022512 A routine is good to have and Koran burning update

022512 A routine is good to have and Koran burning update

As a contractor in Afghanistan (and when I was in in Iraq) you tend to do the same things day after day.  This in itself is not a bad thing as it removes a lot of uncertainty in your life.  Little things such as even what to wear are no longer complicated decisions but rather a pattern that you simply follow as well.  Getting to the gym is also worked into the routine that is life here.  Fortunately, going to the gym here is not so much tolerated but encouraged.  I think the reasoning is the powers that be have decided if people work off some excess energy (or frustration or pick any emotion) at the gym, then the less likely he or she will be to find other avenues to work off said excess energy.  So the word has gone out that you may take some time out of your day that is convenient to all to spend at the gym if you simply make up the time later (such a deal!)  Anyway, my time is 5 AM to 6 AM, every day.  Yes, a routine is good to have.
And there have been quite a few demonstrations both violent and non-violent on bases throughout Afghanistan regarding the copies of the Koran that were burned.  Today there were two US Army officers that were shot (http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/25/10504899-gunman-kills-two-us-army-officers-in-afghan-interior-ministry) and shots were fired into the base here so this base went on lockdown and a 100% accountability was conducted.  If I had to travel off base now I'd be a lot more concerned.  But even on base there are quite a few local national workers here.  I suppose it's all part of the job though.
R/Chris