywhere from 2 to 4 liters of water a day. Trips to the bathroom at least once an hour. And the hotter it gets the more your body craves the water. Well, not much else of excitement gong on here, as I get more photos I will update. Dan

Creatures In The Night

While lying on my bed watching a movie, it flashed upwards on the outside wall of the tent. What was that? I grabbed my camera and this is what I found, a lizard had taken up residence in our tent. Hopefully, there are no snakes following close behind. Never know what we will see here at Al Asad.

View from the Porch

Here is a picture from just outside my tent. The sunset is God's canvas, the dust is a desert curse. Pictures speak for themselves. The wooden door is in place of the flaps to the entry of the tent. It helps with the coming and going, but in a real high sand storm, the wind can open the door and allow the sand to blow in. Then we have to clean everything. My Tent is number 4. Dust is always present, some of the areas here is like moon dust it is so fine and light.

Arrival at Al Asad

Well, I finally made it to Al Asad. Luckily (which is unusual) when we landed in Baghdad, some of us actually caught a connecting flight to Al Asad. This does not happen, connecting flights, very often. Since there have been almost daily sand storms throughout Iraq, the personnel who were retuning to work was so backed up the management concluded they should start using the airport like we do in the states, connecting flights. I was very happy with the results, I got to skip sleeping in the transient housing in Baghdad, which is a 12 by 12 room with 2 bunk beds and 2 cots for 8 guys. Actually its 6 guys but feels like 8. My room in the Taj-ma-tent is covered in dust from all the dust storms in the last 2 months. So, before I fell exhausted into bed I had to do a little cleaning, which is difficult without a vacuum cleaner. Sunday is my first full day back at work and things around here have changed once again. Now the completion date to the corrections to the job I am currently working on is now September 2009, what that means for the rest of the year, I don't know. KBR changes things as much as the weeks change. Nothing is ever the same and is a moving target.
Is it good to be back? I am not sure yet, let me have a week or two and we will see. The fact that I was able to even come back was an act of God. When I left I was basically fired (KBR directive for medical) then KBR legal stopped that process. And when I got here, HR had paperwork on her desk to fire me again because of the 60 day rule was nearly here, I got here just in time. With all the things that have changed around here, I will have a while to adjust and see what the future holds. Congress is still holding hearings on what has happened here with the soldiers and KBR, which in the end could end the company from running the bases. Never know what the future holds. I just have to do my job and keep my ears open for what God is telling me about the future.
Well, the food hasn't changed, the sand and sun is getting warmer, and the job is still requiring a notebook and a clip board. I hope to be home for family camp in June/July when April is here, but we will see. I miss my family and the comforts of home. More next week, Dan

Called at 2:45am

Dan called last night at 2:45am from Dubois. He said the trip was long and miserable, can't sleep sitting up; but he did get and asile seat which is good, when he checked in there were only middle seats left. Each seat has a LCD screen and a selection of movies to watch so he watched several movies over his 14 1/2 hour flight. Talking with him he seemed energized so that is good.

There were about 50 other KBR workers on his flight and they are all grouped together. Dan still doesn't have his KBR badge and was concerned when he left but is is more confident now he will not have anymore trouble at this point. It looks like he MAY stay the night there in Dubois because there is a sand storm in Bahgdad. Who knows.. he had a meeting to go to for an update on thier status.

Back to Iraq!

Just got the call asking.... "When will Daniel be ready for travel".
Dan replies.... "I have been ready".
They said.... "Ok tomorrow 5pm".

This has been quite the roller-coaster ride and here we go for another round.

The ADVENTURE begins again...

"Faith never knows where it is being led but, loves and knows the one who is leading." Dan Thoen

The Return Trip Has Begun

Well, KBR finally called with good news. I am returning to Al Asad to my old ( original ) job. My leave date could be as soon as Monday or shortly there after, depending when travel gets a hold of me. I am glad to have a good job in these times of layoffs and cut backs. Leaving home is very hard, more so on my wife and kids. I return to my friends I have made and Ranel has to do twice the work here at home. I feel happy to still be able to provide for my family but saddened to be leaving again, even though I will be able to come home again in June/July for a vacation.

The trip back will take a couple of days and 20 to 25 hours of flying time. I will need a day to change time zones and flight lag. Then back to 14 hour days 7 days a week. Inspecting the newest version of electrical work.

Well, I hopefully will know the final travel arrangements by today, but so far KBR is a little slow on the "getting back to me" part.

KBR

KBR Huston approved Dan to return to work. Now we have to wait for KBR Bagdad to approve him. Sounds like he is going back! Could leave tomorrow could leave in two weeks. Very bittersweet. ~Ranel

STILL WAITING!

Ok, KBR has not accepted the Doctor's release for Dan to go back to work and the deadline ends this week. Dan could possibly loose his job.

Back to life hanging in the balance!