Many things over here have interesting names, typically shortened to an acronym, and our showers are no exception. The trailer I walk to every morning to clean myself and wake up is endearingly called an "Ablution Unit."
Unlike some of the other poorly named things -- the DFAC (Dining Facility) comes to mind -- the ablution unit isn't prominently labeled as such. On the door to the trailer it just says "Male Shower." But if you look closely at the signs indoors, they refer to it in many places as the ablution unit, and warn you away from such unpleasantries such as electrical shocks, sewage spills, and water cut-offs.
The name makes me happy because you don't often hear "ablution" used. No one says anymore, "I'm performing my ablutions." I don't know how the military heard of it.
Oh well.
In other news, Sarah Palin is joining FOX!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_palin_fox_news
Anyone feel like they need to go perform some mental ablutions now?
This post has been dedicated to Ian.
Showing posts with label trailer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trailer. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Whoa, Nelly!
Hello loyal blog readers! Time for your latest view into my ego-centric world.
It's been a few days in case you haven't noticed. In that time I've done several things:
1) Sat at a coffee house in the Kuwait airport. There is nothing like that airport to make you feel reflective. This time through, I thought, "Wow, here I am again. Huh." The coffee house is actually very good -- they sprinkle cocoa bean shapes onto the foam with chocolate powder -- but I have sat there before reading my book and drinking hot chocolate, and it was weird, if familiar, sitting there again. Getting on the plane to Baghdad wasn't so difficult at that point, though, since I was mostly just tired. I'm looking forward to seeing the inside of that airport again because some day I'm certain I will get the routine down pat. Hopefully next time I can experience it from the first class lounge.
2) Flew to Baghdad on Gryphon Air. This was an enjoyable experience. Before this was on a prop plane with very, very small seats. This time through it was a jet with nice, big, leather seats. I guess they've been successful flying contractors to and fro. I met two other contractors on their way in, and one guy I've seen around in the cafeteria. He would be the closest thing I've made to a friend here outside of the office, and that is not saying much. I'm also looking forward to the next trip on Gryphon because it means I will be going back to the U.S., and I just enjoy the experience. Oh, for you lunar watchers, there was a nice blue moon visible on the way in. Actually, it was a very red moon, but I'm told the phase made it blue. Now you know.
3) Arrived in Baghdad and met some teammates. Not having any idea who to expect, I waited briefly around the airport until someone yelled my name. Then I met Luis and Gerard, my replacee and our IT guy, and they drove me to my trailer home. Gerard talks a lot. Luis, whose trailer I'm crashing in while he's away, told me when we got home that Gerard is a talker. He has proved correct. Today Gerard must've talked for a good five hours. It's a good thing, though. Not talking much myself, someone needs to.
4) Explored my trailer. It is at least a double-wide, so very big. I shared with Luis for two days until he left, and now it's my own. I have a bed, a big wall locker, a nightstand, chair, shelves, lamp, and a lot of space of my own. He has also fitted the room with a stocked bookshelf, unused TV, unused fridge, and a big rug. Overall it is nice. It is very, very, very far away from the office though, in an area called Pad 11. It's on a side of the base I hadn't explored much before, so not near the palace. It's a 12-15 minute drive to work, and despite having three cars for the team, we need to share. That means we do everything together: Luis (when he is here), Gerard, and Omar (Omar is our editor). I eat every meal with them, and I drive home with them. They are nice, but it could grate not having a lot of flexibility to explore the stuff I like on base, or even stay late at work without the hassle of dropping people off. Or meeting anyone else.
5) Met the rest of the team. They are a group of Iraqi-Americans who are really nice and fun. They are more fun than me. Hopefully they don't think I'm boring. Apparently I'm 50,000x better than the old project manager though, because 90 percent of our conversation thus far has been about what an evil person he was. It's weird. Everyone seems to have really, sincerely hated him. So I'm looking good in comparison! The Army folks we work with transfer out in a few weeks, so it will be interesting to see how their replacements are.
6) Explored the office. It is on the good side of base, but somewhat isolated in a corner so that they can stay low profile. If there was time to leave during the day I would say it's a nice location, but so far I've been behind schedule and stuck more or less inside. When we do leave it's to eat or go to the store, and of course that happens with Gerard and Omar. Good thing I like them. Someday soon I aim to branch out and walk somewhere. It will happen, I just know it.
And that, for now, is all. I'm done tired out. Next up in the self-centered chronicles will be about work and changes on Camp Victory. (We're a thriving community!)
Good night to all!
Love,
Tim
It's been a few days in case you haven't noticed. In that time I've done several things:
1) Sat at a coffee house in the Kuwait airport. There is nothing like that airport to make you feel reflective. This time through, I thought, "Wow, here I am again. Huh." The coffee house is actually very good -- they sprinkle cocoa bean shapes onto the foam with chocolate powder -- but I have sat there before reading my book and drinking hot chocolate, and it was weird, if familiar, sitting there again. Getting on the plane to Baghdad wasn't so difficult at that point, though, since I was mostly just tired. I'm looking forward to seeing the inside of that airport again because some day I'm certain I will get the routine down pat. Hopefully next time I can experience it from the first class lounge.
2) Flew to Baghdad on Gryphon Air. This was an enjoyable experience. Before this was on a prop plane with very, very small seats. This time through it was a jet with nice, big, leather seats. I guess they've been successful flying contractors to and fro. I met two other contractors on their way in, and one guy I've seen around in the cafeteria. He would be the closest thing I've made to a friend here outside of the office, and that is not saying much. I'm also looking forward to the next trip on Gryphon because it means I will be going back to the U.S., and I just enjoy the experience. Oh, for you lunar watchers, there was a nice blue moon visible on the way in. Actually, it was a very red moon, but I'm told the phase made it blue. Now you know.
3) Arrived in Baghdad and met some teammates. Not having any idea who to expect, I waited briefly around the airport until someone yelled my name. Then I met Luis and Gerard, my replacee and our IT guy, and they drove me to my trailer home. Gerard talks a lot. Luis, whose trailer I'm crashing in while he's away, told me when we got home that Gerard is a talker. He has proved correct. Today Gerard must've talked for a good five hours. It's a good thing, though. Not talking much myself, someone needs to.
4) Explored my trailer. It is at least a double-wide, so very big. I shared with Luis for two days until he left, and now it's my own. I have a bed, a big wall locker, a nightstand, chair, shelves, lamp, and a lot of space of my own. He has also fitted the room with a stocked bookshelf, unused TV, unused fridge, and a big rug. Overall it is nice. It is very, very, very far away from the office though, in an area called Pad 11. It's on a side of the base I hadn't explored much before, so not near the palace. It's a 12-15 minute drive to work, and despite having three cars for the team, we need to share. That means we do everything together: Luis (when he is here), Gerard, and Omar (Omar is our editor). I eat every meal with them, and I drive home with them. They are nice, but it could grate not having a lot of flexibility to explore the stuff I like on base, or even stay late at work without the hassle of dropping people off. Or meeting anyone else.
5) Met the rest of the team. They are a group of Iraqi-Americans who are really nice and fun. They are more fun than me. Hopefully they don't think I'm boring. Apparently I'm 50,000x better than the old project manager though, because 90 percent of our conversation thus far has been about what an evil person he was. It's weird. Everyone seems to have really, sincerely hated him. So I'm looking good in comparison! The Army folks we work with transfer out in a few weeks, so it will be interesting to see how their replacements are.
6) Explored the office. It is on the good side of base, but somewhat isolated in a corner so that they can stay low profile. If there was time to leave during the day I would say it's a nice location, but so far I've been behind schedule and stuck more or less inside. When we do leave it's to eat or go to the store, and of course that happens with Gerard and Omar. Good thing I like them. Someday soon I aim to branch out and walk somewhere. It will happen, I just know it.
And that, for now, is all. I'm done tired out. Next up in the self-centered chronicles will be about work and changes on Camp Victory. (We're a thriving community!)
Good night to all!
Love,
Tim
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