Iraqi Viagra
Posted by Sheila on May 14th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Several of the Sheiks that we met referred to their dates as “Iraqi Viagra.” I had some - they were delicious. And I don’t think they had any effect on me. I didn’t ask Scutro.
Happy Mother’s Day
Posted by Sheila on May 9th, 2008 filed in Photos | 3 Comments »Contemplating the grafitti in the female head and noticed this:
I feel your pain, sweetie. I miss my mom, too. And Auntie Kathy.
Just call me The Dangler
Posted by Sheila on May 9th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »My nemesis:
Scutro and I are on Marine Corps base and these things are everywhere.
This is Baghdadhi
Posted by Sheila on May 9th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Al Anbar is pretty quiet now. Good job, everyone. Keep it up.
A Fancy Feast
Posted by Sheila on May 8th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »From an MRE-type meal - BBQ beef in a can. My cat Buzz would love this stuff.
Things that go boom in the burn pit
Posted by Sheila on May 7th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Spent the evening watching “Ranger TV,” otherwise known as a fire. Interesting fireworks were added by these objects:
Strawberry Jam packets
Teriyaki Chicken Chunks
And the most exciting - Fruit Cups
Still with the wires
Posted by Sheila on May 6th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Same as last year - wires everywhere. The lack-of-power issues seem to be about the same.
We have heard some Iraqis ask “Why don’t you share with us? You have plenty of light (and water) on your bases - why can’t you send some our way?”
Here’s a close-up of a home-made splice. I am only 5′2″, so you can see how low these wires hang. Not safe for children, and definitely a problem for big American vehicles trying to make it through the streets.
Baby bundle
Posted by Sheila on May 6th, 2008 filed in Photos | 4 Comments »I have seen so many babies wrapped up like this. Can someone explain why? I’ve seen it in other countries, but never asked.
Yeah, I know I said no more baby pictures.
Liberty in Iraq
Posted by Sheila on May 6th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Scutro pointed this out in a hookah bar.
This is Iraqi pride
Posted by Sheila on May 6th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »On a little girl…
Give a guy a Sharpie
Posted by Sheila on May 4th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »…and he’ll make his own patches.
“MRAP - $1 MIL
M16 - $850
Free vacation in Iraq - PRICELESS”
Holy Geedunk, Batman!
Posted by Sheila on May 4th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Thre is a HUGE box (coffin-sized) in the DFAC at COP Viking in Al Anbar where the Marines from g Co., 2/24 are living - it is filled with geedunk! I asked them if they could just drop me in there and I would eat my way out…
I wonder what’s on the phone?
Posted by Sheila on May 1st, 2008 filed in Photos | 1 Comment »
Candy boy
Posted by Sheila on May 1st, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Riding in a Humvee a couple weeks ago, I noticed these candy wrappers floating around:
They reminded me of my nieces and nephews - they are mostly all under 20. The gunner, who’s team-mates called him the “Best gunner in Iraq,” was just a kid, too.
Cooking show
Posted by Sheila on May 1st, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Scutro and I both love eating Iraqi food, and this caught our eyes when we were in a plumbing/tile/concrete contractor’s shop a while ago:
I SO wanted to stay and watch (and learn!) but noooo…the Soldiers we were with had a building to raid and a sniper to catch.
Freckle faces
Posted by Sheila on April 30th, 2008 filed in Photos | 2 Comments »I have always wanted freckles…I was pretty jealous of these kids we met in Northern Iraq. They charmed me out of all my pens and gum, too.
Concertina clothesline
Posted by Sheila on April 30th, 2008 filed in Photos | 2 Comments »I don’t know how they do this without tearing their clothes. Impressive.
Major Ahmed
Posted by Sheila on April 30th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »Here’s another cool character - Major Ahmed. LTC Rhyne bought him the hat, and he loved it when I told him he looked very “Old Chicago.”
Major Ahmed always dresses up in a suit or shirt and tie when he hits the streets.
Quite a change from the usual mix-and-match style of the ISF.
Glow-stick rave
Posted by Sheila on April 29th, 2008 filed in Photos | 4 Comments »What do these guys do when the power has been out all day and they have a lot of energy and a charged laptop battery? Throw a glow-stick rave.
My favorite was the guy turning his Surefire on and off.
I’ve learned a little bit about how Army boys release some steam, and it usually involves a lot of movement. Like the guys who created their own tribe and wore little more than a loin cloth to run through the halls. I think they forgot there was a female in the building!
Bathtubs
Posted by Sheila on April 29th, 2008 filed in Photos | Comment now »I haven’t seen one in a house yet, but I have seen these for sale:
and this one full of used oil:
Which is probably what mine will look like when I get home from this trip.
