Promotions ceremony
Prior to our mission this morning, we had to take care of some official business. The Air Force has decided that the Lt has been wearing his silver bars long enough. So now they are going to give him another bar and attach it to the old one to form the shape of Captain’s bars. I was the first one to see him this morning and greeted him officially “Good Morning Captain”. Based on his boyish sheepish grin, he liked the sound of it. So before the patrol pulled out of the parking lot this morning, our team leader with the help of some teammates performed the official ceremony and promoted Lt to Captain. Normally a reception would follow along with vast amounts of beverages. Unfortunately we are not allowed alcohol and we had to get on the road for a mission.
Camp Phoenix bazaar
We visited Camp Phoenix today to take care of some administrative business and stopped in at the AF squadron. The commander shared with us some chocolate fudge his mother made, so there was no way we could refuse sampling a piece. Coincidentally they were hosting a bazaar on the compound. 
The vendors set up tents with their wares and were quite aggressive with their sales techniques. In all there was about 50 tents filled with rugs, scarves, wood carvings, jewelry, imitation Oakley sunglasses, knives, women’s dresses, brass vases, pirated CDs. 
In addition, I discovered a tent selling unique handmade shoes. Before I leave here, I am going to purchase a pair along with a set of man-jams. I also located a vendor specializing in fur rugs and fur coats. 
Just recently the Post Office has restricted mailing fur items. But now it’s legal to send the hooka-pipes (tobacco pipes). Previously this was considered drug paraphernalia. These hubbly bubbly pipes are quite prevalent in the Middle East and the entire family will smoke fruit flavored tobacco in them. I didn’t purchase anything. 
Instead I took pictures so my wife can help me select colors for a future rug purchase. 
I thought about surprising her, but this would be bad ju-ju if I selected the wrong color scheme.
We returned to the camp just in time for a service rivalry volleyball tournament. The competition was pretty stiff, but in the end the Army beat the Air Force in the championship round. As much as it pained me, I promised to take a picture of the winners and post it on my blog. We will get them the next time.
The Army winners but Air Force will win next time!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Afghanistan, Deployment, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, shopping, volleyball, Camp Phoenix, war
Great pictures! I’m enjoying your blog.
The last thing I wanted when Ian was deployed was for him to bring something – a present – home for me. I just wanted him. But now, I’m thinking, “Dang ol, you could have brought home a rug and those cool other things they sell!”
I agree about sending pics to show the wife. Ian would have done the same thing – far preferable to choosing the wrong rug and seeing a half-smile and hearing, “Oh, no…it’s…um…perfect. Thanks?”
There’s always another rematch, always! The fur gives me the heebeejeebees. But the shoes are interesting looking anyway… I dunno’ about the comfort factor though…. The elephants and rugs though are full speed ahead.
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 06/15/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.