AquaV
01-21-2005, 01:07 AM
Hey everyone,
It's Aqua here! I hope everyone is doing well. Just thought I would give a tad bit of an entertaining update about the wonderful world of Iraq! It's hard to believe it's been two months since I left the States. Time actually goes by pretty quickly.
I am finally getting settled into my job and into my hooch (living container)... this place is a freak show. I mean an honest to God Peyton Place. One reason I left my job in Texas was because of all the drama... but this is a different world of drama. People love to gossip here more than the high school cheerleaders. I tend to be known as the sassy Texas gal who always wears a smile. It's an absolutely amazing alternate world. My boss (the project manager) is about to leave back home to Cali, so I just recently met the new boss. Things will be changing again already... I feel both ways about it since I just got settled in and now I have to change all over. But change is good, keeps life interesting. Ha, it's what got me here, right?
Attacks are pretty old school now. But still have that flair of excitement. You can usually hear the Apaches gunfire if someone was shooting off mortars. It's pretty crazy. And the sound of a mortar, there's something oddly soothing about it. I know, you probably think I am crazy... but its that sound of it going through the air, kinda like a firework before it bursts into an array of sparks.
Sometimes they land close, sometimes far... but its always changing, its always exciting. It's always testing you. It really is an amazing concept. Have I mentioned that I really like it here? Though, I do think it is safer than driving on Houston streets. ha!
I get to go around to tons of places within the bases that I visit. I get to go into some clearance areas, and go to meetings with top generals and lieutenants and other folks like that. I have never served in the military so its kinda like learning two different worlds all at the same time. Military life in wartime and civilian life in wartime. A pretty neat twist on life. I am still sexually harassing almost everyone I meet and they all seem to welcome the sick and twisted humor. After all, this place has enough drama of its own to be too serious about what goes on.
Though, I gotta say, that's another thing. You find out really what everyone is made of when the attacks start happening, and the closer they happen, the more obvious it becomes. People that act like such macho folks and are always shouting directions sometimes start to freak at the most inappropriate times. They lose it, I mean absolutely lose it. Everyone was asking me if I was scared, (they still check on me everytime) and I always have a smile on my face and that seems to confuse people. I think too many people get stuck in the rut of 12 hours a day/ 7 days a week. So I am starting to do some planning, and I think when spring comes around, we are going to have some pool parties planned. Go team!!!
Okay, wow, just reread this, and it sounds kinda random, didn't mean to make it sound that way, just very truthful!! So anyways, I was running around taking pictures of some of our yards and storage and facilities the other day. In one yard, I had to wear a hardhat, so they gave me some chick's hardhat. Apparently, she was an African American female (I assume) due to the fact that on one side her hardhat said "Brown Sugar" and on the other side it said "Sweet Mocha".. sooo, I figured this was a perfect photo op! (Below you will see the fun!! ) And yes, I am wearing a pinstripe suit! Just because you are in Iraq, doesn't mean you have to look like it! I was voted the best dressed by my coworkers! YEA!! Needless to say, everyone thinks I am a super prissy when they first meet me. Soooo, to make a long ass story short....
here's my damned picture, like it or love it. ha.
It's Aqua here! I hope everyone is doing well. Just thought I would give a tad bit of an entertaining update about the wonderful world of Iraq! It's hard to believe it's been two months since I left the States. Time actually goes by pretty quickly.
I am finally getting settled into my job and into my hooch (living container)... this place is a freak show. I mean an honest to God Peyton Place. One reason I left my job in Texas was because of all the drama... but this is a different world of drama. People love to gossip here more than the high school cheerleaders. I tend to be known as the sassy Texas gal who always wears a smile. It's an absolutely amazing alternate world. My boss (the project manager) is about to leave back home to Cali, so I just recently met the new boss. Things will be changing again already... I feel both ways about it since I just got settled in and now I have to change all over. But change is good, keeps life interesting. Ha, it's what got me here, right?
Attacks are pretty old school now. But still have that flair of excitement. You can usually hear the Apaches gunfire if someone was shooting off mortars. It's pretty crazy. And the sound of a mortar, there's something oddly soothing about it. I know, you probably think I am crazy... but its that sound of it going through the air, kinda like a firework before it bursts into an array of sparks.
Sometimes they land close, sometimes far... but its always changing, its always exciting. It's always testing you. It really is an amazing concept. Have I mentioned that I really like it here? Though, I do think it is safer than driving on Houston streets. ha!
I get to go around to tons of places within the bases that I visit. I get to go into some clearance areas, and go to meetings with top generals and lieutenants and other folks like that. I have never served in the military so its kinda like learning two different worlds all at the same time. Military life in wartime and civilian life in wartime. A pretty neat twist on life. I am still sexually harassing almost everyone I meet and they all seem to welcome the sick and twisted humor. After all, this place has enough drama of its own to be too serious about what goes on.
Though, I gotta say, that's another thing. You find out really what everyone is made of when the attacks start happening, and the closer they happen, the more obvious it becomes. People that act like such macho folks and are always shouting directions sometimes start to freak at the most inappropriate times. They lose it, I mean absolutely lose it. Everyone was asking me if I was scared, (they still check on me everytime) and I always have a smile on my face and that seems to confuse people. I think too many people get stuck in the rut of 12 hours a day/ 7 days a week. So I am starting to do some planning, and I think when spring comes around, we are going to have some pool parties planned. Go team!!!
Okay, wow, just reread this, and it sounds kinda random, didn't mean to make it sound that way, just very truthful!! So anyways, I was running around taking pictures of some of our yards and storage and facilities the other day. In one yard, I had to wear a hardhat, so they gave me some chick's hardhat. Apparently, she was an African American female (I assume) due to the fact that on one side her hardhat said "Brown Sugar" and on the other side it said "Sweet Mocha".. sooo, I figured this was a perfect photo op! (Below you will see the fun!! ) And yes, I am wearing a pinstripe suit! Just because you are in Iraq, doesn't mean you have to look like it! I was voted the best dressed by my coworkers! YEA!! Needless to say, everyone thinks I am a super prissy when they first meet me. Soooo, to make a long ass story short....
here's my damned picture, like it or love it. ha.