Flght over

Getting here was wild. Business class on an international flight is no joke. For real, I realized that I am a true country-bumpkin. I wasn't ready for the level of service that I got on the plane. When you get on, they offer you wine, orange juice, champagne,
or water. Then they offer a four-course meal. I had shrimp for an appetizer. For dinner I had halibut and some steamed vegetables with a white wine, then they offered some grapes and cheese then they gave us some ice cream and port. The area around the airport in Frankfurt looks like Atlanta. The thing that sucks is that I didn't know German. I mean everything was in English and everyone I spoke to spoke English, but it still sucks. My advise to you is that if you ever go out of the country, learn to speak the language where you are going to be even if it is only for a little while.

When we were leaving for the Kuwait part, we all got on a bus and they drove us to the middle of nowhere. The thing that was odd to me about it was the entire flight was full of Americans. And when I say Americans, I'm talking about middle or lower class Americans. I mean gold teeth, corn rolls, and real deal mullets. I'm saying people were getting on the plane were straight up country folk. When we got on the plane I was sitting next to an Indian man who was pungent but I slept almost the entire flight missing dinner.

When we got to Kuwait, that's when I got scared a bit - I mean I had no real idea where I was going and the deeper you went the more the signs were in Arabic and the less they were in English. That sucked. Anyways, I got my bags and then headed for the exit gate. It was cool, my handlers were right there and they helped me with my bags and shit. Then we went to Pizza Hut to eat.

Dude you have like 60 trillion email addresses

Yes I do, the reason for that is because some sites are available and others are not. This allows me to be available at anytime. Feel free you use any address except the gdds.com or the skytel.com for now.

Address and contact info.

Well the address info looked like crap from the formatting so I put it here.

US Postal Address
Thomas Johnson

ATTN UOC Contractor

RCT-1 HQ CO UIC 40145

FPO AP 96426-0145

Fed EX Address
Thomas Johnson
ATTN UOC Contractor
MWSS-273 BLDG 843
AL Asad, Iraq

Instant Messenger

Y - Tomslick1217

AIM - Tomslick1217

MSN - Superslick17@hotmail.com

In Iraq now.

I just made it to Iraq. It's a wild story and I'm sleepy. Just wanted to let you all know I'm here.

Instant Messenger

If you want to keep up with me. The best way is on instant messenger you can get MSN, AIM, or Yahoo. I use trillian which incorporates all of them. Just shoot me an email with your IM name and I'll add you.

The Marines are looking for you

One of my handlers came into my room and said, "I think we just pissed the Marines off."

Most of our guys work on Army projects and my field manager called to ask if my handler had me. The Marines felt however that it was there duty to secure and process me into Kuwait. So when they got to the airport and then didn't find me they went apeshit and then sent people out to find me. We were advised that in order to avoid problems like that again all FE's assigned to the Marines will be handled only by Marines. It is a comforting feeling that they mobalized so quickly in order to find me but, I think a few phone calls would have sufficed.

Hi From Kuwait City

I figured I'd just post this up to let everyone know I'm here. It's about 10:00 Kuwait time. I'm full of jet lag and on top of that the internet connection sucks. So far everything has been ok and this place is different from home. I'll give more details later but, I think it's best now if I get some sleep.

I never had doubts about this job until today.

I just got off the phone with my Mom and Dad. I'm in the airport with tears coming down my eyes looking like a fucking idiot. What kind of hero is that? This sure doesn't feel like bravery. Three weeks ago I was abosolutley convinced I was doing the right thing. Now, I think I might be making a mistake.

Talked to my Brother.

Well I'm at the end of my calls before I leave the country. I just got off the phone with my brother. Again another sad moment, it's just hard. You can talk a good game but, when you are looking at making a choice you start to question what you think is right. He told me he was proud of me. From others it just seemed empty from him it has seemed more real than ever. Being a brother and I mean a true brother is a real obligation. I have one and he has one. I really can't focus on this right now.