Uh.. I'll take "Swords" for $400.

The following photos have nothing in common except they were all taken here in Afghanistan and I hopefully can give each a one word caption starting with the letter S.  My inspiration for this silliness is the following funny SNL Celebrity Jeopardy skit.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/289968/saturday-night-live-celebrity-jeopardy

Here we go...

Sign 1

 Some Afghans have grown up rarely using toilets and poop by squatting over a hole in the ground.  When brought onto the base to work they are strongly encouraged to use the porta potties.  I guess the concept of sitting while pooping wasn't implied with the addition of the toilet seat to their routine.  Apparently some injuries occurred so these signs were put up on the porta potty doors.

Sign 2

There has been some issues with getting supplies across the Pakistan border.  The USA PX shelves were mostly bare for awhile.  I had most of what I needed but somethings (i.e. medicine, see previous blog) would have been nice to buy.  There was one shelf which was always full and it was full of salsa.  Must of been 100 jars of salsa just sitting there smiling at me.  Now many of you who know how big of a chips and salsa fan I am might think this was a blessing for me.  And it would have been except the chips were on the other side of the Pakistan border.  It was my version of hell... it reminded me of all those old Got Milk commercials... Arron Burr. 

Shocker

I will never look at my laundry the same.




Sunset



Sunset 2



Sidekicks

 These are my  two coworkers, Dave is walking into the tent on the left and Bret Love is sitting on the right.



Smile



Snapshot - outside the wire of camp marmal



snowy mountains - camp marmal



scenic view - camp marmal

Smile 2

Standing - Dave left, Rene right

Smile 3 - inside work tent

Shops - Camp Spann Bazaar

Squats

Squats 2

Sunglasses from Vero and Jon!



Under the weather

I have had the pleasure now of visiting the Red Cross on 2 separate occasions.  These visits coincide with why I have taken a few weeks off from writing my blog. 

My first visit was to get some cold medicine.  I tried to buy some from the local PX but they were only selling Pamprin pills.  Good for bloating not so good for my coughing, sneezing, running noise, headache, so I couldn’t rest problem.  I popped into the Red Cross and asked if they had any Sudafed.  I was asked my symptoms and quickly whisked away into an examining room where my temperature and vitals were taken.   The soldier nurse guy finally came to the same conclusion I did that it was a cold and sent me off with Clairton-D and Mucinex.  I was surprised by all the helped I had received… it wasn’t until later, when it was brought to my attention that my symptoms were the exact symptoms of malaria, that it dawned on me why the need for the through exam.  I didn’t think I needed to worry about malaria because I thought it was too cold here for malaria carrying mosquitoes (which it is).  I forgot malaria is also found in water and possibly the non-potable “water” I shower in everyday… well let’s just say I have stopped brushing my teeth in the shower.

My second visit came about a week later after I sprained a back muscle.  I was helping move some equipment and apparently didn’t lift with my knees.   I couldn’t sit, stand, lie down, or walk; everything I did hurt.   After 2 nights of self medicating with Tylenol PM and sleeping pills I decided to seek help from the overly accommodating Red Cross.  Surely they would have muscle relaxers or pain medicine to ease my pain.  I hobbled in and described my symptoms… I was in so much pain I start to cry half way through my explanation.  The soldier nurse guy this time looked at me and said all I can give you is some Motrin.  If it still hurts in a few days come back but no guarantees.  WHAT?!?  I come in with the sniffles and get more attention than a new born baby from its mother but when I am in tears because the pain is so bad and I can’t walk they usher me out on the street like Lindsey Lohan at an awards show after party.  Good news is my back is feeling better and I have started to wean off the Tylenol PM, Motrin, sleeping pill concoction I was killing my liver with.

In all fairness and jokes aside, the Red Cross soldier nurses did what they could for me and I thank them for all their help.  And I guess you all know what you can send in your next care packages... just in case I hurt my back again, you know for my liver's sake :).