020513 It snowed here the other day

It snowed here the other day.  But as of today (9th), it's mostly gone now.

121612 First Real Snow and Where Am I?

121612 First Real Snow and Where Am I?

Today was the real first snow in Kabul.  Before today it was just snow flurries that would not stick.  The hills around Kabul are probably getting a good layer of snow as well and once the skies clear up, I'll be able to tell.  Above are some pics from today as well as the German Christmas tree that has lights and looks great at night.  And also above is a pic of the new 'sign' that went up about a week ago.  I guess we needed the sign since too many people were wondering "where am I"?
R/Chris

121312 Snowing here and a Muslim toilet

121312 Snowing here and a Muslim toilet 

Today has been a rain/snow mix and by tonight it will be snow.  I don't go outside too much here (except to walk to the DFAC, gym or the hooch) which is good since I only have a light pull-over jacket here.  Also I get asked about what a Muslim toilet looks like every now and then and while at the Kabul airport last month I took some pics as the bathroom there was 1/2 Muslim and 1/2 'western' toilets.  The pics should be pretty much self-explanatory. 

R/Chris

121112 Christmas Doors

121112  Christmas Doors 
Christmas overseas on a military base is a low key event at most.  There might be some memorial or all-faith type service on Christmas day but otherwise its another work day.  Christmas decorations are minimal too.  Frankly the Germans have been the most 'festive' as they have put up a Christmas tree and held a Christmas bake sale.  There are several offices that have decorated their doors and I've taken some pics and have posted here. 
R/Chris

120912 Wounded Warriors

120912 Wounded Warriors 

One of the functions of the organization Wounded Warriors is to coordinate and facilitate bringing back to Afghanistan (and Iraq) those who were severely injured in order to have a proper exit from theater.  Rarely do I see guys like this on base but every now and then they are here, usually to give a speech or two and then they too will move on with their lives.  If you ever meet one of them the best thing you can do is to treat them as totally normal.  Anything much more than that and you're drawing attention to their 'difference'.  And that is one of the things they're trying to forget.
R/Chris

112412 Ashura and it should snow soon.

112412 Ashura and it should snow soon.

Islam has more damn holidays than you can shake a stick at!  Today is Ashura, observed by Shiite Muslims is today which means I couldn't pick up my laundry.  Also this is a Shiite holiday so Sunni Muslims do not (er, at least are not supposed to) get the day off.  But guess what, all the Muslims here on base are Shiite! (at least for today.)  Eh, we've have the 'festival of the turkey' but damn Muslims have quite a few holidays.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura

Also attached is a pic of the nearby mountains.  It's supposed to snow here on Wednesday or Thursday and as it gets cold the air gets very dirty.  This is because Afghans burn ANYTHING that will burn when it's gets cold.  If you go back in this blog I go into detail what 'anything' means and it's not pretty.

R/Chris

 

112112 Suicide Bomber and last attack of the season?

112112 Suicide Bomber and last attack of the season?

Today the morning was interrupted by a boom.  From where I was located I did not consider it very close given the loudness it made.  Anyway, I headed to

breakfast while Italian, Macedonian and US security forces scampered about seeming to determine what was going on and how to coordinate efforts. 

Technically, the base was in immediate lockdown and technically I should 'seek cover and remain in place'….but I was hungry.
So I made it breakfast and by then Security had gotten their act together and guards we now posted everywhere and now I couldn't leave.  That lasted for about

30 minutes before the 'ALL CLEAR' was sounded and people could again move about freely. 
Evidently two suicide bombers had attacked the wall and one blew enough of the wall away to make an opening but the other was shot/killed while attempting

to get through.  (see link below)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-afghanistan-blast-idUSBRE8AK06M20121121

It's November and its getting cold here and the Taliban usually don't do much in cold weather.  But it's not that cold and it's still clear (but it may snow this

week) so maybe this is the last attack of the season?
R/Chris