Today is typically my day off, but I'm in training...

I was in training all day for contracting oversight, which is important, but I'd rather have done other things.  Here was my view...

Today when walking around, thought you'd like to see what the Tim Hortons looked like here. It's on the corner of the boardwalk. I didn't capture the line, but it starts with the two people on the left that are next to the railing and is about 15 people long.

Here's a picture of the flags being down for a fallen soldier that arrived on base.  They'll remain that way until they depart...usually in a day or so.

While I was in class, the team was putting up tents in 108F/42C temperatures and piercing sun.  There's a total of four tents that'll be erected and 44 guards to live in them.  We still have to get the environmental control units before they can move in...just too darn hot without A/C, but they'd probably move in if allowed.

This a fence going up to enclose the tents and b-huts, so the interpreters can keep the wrong people out of their dining facility, showers, and toilets.

Here are some pictures from the 1960s of Afghanistan...

This is the remnants of an old mud brick fort...it's probably 100 years old or more.

Don't know what make car, but I'm guessing it's British.

This is an interesting shot...would like to see that in person.  Haven't seen anything quite like that since I've been here.

Okay, now this could've just as likely been taken today as in the 1960s.  Too funny...I guess like father like son. lol.

Today was a good Tuesday

Here's my first picture of the morning.  I was driving to main base Kandahar and these kids were riding on top of the van.  The van was packed with probably 20 kids and 3 on top.

This morning I had to take my interpreter for a special interview to get his unescorted badge.  This took from 8:30am until lunch.  Immediately after the interview was done, I took my interpreter to Tim Hortons.  I asked him if he'd ever had an iced cappuccino.  He hadn't, so I got him one.  He loved it so much, that he was asking for another after lunch...too funny.  I like to make Tim Hortons addicts.

Luckily my lunch meeting was at noon and I could bring the interpreter along with me.  I met with the Afghan Air Force (AAF) US advisors to help setup the quarterly awards program.  The goal is to build a better relationship with the AAF and to reward the stand out Afghans.  I was successful in getting the helicopter incentive rides setup....yahooooo!!!! I think this will make a big difference in the soldiers' attitude and their attitude towards helping the AAF.  We will also set up the rides with pictures they get to keep...you know how they love to get pictures of themselves.  Now I can coordinate with the Afghan public affairs office to take the pics and put it in their monthly publication that goes throughout Afghanistan.  That means more pics they'll get to keep and being in the publication is the next best thing to being famous to these guys.

I guess this guy is on his way to build something.  Again, when Afghans want something done, they will use all means available to get it done.

Don't you hate those people that cut you off in traffic...like he can just drive wherever he wants....just because he has more guns and is bigger:)  These were Canadians, so I bet they were cutting in line to get over to Tim Hortons before the iced cappuccinos ran out. LOL.

You can't get away from it...here it is in Kandahar on the boardwalk...just a couple hundred meters from Tim Hortons.  At least it's a small reminder of home...not that we're fighting for chicken.  If you click on it, you might be able to see the prices.

Here's something that upset me.  We had a local national working in the interpreter's dining facility throw a rock at this armored vehicle.  I heard they were messing around and didn't think the rock would crack it, but it clearly did.  The glass will fracture, but won't penetrate.  This windshield will cost between $2,000 to $4,000 to replace.  Why in the heck would you throw rocks at our vehicle? Especially so hard you can crack glass over an inch thick.  Tomorrow I'm having a talk with the guy...don't care if he didn't mean to do it or not....just makes me angry with all we do to help!

Most people have to use basic safety at the office...don't cut yourself with the paper cutter or get paper cuts, but here's our desktop hazards...too funny.  Just a grenade and some .50 caliber rounds...don't mistake the grenade for a mouse:)

Today's temperature here was a chilly 105F/41C with tomorrow's forecast being the exact same.  Didn't feel too bad out.  It's a dry heat...I'll say that until we get to the 120s and 130s....then I don't know if it matters anymore...it's just hot.

Here are the 1960s circa photos: